what is the best dog food for golden retriever puppies

To download your free ebook, please confirm your email address. Temperament and personality Due to their cross breed status, Miniature Goldendoodles have unique temperaments and personalities. Friendly Like their Golden Retriever parent, Mini Goldendoodles are gentle, friendly, and eager-to-please. They love meeting new people and get along with children and adults alike. Playful Because Miniature Goldendoodles are part Mini Poodle, they are incredibly playful and intelligent! Afterall, both their parent dog breeds continuously make the list for the smartest dogs in the world. Their intelligence makes training a Mini Goldendoodle easy, but it can also make them mischievous at times, so be prepared for your Mini Goldendoodle to outsmart you! Loyal Both parent dog breeds are warm towards people and crave love and attention from their pack. They are loyal and love to stay close to their humans. Energetic Mini Goldendoodles have a moderate energy level. Most require about 60 minutes of exercise per day, but the actual amount will depend on your dog. F1b Mini Goldendoodles are more suited for those with severe allergies. Appearance Size Mini Goldendoodles are anywhere from 15 to 35 pounds and are 13 to 30 inches tall. However, the size of the Mini Goldendoodle depends on the size of the Poodle that is being used for breeding the hybrid dog. These numbers can differ slightly depending on the height and weight of both the Mini Poodle and Golden Retriever parents. If you want a slightly bigger dog, you should consider a Standard Goldendoodle, and if you want one even smaller, look to the Teacup Goldendoodle. Coats Mini Goldendoodle puppies tend to have fluffy coats that change as they age. The coat of an adult Miniature Goldendoodle can vary. It can be similar to the Poodles and be curly , or it can be like a Golden Retriever and be straight. Their coat can also fall somewhere in the middle and be somewhat wavy! We advise you to comb through the coat at least once a day. Colors Miniature Goldendoodles also come in a range of different colors. Golden Retrievers can be a dark golden color also known as red , yellow-golden, or a light cream. A Miniature Poodle can be red, black, tan, cream, apricot, red, or brown. The most popular colors for Miniature Goldendoodles are cream or golden, however, you can have black, white, grey, red, or even mixed colors! Grooming needs Miniature Goldendoodles require lots of grooming, both at home and with a professional. Grooming a Doodle requires daily brushing, combing, and trips to the groomers to prevent painful mats and tangles. The good thing is, there are plenty of Goldendoodle haircuts you can browse for inspiration each time you go to the groomer! This includes: Cancer: Golden Retrievers have one of the highest rates of cancer of all dog breeds. Dental Disease: Miniature Poodles are more likely than other dog breeds to have teeth-related issues. It can cause weight gain, fatigue, and other symptoms. Ear infections: Dog breeds with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections. Regular ear cleanings will help prevent infections. You can keep your Mini Goldendoodle healthy by going to the vet frequently and feeding them high-quality food. The price depends on where you live, the pedigree of the parents, and other factors. Where to find Mini Goldendoodle puppies Reputable breeders The most obvious place to find Mini Goldendoodle Puppies is from a reputable breeder. Be very wary of people selling puppies through online marketplaces and on social media. Search through our list of Doodle rescues here to see what dogs are up for adoption in your area. While you may not be able to find a Mini Goldendoodle puppy at a rescue, you can likely find other Poodle mixes who are waiting to find forever homes. We adopted our Labradoodle after he became available for adoption at the agency we foster with! You can also contact breeders in your area to see if they have a Miniature Goldendoodle up for adoption. We have put together a directory of Goldendoodle breeders , which you can look through to find one near you. If you want a lazy dog, the Mini Goldendoodle is not the right pup for you. Summary Miniature Goldendoodles are perfect for people who want the personality of a Golden Retreiver and the intelligence of a Poodle mixed up in one fantastic dog. Do you have a Mini Goldendoodle? Drop a comment and tell us what yours is like! Mini Goldendoodles can be quiet dogs with the right training and socialization, making them great for apartment living and attached dwellings. Are Mini Goldendoodles good apartment dogs? Mini Goldendoodles make good apartment dogs as long as they get enough exercise. Do Mini Goldendoodles like to cuddle? Mini Goldendoodles need lots of playtime and exercise. Do Mini Goldendoodles get along well with children? Mini Goldendoodles are fantastic with children. Just be sure to keep a close eye on your children when they play with any animals and be sure to educate young children on the proper way to interact with animals. Are Mini Goldendoodles good dogs? Mini Goldendoodles are great dogs when they get proper socialization, training, and exercise. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchase. The cost is not inflated to account for the commission earned. Veterinary Disclaimer: travellingwithadog. Please consult your vet for any questions you have regarding your pets health. She has years of experience fostering dogs and has helped find homes for a variety of different breeds, both large and small! Learn more about her here. So many families were trying to avoid shedding coats and the Goldendoodle was proving to fill that need. We started this venture with a mini Poodle instead of a toy Poodle as we felt that was the best step in downsizing to achieve the mini Goldendoodle dog breed. Our goal was to create adult Goldendoodles with the average weight of about 35 lb. Our first litter arrived on January 11, providing us with 5 males and 5 females, all with wavy coats. This litter was an F1 litter , but was the beginning of the many future generations of Goldendoodles and the foundation for the multigen Goldendoodle. Fox Creek Farm retained two of the females in this litter for future development of the mini Goldendoodle breed. Pebbles whelped the first litter of F1B mini Goldendoodles in .We still have dogs in our breeding program that trace all the way back to Pebbles as documented in the GANA database. You can view photos of the entire litter below and some feedback provided by each family who raised one of these little teddy bears. Fox Creek Farm followed each and every puppy throughout its life to learn about temperaments, health, trainability, coat care, and longevity. We made some lifelong friends with these families who had trusted us to provide them with a puppy unlike any other breed they had met before. Not only were the reports always positive, just about every family has since come back for one or more mini Goldendoodles from Fox Creek Farm. The first of this litter to pass of old age lived to be .The last of the litter to pass was just a month shy of 17 years. On average, the mini Goldendoodles in this litter lived to be 15 years of age. We found this to be in part due to the hybrid vigor and in part due to the health testing certifications performed on the parents. This proves the importance of health testing dogs before they are bred. Listen to me, do I sound like a proud Mama or not? Amy, Triscuit has been a total joy in our lives. Then along came Triscuit. Triscuit, John and I look forward to a reunion with his siblings one day soon. I was so fortunate to have Triscuit come visit with me this past summer. He is an old soul, a great companion, full of life and loves everyone. Harry is the first of this litter that has passed away at the age of .Rest in peace my friend. Nelson Nelson is such a great dog. Her collar has smiley faces on it because it so fits her personality. To her everyday is a good day! She loves everyone. She thinks they all love her as much as we do!! She loves to swim, play in the snow, take walks, and sleep on laps. We love her so much! Hard to believe they are 9 yrs old. I am so glad to hear that her siblings are healthy and doing well. She was the runt of the litter, so proof that runts are healthy dogs! Buddy Buddy is a treasured member of our family. He still plays like a puppy, he loves the snow, playing fetch, and a good romp in the surf at the beach. Everyone who meets Buddy falls in love with him and he is known town wide as he spends hours siting in our driveway, butt to butt with our other dog, Scout, watching the cars go by. Golden fur aside, we swear that he is part human. Patricia Roscow Bonsignore Buddy passed away in August, at .His family misses him dearly. Libby Libby is a happy and healthy 9 year old, snoozing right next to me as I type. Roxi My Doodles are awesome!!! They are healthy, happy, and full of energy. Rusty Rusty is still a great dog, mellow and friendly to all! He is very tolerant of his crazy family, who still like to dress him up! He still loves to eat anything he can and likes to play in the snow. I am sad that he is already 9 years old! He still acts young, in his usual lazy manner! Thanks so much for keeping in touch. Casey A few words about Casey: He is very lovable and compassionate. He enjoys hiking though all seasons and is a great trailblazer leading the pack with his nose to the ground, stopping at any fork in the trail to be told which direction to continue in. Many times he will fall asleep with it under his paw. Casey has some funny and entertaining quirks that make me laugh out loud. He loves digging in the sand at beaches and on every July 4th he hides in the bathtub during the fireworks as loud noises scare him. Pebbles I have lots of dogs being a breeder. She produced 3 litters before retiring from breeding. She is my constant companion and seems to read my mind. All the other dogs have learned that when Pebbles says it is time for a bath, they have to drop whatever they are doing and let her clean their eyes and ears. Lucy Lucy produced many wonderful litters for Fox Creek Farm. She is the mother of Chester, one of Fox Creek Farms fabulous studs. She is living out her retirement with Debra Wachter. Lucy outlived all her brothers and sisters. She joined them all for a romp in the skies in early December, just a month shy of 17 years. Sign Up for our Newsletter First Name. The Miniature Goldendoodle A miniature goldendoodle is quite an amazing creature that has been bred for its unique yet impressive qualities. Starting with the standard goldendoodle breeding of a standard poodle and golden retriever cross, the intelligence, common sense, friendliness, and trainability of a goldendoodle has made this breed a favorite of many dog owners and dog lovers. On top of this the cross retains a good portion of the non-shedding quality of the poodle, while also keeping part of the attractive look of a golden retriever. Combining all these traits into one dog seems quite appealing, but we have one more trait to add to this list. A standard goldendoodle will range anywhere from pounds, which is quite large for a house pet. To achieve the goldendoodle attributes in a more compact package, a miniature poodle is crossed with a golden retriever. Our Miniature Goldendoodles Sandy Ridge miniature goldendoodles are being raised to be the best pets for a dog owner. We have had consistent breeding of the mini golden doodle having a low to non-shedding coat and wonderful temperament suitable for just about any type of family. We have also found our minis to range on average from 30 to 45 pounds at maturity. There is a little variety in Sandy Ridge minis. We get coat types from slightly wavy to moderately curly and coloring from completely blonde to golden red. We cannot guarantee a puppy will be in the expected size range due to the differing genetic sizes to the parents, but our average generally holds true. With all health concerns addressed and responsible breeding practices performed, there still is the possibility a health problem could arise. We offer a two year genetic guarantee against any genetic defect or health issue that hopefully will not, but possibly could arise. If you have any questions, please contact us. A happy customer is our priority. This is our first generation backcross F1b miniature goldendoodle puppy page. Our F1b mini goldendoodle puppies are a cross between an F1 miniature goldendoodle and miniature poodle. We expect most of our F1b miniature golden doodle puppies to reach an average range of lbs, but we cannot guarantee the size of any mini golden doodle puppy. We occasionally have F1b puppies that are larger than this range from our largest pairings. F1b miniature goldendoodle puppies generally develop curly coats as adults, even if not that curly as puppies. We occasionally have F1b puppies that do not develop curl as adults, but this is not typical for our F1b puppies. Most F1b miniature goldendoodles are very low to non-shedding, but this cannot be guaranteed. I will have F1b miniature goldendoodle puppies born this summer and available in early October. Please email, text,or call to reserve your puppy. The difference lies in the genetic makeup of the dogs. An F2B Mini Goldendoodle, on the other hand, is .What does F1B mean? F1B refers to a specific generation of Goldendoodles. Are F1B Mini Goldendoodles good dogs? F1B Mini Goldendoodles generally make excellent pets due to their friendly nature, intelligence, and low-shedding coats. However, like all dogs, their behaviour can be influenced by their environment and training. How big will my F1B Mini Goldendoodle get? Typically, an F1B Mini Goldendoodle will weigh between 15 to 30 pounds and stand about 13 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown. Are F1B Mini Goldendoodles hyper? Their activity level will largely depend on their individual personality and the amount of exercise they receive. Do F1B Mini Goldendoodles bark a lot? While barking can vary by individual dog and is often influenced by training and environment, F1B Mini Goldendoodles are not generally known for excessive barking. What are the characteristics of an F1B Mini Goldendoodle? F1B Mini Goldendoodles are known for their friendly and affable nature, intelligence, and their ability to get along well with both adults and children. They often have a curly or wavy low-shedding coat, and are highly trainable. Their size makes them suitable for various types of living environments, including apartments. Why are F1B Mini Goldendoodles more expensive? F1B Mini Goldendoodles are typically more expensive than their F1 counterparts due to their hypoallergenic qualities. They have a higher percentage of Poodle in their genetic makeup, which means they are more likely to have a low-shedding and hypoallergenic coat. Are all F1B Goldendoodles curly? While not all F1B Goldendoodles have curly coats, it is more common due to the higher percentage of Poodle genetics. The coat can range from wavy to curly, and is typically low-shedding. Is F1 or F1B better for allergies? F1B Goldendoodles are often better for people with allergies because they have a higher percentage of Poodle genetics, which are known for their hypoallergenic qualities. If this dog is now crossed with a purebred small Poodle again, the puppies are F1b Mini Goldendoodles. This cross has become increasingly popular as it is more likely to have the Poodles non-shedding qualities, as well as an even smaller size than the F1 Mini Goldendoodles. What do F1b Mini Goldendoodles look like? Their coat tends to be very much like the Poodle coat — curly and non-shedding. They can come in a variety of colors, though most dogs will have the typical Golden, reddish hue. A full-grown F1b Mini Goldendoodle is around lbs, though their weight can vary depending on the size of the parents. Their ears are always floppy. This is much smaller than the typical size of a full-grown Goldendoodle and closer to the size of Miniature Poodles. F1b Mini Goldendoodles have hypo-allergenic qualities and are very popular among owners with allergies. How big will my F1b Mini Goldendoodle get? Your F1b Mini Goldendoodle will most likely stay rather small at around inches. The smaller the parents are, the higher the chances that your dog will not get very big either. Many dog owner seek out F1b Goldendoodles specifically for their small size. If you want a very small one, you should ask the breeder for a female puppy — as with all dog breeds, females are around inches smaller and 5 lbs. Size is — of course — genetically determined, so if your puppy has any half siblings or full siblings you can assume his size will be similar to theirs. What is the difference between F1 and F1b mini goldendoodles? An F1b generation is produced when a Goldendoodle is crossed with a Poodle. The main differences between the two are: How many generations the purebred ancestors are removed: In an F1 Goldendoodle, the parents were purebred. What is an F2 Mini Goldendoodle? That means that one Mini Poodle parent and one Golden Retriever parent have offspring these are called F1 and then these offspring would be bred with other F1 offspring. Both parents of the puppies are mixes themselves, and the grandparents are two Mini Poodles and two Golden Retrievers. The puppies from a litter like this tend to be more homogenous in their appearance and temperament. While in every first generation litter the puppies can very quite a bit, with every breeding down the line the characteristics become more set and predictable. Why are there so many different types of crosses? As with every dog breed, the popularity of a certain type of color, temperament, coat texture etc. Doodles also containing the Bernedoodle , Sheepadoodle and more have become the most popular designer breed in North America and beyond. Breeders continuously received requests for smaller dogs with more reliable hypoallergenic qualities. They experimented with different types of parent dogs — a Golden and a Goldendoodle, a Poodle and an F1 Goldendoodle, etc. If you are unsure which of the many Poodle mixes best fits into your family, take our quiz: Which Doodle breed is right for you? How much do F1b Mini Goldendoodles cost? F1b Mini Goldendoodles are very sought-after. Depending on your specific requirements for the puppy this price might increase. Some breeders charge higher fees for dogs of a specific color for example light blonde Mini Goldendoodles or gender. You should not be a price shopper though! Breeders who do breed-specific health testing and raise their puppies with love and care will charge a higher price than breeders who put less effort into breeding and puppy raising. Keep in mind that you are getting a puppy who will be your companion for years to come — and do not shy away to pay a slightly higher price for a puppy from a responsible breeder! Finding dogs in rescue Some future Doodle owners hope to find dogs through rescues. Because they are such a wide-spread breed, it is likely that you will find some Poodle crosses through your local shelter. Whether you will be able to get an F1b Mini Goldendoodle specifically is another question — it may take quite a bit of searching to come across one that was surrendered. If you are not picky about which Poodle mix you get, going to a rescue is a good idea. If you have specific wishes for your future puppy however, approaching a responsible breeder is the way to go. Are F1b Goldendoodles good dogs? Goldendoodles in general can be a great fit for many families, but only if owners are ready to invest time and effort into raising, training, exercising and socializing the puppy. Both Golden Retrievers and Poodles were originally bred to be working dogs. As such they have a lot of energy and require daily activities with their owners. These activities can come in many forms — you can teach your F1b Mini Goldendoodle tricks, take him hiking, try out a dog sport such as agility or make him a therapy dog — but the dog needs to be doing something. Many owners are frustrated with the level of energy their dogs have and how it can manifest in destructiveness. As retrievers, F1b Minin Goldendoodles enjoy taking pretty much everything into their mouth. A bored pup will try out his teeth on furniture, hands and feet, shoes, houseplants … and as an owner you are not going to like that! These pups will need a steady stream of Goldendoodle-approved toys and chew items. F1b Mini Goldendoodles are great for owners who are ready to devote time every day to their dogs. They are very smart dogs that excel at learning new behaviors and can be taught dozens and hundreds of tricks. As retrievers, they love to — of course — retrieve and run. You can try out frisbee or flyball with your pup, he will thrive when he has a fun hobby with you! Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day. Check out the adorable Goldendoodle puppies that are currently available here! PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over , puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! They love spending time around people and other animals alike and are so affectionate and gentle. F1b Mini Goldendoodles are keen to please which makes them pretty easy to train. They are also relatively easy to care for. The only real complaint of owners is the constant grooming requirements of Goldendoodles. F1b Mini Goldendoodles have a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. They have one of the longest lifespans of all Goldendoodle sizes and generations as they are a small breed yet not so small that they suffer from size related health issues like Teacup Goldendoodles. They are more likely to live to the higher end of their lifespan range. F1b Mini Goldendoodles are classified as light to non-shedders and shed even less than F1 Mini Goldendoodles. F1b Mini Goldendoodles like other cross-back generations of the breed shed less than F1 Mini Goldendoodles as they have a higher percentage of Poodle genes. Are F1b Mini Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic? F1b Mini Goldendoodles are more hypoallergenic than F1 Mini Goldendoodles as they are cross-backed to a Poodle which is a more hypoallergenic breed than the Golden Retriever. You can make your dog even more hypoallergenic by keeping up a good grooming routine as it will stop them from releasing allergens into your home. A brush down with a slicker brush every other day is ideal to remove any loose hairs. As for washing, a bath with a gentle dog shampoo every 3 months will remove dead skin cells, dirt and debris. White F1b Mini Goldendoodles are often mistaken for Mini Labradoodles because they are so light in color. You can read our full White Goldendoodle guide here. Their coats can be anywhere from a reddish cream to a rusty brown color. You can read our full Red Goldendoodle guide here! They are somewhere between a light red and a cream. You can read our full Apricot Goldendoodle guide here! They may have small white patches over their body like on their chest or paws however these as technically Black and White F1b Mini Goldendoodles. You can read our full Black Goldendoodle guide here! F1b Mini Goldendoodle via teddy. Some popular ones include: Puppy Cut.

An 8 week old German Shepherd puppy is a bundle of antics and endless energy! Your 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy An 8 week old your puppy requires a daily routine and training to help them become the dog of your dreams. This article will not only help you understand your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy but will also explain to you why your little puppy has certain behaviors. Raising a German Shepherd puppy can feel like an overwhelming task at first! Just remember, your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy is also adjusting to its new life with you. You should expect your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy to feel stressed and uncertain. They may seem timid and unsure of their surroundings. They might cry, whine, and not want your attention. Having structure and consistency will help create a bond and help you both in getting along more peacefully and calmly. Introducing A Puppy Crate Many dog owners choose to use a crate when it comes to caring for their 8-week-old puppy. While some people consider crates unnecessary, or even cruel, crate training is a useful skill to offer your dog. With the right training your pup will see its crate as their private safe space and will even go there to relax. Leaving your puppy at home unsupervised can get them and you into a heap of trouble. Crate training helps prevent your home from being a destruction zone. This useful guide to crate training a German Shepherd puppy gets you on the right track to success! Crate training your puppy can: help speed up housetraining teach your dog to settle calm down offer your dog privacy But you must introduce the crate slowly and positively so your puppy builds a strong connection to the benefits of the crate. Never just shove or push your young German Shepherd into the crate without using positive training. Your new dog also needs a routine and schedule to help them through the early days with you and set the expectations you have for them. Having a schedule helps your puppy to know what to expect in their daily routines. It keeps you from losing your mind and helps ease a worried puppy. While you might work from home or have other obligations, try to follow a schedule that looks similar to this: Early morning: Take your puppy out for the first potty break of the day! So, they may need to go outside even before the sun rises. Breakfast time: Your puppy may want to go back to sleep after going outside and this is perfectly normal. On the other hand, some puppies are wide awake and ready for their breakfast. Either way, always take your puppy back outside shortly after their breakfast so they can sniff and have another potty break. Mid-morning: Puppies should eat 3 — 4 small meals a day. Mid-morning is a good time for another small meal. Afternoon: This is a good time for their lunch followed by a potty break and plenty of sniffing time to work off some of their energy. Late afternoon: Puppies need another potty break in the afternoon, and some puppies need more breaks outside. Evening: Their dinner meal and their evening potty time. Remember to let them explore outdoors in a safe area to help build their confidence. Scheduling exercise, potty breaks, and play at the same times every day helps ensure that your puppy learns their daily routine more quickly and settles in nicely. And, even young puppies can learn basic training in their first weeks with you. Try training your German Shepherd puppy at home to start with. In the beginning, you may find a few accidents in the house. But, stick with your potty training and remember to always watch your puppy to keep them from having messes in the house. When you stick to a regular potty schedule, the likelihood of potty training mishaps decreases, and you and your puppy are less stressed. Always, always, always… Supervise your puppy indoors when you are potty training. Your toughest time together with your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy might be the first few nights. Your puppy has only known the comfort of his mother and siblings before. Having your puppy sleep away from you will only scare them more. And, although they are little, their cry is loud! Having a place for them near your bed is the best way to avoid a night full of tearful cries and howling. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep in bed with me? Plus, when your puppy is an adult and tries to sleep in bed with you there will be no room for you! A full-grown German Shepherd can weigh up to pounds and will push you right out of your own sheets. Your puppy sleeps most of the day. A new puppy sleeps more often than they are awake. An 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy may sleep as many as 18 hours a day! Sleeping this much allows your puppy to have the energy they need to grow and keeps them ready to explore their new world. Feeding An 8 Week Old German Shepherd Your puppy should stay on the same food they were eating before you brought them home to keep them less stressed. This helps keeps your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy from having an upset stomach and becoming ill. Sometimes, you might want to switch them over to a different food. If you choose this route, do it slowly and in stages over a few weeks. At 8 weeks old, German Shepherd puppies should eat 3 to 4 small meals per day. Although their stomachs are small if you overfeed them they could get sick and have stomach problems. Spreading their meals out throughout the day in regular intervals is best to avoid any upsets. Look for a balanced, complete puppy food for large breed dogs. As a large breed dog, your German Shepherd you should only feed your puppy food that is specially formulated for large breed puppies. Large breed puppies have different nutritional needs that are not found in ordinary puppy food. Feeding a commercially available food that is formulated for large breed puppies helps them to grow at a sustained rate. Steady growth in a large breed puppy helps to avoid stress on their bones and gives them a strong skeletal foundation for their athletic muscles. Limiting food intake in growing German Shepherd puppies has also been associated with fewer signs of hip dysplasia. This is of extreme importance in this breed due to the high incidence of hip problems and the pain associated with this joint disorder. A growing puppy is best fed a proprietary pet food that has been specifically formulated to meet its nutritional needs. Foods that are available as dry kibble are especially suitable to rear even the youngest of puppies. Opt for this specially formulated food for large breed puppies to keep your dog growing at a healthy rate that helps them stay strong. It is a complete balanced diet so nothing is missing. Within the first few days of arriving to their new home with you is a stressful time. Your puppy has just made a drastic life change and left everything they knew to be with you. Diarrhea and other stomach issues are sometimes stress induced. You can help your puppy by keeping to a regular feeding schedule and feeding them the same food they were on before coming to you. Sometimes diarrhea is also a sign of an underlying health issue and, if left untreated, can become life-threatening. If your puppy vomits blood, has bloody stools and diarrhea, becomes lethargic, or refuses to drink, call your vet immediately! To an 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy biting and nipping are all part of playing with their siblings. And, your puppy will most likely bite and nip you at some point too. They may even growl at you and tug at your hands or nip your ankles. This is all part of puppy play. But… It can really hurt you or make you bleed! Understanding bite inhibition means they know how to control the power of their play bites and how hard or soft they nip you. Preventing Nips and Bites If you know the right way to prevent and stop German Shepherd puppy biting, you can train your puppy to understand how to keep their razor-sharp tiny teeth from sinking into you. Instead… Offer them plenty of puppy-safe chew toys appropriate for their size. When they bite or nip you, calmly show them the toy to chew instead. Get their attention by moving the toy in a playful way around them so they begin to chase and bite the toy, instead of you or your furniture. Use these links to help you stay on the right track throughout their life. A 6-week-old German Shepherd needs to eat frequently for optimal growth. Aim for four small meals per day to provide a steady supply of nutrients and energy. Meal Schedule: Establish a routine with four meals a day. Pups love consistency! You want to feel their ribs without them being visible. Of course, always have clean, fresh water available. Pups get thirsty too! You can also add some canned, wet food mixed in to encourage them to finish their meals and add a bit more enticing flavor. German Shepherds tend to be prone to sensitive stomachs , so stay alert to any symptoms of digestive upset. As your pup grows, read more about what to feed your German Shepherd puppy. Potty Training: No More Oopsies! Take them outside every minutes, especially after meals, naps, and playtimes. Watch for signs like sniffing the floor or wandering behind furniture. Reward them with praise and treats when they go outside to reinforce the behavior. After Activities: Take them out after eating, playing, or waking up from a nap. These are prime potty times. Puppy Signals: Watch for signs like sniffing, circling, or restlessness. Praise and Treats: When they do their business outside, celebrate with praise and treats. Positive reinforcement works wonders! Choose an appropriately-sized crate, making it cozy with bedding and toys. Gradually introduce them to it with short, positive experiences. Over time, the crate becomes a safe haven, aiding in housebreaking and providing a sense of security for your pup. Crate training can be a game-changer for potty training! Crate as Safe Haven: Make the crate comfy with a blanket and some toys. Pups love their cozy den. It prevents accidents and helps them learn bladder control. One of the keys to raising a happy and healthy pup is understanding their sleep needs and providing the right exercises. On average, they sleep for about 18 to 20 hours a day. Puppies need these long beauty rests to grow and develop properly. Puppy Lullaby: Soft, soothing music or white noise can help them drift off into puppy dreamland. Keep their crates or beds in the same room you sleep in for the first few months. You can slowly transition them to sleeping in their own room without you. Short, frequent bursts of playtime are the way to go. Enjoy these exercises for a German Shepherd puppy: Short Walks: At this age, around 5 minutes of gentle leash walking is plenty. Think of it as a leisurely stroll and not a full-on workout and stick to just 3 short strolls a day. Avoid High Impact: Never run or jog with your dog at this young age. Let them set the pace. Tug of War: A good old game of tug can be a blast for your pup. Fetch: Start with short throws and a soft toy. Hide and Seek: Hide treats around the house in puppy-safe spots, of course and let them use their nose to find them. Sniffaris: Sniffing is great for their brain development at this age. Avoid Steps: Never let your 6-week-old puppy climb stairs because they could seriously injure themself. Remember, their little bodies are still developing, so keep it light and fun. And always keep an eye on their energy levels. If they seem tired, let them rest. Begin with gentle brushing sessions to familiarize them with the process. Here are some grooming tips to get you started: Gentle Introduction: Begin by introducing your puppy to the grooming process gradually. Let them sniff and explore the grooming tools before you start. Brushing: Use a soft brush suitable for their delicate puppy fur. Brush in the direction of hair growth to prevent discomfort. A pair of grooming gloves works wonders for keeping things gentle for your pup. Frequency: Start with short, gentle brushing sessions a few times a week. As they grow, increase the frequency to daily brushing to remove the most shedding. Bathing: Sometimes your little pup might get into a mess and need a bath. Always use a gentle puppy shampoo that helps ensure a comfortable and itch-free coat. Eye and Ear Check: While grooming, inspect their eyes and ears for any signs of irritation or discharge. Wipe their floppy ears if you find any dirt or wax on the outside of the ear canal. Remember to reward your pup with treats and praise during and after each grooming session to make it a positive experience. As they get older, follow a brushing routine to keep their coats in top shape. Enjoy this special time bonding together! The first vaccinations, called the primary vaccinations, are given when a dog is eight weeks old, but you need to prepare for their appointment and make scheduling arrangements. Make an appointment now for these vaccines and a health check. Until your pup has had the first full set of vaccinations, they should stay in your home and yard only. Eight weeks old is considered the safe age to bring a new puppy home. Your main priority is to keep your baby safe and healthy. You have a long life ahead with your Shepherd baby. One in three dogs needs vet treatment every year source. Insurance protects you from large, unexpected bills incurred when your pup is unwell, injured, or in an accident, and helps offset routine medical treatments. Your 6-week-old German Shepherd pup is like a blank canvas waiting to be painted with tons of unforgettable moments with you. Enjoy the tail-wagging ride ahead with your six week old German Shepherd! Before you go, why not grab this helpful freebie? Download it now and take the first step toward ensuring your furry friend reaches their full potential. Your baby German Shepherd deserves the best — grab your tracker and start tracking today! A 6-week-old German Shepherd typically weighs between 7 to 15 pounds. Males tend to be on the higher end of the scale and females on the lower end. In terms of height, they are generally around 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder. Individual puppies may vary, but this provides a general guideline for their size and weight at this age. You can also add a few spoonfuls of wet dog food mixed in to encourage them to finish their meals and increase their hydration. Can I give my 6 week old German Shepherd puppy a bath? Always use a gentle, puppy-specific shampoo when you do give them a bath, and be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts.

Things to do with your English Bulldog Michigan is a great place to live with an English bulldog. The state has a diverse landscape, plenty of outdoor activities, and dog-friendly businesses. Hike the Trails Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. There are many hiking trails in Michigan that are perfect for English bulldogs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog, and take breaks often. Visit a Campground Camping is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many campgrounds in Michigan that allow dogs. Be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, and other supplies. There are many places to fish in Michigan, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to get a fishing license and follow all the rules and regulations. Go Boating Boating is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many places to boat in Michigan, both on rivers and lakes. Be sure to bring a life jacket for your dog and follow all the safety rules. There are many places to swim in Michigan, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and follow all the safety rules. Visit a Dog Park Dog parks are a great place for English bulldogs to run and play off-leash. There are many dog parks in Michigan, both in urban and rural areas. Visit Pet-Friendly Businesses Michigan has a number of pet-friendly businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and stores. These are just a few of the many things you can do with your English bulldog in Michigan. With its stunning scenery, endless activities, and friendly people, Michigan is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your furry friend. How do you breed for a healthier English Bulldog? Like all things in life, breeding for health is simply a matter of priority. We are blind to many of the breed priorities that distract other breeders from improving the health of the English Bulldog. We focus on health and personality and very little else. We are not interested in winning a blue ribbon in the show ring. Rather, we test for things like elongated soft palates, narrow tracheas, stenotic nares, luxation in the patellar tendons, heart defects, cherry eye, optic cilia, entropion, ect. We focus and prioritize creating healthy bloodlines, therefore our bulldogs are typically much healthier than the breed as a whole. After breeding for health, what other priorities are you focused on? Our true desire is to create the perfect family bulldog. We also believe a bulldog bred for the correct personality is essential to the family unit as well. A Bruiser Bulldog is bred for intelligence and playfulness. We want our bulldogs to be full of personality and some quirk. We believe a full personality along with a little stubbornness is the true North star of the bulldog breed and is what makes the unique among other breeds. We look for these personality traits in our adult bulldogs and continue to create bloodlines that reflect these qualities. What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in Michigan? Check out our available English Bulldog Puppies page. At times, we have available puppies but almost always have a waiting list as well. A quick look at our available puppies is the starting point to begin the process. Send us an email or give us call .If approved to adopt one of our puppies you are welcome to place a deposit to hold until your puppy is ready to go home. Greetings from the Wysongs! Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. Vocality level 1 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. He is willing to please, although he retains a stubborn streak. He is very good with children. Most are moderately friendly toward strangers. Although some can be aggressive with strange dogs, the breed is quite good with other pets. Upkeep The Bulldog appreciates a daily outing but cannot tolerate hot humid weather, which can be deadly. He should not be expected to jog or walk great distances, or to jump from any heights. Most Bulldogs cannot swim. Most Bulldogs wheeze and snore, and some drool. Coat care is minimal, but facial wrinkles and any folds around the tail should be cleaned daily. Special precautions must be taken when anesthetizing a Bulldog. Caesarean deliveries are commonly needed. Hip radiographs show most Bulldogs to be dysplastic but few show overt symptoms. History With the most distinctive mug in dogdom, the Bulldog has an equally distinctive history. Some Bulldogs were also set against bears for bear baiting, purely for entertainment. In , bull baiting was outlawed, and a new phase began for the Bulldog. By all rights, the breed should have become extinct, except that it had gained so many ardent admirers that they set out to rescue the Bulldog by selecting against ferocity while still maintaining—and often accentuating—its distinctive physical characteristics. Its tough steadfast persona led it to be identified as a national symbol of England. Its amiable clownish personality belies its appearance, and the Bulldog is a popular pet. Related Content. History: Transferred from another shelterIdeal Home: Any home! Apartments okay! Fence Requirements: None. We do our best to provide information that will help determine if the animal might be a good fit for you. Please note that behaviors may change in a home environment. We also ask our applicants to assume that any animal they adopt from us will need to be potty-trained and learn house manners, although this is not always the case. In most cases, the listed breeds are also a best guess. Our online animal bios are designed to provide as much information as possible and answer some anticipated questions. We do not have the resources to respond to emails with more specific questions. We are receiving an unusually high number of applications at this time! Applications are reviewed as they are received, but we do not select adopters on a first-come basis. Our job is to ensure each pet is placed into the best fit home for them and that adopters are paired with an animal that is a good fit for their lifestyle. Please do not send inquiries about a specific animal's availability as this can change quickly over the course of the day. The fastest way to get a response is to simply submit an application! We will do our best to notify you by email if the pet s you are interested in are no longer available. New animals are posted daily, so please let us know if another furry friend peak your interest there is no need to fill out a second application! Every question must be answered, and it must be signed. This must be in a. If you are unable to send in this format, please be prepared to provide this documentation in another way prior to adoption. It could take up to a couple of weeks for you to receive a final disposition on your application so there is no need to check on the status. The entire household, including current dogs, must be present for the appointment. Note: Please do not bring your dogs if you are meeting cats! The introductions will take place outside in our parking lot or in our cat room if you're meeting cats. Thank you for your understanding.

Share A Story! German Shepherd Rescues In Texas A small commission may be earned on any purchases made via links on this page. Read our full affiliate disclosure. The good news is that there are also a lot of breed-specific rescues to help German Shepherds in this state. They primarily rescue from rural shelters and places that do not have a lot of adoptions. This rescue is entirely volunteer-run. Dogs are usually housed in foster homes until they can be adopted. They have four shepherds of their own and hate the thought of any shepherds being mistreated, neglected, or euthanized in county shelters. They work full-time, but strive to save shepherds in their spare time. They believe that finding the perfect match for the dogs in their care is essential, so they are not in a rush to find homes for dogs, but rather take their time to make sure that the right dog ends up in the right home. German Shepherd Rescue of Texas is always seeking out fosters to help them rescue more dogs. They provide foster homes with everything they need to give superb care to the dogs in the rescue. Foster homes are given a crate, training support, and training strategies customized to each dog. If you would like to adopt a dog from German Shepherd Rescue of Texas, you can expect your application to be approved within about five business days. German Shepherd Rescue of Texas requires that dogs be allowed to live inside with the family, rather than being kept outside in a dog house. They save dogs from very difficult situations where they may have been neglected, abused, or euthanized in a shelter. They make the important distinction that rather than selling dogs, they adopt sensitive creatures into new homes where they will be valued as they deserve. This is a foster-based rescue, which means that dogs live in a foster home until they can be adopted. Foster homes are provided with food, medical care, and whatever else dogs may need. If you are interested in adopting but not ready to make a commitment yet, fostering through German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas is a great solution. You can see beautiful high quality pictures of the dogs right on their home page so you will fall in love before you know it. German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas strives to keep bonded pairs together, so you may be encouraged to adopt two dogs instead of just one if you are interested in one of the bonded dogs. Rescue and Adoption Details. Dogs in our program are in foster homes private homes of volunteers and treated like one of our own. We do NOT have a shelter. The advantages of having our rescued GSDs in private homes is that we interact with them frequently and have insight into the personalities and likes and dislikes. Our volunteers give freely of their time, money, and affection to save these animals. Please keep in mind that they are ALL volunteers - no one gets paid, and we all have full-time jobs, families, and lives too. Please be patient if we cannot answer you immediately - we do strive to respond within hours to all inquiries. German Shepherds GSDs are loving and loyal companions, who provide comfort and security to those privileged enough to share their friendship and love. All of our rescued GSDs are spayed or neutered, are current on vaccinations, and are tested for heartworms, lyme disease, and ehrlichia. All of our animals are on heartworm preventative. Your assistance will allow us to keep saving these wonderful canine companions. We couldn't do it without you. Fortunately, many rescue groups in Texas can help. For example, German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas, an all-volunteer organization, relies on private foster homes for its rescue dogs. The group provides veterinary care and ongoing preventive care for their animals, which includes food and proper training. Before adopting a dog, German Shepherds are neutered and microchipped. Because of the high demand for these dogs, the rescue organization only accepts the best-behaved dogs. To get the best possible chance of finding a healthy German Shepherd, consider a volunteer organization. The German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas uses private foster homes to raise and rehabilitate puppies. These organizations provide vaccinations and other preventive care, including spaying and neutering. The dogs are also microchipped before adoption to make sure they are healthy and happy. You can also find German Shepherd puppies for free at your local animal shelter. The shelter has a large selection of German Shepherd pups, and they are a great way to find a dog that is right for you. The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds, and the breed is growing in popularity. However, the best place to find German Shepherd Puppies is at your local animal shelter. These shelters are full of animals that have been given up for some reason. While these pups are adorable and friendly, they will need to be trained to behave properly in public. Most shelters will give you the pup for free, and they usually come with vaccinations and a microchip. Another good place to find free German shepherd puppies is at shelters. These shelters usually have German Shepherds available for adoption. You can also visit a local rescue group to adopt a German Shepherd. Another great option for free German Shepherd puppies is a rescue shelter. There are many other ways to find a free German sheepdog. You can visit a rescue in your area and meet the other dogs. While you may be tempted to adopt a German shepherd puppy from an individual shelter, you should be aware that these dogs are not always suitable for households with children. They are not the best pets for families with small children, so it is important to make sure you have the space for a dog. During the training process, you can help the dogs adjust to their new environment. Many dog rescue groups have listings on the internet. These organizations will often have multiple dogs for adoption, and you can often find one that meets your needs. Adoption requires time and effort, and you need to learn how to train and control your dog. This organization is located in Central, Texas, and the application process is simple. The German Shepherds will be spayed or neutered after adoption, and their vet bills will be covered. The German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas is a nonprofit organization that relies on private foster homes to provide medical care and ongoing preventive care for dogs. They also give the dogs nutritious food and vaccinations. Before adoption, all of the dogs at the rescue center are neutered, microchipped, and tested for heartworms and fleas. Their mission is to provide a loving, safe home for every German shepherd that comes into their care. Although free German shepherd puppies in Texas are a great option for new owners, it is also important to be wary of scams. Be aware of the different breeds that advertise on the internet. These breeds are known for their fierce loyalty and high energy level. Buying from a breeder means supporting the operation of the mill and keeping puppies like this alive. A good place to find free German shepherd puppies is the local animal shelter. These shelters house dogs that were surrendered by their owners or turned in for some other reason. The older the dog, the better the quality of life it will have. But the best place to find a free dog is the shelter you find near your home. Moreover, it has a good reputation for being very active and playful. The dogs at the shelter spend half of their time doing activities and exercise. They are very active and need lots of space to keep their muscles toned. These dogs are very healthy and friendly and need a good home. The costs will vary, but the German shepherd will be in a foster home. In Texas, free German shepherd puppies are available on the internet. There are free German shepherd puppies in Texas. Some breeds are more expensive than others. Share this:. The best way to find free German shepherd puppies in Houston is to use the internet. They are very energetic dogs, very protective and loyal, and easy to train. This makes them great pets for kids and grown-ups alike. But these same qualities make them expensive to adopt. Luckily, you can save a bundle of money on German Shepherd puppies Houston if you know where to look. If you go to the right place on the internet you can find GSD wanted ads and adopt a German Shepherd puppy. You will have to pay a nominal adoption fee but if you are looking for a good honest, good-natured dog, this should not be a problem. Also, when you find a GSD wanted ads like craigslist, you will have an option of contacting the owners directly or posting your ad on craigslist in hopes of catching someone who is looking for a German Shepherd. Houston people looking for GSD puppies can use craigslist as a front door to contact owners of lost or unwanted dogs. Many times, when you are adopting a German Shepherd puppy from a shelter or the local dog pound, they only have German shepherd puppies available and nothing else. When you find these adverts on craigslist, you can contact the owners and make arrangements to bring the puppy home with you. You should keep in mind that the majority of these owners are caring and loving but there are always a few that are not and these are the ones you need to watch out for. Many of these owners may be only willing to exchange the dogs for shelter. There are several reasons why German shepherd dogs fall into this category and shelter or rescue groups should never trade these dogs in for any reason. They should only be traded in if they have no other place to go. It is easy to see why so many people get sad when they think of having to give up their German shepherd puppy in exchange for an AKC registered dog. However, when you look at free German shepherd puppies for sale in Houston, it can be very possible to find them. Just because a person is selling their dog does not mean that they are sick or have a death wish. There are many reasons why owners get fed up with their dogs and want to get rid of them. Some turn to shelters, some to puppy mills. But, most simply give up and choose to give up their German shepherd dogs. One reason why so many owners give up on their German shepherds is that they get sick and need a lot of attention. You have to be able to provide that for your dog if it happens to get sick. This means you need to have a large and healthy dog healthy enough to go on an airplane, a cruise ship, a train, and a boat. Your GSD can only go places that you let it go. If you are unable to keep it in the comfort of its own crate then you will have to have someone come and take it out. On craigslist, there are ads for puppies, adults, and kittens. Not only do you find free German shepherd dogs but you may also find other dogs that you would like to adopt as well. There you will find not only listings of local Houston German Shepherd breeders but you will also meet people who are interested in selling or adopting German Shepherds. On the forum, you can also meet other professional German shepherd breeders and rescue groups. You can ask questions, make deals, and buy dogs at your own pace. Share this:.

Share 0 Shares Golden Retrievers are a great choice for many people that have a relatively active lifestyle. This is because Golden Retrievers are known to have solid temperaments and a laid-back nature to them most of the time. This makes them a great option for many families because Golden Retrievers are also known to do well around children and other pets. However, Golden Retrievers do need daily exercise in order to be both healthy and happy. There are some things that prospective Golden Retriever owners will need to consider before bringing a puppy home. For example, they will need to decide if a male or female Golden Retriever is right for them. Additionally, some families may want to get a Miniature Golden Retriever instead of a standard pup. It is also a good idea to figure out what kind of temperament you want from your puppy. Of course, it is incredibly important that you ensure that your Golden Retriever breeder is reputable before getting a puppy from them. This helps to preserve the integrity and standard of the Golden Retriever breed, and it is the most ethical thing to do when purchasing a puppy from a breeder as well. Here are the top 37 most reputable Golden Retriever breeders in Texas. Denali Kennels Golden Retrievers Denali Kennels Golden Retrievers in Dallas, Texas The Golden Retriever breeder behind Denali Kennels has worked very hard to establish a great line of Goldens that are healthy, have great temperaments, and perform well in multiple areas. Not only do their dogs make amazing family pets, but many of their dogs have gone on to win titles in performance, obedience, and conformation events. Worth Metro Golden Retriever Club. However, good conformation and trainability are not the only concern for this breeder. In fact, the number one goal for Denali Kennels is to better the Golden Retriever breed by only breeding healthy dogs that are trainable and have great temperaments. In order to do this only dogs with the best temperaments are paired together, and all puppies are raised indoors. Here they are given a great start in life with daily handling and love from people. In addition to this, all of their adult dogs are given genetic testing and health clearances as is recommended by the GRCA. Name of Owner. The breeder strongly recommended that I begin basic puppy training immediately. Ricky was too young for group classes and his vaccinations were not mature, so I opted for a personal trainer. Armed with little information about dog trainers, I ran a web search for someone nearby. I chose Sarah Lowell because I liked her background and because she lived nearby. Ricky was a typical puppy which means 50 percent boundless, unharnessed energy, 50 percent teeth, and an irresponsible bladder. With his needle teeth, just petting him was a blood sport. Our possessions were nothing but chew toys. Almost immediately after Sarah stepped in, she was able to direct his energy into approved behavior. During our in-home classes Ricky solidly learned the basics of sit, down, off, wait, come, leave it and drop it. Each training session was well structured and had a goal. Ricky learned to walk on leash. He learned not to door dash. Soon I noted that the scabs on my arms were healed. My shoes were intact. There were no puddles in the house. He has learned to relax with his owner so that he is a joy to spend time with. He no longer runs through the house looking for things to chew, or jumps up on people. His training, which was started at an early age, has carried through to adulthood. Overnight, a well-behaved puppy can turn into a rotten teenage dog. This happened with Ricky. He is now the dog I always wanted and the dog I always thought he could be.

They crave human attention and affection, the more the better! Often, they will sit by your feet and lean into you or will paw at you to keep petting them. Leaving your Golden alone too long might make him depressed, or could cause unwanted behaviours such as chewing, excessive barking, and other destructive behaviour. But, keep in mind that you are everything to your Golden Retriever and they want to spend their time with you. A high-quality diet is a must for these dogs, as they can easily develop skin problems such as allergies, and they can easily become overweight. Goldens love food, and will eat anything!! It is important to keep control and monitor their food intake so that they do not become overweight. It is certainly not an easy thing to do when they look at you with their sad puppy dog eyes begging for food every time you eat. The biggest mistake you can make is feeding them from the table. I can attest to this because I used to do it! My dog became slightly overweight, and it was a struggle to shed the pounds off of her. Give Them Space Goldens are labelled as a medium to large-sized breed. Breed standards state that adult Goldens will typically weigh between lbs female , and lbs male. Some adults can weigh more or less depending on genetics. Because of their large size, they need room to move. Goldens are not meant to be outside dogs all the time, they would rather spend time with their humans inside than be outside by themselves. Having a yard for them to run and play is beneficial, but when given enough exercise and outdoor time, Goldens can also do well in apartment living. Just make sure that your house or apartment is large enough to accommodate them. Keep Them Beautiful One thing is for certain of this breed, and that is they shed!!! Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful long coat, which is actually a double-coat. Meaning it consists of a thick soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat. The undercoat is what sheds heavily in the spring and fall, and there is moderate shedding throughout the rest of the year. A Goldens double-coat offers protection from the elements, keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Regular brushing is a must to keep their coat looking healthy and shiny, and to minimize shedding. Bathing should be done regularly as well, and since Goldens love water it should be easier to do. Because of their floppy ears, Goldens are prone to getting ear infections. Weekly ear cleaning is recommended to keep their ears free of dirt and debris and to prevent infections. Golden Retrievers are beautiful, and they know it and love to show it off. It is up to their owners to keep them beautiful. Grooming a Golden Retriever does not have to be difficult, you can easily learn to groom them yourself at home to save some money. Socialize Them Golden Retrievers are naturally social. They love nothing more than being taken for a walk and meeting new people and other dogs. Known for their friendly and gentle nature, Goldens will get along with all animals and all people. Now as an adult she continues this with the people that she knows. She will also go up to strangers and sit on their feet and wait to be petted. She loves the attention that she gets. After meeting someone, or another dog she usually gets very happy and excited. I would suggest taking your Golden everywhere with you, take them to the park, for car rides, let them meet new people and dogs. Let them experience new things and you will have a happy dog. Take Them Swimming Natural born swimmers, to say that Goldens love water is an understatement! Especially on a hot summer day, Goldens will love to go in any water source they can find. Some owners have Golden Retrievers that enjoy rolling around and getting dirty in mud puddles, I am lucky enough to not be one of those owners. Swimming is a great form of exercise for your Golden Retriever, so take them with you to a dog-friendly beach or other water spot and have a game of fetch in the water. Provide Mental Stimulation Because they are such intelligent dogs, Golden Retrievers are easy to train. They are eager to please their owner, especially when a treat is involved for being a good dog. In order to keep them from getting bored, and becoming destructive, they should be given plenty of mental stimulation. Golden Retrievers are happier and healthier, and more behaved when they are given mental stimulation on a daily basis. This can be done by teaching your dog basic commands and tricks, playing games with them, and providing enough exercise. An example of mental stimulation right now for my dog Ellie is when we are out walking she loves to go into the creek at several spots along the trail and hunt for frogs. She is so excited when she sees one and tries to catch it. They are basically big teddy bears. Craving human attention and affection is what they do and if that means jumping onto your lap and snuggling up with you, then that is what they will do. I remember when Ellie was a puppy I did not want her on the couch. I even tried to put tinfoil on the couch to deter her away from it. How long do you think that lasted?? Maybe a week or less. She would take a running leap and jump onto the couch and realize how comfortable it was, and just stay there. Nothing I could do about it, it was just easier to give in. Now I share a couch with her. She has her side, I have mine. Some Goldens live longer than the average, with many of them living up to 14 or 15 years. Genetics, lifestyle, environment, nutrition and spay or neuter status can all contribute to the health of your Golden. In order to keep them healthy and to ensure a long life with your devoted best friend, there are things you need to do such as: Provide a nutritious high-quality diet. Provide plenty of physical activity and mental stimulation. Keep your Golden at an ideal weight and watch food intake to prevent obesity. Look for any signs of illness and medical problems, and get regular vet check-ups. Play with them, and show them plenty of love. Provide regular grooming to keep them clean and healthy. They may bark at a stranger at the door, but will soon wag their tail and flash their friendly smile at them. They love people way too much to be effective as a guard dog. If someone were to break into their home, a Golden would rather lick them to death than show any form of aggression. The Golden Retriever especially needs a lot of love and attention in order to be happy. They value the time spent with you, and any dog owner knows that the time spent with their beloved Golden Retriever is never enough. A Golden Retriever quickly steals your heart and becomes your best friend. Their beauty both inside and out becomes addicting that most owners of this beautiful breed usually own more than one. Keep in mind that if you let a Golden be a Golden, by letting them do what they love such as meeting new people and going swimming, then you will be rewarded with a happy dog. How do you take care of your Golden Retriever to ensure their happiness? Share your thoughts and comments below. I would love to hear from you. Jenny I am the proud owner of a Golden Retriever named Ellie. She keeps me busy, and when she is resting, you can find me working on my blog. She is always close by though. I live in Stirling, ON Canada with my husband, and we both enjoy the never a dull moment life with our Ellie. Spread the love. They are simultaneously wonderful family pets—thanks to their friendly, tolerant attitude—and capable, intelligent working dogs. These sturdy, medium-sized dogs grow to about 55—75 pounds and typically live to be about 10—12 years old. Outgoing, trustworthy, eager-to-please, and easy-to-train, they are especially popular with families with young children. Goldens often maintain their fun-loving puppy attitudes and signature smile into adulthood. Part of the sporting dog group, golden retrievers are active dogs that require at least an hour of daily exercise. They live up to their name; they love retrieving just about anything thrown for them. This makes them excellent hunting companions and skilled service dogs. They love to eat, run, spend time with their owners, and even participate in obedience and agility events. Their coloring ranges from light golden to cream, and dark golden to golden, and their physique can vary from broad and dense to leaner and more sporty. According to AKC standards,goldens move with a smooth, powerful gait, and the feathery tail is carried, as breed fanciers say, with a "merry action. Thanks to their breeding as hunting and waterfowl-retrieving dogs in the Scottish Highlands,their outer coat is dense and repels water. They also have a thick undercoat. Their coats can vary in texture from wavy to straight. Heavy feathering appears on their chest, the backs of their legs, and tail. Temperament In general, golden retrievers are outgoing, playful, and gentle. They are also friendly, intelligent, and devoted. As they get older, most golden retrievers become docile and calm. Bred to be working retrievers, goldens have a lot of energy and require a lot of activity. They are best suited for owners with an active lifestyle and they thrive in a home where someone is around during the day to spend time with them. They don't do well when left at home on their own; they love their humans too much. Their happy demeanor often draws attention from other people when you are out and about—goldens get along well with strangers and other dogs. While they are not considered good guard dogs—they'd be more likely to show an intruder where the treats are than send the intruder running—golden retrievers are excellent service dogs thanks to their loyalty, intelligence, and stable temperament. They see themselves as part of the family and need to be treated as such. Luckily, goldens are not bothered by noise, commotion, and activity, making them very tolerant of children. Golden retrievers also take a "the more the merrier" approach to having other pets in the home. With proper introductions and training, goldens can be trusted with other dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals. A golden retriever would do well reigning over a large fenced-in yard , so if you don't have a lot of outdoor space or you live in an apartment, make sure you get your golden outside regularly. A lot," Steen says. Owners should get used to having a fair amount of dog hair on clothing and furniture around the home. They have a thick, water-repellant double coat that sheds moderately in the winter and summer, and heavily in the spring and fall. However, if you brush your golden daily, you can prevent tangling and remove some dead hair before it covers everything in sight. Baths can also help and are recommended about once a month, but make sure the golden is fully dry before brushing begins. Golden retrievers will also need their nails trimmed about once or twice a month. A good indicator of when they need to be trimmed is when you can hear them clicking on the floor. Teeth should also be brushed at least two or three times a week. Ear checks are important as well; goldens have fold-over ears, which create an environment that encourages bacteria and fungus to grow. Look for redness or a bad odor and simply wipe out the outer ear with a cotton ball dampened with gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner to help prevent infections. Exercise is an essential part of a golden retriever's day. At least one hour a day of rigorous activity is necessary, even if that happens over several different outings or play times throughout the day. Goldens can be taken on long runs , bike rides, hikes, and swims. They also enjoy hunting trips, field trials, and other canine sports like agility, obedience, and tracking. A golden that doesn't get enough exercise is likely to exhibit undesirable behaviors like digging and chewing. Mental challenges, such as learning tricks and playing with puzzle toys, are also appealing to goldens, but should never replace physical activity. Take it easy with exercise in a golden retriever's first two years of life, as their growth plates are still forming. Don't go for long, strenuous runs or hikes until the dog is fully grown, and always opt for grass over concrete. Early socialization and puppy training classes are important with golden retrievers. Puppies should be exposed to a wide variety of people, places, and situations to help them become well-adjusted in their young life. When it comes to feeding time , owners need to help golden retrievers manage their intake; they have a tendency to become overweight. Food should be measured out and given twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time. Dog treats should be given in moderation. If you're unsure whether your golden retriever is overweight, give him the eye test and the hands-on test. First, look down at him. You should be able to see a waist. Then place your hands on his back, thumbs along the spine, with the fingers spread downward. You should be able to feel but not see his ribs without having to press hard. If you can't, he likely needs less food and more exercise. Chat with your vet about the best course of action. According to Steen, they are a generally healthy breed, but goldens are at a slightly increased risk of hip dysplasia and cancer when compared to other dogs. Other health conditions, although not particularly common, include elbow dysplasia, cataracts , progressive retinal atrophy —or gradual deterioration of the retina—hypothyroidism, gastric dilatation-volvulus otherwise known as bloat , and allergies. Golden retrievers should also have their ears checked often and teeth brushed regularly for optimum health. History Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Lord of Tweedmouth, developed golden retrievers in the mid-to-late s. Although at one time a rumor indicated that golden retrievers descended from Russian sheep dogs, they were, in fact, bred in the Scottish Highlands. Marjoribanks bred the dogs for more than 50 years to create an ideal gundog—he was an avid hunter of waterfowl. Tweedmouth wanted a dog suited to the rainy climate and rugged terrain of the area, so he crossed his "yellow retriever" with a breed that is now extinct, the Tweed water spaniel. He also wanted the dog to be even-tempered in the home. A golden retriever was first shown at the British dog show in .The Kennel Club in England officially recognized the golden retriever as a distinct breed in .At that time, they were classified as "retriever — yellow or golden. Fun Facts Considered one of the most beloved dog breeds, golden retrievers gained popularity with American families in the s when President Gerald Ford had a golden named Liberty. Tucker Budzyn is currently the most recognized golden retriever on the Internet, with more than 3 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Golden retrievers are regulars on big and little screens. Golden retrievers love tennis balls. Just ask this 6-year-old golden named Finley , who is the Guinness World Record holder for carrying the most tennis balls in his mouth at a time. He can hold six! Was this page helpful? We are overjoyed for you! Golden Retrievers are one of the most friendly and loving breeds…and lucky for you, one of the easiest to train. Golden Retrievers require a great deal of mental stimulation to avoid going about on their own or becoming frustrated. Their love for food is infinite. Prerequisites for training my Golden Retriever puppy? What age can I start to train my Golden Retriever puppy? Sounds like a good deal! We can only hope. What do I need to train my Golden Retriever? Say bye to that sticky, meaty feeling in your fingertips. A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat: For a cozy bed, warm nights, and good dreams. Treats: The more smelly, the better. Two identical toys : Great for swaps! The name says it all…your Golden Retriever puppy will love retrieving, so identical toys will be great for all the games we have in store for you in the Zigzag Puppy training app. Of course, Golden Retrievers grow to be big dogs. How much exercise does a Golden Retriever need? A golden retriever needs 2 hours of exercise a day. What age is a Golden Retriever fully grown? Golden Retrievers reach adulthood at 3 years of age and are seniors by 8 years old. Though their height has been reached, their weight will still fill out and they will continue to mentally mature. What are Golden Retrievers bred for? Distinctly British, the 1st Baron of Tweedmouth developed the breed crossing his golden colored retrieving dog Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel — these look similar to Irish Water Spaniels. The cross resulted in a dog that was comfortable being on land and water kind of like crocodiles , and robust enough to hunt goose, partridge and even deer. Do Golden Retrievers make good family pets? In fact, Golden Retrievers are one of the most loved dog breeds in the UK. The Kennel Club has a lot more good information and info about them. What does this have to do with how I train my Golden Retriever puppy? But there is a logic as to why knowing the context might help you train your Golden Retriever better: Golden Retrievers love to work. Commonly employed as Guide Dogs, they love having a job to do, which means they will adore training. Anyhow, they will be a breeze to train. They will also do almost anything for your soft words and approval — your praise will work just as well as treats. Because they are so gentle, they are a great fit for families with a variety of lifestyles and ages. They need a good amount of exercise; mental as well as physical. Let us rephrase — a hefty amount of exercise. Besides you and food, being in water is what they love the most! They have a very strong sense of smell, so retrieving or scent work games tend to be the biggest treat for most. Golden Retrievers are the social butterflies of dogs. They love most people, and are not discreet in showing it. You know how us Brits can be about politeness. That being said, make sure you also teach them the wonders of giving things up. It can lead to great things! But it can also be less helpful when they give you a love bite on your arm — give them a toy to carry instead. Shift to some play, and revisit training later — we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread. While some consider pets as a mere property, others consider pet, as it is, a living being that needs to be nurtured, trained, taken care of and should be made happy. One of the most popular household pets is a domestic dog. Dogs have different breeds with varying sizes depending on the age and specie. One of the most popular breed of dogs is the golden retriever. Golden retriever dogs are happy domestic dogs. Apart from the fact that they serve as faithful companions, they fun filled and are considered as one of the most interesting breeds of dogs. Dogs are as living beings as humans and so the need to keep them healthy and happy. The healthier the dogs are, the happy and friendlier they act. This breed of dogs is generally fragile and highly susceptible to various diseases, hence the need to specially take care of them. The Golden Retriever breed highly is susceptible to different kinds of diseases including some types of cancer, eye defects, joints and bone diseases and heart issues. This is mainly due to poor breeding practices especially when the breed of the dog became a well-known family dog. These days, the Golden Retriever dog has become one of the riskiest and most fragile breeds to own in regard to general genetic health issues. In this article, we will discuss reasons why you should own a golden retriever dog and the ways to keep the dog happy and healthy. Why You Should Own a Golden Retriever Dog Owning a dog is awesome, and believe me, it is more amazing if the breed of the dog is golden retriever. There are lots of friendly advantages when you own this breed of dog. In this section, we will consider some of the advantages of owning this breed of dogs. The advantages include; The dogs are very flexible, while some use them as mere home pets, some prefer them as sporting animals for hunting routines. They are faithful friends and companions. You can always trust them to be by your side and kill the boredom. They are adequate house dogs. How to Effectively Take Care of Golden Retriever Dogs It is not just enough to own a golden retriever, ensuring the dog stays fit and healthy is the main deal. Alongside training the dog, there are necessary precautions and things to do to make sure the pet dog stays completely healthy. Here, we will consider necessary steps you have to take to ensure your pet dog lives in complete health and stay absolutely happy. We will dwell on some certain aspects and consider some criteria to ensure your dog stays happy and healthy. Feeding: The first thing to consider is how and what to feed your golden retriever dog. It is one of the most important factors when it comes to making sure your dog stays healthy. Like humans, what you feed your golden retriever matters. Depending on how big or small your dog is, you are supposed to feed your dogs based on their special digestive requirements. Generally, golden retriever dogs have a lifespan between 12 to 14 years. You can decide to feed your dog whatever you like but it is advisable to always consult a veterinarian to determine what is best for your retriever which will be based on the age and size of the dog. Also, note that there should always be the availability of very clean water for the dog. Exercise: What you, as owner of golden retriever dog, should understand is that this breed of dog is a very playful one; in fact, they are one of the most playful breed of dogs. They are outgoing, smart and loyal which makes them very easy to train. You want to keep your golden retriever dog happy, engage it in some exercises. They have a very cheerful approach to things and they need plenty of exercise. Vaccination : Golden Retrievers are always prone to health issues. They are one of the most fragile breeds of dogs. They are very sensate and are prone to eye diseases, joints and bone issues, cardiac diseases, dysplasia, and even cancer. There are vaccinations available to prevent, and in late cases, cure some of these health issues. It is always advisable for owners of golden retrieves to always work with a responsible breeders and veterinarians to gain more knowledge on how to handle the dogs in certain situations to avoid complications. Socialize the dog: This is quite different from the regular exercise. Taking your dog for a walk, making the dog meet other dogs and making your dog free with other people always bring out the best in the retriever. One special thing to note is that retrievers enjoy going out with you and meeting other dogs, especially of the same breed. This not only makes them happy, it has a way of bringing out the best in the dog. Keep your dog happy, keep your dog healthy. Training a golden retriever is easy because of its loyal and eagerness to please nature. It is important to keep your pet dog healthy and happy. The tips given above should adequately ensure that. All Rights Reserved. Without adequate exercise, few puppies will be able to control their energy. Families see an out-of-control puppy and immediately think exercise is the answer to their problem. Often it is, but exercise can also be overdone. There is a balance. The information below has exercise guidelines for large breed puppies along with a broad range of various ways for your puppy to get that exercise. Make sure that you have a fenced area or that you are far from any place that cars or other dangers might be. For off-leash strolls, let the puppy set the pace. If he lies down, let him rest. Here are a few general guidelines. Keep in mind that puppies that are used to active lifestyles can handle longer excursions. Conversely, puppies that have not had opportunity to exercise off leash need to start off at a slower pace. For your average puppy, start off with minutes for an 8-week old puppy. Increase to up to 20 minutes for week old puppies. By the time your puppy is 6 months, the time can be increased up to as much as 45 minutes and for a month-old puppy, you can go for as long as an hour as long as you are going at a slow pace with plenty of opportunities for your puppy to sniff around. If you miss a week or two of the work, decrease your distance when starting back and gradually build up the distance again. This long distance exercise must be off-leash so that your puppy can take breaks and slow down as needed. The puppy must set the pace. Forced running on a leash is never good for a growing puppy. Leash Walks as Exercise for a Golden Retriever Puppy Leash walking can be a good form of exercise when certain criteria are met. First puppies need to be trained and socialized to the environment. Second, leash walks need to be done in a certain way. Leash walking can be overdone. One of the biggest causes of growth plate and soft tissue injury in young puppies is repetitive exercise. Leash walks for puppies must be broken up with training sessions or opportunities for free off-leash play or time to sniff around on the leash. At 3 months, you can go for 20 minutes and at 6 months, you can walk up to 30 minutes. You must be much more careful with leash walking since you and not the puppy control the pace. Leash walking provides an excellent way of combining a little bit of physical exercise with mental exercise, obedience training, socialization, and environmental desensitization. It is a fantastic way to introduce a puppy to his world. It gives a bit of exercise while at the same time giving opportunities for socialization and training. However, strolls on a leash are not enough. Puppies must have an opportunity to run and play. Again, off-leash walks are best if your goal in your walk is to provide adequate exercise. A week old Golden Retriever puppy will have a neck that is about 12 inches. Get a collar of any brand that includes 12 inches in the size range. An adult female will have about an 18 inch neck. A male adult will need a collar that fits a 20 inch neck. Similarly running on a treadmill or any other types of forced running are not appropriate forms of exercise for a golden retriever puppy. Free Play as Exercise for a Golden Retriever Puppy Free play is always an excellent form of exercise for a golden retriever puppy. Dogs and puppies of all ages can play as long they like in your safely contained yard. If your puppy is playing with another dog in the family, make sure you supervise their play until you are sure that they play well together and that the older dog is not too rough. End the play if the other dog is getting too rough, if your puppy is starting to annoy the other dog, or if your puppy shows signs that he is ready to quit playing. Strange dogs are not worth the risk. Getting on the ground or running around with your puppy can be one of the best ways to exercise your puppy. Fetch and tug can be options if played within certain guidelines. Whether you are playing tug or fetch or just running around with your puppy, there are a couple of rules that need to be followed. Instead, ignore him. Wait until your puppy is behaving. Then, once you begin playing with your puppy, periodically, stop the game and make him gain control of himself before resuming the game. Ask him to do a simple behavior such as a sit or a down. Then start playing again. We recommend teaching your puppy the game of fetch at a young age. Going and getting a toy, bringing it back, and giving it to you is easier to teach when they are young. Chasing balls causes puppies to twist, roll, jump, and tumble while trying to grab a moving ball. Instead, use toys. Then, combine your game of fetch with a game of tug. Tug is discussed in detail in another section. Once your puppy has learned to tug, teach your puppy a release command. Save longer throws for your dog until after he is over 2 years of age. Teach The Wait Command Once your puppy has learned to bring a toy back to you reliably, you can begin teaching your puppy to safely retrieve a ball. Before moving from a toy to a ball, teach a wait command. Playing fetch with a dog with a wait command is a tremendous exercise. It not only provides physical exercise, but it also provides a super opportunity for a puppy to learn self-control. Here is how to teach it. I like to use what is called a pull tab. A pull tab is a very short leash that you attach to a collar. Pull tabs are typically 6 inches or shorter. A pull tab is long enough to give you control over your dog, but short enough for the dog to be able to run and play with it dangling from his collar. Once the dog relaxes and I require a sit as well , throw the ball. When the dog is dependable with regard to waiting on the release, you can do away with the tab. Having a dog wait before chasing a ball is a necessity with puppies because it eliminates the problem of the dog twisting, turning, and diving for a moving object. Fetch is a great exercise for an adult. Once a dog is over 2, you can begin throwing balls and even add a Chuck-it ball thrower to your game. Tug as a Form of Exercise for a Golden Retriever Puppy Tug is a very good exercise for dogs of all ages except for during the stage when puppy teeth are coming out and new adult teeth coming in to replace them. Make sure you stop before he looses his first teeth at around 4 months. Tug can then be resumed when all adult teeth are in. The most current training recommendations for tug no longer include the idea that the dog can never win and that you must always be in charge. This is not true. Consider a child racing his Dad down the street. The Dad lets the child win and the child beams. It gives the child confidence and makes him want to be faster and better. The same holds true with puppies. Let them win when they do a good job! The Release Once a puppy is tugging vigorously and understands the game, you can teach a release cue. Teach this by making the tug toy become motionless and no fun. Just keep the toy still until the dog opens his mouth on his own. Then immediately give the toy back to the dog and start the tug game again. Begin integrating the release into your play session in such a way that you are giving the toy back far more often than not. The dog needs to associate his releasing the toy with a restart to the game, not an end to it. It encourages forced running, jumping, and twisting, all bad for the growing puppy. Frisbee throwing can be dangerous for any dog, but especially for a puppy. We personally never play frisbee with our dogs. There are many other better exercise choices. Digging Digging is actually a very good exercise for a puppy though it may not be so good for your lawn! If you should have a place that your puppy can dig, maybe a soft spot in the corner of your yard, train him that that place and only that place is his digging spot. Puppies Should Avoid Full Flights of Stars Your Summer Brook puppy will be trained shortly before changing homes to safely navigate a set of 3 or 4 steps. If your set of steps is more than half a full flight, we require that you carry him up them until he is 4 months old. Even after this, we recommend keeping him off the steps as often as possible. Dogs tend to get excited and fly down them, often leaping over 4 or 5 of them at a time. This can result in injury. As with so many other repetitive or impactful activities, we highly recommend waiting until growth plates are closed. Baby gates can be a huge help until that time. Swimming Swimming is super exercise for a Golden Retriever puppy and most dogs enjoy playing fetch in the water. See our website page on teaching a puppy to swim for more information. This includes jumping up on and off of furniture until he is fully grown and growth plates are closed. Growth Plates and Exercise We have mentioned quite a few times on this page the importance of limiting certain activities with your puppy until his growth plates are closed. Some of you might be wondering what growth plates are and why they matter with regard to exercise. What Are Growth Plates? Growth plates are soft areas that are at the ends of the long bones in puppies. These growth plates gradually get thinner until they completely close. The closure of growth plates is brought on by hormonal changes during puberty. When growth plates close, they harden as they calcify and the rapid cell division stops. The growth plates become what is called an epiphyseal line. The epiphyseal line is sturdy and not so prone to injury as the growth plates. These are collectively referred to as soft tissue. In an adult, when there is a soft tissue injury, a sprain will result. However, in a puppy, the soft tissue is stronger than the growth plates. An injury that would only cause a sprain in an adult dog could cause an injury to the growth plate in a puppy. The soft tissue can actually pull the growth plate apart. Growth plate injuries can sometimes not heal properly and keep a dog from growing straight and strong which can subject him to problems for his entire life. Conclusion Although you need to be much more careful with the type of exercise you provide your puppy, exercise is still very important to a growing puppy. Appropriate exercise is key to building strong bones. Another key to good puppy development and a relaxed puppy is mental exercise. Give your puppy appropriate physical exercise and give your puppy a long life with healthy bones and joints. For more information on our puppies, see our page on Golden Retriever puppies. Primary Sidebar Breeders and Trainers of English Golden Retrievers We focus on breeding and training beautiful English Golden Retriever puppies with health tested champion parents, great pedigrees, and fantastic temperaments.

What Is A Miniature Boxer? A Mini Boxer is often achieved using specific breeding practices. Relatively new to the canine scene, the Miniature Boxer is making waves for his family friendly nature, adorable appearance and devoted temperament. And this brings us to the origin of the Miniature Boxer and what you should know about controversial breeding practices. Keep reading. On paper, the Miniature Boxer sounds like the perfect companion. This is especially true if you already have an affinity for Boxers and all their endearing qualities. The Boxer was inspired by ancient war dogs dating as far back as 2, BC. Traditionally, Boxers were bred to be versatile working dogs. They served as guard dogs, cattle dogs, war dogs, and even guide dogs and service dogs. And this brings us to the Miniature Boxer. Miniature Boxers are still relatively new, which is one of the reasons they have yet to be considered an official size variety of purebred Boxer. They are also somewhat controversial, as the practices for breeding Miniature Boxers come with some amount of risk. According to most experts, there are three methods a breeder could use tocome up with a Miniature Boxer. These methods include the following: Breeding Dwarfism: Breeding dwarfism is a very controversial method some breeders use when attempting to create Miniature Boxer dogs. While this method does keep a Miniature Boxer litter purebred, it also puts the puppies at a much higher risk of serious health issues like spinal problems, breathing difficulties and muscle development. Purposefully breeding dwarfism into dogs like Boxers can cause other issues as well down the road, which may lead to devastating and costly problems for owners. For this reason, most reputable breeders will refrain from purposefully breeding dwarfism into their dogs. Breeding Runts: The other common way some might go about breeding smaller than average Boxer dogs is to breed runts. When puppies are born runts, they are also usually born with other underlying health issues. Breeding runts to create a Miniature Boxer means that these dogs have a much higher risk of being born unhealthy and going on to live unhealthy lives. Again, because of the health risks and moral implications of breeding runts, most reputable breeders will stay away from this method for how to create a Mini Boxer dog. Crossbreeding: The last way, and perhaps safest way, of creating a Miniature Boxer dog would be through crossbreeding. If combined correctly, the resulting puppies would be smaller than the traditional Boxer while still maintaining that unique Boxer-like appearance and temperament. While crossbreeding is the safest and healthiest way to go about breeding smaller Boxer dogs, there are still some cons to this method. For example, many traits of early generation crossbreed dogs will be unpredictable, including traits like health, appearance and temperament. And while crossbreed dogs may be viewed as healthier than purebred dogs thanks to what is known as hybrid vigor the idea that they have a wider genepool than their purebred counterparts and are thus less susceptible to genetic disease , they also have a longer list of health issues to contend with. That said, if you are keen on getting a Miniature Boxer to call your own, we would recommend looking for a crossbreed Mini Boxer as opposed to one of the other types listed above. The Miniature Boxer — Temperament and Personality Traits For the most part, Miniature Boxers have many of the same characteristics as their average sized Boxer counterparts. Regardless of how your Miniature Boxer was created, the truth is that the majority of his temperamental traits should be the same as his standard Boxer counterpart. As a breed in general, Boxers are known to be intelligent, affectionate, playful and family oriented. They can be high energy dogs and do well in active families and in homes with large, securely fenced yards where they can run and play freely. When properly socialized, the Miniature Boxer can get along well with other dogs and children. In fact, the Miniature Boxer may be a better option for those with younger children, as full sized Boxers can be a bit overwhelming for small kids. Still, Miniature Boxers are not pocket pups. They are considered medium sized dogs, which means they may not be the best suited for apartment living, especially if all of their exercise and mental stimulation needs are not met. That aside, when in the hands of the right owner and when trained, socialized, and exercised properly, the Miniature Boxer can do well with active families, novice dog owners, singles, couples, and active retirees. How To Train and Socialize a Miniature Boxer Training should be done utilizing positive reinforcement techniques and consistency. For the most part, Miniature Boxers are sweet and affectionate dogs, but without proper training and socialization they can develop serious behavioral issues down the road. How To Socialize A Miniature Boxer Socialization should begin as early as you get your Mini Boxer and will continue on with your dog throughout his lifetime. Making sure you properly socialize a dog means that you should try and introduce that dog to as many new people, places, sights, sounds and experiences as possible as young as possible. Ensuring these first impressions are positive for your Miniature Boxer are also important, so refrain from forcing your Boxer into a situation that he is clearly frightened of or this could lead to fear-based behavioral issues down the road. They are eager to please and quick to learn, especially when training is kept light, fun and game-like. Just as with socialization, you can begin training your Miniature Boxer as soon as you bring him home. Use treats and praise as opposed to punishments and scolding , as positive reinforcement training techniques have been shown consistently to work better than aversive training methods. Worse still, negative reinforcement training techniques can lead to a breakdown in your bond with your dog, and even hinder his learning progress. Just like their larger counterparts, Miniature Boxers are energetic dogs who require routine exercise each and every day. The best exercise for a Miniature Boxer will be a routine walk for 40 minutes to an hour each day. Mini Boxers might also enjoy light hikes or trips to the dog park. Most importantly, this harness is safe for your dog and will not cause choking. It also helps to teach him good walking manners, especially when paired with treats, praise and consistency. Boxers are intelligent dogs, and the Miniature Boxer is no exception. If not kept properly exercised and mentally stimulated, the Miniature Boxer may be prone to some serious destructive behavioral issues including barking, marking and chewing, as well as some dangerous behavioral issues like anxiety, which can lead to aggressive behaviors. Investing in puzzle toys, KONGS, and keeping up with routine training can help ensure your Mini Boxer is happy and healthy both metnally and physically. The good news is that grooming a Miniature Boxer is relatively easy. Brushing them once or twice a week can help combat any loose hair, as can ensuring you keep your Miniature eBoxer on a quality dog food. This will help keep ear infections at bay and reduce odor. Your Miniature Boxer should also have his teeth brushed at least once a day using a dog safe toothpaste to help keep dental disease at bay. We also recommend you invest in a quality dog shampoo. Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Dog Shampoo Sale Buy on Amazon Some Boxers can be prone to allergies and skin issues, so we would recommend a soothing dog shampoo made with quality ingredients and specified for dogs. The above dog shampoo by Wahl is made with all natural ingredients like coconut oil and oatmeal. It is also free of any dyes, parabens, and alcohols that could exasperate already sensitive skin. However, keep in mind that irresponsible breeding practices can lead not only to shorter lifespan, but also a lesser quality of life that can be devastating and costly. Lifespan Sociability If you are considering purchasing a Miniature Boxer puppy, there are a few things to keep in mind before you make a decision. Like most puppies, they have a fair amount of energy, which will most likely last throughout their life. Mini Boxers have a decent lifespan and can live from 12 to 15 years, especially if you care for their physical and mental health, beginning when they are puppies and continuing throughout their life. Even though they are playful, Mini Boxers need a strong leader and early socialization to become the ideal pet. We will dive deeper into specific health issues a little later in the article. There has been a misconception that Boxers are an aggressive breed, so this can be a myth that is carried to the Miniature Boxer. The Mini Boxer is muscular and stocky and may have an aggressive appearance, but once you get to know them, you realize that they are loving and friendly. Unfortunately, only purebred dogs are allowed to be registered through the AKC. They make great guard dogs. The Miniature Boxer is serious about their devotion to their family, so they will alert you if they sense that you or someone they love is in danger. They are social and like to be part of the action, but they can be wary of strangers. Giving them attention is important, and they will show you love in return. If you want a lap dog, then the Mini Boxer is ideal because they would rather snuggle on your lap than anywhere else. As long as they receive attention and can interact with everyone in the household, they will be happy. Mini Boxers are intelligent and learn quickly; providing socialization and training from an early age will ensure that they live up to their full potential. They are alert yet feature a calm and gentle disposition. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They form deep bonds with their family and love children. They are patient with children, and since they have a high energy level, they make ideal playmates. Sometimes their need for chasing the cat may arise, but they are doing it out of playfulness more than being mean. When they are around other animals in the household, they can become friends and include them as part of the family unit. A post shared by Miso the Miniature Boxer lilboxermiso Things to Know When Owning a Miniature Boxer Owning a dog requires you to know how to properly care for them so they can have a happy and healthy life. This section provides further detail about the breed so you are comfortable with their needs and requirements. High-quality dog food that is formulated for medium breeds is ideal, and you can find brands that offer medium-breed puppy food and even senior food that allows you to provide optimal nutrition for all life stages. They are prone to obesity if they consume more calories than required, so make sure you are adjusting their food intake in relation to their activity level. Puppies will have a higher amount of energy, and as your Mini Boxer ages, the level will decrease. However, this breed requires a fair amount of exercise to prevent them from becoming bored and overweight. Playing fetch and other games are ideal for providing one-on-one attention and releasing some energy. Mental stimulation is important too, so teach your Mini Boxer tricks, create an obstacle course, or get a puzzle toy for them to play with. They can be stubborn, but if you remain consistent and patient, they will learn to listen to you. Positive reinforcement with firm rules will teach your Mini Boxer that you are the leader but are also fair and will treat them with respect. The earlier you start, the better results you will receive because there is less chance of bad habits forming. After a hard day of training, your pup will be looking for a comfy spot to lounge. Regular baths will keep them smelling fresh, and cleaning their ears regularly will prevent infections that can affect floppy-eared dogs. However, you need to be proactive and provide the best care, which includes having your hybrid visit the veterinarian as recommended for regular checkups. Minor Conditions. Intelligent Pug Characteristics Pugs are extremely playful and love to interact with their owners. They also get along well with other animals, especially cats and other dogs. They're most known for: Friendly Easy going Health Issues Because these dogs have only been bred for a few years, there has been no study on whether there are any specific health issues being produced from these crosses. In order to get a better idea of which health problems a puppy might face, you must research the parent breeds involved, and take a look at health issues that are common to them. The average reported lifespan of these dogs is between 12 to 15 years. Boxers can be prone to cardiomyopathy , bloat, hip dysplasia , and hypothyroidism , among other possible health threats. Pugs can be prone to obesity, breathing problems , eye problems, and skin problems. Boston Terriers are prone to eye problems , heart problems, epilepsy, and skin problems. Fox Terriers can be prone to Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, patellar luxation, congenital hypothyroidism with goiter, and primary lens luxation, among other health issues. Rat Terriers can be prone to allergies, dental problems, and patellar luxation. Corgis are prone to eye problems, glaucoma , and progressive retinal atrophy. Beagles are prone to epilepsy , intervertebral disk disease, and tumbling puppy syndrome. English Bulldogs are prone to a long list of health concerns, including obesity, heat stroke, elongated soft palate , heart disease, and more. Keep in mind that a particular pup might never face one of these health issues, but the possibility could be there in the gene pool, so it's good to be aware. Are you InTheKnow? Sign up for our newsletter featuring all the latest stories and products we love. Invalid email I agree to receive email communications from LoveToKnow. The breeding procedures used to create this mix are extremely controversial. Many " miniature " dogs have been heavily inbred, so it's not uncommon for them to develop genetic disorders or become ill at a young age, even from a reputable breeder. The miniature Boxer is also a high-energy breed that requires a hands-on owner. They aren't meant for owners with sedentary lifestyles or those who reside in apartments. Because the miniature Boxer sheds, it may not be suitable for those looking for a hypoallergenic dog breed. If you understand the cons, there are many pros to this breed. Since they are smaller than Boxers, they are less expensive to feed and easier to care for. They require slightly less exercise than the original breed and can do well in smaller spaces, even if they aren't ideal apartment dogs. This mix is family-friendly, intelligent, eager to please, and easy to train. Also, they're relatively affordable to purchase as puppies. Finding Miniature Boxer Puppies for Sale When looking for a breeder of miniature Boxers, make sure you do your due diligence. Before you decide to do business, take the time to investigate the breeder fully to make sure you'll receive exactly what you're paying for. There are many unscrupulous breeders producing designer dogs, and you want to make sure the breeder can provide a health guarantee. The breeder should demonstrate that they are breeding to create dogs with excellent health and temperament. Because these dogs are not recognized by the top registry organizations and are not bred in large numbers, you may have to search for them online as well as locally through sites such as Craigslist to see if you can locate a breeder. Cost of a Miniature Boxer Puppy Because these dogs are not popular yet, they can be relatively expensive. Dog Clubs The miniature Boxer is not a recognized breed, but it may become one as some point in the future. If you'd like to register your pet with a dog club, both the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Certified Pet Registry take registrations for various crosses that produce this type of dog. Spend Time With These Dogs Before you bring one of these pups home, spend some time at several breeders' kennels so you can get to know the dogs in person. This is the surest way to find out if a Miniature Boxer will fit your lifestyle, as well as which particular cross you prefer. Getting a puppy is a commitment for the life of the dog, so be sure about your choice.

Introduction A very special dog is now becoming part of your life. So many of the people who have undertaken this journey before you have reported that it was the most rewarding thing they have ever done — and the odds are that it will be for you, too. Puppy mill rescue dogs Over the next year or two, you will watch a dog who has been deprived of virtually every known pleasure begin to first explore, then enjoy, a life that offers her these pleasures. But it may not be an easy road for you and for your new canine companion. Puppy mill dogs have had their world turned upside down. This guide provides you with some specific methods for helping your puppy mill survivor. It is meant to supplement our larger report entitled Understanding and Caring for Rescued Puppy Mill Dogs , which is a comprehensive summary of the findings of our study of over 1, breeding dogs who were rescued from lives in puppy mills and adopted into human households. In obtaining full psychological and behavioral profiles of them, we were able to gain a wealth of information about these incredible dogs. Some basic facts: Puppy mills. They are large-scale commercial dog-breeding operations where the happiness of the dogs is all but ignored in order to make a monetary profit from selling the puppies. To maximize profits, the dogs are housed in very small enclosures, live in unsanitary living quarters, are fed inferior-quality food, are denied decent medical care, and, most important, are severely deprived of positive human social contact. Psychological functioning. Because puppy mill dogs are born and raised in an impoverished environment and endure severe stress throughout life, their psychological functioning is not like that of normally raised pet dogs. This shows itself in how they interact with people, their desire to make eye contact, their social skills with other dogs, their desire to play, their ability to focus attention and learn — in short, their ability to function like a typical dog. Fortunately, the dogs have a remarkable capacity to recover from their psychological impairments. Many recover to the point where they appear to be completely rid of their psychological difficulties, others recover partially but not completely, and others are so severely troubled that they continue to struggle emotionally. Every puppy mill dog has a different capacity to adapt and recover, and we almost never know at the outset what this limit will be or when the dog will reach it. What this means is that adopters must accept up-front that the dog they are taking into their home may retain some psychological impairment throughout his or her life and may always be a special-needs companion. Rehabilitation of puppy mill dogs is often difficult and fraught with frustration. It may take weeks, months, or even years for the dogs to be free of their fears and other emotional struggles. But, as our studies have shown, the adopters who open their arms and hearts to these little survivors are all but assured an immensely rewarding experience. Course of recovery. For some it is fast, but for most it is slow. It can be fast, and then slow, and then fast again. Steps forward are often interspersed with steps backward. All puppy mill dogs are affected by their puppy mill experience in their own way, and their needs for healing are very unique when they escape that life. Methods of rehabilitation will also vary in their effectiveness from dog to dog. Methods that are beneficial for one dog may be ineffective and even counterproductive in another. Rehabilitation can involve some trial and error until you see what works best for your dog. Normal dog behavior. We know that there are many aspects of normal dog behavior that dogs who have spent their entire lives in puppy mills cannot be expected to show at first, among them: Showing any control or discrimination over when and where they urinate and defecate Trusting humans Desiring petting or being picked up, held or hugged Playing with humans, other dogs or toys Understanding any cues Walking on a leash Eight words to live by. Write them on a piece of paper and post it on your refrigerator so you will see it every day. For example, while almost no dog straight out of the puppy mill has any concept of or experience with a collar and leash, if a dog has been given enough time to learn about these things in a foster home, it may mean that, upon coming home with you, the dog is very familiar with wearing a collar and being on a leash. Back to top 2. How to prepare for bringing home your rescued puppy mill dog There are some things you will need to do before your new adopted puppy mill dog arrives in your home. Do: Dog-proof your house. In particular, remove or place out of reach small objects that might be ingested and anything you do not want chewed. Buy a dog crate that is the right size for the new dog tall enough for the dog to stand, long enough to accommodate the dog lying down from nose to base of the tail. Wire crates provide more ventilation, but the dogs feel more exposed correctable by draping blankets over the top and sides. The plastic crates are more den-like, thus providing a greater sense of security. The tops also can come off, allowing a fearful dog to be removed without pulling her through a crate door. Finally, be sure that the bottom of the crate is very comfortable to walk on, as many of these dogs have walked on nothing but wire cage flooring and their feet may be injured and painful. A soft blanket or pad works well for this. Have these additional items already at home before the arrival of the dog: Nylon leash, 6 feet in length Sturdy nylon collar of the correct size You should be able to fit two fingers comfortably under the collar when it is on the dog. Harness Again, you may have to wait until the dog arrives for proper sizing. Back to top 3. How to introduce your dog to your home You will almost certainly adjust to your new dog well before he adjusts to you, your family, and your household. Because of this, one of the strongest inclinations for newly adopted puppy mill dogs is to hide — behind, under, farther away — in any way that lessens the fear. The hiding can be for days or weeks, with the dog coming out only at night to get some food and water. When a puppy mill dog enters your home, your most important job is to protect him from things that frighten him. Do: Be patient. For these dogs, use of a crate will likely have to be omitted from any steps during the adjustment phase to the new home. Ideally, give her a quiet room to herself, where she can adjust without threats and disruptions for the first few days. Place a bowl of water and a little dry and canned food in the room not far from the crate. Put newspapers or piddle pads available at pet stores on the other side of the room. Then leave her alone and just peek in on her occasionally for the next few hours. Fully expect to find that your dog has urinated or had a bowel movement in the room. After a few days in his own room, bring the dog in his crate to an area of the house that has some human activity, but not a lot. The crate should either sit backed up into a corner or be shielded with towels or blankets draped over its top, sides and back end to give the dog a sense of safety behind him. The door to the crate should be left partially open. Here, the dog can feel some security in his crate but begin to be exposed to the all-new experiences of a human household. Next, set up the exercise pen in a room so that your dog can safely venture out of her crate but still feel somewhat protected. The pen also prevents the dog from going into parts of the house that you or she are not quite ready for. Always try to move slowly when around your puppy mill dog. Sudden and fast movements can be very frightening. Minimize loud and sudden noises, since they also can be very frightening. In fact, having another friendly and compatible dog in the house is what adopters tell us is the single most effective thing you can do to rehabilitate the adopted puppy mill dog. At night, having your dog sleep next to your bed can help him adjust to you in a non-threatening way. This may not be suitable for all adopters or the dogs themselves, so each adopter must decide which nighttime sleeping arrangement is best. You want him to learn that, in his safe place, nothing bad happens, which then allows him to feel more relaxed at all times because he knows he can always go to his safe place. Introducing puppy mill dogs to other friendly dogs in the house usually goes smoothly, but here are some tips to encourage a successful meeting. If possible, carry out the first contact between your newly adopted puppy mill dog and your current dog s in a neutral location — that is, someplace that none of the dogs have been before. With you supervising, allow them to watch and smell each other for a few hours. Let the dogs stay there for another hour or two. Next comes face-to-face introductions. If you have several dogs, do the following introduction with just one dog at a time. Put a collar and leash on your dog and also on the puppy mill dog if she accepts it. Have someone else bring the other dog into the room where you and your puppy mill dog are waiting. Be ready to use the leashes to separate them promptly if either shows any signs of aggression growling, snarling, baring of teeth, attempting to bite. When they start to show interest in other things in the environment rather than fully focusing on each other, it will tell you that they are generally accepting of each other. If you have to leave the house, confine the dogs separately so that your puppy mill dog and your other dog s cannot physically interact. You can keep them in separate rooms, or use a dependably strong baby gate to separate them, so that they can still see, smell and hear one another. Feed the puppy mill dog in an area at least 10 feet away from where the other dogs are fed, preferably where they cannot see each other while eating. If your puppy mill dog appreciates toys, she should have her own. Sharing things like toys, beds, food, and treats will come later, once your dogs become friends. Praise all the dogs for friendly behavior toward one another. Maintain a soft and soothing that is, not excited tone of voice so as not to startle or worry a noise-sensitive puppy mill dog. If you notice this happening, keep interactive sessions short until the dogs appear more calm during play. Back to top 5. Puppy mill dogs suffer on both counts. And because of this, puppy mill dogs arrive in the human home with very little willingness or ability to trust you or any other human. More importantly, the trust you want to help your dog develop is a trust in the world, of which you are one very valuable part. For puppy mill dogs, fear diminishes and trust grows in small increments over time. Our studies show that the vast majority of puppy mill dogs come to trust humans, but we have also learned that, for some of the dogs, this trust is extended to only one or two people. As long as the dog has at least one person he can trust, the opportunity exists for him to fully enjoy his life. Establish a consistent schedule that the dog will learn she can depend on. This is a critical part of building trust. Make a schedule for feeding times, going outside, play, rest and sleep — and stick to it. You want to teach your puppy mill dog that he can trust the world, that he can depend on the world to function in a reliable and nonthreatening way. Teach your dog that you are the source of good things in life, starting with food. Most puppy mill dogs will not eat from your hand at first, but with patience you can almost always teach this degree of trust. You can also build trust using treats. Sit on the floor with delicious treats placed at varying distances on the floor around you. It could take minutes or it could take months, but over time almost all puppy mill dogs will eventually start coming closer and closer to you to get the treats. Then, gradually shorten the distances between the treats and your body and between the treats and your hand, until you can place a treat in your upturned palm and have the dog take it out of your hand. When this happens, it is a huge sign of acceptance and trust. You will also want to simply teach your dog that you mean her no harm whatsoever — that you are not something to fear. So, sit on the floor, preferably and talk very softly to your dog. Many people read aloud in a soothing tone, which benefits both your dog and you, since you can get some reading done. If your dog is very frightened, you can read to her as she lies in her crate. Back to top 6. How to touch and handle your dog It is human nature to want to comfort frightened creatures by holding and embracing them. Giving hugs, cuddling, and showering them with love seems to be just what rescued puppy mill dogs need. Most puppy mill dogs are uncomfortable with physical contact by humans, and some are outright terrified. And, in light of their life experience, they have every reason to be. They have received very little or no positive human touch their whole lives. Change takes time, so be patient. Occasionally and gradually edge your arm, hand, leg, or body closer to your dog to show that nearness is no cause for alarm. Given enough time, almost all puppy mill dogs will eventually get close enough to sniff you — a huge step for them. Sometime after that, the dog will usually touch you with her nose or a paw. Let your dog have several weeks of developing confidence in her touching you before you try to touch her. If your puppy mill dog accepts your touch, you may try to pick her up, but do it in gradual steps. First, make sure she allows you to touch her sides, then allows you to place a hand under her body. Just back up to the point at which she did accept it and move through the steps more slowly. If at any point she seems distressed, stop and give her a few days before trying again. Dogs who do this also may roll onto their backs and even pass some urine. All of this is a show of submission. Celebrate your dog making her first physical contact with you. Remain absolutely calm and silent. Any sound or movement could erase the big step the dog has just made. Make direct eye contact at first. Point your head a bit off to the side and keep visual contact out of the corner of your eye. Ever startle a puppy mill dog by touching her from behind. Back to top 7. Early exposure to and interaction with humans during puppyhood is essential for the developing canine brain to form the connections that make for positive social relationships with humans throughout life. So, if a puppy is exposed to stairs in a positive way, for example, his comfort level with stairs will be natural throughout life. By contrast, if a puppy grows to adulthood without ever encountering stairs, he may have a persistent fear of stairs. As you can imagine, puppy mill dogs are routinely deprived of exposure to so many things that dogs living in homes experience every day. So, our overall goal in socializing puppy mill dogs is to lessen their fears of the basic, normal things that pet dogs encounter. We are striving to have them feel comfortable with being around humans and other dogs, being outdoors in wide open spaces, walking on solid ground, going through a doorway, playing with toys, riding in a car, hearing a vacuum cleaner, going up and down stairs, getting bathed, and so much more. Our greatest efforts, of course, are directed at helping puppy mill dogs to become comfortable around and bonded with people so they can enjoy living in human society. Because of the uniqueness of each and every rescued puppy mill dog, socialization plans must be tailored to the individual. Every aspect of the plan — what they are socialized to, where they are socialized, what specific steps and pace are required, what supplemental help e. Other dogs serve as a valuable role model for everything from how to play to where to go to the bathroom. Based on extensive reports from adopters, socialization efforts are very beneficial for many puppy mill dogs, but for others it can actually create distress. First, it is crucial for the puppy mill dog adopter to accept that every dog will maximally socialize to a different level. For example, some puppy mill dogs may be initially unwilling to walk on stairs, but over time will become completely comfortable running up and down stairs. Others may become better on stairs but never comfortable, and still others may become comfortable going up stairs but not down, or vice versa. The same is true with regard to socialization to humans. Some dogs may never achieve a comfort level with certain people in their lives. Only time will tell. All but a few of rescued puppy mill dogs will bond to their primary person, however. Have another dog around to help socialize your puppy mill dog. If you do not have one already, consider adopting another dog in need of a home. Misery may love company, but misery also compounds misery when two fearful dogs live together. Use desensitization and counter-conditioning to help socialize your dog. These techniques make the fearful stimulus e. The goal is to get your dog to associate good things with going to the vet. The same technique can be used to get a dog to enjoy the presence of people, other dogs, or a new baby in the house. When using desensitization and counter-conditioning, everything is done in small, gradual increments. Progress may occur rapidly or very slowly, and different dogs have different limits. Have all interactions between your dog and people she is shy around or fearful of e. They should stand sideways to the dog, crouch down if possible, not make direct eye contact, make no sudden movements, and talk to your dog in a calm, quiet tone of voice. If it is safe to do so i. If this goes well and your dog remains comfortable, give some treats to the person to place in the palm of the hand that she extends to your dog. Avoid the avoidable, when possible. Try pheromone therapy, which can ease anxiety and fear in many dogs. Dog-appeasing pheromone DAP comes in a spray bottle, a plug-in wall diffuser, and a collar. It is available through many online websites and at pet supply stores. Consult your veterinarian to see if this option is appropriate for your dog. Provide whatever comforting words and gestures seem to help your dog cope with his emotional challenges. How this absurd notion ever got started is a mystery, but it is scientific nonsense. Use common sense here. If you had a snake phobia and were placed in a box where snakes were poured on top of you, would you come out of the box less or more fearful of snakes? Ignoring the barking is the best response, because it prevents the dog from being rewarded for trying to get people to go away, and hence reinforcing the behavior. Back to top 8. But we must realize that bodily eliminations inside the house are not accidents at all to the puppy mill dog; in fact, to these dogs, this is perfectly normal behavior. To make matters worse, most of these dogs are very fearful, so training them to do anything — even with strictly positive techniques — can make them even more fearful. For puppy mill dogs, the basic rule is this: Reward the good, distract from the bad. Punishment is never a good idea when house-training a dog, but it can be even more harmful for the fragile and sensitive emotional make-up of rescued puppy mill dogs, impeding and even reversing any progress they are gaining in trusting people. House-training may take a week, it may take a month, it may take a year. Try not to get discouraged. As our studies clearly show, some dogs will achieve full mastery of eliminating in the right place. Be very careful when using even the gentlest-sounding house-training methods with puppy mill dogs. Because of the fear these dogs can have, even the most benign things, such as rewarding the dog for urinating in the right place, can scare them. Keep in mind that many puppy mill dogs are very frightened of being outdoors, which is, of course, a major hindrance to training a dog to do her business outside. For these dogs, use piddle pads or newspaper to train the dog to eliminate indoors initially. As an aside, not everyone wants or needs to train their dogs to do their business outside. For them, having the dog eliminate indoors on piddle pads or paper is just fine. It may happen, but do not allow it to be your expectation. Back to top 9. How to deal with marking Marking is when a dog most often a male, but occasionally a female urinates on specific objects or locations because of the influence of sex hormones or some source of stress. Male dogs in puppy mills, all of whom are not neutered obviously , mark in their cages and enclosures as a territorial signal to the other nearby males. The longer they do this before they leave the puppy mill, the more habitual it becomes and the lower the likelihood that it will fully stop even when they are neutered. In addition to the influence of sex hormones, marking can also be triggered by stress, anxiety and fear. And because we know that these emotional states are prominent in rescued puppy mill dogs, it is not surprising to find that marking is common in their new adoptive homes. Competition over human attention, sleeping places, access to certain locations e. Try dog-appeasing pheromone DAP , which comes in a spray bottle, plug-in wall diffuser and a collar, and is available for purchase via many websites. Use belly bands available at pet stores and online if needed. Clean all urine markings very thoroughly with white vinegar and an enzymatic product, which neutralizes urine odors available at pet stores and online. How to leash-train your dog It is extremely rare for dogs in puppy mills to have ever been on a leash. While we take for granted that for a dog or a human , using your neck to pull against something is no big deal, if you have never done that in your life, it would be a very unusual and possibly even scary sensation. This is likely why, in our study of puppy mill dogs, they pull against a leash much less often than typical pet dogs. Similarly, any pulling of the puppy mill dog with a leash is likely very frightening to him because he has never had something pull against this part of his body. Why leash-train? It allows you to gently get your dog out of a tight hiding place, such as out from under furniture, if need be. And it allows you to gently lead the dog to the chosen potty area if the dog is frightened of being picked up and carried. Purchase a sturdy nylon collar and a harness of proper size and fit. This will provide a mild pulling sensation on the collar that should not be upsetting. Be sure to always supervise the dog very closely to prevent the leash from catching on something and endangering your dog. Use the same leash-dragging strategy with the leash attached to the harness. You can alternate this with the sessions of collar attachment. Use only the harness if the collar is upsetting to your dog. Use delicious food treats as enticements and rewards when you first attach the collar, harness or leash, if your dog seems resistant but not distressed. Feed the treats while another person is placing the collar or harness on, or attaching the leash. Doing this in short trials over several hours or days should lead the dog to associate the apparatus with the treats and then be accepting of having them put on and wearing them. When it appears that leash-dragging is well tolerated, pick up the leash and follow your dog as she walks around, occasionally giving a very slight pull on the leash. Slowly increase the amount of resistance so she can feel what a little tension against the collar or harness feels like. Using this method, most dogs become quite comfortable with walking on leash. When she seems relatively confident with the outdoors, you can take her outside on the leash. Almost all of these things are eventually achievable, but you must go very slowly and be guided by what your dog shows he is ready for. Back to top .How to crate-train your dog The first thing to know about crate-training a puppy mill dog is this: Not all puppy mill dogs can be — or should be — crate-trained. Seeing, and especially being in, a cage-like enclosure may arouse memories of the puppy mill. Why crate-train? For this function, the crate door is left open. There are times when you need your dog to be in her crate, such as during the night or when workers are in the house and your door may be inadvertently left open. For this function, the crate door is kept closed. Make being in the crate a positive experience for the dog. Try feeding the dog in her crate and offer treats in the crate. In fact, anytime you lead your dog into the crate for the purpose of confinement, include a favorite treat e. Make sure your dog has first had the opportunity to go to the bathroom anytime she is put in the crate with the door closed. Start with short periods of time in the closed-door crate and slowly work up to longer periods of time. This means first observing how long your dog is comfortable in the crate before showing any indications of anxiety, such as pacing, pawing at the crate door, digging into the corners of the crate, crying, whimpering or barking. If possible, do several of these sessions each day. Then, over the next few weeks, very gradually increase the time she is spending in the crate during each session. In most cases, you will be able to extend the length of time that she can comfortably spend in the crate by several hours. He will very quickly form a mental association between crate and fear, and that may simply escalate the fear level. Use the crate in any way as punishment. Allow anything to make the crate an unpleasant experience. How to teach your dog to respond to basic cues Teaching your dog to respond to basic cues e. Basic training also establishes a leader and follower relationship, which is the most basic foundation for correcting any problem behaviors that may arise later. For the dogs who are negatively affected by training, there are two main factors at work: fear and an impaired ability to focus and concentrate. Actual training methods can be found in many books and online videos, including the Best Friends online pet care library. What you need to know here is how standard methods of basic training must be modified for the special needs of puppy mill dogs. Take your dog to training classes if you prefer having the structure of a class, but only if the other dogs, people and commotion do not cause your dog distress. Make certain that the professional trainer if you use one is knowledgeable about rescued puppy mill dogs and has had experience with them. Learning requires the mind to concentrate and maintain focus, and our studies show that, when compared to typical pet dogs, puppy mill dogs are less able to do this. None of this means that puppy mill dogs cannot learn, but they will have different capacities for how fast and how much they can learn. Try desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques if your dog seems very fearful or distressed by attempts at training. How to deal with poop-eating Dogs coming out of puppy mills do some strange things, but eating poop known as coprophagia is certainly one of the most unappealing to us humans. Puppy mill dogs eat poop for many reasons — ranging from hunger to relief of boredom. There are food additives that can make poop distasteful to a dog. The additives must be added to the food of any dog whose poop your dog is eating. Other things that your dog may prefer over poop include crumbled dog treats or small bits of bread. Punish your dog for eating poop. A social-media video that traces a former 'puppy mill' dog's journey back to health after being rescued has tugged at heartstrings across the internet. It shows the female poodle 'puppy mill mama' growing in confidence after being adopted by a loving family. The video's creator had shared in the post that the frail pup wouldn't even look at her new family while traveling home with them by car, because she was "expecting the worst. We are a c 3 nonprofit that rescues dogs in need. This video is the transformation of a puppy mill mama. She is 2. Mill dogs, especially adults, come petrified of all humans. They expect us to abuse them, and continue to breed them. It takes time to rehabilitate these dogs. It's sad because I've seen super young puppies be scared of humans because of what happened to them in the mills. It is rewarding seeing their progress once they are free," they added. The pup's new owner said the dog had been rescued three weeks prior to the video going live. The footage shows audiences clips both of the poodle looking frightened at the puppy mill and of her playing with other dogs with confidence while wagging her tail in her new environment. The video is captioned: "The best part is seeing the transformation. Puppy mills are commercial breeding grounds or farms where puppies are produced rapidly and by force, often in poor and unethical conditions, for monetary profit. Animal-welfare organization PETA says that puppy mills are a "well-kept secret of the pet-trade industry. The organization says that female dogs like the poodle featured in the TikTok post are typically bred over and over again until they can no longer produce puppies for profit. At that point, the female dog is usually auctioned off or put down. Canines Rescued from Commercial Breeders Get a Fresh Start Despite days of challenging weather, our Rescue Team persevered to reach the more than 50 dogs saved from commercial breeding facilities throughout the Midwest. These precious canines, who were cruelly cast aside and at risk of being euthanized, are now getting a new beginning and the care they deserve. Inside the Journey from Despair to Joy: Commercial Breeder Canines Get a Second Chance Thanks to our ongoing partnership with National Mill Dog Rescue, now 50 dogs and puppies have a second chance at life after being saved from commercial breeding facilities in the Midwest. Lifesaving Mission Rescues 50 Dogs from Commercial Breeding Facilities As the temperatures dipped into single digits for the first time this year, our dedicated volunteers awaited the arrival of 50 small breed dogs — including Yorkies, Maltese, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers and Corgis — who were rescued from commercial breeding facilities throughout the Midwest. The commercial breeding facility that had been their home was being shut down by government authorities. Just weeks from rescuing 40 dogs from commercial breeders in the Midwest, our Rescue Team made another trip westward and returned with more than 50 dogs and puppies from Kansas-area breeding facilities. In all, 48 incredible animals — no longer unwanted — arrived to have their lives transformed. As one-by-one, a variety of dogs — including many Poodles, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, Shih Tzus, and Yorkies — made their way into the gentle hands of our volunteers to be carried inside, you could see a common feature in all their faces. They were ready to accept a tender touch. Whether shy, or confidently seeking attention, it was clear each dog was grateful for the kindness and compassion we were there to give. They were rescued from awful conditions in Missouri and Oklahoma through a large-scale collaborative effort with National Mill Dog Rescue and five local animal welfare organizations. Rather, it is a year-round commitment to every dog, cat, puppy and kitten in need. As temperatures were dropping our Rescue Team met up in Missouri with our partners at National Mill Dog Rescue to help bring 43 dogs and puppies, who were rescued from the horrors and inhumane conditions of commercial breeding facilities, to the love and safety of our Port Washington, NY campus. This time, the collaborative rescue efforts helped to pull 57 dogs and puppies from various commercial breeding facilities in Oklahoma and Missouri.

Use the same commands and cues consistently. Improved obedience and communication. Reward good behavior with treats and praise. A motivated and happy pup. Socialization Introduce your pup to various people and dogs in a slow, positive manner. Well-adjusted and confident around others. Structured Play Mental stimulation and reduced boredom. Leash Training Teach leash manners to enjoy peaceful walks. Enjoyable walks with your well-behaved companion. Obedience Classes Enroll in obedience classes for professional guidance. Enhanced training skills and socialization. Training a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy involves consistent positive reinforcement methods. Start with basic commands like sit, stay, and come. Use rewards like treats and praise to encourage desired behavior, and keep training sessions short and engaging. Socialization with other dogs and people is essential, and enrolling in puppy training classes can provide structured guidance. Use these puppy training tips to have less stress with your puppy: 1. Stay on top of their exercise needs. Your GSD needs the proper exercise. Increase exercise slowly to avoid an injury that comes from too much impact on unfused joints and bones. While your puppy still lacks maturity and focus, you can increase training to help teach your dog obedience skills. Increase daily obedience and practice to help them learn training basics. Your beautiful German Shepherd puppy will grow very quickly! Teaching them when they are puppies will pay off for the rest of their life. Simple training should start the moment your puppy arrives home. Using the same word for the same activities will help them learn quickly. Give them the right chew toys. Your pup needs balls and toys that are safe and chew-worthy. Look for more indestructible toys to keep your German Shepherd busy and continue to offer chew treats to work their jaws. Find the right chews for you puppy so you minimize the potential for choking and their jaws get a good workout. Use some of these balls for German Shepherd puppies as a distraction toy to get their focus away from your fingers and onto the toy. Giving your puppy a chew toy when they are biting an unapproved item redirects their attention to the right item. Include mental stimulation for their minds. This puppy needs mental stimulation to help them exercise their brilliant minds. This intelligent dog need more than physical exercise. Their minds need to learn and become involved in their world in new and interesting ways. There are many ways you can include mental stimulation. Many of these ways involve teaching a new brain challenge or mental game. Keep them supervised. Even a young GSD can cause lots of trouble when left unsupervised. If your once potty-trained pup has now forgotten their potty manners, then use pet-safe baby gates to contain them or leash them to you to supervise their actions at all times. Pet safe gates like these allow your dog to still see you and feel they have watched over their family. Pet gates are a safe option that prevents your dog from getting its head stuck or worse. Shutting a German Shepherd behind a closed door increases their anxiety and can make unwanted behavior worse! Instead, use the baby gate in a safe area to give them less run of your house. Behaviors you like can improve daily. Every day is an opportunity for you to become a more successful leader. For example: If they want to go outside ask them for a sit first. If they bring you a ball to throw, ask for a down before you engage in play. Setting up expectations of accepted behavior helps them learn how to behave more appropriately. And these successful moments can help speed up how long it takes to train a German Shepherd. Even tiny successes are great confidence builders for your puppy and for you. These bursts of training are easier for your pup to understand. The most telling sign of your little puppy growing up is unpredictable behaviors. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but in a furry adorable body! Hormones, rebellion, confusion, and curiosity all add up to puppy puberty. But with the proper home management techniques and setting expectations, you can overcome these common puppyhood challenges. And my short Happy Puppy Guide is packed with helpful tips and tricks to ensure your furry friend grows up to be a happy and well-behaved companion. Your 6-month-old German Shepherd will thank you for it. I fetched it for you right here! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Final Thoughts Remember that your 6 month old German Shepherd is not a puppy anymore. It is the age when your pet officially enters the adolescence stage. What does this mean for it and you as its owner? The most troublesome period starts here. Your doggy can become rather unpredictable, and it is sometimes frustrating. It may still seem like a big fur ball, but it shows its temperament and character, so you need to be very careful. Moreover, it is very strong, too. So if your puppy is not properly trained, you may experience some difficulties in controlling it. Size and Appearance Your 6 month old German Shepherd puppy continues growing. It has already gained pounds .It is a large dog breed, and it has become obvious now. Your boy weighs pounds kg , and the girl, though smaller, is pounds kg heavy. The height of a male puppy at this age reaches inches cm at the withers, while female dogs are inches cm tall. Now, teething is almost completed, and your doggy can normally show all its 42 adult teeth already. However, some puppies continue teething until they are months old. The fur coat is also almost adult, with its double layers and a lot of shedding. It means that you need to develop a direct schedule for brushing and grooming. Buy a high-quality undercoat rake and brush your pup at least once a week. Since teething is finished, the ears stand up straight at this age. However, some puppies do not have perky ears until they are 12 months old. Another very important thing to consider in your six month old German Shepherd is that its sexual maturity begins. This stage is equivalent to teenagership or puberty in people. The hormones start kicking in, so males may want to look for a mate when outside. That is why it is so important to keep your puppy away from stray dogs at this time. Your boy may also start marking its territory and displaying aggression toward other animals and people. Estrogen in females also results in uneasiness and aggressive behavior. Walking in a dog park is not the best idea for your girl at this period. On average, a 6 month old GSD sleeps hours a day. Most of them are at night, but it may also need several naps in the daytime. Your puppy is very active at this age, so it needs a lot of walking and running. It is capable of walking long distances or even jogging. It is a truly great breed that can be very energetic. The puppy can walk up to 6 miles or 10 kilometers, and many believe that it is OK, since wolf pups as their ancestors could walk and run with their pack for many miles. However, every veterinarian will tell you that too much exercise of this kind can be dangerous for your pup because it can result in problems with joints at this age. So, choose other types of activities for exercising. Teach your doggy to walk on a leash, with frequent breaks, increasing the length of the walk gradually. Never walk your puppy in very hot or cold weather. If your pup shows the slightest signs of lameness, talk with your vet about it. The age of 6 months is the time when many behavioral problems can appear. It is connected with the period of puberty and hormonal disbalances. Your pup needs more independence, so it may wage a war against all your belongings if not trained properly. Chewing, tearing, and demolishing everything around is common. Even if your doggy has been potty-trained properly, it may have more accidents indoors now because it finds pleasure in looking for secret places for doing its business when indoors. Therefore, you have to show it who the boss in the household is and become a true leader of the pack for it. When playing, your pup may become rougher and try to dominate. It can get pushier with other dogs due to the start of its sexual maturity. Your pet can display a lot of boldness and attack other dogs fearlessly when walking in the park. It may also develop more aggressive reactions to other people, especially strangers. Even if it does know most commands, it may pretend to forget them because its hormones fluctuate. So, you need to be very careful to avoid incidents. Scent marking is another sign of puberty. The pup can do it inside your home and display disobedience if you try to prevent this. Female pups can experience the beginning of heat. It may cause them to feel subdued and insecure, so they become less sociable and even aggressive to their owners. You need a lot of patience and knowledge to train your doggy to behave properly at this age. Try to be persistent, provide it with more outdoor exercise, and never use force or physical punishment in response to its misbehavior. Increase the amount of exercise gradually to avoid bad injuries to the bones and joints. Find the most appropriate and appealing activities and games for your puppy to keep it healthy and out of trouble. Include mental stimulation in your everyday exercise. Offer it new brain challenges or mental games. Health and Care You need to be carefully observing whether your pup meets its weight and height requirements for this age. Learn to measure your doggy regularly to be on the safe side. Your pup has already had three vaccination sessions by this time. Neutering or spaying your pup is an issue that you may have to consider. However, most veterinarians do not approve of this at such an early age. It can result in joint disorders, incontinence, musculature injuries, and even cancer. They can be explained by lessening or eliminating the production of hormones associated with growth. The cartilage in long leg bones may get soft or even be missing, contributing to skeletal weaknesses. That is why you should delay neutering until your boy is one year old. Or, if your little male displays too many signs of disobedience and aggression due to its sexual development, delay neutering until the veterinarian X-rays your doggy and ensures that the growth plates are hardened and completely closed. As for female German Shepherds, the additional safety considerations for spaying should also be taken into account. Too early spaying can increase the risks of mammary cancer and urinary incontinence, along the common joint and bone issues. It is recommended to wait until your girl is one year old or even longer. Most breeders will tell you that a female German Shepherd should go through one or two heat cycles before spaying to reduce the risks of severe health issues. That is why the most desirable time for spaying the GS female is 18 months of its age. As for other health problems at the age of 6 months, you do not need to worry. If you want to know what to expect further, research the pedigree and ancestors of your pup to see whether there were any hereditary issues in their bloodline. You can also have a DNA test to predict future problems, such as degenerative myelopathy. However, you need to be watchful and careful about different signs and symptoms that may signal some temporary disorders. These symptoms may not mean anything serious. Though, it is always better to be sure. Feeding You need to feed your 6 month old German Shepherd puppy an appropriate diet with the correct number of calories and protein rates. It still grows rapidly, so you should be careful when choosing between high-quality puppy kibble and raw homemade feeding. The latter should include raw meats fish, turkey, or chicken are good and different vegetables and fruits. Do not offer your puppy too many treats during the daytime. Remember that they can be full of fats and lead to obesity. You do not want your pup to suffer from hip dysplasia or other health issues caused by being overweight. Arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer can also result from improper diets. Give your puppy cups of kibble per each of 2 meals daily. Develop a feeding schedule and be consistent with following it. Self-feeding can also lead to obesity. Provide clean and fresh water to your dog, and you do not need to take the water bowl away. Your pup should have access to it whenever it wants. Never add any supplements or extra treats until your veterinarian recommends them. If your puppy refuses to eat for more than two subsequent meals, have a talk with your vet. You do not need to make a transition to adult food at this age yet. However, in some cases, it may be appropriate and recommended, even if normally such a transition is due closer to the age of one year. If you do not do it gradually, you may face digestive upset in your puppy. The start for a 6 month old GSD is not the best option because the socialization window closes at 4 months in German Shepherds, and you may encounter some behavioral issues now. Never use harsh, negative, or punishment-based methods of training. Your pup is very sensitive, and all this can damage its psyche. The positive, reward-based methods are more appropriate, and they will produce better results. Continue socialization by exposing your pet to unfamiliar animals and people in a friendly environment. Though, you need to be very careful now because hormone disbalance can evoke unpredictable reactions. German Shepherds tend to be enthusiastic barkers, so you have to discourage your pup from barking all the time. Teach it to inform you when someone unknown is approaching, but keep from barking all other times. Always control your doggy persistently. Instill that you are a leader to obey. Do training for at least minutes per day regularly and always use positive reinforcement. If you need help, ask a professional trainer to assist or teach you. It is pretty tall, with the height of a male reaching inches .Female dogs are a bit smaller, with inches cm in height. How much should a 6 month old German Shepherd weight? Your pet continues growing quickly, so its weight also increases. The average weight of a boy puppy is pounds .How much should a 6 month old German Shepherd eat? You can give your puppy cups of kibble per each of 2 meals daily. How much should a 6 month old German Shepherd sleep? Because of its almost full-sized bladder, your pup does not need a potty at night or may need it just once. Therefore, it can sleep peacefully the whole night. Normally, the average sleeping time is hours, with the biggest amount at night. Though, it may also need several naps in the daytime. How far can a 6 month old German Shepherd walk? Even if you think that your pup needs a lot of exercises, walking and running should not comprise the largest part of it. The puppy can walk up to 6 miles or 10 kilometers if it is needed, but never make it walk for such a long distance. Its bones and joints are not formed completely yet, so much walking can cause many health issues. Choose some other activities for exercising, then. Final Thoughts Now, you can see that your 6 month old GSD puppy is a source of both enjoyment and trouble. You should be very patient, persistent, and careful about feeding, training, and exercising your little one to raise a healthy, energetic, and loyal dog, the best companion and protector for all your family. Follow the advice of your veterinarian relating to health and care. You can also consult with a professional dog trainer or hire them to help you. We hope that some recommendations and tips in this article will also be helpful. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. If you have recently welcomed a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy into your home, you are probably feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelming responsibility. At six months, your GSD puppy is starting to look and act a lot like an adult. He is also starting to explore his surroundings and may be roaming a lot more than usual. He is also going into puppy puberty, which comes with many behavioral changes including marking, aggression and acting on sexual desires. In this blog post, we will provide a survival guide for new owners of a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy. We will cover essential topics such as feeding, exercise, training, grooming, and health care, and offer practical tips and recommendations to help you navigate this particular stage with your new companion. What to expect from a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy? If you have a male puppy, for instance, you will notice that they are becoming overly territorial or intolerant of other male dogs and generally aggressive to unfamiliar people. In addition to the hormones, are the raging sexual desires which will make your puppy want to be around dogs of the opposite sex. Female puppies will start to go into heat, while male puppies will start roaming looking for females. Other changes to expect include: Playful and energetic Your young dog is also likely to be more energetic and playful than before. Becoming independent GSD puppies at this age are also starting to become more independent and may be less reliant on you. Enhanced communication skills Puppies at this age also have enhanced hearing skills and can process instructions a lot better. This is the time to advance obedience training to help them learn good behavior and become well-behaved adult dogs. Resource guarding Additionally, they may experience what we refer to as resource guarding. This is where puppies become so possessive of their toys that they become harsh when someone or another dog tries to touch them. American Kennel Club recommends early behavior training to prevent this possession aggression from escalating into nasty bites. Your six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will need quite a lot from you. First and foremost, they will need a consistent routine and structure. The routine should incorporate everything from feeding to play. A routine will help make life so much easier for both of you. Other needs include A good leader As an owner, you should also provide your puppy with good leadership. Part of being a good leader is giving clear instructions and being consistent with reinforcing the behavior. For a GSD puppy, establishing yourself as a pack leader is crucial in instilling good behavior. Consistent exercise You will also need to take your dog for daily walks or for play dates at the dog park to keep them mentally stimulated and physically active. Even as puppies, German Shepherds are extremely energetic dogs, and therefore daily exercise is a basic need for them. You will need to commit to at least 30 minutes of exercise in the morning and another 30 minutes in the evening. In addition, you will need to have a list of games and activities to keep them busy and mentally stimulated. Here are some activities you can try. Proper socialization It is also important to continue socializing your German Shepherd puppy at this age. This can involve exposing them to a variety of people, places, and other animals in a controlled and positive manner. This will help your puppy develop into a well-adjusted adult dog. Proper nutrition Proper nutrition is also important for a growing German Shepherd puppy. You will need to feed your puppy high-quality food appropriate for their size and age. It is generally recommended to feed puppies three to four times per day until they are about six months old, after which you can gradually transition to twice-daily feedings. Love and attention In addition to these basic responsibilities, you are also expected to provide your German Shepherd puppy with plenty of love, attention, and positive reinforcement. This will help them feel secure and build a strong bond with you. There are plenty of ways to bond with your dog. You can make use of the morning and evening exercise to bond, go on weekend hikes and trips together, walks at the dog park or play interactive games indoors. The goal is to create as much quality time with your dog to enhance the bond. Regular grooming Regular grooming is another thing your pup will require from you at least once every week. Now that their coat is fully filled up, they will start to shed a lot. This means you will need to create a schedule for brushing their coat and general grooming, like cleaning their ears and teeth. Ensure you get a good-quality brush for this job. They look a lot like a large breed dog at this point. Males will have an average weight of 53 pounds and a height of between inches, while females will weigh 46 pounds on average and will be inches tall. However, some German Shepherds puppies may be larger or smaller than others at this age. The puppies will have a more developed a more muscular appearance than they did when younger. They will have a longer, thicker coat, and their ears may be fully upright. Their paws may also be larger and more in proportion to their body, and a majority will have all their adult teeth on. Also noticeable will be their strong, muscular build and their intelligent and confident demeanor. It is normal for some puppies to grow more quickly or more slowly than others. To help speed up their growth, focus on proper nutrition. You also want to get your puppy a variety of chew toys to help with ear erection. This new stage comes with its own set of behavioral changes, as expected, like aggression, territorial marking, and moodiness. Other changes that your pup may experience to indicate sexual maturity include bloody discharge and swelling of the vulva. As the hormones kick in for both males and females, they will begin to act on their sexual desires. For males, particularly, they will start to prowl for females, and for females, they will start to go into their first heat cycle. But yes, from 6 to 12 months, your pup will develop aggressive reactions to other dogs as well as to unfamiliar faces. They will start to get pushier when playing with other dogs. They will also become bolder and more fearless when with other dogs. This is their innate need to want to dominate and protect their territory, which they are slowly marking. This sudden aggressiveness is also due to the hormonal fluctuation they are experiencing. Ideally, your puppy should have been trained as early as 4 months when the aggressive behavior starts so that by the time the aggression is heightened at 6 months, it is easier to deter. Be aware that even though they will not be aggressive to you as their owner, they will start to show disobedience when you give them commands. You will need to stamp your authority so that the puppy understands that you are in charge. This will also make training even with aggressive behaviors easier. Puppy puberty: What do owners need to know? The sixth month in puppies is marked with a surge of hormones. This makes it pretty hard to predict their behaviors. In fact, they may show some aggression and pushiness. They however like to hang out around female dogs because their sexual desire is heightened. For female puppies, you will notice a shift in their moods. They are also likely to become insecure and less interested in activities they once enjoyed as they start getting on heat. They may also become irritable and aggressive to other dogs. Both genders will also start showing some disobedience and unruly behaviors like not responding to commands they once did. Nutrition needs of a 6-Month-Old German Shepherd puppy At six months old, your German Shepherd puppy will still have some growing to do, and it is important to ensure that they are receiving the right balance of nutrients to support their growth and development. There are a variety of meat proteins that you can incorporate into the diet, such as chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, and salmon. Fats Fats and oils from fish, chicken, and meats are essential in developing healthy and shiny coat, skin, and fur. Carbohydrates Your 6-month-old puppy is going to need a lot of energy to keep up with his current activity levels. According to PetMD good sources of carbohydrates are plants and grains. Other essential nutrients Your puppy will also need essential nutrients minerals and vitamins to help in stabilizing their surging hormones as well as dental health and a multitude of other body functions. These nutrients can be found in cereals, meats, and vegetables. But your dog is still a puppy on the inside, and this is very important to remember. Your dog still has a lot of growing to do on the inside! A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy is going to need a lot of socialization and structured crate training and enough gentle exercise and play to keep all that energy under control. What to Expect as Your German Shepherd Turns Six Months Old German Shepherds are really smart , strong dogs, which can mean they are a handful to raise and train as they grow up and get bigger. If you are caring for a German Shepherd puppy right now or have ever done so in the past, you already know this! One of the biggest areas of anxiety for first-time German Shepherd owners is whether what they are experiencing with their dog is normal or not. For example, is it normal for a six-month-old German Shepherd puppy to be biting everything in sight? How about if a six-month-old German Shepherd puppy whines and barks a lot? What about appetite, portion size, and treats for a 6 month old German Shepherd? When should you transition to adult dog food and an adult dog portion size? And what about that all-important question — should you get your German Shepherd spayed or neutered and, if so, when should you do it? These are all intelligent questions that caring dog owners typically ask. So if you are wondering what the answers are, you are not alone — and you are about to find out in the sections to follow here. In most cases, the timing of neutering a male German Shepherd puppy is going to be different than the spaying of a female GSD. So we will look at each procedure separately here. When to neuter your male German Shepherd puppy However, as the University of California at Davis points out, a scary new study in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Science highlights the health risks of too-early neutering. Specifically, joint disorders, musculature injuries, cancer, and incontinence are all risks that are linked to neutering a German Shepherd before the age of 12 months one year old. Researchers believe the risks arise from how neutering lessens or eliminates the production of important hormones associated with reproduction and also with growth. When a male dog is neutered too early, the hormones that tell the soft cartilage growth plates in the long leg bones when to close go missing. This can delay reaching the final German Shepherd growth stages, cause bone overgrowth, contribute to skeletal weakness throughout life and might cause German Shepherds to stop growing. To reduce these risks, you may want to delay neutering your male puppies until after their first birthday and they are a full grown German Shepherd. Alternately, you may want to delay neutering until after your veterinarian has X-rayed your dog and determined that the growth plates have closed and hardened. When to spay your female German Shepherd puppy Choosing when to spay a female German Shepherd puppy comes with additional safety considerations and health threats beyond simply preventing unplanned pregnancy. Female German Shepherds that are spayed too early in life have an increased risk of mammary cancer and urinary incontinence along with more frequent and serious joint and skeletal issues. To lessen the risk of these issues, it is definitely important to wait until your female German Shepherd puppy has had her first birthday. But you may want to wait even longer, and here is why. Many breeders believe that a female German Shepherd should go through one to two successful full heat cycles before spaying. As owners posting on this popular German shepherds Forum explain, waiting until your female German Shepherd has had her second birthday can reduce the risk of later-in-life urinary incontinence even further. And then some owners and breeders will choose to spay at the halfway point of 18 months. Other neuter or spay considerations for a German Shepherd puppy It is also important to keep in mind that some K-9 programs, such as participation in formal military or police K-9 work, are only open to intact German Shepherds. If you want to enroll your dog in this type of program, be sure to check the requirements before proceeding with a neuter or spay procedure. For this reason, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America GSDCA explains that weight monitoring is an essential aspect of adjusting food portions during the age of three to six months old. By the age of six months old, your puppy should be eating twice per day. Make sure clean, fresh water is always available to your dog. Only feed your puppy a high-quality, complete, and balanced puppy food made for large-breed puppies ask your breeder or veterinarian if you are not sure what to feed. As we mentioned earlier in this article, a six-month-old German Shepherd puppy is likely going to look very similar to how it will look like an adult German Shepherd. But on the inside, there is still so much growing and developing to be done. What you feed, how you feed, and how much you feed can have everything to do with how strong and structurally healthy your GSD puppy grows up to be. Start by mixing 90 percent old food with 10 percent new food. Do this for one to two days. Then switch to 80 percent old food mixed with 20 percent new food. Continue until you are at percent new food. This system can ease digestive upset and temporary elimination issues like constipation or diarrhea that may arise when there is a big food switch. As the Central Texas Veterinary Hospital explains, German Shepherds as a breed can be particularly prone to issues of a sensitive stomach. This makes planning for a slow food transition especially critical to success for this breed. Training a Six Month Old German Shepherd Puppy According to expert dog trainers with the German Shepherd Dog Club of America , the type of puppy training your dog receives from the ages of two to six months is vital to raising a healthy, happy adult dog. Quite the contrary! So your GSD puppy may still be teething and biting on everything in sight to deal with that painful process. German Shepherds are high-strung, sensitive dogs and they are also strong and powerful. You can accomplish the same and even better training results using positive rewards-based reinforcement methods that will not damage your bond with your dog. Continue socialization with strange people and animals Your German Shepherd puppy will need ongoing exposure to strangers — people and animals — as part of the socialization and training process. You have total control over how you want your German Shepherd to respond when a strange person or animal crosses their path. You can teach your puppy how to alert you when an unknown individual approaches your home or crosses your path. If you are firm and consistent with your training through the teenage phase, hiring a professional K-9 trainer if you need to, your reward will be a well-behaved, well-trained adult dog that will guard, defend and protect you with their life. One reason for this is that as long as the growth plates stay soft, you risk injury if you over-exercise your dog. But the soft growth plates can be damaged if your German Shepherd puppy is allowed to run for extended periods of time, race up and down the stairs, do a lot of jumping or agility work or play too vigorously. Games like tug-of-war also bad for developing teeth. Throw-the-toy ball, stick games. Too-vigorous or rough play with other dogs or people. So at six months of age, your German Shepherd puppy should be exercising for 30 minutes six months times 5 minutes each day. But here again, make sure the exercise is appropriate for a young large breed dog that is still growing and developing internally. Using mental and sensory exercise aids like snuffle mats and treat puzzle toys and teething aids like iced Kongs and safe flavored chew toys can also provide much-needed exercise and enrichment for mind and body. This will help ensure your 6 month old German Shepherd grows up to be a healthy adult dog. It is fun to watch Sam demonstrate how he has mastered basic commands from multiple owners, which is very important to help your GSD puppy socialize and bond fully with all family members. The owner also talks about the formal K-9 training program Sam is enrolled in through their local German Shepherd dog club. This is a fun option for you and your dog that is worth checking out if you happen to have a local German Shepherd club in your community. At 6 months old, a German Shepherd puppy is still in the early stages of development, but they have already started to show some distinct characteristics that will give you a good idea of what to expect as they grow into adulthood. One of the most noticeable traits of a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy is its energy level. These dogs have a lot of energy and require plenty of exercise and playtime to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. At this age, they may become restless and even destructive if they do not get enough exercise or mental stimulation. Another characteristic of 6-month-old German Shepherd puppies is their curiosity and desire to explore their surroundings. They may start to test boundaries and push their limits as they try to understand their world. This can lead to some mischievous behavior, such as chewing on objects or digging in the yard. However, with proper training and supervision, these behaviors can be redirected in a positive way. At 6 months old, German Shepherd puppies may also start to display some protective behaviors. They may become more vocal and alert when strangers or other animals approach, and they may even start to show signs of guarding behavior. Finally, a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy may start to show signs of intelligence and trainability. These dogs are highly intelligent and excel in activities such as obedience training, agility, and tracking. With consistent training and positive reinforcement, they can learn a wide variety of commands and behaviors. At this age, your puppy is more active and playful, and you can expect them to have a lot of energy. Here are some tips to help you create a schedule for your 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy: Morning Routine Start your day early by taking your puppy for a walk or a jog. German Shepherds are a high-energy breed that needs plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. You can also use this time to practice basic obedience training , such as sit, stay, and come. Make sure you feed them high-quality dog food that is appropriate for their age and size. Mid-Morning Playtime Playtime is essential for a growing puppy. You can use this time to engage in interactive play with your puppy, such as fetch or tug-of-war. You can also provide them with chew toys to keep them occupied and prevent destructive behavior. Lunch Break At mid-day, your puppy may need a break. You can practice obedience training and work on more advanced commands, such as heel or stay. You can also use this time to introduce your puppy to new experiences, such as meeting new people or exploring new environments. Make sure to feed them a balanced meal that meets their nutritional needs. Evening Walk End the day with a brisk walk or jog. You can use this time to provide your puppy with a comfortable sleeping space and some quiet time to relax. At six months old, a German Shepherd puppy is well on their way to reaching adult size, although it may still have some growing to do. On average, a six-month-old male German Shepherd will weigh between 50 and 70 pounds kg , while a female German Shepherd of the same age will weigh between 40 and 60 pounds kg. Additionally, German Shepherds are a large breed of dog, and their growth rate can be affected by their environment, health, and other factors. Feeding your 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy the right amount of food is crucial for their growth and development. At this age, your puppy will be growing rapidly and require a balanced diet to fuel their energy needs. The amount of food your 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy needs will depend on their size, activity level, and overall health. Generally, a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy should be fed around cups of high-quality dry kibble per day, divided into two or three meals. Look for a food that contains a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, and is specifically formulated for large-breed puppies. If your puppy is very active, they may need more food than a more sedentary puppy. Just like humans, puppies require an adequate amount of sleep for their overall health and development. At 6 months old, a German Shepherd puppy should be sleeping for approximately hours per day. You may also consider providing a cozy bed or crate with a soft blanket to help your puppy feel secure and comfortable. German shepherd puppies may not sleep for long periods at a time and may wake up frequently during the night. As your puppy gets older, it will gradually begin to sleep for longer periods at night and require fewer naps during the day. Additionally, providing your German Shepherd puppy with regular exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day can help promote better sleep habits. A 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy needs a lot of exercise to maintain their physical health and mental well-being. German Shepherds are active and energetic dogs, so regular exercise is necessary for them to stay happy and healthy. At this age, a German Shepherd puppy needs at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, divided into two or three sessions. Exercise can take many forms, including walking, running, playing fetch, or going to the dog park. Always keep in mind that exercise should be appropriate for the age and physical abilities of the puppy. It is also essential to monitor the temperature outside during exercise as German Shepherds are prone to heatstroke. Exercise should be avoided during the hottest parts of the day, and plenty of water should be available to the puppy. In addition to physical exercise, mental stimulation is also important for a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy. Games that challenge their mind and encourage problem-solving, such as hide-and-seek or puzzle toys, can help keep their minds sharp. Every puppy is unique, and their exercise needs may vary based on factors such as size, energy level, and overall health. Training Your 6 Month German shepherd Training your 6-month-old German shepherd is an essential aspect of ensuring they become well-behaved and obedient adult dogs. At this age, your puppy is likely to be full of energy and curiosity, and may also start to display some challenging behaviors. Therefore, it is important to start training your German shepherd early to establish good habits and prevent unwanted behaviors from developing. One of the most important aspects of training your German shepherd puppy is socialization. This involves exposing them to a variety of people, animals, and environments to help them develop good behavior and social skills. Make sure to expose your puppy to different sounds, textures, and smells to help them get used to new situations. You should train your German shepherd puppy to behave appropriately around other dogs and animals. They should learn to be friendly and play nicely with other dogs and not chase or harass smaller animals. Consistency and patience are key when training a German shepherd puppy. Training sessions should be short and frequent, and you should always end on a positive note. You should remain calm and avoid punishing your puppy, as this can lead to fear and anxiety. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement and reward-based training to help your German shepherd puppy learn and develop into a well-behaved adult dog. Here are some common behavioral patterns you may see in your 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy and how to deal with them: Biting and Nipping At six months old, German Shepherd puppies are still teething. Biting and nipping are common behaviors. To deal with this behavior, provide your pup with plenty of chew toys and redirect their attention when they start biting or nipping. Jumping German Shepherds are high-energy dogs, and jumping up on people is a common behavior. Separation Anxiety At six months old, German Shepherds can start to develop separation anxiety as they become more attached to their owners. Fear and Aggression German Shepherds can be protective and territorial dogs, which can lead to fear and aggression towards strangers or other animals. To deal with this behavior, socialize your pup from a young age and provide them with plenty of positive reinforcement when they interact with others. Leash Pulling As German Shepherds grow, they can become strong pullers on the leash. To deal with this behavior, train your pup to walk calmly on a leash using positive reinforcement techniques and a no-pull harness. As a responsible owner, you should take certain precautions to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. Ensure that you feed them the right amount of food, as overfeeding can lead to obesity and other health issues. Exercise Regularly German Shepherds are active dogs and require regular exercise to keep them healthy and happy. Take your puppy for walks, and runs, and engage them in playtime to ensure they get enough physical activity. Socialization German Shepherds are known to be protective of their owners and can be aggressive toward strangers. Socialization is crucial in shaping their behavior, and you must expose your puppy to various people, environments, and other animals to avoid developing behavioral issues. Training Training your German Shepherd puppy is essential in shaping their behavior and ensuring they respond appropriately to your commands. Positive reinforcement training techniques work best for German Shepherds, and you can enroll them in obedience classes or hire a professional trainer to help with their training. Health Checkups Regular visits to the veterinarian are essential to ensure your German Shepherd puppy is healthy and up-to-date with their vaccinations. They can also check for any underlying health conditions and provide you with advice on how to take care of your pet. Safe Environment German Shepherds are curious animals and can easily get into trouble. Ensure your home is safe for your puppy, and keep harmful substances out of reach. With patience, consistency, and love, you and your German Shepherd can enjoy a long and happy life together. She especially enjoys combining her lifelong love of dogs with her passion for writing. Read more about her. The bottom line How to Train a 6-month German Shepherd Once you bring home a 6-month-old German shepherd for the first time, the first thing that you should do is to take him for an introductory walk. This helps the pooch familiarize with the surrounding, and to make it easier when you take him for a talk or backyard play. When training a 6-month-old German shepherd, you should start by teaching him basic training commands like sit, stay, come, and kneel. These are useful GSD commands for different situations, and you can use treats as an incentive during the training exercise. Reward your dog when he does what you ask — this will encourage them to keep trying because they want that reward again! How much should a 6-month-old German shepherd eat? You should serve your German shepherd puppy about two to three cups of premium puppy food per day. The quantity served may vary depending on the size and age of your pup but in general, this is roughly how much to feed him each day. A good rule of thumb when deciding how much to give your puppy is to determine their weight and size. For instance, if your pup weighs around 20 pounds then you should feed him two cups of food per day. If he weighs 40 pounds then this will translate to three cups. If your 6-month-old German shepherd has a sensitive stomach then you may want to consider feeding them wet food. Wet puppy food has a high water content, which will help their digestive tract maintain the right balance and prevent inflammation of the colon. In addition, wet food also contains healthy prebiotics that promotes healthy digestion. How much water does a 6-month-old German shepherd drink? A 6-month-old German shepherd needs sufficient water to drink. You should provide a water bowl that is large enough so that your pup can drink sufficient water. If you are out of the house and cannot give them constant access to fresh water, then it might be best for you to invest in an automatic water fountain. A water fountain ensures there is a continuous flow of clean drinking water throughout the day. How much exercise does a 6-month-old German shepherd need? A 6-month-old GSD needs about thirty minutes to an hour of exercise each day and they should be given some form of mental stimulation as well. One way you can do this is by teaching him or her tricks that will help stimulate her brain. How to Potty train a 6-month-old German Shepherd? A 6-month-old pup requires a lot of time and attention to potty train. The easiest and most popular potty training method is using urine and feces training pads. If you are not sure how to groom your GSD puppy, hire a professional pet groomer at a fee. A pet groomer is specially trained to groom puppies and adult dogs. You will need dog shampoo , towels, conditioners, or other products that might be needed depending on the type of hair coat your pup has i. You will also need a leash and harness for outdoor walks. If you live in a wooded area where dogs are likely to get lost, you can have a microchip implanted by a veterinarian. While 6 months might be considered too soon to be microchipped, it will come in handy later when the dog grows older so consider getting one done now! See the best undercoat rake for German Shepherd 6-month-old German shepherd behavior and temperament: Are they aggressive? You can even invest in an invisible wireless fence to keep them contained. When buying a German shepherd puppy , you should first check with a licensed breeder. Make sure that you find a reputable fully-licensed breeder who has the time and space needed to care for GSD puppies. Ask the breeder if they have any 6-month-old puppies available. Breeders should be able to tell you how many dogs are currently in their care and what types of breeds they typically raise so that it is easy for you to make a decision about where to buy and if there are several puppies to choose from. They should also have a contract that spells out your responsibilities as the owner before you sign it so there are no surprises down the road. See the distinction between King Shepherd vs. German Shepherd The bottom line German shepherd pups are little bundles of energy!