what to expect with a golden retriever puppy

There are two of us here at Puppy Love. This enables us to have several dogs in our breeding program and still ensure that each one gets the love and attention they deserve. We raise our dogs in our homes where they are part of our busy families. We both have five kids each who help to love and train our dogs and socialize the puppies. When we purchased our first Australian Labradoodle about 12 years ago, we were surprised to find that everything we had been told about this wonderful creature called the Labradoodle was true! They are friendly and fun loving, making them a wonderful family pet for children as well as adults. They are highly intelligent, easy to train and very intuitive, making them great for animal assisted therapy. We have sold many puppies over the years for therapy purposes to families who have kids or adults with special needs and also for therapy use in health care or educational settings. They truly are amazing animals and they will have you wrapped around their little paws before you know it. We breed only true Labradoodles or the Australian Multigenerational Labradoodles. We do not breed any early cross labradoodles or any labs to poodles as we have found that there is not enough consistency in temperament as well as coat. We like to be able to ensure that all of our puppies will have great personalities combined with fleece or silky soft coats that are allergy friendly. Not all Labradoodles are Created Equal! Our labradoodles are members of our families and have really enriched our lives. We want to bring them, a wonderful family pet and companion to your home. If you have allergies and have previously been unable to enjoy a dog for a pet, our puppies are the perfect choice for you. We only breed pure Australian Labradoodles. Because these are multi generational dogs, they have a much better, hypo allergenic, very little to non shedding coat. Most of the early crosses have a tendancy to shed. With multigenerational Labradoodles you get the benefit of may years of selective breeding by the breeders that started it all in Australia. In terms of Labradoodles, you really do get what you pay for! We are not a kennel. Our Australian Labradoodle puppies are hand whelped in our home and spend the first weeks of their lives in our Master Bedrooms where they and the moms feel the most safe and secure. At 3 weeks they move into the main living area of the house. From here they can see and hear just about everything that goes on in our homes on a day to day basis. Our children, who range in ages from toddler to young adult help to love and socialize the puppies until they are ready to be adopted and go home with you. Puppies raised in this environment make the best pets because they have been given the best possible start. They will enjoy running with you, swimming with you, they are great at fetch, highly intelligent and easily trained. When you are all done playing, what the Labradoodle enjoys the most is a nice, warm cuddle with you! Start your summer off in the best way possible by adding a new puppy to your family. Get out and enjoy the beautiful season with your new best friend! Contact us for details. Testimonials Our experience with Puppy Love Labradoodles has been a very good one. Right from our first call from Darice asking us all kinds of questions about our home life so that she could decide if we were the right people to purchase one of their puppies. We could not be happier with Darice and her family's professional and caring help. No questions have gone unanswered. We would not hesitate to buy another puppy from them. Contact Details. Family raised with love and laughter for a happily ever after. We are not a kennel. Aside from being intelligent, smart, and loyal, this coat quality is often why they are so highly sought after. Many families will find success with this breed, where other breeds have failed. Puppy Selection I am proud to be a breeder that allows families to choose their own puppy. After raising puppies for more than 13 years, I have never felt the need to allocate puppies to families. On occasion, a family will ask me to pick their puppy for them and I always provide guidance as to personality differences between puppies within a litter. If I feel that a chosen puppy will not be a good fit for a family, I will tell them. Health Guarantee Davidson Doodles is proud to be able to offer a 3 year health guarantee on our Australian Labradoodles and a 2 year health guarantee on our Bernedoodles. Meet the Davidson Family! As a family, Australian Labradoodles were love at first sight for us. Labradoodles have proven to be the ideal family pet for us. I currently live in SW Edmonton. I am dedicated to raising healthy and sound Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles and Australian Bernedoodles. Dogs have always been a huge part of my life. Growing up our family had a maltese poodle, Sam. When I began living on my own, I got my first dog, Jamie. Bailey joined my small family shortly thereafter. My first experience with an Australian Labradoodle was as a guardian home. And the love was instant. Their non-shedding, allergy friendly coats make them ideal family pets. Their goofy personality, loyalty, intelligence, and gentle demeanor were traits that needed to be shared with dog lovers everywhere. But it had to be done right. There are many reputable Labradoodle breeders available in Alberta who can help you find the perfect pup for your family. By asking these questions, you can be sure that you are getting a healthy, well-socialized puppy from a reputable breeder. The cost will vary depending on the quality of the parent breeds that the Labradoodle puppies come from, as well as if you want a specific generations or a specific color might increase the cost substantially! The pricing also depending on what region or state you live in. What is the lifespan of a Labradoodle? Labradoodles have a long lifespan and they can live up to 13 to 15 years of age with proper care and nutrition as well. If you know any great Labradoodle breeder who lives in Alberta, please let us know in the comments below. So we can add it to our list. What is the Breeder Name? Where are they located in Alberta? It really helps others who are looking for a Labradoodle puppies in Alberta. If your friend and relative looking for a Labradoodle Puppies in Alberta, you can share this post with them. If you are looking for the best Labradoodle Breeders in Alberta, you can consider one of these breeders. Labradoodle Breeders. Showing 1 - 28 of 28 resultsPage 1 - 28 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. We also have a beautiful double doodle female ready to go now! She is an absolute sweetheart that loves people and other.He is a cuddly lovable delightful , miniature Labradoodle-Cockapoo puppy! Mom's parents are both miniature.Strathcona County Ready to go home this week!!! You can follow us on Instagram at thedoodlefamily57 or check out our website at thedoodlefamily. Rosie has had her ultrasound and there are alot of puppies in her belly! This litter will due the second.Join our waitlist for future litters Ready October by completing a puppy.Calgary Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. Dam is our Chocolate Labrador, weighing 60lbs. She has been DNA tested and cleared for health and prescreened for.Edmonton Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. I was holding onto the last 2 pups from a litter of 10 for someone while they moved to Edmonton. Sadly they can no longer take the puppies. Both male, Edmonton Ready to go Sept 8 Males remaining Pic 1 has small umbilical hernia that will likely resolve on its own. Mother is our F1 Labradoodle whom we have raised since birth Father is our standard poodle. There are 2 girls and 5 boys! We are accepting reservations for these stunning.We have 4 handsome boys and 4 beautiful little girls. Dad is a purebred yellow english labrador retriever and comes from a.Labradoodle Puppies Clyde Two sweet pups left!!!! Both our doodles are girls; they're friendly, confident and socialized. They have met other people and children. We've raised them alongside our cats and horse. We've taken.Bird Dogs! Rocky View Exceptional Pedigree and top-quality puppies. We have high expectations for these litters! The moms comes from hunting lines has tones of natural instinct and is an excellent retriever. Bo a master.The puppies are here!!! Shade and Kacie Neilly's Felicity have blessed us with 3 beauties and we have space for one family that is interested in a boy. These babies are.Fairview We are excited to offer non shedding, family friendly, healthy and well-socialized puppies to families who want the very best! Shes so sweet and snuggly. She knows most of her tricks and is mainly housetrained. She is looking for a home that has the room and time for her. Lego is a 3 year old Labradoodle. He is fully housetrained and knows how to fetch, sit, paw, play dead and is.Two females and one male. Born August 9, .These cuties will be available to go early October. These are multigenerational and will be.High Park Doodles is proud to announce that Noah and.This is Buddy. He was born March .He has had 3 sets of.His name is Arlo. He is going to be a year old on July 17th. He has all his vaccinations, including his Rabies, and kennel.Must be loving family with large backyard. Lakeahore Labradoodles Instagram and Facebook pages. Breeder was hoping to keep him but due to.Browse other categories in Pets in Alberta. Showing 1 - 32 of 32 resultsPage 1 - 32 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. We also have a beautiful double doodle female ready to go now! She is an absolute sweetheart that loves people and other.Strathcona County Ready to go home this week!!! You can follow us on Instagram at thedoodlefamily57 or check out our website at thedoodlefamily. He is a cuddly lovable delightful , miniature Labradoodle-Cockapoo puppy! Mom's parents are both miniature.Rosie has had her ultrasound and there are alot of puppies in her belly! This litter will due the second.Join our waitlist for future litters Ready October by completing a puppy.Pets for sale Lethbridge 6 month old Male labradoodle. Has shots and deworming. Awesome puppy, loves to play with everyone, cats and dogs and children. Free to good home. Hate to give him away, I just don't have the time to.Calgary Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. Dam is our Chocolate Labrador, weighing 60lbs. She has been DNA tested and cleared for health and prescreened for.Edmonton Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. I was holding onto the last 2 pups from a litter of 10 for someone while they moved to Edmonton. Sadly they can no longer take the puppies. Both male, Fully adjustable. No tools required. Will fit just about any SUV. Not suitable for 70 pound male labradoodles that want to sit in the front seat. We need to find.Edmonton Ready to go Sept 8 Males remaining Pic 1 has small umbilical hernia that will likely resolve on its own. Mother is our F1 Labradoodle whom we have raised since birth Father is our standard poodle. There are 2 girls and 5 boys! We are accepting reservations for these stunning.We have 4 handsome boys and 4 beautiful little girls. Dad is a purebred yellow english labrador retriever and comes from a.Is good with horses, cows and cats. Needs to grow up on a big yard and loves water. Only reason for.Labradoodle Puppies Clyde Two sweet pups left!!!! Both our doodles are girls; they're friendly, confident and socialized. They have met other people and children. We've raised them alongside our cats and horse. We've taken.Bird Dogs! Rocky View Exceptional Pedigree and top-quality puppies. We have high expectations for these litters! The moms comes from hunting lines has tones of natural instinct and is an excellent retriever. Bo a master.The puppies are here!!! Shade and Kacie Neilly's Felicity have blessed us with 3 beauties and we have space for one family that is interested in a boy. These babies are.Fairview We are excited to offer non shedding, family friendly, healthy and well-socialized puppies to families who want the very best! Shes so sweet and snuggly. She knows most of her tricks and is mainly housetrained. She is looking for a home that has the room and time for her. Lego is a 3 year old Labradoodle. He is fully housetrained and knows how to fetch, sit, paw, play dead and is.Two females and one male. Born August 9, .These cuties will be available to go early October. These are multigenerational and will be.High Park Doodles is proud to announce that Noah and.This is Buddy. He was born March .He has had 3 sets of.His name is Arlo. He is going to be a year old on July 17th. He has all his vaccinations, including his Rabies, and kennel.Must be loving family with large backyard. Lakeahore Labradoodles Instagram and Facebook pages. Breeder was hoping to keep him but due to.Purchased new, used once on our labradoodle and decided to use local pet grooming business instead. Contains both electric and battery-operated cutters. Browse other categories in All Categories in Alberta.

We Produce Australian Labradoodle Puppies … and not just any puppy, but one of the best! Our focus at Mountain View Doodles is breeding multi-generation Australian Labradoodle puppies that have a blocky body type, a wonderful coat of silky soft, non-shedding fleece, as well as a fun-loving, sweet temperament. Since our puppies have gone all over Oregon, to every state in the US, and some internationally as well! Apply Today We are always accepting applications for Australian Labradoodle puppies to reserve! Please visit our Available Puppies page to see our expected litters for the coming months. Sometimes our litters fill up fast so we encourage you to apply and get on a reservation list to ensure your spot. We provide all three sizes of Australian Labradoodles. We take great pride in the puppies we produce as well. Our process works with each family individually to find exactly what they are looking for not only from a aesthetics standpoint, but also a personality point of view. Our goal is to find a fabulous fit for each family that will thrive in their home. Available Puppies. Breeders ofMulti-generational Australian Labradoodles Australian Labradoodles are such a wonderful, versatile breed. They are adaptable, affectionate, eager to please, friendly, intelligent, sensitive and very trainable. They are good for the laid back person to the active family, as long as they are with their people they are happy and content. They have non-shedding coats that are allergy friendly! Our objective is to breed healthy, well-tempered, and beautiful Australian Labradoodles. To achieve our objectives, we subject our breeding dogs to rigorous health and temperament testing, we expose our pups to enriching experiences appropriate to their age. We use temperament testing to match pups to families to support the best fit of pup to lifestyle. Our breeding dogs are loved family pets and our pups are raised in our home or with one of our amazing guardian families. We are not a kennel! We are a registered breeder with the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association WALA and operate in a manner that respects the highest ethical and professional standards. Hudson and his little brother! It is a wonderful place to live and raise Australian Labradoodles. Our goal here at Montana Sky Labradoodles, is to produce happy, healthy and sound Australian Labradoodle puppies with wonderful temperaments. We do extensive health testing on all of our breeding dogs, and take extra measures to promote the health and well being of our puppies. All of our puppies are raised in our home, as part of our family, to ensure lots of care, attention, and the best socialization and interaction possible. Our puppies receive proper vet care, and are up to date on all of their vaccinations, micro-chipped for permanent identification, before leaving for their forever home. We strive to produce puppies that will be the perfect addition to your family. Raised by our family for your family Interested? Or give us a call, at We love to talk about our Australian Labradoodles! We love to talk about our Australian Labradoodles! Dan graduated from Southwestern Seminary, and has been a pastor for many years. God has blessed us, with allowing us to do what we enjoy, which is working in the ministry. If you send an application or email and do not hear back within 24 hours, please call for an alternate email. Home of the calm, social, wicked smart doodle See our older puppies page now! They are miniature size puppies and can go home late August. Colors are parti, apricot and phantom. Mom and Dad have wonderful temperaments and adore their guardian families. Rain is an amazing mother. Their puppies should have excellent personalities as well, with some therapy temperaments, and all-around awesome pets. Breeder reserves the right to first two puppies in any given litter Pink collar girl is now Bexlee for the Rossol family of Billings,MT! Puppies will be pounds and about inches tall. We have solid chocolate, chocolate partis and caramel partis! Two boys and five girls. Many will have therapy temperaments. Puppies were born the later on the 11th and early on the 12th, so we'll call the 12th their birthday! Puppies will be mini about pounds black phantoms in solid and parti, as well as apricots. See Fiona's second litter for examples. This list will change as girls go into heat. I reserve the right to skip any cycle, especially if several girls go into heat at the same time. Questions about Labradoodle puppies for sale in Montana? We have answers. Give me an overview of Labradoodle puppies for sale in Montana. Life with an Uptown Labradoodle is a lot easier without all the sniffling, sneezing, and piles of hair on the carpet! Soft, Cuddly, Cute Australian Labradoodles are already some of the cutest dogs on the planet, and we breed our pups to be even more adorable than usual. Friendliest Dispositions Australian Labradoodles are famous for their friendliness and patience, and these dogs make the perfect companion for all of your adventures, big and small. Australian Labradoodles just love whatever you love doing. Extremely Intelligent With genes from highly trainable breeds like the Labrador Retriever and super-intelligent dogs like the Poodle, training your new Labradoodle will be a snap. The Uptown Family We love our dogs like family. When you take one of our Labradoodles home, you become a part of that family. Because we want to help you raise the ultimate Doodle, we also offer high-quality food, effective supplements, and thorough training materials for you new pup. Perfect Family Pet Whether your home has kids, other pets, or none of the above, Australian Labradoodles fit right in with families of all shapes and sizes. And combined with our huge variety of coat colorations, choosing the right dog has never been easier—or more fun. Premium Network of Labradoodle Breeders in Montana People are crazy for Uptown Labradoodles, and we wanted to share our incredible dogs with people all over the country—so we created a network of the best breeders who share our passion and ridiculously high breeding standards, keeping both our customers and pups happy! Elite Montana Labradoodle Genetic Lines We take pride in maximizing the positive traits of our puppies while eliminating negative ones, such as genetic disorders. Our goal is for every puppy in every litter to be as even-tempered, healthy and adorable as the last.

We raise mini goldendoodle and Irish mini goldendoodle puppies. Our miniature goldendoodle puppies are F1 lbs , F1b lbs , or multigen lbs and our mini Irish goldendoodles typically range from lbs, depending on parent size. Our Breeding Mini Golden Puppies has extensive experience raising both standard and mini goldendoodles and labradoodles in the first generation and first generation backcross. We have taken further steps to improve our breeding by introducing multigen mini goldendoodles and mini Irish goldendoodles. Our puppies range in color from light golden to dark red, with Irish mini goldendoodles keeping the darkest red coloring. We no longer raise standard size doodles or labradoodles. Size of Our Puppies Our puppies typically range in size from lbs. We normally get a pound size range within each litter. We consider all our puppies mini goldendoodles since we use the mini size poodle in all our goldendoodle types. Our puppies in the pound range are considered the medium size and puppies in the pound range are miniature size. Many breeders have different definitions for size and some use the terminology "petite" or "toy", which we don't use. We also don't use the smallest size of poodles, which are correctly called toy poodles also referred to as teacup or tiny for the smallest toys. Some of our litters will have a size range that falls within both our classification of miniature and medium sizes, such as a pound range. Our Philosophy We concentrate our program on health, intelligence, social temperaments, and teddy bear appearances for our puppies. Puppies come well socialized in our relaxed rural environment and fit in well with families that have children. We put the most emphasis on our past experience rather than lists of requirements or guidelines set by another breeder or organization. We are not about to conform to a standard that we feel will adversely affect our focus on our doodle puppies and the specific teddy bear appearance, playful disposition, and health we strive for. We also have found most registrations to contribute nothing to the breed, especially our specific focus. We are about 3. Louis, 4. See puppies we have placed in the:. We offer a personal touch to breeding and raising our puppies, ensuring that every customer feels like a part of our family. If you have any questions or concerns, we are just a phone call, text, or email away. About Our Miniature Goldendoodles Our Miniature Goldendoodles are an exceptional hybrid breed, resulting from a purebred Golden Retriever and a miniature poodle cross. At maturity, they typically average 25 lbs. Our mini puppies embody the best characteristics of their parent breeds, including the amiable temperament of the Golden Retriever and the intelligence and low-shedding coat of the miniature poodle, making them ideal allergy-friendly pets. While our puppies are generally low shedding, some shedding may occur when the puppy coat transitions into the adult coat. Our female, Paislee, has abstract pups. Our puppies are wormed at weeks 4, 5, and 6 and receive their first puppy vaccine at 6 weeks. Before leaving our possession, each puppy undergoes a veterinary check to ensure their health. If any issues are detected, we will assist you in moving your deposit to another litter, if you choose to do so. If you wish to purchase a puppy for the purpose of breeding multiple litters, the cost is double the pet price. Our Happy Clients Our puppies have found loving homes all across the country. Take a look at the map below to see where our Mini Goldendoodle puppies have been placed and join our community of happy puppy owners! We got our mini golden doodle here and had a great experience. Neely was amazing and so helpful in answering all my questions. Highly recommended! They have been more wonderful than we could have ever imagined. They are the sweetest and smartest puppies ever! I highly recommend Cheryl at Walters Mini Golden Doodles if you are looking for the perfect addition to your family! The team would send me weekly updates and provided the 1st round of vaccines for us. I would recommend using this breeder and would purchase another puppy from them again! This is Benny, whose parents were Mars and Bella. He just turned 2 in April and weighs 37lbs. I would highly recommend her services. We had the opportunity to bring our precious little puppy home on .Teddi Belle is such a joy to have and our family is blessed to add her to our addition. First, and all subsequent vet check-ups were excellent. Our niece has also purchased a Mini Goldendoodle from Walters and is experiencing similar enjoyment. I would recommend this breeder to anyone who asks me. Do not hesitate to consider Walters Mini Golden doodles as your breeder. We are here to help make your forever home complete with a happy and healthy Miniature Goldendoodle puppy.

More than other breeds, the bulldog mother may need your help with nursing, feeding and weaning pups. Bulldog Pregnancy and Birth A typical bulldog pregnancy lasts around 63 days. The bulldog's physical shape means that many dogs are unable to give birth to their puppies without assistance -- the female bulldog's pelvis is very narrow and each puppy's head is very large. When puppies are born by caesarean section, the mother dog does not get the full physical and hormonal cues telling her body that the puppies have been born. After a caesarean section, you will need to milk the mother dog's colostrum to feed the newborn pups. This special milk, produced only for a short time after birth, contains antibodies that are important to the health of the newborn pups. If the mother's colostrum is unavailable, you can substitute a commercial colostrum formula. Twenty-four hours after being born, the puppies can drink commercial puppy milk formula if the mother is unable to nurse. Ideally, the puppies will nurse from their mother as soon as possible after being born. Those puppies nursing within the first 12 hours after being born have the best survival chances. Nursing Schedule In the first four to five days, newborn bulldog puppies need to nurse every two hours. It may look as though the pups are feeding more often -- or even constantly -- because not all the mother dog's teats will carry milk at the same time. As they get older, they will need to feed less frequently. Make sure that all the puppies get their turn at the teat during feeding time -- sometimes the larger or stronger pups will push aside smaller or weaker puppies. Bottle Feeding If you are bottle-feeding the puppies, you'll need to do so every two hours, day and night, until they are 6 days old. After that, the puppies can go to a feeding schedule of six to eight feedings every day until they are 3 weeks old, and four feedings daily beyond that point. At each feeding, a puppy should receive 1cc of prepared formula milk for every ounce of its body weight. Transition to Food Around 1 month after birth, puppies typically start eating some soft foods, although they will continue to nurse from the mother until they reach 8 weeks old. As puppies start eating soft foods, you will need to clean out each puppy's facial wrinkles -- the puppies and the mother may be unable to clean their wrinkles completely. If soft food gets stuck in a puppy's wrinkles, it may develop infection or sores. Typically, the mother dog will start to wean the dogs between 5 weeks and 7 weeks after birth. At this point, you can start introducing hard foods such as puppy kibble. More Articles. Below is baby english bulldog puppies week by week. Variables such as temperature, air movement, and nutrient intake must be tightly controlled. Puppies are kept separate from their mother to ensure they are not laid on nor neglected. Your English Bulldog Baby at this age, most often do not have their eyes open yet. Instead they rely on their sense of hearing to know where their mom is and the other littermates. Week 3 The third week of life is a big week as major, physical development and progress are made during this week. The baby bulldogs should begin cracking their eyes open and begin developing their new found eyesight. Increased visibility adds a small level of independence that is certainly appreciate. The young puppies are now able to locate their mother and nurse more consistently on their own. During this week, we most often make the decision to leave the litter with their mother permanently. Mom will take on the responsibility of not only nursing the puppies but also cleaning up after them. This also means we are able to get a full night of sleep! What do we look for in a good Bulldog mother? Bulldog mom has to have a genetically clean pedigree history. We make sure each bulldog line that we produce has the best chance to stay healthy and happy. Bulldog mom has to have a great personality. We demand that all the bulldogs we own are extremely confident and great with both children and other pets. Breeding bulldogs with great personalities is very important as many social traits are passed from the parents to the baby. Bulldog mom has to have a great maternal instinct. Because the babies are so vulnerable we try to select and keep female English Bulldogs that show endearing and caring traits towards their babies. Week 4 Week four is our walking week! While bulldog puppies do begin to walk earlier at times, typically during week four we begin to see some major walking. The new found mobility is a joy to watch but does present some different types of responsibility as our bulldog puppies certainly can get themselves into trouble! During this week, we will start to perform some basic socialization steps to ensure that they are prepared for their new homes. Week 5 The puppies are now able to run, chew, and yes, sometimes bite! With the physical progress there are certainly ample teaching opportunities to develop these little guys into well behaving bulldogs. During this time we continue to analyze each puppy socially and develop unique, social profiles of each bully. The puppies start to focus less on physical survival and devote much of their time to playing with their littermates. This is a great learning environment for the puppies! This mushy treat quickly becomes a favorite for the pups. A robust bulldog puppy can now weigh around 5 pounds. The puppies will also undergo their first round of vet checks to ensure they are developing physically sound bodies. Socially, we continue work with the puppies to ensure they are exposed to the many different environments of the new homes they will be going to all while balancing a high level of biosecurity to ensure they are not exposed to harmful diseases to ensure for a healthy English Bulldog! The puppies are now old enough and confident enough in themselves to begin developing expectations. Being held and being fed are no longer special occasions rather they are rights to life that are demanded. We continue to provide the high level of care that we hold ourselves to while developing flexibility within each bulldog pup. Week 8 The theme for week 8 is adoption preparation. We will make a decision with our vet the age in which the bulldogs are able to be taken home. The primary variable within this decision is physical development. Most of our bulldogs will go home right around the end of week 9 all the way to week .It simply depends on the bulldog. At this point we encourage our adopters to finish prepping for their puppy. 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. When do puppies start transitioning to solid food? In these scenarios, pet parents have to step in to help feed the babies around the clock. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club AKC , recommends using a baby scale to monitor the weight gain of each puppy. Puppies should first be weighed at birth and again at 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, three days, five days, and seven days. If everything is going well, all puppies should show a gradual weight gain. If this behavior is sudden or excessive, it requires an emergency vet visit for both mom and baby. Newborn puppies typically nurse from their mom about every two hours. As they grow older, the time between nursing increases, and by four or five weeks — or even as early as three — Mom starts weaning her puppies. How often should you feed a newborn puppy? It depends on their age. Newborn orphaned puppies who are less than two weeks old should be fed every three to four hours, while 2- to 4-week-old puppies will do well being fed every six to eight hours. Best Friends Animal Society recommends the Esbliac puppy milk replacer when feeding orphaned puppies or those who need extra support. Experts say that any puppy milk replacer should contain optimal levels of omega-3 fatty acid and DHA docosahexaenoic acid , a nutrient that is important for the development of their brains and eyes. Containers will come with feeding instructions — follow these carefully. Just as with newborn babies, the milk can be tested on your forearm before feeding. You want it about the same temperature as your skin or only slightly warmer. As you nourish your newborn, be aware that overfeeding may put your puppy at risk of aspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, and gas build-up in the stomach and intestines. How to bottle-feed a newborn puppy A puppy nursing bottle is the best way to feed your bundle of joy. The size of the hole in the nipple is crucial to successful bottle feeding, according to experts at Best Friends. To check this, turn the bottle upside down and gently squeeze: If the milk drips freely, the hole is too large. That means the puppy could take in too much and risk inhaling it into their lungs. If the hole is too small, the puppy has to work too hard to get nourishment and may refuse to nurse. Instead, place the puppy on their stomach with their head level as if they were nursing from their mom. Tilt the bottle up slightly to prevent your puppy from inhaling too much air. Do not force the puppy to nurse, or allow them to nurse too fast. According to the AKC, some orphan puppies take a little time to get the knack for the sucking part of feeding. In addition, for the first two weeks, orphan pups should be stimulated to urinate and defecate after each meal. This is done by rubbing the area between the back legs with a warm, wet cotton ball. This action mimics the licking mom does to make her puppies go potty. When pups are with their mom, they may start the process of weaning — or transitioning from milk to solid food — as early as three to four weeks of age. You can begin by mixing puppy milk replacer and puppy food, though adding a bit of water is always an option, too. If they need a little encouragement, dipping a finger in the food and then touching their noses with it can be a great way to entice them to eat. By 8 to 10 weeks, says Manucy, the puppies should be fully weaned. Nothing will bring you more joy and satisfaction than watching those fur babies thriving under your loving care. Editors' Recommendations. The early care and environment of the English Bulldog newborn puppy are very important. Reasons a English Bulldog puppy might die early on are usually due to difficult whelping, congenital or genetic defects, environmental factors i. Things to have handy in case of an emergency: a box of Amoxi-Drops anti-diarrhea medication like Biosol, Kaolin-Pectin, or Neo-Pectilin thermometer Karo syrup or honey tube feeding kit 10 feeding tube and 10cc feeding syringe several cans of puppy formula like Esbilac; however, it is very important that a English Bulldog puppy get its mother's milk if at all possible during the first 5 days to protect it from infection and give it antibodies from the mother's milk You can purchase pre-made formula from your vet and outside of the mother's milk, it is best. However, the following formula is cheaper and provides all the nutrition. It's been used by many people and gives good results: l can Carnation evaporated milk some prefer canned goat's milk. Many use it instead of evaporated milk - both can be found in the bakery section of your grocery store. If this seems to be, change to bottled water to make the formula. Keeping the litter box tempature between degrees with no drafts for the first few days is usually adequate. Other sources of warmth can be heating pads or heat lamps. If using a heating pad, monitor the intensity of heat, as pups have been known to cook on pads set on high settings! There are many excellent heat lamps on the market, but remember that caution is needed. Heat lamps have been known to start fires! The temperature on the English Bulldog puppies 1 inch above the bottom of the box should be about degrees with a corner that is slightly cooler and allow them to scoot to wherever they like best. There should also be plenty of clean blankets, as this will allow for regulation of temperature. If a English Bulldog puppy has its mouth open, it's too hot. If a English Bulldog puppy is too cool, it often won't show anything - but it can be deadly. Hydration is one of the most important things to monitor in new bulldog pups, as it can be one of the first signs of problems. Check hydration by by pinching the skin on the back of the neck or on the top of the back. If the pinched skin stays creased, the English Bulldog puppy is dehydrated and needs fluid replacement. Also, a dehydrated bulldog pup's coat will sometimes have a ruffled or scruffy appearance. Dehydration can either be a result of inadequate nourishment, too much heat, or sickness. It is strongly suggested that you use regular newborn or infant bottles and nipples. The ones available for purchase for cats, dogs, ferrets, etc. Bottle feeding is far more preferable. The sucking on a nipple, the handling and holding of the English Bulldog puppy is so very important to their overall development. The English Bulldog puppy should be held with his head upwards and his body and tail down in a 45 to 90 degreee angle when bottle feeding. If English Bulldog puppies and their blankets are not kept clean, it is very easy to come down with a staph infection and diarrhea - which is serious, as bulldog puppies can go downhill quickly. As mentioned before, it is equally serious if the English Bulldog puppies get chilled so avoid drafts. Even if you have them in a basket with a heating pad, you need to cover the basket with a towel to keep out drafts. A chilled English Bulldog puppy must be warmed up. Put it in a pocket so that it's warm and jiggled as you walk around, or if you are a woman put it in your bra for your body heat. There are lots of little ways to accomplish it. Don't worry about feeding formula to a chilled English Bulldog puppy because it will have the opposite effect: their body cannot handle the food and makes it all the worse for the English Bulldog puppy. Priority should be to get the bulldog puppy warmed up slowly. Newborn English Bulldog puppies cannot regulate their body temperature or body functions like urinating and stools. It is important that they are pottied at each feeding. They might not have a stool each time, but they will urinate. This is what the mother does when she licks them. But some mothers don't want to be bothered, especially the first few days. After that, she will become a good mommy. Some might start off being good, then after a few days, or even a couple of weeks, not want to be bothered and might even be nasty to the puppies such as snapping and biting them. Always be careful and watch. Don't leave her alone until the bulldog pups are big enough not to be laid on, or big enough that you know that the bitch is a good mother. If the mother will not clean the babies, you must be sure to do it. Using a kleenex, gently rub the area to stimulate their potty. Then be sure to clean them well. Make sure to check them even if the mother cleans them. Often the stool will get stuck to the tail and be dry. If that happens, or if the English Bulldog puppy seems to be straining and constipated, try the following: Run warm water in the sink slowly. Put a drop of soap on their behinds, and wash and massage their behinds; it will get the tail and poop unstuck, clean them up, and cause them to potty very well. Make sure they are well rinsed, and dried thoroughly so they don't get chilled. If the little bottoms are red and sore, use some Desitin ointment. You may see green puppy stools and stools that have an appearance of bunches of tiny seeds. If all else seems normal, this seems to be harmless and short-lived. However, watery diarrhea can be very serious if left unchecked. There can be many causes, like the mother's diet, or infection. Diarrhea together with vomiting usually means infection. For the first 3- 5 days an average English Bulldog puppy ouncer will take about 10 cc's every hours. It should be broken into feedings every 2 hours 5cc per feeding. If it is a good sized bulldog puppy 1 lb. Towards the end of a week, you should increase the food needed to about cc or more. For the first week they should eat every two hours. If they are good size bulldog babies, you can sometimes go longer. By the second week, as long as you don't have any problems and they are of good size, you can usually go hours between feedings. An average weight for newborn English Bulldog puppies is around ounces. Good size puppies are oz.

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. Height: 26 inches Ratio: .This should give you their height. For example, 26 inches times 0. Using the other example, .Since each dog is going to be different, you need to look at their overall body condition rather than a weight range. Fortunately, there are body conditioning charts that you can use to figure out if your German Shepherd is at their ideal weight. Just look at them from the side and from above, feeling for ribs and pelvic bones when necessary. Younger dogs will also typically be on the thin side before they fully fill out as adults. Years of line breeding has produced several distinct types of Shepherds. Show dogs are known for a sloped back in which the back legs are shorter than the front. This unnatural formation can cause back and hip problems along with an abnormal gait. German Shepherds bred for show will also be thinner than their hardworking cousins. As you can see in this picture, this is a show-bred German Shepherd with an obvious curved back and short back legs. Working dogs, on the other hand, are bred for a sturdy, straight back so they can work long hours without getting sore. They tend to be thicker than show dogs and will, therefore, weigh more, even at the same height. As you can see in this picture, this dog has a straighter back and longer back legs, so it has been bred for working. Something else I wanted to mention here is that, according to some sources, Black German Shepherds are larger than their bi-colored cousins, despite being otherwise the same. So, if you have one of these rare and beautiful creatures, you can follow the same charts that were listed above. If your German Shepherd is diagnosed by a veterinarian as underweight or overweight for their age, then the first thing you should do is ask him or her to help you figure out the underlying cause of the problem. This will determine what should be done next. Do you have a giant German Shepherd? What about a tiny one? Comment below to tell us more about it! About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. American German shepherds have straighter backs then German shepherds. If you have a german shepherd and their lineages are close to their German roots they will have that arch in their back. How about some details regarding their feeding habits, behavior, medical needs, grooming regimen, and exercise requirements? In this section, you will find everything you need to know to keep them healthy and assist with things such as toilet training and teething. She will discipline them and make sure they learn to be independent. They then begin to go to the toilet independently and venture away from mom. At week 8, they play, can be housebroken, and bark when startled. The famous GSD ears will start to stand up, and you can begin leash and crate training. They must be handled and groomed and realize that human commands and dominance are the norm. During this time, the mother will nurse the pups until they are old enough to begin eating puppy mush , which is softened kibble. Allow puppies to eat as much as they like at each meal. At 6—8 weeks, their first shot from the vet is due. Smith, Shutterstock 12 weeks is a turning point for your pup. Their coordination will come on in bounds, as will their learning and social skills. They will be eager to learn but easily distracted, so have plenty of patience. If you become angry, it will stunt development if they become fearful of you. Your pup is officially into the juvenile period now. All of his puppy teeth should be developed by now and are normally very sharp. So, beware of your fingers when playing. At 12 weeks of age, puppies can start to eat three to four set meals a day with measured amounts. Purpose-made dog-approved chew toys are best, not teddy bears or old shoes. As they grow through this period between three and six months, GSD puppies are more juvenile than babies. They will be more boisterous and energetic. But on the plus side will feed easily, be more friendly with animals and people alike, and more than likely be housetrained if you have managed them correctly. They will be stubborn at this age when training and could ignore you, or not come when called. The best approach is to ignore any sassy attitude and only praise and fuss when back to being obedient. His internal organs and systems are fully developed and functioning as they should, while the skeleton is still growing. His full set of adult teeth should be present and correct. Your GSD is now becoming independent and will want to roam different areas and interact with their world on many more levels. Be aware that they could weigh 50 lbs at 6 months, so caution is needed with control and safety as they explore. He may also seemingly forget commands that he has been taught. It is best to ignore, not mollycoddle, any fearful reactions to new things to not reinforce the negative behaviors. By 6 months of age, you can reduce the feedings to three per day, now paying attention to the total calories consumed. Between the ages of 4—6 months, he will shed his puppy coat too. He might still be a bit goofy, gangly, and stubborn when it comes to training. German Shepherd females are reaching sexual maturity at this age. They may have their first estrus heat period. So, be mindful of letting them off the lead during this time if other dogs are around. At 9 months, your GSD can be tested for heartworm and treated if needs be. Speak with your vet about this for more detail. You can add small amounts of solid adult formula into the puppy food to get him used to the texture. Making it the optimal time to stimulate them as much as you can with obedience training and work activities. Your GSD should be comfortable in all situations, and with all types of company as their bond with humans should be well established. Their unique personality and quirks should be apparent and set them apart as your dog. They will have developed vocal and body language traits that you recognize and use for their needs. If male, he will be reaching sexual maturity and cocking his leg when urinating. He might also be looking to challenge dogs and humans for the title of pack leader. The key to cementing all your hard work so far is to be consistently firm with any boundaries he tries to push. By 12 months, they should be on adult formula only. German Shepherds stop growing between 2 and 3 years. This is when they fill out too. It starts to slow at around the age of 1, but he will continue to grow until he reaches maturity. During this time, they are considered to be adolescents. This is the same for their mental maturity too. This is the same for all German Shepherd types. Females tend to mature faster, both physically and mentally, than male German Shepherds. There are different stages within this time frame before maturity. And these are the neonatal stage 1—2 weeks , the transitional stage 2—4 weeks , the socialization stage 4 weeks to 3 months , the juvenile stage 3—6 months , and the adolescent stage 6 months to 2 years. Research has shown that neutering dogs can affect their growth. But how exactly? But early indications show that early neutering can increase the length of time that the bone grows. Meaning potentially taller dogs. But this also poses questions about whether this affects the joint alignment and whether it can cause any problems. And for the German Shepherd breed and his heightened propensity for hip dysplasia, this is a concern to be aware of. But waiting for full skeletal maturity also poses risks. Because neutering for females can reduce mammary cancer. If spayed before her first heat, it can eliminate the chances of this type of cancer altogether. As they will be able to offer you tailored advice for your German Shepherd. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth The dangers of growing too fast can affect their skeletal development. Conditions caused by growing too quickly are joint dysplasia and osteochondrosis. By feeding him a kibble that is designed for large-breed puppies will help control the rate at which his bones grow. This is because they have the optimum ratio of calcium and phosphorus levels in the food. So, always feed him large-breed puppy food during his developmental stage. This is most common in German Shepherds, but also in some Labrador Retrievers. It is an inherited disorder of growth hormone deficiency, and it will make the affected pooch always appear puppy-like. Growth Distinctions of Different German Shepherds. Puppyhood The first growth phase — puppyhood — has six development stages. During each of these stages, a puppy learns a lot of things. Neonatal Stage This period lasts from birth to 13 days. The puppy needs a lot of nursing from its mom because it is rather helpless. Its ears and eyes are closed, so it does not have any senses. The little pups should completely rely on their mothers for nourishment and care. By 2 weeks, they double their birth weight. They start crawling, and then their eyes and ears begin to open. The first milk teeth appear. The puppy can even stand up, but too unstably and shakily. This makes it possible for little ones to hear, smell, and taste. They even try to walk. Their baby teeth continue growing. The period between weeks is also called a transitional one. At the end of the third week, the motor skills start developing fast. The puppy can already control its temperature and body, namely, bowel movements. It begins to interact with its littermates. Nevertheless, the pup is still largely dependent on its mother. Though, you can interact with it. At the end of this period, the little cub is ready to explore the world. Its baby teeth are almost complete, and it can stand up more stably. It starts barking and growling a bit. The puppy grows quickly now. It actively interacts with its littermates. The baby dog can walk, and its baby teeth are complete. You can also consider the German Shepherd behavior stages from now. Its mental development starts because it discovers the world actively with its senses. Its walking improves, and it can make attempts to run, so it can even sometimes get in trouble. The puppy can start eating dog food. That is why it is important to begin weaning. The little one can recognize and greet its littermates and people, get interested in new things, and continue to explore the world. However, at this age, the first fear period can be experienced. Read our detailed guide about 6 week old German Shepherd puppy. It is the best period for taking your pet home. This period can be psychologically traumatic, so be careful not to expose the pet to direct sunlight because it may be afraid of it for its entire life. All the fears need your special attention. You need to nurture, but not encourage them. Read our detailed guide about 2 month old German Shepherd puppy. So, your puppy is three months old now. It is playful and active. Its teeth are complete. It is weaned and eats dog food. The feeding recommendation here is the overall one and a half cups, three times a day. It is also time to get your pet vaccinated against distemper and parvovirus. At the end of the third month, your little GSD can simulate its behavior after other dogs and humans. Training can start. Read our detailed guide about 3 month old German Shepherd puppy. Your puppy already has all its baby teeth, and adult canines and incisors begin to push through. It can even try to bite or nip you. The puppy coat begins to disappear and gets ready for replacement by the adult double-layer coat. You can see a racing stripe on its spine where the adult hair will grow. The puppy displays quick growth at this time, and it becomes stronger to withstand the possible fierce competition with its siblings if it is still staying with its family. It needs a lot of biting and chewing now for the correct growth of its adult teeth. Your pet needs consistent socialization and potty training now. After three months old, you should think about such vaccination as DHPP — distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. The juvenile phase lasts from 3 to 6 months, and it can be divided into three stages by month. Continue socializing and start more substantial training. You can consult the German Shepherd weight chart here to see whether your pup develops properly. So, be attentive to the games you play with your pet. Some of them can be dangerous and traumatic because your puppy may not know how to manage its body during them. You can give it two cups of kibble totally three times per day because it needs a lot of nutrition to grow. DHPP and rabies vaccines are recommended at this age. Your little pup is ready to explore the world. However, as a true teenager, it can become more stubborn and try not to listen to your commands. It starts to understand dominance and tries to persuade you in its leadership. Read our detailed guide about 4 month old German Shepherd puppy. During this month, it can gain about 10 pounds 4. Its ears have stably perked up by this time. It looks more like an adult dog but, as a true teenager, it is very playful and is always ready to go around. The adult teeth continue to appear. Sexual maturity starts emerging. You should feed your pet around two cups three times per day. A lot of training is also needed. Read our detailed guide about 5 month old German Shepherd puppy. It needs a lot of training and positive reinforcement. Now, your pet is fully house-trained, and it needs a lot of new experiences. The sixth month is a transition period to the Adolescent Phase. The ears are completely upright. Males achieve sexual maturity, while female puppies can experience heat cycles. Hormones start working, and male puppies can start marking the territory and looking for females to mate. The adult coat grows longer and gets its normal double layers. Adult teething is about to finish, and all 42 teeth appear. You should feed your dog with the overall two or three cups two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 6 month old German Shepherd puppy. Adolescence Phase Months German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years 36 months old. Females become adults when they are 2 years 24 months old. However, these criteria differ for every puppy. That is why the adolescence phase lasts from the end of the 6th month to the end of the second year of age 24 months on average. By the end of this phase, the puppy reaches its full size though it will continue slightly growing. Your dog can display testing boundaries, so disobedience is widely encountered if the dog is not properly trained. German Shepherds do not look like puppies anymore. Within this period, some dogs can display their second fear period at approximately months old , though to avoid long-lasting psychological trauma, you should ignore the fears. Some dogs may occasionally forget their skills that they have already acquired, so you may need to repeat training again. Here, the reinforced training is useful because some puppies can become entirely rambunctious. Your pet will also need more socialization since it reaches its sexual maturity, and some of its reactions can be pretty unexpected. Its sexual maturity continues, which may cause some aggression because of increases and decreases in hormones. The puppy does not gain weight so fast. Teething is finished. The German Shepherd starts looking more similar to an adult dog, with its standing up ears and well-developed muscles. The food your dog needs involves two or three cups total, given two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 7 month old German Shepherd puppy. It displays a lot of aggression. It can bark or lunge at other animals, kids, and unfamiliar people. A lot of training and reinforcement is needed. You can teach the youngster new tricks to deal with their aggression. The dog has strong adult teeth, and its ears are well-formed and perky. The transition to adulthood continues. As for food, your dog needs two-three cups in total two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 8 month old German Shepherd puppy. It does not grow fast, gaining about a couple of pounds per month. The dog needs two-three cups of food two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 9 month old German Shepherd puppy. They are very active and need a lot of attention and training. Sometimes, they can be really goofy or clumsy because they are still learning and do not know how to behave in many events. Your pup is very smart and clever but tends to display a lot of aggression if not supported and reinforced properly. The dogs should eat two-three cups in total per day. Read our detailed guide about 10 month old German Shepherd pupp y. It starts to challenge you as an owner and likes to demonstrate its leadership. You should teach it to be responsible and obey your commands. A lot of training and reinforcement is crucial. Still, give it two or three cups in total per day. It becomes a bit destructive, but be sure not to get angry or upset with it. It needs your patience and positive attitude. Such vaccines as DHPP and rabies are recommended at this age. It should also transit to adult food. Give it three or three and a half cups total twice a day. Read our detailed guide about 1 year old German Shepherd puppy. Years 1. This time is considered a transition period. The dog may have problems with fears and memory breakdowns. It may even forget how to do familiar things and should be trained again. However, its attention span is longer at this age, so it can have a more thorough obedience training. The dog should eat three or three and a half cups two times a day. Year 2 months — The Second Transition Phase This is one more transition period known as young adulthood. Your dog still displays some aggression. That is why they continue to need reinforcement, training, and socialization. It has already gained its athletic frame and strong muscle, and only several pounds are lacking for reaching its adult weight. In fact, you get a German Shepherd full-grown pet now. The DHPP vaccination is recommended at this age. Continue to feed your dog with three to three and a half cups in total twice per day. It has become a loyal and protective family pet or an obedient and enduring working dog. The young adulthood stage lasts from the second to the third year after the puppy was born. Its size is typical now for an adult dog. However, it may continue to grow slightly, but the changes are not noticeable at all. At this phase, you can also notice that your pet becomes more and more active. It needs a lot of exercise and training. A lot of physical activity is essential for the dog to stay in high spirits. The period between the second and third years of life is also called the adult growth stage. This is the time when your friend gets its excellent breed characteristics. It loves attention very much and continues to learn new things eagerly. The dog enjoys training sessions and strives for new experiences. It becomes calmer and more confident. Its hyperactivity slightly decreases. It displays a lot of self-control and discipline. Continue feeding your dog with three to three and a half cups twice per day. It will be its constant adult diet. Vaccination against rabies is recommended and required by authorities at this age. Seniority Phase This is the last phase of German Shepherd development. It may seem wonderful, but your dog can continue to slightly grow. The phase is divided into two periods — early senior years old and late senior years old. Unfortunately, you need to focus on its health rather than on training. Such health issues as hip dysplasia, joint pain, and decreased stamina can appear at this age. You need to have consultations with your vet more often. During this period, your dog does not change its weight and height considerably. Though, you can observe slight changes in weight. On average, these dogs live years. You need to attend to their health and comfort. The dog may remain energetic and playful, but it slightly slows down. It wants to rest more and gets much calmer. The animal may suffer from some pains, so it may need pain relievers for spine and joint problems and arthritis. It may also need nutritional supplements and changes to its diet. Special senior and sensitive stomach food may become the best choice. Avoid jumping and hard playing. Continuous veterinary monitoring is needed if some symptoms are worsening. The accepted proportion that is considered ideal is .The weight is usually not taken into consideration. If your pet does not correspond to this proportion, there may be a health issue you do not know about yet. That is why you need to monitor the parameters carefully. To be sure that everything is OK, multiply the length of your dog by 0. You will get the perfect height. However, there can be some divergences. If they are minor, you have nothing to worry about. The German Shepherd is rather thin, or even skinny. This results in bad proportions. The ideal weight of your German Shepherd is lbs kg for males and lbs kg for females. You can get either a heavy or obese dog, and it can be a result of overfeeding or certain health issues. How to Check the Weight of Your German Shepherd The simplest method to see whether your dog is underweight is to check whether the ribs are visible on the sides. If you can see that the shape of your dog reminds you of a barrel on the ribs, it means that it is overweight. If you cannot feel the ribs, but there is too much skin on the sides, your dog is overweight. However, if you feel the ribs and only a thin layer of skin, it is underweight. It does not matter whether your dog is underweight or overweight. In any case, it can cause health problems if you do not repair the situation. The best way to succeed is to make changes to the diet. If your German Shepherd is underweight, you should enrich the content of its food. However, do not make it eat if the dog does not want to. That can lead to more severe problems. Make a slow transition to food with higher fat content. Or you may even give your dog puppy food because it is rich in nutrients. If your pet is obviously overweight, the best thing is to cut off the food. However, you also need to do it step by step so that the dog finally can eat just half of the amount you have recently fed it. The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder and an average weight of pounds kg. Nevertheless, some German Shepherds can grow bigger and even reach pounds kg. You need to be sure about its proportions though to understand if your pet meets the standards. If you see some deficiencies, meet your vet for a more thorough evaluation. When does a German Shepherd stop growing? German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years old. Females become adults when they are 2 years old. How tall is a German Shepherd? The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder. An average male reaches inches cm in height, while an average female should be inches cm tall. The body of both males and females should be longer than their height. How big do German Shepherds get? How much does a German Shepherd weight? In general, an average male reaches pounds kg in weight, while an average female should be pounds kg heavy. This is a very strong and brave dog that can become a perfect guardian and protector. If you decide to take a GS puppy, you need to follow its growth stages accurately to be sure that it develops properly. You should follow a high-quality diet, provide your dog with a lot of exercise, and ensure its proper training and socialization. Your German Shepherd cannot stay healthy and active if it gets some health problems related to its weight or height. Sometimes, these issues are not obvious and understandable to the owner. That is why it is important to know the main development parameters of your German Shepherd growth stages to cope with possible challenges. We hope that this article, together with the weight and height chart, will become your effective and helpful guide. 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. As the German Shepherd growth chart suggests, a German Shepherd dog reaches full size and adult weight after one year. A growth spurt can occur between 1. The result of this late growth is an up to 10 percent increase in height and weight. Although you can consider a German Shepherd fully grown by one year, there may be additional factors that influence the growth of German Shepherd dogs. Is Your German Shepherd Healthy? Improper development can occur for many reasons. It could be as simple as your dog responding poorly to their dog food. Your feeding schedule and portions might not be sufficient. Your dog could also have a basic nutritional deficiency that you need to correct. Yet, being underweight or overweight can signify serious health problems. Weight loss can occur when the syndrome develops. Dogs typically show signs of EPI at between six months and six years of age. Parasites Dogs are highly susceptible to parasites. Deworming medication helps to reduce the risk. Yet, almost all puppies experience a parasitic infection at least once. Upon infection, your dog is at risk of serious weight loss and other troubling symptoms. Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus can affect any breed but has an above-average occurrence in German Shepherds. These dogs need insulin daily to accommodate for the inability to metabolize sugars. If your German has diabetes, severe weight loss can occur in a short period. Diabetes typically affects canines that are four years or older. It is the most common cancer in German Shepherds. Up to three percent will develop HSA. In most cases, this condition sets in at around nine to 12 years. Dietary Deficiency Do you have your German Shepherd on a raw food diet? Puppies often run underweight when receiving their nutritional requirements through raw meat. This diet is healthy and effective but needs monitoring, as not all dogs respond the same. Review the diet plan with a veterinarian and confirm there are no digestive or metabolic issues. Also, do not forget the importance of exercise! Clear Your Concerns with Coverage You put your heart into loving your dog like a child, but some things are out of your control. Health struggles can affect canines as much as humans. Even purebreds from AKC-certified breeders are not safe from serious health struggles both early and late in life. All you can do is prepare yourself to overcome complications. What if cancer happens? What else could happen? Peace of mind is great as a dog owner. Is coverage the answer? Get pet insurance quotes and see for yourself. Get Quotes for Your Cat Charitable Giving With every pet insurance policy we generate, we do our bit to help less fortunate animals across Canada and the U. Popular Articles. When your German Shepherd is the ideal weight, you can feel their ribs, although they are not easily seen, and they are not covered in a layer of fat. There should be a defined waistline when your dog is viewed from above and a noticeable tummy tuck when they are viewed from the side. Underweight German Shepherds While German Shepherds are growing, they will be thinner and look gangly until they fill out in adulthood. It is sometimes recommended to keep your growing German Shepherd marginally underweight but not unhealthily thin while their joints grow and strengthen. Purina defines two levels of underweight: thin and slightly underweight. Thin: Ribs, hips, and spine are easily felt, and there is no fat covering the sides and back. There is noticeable muscle loss around shoulders and thighs, an overly pronounced waistline from the top view, and an overly pronounced tummy tuck from the side view. Slightly underweight: Ribs can be easily felt, hips and spine may be slightly visible if your German Shepherd has shorter hair, but there is no fat covering. There is an obvious waistline from above and a marked tummy tuck from the side. If your German Shepherd is underweight or thin, speak to your veterinarian. It could be that they are just growing quickly, often becoming lightly underweight after a growth spurt and then putting weight on until the next growth spurt. You may just need to change their food or feed them larger and more frequent meals. However, their low weight may indicate parasites or another underlying medical condition. Elderly German Shepherds can struggle with being underweight. This is why senior dog foods typically have a higher calorie count. Overweight German Shepherds It is important to prevent your German Shepherd from becoming overweight while they are growing. Extra weight on developing joints and muscles can cause problems. German Shepherds can also suffer from hip dysplasia, which is worsened by excess weight. Other excessive weight-related conditions include diabetes, pancreatitis, heart problems, respiratory problems, kidney disease, and arthritis. Related: German Shepherd Joint Problems: All You Need to Know Your German Shepherd is not likely to become overweight in the first 9 months of their lives because their growth rate easily matches their calorie intake. When your German Shepherd reaches 9 months, growth slows down significantly, and you may need to adjust their food quantities to account for this sudden reduction in calorie requirements. A helpful tip is to switch to low-calorie treats during this stage, especially considering training needs to intensify, and people often use treats for positive reinforcement incentives. And instead of switching to a calorie-restricted food or reducing the amount you feed your German Shepherd, speak to a veterinarian about switching from puppy food to adult food. Purina defines four levels of overweight: slightly overweight, markedly overweight, obese, and clinically obese. Slightly overweight: Ribs can be felt slightly, but there is an obvious layer of fat covering the ribcage and back. There is a slight waistline when viewed from the top, but it is not clear. There is a slight tummy tuck towards the hind legs when viewed from the side. Markedly overweight: Ribs are not easily felt, and there is an obvious layer of fat over the ribcage. There are fatty pads along the lower back and at the base of the tail, making the waistline absent when viewed from above. Obese: Ribs are difficult to feel because of the fatty layer covering them. There are significant fatty pads along the lower back and at the base of the tail, making the waistline absent when viewed from above. And the tummy bulges outward and sags slightly when viewed from the side. Clinically obese: Ribs cannot be felt under the fatty layer. There are significant fatty pads around the neck and legs, along the lower back, and at the base of the tail. The waistline is absent when viewed from above. The tummy significantly bulges and sags when viewed from the side. Miniature German Shepherds are much smaller and have completely different development requirements and problems. Final Thoughts The weight and growth charts provided in this article are designed to provide guidelines for the developmental milestones your puppy should be reaching in the first years of its life. Male German Shepherds are bigger and heavier than females, and from weeks old, these differences become apparent. Although males and females have different weight and height targets at each stage, they should hit the same percentages of their adult weight at the same age. If your puppy is slightly above or below the average weight or height at a given age, it does not mean that there is a problem. However, if your German Shepherd puppy starts to fall more and more behind, or if they miss other developmental milestones other than weight and height, it may indicate an underlying medical condition, and you will need to take your dog to see a veterinarian. Deficiencies in weight can compromise growth and the general condition of your German Shepherd, and excess weight can cause joint injury and other serious medical conditions. Keep all of these things in mind and be observant of your growing pup and how you approach feeding and training in accordance. By doing this, you will ensure that you have a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted German Shepherd for many years to come! However, there are certain breeds that are easier to train than others. Thankfully, German Shepherds fit into that category because they are very intelligent and quick learners. This includes house training , crate training , basic obedience commands as well as learning tricks. We recommend attending a puppy kindergarten class as part of your German Shepherd puppy socialization strategy. Once your pup knows their basic obedience commands, you can enroll them in Schutzhund training aka IPO. Partnership and teamwork between yourself and your dog are the basis for this type of training. Note that the Schutzhund environment is not a place for dogs with aggression issues, neither towards other dogs nor people! If they pass that initial level which includes a temperament test, they can move on to IPO 2 minimum age 19 months and IPO 3 minimum age 20 months. That said, protection dog trainers recommend starting training classes that include bitework and high jumps once your German Shepherd puppy is 12 months old. Dutch and Czech are two other languages that commands are frequently taught in. Stanley, my former long-haired GSD dog walking client, started going to Schutzhund training when he was a little over 12 months old. His owners practiced commands in German with him on a daily basis, and I remember getting a print out of his German commands as they asked me to use them on our walks as well. Lots, ha! German Shepherds need a minimum of 2 hours of physical exercise per day, but generally speaking, the more exercise you can provide your GSD with, the more they will thrive. Remember, German Shepherds are high-energy, athletic dogs bred to be active all day long, especially if they come from a working line! Physical Exercise Ideas for German Shepherds As far as physical exercise, this can be a mix of walks, runs, bike rides, fetch and playtime. This is Nala, one of my former pet sitting clients. She was crazy about frisbees and balls. One of my favorite ways of increasing the energy and calories a dog burns on a regular walk or hike is by using a doggie backpack. Mental Stimulation for German Shepherds Besides providing a good physical workout, dog backpacks also burn mental energy. As you probably know, bored dogs can quickly become destructive as they figure out ways of entertaining themselves. For example, chewing up your furniture and shoes, scratching doors, raiding your kitchen trash can or digging up your flower beds. So do yourself a favor and make sure your GSD gets plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog, and that applies to German Shepherds as much as it does to any other dog breed! Former GSD client Remi pooped after a long walk. Bottom Line So, how big does a German Shepherd get? Well, German Shepherds are medium to large size dogs, so they can weigh anywhere between lbs. That said, the average expected weight for a male GSD is between lbs, and the average expected weight for a female GSD is between lbs. Both reach sexual maturity somewhere between months and are considered fully grown at about the 2 year mark. Keeping that in mind, your GSD breeder should be able to give you a good general idea of how big your German Shepherd puppy will grow to be! Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Barbara is a trilingual, something dog lover, e-book author, founder, copywriter, dog nutrition blogger and editor at K9sOverCoffee. Post navigation.

Tom Thorpe Blog Did you let out your dog to play only for it to go home with a limping front leg? A Golden Retriever limping front leg indicates a potential injury, health problem, and even congenital defects. Golden Retrievers are very energetic canines. Below, I discussed the possible reasons for the limping and what you should do. Gradual vs. With sudden limping, the problem occurred without previous underlying causes. On the other hand, gradual onset limping is brought by an underlying illness. The limping developed slowly, which is far more concerning than sudden limping. Nevertheless, both of these conditions require immediate treatment. This is to save your Goldie from suffering and to prevent the condition from worsening. Why is my Golden Retriever limping on its front leg? Injury and trauma Imagine your Golden Retriever as a child. If you let them out unsupervised, they can get bruised knees, a broken bone, and all sorts of possible injuries. Injury and trauma is the most common reason why Golden Retrievers will limp on their front legs. Your dog probably zoomed too fast and pulled a muscle on its front leg. Also, your Goldie can fall off elevated surfaces, which can cause trauma on its forelimbs. Aside from that, paw injuries due to sharp objects can occur. Lastly, you should rule out insect bites. My Golden Retriever is notorious for pawing bees, which always give him swollen paws and a limp that goes on for days. Elbow dysplasia Like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia can also affect Golden Retrievers. This time the affected legs are in front. This will cause limping, lameness, and other progressive symptoms. This can lead to various abnormalities on the affected joint, making it difficult or almost impossible to fix entirely. Moreover, elbow dysplasia is observed to be the most common cause of forelimb limping and lameness in young dogs. But unlike typical limping, Goldies with this condition will have a paddling gait as the dog tries to compensate for the lameness. Elbow dysplasia is easy to diagnose if the Golden Retriever puppy underwent rigorous testing. This is standard among legitimate breeders. By that time, the condition has worsened and can be expensive to manage. Panosteitis Panosteitis is a condition among young pups, specifically those that belong in the large and giant breeds. It can occur on one of the forelimbs or both. While rare, this condition can also affect the hind legs. Golden Retriever puppies with panosteitis will exhibit lameness, depression, unexplained weight loss, fever, and poor appetite. If not corrected early, panosteitis will lead to muscle atrophy on the affected legs. The good news is that this condition is self-limiting, which means it will resolve on its own most of the time. Generally, Golden Retriever puppies with panosteitis will outgrow the condition once they turn a year old. Still, some dogs will require corrective treatments and medications to assist with walking. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy HOD On a more serious note, a limping Golden Retriever might be suffering from a condition called hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is commonly observed in large breeds. According to experts, Golden Retrievers are about 5. Like panosteitis, Goldies with hypertrophic osteodystrophy will suffer from bone inflammation. The difference is that hypertrophic osteodystrophy affects the flared regions of the long bones metaphyses. On the other hand, panosteitis occurs on the bone shafts diaphyses. Moreover, HOD is a self-limiting condition that will usually go away on its own. Treatment for this condition is mostly centered on managing the pain. Overall, the medication for HOD will only last for a few weeks. But if your Golden Retriever still suffers from bone inflammation at an older age, there might be another underlying condition involved. Cranial cruciate ligament CCL tear Another condition Golden Retrievers may experience is the cranial cruciate ligament. This is quite a common knee injury among canines, which can affect both the front and rear legs. CCL tear causes sudden limping as the shin bone slides forward. Surgical correction is often necessary to prevent irreversible injuries and further joint damages. Almost all cases of CCL tear are due to overexertion. It can occur when your Golden Retriever runs too fast or jumps from an elevated surface. In general, the ligament tears because your dog planted its limbs on the ground even as the body is still in the forward movement momentum. The longer you put off treatment for your dog, the worse the condition gets. From limping, it will develop into full-on lameness, inflammation, and muscle atrophy. This condition occurs when the kneecap gets dislocated. As with CCL tears, the most common reason behind the luxation is injury or trauma. Dogs with this condition will bunny hop and limp on the affected leg. It can also affect both the front and back legs, depending on which limb received the trauma. Toy and small breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Chihuahuas are at high risk of experiencing patellar luxation. Many cases of patellar luxation require surgical correction, especially if it occurs frequently. The veterinarian can also place implants to prevent the kneecap from luxating in the future. Arthritis Almost any dog can suffer from osteoarthritis later in life. If your senior Golden Retriever is limping its front leg, you should get it checked for arthritis. Moreover, arthritis occurs due to the deterioration of the joint cartilage. As the cartilage thins, the bones rub together, which forms bone spurs. These spurs will cause extreme pain and discomfort to the affected dog. As a progressive disease, the treatment for osteoarthritis in dogs is focused on managing the pain. Veterinarians can also prescribe medications and supplements to slow down cartilage degeneration. The vet will first rule out potential causes like luxation, dysplasia, trauma, arthritis, and so on. What should I do when my dog is limping? If you noticed that your Golden Retriever is limping, the first thing to do is check the affected leg. Look for obvious wounds, injuries, or dislocation. You should also bring your dog inside and observe its behavior. If the limping front leg becomes swollen, inflamed, or warm, you should bring it to the vet right away. You should do the same if you notice that your dog is licking the affected leg too much. This habit can cause bald spots on the leg and even increase the risk of infections. Human-grade pain relievers are no-nos for canines, regardless of breed. What can I give my dog for limping? To manage acute pain on the affected leg, you can put on an ice pack on it. Reduce physical activity. Putting the canine on a crate will help. You should also keep them on ground level and avoid forcing the canine to climb the stairs or the car. Control the bleeding. If your Goldie sustained open wounds, you should wash and bandage them right away. This will control the bleeding while you head to the vet. Carry the dog. When transporting a limping dog, you should carry it around. This is to prevent further stress on the affected forelimbs. Your dog probably stepped on sharp objects or very hot pavement. A: Minor injuries may cause your dog to limp but not substantial enough to trigger excruciating pain. Some Golden Retrievers are tolerant than others, so they may appear fine even if they are experiencing pain. Q: Should I take my Golden Retriever to the vet if he is limping? However, the longer you put off treatment, the longer your dog will suffer. Q: How long will a dog limp with a sprained leg? A: A Golden Retriever with a sprained leg will limp for 24 to 48 hours. Q: Can I give ibuprofen to my Golden Retriever for limping? A: You should never give human-grade ibuprofen to your dog. This medication has a very narrow margin of safety for canines. It can cause more harm than help if you decide to self-administer. Veterinarians have treated many cases of ibuprofen-induced conditions like intestinal inflammation and internal bleeding in dogs. Final words A Golden Retriever limping front leg should always be considered a serious condition. This way, you can prevent it from running too fast or getting exposed to various hazards. Do you have something to add to this discussion? Share it with us below! Basset Hounds. Treatment : This disease is self-limiting and it will randomly resolve, during this, treatment is supportive and can make a difference. Your vet will recommend using anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medication. Prevention : Feed your puppies with the adult dog food as it contains lower levels of protein and calcium while also giving them more energy. Rapidly growing puppies need higher levels of energy to meet their growth needs. If you want to keep them on puppy food, you will need to give them more of it. But the better option is to feed an affected dog a high-quality diet that has been specifically made for use in large breed puppies, to keep the dog in healthy body weight. If you want to save yourself a lot of hassle, check out my recommended dog foods for golden retrievers at every age here. Bone disease: Cause: This disease affects large breed puppies too, and it makes walking really hard for them. It could also develop into other conditions such as osteosarcoma which is a type of cancer and hypertrophic osteodystrophy which makes walking very painful. Treatment: This condition requires taking your dog to the vet. The vet is the only one that can help your dog in this case. Prevention: You can prevent it by giving your dog vitamins supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin helps preventing further bone diseases and joint damage. Glucosamine helps in repairing body tissues such as cartilage and it also helps in reducing the pain. I do recommend checking with your doctor for the right dosage. Hip Dysplasia: Cause: This condition appears at a young age. And it only affects the rear legs. Weight reduction to take stress off of the hips. Joint supplements. Exercise restriction especially on hard surfaces. Anti-inflammatory medications. Prevention: avoid exercising young and at-risk dogs and providing essential nutrient supplements and avoid neutering at risk puppies and last but not least ensuring the skeletal system grows properly, and follow the appropriate diet for your dog. When should I take them to the vet? If you notice any of the following signs, and especially if your dog displays more than one of those, it is highly recommended to grab the phone and make an appointment at your vet as soon as possible. Obvious break. Inability to put weight on the affected leg. Dangling limp. Other symptoms appear with the limping. Related questions What should I do if my dog is limping? What are the signs of my dog being in pain? Increased breathing rate. Limping in dogs is quite common and occurs when your dog cannot walk normally due to weakness or pain. Your dog may walk slowly or with difficulty and will usually favor one leg. There are two types of limps that Golden Retrievers have: The gradual limp and the sudden limp. The gradual limp can be noticed increasing across a long period, while the sudden limp is often seen immediately after an injury or accident. Such foreign bodies can cause lacerations. Burns caused by scorching sidewalks or frostbite can also cause your Golden Retriever to limp. Get your dog some booties or paw protectors in extremely hot or cold temperatures. Overexertion Too much of a good thing, such as fetch, intense running, or rough play with other dogs, can leave your Golden Retriever sore and hobbling with a muscle strain. However, most dogs will recover quickly after a couple of rest days. Injuries To Toenails Examine your Golden Retriever for ingrowing or overgrown toenails, as these can cause discomfort and pain when they dig into the skin. My dog once suffered a dewclaw injury, so make sure you also keep these trim. Insect Sting or Animal Bite Your dog might be limping because his paw has been stung. Aside from insect bites, animal bites can also cause a limp. Early detection is vital because bites can lead to infections. Sprain A stretched muscle or torn ligament can result in a sprain. Almost any active dog can sprain his leg because activities as simple as jumping can lead to awkward landings. If your Golden Retriever sprains his foot, he will hesitate to put weight on it for a while. Fracture A broken leg should be suspected if the limping occurred suddenly. Broken bones may not always be visible. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Dysplasia is a common hereditary condition causing hip and elbow joints to become loose and move out of position. Although the disease is progressive and irreversible, around three-quarters of Golden Retrievers with hip dysplasia can live a comfortable life with ongoing management, such as exercise modification and anti-inflammatory and painkilling medication. Osteoarthritis Older and larger dogs are more at risk of this chronic painful disease. It results in joint inflammation caused by cartilage deterioration. Signs include lameness, stiffness, or difficulty in getting up. My dog Willow has osteoarthritis of her lower spine. Her initial symptoms were lameness of the rear leg and difficulty getting up. However, it is managed pretty well along with her hip dysplasia with prescribed medication, and exercise adjustments. My vet recommended these, they get good reviews online, and they seem to be working for her. She has the Big Barker , which is the only dog bed clinically proven to reduce pain and joint stiffness. You can read my comprehensive review here. It is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs. Many small breeds are prone. However, many larger breeds, including the Golden Retriever, are now affected. Cruciate Ligament Injury or Disease A cruciate ligament injury damages the ligaments that hold the knee together. It is similar to a sprain but is more serious. If the ligaments weaken due to a disease, the limp is gradual. If they are torn because of a sudden twist or jump, the limp is sudden. Degenerative Myelopathy Older dogs are at risk of this inherited neurologic disorder that affects the spinal cord causing a gradual paralysis of the back end. Symptoms are weakness, lameness in the hind legs, difficulty rising, loss of muscle in the rear legs, and incontinence. This can make it harder for him to walk straight and he may develop a limp. If you notice inflammation and find your dog licking or chewing the site, he may need a course of antibiotics. Use a pet cone to prevent further chewing and consequent worsening of the infection. Lyme Disease This bacterial illness transmitted by certain ticks can cause intermittent lameness. Panosteitis Growing Pains This condition affects the long bones of the legs due to painful inflammation. Panosteitis in dogs tends to affect growing large breed pups aged months, including the Golden Retriever. A shifting lameness from one bone to another is caused and can occur over several weeks or months. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy HOD This is a bone disease occurring in fast-growing large dogs, usually between 3 and 5 months old. Similar to panosteitis, signs will be a slight limp and pain in the affected bone. The shoulder is most commonly affected, but it can also appear in the elbow, hip, and knee. It occurs when large puppies grow too quickly. Limping, lameness, and pain are symptoms. Golden Retrievers are predisposed to Osteochondritis Dissecans , but the genes involved have not been identified by scientists. Hind limb weakness, paralysis, or urinary incontinence are symptoms of this spinal disease. The signs vary depending on the severity of the spinal cord damage and which disc along the spine is impacted. Diabetic Neuropathy If diabetes is untreated, excessive glucose can cause progressive weakness or paralysis due to nerve damage. However, this condition is rare in dogs. Immune Mediated Polyarthritis This immune system disorder causes inflamed, swollen, and painful joints. Your dog will be reluctant to walk — or he will hobble on one or more legs due to the pain. Congenital Limb Deformities Abnormally developed limbs can cause limping in your dog. Osteosarcoma Bone Cancer Bone cancer is more common in canines than in any other species. Bone tumors can rapidly grow, causing limping and pain, particularly in leg bones. Limping can vary from mild to severe. Are you looking to buy something for your dog? Make sure to check out my favorite dog gear below. German Shepherd When To Visit The Vet You do not have to see a vet every time you notice your dog is starting to limp however, there are times your dog must see a veterinarian at an animal hospital to get a comprehensive examination. If any of the following situations apply to your dog call your vet or go to the nearest open emergency veterinary clinic for assistance. Limbs that feel hot to the touch Any moderate to severe swelling A broken limb will be at an irregular angle A dangling limb this indicates dislocation Limping in combination with a fever How Can I Help My Limping Dog? When you first see your dog limping immediately get them to rest the best way you can to minimize their movement and prevent them from injuring themselves more. Also, press pause on your dog's exercise routines until they have fully healed, and keep them on a leash when taking them outside for potty breaks to stop them from running away. Check your pup's paw for anything signaling an injury such as cuts. Contact your vet as soon as you can if you discover something painful. If you think your dog is limping because of inflammation, alternate between ice and heat packs to lower the level of swelling and discomfort. Call your veterinarian to ask them when you should be applying the packs. Look at the site of the limp for signs of bleeding, to help determine if the condition is from a bite, injury, or puncture. It is recommended that you should take your dog to the vet to be safe and give both you and your dog a peaceful mind in knowing what is causing your dog's limp, even if you think it is not serious. If your dog starts to whimper or yelp and the limp doesn't get better by itself call your veterinarian immediately or go to the nearest emergency vet. Your vet has the training and knowledge to diagnose what is causing your dog's pain and the severity of the injury. An exam to determine the source may include X-rays, blood work, or tick testing. The veterinarian will also take your pup's age, breed, history, and overall health into consideration when diagnosing your dog and creating a treatment plan. Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet. If you notice your dog is in pain and limping contact us now. Our Lafayette veterinarians are available to help dogs in need. There are many reasons why your Golden Retriever may develop a limp. Common causes for going lame are foot, nail, leg injuries, underlying chronic or genetic conditions, Hip or Elbow Dysplasia, and illness. If your Golden is unable to distribute its weight evenly on all four legs, it means that they are experiencing some degree of pain, and you must identify the source of the problem. HOD Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy This bone disease affects young puppies, typically first appearing when the dog is around months old. Larger breed dogs are more likely to be affected. Limping is accompanied by swelling, pain on touching the affected limbs, loss of appetite, and depression. Symptoms are managed with pain relief and supportive care, but steroids and IV fluids may be required in more severe cases. Injury Sprain Or Strain If your gregarious Golden suddenly develops a limp out of the blue, the likelihood is that they have overexerted themselves while exercising, causing a strain or a sprain, according to Fetch by Web MD. Strains harm the tendons connecting muscle to the bone, while sprains harm the ligaments that connect bones. These are common injuries for active dogs and may put your Golden Retriever out of action for a day or two. Foot and Nail Injuries Other injuries include lacerations to the paw pad, ripped or broken nails. Both injuries will cause your dog to avoid putting its weight on the injured site. You can bathe sore paws in warm water and Epsom salts. Apply antiseptic and bandage any wounds. These can get lodged in their paws and cause pain, making your Golden Retriever limp. When you see your dog develop a sudden limp, the first thing to do is to check its paws and remove any foreign objects. Ensure any salt is washed from their paws when you come back from your walk in the winter. Your vet may be able to recommend a topical cream to soothe cracked paw pads. Lameness will come on suddenly and can affect different limbs at different times. Your vet will help you manage pano with pain relief and anti-inflammatories. It will spontaneously resolve itself by the time your dog reaches its second birthday. Ligament Injury If your Golden Retriever goes lame in the back legs, it may have torn or ruptured its crucial cranial ligament. A torn CCL is more often seen in medium to large active dogs. Depending on the severity of the injury, your Golden Retriever may require surgery to fix the problem. Cancer Lameness may be the symptom of some bone cancers. Broken Leg If your Golden Retriever is in an accident and sustains an injury or trauma, they may have broken bones. This is an emergency, and you should take your dog directly to the vet. Hip And Elbow Dysplasia Elbow and hip dysplasia are more common in larger dogs. This causes the ball and socket hip joint to be malformed, creating mobility, pain, and lameness problems. You might notice your dog has an abnormal gait, stiffness getting up, and pain around the hip area. Elbow dysplasia affects the forelimbs in the same way. Your vet will be able to give you a diagnosis, and the condition is usually managed through maintaining healthy body weight, physiotherapy, and medication such as pain relief and anti-inflammatories. Osteoarthritis This chronic condition will gradually come on, and in addition to a limp, other signs may be stiffness, difficulty getting up, weight gain, and irritability. Your vet will probably provide a joint supplement to help with this. When You Should Call A Vet About Your Limping Golden Retriever In mild cases like an insect bite, foreign object, minor injury, or even a mild strain or sprain, some simple first aid and supporting your dog to rest can be enough to ensure they bounce back in a day or two. If the dog is in obvious pain in emergencies such as acute injuries, your vet is the first person to call. For limps with no apparent cause, it is also best to contact your vet because it could result from an underlying or chronic disease. Prevention is always better than dealing with an injured doggie. A healthy dog is much less prone to injury or chronic disease. Give your dog a healthy balanced diet as obesity can lead to joint problems. A well trained Golden Retriever who is responsive to your commands is also much more likely to avoid injury. Remember, your dog should get regular exercise. Manage their fitness levels with a consistent daily routine so that they can run, play and hike with you safely for longer. It depends on the context: the age of your Golden Retriever and what happened before the limp. For example, a very young pup from 2 months old may have developed pano or HOD if there was no inciting event. Injury to the leg or paws will cause a sudden limp, as will stuck foreign objects. Identifying the reason for the limp and dealing with it promptly is important. Acute conditions require rest until the limp heals. In chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia, your vet will advise you on how best to modify their exercise routine. Perhaps not significant pain, but there is an issue there, and you need to find out what it is. Conclusion Golden Retrievers limp for all kinds of reasons. It is always worth getting to the bottom of the issue as it is not normal for your Golden Retriever to go lame. The best course of action is to check limbs, paws, and toenails for any injury or issue. Some of the reasons why your Golden Retriever is limping are more serious than others but the sooner you deal with the problem, the sooner you and your best pal will be able to enjoy life to the full together again. Recommended Read.

Next anticipated litter end of October .If you or someone you know is looking to add a goldendoodle to their family, you have come to the right place. The puppy parents aren't just dogs - they are family members who are well loved and live in our homes. We health test parents, raise them in our home with other pets and children, handle puppies daily, use Puppy Culture to raise puppies, feed quality food, take care of the first round of vaccinations and have a highly trained veterinarian check out each and every puppy. We even set your family up with success with a take home kit that includes: a 5lb bag of puppy food a heartbeat puppy a scented blanket from mom dog bags 30 days of pet insurance a 1 year health guarantee a getting started guide of all my training tips Goldendoodles are best known to be intelligent, friendly and family oriented. They are highly social dogs with natural retrieving instincts and quickly learn to please. Goldendoodles can be hypoallergenic and have minimal shedding. They were born August 13, .Both have been health tested and have great temperaments. Mom is 42lbs and dad is 40lbs. We estimate puppies on average will be in that range full grown. Puppies will be ready for their forever homes the weekend of October 8, .Deposits are being accepted here. If you are interested in more information about this litter or upcoming litters please contact Brooke at or brooke thebrucefarm. They are due October .Contact us below to be added. Mom is 60lbs and dad is 40lbs. Puppies will be ready for their forever homes at 8 weeks old. If you are interested in more information about this litter, upcoming litters or would like to be added to our contact list please contact Brooke at or brooke thebrucefarm. We look forward to hearing from you! Meet The Bruce Farm puppy parents here or learn more about the types and sizes of Goldendoodles The Bruce Farm specializes in breeding here. Quick links. We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near North Kansas City Missouri and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted!

While their owner Bob is away, adorable puppy brothers Bingo and Rolly embark on exciting missions stretching from their own backyard to amazing locations all around the world! Puppy Dog Pals has a feature run time of minutes and is G rated. Bingo and Rolly are two super cute and energetic pug pups. Whenever their owner Bob is away they head out on many adventures. Hissy is an adorable cat who is also their big sister and she helps support them in their missions along with all their animal friends. It has many fun episodes that include Hawaii Pug-Oh, A. All of these episodes are extremely fun and entertaining. I am not much of a kids series person but I sat and watched them all and really enjoyed them. It came with Rolly, Bingo, Bob, Hissy and some of their friends. This kit also included a super soft Rolly Plush and a super soft Bingo plush that my kids just went nuts for! The bingo Plush is 8. Now they want a Hissy Plush too so I have to keep my eyes out for one. Because yesterday was Friday, we decided to have a movie night night with our immediate family and some of my girls friends from school. We bought snacks with the gift card and the kids snuggled in with their new plush toys and we all watched Puppy Dog Pals. A couple of the girls were left for a few hours and a couple of the other girls parents stayed and all of the kids and adults really enjoyed Rolly, Bingo and everyone else. Its really a great DVD and I definitely recommend it! Disclosure: I received these products for free, in exchange for my honest review, which may differ from yours. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I used personally, and believe will be a good fit for consumers. I have two beautiful girls, Dakota who is 4 and Krista who is 6, and a boy who is almost 4. I am also pregnant with a girl. I work full time at Fred Myers! I enjoy anything outdoors, baking, my critters and spending time with my kids. Posts navigation. Of course it helps that I absolutely adore pugs. They are so cute with their smashed faces and hilarious demeanor. However, that is not the only reason I love Puppy Dog Pals. After watching these 12 episodes I found that not only does this cartoon have an adorable factor of 10, but it has great morals and guidance as well. Rolly and Bingo have similar missions in Puppy Dog Pals as they learn and remember what is most important. So, thinking of their Owner, they pack up and head to Hawaii to bring back the finest sand. Of course, it was hard to keep their mind on Bob with all the sand, surf and amazing crabs to chase, but they eventually pull it off and get Bob what he wanted. Their mission was to do something nice for some one else. In my book that is a great message for kids and adults to hear and absorb. There is also a lot of guidance to help kids grow. However, that can be easier said then done. Since A. As Bingo states, Cleaning might be work, but it can also be fun. Kids will have watching this cartoon as they laugh and join Rolly and Bingo in their fun adventures. Help Rolly in a Maze, color, play a game of Bingo, spot the differences and more in the free activities listed below. Simply click the images, save the PDF to your computer, then print and create for a paw-some time! Coloring Page Rolly.

Top 5 Labradoodle Haircuts Be sure to check out our 2-part series on types of Doodle haircuts, with tons more pictures that cover overall body styles and variations of styles. Different groomers may have different ideas of what the following types of cuts are. If any of these pictures represent what you want your Labradoodle to look like, be sure to bookmark this page for easy access when dropping them off at the groomer! With the hair slightly rounder and longer around the face and legs, the Labradoodle teddy bear cut gives your pup the most adorable puppy-like look. As the name hints, the goal is to give your Labradoodle a puppy-like look with shorter hair on the body, and longer on the head. This look is not for the faint-hearted, but a dog as cute as a Labradoodle will surely pull this off. Labradoodle Long Clip Almost the same as the Labradoodle short clip, but not quite. The Labradoodle long clip is great for emphasizing those beautiful waves and an effortless, shaggy look. However, longer hair can also trap in more dirt, so make sure to set aside enough time for daily brushing. Here you can check out the best brushes for Labradoodles. A comb is also great for brushing hard-to-reach areas like the paws, face, and ears. Dog Clippers — When it comes to grooming, you are going to need a set of clippers to get the job done. Which ones should you choose? These are our favorite grooming scissors for Doodles. Dog Shears — Are you ready to take your grooming to the next level? Detangler Sprays — One of the best hacks for hassle-free brushing is having a detangler spray at hand. Use it before each brushing or just before bathtime, a good detangler spray cuts the time spent on tangles in half. Shampoo — A proper grooming routine includes an occasional bathtime. Whether your Labradoodle struggles with skin sensitivities or tends to shed a lot, there are tons of different options available on the market. Here are the top 6 dog shampoos that Labradoodle owners swear by. Ear Cleaning Products — With those cute floppy ears, Labradoodles are prone to ear infections due to the restricted airflow. Take a look at some of the highest rated dog ear cleaner products that help prevent and treat minor ear infections. Grooming Tables — Every Labradoodle owner knows how difficult it can be to groom a Doodle with one hand, while trying to keep them still with the other. A grooming table will take care of all that you still need to do the grooming though… and save you from back pain. Check out the best dog grooming tables or create a DIY grooming table. Be sure to check out our guide on dealing with matted hair , and another about the line brushing method. Bathing: Before a haircut or after a muddy playtime, your Labradoodle will need a thorough wash. Typically, once a week should be perfectly enough. However, some pups might need a couple of times a week. Once in a while, you might want to use a special dog ear cleaner to prevent any infections. Here you can check our guide on Doodle ear infection symptoms, treatments, and prevention. Eye gunk: Gently remove any eye gunk you notice, as this will prevent discoloration around the eyes and bad smell. If you can do it daily, great! Here is our step-by-step video tutorial guide that includes the entire Doodle grooming process from head to paw. For example, the best Labradoodle haircuts for summer would be short so your pup has an easier time cooling down. The Labradoodle puppy cut is the most popular Labradoodle haircut. However, we recommend you choose high-quality tools, as they will last you a longer time. As a Labradoodle puppy starts to develop an adult coat, you should start with regular grooming. The sooner you introduce your puppy to the whole process of grooming, the easier it will be for them to get used to it. See Also: Click the image To conclude, we hope that you learned some useful Labradoodle grooming tips, and that we managed to inspire you with the Labradoodle haircuts that you can try on your Doodle for your next grooming session. Let us know in the comments! The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional groomer advice. Always seek the advice of your groomer, veterinarian, or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have. You Might Also Like. The first grooming appointment can be frightening for your puppy. The following tips can help your puppy have a positive experience at the groomer. Handling and socializing your Labradoodle puppy Before scheduling your first appointment, make sure your puppy is comfortable with being touched and handled. Be sure to praise and reward your puppy for calm behavior. Continue socializing your puppy by introducing him or her to new people and animals. Introducing the grooming tools Once your puppy is comfortable with being touched, you can introduce common grooming tools. Let your puppy inspect and sniff the brush, comb, scissors, hair dryer, and clippers. Turn on the hair dryer and clippers while feeding your puppy treats to create a positive association. Grooming your puppy at home Keep your initial grooming sessions short and reward your puppy for good behavior. You can build up the duration over time, as your puppy gets more comfortable. The first session should be short and positive. In fact, just visiting for a quick introduction and nail clipping is a good start. The most important thing is to give your Labradoodle puppy a positive experience with professional grooming. After drop-off, always wait to be notified that your puppy is ready for pickup. Never come back to the grooming salon early. If your puppy sees you or hears your voice, it will be very difficult for the groomer to finish the job. Maintaining health with regular grooming For best results, your Labradoodle puppy should be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks. You will also need to brush your puppy at home. While many Labradoodles do not shed, their undercoats can mat and become difficult to manage. If you have questions about how we groom our Labradoodles, feel free to contact us any time. Keeping a well-groomed dog is essential to maintaining their health, happiness, quality of life. This guide will instruct you on grooming as young as 8 weeks into adulthood. In order for this to be the best experience for you and your Doodle, the most important thing to remember is: Be patient! If it is frustrating for you at any time throughout the grooming process, take a break and come back later. We always want our Doodles to relate grooming with positivity! Well, short answer, I groom my dogs every 8 — 10 weeks. There are so many variables to the grooming question that I hate to boil it down to one sentence. First, we should ask ourselves a few questions: 1. How much time does he spend outdoors with the potential to get dirty? What sort of coat does your dog have? Different Coat Types Require Different Labradoodle Grooming Schedules I have dogs with different coat types, and they have different grooming schedules. My two older dogs both have a wool type coat. It is very curly, a little wiry, and not the easiest to brush. It is most like a poodle coat. These two get the most regular grooming appointments, and I keep them pretty short. With this type of cut and frequency I do not need to brush them out at all between grooms. I usually wait more time between grooms on this coat. I love the fluffy look when it grows out. Often the ears and collar area need regular brushing to prevent matting. If your doodle does not go out and get dirty, then cleaning is not an issue, and you could keep a longer coat with or without regular visits to the groomer. If a mat develops next to their skin it is painful for the dog, and you will need to have your Labradoodle shaved down to eliminate. Artistic Grooming Techniques And of course, there are all sorts of artistic grooming techniques. I often see the ears and tail left longer than the rest of the body. And the Teddy Bear- is always cute! Clearing the ear hair will help prevent ear infections as well as ear odor. If your groomer does not pluck ear hair, consider this task on your own or stop by your vet a few times a year to have them take care of the problem. Occasionally, a nice bath helps in between grooms too! This does mean however, that your dog requires regular clipping to keep the coat trimmed and free of knots and matting. This is important for the dog also, as their coats can get very heavy and hot and matted coats make them very uncomfortable. It will really depend on the length you want to keep your Labradoodles coat as to how much grooming you will have to do. What do I need? Hold the skin taught to protect from any discomfort, especially where you come across a knot, or matts. Like in human hair, work knots out gently, or cut through them with scissors or a matt breaker. Knots are quite common around the ears, jaw, and collar as well as behind the tops of their legs. If they wear a harness regularly, you may find matting from this too. Trim around their eyes and across the bridge of their nose between their eyes regularly — you can do this with blunt scissors, or use a little tool like the Wahl Pocket Pro, which is a little battery operated trimmer. Over bathing can reduce the oils and damage the coat. I usually bathe my dogs every weeks. It is important to use a good quality pet shampoo — dogs have a different PH in their skin to humans, so regular shampoos is not suitable for use on your pets. Fido products are expensive, but I find them very good and this is what I use on the puppies, and my own dogs. Some vets will advocate regular plucking, others may suggest trimming the hair, but regardless, keeping the hair minimal, and the ears clean, with the use of an ear cleanser or a drying agent will reduce the risk of problems. You pop the solution into each ear and massage it for seconds and then wipe it out with a tissue — never use ear buds! Check with your vet for tips on hair removal and which solution to use. Your dogs nails should be done each time they get their coat trimmed and this is a service most dog groomers usually do as part of their clip. If you choose to do this, be sure to get your groomer, or your vet to show you how to trim the nails correctly. Grooming How frequently you choose to get your dog clipped will depend on lifestyle, how long you want their coat to be and, your regular maintenance regimes. Besides you want to enjoy that adorable puppy shagginess for a little while! The Puppy Trim Trim between their eyes so they can see Fringe should be cut so there is an inverted"V"above the nose. If the fringe is thick, it can be neatened with thinning scissors. Trim the ear length back to about 1 cm following the shape of the ear leather. Neaten the face, especially if the beard is long. The Full Clip Ears Trim the ears, following the edge of the ear leather. To gauge the length — pull forward to the nose. The length of the ear should be just short of the nose. Taper the tip of the ear. Hair on the outside of the ear should be layered on the to about 3cm, and the tip of the ear tapered. Trim back any thickness behind the ear. The underside of the ear should be shaved or cut very short underneath to allow good air flow. Trim hair inside the ear canal. Top of the head The top of the head should be natural, and cut long enough that it parts naturally by itself. To trim, pull the hair forward and up and trim to around cm. You want to be able to see the dogs eyes easily. Leave the eyelashes long — it helps to keep hair out of their eyes. Eyes Below the eye at the muzzle, trim the top of the muzzle short at an angle just under the eyes so they can see easily. This makes it easier to clean around the eyes also. Muzzle The beard and moustache should be layered and trimmed into a circular shape, rather than blunt - aim for around cm in length. Body the body can be trimmed to whatever length suits the lifestyle. Tail should be evened up. If the body is left long, the tummy can be trimmed shorter, or even shaved in summer to keep the dog cool. Trim the hair between the pads, so the pads touch the ground. Trim the nails. Taper the hind quarters to the tail gradually. Brush and trim the tail to a natural length, and trim underneath. Private Parts Shave or trim close the dogs private area to keep clean and free from matting and any dags. While the adult coat is establishing, you will need to brush multiple times a week, and I find this the best time to give your pet his first trim. It will be difficult to keep up with the matting in the longer coat, but with a trim, it is very manageable, and the beauty of the adult coat is better realized. Once your dog gets to 12 to 14 months, the adult coat will be fully established, and this is the coat you can expect to work with for your dog's adult life. I find that the picture to the right will help to clarify the instructions you will need to convey for your dog's face. It is best to print this picture and take it with you to the groomer. A three-fourths inch blade don't go shorter than one-half inch will keep your dog's coat nice and full but give a smooth consistent length all over. If you like your dogs coat longer, your groomer should have a guard they can use to achieve this. The legs are typically just a little longer than the rest of the coat if you trim the coat to three-fourths inch. FEET: The feet will need a "slipper" cut to achieve the floppy, full leg look. The leg will look like a column. TAIL: The tail needs to be de-matted and trimmed. It is also important to have the hair removed, either trimmed or pulled, inside the dog's ears. Click the grooming picture for an enlarged, printable version and take it with you to your groomer! These two breeds have very different coat types, which we will look at in greater detail. The Poodle Coat The Poodle has a single coat of dense, curly hair that is generally coarse in texture. Unlike the fur of other dogs, the hair continues to grow and gives the impression of not shedding. However, Poodles do shed, but the hair sheds tangles in the curls instead of falling out. But although they are less likely to cause allergy problems, you must consider that many people are allergic to the proteins that dogs produce in their saliva, whatever the breed. The Poodle coat is high maintenance requiring regular clipping by a professional groomer. The topcoat is often wiry and abrasive, medium in length, and water repellent, whereas the undercoat is softer, lighter, and insulating. Labs shed all year round, having a complete blowout twice a year in the spring and fall, so they are not a good choice of dog for those allergic to pet dander. However, their coat is easier to maintain than a Poodle as they do not need clipping. If they have more genetics from the Poodle parent, the coat will most likely be a single layer that is dense, thick, curly, and non-shedding, often referred to as either fleece or wool. However, if your puppy takes after the Labrador Retriever parent, you can guarantee all year shedding and a twice-yearly blowout. Labradoodle Coat Types As a Poodle Labrador Retriever mix, a Labradoodle will have one of three types of coats: Hair coat — This coat is straight and typical of the Labrador breed, shedding often. Labradoodles with a hair coat have a more scruffy appearance than the teddy bear look of many Labradoodles. Fleece coat — This shaggy coat is a beautiful combination of both parent pups and varies from slightly wavy to noticeably wavy. It is soft to touch and has the appearance of wool, being a popular choice with owners as it usually sheds very little or not at all. Wool coat — This coat has the least amount of undercoat, so it does not shed, making it the ideal choice for those with allergies. It is thicker and denser than the fleece or hair coats. Some Labradoodles have tight curls similar to the Poodle, whereas others have looser curls. A wool coat does not have the same dog odor as the other two. A Labradoodle with straight hair will shed all year continuously, but their grooming require ments are far more manageable than those with a wavy or curly coat. A long coat is more prone to matting which is painful for your dog, and why regular clipping and trimming is so important. But whatever coat type your Labradoodle has, they will need their teeth brushed at least three times a week, their ears cleaned once a week, and regular trimming of the nails. How Often Should a Labradoodle be Groomed if it has Straight Hair If your Labradoodle has straight hair, you will need to give them a good brushing and combing session twice a week to keep their shedding under control. The frequency needs to increase to daily sessions during seasonal shedding. Regular bathing also helps remove shedding hair. How Often Should a Labradoodle be Groomed with a Wool or Fleece Coat A Labradoodle which has a fleece or wool coat is more challenging to maintain than one with straight hair and will require brushing at least once a week using a slicker brush to remove mats and tangles. Depending on how fast the fur grows, you will need to take your Labradoodle to a professional groomer to clip their coat every four to twelve weeks. Labradoodle Haircuts Here we look at some of the low maintenance haircuts for a Labradoodle. Short Labradoodle Cut A short haircut is simple and straightforward, with the hair being no more than one inch in length over the whole body, keeping it clean and tangle-free. Long Labradoodle Cut A long haircut is the same as a shortcut, but the hair is two inches long, giving your Labradoodle a cuddly look! This cut will require frequent brushing to keep it tangle-free. Teddy Bear Labradoodle Cut The coat is cut to the length of your choice for the cute teddy bear look, leaving the face and ears with longer hair. This cut is more high maintenance as you will need to do frequent touch-ups. A young Labradoodle can have their first haircut when they are around four to six months old and fully vaccinated. As they develop an adult coat, you can start regular grooming. How Often Should a Labradoodle be Groomed? If your Labradoodle has a fleece or wool coat, it will need grooming approximately every four to twelve weeks to keep the fur clean and free of tangles. A hair coat is far easier to maintain as it just requires brushing twice a week to remove loose hairs. More About Labradoodle Coats. However, they need to get accustom to being handled. They should be brushed, have their ears and teeth looked at, and nails handled or trimmed every day. At around nine to sixteen months the adult coat starts to grow in. The puppy coat does not fall out and will start to cause matts. Brushing thoroughly to pull the puppy coat out from the new adult hair is necessary. This could be a good time to consider a good clip to ease the amount of brushing and formation of mats. It is important to start introducing your puppy to the groomer early so when he is older he will be comfortable with the grooming process. Once your Labradoodle puppy has had all of his shots, he can safely be taken to the groomer. Up to this point, handling and brushing your puppy everyday will prepare him for his first trip to the groomer. Let the groomer know you have a puppy and want to have an introductory visit. Even just for your puppy to meet and have a nail clip might be enough to start a good, calm rapport with the groomer. Follow up visits can begin to include a simple session of brushing, washing, drying, nail clip and ear hair pluck. Your puppy and groomer will be thankful for these small visits every weeks so puppy can get used to all of the sights, sounds and sensations till he is ready for a full clip. Grooming Your Adult Labradoodle You can maintain a long fleece coat with thorough brushing weekly. A curly fleece will need more attention than a wavy fleece. Curlier coats will be easier to maintain if it is kept shorter. Many owners have their labradoodles clipped two to four times a year depending on personal preference, lifestyle and curliness of the fleece. They get a full groom with a 1. For your doodle to not look like a poodle, talk to your groomer about what you want. Pictures of a well groomed labradoodle can help. Regular bathing is mostly unnecessary. Even after getting muddy, it will dry and fall off or can be brushed out. If you take your Labradoodle to the groomer regularly, they should take care of the nails adequately. Pay special attention to the ears. The hair in and around the outside of the ear canal clogs the inside and prevents air flow. This can cause ear infections. The hair needs to be pulled out of the ear canal and kept trimmed around the opening and under the ear. This can be done every months. Your groomer should be doing this and will keep it maintained. Also, if you do not use a groomer often, make sure the hair around the anus does not get too long and cause problems with waste build up. Brushing Your Labradoodle When your Labradoodle has short hair, an inch or two, regular brushing with a pin brush or slicker can work just fine. Once the hair gets longer, it is important to make sure you are reaching all the way to the base of the hair. If not, loose hair is not removed below the surface and matts will begin to form. If that hair builds up, it is not going to be possible to clip the hair at a decent length and the only alternative will be to shave the hair close to the skin. In order to keep a coat longer than and inch or so, you will want to use a technique called line brushing. Line Brushing It is simply done by parting the coat with your free hand and brushing the loose hair on the other side of the part, starting at the base of the hair. With every other stroke or so, you can bring down a small bit of the hair being held up by your hand. You will slowly move your hand up that section of coat. Start low on a section of the body and work your way up. Using the edge of the pin brush, start brushing from the part, down the length of the hair. Complete the stroke to the end of the hair. Repeat till smooth and ready to continue. Pick up a small amount of hair from the other side of the part to continue the process, working your way up that section of the body.