labrador retriever australian shepherd mix puppies

These dogs are known for their lively personality and cute, furry appearance. Toy Poodles are also intelligent and highly trainable. In addition, Toy Poodles are relatively small dogs, which makes them a good choice for people who live in apartments or other small spaces. If you live an active lifestyle and are seeking a fun-loving and intelligent furry friend, look no further than the Toy Poodle. Toy Poodle Puppies Health Considerations Though generally very healthy and long-lived — with an average lifespan of around 14 to 16 years — our Toy Poodles for sale are not without their unique health concerns. Like every breed of dog, there are a few conditions you should be aware of before you consider purchasing one of our Toy Poodle puppies for sale. Understanding the risks allows you to know the signs and prevent small health concerns from turning into big ones. This is caused by the soft palate becoming irritated, and can be triggered by excitement or allergies. While it may seem alarming, reverse sneezing is not harmful and will resolve on its own. Another common health concern in Toy Poodles is luxating patellas. This occurs when the kneecap slips out of place, and can cause pain and lameness. Luckily, luxating patellas can be effectively treated with surgery. Finding a Toy Poodle puppy for sale from a reputable breeder can dramatically — although, not eliminate — the risk of your dog developing some of these conditions. The coat can be either curly or corded, and it comes in a variety of colors, including black, white, brown, and apricot. Toy Poodles require regular grooming to keep their coats healthy and free of mats. Daily brushing is necessary to prevent the hair from tangling, and the coat should be clipped every six to eight weeks. In addition to regular brushing and clipping, Toy Poodles also need to have their teeth brushed daily and their nails trimmed on a monthly basis. By taking care of their coats, Toy Poodles can stay healthy and happy for many years to come. Meet Toy Poodle Puppies for Sale. Life Span Did You Know? Breeders developed Toy Poodles in 18th century England as smaller versions of their German predecessors. The Toy Poodle began to represent social status, and nobles would decorate their dogs in high fashion of the time. They became so popular, in fact, that they were one of the first toy breeds recognized by the Kennel Club. Toy Poodles are smart cookies. Their intelligence is one of their predominant features, and is often showcased during obedience training. These dogs have tremendous problem-solving capabilities that make them ideal for competitions. On the other hand, this same intelligence makes for an easily bored pup. They need mental stimulation, like challenging games and toys , to keep their busy minds occupied. The Toy Poodle may also be suspicious of strangers and slow to warm up to new people. This dog breed can adapt to a wide range of living situations due to their small size. As a matter of fact, they have trouble dealing with any kind of alone time. As such, the Toy Poodle is an excellent companion animal for people who love a little company. There are a few health conditions that Toy Poodles are more susceptible to than other dog breeds. For example, they may suffer from eye disorders, like cataracts, or blood clotting disorders, like Hemophilia. Because of their size, they may also bear the risk of dental crowding, kneecap migration, or trachea instability. With regular visits to the veterinarian, many of these potential health concerns can be comfortably managed. Owners typically have an easy time during obedience training with Toy Poodles. Their intelligence often hastens the training process. However, they can present destructive tendencies when left to their own devices for too long. Toy Poodles have famously low-shedding coats. They lack undercoats, so their shedding is minimal. Their fur is hypoallergenic and mats rather than sheds. These pups will only need to be groomed to prevent matting and increase shine. Usually, brushing your Toy Poodle once or twice a week and grooming every six weeks is sufficient. As a small dog breed, they are more prone to developing dental disease so good dental care is important. Poodles are an active breed in general, and Toy Poodles in specific are just as active. After a few laps around the kitchen, the Toy Poodle will tire out and happily sit by their owners during daily activities. The Toy Poodle stands at a mighty inches at the shoulder. Their weight ranges from pounds and usually averages around 8 pounds. Toy Poodles usually live 12 — 15 years. The Poodle coat is built for the water and even the Toy Poodle tends to have excellent, practically innate, swimming abilities. Featured Toy Poodle Article.

Resources About Us I aim to breed typical, healthy Labradors with particular emphasis on good temperament, breed type, and conformation to the breed standard. All my dogs hold current eye certificates and are hip and elbow scored. Most weekends I travel all around the country showing the dogs. My biggest success so far was winning the bitch CC at Crufts in ! Little did we realise that Louise would introduce us to the newest member of our family just a short few months later. We were lucky in that Crammondkirk would shortly have not one, but two litters due at the same time. We visited and found an extremely professional, caring breeder who answered every single question without fail. The pups were with their mothers and both litters were full of beans and inquisitive too. A few weeks later we picked up Buddy Crammondkirk Jackson to give him his Sunday name - and we were and are still smitten. Buddy has helped us focus as a family unit through some very tough times - he's now my son's best pal, he's laid back and playful and silent - nothing seems to faze him, well, unless you keep his favourite ball from him! His nature is second to none - I've never seen or had a dog as laid back as him. Well, apart from him wanting to play with every dog he meets, which has gotten him into trouble a few times! From a tiny ball of fluff to our now two years in newest family member, we cannot fault the support we had at the start. We've also met a few others who have labradors from Crammondkirk locally Buddy's brother Archie, and his cousin Arlo - each pup turns heads and attract attention of other dog owners. Heartily recommended! He was calm and cute when we picked him up from Louise. He's been a great addition to the family, and Louise has been helpful and supportive answering any questions we have. Over the last number of months we have also been using Louise's dog walking service which Murphy is very enthusiastic about. We highly recommend getting a dog from Crammondkirk Labradors. Louise was brilliant throughout the whole process. It was clear that these puppies were being looked after in the best possible way. We have had nothing but joy with Maud since bringing her home and would highly recommend Crammondkirk Labradors to anyone who is considering buying a puppy. A friend recommended Crammond Kirk labs, we went to visit and fell in love instantly. Lana came to live with us when she was 7 years old, she fitted in with no problems, she is such a relaxed and happy dog with amazing manners! She is so gentle with children and any pups we meet. We meet lots of Cramond Kirk labs on our daily walks and they all seem to have a chilled vibe. Lana is always happy to see them. Our youngest son is autistic and Murphy has been fantastic and so calm. Best thing we ever did. Everyone we meet comments on how well adjusted he is. Louise has been so supportive and willing to give advice. I would highly recommend Louise and Crammondkirk to anyone looking for a labrador pup. Settled in brilliantly and has been a joy to be around. Excellent breeder with loads of knowledge and advice which was appreciated. She is an absolutely lovely dog with a wonderful, calm temperament, very sociable, a waggy tail and she loves to be loved. Louise is a breeder who is very professional, keeps her dogs in five-star accommodation, and is very happy to share her knowledge and advice. We would absolutely recommend anyone who is thinking of getting a labrador pup to contact Louise. She has a waiting list, which is testament to the the quality of the pups she raises. She has such a gentle nature and immediately got on really well with our young daughter and Floyd the cat. Louise was fantastic and gave us lots of advice. Would have no hesitation recommending Crammondkirk Labradors. Many thanks. Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 72 reviews. The Trustees are volunteers who are dedicated to the welfare of the Labrador Retriever and cover all of Scotland and the North of England. The Rescues mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Labrador retrievers and promote and advance responsible pet ownership. The Rescue also prevents rehoming by providing training and support to owners. For many years the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular breed of dog in the UK. Because of this, there is an ever increasing number of Labradors who need homes. The Labrador Retriever is a loving, loyal dog who makes a wonderful pet. Many people purchase Labradors not realising their daily needs for exercise and human interaction. As an Organisation we believe that match making each individual Labrador to the perfect owner is of the utmost importance. Whenever possible the Labradors are rehomed straight from their existing home to the new home as this is less traumatic for the Labrador. The majority of Labradors we rehome are much loved and only a sad change in circumstances or a crisis has caused the rehoming. There are of course some welfare cases and sometimes the Rescue has to remove a Labrador from an abusive situation. We also work with Government agencies and other non profit organisations to assist them in finding Labradors who would be happier in service or a working dog environment. The Rescue must have a solid relationship with these organisations and know the training methods used and retirement plans for the dogs before we will assist them in finding specialised dogs. We have placed Labrador Retrievers who have gone on to become Narcotics dogs, Cadaver dogs, Explosive dogs, Search and Rescue dogs and Assistance dogs. Our preference is to place Labradors in companion homes but in some cases, some Labradors are actually happier working. We are not judgemental and understand that families who have provided loving homes for their Labrador sometimes have to give them up through no fault of their own, and could never have predicted being in this situation. The adoption contract prohibits breeding as we have no desire to add to the problem we are trying to help resolve. We reserve the right to refuse or deny an application to adopt. This may be because your philosophy on animal care and ownership differs from ours. Dog domestic dog The Labrador Retriever, or simply Labrador, is a British breed of retriever gun dog. It was developed in the United Kingdom from fishing dogs imported from the colony of Newfoundland now a province of Canada , and was named after the Labrador region of that colony. It is among the most commonly kept dogs in several countries, particularly in the European world. The Labrador is friendly, energetic, and playful. It may also be trained as a guide or assistance dog , or for rescue or therapy work. Another early advocate of these Newfoundland fishing dogs was the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury , who bred them for their expertise in waterfowling. The dogs Buccleuch Avon and Buccleuch Ned, given by Malmesbury to Buccleuch, were mated with bitches carrying blood from those originally imported by the 5th Duke and the 10th Earl of Home. The offspring are the ancestors of all modern Labradors. John's water dogs bred by European settlers in Newfoundland were first introduced to Britain from ships trading between Canada and Poole in Dorset. These were then bred with British hunting dogs to create what became known as the Labrador Retriever. Early writers have confused the Labrador with the much larger Newfoundland and the Lesser Newfoundland , with Charles St. John even referring to the Lesser Newfoundland as the Newfoundland. Colonel Peter Hawker describes the first Labrador as being not larger than an English Pointer , more often black than other colours, long in its head and nose with a deep chest, fine legs, and short and smooth coat, and did not carry its tail as highly as the Newfoundland. John's breed of these dogs [6] [7] in the fifth edition of his book Introductions to Young Sportsman, published in .Black Chocolate There is a great deal of variety among Labradors. The following characteristics are typical of the conformation show bred bench-bred lines of this breed in the United States and are based on the American Kennel Club standard. Size: Labradors are a medium-large breed. They should be as long from the withers to the base of the tail as they are from the floor to the withers. The AKC standard includes an ideal weight for dogs of 25—36 kg 55—80 lb and for bitches as 25—32 kg 55—70 lb. The coat is water-resistant, so the dog does not get cold when taking to the water in the winter. That means that the dog naturally has a slightly dry, oily coat. Acceptable colours are black, yellow, and chocolate. The eyes should be kind and expressive. Appropriate eye colours are brown and hazel. The lining around the eyes should be black. The ears should hang close to the head and be set slightly above the eyes. Jaws: The jaws should be strong and powerful. The muzzle should be of medium length and should not be too tapered. The jaws should hang slightly and curve gracefully back. Body: The body should have a powerful and muscular build. The tail and coat are designated "distinctive [or distinguishing] features" of the Labrador by both the Kennel Club and AKC. If a dog carried wild type alleles at all three loci, the dog will have a yellow coat. If a dog has a loss-of-function mutation at MC1R, it will also have a yellow coat, regardless of their genotype at the other two loci. Within the breed, this trait is not visible. Show and field lines[ edit ] Head and muzzle appearance: field left , and show right , showing the shorter muzzle length, more solid appearance head, and "pronounced" stop of the latter As a result of specialised breeding, there are significant differences between field and trial-bred and show-bred lines of Labradors. In the United States, the former are sometimes mistakenly referred to as "American" and the latter as "English", in fact, both field and show types are bred in both countries and all Labrador Retrievers are descended from British lines. In this experiment, German Shepherds had the highest chance of not completing it. However, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers had a higher success rate after going through longer training than the training required for Labrador Retrievers. For retrieving the Labrador Retriever has a soft mouth , a trait that allows it to carry game and waterfowl without damaging it. It continues in that role today, along with the Leonberger , Newfoundland and Golden Retriever dogs; they are used at the Italian School of Canine Lifeguard. During the Vietnam War they were used as scout dogs to track down dead or wounded soldiers or enemy positions. Notable issues related to health and well-being include inherited disorders and obesity most are missing all or parts of the appetite-regulating POMC gene. As of , it was widely considered the most popular breed in the world.

Lifespan Sociability The English Bullweiler is a rarer hybrid breed, and his size means that he is not one of the most popular breeds. This means that it can be difficult to find reputable breeders, but it also means that examples of this breed do not cost as much as a lot of other breeds. Bad breeders gave Rottweilers a bad reputation. They bred the dog for his aggressive looks and his ability to fight, and this resulted in a lot of bad press for the breed. Much work has been undertaken to undo this bad reputation, but some people are still wary of owning this type of dog. Unfortunately, bad breeders do still exist, so you need to be careful that you get your Bullweiler from a reputable source. Conduct research on any breeder that you are considering. While it is true that a puppy will not necessarily display the same characteristics of his parents, it is also true that bad breeders tend to keep dogs in poor condition, and this will have an effect on the dog later in life. English Bullweilers can be tricky to train, and they grow up to be large dogs, larger than the Bulldog. As such, some examples of this breed do end up being abandoned, which means that they can be found in shelters. Adopting a rescue dog means that you should meet the dog as often as possible before taking him home. This will allow you to determine his character and temperament and should ensure you get a good dog. The English Bullweiler is not a vocal dog. Some breeds are known for being vocal dogs, barking and whining at any noise or movement. The English Bullweiler is not such a breed. He is a quiet dog that will only really make a noise when playing or when he senses a threat to him or his family. This breed also tends to make a bit of noise when sleeping but, if your Bullweiler does bark, it tends to mean that something really is up, and it is worth investigating. This quiet nature means that some owners mistakenly believe that he is a good fit for apartment living. However, his size and his high energy requirements mean that he is only really suited to living in a house with plenty of room, and ideally with an outdoor yard where he can run around and burn off energy. The bulldog has a very distinctive look and there are few breeds that look similar. They were bred to be short and stocky so that they were difficult for bulls to launch into the air. Being launched led to injuries and usually meant that the dog was unable to continue the fight. They have loose skin because this prevented the bull from being able to latch on and allowed the dog to get away from their horns and teeth. Even the wrinkles on their face served a purpose, channeling blood away from their eyes so that they were not blinded during a fight. While this almost led to the extinction of the bull-baiting bulldog , the breed was eventually saved because it displayed sought after characteristics that made it a highly sought-after family pet. Rottweilers are exceptional rescue dogs. However, they nearly became extinct after their jobs were naturally taken by trains and the introduction of the railroad. Today, they have been rebranded. They are considered friendly, playful, and loving family dogs, and their qualities make them an exceptional breed for rescue operations. They were used in New York to the Twin Towers site where their tenacity, agility, and strength meant that they were highly effective at finding survivors, moving rubble, and saving people. They are also used as police dogs, service dogs, and armed forces dogs around the world because of these same qualities. Today, they are considered friendly and lovable dogs that are great for families and make loving companions. Known for being fun, the Bullweiler can be a bit goofy and is described as having a good sense of humor. He is always ready to play and can brighten up your day in an instant. He is eager to protect his family and is always alert. He will let you know of any intruders, although this does make early socialization an important facet of ownership. This will help teach him the difference between friendly and unwanted strangers, and it will ensure that he welcomes visitors. Are These Dogs Good for Families? He is patient with children, although his size means that he will need training to ensure that he is respectful of the distance that very small children require. This is especially important because his Rottweiler parent is known as a leaner. He leans against his human companions as a sign of his love and devotion. If he were to lean against a small child, he would knock them over and squash them. He is inquisitive, so he will want to meet and regularly greet all of his family members, but he is incredibly respectful of smaller animals. He is energetic and bright, although he can be a challenge to train, requiring a lot of patience. He also has a distinctive look and plenty of character. Before taking one of this breed, there are several factors that you should be aware of. This should be fed in two or three sittings, and you should pick up any food that is left after each meal. This breed can put on a lot of extra weight, so you do need to take care that you only feed the desired amount and avoid leaving food down all day. As your dog ages, he is likely to lose some of his bounding energy. At this point, his dietary requirements will also drop, and you should either move to a lower calorie food or feed less to stop him getting overweight or obese. You should expect to have to provide a lot of exercise on a regular basis. He will benefit from two long walks a day, and he will appreciate time outdoors. As well as being energetic, this hybrid breed can be very bouncy and athletic. You should try and prevent him from jumping too high when he is young because this can cause developmental, joint, and bone problems. When he is older, however, he will enjoy agility type classes and exercise, if you can convince him to follow the right path around the course. If you enjoy walking, hiking, or running, the Bullweiler is the perfect companion. The Bullweiler is one breed that definitely benefits from having his own outdoor space. Let him run around the yard, chase a ball, and generally enjoy the outdoors. He is very intelligent, though, so if your dog is eager to please, he will train easily. If he is headstrong, you will still be able to train him, but it will take patience and may take longer to teach new commands and habits. Early socialization should be considered an important aspect of owning this breed. Although he will naturally bond with all members of the family, he can be wary and distrustful of strangers. Although he does shed, he is not a heavy shedder and his short hair is easy to sweep up when it does happen. Weekly brushing will help remove dead and shed hair, which prevents matting and keeps him looking his best. His size does mean that brushing can take some time, but he will appreciate the bonding experience. You should only bathe your Bullweiler when absolutely necessary. Too frequent bathing can strip his fur of the natural protective oils that it possesses. And it will probably be challenging anyhow, due to his size and potentially stubborn nature. If you can hear them click on hard floors, it is time to get the clippers out. If you start clipping nails from a young age, your dog will respond better to the procedure when he is older. If you struggle, consult a local groomer or ask your local vet to do it for you. With that said, you will need to keep an eye out for the conditions that both parent breeds are prone to. With the English Bullweiler, you will need to look for symptoms and signs of the following conditions: Minor Conditions. Eager to please Playful The Rottweiler is the most infamous guard dog in the world! But did you know that they are also one of the oldest herding dog breeds in the world as well? The Rottweiler dates back to Roman times. Back in 70 A. The Romans used the Rottweiler for herding cattle and protecting the cattle and other herd animals from wolves and other predators. Rottweilers were also used as meat cart pullers as well as personal protection detail. Did you know that in the mids, the Rottweiler nearly went extinct? Yes, the Rottie almost went extinct because trains were now a much cheaper way of transporting meat. Grooming — Brush four to five times a day throughout the spring and fall. Colors — Black, golden, brown, merle, brindle, speckled and spotted Eye Color — brown Exercise — Tons of exercises, consider getting them a job at a farm herding or protecting. Training — The Rottweiler American Bulldog mix is notoriously stubborn, a trait inherited from both parents. Socialization — Positive exposure to other people and dogs daily for best socialization. Temperament — Loving, caring, watchful, loves to hunt small game, eager to play, very protective Good in an apartment? The American Bulldog Rottweiler mixed breed is a powerful yet elegant and loyal nature dog. The mark of a great pack leader for these guys is to have them listen to your commands. Training of This Beautiful Breed! I often say that training, socialization, and, finally, exercise are the key foundation for making and keeping a stable and happy relationship with your dog. If you only do two or just one of these, then you are creating a situation in which it will bite you in the end. As a baby, work these commands over with, of course, frequent breaks in-between the training sessions. Make the training longer than the playing by as much as half or even more, and make the training fun with lots of praises and a little treat here and there. When training, it is imperative that you do not give up on your commands while also using positive reinforcement training. This breed is stubborn, so you will need to repeat yourself constantly. Socialization for the American Bulldog Rottweiler Mix Socialization for dogs is key to having a very polite dog to humans and animals; the more they meet strange looking people and animals. The more they will be well behaved, greeting new people and animals. As a puppy, if you can take them out into different environments, say the park, coffee shop, or just walking the streets would be super beneficial to getting your pup socialized. One of the most important things not to do is take your puppy to the dog park. Dogs can be very mean and can scar such a small puppy; secondly, the puppy has not had its shots, so they can transmit and or get a disease. So never take your puppy to the dog park until they are old enough to be able to hold their own and be able to defend against any diseases. Rottweiler American Bulldog Exercise Requirements Exercise for this breed means running about a giant property or being put to use on a farm. May it be herding or protecting against coyotes or humans. As strange as it may seem to read, some people still steal cattle, ducks, or sheep. Life Span Did You Know? They are sometimes also called an English Rottbull. Although a mixed-breed dog can take on any combination of characteristics from their parents, an English Bullweiler tends to be a large, loyal, and playful sweetheart that loves their families. The American Kennel Club may not recognize the English Bullweiler, but other notable dog organizations do. Although this puppy grows into a large, strong, and muscular dog, they are an affectionate sweetheart that is devoted to their families. They tend to be loving and sweet with a playful personality. English Bullweilers tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Because they grow to be large dogs, they can easily knock over young children in their excitement. So, you will want to teach your dog and your children how to interact appropriately and also supervise any playtime. They are naturally wary and initially suspicious of strangers because of their guardian instincts, but they tend to warm up once they have been introduced. They can be prone to barking, especially if they are bored. But, if you do some work early on to train your dog to stop barking , you can keep it from becoming a nuisance behavior. The English Bullweiler is a highly adaptable dog breed. They tend to thrive in larger homes with room for them to run. But, they can adapt well to apartments too as long as they get enough attention, exercise, and mental stimulation. They will grow into a large dog, so you do want to keep that in mind if you live in a smaller apartment. Although having a Rottweiler in the cross may help, an English Bullweiler is still likely to be considered a brachycephalic dog. This means they are particularly sensitive to heat and can overheat more easily than non-brachycephalic dogs. They do relatively well in cooler climates. Although they can handle some alone time, they love being around you and thrive on attention. So, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. A mixed-breed dog can inherit none of the conditions common to their parent breeds, but they could also inherit any combination of them or even all of them from one or both of the parents. For an English Bullweiler, potential health conditions to be aware of include elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, osteosarcoma, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and entropion. They can also be prone to developing allergies. Reputable breeders will be screening their dogs to make sure they are not passing preventable issues on to puppies. You can also ask to see any health clearances or results from tests that have been done. An English Bullweiler is intelligent and eager to please. They can pick up on things quickly, but they can also be bull-headed and stubborn. This stubborn streak can be difficult for first-time dog owners to navigate alone, so puppy training classes are recommended. Puppy training classes tend to be a good idea regardless of owner experience. Not only do they help keep training consistent and strengthen the bond you have with a puppy, but they also often offer opportunities to socialize a puppy. English Bullweilers have a short coat that sheds moderately year-round. Brushing them a few times a week with a comb and a rubber curry brush is the minimum. Daily brushing is even better and can help contain the shedding. Bathing is on an occasional as-needed basis, but is recommended every 6 to 8 weeks. These dogs will also tend to drool. So, you may want to have a cloth on-hand to help wipe up occasionally. You will also need to check and wipe their face wrinkles with a damp cloth to help prevent their skin from getting irritated. Although an English Bullweiler is an energetic, athletic, and playful dog, they are not a high-energy dog breed. They tend to sit in a more moderate range. Daily walks plus playtime and some time to run are usually enough for this dog. But, they love to be with you and enjoy being active, so they will likely be up for more activity if you are. Just make sure English Bullweiler puppies finish growing and developing before you take on more intense or high-impact activities. For large dog breeds, this tends to be around 2 years old. Your vet can help you determine when your individual dog has finished growing and their bones and joints have finished developing. A fully-grown English Bullweiler usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. An English Bullweiler generally lives for years. Currently, we do not have any English Bullweiler puppies available, but we can alert you when new English Bullweiler puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address! Related Breeds. Black, brown, tan, red, white Suitable for: Watchdog duties, families with kids Temperament: Goofy, protective, amiable, watchful Large and affectionate, the Bullweiler will brighten your life and give you the best snuggles. These goofy pups are super fun playmates, too. So, if you have children to consider, you might want to read more. 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. Even if neither parent is registered or guaranteed to be purebred, many try to breed and sell pups for profit. If the breeder seems suspicious, the puppies have a poor living condition, or the parents seem aggressive—steer clear. These are signals of backyard breeding, which no one should contribute to—even if you feel sorry for the poor, defenseless puppies. You might get lucky and find an awesome Bullweiler at a local shelter or rescue awaiting their forever home. This combination makes them perfect for couch cuddles and protection all in one. Bullweilers will drown you with affection. They simply love their humans and show their loyalty and devotion at every turn. Bullweilers are moderately intelligent and very receptive to emotions. Their constant need for acceptance makes them attentive in training, so basic commands should transfer without much headache. Bullweilers might exhibit some territorial tendencies, as both parent breeds might be sensitive to intruders—both human and critter. These traits make for excellent watchdogs, but you might need to exercise caution in certain circumstances. Are These Dogs Good for Families? These dogs have moderate activity levels, making them average maintenance. A few interactive games and a quick walk will suffice. This makes the breed ideal for people who want a rather low maintenance do g. They tend to be very amicable and friendly but might be initially suspicious of newcomers. They will assess them first before warming up. Early socialization is a handy tactic to get your pup used to new faces. These dogs also bond very well with children, being doting and gentle. Since they are so large, they might knock down small kids. These dogs do best with children roughly 6 years of age and older. Due to their muscular, large physiques, they might not work well for seniors. Other pets can be a hit and miss when it comes to the Bullweiler. Some might snooze with the family cat or make best friends with the senior dog. Others might be aloof, territorial, or aggressive with other dogs—especially of the same gender. So, early socialization is necessary. Cats and smaller pets can also be a toss-up. Tiny critters like hamsters and parakeets should stay out of reach at all times. Your dog might mistake the cute fluffy pets for squeaker toys. You can offer dry kibble, wet food, or a combination but be mindful of portions. These dogs are known to have hefty appetites and have a tendency to gain weight. Because of their skin folds and poor breeding over the decades, English Bulldogs are prone to skin allergies. If your pooch shows signs of irritation, you might see your veterinarian for guidance. They will likely try food trials for your dog to narrow the triggering ingredient. Once you have pinpointed the issue, you can eliminate it for good. Allergies or no allergies, try to steer clear of any food containing corn, wheat, or soy fillers—also, no harmful dyes, chemicals, or preservatives. Whole proteins are always best and should ideally be the first ingredient. Since the Bullweiler is brachycephalic, you might try tilted or shallow bowls to standard ones for easy eating. Both parents approach exercise differently. The Rottie enjoys strenuous exercise and tends to be more active than the Bulldog parent. Bulldogs are a bit lazier and tucker out quicker—mainly because of breathing troubles. Since your pup might be a little sensitive to prolonged intervals of exercise, try morning and evening walks with light interactive games. Be mindful of extremely hot temperatures. Both dogs are very sensitive to heat and might have adverse health problems because of it. In total, your Bullweiler should have at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This breed is not an agility dog that can navigate obstacle courses and climb trees. This dog prefers a much more relaxed approach to training. This breed is incredibly food motivated, so let that work in your favor. However, boys especially can be stubborn. So, you might have to learn bribery to get them to behave. Because they develop deep wrinkles, the bacterial buildup can collect in their folds, causing irritation or infection. In addition to skin fold cleaning, your dog will need a bath roughly every 6 weeks. You can follow up bath time with nail clipping, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing. Coat length and texture might differ a bit, depending on the stronger parent. But a daily brushing should help to keep their fur debris-free and lustrous. Rottweilers have their share of problems, too—like a strong inclination to various cancers. Because of the likelihood of health issues, annual vet visits are paramount in their entire adult lives. Early detection or prevention can be lifesavers in certain circumstances. Minor Conditions Allergies —these dogs can suffer from dietary and environmental allergies. Reverse Sneezing —this condition causes dogs to have fits where they suck air inward rather than sneezing outward. Cherry Eye —this condition is a prolapse of eyelid glands. Serious Conditions Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome —this condition causes airway abnormalities that make breathing difficult and can be life-threatening in certain circumstances. Cancer —both parent breeds are prone to various canine cancers. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia —these conditions cause deterioration of the joints, leading to bone rubbing. To combat any issues, make sure you take your dog to the vet for annual checkups to get ahead of problems. Male vs Female Every single dog, regardless of gender, is lovely and unique. But certain traits lean toward one or the other. Physically speaking, males are generally larger and broader than females. However, because this hybrid breed has a varying size proportion between parents, this might not always be the case. Boys tend to be more goofy, lovable, and slower to mature. They might also be likelier to exhibit dog aggression, especially in same-sex pairs. Dominance is a huge issue with most males, and you will have to proceed with caution. Females tend to be gentle protectors with a more subtle approach. They might also be likelier to bond intensely to one person over all others. The ladies might be a little more reserved around strangers than their male counterparts. They, too, might exhibit same-sex dog aggression. Both Parents of the Bullweiler Are Brachycephalic Breeds Brachycephalic dogs are all too familiar—short shouted pooches with adorable wrinkles. But with their special skull shape comes unique problems. Since both parent breeds carry this trait, your pooch might encounter breathing problems like brachycephalic airway syndrome. No One Knows the Exact Origin of the Bullweiler No one knows just when this breed surfaced, but speculators think it might have been in the s. During this period, many breed cross experimentation started, giving us many designer dogs we know and love today. This is such an exciting time for you and your family, bringing home a brand new addition. Just make sure that your puppy is healthy, and the breeder you select has a long history of successful litters. Because this is technically a mixed breed, you may very well find this combination in a shelter or rescue. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too — Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature she finds. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are cats and dogs.Read more Advertisement. Allergies due to contact with an allergen Eye issues Issues like Progressive retinal atrophy and Cherry eye Dental problems Overcrowded teeth increase dental issues Epilepsy Seizures can begin after the first few years of life The ethicality of bulldog breeding has been questioned by many due to the numerous health issues. An exaggerated physical feature like the shortened muzzle gives this breed severe, life-threatening breathing issues. Bulldogs can pass down this trait to their Bullweiler offspring. Bullweilers live for about 8 to 10 years, depending on their health. Bullweilers can experience the several health issues in bulldogs, like breathing issues contributing to a shorter lifespan. Many individuals advocate for reshaping the bulldog and its mixes to increase their life expectancy and overall health. The trainability of a Bullweiler: Temperament and Intelligence The mellow Bullweiler is relentlessly loyal and dotes on the owners and loved ones. Bullweilers may display the self-assured aloofness of the Rottweilers but warm up easily once you get familiar. They may exhibit territorial tendencies and tend to get protective of their loved ones. Bullweilers have a soft spot for kids, making good family dogs. Despite their family-oriented nature, kids should never be left with these mixed dogs or any other dogs without adult supervision. Early training and socialization ensure your dog is child-tolerant. Bullweilers are moderately intelligent and incredibly motivated by food, making training relatively easy. Their Bulldog parents are not the smartest, but the Rottie genes and food motivation compensate adequately. Are Bullweilers Good with Other Pets? Bullweilers have a high prey drive and are territorial, so interaction with other pets must be supervised. Early socialization increases the likelihood of your dog interacting better with other animals. Smaller pets like hamsters can trigger their prey drive and must be carefully watched. These dogs may also struggle with dog aggression aggression toward other dogs , so socialization is essential. Bullweilers are family-oriented dogs that would make a great addition to the family, especially one without too many other pets one other dog of the opposite gender is ideal. Their minimal grooming and medium exercise requirements make them relatively low-maintenance dogs. Early socialization and training are key to having a good pet. How Much Does a Bullweiler Cost? You can consider getting one from a shelter to provide a home and a second chance at life. Be careful of cheap Bullweiler puppies, as most of these are from unethical backyard breeders. Conclusion Bullweilers are a mixed breed and a great addition to your household. Bullweilers can be prone to breathing issues and other life-threatening conditions for which you must brace yourself if you want one. Early socialization and training will make owning this dog smooth and easy. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. It is a cross between the American Bulldog and the Rottweiler. 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 any of the breeds in the hybrid. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. The mother had a litter of 10 puppies. His temperament is wonderful and he is a lot of fun. Very obedient and aims to please much like the Rottweiler. We are enjoying our new puppy; he is a lot of fun. He is definitely the protector of our house and yard. He does his rounds every morning, walking the perimeter of the yard, chasing any animals who happened to jump our privacy fence or crawl under, even "chasing" the birds in the trees away. He has grown up with our female Pit Bull , Pixie, and they are best of friends. He is very vocal, if you don't respond to his request immediately his bark gets louder until you do. He likes his head on a pillow of some sort, like your legs, side or an actual pillow. He is definitely a jealous guy and can be a real bully to Pixie, claiming all the toys as his own. He is a very heavy lap dog , weighing around lbs. He can cover quite a bit of ground when he runs, and he "prances" around the house when playing. Our home would not be the same without him! We rescued Gracie from the Oregon Humane Society in .She looked very "Shepherdy" and my children and I always disagreed on what type of Shepherd she was. Last month I took her to the vet for her regular check-up and asked the doctor if there was any way that she could identify the type of Shepherd she was; I guessed Aussie , and my kids guessed German. It is amazing how much she looks like one of the pictures of this breed mix that you have on your web page. She is super sweet and loves to give kisses throwback to the name! She is actually a pretty calm, laid-back puppy. She loves to play but never gets over-excited. I have four kids including two toddlers and she never jumps up on them or knocks them over. She was a rescue from a shelter in a nearby city and we are grateful to be her forever family.

This will help you to recognize the nature of the Sheprador a little better. This gave us the Labrador we have come to know and love in modern-day society. Your black Lab pup could weigh as much as 80 lbs, reaching heights of 24 inches. The black Labrador Retriever is an ideal companion because they are always eager to learn and a pleasure to train. These loyal fur babies come from a long line of useful working hounds. Did you know that up until the s, the lovable Labrador was pretty much only black and was intentionally bred to go along on hunting and shooting expeditions? Read next: black dog breeds. The Temperament of the Black Labrador Retriever These sweet-natured furballs are generally pretty active. They love to play and learn. They especially love meeting new people, and they have a strong sense of family loyalty. The American Labrador, or hunting Lab, is built with a daintier frame and tends to possess a bigger drive for retrieving. These doggos are successful at field trials and competitive activities such as hunting. Some Labs, however, are bred specifically for the show ring. Black Labradors are an asset in hunting and sporting communities, and although the popular choice was black, that has shifted slightly in recent years. Where hunting dog owners still do prefer a black coat, those wanting a Lab as a pet or in a show certainly have a preference for a lighter shade. Breeders today sell predominantly lighter-colored Labs, such as yellow, fox red, and chocolate. These good-tempered hounds can be proud members of your family for 12 years or even longer with a healthy diet and the right exercise regime. Standing tall at about 26 inches at shoulder height, this fuzzy friend is clad in a glossy coat and outlined with curvaceous, athletic proportions. A star student, the German Shepherd is delightfully reliable, courageous to the core, and a loyal companion to have by your side. Looking for more intelligent GSD mixes? Getting to Know the German Shepherd The beloved German Shepherds are loyal to the point of putting their own lives on the line when it concerns protecting their loved ones. German Shepherds are extremely courageous but are also one of the most intelligent dog breeds. But when they mean business, these hounds can give a cheetah a run for their money. Looking for a smaller companion? Read more about the most intelligent small dog breeds. The Temperament of the German Shepherd Stout-hearted German Shepherds have been described as the canines that lead the ranks of royalty. Moreover, their character is what sets them shoulders above the rest of the hairy hounds. They have, however, been noted to display a distant, cool quality that does not always bode well for making new friends. However, they still continue to be devoted guardians and valuable team members. Want a protective GSD mix? Yup, you guessed it. A hound that is a blend of two fantastic pups. Both bring enthusiasm and athletic abilities to the table. Labradors, for example, were originally bred as hunting hounds to retrieve fallen fowl from the water and aided as companions on the hunt. Two of the most popular doggos in America are the Labrador and the German Shepherd, so they make for a popular choice among breeders interested in exploring hybrid breeds. These designer pooches are the result of crossing two pure-blooded canines. The Nature of the Lab and German Shepherd Mix When mixing two different dog breeds, each with its own unique nature, there is a possibility for random and unexpected results. This is because traits are passed on and inherited randomly. We can, however, predict that a Sheprador puppy, much like any other hybrid, will inherit the best features from their parent dogs. Despite this, of the batch of hybrid Sheprador pups, some will display more of a German Shepherd personality, and others, more of a black Lab Retriever. Labradors are a very big success in the service and work industry, and to have as domesticated pets in the family home. Their gentle, laid-back nature was an asset to their human companions after a long day of hunting. Born and bred as herding dogs, German Shepherds make excellent security dogs and prefer to work at a distance from whoever is in charge. A handler or herder will get alerted by their German Shepherd whenever something suspicious poses a threat. Labradors are not similar in this regard. But like the lovely Lab, German Shepherds are incredibly versatile creatures and excel in any task they take on. Both doggos are gifted in service or military posts and even in the detection of narcotics. Socialization of the German Shepherd Labrador Mix An essential part of parenthood, when it comes to owning a dog, is socializing your pup. This process allows your pooch to get used to other animals and people. It also helps them to get to know new places and activities. Believe it or not, this is even more reason to prioritize socialization so as to ensure that when they do inevitably interact with other animals or people, they do so in the best way possible. The German Shepherds in your Sheprador will mean they are loyal to the end when it comes to their favorite humans, but they can definitely be wary of strangers. Luckily through early socialization during puppyhood, they can learn good habits. Socialization can even include having people over at your house so they can become used to new voices and faces. Getting them used to small children is also essential to avoid any unwanted accidents out of fear or nervousness. And, of course, if you have other pets, the earlier you introduce them to your Sheprador puppy, the better. Anything new should ideally be introduced earlier rather than later. German Shepherd Labs are likely to inherit this friendliness from both of their parents. Proper socialization will ensure that all parties are comfortable and that your pooch has the confidence to get out there and interact in a healthy way. Read more about why puppies whine so much and why puppies lick your face. Additionally, you should also be sure that you have lots of free time for games and activities that your dog can join in on, such as garden games or even jogging and hiking. These pups can get bored easily and become destructive if they are not properly stimulated. These dogs are really great with children, much like their parent breeds. If properly socialized as puppies, they are truly a joy to have around kids supervised, preferably. So if you have family members who can share the responsibility of entertaining these hounds, then that would be ideal. They are some of the least-aggressive dogs out there, thanks to the Lab in them. But, supervision is important because of their size and slight clumsiness. They can easily knock over a small child in the excitement of fun and games. As you can tell, these doggos are definitely on the needier side and require plenty of love, attention, and care. And not to mention, you are guaranteed a lifelong companion and proud family member. The Appearance of the German Shepherd Lab Mix When one combines these two brilliant pedigree pets, you are likely to end up with a lb hound offering servant-hearted companionship and a diligent, working spirit. Your German Shepherd mixed with Lab will stand tall at about 25 inches and will display the high intelligence and athletic ability of their parent breeds. However, predicting the coat pattern and color of the Sheprador puppy that will emerge from the breeding is not an easy feat. Predicting the inherited physical appearance of any dog is tricky enough as is. So, for the most part, the looks and personality of your Sheprador can be quite a gamble, as with any designer breed. This will simply make your precious pup all the more unique and special. But, if you are specific about the traits of your Sheprador pup, then a reputable breeder will be able to follow the genetic line of the parent breeds and make a rather accurate prediction. These physical and personality traits are a lot easier to predict when the parent dogs — in this case, German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever — are quite similar in nature, which they fortunately are. German Sheprador Coat Labradors have tight, short hair, while German Shepherds have a medium-length, double coat. They can also have longer coats that are wavy. Shepradors are not exactly low-maintenance dog breeds when it comes to grooming. True to its parent breeds, the Sheprador has a double coat consisting of a super warm undercoat and a coarser outer coat to protect them from the elements. These dogs historically worked outdoors, so adequate protection from the heat or the cold was essential. Due to the gene for long coats being recessive and very unusual among Labradors, your Black Lab German Shepherd Mix will most definitely have a neat, short coat like its Labrador parent. This means that even if their German Shepherd parent has a long coat, it is highly unlikely to be passed on to their puppies. However, a lint roller will definitely be your best friend when it comes to maintaining furniture and clothing. Consider also how this handsome hairball may affect any existing asthmatic or allergic conditions. The other main concern when it comes to apartment living is the exercise needs of these dogs. So, if you are available for a rigorous daily walk and plenty of playtime, then it can work. As long as these hounds have the opportunity for daily energy expenditure to keep them happy and healthy, all will be well. Other than that, they will be in their element if they can curl up on the couch for movies and naps with their favorite humans. Like most crossbreeds, mixed breeds are usually healthier than their purebred parents. So if your Sheprador takes after their German Shepherd parent, then you may encounter spinal problems that lead to arthritis and hip dysplasia as they get older. The silver lining is that the good health of the Labrador balances out the potentially compromised health that German Shepherds sometimes have, and the result is a stellar, mostly-healthy Sheprador pup. Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow Dysplasia is characterized by lameness in the forelimb and results in limping. Progressive Retinal Atrophy : This ailment affects the photoreceptor cells of the dog which causes them to deteriorate over time. It eventually leads to blindness. In addition to these conditions, Labradors are also prone to allergies. However, there are no DNA tests to detect this predisposition, so your best bet is to check with your breeder about a family history of allergies. It results due to a lack of von Willebrand factor protein vWF. Hypothyroidism: Marked by an underactive thyroid condition, this endocrine disorder in dogs is rather common. It causes bodily functions to slow down, and warning signs include lethargy and weight gain. Cataracts: German Shepherds are prone to eye problems like Cataracts. It occurs when the dog develops cloudiness in the eye, which disturbs its vision. It causes abnormal blood clot formation. More About the Health of Your Black Lab and German Shepherd Mix While this breed has some health concerns in its parent breeds, these can be detected early on with screenings. Other than that, conditions like obesity can be prevented by pet owners. The best thing you can do with your Sheprador puppy is to find a reputable breeder and ask many questions. Find out about the parent breeds, what their health and medical histories are, and be sure to ask for health screening certificates. Life Expectancy of the Sheprador Now that we know what health issues to look out for, what is the lifespan of these hounds? Labrador Retrievers live between 10 and 14 years, whereas German Shepherds typically live less long, between 9 and 12 years. Exercise Regime for the German Shepherd and Lab Mix With black Labs and German Shepherds being high-energy, athletic animals, combining the two of them results in a grown Sheprador in need of at least 2 hours of walking a day. These two types of dogs were bred with the initial purpose of being active and physical for several hours each day. They are excellent work dogs and will likely chew your furniture or dig up your rose garden if left ignored or indoors for prolonged periods of time. In addition to going for walks or runs, playtime with your Sheprador can include tug of war, fetch, and working on developing scent detection. In addition to needing lots of playtime and physical stimulation, they also need a lot of mental stimulation. This can include dog puzzles and dog toys — they are very mouthy pups, so multiple chew toys, or anything to clutch in their jaw, for that matter, will suffice. Not to mention, these hounds will be in their element with doggy sports like obedience training, agility work, and fieldwork. They are hard-working and love any opportunity to learn something new while pleasing their favorite humans. Both parents of the Sheprador were bred to spend several hours a day being mentally and physically challenged. And take note that no amount of fetch games with a ball launcher will be too much for these playful canines. Dietary Requirements of the Labrador and German Shepherd Mix In order to ensure you have a Sheprador with a happy and healthy life, you should be sure that you feed your pooch the right dog food. Not all dog food on the market is high quality, so carefully selecting the right brand is important. In general, a good rule of thumb is to opt for food with all-natural ingredients and high-fiber dog food that includes fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure they have a diet high in protein. You should also avoid food with filler ingredients, artificial flavoring, and preservatives. The Labrador side of these hounds will certainly mean they come with a big appetite and a love for snacking. Due to this, Shepradors are very prone to weight gain and overeating. To avoid gulping down their dinner, it may be best to invest in a slow feeder. If Shepradors are allowed to become overweight, they will suffer from joint problems, hip dysplasia, and, later on, arthritis. This mixed breed is quite widely accessible and is luckily not as pricey as other, more fashionable crossbreeds. The best route is to research reputable breeders and follow recommendations. Shepradors are not extremely expensive dog breeds. Adopting a Sheprador If you are struggling to find a reputable breeder or you simply have your heart set on a Black Lab German Shepherd, then rescuing is a great option. Be sure to check out your local shelters and adoption agencies. These pups have so much love to give and deserve a second chance at a happy home. They are also easily adaptable and should slot into their new environment and family without too much fuss. Remember that they flourish on positive reinforcement and rely on learning and training in order to thrive. Like with any relationship, there will be highs and lows. But, for the most part, the pros will likely outweigh the cons when it comes to the Black Lab mixed with German Shepherd. Cons of Owning a Sheprador They can inherit serious health issues: this is emotionally and financially stressful, but health screenings can, fortunately, help predict and prevent inherited issues. They need lots of exercise: without sufficient exercise and a generally active lifestyle, these hounds will grow restless, bored, and unhappy. They are likely to shed heavily: without a frequent brushing and sweeping routine, your pooch will leave your home in a blanket of hair. Pros of Owning a Sheprador Shepradors are outgoing with loyal personalities: your Sheprador is always eager to play, engage, learn, and meet new people, which makes them great companions. They are great family pets: affectionate and loving, Shepradors want to belong in your family and feel needed on the team. The dogs are excellent security dogs: the Sheprador is innately a protector and a watchdog and will alert you of any threats to your safety. Final Thoughts on the Sheprador There you have it, folks — the brilliant, blended Sheprador that we all adore. This razor-sharp, athletically-inclined hound is a sure companion to have at your side. They are eager to please and easy to train, which will make them a pleasure to have around in the home or on the job. You cannot go wrong with parenting one of these fur babies unless, of course, you have a problem with too much loyalty and brilliance. Looking for more GSD crossbreeds? Take a look at these posts next:. Characteristics Life Span As pointed out in the intro paragraph Shepradors generally live between 10 and 12 years, and sometimes they can reach the age of .However, they tend to be cautious with strangers, thanks to their German Shepherd ancestors. Caring Grooming: their shorthaired coat needs regular brushing: every day in the shedding season spring and autumn and three-to-five times a week in the rest of the year. Activity level With two highly energetic parent breeds, these dogs need an active life, so be ready to spend several hours a day keeping your pet busy. A Labrador Shepherd is generally 20 to 26 inches tall cm. Besides being active, you should have a large house, with a yard to provide her with enough space to move around. The Labrador Shepherd likes cold climates rather than hot weather, so be sure to have the ability to keep her comfortable all year. Further Reading Top 10 Dog Sports 2. They have it in their blood, and can successfully do police work, including searching, tracking, rescue, or guard work. If you care about your flowers and plants, you should also consider building an enclosure to keep your dog away from them. When you bring her inside, provide her with toys and games to keep her busy. She will enjoy any activity that stimulates her mind, such as dog puzzles or training sessions. The vacuum cleaner will be your new best friend German Shepherd Lab Mix is a double-coated breed, which means they have an undercoat next to the skin with longer hair over the top. Dogs from this crossbreed shed a lot, especially when the seasons change. If you want to keep her hair shiny and healthy, you should take time to brush her for at least minutes, three-to-five times a week. A consistent brushing schedule will help you reduce the amount of hair around the house. Besides brushing, you should include in your schedule: cleaning her ears once a week , brushing her teeth at least three times a week , and cleaning her eyes when needed. While this sounds like a lot, on the other hand, she only needs to take a bath about once a month. Exercising her on a concrete surface could help you keep her nails in good shape and reduce the number of visits to the vet. Always buy non-toxic toys, and substitute them with new ones as soon as they start deteriorating to avoid accidents. Your dog will need some strong toys, adapted to her age. Most hybrids tend to have a balanced personality, but as your puppy could be the result of more crosses , she may not inherit the exact characteristics you want in a dog; your future dog is prone to a series of health issues, caused by her bloodline. Obesity, hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases and diabetes are a lot more common with these dogs, but she could also develop epilepsy, skin allergies, bloat or cardiovascular diseases, these being common among Labradors and German Shepherds. From my point of view, most estimations work well for average dogs. You should buy your dog from a responsible breeder In most cases, a Labrador Shepherd has high potential and is a great candidate for the title of the perfect family dog. However, as mentioned before, hybrid dogs could have unpredictable coat colors, personalities, and health issues, so buying your puppy from a reliable source is as close as you can get to a clear image about your future dog. Generally, this hybrid can be 26 inches 66 cm tall and can weigh up to 88 pounds 40 kg. Taking into account the height and weight of its German Shepherd and Labrador mix parents, this crossbreed is a medium to a large-sized dog. So measurements can still vary more or less from that range. Good news for you! It will shower you with love and loyalty, and make you proud with its intelligence and playfulness. Do you think you can deal with this? Shepradors has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, but some of them can reach this age. We all want our pets to live longer and spend more years with us, so read this section to avoid and better prepare against genetic illnesses. Conclusion As you could see above, when buying a Sheprador you get the best of two great breeds. I think that this mix of German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever makes for the perfect family dog — kind, loyal, patient with children, and protective. However, they have endless energy and require a lot of time and attention, which makes them suitable for active families only. So are you ready to handle such a dog? Leave us a comment below and tell us about your personal experience with this unique crossbreed. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. But I adopted my little Hank recently and he seems both very playful and very cuddly. He likes to snuggle a lot but is very active too. Just wondering if I should expect him to go crazy one of these days? Origin of the Black Lab German Shepherd Mix Designer dogs — the result of deliberately crossing two different pedigrees — are a relatively recent phenomenon. But the Labrador and German Shepherd pedigrees both go right back to the 19th century. And understanding their individual histories provides important insights into German Sheprador temperament. Labrador history Labradors were originally bred as hunting dogs, to retrieve fallen waterfowl from the water. Breeders selected breeding dogs for traits which made them great at this job: a strong build, a thick waterproof coat, and an enthusiasm to learn and work in a team with their handler. The best Labs were also gentle and chilled out companions once the hunting day was over. Which is why Labradors exploded so successfully onto the pet scene, and into service roles as well. Unlike Labs, GSDs needed to be able to work confidently at a distance from their handler. They also used to double up as watch dogs and guard dogs, alerting their owner to the arrival of anything unfamiliar, which might be a threat to their flock. Like Labradors, they also proved to be remarkably versatile, and succeed in a wide variety of roles — including police work, military work, narcotics detection, and service roles. What to Expect From a Black Lab German Shepherd Mix The whole purpose of establishing pedigrees for purebred dogs is to ensure that all the puppies descended from that pedigree look and behave in a reliable way. Inevitably, mixing breeds creates possibilities for unpredictable results. Puppies inherit traits from both of their parents at random. Designer dogs with parents who have a lot in common are easier to predict. Puppies from parents who either look very different, or were bred for very different purposes, are more variable. Black Labs can also carry the genes for chocolate and yellow coloring. Some Labs also silently carry the genes for markings like tan points. These genes hark back to when Gordon Setters contributed to the foundation of the breed. So a black Lab German Shepherd mix puppy might be black or dark brown, and have markings including sable shading or tan points. How big do German Shepherd black Lab mixes get? Labradors and German Shepherds are both medium to large sized dogs. Labs weigh 55 to 80 pounds, and GSDs weigh 50 to 90 pounds. For both breeds, females tend to occupy the bottom end of the weight range, and males the upper end. So, a black Lab German Shepherd mix could weigh anything between 50 and 90 pounds too. Their weight will be partly determined by all of the following: the general parameters of the breed the size of their parents their sex and environmental factors, like receiving adequate nutrition in puppyhood. Do black Lab German Shepherd mix dogs shed? Labs and GSDs both have thick double coats — ideal for insulating them against harsh weather conditions whilst working. So, one thing we can say for sure about the black Lab German Shepherd is that they too will be high-shedding dogs. Regular brushing, and seasonal grooming with specialist tools like a Furminator can help to keep your house clear of discarded fur. They also have a strong retrieving instinct — or in other words they like to carry things around in their mouths! Black Labs in particular have traditionally been favored for working roles, so they tend to be focussed and easily motivated to engage in training. German Shepherds are often described as courageous and loyal. They have strong herding and guarding instincts. Part of this is an innate distrust of unfamiliar people. Although, they are devoted and affectionate to their human family and regular guests. They are also very smart, and capable of picking up new cues quickly. But they are both talented problem solvers and quick learners. Sheprador puppies are sure to be smart and trainable too. So, the training and socialization you do with them while they are young will be very important. Puppies under 12 weeks old readily form positive associations with new things, if they have a good first encounter with them. Socialization is particularly important for German Shepherds and their mixes, because they are naturally inclined to be wary of strangers. It gives them the confidence to interact calmly with the world when they are older. Typically friendly breeds like Labs still need socializing too. And very friendly individuals will also need teaching how to greet people calmly, without jumping up or getting over excited. German Shepradors also need methodical leash training from a young age — being dragged along the sidewalk by a large dog is no fun! Exercise Labs and GSDs are both athletic dogs which have been bred to be mentally and physically active for several hours a day. An adult Lab GSD mix dog needs at least 2 hours of walking per day. At home, they enjoy additional games of fetch, tug and scent work. Training and puzzle feeders like Kongs and sniffle mats are valuable for providing mental exercise. A Sheprador is also likely to enjoy dog sports like fieldwork and advanced obedience training. Black Lab German Shepherd Mix Health Just like in every other respect, Sheprador health is a mixed inheritance from both of their parent breeds. Labrador Health. However, the black German Shepherd is much less well-known. This coloration is extremely rare and not currently recognized by most major kennel clubs. But they have since grown significantly in popularity. Usually, German Shepherds have a single coat pattern — black and tan. However, fully black German Shepherds do exist. This is not due to crossbreeding; the gene for completely black coats is carried by purebred German Shepherds. It is much rarer than the usual coloration, though. They have the same build and grow to be the about same size as a purebred German Shepherd. Males usually weight between 65 to 90 pounds, while females are 50 to 75 pounds. These are considered medium-to-large dogs, so consider whether you have the space before adopting one. Their height is around inches. This is correct for both males and females. Black German Shepherds are completely black. Most German Shepherds have at least a little bit of black on them. However, German Shepherds have nothing but black. Their coat is generally the same besides for their different in coloration. Their double-coat helps them stay clean and warm. As working dogs, these canines are built to work, and it shows. This coat color is accepted by the AKC. It is also not the result of crossbreeding, as some misinformation may state. Instead, it is simply a rare color that very few German Shepherds end up with. It only showed up recently and is sometimes encouraged through selective breeding. While the gene for a solid black coat was once though to be recessive, many people now consider it to be dominant. These dogs always have dark-colored eyes. Blue eyes are extremely rare and usually a sign that a dog has other breeds in his pedigree, such as Huskies. Other than the color, the body of black German Shepherds looks just like his black and tan cousins. As in all German Shepherds, the ears are typically erect, though floppy ears in adult can be seen occasionally. History By , the generalized herding dogs of Europe had split themselves into a few different distinctive breeds, including the German Shepherd. During the s, there was an attempt to standardize dog breeds and promote traits that encouraged sheep herding, including speed, strength, endurance, and intelligence. However, varieties still existed from place to place. Slight breeding difference had led to slightly different shepherds. During the industrial revolution, the need for sheepdogs decreased along with the predator population. Luckily, by this point, people were already recognizing the intelligence and ability of the previous herding dogs. From this dog the breed standard grew. In just a few generations, the German Shepherd was one of the most populous in the world. Honrand fathered many puppies. Nearly all German Shepherds today are descended from him. There was quite a bit of inbreeding that occurred to produce the German Shepherd breed we know today. The Black German Shepherd has likely existed to some extent since the breed was produced. However, many dogs do not carry the completely black gene. Many completely black German Shepherds in the past were likely culled at birth due to the defect. Today, the gene is seeing a reoccurrence. Personality and Temperament The German Shepherd is often considered to be an aggressive dog. However, this is not completely true. They do have significant protective instincts, as they were originally bred to guard flocks of sheep. For instance, the German Shepherd has a bite force of over 1, newtons. But there are several dogs that rank around this as well, including the Rottweiler, Pit Bull, and Labrador Retriever. Most dogs at about this size are going to have a similar bite strength. German Shepherds are considered to be moderately active. They need just about as much exercise as dogs of a similar size. This breed is well-known for being heavily devoted to their people and easy to train. When trained properly, they will absolutely listen. However, they do have innate protective instincts. If you want to dog that is going to be protective of their family, this is a great choice. These canines do need extensive socialization starting at a young age, though. Otherwise, they can become a bit too protective of their family and territory. These canines are not the friendliest. They are people-oriented, but not with strangers. They tend to be quite unsure with strangers. At best, they usually ignore them completely. Other times, they may be obviously uncomfortable. German Shepherds have high prey drive. On the one hand that means that you can easily motivate them with a ball or tug toy. On the other hand, it requires a lot of supervision for owners that have small dogs or cats in addition to their shepherd. While your dog might not outright try to fight with a cat or smaller dog, he could even accidentally hurt them during play. They are extremely intelligent and devoted to their owners. Unlike some dog breeds, they will listen to their owners in most real-life situations. They can learn a variety of different commands very easily and will actually do them when asked. However, these dogs do need the training. Without it, they can be overly protective and even potentially dangerous. Their ease of training does make fulfilling this need quite easy, though. We do recommend puppy classes starting at a very young age. These classes provide the extra socialization that your dog needs, as well as allows you to jumpstart their training. We only recommend private classes for dogs that are too reactive around strangers and other dogs to thrive in a group class. Usually, only German Shepherds who were not properly socialized as puppies will fit into this category. If you adopt an older German Shepherd that seems in need of socialization, we recommend taking private classes with an experienced trainer. You can work your dog through some basic commands and then work on socializing them with safe people and dogs. The trainer should be able to help you in this regard. The German Shepherd is a more active breed, and completely black German Shepherds are not different. While there are more active dog breeds out there, these canines are best for those that are quite active. They need at least two medium-to-long walks per day. Puppies will likely need some extra play sessions as well. Health and Care German Shepherds are pretty healthy as far as purebred dogs come. However, they are prone to some health problems. Many of these are due to the inbreeding that occurred early in the breed, which made some previously rare traits more common. Black German Shepherds are not known to have any more health problems than their black-and-tan cousins. Their coat coloration is not associated with any particular health issues or anything of that sort. It is important to purchase these dogs from a qualified breeder, as they tend to perform plenty of health testing on any dog they plan on breeding. This helps them recognize health problems and pick only the healthiest dogs possible for producing litters. We do recommend purchasing a German Shepherd that was bred as a working dog — not one produced as a show dog. These two lines of dogs are somewhat distinct as they have been bred for two very different purposes. Show dogs tend to confirm to an extreme extent to the breed standard, which increase the amount of health problems they develop. On the other hand, working dogs were bred with practicality in mind. Many German Shepherds have hip and elbow dysplasia. This disease occurs when the ball and socket of the joint do not line up correctly, leading to excess wear-and-tear. Eventually, this cause arthritis-like symptoms, but at a much earlier age than arthritis typically shows up. Usually, this damage occurs during puppyhood when the dog is growing, but they may not show symptoms until a few years later. There are a few things pet owners can do to reduce the chance of hip and elbow dysplasia in their German Shepherd. Many of these dogs are also affected by degenerative spinal stenosis. However, this study had a notably small sample size, so it may not be entirely accurate. On a good note, German Shepherds are actually less likely to get ear infections than other dogs. Degenerative myelopathy occurs often enough in German Shepherds that they are likely predispositioned to it. This test is very expensive, so many breeders perform it on their dogs before breeding as well as on the puppies after they are born. Once the test is used regularly, it becomes very easy to remove it from the breed. Von Willebrand disease also occurs at a higher level in German Shepherds than in the normal dog population. It is likely that they are genetically predispositioned to it. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs in German Shepherds as well. This condition is usually treated with medication and pancreatic supplements. It is most likely genetic, so health testing and keeping track of pedigrees is important to eliminating it in the breed. Medium-coated dogs will only need brush two to three times a week. Long coats will need combed through at least once a day to prevent mats. Because of their double coat, dogs of all coat types will shed profusely. Do not adopt a black German Shepherd unless you can deal with a lot of extra hair. Even if you brush your dog daily, they will still shed everywhere. Usually, this occurs in the spring and fall, but it can depend on your local climate. Shedding is also tied to hormones — not just the weather. There is little you can do to reduce the overall amount of shedding your dog does. However, anti-shedding shampoos and a high-quality diet can help. It is usually not too difficult to find a normal German Shepherd breeder somewhere near you. However, not all breeders produce black dogs. Most will also be significantly more expensive than a black-and-tan German Shepherd due to their rarity. Many people want a black German Shepherd, which means that you often have to be prepared to pay a bit extra. However, this is still much cheaper than you might expect for a large dog. As a common breed, they are usually cheaper than most. It may be tempting to cut corners and purchase a cheaper puppy. However, this is not recommended, especially when it comes to German Shepherds. These puppies need socialized from the moment they are born. Often, breeders put in this time and effort. We highly recommend only purchasing puppies form very experienced breeders. Otherwise, you may end up with an unsocialized puppy and a troublesome temperament. You should always ask about the pedigree of the parents, as well as the health testing the breeder has done. Ask to see the parents if at all possible. Sometimes, the father will be located somewhere else, so only the mother will be at the breeder. In this case, it is usually fine to just see the mother. You can tell a lot about a breeder form how they keep the mother and the puppies, so be absolutely sure to ask to see their living conditions. The parents should be AKC registered, so you should ask for registration. But AKC registration does not mean that the dog is high-quality. Every German Shepherd can be registered — even those with no health testing. Preferably, you should have owned at least one dog before. It is recommended that you have some experience with more active dogs, as well. These dogs are quite active and tend to be high-energy. Without the appropriate amount of exercise, they can easily become destructive. In fact, most of the destructive behavior associated with a German Shepherd is due to a lack of stimulation. German Shepherds require extensive training as well, so it is best if they have a handler that has previously trained dogs. They will take up a few hours a day as puppies and require as much as an hour or two of exercise alone. Many of these canines are more expensive than their black-and-tan counterparts. However, they have won the hearts of many pet owners. It will often take you a little bit before you locate a completely black puppy, so be prepared to sit on a few waiting lists. Despite their unusual colorations, these dogs are very similar to all other German Shepherds. They have the same temperament and work great as guard dogs. You have to prepare to train and socialize them properly. They require quite a bit more work than other breeds, but it is absolutely worth it in the end. We recommend these dogs for serious dog owners who have previously owned dogs. German Shepherds are not for the casual dog owner. They need someone who can commit to their training and activity needs. Author: Kristin Kristin was born in Tennessee and currently lives there with her husband and children. She is passionate about educating pet parents and helping them make the best possible decisions for their pets. She currently owns one dog, two cats, a lizard, and a variety of fish. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article. The best time to adopt a German Shepherd puppy earlier than eight weeks is during the spring. They are very lovable and the best gift you can give to them is a loving home where they can grow up. The adoption fees for adopting a German Shepherd are quite high, but if you compare it to the benefits you will get out of the dog it is indeed an expense worth taking. These dogs need care, time and space, love, and affection. They have a strong desire to please their owners and this shows in their actions and performance. So, if you are planning to get one of these dogs, York PA is the place that you should be looking. Nowadays many websites are dedicated to helping dog owners with their German shepherd puppies in NY. These websites contain all the necessary details regarding the dogs, their care requirements, and the necessary vaccinations that they should have. You can even interact with other dog lovers and find out more about the puppies. It is also possible to know about the different aspects of owning these types of pets. Here you can learn about the different puppies, their qualities, and the different locations from where you can adopt them. If you want to have a healthy and happy pet then you must know how to take care of them. German Shepherds are very lovable and they make the best companions in the world. There are many ways in which these dogs can make your life happy. One of the best ways to show how much you love and care for your dog is to adopt them and give them the best home possible. This will ensure that they stay with you for long and your loyalty and care for them will never fade. All these puppies have their own personalities but they are all very lovable and energetic. They are intelligent, loyal, protective, and happy dogs. Most of them are good-natured and you can even go as far as to say that most are gentle. German shepherd puppies that are available for adoption are cheap because these dogs are bred to be used for police work and not for show. If you plan to adopt them then you need to prepare yourself financially. However, the important thing is that you have to be sure that you are prepared financially. You can adopt one of the little dogs or a full-grown adult. Just make sure that you choose someone honest and dependable. German Shepherd puppies are smart and strong dogs but they do tend to be stubborn. So, if you are planning to adopt a puppy ensure that you have somebody willing to give it the time and attention it needs to become accustomed to its new environment and the people who will be around it. Choose carefully, because if you choose the wrong person then you might end up with a dog that is either too aggressive or too submissive. Adopting a puppy from York PA is not easy because there are many considerations to take into account. Also, there are certain factors that you need to consider such as the socialization that the puppy has undergone. You have to make sure that your puppy has been trained to act properly in public so that you will be able to socialize it right away. A York puppy also requires a lot of love and attention. You need to show it that you really do care for it and that you love the dog first before you buy it. Make sure that you know the kind of dog that you want to get before buying one because there are different kinds. The Chihuahua is the most common and cute of all the dog breeds and is the one most commonly used by people. You could pay to have a German Shepherd dog surgically installed in your home, which will mean having to travel with this dog in its cage at all times. Or, you can also choose to adopt a German Shepherd pup and go about getting your new family pet right here in the city or state of New York. And New York has a lot of different options for where to adopt German Shepherd puppies. The correct age to get a German Shepherd pup is approximately seven weeks old to eight weeks old. The longer a puppy is in a foster care situation, the more likely it that it will develop issues associated with being removed from its natural environment at an early age. You just need to look harder. Adoption agencies and breed rescue groups often have a high demand for these puppies, so you may have to do a little bit of searching to find the right one. Another plus side to adopting German Shepherds is that they have a great temperament and if raised in loving homes, they have a high level of self-confidence. These dogs also love daily walks, so if you have the space for a large yard for your puppy, then you could consider buying one. The most common German Shepherd puppies available for purchase are those from Yorkie breeders. There are also several premium German Shepherd breeders available who specialize in breeding them and have a good understanding of animal husbandry and psychology. When you buy German Shepherd puppies earlier, you can choose to buy puppies who are already housebroken, or you can opt to buy pups who are still in the puppy stage and have not been formally trained yet. This is the best period to adopt since negative reinforcements such as harsh training and neglect will no longer affect them. By six weeks old, your puppy should be able to follow simple commands such as sit, come, and stay. If you opt to buy puppies at a younger age than eight weeks old, then the best age for adoption is between three months and five months old. At this age, your puppy will already be housebroken and will already be showing signs of intelligence. You should also take them out for walks regularly to expose them to new environments. When you decide to adopt German Shepherd puppies in the fall, the most common reason why these dogs are available is due to puppies being born into the breeding population. Typically, you can get these dogs at seven weeks old, but you should make sure they are healthy before bringing them home. Since German Shepherd puppies, in general, have very good temperaments, they are great dogs to have around your household for many years. Share this:.

With a coat that's relatively clean and maintenance-free, even if your pup indulges in a mud puddle now and again, you can expect bath time to be infrequent at best. Non-Bathing Beauty A boxer dog is a real looker, but not necessarily a bathing beauty. It is not unheard of for a full-grown boxer to go several months without a bath -- her short, sleek coat stays clean through her daily, cat-style licking techniques. A boxer pup is no exception; you should bathe her as infrequently as possible to preserve the natural oils on her coat. Where and How Get your pup accustomed to any grooming process at a young age so she won't put up a stink later on in life. Bathe your boxer pup ASAP if she has a run-in with a cow pie, a skunk or a mud puddle. Beyond that, it's not necessary to schedule a routine beauty treatment for your wash-and-wear fur child. When you want to give her a bath, do so inside in a toasty bathroom or on a hot day in the sun. Wet her coat with warm water -- not hot, not cold -- then rub a veterinarian-approved, gentle soap into her coat. Rinse all residue off completely. It's important to keep her nice and warm during the process. Towel dry thoroughly. Wipe and Go Because slobber, food and all sorts of goop can find its way to your boxer's face like a magnet, her short muzzle and flappy flews will benefit from a daily face wash with a warm washcloth dampened with water. Gently wipe between the folds on her muzzle and under the dewlaps -- those hangy-down parts under her chin. If you don't, expect a smelly kiss, courtesy of all that dried saliva. While you're at it, wipe her soft, pink ear leather to inspect for ear mites and keep the area clean. Health Considerations Talk to your vet about how often you should give your boxer puppy a bath. If your dog suffers from skin issues that cause odors, such as allergies, the vet will want to treat her for those underlying conditions. After all, a bottle of doggie shampoo can only go so far in covering up a case of stink dog. More Articles. How often should you bathe a boxer puppy? Birth of the puppy - First cleaning After giving birth, the boxer mother licks her cubs thoroughly and places them neatly in her basket or bed. From that moment onward, when they urinate or defecate most likely the mother will groom them and lick their deposits - in the wild they do this to avoid being tracked by their smell and thereby confuse predators. Ideally, the pups remain for at least three months with their mother and it is her who teaches them about behavior and cleanliness; boxer dogs, despite their drool, are a particularly clean breed. First month of life Unfortunately, most puppies are separated prematurely from their parents, sometimes even as soon as 15 days old. This means that they do not learn as fast as they should, and they do not have the warmth of their parents, which hinders their whole learning process. For this reason, if your boxer puppy is under a month old you must avoid bathing it at all costs. As boxer puppies are so small, they will have difficulty regulating their temperature. If your boxer puppy has urinated or has dirtied themselves in any other way, you should use baby wipes. These are only slightly damp, and they will remind them of their mother's tongue. You can also use a very soft natural hair brush and brush them every two or three days. Two to three months old At this stage, the puppy begins to receive its vaccines. It is very important to note that you should not bathe your dog if it has been less than a week since they were vaccinated, or before doing so. Also this is when they learn a routine of urinating and defecating, and in order to avoid them getting dirty we recommend keeping track of the times they relieve themselves, which are usually after sleeping and eating. If you still think that wipes and brushes are not enough because your boxer puppy is fouling that much something which not should happen , you can start to think about giving them their first bath, but always keep to the timelines mentioned above before and after any vaccinations. As always, make sure you're properly following the recommended vaccination schedule for dogs. How to bathe a boxer puppy Before you do anything, check with your vet which is the best shampoo for your boxer puppy; their skin is too sensitive to use one for adult dogs. Follow these steps: Get a small plastic container. Find a warm and draft-free place in the house. Fill the container with warm water. Wash the pup and apply shampoo. Rinse off and take them out of the water. Dry thoroughly with a towel or even use a hairdryer at a low setting if it is still damp; a puppy cannot stay wet. Although the experience of bathing a boxer puppy is sweet and fun, you should not do it on a regular basis as puppies have natural fat in their skin that gives them some protection. For this reason, if you bathe them constantly you will eliminate the layer of protection, exposing it to the environment, diseases, allergies and sensitivity. Avoid washing your boxer puppy unless it is strictly necessary and leave a minimum of days between baths. Excerpts from PetCareRx Boxers have very little odor and stay clean for long periods of time. Still, grooming is an important part of a good health regiment. With a short, tight coat that doesn't mat or tangle, the Boxer dog is practically "wash and wear. But it's not necessarily this way for all Boxers. There may be skin-related issues that require you to bathe your Boxer more frequently; for example, if the dog suffers from food or flea allergies, or if your dog likes to roll around in dirt. If your dog is an indoor dog or couch potato, however, the grooming procedures are quite minimal. Boxers are naturally clean animals who groom themselves with their cat-like licking skills. Step 1 Brush the Boxer with a rubber curry brush weekly to remove dead hair. Use in a circular motion and brush gently into the coat. The rubber nibs of the brush massage and stimulate the dog's skin and hair. Step 2 Wipe away any surface dirt with a soft cloth, or use commercially available pet wipes to remove more stubborn spots or dirt. Step 3 Bathe your Boxer as needed with a shampoo made especially for dogs. Don't use human shampoo and especially don't use liquid detergent, both of which dry the dog's skin and can strip the oils from their coat. Choose a warm summer day or simply slide your dog into the tub in a heated bathroom. Wet the coat thoroughly, and then apply shampoo, lather and rinse. Use fresh, clean, warm water, and then towel dry. Step 4 Gently wipe the leather side of the ear flap with a soft cloth to remove dirt. You can wrap a cloth around your finger to clean just inside the ear opening, but don't insert a cotton swab into the ear canal; you could perforate the ear drum. Step 5 Routinely check your Boxer for minor skin irritations while you are grooming them. Boxers are semi-prone to hot spots, also known as lick sores or acute moisture dermatitis. It is caused when the dog constantly licks a small irritation such as a mosquito or flea bite. The constant licking and biting at the irritation causes the skin to become moist and irritated. If you notice a small bite, pimple or scratch, keep an eye on it and tell your dog to stop if you notice they are biting or licking at the area. Consult a veterinarian if the area worsens. The low maintenance coat requires little care so the main goals are to keep them from smelling and to reduce shed. The short coat does shed regularly so weekly brushing is very important; the best grooming brush for Boxers is a bristle brush or rubber mitt. Baths are only truly needed every few months, especially if your pet is indoors; outdoor Boxers that tend to get smelly can be bathed as frequently as every 3 weeks. Keep in mind, your pet may have sensitive skin so make sure to use a gentle dog shampoo. Brushing Weekly brushing is recommended for this breed although you can do it more often if you'd like-- or less, if you want to clean up more shed hair. This routine also allows you to monitor your dogs skin for bumps, lumps, wounds, rashes, etc. The best brush for Boxers is a bristle brush or grooming mitt due to many having sensitive skin. Getting Out Tangles Boxers' short, flat coats don't get tangles per se, but that doesn't mean that a nice conditioning wash and regular brushing are not required. The larger concern is on reducing the shed hair cleanup for this breed so, in addition to weekly brushing, some owners may choose to try a Furminator on their Boxer. This step is probably not necessary and it's much better for their skin and coats to try to commit to regular brushing. This is actually pretty important since this breed is known to have sensitive skin. The main rule is not to bathe them too frequently-- once per month is ok, perhaps once every 3 weeks if they smell. Most Boxers need baths every few months. Use a dog shampoo that is gentle and moisturizing. Some Boxers will need hypoallergenic or all natural shampoo if you notice scratching and skin irritation. A few helpful tips are as follows: Brush your dog before bathing Fill the tub or bucket up with warm water before introducing them to bath time Have a wet washcloth on hand to wipe off the face and eyes Q-tips work wonders for reaching into the wrinkles and cleaning the ears careful, don't go too deep Paw Care Your Boxer's nails will likely need trimming once per month. Generally, you can tell if your dog's nails are too long and if you hear them clicking on the floor or pavement then it's definitely time for a trim. Some owners choose a guillotine style cutter while others opt for a rotating file-- there are some that also prefer to file with a hefty emery board type file. Many owners are fearful of cutting into the quick which can cause bleeding and pain for the pet, however, you can avoid this by going slowly and taking off a little at a time. A helpful tip: try giving you Boxer a treat after each paw or even each nail that you finish. Other Care Teeth- Most experts recommend daily brushing of your Boxer dogs teeth. Teeth problems such as excessive plaque is linked to more than just gum disease- many serious health issues including heart disease can be linked to the mouth. Brush daily or at least weekly with a finger brush or canine toothbrush with a drop of canine toothpaste to prevent your Boxer having bad breath. Ears-You may check the ears every couple weeks but, in general, your Boxer will need monthly ear cleaning. Ear cleaning solution can be purchased from your vet or local pet store. A rag or cotton ball dipped in the solution works well but you can also use QTips to clean the outer area. Eyes- Boxers have large eyes that need to be wiped with a damp washcloth as needed to prevent tear stains or gooey buildup. Wrinkles- This is a site of bacterial and yeast buildup if not kept clean. Every month you can take a QTip with baby oil or unscented oil and run it in between the wrinkles to remove dirt. The best flea treatment for Boxers and prevention too : see a veterinarian. Owner Surrender Grooming Boxers have a short, tight fitting coat, so they do not require much grooming. Your boxer will need a full bath every few months with a mild dog shampoo. Bathing more frequently can cause dry skin and itching. Your boxer may get dirty in between baths, but usually a good wipe down with a wet washcloth will get him or her back into shape. You will also need to clean your boxers ears. This keeps their ears looking and smelling nice, and it helps to avoid ear infections. You can purchase ear cleaning solution from your vet, and also at most pet supply stores. However a cotton ball soaked in room temperature green tea works just as well! Clipping your boxers nails is another grooming task that you should be prepared for. If you are clipping your boxers nails yourself, be careful not to trim them too short, as you could cut the quick. The quick runs through the center of the nail, and if cut it will bleed. If you clip your dogs nails on a regular basis, the quick will not grow as far to the front of the nail, making them easier to cut! An alternative to clipping your boxers nails is to file them using a metal nail file with a rounded tip. You can also buy a tool called a dremmel to file your boxers nails. Most dogs like having their nails filed, and there is less chance of cutting the quick. This will keep them distracted so you can take care of what you need to. Brushing your boxers teeth is something that should be done every day. Periodontal disease can lead to serious illnesses in your boxer. Good dental hygiene has been shown to increase the lifespan of your dog by up to 2 years! You can purchase dog toothpaste mmm, chicken flavored! If your dog is not used to having their teeth brushed, start by using a fingertip brush. This is a rubber brush that fits over your finger, and it is easier for your dog to get used to than a regular brush. Also, speak with your vet about having professional cleanings done as your dog starts to get older. Eyes Teeth Grooming a Boxer is not difficult and can be a great way for you to bond with your dog. Many dogs find this time relaxing and show signs that they love being pampered. Grooming a Boxer is not difficult and can be a great way for you to bond with your dog. Baths A Boxer has shiny, short hair and therefore does not need a bath as often as other breeds may. It is recommended to give your Boxer a bath every 2 to 3 weeks sooner if under certain circumstances, i. If you will be showing your Boxer in the ring, you will want to give him or her baths once per week. Before the event, a bath should be given the night before. Giving too many baths will dry out the skin of this breed and can lead to itching, sometime intense. It is recommended to give your Boxer a bath every 3 weeks but more often under certain circumstances, i. One may think that no harm would come from using human products; however this is not true. Canines are often allergic to human products and human shampoo has a completely different pH balance than what this breed requires for healthy skin and coat. Therefore, it is suggested to always use a effective canine shampoo, followed by a quality canine conditioner. Bath time should be a fun time; though serious attention must be given in order to do a thorough job. Choose a time when you won't feel rushed. Dogs pick up on their owner's vibes.If you're feeling frustrated or are in a hurry, your Boxer may resist baths or feel stressed when being cleaned. Plan ahead of time so that the bath is already filled; rushing water can scare a puppy. The water should be warm. Use your wrist to check the temperature. If it feels hot to you, it will be too hot for your dog. Since an adult is rather large, you may opt to bathe your dog outside and this is fine as long as it's 'weather permitting'. Do keep in mind that this should be done only if your dog has learned to love baths, doesn't mind being sprayed and you can do this in an enclosed area so that your dog will not run off. If choosing to clean your Boxer outside, it's best not to use a garden hose unless it is very hot outside or the water will just be too cold and may give a Boxer a case of the shivers. You can use a large bucket of warm water to clean your dog and then use buckets of fresh, warm water to rinse. Choose the shampoo for your Boxer wisely; you'll want a brand that cleans away accumulated body oils without stripping the fur of its outer layer the cuticle while moisturizing the skin to avoid drying issues without clogging skin pores. While all areas of the body should be soaped up and cleaned, an owner must pay special attention to darker areas of the dog. These areas, such as the ears and face can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Yeast infections can occur if not kept clean. Ears and any wrinkles on the face should be wiped with soft Q-Tips. These facial folds should be wiped several times with new ones until the Q-Tip no longer wipes up any moisture. Eyes should be wiped with a soft wash cloth. If you notice that discharge is causing a discoloration under or around your Boxer's eyes, it is recommended to use dog eye wipes. Excessive eye discharge is considered a health issue and should be checked out by your dog's veterinarian. Nails All dogs must have their nails trimmed. A dog has a vein that runs down the center of each nail. This is called the "Quick". If this is cut, it can cause rather severe bleeding and pain. Many owners find it much easier to use a grinder an electronic device that simply files the nail down. If you are nervous to cut the nails, certainly save this grooming step for a professional groomer. Some dogs are so scared of having their nails cut, that a professional groomer must give them a mild sedative. This is common and safe when done by a licensed professional. The nails on a Boxer need to be trimmed or filed about every 5- 6 weeks. Most professional groomers will not charge a lot for this, especially if you will be bringing them your business every 6 weeks or so. Ears and Eyes Ear care is important since excess wax can lead to all sorts of issues including ear infection. If a Boxer already has an issue with chronic infections, cleanings may need to be done as often as once per week. Eye care is also important for this breed, due to large eyes that tend to excrete discharge. Daily wiping and keeping a watch on any potential problems will help keep your Boxer's eyes healthy and the eye area clean. Teeth Sadly, many owners do not understand the vital importance of dental cleaning for their dogs. It is extremely important to brush your Boxer's teeth at least once per day. While a dog does not develop cavities in the same way that humans do, they quickly build up plague. This causes very serious health problems if cleaning is not done. Beginning when a Boxer is a puppy, dental cleaning should be part of a daily routine. Many dogs that do not receive care, such as those that find their way into rescues and dog shelters need to have teeth extracted and run through courses of antibiotics in an attempt to counteract infections. This causes severe pain for the dog and of course, interferes with eating. Human toothpaste should never be used. To allow your Boxer to become used to having his or her teeth cleaned you can start off by simply putting a small drop of canine toothpaste on your finger and running it across your Boxer's teeth. Be sure to touch the back teeth as well. Move on to using a finger brush. These are made for dog dental cleanings and can be less threatening to a dog than a brush. If your Boxer does well with the finger brush, certainly attempt to move on to the best product: a canine toothbrush. If your dog strongly resists, stay with the finger brush. While daily brushing will remove plague, only a professional cleaning will remove tarter. It is very important to have your Boxer's teeth cleaned by a professional at least once per year. Most dogs will be sedated during this process, as it is a very intense cleaning. Your dog should receive the whole sha-bang! X-rays, deep cleaning and polishing. See Also: Shedding - The Boxer is a moderate shedder. There are ways to help cut down on the amount of dead hairs that you'll see and also tips to keep the coat healthy. Skin Problems - One of the more common issues seen is moderate to severe dry skin which can cause quite a bit of itching. This article also covers other skin conditions that may develop. Summer Care for Boxer Dogs - Summertime brings about some challenges in regard to caring for a Boxer puppy or dog. Tips and advice to have a great summer season. While they are instinctive guardians, the Boxer loves to be with his people. This personality has allowed them to succeed as couriers during war time and as seeing-eye dogs for the blind. Developed in Germany in the 19th century, Boxers were originally used for dog fighting and to run down and hold large game such as wild boar and bison until the hunter could arrive. The breed is known for standing up on its hind legs and batting at its opponent, appearing to box with its front paws. Imported to America after World War I, they began to grow in popularity in the late s. They are patient and spirited with children, but also protective, making them a popular choice for families. The Boxer requires little grooming but needs daily exercise. Grooming Boxers are a short flat coated breed that sheds throughout the year, even in the winter time. Grooming is suggested for 4 — 8-week intervals to clean ears, clip nails, check anal glands and insure the coat and skin are in healthy condition. The flaps and folds are very moist and prone to growing red yeast and cause a foul odor in this area. Moisture makes the area red and raw. Keeping these areas dry and clean is a necessity. The first bath should be a general bath, any of our Classic Care or Professional Care products are perfect. If your Boxer has allergies or sensitive skin we would suggest a Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo and follow it with a Oatmeal Baking Soda Shampoo to control the odor. Follow the bath with a conditioner or Luxury Remoisturizer to keep the coat in great shape. Paws Paw Balm should be used weekly to keep paw pads soft and pliable. This makes the pads less likely to dry and crack. Aloe Hydrating Spray can be used to control flaking and dandruff, especially in dry conditions. Extreme Odor Eliminator can be used as often as needed to control odor and has aloe in it to help keep the coat hydrated. High Sheen Finishing Spray right before entering the show ring will add the little extra shine without any oily residue. May we suggest.Home Lifestyle Boxer dogs are the cheapest to maintain. In essence, boxers have short and tight-fitting coats. As such, they do not require a lot of grooming. Treating your boxer to frequent baths may strip its essential oils, causing issues with their coat. Remember, over washing is a common challenge all pet parents face. Some owners have also established that washing a boxer dog more often could make it smell worse and lead to excessive shedding. It is advisable not to wash your Boxer dog unless he needs it. Remember, the best way to attain zero doggy odors and a healthy coat is to adopt the inside-out approach. Maybe, this is the right moment to start ditching processed foods for your furry buddy in favor of natural diets like raw meaty bone-based meals. This is a great way to reduce odors without exposing your doggy to the potential skin irritations that come with too frequent bathing. How often should you bathe your boxer dog Frequency of Baths Well, bathing your Boxer dog once every few months is okay. This will work exceptionally well for your furry buddy. In essence, treating the furry friend to four baths in a year is much less often than most pet owners may have thought necessary. Remember that scheduling the bath once every holiday season is the perfect way to keep it in your mind. It can be irritating for your dog to have dirty ears and you might also notice an odor coming from them. The ear-cleaning process may also help you avoid the stress that comes with ear infections in dogs. Its worth spending a few bucks to procure an ear cleaning solution from your vet or the pet supply stores in your neighborhood. This is a crucial grooming task you must be prepared for and do much more frequently than baths. However, you must be extra careful not to trim the nails too short as you may end up cutting them if you are trimming it yourself. The best alternative would be to file the nails with a rounded tip using the right tools. Or, your local veterinarian may only charge a small fee. Always Practice Safety Working with partners who can take care of your fabulous furry friend well is a great idea. These professionals would have strong knowledge of taking care of animals and would be there for you. Although they can be expensive, it might be worth the investment.

Visit the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory website Labrador retrievers have coats of three basic colors: yellow, black, and chocolate. These colors are determined genetically, just like almost all of the traits that offspring get from their parents. The modes of inheritance of these coat colors are autosomal not related to the sex of the dog. The information for black or chocolate comes from two versions of the same gene different versions of a gene are known as alleles. This gene is different from the one that causes yellow hair. There are four known alleles at this gene in the Labrador Retriever: one is the allele for black designated as B and three different alleles that result in chocolate collectively designated as b. In determining if your puppies will be black or chocolate, the black coat color B is dominant to the chocolate b. Therefore, a puppy will only be chocolate if each parent contributes a chocolate allele bb. If one or both parents Bb or BB contribute the black dominant allele, the puppy will be black BB or Bb , although a Bb puppy would carry chocolate and could therefore produce chocolate puppies. Black Labrador Retriever. Photo by Katy Robertson. Chocolate colored Labrador Retriever. There are several known alleles of this gene in dogs, but for Labradors the most common are E produce black and brown pigment and e only produce yellow pigment. An e allele at the MC1R gene prevents expression of the black or chocolate color in the hair follicle and the puppy's hair ends up yellow. Interestingly, the black or chocolate pigment is still expressed in the skin, just not in the hair. In order to be yellow, a Labrador must have two recessive alleles of the MC1R gene ee. This means both parents contributed a yellow allele e. However, if only one Ee or no EE yellow-causing alleles are contributed, this puppy will be either black or chocolate depending on which alleles are present at the TYRP1 gene see above. Yellow Labrador Retriever. Two yellow labs can only have yellow puppies ee , since they both only have the yellow allele e to contribute to their offspring. If they are bred to each other, there is a chance that some puppies will get a copy of e from each parent and have yellow hair Bbee, BBee, or bbee. If you are interested in breeding your Labrador and would like to know the genetic make up of your dog to predict the color of your puppies, genetic tests are available. The tests are easy, non-invasive, and simply require that you take a swab of the inside of your dog's cheek and send it to the laboratory. Primary Category. Articles When we think of Labrador Retrievers, the classic triad of black, yellow, and chocolate coat options. However, this popular dog breed actually comes in more colors and patterns than that. Besides the common Black Labrador you normally see, there are actually 13 different aesthetic options Labrador Retrievers can come in, in terms of coat type, colors, and patterns. These include rarer variations like the Dudley Labrador and Merle Labrador variations. In the sections below, we shall take a closer look at all these variations in terms of how to spot them and anything else that makes each unique. Dudley Image from Best Bully Sticks Dudley Labradors are a variation of the Labrador breed born without any pigment on their nose, eyes, or paw pads. These surfaces appear pink, red, or a very light shade of pinkish-brown. Dudley Labradors are usually light-colored and may either be a very light shade of yellow or all-white. Their eyes are also a characteristically light shade of brown. The genes responsible for the Dudley trait on Labradors are generally unproblematic. However, the lack of pigmentation leaves the nose of the Labrador exposed to sunburns. Merle Image from Instagram: smillasdogdiary Merle Labradors are some of the most unique-looking dogs in general and not just in the Labrador breed. They can be recognized by the presence of dark, mottled patches on a white or other light-colored coat. The patches on a Merle Labrador are of different sizes and distributed randomly. The merle gene responsible for this trait also affects pigmentation and can give the Labrador blue eyes, especially if they are bred from two Merle Labs. Unfortunately, the gene is also associated with eye and ear diseases which are also more commonly found in double-merle settings. What makes them common is the fact that there are several genetic combinations that give this trait. They are also unique in that Black Labrador puppies can result from breeding yellow or even chocolate-colored Labs. Due to their wide availability, Black Labradors are arguably the most popular variation. They are also believed to be smarter and more hardworking than the other variations, even though there is no scientific basis for this. They have a predominantly black coat with tan markings. The markings are usually distributed in a predictable manner over the body. This includes markings over the eyes, on the snout, neck, chest, and limbs. However, these will have mixed features and may not fully look like typical Labs. It appears as a dark shade of brown, very similar to chocolate or liver. Among the 3 most acceptable Labrador colors, Chocolate Labs are the rarest. This is because the genetic combination responsible for the trait only appears rarely. Even with breeding between 2 Chocolate Labradors, there is always the risk the puppies may not all be chocolate. What makes them different is that their shade of chocolate brown is a bit lighter and has a rusty red quality to it. In some cases, the shade is so light that they look almost earthy brown, like that of a fox. No matter how light or dark the shade of red is, it is important for it to be a solid color so that the Lab can be considered a true red variation. Like Chocolate Labradors, the red variety also has a reddish-brown-colored nose. Yellow Image from Paw. The shade of yellow varies from a rich, almost golden yellow to a light tinge of yellow that can easily be mistaken for white from a distance. The shade of yellow on Yellow Labradors is also nowhere near as intense as that on Goldies. This is different from really pale Yellow Labradors, which may sometimes have more pigmented fur on the ears, paws, and snout. Contrary to popular belief, White Labradors are actually not all suffering from albinism. They get their white coat from a rare and recessive leucistic gene. They get their grayish-blue shade from a dilution gene that waters down the intensity of what would have been a black coat. This dilution gene on Blue Labradors affects not only the fur but also other black-pigmented surfaces like the nose. At first glance, it may appear black, but on closer inspection, you will notice even its nose has the same slightly watered-down shade. They are not as common as the single solid-tone coat types. However, they are way more common than the other patterns that Labradors could possibly come in. The markings occur mainly with Black Labradors and Yellow Labradors. The white fur, in these cases, is distributed mainly to the neck, chest, belly area, and paws. They are best appreciated on Yellow Labradors or brown Chocolate Labradors due to the contrast. The stripes are most pronounced over the back, torso, and limbs. It is also common to find Brindle Labradors with a combination of patterns, in which case white markings are the most common pairing. Short Haired Image from YuMove According to the American Kennel Club breed standards for the Labrador Retriever , the short-haired variety is the only recognized and accepted coat type. Thus the fur is straight and coarse to the touch. The short-haired Labrador has a double coat with a softer undercoat that offers protection from simple injuries. Interestingly, short-haired Labradors tend to shed a bit more than their longer-haired companions and thus need more attentive coat care. However, their faces typically have shorter fur. Despite long-haired Labradors being so gorgeous, the trait is considered undesirable and is a result of recessive genes in the dog breed. The fact that it is recessive means that two long-haired Labs have to breed to produce puppies with the same trait. When comparing the three classic variations, the Chocolate Labrador is the rarest among the rest, Black Labrador and Yellow Labrador. This is because the chances for the required chocolate gene combination to manifest are much lower. In general, blue and white are two of the rare Labrador colors, whereas the merle pattern is considered to be very rare in purebred Labs. What Color Lab Sheds Least? There is no single Labrador color that sheds any more or less than the other varieties. The myth that Yellow Labradors shed more than black or chocolate ones is commonly busted from the fact that yellow fur strands are a lot more visible and easier to spot on clothes and furniture than the darker strands. The intelligence of a Labrador has nothing to do with its coat type, color, or pattern. However, there is this belief that Black Labs are the smartest. This is simply due to the fact that they are the most commonly found around the world. A fox red and traditional yellow Lab, flanked by a pair of black Labs. Black, yellow, and chocolate are the three traditional coat colors recognized by the AKC. If you ask the American Kennel Club , those are the only acceptable colors for a Labrador. And even then, those dogs must have other specific color features like dark noses and lips to count as true Labradors. But lately, non-traditional Labrador retriever colors have increased in popularity. The coats on these dogs look like faded versions of the traditional colors. Charcoal, silver, champagne, and white Labs have all emerged on the scene. So where did these new colors come from? Are they associated with health problems? A yellow Lab rests with her black pups. The dogs that Labs originate from, St. Once multiple generations of Labrador retrievers reproduced, recessive-gene colors like chocolate and yellow emerged from other bloodlines. The sire and dam that produce the litter of puppies pass down those genes to the offspring. Natalie Krebs The black coat color gene is dominant, Wilson explains. The chocolate coat gene, on the other hand, is recessive. Say two black Labs breed and produce a litter of pups. If just one of the parents—in this example, the sire—has all-black genes, none of their puppies will be chocolate. All the pups will be black Labs. Chocolate Labrador retrievers carry the recessive gene for coat color. If two chocolate Labs produce a litter, all the pups will be chocolate, too. The same is true for a black Lab that breeds a chocolate Lab. If the black Lab only has black genes to pass down, all their puppies will be black. But if that black Lab has a recessive chocolate gene to pass down, the litter could include both black and chocolate pups. Two chocolate Labs can only produce a chocolate litter, Wilson explains. All these dogs—the parents and the offspring—only have recessive chocolate genes. This yellow Lab was bred from a black female and a fox red male. Natalie Krebs Yellow coats come from an entirely different pair of genes than black or brown coats. Yellow Labs have the widest range in coat color while remaining within the AKC breed standard, Wilson says. Yellow Labs must have dark, heavily-pigmented noses, eyes, and lips, but their fur can range from a lighter vanilla to fox red. But in reality, the earliest yellow Labs were fox red, Wilson says. The color was first documented toward the end of the 19th century, and today, this coat variation is well within the AKC breed standard for yellow Labs. One of the more common falters is the light brown or pink nose, lips, and eyes. But from a health perspective, says Wilson, yellow Labs with light features are more prone to complications. Yellow Labs fall outside the AKC breed standard when their lips, nose, and skin around the eyes is pink, rather than black. These types of Labs are often referred to as Dudley Labs. This can make the skin more prone to sunburn or melanoma. Lighter, more sensitive eyes also make it harder for the dog to work properly in the field. Black Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular bird dogs in the country. Alex Robinson The best traditional Labrador retriever color is, of course, a matter of personal preference. Each color has their pros and cons. Yellow Labs Are harder to disguise in marsh and timber Are tougher to keep track of during an upland bird hunt since they tend to blend into grassy cover Identifying ticks, cuts, and abrasions is easier on their light coats Black Labs Are easier to disguise in many waterfowl environments, including marsh and timber Are easier to spot while working thick upland cover Their dark coat makes it harder to notice ticks, blood, and thorns Chocolate Labs Are the least traditional of the traditional Labrador retriever colors Have amassed a loyal following over the years Blend well into most habitat types and environments Non-Traditional Labrador Retriever Colors If a puppy inherits the recessive dilute gene from both parents, its coat will be diluted, or lighter in color. Chocolate Labs will turn silver in appearance. Black Labs will become charcoal, chocolate Labs will turn silver, and yellow Labs will turn either champagne or what is known as polar white. Dilute breeding to produce non-traditional Labrador retriever coat colors has its controversies. The practice is particularly frustrating to the traditional Labrador retriever community that strictly adheres to AKC purebred standards. Wilson rehashes a story of the first documented silver Lab, which she says was supposedly born in Wisconsin in to a chocolate Lab female and a chocolate Lab male. But the breeder, who Wilson says she knew about through a friend, was having trouble with a Weimaraner on his property at the time. When the litter arrived, some of the pups were chocolate Labs and some were silver. Silver Labrador retrievers have become wildly popular across the country. They forwarded the information to the AKC, who dispatched a field inspector to determine the genetics of the pups. This was a tricky assignment in the era before modern DNA testing and microchips. The breeder presented a chocolate female as the dam and said the sire, which had been on loan as a stud, was back in the northern part of the state. Silver Labs can have the exact same personalities and capabilities as traditional-colored Labs. Courtesy of Peggy Stalnaker Stalnaker, who breeds dilute Labs at DuckCreek, doubts this version of the silver Lab origin story, given what she knows about dilute genetics. Her hunch is that a few true recessive dilute puppies were born by accident. Stalnaker points out that this book was published well before the first documented cases of dilute Labs in the United States. The charcoal Labrador retriever is darker than silver and comes from a black Lab with the dilute gene. When dilute Labs became popular, she explains, attempts to meet consumer demand resulted in some problematic inbreeding. This resulted in dilute Labs that were less genetically diverse and had higher chances of genetic health issues. But Stalnaker puts all her dogs through extensive genetic testing to determine any predispositions for these issues, which range from dwarfism to exercise-induced collapse syndrome to excessively dry noses. Their fur would be really thin. She has avoided this by breeding in non-diluted Labs that possess the dilute gene. This means some of her puppies are traditional colors and some are diluted. But the diluted Labs have less disorder-prone genetic codes thanks to the genetic diversity from the non-diluted sire and dam. Her customers have been happy with their DuckCreek Labs. She recalls one man who flew to Kansas from south Georgia to pick up a silver puppy and fly it home. She cites the time commitment as a barrier. Despite criticism from traditional Labrador loyalists like Wilson, some owners still register dilute Labs under traditional AKC colors. Choosing a certain color Lab is really a matter of personal preference. If anybody is nasty, I just block them. The new variety of Labrador retriever colors is probably here to stay, since the consumer demand is high. But the dilute Labs will probably remain on the outskirts of the Lab community for the foreseeable future, while the traditional Labrador retriever colors of black, chocolate, and yellow continue to win hearts and field trials alike. Katie Hill Katie Hill is a staff writer for Outdoor Life where she covers outdoor news, hunting, and conservation in the West. She still lives in Missoula. Their fun-loving and positive personalities combined with their gentleness and willingness to please their owners makes them the perfect family pet. Statistically speaking, Black Labs are the most common of all Labrador color variations. This is due to how coat color is inherited in this breed. Without getting too far into a scientific explanation for this, there are nine different possible gene combinations for coat color. Four of these lead to a black coat, three to yellow, and only two to chocolate. Due to random chance, Black Labs make up nearly half of all Labradors. Yellow Labs often have a very light brown or tan colored coat that can appear yellowish. Chocolate Labrador Image Credit: skeeze, Pixabay The rarest of the three major Labrador colors, the Chocolate Lab is beautiful and adorable with a deep brown, chocolate-colored coat. Chocolate Labs are regarded as the most energetic and hardest to train, and while there is no research-based evidence to support this, Chocolate Labs are the only Labs not used as service dogs by the leading dog training organizations. This is possibly due to a higher energy level. Their absence from service dog institutions may also be due to the fact that Chocolate Labs experience more health problems and tend to have shorter lifespans than their Black and Yellow counterparts. On average, Chocolate Labs live about a year and a half shorter than other colored Labs. Simply put, they have the genetics of a Yellow Lab but present a darker coat that appears reddish. White Labs usually have very pale brown fur that can appear purely white, especially in the sun. Their fur normally has light brown or yellowish tinges around the ears and paws. Albino Labs do carry additional health problems such as deafness, blindness, and other eye issues. Austin, Shutterstock Silver Labs are stunning, regal, and sleek. Their light grey coat shines beautifully in the sun, and their appearance is as striking as it is adorable. These pups are similar to Red Labs in that they have the same genetics as one of the major three Lab colors. Silver Labs are really Chocolate Labs, even though they may look more like Blue Labs, but their coat is light or diluted, and the result is a silvery appearance. Like their chocolate siblings, Silver Labs, unfortunately, inherit some additional health issues and tend to live shorter lives than Black and Yellow Labradors. Defining Physical Characteristics What is it that makes this breed so recognizable? Labs are often stocky and athletic with a broad chest and a thick, wide skull. Labs have short, dense fur that is water-resistant. In fact, they were named after the Labrador Sea off of Newfoundland where they were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl. No matter where they go, Labs seem to bring joy and happiness with them. They are loyal, loving, and affectionate. What more could you ask for in a dog? Labs have short, dense fur that is prone to heavy shedding and matting, so you should plan to brush your Labrador at least two or three times a week to cut down on shedding and keep their fur looking sleek. Labradors of all coat colors should be bathed about once every other month with a dog-friendly shampoo. Bathing more often can eliminate those healthy skin oils we mentioned, so avoid giving your pup a bath more often unless they find their way into some mud. Final Thoughts Labs come in three main colors but can have lots of different coat shading that makes them appear unique and especially striking. See also:. However, you can encounter several other Labrador colors thanks to genetic variation and different breeding practices. Below are six of the most common color varieties. Black Labrador Since four out of nine potential Labrador color gene variations result in a black coat, black Labs are the most common coat color in Labradors. So, the takeaway here is that black Labs are always the dominant coat color. People love black Labs for their soft, shiny coats. The black Labrador pose for a photoshoot! Yellow Labrador Yellow Labs come in as the second most common color after black Labradors. Unlike black Labs, which have an unmistakable, predictable color, yellow Labs can come in many different shades. The genetic makeup of yellow Labradors includes one-third of the possible Lab color combinations. The genetic codes include eeBB, eeBb, and eebb. A Labrador sniffs a smoked dog bone 3. Chocolate Labrador Chocolate Labs are the rarest of the three primary Labrador colors. There are only two genes that will produce these dogs—EEbb and Eebb. As with yellow Labs, chocolate labs vary significantly in their coat color. Some chocolate labs have a light brown coat, others a medium brown, and some are even so dark that they appear mixed with black and brown. Aside from their genetic predisposition to an earlier death, these dogs can also suffer from the same issues as other Labs, including patellar luxation, osteochondritis dissecans, and canine hip dysplasia. So, if you have your heart set on buying a chocolate Lab, keep in mind that you may lose your best four-legged friend about 1. A chocolate Labrador Retriever having its coat brushed 4. They get their dark, reddish coat from the same gene as yellow Labs. But since yellow Lab genes can present a wide variation in yellow colors, it causes some puppies to enter the world with an almost red coat. Red Fox Labrador Retriever looks up. Silver Labrador You might have trouble recognizing a silver Lab as a Labrador when they walk by, given that this is such a distinct color deviating from the three primary colors. And, unfortunately for silver Labs, these dogs are a color variation from chocolate Labs. Another issue that silver Labs frequently face is color dilution alopecia. Alopecia is a condition when the immune system harms hair follicles, which leads to skin issues and hair loss. So, should you be interested in breeding your Labrador, please be responsible and never breed a silver Lab. Silver Labrador Retriever sitting in the forest. Like red fox Labradors, white Labs have the same genetic makeup as yellow Labs. Nevertheless, no one will mistake these dogs for pure white; they almost always retain a light cream-colored look, thanks to some yellow fur. Albinism is a life-threatening and rare genetic condition resulting from a lack of pigmentation. Albino Labs often die young and suffer from conditions like blindness and deafness. A white Labrador Retriever sits quietly. If you think mating two black Labradors is a guarantee for producing black Lab puppies, think again. Black is a dominant gene in Labs, but the color yellow always overrides black and chocolate. Instead, check out the chart below to see the puppy colors from mating different colored Lab parents. Parent Colors. Find out how we get chocolate, black or yellow puppies and what color pups we might get when we mix Labradors of different colors. Strictly speaking, there are only three different types of Labrador color: black Labs, brown Labs usually referred to as chocolate and yellow Labs. These are the three colors recognized and accepted by the Kennel Club In practice, there is a wide range of shades of yellow Labrador color, from palest cream to richest fox red. But what makes a Labrador brown, or black, or yellow. And what about Silver Labradors? Where does this new and controversial coat color come in to play? Where do Black and Chocolate Labradors come from? The information that determines whether or not your Labrador is basically black or basically chocolate is passed on through a pair of genes. Why black is a dominant color: It is normal for dominant genes to switch off, or over-ride, recessive genes. And that is exactly what happens here. A dog with BB genes will be black, because he has no little b gene, the one that gives us a brown coat. But a Bb dog will be black too, because if the dominant black gene is present, it switches off the brown gene. How chocolate Labradors are made: Even though a dog inherits a little b gene, the dog will only appear brown if no black gene B is present at all. Two black genes BB gives you a black Labrador One of each Bb also give you a black Labrador Two brown genes bb gives you a chocolate Labrador Remember that the black dominant gene always switches of the brown gene, so only the dog at the bottom will actually look brown. Generation after generation of black dogs can continue to have only black puppies if dogs with the Bb gene are only ever mated to dogs with BB genes. Remember, the dog in the middle of our list above will look black, but pass the brown gene on to about half of all its offspring. But things are never that simple are they? Because of course some Labradors are neither black nor brown. The genetic information that creates a yellow coat comes from another pair of genes altogether. And these genes have a different kind of power. The result is a yellow dog But little ee is recessive, and if the dominant E gene is present, it switches off the masking gene. It only takes one big E gene to do this. So the dog will only appear yellow if no big E gene is present at all. There are three possible combinations of eee gene that a dog could inherit. There are nine different possible combinations. Nine different possible Labrador genotypes! The chart below lists them genotype is the genetic makeup, phenotype is the appearance of the dog. Original Labrador Retriever Color Black is the original, archetypal Labrador color, and genetically the most dominant. Chocolate and yellow puppies were frequently euthanized at birth. To understand that we have to look at the genetic difference between black and chocolate Labs. Labrador Retriever Color Genetics Both types get their color from a pigment called eumelanin. Labs with lots of eumelanin pigment in their coat are black. If they have a little less, they appear brown instead. We use letters to tell each place apart — a bit like giving each locus its own zip code! The B locus is home to a pair of genes called B genes. There are two types of B gene your Lab can get in their pair: One we call big B — it contains an instruction to make lots of eumelanin, and causes a black Labrador coat. And one we call little b — it contains an instruction for less eumelanin, and causes a brown or chocolate coat. Big B is a dominant gene, and little b is a recessive gene. Dominant genes to switch off, or override, recessive genes. So dog with BB genes will be black, because he has two genes for a black coat. And a Bb dog will be black too, because the dominant B genethe recessive b gene. Only a dog with a matching pair of bb genes will express the instruction for less eumelanin in their coat, and be brown. Remember that the black dominant gene always switches of the brown gene, so only the dog with two copies of the b gene will actually look brown. But the dominance of the black color enabled our chocolate friends to remain hidden and rare with the breed, for many decades. Generation after generation of black dogs can continue to have only black puppies if dogs with the Bb gene are only ever mated to dogs with BB genes. In fact, it would take two black Labs both carrying the little b gene to produce chocolate puppies. Like this: Statistically, one quarter of their litter would be chocolate colored. And of course, some Labradors are neither black nor brown. The genetic information that creates a yellow coat comes from another pair of genes altogether. These genes are located at the E locus. And — you guessed it — we call them E genes. Just like B genes there are two versions of the E gene, big E and little e. Big E is the dominant gene. It does not interfere with the B genes. Little e is the recessive gene. It has the potential to mask the B genes that would otherwise give us black or brown coats. And the result is a yellow dog. How Yellow Overrides Black and Chocolate Only the little e gene can mask the instructions for black or chocolate fur. There are three possible combinations of E gene that a dog can inherit. It could have two dominant genes EE two masking genes ee or one of each Ee. Only the middle of these three dogs will be yellow. Nine Different Possible Labrador Genotypes! Every Labrador has a combination of B and E genes — called their genotype. There are nine different possible genotypes. Here they are in full: Can you see why each combination of genes turns out the way it does? Because as you can see, the second dog down the list may look black but he could throw brown puppies, and the fourth dog down the list may look black, but he could throw yellow puppies. The fifth dog down the list is also black but he could throw yellow and brown puppies. Puppy colors are easier to predict when both parents owe their appearance to the recessive genes b or e. Mating Two Yellow Labradors Two yellow Labradors mated together will never throw brown or black puppies. All their offspring will be yellow. This is because yellow dogs do not possess the big E gene which is needed to switch off the masking effect. Mating Two Chocolate Labradors Two brown Labs mated together will never throw black puppies because brown dogs do not have the big B gene. But two chocolate Labs can produce yellow puppies, if each of the parents carries the little e gene — like this: In the mixed litter, statistically one of half of the puppies will be chocolate and one half yellow. Depending on their genotype, two black Labradors can indeed have yellow or chocolate puppies. Remember from our grid above that there are four different possible genotypes for a black Labrador. The genotype refers to the genetic code that the dog carries. And the four different possible black genotypes down the side to represent the father. Inside the grid are the puppies that could be born from each combination. If and only if, both parents carry a little e gene, then some of the puppies may be yellow. Remember that your puppy needs two little e genes one from each parent in order to be yellow. If only one of two black dogs carries the little e gene, all their puppies will be black. Yes it is, check out the bottom right hand square in the diagram above! Notice that it can only happen if both parents dogs have this genotype: EeBb. In other words, they both carry a little e and a little b. This is good example of how complicated, and unexpected, Labrador colors can be. There are six different possibilities for litter color combinations depending on the genotype of the parents. You can even get a litter of all black puppies from a chocolate mother and a yellow father or vice versa! Here are the color possibilities: yellow, black, and chocolate puppies yellow and black puppies. Labrador Colors 1. Black Labrador Most black Labs are entirely black. But, some have one or two white spots on their fur. This interruption in their solid black coat is due to genetic traces left from their late ancestor, the St. The black Labrador Retriever was historically the most common coat color. Even today, nearly half of all Labs are black! When Retrievers were first bred, black coated dogs were the only pups deemed acceptable. Their popularity was driven by two reasons: Black is the favorite coat color for hunting. Four out of nine gene combinations result in a black coat. Sadly, until the 20th century, all other Lab colors would be euthanized shortly after birth. They were not valued the same way black Labradors were. Black Labradors were perfect for their original purpose, hunting. Their dark coat color helped them blend in and move stealthily while hunting or participating in field trials. These Labs tend to have the strongest hunting instincts as their black coats were historically bred for hunting. Even to this day, they are focused, diligent workers. These shiny, sleek dogs are not only beloved in the field, but they also make wonderful pets. Many owners regard black Labs as the calmest and most affectionate of all Lab colors. However, there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. Chocolate Labrador Chocolate Labs are the rarest of the three major Lab colors. These dogs are rarely used for hunting or working, but are champions in the show ring! Their color stuns judges and earns high marks in conformation shows. The shade of brown that chocolate Labradors can come in varies. Some are a rich chocolate while others are a dark brown color known as liver. Some even have a beautiful red hue within their brown fur! The chocolate color exists on a spectrum and can vary greatly due to genetics. Some of these assumptions have become widely accepted in the Labrador community. Chocolate Labs are regarded as the most rambunctious with a bit too much energy for their bodies! These pups are spunky and often hard to train, which may explain why they are not used as service dogs. Even if these Labs are a bit energetic and naughty at times, they are just as beloved due to their affectionate nature and goofy personality. The unfortunate truth about chocolate Labradors is that they often suffer from more health problems than other types of Labs. Some of these health concerns are minor and include hot spots skin irritation and ear inflammation. However, some are more serious and can shorten their lifespan. They often live a year and a half less than the other Labradors. Yellow Labrador Yellow Labradors may not be the most popular Labrador Retriever color, but they are the most beloved. Many owners claim that yellow Labs are the friendliest and most outgoing. Their outstanding reputation is reinforced by their heavy presence in daily life! Yellow Labs are often seen in movies such as the adorable Lab who played Marley in Marley and Me or the sweetheart who acted as Old Yeller. The media have also boosted their popularity as has their recognition as common service, search and rescue, and therapy dogs. Similar to chocolate, the yellow coat color exists on a spectrum. Some yellow Labs are a light brown or tan, others are yellow like a lemon, and then there are cream-colored Labs. There are also fawn Labradors. Fawn Labs are darker, but are not quite red. The yellow Lab may be the Labrador Retriever with the most variation in its coat color! Yellow Labs are just as hard-working as black Labs, although they are not as commonly used for hunting. They are very similar to black Labs and are just as highly trainable, affectionate, and hard-working. Silver Labrador Silver Labradors are by far the rarest of all colors. These dogs are a light gray to blue color that looks silver in the sunlight. These Labradors are often mistaken for Weimaraner mixes because of their silver coat. Silver Labs actually have the same genetics as any type of Lab, despite looking very different. They are just as smart, fun, and loving as any other Retriever. They have a dilute gene that overrides the designated chocolate coat color. Rather than being chocolate, these dogs have a silver or blue coat color. This same coat color dilution can occur in yellow Labs and in black Labs. Diluted yellow Labs are known as champagne and diluted black Labs are known as charcoal. However, Silver is the most unique. Not many silver Labs exist due to the recessive nature of the dilute gene. Silver Labs are undoubtedly stunning, but they have a higher potential of developing health issues. They often develop color dilution alopecia which presents as itchy skin or patchy fur. Fox Red Labradors have the same genetics as a yellow Lab, but just have a deep yellow or brown hue to their coat. This deep brown looks rusty red and makes them look just like a fox. Labrador Retriever fans adore fox red Labs because of their friendly personalities. They have lovingly nicknamed these dogs Ruby Labradors. Clifford, the beloved big red dog, is even based off a fox red Labrador. The red color gives them a rugged look that many owners love! However, this love does not extend to the American Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club does not recognize fox reds as a unique color and registers these Labrador Retrievers as yellow labs. Judges often view this dark pigmentation as a serious fault, so it is unlikely that a fox red Lab would ever win a conformation show. Some people are highly suspicious of the fox red color. They often argue that fox reds are not purebred and that they are mixed with Golden Retrievers. This is not true. It is all the beauty of a Golden Retriever without the high maintenance and long coat that Goldens are known for. White Labrador White Labradors are just a variation of the yellow Lab. They have the same genetics as a yellow Lab, they just happen to be much paler. White Labs are the lightest shade of yellow possible. This color exists on the opposite end of the spectrum than fox red Labs do. The shade of their fur is typically a pale yellow that looks white in the sunlight. They may also have brown or yellow ears and paws that are darker than the rest of their coat. Their white fur gives them an aura of royalty. Just like any yellow Labrador, white Labs are regarded as kind dogs who love everyone they meet. They make horrible guard dogs as they make friends with everyone and are quick to trust every stranger they meet! They are often pampered and spoiled beyond belief. There are no known health issues associated with this color. Most white labs are healthy because they are just a pale yellow, not true white. Albino Labradors are rarer and also sensitive to bright sunlight. Merle labs may suffer from deafness, blindness, and shortened lifespans. Discussing Labrador Retriever colors can be controversial. Are silver and red Labs purebred? Do personality traits differ between different colored Labs? Should silver, red, and white have their own color category? The answers to these questions are not simple. They say that behavior is determined by genetics, socialization, training, and health. In their opinion coat color is just cosmetic. On the other hand, there are owners and breeders who argue that coat color affects the personality of a Lab. These owners and breeders have lived and interacted with Labs of all colors. In their opinion coat color is linked to characteristic personality traits. These Lab lovers have agreed that: Black Labs are the calmest and most skilled at hunting. Yellow Labs are the friendliest and best with people and children. Chocolate Labs are the rowdiest, most energetic, and difficult to train. On the side of science, color does not affect the behavior of a Labrador Retriever. However, breeders and owners have recorded the behavior traits associated with each coat color. It is up to you whether to decide if color matters for Labrador Retrievers or not! Which Is The Rarest Color? Silver is the rarest Lab color. Silver is rare because it can only come from a unique genetic makeup. The dilution gene needed to produce this silver hue is a recessive gene and is often masked by the genes for a chocolate coat. If you ever happen to see one of these silver beauties, take the time to really admire them as you may never see another one again! Which Color Is The Best? This is definitely an opinion question that has no right answer! Each color of Labrador suits a specific type of owner: Athletic, hunting owners will want a black Lab. Yellow Lab owners claim that their dogs are the best due to their friendly personalities. Chocolate Labs win the most prizes in conformation shows. Silver Labs are the rarest, to complicate the argument even more. It is up to each owner to decide which color they love the best. An argument can be made for each Labrador color as to why that color is the best. Among Labrador owners it is widely accepted that black Labs are the calmest. This could be a result of their hard-working, hunting instincts which cause them to be much more focused and level-headed. Chocolate Labs who parade around show rings are often the most rambunctious. If you ask the experts, you will get the answer that coat color has no effect on Labrador behavior. However, if you read various Labrador Retriever websites and forums, or talk to Lab owners, you may hear a different story. Whether you decide to believe this claim is up to you! There is no scientific evidence to back the claim up that black Labs are the calmest Labradors. Summary Each color of Labrador Retriever is beautiful and unique in its own way. Silver Labs are rare, black Labs are sleek and elegant, yellow Labs have an aura of kindness, white Labs are elegant, red Labs are devoted to their work, and chocolate Labs are gorgeous and show ready! Labrador coat colors are the perfect example that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Want to learn more about Labs? Read: English vs. American Labrador: Top 10 Differences. Which coat color is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments below! She is a passionate dog lover and was raised with an affectionate, calm Yellow Lab Golden Retriever mix that fostered her love for her canine companions. Kelsie is actively involved with multiple humane societies and has cared for the dogs of over 45 different families. You May Also Like.

Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article. For the complete list please see our German Shepherd near me page page. In some cases, you may be able to find a German Shepherd puppy for free. However, this is not something that you should count on and you should always be very careful about who you get your dog from. There are a lot of people out there who are trying to unload dogs that they can no longer care for, and many of these dogs may have health or behavior problems. This will ensure that you get a great dog who will be a wonderful addition to your family. Also, if the type of GSD being sold in Maine is from imported stock from Europe or Germany then there could be additional costs associated. The best way to start your search is by contacting the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club and asking for a list of breeders who are members of their organizations. These breeders have pledged to uphold certain standards, and you can be sure that they are reputable breeders who care about their dogs. Another great way to find a responsible breeder is by word-of-mouth. Ask your friends, family, and coworkers if they know of any good German Shepherd breeders in Maine. Chances are, someone you know will have had some experience with a breeder and will be more than happy to recommend them to you. This will give you the chance to meet the dogs and see how they are being raised. You should also ask lots of questions, and make sure that you are comfortable with the breeder and their breeding program. This will at least give you a good idea of what your puppy will look like when they are fully grown. A good guarantee should cover things like genetic health problems, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy. A reputable Maine German Shepherd breeder will be more than happy to answer any of your questions, and they will be committed to finding you the perfect puppy for your family. These kinds of breeders are usually not reputable and will most likely sell you an unhealthy dog. If there are specific traits or behaviors that you expect your new German Shepherd pup to have, make sure to bring them up with your prospective breeder. For example, if you want a GSD who will be able to protect your home and family, let it be known. Most reputable breeders will only sell German Shepherd puppies who meet certain criteria. All of the puppies that they have for sale should be healthy, well-socialized, and have good temperaments. This is because breeders want to make sure that their puppies are going to good homes. Responsible breeders will also want to know about your ability to care for their puppies. If the breeder seems hesitant or unwilling to let you meet any of their past customers, it may be a sign that they have something to hide. A reputable Maine Geman Shepherd Breeder will provide references from past clients who were happy with their purchase. Check with at least references before committing any money to your purchase. This not only helps ensure that the breeder is reputable, but it also gives you a good sense of the quality of the dog you may be purchasing. For example, you can ask how long they have been using them as a vet. You should also ask if any other breeders use this vet as well or if they are more commonly used for family pets. Do your research and find a reputable breeder instead. If they are unwilling to give this information or dodge the question entirely, then you should find another breeder. Your Maine Geman Shepherd Breeder should be willing to provide you with detailed information on any genetic diseases that have affected their bloodline in the past including hip dysplasia and epilepsy. Reputable breeders deal with these issues responsibly by only breeding dogs who are healthy and free of these otherwise common ailments. A reputable German Shepherd Dog breeder in Maine will provide a health certificate for your new puppy. This document should list all of the vaccinations and deworming treatments that the pup has had. Here are a few essentials that every German Shepherd owner should have: A Safe Fenced In Area: Ideally, your dog run should be at least 6 feet tall and fully secured against escape. You may also want to invest in one or two outdoor electric fences so that you can contain your pup safely when they are outside without having to worry about them escaping. Plenty of Toys and Chews: German Shepherds love to play and chew on toys. Make sure you have a variety of balls, plush toys, ropes and hard chews available for your dog to keep them busy throughout the day. Not only will this keep them entertained, but it will also help to keep their teeth healthy. A Comfy Bed: Your German Shepherd will want a place to call their own, and nothing is more comfortable than a soft bed. Make sure you provide your dog with a cozy place to rest their head whether it be in their designated dog run or inside the house. As for food, you should stick to a high-quality kibble that is specifically designed for German Shepherds. Avoid giving your dog table scraps as this can lead to digestive problems. You will need to take them outside to pee and poop at the same time every day and reward them with treats when they go in the right spot. Be Patient — it can take a while for some puppies to get the hang of things, but eventually they will learn what is expected of them. Potty training your German Shepherd is not a one-size-fits-all process. With a little bit of patience and some consistent training, your pup will be going potty like a pro in no time. The best way to keep your new German Shepherd puppy safe and happy is to make sure you do your research before purchasing them from a breeder in Maine. By following the advice in this article, you can be sure that you are getting a healthy and well-socialized pup that will bring years of happiness to your home. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter. Our goal is to be the best and that means breeding the best German Shepherds in the country. People travel from as far as Alaska, and even from across the Atlantic, to see and purchase our pups. We also take German Shepherd pups from all over the world to professionally train in basic or advanced obedience training as well as personal protection and protection work training. But, no matter where our new pups go or where people come from to have their pups trained, Vom Ragnar is proud to be a part of the Chicago community and will always consider Chicago to be our home base. We are equally committed to maintaining a healthy business relationship with the city of Chicago and the surrounding communities. Or you can email us at vomragnar gmail. Our German Shepherd litters of Puppies for sale are excellent with kids and other pets and of course, perfect for the families. Our puppies have super temperament character. The rich black and red color and of course is pure breed, German Shepherd. We specialize in German Shepherd litters of Puppies for sale for Family, companionship show dogs or working dogs. We are now can ship our German shepherd litters of puppies, young dogs or adult dogs for sale worldwide. For easy to locate and drive to our Kenny, please use the Google Map below: For more information about seeing our puppies at kennel facility, please complete the form to make an appointment or simply call us at .Your Name required. Females: pounds. Height Males: inches. Females: inches. The German Shepherd dog originated in the late 19th century with the goal of developing the ideal herding dog, one with high levels of intelligence, speed, agility, and devotion. German Shepherds quickly gained popularity outside of herding circles due to their high intelligence and trainability. They were very effective in many roles, such as search and rescue, police and military, and guide dog for the visually impaired. Their intelligence, flexibility, and eagerness to please their human companions earned them a reputation as a superior working breed. The breed gained widespread recognition during World Wars I and II, when German Shepherds were an integral part of military organizations. Messenger dogs, guard dogs, and search and rescue dogs all relied heavily on the intellect, bravery, and adaptability of these canines. Because of the significant roles they played throughout these difficult times, they have become one of the most admired and admired breeds in the world. German Shepherds are still highly regarded because of their adaptability, intellect, and devoted nature. Herding, obedience competitions, agility trials, and other working responsibilities are just some of the many areas in which they thrive. Their unique physical characteristics—a powerful, muscular body and a noble expression—only add to their appeal. German Shepherds have stood tall as a symbol of loyalty, intellect, and undying devotion to their human companions for centuries thanks to their impressive history and impressive abilities. Breed Characteristics Head: Somewhat Mesaticephalic to almost dolichocephalic in skull-type. Strongly developed, moderate in size, rectilinear, shaped like an elongated wedge, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is moderately wide, with a flat plane. The median furrow is not well defined. The occiput, brow, and zygomatic arches are only slightly developed. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkle. Ears: Somewhat small in size, set high on the skull, and triangular in shape with pointed tips, carried firmly erect. When alert, tips point straight up. The ears are never overly long, overly large, or broken Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, obliquely set, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Muzzle: The muzzle is of a moderately long length and strongly developed. It tapers gradually toward the tip of the nose, giving the head the appearance of an elongated wedge. The plane of the muzzle is straight or slightly convex. Upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, are strong, well developed, never appearing snipey or weak. Upper and lower jaws split wide apart at hinge, revealing back molars when the mouth is held opened. Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black, or self-colored according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened. Neck: Moderate length to allow for proud head carriage, strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Chest: Deep, broad, but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. Body: Powerful, solid, and with good substance without appearing heavy, coarse, or bulky. Capable of great endurance, agility, and performance, without appearing racy or refined. Width at forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Movement: Energetic, efficient, effortless, tireless, and agile. The characteristics of healthy structure are evident: when moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither moving in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in a line with the nose. The width between the forefeet when extended should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring. Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup, but as a natural extension of the topline. Thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Of a somewhat long length with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints, or below, when held down. Tail may be straight, gently curved, or with gently curved toward the tip. Temperament: Belgian Sheepdogs are confident, active, energetic, watchful, and devoted dogs. They retain the characteristics that were honed and developed over centuries in Belgium to make them excellent working dogs and unmatched companions for the right owner or family. They are highly intelligent, highly agile, very powerful, and well aware of their capabilities. They can become very protective of their people, family, and property, making them excellent watchdogs. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed. About the German Shepherd The German Shepherd is a breed that is looked up to and respected because of how impressive it is. This is one of the most well-known dog breeds in the world due to its iconic status as a symbol of loyalty, intelligence, and adaptability. The massive stature and powerful, athletic frame of a German Shepherd are well-known characteristics of this breed. They average between 50 and 90 pounds in weight and 22 and 26 inches in height at the shoulder, though this might vary by gender and heredity. Their agile and strong nature is reflected in their strong, muscular build, making them suitable for a variety of strenuous pursuits. Their double coat consists of a robust, straight upper layer and a fluffy, insulating underlayer. Coat colors and patterns for this breed range from the traditional black and tan to sable, black, and even white. This stunning coat serves dual purposes, improving their visual attractiveness and shielding them from the elements. The German Shepherd breed is known for its high level of intelligence. They have a remarkable capacity to acquire and comprehend new material quickly and easily. Their exceptional intelligence makes them well-suited for many jobs, including those in law enforcement , the military, search and rescue, and as service animals. German Shepherds thrive when their minds are challenged and exercised via consistent training and interesting pursuits. German Shepherds have a well-deserved reputation for being devoted and attached to their human families. Because of their strong motivation to serve their human companions, they make wonderful pets and reliable watchdogs. Their instinct to protect those they care about and the environment they live in make them excellent watchdogs. German Shepherds are highly skilled workers, but they are also wonderful pets for active families. They do best in households with consistent routines, where they may exercise and learn new things, and where they are loved and cared for. They require regular exercise and mental stimulation in the form of walks, games, and stimulating training sessions. Like dogs of any breed, the German Shepard benefit greatly from early socialization and training. They become well-rounded persons whose personalities can adapt to different social contexts and interactions with other animals and humans if they receive early socialization. The German Shepherd is a breed that has stood the test of time because of its extraordinary intelligence, unflinching devotion, and striking good looks. German Shepherds are one of the most valued and respected dog breeds in the world due to their outstanding attributes, which create a lasting impact whether they are working colleagues, trustworthy companions, or beloved family pets. All of our puppies have received rigorous obedience training, both on and off-leash, so that they can respond to your every instruction, no matter the setting. Because of the time and effort we put into their training, you can tell that our puppies are of the highest quality. Not matter your needs, we have the perfect dog just for you! Visit Our Dogs. German Shepherd Puppies are lovingly home raised and socialized at our modern 5 acre park like Kennel Facility in Florida Miami. These are just a few words that describe our German shepherds. Life with a German Shepherd is a joy that one must experience to appreciate and understand, and the intelligence of these great dogs must be seen to be believed. AKC Registered Puppies In Ocala Our dogs have provided countless individuals and families with a loyal pet that has a high aptitude, as well as the ability to provide protection. Each of the German shepherd puppies we have for sale are AKC registered and come from a superior lineage. Notably, our German Shepherds go through rigorous testing to qualify for breeding, as our dogs are bred with top sires that have at least a V or VA show rating. German Shepherds are well known for their character and temperament. Poised and confident, our pups are faithful and intelligent companions. They are also great protection dogs, as many safeguard homes, property or livestock. Our breeding program has earned the the highest level of accomplishments that a kennel in the United States can achieve. All of our German Shepherds come with a written guarantee and have been vet-checked, socialized, vaccinated to date, temperament-tested by a professional dog trainer, and above all, have been very much loved. Our German Shepherds are gorgeous Black and Red color, big boned, and correct structure. This price is determined by the size of the puppy, and includes the flight ticket, pre-flight vet exam, a crate the perfect size for your puppy, and travel to the airport. Every year we hand select dogs to add to our breeding program to improve the breed. Breeding top producing west German Sieger show Line German Shepherds is number one in producing quality German Shepherd puppies for sale. Being a German Shepherd dog breeder requires breeding high quality German Shepherds from some of the top rated German Shepherds in Germany They are superior in health with parents being x-rayed with clear hips and elbows by the OFA or the SV. These German shepherd litters of puppies for sale will make great companion dogs as well as excellent conformation, show and working dogs. Their inclination towards making their masters happy, their mental soundness and their high degree of intelligence have made this dog a successful working dog and masterpiece companion for their owners. Our breeding male shepherds are from top pedigrees. You can also visit us on our Facebook page to see recent news. Visit our website, at any moment you may feel you need more information than what we supply here feel free to Contact Us. Our main goal is to produce dogs that will become very special to you. Contact Us with any questions you have about our puppies or anything else. German Shepherds for sale in Ohio Regis Regal Specializes in providing world class German Shepherd puppies and trained adult dogs Serving Ohio with german shepherds since With over 30 years experience in the breeding and training of world-class German Shepherds from some of the top bloodlines out of Germany, here at Regis Regal German Shepherds we've been very proud to have sold our puppies and adult dogs to the residents of Ohio. We're a small family run operation with our main training and breeding facilities based in Spring Grove, Illinois. Because of the quality and pedigree of our German Shepherds there's been a demand for our dogs all over the world. The owner, Cynthia Kelly, has a lifetime of experience in creating the perfect family companion, service dog or therapy dog. Because of the lack of top quality German Shepherd breeders in some parts of the United States, we've carefully set ourselves up so that we can send our dogs direct to your home by use of a private courier service. German Shepherd Breeders in Ohio There are a number of great German Shepherd breeders in Ohio, from Cleveland to Cincinnati, but have you considered looking further afield for the perfect puppy? At Regis Regal German Shepherds we produce a select number of puppies at any one time, and take the utmost care when raising and training them ready for ownership. You should not forget that when it comes to buying a puppy you also need to be mindful of other costs outside of the purchase or adoption fee. Included within the cost of our puppies are: Lifetime health guarantee contingent on meeting criteria stated in the contract. Send us a message or give us a ring on .Emotional support dogs are suited for both children and adults and have the ability to work with their owners in all types of locations. We have placed many dogs with children and teenagers that suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and manic disorders. Service dogs provide a physical service to their owners. We have been incredibly successful in providing service dogs to children afflicted with Autism and Asbergers, as our dogs can help to enhance the verbal skills of non-verbal Autistic children and support their overall way of communicating. Some of our previous placements our dog courier service - we ship to your door in OH! You might find this a bit hard to believe but we actually ship right to your door, wherever you are based in the US! Such is the demand for one of our dogs we decided it would make things a lot easier for our customers if we could hand-deliver them right to you. For those people in need of a top class GSD, and who can't get to our premises, this is a bit of a lifesaver. We make use of a private courier service whereby they come to us and pickup the dog in their vehicle before making the journey to your home. Our driver is well trained in the handling and care of your dog on the trip, and due to their temperament our dogs always enjoy the journey! On rare occasions our dogs have flown out to their destination, again accommpanied by one of the Regis Regal team to ensure for a very smooth and calm trip. We also go through a very thorough process to make sure our dogs are going to the right kind of owner - at the end of the day it's really important that we can rest easy at night knowing they'll be going to someone that's going to love them as much as we do. Because of COVID we've held plenty of online meetings where you can ask us any questions about our dogs, and you can even get to meet-and-greet them virtually! Reviews from Customers based in OH We like to think we've made a lot of people in Ohio happy over the years that we've been in business. Take a look below at some of the feedback we've received to date. You can find more reviews of ours here too. The day we picked him was wonderful.We are taking him to OH to live, we will receive training here before we leave and in OH via the internet. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to add a healthy, beautiful addition to their family. My location in Ohio wasn't a problem at all, and the courier was happy to deliver direct to our house - and we couldn't wait to meet and rehome our new pup! As you can imagine this can change quite regularly - so please send us a message below, or give us a call on .We look forward to hearing from you! Your name. We have answers. Not all German Shepherds are the same, and many factors can influence the final price of a pup you see listed online. Dogs bred by more experienced breeders, dogs of higher pedigree, and puppies with rare coat colors or uncommon sizes will tend to be more expensive, and vice versa. What is the Breeder Pledge? All businesses and German Shepherd breeders near Washington DC who join the Uptown network promise to uphold our Breeder Pledge, which protects you and your pooch from ever having to deal with a puppy mill or unethical breeder. Pet stores and puppy mills are often one in the same, with unethical breeding operations accounting for many of the cute little dogs you see in the pet shop window. The sad truth is that dogs bred at puppy mills can cost owners thousands in extra vet bills, and often suffer from debilitating genetic diseases as a result of poor breeding standards. Odds are pretty good that your dream dog is already out there waiting for you. To begin your search, all you have to do is start your MatchMaker questionnaire below. MatchMaker is an amazing little tool that we use to connect the right families with the right pets. Can I trust puppies being sold online? There are countless online puppy scams at the moment, and laws stopping unethical dog breeding are slow to pass. We want to give families a safe place to search for puppies—a place with zero scams, where breeders and businesses love dogs as much as you do. If you want to see the difference that humane breeding can make, just head on over to our Puppy Alumni! We are committed to utilizing world class, imported German Shepherd dogs from top producing West German Shepherd lines. GSD puppies are a great addition to family homes as well as excellent dogs for a variety of jobs. Because of their intelligence and quick-learning abilities, this breed has long been used for a range of tasks from herding to home protection. German Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds in the country and our dogs are the cream of the crop. Give us your preferred puppy specifications and expectations and we will do our best to surpass them Breeding purebred West German Showline German Shepherds are our passion. If you share our passion and is looking for a German Shepherd breeder that specializes in providing the highest quality show dogs, protection dogs, working dogs, or family companions, your search just ended. All of our puppies have plenty of wide open spaces to get all of the physical exercise their growing bodies need. We show and work with our dogs and try to improve the German Shepherd breed We follow strict German guidelines and health testing SV Our puppies are raised at home and are well socialized. We try to housebreak puppies as well before their new homes Roche's Pedigree German Shepherds is located near Aurora Illinois. They are black and red in color. We breed dogs that pass hips and elbows evaluation, and have earned their schutzhund titles. We strive to breed healthy dogs with best bloodlines in mind. For more information, please contact Jeff Roche at or simply fill out a very brief form below. Thank you for your interest in Roche's Pedigree German Shepherds and we look forward to hearing from you. Our German Shepherd Puppies can be seen by appointments only. Please, call ahead to schedule your visit. Appointment is not warrantees the sale. We have a right to sell the dog at any time.

As they got acquainted by e-mails, Hovan was impressed that Bultman wanted to be sure that Hovan would not require her to neuter or spay the dog at an early age. The possible health effects of early spaying and neutering is a topic Hovan, the research facilitator for the Golden Retriever Club of America, holds close to her heart. I'd look at them and wonder how they got so tall. Those sold to families as companion animals, or pets, were routinely neutered. Hovan, like most breeders, requires pet owners to spay and neuter dogs. She began noticing that the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered played a role in the way they looked as adults. Following the guidance of her mother, a board-certified canine and feline practitioner with a large number of Golden Retriever clients, Bultman presented her concerns to Hovan. The junior handler explained that early spay and neuter surgeries may contribute to cruciate ligament and other orthopedic injuries. Her mother, Terri Hartung, D. Then, people began neutering young puppies, and now most people seem to have settled on the age of 6 months for neutering or spaying. A balance needs to be established about what is best for an individual dog. However, recent findings give breeders reasons to think twice about the age recommendations they give puppy buyers for spaying and neutering pets. Among the concerns associated with spaying or neutering prior to sexual maturity are increased risks of hip dysplasia and torn cruciate ligaments, possibly decreased life span, some evidence for increased incidence of hypothyroidism, hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma. On the flip side is concern that intact bitches are at risk for mammary cancer. Beyond Behavioral Changes The health effects of neutering and spaying on Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers has been the focus of a recent study. Comparing data on disease incidence and a dog's reproductive status, the researchers have documented correlations that go beyond behavioral changes. The data analysis continues, with publication in a peer-reviewed journal expected in .Lead investigator Benjamin Hart, D. There is much misconception related to the impact neutering has on an animal and whether the age of neutering makes a difference. The veterinary database at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital provided information about diagnoses and tests performed on Golden Retrievers and 2, Labrador Retrievers. The comprehensive questionnaire gathered information from club members via mailed surveys, with the results posted on the parent club website www. The database included information about 1, Golden Retrievers from respondents. A clinical animal behaviorist, Hart has devoted his career to studying the behavioral effects of castration on dogs, cats and horses. Only about 25 to 30 percent of the dogs we studied show a major change in behavior after neutering. She estimates that among her clients with large breeds, about 75 percent of male dogs are neutered after 1 year of age and 50 percent of bitches after their first heat. For these clients, I emphasize the important of practicing obesity prevention. In countries where most bitches are left unspayed, the statistics are clear that intact bitches are at increased risk for mammary cancer. The question is how does spaying at 12 months, which is very different from leaving a bitch intact throughout life, alter the risk? I advise people to wait. After researching the topic, Hovan wrote a reference-supported article, titled "Deciding Whether and When to Neuter a Golden Retriever," which she shares with puppy buyers and suggests that they share with their veterinarians. More research is needed to document the health effects of early spaying and neutering, Hartung says. If for some reason or another that wait is too long then please wait until your puppy is at least 12 months old if possible. It is very important keep the weight off your pup at any age but especially when they are young and still growing! When a dog gets fixed, especially early on in its life, it becomes easier for them to gain weight faster. Overweight dogs are a lot more prone to issues such as OCD, hip dysplasia, diabetes, cancer, lower immune system, etc. The study, which examined the health records of golden retrievers, found a surprising doubling of hip dysplasia among male dogs neutered before one year of age. This and other results were published Feb. While results of the new study are revealing, Hart said the relationship between neutering and disease-risk remains a complex issue. Dog owners in the United States are overwhelmingly choosing to neuter their dogs, in large part to prevent pet overpopulation or avoid unwanted behaviors. In the U. In Europe, however, neutering is generally avoided by owners and trainers and not promoted by animal health authorities, Hart said. During the past decade, some studies have indicated that neutering can have several adverse health effects for certain dog breeds. Those studies examined individual diseases using data drawn from one breed or pooled from several breeds. Against that backdrop, Hart and colleagues launched their study, using a single hospital database. The study was designed to examine the effects of neutering on the risks of several diseases in the same breed, distinguishing between males and females and between early or late neutering and non-neutering. The researchers chose to focus on the golden retriever because it is one of the most popular breeds in the U. The breed also is favored for work as a service dog. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for two joint disorders and three cancers: hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear, lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and mast cell tumor. The dogs were classified as intact not neutered , neutered early before 12 months age , or neutered late at or after 12 months age. The study revealed that, for all five diseases analyzed, the disease rates were significantly higher in both males and females that were neutered either early or late compared with intact non-neutered dogs. Specifically, early neutering was associated with an increase in the occurrence of hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear and lymphosarcoma in males and of cranial cruciate ligament tear in females. Late neutering was associated with the subsequent occurrence of mast cell tumors and hemangiosarcoma in females. In most areas, the findings of this study were consistent with earlier studies, suggesting similar increases in disease risks. The new study, however, was the first to specifically report an increased risk of late neutering for mast cell tumors and hemangiosarcoma. Furthermore, the new study showed a surprising percent increase, or doubling, of the incidence of hip dysplasia among early-neutered males. Earlier studies had reported a 17 percent increase among all neutered dogs compared to all non-neutered dogs, indicating the importance of the new study in making gender and age-of-neutering comparisons. About UC Davis For more than years, UC Davis has been one place where people are bettering humanity and our natural world while seeking solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than undergraduate majors in four colleges — Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science. It seems that the more research I do, the more confused I become. It is VERY controversial. The biggest problem I run into is that most veterinarians are very strong on their stance and unwavering in their opinion. Because of this. I personally have a much stronger opinion on when to spay a female than when to neuter a male. From most veterinarians and multiple websites, I believe that a female should be spayed prior to having her first heat. Again, some veterinarians believe you should wait until the first heat, but the majority of theriogenologists reproductive veterinarians and practicing veterinarians agree that it should be done before the first heat. The reason for this is that studies have shown that females who are spayed prior to a heat have almost little to no chance of many types of reproductive cancers. For example, breast cancer Mammary neoplasia is very common in female Golden Retrievers. In fact, it is the most common tumor type in female dogs. Female dogs that are spayed prior to going into their first heat have a 0. Female English Golden Retrievers typically go into their first heat between months old. Our average English Golden Retriever goes into heat closer to months of age. Our recommendation is to have a female spayed between months of age. They are not themselves. They will do whatever they can do to get to the female, even if that means breaking out of their enclosure. If there is an intact female anywhere near where you live and she goes into full estrus, then beware because your male will do whatever he can to get to her. That could obviously be very dangerous, because he could get run over, stolen or produce a litter of pups. But most clients are actually quite surprised at how fast their dog recovers from the surgery. I am always amazed by how tough Golden Retrievers are. Usually they recover in a few short days. As pet owners, we want to make sure that our furry friends are healthy and happy! Key Takeaways Timing of spaying or neutering should be personalized based on factors like age, gender, and individual health. There are alternatives to traditional spaying and neutering, such as vasectomy and hysterectomy. What Are Spaying And Neutering? Spaying and neutering are common treatments that can help keep our furry friend healthy and happy and keeps them from reproducing! Spaying female dogs involves removing the ovaries and uterus while neutering male dogs involves removing the testicles. These operations are frequently performed by a veterinarian while the dog is anesthetized. The timing of when to spay or neuter your Golden Retriever is a decision that should be made carefully, taking into consideration various factors. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some general guidelines to help you determine when to spay or neuter your Golden Retriever: Consult with Your Veterinarian: Your veterinarian is your best source of guidance. Consider Age: Traditionally, many dogs were spayed or neutered at a very young age, often around six months old. However, recent research suggests that for larger breeds like Golden Retrievers, it may be beneficial to wait until they are older months to allow for proper growth and development. Gender Matters: The ideal timing can vary between males and females. Male Golden Retrievers can typically be neutered around six to nine months of age, but consult your vet for the best timing. Your vet can help you weigh the pros and cons. If you intend to breed, consult with a professional breeder for guidance on the best timing. Behavioral Considerations: Spaying or neutering can have an impact on certain behaviors like aggression or marking. Discuss these concerns with your vet. Local Regulations: In some areas, spaying or neutering may be required by law. Ensure you are aware of any local regulations. Benefits Of Spaying And Neutering Spaying and neutering our pets can provide numerous benefits, such as population control, improved behavior, cost savings, and the promotion of excellent health. Potential Health Benefits of Spaying for Female Golden Retrievers Prevention of unwanted pregnancies Elimination of the risk of uterine infections pyometra Reduced risk of mammary gland tumors Decreased likelihood of ovarian and cervical cancers Potential Health Benefits of Neutering for Male Golden Retrievers Prevention of unwanted pregnancies Reduced risk of testicular cancer Lower incidence of prostate problems Diminished chances of certain behavioral issues related to intact males However, each dog is unique, and the benefits of spaying or neutering may vary depending on the breed, age, and overall health of the particular dog, so it is vital to consult with a veterinarian. The costs of spaying and neutering your Golden Retriever can vary significantly based on factors like location and the age and size of your dog. Keep in mind that actual costs may differ depending on your specific circumstances and geographic region. The risk of problems is normally low, but as with any surgery, there is always the possibility of complications such as bleeding, infection, or severe responses to anesthesia. When it comes to spaying or neutering, there are a few potential risks to keep in mind, just as with any surgery. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Anesthetic risks: Your dog will be sedated throughout the procedure, and issues such as breathing difficulties, allergic responses, or unpleasant reactions to the anesthesia are possible. Infection: There is a small risk of infection at the incision site following surgery. Your veterinarian will use sterile techniques and, if necessary, prescribe antibiotics to reduce this danger. Bleeding: There is a small danger of bleeding with any procedure. During the surgery, your veterinarian will take efforts to reduce any bleeding and will follow your dog afterward. Pain: Some dogs may experience pain or discomfort following the operation. Your veterinarian will provide pain medication to alleviate any discomfort. Unpleasant reactions: Some dogs may have an adverse reaction to the surgery, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite, in rare situations. Your veterinarian will take precautions to reduce dangers and will provide you with post-operative instructions to promote good healing and recovery. Tips After the Procedure Following a spay or neuter procedure, it is critical to provide your pet with extra TLC to aid in its recovery. Here are some things to remember: Allow your dog to relax and confine him to a small, quiet area for the time indicated by your veterinarian. This will keep them from getting overly enthusiastic and running around, which will slow down the healing process. Give it exactly as advised, and notify your vet if you discover your dog is still in pain. Keep their incision clean and dry, and keep an eye out for signs of infection, such as redness or discharge. Gradually increase their activity: During the healing phase, your dog should be restricted from strenuous activity, but you can gradually raise their activity level as directed by your veterinarian. Check-in with your veterinarian. Keep an eye out for them. Remember that each dog is unique, and healing times can vary. Most importantly, provide them with love and affection during their recuperation. There are a few spaying and neutering options, but they are not as extensively used or as effective as traditional spaying and neutering. Consider the following alternatives: 1. Vasectomy for males : Purpose: A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that prevents a male dog from fathering puppies without removing the testicles. Procedure: During a vasectomy, the vasa deferentia tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra are cut or blocked. This prevents the release of sperm during ejaculation but allows the male dog to maintain sexual behaviors and characteristics. Reversibility: Vasectomies are often considered reversible, but success rates may vary. Reversal surgery can attempt to restore fertility by reconnecting the vasa deferentia. Hysterectomy for females : Purpose: A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the uterus womb in female dogs while preserving the ovaries. This prevents pregnancy and eliminates the risk of uterine infections pyometra and certain reproductive cancers. Procedure: During a hysterectomy, the uterus is surgically removed, while the ovaries are left intact. This allows the female dog to maintain her hormonal balance and prevents pregnancy. Reversibility: Unlike spaying ovariohysterectomy , a hysterectomy is not reversible because the uterus is removed. However, the dog retains her ovaries and hormonal functions. Both vasectomy and hysterectomy offer alternatives to traditional spaying and neutering, allowing dogs to keep some of their natural hormone balance and behaviors while preventing reproduction. Conclusion Deciding whether to spay or neuter your Golden Retriever involves weighing the pros and cons carefully. Alternative options are also worth exploring. Neutering may help reduce some behaviors associated with mating instincts, but individual Golden Retrievers may still remain playful and energetic. Do female dogs behave better after being spayed? Spaying can potentially reduce certain behaviors related to the estrus cycle, but improvements in behavior vary among individual dogs. What to expect after spaying a golden retriever? After spaying, expect some mild discomfort and restlessness in your Golden Retriever for a few days, but recovery is generally smooth. How do I comfort my dog after being spayed? Are dogs still playful after being spayed? Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. These procedures were typically performed before the dog reached six months of agethe accepted standard in the veterinary profession. The decision was never risk free, of course. By eliminating the dog's reproductive capacity you're also shutting down the production of hormones that affect metabolismthe reason spayed and neutered dogs are at higher risk for becoming obese. Still, the long-term health implications were believed to be overwhelmingly positive. In recent years, however, this picture has begun to change. Benjamin L. They tracked the histories of numerous other breeds as well. Specifically, they looked at the incidence of three joint disorders hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cruciate ligament injury and four cancers hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, and mast cell tumors. They also looked at the incidence of mammary cancer in females. What they discovered was surprising. In males neutered before six months of age, however, the incidence of joint disorders jumps to 23 percent, and in males neutered between six months and one year to 11 percent. The percentage of joint disorders for female goldens spayed in those time frames is about the same. The risk increases to 13 percent for males neutered before six months and to 12 percent for males neutered between six months and their first birthday. Based on these findings, the suggested guideline for golden retriever males is to delay neutering until they're beyond one year of age. Given these findings, Hart strongly recommends leaving female goldens intact or, if that's not possible, delaying spaying until after the one-year threshold and, in his words, "remaining vigilant for cancers. This preserves the hormonal "factory" while eliminating the possibility of pregnancy and the discharge associated with estrus. However, fewer veterinarians are qualified to perform this procedure than are qualified to perform a traditional spay. For Labs, there is good news in one respect. Hart and his team found no correlation between spaying or neutering and increased risk of cancers, regardless of when the procedures are performed. But while intact Labs of either sex have a 6 percent risk for joint disorders, the risk for males neutered before six months jumps to 9 percent and for females spayed any time before their first birthday to 11 percent. The obvious conclusion is to delay neutering until after six months, and spaying until after one year. And what of the conventional wisdom that spaying sharply reduces the risk of mammary cancer? The incidence of mammary cancers in intact females of both breeds is only about 1 percent. The hope is that our research will help to extend the working lives of Labs and goldens and promote their basic comfort. Still, every owner should make the decision to spay or neuter not only in light of our findings but in consultation with his or her veterinarian. Shelters often perform the procedure to help reduce the number of homeless dogs. Some pet parents also do it to control aggressive or highly sexualized behavior, or to protect a dog from repeated and unwanted pregnancies. But while the procedure is common, it is not without risk. In particular, fixing your dog when they are too young can predispose them to a variety of serious health conditions in the future. Spaying is the process for female dogs and involves an operation that removes their reproductive organs. Neutering is the process for male dogs and involves removing their testicles. Dogs that have not been fixed are referred to as intact. When should I spay a female golden retriever and neuter a male golden retriever? Doing it earlier than this cuts off access to hormones that they need for healthy development and can lead to joint problems and hypothyroidism in both male and female golden retrievers, and a predisposition to various forms of cancer in female golden retrievers. Traditional advice has always been that dogs should be spayed or neutered before six months of age to diminish the chances of them developing uterine infections. But research now suggests that for at least some dog breeds, fixing operations should be delayed because doing it too soon can cause other health issues. Golden retrievers are one of the breeds that certainly should not be fixed before six months of age, and it is recommended to wait until they are at least a year old. Many vets are now also recommending not to spay female golden retrievers at all unless it is absolutely necessary. As we have already said, there are a variety of reasons you might choose to put your dog through this process. It protects against overpopulation in general and unwanted pregnancy on a specific level. It can help diminish behavior issues such as territorial behavior and humping. It can also help protect against certain health issues. For example, it significantly decreases the risk of testicular and pancreatic cancer in male dogs. You can learn more about the benefits of spaying and neutering here. You should always speak to your vet to decide whether spaying or neutering is the right choice for you and your dog. What are the risks of fixing your Golden Retriever too soon? Joint Issues Research suggests that fixing any dog before the age of six months can lead to serious joint issues. They are four to six times more likely to develop joint problems such as hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament tears. Hip dysplasia is when the femur thigh bone does not fit together with the pelvis in the way that it should. It can cause both pain and difficulty when moving, which is likely to increase over time for your dog. Cranial cruciate ligaments are the main ligaments active in the knee joint, and these can be prone to tearing in dogs. The result is a lot of pain, and they may be unable to bear their weight on the affected leg. In the long term, this condition can increase the chances of arthritis in the knee. The theory is that sex hormones play a crucial role in the development of healthy joints, and therefore cutting off access too soon can undermine healthy development. This problem is a particular concern with certain breeds, such as golden retrievers and also Labrador retrievers, as they are already predisposed toward joint issues. So, spaying or neutering too soon significantly increases their risks. Hypothyroidism Another potential issue for all dogs when they are fixed too soon is the development of hypothyroidism. This is when the thyroid is underactive, and therefore, slows down bodily functions. It often manifests in unhealthy skin and coat, lethargy, and weight gain. If they develop this condition, they are likely to need an operation and ongoing medication to manage it. Fixing before one year of age increases the risk of hypothyroidism in all dogs. Cancer Neutering male dogs significantly reduces their risk of the most common cancers for them, which are testicular and pancreatic cancer. But spaying female dogs have the opposite effect. Spayed female dogs are three to four times more likely to develop a form of cancer. The most common types are lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumor, and mammary cancer. The risks are high no matter what age your female dog is fixed, which is why many vets are now recommending only spaying female dogs if necessary, especially since it is not as necessary for controlling highly sexualized behavior as it can be in some male dogs. If spaying is necessary, delaying the procedure for as long as possible can help to reduce the risks slightly. By the way, we have this great article about dog pregnancy you might be interested in! FAQs Is spaying or neutering surgery dangerous? While both spaying and neutering are common operations, they are considered major, and therefore, your dog is put under with a general anesthesia. An anesthetic always comes with the risk of serious complications that could result in the death of your dog. Modern medications and monitoring equipment mean that the risks are relatively low, but they certainly exist. How long will my dog be in pain after a fixing operation? That is except for the discomfort of wearing a cone and not being able to jump around. They should be prevented from damaging their stitches for at least two weeks after the operations. Do dogs get depressed after being spayed or neutered? You should expect changes in behavior when your dog returns home from fixing surgery, both resulting from the trauma of the surgery and the changes in their hormone levels. Exactly how their behavior will be different varies greatly. You can expect aggression, or anxiety and clinginess. But this should only last for a few weeks as they adjust. Do spayed and neutered dogs get fat? Spaying or neutering your dog does not mean they will get fat! How much does it cost to spay or neuter a dog? Exactly how much these operations cost depends on where you are and the type of surgery you go with. Neutering can help prevent excessive territorial behavior in male dogs and also reduce their risk for common cancers. But for female dogs, the benefits are far less clear, and the process can also significantly increase their chances of developing cancer, so you may choose not to spay at all. If you are neutering or spaying a golden retriever, you can significantly reduce the risks by making sure you do it at the right time. Wait at least a year before the operation so they have enough time to develop in a normal hormonal state. Of course, every dog is different, so always consult your vet. Do you have a fixed golden retriever? Do you have any advice for other golden parents? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Related Article. Deciding Whether and When to Neuter a Golden Retriever Faera Rhonda Hovan A focus on the serious issues of pet overpopulation and unwanted puppies has led to the common practice of neutering dogs prior to sexual maturity, often near the age of six months. While this clearly helps reduce unplanned breedings and thereby may serve the public interest, research is increasingly showing that it may not be in the best health interests of an individual dog with a responsible owner. Breeds of dogs vary considerably with regard to their rate of maturity and risk for specific diseases, and the interaction of these factors with natural hormones should properly be taken into consideration when deciding whether and when to neuter a dog. However, appropriately tailoring neutering recommendations to a breed requires awareness of the ways in which neutering and the age of neutering affect specific breeds, and it may be impossible for veterinarians to know this in detail for every breed. In some cases the findings have been substantiated across many breeds, but relative risk is also defined specifically for Goldens. Please note that there are both health benefits and detriments associated with neutering and various neutering ages, so decisions will need to balance these complex factors. It is relevant to consider what diseases are more and less common in the breed, and also what diseases have greater or lesser consequences to the dog, so that information is also provided. Health Consequences Associated with Neutering and the Age of Neutering Neutered dogs have a higher incidence of hypothyroidism than do intact dogs. Hypothyroidism is a common but treatable disease in the breed. Neutered dogs have a greater incidence of hip dysplasia and torn cruciate ligaments than intact dogs, and there is some evidence to suggest that this risk is most pronounced in dogs neutered prior to sexual maturity. Hip dysplasia is common in Goldens, and torn cruciate ligaments are less common but not rare. Both of these diseases can be treated surgically, but treatment is costly and success is variable depending on many factors. There is some evidence that the incidence of cardiac hemangiosarcoma is greatly increased times in neutered dogs, and that the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma may also be increased in neutered dogs. Hemangiosarcoma is the most common cancer in the breed, causing the death of approximately 1 in 5 Goldens. Most of these tumors occur in the spleen, with fewer but still a substantial number in the heart. This is a rapidly progressing and incurable cancer. Several studies indicate that the incidence of osteosarcoma bone cancer is significantly higher in neutered dogs than in intact dogs, but there is some evidence that this increase is not as great when neutering occurs after sexual maturity. Dogs neutered prior to sexual maturity grow taller than their natural genetic potential, and their bone structure is altered toward a more narrow, lanky appearance. Taller Goldens have shorter life spans than shorter Goldens. Among male Goldens, the shortest males live 2. Neutered females have a greatly increased risk of urinary incontinence as compared to those not neutered, but there is some evidence that this increased risk is less significant for dogs neutered after sexual maturity. Urinary incontinence is neither common nor rare in Goldens, and can often but not always be treated successfully. If detected early through regular mammary exams, most but not all mammary cancers can be treated successfully with surgery and sometimes additional therapies. Males with one or more testicles located in the abdomen cryptorchidism are at high risk for testicular cancer and should be neutered prior to 15 months of age, which eliminates this risk. It is not necessary to neuter these dogs prior to sexually maturity to avoid testicular cancer. Females that remain intact are exposed to a significant risk for pyometra a life threatening uterine infection that rises with every heat cycle, particularly after the age of five years. Pyometra is a common and rapidly progressing disease in Goldens that must be diagnosed promptly to be successfully treated. Males that remain intact frequently develop an enlarged prostate gland benign prostatic hyperplasia as they age, particularly over the age of seven years. This is not a serious disease, and while it can sometimes be managed medically, neutering affected dogs is curative. This is not to be confused with prostate cancer which is uncommon in the breed, although more common in neutered males than intact males. Taking all of the above factors into consideration, there is good evidence to support that it is in the best overall health interests of the dog to neuter female Goldens after sexual maturity, at approximately one year of age. This typically allows a female to have one heat cycle but not two, which keeps the risk of mammary cancer low while still providing her with some important health benefits gained by maturing with natural hormones. Of course, the female must be kept on leash or securely fenced away from males for the full three weeks of her heat cycle to avoid unwanted pregnancy, so this should not be undertaken unless the owner is able to be certain that there is no possibility of an accidental breeding. If a male is going to be neutered, there is good evidence to support that it is in the overall best health interests of the dog to neuter male Goldens after sexual maturity, at approximately one year of age. Neutering a male after two years of age has less impact on behavior, so if behavioral considerations are important to the owner, neutering should be done prior to the age of two. References Arnold S. Urinary incontinence in castrated bitches. Part I. Significance, clinical aspects and etiopathogenesis. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd ;.Development of canine benign prostatic hyperplasia with age. Pros ;.A population study of neutering status as a risk factor for canine prostate cancer. Endogenous gonadal hormone exposure and bone sarcoma risk. Canc Epidemiol Biomark Prev ;.Risk factors for excessive tibial plateau angle in large-breed dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease. J Amer Vet Med Assoc ;.Breed risk of pyometra in insured dogs in Sweden. 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Canine mammary gland tumors. Vet Clin NA ;.Long-term risks and benefits of early-age gonadectomy in dogs. Canine prostate carcinoma: epidemiological evidence of an increased risk in castrated dogs. Mol Cell Endo ;.Incidence, risk factors, and heritability estimates of hind limb lameness cause by hip dysplasia in a birth cohort of boxers. Am J Vet Res. Verstegen J, Onclin K. Etiopathogeny, classification and prognosis of mammary tumors in the canine and feline species. Proceedings, Society for Theriogenology, .Cardiac tumors in dogs: