training a labrador retriever puppy

Nutritional requirements of a Golden Retriever What exactly should the diet of a Golden Retriever consist of for optimal health? Protein from quality meat sources 2. Essential Fatty acids and omegas 3. Natural vitamins and minerals from bone and plant sources 5. Hydration — high moisture foods and drinking water 1. Protein When selecting what to feed your Golden Retriever, choose a diet with high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, eggs, and fish. As such, protein impacts canine health in many ways, including: Providing consistent energy Forms new skin, hair, nails, and other tissue. Keeps the immune system healthy. Makes hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Properly balanced fats are essential for optimal health, and also provide energy. Dietary fat we generally refer to as a triglyceride. There are two types of triglyceride, saturated and unsaturated fat. In balance, they promote a healthy coat, skin, eyes, nervous system, control hormones, fuel brain and learning, and reduce inflammation. Carbohydrates, such as vegetables and some fruits, provide fibre, prebiotics food for beneficial bacteria , and antioxidants that are lacking in meat alone. Dogs are carnivores, but they can benefit from some vegetation in their diets for optimal health. Natural vitamins and minerals A raw food diet aims to replicate what dogs evolved to eat in the wild. As such, meat, bone, offal and a small amount of plant ingredients are all important ingredients in the diet of a Golden Retriever, each adding highly beneficial vitamins and minerals to meal times. Incorporating ground bone in meals or providing recreational bones for enrichment add nutrients that will support digestion, skin and bone health, and mobility. As such, water is a vital nutrient for all cells, systems and functions, including: The regulation of body temperature Maintaining healthy organ function. The digestion and absorption of nutrients. Detoxification; water helps to flush out toxins and waste products from the body. Preventing dehydration which can lead to serious health problems, including kidney damage and heat stroke. Lubrication and cushioning of joints, thereby supporting ease of movement. Discover more about a raw food diet for dogs in our complete. Golden Retriever raw feeding guide Whilst you could create homemade raw food meals for your Golden Retriever, dog owners new to raw feeding can often find making their own raw dog food meals complicated. Formulating meals with the appropriate ratios of key ingredients is essential to ensure your dog receives optimal nutrients, so going it alone can seem daunting. The good news is there is a much simpler approach. By choosing a reputable supplier of pre-prepared raw dog food supplier, you can stock your freezer with quality raw food meals at the click of a button. Golden Retriever Feeding Chart. Whole animals rabbit, quail, etc. This is especially important for small breed puppies as they can become hypoglycemic if meals are spread out too long. Watch to see if he gets too fat or too thin and adjust accordingly. They are important because they are full of nutrients not found in muscle meat. But you want to introduce them slowly. Liver and other organ meats can cause some pretty nasty loose stools in puppies who have never had them before. If your puppy is new to raw feeding, wait until you see a good two or more weeks of solid stools before you introduce organ meats. Then add them in gradually instead of feeding one giant meal of liver. Find out here. Your puppy will benefit from some supplementation. Supplements to consider include: Phytoplankton — whole food nutrition that contains nearly every nutrient your dog needs Nutritional herbs — alfalfa, dandelion leaf, nettle and more Probiotics — friendly bacteria that protects the body from bacteria, viruses and fungi Digestive enzymes — break down and absorb nutrients from food Bovine colostrum — helps to build a strong immune system 8. He should also have plenty of fresh air and exercise. Exercise for young puppies should not be forced walks. His growing joints will suffer less stress if you take him outside for short play or training sessions instead. Keep the walks short — about five minutes per month of age until he is about six months of age. One day, you can return the favor and help another puppy owner realize how simple it is to raise puppies on raw! Plus get new recipes delivered right to your inbox. She's a sought-after speaker and loves to help dog owners give their dog a healthier, more natural life. Dana also breeds Labrador Retrievers under the Fallriver prefix and has been a raw feeding, natural rearing breeder since the 90's. Dana works tirelessly to educate pet owners so they can be the driving force to change veterinary medicine for dogs and make their world a safer place. Visit Dana's Labradors at Fallriver Labs. You can do this with a little guesswork, or you can do the math. Calcium Replacements If your dog is too small to consume bone or you have a dog who struggles to crunch through bone, you can give a bone substitute. Seaweed and coral calcium have a bit more calcium, but the same rule applies. The best bone replacement for raw diets is bone meal. Give 2 teaspoons bone meal powder per pound of food for adult dogs. Feed 2 teaspoons per pound of food for adult dogs. These organs are essential. You should also try to get kidney, pancreas, spleen, lung, eyes, brain, sweetbread and green tripe. When raw feeding dogs, you need to remember that not all proteins are made the same. Some are richer in vitamins and minerals than others. And the organ that supplies the most, pound for pound, is the liver. This will supply most of his vitamins such as vitamins B and C and many of his minerals including copper and folate. The main mistake raw feeders make is only adding liver. There are many other organs you should feed your dog … and your job is to source as many of them as you can. Taurine deficiency can cause heart disease. Glandular therapy is based on the principle that organ meats support the corresponding organ in your dog. For example, pancreas is rich in enzymes. If your dog has pancreas disease, he will have trouble making enzymes. So feeding pancreas will supply him with the enzymes he needs. Another example is brain. Your dog needs DHA for healthy brains and nerves, especially puppies. And brain as an organ meat is rich in DHA, so it supports healthy brains and nervous systems. If you have trouble finding these organs at your butcher, you can buy them in powdered form. If you buy tripe, try to get green tripe from grass-fed animals. If the animal is fed corn, then pass on the tripe, as it will be too rich in unhealthy omega-6 fats. Adding Organ Meats Because organ meats are so rich in nutrients, they can cause digestive upset if you add too much, too soon. But not all fats are created equal! There are two fat properties you need to consider with the raw diet for dogs: Saturation this just refers to the number of double carbon bonds in a fat Omega family whether the fat is an omega-6 or omega-3 fat Saturated Fat There are three main types of dietary fats: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. The meats you feed your dog will have a combination of all three, but mainly saturated and polyunsaturated. In the wild, grazing animals would normally eat grasses, while most birds would eat grasses, seeds and insects. Grain-fed animals will contain more saturated fat than their grass-fed counterparts. Poultry is naturally higher in polyunsaturated fat and lower in saturated fat. Feed low fat meats and add polyunsaturated oils. Avoid coconut oil, which is saturated fat. Omega Fats There are two main types of polyunsaturated fats: omega-6 fats and omega-3 fats. Both fats help control the immune system and inflammatory response. Omega-6 fats tend to increase inflammation and omega-3 fats reduce it. Just as grains change the amount of fatty acid in meats, they also change the omega fats. While wild animals eating grasses contain equal amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fats, animals fed grains contain a lot more omega-6 fats. Here are some tips to balance the omega fats in raw diet for dogs: Trim the skin off poultry. It can contain 30 times more omega-6 fat than omega.Pork has a lot of fat in the meat and can contain large amounts of omega-6 fat. Make sure you feed both poultry and ruminants such as beef, lamb and goat. Add a source of omega-3 fats. My favorite sources are ahiflower or hemp a good source of a healthy fat called GLA and green lipped mussels a sustainable and clean alternative to fish and marine oils that carries several beneficial omega-3 fats. Broccoli, kale and especially broccolo sprouts are a good source of cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory polyphenols. Blueberries have a special affinity for the brain and nervous system, and cranberries add bladder and kidney benefits … but most berries are a good choice. Research shows that vegetables reduce the risk of cancer in both humans and dogs. This is because fruits and vegetables have important immune benefits. All fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols , which are bioactive substances that play a role in health and immune function. They pass through his small intestine to the colon, where they are fermented by bacteria that live there. Polyphenols have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have been extensively studied for their role in preventing and treating chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Their immune benefits come mainly from short chain fatty acids … which are byproducts when bacteria consume polyphenols. They feed the wrong types of gut bacteria and are linked to chronic inflammation. To boost the vitamin D content, feed whole raw fish, egg yolks, vitamin D rich mushrooms or green lipped mussels. Green lipped mussels will also increase manganese levels, as will oysters and shellfish. This last step will make sure your dog gets enough of the two micronutrients that are most likely to be lacking in a raw diet. The problem is, many food animals are raised indoors and might be deficient in vitamin D. So there should be a source of vitamin D in the raw diet. Here are some of my favorite food sources of vitamin D for the raw diet for dogs: Mushrooms: When mushrooms are exposed to sunshine, they can product vitamin D, just like animals. Egg yolks: Yolks from pastured hens raised in sunshine and eating a proper diet are rich in vitamin D. You can feed eggs several times a week. Mussels: Green lipped mussels and other mussel species are rich in vitamin D. Fatty fish: Salmon, sardines and mackerel are all rich in vitamin D, as is cod liver oil. Manganese Manganese is an essential trace mineral that activates important metabolic processes in the body. It also helps the body detoxify harmful free radicals. If your dog is deficient in manganese, it will usually show as weakened ligaments and connective tissue that can cause joint issues such as cruciate tears. If your dog is very active, you may need to feed a little more. And if your dog is more of a couch potato, you may need to feed a little less. If you can feel the ribs, but not see them, your dog is at a good weight. Pound for pound, puppies need more calories and nutrition than adult dogs. Remember, puppies need to eat more calcium and less fat than adult dogs too. Puppies need to eat more to support their growth. Close share Copy link Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, and it's easy to see why - their friendly demeanor and loyalty make them a beloved family pet. From choosing the right type of food to managing portion sizes and incorporating healthy treats, understanding your Golden's nutritional needs can help ensure a long and happy life for your furry friend. A breed like Golden Retrievers known for their lustrous coats and high energy need the proper nutrients to maintain shiny fur and healthy joints. Why Huntaway? Whole Ingredients Our dog food is a biologically appropriate balance of venison meat, offal, and bone. Our recipe also includes healthy fruits and vegetables such as swiss chard, kelp and beets. For dogs that are prone to dental disease and cancer, having ingredients like parsley can help support fresh breath, and polyphenol rich vegetables can reduce oxidative stress or inflammation in the body. You can read more about our ingredients. In addition to being a wonderful balance of foods for your dog, venison is a hypoallergenic and novel protein. A novel protein is a variety of protein that has not dominated our food system for a long time like beef, pork, chicken and turkey. For Golden Retrievers who suffer from allergies, this can be a great option since their immune systems are less likely to have a reaction to a novel protein over a conventional one. Simple to Portion Our raw dog food comes in 3 ounce cubes. This makes portioning easy for your pup. Additionally, there is an option for subscriptions to make sure you never run out. You can choose between Small, Medium and Large boxes, set to arrive every weeks. Earth Friendly Our wild venison are an invasive species in New Zealand. They disrupt the local environment and farm land, and currently do not have any natural predators, resulting in the population growing rapidly. By mindfully harvesting this species, and making sure no part of the animal goes to waste, there is a reduced amount of stress on the surrounding ecosystem. You can read more about our sustainable practices. Please note that this is a starting point, and should be adjusted based on activity level. For puppies or lactating dogs, please consult your vet for guidance. To serve, put portions in the refrigerator to thaw for around 12 hours. Similarly to other raw meat, handle with care, keep Huntaway separate from your other food, and make sure to wash surfaces and bowls thoroughly with soap and warm water after your dog is finished eating. Any food that is not consumed within 30 minutes should be discarded. If you're thinking about introducing Huntaway to your Golden Retriever, scroll down to purchase or email us at hello huntaway. The adventure starts here! Open media 1 in modal Huntaway. Faster nutrient absorption Weight management A BARF diet ensures dogs eat fresh, wholesome, and allergen-free foods, as no chemicals, additives, or fillers are used in raw diets. Raw Dog Diet Research Increased lifespan. Generally, raw-fed dogs are so much healthier. The changes are profound. A study on feeding practices in the United States and Australia indicated that .Lisa M. Freeman Freeman, a nutrition professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, tells WebMD many benefits attributed to a raw food diet for dogs, such as a shinier coat, are the result of the high-fat composition of the typical raw diet. Ingredient contamination. Raw ingredients pose a higher risk of contamination with potentially harmful pathogens i. Coli that can sicken your pet and possibly be transmitted to humans. Feeding whole bones to dogs presents a risk of choking, broken teeth, intestinal obstruction, or internal punctures. Nutritionally unbalanced. Raw allergies. Dogs might be allergic to raw ingredients. Wash all meats, organs, and other raw ingredients. Buy raw products from reputable grocery stores or butchers with high sanitary standards. Raw bones. Avoid big bones and feed only raw bones that are small or ground bones. Never feed cooked bones. They become softer after cooking and are more likely to splinter when chewed. Speak with a vet nutritionist. They can provide nutritional guidance to formulate the best Golden Retriever raw diet or recommend a raw food delivery service. However, after two weeks of storage, most samples declined compared to salmonellae. We also analyzed the price for the most popular meats. According to the U. It might be cheaper. Conversely, buying commercial raw-meat food over traditional kibble is a tad more expensive, but we think the health benefits and convenience are worth the price. Read our feeding raw dog food on a budget guide for tips on how to feed raw for cheap. Choose lean cuts. Raw meat is the main source of protein. Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more. Ground bones are the safest choice. Avoid heavy or big bones - They can break teeth or get stuck in the digestive tract. Provide essential calcium, phosphorous, and other essential nutrients. Great source of high-quality protein; vitamins A, B12, B6; folic acid; iron; zinc; and essential amino acids. Organs are a great source of vitamins and minerals. The more organs you add to the diet of your dog, the better the mix of nutrients your dog will receive. Fruit such as apples, cranberries, and blueberries. Fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, and oregano. Never feed toxic fruits or veggies Fruit provide antioxidants while vegetables have carotenoids, flavonoids, antioxidants, and many other phytochemicals that are beneficial to immune function and health dogs. It states every dog meal should have six indispensable nutrients to create a balanced meal that supports life and proper function in dogs. These include protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. No fruits or veggies. Always consult with your vet. Adding a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews ensures your Golden Retriever gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals. Do you have a busy lifestyle with little cooking time for your pup? This company is the pioneer of raw dog food. They deliver Biologically Appropriate Raw Food straight to your door. Their formula is a balanced blend of raw meat, fruits, vegetables, organs, and bones. All of their ingredients are USDA-sourced. Their formulas are developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist to meet the nutritional guidelines set by AAFCO. The body weight percentage method is the most straightforward alternative to many raw feeders new and experienced. Please consider his metabolism, activity level, lifestyle, health, and other factors to determine the perfect amount. Golden Retrievers Raw Feeding Chart You have four scenarios to choose from to determine how much to feed your dog. Senior, less active, or overweight dogs weight loss : Feed 1. For a Golden Retriever that weighs 65 pounds, here is how much raw food you would need to feed him daily. We also discuss everything from how much to feed and how often. Plus, what types of meat to give your puppy, and how to make a balanced diet. Whilst most dogs nowadays feed on commercial kibble, there is a growing interest in raw food for puppies What Are the Available Raw Foods for Puppies? These may include grains, vegetables, legumes, and other animal proteins as we will see. However, dogs have associated with humans for ages. As a result, they can now digest many additional types of food. Despite the fact that the dog has adapted to eating a wider range of food, his digestive system is still ideally suited for processing carcasses. The aim of raw feeding, therefore, is to give your dog a diet made for them as a carnivorous animal. Dogs have the powerful crushing jaws, strong stomach acids, and short meat-eaters digestive tract to process a completely natural raw diet. Raw Food for Puppies: Rules and Principle If you choose to feed raw, you need to understand the principles involved and follow some basic rules to keep your puppy safe and healthy. Even for animals perfectly designed for crushing and swallowing bones, there are certain risks involved. And it is important that we minimize those risks in any way possible. Because whichever way you decide to feed your dog, it makes sense to reduce any risks to an absolute minimum. One way to do this is to buy an off-the-shelf raw food. But many raw feeders want to make their own food at home. It is a good idea to follow these feeding practices if you are going to raw feed your dogs. This is doubly important with puppies. As part of this process, the pathogens in meat will increase naturally over time, unless it is frozen. So be sure to freeze meat soon after purchasing or refrigerate it below 4 C and use it within a couple of days. Older dogs can often cope with pathogens that would make humans ill. Puppies, however, are more vulnerable. Only feed them the freshest meat that you would feed your own family. Handling raw meat, especially chicken, is always risky. Raw chicken especially is typically contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella. You can reduce this risk in a number of ways. Careful Storage: Store raw meat in covered containers, separate from your other food and well away from foods eaten raw like salads. We like these fridge containers from Amazon with clip-on lids. Of course, you can use any container with a lid that is dishwasher proof or can be washed in hot water. Dedicated Cutting Boards: Cut up raw meats on dishwasher safe dedicated chopping boards. Remember that you should use these boards for nothing else, but cutting raw meat. Use dedicated knives too, and wash both in a dishwasher or very hot soapy water. Protect Your Hands: Wear disposable latex gloves to handle meat and throw them away when you have finished. Then wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water. The Center for Disease Prevention and Control recommends 20 seconds at least, of handwashing after. The major benefit is clean teeth—a result of the abrasive cleaning actions of processing bone. The main risk is tooth damage. This can include serious fractures of the teeth requiring expensive dental treatment and involving pain for your dog. Fortunately, this risk can be largely avoided, by the following: Avoid Weight-bearing Bones of Large Animals Avoid feeding your puppy weight-bearing bones of any large animal, such as cows, sheep, etc. Weight-bearing bones are the bones the animal stands on. They include the long bones in the legs that carry all of its body weight. It is, however, OK to feed leg bones of small animals to most dogs. Think about the size of animal a small to medium-sized dog might be able to catch and consume on his own. If your dog is medium to large-sized, this may be a rabbit, for example. That should be the largest size of animal to feed whole to your dog. Very tiny dogs may need even smaller bones. Rule 4 — Feed Your Puppy a Wide Variety of Meats Puppies need sufficient nutrients to keep them healthy and provide for their rapid growth. The best way to provide those nutrients is to offer a wide variety of nutritious food. It is very tempting to just feed what is easily available at the time. Many raw feeders are overly reliant on chicken because it is easy to obtain, but this is not sufficient, especially for puppies. If you make sure that your puppy has access to the following raw ingredients, at least once or twice each week, he should be able to access the nutrients he needs: Eggs Green tripe stomach of herbivore Oily fish Beef or lamb ribs with plenty of meat on them White fish Chicken backs, necks, wings and feet Pigs trotters Kidney, heart, lungs of cow, pig, sheep Liver tiny quantities Eggs make a great raw food for puppies. Some dogs will eat the shell too, which is fine. You may have to whisk the egg slightly the first few times you feed, to get the puppy started. There is no truth to the myth that pork is poisonous to dogs. It is fine to feed puppies pig feet, meat, and organs. Can Puppies Eat Vegetables? Dogs in the wild eat the stomach of their prey and some of its contents, which may include digested vegetation. They may also consume fallen fruit, berries, and so on at certain times of the year. Tripe is the stomach of a herbivore — usually a cow or a sheep. On the other hand, humans typically eat white tripe. Feeding green tripe and whole prey animals whole rabbits, fish, etc. It will give your puppy access to the range of nutrients he needs. Ensure that these are pureed mashed or liquidised. It is no use giving green vegetables whole, as your dog cannot digest them effectively. Some people like to feed fruit and vegetables carrots, for example to their raw fed dogs as snacks. This is not a problem provided you are aware of which common human foods are toxic to dogs. Onions are, for example. How small an item you can feed will depend on the size of your puppy. For example, take a Labrador puppy of three or four months old. He may be able to swallow a chicken wing whole if you feed just the last two joints. So it is best to feed the whole wing of a big chicken, or to feed a larger portion such as the back of the carcass. That way he has to work on the wing to break it down before he swallows it. They are more likely to do this if they think you are going to take their food away. So let your puppy eat in peace. This can lead to the puppy gulping down larger quantities of bone than he can digest, instead of breaking it up with his teeth. Raw meat is very valuable to dogs. Feed Your Puppy Enough Bone! Many people rely on ground minced meat and steak. But feeding puppies ground up beef or steak is not a suitable diet. They need bone and connective tissue in their diet. But he needs to chew on actual bone to benefit from the dental hygiene aspects of a raw diet. A dog that eating enough bone will produce firm stools that crumble when dry. Too much offal will also produce loose stools. It might be best to cut back a little. But as soon as he is big enough to manage to tear chunks off by himself, let him do so. Raw-fed dogs drink a lot less than kibble-fed dogs do. However, water is still essential. Always ensure your dog has plenty of fresh water to drink. This is especially important when your dog has consumed a lot of bone. He will drink as much as he needs. Your dog will be fine with a regular water bowl, provided you keep it clean and well filled How Much Raw Food for Puppies? As always, when feeding puppies, be guided by your dog, rather than a set of scales. You should be able to feel ribs, but not see them. And your puppy should have a waist. So if you have a labrador puppy, feed him according to what he might be expected to weigh as an adult around 60lbs. This would amount to just over 1 lb of food each day. Each puppy is different and will grow and eat at his own pace. It is difficult to overfeed using raw food for puppies. So if you want to give your puppy a little more because he seems hungry, then by all means. Just keep an eye on that waistline, and cut back for a few days if he starts to get plump. Thin Puppies If you think your puppy is looking a little thin, despite being fed as much as he wants, think intestinal worms. You should deworm him regularly with a puppy deworming medication from your vet. You can also find them on online veterinary pharmacies. At the time of writing, fenbendazole is considered very safe. You should always check with your vet before deworming your puppy or dog for the first time. Deworming Your Puppy The thought of deworming your dog may sound gross to you, but it is a necessary evil. Dogs can become infested with different kinds of worms. The most common is the roundworm, but they can also have tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Besides weight loss, a worm-infested pup may also vomit or experience diarrhea. Be sure to see your vet to check their feces and choose an appropriate dewormer. Panacur is the dewormer I use for my puppies. The active ingredient is fenbendazole, and there are a range of products based on it including the popular brands "Drontal" or "Panacur". After deworming, your dog may pass the dead worms in his feces, looks like spaghetti. Some dogs may also experience vomiting. Other dogs with heartworm may be at risk of pulmonary thromboembolism after deworming. But try not to worry; your pup should be good as new soon after. Divide the daily ration into four portions for puppies under three months old. Do three portions for puppies between three and six months of age. And for pups six month to 1 year old, do two portions. Spread these meals out over the day at three to four hourly intervals. If your three-month-old puppy only wants to eat twice a day and is thriving, then that is OK. Adult Dogs and Fasting Adults can eat once or twice a day. It is up to you and your dog. In fact many experts believe that occasional fasting is beneficial for you dog. However, do NOT fast a dog on kibble, then allow him to gorge on extra rations the next day. Kibble is not designed to be consumed in large quantities, and your dog is not designed to process it that way. Lots of new foods all at once may trigger a tummy upset. Start with one food. Chicken is usually well tolerated. Feed a meager amount at the first meal, and if all is well, slightly more at the next. After a couple of days, add another food—eggs for example, or tripe. The rule is: small quantities at first, increasing gradually at each mealtime. Of course meal variety is important. And this gradual introduction will allow his stomach and digestive system to get used to his new way of eating. Raw Food for Puppies on a Budget We all want the best for our dogs. So it is likely that after reading this, you really want to start using raw food with your pup. Except, you have one issue: your budget is pretty low. Shop for cheaper animal parts: This was an eye-opener for me! Parts like chicken feet, chicken necks are less expensive and may fit in your budget. Use dog-safe vegetable peelings: Be sure to only pick fruits and veggies safe for dogs. Good luck with using raw food for puppies. References VetStreet. Khuly, Dr. Becker, Dr. Barchas, Dr. Craig, J. We at Bonsaviour strongly believes in a Raw Natural Diet for True Health of the Dog, We offer help and advice on the correct diet for the In-Whelp Pregnant Bitch, naturally rearing healthy puppies, adult dog diet and the older dog diet. Dogs fed naturally as nature intended with the addition of vital herbal minerals and vitamins will keep your dog in excellent health and ailment free throughout their life. Bonsaviour has practiced the Natural Diet for the dog for more than 25 years. Dogs in the wild would naturally kill their own prey, this is the reason why raw meat and raw bones is a natural diet for the domestic dog as like their ancestors. Domestic dogs and wolves have exactly the same strong digestive tract, the prey, example the rabbit the dog will eat the cereal content of the stomach, the prey would of raided the farmers crops thus why the cereal is part of the dog's diet, the fur would be the roughage, we replace this with bran it helps the anal glands to empty naturally. Commercialized unnatural dog foods can cause health problems in dogs especially as the dog ages. Feeding your dog raw foods the natural way as nature intended combats these problems. So how could they have possibly survived. In the wild a dog will catch it's food and devour nearly all of it, the flesh good source of protein , fat a good source of energy , bone good source of calcium , muscle and organ meats, and the stomach with its contents a good source of enzymes, minerals and pre-digested plant material consisting of herbs and grasses. Dogs, both domesticated and wild, are members of the carnivore family. Anatomically, they are built for it. No one describes this more eloquently than Juliette de Bairacli Levy in her book, The Complete Herbal Book for the Dog A Handbook of Natural Care and Rearing: The dog is a meat eater, from the teeth fashioned for tearing and crushing, the powerful jawbones and muscles, the small, very muscular stomach, the short intestines and above all the very powerful digestive juices peculiar to the carnivorous animals - digestive juices that can dissolve even lumps of bone. In health, the dog's juices, both of mouth and stomach, are strongly antiseptic, and thus high meat and even flesh from diseased animals food which would kill a human being in a day, can be eaten without any harmful effects. Levy's philosophy of raising dogs is called Natural Rearing and it means just what it says raising the dog in such a way as to reproduce the way they would exist in their natural state. Natural rearing diets, such as Raw Food, also known as, Bones And Raw Food , are based on fresh foods such as raw meats, raw bones, raw vegetables and herbs. Because dogs in the wild would not eat every day, one day of fasting only for adult dogs per week is also recommended. This allows the animal to cleanse its body of toxins. Cooking breaks down many of the proteins and amino acids in raw meat, thus destroying much of it's nutritional value. The dog being not only a hunter, but a scavenger as well, will be able to exist on a diet of cooked food, but it will not be in optimal health. Raising your dog on poor diets will eventually have its effect - disease, immune deficiencies, short life span, the list is endless. Thanks to the works of Juliette de Bairacli Levy, Dr. Ian Billinghurst, Wendy Volhard and Dr. Kerry Brown, Dr. Tom Lonsdale and Kymythy Schultz a step in the right direction back to nature has been taken. Their books have been and invaluable source of information for all dog owners. The answer to that is simple, because it is the best, most natural food you could feed your dog. I would suggest breeders make good use of such flesh foods as the following paunches of all animals the raw, uncleaned paunches of healthy grass-fed animals can be fed with much benefit to all breeds of dogs. I learned this from a gypsy in the Forest of Dean: this man had bred many famous greyhounds, and he told me that such fare was the finest of natural food tonics. Tripe is the stomach of animals. These animals i. The food the animal eats i. It is again swallowed and then passed through the reticulum and omasum into the abomasum, where it is then further broken down by the gastric juices, amino acids and other digestive enzymes. So how can something so disgusting, be so good. These same gastric juices and enzymes not only aid the animal in digestion, but also aid the dog in digesting and efficiently utilizing his food. The amino acids are necessary for muscular development and, the other gastric juices, I believe, are the best cleaner ever for their teeth. I caught up with pro-raw feeding vet David Hopper who runs Vet on the Corner, a small family run practice in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. David has over 25 years veterinary experience and has been feeding his own dogs a raw diet for at least 5 years. Without giving away any trade secrets I was staggered by the list of ingredients which went into the food but did not appear on the label, some of which in my opinion more at home in the chemistry lab not dog foodDavid Hopper David was in mixed practice for 25 years working with farm animals, horses and pets before specialising latterly in pets. He has used acupuncture in horses and dogs for much of that time and more recently trained in veterinary homeopathy. However the majority of his work is still in conventional veterinary practice. David tries to keep an open mind and every day learns something new — not bad after 34 years in the game! The interview was proofread by Nick Thompson of Holisticvet who added a few of his own comments. Nick is a fully trained vet with over 20 years experience, he has also trained in homeopathy, acupuncture, natural nutrition and veterinary herbal medicine. Hi David, thanks for taking the time out to discuss this very popular topic. I actually asked a couple of raw feeding groups on Facebook if they had any questions for this interview and the response was phenomenal! This is going to be a good one. Large sums of money have been spent by the Pet Food Industry on the veterinary profession over the years to sponsor education and research to the point that no one can remember any alternative to commercial diets. Following on, is there any sort of nutritional training available for raw feeding, perhaps sponsored by larger raw suppliers? I am not aware of any specific training courses but I suspect they will come with time as the major pet food firms can not ignore raw diet any longer and come on board. Having said that I have always been able to get advice from raw diet producers like Honeys. There is also a wealth of material online After being anti-raw for the majority of your career, what changed your opinion of a raw food diet, and even convinced you to rethink what you were feeding your own dogs? The conversion to feeding raw diet has been a gradual process over several years for me. At regular intervals we would get emergency phone calls from her to attend to dogs with gastric torsion. This is an acute emergency condition which will rapidly kill dogs if not surgically corrected and often recurs. Unfortunately we had to operate on many dogs and we lost several in the process. One day it occurred to me that I had not heard from her for several months. It transpired that she had started feeding raw diet instead of dry dog food and the torsions had stopped. I had heard through antipodean vets that raw diet is popular in Australia but I did not know any vets in the UK who supported it. I had access to the menus for the pet food. Without giving away any trade secrets I was staggered by the list of ingredients which went into the food but did not appear on the label, some of which in my opinion more at home in the chemistry lab not dog food? There appears to be no legal obligation for pet food manufacturers to declare all of the ingredients in pet food? I suppose the first step towards realising the importance of diet was when I noticed a tiny article in a veterinary publication about a vet called John Burn who had produced a holistic dog food. I phoned and had a long chat with this quietly spoken Scottish vet and as a result we tried this new food. Holistic diet improved many chronic skin, digestive and behavioural problems that had evaded curation by conventional treatments. It was long uphill struggle to convince clients that these conditions could be improved if not cured by diet alone. About 7 years ago a client walked into the surgery who fed her dog on raw diet. Raw diet seemed to tick so many boxes for me but it took a discussion with my wife, a vegetarian of over 30 years, to convince me to try it. We embarked on it with some trepidation and I must admit that when we first fed our dogs chicken wings I was ready to perform bowel surgery. However both dogs, one a GSD puppy the other a geriatric JRT, took to it readily and the benefits were almost immediate and they have continued ever since. Why do veterinarians oppose raw so much? Veterinarians and veterinary nurses oppose raw diets because they have no knowledge of them. Indoctrinated since students days of the merits of artificially produced pet foods by advertising and education, they have forgotten that for millennia animals have eaten raw food. Commercial dog food only became available in the 20th Century. They have also been fed old wives tales about raw food carrying bugs like salmonella and making dogs aggressive. Vets are understandably cautious about litigation and they are often unwilling to stick their heads above the parapet by recommending raw diet. More education and information for the veterinary profession and the general public is essential. I have not treated any dogs with illnesses related to raw diet feeding. There is some discussion about an overactive thyroid illness but I have not personally seen nor had any experience of this condition in dogs fed raw food. I have treated many cases related to feeding inappropriate commercial dry and tinned diets including skin, bowel, metabolic, skeletal, neurological and locomotory disorders. What do you feed? There is some confusion with pet owners who sometimes consider a raw food diet as totally meat. They do not realise the need for vegetable content and supplementation with bone flour. Occasionally pet owners also confuse a holistic artificial diet with raw food diet. Nick Thompson: There is much discussion among raw feeding vets on the most appropriate diet. No consensus beyond it has to be complete diet, not necessarily each meal , nutritious and work well for that individual. Watch this space! What is your view on supplements? Nick Thompson: I do supplement and there is evidence that modern foods, meats and vegetables have lower mineral content than 80 years ago. I also like using herbs, glucosamine products, vitamins at nutraceutical levels to give a nutritional boost beyond that of optimal nutrition. If so, how? I am unable to tell if the dog is on raw diet when it comes into the surgery however certain things give the game away on further investigation: clean teeth, no bad breath, normal faeces with no offensive smell and good bodily condition. To start buying fresh raw ingredients and mixing them into a diet for the dog is an anathema to most people with busy lifestyles so I can understand why pet owners feed commercial dry diet. It is quick and convenient rather like the fast foods some of us regularly eat. They have also been convinced by very persuasive advertising that a particular diet is the best one for their dog. We will never use commercial dry diets again if we have the choice. Do you have any advice on how to approach a non pro-raw vet? Unfortunately very few vets at the moment have any experience of raw diet so they do not recommend it. Hopefully in years to come that will change. Until then tread carefully and consult web pages like Raw Food Vets first. Dog treats The loyalty and friendly demeanor of Golden Retrievers make them one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. For this reason, you as the owner need to take care of your Retriever by learning everything you need to know about their nature and overall well-being. Understanding their nutrition not only boosts their immune system but also allows your furry friend to live a long and happy life. It all comes down to choosing the right type of food, incorporating healthy treats into their diet, and managing portion sizes as they continue to grow. What is raw feeding? A raw diet comprises raw meat, raw organs, raw bone, and sometimes fruits or veggies. This means that there is no heat involved in preparing it before feeding your dog. Since dogs are carnivores, they need a diet that is packed with adequate amounts of protein, moderate fat, and very little or no carbohydrates. This makes raw meat the best diet for most dogs, especially when you compare it to kibble. Is the raw diet safe for your Golden Retriever? The raw food diet for dogs can be the healthiest diet! A raw diet is naturally delicious to your dog because they are carnivores, and their system is well adapted to this type of food. However, it poses a higher risk of parasites and other microorganisms that are present in raw food. When preparing a raw diet for your Golden Retriever, you need to follow all the necessary precautions in terms of food quality and safety. The recommended raw diet for a Golden Retriever involves meats that have been frozen to get rid of parasites, and properly washed before being served at room temperature. Keep in mind that dogs can have allergies to the commercial foods you buy at the stores. It makes your Golden Retriever enjoy food time even more because a raw diet is naturally appealing to their taste buds. Because carnivores get more nutrients from foods that are rich in nutrients, feeding your dog with raw diet gives him a shinier coat and healthier skin. Besides boosting their immune system, a raw diet gives your Golden Retriever the nutrients he needs without fillers. What are the downsides of feeding a raw diet to my Golden retriever? First, a raw diet costs more than kibble which can make it difficult for owners to keep up with their budget. You will also invest a lot of time in feeding your Retriever a raw diet because of the safety precautions you need to take. Another disadvantage of serving a raw diet is that it poses a higher risk of parasitic infection to your furry friend. The reason why you might consider cooking the food first before serving your Golden Retriever is that it kills off bacteria, germs, and parasites. There is a high possibility that your dog could be infected by intestinal parasites if served a raw diet. Your dog getting sick means frequent visits to the vet, which can be costly in the long run. How to maintain a proper weight for your Golden Retriever Golden retrievers are known to gain massive weight over time so it is essential to fill their diet with biologically appropriate proteins, ground bones, healthy fats, and some vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals. How much food you feed your Golden Retriever will vary depending on its age, weight, metabolism, amount of exercise, quality of food, and whether you would want him to gain, maintain or lose weight. When creating raw feeding recipes for your Retriever, it is essential to maintain the correct ratios of ingredients so you can achieve the desired outcome for their weight and physical appearance. You can feed your Golden Retriever a raw diet as long as you take the necessary precautions before presenting it to your dog. It all comes down to how much you are willing to invest in terms of time and money. All in all, a raw diet is ideal for your furry friend as long as you take precautions to reduce the risk of parasitic infections. Post navigation. The BARF model diet is the most popular raw diet for puppies. A BARF diet can be home prepared with multiple ingredients to provide recommended allowances for most essential nutrients. Although, it is important to note that many ratio raw diets can be lacking in certain essential nutrients when specific whole foods are not fed. Ratio diets are a great base and adding several additional whole foods can help to fill the common nutritional gaps. They often prove useful when formulating a complete and balanced raw diet. It is important to note that the muscle meat ratio does not mean to feed muscle meat exclusively. This ratio is a large category containing multiple ingredients such as saturated fat for energy and muscular organs such as heart and tripe. Since various raw meaty bones will differ in their bone content , some calculations will be required to know how much of each raw meaty bone to feed. It is important to note that this ratio refers to the amount of bone only, and does not include the meat on the bone. Since various raw meaty bones will differ in their bone content , some calculations will be required to know how much to feed of each raw meaty bone. The amount of raw meaty bones a puppy may need to maintain firm and consistent stool will vary. While not necessarily essential, vegetables are often beneficial for dogs. Ruminant liver also provides the essential mineral copper. The liver ratio guideline is slightly higher in puppy BARF diets to meet their higher needs for essential nutrients during optimal growth. It is recommended to include ruminant liver such as beef or lamb liver in raw diets for puppies. Other secreting organs are beneficial in completing essential nutrient requirements for puppies. More or less may be needed to complete nutritional requirements. It is recommended to include spleen in raw diets for puppies to meet their higher needs for essential iron. This is slightly higher than the recommended amount for adult dogs because puppies have slightly higher needs for certain fatty acids. Seeds and nuts are beneficial for providing essential fatty acids for puppies, but they must be pre-soaked, drained and ground before feeding. Raw nuts and seeds contain phytates which are anti-nutrients and can negatively affect nutritional balance. Soaking raw seeds and nuts reduces phytates and grinding promotes optimal digestion. However, they should only be fed in small amounts due to their sugar levels. Whole Foods for Essential Nutrients Many raw diets lack essential nutrients when some specific ingredients are not included. Adding whole foods to a raw diet helps create a balanced diet. Debunking Myths about Plant Ingredients The inclusion of plant ingredients in raw diets can create a debate among many. There are many myths associated with feeding plant ingredients to puppies: Puppies cannot digest plant ingredients. Puppies can digest and absorb the nutrients from plant ingredients when they are prepared in a method to support optimal digestion. Additionally, lightly steaming or fermenting vegetables are alternative preparation methods to promote optimal digestion. If starchy vegetables are fed, they must be thoroughly cooked before feeding. Boiling or baking starchy vegetables until fully cooked allows the starch to become digestible for puppies. Vegetables and fruit are not needed for nutrients. While it is correct to say that vegetables and fruit are not required for essential nutrients, they do play a beneficial role in raw diets. Vegetables and fruit provide carbohydrates which can be used as a source of energy as well as fiber to support vitamin K synthesization and colon health. Vegetables prove useful when completing nutrient requirements in certain situations. Leafy greens are high in magnesium, which is a nutrient often deficient in ratio raw diets. Additionally, specific diets with ingredient restrictions may need to rely on plant ingredients to complete nutritional gaps. An example is low purine diets where organ meats are not fed. Therefore, the use of plant ingredients is warranted to create a complete and balanced diet. Plant ingredients are not beneficial. Vegetables and fruit contain carotenoids, flavonoids, antioxidants, and many other phytochemicals that are beneficial to immune function and health. These phytochemicals are not found in any other food sources. To Feed or Not to Feed Plant Ingredients Adding vegetables, seeds or nuts, and fruit to a puppy's meal is not harmful in any way when dog-safe ingredients are selected. Puppies can and will digest and absorb the nutrients from plant ingredients when they are prepared to support optimal digestion. Selecting to add plant ingredients to a puppy's meal depends on individual requirements and how the dog tolerates plant ingredients. Always adjust to the puppy's individual needs. Plant ingredients prove beneficial when creating raw diets for puppies. Table of Contents.

The Blue Heeler , also known as the Australian Cattle Dog, is a medium-sized dog initially bred for herding. It is resilient, high-energy, and intelligent, making it a perfect working dog. It has an intense drive to work and is out to impress by serving its owners. The Poodle comes in different sizes, toy, miniature, and standard. It is a fun, energetic, intelligent, and playful dog, making it a perfect match for a family with kids. The Poodle is known for its hypoallergenic coat, a quality that attracts breeders to cross it with other dogs. The mix, therefore, is an energetic, playful, and loyal dog that will bring cheer to any home. The dog loves and enjoys company with its owners, always up for fun playtime and ready for games. The History of The Blue Heeler Poodle Mix There is not much to write home about the history of this mix, but the parents have a long line of how they came to be. The history of this dog can be traced back to the 19th century when it was bred as a working dog. Australian settlers kept it as a guard dog for cattle during their long-distance travels. As time went by, Australian ranchers wanted a dog to herd large numbers of cattle kept for the beef industry. Other dogs like the British Smithfield were overwhelmed at herding cattle, even though they were seasoned in herding sheep. The idea was to create a hardy herding dog that would withstand the working conditions on the ranches. This new creation became a favorite of ranchers, and its popularity grew with breeding. Eventually, Jack and Harry Bagust crossed this dog with dalmatians. This new dog became the Blue Heeler. In , the Blue Heeler was approved for registration by the American Kennel Club and placed as the working dog group. Poodle History The Poodle is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was among popular dogs such as the Rottweiler. Initially, it was bred as a working dog to retrieve waterfowl for hunters. Unfortunately, its dense coat made it difficult for the dog to swim, so they had to trim the fur and make the Poodle more buoyant in water. Its popularity grew, becoming a luxurious breed common among French nobles. This followed its growth all around Europe, becoming one of the most popular dogs among royals. It is the national dog of France, but its popularity has grown across the west. Poodles came in a standard size, but others were created as breeding evolved. The standard Poodle was recognized as a breed by the AKC in .The appearance of the Blue Heeler Poodle mix can be challenging to highlight, considering the two parents have entirely different physical characteristics. Even so, there are some distinct features that you can expect from the mix. How Big do They Get? The size of the Blue Heeler Poodle mix varies depending on the variety of the Poodle used for breeding. If the blend is from a Toy Poodle, then it is bound to be much smaller than if it is from a Standard Poodle. The standard Poodle grows as tall as 18 to 24 inches at the shoulder and can weigh between 45 to 70 pounds. On the other hand, the Blue Heeler grows as tall as 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 31 to 35 pounds. Remember, puppies in the same litter can be different in size depending on the dominant gene from the parents. Some may weigh as heavy as their Poodle parent, others as their Blue Heeler parents, and others might be an average of both. The Blue Heeler has a double-layer coat which helps to protect the dog from extreme weather conditions as a working dog. On the other hand, the Poodle has a dense, curly, and coarse coat that grows rapidly. Thankfully, the Poodle coat does not shed. The mix, therefore, has a less dense coat than the Poodle, but it is curly, coarse, and long. Even though the coat does not shed, it is prone to tangles and mats and requires consistent grooming to keep it in shape. When it comes to colors, The mix can come in one solid color or a mix of two or more colors from the parents. The mix can lean more towards the Poodle color, take the Blue Heelers distinct color, or have a combination of both. It can have one solid color and marking of another all over the body. It enjoys the company of its human friends and is open to interacting with other dogs and pets. The mix has an even temper and bounces back the emotions you share. It is the type of dog you will want to come home to and enjoy cuddles in the evening with. But, it is highly energetic; you will need to devote time to play and run around with it. The playful personality is great, but it comes with the curiosity of a cat. With this, you will need to keep an eye on the dog as it can get naughty and messy if left to explore independently. The good thing is with early training; the dog can learn to respect the boundaries you put for it. This charming dog is pretty independent and will play with toys. However, it gets anxious if left alone for long periods. The dog would rather see and follow you around than sit and interact with toys all day. So make sure it has company for the most part. How to Take Care of the Blue Heeler Poodle Mix Your furry friend will appreciate the attention you give it, but constant care and maintenance will ensure the dog stays happy and healthy. Therefore, it needs a nutritious, healthy diet, regular exercise, grooming, and training. Feeding The best diet for your dog is one that meets its specific needs. On this note, no standard diet is designed for Blue Heeler Poodle Mixes, as all dogs have different health needs. It would be best to consult a vet on the right food for your furry friend. As a high-energy dog, the Blue Heeler Poodle mix needs a diet that meets its energy requirements while supporting its overall health. Since the dog is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, ensuring the diet includes fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin is essential. Ask your vet for the best amount and frequency of food to avoid overfeeding your dog. Most dogs do not have control over how much they eat, hence the importance of scheduling meals and giving them adequate quantities. Exercise Your Blue Heeler Poodle mix will do well with regular exercise to expend its built-up energy. Like other energetic dogs, the mix will need at least an hour of exercise daily to stay healthy and happy. It is also vital to stimulate the dog mentally. The Blue Heeler Poodle mix is an intelligent dog and will be happy to solve puzzles, take on challenges and solve problems. Include interactive toys during playtime for both physical and mental exercise. But, the coat is prone to tangling and matting, requiring consistent brushing. You can bathe your dog as needed, but once a month is adequate. If you need to bathe your dog regularly, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Training The intelligent Blue Heeler Poodle mix may be a little challenging to train. It can be stubborn and demanding and might need patience to get through training. That said, it will require a firm and consistent trainer that will not bow down to its manipulative and cheeky needs. Like other dogs, the Blue Heeler Poodle mix will do well with positive reinforcement. When training, ensure you bring treats and offer them along with praises each time the dog progresses. On the same note, ensure the dog gets adequate exercise to burn built-up energy before training. Socialize the dog early by taking it to doggy daycare or planning play dates with other dogs at the park. But with the proper care, frequent vet visits, regular exercise, and a healthy diet, your dog may escape the wrath of the health issues it is susceptible to. Here are some of the common health issues among Blue Heeler Poodle mixes: Hip dysplasia. When was the first Blue Heeler Poodle Mix dog born? Because Poodles are available in several sizes, Standard, Miniature, and Toy, the offspring of each version will end up with a similar size or weight. For example, Standard Poodles that breed with Blue Heelers usually give birth to pups that can weigh at least 40 pounds once they reach adulthood. Their height will be proportionate with that of their Poodle parent, too, which can be taller than 15 inches. On the other hand, Miniature and Toy Poodles mate with Blue Heelers to make a crossbreed that typically weighs from 15 to 35 pounds. As for the height, you can expect it to be significantly less than 15 inches. However, you should keep in mind that breeders rarely match a Toy Poodle with a Blue Heeler. Due to its tiny size, it can be extra hard for the dog to bear the offspring of the bigger Heeler. Coloring Cattle Doodles are as adorable as they come! Blue Heeler Poodle mix dogs also have the tough bones and strong physique of the Australian Cattle Dog. Thankfully, the same goes for Poodles! As a result, their offspring will also have this advantage, so your Blue Heeler Poodle mix should be excited about learning new tricks at any moment of the day. Because Cattle Doodles are considered easy to train, they can be a great option to adopt for first-time pet owners. This is why training and socialization should be your priority once you take your puppy home. This dog has so much energy to spend playing with your children. This makes their offspring a suitable fit for a person with an active lifestyle. If you like to go for long walks, hikes, or beach runs, your Blue Heeler Poodle mix dog will definitely enjoy joining you on your adventures. These activities will allow him to use up his energy where it will benefit you both. Destroying furniture Eating inedible objects Blue Heeler Poodle Mix Lifespan and Health Concerns Blue Heeler Poodle mix puppies are generally healthy, but they might be prone to some health concerns, just like their parents. But before I dive into those, let me give you an idea about their lifespans. Thankfully, these dogs can live for as long as 12 to 15 years. Tips on Taking Care of a Blue Heeler Poodle Mix After getting to know his temperament, physical characteristics, and health concerns, allow me to give you some general guidelines on how to care for the Cattle Doodle. As a general rule, the bigger the dog is, the more food he should be getting. Keep in mind that this dog breed is susceptible to bloats, which will affect the type of food you give him. In addition to that, the Blue Heeler Poodle mix should steer clear of obesity to prevent the development of future problems in his joints. When things get warm and he starts to leave a few hairs here and there, you should brush him every day. Exercise As I mentioned earlier, your Blue Heeler Poodle mix will need so much exercise to match his energy levels. For example, you can: Walk your dog on a daily basis Go for hikes or beach runs Play with your dog for at least 30 minutes every day in a fenced backyard fetch, tug of war, hide and seek, etc. Socialization Look, Blue Heeler Poodle mixes are generally social dogs, but only if you adequately socialize yours as a puppy. So, how to properly socialize your Cattle Doodle pup? This adorable dog breed is loving, loyal, protective, and a breeze to train, all thanks to his intelligence and affectionate nature. With all of this in mind, your next obvious step is to head over to a reputable breeder and take a cute Cattle Doodle pup home! However, both of his parents have AKC profiles. Blue Heeler Poodle mixes are a fairly new breed, the first one of this kind being born in the s. Around that time, there was a rise in designer dog breed production in response to demands for dogs that were hypoallergenic, mild-tempered, and healthier than their parents. Having noticed the inherent passion and zeal in me to care for pets, I took a step further to create a team of I and like-minded individuals to provide an informative resource in order to broaden the knowledge base of a regular pet owners. The author of this website is a passionate pet lover, and researcher. After gaining experience in raising and training various pets, I realized the need to provide answers to frequently asked questions from pet owners as well as insightful advice I've learned over the years to assist pet parents raise healthy and well-behaved pets. There is another variation referred to as the Red Heeler which has a similar history but displays red coloring This is a high-energy breed that originated as far back as in, yep, your guessed it, Australia. The Blue Heeler became established over many years due to the progressive mixing of the native wild dog — the Dingo and imported herding breeds such as Collies. The Blue Heeler combines the tenacity of a wild Dingo with the intelligence and work ethic of the Collie. This makes them accomplished working farm dogs and great guard dogs. Some more active families have reported the breed to make lively and loyal domestic pets too. However, they will need oodles of exercise so not a family pet for the faint-hearted. Build wise you can expect a Blue Heeler to be compact, solid, and stocky. They will have rounded heads with pointy expressive ears, they have muscular legs, and curved tails that hang down. Poodle History The Poodle itself has its roots as far back as the 15th Century as a working water dog, popular throughout mainland Europe where it retrieved game from waterways and ponds during hunts. Athletic, strong, and with stamina for days, the breed made the perfect working dog. Their loyal nature and alertness also saw them used as watchdogs in country estates. By the late 18th and early 19th Century, the Poodle became less prolific as a hunting dog and instead became coveted by the wealthy and royals of the time who found the Poodle could make for a delightful companion dog. The large build of the traditional Poodle was less practical for a domestic companion and as such breeders intentionally sought to match those dogs who were on the smaller end of the scale in order to develop a smaller variation. This eventually led to the Miniature and Toy varieties we see today. Of course, the largest Poodle variation, the Standard has a stalwart of dedicated fans and remains popular for those looking for a larger dog. While this may be pretty self-explanatory for those who have this hybrid, in real-world terms, they are fairly rare therefore most people refer to it as a Blue Heeler Poodle mix to give people a better idea about the dog mix. It is hard to pinpoint exactly when Blue Heelers and Poodles began to be actively bred as a cross. Realistically there were likely common accidental mixed litters in Australia due to the popularity of both parent breeds. Like many Doodle hybrids, there has been a steady increase in the intentional breeding of Blue Heeler Poodle crosses from around the early s onwards. One of the key reasons some breeders explored this cross was due to the perceived similar nature of both the Blue Healer and the Poodle. Both are intelligent, energetic working dogs with similar traits in loyalty and stamina. The benefit of introducing Poodle genetics is that it has the potential to reduce the shedding associated with Blue Heelers. As working Blue Heelers generally are kept outside in kennels, shedding was never considered an issue. However, as people fell in love with their nature and moved them to domestic pets the heavy shedding associated with their coat could be off putting. By crossing with a Poodle there is the potential to have a hybrid with a single curled to wavy coat which will not shed anywhere as much. There are many Poodle enthusiasts who will disagree with any hybrid breeding. Blue Heelers by comparison already have fairly mixed genetic lineages of wild dingo and a variety of herding dogs, therefore, this community is perhaps a bit more laid back about the concept of crossing them further. Dog breeding, in general, can be a controversial topic however often the key marker of whether a cross is ethical is whether the breeder takes the time to select healthy well-balanced parent dogs from each line. There is some criticism that crossing a dog with such an extreme work ethic as a Blue Heeler with a Poodle in a drive to make a more balanced family pet is undesirable. However, as there are instances of individuals training Blue Heelers to be domestic pets this appears to already have been happening. Many dogs have a strong working history and have made the leap to domestic pet, the Poodle being perhaps the best example of this. One of the biggest benefits, as mentioned above, is the potential to massively reduce the amount of shedding associated with a Blue Heeler alone. Given the big difference between the Poodle and Blue Heeler coat type though, be warned it is unlikely first-generation crosses will jump magically to low shedding. Breeders however actively back breed Blue Heeler Poodle mixes to a purebred Poodle in subsequent generations which increases the chances of that soft and curly Doodle coat type. Another perceived perk of the Blue Heeler Poodle Mix is that it combines two super-intelligent breeds but the Poodle side softens up the more serious and driven aspects of a Blue Heeler. Blue Heelers are known to be protective of their owners but are unlikely to seek out a cuddle. Poodles on the other hand are selective about who they bond with however, once attached can seek affection, bordering on being needy from their owners. Mixing a Blue Heeler and a Poodle has the potential to get a balance of the two e. As with any hybrid, it is incredibly difficult to predict with certainty what side your pup may take after more. They have the potential to have a completely Blue Heeler type temperament, be nearly all Poodle or fall somewhere on the spectrum between the two. As the Blue Heeler and Poodle differ quite markedly in personality traits that is quite a spectrum that you would need to be comfortable with potentially taking on. The other point to consider is that a Blue Heeler Poodle mix has the prospective to be smart, very smart! Both breeds have a bit of a reputation for mischief-making, stubbornness, and the posibilty to manipulate their owners to their own ends if not trained effectively. While having a double helping of smarts can make for a dog who is capable of all manner of cool skills and tricks, it also has the potential to keep owners constantly on their toes. But hey, who wants a quiet life really? Anecdotally it appears most breeders choose a Miniature Poodle on the larger side or a smaller specimen of the Standard Poodle. The reason Toy Poodles are not routinely used is that a Toy Poodle parent would likely be too small to carry Blue Heeler pups. The alternative would be to use a Blue Heeler mother however given the big gap both in height and weight it is likely a resultant litter would be extremely variable. Color and Coat Types The Poodle parent brings the potential for a low shedding, single-layer, hair-like curly coat. The Blue Heeler by comparison brings a double layer, moderate to high shedding, coarse coat. This makes it difficult to fully determine a first-generation Blue Heeler Poodle cross coat type. It will likely be lower shedding than a pure Blue Heeler however, still has the potential to retain an element of undercoat. There can be variation across a litter and it is near impossible to determine in puppyhood what an adult coat may look like. Either way, this mix is likely to need regular brushing to ensure they remain matt free. If they take more after their Blue Heeler parent, their coat may be longer. Many owners will elect a regular professional grooming program to keep their coat shorter and more manageable. Color wise the Blue Heeler brings its trademark blue tones in both speckled and spotted marking patterns. This tends to be passed on resulting in Blue Heeler Poodle crosses which are lighter shades including greys, blues, and whites. Health Generally, the Blue Heeler Poodle mix is considered a healthy cross breed. As a result, a Blue Heeler Poodle mix may be comfortably expected to reach the ripe old age of anywhere between 12 and 15 years old. There are some health issues common to both the Poodle and the Blue Heeler however that may still show up in the hybrid pups. These include: Hip dysplasia Epilepsy Luxating patella Of course, this is not definitive that your Blue Heeler Poodle mix pup will inherit these conditions. Equally they could pick up another illness. The good news is generally they are considered healthy overall. Temperament Predicting the temperament of a hybrid breed is not guaranteed at all. That being said there are some almost guarantees for a Blue Heeler Poodle mix and that is this mix will be smart. Like verging on outsmarting the humans smart, so consider yourself warned! This dog will need mental exercise just as much as physical to prevent them from turning their brain power to more mischievous pursuits. If we assume they will be a blend somewhere on the spectrum of both parent dogs then we can expect a Blue Heeler Poodle mix to be eager to please, responsive and energetic. While the Blue Heeler is not a cuddle monster , the Poodle genetics will make the cross more affectionate. This high-energy cross will need somewhere between 90 minutes and 2 hours of high intensity exercise a day as a minimum and would quite happily throw in a hike or agility practice for good measure. They are best suited to active families or singles and a good size outdoor space is vital. Feeding Requirements While a Blue Heeler Poodle mix will be a mid-size dog, its muscular build and high activity nature means it will need some serious calories. This means it might attract a higher than expected food bill. A good quality kibble would be recommended and it is wise to budget for as much as 3 to 3. Here are the different kinds of Poodle: Standard Poodle The standard male Poodle weighs around 70 pounds, while the average female Poodle weighs around 50 pounds. The colors of their fur can range from white and black to apricot and blue. Slender and long-legged, these dogs can reach a height of 15 inches. Most Blue Heelers bred with Standard Poodles will reach a weight of 40 pounds or more. Aside from their size, there is no difference between the two. Miniature Poodles can weigh up to 15 pounds, while Toy Poodles typically weigh 4 to 6 pounds. Like Standard Poodles, they have a high level of energy and are excellent athletes. Although their personalities differ from those of the Standard Poodle, these dogs are excellent family pets. Toy and Miniature Poodles are known for their intelligence and devotion to those in their care. In the presence of loved ones, they are at their best. Australian Cattle Dogs that have been bred with a miniature or toy Poodle tend to be between 15 and 35 pounds. Cattle doodle is the name given to a crossbreed between a Blue Heeler and a Poodle. They have a positive outlook on life because they are descended from some of the noblest canine lines. Breeding the two parent breeds together produces a perfect watchdog. The cattle doodle is based on s-era designer dogs. Healthier, smaller, and less prone to allergies are some of their advantages. Dogs of this type differ only slightly from other popular breeds. Temperament of Blue Heeler Poodle Mix Poodles and Australian Cattle Dogs have a lot in common when it comes to intelligence, making a cross between the two breeds the ideal pet for a new dog owner. The Blue Heeler Poodle mix is eager to please, easy to train, and responsive to new things. Blue Heelers are known for their ability to outsmart humans and other dogs. When it comes to dog temperament, Poodles are more patient and gentle than Australian Cattle Dogs. In a household with other dogs and people, the Blue Heeler Poodle mix does best. So that they can burn off some of their excess energy, you should give them plenty of time to play. As a result, they will gain more self-confidence when it comes to interacting with other people. The yard and house will be destroyed if you let your Blue Heeler mix get bored. Every day, make an effort to keep them both mentally and physically stimulated. Exercise and Training Requirements of Blue Heeler Poodle Mix Getting plenty of exercises is important for these pups, as it is for all dogs. This recipe is likely to require a lot of physical activity. Set aside time each day to work out your pets. Get ready for him to bounce off the walls. A tired dog is a happy dog. Never leave your dog chained outside; this is cruel to him and unfair to you. Blue Heeler Poodle mix is capable of being obstinate and demanding, despite its intelligence. Strong, firm leadership is needed to keep this dog from taking advantage of its handlers. Positive reinforcement works best for all dogs. All puppies and dogs should be properly socialized from an early age. A larger dog requires more food and is more active because of its larger size. A dog food free of common allergens like wheat, soy, or chicken is the healthiest choice for you and your pet. In addition, because of their active lifestyle, make sure your dog gets plenty of protein. Elbow and knee joint problems can occur in both miniature and toy poodles. Hearing loss can occur in Blue Heelers for a variety of reasons, including congenital deafness or hearing problems that worsen with age. Your Blue Heeler Poodle mix has a longer life expectancy than the average dog. They can expect a lifespan of at least 12 years. Plush toys should be avoided if your Blue Heeler Poodle mix is large. Toys for your hybrid should be tough and long-lasting. A choking hazard is a small, fragile toy, so avoid it at all costs. Instead of this, give your dog antlers and tough chew toys. Toys like rope toys are a must-have if you have more than one dog. Playing with your Blue Heeler Poodle puppy should not be ignored. Be on the lookout for any signs of aggression from them. Dog toys and puzzles are a favorite pastime for this intelligent designer dog. Puppies born to Blue Heeler Poodle mixes are less common than those born to other Heeler mixes. Adoption fees at shelters are likely to be less expensive than the cost of purchasing a dog. All of the disorders can be detected in a puppy whose parents have been thoroughly screened by a reputable breeder. A good breeder will also be on the lookout for behavioral problems and temperament issues and will steer clear of breeding any dogs with undesirable psychological traits. Or even worse, grew up in a home where abuse was the norm. Having noticed the inherent passion and zeal in me to care for pets, I took a step further to create a team of I and like-minded individuals to provide an informative resource in order to broaden the knowledge base of a regular pet owners. The author of this website is a passionate pet lover, and researcher. After gaining experience in raising and training various pets, I realized the need to provide answers to frequently asked questions from pet owners as well as insightful advice I've learned over the years to assist pet parents raise healthy and well-behaved pets. A genetic health and coat color test from a professional service could provide a more accurate potential color range. Size The Texas Heeler-Poodle mix is a medium-sized dog breed. They are athletic and will have a sturdy build. Height The Texas Heeler-Poodle mix typically stands between inches tall at the shoulder. Of course, there can be some variation within this range depending on the individual dog and its parents. However, you can generally expect this breed to be a medium-sized dog that is not too tall or too short. Weight When it comes to weight, the Texas Heeler-Poodle mix usually weighs between pounds. Again, there can be some variation within this range depending on the individual dog and its parents. Overall, the Texas Heeler-Poodle mix is a great size for families who want a dog that is not too big or too small. Temperament As someone who has researched and written about both parent breeds, I can confidently say that the Texas Heeler-Poodle mix has a beautiful temperament. These dogs are known for being intelligent, loyal, and energetic. They are also very affectionate and love spending time with their owners. One thing that stands out about the Texas Heeler-Poodle mix is their high energy level. They are always up for a game of fetch or a long walk and love to run around and play. This makes them an excellent choice for active families who enjoy spending time outdoors. Another great thing about these dogs is their loyalty. They are very devoted to their owners and will do anything to protect them. This makes them excellent watchdogs, as they will sound the alarm if they sense any danger. Despite their high energy level, Texapoos are also very intelligent and trainable. They are quick learners and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods. This makes them an excellent choice for first-time dog owners who may not have much training experience. Health Issues Doodle breeds are often at a lower risk of inheriting breed-specific diseases. Texas Heeler-Poodle crosses may still be susceptible to common diseases. Here are some you should be aware of: Hip dysplasia: This genetic condition affects the hip joint, causing pain and discomfort. Depending on the severity, it can be managed with medication, therapy, or surgery. Eye problems: Texas Heeler-Poodle mixes may be prone to eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy. Regular eye exams can help detect these issues early on. Allergies: Some Texas Heeler-Poodle mixes may be prone to allergies, manifesting as skin irritation, itching, and hair loss. Allergies can be managed with medication and changes in diet. It is important to note that not all Texas Heeler-Poodle mixes will develop these health issues. Providing your dog with proper care and attention can help minimize their risk of developing any health problems. Lifespan The lifespan of a Texas Heeler-Poodle mix is typically between 12 to 15 years. To ensure that your dog lives long and healthy, providing them with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and routine veterinary care is vital. Regular check-ups can help detect potential health issues early on, leading to better treatment outcomes. Kevin is a proud Bernedoodle owner and Doodle dog fanatic. Read how a chance encounter with two Bernedoodles spurred a lifelong passion here. If you want to get in contact with Kevin, you can send him a message.

Both parents come from a 5-generation pedigree. Mother is IKC registered. Grandparents and great grandparents are field trial champions. Father is a strong, chunky Labrador with an excellent breeding background, he was never registered but both grandparents were IKC reg. Both mother and father are cherished family pets, live together and can be seen. Parents are gentle natured, excellent with kids and have great personalities. Owners are vets themselves. This is our first and last litter as we are not breeders. We wanted to keep a line from both parents which was the motivation to have a litter. Our beautiful puppies are happy, healthy, and very confident. They have a fantastic temperament. Pups have been raised in our family home ensuring they have been well socialised with kids and other animals such as cats. These confident puppies are extremely intelligent and will be easy to train! They are already semi-toilet trained and have great re-call. Puppies are very affectionate and loved by all the family hence we are only looking for suitable home as a family pet or loyal companion. All pups are - Vet health checked - Vaccinated - Microchipped - Wormed at 2,4,6 and 8 weeks - Treated for fleas and mites. Pups will be ready to go to their forever homes from September 17th. For more information or to arrange to view the puppies please call or email me on or megandoherty00 gmail. If I do not answer please leave a message and I will get back to you. Thank you! Life Span Did You Know? There is a reason that year after year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States. The history of the Labrador Retriever dates back to the early s in Newfoundland, just off the Atlantic coast of Canada. Had these families not played a vital part in the continuation of the breed, the loving and affectionate Labs we have all grown to love may not exist today. The first recognized Yellow Labrador Retriever was born in .One of the friendliest breeds out there, Yellow Labs are great companions and love to be a part of the family. While the color yellow is part of their namesake, their coats range from fawn or cream to butterscotch or a deep golden hue. Coming into popularity during the midth century, the Yellow Labrador Retriever has been a staple for hunters and family homes alike ever since. These dogs are patient and kind when faced with energetic young ones. Yellow Labs delight in big spaces, opting to run and play wildly. However, they will happily lounge on the couch after having a long, hard run outside. When given a little training, they can easily learn to control barking habits and restrain themselves from digging. Their double coat also makes them a good fit for just about any climate. As with most dogs, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. Generally speaking, Labradors are healthy. They can develop certain inherent conditions, along with cataracts and kneecap displacement, but will remain healthy overall. As long as they are taken to their vet appointments with regularity, Labs will usually feel just fine. Yellow Labs are loyal companions with few drawbacks. Treats never hurt, of course. This, paired with their eagerness to please, makes them a highly trainable dog breed that is a good fit for owners of any experience level. With minimal training, these dogs can control their barking and digging without much trouble. Labs have very short, double-layered, and water-resistant fur. Its density protects them from the cold, so they will often try to swim any time of year. They experience heavier seasonal shedding twice a year and slight shedding throughout the year. Giving them a good brush once a week or a few times a week should keep their coats shiny and healthy. Other grooming tasks include nail trimming, ear care, and dental care. Proper dental care for dogs includes brushing their teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day. This helps prevent the tartar buildup that causes dental diseases like gum disease and tooth decay. You can also supplement your dental care efforts with dental hygiene chews, a special dental care diet, and more. This breed tends to be very active. They were bred to be working dogs and need exercise. A few daily walks and some time to run should help assuage their energy levels. Yellow Labs also need a fair amount of mental activity as well; they like to stay sharp. Yellow Labs are classified as medium to large dogs. They reach an average height of 23 inches and an average healthy weight of 75 pounds. A Yellow Labrador Retriever generally lives years. It was traditional in Newfoundland for every fishing boat to have a Labrador Retriever that would help retrieve the fish as they came in off the trawl. Featured Yellow Labrador Retriever Article. Having their puppies is like icing on the cake. We absolutely LOVE having puppies around to play with and love! We don't even own a kennel. My husband always had Labrador Retrievers growing up, so it was only natural that he would want his children to also have a Lab to love. Enough for all our kids to play with and love. We are VERY blessed to be able to homeschool our children, as being home with our children and pets is extremely important to us. We couldn't imagine a life without Labs! Our Labs sleep in our home and run freely on our property.NO kennels for our sweet fur kids. They are family and family likes to be with family. Boarding includes crate and leash training, continued socialization, as well as early potty training. This works great for families that are not home all day when their puppy is still young. It is a wonderful way to stay connected with siblings and other BoulderCrest Lab lovers. Inquire for more info. These guys have had all their puppy shots and are crate trained. They sleep quietly from about 11 pm - 8 am and are learning basic obedience. They both had the wonderful English Lab temperment. She is playful and fun and would love to be with an active family. She is a girl who knows what she wants.She will love all the attention and love that her new family will offer and will give it right back.

This team of volunteers rescues Frenchies from puppy mills and even local animal shelters. They can also be contacted in cases where a family can no longer care for their dog for whatever reason. Families who want to bring home a French Bulldog are methodically evaluated. This is in place to ensure that the dogs are placed in suitable homes. With the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue managed by volunteers, this organization is always on the lookout for volunteers that can help in the fostering process, evaluation, training, and assist in the various fundraisers for the benefit of the rescues. This is a non-profit group that has been operating since , and its main objective is to care, love, and place French Bulldogs with their forever families and homes. A sad French Bulldog is lying on the floor. Rescue French Bulldogs aims to rehabilitate their rescues, but being a non-profit association, they mainly rely on donations to run their operations. Note that all the French Bulldogs that go under the care of Rescue French Bulldogs are surrendered to the organization anonymously. After confirming that the Frenchie is in a healthy state or existing medical conditions are treated, Rescue French Bulldogs initiate the re-family process. French Bulldog standing in the street with a woman. And they believe that a significant element in their mission is to invest in awareness about the breed and what responsible ownership entails. True to this commitment, other rescue groups contact them for additional resources to give rescued French Bulldogs a better second chance in life. As long as the dog needs a new home and another opportunity to belong to a family, the Village, without questions, accepts it into its fold. Any Frenchie is welcome, regardless of whether the dog is healthy or has behavioral problems or medical conditions requiring assistance and attention. The Village is committed to accepting all French Bulldogs and eventually finding them new homes. After a thorough screening and home visits, the Board and the coordinators decide which home a rescue will go home to. And the impressive fact about this group is they do what they do excellently with the help of volunteers alone. French Bulldogs feel dry and sleepy after taking a bath. They are responsible for the entire state of Texas and even help out nearby states of Louisiana and Oklahoma. And like all rescue groups, they also aim to rehome French Bulldogs after rescue and rehabilitation. Their rescues come from different sources. This includes Frenchies that owners surrender personally, those brought to the local pound and shelters, stray dogs, import brokers, commercial breeding kennels, and other private rescue groups. In particular circumstances, Short Mugs can get rescues from Louisiana and Oklahoma but only from these areas. The reason behind this is all the volunteers of Short Mugs are situated in Texas. Dogs up for adoption are also posted on their website, but these are not the entirety of the rescues as some are still being treated and rehabilitated. The adoption process varies based on the number of dogs for release and the number of interested individuals. Short Mugs Rescue communicates with all possible fosterers and adopters so they are aware of their application status. Short Mugs Rescue Contact Details:. Read more about the pups that are currently up for adoption. Read More… Foster Dogs FBRN is being faced with an increasing number of dogs who are ill, handicapped, or need expensive veterinary care before being placed. Meet our Foster Frenchies and please consider sponsoring one of them to ensure that they receive the care that they need. Read More… Surrender a Dog Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog… we are here to help! Read More… Volunteer We welcome you to join us in our efforts to rehabilitate and rehome needy French Bulldogs. We have many options for you to choose from, depending on your circumstances, time and resources. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes. Read More… Contact Us Learn about the many ways that you can get in touch with us. He has a Staffie sister, Lettie, who he adores and who has taught him so much with her gentle patience. He has doggie friends at daycamp he sees once a week. He is the best snuggler ever! He used to be a resource guarder, but will now bring you his toys for a treat! He loves our daily walks and meeting people. Thank you FBRN for picking us to be his family- we love him so much! Despite being mostly blind and deaf, Ham is thriving in his golden years, especially with his folks now working from home. Thank you FBRN for our goodest good boy! We are so grateful for every day with him. She had cherry eye surgery in March right before Covid quarantine and the surgery was a success. A gigantic thank you to FBRN for allowing me to adopt this perfect little nugget. All Rights Reserved. A c 3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: .Powered by Geeks4Rent. All dogs are spayed or neutered. Read each bio very carefully, as not every rescue Frenchie is suited to every home. Our adoption fees offset only a portion of the veterinary expenses for the dogs in FBRN. As these costs rise we have had to increase the adoption fees as one measure to try to keep up with expenses. Our Available Dogs page is updated weekly, so check back often! We are currently reviewing the applications that the dog has already received. Please do not attempt to apply for a dog with a Pending Adoption banner. Your application will not be processed without the fee. If you experience any problems completing the application or you do not receive an auto confirmation for your application, please contact FBRN at [email protected] Thank you. Fees have recently risen. You may see some dogs of the same age have different fees. We elected not to raise the fees on dogs that were posted before the increase. Our fees can be found on the Adoption Info page. Any communication will come through email. Please never share any personal information with anyone who indicates they are a volunteer unless it is coming through the correct channels. If you have received a FB messenger message, please send it to [email protected] so we are aware. In the meantime, check out our Foster Page to see if we might be a good match! Vocality level 3 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. Temperament The French Bulldog is a clown in a lapdog. They enjoy playing and entertaining their family, as well as cuddling and snoozing with their favorite person. They are amiable, sweet, companionable, and willing to please. A short walk on lead is sufficient to meet most of its physical needs. Frenchie snores and may wheeze and drool. Require minimal coat care Facial wrinkles should be regularly cleaned. Brachycephalic syndrome stenotic nares, elongated soft palate Intervertebral disk disease CHD seldom causes symptoms or problems Allergies History Where are French Bulldogs from? In the nineteenth century, the Bulldog was fairly popular in England, especially around Nottingham. The French women, especially, were attracted to these little Bulldogs, especially those with erect ears a common but disliked feature in England. Dog dealers brought more of the clownish little dogs to France, where they soon became the rage of Paris. The dogs were dubbed Bouledogue Francais. How big do French Bulldogs get? Some Bulldogs are quite small weighing less than 25 lbs, however, dogs in this breed on average, weigh 28 lbs. What are some French Bulldog facts and information? Facts French Bulldogs are best known for: Bat ears.

They need to go to the toilet How to stop a german shepherd puppy crying at night? There are many different reasons that your pup may be crying at night. Fortunately, there are also lots of ways to help him sleep better at night. Here are a few of the ways you can stop your german shepherd puppy from crying at night: Exercise to tire your German Shepherd puppy out: Your puppy should be taken out for 5 minutes for however many months old they are. For example, a 3-month-old puppy would be taken out for 15 minutes. Make sure you tire them out enough to help them sleep better at night. Let your German Shepherd puppy outside before bed: Make sure you let your puppy outside to relieve himself before putting him to bed. Surround your German Shepherd puppy with familiar objects: Bring clothing with the scent of the home or the breeder next to him while he sleeps. This will help give him something familiar and help him ease into the transition to his new home. Play soothing music: Playing classical music before and during bedtime can help alleviate whining and anxiety as well as drown out other noise or unfamiliar sounds that may upset or rouse your puppy. The average dog sleeps for only 45 minutes at a time, while human sleep cycles are much longer, lasting 70 to minutes. Dogs can only experience two sleep cycles during that time period. Dogs also differ from humans in that they are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep on and off throughout the day. Humans, on the other hand, are monophasic sleepers. Most humans receive their 7 to 9 hours of sleep all at once. While humans spend most of their waking hours awake and alert, dogs dedicate up to 5 hours of their day to simply resting. Dogs who rest more during the day tend to seem happier and more relaxed. Do dogs dream and what about? Dreaming occurs mainly during this REM phase of sleep. And dogs do cycle through REM during their sleep. So its make sense to believe that dog do dream. A puppy will spend more time in dream sleep than an adult dog as they fall asleep more often. So just what are our furry friends dreaming about? Anything your dog does during the day is being processed while they sleep and relived in their dream. This can be observed by their twitching whiskers, the whimpering, and the running paws while they are sleeping. Chances are that your dog may also be dreaming about you if you spend enough quality time interacting with them. They will be dreaming about your play session, walks, and cuddle time together. Where should my German Shepherd puppy sleep? German Shepherd puppies should sleep inside with comfortable beddings. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. You can place the crate beside your bed or in an area close to you. In this way, your new furry friend can smell you. And it gives him a sense of security. Should I sleep with my German Shepherd puppy? You should not sleep with your German Shepherd puppy during the first few months home. Yet you can let your pup sleep beside you in a crate or a dog bed. Your puppy needs to get used to a regular schedule, work on their independence, and see you as the dominant figure. Once your GSD has become an adult months-old to 2-year-old , it will be fine for you to sleep with him. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep with me? A new dog may need some time to adjust before they are ready to sleep in your bed. If they show interest in sleeping with you and are well-behaved , you can always let them on the bed later on down the road. What are the benefits of sleeping with dogs? If you are still reading, chances are you might like to sleep with your dog at night. Pets offer comfort and security, but they may affect sleep quality or trigger allergies for some people. Petting dogs in particular has proved to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If touching your pet is part of the key to gaining health benefits, cuddling up together at night is only to make it better. Sleeping with dogs promotes creativity Studies have shown that when dogs are with their owners their heartbeats sync up. This experience promotes theta brainwaves which can be seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, sensations. Theta waves are strong during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness. Sleeping with dogs boost your mood Studies have found that people who spend time with dogs reported fewer depressive symptoms. Not only is it fun to be with your furry friends, it also helps us relax and increases our flow of oxytocin, the love chemical. Sleeping with dogs makes you feel safe Think about it — your GSD is hard-wired to protect. Many people and having the dog protecting them helps them feel more secure and sleep more soundly. Sleeping with dogs is comfortable That furry, cuddly animal is likely to love lying with you just as much as you enjoy laying with them. The level of comfort a dog brings to the bed helps put you at ease and makes you feel cozy. Sleeping with dogs promote immunity Many people have hygienic concerns when it comes to sleeping with their dogs. However, one study found that infants who slept with their pets were less likely to develop allergies later on in life. After all, your new furry friend will sleep for at least 15 hours per day during their short lives. And the better they sleep, the healthier and happier they are. Further reading. Reasons that letting your German Shepherd sleep with you might not be a good idea It might contribute to separation anxiety If your German Shepherd has separation anxiety then letting it sleep with you might not be a good idea right now. Separation anxiety is where your dog does not like being left without you and being left without you causes it to become anxious. If yours has it then sleeping with you could contribute to its separation anxiety. If it does have separation anxiety, then it would help to work on getting rid of its separation anxiety before letting it sleep with you. It might make it harder for you to sleep Another thing to consider is that letting your German Shepherd sleep with you might make it more difficult to sleep for you. When you will be trying to fall asleep your German Shepherd will be moving around and possibly trying to get attention from you, especially on the initial nights. With that being said, it would always be an option to stop letting it sleep with you if you find that it does not work out so well. It can aggravate your own allergies and transmit diseases It is possible that letting your German Shepherd sleep with you will aggravate allergies and there is a risk of transmitted diseases. However, this is a very rare occurrence source but it is something to be aware of. It might increase resource guarding If your German Shepherd has issues with resource guarding then letting it sleep with you might make them worse. For example, you might find that it will start trying to protect its spot on its bed. As with separation anxiety, it would help to work on stopping its resource guarding before letting it sleep with you. It might be difficult to get it to stop if you change your mind One more possible issue with letting it sleep with you could be that it will be hard to get it to stop if you change your mind. This is because your GSD will get used to sleeping around you and suddenly stopping it from doing so could be met with some resistance. Reasons why it is not such a bad idea It improves feelings of companionship A positive of letting your GSD sleep with you is that it will improve feelings of companionship between you and your dog. German Shepherds were bred to work alongside their owners and they are usually a lot more comfortable when they can be around their owner as and when they please. It might make you feel safer German Shepherds are highly protective dogs and they are often used as guard dogs for this reason. Letting your GSD sleep with you could help to make you feel more secure at night. This could help you to fall asleep more easily after the initial nights where it might be trying to find its best spot. However, recent research has concluded that the pros can outweigh the cons when letting your GSD sleep with you. It also found that there is not a significant issue with doing it if your relationship with your GSD is a healthy one. Things to consider Before deciding on whether or not you should let your German Shepherd sleep with you, there are some particularly important things to consider that I will mention below. Whether or not it has behavioral issues If your German Shepherd has behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, resource guarding or aggression then letting it sleep with you could make them worse. If you do decide that you want to let your GSD sleep with you then it would help to work on the issues before doing so. On the other hand, if your German Shepherd does not have any behavioral issues and your relationship with it is a healthy one then the research shows that this would not come with significant issues when letting it sleep with you. How old it is Another thing to consider is how old your GSD is. If it is a puppy still then it might pee in the bed and it could contribute to it getting separation anxiety later on. If you do notice that it starts getting anxious when you leave then it would be very important to immediately start working on getting rid of the anxiety so that it does not become a more significant issue. You could get it to sleep on the floor beside the bed instead One way to reduce some of the negatives would be to let it sleep with you but on the floor beside your bed. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. Puppies are similar to babies, they eat, poop, play and sleep. This article will answer those questions and give you some insight into German Shepherd puppy sleeping habits. Yes, German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot. A GSD pup will normally sleep upwards of 18 to 20 hours a day. They are usually asleep unless you are engaging with them in some way. It is normal for German Shepherd puppies to sleep up to 20 hours a day. GSD puppies sleep so much because their bodies are still developing and growing fast so they need to sleep to fuel that process. As they get older, they will sleep a little less. German Shepherd puppies should sleep in a crate when really young and not yet trained. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. Some of the best crates for German Shepherd puppies are ones that can grow with your pup and come with a divider. This is not to say your pup has be crated forever, think of this as a tool to help them get house-trained faster and to keep them safe. As mentioned above, it is too easy for them to find a spot to do their business if they have free access to the whole room at night. However, once your puppy knows how to wake you up for their bathroom break, it is really a personal decision as to whether you want your pup to sleep in your bed. German Shepherd Puppy Sleeping Habits As mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies will usually sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day, which is totally normal. It is also normal for a puppy to not be able to sleep through the night. Just like newborn babies need to get on a schedule so does your new puppy. When my GSD puppy first came home, she usually woke me up two or three times each night for potty breaks. Final Thoughts German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot because their bodies are developing and going through a lot of growth when they are really young. It is normal for a puppy to only be awake for 6 hours a day when you first bring them home. Unless they are playing with toys , eating, drinking, or going outside, they will probably be sleeping. If you feel like your GSD puppy is sleeping too much you can check with your vet to make sure all is ok just for peace of mind. Check Price on Amazon Early socialization, obedience training, and puppy training classes are vital for new pups. Please remember, though, if you let your puppy sleep with you, it may require more work during the daytime to assert your dominance and help your pup become more independent. As a first-time dog owner, I took the advice of my breeder who recommended using a crate and to lay the foundations on the first night. As the crate will be too large at first, you can partition it in half until your dog grows. Read More: 8 Best Dog Crates for German Shepherds and Playpens You can place the crate in his own special area of the house, or you can choose to put it right next to your bed if space allows. I chose the former as I am a light sleeper, and I hate to have my sleep disturbed — remember too that dogs have different sleep cycles than humans. If you choose to put the crate in your bedroom you can transition to another area of the house after a few weeks. Although I could hear my German Shepherd cry once in a while during the first night, once that was over, she was just fine. This is quite normal, and your dog will soon get to love their crate as it is their own special place where they can go to either rest or enjoy their favorite chew toys. When Your German Shepherd is an Adult This study states that approximately half of pet owners share their bedroom or bed with their pet during the night. If you choose to sleep with your German Shepherd once he is an adult, several benefits come along with it. However, you should make sure that your dog is well-behaved and trained. Dogs who are territorial or aggressive should not sleep in your bed. When you opt to sleep with your pet, these overall benefits become even stronger. Some of the most common health benefits of sleeping with your adult German Shepherd include: An overall reduction in depression and anxiety. Increased feeling of security. Lowered blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. A decrease in hypertension. As you can see, many benefits go along with sleeping with your adult German Shepherd in addition to increasing the loving bond. However, this should only occur after your dog has shown that he has been properly trained and socialized and knows you are the boss! Of course, there can be negatives in allowing your German Shepherd to sleep with you. It may affect your marriage! Although I have mentioned you may suffer from disturbed sleep if you sleep with your German Shepherd, this depends on the type of sleeper that you are. In fact, this study from The Mayo Clinic looked at the sleep of 40 healthy humans and their dogs occupying the same bedroom to find out whether sleeping together was conducive to sleep. Still, even when you are allowing your dog to sleep with you, there are two rules to follow: Only allow your dog onto your bed at night when you say so. Your German Shepherd should not feel that he has free reign of your bed and can come and go as he pleases. This can impede how he views your hierarchy. Instead, only allow him on the bed at night, and only after you have said it is okay. Always have another spot for your German Shepherd to sleep. Sometimes your dog wants to enjoy his own space. Always make sure you have a bed or crate nearby where he can get warm and cozy without being in your bed. This will give him additional security. When all is said and done once your GSD is an adult, and they grow pretty quick as you can see from the GSD growth chart , it is a matter of personal choice. Here are some other key takeaways from the article: You may choose to let your new GSD pup sleep in a crate or his own bed at the side of you. Only when he is an adult, you have the option of letting him accompany you to your bed at night time. The benefits of sleeping with your dog include increased security, bonding, and mental health. Negatives include possible disturbed sleep and an increase in any allergy symptoms. Related Posts You May Like:. Choosing to let your adult German Shepherd Dog sleep with you is your own decision and there are many benefits to doing so. However, you should know that as a puppy the best thing you can do for them is completely ignore unwanted behavior. Separation anxiety: My first German Shepherd was Fina. Fina was an amazing, friendly dog. I made one huge mistake with her when I first got her. I brought her home and she was separated from the other pups and her mom and I was crate training her. At night, she whined, and I felt bad, so I slept on the ground near her crate, allowing her to chew on my finger. This was a huge mistake and lead to a lifetime of severe separation anxiety. Ignore whining! You can sleep with your cuddly puppy, but do not do it to appease them. If you are crate training them, they are going to whimper and whine. It was amazing and fascinating to watch. I have crate trained multiple puppies. I put their crates in my bedroom, right beside the bed. Once that door closes, they begin whining and howling. At this point there is no turning back. NEVER try to calm them down. NEVER yell at them. NEVER do anything positive or negative. At this point you need to plug your ears and wait it out. They will stop. In general, the first night they will whine 20 minutes. The second night they will whine 15 minutes. The third night they will whine 10 minutes. The fourth night they will whine 5 minutes. Basically, if you deal with 1 hour of whining, you could save yourself 13 years of major behavioral problems. Should my German Shepherd sleep in my bed? There are some negatives but the pros outweigh the cons for many people. Does your dog sleep with you? Please comment below with your stories about dogs sleeping in your bed. It took the better part of 35 years to perfect the breed, but the results were impressive—a smart , swift, and intelligent animal, skilled in a variety of tasks. Over the years, the German Shepherd cultivated a strong reputation as a loyal and authoritative breed. It was von Stephanitz himself who eventually shifted the focus from herding to police and military work and great effect. Today, German Shepherds are the preferred companion of K-9 units and similar outfits all over the world. While it might take some time for German Shepherds to warm up to their human companions, their eventual devotion is unwavering and absolute. According to VetStreet, German Shepherds are not cut out for the backyard lifestyle. If you own one of these dogs, you need to be prepared to make room for him or her as a regular member of the household. This anxiety occurs when an animal is greatly attached to its owner or other family members fur-covered or otherwise and becomes upset when they leave. It sometimes manifests itself in destructive behavior and could be a major factor in their refusal to leave you alone during the night. You might also entice them with treats or puzzle toys whenever you leave the house, which will condition them to view your departure in a more positive light. They might also be trying to protect you from what they perceive as an external threat—for example if you have overnight guests with whom the dog is unfamiliar. You can train your dog to be less anxious by slowly introducing him or her to strangers in a neutral environment. Keep a supply of small treats on hand for people to offer. This will help the dog to associate strangers with delicious rewards, thereby dialing back the perceived threat. Or maybe you adopted it from a shelter, and its previous owners allowed it to sleep in their beds from day one. Pet behavioral expert Dr. Margaret Gruen suggests that dogs who curl up in the fetal position during sleep are attempting to keep warm, in addition to protecting their vital organs. If your German Shepherd is taking this position night after night, it might be seeking additional warmth by climbing into bed with you. Make their bed more appealing Does your German Shepherd have its sleeping area? If your dog is a puppy, invest in a bed that will be large enough when they grow to full size. Encourage your dog to lay down on the bed, enticing it with praise, treats, and other rewards. Start with plenty of high-value treats, such as bits of hot dog, cooked chicken, or cheese. Apprehensive about training a dog to stay in its own space? Check out this handy YouTube tutorial , which takes a great deal of the guesswork out of the process. It even includes tips on finding the perfect bed. Use the positive reinforcement described earlier to help the dog associate the crate with good times and relaxation. Toss a ball into the crate and encourage the pup to run in after it, or fill a puzzle toy with treats and place it inside. Once the dog gets used to the crate, you can experiment with leaving him or her inside for longer periods, and eventually overnight. Do I have to train the dog to sleep in its bed? In a word, no. If you prefer to have your dog sleep with you at night, there are numerous ways to encourage him or her. Take a look at this YouTube video for inspiration. If you do opt to train your German Shepherd to sleep on its own, be consistent. Watching TV with your dog on the family sofa is one thing, but your bed belongs to you. Almost every dog-owner has contemplated this question when adding a new canine member to the family. You should not let your German Shepherd dog sleep with you. Although there are might be co-sleeping benefits for both you and your dog, your pet deserves a separate bed. Additionally there are some factors to consider, such as pet allergies, bed size, and sleep schedule. The most significant benefit is that it forms and reinforces the bond between you and your dog. This statement is true with young puppies and mostly accurate with dogs adopted from a rescue or shelter. Allowing a dog to sleep with you is a clear sign to the dog that he or she is an accepted addition to your home. Dogs are pack animals. By nature, dogs sleep with their families. Whether their priority is your safety or their own safety, co-sleeping fulfills a need for your dog. Certain types of dogs get cold often. Staying warm at night, especially in colder climates, is more difficult for short-haired dogs. This fact is especially so with smaller dogs and elderly dogs. Cuddling with their owners is a great way to keep warm at night. Some dogs have anxiety. Some dogs are naturally anxious and high-strung. Sleeping together every night is predictable, and dogs like that. There are also rescue dogs who have a history that makes them feel unsafe frequently. Sleeping with their owner can help build trust in humans and develop a strong bond. Eventually, the anxiety may lessen as the dog starts to feel unthreatened and protected. Many dogs have separation anxiety. Although the degree of separation anxiety may vary considerably, many dogs do experience it on some level. Sleeping together with their owners all night long makes everything right with their world. There are numerous physical and mental health benefits you get that result from sleeping with your dog. Among them are reduced blood pressure, depression, loneliness, insomnia, and stress. Laying next to a dog helps you fall asleep more easily. You sleep more soundly with your dog nearby because you feel safer. Some people are light sleepers because they feel like they need to be alert always. Knowing a dog is by your side, being alert on your behalf gives you an increased sense of security. Being near a dog helps you relax. A hormone called oxytocin increases its flow in your body when you are very close to a dog. This hormone makes you feel happy and loving. There are specific tendencies characteristic to this breed that fit with co-sleeping. For example, dog-owners in history bred German Shepherds to be herders. They are happiest when their people are settled in and all together. If your German Shepherd experiences separation anxiety, he or she might refuse to leave your side at night. Members of this breed are also natural protectors of their pack. They will sleep better, knowing that they can watch over you to keep you safe. Like other dogs, German Shepherds who are rescue dogs may have been allowed to sleep with their past owners. They may also have been in situations where they felt to be in danger repeatedly. Co-sleeping with you may be a way for your dog to feel safe and secure. Do You Have Enough Space? A practical thing to consider is whether your bed will fit yourself, your significant other, and your pet or pets. The average German Shepherd can weigh lbs .A queen-size bed would work for a single owner and a German Shepherd, but two adults plus a large dog require a king-size bed. The main thing dog-owners complain about when it comes to having their dog sleep with them is having their sleep disrupted. Some dogs bark at the smallest sound coming from outside. Some dogs move around on the bed frequently. Ideally, your dog will learn to mirror your sleep pattern. Are Allergens An Issue? Some dog-owners have mild pet allergies and still choose to own a dog anyway. German Shepherds are among the worst breeds when it comes to producing pet dander. They are prone to dry skin, which worsens when they get a bath too infrequently and if they get a bath too often. They also shed quite a lot. Adding these allergens to your bed may cause allergic reactions. If your dog continually challenges you, then you may not want to invite him or her onto your bed, which is your personal space. That would reinforce the notion that your dog is your equal or your superior. You need to maintain your place as the person in charge. Alternatives To Co-Sleeping With Your Dog If any of the challenges above apply to you, then you can try alternative ways to receive some of the benefits of co-sleeping without inviting your dog into your bed. One option is to crate-train your dog. Since the dog is inside the house, you will still be alerted to any intruders. The dog will feel comforted by being in a designated safe space and with the nightly routine. You can even put the crate inside your bedroom if there is enough space. Another alternative is to place a dog lounger on the floor as close to your bed as possible. You and your dog will still be sleeping near each other. It is essential to make the dog bed as comfortable and inviting as possible. The XL and jumbo options will fit a German Shepherd nicely. This bed has a washable cover and a thick memory foam mattress. Final Thoughts Although it might be mutually beneficial, you should not let your German Shepherd sleep with you. Your dog will disrupt your sleep occasionally, and the drawbacks will outweigh the benefits in the long run. You should consider adding a dog bed to your bedroom to offer your dog the next best thing.

Breeds The link has been copied! Are you ready for some puppy talk? If you're a fan of the French Bulldogs, you're in for a treat! These adorable little pups are known for their charming personalities and irresistible squishy faces, but just how many of them can one Frenchie mama have? In this article, we'll explore the fascinating world of French Bulldog litters and answer the burning question on every dog lover's mind: how many puppies can a French Bulldog have? Get ready to unleash your curiosity and let's dive in! On average, a French Bulldog can have a litter size of between 2 to 4 puppies. However, it's not uncommon for some Frenchies to have larger litters of up to 5 or 6 puppies, while others may only have a single pup. French Bulldogs are known for being small, compact dogs with a big personality, and when it comes to their litters, they tend to have a smaller number of puppies compared to other breeds. There are several factors that can influence the size of a French Bulldog's litter, including genetics, age, and overall health. For instance, younger Frenchies and those in peak physical condition tend to have larger litters than older or less healthy dogs. It's worth noting that while having a larger litter may seem exciting, it can also come with some challenges. French Bulldogs, like many small breeds, can experience difficulties during labor and delivery, so it's important for breeders and pet owners to work closely with a veterinarian to ensure a safe and healthy birth for both the mother and her puppies. On average, a French Bulldog can have up to 4 litters in their lifetime, with each litter having between 2 to 4 puppies. This means that a Frenchie can have anywhere from 8 to 16 puppies over the course of their breeding years. However, it's important to note that breeding a dog should be done with careful consideration and only under the guidance of a responsible breeder or veterinarian. Overbreeding can be harmful to a French Bulldog's health, and can also contribute to the problem of overpopulation in the dog breeding industry. It's also important to consider the ethical implications of breeding dogs, including the responsibility of finding suitable homes for each puppy and ensuring that they receive proper care throughout their lifetime. Factors That Affect the Litter Size There are several factors that can affect the litter size of a French Bulldog, including: Age: As a general rule, younger female dogs tend to have larger litters than older dogs. This is because their reproductive systems are more efficient when they are in their prime. Health: A French Bulldog's overall health can play a significant role in the size of their litters. Dogs that are in good physical condition are more likely to have larger litters than those who are not. Genetics: The genetics of the dog can also impact litter size. Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to smaller litters, while others may be more likely to have larger litters. Nutrition: A well-balanced diet is essential for a French Bulldog's health and can also impact litter size. A dog that is malnourished or underweight may have smaller litters or may experience complications during pregnancy. Breeding frequency: French Bulldogs that are bred too frequently may experience smaller litters due to a decline in fertility. It's important to give the female dog enough time to recover and regain their health between breeding cycles. Breeding method: The method used for breeding can also affect the litter size. Artificial insemination may result in smaller litter sizes than natural breeding. Hormone Imbalance Hormone imbalances can also be a factor that affects the litter size of French Bulldogs. Hormones play a critical role in the reproductive system of dogs, and any imbalances can lead to reduced fertility and smaller litter sizes. One hormone that is particularly important in female dogs is progesterone. Progesterone levels rise during the second half of a dog's reproductive cycle, and they play a key role in preparing the uterus for pregnancy. If progesterone levels are too low, the uterus may not be ready to support a litter, resulting in smaller litters or even infertility. Another hormone that can affect litter size is luteinizing hormone LH. LH is responsible for triggering ovulation, and if levels are too low, ovulation may not occur, leading to smaller litters or infertility. In addition to these hormones, imbalances in other hormones such as estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone FSH , and thyroid hormones can also affect a French Bulldog's reproductive system and ultimately impact litter size. If a hormonal imbalance is suspected, a veterinarian can perform tests to determine the levels of various hormones and recommend appropriate treatments or management strategies to support the dog's reproductive health. Age Female dogs are most fertile between the ages of 2 and 5 years old, and during this time, they are more likely to have larger litters. As dogs age, their fertility decreases, and they may experience smaller litter sizes or infertility. It's important to note that breeding French Bulldogs before they are fully mature can also have negative consequences. Breeding dogs that are too young can result in smaller litter sizes, and it can also put the mother and puppies at greater risk for complications during pregnancy and delivery. On the other hand, breeding dogs that are too old can also increase the risk of complications and smaller litter sizes. Female dogs that are past their prime reproductive years may have a reduced number of eggs, and their uterus may not be as capable of supporting a large litter. In general, the ideal age for breeding French Bulldogs is between 2 and 5 years old, when the dog is in optimal reproductive health. However, it's important to work closely with a veterinarian or responsible breeder to ensure that the dog is physically and emotionally ready for breeding, regardless of their age. Genetics The number of puppies that a Frenchie has in a litter can be influenced by the genetics of both the female and male dogs involved in breeding. In general, large dog breeds tend to have larger litters than smaller breeds, and this can be reflected in the litter size of mixed-breed puppies. However, French Bulldogs are a relatively small breed, and their litter sizes are typically smaller than those of larger breeds. The genetics of the female dog can also play a significant role in litter size. Some French Bulldogs may be more predisposed to having smaller litters due to their genetics. In contrast, other dogs may be more likely to have larger litters. Genetic testing can help breeders to identify dogs with optimal reproductive health and litter size. Health A Frenchie that is in good physical condition is more likely to have larger, healthier litters than a dog that is not. Dogs that are malnourished, underweight, or have an underlying health condition may have reduced fertility, which can lead to smaller litters or infertility. Proper nutrition, exercise, and regular veterinary care can help to ensure that a French Bulldog is in good health and ready for breeding. It's also important to note that French Bulldogs, like all breeds of dogs, can experience reproductive health issues that can impact their litter size. Conditions such as infections, tumors, or abnormalities in the reproductive system can reduce fertility and result in smaller litters. Regular veterinary checkups and reproductive health screenings can help to identify and address these issues early on, improving the chances of a successful breeding. In addition to physical health, a Frenchie's mental and emotional wellbeing can also play a role in their reproductive health. Dogs that are stressed, anxious, or in poor mental health may experience reduced fertility, and this can impact their litter size. It's important to ensure that the dog's environment is safe, comfortable, and conducive to their overall health and wellbeing. The process of breeding for these colors can be complex, and it often involves breeding dogs that carry specific color genes. For instance, a blue merle French Bulldog may carry two copies of the dilute gene, while a lilac Frenchie may carry one copy of the dilute gene and one copy of the chocolate gene. Breeding for exotic colors or even fluffy coats can also involve the use of artificial insemination or the use of stud dogs that are carriers of the desired color genes. However, it's important to note that breeding for these colors can come with some risks. French Bulldogs that are bred specifically for their color may be more prone to health issues, including skin problems and eye disorders. In addition, the popularity of exotic colors like the platinum coloring has led to an increase in the demand for these dogs, which has resulted in some breeders engaging in unethical breeding practices, such as inbreeding or breeding for extreme physical characteristics. These practices can be harmful to the health and welfare of the dogs and can result in a range of health issues. It's important to work with a responsible breeder who prioritizes the health and wellbeing of the dogs above all else. Breeding for extremely small size can increase the risk of a number of health problems in French Bulldogs, including respiratory issues, hip dysplasia, and spinal problems. Additionally, breeding micro French Bulldogs with a focus on appearance rather than health and temperament can lead to a range of serious health problems that can negatively impact both the mother and the puppies. Responsible breeders prioritize the health and well-being of the breed and carefully select breeding pairs based on factors such as health, temperament, and genetic diversity. Breeding French Bulldogs for extremely small size or for specific coat colors can compromise their health and result in a host of problems that can be detrimental to their overall well-being. Female French Bulldogs typically reach sexual maturity between 6 and 12 months of age. However, it's important to note that while a female dog may be physically capable of breeding at this age, it's generally recommended to wait until the dog is at least 2 years old before breeding. Breeding a Frenchie too early can have negative consequences, including a higher risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery. Additionally, dogs that are bred too young may not be emotionally or mentally mature enough to handle the demands of pregnancy and motherhood. French Bulldogs, like many brachycephalic short-nosed breeds, are at increased risk for complications during natural birth due to the shape of their skulls and bodies. The breed's unique anatomy can make natural birth dangerous and potentially life-threatening for both the mother and her puppies. French Bulldogs have a relatively large head and narrow pelvis, which can make it difficult for puppies to pass through the birth canal. This can result in prolonged labor and increased risk of fetal distress, stillbirth, or death of the mother. In addition to the breed's physical anatomy, French Bulldogs can also be prone to certain health issues that can increase the risk of complications during natural birth. For instance, obesity, poor nutrition, and other health issues can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery. For these reasons, many veterinarians and responsible breeders recommend that French Bulldogs give birth via cesarean section C-section. A C-section is a surgical procedure that involves delivering the puppies via incision in the mother's abdomen, and it can greatly reduce the risks associated with natural birth. The First Month of French Bulldog Pregnancy During the first month of French Bulldog pregnancy, the fertilized eggs travel down the Fallopian tubes and implant in the lining of the uterus. At this point, it can be difficult to detect pregnancy as there are no external signs. However, some dogs may exhibit subtle changes in behavior or appetite. It's important to ensure that the dog is getting proper nutrition and exercise during this time, as this will support the health of both the mother and the developing fetuses. It's also a good time to schedule a veterinary checkup to confirm the pregnancy and monitor the dog's health. The Second Month of French Bulldog Pregnancy By the second month of French Bulldog pregnancy, the fetuses have developed significantly and are about the size of walnuts. The dog's abdomen may begin to swell, and she may exhibit signs of morning sickness or fatigue. During this time, it's important to continue to provide the dog with proper nutrition and exercise, and to monitor her health closely. The veterinarian may recommend additional testing, such as an ultrasound, to monitor the health and development of the fetuses. The Third Month of French Bulldog Pregnancy During the third month of French Bulldog pregnancy, the fetuses continue to develop rapidly, and their organs and body systems begin to mature. The dog's abdomen will be noticeably swollen, and she may begin to experience nesting behavior as she prepares for the birth of her puppies. It's crucial to continue to monitor the dog's health and provide her with proper nutrition and exercise during this time. The veterinarian may recommend additional testing or monitoring to ensure the health and wellbeing of the mother and her puppies. Please Breed Your French Bulldog Responsibly Breeding French Bulldogs is a complex and challenging process that requires careful consideration and responsible practices. The health and welfare of the dogs should always be the top priority, and breeders and pet owners should work closely with a veterinarian or experienced breeder to ensure that the breeding process is done safely and ethically. Breeding French Bulldogs can be a rewarding experience, but it's crucial to approach it with caution and responsibility. Overbreeding, breeding for profit or for the sole purpose of producing exotic colors, and engaging in unethical breeding practices can all have negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of the dogs involved. It's important to prioritize the health and wellbeing of the dogs above all else and to ensure that they receive proper nutrition, exercise, and veterinary care throughout their lives. By working with responsible breeders and veterinarians and by following ethical breeding practices, we can help to ensure a healthy and happy future for French Bulldogs and other breeds of dogs. Final Thoughts French Bulldogs are a popular breed of dog that many people are interested in owning. This is due to their popularity and the high demand for these dogs. If you're on a budget, you may want to consider adopting a Frenchton, which is a crossbreed between a French Bulldog and a Boston Terrier. These dogs can be just as cute and playful as purebred Frenchies, but may be more affordable. It's also important to note that French Bulldogs often require c-sections to give birth, as their puppies have large heads and broad shoulders that make natural delivery difficult. This can add to the cost of owning a French Bulldog, as c-sections can be expensive and require careful monitoring and recovery. If you're considering getting a French Bulldog or any other dog breed, it's important to do your research and be prepared for the responsibilities of dog ownership. This includes providing proper care and training for your dog, as well as ensuring that you can afford any medical expenses that may arise. Keep in mind that there are many other dog breeds to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics and needs. Consider researching other breeds that may be a better fit for your lifestyle and budget before making a decision. Get more expert advice on pet-parenting by visiting the Off Leash blog at TryFi. TryFi's The Fi Dog Collar is a must-have for any pet parent- it is a GPS tracking collar that helps you keep tabs on your dog's location, activity, and sleep patterns, and alerts you if they escape your backyard. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. Indeed, they have inspired an entire fashion industry of French Bulldog clothing, accessories, and even jewelry. That popularity has made an already expensive breed even more valuable. But why do Frenchies cost so much in the first place? The answer lies in their limited ability to reproduce. The average French Bulldog litter consists of 3 puppies. Although some have successfully carried and birthed up to 7 pups, that happens very rarely. In comparison, the average Golden Retriever produces 8 puppies in a litter. Beagles, for example, typically give birth to 6 puppies at a time while pugs produce 5 pups in an average litter. Frenchies typically carry up to 4 litters in their lifetime. Although their average life expectancy is around 12 years old, they can only breed safely between 2 and 8 years old. That limitation affects the number of Frenchie puppies born each year, which directly impacts the value of the breed. Canadian Moto French Bulldogs wearing Frenchie harnesses. French Bulldogs have difficulty reproducing in large numbers because of their physical conformation. Although organizations like the American Kennel Club and the French Bull Dog Club of America see to it that breed standards are upheld, even the healthiest Frenchies will have trouble breeding naturally and copiously. One of the biggest reproductive concerns in French Bulldogs is their narrow hips. French Bulldogs also have trouble birthing naturally. The large heads that are so often perfectly adorned with Frenchie jewelry make a caesarean section necessary. Additionally, the French Bulldog is among the brachycephalic breeds that have breathing issues simply because of their short muzzles and flat faces. Because of this and the way their bodies are built, pregnancy and birthing can be too stressful on their bodies and could become fatal. The limited number of puppies a Frenchie can produce in her lifetime is one of the biggest reasons why this breed is so expensive. And because fewer puppies mean an even smaller probability of producing rare-colored French Bulldogs, the value of specific pedigrees are even higher. For most of us, that cost means settling for getting our Frenchie fix on social media where canine celebrities provide endless joy as they show off the latest in French Bulldog fashion. Due to this popularity, you may want to breed your French Bulldog to save some bucks since they are expensive. However, the question in your mind will be, "How many puppies can French bulldogs have? Female French Bulldogs can have a maximum of four litters in their lifetime, translating to 12 puppies. Therefore, a female French Bulldog will have 12 puppies before they are considered old to carry more. In the rest of this article, I'll discuss litters as they relate to French Bulldog breeding and the number of puppies. I will also cover the factors that limit a French Bulldog's ability to reproduce. Keep reading to learn more. A French Bulldog will typically have three puppies on average in a litter. This is a low number compared to other dog breeds like Golden Retrievers, which usually have more than eight puppies in a litter. It's worth mentioning that although rare, French Bulldogs can have up to eight puppies in a litter. However, this is considered unsafe owing to the French Bulldog's body size and shape. This means that a French Bulldog carrying more than four puppies at a time is in danger of dying from pregnancy-related complications. As a Frenchie parent, you're interested in knowing how many puppies your Frenchie can have over their lifetime. The number of puppies a Frenchie can have in a lifetime depends on the number of litters. A French Bulldog can have a maximum of four litters in its lifetime. Each of these litters will have an average of three puppies, translating to .Thus, you can expect your Frenchie to give you approximately 12 puppies in her lifetime. It's essential to consider the reproductive age when figuring out the number of pups your Frenchie can have in a lifetime. Most dog breeds, Frenchies included, reach reproductive maturity at six to nine months. Although French Bulldog females usually have their first heat as early as four months old, it's not advisable to breed the dog this early. Breeding a French Bulldog on her first heat exposes her to: Stunted growth Premature aging Complications during pregnancy and birth Even when a French Bulldog has had multiple litters, you should only breed her after two years. For safe delivery and recovery, veterinarians advise that the breeding period should not exceed eight years. However, some breeders inseminate their dogs after eight years to get more puppies. For this reason, knowing the factors that affect litter size will help you decide when to breed your Frenchie. The following are the main factors that affect litter size in French Bulldogs: Hormone Imbalance Frenchie females with a hormone imbalance will often undergo false pregnancies. In most cases, the dog will behave like she is pregnant even though there isn't any puppy inside her. Hypothyroidism is a hormonal imbalance problem in dogs that causes weight gain, lethargy, and depression. In extreme cases, it can cause abortion or decreased litter size in females. Age The older your French Bulldog gets, the smaller the litter size. Dogs bred between two and five years have larger litters because they are still young with more active reproductive hormones. By the time the dog is six years old, the litter size decreases significantly as the reproductive hormones become less active. Genetics Genetics play a role in determining your dog's ability to have puppies at any point in its lifetime. If both parents have a small litter size, you'll most likely have fewer puppies from your Frenchie mom. A mother with a bigger and broader family tree will have bigger litters. Therefore, you're more likely to get larger Frenchie pups if the mom comes from a family of bigger French Bulldogs. Health Healthy dogs can carry healthier and larger puppy litters. For example, your Frenchie can have a healthier and bigger litter if she has good nutrition. That's why it's essential to feed the dog with high-quality pet food throughout pregnancy. You may have questions like: When is the right time to breed my Frenchie? What are the steps to take in preparing for this process? What should I expect when giving birth? To make the experience smooth, here are the two crucial steps to follow: Artificial Insemination Apart from the hassles of looking for an appropriate and healthy stud dog, the narrow hips of French Bulldogs make natural mating hard. As a result, most Frenchie parents rely on artificial insemination. You must get a canine veterinarian to draw sperm from the stud dog and insert it into the female's reproductive tract. This process is usually done two to three times for positive results. The veterinarian will also be in charge of monitoring the pregnancy's progress. Therefore, you must keep in touch with your veterinarian to monitor the dog's progress and prepare for labor. French Bulldogs have a gestation period of approximately 63 days. The day your Frenchie goes into labor will be significantly different for each dog. Besides being responsible for the C-section procedure, your vet will guide you on what to expect during this period. Furthermore, they will take you through how to deal with any complications that may arise after delivery. It's worth mentioning that taking your Frenchie mom through natural birthing can expose them to dystocia. Unfortunately, 1. Factors That Limit a French Bulldog's Reproductive Ability Two to four puppies in a litter is a low number compared to other dog breeds. Why do French Bulldogs have such a small litter size? Read on to find out the limiting factors. Physical Conformation The physical nature of French Bulldogs makes it challenging for them to reproduce in large numbers. French Bulldogs have narrow hips. Although these hips make the dog beautiful, they hinder natural mating. This explains why these dogs are bred through artificial insemination. It's also hard for French Bulldogs to birth naturally due to their large heads. Consequently, most French Bulldogs undergo cesarean section C-section procedures. Due to their large heads, whelping your Frenchie mom naturally is a risky affair that can lead to: The pups getting stuck in the birth canal The mother suffering from complications such as hemorrhage or uterine rupture Injuring the pups Therefore, although costly and risky, C-section is the most humane option for helping your Frenchie canine give birth. Brachycephalic Breed Frenchies are among the brachycephalic dog breeds. Brachycephalic dog breeds have short nostrils and flattened muzzles with longer bottom jaws than the top ones. Due to their squished face, these dogs have difficulty breathing and cooling. This makes them prone to overheating. Moreover, the squished face exposes most of these dogs to Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS. This syndrome makes breathing a struggle, leading to challenges in carrying pregnancies and giving birth. Prenatal Care for a French Bulldog Your Frenchie's prenatal care should start as soon as she is pregnant. Here are some key areas to focus on: Diet Your dog needs a high-quality diet to support her pregnancy. A healthy, natural diet will strengthen the dog's body, allowing it to accommodate the mom and pups. Pregnant dogs need the following nutrients : Calcium: 1 to 1. Johnny Facts 0Comments Dog owners have been guilty of irresponsible breeding far too many times — especially today. Some people are just looking to make money fast, without thinking about the consequences it might have on their poor pups. That being said, how many litters can a French bulldog have? How often can your Frenchie have babies? Continue reading to find out! You see, the litters are smaller due to Frenchies being a brachycephalic breed. On average, French bulldogs have three puppies at once — and anything over five babies is an extremely odd number. On top of that, most Frenchie puppies will be delivered via a C-section. The French bulldog is a brachycephalic breed — which gives these dogs a short skull, flat face, and a short nose. These breeds are typically smaller, making them have fewer puppies in every litter. The female dogs have even smaller bodies and narrower hips, anatomically preventing them from having a larger litter. And to add to that, having more than three puppies in a litter could result in only a few puppies surviving. The puppies will likely be small and underweight, struggling to get milk from their mother. Some irresponsible dog owners will try to get more liters out of their poor French bulldog, but we advise against it because of many health complications that may follow. The mother should be given 18 months for recovery before breeding again. However, that is completely wrong! Their bodies have likely not been developed enough to carry to term — which could endanger their lives. French bulldogs are ready for breeding when their heat patterns become regular, usually at about two years of age. Having a C-section will put your Frenchie through significant amounts of stress, which can affect how she feels for the remainder of her life. Even more so, the actual surgery could be accompanied by complications such as infections or hemorrhaging. The point is, having puppies way too often can put your Frenchie in danger. Your female French bulldog needs enough time — meaning at least 18 months — to recover from giving birth and having surgery. Giving birth is extremely stressful for Frenchies — which is why it should be taken seriously. If the French bulldog had her next litter 12 months after the last one, the puppies would not be recognized. French bulldogs have become extremely popular in the past few years. Along with that, many irresponsible breeders showed up, producing litters at the stake of the mother. We advise you to do a check-up on every breeder you find before you pick your French bulldog. Pups have to come first, not profit — and you want to ensure that you are getting a healthy pooch from a breeder that takes good care of the dogs! When not writing, he enjoys hiking and time in nature with his pets. And French Bulldogs are becoming increasingly popular in Europe and elsewhere also. So there is a huge and growing demand for French Bulldog puppies. But French Bulldogs are not like most dogs in terms of how they are bred and how the puppies are delivered. If you are thinking about breeding your Frenchie, this is definitely the article you want to read first. French Bulldogs are very hard to breed and whelp deliver. A healthy and sturdy French Bulldog female adult may have up to three litters as long as the veterinarian advises it is safe to do so. Some females will only have one litter in their lifetime. Trying to breed a French Bulldog female more than three times risks the life of the mother dog as well as the health and lives of her puppies. See a Litter of Adorable French Bulldog Puppies Just in case you haven't had your dose of cuteness overload today, watch this precious video of a new French Bulldog mama dog with her four perfect Frenchie puppies. You will notice the family mentions their dog, Bella, who has just given birth and is coming home from the veterinarian. And you will see that Bella has a pink bandage around one paw. Pregnant French Bulldogs typically cannot give birth naturally because the puppies have heads and shoulders that are too wide to pass through the birth canal. So typically French Bulldog puppies are delivered by C-section in a veterinarian's clinic. This is very important to know when you are planning to breed your French Bulldog, as we will go into more detail about here shortly. Just looking at a French Bulldog, it might not be immediately obvious how the same traits and characteristics that make this dog breed so popular are the same ones that can be such problems in breeding. As we mentioned in the earlier section here, often the French Bulldog mama dog will struggle to deliver whelp her puppies naturally. Even though French Bulldog puppies are very small, the mama dog is quite small herself! A fully-grown French Bulldog rarely weighs more than 28 pounds. These dogs are much broader in the head and chest area than in the hindquarters, which means the puppies often don't fit easily into the birth canal. But there is an even bigger issue that must be tackled first: insemination. French Bulldogs have shortened legs and curved backs with heavy heads and deep chests that make them top-heavy. French Bulldog stud male dogs can have a very hard time mounting a female in heat to inseminate her naturally. Even if the stud dog is able to mount the female nature, as Breeding Business explains, the stud dog may still struggle to get her pregnant. If there are so many challenges right from the start, you may wonder how French Bulldog puppies are ever born. Step 1: artificial insemination The process typically starts with artificial insemination. This is not unlike the process for people. The French Bulldog female is inseminated by a canine veterinarian and monitored carefully as her pregnancy progresses. Here, unless you happen to own a breeding pair of French Bulldogs yourself, this also means you will need to seek out an appropriate stud dog male dog to contribute sperm for artificial insemination. There can be some substantial costs involved even at this early stage, especially if the stud dog you choose is not local to your area. Step 2: cesarean section whelping According to the Journal of Small Animal Practice , up to 80 percent of all French Bulldog litters are whelped born through veterinarian-assisted cesarean section, or C-section. While C-sections for dogs have their own risks, especially for dogs with the brachycephalic short muzzle shape like the French Bulldog, they are considered a less risky method of whelping than letting the French Bulldog deliver naturally. As well, the Royal Veterinary College in the UK explains that French Bulldogs are nearly 16 percent more likely to suffer through difficult and dangerous births, including dystocia. Dystocia is a condition where the pregnant female dog is literally unable to pass her puppies naturally through the birth canal and out. Sadly, up to one-quarter of puppies will not survive a dystocic pregnancy. Veterinarians reported that 1. Step 3: human-aided puppy rearing There is another much less well-known side effect to artificial whelping via cesarean section: a lack of oxytocin that bonds the mother dog to her puppies. Giving birth naturally produces a flood of oxytocin, aka the "feel-good hormone" — the same hormone that bonds human mothers to their children before and during birth. When a French Bulldog gives birth artificially, she is under sedation during the birthing process. So she does not experience the flood of oxytocin that will prompt her to bond with her puppies and care for them. You saw some of this in the video you watched earlier here as the couple was introducing Bella, the new French Bulldog mama, to her puppies. Bella sniffed one of the puppies but then seemed uninterested. You may have also noticed that the human breeders praised her for showing any interest in her puppies. It is not uncommon for French Bulldog mother dogs to refuse to care for their puppies, either because they lack the oxytocin bonding or simply because they don't feel good after having a major operation like a C-section delivery. This means that the human breeder has to care for the puppies around the clock. The care required includes bottle feeding puppy formula several times per day, stimulating the puppies to go to the bathroom, keeping the puppies warm, and cleaning the puppies. If a female dog rejects her puppies, then the survival of those puppies is entirely in the hands of the human breeder. Sometimes these puppies will grow up to have additional socialization issues because the mother dog was not involved in their early rearing. As the French Bulldog Club of America points out, the earliest it is safe to breed a French Bulldog adult female dog is two years old. This doesn't mean that your French Bulldog won't come into heat be receptive to breeding earlier than that age. But expert breeders believe it is much safer to wait until your dog is older and has gone through at least one heat cycle before breeding. Breeding is physically demanding for any female dog of any breed. But it is even more demanding for short muzzle brachycephalic dog breeds like the French Bulldog. As you now know, the French Bulldog female will likely have to go through artificial insemination just to get pregnant. She will need careful monitoring throughout her pregnancy. And she will likely need to deliver by cesarean section under sedation. Ideally, she should also be strong and healthy enough to nurse her puppies for at least five weeks until they begin the natural weaning process and transition to puppy food. You definitely don't want to breed your French Bulldog until she has completely finished growing and is in the prime of her life and health. With such high demand for French Bulldog puppies, it is only natural to wonder if there is money to be made by going into business breeding French Bulldogs. However, if this is your primary reason for wanting to breed your Frenchie, you should be aware that breeding a brachycephalic dog breed like the French Bulldog can be incredibly expensive. As the French Bulldog Club of America points out, breeding Frenchies can be so difficult that new breeders must be willing to try with zero guarantees that they will be successful. From this statement, it is easy to infer that even if you make money selling the puppies, you are likely to break even at best in terms of what it cost you to breed those puppies. To add even more challenges, French Bulldogs are not known for having large litters. A young French Bulldog may have a single puppy or just two or three puppies. More than that is very rare. Not only does this explain why French Bulldog puppies can be so expensive to buy , but it also means that if you can't charge enough to recoup all of the breeding and surgical costs, you may actually end up paying to breed your Frenchie! Then when you consider that your French Bulldog can safely have puppies only three times or less over her 10 to year lifespan, it is easy to see how breeding French Bulldogs is not typically considered to be a profit-making endeavor. Ultimately, unless you are simply doing it for the pure love of the breed, breeding French Bulldogs is not the best choice for a pure money-making enterprise. It is not uncommon for a French Bulldog owner to want to breed their dog to have puppies that are just like their beloved Frenchie. After all, most Frenchies will only live until age 10 or 12 and breeding can feel like a way to keep your beloved pup close to you for a lot longer than that. Here, it is vital to remember that whenever you breed your French Bulldog, there is a risk to the mother dog as well as to the puppies. First, there is a risk during the initial pre-screening and testing process when you have to make sure your French Bulldog female is healthy and has high-quality genes to pass along to her puppies. Then there is a risk during the process of artificial insemination, whether you choose to try to do it yourself at home or take your dog to the veterinarian to have it done. There is another risk during whelping, especially if your dog needs a C-section delivery with anesthesia and stitches like most French Bulldogs do. There is yet another risk after whelping when your Frenchie mom dog may develop secondary infections or complications from the sedation anesthesia or the operation itself. There is even another risk to the puppies if whelping happens too early or too late and the puppies do not survive the process of being born. And there is a risk to the puppies of failing to thrive if your French Bulldog mother is not willing to take over their care and you have to do it yourself. There is no time off when you have hungry puppies to feed and care for — not until they are weaned at around the age of five weeks can you expect to get any break. Many breeders actually take time off work just for this purpose. If all of this doesn't sound like a fun and rewarding challenge to you, then you probably should reconsider whether to breed your French Bulldog. So the short answer to the question of how many times can a French Bulldog has puppies is "three times — and only after she reaches age two. You should only decide to breed your French Bulldog female if you have the interest, the time, the budget, and the patience to see your French Bulldog through the whole pregnancy and delivery process from beginning to end. Shannon Cutts As a freelance pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to this site. It is common for pregnant French Bulldogs to be unable to give birth naturally because their puppies have wide heads and shoulders that prevent them from passing through the birth canal easily. It is normal for French Bulldog puppies to be born by C-section at a veterinary clinic. The following information is crucial if you intend to breed your French Bulldog. Importance of understanding litters in French Bulldogs Understanding litters in French Bulldogs is important for several reasons: Health Concerns: French Bulldogs have a small gene pool and are prone to certain health issues such as breathing problems, skin allergies and eye problems. Knowing the average litter size and potential health issues of a French Bulldog can help owners prepare for and prevent any potential health problems. Financial Planning: Breeding and raising a French Bulldog litter can be expensive and requires careful financial planning. Knowing the average litter size and associated costs can help owners determine if breeding is a financially viable option for them. Responsible Breeding: French Bulldogs are a popular breed, and responsible breeding practices are important to ensure the health and well-being of the breed. Understanding litters helps owners make informed breeding decisions and can help prevent overpopulation and inbreeding. Proper Planning: Planning for a litter involves more than just deciding to breed your French Bulldog. Proper planning involves the preparation of the mother and puppies, the preparation of the breeding environment, and ensuring that adequate resources are available to care for the litter properly. Understanding litter helps owners plan and prepare properly. What is so difficult about breeding French Bulldogs? The traits and characteristics that make a French Bulldog so popular can also be the ones that cause problems with breeding them. Looking at a French Bulldog, it might not be immediately evident what can cause problems. When fully grown, a female French Bulldog rarely weighs more than 28 pounds. This means in most cases. They are subjected to c-sections cesareans. French Bulldog litters are typically born via veterinarian-assisted cesarean section in up to 80 percent of cases. Despite the risks associated with C-sections for dogs, especially those with brachycephalic short muzzle shapes such as the French Bulldog, they are considered a safer way to deliver puppies than letting the French Bulldog deliver naturally. Further, the Royal Veterinary College states that French Bulldogs have a 16 percent higher risk of suffering difficult or dangerous births. Having your Frenchie has too many C-sections is completely irresponsible if you intend to breed your dog. You run the following risks: A C-section is not always successful, and there is a risk to the puppies during the procedure. Following a C-section, your French Bulldog can become stressed and perhaps even aggressive. A negative reaction to anesthesia, blood clotting during surgery, hemorrhaging, or wound infection are all possible complications for your French Bulldog. Being a mother and giving birth are emotionally and physically demanding times. Aside from the scarring from the C-section, your female will need time to recover from giving birth to a litter. Additionally, she will have to re-grow parts of her uterus and strengthen her muscles. Early in pregnancy, many females experience muscle wasting and even fur loss. Frenchies should only be bred every 18 to 24 months, allowing them enough time to recover from their surgeries. How many litters can a French Bulldog have per year? Because of this, the female Frenchie needs to recuperate after giving birth. She may have come into heat, but that does not mean her body is ready to carry a litter so soon. As I mentioned earlier, French Bulldogs should only be bred every 18 months to 2 years. The longer we wait, the greater her chance of recovering, being healthy, and being happy without the constant stress of frequent C-sections. You should not plan to breed your dog until at least her second or third heat. The third heat is a good time to begin breeding for a few reasons. The health of a young dog can be negatively affected by excessive breeding because they are still growing to their full adult size. In addition to testing for different medical conditions, responsible breeders should also ensure that the dogs reach adulthood first. The breeder may have to do more work to care for a female dog that is too young, which could result in behavior problems with the puppies if the mother does not give them proper attention. Dogs typically gestate for around 63 days after conception, although this may vary by several days. Even though this seems an obvious answer, conception can be difficult to determine. Sperm and eggs can stay fertile in the female for up to 48 hours, so mating itself is not an actual measurement of gestation. As a result, it is nearly impossible to predict how long a pregnancy will last without veterinary assistance. Factors affecting litter size There are several factors that can affect the litter size of French Bulldogs: Age of the mother: Younger French Bulldog mothers tend to have smaller litters, while older mothers tend to have larger litters. A healthy mother is more likely to have a larger litter. Size of the breed: French Bulldogs are a small breed, and their small size can affect litter size, leading to smaller litters compared to larger breeds. Stud used for breeding: The stud used for breeding can also impact litter size. Some studs may produce smaller litters, while others may produce larger litters. Nutrition and environmental factors: Proper nutrition and environmental factors such as temperature and stress levels can also affect litter size. Genetics: Genetics also play a role in litter size, and some French Bulldogs may tend to produce smaller litters. It is important to remember that litter size can vary greatly and may not be predictable, even with the best planning and preparation. It is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or a professional breeder when planning a French Bulldog litter. Variations in litter size Variations in litter size are common in French Bulldogs and can range from a single puppy to as many as six or seven puppies. There are several factors that can cause variations in litter size, including: Genetics: Some French Bulldogs may have a genetic tendency to produce a smaller or larger litter, which can impact litter size. Poor health or malnutrition can lead to smaller litters, while proper care and nutrition can lead to larger litters. Age of the mother: As a French Bulldog mother age, her litter size may decrease. This can be due to hormonal changes and a decline in overall health. Breeding conditions: Environmental factors such as stress levels, temperature, and breeding conditions can impact litter size. Multiple breeding partners: If a French Bulldog is bred with multiple partners, it can result in variations in litter size between litters. It is important to remember that variations in litter size are normal and can greatly impact the financial and emotional resources required to care for a French Bulldog litter. Preparing for a French Bulldog Litter Preparing for a French Bulldog litter involves proper planning and preparation, including preparing the mother and puppies, the breeding environment, and ensuring that adequate resources are available to care for the litter properly. This can involve seeking veterinary care and proper nutrition and ensuring that the breeding environment is safe and comfortable for both the mother and the puppies. Proper preparation is crucial for the health and well-being of both the mother and the puppies and can help ensure a successful French Bulldog litter. Some key steps include: Seek veterinary care: Before breeding, it is important to consult with a veterinarian to ensure that both the mother and stud are in good health and free of any genetic health issues. Prepare the mother: The mother should be in good health and receive proper nutrition to ensure a successful pregnancy and delivery. Choose a stud: Choose a stud that is in good health and free of genetic health issues. Consider size, personality, and health factors when selecting a stud. Prepare the breeding environment: Ensure that the breeding environment is safe, comfortable, and free of any potential hazards for both the mother and the puppies. Ensure resources are available: Caring for a French Bulldog litter can be expensive and time-consuming. Ensure adequate resources, including finances and time, are available to care for the litter properly. Develop a plan for the puppies: Develop a plan for the care of the puppies, including finding homes for the puppies and ensuring that they receive proper veterinary care and nutrition. Proper planning is crucial for the success of a French Bulldog litter and can help ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and the puppies. Importance of pre-breeding health checks Pre-breeding health checks are important in preparing for a French Bulldog litter. Early detection of health issues can help ensure that appropriate treatment is available. Improving the chances of a healthy litter: By ensuring that both the mother and stud are in good health, the chances of a healthy litter are improved. Reducing the risk of genetic health issues: Pre-breeding health checks can help to reduce the risk of passing on genetic health issues to the puppies. Making informed breeding decisions: Pre-breeding health checks can provide important information that can help make informed breeding decisions. This can include information about the health of the mother and stud, their age, and other factors that can impact the success of the litter. It is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or a professional breeder when planning a French Bulldog litter and to ensure that pre-breeding health checks are performed to ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and the puppies. Providing proper nutrition and care for the mother Providing proper nutrition and care for the mother is crucial for the success of a French Bulldog litter. Some key steps in providing proper nutrition and care for the mother include: Proper nutrition: The mother should receive a balanced and nutritious diet to support her health during pregnancy and lactation. This can involve feeding her high-quality dog food specifically formulated for pregnancy and lactation. However, it is important to avoid strenuous exercise during the later stages of pregnancy. Ensure that she has a comfortable and quiet place to rest and sleep. This can include regular check-ups, prenatal care, and treatment for any health issues that may arise. Ensure that she is in a calm and comfortable environment and avoid exposure to stressful situations. Proper nutrition and care can help ensure the health and well-being of the mother during pregnancy and lactation, which can greatly impact the health and well-being of both the mother and the puppies. It is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or a professional breeder when planning a French Bulldog litter and to ensure that proper nutrition and care are provided to the mother. The cost of raising a French Bulldog litter can vary greatly depending on the specific needs and circumstances of the litter. Still, it is important to be prepared for the associated costs and to plan accordingly. Initial costs of breeding and caring for a litter The initial costs of breeding and caring for a French Bulldog litter can be significant and can include the following: Pre-breeding health checks can include health exams, genetic testing, and other screenings for both the mother and stud. Breeding expenses include stud fees, artificial insemination costs, or travel expenses for breeding the mother. Veterinary care: This can include prenatal care, delivery costs, and care for any health issues that may arise during pregnancy or lactation. Housing and supplies: This can include a comfortable and safe place for the mother and puppies, bedding, and other necessary supplies. Marketing and advertising: This can include expenses for advertising and promoting the litter and costs for preparing and distributing promotional materials. It is important to know the initial costs of breeding and caring for a French Bulldog litter and to plan accordingly to ensure that adequate resources are available to provide proper care and support. The cost of raising a litter can vary greatly depending on the specific needs and circumstances of the litter, so it is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or a professional breeder to obtain a more accurate estimate. Ongoing expenses for food, vaccinations, and veterinary care Ongoing expenses for food, vaccinations and veterinary care are an important part of raising a French Bulldog litter and can include the following: Food: Puppies will require a high-quality and nutritious diet to support their growth and development. This can be a significant ongoing expense, particularly as the puppies grow and their nutritional needs change. Vaccinations: Puppies will require a series of vaccinations to protect them from common illnesses and diseases. This can be a significant ongoing expense, particularly as the puppies grow and require additional vaccinations. Veterinary care: Ongoing veterinary care is crucial for the health and well-being of puppies. This can include routine check-ups, treatment for any health issues that may arise, and preventive care to help ensure the puppies stay healthy. These ongoing expenses can add up quickly and be a significant financial investment. It is important to be aware of these costs and plan accordingly to ensure adequate resources are available to provide proper care and support for the puppies. It is also important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or a professional breeder when planning a French Bulldog litter to obtain a more accurate estimate of the ongoing expenses associated with raising a litter. Conclusion In conclusion, breeding French Bulldogs can be a rewarding experience, but it is important to understand the associated costs and responsibilities. From the initial expenses of pre-breeding health checks, breeding expenses, and veterinary care to the ongoing expenses for food, vaccinations, and veterinary care, the cost of raising a French Bulldog litter can be significant. It is important to be prepared for these costs, plan accordingly, and seek the advice of a veterinarian or a professional breeder to obtain a more accurate estimate of the expenses associated with raising a litter. Proper planning, preparation, and attention to the needs of the mother and puppies are crucial to ensure a successful litter and to provide the best possible care and support. Pin 0 Shares I am not a breeder of Frenchies. However, there are many irresponsible breeders out there including French Bulldog owners looking to make a quick buck. One of the most common questions people like this ask is how many times you can use a Frenchie for breeding. Professional and qualified breeders will tell you the following: How many times can you breed a French Bulldog? Responsible Frenchie breeders will not breed their French Bulldog any more than 3 times in a lifetime, and only once every 18 months at a minimum. Any more than that and the dog will struggle to recover physically, and possibly even mentally. Why you should not breed French Bulldogs too much The reasons for the minimum amount of times you can breed a French Bulldog are varied, but all boil down to care and love. The danger of too many C-sections The majority of French Bulldog puppies are delivered via Cesarean section. This is due to the way in which the female Frenchie has been bred herself over time. They have narrow birth canals and the pups have large heads. C-sections are the easiest and safest way for them to deliver a litter. As a French Bulldog breeder, it is totally irresponsible to put your female Frenchie through too many C-sections. The risks are as follows: Stress: the female can become stressed and possibly aggressive after a C-section. Too many procedures could have a negative effect on their mental health. Medical problems: your dog could have an adverse reaction to anaesthetic, could have blood clotting during surgery, haemorrhaging, or a wound infection. Injury to the pups: not all C-sections are successful, and there is also a risk to the puppies during the procedure. Did you know? C-sections can be very expensive. Read this guide to how much you should expect to pay your vet to deliver a Frenchie litter via Cesarean section. Bodies need time to repair themselves The birth and nursing period post-pregnancy is critical to the health of your French Bulldog. Giving birth and becoming a mother is a highly charged time both mentally and physically. As well as the scars from the C-section, your female will need to recover from feeding her litter and will also have to re-grow parts of her uterus and build her muscle tone back up. Pregnancy and motherhood can take a toll on the female. This is why you should not breed your French Bulldog too many times. During the early stages of motherhood, many females will lose muscle tone and even patches of fur. It acts as a governing body for pedigree dogs, holding the national register of all breeds. They are very explicit about how many times you can breed a French Bulldog officially, where they will be prepared to register the puppies. The Kennel Club will no longer register any further litters from any bitch which our records show has already whelped 4 litters. Where the number previously recorded is 4 or more, the application will be rejected. The mother is younger than 1 year old at the time of birth. The puppies are born due to familial inter-breeding e. The mother has already delivered 2 litters via a C-section. How old does a Female French Bulldog have to be to breed? When can French Bulldogs breed and what age should they have to be? Frenchies can safely breed from the ages of 2 and a half years up to 8 years of age. At this point they will have gone through a number of heat cycles and will be ready to breed. This beautiful little girl is not old enough to be bred yet. They can produce sperm as young as 6 months, but you need to wait until they are older to breed them successfully. How many times a year can you breed a French Bulldog? Having spoken to professional Frenchie breeders, the general consensus is that you should only breed French Bulldogs once a year — and even that frequency is probably far too much. The reason being is that the female Frenchie needs to recovery after giving birth. As I mentioned earlier, you should only really breed a French Bulldog once every 18 months to 2 years. Anything more than that could be considered cruel, and this extended healing time gives her the chance to recover, be healthy, and be happy without the stress of frequent C-sections. Boxer 6 — 8 This table shows that breeds like Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds tend to have larger litters compared to Frenchies. Variations Based on Specific Factors Just like people, every Frenchie is unique and various factors can influence the total number of puppies in each litter. Here are some key factors: Health: As mentioned earlier, a healthy mother will usually have a larger litter compared to one with health problems. Age: The age of the mother can also impact the size of her litter. Older dogs 5 years and exceeding may have fewer puppies than younger ones. Genetics: Some dogs naturally produce more offspring due to their genetic makeup. But just how many puppies do French bulldogs have? The range of puppies in a French bulldog litter can vary widely. You might be wondering why that is. Frenchie Litter Sizes: The Basics Typically, a female french bulldog will give birth to three or four puppies in a single litter. Some litters may have as few as two puppies while others could boast up to five or six. So what causes these variations? Several factors come into play: Genetics: Just like human families where some have twins or triplets more commonly than others, some dog breeds are predisposed to having large litters. Age: Younger female dogs 17 months or younger tend to have smaller litters compared to their older counterparts. Health: A healthy mother equals healthy pups! Dogs with good overall health and nutrition may produce larger litters. But wait! Are there instances when the number of French bulldog puppies goes beyond the typical range? Surgical insemination is exactly as it sounds. They go in and place the semen right on the eggs. This is an invasive surgery and requires 2 week recovery time like a spay would. Selective Breeding: Breeders sometimes selectively breed dogs with a history of large litters in hopes of replicating the result. Large litters can pose risks for both mother and pups such as difficult labor, higher risk for congenital defects, less attention per puppy. I whelped a litter for a friend. The dog had previously had a litter of 3 perfect puppies in her first litter. The second litter, conceived by surgical insemination, was 10 puppies, with a cocktail of problems, heart murmurs and other defects that caused failure to thrive. I think 6 of the 10 puppies made it. The parent paring was exactly the same, but insemination method was different. Make sure your females are getting adequate nutrition from the moment she completes her first breeding through the first 30 days. These dogs are known for their brachycephalic short-nosed features, which can lead to health concerns during pregnancy and birth. A responsible breeder understands that these adorable pups are prone to complications such as dystocia, or difficult labor, often requiring veterinary intervention like C-sections. Great General Health is Imperative Other factors such as vaginitis and bladder infections are common but if left untreated can cause problems for pups as well if bacteria travels up into the uterus. Before Portia was bred in she had some vaginitis. After c section, I was told the placentas on 2 of the 3 pups were dark green and just gross. General Daily Health is Extremely Important French bulldogs are more susceptible than other breeds to things like pancreatitis and yes pancreatitis can cause a dogs pregnancy to fail, along with other serious health issues such as stroke, organ failures, and death. When breeding you need to make sure your dog is in tip top shape not only to carry her pups but to also produce healthy pups. Why would you want it any other way anyway?! They may need a totally different protein, different fat content, different feeding schedule. Make sure your dogs are getting the proper amount of exercise as well. An underweight dog can be just as sick as an over weight dog as well with nutrient deficiencies, low bone density, and more. These things pass on to puppies, why take that chance. Why put that on a pup and new owner knowingly? In alone I have seen 3 dogs get diagnosed with pancreatitis, one of which is severely overweight. Only 1 of the 3 dogs had a successful pregnancy. Litter size plays a significant role in the well-being of both mother and pups. On the flip side, too small a litter might indicate underlying health issues. Breeders need to strike that balance — not too big, not too small — just right! In contrast, irresponsible breeders might overlook these risks for quick profit — leaving unsuspecting new owners grappling with hefty vet bills down the line. As mentioned above health is the most important factor. Their large heads and narrow hips make natural birth a challenge. Infections, blood loss, and anesthesia complications are some risks associated with cesarean sections. Newborn Frenchies may face difficulties such as low body temperature or breathing problems post-surgery. Believe it or not, anesthesia actually affects the pups as well. You need to find an experienced reproductive veterinarian who works with french bulldogs regularly. Knowing the proper dosage of anesthesia is extremely important for both mom and puppies. Too much can hurt both and cause puppies to be slow to wake or not wake at all. Pregnancy itself is taxing on their bodies due to potential complications like eclampsia or dystocia. Here are some health issues that can arise from cesarean sections: Infection: Surgical sites may become infected if not properly cared for. Hemorrhage: Blood loss during surgery is common but can lead to severe problems if excessive. Anesthesia complications: Adverse reactions to anesthesia can occur during or after surgery. Anesthesia Reaction- muscle contractions, she was fine but it did freak me out. A call to my vet confirmed it was only from anesthesia, and not to worry This Photo is minor compared to some of the incision problems I have seen on facebook. Sutures need to be on the inside with sutures or vet bond on the outside. Also, not just 1 long single string of sutures. The weight of the body is too much for one string. Sometimes the pups have so much spit it disrupts the glue seal. This one was a quick easy fix, but if you notice anything wrong with the incision site, call your vet immediately. Breathing problems: Puppies might have difficulty breathing post-surgery due to fluid in their lungs. During the last c section we had 1 pup that was slow to wake due to the cold. Once he was brought to proper temp, everything was fine and he is thriving! Below is a photo of him now! Reproductive Limitations of a French Bulldog Physical Constraints and Fertility French Bulldogs, adored for their compact size and expressive faces, face significant reproductive health challenges due to their unique physical attributes. The narrow hips characteristic of the breed often lead to problems during the birthing processes. This reduced fertility is primarily why artificial insemination and cesarean sections are commonly practiced. As such, many breeders resort to artificial insemination. Frequency of Litters The frequency at which a female French Bulldog can safely have litters is another factor that impacts their reproductive system. Rest Periods: Some people claim having a rest period between litters is necessary. With my vets permission, I have not done this. Portia, one of our smaller females, has more time in between heats. This past heat took 10 months to come back around. The average litter size? Usually around pups. But it can range from 1 to even 8 in some cases! On extreme rarity I have seen .Risks like birthing complications are common due to their unique physique, often necessitating C-sections for safer deliveries. They have their reproductive limitations which should be respected for their health and welfare. So there you have it! On average, a French Bulldog will have puppies per litter. Q2: How often can a French Bulldog safely have litters? Q3: Why do many French Bulldogs require C-sections for delivery? French Bulldogs often require C-sections due to their narrow hips which can complicate natural birth. X ray will give you the best chances of predicting and knowing litter size. Q5: Are there risks involved in breeding French Bulldogs? Yes, there are risks such as birthing complications which may require veterinary intervention like C-sections. Unlike people though, an expectant dog mum-to-be has her work cut out for her, as she rarely, if ever, gives birth to a single puppy. The number of puppies that a bitch has is dependent on several factors, namely size the bigger the breed of dog, the more puppies they tend to have in a single litter and the physical characteristics of a breed. There are, however, no absolutes in nature, which means that the number of puppies that a French Bulldog has per litter can vary. The breed has a higher than average possibility of developing a condition called dystocia, which is similar to a breech birth in humans, but far more dangerous. French Bulldogs are up to twenty percent more likely to suffer from dystocia during pregnancy, which is one of the main reasons why your veterinarian will suggest that you opt for a C-section for your Frenchie. Giving birth is just as hard for a dog as it is for a human, and during and after the birth, your Frenchie will need to breathe harder and faster in order to ensure that her body has the oxygen it needs to make it through and recover from the trauma of having a litter of pups. For a brachycephalic dog like the Frenchie, this is much harder than it is for a normal dog and puts the mother at a much greater risk of cardiac arrest, which again is why most veterinarians will suggest that the safest option for any Frenchie mother is always a C-Section. The procedure also carries a risk to the puppies and can put their lives in danger as well, so the fewer C-sections that your dog has to endure, the more likely she, and her puppies, are to emerge from one unscathed. Which most Frenchies are. Always insist on seeing the paperwork, and the mother dog before you agree to buy a puppy. Before we begin, a word of caution. Most Frenchies tend to reach maturity between eighteen months and two years of age, which is why most breeders tend to let their dogs mate between the ages of two and seven. The typical gestation period the length of a pregnancy for a French Bulldog is between sixty and sixty-three days, and the dog can enter labor at any point during that time. In the first month of her pregnancy, you might notice that your Frenchie starts to become even more affectionate than she already is and that her appetite has increased. Her appetite might start to wane toward the end of the second month, as her body starts to prepare to give birth. Post navigation. Dogs of this nature tend to be smaller, and also have smaller amounts of puppies. And with French bulldog dams the females they have very narrow hips and small body. If a female Frenchie does have a large litter of over 3, there can be health implications for the puppies. They will probably be underweight, with the weaker ones in the litter struggling to get the milk they need during the first few weeks of being born. How many times a year can a French bulldog have puppies? How many litters can a French bulldog have in a year? They should not have any more than 1 litter a year, and most preferably every other year. Because they are delivered via C-section, the female needs time to recover and recuperate, so anything intensive is just cruel and designed to make money. For more information on Frenchie C-sections, click here. How many litters can a French bulldog have? Most female Frenchies have around 4 litters in total, although I have heard of irresponsible breeders who try to get more from them. This litter size of 4 puppies is quite normal, with the average amount of puppies being 3. If you are thinking about buying a French bulldog puppy, talk to the breeder and find out how many litters she has had. How long is a French bulldog pregnancy? Frenchies very rarely give birth naturally, with most puppies being delivered by C-section. A French bulldog pregnancy the gestation period i. She will typically deliver by Caesarean section and will have on average around 3 puppies in her litter. Frenchie breeders will often use artificial insemination to get their females pregnant, as this breed find it very hard to mate naturally due to their narrow hips. You can read more about how long a Frenchie is pregnant for elsewhere on the website. When people say a dog is in heat, what they actually mean is that they are in their oestrus cycle. It is very similar to when a human female gets a period. When a Frenchie dam is on her oestrus cycle it means she has gone into heat and will accept a mate and could end up getting pregnant. French bulldogs go into heat from the point they reach sexual maturity. The regularity of their oestrus cycles tends to be every 6 months on average but will vary from dog to dog. It can take up to 2 years for a French bulldog to develop regular heat patterns. Female French bulldogs can gain sexual maturity as young as 5 months old. At that point, if they have started to have regular oestrus cycles, they are at risk of getting pregnant. Do French bulldogs always need C-sections? If your French bulldog does have puppies naturally, it can be very dangerous for both the female and the litter. Handy Hint: French Bulldogs mating naturally is a very rare occurrence. It can lead to health risks too. Find out more about why Frenchies should not breed naturally in this new blog post. The last word French bulldogs make for great companions and pets. If you browse other guides on the website, you will see plenty of photos and videos of Claude, our own Frenchie. However, in recent years their popularity has exploded, and this has led to an increase in unscrupulous breeders who use irresponsible methods of breeding. This can result in poor health — read the various health problems that Frenchies are prone to. If you are thinking about buying a Frenchie, please do your research into the breeder before you even consider buying from them.

Located on 25 scenic acres in rural Northeastern Oklahoma, please call us to speak. Why buy a puppy from Great Oaks Kennel? Genetically tested and cleared for all genetic health conditions tested. Almost all of our parent dogs have been genetically tested through Embark for over diseases or Animal Genetics and cleared for all those diseases. This will give you the peace of mind to know that the puppies will be as healthy as they can be.You can check the specific test results of each litter on their page. Carries a 1 year health guarantee. This gives you protection and peace of mind. More than detailed testimonies from our puppy families. This can help you to see what to expect and insure that your confidence is well placed. Come micro-chipped and with extra immunizations. Comes with a wonderful experience! We have your puppy microchipped which saves you money, but primarily, it helps to get your best friend home in the unfortunate event they get lost. Most breeders send puppies home with 1 puppy shot. We spend the extra time, money and effort to give 2 vaccinations to save you a vet visit and give your puppy the extra immunity it needs going home. We normally answer the phone or call back within minutes Continual communication throughout the process. Continual communication throughout the process. We try to update puppy pics about every 2 weeks on our site. This lets you watch your puppy grow up while you are waiting for him to come home w Fast responses to your inquiries. This lets you watch your puppy grow up while you are waiting for him to come home with your family. Puppy Pick Day.You pick your puppy. We normally schedule puppy pick day at about 6 weeks of age and post pictures and videos so you can make sure and get just the right puppy for your family. Because they're gorgeous, happy, healthy puppies. Everyone wants a beautiful, socialized, fun, healthy puppy.Great Oaks Kennel beautiful faces below! All of them are our amazing puppies! Check Out Our Social Media. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The Bernese Mountain Dog is an intelligent, easy to train, confident and good natured dog. This beautiful breed is a natural watch dog who loves it's family and is wonderful with children. We love to watch our Berners interact with our children. Their loyalty and sweet personalities go perfectly with kids. They are the perfect combination of the Poodle's intelligence and the Bernese Mountain Dog's beautiful coloring and sweet nature. While the Bernese Mountain Dog is overall a healthy breed they can be prone to cancer later in their lives which is why breeding with the healthy Standard or Miniature Poodle extends their life. The Standard size Bernedoodles will weigh between pounds and will be low to non-shedding. They will come in a variety of colors. This is a safe breed for MOST people with allergies. Weighing between pounds the Mini Bernedoodle is the perfect companion dog. They are sweet natured dogs who are the perfect example of what well bred stable dogs look like. Expected weight is between pounds. If you are concerned with shedding an F1B would be the best option. Our beloved dogs create the most amazing bernedoodles of all sizes and a limited number of quality aussiedoodles and AKC registered bernese mountain dogs. Our mission is to produce happy, healthy puppies and match each perfect puppy with their perfect family. Come see us, meet and greet our adult dogs, play with the puppies, and begin a lifetime of memories with your new family addition. Learn More About Us Bernedoodle Puppies in Oklahoma Are you looking for a puppy who loves playing with children and enjoys adventures with the family? A Bernedoodle is what you're after! The Bernedoodle is a mix between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle - both intelligent and incredible companion breeds. Bernedoodle puppies are beautiful dogs that make a great addition to any family. More About Bernedoodles Premium Aussiedoodle Puppies in Oklahoma An Aussiedoodle is the breed for those wanting a great family pet to play endlessly with. An Aussiedoodle has a Poodle parent and an Australian Shepherd parent. Our puppies enjoy adventures and spending time as a member of their family. The Standard Poodle is smart, obedient, and fantastic with children, and the Australian Shepherd is hard-working and loves to play. The Aussiedoodle has almost no end to coat colors and is a head-turner! Visit our Aussiedoodle Information page to learn more about these incredible puppies. Only 2 hours from Tulsa, OK and right outside of Oklahoma City, we are conveniently located for those looking to find a premium doodle puppy in Oklahoma. At Red Barn Doodles, we pride ourselves on the research and time that has gone into making a quality breeding program. Contact us today to learn about our available or upcoming Aussiedoodle and Bernedoodle puppies! You've come to the right place. Here, at Premier Pups, our Mini Bernedoodles are happy, healthy, and ready to embark on a life-long journey with their new families. These puppies are raised with love and cared for by the best in the business. We align ourselves only with the best breeders that meet our high standards. All our Mini Bernedoodles come with a year health guarantee that backs up our Premier Promise. Nationwide delivery is available for all out-of-state customers looking to adopt a Mini Bernedoodle. The beautiful Mini Bernedoodles are a blend of fluffy looks and darling personalities. They can be small or medium depending on their generation, but regardless of their size, they are simply adorable. Mini Bernedoodles are designed to be loyal and loving companions for equally loving owners. They thrive in a setting where attention and fun are plentiful. We partner with the best dog breeders in the nation to offer you healthy, happy Mini Bernedoodle puppies. Find your dream Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle mix puppy today! A few of our Mini Bernedoodle Pups. View Our Available Puppies! You should not confuse Mini Bernedoodles with Standard Bernedoodles. Our adorable Mini Bernedoodle are of the F1 variety. All the doodle moms are purebred Genetic Tested Bernese Mountain dog females. Our mini Bernedoodle pups usually end up weighing pounds and around inches tall when full grown. Most Mini bernedoodles live to be around years old. Mini Bernedoodles have become really popular because they shed very little after they shed their puppy coat, they are very hypoallergenic. We have specialized in breeding Mini Bernedoodles as well as a few other breeds for many years. They are a big part of our family and farm. We have also partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. We usually have a good selection of very high quality doodle puppies. So if you live near Oklahoma City Oklahoma and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Bernedoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are a few of our Mini Bernedoodle Pups! With two well-liked parents, it is of no surprise that this breed has grown to be as popular as it is today. Their main jobs were draft work to herd cattle, pull carts, guard farms from predators, and as basic family companions. The Poodle was originally bred in Germany and was used as a working dog that helped hunters retrieve waterfowl. Personality and Temperament Many Miniature Bernedoodles are on the shy side around new faces and pets until they get to know them. They are a very calm breed and avoid confrontation. Being that they almost never show aggression, they make wonderful house pets and do well around children. This breed tends to have a very loyal side to them, and they quickly build trust and a bond with their family. They also enjoy engaging in outdoor playtime with other pets and children in their family. This breed has remained a favorite of families for generations. Appearance ad Grooming Miniature Bernedoodles have an extremely fluffy coat that is soft and considered hypoallergenic thanks to its non-shedding qualities. This breed comes in an array of colors such as chocolate, red, cream, and black. Many also have variations of these colors, which form unique patterns on their coat. Weekly baths, routine teeth cleaning, and scheduled nail clipping are good ways to help this dog look and feel his best. Care and Feeding Miniature Bernedoodle do best with a set twelve-hour feeding schedule. Two equally sized meals should be served in these intervals. The first six months of their life will be the most crucial for physical development, which is why proper nutrition is so important. Weekly baths and routine nail clipping should always be remembered too. This breed generally weighs between twenty-five to forty-nine pounds. The average life expectancy of the Mini Bernedoodle ranges from twelve to eighteen years. Fact: The Miniature Bernedoodle was first bred in .This puppy comes from a mother Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. They have mother Bernese Mountain Dogs and father Poodles. Petland is honored to offer the highest quality Miniature Bernedoodle puppies who will be an instant fit on your lap and in your family.

Also called Barbone and Caniche, the teacup-toy Poodle is an intelligent and loyal breed. If you want a best friend who is big enough to keep up with your adventures but small enough to ride in your lap, this energetic dog may be a match for you. Affectionate, eager, and playful, they are ready and willing to do what it takes to make you happy. Their intelligence makes them relatively easy to train, and early socialization will help your pup grow to be calm and happy around pets, children, and unfamiliar people. They are a delightful all-around dog that has such strong qualities, it has been a parent breed for dozens of hybrid breeds. Their eyes are dark and brilliant and reveal their intelligence. Their nose is refined at the end of a long, narrow snout, and their teeth meet in a strong scissor bite. A miniature variation dictates that Teacup-Toy Poodles will have a squarely-built body with a deep chest and muscled shoulders. Their stance is elegant but sturdy, and their tail stands straight up. Their hair is typically dense, curly, and even wiry. Their coats come in many colors: White. Ask for Our 'Special Order' Option. Teacup Poodle puppies are one of the most impressive dogs in the canine world. Not only are teacup Poodles extremely friendly and affectionate to their owners, these loveable beauties vibe well with young children, strangers, and other dogs. Our delightful toy puppies are also incredibly clever and easy to train. After learning a few tricks, our adorable teacup Poodles will keep you entertained for hours with their playfulness. Are you ready to open your heart and home to your fur-ever friend? Have a look at our available Toy Poodle puppies for sale, or contact us for information about our upcoming litters or the special order option. Temperament: Poodles are highly intelligent and adaptable dogs that are known for their delightful temperament. They are playful, affectionate, and loyal companions that make wonderful pets for individuals and families alike. One of the most notable characteristics of the Poodle temperament is their intelligence. They are quick learners and excel at obedience training and other forms of mental stimulation. Poodles are also highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of living situations, from apartments to larger homes. In addition to their intelligence, Poodles are also affectionate and loving dogs that form strong bonds with their owners. They are known for being highly attuned to their human's emotions and can be extremely intuitive and sensitive to their needs. This makes them great companions for people who are looking for a loyal and loving pet. Poodles are also highly sociable dogs that enjoy spending time with their owners and meeting new people and pets. They are outgoing and friendly, making them great pets for families with children or other pets. Poodles also have a playful side to their nature and enjoy games and activities that involve interaction and engagement with their owners. Overall, the Poodle temperament is highly desirable, making them one of the most popular breeds in the world. Their intelligence, adaptability, and loving nature make them wonderful pets for a wide range of people and lifestyles, and their endearing personalities are sure to bring joy and companionship to any household. Available Puppies Appearance: Poodles are a distinctive breed known for their elegant and sophisticated appearance. They come in four sizes: standard, miniature, and toy, and teacup and have a variety of coat colors including white, black, brown, silver, apricot, and red. One of the most notable features of the Poodle is their unique coat. Poodles have a dense, curly coat that is hypoallergenic, meaning they are a great choice for people with allergies. Their curly coat is also water-resistant, which makes them excellent swimmers. Poodles have a long, narrow muzzle and oval-shaped eyes that convey a sense of intelligence and alertness. They have long, furry ears that hang close to their head, giving them a regal and elegant appearance. Poodles also have a long, slender neck that flows smoothly into their well-proportioned body. Another defining characteristic of the Poodle is their distinctive gait. They have a springy and energetic step, and their movements are graceful and fluid. This, combined with their elegant appearance, gives Poodles a sense of aristocratic refinement. Overall, the Poodle is a visually striking breed that boasts a unique and sophisticated appearance. Their curly coat, elegant body structure, and distinctive gait make them one of the most recognizable and beloved dog breeds in the world. Learn more Exercise Poodles are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being. While the amount of exercise they require may vary depending on their size and age, all Poodles need daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. A typical exercise routine for a Poodle may include a brisk walk or jog in the morning and evening, along with some playtime or training sessions during the day. Poodles also enjoy playing fetch, running around in a securely fenced yard, or going on leisurely hikes with their owners. In addition to physical exercise, Poodles also benefit from mental stimulation. They are highly intelligent and require mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. Puzzle toys, obedience training, and other forms of mental stimulation can help keep Poodles mentally stimulated and engaged. It's important to keep in mind that Poodles can be prone to weight gain, especially as they age. Regular exercise not only helps to keep them physically fit but also provides them with mental stimulation and helps to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. Monitoring their diet and exercise routine closely is crucial to prevent them from becoming overweight or obese. Overall, Poodles are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. With the right amount of exercise, attention, and care, Poodles can live long, healthy, and happy lives. Learn more History The Poodle is an ancient breed with a history that dates back several centuries. While the exact origins of the breed are unclear, it is believed that they originated in Germany, where they were known as the "Pudel," which translates to "splash in water. Their unique coat, which is hypoallergenic and water-resistant, made them well-suited for this task. Over time, Poodles also became popular as circus performers and were trained to perform tricks and acrobatics. During the 16th century, Poodles became popular with European nobility and were frequently depicted in paintings and artwork of the time. They were also a popular choice for the court of Louis XVI, and were often seen in his court as well as other royal courts in Europe. In the 19th century, Poodles were standardized into three different sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. This allowed for greater versatility in the breed, and they became popular as companions and family pets. Today, Poodles are one of the most popular breeds in the world and are beloved for their intelligence, affectionate nature, and distinctive appearance. They continue to be used as retrievers and are also trained for a variety of activities, including obedience, agility, and therapy work. Learn more Maintenance Poodles require regular maintenance to keep their distinctive curly coat in good condition. Their curly coat can easily become matted and tangled, so it's important to brush and groom them regularly to prevent this from happening. The frequency of grooming will depend on the length of the Poodle's coat. For example, a Poodle with a shorter clip may only need to be groomed every six to eight weeks, while a Poodle with a longer coat may need to be groomed every four to six weeks. Regular brushing is also important for Poodle maintenance. Brushing helps to remove any loose or dead hair from their coat, as well as prevent matting and tangles. Poodles with longer coats may need to be brushed daily, while those with shorter coats may only need to be brushed a few times a week. Bathing is another important aspect of Poodle maintenance. Poodles should be bathed every three to four weeks, or more frequently if they get particularly dirty or smelly. It's important to use a dog-specific shampoo that won't irritate their skin or strip their coat of its natural oils. Poodle maintenance also involves regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing. Their nails should be trimmed every two to three weeks, their ears should be cleaned weekly, and their teeth should be brushed several times a week to prevent dental issues. Overall, Poodles require regular maintenance to keep them healthy, happy, and looking their best. Consistent grooming, brushing, bathing, and other forms of maintenance can help prevent common issues like matting and tangling, and keep them looking and feeling great. Healthy Puppies for Healthy Puppies All you need is one of our babies to experience the greatest love. All the poodle puppies we have are like part of our family and we have given them the best love, care, attention, and training possible. Our teacup poodle puppies for sale get up to date on all of their vaccinations, micro-chipped for permanent identification, before they leave for their forever home. All our quality teacup poodle puppies come with five year health guarantee with their health records, puppy starter kit with a free towel, and blanket. These teacup poodles puppies are the perfect addition for your family and for more inquiry you can click on Available puppies or the Contact using the link below. These poodles have all the qualities pack it into one small package. Poodle Puppies For Sale crave attention and love and need your affection all the time. Their loving nature helps them get along with anyone. They have small body these means they must handle with extreme care. They love to be the center of attention. Individuals keep them for fellowship but loyalty can make them modest watchdogs. They are a small version of Toy Poodle. They have a height between 7 to 9 inches with a weight of 2 to 6 pounds. They have a life span of 14 to 18 years. Appearance Toy Poodles Puppies For Sale have a long and straight muzzle with dark and oval-shaped eyes in black and brown in color. Their ears hang close to the head and have long and flat ears. Their front and back legs are proportional to the size of the dog. Their tail is set and highly carried. They have oval-shaped feet that are small in size and toes are arched. Coat and color Poodle Puppies For Adoption have either curly or corded coats. Their coats are in a solid color such as black, blue, silver, gray, cream, apricot, red, white, and brown. They have thick medium length curls. These curls are silky so need extra care. They can easily develop knots in their fur if not brushed frequently. They are hypo allergic and their dead furs come off but stay trapped within their tight curls and only fall out during brushing. Personality and Temperament Mini poodles are a playful and cuddly dog. They love attention and always want to be close to their owners. They are so close to their owners that they suffer from anxiety after separation. They cannot leave at home alone for a longer period. Their attention making character make them very loyal. These puppies are extremely playful but need to play with caution. Rough play can harm them unexpected injuries internally or externally. A few short walks and a small amount of playful time are enough to keep them enough. They have watchdog nature so they will bark excessively if they are not trained. Due to their intelligence, this problem can be fairly resolved. Due to their pleasant character socialization comes naturally to these puppies. They love to meet new people and seek attention. They can easily get along with other puppies but try to keep them from large animals to avoid injuries. These puppies have tricky coats to maintain and need constant supervision. They also need some diet restrictions and many medical conditions. Physical Requirements Teacup poodle puppies have moderate energy levels and not need too much exercise per day. Two 10 minutes walk and 20 to 30 minutes of playing are good enough for them. The right precaution can be easily helpful for their long walk and playing. Owners should never take their eyes off from these puppies while taking out. Grooming Grooming can be the most difficult aspect for these adorable dogs. Quality Teacup Poodles have curly, medium length, thick coats. Their coats should be brushed daily. Their tight curls can easily tangle so it is important to brush them often to remove dead hairs from their coat. Also, monitor their tears stains. One can easily see brown gunk below the inner corner of their eyes. Feeding them multiple times is important to protect them from low blood sugar. Buy food that is high in protein to maintain the energy they need for their playful personality. It is important to start their training as soon as you buy them. The first training that should be given to them is to control their barking. These puppies are smart so its important to keep their mind stimulated. Keep them away from the games that confront them physically. Socialization is very essential for them. If they are not introduced to people at a younger age they become nervous in the future. Toy poodle puppies love toys and running around at home. Our sires and dams were specifically selected based on breed standard, beauty, intelligence, health, and temperament; our sires and dams as well as the babies are kept on a very strict regime of vitamins and supplements and best vet care. Full name.

These are just some habits you have to deal with as dog owners. But the worst may be that day you catch your dog eating his own feces poop. Gross, right? The idea of such an act is downright disgusting as a human. There are things to consider and actions steps to take to fix this. Dogs can eat their poop because of a deficiency of nutrients, malabsorption syndrome, parasites, natural instincts, anxiety, attention seeking, or even good smelling turd from eating too much good human foods. But why do adult dogs eat their own poop? That said, here are the most common reasons for coprophagia in adult dogs. Your dog may be lacking nutrients This main reason for coprophagia, in a nutshell, is animal instinct. When your dog is lacking sufficient nutrients from its daily food regimen, it will find other ways to get those nutrients. And yes, even if it means eating its own feces. In order to prevent this, make sure your dog is getting all the necessary nutrients daily. This means never missing any of their regular meals and giving them the recommended dog food portion. Not sure what the portion is? Consult with your vet. So, some healthy snacks in between meals is a good idea. Keep in mind, if you purchase any of the top brands of dog food, they should contain all the necessary nutrients. Note: Studies have shown that when dogs lack Vitamin B1 , they are more likely to develop Coprophagia. Looking for fruits and vegetables with Vitamin B1? Try feeding your dog some pineapples , cucumbers , tomatoes or cantaloupe. Malabsorption Syndrome is a medical condition where the dog does not fully absorb the nutrients of the food within their small intestine. Unfortunately, these dogs are exposed to all sorts of parasites, such as stomach worms, every time they go out for a walk. Consult with a veterinarian to see if this is a possibility for your dog with coprophagia. Good news: there are many ways to deal with intestinal parasites in dogs. Certain dog diseases will cause dogs to eat their feces There are certain dog diseases that may significantly increase the appetite of the dog. If your dog is showing any symptoms, in addition to coprophagia, you may want to get it checked out. Always consult with a veterinarian. Your dog may just be seeking your attention Have you ever heard about cases where the adolescent kid of neglectful parents act out and do terrible things, presumably to get the attention of their parents? Your dog could also be trying to get attention from their actions of consuming poop. Sure enough, eating poop generally elicits a reaction from the owner. The solution to this is simple. Your dog may be experiencing anxiety Like all humans, dogs can get anxiety from various things. But how does anxiety cause them to eat their own feces? In the early stages of house training, some owners can be a little too harsh with their puppy. Harsh punishments are not needed. Of course, owners are likely to give harsh punishments if they eat their poop, thus creating a vicious cycle that could continue into adulthood. Isolating your dog can lead to this behavior Research and studies have shown that when a dog is isolated from the rest of the humans and spends a significant amount of time in a kennel, they are more likely to eat their own poop. There is no conclusive evidence on exactly why this happens, but it could possibly be because they are seeking attention or from the intense stress of isolation. If a dog is confined in a restrictive space, they are also more likely to eat poop too. These are all stressful situations that could trigger a psychological problem, thus leading to coprophagia. Keep in mind that dogs are social creatures. They love to be around people and are generally happiest when their family is playing or interacting with them. There are certain stages in their lives where it is perfectly natural and beneficial to eat feces. For example, when a female dog becomes a mother, she will teach her puppies to clean up after themselves. For the first month, the mother dog will clean by licking the feces residue off the puppies. So in this case, it is not a psychological or physiological issue that is causing this temporary coprophagia. It is animal instincts inherited through all the years of evolution. As for the puppies, they will certainly pick up this habit because they are great students of other dogs or humans. The only thing to watch out for is the puppies getting too accustomed to the taste of their poop and possibly starting to eat the feces of other dogs. The behavior of puppies eating their own feces, also known as autocoprophagia , will disappear in 8 to 10 months in most cases. In , Dr. Benjamin Hart DVM and his team of researchers at UC Davis presented a survey study to 3, dog owners that found some initially alarming statistics. With that in mind, can we conclude that it is completely abnormal for canines to eat their own poop? Think about it. Many other species of animals, such as guinea pigs and rabbits also eat their own poop. In fact, it may be detrimental to their health to NOT consume the nutrients in their feces. Hart and his team concluded that eating stool is an innate predisposition stemmed from the past, when wild canines would need to protect the pack members from parasites in the feces. From our point of view, it is disgusting, but not so much from the canine perspective. How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop Now that you understand what environmental and behavioral factors cause coprophagia in dogs, you may be thinking how do i stop my dog from eating poop? There are many different ways to safely solve the coprophagia problem, and i hear a lot of mixed results on which works best. Feel free to try these methods until one works successfully for your dog. Also, if a specific treatment worked for you, please leave a comment in the section below! The Pineapple Treatment Not only can dogs eat pineapples , but they are also very nutritious for them as well. A little known secret of pineapples is that it can actually be used as a treatment for coprophagia in dogs! Chop up a few small pieces of pineapples for your dogs to consume and observe over time. First, you want to make sure there is no allergic reaction and if your dog has a change in stool habit diarrhea or constipation , stop immediately and try another treatment. Coprophagia Deterrent Soft Chews These soft chews have the same goals as in the pineapple treatment — change the taste of stool and hope the dog loses its appetite for feces. I have a lot mixed reviews for this one. You check it out at Amazon. Habanero Sauce on Feces? This method may sound a bit crazy, but it can and has worked with dogs. Cesar Millan recommends that you find stool either in the yard, on the pee pad, or wherever your dog does its business, and cover it in habanero sauce. After the initial bite or two, they will certainly be deterred and may not think eating stool is worth it at the cost of a burning mouth. Vitamin Supplements for Dogs The theory that dogs eat feces due to a lack of vitamins and minerals in their diet makes this method an obvious choice. In fact, the prime suspect is the lack of thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1. You can either add some supplement pills into their diets, or do it with fruits that contain thiamine, such as bananas , pineapples or apples. All of which, are dog-friendly and safe to eat. Use a Meat Tenderizer The theory is that the modern dog diet contains a much higher percentage of carbohydrates and lower percentage of fats and meat-based proteins, when compared to the diet of their ancestors. Cesar Millan has suggested using a meat tenderizer that contains a special enzyme called papain. Posts you may like:. Reasons Dogs Eat Poop Nutritional Deficiencies A dog may eat poop because they are missing important nutrients in their own diet or they are not properly absorbing certain nutrients in their food during digestion called malabsorption. One study found that dogs whose diets were deficient in thiamine vitamin B1 developed coprophagia. If your veterinarian suspects deficiencies, they will run specific tests not included in a usual wellness blood panel. Nutritional deficiencies are not common for dogs fed commercial diets, and are instead more common in dogs fed raw or homemade diets. Underlying Medical Issues If a dog suddenly begins to eat feces, it may be a sign of health conditions that cause increased appetite, such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or any gastrointestinal disease that causes malabsorption. Diseases that can lead to pica eating inappropriate things , such as liver disease and anemia, can result in coprophagia. Canine cognitive dysfunction "doggie dementia" can also contribute to this behavior. Intestinal Parasites Intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, or whipworms, "steal" nutrients from your dog's diet, which can cause inflammation and malabsorption. That can then can lead to coprophagia. Anxiety Stool eating may be a symptom of underlying anxiety or stress in a dog. This may be separation anxiety or isolation distress, or a dog who is seeking to avoid punishment during potty training hiding the evidence! Hunger Eating stool may be a sign that a dog is simply hungry and seeking more calories. Dogs who are taking steroidal treatments, such as prednisone, often have a larger appetite and may begin to eat poop. Cleaning the "Den" When raising a litter of puppies, for the first few weeks after birth, a mother dog will lick the puppies' rears to stimulate bowel movements and then eat the puppies' feces. This is completely normal and expected behavior and is believed to happen due to their desire to keep the den area clean and protect against predators who may smell the poop and therefore find the den location. It Just Tastes Good! While we may automatically wrinkle our noses at the idea that our dogs just find poop tasty, it just may be that they like the taste. Feces is simply digested food. And if your dog is eating other dog or cat feces, to them, it's just another protein source! If they prefer horse or rabbit poop, perhaps they like the taste of digested plants. Inappropriate Association with Food This is related to the prior point about dogs liking the taste of feces. In some cases, a dog may associate poop with food because their eating area was located too close to their potty area during critical development phases. This can happen with dogs who spent a lot of time in confinement without a separate potty area, such as in puppy mills or an overcrowded shelter. Attention Seeking or Boredom Dogs learn quickly that eating poop is a surefire way of getting your attention, as when we see it happen, we tend to immediately respond by shouting and running after them. They may start repeating this behavior to get your attention and can even see it as a fun game to play when you're around. If a dog is bored, they may seek out things to indulge in, including finding and eating feces in the yard or taking on the challenge of accessing the cat's litter box for a snack. When eating poop, your dog has an increased risk for certain diseases, such as E. Consumption can increase their risks of intestinal parasite infection as well. There are even documented cases, albeit not common, of pets absorbing certain undigested medications from consuming poop. If your dog consumes their own or another household pet's poop but all are parasite-free, make sure they are on year-round preventatives and have regular fecal exams to ensure their continued health. Staying up-to-date on preventatives is also extremely important if your dog eats other dogs' feces at dog parks or on walks. You'll also want to consider that your dog puts their mouth on quite a lot of things in your home — not to mention that they probably lick your face or hands. If they eat poop, you're then also at risk of illness and disease transmission such as Salmonella and giardia. Speak with your veterinarian about your dog's poop-eating behavior. Ask them if they have recommendations on food or supplements to add to their diet. They may refer you to a veterinary nutritionist for further testing and treatment. The Solution: Prevent Poop Eating With Management The most effective thing you can do, no matter the reason your dog is eating poop, is to remove access to it. If they can't get to it, they can't eat it! How you do this depends on whose poop they are eating. Pick up Poop Right Away. For my dog, he prefers my older female dog's poop, but not his own. This means that I must be very quick to immediately bag up her poop when she goes. But I have more leeway when it comes to scooping his poop in the yard. Whenever we go out for a potty break in the yard, I make sure to have a bag ready in my pocket and keep a close eye on her to make sure I don't miss any droppings. Be prepared with your poop scooper or poo bags whenever you take your dogs outside. Keep Your Dog Out of the Litterbox. Block your dog's access to the cat's litterbox. Use gates or strategic locations for the litter box, and make sure to clean it regularly. Dogs are scavengers by nature, and "training" this out of them is a big ask. In some cases, managing their environment and using anti-scavenging tools solves the problem. But for extreme cases, while you work on teaching your dog to leave poop alone, invest in these tools to prevent them from practicing this unwanted behavior. Anti-scavenging muzzles. I recommend muzzle training for all dogs , but it's particularly useful for dogs who like to grab and eat feces. Choose a basket muzzle that is designed with a front guard, like this Baskerville Anti-Scavenge muzzle. The JAFCO muzzle is also a good option, or if you have a basket muzzle custom-made, make sure to choose a tightly woven front design. While a basket muzzle will still allow a dog to shove their snout into a pile of poo, ideally it will block actual ingestion. Just be ready with sani wipes and clean your muzzle after each use. For more tips on finding the right muzzle for your dog, check out my tips in "Choosing and Fitting a Basket Muzzle. An alternative to a basket muzzle, a product like the Outfox Field Guard prevents your dog from ingesting feces they find. However, just like a muzzle, your dog may still decide to smear poo all over it. But this product is especially useful if you live in an area where foxtails are prevalent. Use a head collar on walks. If your dog likes to treat your walk like a poop buffet, grazing on found poop along the way, walking them on a head collar, such as a Halti , can give you better control over where their nose goes. Using this walking gear, you can keep their nose up from the ground and prevent scavenging. This is usually my last recommendation, as sniffing is an essential activity for your dog to engage in every day. However, using a head collar for leash walking in areas where there is a lot of wildlife poop and then allowing them the freedom to sniff in "free-of-poop" areas is a good compromise. I only recommend using a head collar, if you can commit to spending lots of time conditioning your dog to wear it comfortably first. I do not recommend head collars for small dogs or dogs who pull or lunge on the leash, as the sudden torque on the neck can cause injury. To function properly, dogs need a balanced diet containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals that match their life stage. You want to feed a diet that is meat-based listed in the first two to three ingredients , but that also has a balance of carbohydrates vegetables, quality grains, and fruits. Feed Your Dog More Often Feeding your dog smaller meals more frequently throughout the day may help reduce hunger and scavenging behavior, which could be contributing to their coprophagia. Be aware that if you're still working on your dog's potty training, changing their meal frequency may affect how many times and the time they need to go 2 every day. Increase Mental Enrichment To reduce boredom and decrease stress, give your dog more brain games and mental enrichment. Licking, chewing, and sniffing are especially helpful for decompression and reducing anxiety. The easiest way to enrich your dog's life is to make every meal a brain or foraging activity. You can do this with a snuffle mat or puzzle feeder. There are tons of ways to increase enrichment, many of which don't involve more food. One thing to think about here is that typically we have to be present to say "leave it" for our dogs to actually be successful with this. Combine leave it practice with management and prevention techniques for true success. You can take the regular leave it cue to the next level by teaching an automatic leave it. This skill is difficult and takes quite a bit of practice! It can be done, but be aware that you are competing with a dog's natural instinct to scavenge. To introduce an automatic leave it, you'll want to make the presence of poo the cue for your dog, not your verbal "leave it. Approach a pile of poo, but don't allow your dog close enough to eat it. When they notice it, simply wait. When they turn their head away from or step away from the poop, say "yes! Repeat, repeat, repeat. This process takes time and lots of repetitions. It's best to work with a certified trainer on this skill, as this is what we consider a "college level" skill, and training needs to be tailored to each individual dog for the best success. In some cases, we may install a cue transfer, where we teach the dog to recall when they find poop or do an automatic check-in. It depends on the dog's foundational skills and the context that usually ends with poop eating. Poop Eating Deterrent Products There are a few different products available that claim to stop poop eating in dogs. Unfortunately, over-the-counter poop-eating deterrent products simply don't deliver on their promises. According to this study , there were "no successful results in treating coprophagy with any of the commercial products. First: speak with your veterinarian about what they may recommend and what, if any, ingredients may interact with any medications your dog is taking. I recommend first trying natural diet additives to balance your dog's gastrointestinal system prior to exploring commercial products. Natural Poop Eating Deterrents Pre and Probiotics: Providing your dog with a pre and probiotic enhances their digestion, nutrient absorption, and boosts their immune system. Use a multi-strain product with a high CFU per dose. See our veterinarian's top picks for probiotics here. Digestive enzymes: Consult with your veterinarian to determine if your dog needs digestive enzymes, which are typically only available by prescription. They can help improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients resulting in less palatable poop. Vitamin B Supplements: If your pet is diagnosed with a malabsorption issue or Vitamin B deficiency, your veterinarian may recommend B-complex injections. This increases fiber content and may make feces less appealing to eat. Note: Only use pure pumpkin — avoid pumpkin pie filling. Green Veggies: Add vegetables high in fiber to your dog's diet, such as spinach, kale, green beans, or broccoli. Pineapple: There are no scientific studies to support this, but an old legend suggests that feeding your dog small pieces of fresh pineapple never canned will make the taste of their poop unappealing. Meat tenderizer: Both myself and Preventive Vet's team veterinarian are wary to recommend adding meat tenderizer to a dog's diet to prevent coprophagia. Well, many meat tenderizers have other ingredients that can be toxic to dogs, such as high sodium, onion, and garlic. Bromelain, the actual "tenderizer" in these products, is present in fresh pineapple, so you're better off trying that before adding meat tenderizer to your dog's food. But just like with pineapple, there are no studies that show this is effective. There are quite a few recommendations that will pop up on Google when you search for home remedies for stopping poop eating. Be very careful what you try with your dog, and it's always a good idea to ask your veterinarian first. As mentioned above with meat tenderizers, there may be additional ingredients that can be toxic to dogs. For example, one suggestion I found is to sprinkle crushed breath mints on a dog's food, but many sugar-free breath mints contain the sugar substitute xylitol — which is extremely dangerous to dogs. I actually stopped using the product after just two days because my veterinarian informed me that it has high sodium content that she didn't recommend for my senior dog to take — the second ingredient is MSG monosodium glutamate. MSG can be toxic for dogs in high amounts or with long-term consumption. However, if only used for a short period of time, the benefits may outweigh any risks. MSG only has one-third of the sodium content of regular table salt. Some dogs do get vomiting and diarrhea. Speak to your veterinarian first before use, especially if your dog has heart or kidney issues. Does your dog eat poop? We'd love to hear about what you've tried to stop it — take this short 2-minute survey to share your experience! With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization. She has also completed the Aggression in Dogs Master Course. When she's not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding. Prevention Back to Top The reasons why some dogs eat feces are not entirely known, but we understand how frustrating it can be for dog owners. If you find that your pup is often eating poop, don't fret—coprophagia, or the act of eating feces, is relatively common in dogs. It's also treatable in several ways, such as keeping your yard free of dog droppings and understanding why your dog is doing this in the first place. Why Dogs Eat Poop The reasons why some dogs eat feces are not entirely known, but there are a few theories. It's possible that dogs eat stool for reasons like instinct, hunger, stress, or illness. Instinct Mother dogs instinctively lick their pups clean, which includes ingesting the puppies' feces. This normal maternal behavior keeps the pups and their environment clean. Many puppies will begin to eat feces at a young age. Some pups grow out of this normal behavior while others continue this into adulthood. Eating the feces of other species is also considered natural behavior. If you have a cat, you may notice that your dog cannot stay away from the litter box. Most dogs love the taste of cat poop. Perhaps this is because of the high-protein diets of cats. Hunger and Food Obsession A dog suffering from starvation or severe malnutrition might eat anything it can find. Some dogs, though well-nourished, are hungry all the time this may be a sign of illness or simply the personality of the dog. Many dogs are completely obsessed with food and will ingest anything that tastes good to them. Unfortunately, many dogs seem to like the taste of feces. Some people believe that dogs eat feces when they are lacking something in their diets. Most veterinarians say that this is actually not the cause of coprophagia. Anxiety, Fear, and Stress A dog in fear or under a great deal of stress may eat his own stool. In some cases, this could be a kind of self-soothing mechanism. However, if a dog is punished for inappropriate defecation or other action related to feces, he may associate the punishment with the presence of feces. By eating the feces, he is removing the "evidence" to avoid punishment. Illness Certain diseases and illnesses can cause a dog to eat feces. A symptom of some diseases is increased appetite or ingestion of inappropriate items called pica. An illness that changes the consistency or smell of the stool might encourage a dog to eat his own stool. Sudden onset of coprophagia calls for a veterinary exam. Some dogs with dementia and other brain diseases have been known to start eating stool. This may be due to the confusion and disorientation caused by the disease. It generally poses little danger for a dog to eat his own stool. However, bacteria and parasites from that stool can possibly be transmitted to the dog and therefore to humans and other animals through contact with the dog's mouth, saliva or feces. When a dog eats the feces of another animal especially another dog or a cat , he is at risk for ingesting the eggs of intestinal parasites and potentially harmful bacteria that can easily lead to illness. A dog that is known to eat the feces of other animals should have frequent fecal analyses by a veterinarian. Perhaps the worst effect of a dog eating poop is the foul breath you have to smell. Home dental care can help the breath, but it's best to prevent stool-eating altogether. Once you have ruled out medical problems as a cause for the coprophagia, you are left with addressing the behavior. Because stool-eating is considered a self-rewarding behavior, it can be difficult to reverse. First, make sure your yard is kept free of animal waste. Pick up your dog's stool as soon as possible after defecation. Be on high alert if your dog tends to eat his own feces during or immediately after defecation. Keep your dog on the leash when defecating. If his attention goes to the feces, immediately turn his attention to you try teaching the "look" command. Reward him for paying attention to you with a tasty treat, then immediately pick up the feces and discard it. Another helpful command to use at this time is to say " leave it. These products will not work for all dogs, but they will generally not harm your dog to try as long as your dog is not allergic to any of the ingredients. Be sure to choose a product that is labeled for dogs, such as "For-Bid" or "Deter. No, this is a myth. Feeding dogs pineapple does not make them stop eating poop. Why is my dog eating rabbit poop? Because it's there? Dogs like to eat poop, they are especially interested in poop that comes from other animals, like rabbits, because it has an unfamiliar aroma. Why does my dog eat cat poop? Your dog eats cat poop because it has a strong and unfamiliar smell. Article Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hart, Benjamin L et al. The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy. Veterinary medicine and science vol. Veterinary Partner, .More from The Spruce Pets.