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Imagine you could come home to a lovable, dedicated, companion for life! If you knew what to look for when buying a German Shepherd puppy, you could find your next best friend. Before you buy your new best friend, read this information so you know what to look for in buying a healthy, quality German Shepherd puppy. I group them into major categories. Will you show him in conformation? Do you want to work with him in Schutzhund or herding? Or do you want a confident and alert companion? Know exactly what you want from your puppy. These dogs are the least costly since they have a trait that prevents them from winning in conformation competitions. These flaws rarely matter to most pet owners. And many minor faults like flat withers or slightly smaller offset ears will probably go unnoticed by most owners. The vast majority of GSDs are family pets. These dogs make great pets as long as they have sound temperaments! They breed some dogs for certain traits that are highly desirable but considered a fault. For example, long-coat or plush-coat GSDs. Show-quality dogs have good temperament and health. You usually buy them for their breed standard qualities that make them able to compete in confirmation or show events. A show-quality dog may cost significantly more if they have the traits desirable to win at a show. This group comes from Championship show lines with a long history of winning. If you plan on showing your Shepherd this is the quality you want. Beware of any breeder who claims they only raise competition-quality dogs. Even the best breeders produce many pet-quality dogs and if a breeder says they only breed perfect dogs, this is a red flag to not buy from them. The GSD is a herding breed, and the working-quality dogs excel at working trials such as scent competitions and Schutzhund. Other work includes climbing and jumping competitions or searching and tracking. They need mental stimulation to keep them occupied and take a lot of time to handle properly. These dogs are better with experienced handlers since you use them for high drive working and competition. They require hours and years of training and preparation for you to have total control during competition. We base this decision on preference. With the correct upbringing and training, both sexes are loyal companions and good with children. They may grow into more dominant dogs, so a confident handler is more desirable. Males may hike their back legs to mark their territory. This can occur on any object — chairs, walls, couches or even your leg. I suggest an extra bout of socialization during this stage, especially with other well-behaved dogs. So they may be better for the first-time owner. Unspayed females come into season every 6 months, so they must receive monitoring and watch to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Their season time can vary from as little as every 4 months to every 9 months. They can attract males to your property and on walks that will harass them if not spayed. Certain breeders and organizations will deal only in a certain coat length and color. The standard coat length is a short coat with double layers. Guard hairs on the top cover a softer underlayer of hair that provides warmth and protection. But there are many coat lengths available depending on your liking. Look online at the different GSD coat lengths to get an idea of what type of fur you want your dog to have. The longer the fur the more grooming involved. The color you choose is a matter of individual taste. Keep in mind the color of many Shepherds alters from their puppyhood to around 2 years of age. Your dog may become lighter or darker. Perhaps they will lose some of their markings as the color fades into the adult pattern. The best way to know what color and patterns your dog grows into is to see the parents of the litter. If the father is unavailable, then ask for photos. Why should you care where your dog comes from if you only want him as a pet companion? You want to get a dog that will live a long and healthy life from a source that has quality puppies. These tips will help you make the best decision on what type of pup fits in your life. Newspaper and Internet Classified Ads Newspaper and internet ads are in abundance. Many backyard breeders hide behind ads online or in local papers. But some breeders who use newspapers and classified ads are reputable and knowledgeable. The problem is you need to visit them to find out, and this can take time to sift through them all. Try the following more reputable suggestions to save yourself time. Dog Care Professionals Ask dog professionals for recommendations. Check with your local veterinarian, groomer, and boarding kennel personnel if they know reputable breeders in town. These professionals are good sources of quality leads. Use the same caution that you will for a classified ad. Verify their suggestions. Many of these organizations regularly receive puppies they need to re-home. While you might not know the full pedigree of the dog, purebred GSDs find themselves in shelters and rescues from no fault of their own. These organizations are a good resource for your first pup. Before adopting, find out as much information as you can. Was the puppy exposed to children? Did he live with other dogs or cats? A well-organized shelter or rescue helps you choose a German Shepherd match for your lifestyle. Start with looking online for GSD rescues and local shelters. Dog Clubs Dog clubs are local and national. These groups put you into contact with registered breeders through their own programs. They can give you the name of the GSD club contact closest to you for breed contacts. Dog clubs also have dog shows open to the public. This is a good time to watch the breed in action and to ask around for quality breeders. While using a dog club to connect you with a reputable breeder is not the only choice, it is one of the more reliable. If you are using a breeder to choose your German Shepherd puppy, this section will help you know the good from the bad. Use these tips to stay safe. Are selling overpriced or under-priced dogs. Lie to you and say you can make money off your new puppy by breeding them, despite them having flaws. Tells you that the GSD is a dog for everyone, with no disadvantages. Breeds multiple types of dogs and claims to be an expert on them all. If a breeder lets their mothers get pregnant more than once a year, this affects the quality of the puppies, so ask how many litters the mother has. These breeders selling unhealthy puppies also will refuse to take bag their dogs if you need to return them for any reason and have no contracts. They have healthy puppies and will answer your questions and have you make multiple visits. Openly show you where the mother and pups spend their time, including their garden or yard. Tells you the up and downs of owning the breed. Have all pedigree and vet paperwork on hand for your review. Specializes in breeding only GSDs source. They openly share this information with you. They have screened their dogs for health issues and can confirm this with documentation which they proudly give you a copy. Healthy mothers are given rest from breeding, and a reputable breeder gives their mothers time off from reproduction. Ask if your breeder if they are willing to take back their dogs if you cannot keep them, as this is standard for a quality breeder with a good reputation. Make sure your breeder has a written contract with detailed information and health guarantees. These are expected for safe breeding practices. How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy Following this guide gives you the best chance of buying a German Shepherd puppy that suits your lifestyle. Know what you want from your GSD and where to find quality dogs. Learn what to look for when buying a German Shepherd puppy to stay safe from a sick pup and a bad breeder. German Shepherds have their own unique set of challenges. They are a large, active, and intelligent breed that requires an understanding owner who is willing to train their GSD using positive techniques. Devote yourself to their overall health to see the best results and help give you and your dog a lifetime of happiness. Remember, your pup will need mental stimulation to keep their brain active , a gentle exercise program , and need daily love and affection. Buying a German Shepherd puppy is a choice for your whole life that will bring you many years of joy and excitement! Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Do further research into these local German Shepherd breed clubs in your area. Whether you get information from their websites or contact them directly for help, local breed clubs are a great way to get the names of reputable breeders in your area. Veterinarians come into contact with a lot of different types of animal care-givers, from breeders to shelters to individual owners. Because they know so much about animal issues in the community, it's a good idea to talk to a few vets in your area for ethical breeder recommendations. Also consider speaking to other German Shepherd owners, dog groomers, or dog trainers. If you visit a breed show, talk to owners and trainers about who they've had good or bad experiences with. A good breeder won't have a variety of breeds available for adoption. Look for a breeder who specializes only in German Shepherds. Your best option is to find a breeder who has years of experience with the German Shepherd breed. They should be able to answer your questions about development, temperament, and training easily and without hesitation. A key marker of a good breeder is the amount of effort they put into early socialization. Puppies need to be taught from an early age to live harmoniously with humans. If a breeder keeps litters isolated away from the home, the puppies will not be used to the sights and sounds of a normal household, and won't be used to human interaction. This can become a problem by the time they are old enough to be adopted. Make sure the puppies spend at least some time in the breeders' home with them. The more time they spend with humans, the more you can trust the breeder. An ethical breeder will never try to breed a female who hasn't reached sexual maturity — about 2 years of age. Mothers should also be given enough time to recover from pregnancies and being separated from their litters as they get adopted. Females should be healthy and alert. Never adopt a puppy from a breeder who breeds a young or unhealthy female, or who doesn't give mothers time to recover before breeding them again. Puppies should never be sold or separated from their mothers before 8 weeks of age. The breeder should have begun the puppies' vaccination and deworming processes before adopting them out. Make sure that's happened, and ask about any health problems the vet may have reported in these early checkups. Ask if the breeders have their dogs tested for the Degenerative Myelopathy DM gene. This can determine whether a common inherited disease in German Shepherds is present in the litter's bloodline. Dogs with DM suffer from progressive paralysis, particularly in the hind legs. Note that being AKC-registered does not mean that you are getting a healthy animal. It means that the owner paid money to the AKC to register the dog. While experts recommend against breeding animals with known genetic problems, an OFA certification will give you proof. Be aware, though, that there's no guarantee of health in any animal. There's always a chance that two dogs free of known genetic diseases can still produce a puppy with genetic problems. The breeder should be evaluating you as a potential owner, just as you're evaluating him or her as a breeder. No good breeder will just hand over a puppy without being sure that the new owners will be able to provide it with a good, healthy life. Ask the breeder what they look for in a good owner, and whether they've ever turned potential owners away. The breeder should be able to answer these questions without even having to think about it. You might also ask the breeder for references so you can contact other families who have dogs from previous litters. A reputable breeder should ask questions about your dog background and experience, your lifestyle, and your family to guide you in making the best decision. As difficult as it may be, a good breeder will be willing to turn you away if they think you're a bad fit for their particular puppies. For example, if the litter has particularly inactive parents, the puppies may not be a good fit for your highly active lifestyle. If you get turned away, ask if the breeder can point you to other options and litters so you can expand your search. Also ask if they have any unborn litters coming up that may be a better fit for you. Be patient and don't get discouraged. With enough patience and legwork, you'll find the right puppy. Don't lie to a breeder just to get a puppy, though. Trust the breeder's decision-making process. You don't want to end up with a dog who doesn't fit your needs. Avoid any breeder who offers to cut you a "deal," who has unclean or smelly kennels, or who acts suspiciously in any way. Trust your instincts. A breeder who's in it just for the money has the wrong motivation, and likely isn't interested in the welfare of their dogs. Make sure the dogs are not crowded into cages. They should have plenty of room to stumble around and explore their surroundings. Part of the time, puppies should be kept in the home to expose them to household environments. There should be adequate food and water for all animals on the premises. Kennels should be cleaned daily. Although it may be that a dog had an accident just before you arrived, be suspicious of a kennel that looks like it hasn't been cleaned recently. If a breeder doesn't have a return policy, it suggests they don't really care what happens to their dogs once they leave their property. That's not a good sign! Also find out what kind of documentation you would get with your puppy. Would you get registration papers and pedigree papers? Negotiate for what you want if it's not included in the contract. Be very wary of a breeder who will not discuss the chance that a puppy may need to be returned. Does the contract require you to take the puppy for a vet visit within a set time? Does it cover hereditary issues for life? For only a certain period of time? What does the breeder agree to offer? Trade for another puppy when one is available? Are there restrictions on the activities you can do with your dog that will invalidate the contract or guarantee? Are you purchasing a show prospect puppy or a pet quality animal? Does the breeder have strong feelings or even bans about the vaccinations, foods or supplements for your puppy? Are these opinions based on solid science? Are you at home to devote time and training to their growth? What open space environment is your home? German Shepherds are on the no dog list in apartment buildings. Do you have a family with other pets? Also, a good breeder will ask you why do you want this particular breed? The breeder should be concerned that a German Shepherd puppy is being placed within the best living environment. Here are some insights to help you bring home the perfect German Shepherd puppy: Types of German Shepherd Puppies Pure-bred German Shepherd puppies are available in a variety of colors and built. The typical description is light brown and black. Black: Rare and beautiful. Their coloring is either all black or a deep dark bluish hair tint. Panda: their coloring consists of black, white, and tan. This is their natural coloring, not contributed to being a mixed breed. Sable: A unique coloring of this breed consists of light black, grey, tan, or gold. As puppies, the Sable German Shepherd puppies are fully tan. As they age, fur begins to develop stronger natural colors. White: No, this German Shepherd breed is not due to albino coloring. Though rate, white is their natural coloring. This German Shepherd puppy will be smaller in size, whether male or female. The reason for this question is that German Shepherds are intelligent and engaging breeds. They can be trained to thrive in any situation and climate. Their ability to cope in any situation is amazing. German Shepherds make great companions, protective family pets, and they are hard workers. Knowing how to choose a German Shepherd puppy, you are wondering what things you should look for. In other words, you are looking to see if it has a good temperament. German Shephard puppies demand and exhibit affection rather aggressively. Parental Traits If you are choosing a puppy from a kennel or a breeder, inquire about its parental background. You want to know if both parents were healthy and friendly. Carefully Examine the Puppy You want to look again for a puppy that is active and healthy. To choose the best German Shepherd puppy, you must become an amateur canine detective and examine the puppy closely. Here are things to look for: A German Shepherd puppy should not look thin. Instead, they should look full-bodied. Their eyes should appear bright and clear. Also, you must invade their personal space by examining their butt area to make sure it is clean. Their nose should be clean and not runny. Their teeth and gums look healthy. Their hair coat should not have bald spots and should not be matted. Your German Shepherd puppy should be free from odors. Pick a puppy that has a good gait, and their tail is up and actively wagging. All puppies need their mothers when they are very young. A German Shepherd puppy can be purchased when they are between the ages of eight and twelve weeks old. If you decide on an older puppy, just make sure that it has retained its socialization skills with both people and other animals. Make sure that the puppy has gotten all its vaccinations and deworming medication. However, within 48 hours of purchase, take your German Shepherd puppy to your vet for a complete exam. The Kennel or Breeder Environment Whether you are purchasing your German Shepherd puppy from a kennel or a private seller, look at the conditions of both. How does the kennel look to you? Both kennels and private breeder yards should be clean, and all puppies should have clean water. Please do not buy a German Shepherd puppy from a breeder where the conditions are unclean. How Instinctive Are You? Many potential dog-owners state that they knew that this was the one when they first saw their puppy. We all have instincts; therefore, you will know what the right buying environment is when you look at the puppies. If you get a feeling that something is not right, leave and find a different breeder. When you purchase your German Shepherd puppy and bring that bundle of joy home, you want to feel confident that you have made the best decision. After all, the relationship with your German Shepherd puppy can last easily for up to thirteen years. Male vs. Female German Shepherd There are many people who only choose a German Shepherd puppy because of their gender or appearance. What is most important in purchasing any puppy is their physical and mental stability. Gender and looks should never be a deciding factor when choosing a dog that will live in your family for the next 12 years or more. Please perform thorough breeder research so that you can choose the right German Shepherd puppy that will fit into your living lifestyle for years to come. Do you want to select a female puppy for future breeding? If not, both your male and female German Shepherd puppy should be spayed and neutered. Female German Shepherds are found to have a sweeter temperament than their male counterparts. Male German Shepherds are more territorial. They also are a little more stubborn and proud. Male German Shepherds are generally larger than their female counterparts. The male can grow to a height range of up to 26 inches. Meanwhile, the female can grow to a height of up to 24 inches tall. Their weight will range from a full-bodied 75 to 95 pounds. When you are trying to decide whether to purchase a male vs. They make excellent watchdogs. Socialize Therefore, if you are going to be around other individuals each day, your German Shepherd puppy must be trained to accept people outside their family unit. Introduce your German Shepherd puppy to strangers so that they will feel comfortable in front of people. By introducing them to strangers, will help them stay calm. They do not like to be left alone for too long. Because they were originally bred for herding, German Shepherds have high energy and thus require physical and mental stimulation. Make sure you have the time and patience to own a German Shepherd puppy. In patiently taking time with their active habits, it will work out to your benefit. They become loyal and loving breeds, especially when raised in a family setting. Remember the TV show Dog Whisperer? The host always referred to a dog requiring a pack leader. German Shepherds must learn that you are the pack leader. If not, they will take the dominant lead, and this is not good. They must be trained and actively exercised to be happy. German Shepherds love to explore and investigate everything. If you live in an area where there are porcupines, lookout. Young German Shepherd puppies will probably come home with quills all over their body. Well, you would be wrong. A German Shepherd puppy will want to correct this wrong and approach another porcupine! Grooming a German Shepherd puppy is simple and easy. Yes, they do shed year-round, so brush them occasionally. But mostly keep their nails trimmed, their teeth and ears cleaned. Dog breeders believe that to help your new German Shepherd puppy adjust from a litter to your new home, they should be crate trained. They need to feel safe and comfortable. Crate training is a learning experience for a German Shepherd puppy, but it eventually helps them get used to a family who perhaps must go off to work every day. Further Reading. Of course, you have already read a lot of books with advice on how to choose the right puppy of a German Shepherd, east European, as well as a Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Spaniel, or Spitz puppy. You understand what is the fundamental difference between these breeds and why a Retriever puppy will never become a VIP bodyguard, and a black terrier will hardly ever pass for a draft husky. Why Opting For a German Shepherd Puppy Is a Good Choice The German Shepherd is prone to learning from a very young to deep old age, while many other breeds cannot boast of this, even if their appearance is more perfect than that of a German Shepherd. The most well-known characteristics that a German Shepherd owns are: pronounced protective and guarding instinct; the ability to make independent decisions, and active actions, and at the same time be completely submissive to the owner; sociability, playfulness, and curiosity; lack of aggression signs towards others and deep affection for the owner; a willingness to happily take on tasks, learn, and remain completely fearless when faced with unfamiliar surroundings or unforeseen difficulties; In addition, the Shepherd dog is calmly confident and features strong nerves, combativeness, and assertiveness which are the main qualities of a good service dog. Perhaps, due to this set of breed characteristics, few larger and more ferocious breeds can compete with a GS, both for guarding the house and as a personal protector. It is not recommended to take puppies under 4 weeks old from their mother. This applies not only to GSs but other breeds. At the age of one month, the baby has already been given all the necessary vaccinations. However, only a person who can devote a lot of time to raising a puppy can afford to take a Shepherd at such a young age. In addition to 6 meals a day, and socialization, the new owner will need to complete 1, different tasks, which require, above all, a lot of time. If there is no time, it is worth finding a puppy aged 4 to 6 months. And it is advisable to take such a teenager from a nursery that focuses on breeding German Shepherds and not all the breeds at once. It happens that a puppy stays in the nursery because the money deposit was given for it but, for some reason, people could not pick up the reserved puppy. If the grown-up German Shepherd puppy constantly lived in an aviary and was deprived of close contact with people and the outside world, owners who have not previously dealt with this breed should not choose such a youngster. These young dogs are for experienced cinologysts. Lack of socialization can be corrected but it cannot be fully eliminated. Testing for the Puppy and Its Future Owner You may already know how to choose a purebred German Shepherd by external signs under the age of 3 months. Simple tests will help you choose a puppy with the desired character. Visit the breeder at a predetermined time when the puppies do not sleep or, conversely, are not hungry. You are taking a future friend for life, and enthusiastic emotions with such a choice are inappropriate. When buying a new friend, inspect the litter meticulously. Pay attention to the following: eyes do not water; traces of diarrhea under the tails are not observed; wet noses are without purulent crusts; legs are straight and strong; fur is clean, reminding of the plush; on the skin under the coat, there are no signs of peeling and scabs; all puppies are active and well-fed; the body is elastic and strong to the touch; the puppy has a pleasant dog smell; the mother is not exhausted; bowls and bedding are clean; there is enough heat and light. Of course, the owner of the dog mother has already taken her to the next room. Those who paid attention to the unusual sound are yours. Throw carefully, of course a tennis ball at the puppies. Those who were not afraid and did not try to escape are yours. Those who, having scouted the situation, did not begin to whine , pressing themselves onto the floor, but hurried towards the bedding are yours. Pay attention to those who have shown interest in a new object. The best are those who took and dragged it. Keys and money are the dirtiest household items. This testing method was used 20 years ago. Today, it is dangerous for the health of puppies! Invite those who dragged the rubber duck to pull a piece of fabric. If the baby dog willingly starts the fight, not letting the cloth go when you pull it towards you, they are good boys or girls. Turn the puppy you like on its back and hold it with an open palm for a few seconds. A clear alpha leader is easy to identify by its non-calming behavior for seconds, and even trying to bite you in this position. It may not be your choice! You will get too many problems associated with the puppy, or it will never be possible to completely subdue it. The puppy that squealed, pulled back its paw, and did not lose its interest in you is yours. The one who barks trying to drive brothers and sisters away from the bowl is not for you. The one who gives up its place at the feeder is also not yours. Yours is the one who, regardless of the obstacles, has taken its place and calmly devours food, without moving from its point, snapping, and running around the bowl. Now, you have at best 2 or 3 puppies left in front of you. You need to select the fat-footed one who will try to get out through the opening without panic and squealing. The tests are simple, but they will allow you to select a good puppy and raise a real working German Shepherd from it without unnecessary costs and nerves. Talk to the breeder. Such puppies are sold at a more reasonable price, but the puppy card for them is mandatory to be filled out as well. If you are given puppies for free, in the absence of their mother, there is a reason to seriously consider whether it is a Shepherd dog at all, even if their mother has pedigree documents. This is not a dog of one owner! The versatility and flexibility of this breed are proven by the fact that GSs accept a new family and a new environment without any problems. The main thing for it is to have its own business — to serve a human! Of course, parting with the former owner seriously affects the condition of the dog, but it will not have a destructive effect on its psyche. And the sooner you engage the German Shepherd in work, the more chances you will have to become a new God for it. If the German Shepherd was properly brought up and grew up surrounded by people, it has working characteristics in good conditions, and the reputation of its previous owner is beyond all questions, such a dog will be quite useful to your family. Finding out the previous story and background of an adult GS why it is refused, what the complaints about its behavior are, and other prompting questions is a must! The reason may be the saddest and most trivial — the previous owner died, and relatives are not able to either support or care for the dog. 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. Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. Below I'll list a few tips to help you choose your own GSD puppy by considering the following things, in no particular order: 1 Carefully look at the puppy's parents, all the littermates and any other relatives onsite - It's really important to make sure that both parents are friendly, healthy and active. One important thing to keep in mind, many nursing bitches can be a little "down" and maybe even undernourished when feeding a large litter of puppies, however she should still be friendly and curious about you. Another important tip: make sure both parents have been OFA certified. Chances are very high that you may regret bringing home a sickly puppy later. Overall, young German shepherd puppies should be playful, clean and odor-free, full bodied but not too chunky and have bright clear eyes, a clean nose, clean anus and a full hair coat no mats or bald patches. All puppies of any kind need their mothers very early on. They need them to nurse and they also need them as teachers to model behaviors for the puppy that they will need to know later on in life. It is also important to make sure that the puppies have gotten all their first vaccinations and wormings. Overall, the best time to get a German Shepherd puppy is basically sometime between eight to twelve weeks of age. If you find a GSD puppy that you want and is older than twelve to fourteen weeks just make sure that it has been received a lot of socialization with people and other "critters". The overall setup of the kennel area should be that of a well kept area for all the dogs and puppies. Never buy a puppy from a breeder that keeps their animals in dirty, filthy or nasty conditions. If you sincerely feel as if something is not right with the breeder, the breeders objective in selling the puppies, the surroundings or the puppy itself, step back. Give yourself time to really think about the entire situation. You never want to get a puppy of any kind on impulse! When you bring that new GSD puppy home, you want to be confident in the fact that the entire process of choosing a German Shepherd Puppy has been as stress free as possible and that you have just made the best choice for both you and your new GSD puppy because this is a new relationship that can last, easily, eight years or more. They had little pictures of cats on them. Then I took one out and he ran around in circles. This guide will help you learn how to select the best German Shepherd puppy to add to your family. Is a German Shepherd right for me? This is the first question you should ask yourself before you even consider bringing home a new German Shepherd puppy. You need to evaluate your personal and family lifestyle by asking yourself the following questions: Where do you live? German Shepherds are often on the restricted breed list for apartments. Do you spend much of your time at home, or do you have an active work and social life? Are you willing to spend more time at home on the weekends and evenings during puppyhood, even if it means missing social events? Do you love traveling a lot? If so, will you take your puppy with you? If not, do you have someone or someplace you trust to watch your dog when you travel? Is your whole family excited about the idea of a new German Shepherd puppy? Are you already active or willing to become more active? Do you have time in your schedule to devote to training? Knowing the answers to those questions will help get you a couple of steps closer to deciding whether or not a German Shepherd is the right choice for you. Important things to know about German Shepherds: German Shepherd dogs are sometimes affectionately known as German shedders. German Shepherds shed all year long , however, they blow their coats twice a year during which time they will shed exponentially more. When considering getting this breed, you should be comfortable having a dog that sheds. Trimming their nails , cleaning their ears, brushing their teeth, and brushing their coat regularly is sufficient. Of course, during the shedding seasons more frequent brushing will be needed. German Shepherds were originally developed for herding sheep. Accordingly, they have the desire to work and respond best to proper training from a young age, and an active lifestyle. German Shepherds are known to be clingy, so be prepared to have a shadow following you around the house and maybe even in the restroom. German Shepherds are good with kids and are great family dogs. However, they need proper socialization and training at a young age so they can learn how to behave around both kids and adults. German Shepherds require a lot of mental stimulation and have high energy levels, especially as a puppy. As much as I love Allie, she was more than a handful as a puppy. I have seen instances where people underestimate the time, energy, and training a German Shepherd puppy requires and get overwhelmed after bringing their puppy home. These people end up giving up their puppies. It breaks my heart to know these awesome dogs are given up because of a lack of knowledge when selecting a breed of dog. Although they are a handful if you are willing to put in the effort they are in my opinion one of the best breeds of dog to own. German Shepherds are too smart for their own good. They learn things scary fast and sometimes get themselves into trouble because of how smart they are. They learn your routine and habits, and they also learn when and how they can get away with mischief. German Shepherds are incredibly loyal and become very connected to their owners and family. German Shepherds are typically loving and affectionate. From the second I met Allie she greeted me with a wet tongue to the face. That is still her favorite greeting she will kiss anyone that will allow her to get close enough. German Shepherds need training. They need to know that you are the leader and in charge. If not, they will quickly take over the role of being in charge and that is where problems arise. A bored, untrained, not active German Shepherd can become one of the stories you sometimes hear on the news about a GSD being aggressive. In most of those cases, the problem was with the owners and not the dog breed as a whole. Adoption or Breeder? First, you need to decide if you are going to adopt a German Shepherd puppy or buy one from a breeder. Here are some of the benefits of adopting: Rescue puppies are often already sociable, at least partially trained, and loving dogs. Therefore, you will save a lot of time on house training your new puppy. Older puppies or dogs are likely to be calmer than a younger puppy. You are saving the life of a dog that might not have otherwise found a home. The cost of adopting is typically much cheaper than buying a puppy from a breeder. If you decide to get a German Shepherd puppy from a breeder, here are a few things that can help you identify a good, ethical German Shepherd breeder: Ethical breeders care about the health and wellbeing of the puppy and are not just in the business for money. Ethical breeders always make sure that only healthy dogs breed together and follow a strict breeding program where they ensure that breeding and puppy spaces are clean. They should also have papers showing the age of the parent and the family tree of the puppy. Ethical breeders will happily show you around their entire setup; they should have nothing to hide. Ethical breeders will happily answer as many questions as you have to ask. You want to select one that will be compatible with you and your family. Consider the following when picking a puppy from the litter: Choose a puppy that is sociable around you and other puppies. Pick a puppy that walks confidently with its head high and tail up and wagging. Choose a puppy that has clear eyes, ears , and teeth, walks evenly, and appears clean. Basically, choose a puppy that looks healthy. Look at the personalities of the puppies. Choose a welcoming puppy that wants to greet you as opposed to one that retreats or appears shy. Ask to interact with each puppy one by one after seeing them with their littermates. That way you can get a better sense of how the puppy responds to you without distractions. If possible, visit the litter at least three times before making a final decision, this will allow you to determine the personalities of each of those little fluff balls, and see which would best fit into your family. How old should a German Shepherd puppy be when you take it home? Any puppy should be at least 8 weeks old before being separated from their mother. By this timeline, their sensory organs will have also developed fully which will help you to spot any deformities or medical issues. Be wary of any breeder that will allow you to take your puppy home before 8 weeks old. How do you puppy proof for German Shepherds? German Shepherds are naturally active and tend to explore the world with their mouths, especially during their adolescent period. So, before you can bring your new puppy home, there are a few things you can do to puppy-proof your house: Get rid of any poisonous plants or put them out of reach of your new puppy. Cover electrical cords with cable wraps or PVC pipes. Buy a new laundry basket that has a lid, no holes, and is tall. Make sure both your kitchen and bathroom trash cans have lids. Your new puppy will dig around for anything to bite, like chicken bones, diapers, used hygienic products, or even a disposable razor. If possible, you should buy new trash cans that only open when a button is pressed. Store all the chemicals in secured cabinets or even better on high shelves. German Shepherd puppies have strong teeth and can open plastic containers by biting through even the toughest of plastic! Put away any small items or toys that are small enough for your puppy to swallow. Think of small kid toys like Legos or dollhouse furniture that could be dangerous for a curious puppy. Find a safe spot for your shoes. Whether in a closed closet or in the laundry room behind a closed door. I remember losing a pair of brand-new shoes because I forgot to put them away and Allie thought chewing them was a fun idea. Bringing home a new German Shepherd puppy The period of bringing a new German Shepherd puppy home and introducing them to your home and family takes time and above all, patience. If possible, plan to take off work for at least a few days after bringing your puppy home. I picked up Allie on a Saturday, and then took most of the following week off to spend time getting her adjusted to her new home. Remember, your new puppy has been taken from the only family it knew, and you are now their new family. That first week home was a good week of bonding with Allie. It helped her feel comfortable with her new life and allowed me to really get to know my new beautiful energy filled puppy. The best tip for a smooth transition when bringing your German Shepherd puppy home is to begin crate training and potty training as soon as possible. As a breed prone to separation anxiety , you want to give your GSD a zone to feel safe, comfortable, and content to be on their own. While the initial steps of crate training can be time-consuming, it can make the difference between a dog that is a joy to own, and one that can never be left on their own — so, be the dog parent your pooch deserves and put the time in! New German Shepherd puppy checklist and things to buy It is important that your new puppy feels welcomed into their new home. Some items are ok to be left with your puppy, and other items are more dangerous or will be destroyed. This checklist will help you to know what to buy when getting a puppy. New German Shepherd Puppy Checklist. One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a German Shepherd puppy is what their personality and temperament are like. German Shepherds are just like people. They each have their own personalities, and some are able to get along with other dogs better than others. In fact, how your German Shepherd puppy interacts with other dogs and people will mostly come down to their individual personality. This will mean that your German Shepherd puppy will need less training, and a lot of your interactions with one another will come more naturally. The best puppy for your home may not be the biggest, prettiest dog in the litter! How to get started Before you can worry about choosing the best German Shepherd puppy for your home, you will need to find a breeder. You will need to opt for a German Shepherd breeder who has a good reputation. So you will need to do your research to find the right breeder for your needs. You may even need to travel a fair way to find the perfect breeder. Even if your German Shepherd breeder is located several states away, it will be worth the trip. If you put in the right amount of time and effort now, it should pay dividends throughout the next few years. Here are a few handy tips to help you find the right breeder to buy a German Shepherd puppy from. Talk to your German Shepherd breeder One of the first things you should do is to give the German Shepherd breeder a call. You may be surprised to learn that quality breeders will actually require this to ensure that the puppy is going to a good home. They may not be as interested in the health of the puppy and their new home as they should be, and are more concerned about making a profit from their dogs. The breeder will want to ensure that you have the right space to accommodate your German Shepherd puppy. Have you got any kids? Training your new puppy and giving them the right amount of socialization will be essential for keeping your family safe. Do you have a fenced outdoor space? Your puppy will need to have a good amount of room so they can run around and play. They will need regular exercise to stay fit and healthy. Why do you want a German Shepherd? The breeder will want to know what purpose you want a German Shepherd puppy for. It could be as a pet, for added protection, or to show competitively. Do you have any other pets? This will be an important factor as you will need to know how to introduce your new puppy to other animals. It will also be crucial to know if you have any other pets which could pose a danger to the puppy. What do you do for a living? If you have to work away for long periods of time so that your puppy is left alone for large portions of the day, the breeder will want to know this. Can you afford the financial responsibility of this puppy? Dogs are a financial commitment. This may seem like too much of a personal question, however, it will be important to establish that you can properly care for your new dog. Questions you can ask your breeder There are far too many unethical breeders around. Some irresponsible breeders will take shortcuts when it comes to breeding, which will leave you with dogs who have behavioral and health issues. Do you raise other breeds of dog? This can show you whether they have been bred from healthy dogs. Have you got any references? A good quality breeder should be able to give you these easily enough. Have you got a pedigree for the puppies? This is essentially a family tree of the puppies. A good quality breeder should be able to produce the proper lineage of your new puppy when asked. If the breeder attempts to charge you for this, or says they will give it to you another time, be very wary. Every breeder worth their salt will give you this guarantee as a written contract. How often do you breed your females in a single year? This will allow them to properly recover from giving birth, and help to maintain great health. Have you got a detailed medical history for the puppies? A reputable breeder should be able to give you proof of any health screenings that their puppies have had. This is essential for healthy dogs. Could you explain to me if German Shepherds have any health issues they may suffer from as adults? Puppies should never be taken home if they are less than 8 weeks old. In fact, more than half of the states in America have laws to prevent this from happening. There are several laws which dictate how old a puppy needs to be before it can be adopted or sold. There are only 3 which actually allow puppies to be sold under 8 weeks old: D. These laws are in place for a reason. This is to ensure that all puppies have been properly weaned from their mothers and that they are able to eat without help. Puppies will also need to have been properly socialized before they can leave their mothers. Their mothers and siblings can help to socialize the puppy properly. Most of the behavioral problems in adult dogs can be traced back to this lack of discipline and not having been socialized properly. To make sure that you have a healthy puppy, you will need to choose a puppy that is being sold in accordance with the laws of their state. This will mean buying a puppy that is at least 8 weeks old, if not older. Even if you happen to find a puppy in D. Male or female puppy Perhaps you already have a preference for the gender of your puppy. You will need to understand that the two genders actually have distinct differences. Here are a few things for you to consider to help you make a fully informed choice. Female German Shepherds 1. Physical appearance Typically, female German Shepherds will be much smaller than males. They will also have a less muscular stature. Dominance A female dog will display less behavioral dominance than a male dog will. Family bonding Female German Shepherds are more likely to bond with the whole family rather than a single individual. Territorial A female German Shepherd will be much less territorial than a male dog will be. Male German Shepherds Male dogs will tend to be much larger than females. They are also more muscular. Dominance Males will display a lot more dominance than females. Single person bonding A male German Shepherd is more likely to bond very closely with a single person instead of a whole family. Territorial A male German Shepherd is more likely to be territorial. This means they could be more likely to wander off in an attempt to expand their home turf. Possessive These males tend to be on the more possessive side than their female counterparts. This could be over their food, their favorite toys, or even you. It will be important to give them correct training to teach them not to be aggressive towards you. They should be able to socialize better with others, too. But the best way to find out if your prospective puppy will be the right fit for your home is to do some proactive investigating. This can also be a great indicator of their future behavior, too. You should never force the interaction. If the puppy is reluctant to come near you and interact with you, then you will be better off choosing a different pup. Tests for your German shepherd puppy 1. Eye contact When you look directly at your puppy, does it look back at you? If your puppy stares back at you, this is showing confidence. If your puppy avoids eye contact then it may be anxious, scared, or have a vision issue. Clapping your hands This can indicate how social your puppy is. If it comes towards you and tries to interact with you, this is a great sign. This shows that the dog is eager to socialize with people. Call out to the puppy Do they come towards you at the sound of your voice? This is a fantastic sign. Pet the dog It will be important to note how the puppy interacts with your physical touch. If the puppy is affectionate and loving, this will be another great sign. If they bite or growl at you, this will likely be an indication of a bad temperament. The dog will have to be trained out of this. Play ball Bring a ball with you when you meet your puppy. Roll this towards the dog and see how the puppy interacts with it. Does the puppy follow the ball? Bring it back to you? Or does the dog keep the ball for itself? Puppies that are more dominant will keep the ball for themselves. They will also be reluctant to give the toy back to you. A more submissive puppy is likely to be frightened of the ball coming towards them. A more independent dog will likely show very little interest, if they show any at all. Puppies with an even temperament will show some interest in the ball, will play with it, but will also be willing for you to play a part of the game without showing any aggression. Searching for a more sociable dog? Keep an eye out for the puppy that brings the ball right back to you and asks you to play more. This puppy will be a fantastic candidate for training as well as other exercises. Roll the puppy When the puppy has come over to you, you can try to gently roll them onto their back, then hold them in place. Watch how the puppy reacts to you. Do they relax under your touch, or do they resist you? A dominant puppy will be more likely to resist you. It could even try to bite you or growl at you. An even-tempered puppy will resist at first, but will submit to you after a short time. Pick up your puppy You can physically pick up the puppy by gently holding it under its chest with an open hand. Lift the puppy up, and see what it does. Does the puppy stay relaxed or does it struggle? A struggling dog is likely to be dominant or scared. A puppy that stays perfectly relaxed is showing that it trusts you and that it is confident. This is a similar test to holding the puppy on its back. Chances are the puppy will react immediately. Any resistance or trying to pull their paw away from you could be a sign of an aggressive temperament or dominance. A puppy that accepts your actions will show a more submissive temperament. They could even lick you! Create an unexpected noise This could just be a sudden shout or banging some pots and pans. The important factor will be watching how the puppy reacts to a sudden noise. Do they show interest? Are they scared? Aggressive puppies could try and bite you and growl at you. Visit the puppy parents Most breeders will have both puppy parents in the same place. Some of them may only have the mother with the puppies because the father was on loan from a stud or a different breeder. Either way, the mother of your puppy should be with them when you pay the dogs a visit. If one of the parents appears aggressive, this could show you that you need to do some more training with your new puppy. A dog that displays more dominant tendencies will need proper training to take the edge off these behaviors. Choosing a female German Shepherd will also be a good choice. Puppies will have their off days, just like humans do. It will be important to visit your new puppy a few times and spend at least 30 minutes with them so that you can see what they will be like. They will likely prefer it to someone who only pays their puppy one visit before collecting them! This is a good indicator that the breeder wants their dogs to be matched with the right owners. If there are other people in your household who will be living with the German shepherd puppy, such as kids or a partner, you will need to bring them along, too. Your new puppy will need to get accustomed to the people it will be spending time with. It will be much easier to transition your puppy to living in your home. You should also bring some treats along for your new puppy each time you visit. These are all positive reinforcements that can allow your new puppy to get used to you and encourage them to bond with you. It will also be a good idea to bring something with you that you can leave behind for the puppy. This could be a new toy or a blanket that smells like you. This will allow the puppy to get used to your smell, which can also make the transition easier. They will also be very well acquainted with the mother of the puppies and have knowledge of the father. So your breeder should be able to help you choose the right puppy for your needs, and match the right personality to you. In summary So there you have it! Choosing the right German Shepherd puppy for your needs is certainly more challenging than it first appears. The most important goal is to choose the right dog that will fit in well with you and your family. As long as you do the proper research beforehand, you should be able to find the right dog for your home. Remember to ask the right questions when you find your breeder to make sure that they are a good person to buy a dog from. Be sure to visit your new puppy several times before you bring them home. As long as you take this responsibility seriously, you will have laid the perfect foundation for a fruitful relationship with your new puppy. Final thoughts Where do I start? The first thing that you have to do before you can pick out the best puppy, is to pick out the best breeder. This may come easily, as you may already have a breeder in mind that you trust and who has a good reputation. But chances are that you will have to do your research. And there is also a good chance that you may need to travel some distance to the right breeder. Even if the breeder is several states away, consider making the trip. Getting a new GSD puppy is a significant life commitment. The effort and time that you invest now in going about this properly will pay off for years to come. Here are some important things to look for in a breeder once you locate one that you are interested in pursuing. Call the breeder and have a conversation The first thing to do is call the breeder and have a conversation. A quality German Shepherd breeder will actually require this. They will not permit someone to just show up and purchase one of their dogs and take it home. They will ask you questions such as: Why do you want a GSD puppy? This will aid them in helping you choose. Where do you live, in an apartment or in a home? They will want to ensure that the puppy will not be in a cramped space. Do you have a yard, and is it fenced-in? They will want to make sure that the puppy will have adequate room to exercise as it grows. Do you have children in your home? They will want to make sure that you understand the importance of socialization and training to keep your family safe. Do you have other pets in your home? They will want to make sure that you know how to properly introduce the puppy to other animals, and whether any other pets you have may actually be a danger to the puppy. What type of work do you do, does it require you to be away from home for long periods of time? Because GSDs do not do well alone, they will want to make sure that you have adequate time to devote to your dog. Are you financially prepared to take on a GSD? While this may be a bit of a personal question, it is important to know that you are financially able to care for a GSD. They are expensive to care for, and it is fair for a breeder to ask this question. If a breeder does not ask you some form of these questions, then perhaps think twice. It may be an indication that they are more interested in profit than raising a quality puppy that they care will go to a quality home. Questions for you to ask the breeder: How many different types of dogs do you raise? Can you provide me with a pedigree of all of your puppies? A pedigree is essentially a family tree for your puppy. A good breeder should have a detailed pedigree for any dog they sell. Beware of any breeder that wants to charge for this or says that they will provide it at a later date. Do you have references? They should provide you with several without thinking twice. All reputable breeders will offer this guarantee in the form of a written contract. Do you breed your females more than once a year? Female GSDs should not be bred more than one time per year. This allows for adequate recovery time and maintains good health. Can you provide me with a detailed medical history for your puppies? Health screenings are essential for puppies, and a reputable breeder should be able to provide proof of these. Can you explain any potential health issues for GSD which may come up later in life? A knowledgable breeder should be able to clearly explain conditions like hip dysplasia and other health issues more common in GSDs than other dogs. If the answer to any of these questions comes up as unsatisfactory, move on. It is simply not worth the risk of pursuing the breeder any further. Unfortunately, there are far too many unethical breeders who take a lot of shortcuts which results in dogs prone to both health and behavioral issues. Why is this? You should never take home a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old. More than half of the states in the U. And out of those states, only 3 permit a puppy to be offered for sale under the age of 8 weeks. The reason for these laws is primarily so that puppies are properly weaned from their mothers and able to eat on their own. In addition to weaning, puppies need to be initially socialized by their mothers as well as their siblings. So a puppy will be taught that these things are bad during these 8 weeks. If you remove a puppy from the litter too early, they may not learn these lessons and develop behavioral problems as they get older. Much like a spoiled child that never learns, often times the source of an ill-behaved puppy can be traced to a lack of discipline at a young age. So to ensure that you have a healthy puppy, that is also sold in accordance with state laws and regulations, understand that it must be 8 weeks old see link above for exceptions — regardless of state law exceptions, waiting 8 weeks is good practice. Decide whether you want to male or female You may have a personal preference for either a female or a male German Shepherd puppy. It is important however to not necessarily just go with your gut on this one. Take a moment and understand some general differences between the two genders. I will explore this issue more in-depth in another post, but here are some important general points to consider. Territorial: Males are naturally more territorial than females. This may give them more of a tendency to wander off in an effort to broaden their territory. Very possessive: Male GSDs are generally more possessive than females. They may be possessive over food and bones, toys, and you! Dominance: Male German Shepherds tend to be more dominant than females. This may result in more of a proclivity towards aggressive bullying behaviors to make sure that it is understood that they are the boss. Dominance requires training to keep it in check. Singular bonding: Male GSDs tend to bond more closely with one person rather than a group of people like a family. Territorial: Females are therefore more welcoming and less territorial than males. They are also less likely to wander off as they have no desire to expand their territory. Dominance: Females display less dominant behaviors than males. Non-singular bonding: Females are more likely to bond with a number of people in a family rather than an individual person. So, how do I choose between the two? This question comes down to the purpose for which you want a German Shepherd. If you are looking for a dog to have trained in protection and are looking primarily for a four-legged security system for your home, then a male is a good choice. However, if your primary interest is to just have a family pet that socializes well with others, then a female is probably right for you. Testing the puppy There is no better way to determine whether or not a specific puppy is the right one for you than to actually get hands-on and doing some investigating. However, even before you begin any interactions with a puppy, make sure that you are testing the correct one. Never try and force any interaction, begin with puppies that are naturally drawn to you. Just like with people, you cannot force a match and expect fruitful results. So be patient and make sure at very least that the puppy is not aversive toward you before you being. The tests: Clap your hands: Does it run away or does it come? A more timid dog may, however, be apprehensive to approach. Make eye contact: When the puppy is looked at, does it stare back at you? If the puppy looks directly at you, it is showing confidence. Vocally call the puppy over to you: Does it come to you right away? If it does how not, however, this could show a behavioral issue or hearing problem, or it could be an indication of another illness as well. Pet the puppy: How does it respond to your touch? However, if it meets your touches with biting or growling, then this is likely an indication of an uneven or bad temperament. It will not just grow out of this, it will have to be trained out of it. Bring a ball with you to test with the puppy: Roll the ball and see what the puppy does. Does it follow it and then bring it to you? Or does it take it away for itself. A more dominant puppy will just take the ball and keep it for itself, reluctant to give it back to you. On the other hand, a more independent puppy may show no interest at all. And one that is submissive may actually be frightened. If you are looking for a very sociable puppy, look for the one that brings the ball right back to you to play some more. The puppy that brings it right back is also an ideal candidate for training in retrieving and other exercises. An even-tempered puppy will show interest in and play with the toy, but it will also allow you to participate and take the toy back without showing you any aggression. Roll the puppy over: Once the puppy comes over to you, gently roll it onto its back and hold it in place. Do not be forceful but be firm. See how the puppy reacts. Is it resisting, or is it just relaxing? A puppy with a more dominant personality will take the path of most resistance, and it may growl or attempt to bite at you. And the even-tempered puppy is the one that may resist for a short time but then submit to what you are doing. Pick up the puppy: Physically pick up the puppy by gently holding it underneath its chest with an open hand. Lift it up high, even above the height of your head and hold it there. What does the puppy do? Does it struggle, or does it stay relaxed? A puppy that struggles may be fearful or dominant. On the other hand, a puppy that stays absolutely relaxed is displaying confidence in itself and trust in you. Hold on to a paw and press it gently: This is somewhat similar to holding it on its back. If there is a response to be had, it will happen immediately. Resistance or pulling the paw away may show dominance and temperament towards aggression. The even-tempered puppy will be you curious as to what you are doing. It may investigate a little and might even lick you. Make an unexpected noise: Whether it is banging a pot and pan together or just yelling, create an unexpected noise. See what the puppy does, does it show fear, interest, or aggression? A fearful puppy may run away or even whimper. While an aggressive-tempered puppy may actually growl and try to bite you. An even-tempered puppy will simply look surprised, and may even want to investigate a little bit further. Meet the parents A lot of breeders will have both the father sire and the mother bitch of the puppies on site. However, some of them will only have the mother because sometimes the father is on loan as a stud from a different breeder. But the mother for sure should be on site, and you should get an idea of what she is like. In the case of my last German Shepherd, I was able to meet both parents. His mother was very kind and sociable and eager to be petted. While on the other hand, his father was clearly dominant, and not a dog to be messed with. Because of my prior experience and knowledge, my GSD turned out exactly as I thought he would — fairly sociable yet wildly protective of me. This was all right because I knew what to expect and I was able to train my dog properly to take the edge off of some of his more dominance behaviors. However, my choice was an informed decision based on years of experience. If you are new to owning a German Shepherd, this may not be an ideal combination. I would recommend for a new German Shepherd owner to consider making sure that both parents are more docile, and possibly even lean towards acquiring a female for your first German Shepherd. Visit the puppy on more than one occasion Just like people, puppies have their on days and their off days. You will not be able to get a very accurate picture of how your puppy will be on one short visit. In fact, with my last dog, I visited him at least 4 times and stayed for at least 30 minutes with him each time prior to taking him home. A good breeder will have no issue with you doing this, and in fact, will prefer it. They want their dogs to be well-matched with their new owners, so this is common practice. The puppy should become accustomed to the people it will soon be spending its entire life with. So the more familiarity that you build now in this phase, the easier that puppy will transition to home life with you and your family. All of these steps are positive reinforcement for your new puppy and will build familiarity and a bond even before you arrive home. Also, bring a small blanket or clothing item and ask the breeder to leave it with the puppy. This will allow your puppy to become familiar with the scent of you and your home. Making for a better transition. So by default, this knowledge enables the breeder to be very good at placing the proper puppies with the proper personalities. Remember to stay focused and not lose sight of your primary objective, which is to select the right puppy for you and your family. If you take the time and care to do your research and ask the right questions, you will come together with the right puppy for you. But remember, this is just the beginning of a major life commitment. So take this step of choosing the right GSD puppy seriously, and you will have laid the foundation for a loving and rewarding relationship for years to come. May not even be aware of the breed standard. Breeds to any convenient dog. Strives towards the ideal. Often helps to define it. Does not need to promote establishment; sells to brokers, pet shops, etc. Often rescues only to attain more stock. Rarely attends shows or trials. Shows and trials to objectively test breeding stock. Often judges, provides seminars, writes articles, and willingly mentors serious Hobby Breeders. Knowledge Often pretends to know some. May share false or incomplete information. Studies continuously. Impacts the breed for many decades with knowledge of dogs over many generations. All pups sold have full breeding rights. Yes, and diligently follows up on progeny. Keeps up with health and temperament issues affecting the breeding and provides in-depth guarantees No need to; mostly supplies brokers and pet shops. Meets minimum standards as required by state law. May refuse to acknowledge most problems. Maintains a solid support system — accepts full responsibility for every puppy produced. Performs health testing for all breeding stock for genetic diseases affecting the particular breed. No interest, may offer papers as proof of quality. Papers alone are not proof of quality. No interest. May provide undocumented paperwork for appearances sake. Is unfamiliar with health testing usually statements of good health are stated to impress consumers. Intensive testing always a priority. Often initiates club sponsored seminars and clinics. Maintains records on all dogs in gene pool including progeny. Often supplies brokers and pet shops, records unavailable. Dogs and puppies are often auctioned off in lots, records unavailable. Focuses mostly on current dogs, no records or knowledge of genes. Attempts to continuously track every puppy produced. Bases entire breeding program on extensive gene pool data. Clean environment always maintained Minimum standards vary greatly in cleanliness. Minimum standards maintained for state inspections. Conditions may vary greatly depending on available income, usually makeshift accommodations. Clean, healthy and mentally stimulating environment. Expected longevity with any particular breed Will continue as long as the sales are coming. Depends on popularity of specific breeds. Unrealistic expectations — easily disillusioned. On a mission-plans to stay for the long haul. Health guarantee provided No, it cuts into profits. No health guarantee beyond proof of first set of vaccines, if that. Not qualified to give advice if a problem arises. Offers written guarantee and is available to answer questions to new owners. Good knowledge of history in dogs. Extensive knowledge of health history, offers replacements to owners of genetically affected dogs. Ability to meet the parents of the litter If available, may be in poor physical condition. If available, dogs are not used to contact with people. May or may not be well loved and cared for companions, often unwilling to show entire litter or parents to buyer. Shows friendly mother and entire litter in clean environment; stud dog too, if in residence. Helps buyer choose appropriate puppy. Can explain how breeding was planned to emphasize specific qualities and can speak at length about how puppies compare. What you can expect after purchase Nothing, may not be able to contact at all. No concern for dog after sale is final. Available for questions, and wants to keep in touch. Will take back dog or puppy at any time. After purchase will help with training and grooming, available for all questions and knows the answers. Price Priced according to market, but is marked up from original source for profit. Mid-range to move puppies quickly. High end of mid-range. Price will not reflect all that is invested. Use only physically sound, mature dogs of stable temperament for breeding. These characteristics are rarely, if ever, determined before the age of two for females. Continue to educate themselves regarding genetic diseases pertinent to the breed including, hip and elbow dysplasia. Documentation of hip and elbow screenings should be available to prospective puppy buyers. Apply the same high standards to outside bitches sent to their stud dogs as they apply to their own breeding stock. Temperament testing of a litter before puppies are offered for sale is encouraged. Take appropriate steps to have each puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian for general health prior to placement. Each puppy should be vaccinated and de-wormed by a veterinarian. Endeavor to gain personal knowledge of the temperament and health of every dog they breed, or to which they breed, in order to gather information on which to base future breeding decisions. They share this information fully and honestly with other breeders and with prospective buyers. Sell breeding prospects to knowledgeable, ethical and experienced persons or are willing to help educate and guide novices. Do not engage in misleading or untrue advertising and do not use GSDCA membership as a marketing tool. Do not sell, supply, donate or surrender any dog for which they are responsible to a pet shop, catalogue house, wholesale dealer in dogs, Humane Society or to a laboratory. They should have reasonable assurance that each individual receiving a dog will provide a home with appropriate shelter, restraint, control and responsible care. Encourage puppy buyers to go to puppy obedience classes to help their puppies to become better canine good citizens. The achievement of a Canine Good Citizen certificate should be encouraged. Since homeowners insurance and local laws vary greatly, a refusal to let you visit the kennels may not, in and of itself, be a bad sign. You should ask for and receive a satisfactory explanation. The puppies are not social or look sickly. How to read those ads. A few more things to look out for. Anyone can buy a puppy from a champion, but it does not mean that they have any other interest in the breed but to bank on the name and make money. Having a Champion in a pedigree is like having a billionaire relative. AKC registration does not guarantee quality. AKC papers are much like the title of a car; papers are issued to the junked Chevy on blocks in your yard just as easily as they are on a brand new, shiny Jaguar. AKC does not control breeding, approve litters, or guarantee temperaments. AKC Registration is automatic if you buy from a reputable breeder — they will provide all necessary paperwork when you buy a puppy. There are several groups that are registering dogs, even mixed breeds, for a fee. This registration means nothing, and is of no value to you. Are there too many defects for the animal to be bred? Shop with care. Rarely will a good breeder have the luck to own both dogs for the perfect litter. There are some good and very reasonable reasons to have both parents on site. However, you need to ask the right questions and understand why this is true. They might be, they might not. Are they too big to be cute anymore? Need more money? Is there a problem? Usually because there are more on the way. Be very wary of this one. Will a Breeder Ask Me Questions? Conscientious breeders want the best available home for their puppies. This determines the amount of time you will have available for your new addition. There are very important items that should be supplied by the breeder. Breeders will typically give you the following items: A signed pedigree A current Health Record; including de-wormings and vaccinations. American Kennel Club registration papers or application Sales contract. The type of contract varies and must be mutually agreeable to the breeder and buyer. Much depends on what you expect from the puppy show, pet, or performance. Feeding schedule including the type and amount of food. Copy of OFA certification of sire and dam, if available.

These specially designed harnesses can help prevent pulling and teach your puppy good leash manners. However, they may also be very independent and pull on the leash, which can be challenging for new owners to control. One effective method for teaching your German Shepherd puppy not to pull on the leash is a no-pull harness. This article presents the 5 best no-pull harnesses for German Shepherd puppies that are designed for comfort, durability, and control. What is the best harness for a German Shepherd that pulls? Size: from S-XL Colors: black, green, blue, grey, orange, tan The rabbitgoo Tactical Harness is a comfortable and durable harness that is perfect for German Shepherd puppies. It is made of soft, but strong nylon material, and it features a padded chest strap to provide extra comfort for your puppy. The harness is adjustable, so it can be customized to fit your puppy's size, and it has a front D-ring attachment that helps to discourage pulling. It is made of sturdy nylon and has a padded chest strap for your puppy's enhanced comfort. In order to reduce pulling, the harness incorporates a front D-ring attachment. It also has a back leash attachment for everyday walking. It is made of high-quality nylon material and 3 different leash attachment points as well, allowing you to find what option is best for yourself and your pup to provide extra comfort. This feature also helps to discourage pulling. It features a durable nylon construction with a breathable mesh lining for added comfort. The harness is adjustable to ensure a secure and comfortable fit for your dog and includes a sturdy handle on the back for better control and safety during walks or other activities. The harness is made from soft, breathable, and lightweight materials that are gentle on your dog's skin and won't cause any irritation or discomfort. The no-pull design of the harness distributes pressure evenly across your dog's chest, reducing pulling and choking, and allowing you to have more control over your dog's movements. Are no pull harnesses good for puppies? Yes, for puppies, no-pull collars can be an excellent solution, especially if they have a tendency to tug on their leash while being walked. By teaching your puppy to walk calmly on a leash and preventing dragging, using a no-pull harness can make walks more pleasurable for both you and your puppy. So it's crucial to pick a harness that's made especially for puppies and that fits them appropriately. Puppies grow quickly, so it's important to check that the harness fits properly and to make any necessary adjustments. Choose a harness that won't irritate your puppy's sensitive skin and is composed of soft, lightweight materials as well. As with any training tool, it's crucial to be patient with your puppy as it learns to walk on a leash and to apply positive reinforcement tactics. A no-pull harness can be a useful tool for teaching your puppy excellent leash manners and ensuring its safety on walks if it is used in combination with proper training and equipment. Summing up, One effective method for teaching your German Shepherd puppy not to pull on the leash is a no-pull harness. These picks presented in the article, are all excellent choices to take into account. No matter whatever harness you use, make sure you adhere to the fitting and usage guidelines provided by the manufacturer. Your German Shepherd puppy will quickly learn to walk gently on the leash with a little time and instruction. Related articles:. A proper-fitting harness with the correct features can provide the best fit, comfort, and control. Whether you have a small pup or a large adult, some harnesses can provide the safety and security your dog needs. This comprehensive guide will help you discover the best harnesses for German Shepherds so you can choose the one that works best for your pup. Several key factors must be considered when selecting the best harness for your German Shepherd. These include the type of harness, adjustability, leash attachment points, and comfort. The type of harness should be based on your dog's activity level and the type of walks you plan to take. A no-pull dog harness might be a good option if your dog is a puller. For more active dogs, a pull-style harness can help control their energy and provide structure during walks. Additionally, adjustable straps, leash attachment points, and breathable fabric are important features to look for when selecting a harness for your pup. Finally, comfort is key for any harness you choose, as you want to ensure your pup is comfortable and secure. How Many Types of Harnesses for German Shepherds Several types of harnesses are available for German Shepherds, each designed to cater to specific needs and preferences. Understanding these different types can help German Shepherd owners select the best harness for their furry companions. The most common harness types for German Shepherds include: 1. No-Pull Harnesses No-Pull Harnesses, often called range dog harnesses, are designed to reduce pulling and help with training, making them perfect dog harnesses for German Shepherds. Typically made of sturdy nylon or neoprene, these harnesses feature a loop around the dog's head and neck and another loop around the dog's chest. The loop at the neck tightens when the dog pulls, redirecting the German Shepherd dog's attention away from the pulling and towards the handler, ensuring maximum control. The benefits of no-pull harnesses include better control and improved training for German Shepherds and other breeds. However, drawbacks include a possible decrease in mobility, difficulty properly fitting the harness for smaller dogs and potential pressure on the dog's throat. Nonetheless, the best harness for German Shepherd dogs will provide the ideal balance of control, comfort, and durability, making it an essential tool for dog handlers and German Shepherd owners. Front-Clip Harnesses These harnesses, commonly known as front-clip harnesses, have a clip in the front, allowing the handler to control the German Shepherd or other breeds from the front instead of from the back. They are a great option for dogs that pull, as the handler can easily redirect the dog's attention by gently tugging on the leash, making them an ideal choice for German Shepherd puppies and adults alike. The benefits of front-clip harnesses, such as improved training and better control, make them popular among the best harnesses for German Shepherds. However, drawbacks include a possible decrease in mobility and difficulty in properly fitting the harness for smaller dogs. Overall, well-designed German Shepherd harnesses with a front leash attachment offer handlers an effective tool to manage their dogs, ensuring a more enjoyable and controlled walking experience for both the dog and its owner. Back-Clip Harnesses These harnesses have a clip on the back of the dog, allowing the handler to control the dog from the back. They are often used for show dogs and those that need additional control. The benefits of back-clip harnesses include better control and improved training. Drawbacks include a possible decrease in mobility and difficulty in properly fitting the harness for smaller dogs. Dual Clip Harnesses These harnesses have two clips, one in the front and one in the back. They are a great option for dogs that pull, as the handler can easily redirect the dog's attention by gently tugging on the leash. The benefits of dual clip harnesses include better control and improved training. Tactical Harnesses These harnesses are designed for military and law enforcement use and are typically made of heavy-duty nylon or canvas. They have a loop that goes around the dog's neck and several metal leash attachment points. Benefits of tactical harnesses include better control and improved training. Range Dog Harnesses These harnesses are designed for tracking and search and rescue work and are typically made of breathable air mesh. Benefits of range dog harnesses include better control and improved training. Key features to look for in the best harness for German Shepherds Material and Durability: Look for a harness made from a durable material that can withstand the strength and activity level of a German Shepherd. A range harness with breathable air mesh is ideal, as it keeps the dog cool and prevents overheating. Adjustability and Fit: The harness should have four adjustable straps to ensure a snug and comfortable fit. It should also be designed to fit the dog's body shape, with a snug fit around the dog's chest and throat without causing discomfort. Comfort and Padding: A good harness should have soft padding to prevent rubbing or chafing, especially during long walks or strenuous activity. This ensures maximum comfort for the dog while wearing the harness. Reflective Elements and Visibility: It is important to look for a harness with reflective elements, especially if you walk your dog in low-light conditions. This enhances visibility and ensures that motorists and other pedestrians can see your dog. Ease of Use and Maintenance: A good harness should be easy to put on and take off, with quick-release buckles allowing easy adjustment. It should also be easy to clean and maintain, with washable material that doesn't fade or lose its shape over time. Leash Attachment Points: A harness with two metal leash attachment points, including a front and back clip, provides maximum control and lets you choose the best position for your dog's leash. A front clip harness is especially useful for training purposes and discouraging pulling. Some examples of popular and highly rated harnesses for German Shepherds include the Rabbitgoo Dog Harness, which features a front clip and a range of sizes for a customizable fit, and the Julius-K9 IDC Powerharness, which has a sturdy design and is highly durable. Top harness recommendations for German Shepherds 1. The harness features a stylish, sporty look with reflective stitching to ensure your dog's visibility in low-light conditions. Adjustable straps provide a snug, customized fit. While the no-pull design prevents strain on the dog's neck and spine. The harness's soft, padded material ensures maximum comfort, and the built-in handle allows for greater control during walks or training sessions. With Chai's Choice, you can trust that your German Shepherd will be safe, comfortable, and stylish. This heavy-duty harness features a military-inspired design with MOLLE webbing to attach gear, such as water bottles or treat pouches. The adjustable straps ensure a secure and comfortable fit, while the no-pull front clip discourages pulling behavior during walks. The harness is made from high-quality, water-resistant materials, and its reinforced stitching ensures long-lasting performance. The OneTigris Tactical Harness is the ultimate choice for those seeking a rugged and functional harness for their German Shepherd. Its no-pull design features a front and back clip, allowing you to attach the leash in the best position to control your dog's pulling tendencies. The harness is made from breathable, lightweight material to ensure your dog's comfort during extended walks or training sessions. With adjustable straps and a customizable fit, the Rabbitgoo No-Pull Pet Harness ensures that your German Shepherd will feel secure and comfortable. At the same time, you enjoy a more relaxed walking experience. This robust and durable harness features a dual-clip design, allowing you to attach the leash to the front or back clip for optimal control. Its adjustable straps and easy-to-use buckles make it a breeze to find the perfect fit for your German Shepherd from puppyhood to adulthood. The harness is constructed with high-quality, breathable material, and its reflective strips ensure your dog's visibility during nighttime walks. Its no-pull design includes a front clip to discourage pulling and a back clip for more relaxed strolls. The harness is made from a soft, padded material to ensure your dog's comfort, while its sturdy construction guarantees long-lasting performance. Adjustable straps allow you to customize the fit, making it suitable for German Shepherd puppies and adults alike. With the Big Dog No-Pull Harness, you can confidently walk your German Shepherd, knowing you have the best harness to support its strength and energy. A harness benefits a German Shepherd by providing better control, reducing the risk of injury, and discouraging pulling. The best harness for a German Shepherd would be a no-pull harness, which helps to distribute pressure evenly across the dog's body and prevents choking. How can I tell which clip style to buy? There are two main clip styles: front-clip and dual-clip harnesses. Front-clip harnesses attach the leash to the chest, which helps to reduce pulling. Dual-clip harnesses offer both front and back attachment points, providing versatility in handling your dog. A dual-clip harness is recommended for a German Shepherd as it offers more control and adaptability. How do I size my German Shepherd for the right fit? To size your German Shepherd for the right harness fit, you must measure its girth the circumference around the widest part of its chest, just behind the front legs and its neck size. Use these measurements to select the appropriate size according to the manufacturer's sizing chart. Remember that each brand may have different sizing standards, so always consult the specific size chart. How can I tell if the harness is too tight or too loose? A properly fitted harness should be snug but not tight. You should be able to fit two fingers between the harness and your dog's body. If you can fit over two fingers, the harness is too loose and may cause chafing or allow your dog to slip out. If you cannot fit two fingers, the harness is too tight and may cause discomfort or restrict movement. Do I need a handle on my harness? A handle on a German Shepherd harness can provide extra control and support, especially in crowded or challenging situations. While not necessary for every dog, a handle can be helpful for training, handling reactive dogs, or assisting with mobility issues. A tactical harness often includes a handle, which can benefit German Shepherds in various situations. Conclusion Selecting the best harness for your German Shepherd is crucial to ensure the perfect fit, comfort, and control during walks and training sessions. By considering factors such as clip style, size, and features like breathable air mesh lining, you can decide on the best harnesses for your German Shepherd puppy or adult dog. Investing in a high-quality harness is essential for your dog's comfort and safety and helps create a well-controlled and enjoyable walking experience for you and your furry friend. Embrace the journey with your German Shepherd and experience the benefits of a thoughtfully chosen harness that prioritizes their well-being and happiness. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Want to know more about TryFi. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. When it comes to walking or running with a German shepherd, a harness is always the best option. A harness provides more control than a collar, which is important when dealing with a strong and energetic breed like a German shepherd. Additionally, a harness can help to prevent injuries. In summary, harnesses are a safer and more comfortable option for German shepherds, making them the perfect choice for any owner. Types of Dog Harnesses Dog harnesses come in several different types, depending on the purpose and use of the harness. In this type of harness, the leash is attached to the front so that if your dog pulls, the leash gives a tugging effect to turn him to the side rather than allowing him to dive on ahead. A padded harness has soft padding on the chest and back areas that give your dog comfort and stability. This feature is excellent for deep-chested big dogs like German shepherds and boxers. A car harness acts as a seatbelt for your dog. It is designed to protect your dog from the impact of a crash when an accident occurs. Also, this harness keeps your dog from roaming the car too much, distracting the driver and increasing the risk of an accident. A tactical harness is a multi-functional harness that allows dogs to carry some loads on their bodies. This harness is perfect for service dogs who need to carry medicine, water, and other emergency items. This harness is quite easy to notice; you might have seen it before. This harness is often used for dogs doing search and rescue missions. A reflective harness has a strip of reflective material sewn in to keep your dog visible at night or in low light conditions. This feature is especially important if you plan to walk at night with your dog. Here are some things to look for when choosing a harness for your German Shepherd: 1. Back-Clip Harness Back-clip harnesses offer a number of advantages for both dogs and their owners. For dogs with tracheal problems, the back clip helps to distribute the pressure more evenly, preventing further damage to the throat. This harness is also ideal for dogs who have mastered the art of walking on a loose leash. The back clip allows owners to keep a closer eye on their pets, making it easier to correct any unwanted behavior. In addition, back-clip harnesses offer greater stability than front-clip harnesses, making them less likely to slip off. This style of harness is typically used for dogs who need to learn leash manners and can be helpful in reducing pulling. Dual-Clip Harness A dual-clip harness is a versatile and convenient tool for dog owners. If your dog is prone to pulling on the leash, attaching the leash to the front clip can help to redirect their attention and prevent them from pulling too hard. Alternatively, if your dog is more likely to walk calmly by your side, attaching the leash to the back clip may be more comfortable for them. Either way, a dual-clip harness provides you with the flexibility to choose what works best for your dog. Measurement The first and most important thing to look for in a harness for your German Shepherd is the right fit. German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs, so make sure to measure your dog before purchasing a harness. Adjustability Another important thing to look for in a harness is that it is adjustable. Comfortability Another thing to consider when choosing a harness for your German Shepherd is comfort. You want to make sure that the harness is comfortable for your dog to wear. This is especially important if you plan on using the harness for long walks or runs. Reflective A reflective harness is a great option for German Shepherds. This is because German Shepherds are dark-colored dogs and can be difficult to see at night. A reflective harness will help to keep your dog safe and visible at night. This measurement is important because you want to make sure that the harness is not too long or too short for your dog. The Auroth Tactical Dog Harness is our runner-up pick. It also features reflective bands for added safety. Happy shopping! Why Trust Us? At TrainYourGsd, we love animals and believe pet ownership should be rewarding, fun, and educational for everyone. They only recommend products they believe in and use themselves. To help you find the best harness for your German shepherd, we spent hours combing through customer reviews and testing products ourselves. We looked for features like durability, adjustability, comfort, and safety when choosing which products to include in our guide. We also considered the size of German shepherds when making our picks. Finally, we only chose products that are available in a wide range of sizes to ensure that you can find the perfect fit for your dog. Related posts:. After all, you want the best for your canine companion. So, what do you need to consider to ensure you get the best dog harness for your German Shepherd? The easiest way to ensure comfort for your German Shepherd is to pick one made of the lightest material available. The material used on the interior of a harness is important for comfort too. We would also recommend picking a harness with a vest design since these tend to give the neck better protection by not tugging against it and relieving it of any pressure. After all, with their sheer size and strength, it can be a nightmare getting them back under your control when they escape from a harness. The material the clasps are made from is important too. You need a strong V or D-ring as a leash attachment for a strong and reliable connection. Proper Fit Before buying a harness, you need to know what size fits them. So use all the adjustable straps available, making it bigger or smaller until you get the proper fit. Ideally, it needs to be snug enough to keep them secure, but loose enough to be comfortable. A general rule of thumb is to be able to leave room for two fingers to fit between your dog and the harness. Budget A good-quality harness will inevitably cost a fair bit. Consider a harness a long-term investment. A no-pull harness is ideal for large breed dogs — the less they pull, the easier and more pleasant walks will be. Some German Shepherd harnesses that claim to be no-pull harnesses simply distribute pressure across the whole body. The front leash attachment point discourages your German Shepherd from pulling by redirecting them towards you whenever they tug at the leash. If they ever tend to pull, it might be best to pick a no-pull dog harness to train them not to pull. Regardless of which harness you pick though, you need to make sure that you get the right size and can adjust it to the best fit. But when it comes to walking, collars are never as effective or as safe as a harness. A harness can also help you as the dog owner control your German Shepherd and discourage them from pulling, making walks much more pleasant for both of you. Matt Twinley Matt spends his days working with Halie, his adorable cockapoo puppy, by his side. Having owned a variety of pets his whole life, Matt is passionate about animals and always feels most at home with a furry friend. He loves learning about animals and how to care for them. Leave a comment Your email address will not be published. Post Comment. Steering means control - like a horse is led. It makes any dog walk a pleasure. Walk Your Dog With Love. NO PULLING: Because it is not rear-attached like a collar, choker, or old-fashioned dog harness , you dont trigger off your dogs natural dog sled team pulling instinct. It stops a dog from pulling. Dog collars and chokers are just not a friendly - or necessary - way to walk your best friend. Just put it over your dogs head and click. Also, because it adjusts in degrees, it fits better, so it works better t Click HERE to check the latest price Brand Walk Your Dog With Love harnesses have their greatest advantage in brand, followed by their construction. While I have a couple of no-pull harnesses at home, I use the Walk Your Dog With Love harnesses almost exclusively because of how much I trust the brand and the business behind the product. Often, conglomerates and faceless corporations get in on whatever is the latest fad in any community. I would know because I have gone through numerous cruelty-free harnesses and, in fact, find many quite usable. The harness is designed so that it offsets your mistakes. This harness is designed to walk your German Shepherd from the front, putting him in a natural heel position. This already sets you up for success. It has the lowest neck pressure of all harnesses, from what I have figured testing these products. This diffuses any pressure that you could have generated during the tug. Speaking of tugs, you have to make sure the harness you buy is durable enough to survive its function. There will be times when you will need to pull the leash or hold it down. And this product has 20 stitches per inch, a number that dwarfs the average eight stitches per inch standard in the market. High-Quality Construction As mentioned above, the product has an incredible stitch-per-inch ratio. But its construction accolades go well beyond how many stitches it has. The harness is made of high-quality three-strand nylon with industrial thread. Easy to Maintain Remember, harnesses can get stinky really quickly! I have seen some kinder harnesses that are also humidity magnets. For example, they use 3M Scotchlite, which is visible at night so you can safely walk your dog in the dark. This is a value-based stance that the founder seems to have taken. Who Should Buy This? This harness is ideal if you have a German Shepherd that pulls or lunges. Most German Shepherds will love this harness as it is easy on the body, and even fully grown dogs can learn to accept it. Please measure the size carefully before purchasing this present for your puppy. Make your puppy stand out with this Classic Black Harness! No Pull, No Choke - Our non-pulling dog harness is specially designed with 2 metal leash rings for safer dog walks. Use the chest attachment clip to stop your dog from pulling on walks, perfect for dog training or dogs who tend to pull. The back one is great for casual walks, jogging, hiking, etc Easy to Use - This hassle-free overhead harness is easy to put on and take off with its 2 fast-release buckles. Slide the harness over your dogs head, buckle it up, adjust the straps, and here you go! Grab the top handle for additional control. Lightweight and easy to clean Fully Adjustable - This adjustable harness features 4 easy adjusting straps around the body. You can use its 2 neck straps and 2 chest straps to create a perfect fit for your dog with some room of growth. No worries about slipping out or choking Safe and Comfortable - Your dog will enjoy the daily walk in this comfort dog harness! Made of durable nylon oxford and padded with soft cushion to protect your dogs skin. Breathable air mesh keeps your dog cool during outdoor activities. Super bright reflective strips ensure a safe walk both day and ni Click HERE to check the latest price on Amazon Brand I can trust the Rabbitgoo brand for durable harnesses, but I am not sure their messaging has enough about being easy on your German Shepherd. Still, when we consider the branding aspect alone, the product inspires trust in terms of longevity but raises concerns regarding how friendly it is for your German Shepherd. If a harness is too big for your German Shepherd, it will not be functional. In contrast, if it is too tight, your German Shepherd will develop a dislike for harnesses in general and will have other issues like irritated skin and poor fur health in certain areas. Thankfully, this harness comes in a variety of sizes ranging from small to extra-large. The manufacturer has a handy size guide on the product page, making purchasing a functional fit easier for you. Front and Back Loop While the product is, for the most part, a no-pull harness, it does have the option to attach the leash at the back. Ultimately Rabbitgoo products are for a large market and have high customizability. Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning in case your German Shepherd is a fan of walking ahead and a little too happy to drag you along. High Surface-to-Buckle Ratio Some really slim harnesses consist almost entirely of buckles. You need a sturdy harness to hold back your GSD when he gets too excited and helps you control him without exerting too much pressure on a narrow area. Plenty of Instructions The last thing you want is to have a harness in your hand with no idea where each strap goes. Fortunately, Rabitgoo has been a market leader long enough to have comprehensive instructions in video and text for each of its harness products, including this one. Potential Drawbacks Because you can attach the leash at the back, it might be an easy handicap to fall back on. Aside from that, the only other drawback that seems like a deal-breaker is the potential of this harness to get stinky. So this product dodges the greatest drawback of a harness. It would be no good for my German Shepherd as she loves to cool off by lying in whatever muddy puddle she can find! And if your dog is quite strong and needs a controlling presence, then this harness is ideal for you. If you have such a German Shepherd in a more muddy or rural environment, I would recommend looking for a different harness. For more products please visit our Amazon Storefront! Professional control for urban walks: IDC Powerharness is your dog harness for bustling days, early morning walks, and getting around safely. It is a harness you can fit in one move and count on when you need it. Sturdy construction for everyday use: The handle atop the harness allows you to control your dog with confidence. Reliability and durability are guaranteed by the shatterproof buckle, and the use of first class materials. The reflective elements of the harness ensure good visibility, and the first class lining provides comfort. Julius is committed more to harnesses than any other brand mentioned in this post. I appreciate specialization, and producing harnesses exclusively earns a high score for this business, which was started by a couple with decades of dog training experience. Julius harnesses have helped Australian firefighters, which resulted in the business receiving a Quality Award in .They are well-disciplined, which nerfs this accolade a little for me. She was 11 months old in this picture. It looks like she was ready for her walk! Finally, the manufacturer claims that the harness is durable enough to hold lbs of weight, a claim that I might be able to test if I stop eating, right? For now, take it with as much confidence as any claim made by a well-established company. Key Differentiators Here are the three things that make this harness stand out. Of course, if your GSD is fully grown, that would require the strength of a powerlifter to pull off! But if you have a younger German Shepherd pup, a smaller Julius-K9 harness would be handy. If your dog is very well-trained or quite young, you can get away with having a Julius-K9 harness. However, if your German Shepherd is fully grown, this might not be the ideal harness to introduce him to. Going with something with a much thicker back piece and sturdier straps would be better. The pet harness is soft breathable non-toxic mesh padded, pulling pressure is evenly distributed to the body to prevent Choking. This easy dog harness is perfect for daily walking, running, hiking, training, hunting, outdoor adventure and more! It also work as seat bell loop. Large area reflective stitching for night use providing added visibility. Lightweight and durable, designed with minimum bulk for maximum dexterity. If you meet any problem or dissatisfied in any way, just send email to us and we will provide the best solution, all problems will be solved within 24 hours. Perhaps I am too close to the subject as I love writing about dog-related topics, and there have been plenty of things to write about since .I love that the sizes available for this start at XS and go all the way to XL. It also has three snap buckles that make it easier to take off the harness and put it back on. Soft Training Handle You know that with German Shepherds and their excitement, a stitch in time truly does save nine. Allowing you to control him from the back in the absence of a leash is quite practical. Easy to Put On and Take Off As mentioned in the functionality section, the buckle positioning and quantity make it easier for you to put the harness on and take it off without annoying your dog. This is great if your GSD is fully grown and resists the harness. Still, I believe getting an overall comfortable one works much better. Potential Drawbacks I have not tested this harness for a long period simply because I find the one mentioned at the start much more compatible with Willow. But some people have complained about the stitches falling apart and the material giving away under force. Usually, dogs under 30 lbs can wear this harness without a problem, but a fully grown GSD may need something sturdier. There are also numerous complaints about the manufacturer not responding to people who have run into trouble using the product. If you have a younger German Shepherd and only want to have him in a harness for a short period, this product is great. But for most people with grown GSDs, this is only a nice backup harness to keep. Two rings can bear great pulling force , ensuring your dog is safe during training, hunting, working, and any other occasions. Molle System Use: Two 1 strips of Molle Sewn on both sides, allow your dog to carry gear in training. A wide range of use for personal service, law enforcement, hunting, or outdoor recreation. Against any quality issues - Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, we are always here to help Click HERE to check the latest price on Amazon Brand The Auroth brand is like a younger version of the Walk Your Dog with Love product with a very similar founding story. Having just started in , the brand has made quite a mark. The brand story starts with a pitbull in need, and at least for people with GSDs, this should inspire confidence. A harness designed to control an energetic pitbull should be good enough for German Shepherds. Brand Verdict: 3. With these results drawn from over 20, reviews and ratings on Amazon, one can safely assume that the product meets my minimum viable standards for sturdiness. It also has several functions that go beyond a standard harness, which will be discussed in the differentiating aspects. Above all, it has extended pads that prevent chafing. I have only seen such consideration for skin health and itch prevention in the Walk Your Dog With Love harness. Functionality Verdict: 4. Here are a few of these key differentiators. Available in various colors — Of all the harnesses reviewed in this post, this one comes in the widest visual variety. I would expect nothing less from a product designed in Cali. High value-for-money — For all that the product has to offer, it is surprising how little it costs compared to some of the other ones of similar standard. Potential Drawbacks Some people have reported that the plastic buckle is not very strong and has broken in some cases, although I am clutching at straws here. As with the Julius K9 harness, your dog may be able to back his way out of it if he is a strong puller, as the front straps will release to their maximum length during strong pulling. You are also very likely to appreciate it if you care about looks and style. Overall Verdict 4. Harnesses are kinder than collars, and no-pull harnesses are among the gentlest solutions of their kind. The ones listed in this article are undoubtedly the best for German Shepherds. Head on to the section below. A properly fitted and used no pull harness should not hurt your German Shepherd. It works by gently discouraging pulling behavior rather than causing pain or discomfort. However, it is important to choose the right size and type of harness for your dog and to use it correctly to avoid any potential harm. Yes, you can use a no pull harness for other dog breeds as well. Most harnesses can be hand-washed with mild soap and water or machine-washed on a gentle cycle. Related Posts You May Like:.

Questions about Boxer puppies for sale in Miami FL? We have answers. How much are Boxer puppies for sale in Miami FL? The experience of Miami Boxer breeders will affect the price of each pup, as will their eye color, coat color, and markings. Can I only choose pups from Boxer breeders in Miami? We think that one of the best things about Uptown is that we work with a nationwide network of businesses and companies. You can even arrange to meet your new pup at your nearest major airport! How do you screen breeders with Boxer puppies in Miami? Uptown Puppies uses a rigorous application process to ensure that we only work with the best companies and businesses out there. All companies within our network have to sign our binding Breeder Pledge - a set of guidelines they must agree to adhere to. How is Uptown Puppies different to anywhere else? When searching for Miami Boxers for sale online it can be hard to tell the difference between honest businesses and scams or puppy mills. Many of the top results will be companies with the best marketing. That doesn't mean they have the best Boxer puppies for sale Miami though. What is a puppy mill like? Puppy mills are awful operations where profit is more important than the welfare of pups and parent dogs. Are there any Boxer puppies available right now? The first thing to do is start looking at our listings for Boxer for sale in Miami. We know there are some seriously cute pups on offer from companies in our network - your dream pup is waiting for you! Where are Boxer dogs from? The Boxer breed hails from 19th Century Germany although their roots go back as far as B. Initially a hunting breed, they quickly became prized for their courage, loyalty, and intelligence. First registered in the US in , they have been a fir favorite for hundreds of years since. What are Boxers like personality wise? Loving, playful, and even a little goofy with their families, these dogs quickly turn into fearless guard dogs if they think their loved ones need protecting. As an extremely high-energy breed, Boxers do best when given plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Are Boxers easy to train? A Boxer Miami will also need proper socialization so they become well-rounded and polite adult dogs. How big does a mature Boxer get? As Boxer puppies Miami mature, they grow into impressive dogs… a little imposing too! Male Boxers can mature to stand up to 25 inches high at the shoulder, weighing up to 80 pounds. Female Boxers are a little smaller, maturing to stand up to .Their coat is smooth and tight-fitting; colors are fawn or brindled, with or without white markings, which may cover the entire body. Boxers are brachycephalic they have broad, short skulls , and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism an underbite , very strong jaws, and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large prey. Boxers were first exhibited in a dog show for St. Bernards in Munich in , the first Boxer club being founded the next year. Based on American Kennel Club statistics, Boxers held steady as the seventh most popular breed of dog in the United States for the third consecutive year. Appearance The head is the most distinctive feature of the Boxer. The breed standard dictates that it must be in perfect proportion to the body and above all it must never be too light. The greatest value is to be placed on the muzzle being of correct form and in absolute proportion to the skull. The length of the muzzle to the whole of the head should be a ratio of .Folds are always present from the root of the nose running downwards on both sides of the muzzle, and the tip of the nose should lie somewhat higher than the root of the muzzle. In addition a Boxer should be slightly prognathous, i. Temperament The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age. Wikipedia SW 40 St. Suite 27 Miami, FL gorgeouspuppiesandkittens gmail. All Rights Reserved.

This gives the coat a beautiful, multi-dimensional appearance that shimmers in the light. Dark face and ears: The face and ears of a Sable French Bulldog may be darker than the rest of the body, with black or dark brown coloration around the eyes and on the ears. This gives the dog a striking and distinctive appearance. Grizzled appearance: The combination of black and brown hairs in the coat can give a Sable French Bulldog a grizzled appearance, with a mix of darker and lighter hairs that create a beautiful and unique coat pattern. Sable French Bulldogs have a warm brown coat with black hair tips, giving it a multi-dimensional appearance. Their face and ears may also have darker coloration. Fawn French Bulldogs, on the other hand, have a solid light tan or beige coat with no black hairs mixed in, and a uniform appearance throughout their body. Sable coat coloration is caused by a specific gene that controls the distribution of black pigment in the hair. The distribution of pigment can also create a grizzled appearance due to the mixture of black and brown hairs. It is for me! Did you know the avg. For example, Blue Frenchies are prone to a condition known as Color Dilution Alopecia which causes hair follicles to become weakened due to the dilution of pigment, leading to hair loss and skin inflammation. Do Sable Frenchies have more health issues? Unlike the colors mentioned above, Sable Frenchies are not known for having any color-specific health issues. The Sable Frenchie is no exception. The most common Frenchie health issues Allergies : French Bulldogs can develop allergies to environmental factors such as pollen, dust, and certain types of food. Common symptoms of allergies in dogs include itching, skin irritation, and digestive issues. Breathing issues : Due to their short snouts and flat faces, French Bulldogs can experience breathing problems. Stenotic nares narrowed nostrils , elongated soft palate a condition where the soft palate obstructs the airway , and tracheal collapse when the trachea collapses or flattens are all common respiratory problems in Frenchies. Joint problems : Joint problems are among the most common health issues in French Bulldogs. Hip dysplasia , elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation knee joint dislocation , and arthritis are all conditions that can affect Frenchies and cause pain and mobility issues. Spinal issues: French Bulldogs can also be prone to spinal problems such as hemivertebrae a spinal deformity , intervertebral disc disease a condition where the discs between the vertebrae in the spine degenerate or rupture , and degenerative myelopathy a progressive disease that affects the spinal cord. Eye problems : Cherry eye a condition where the tear gland in the eye protrudes from its normal position , cataracts cloudiness in the lens of the eye , entropion a condition where the eyelid rolls inward , and distichiasis an abnormal eyelash growing from the wrong location are all eye problems that can affect Frenchies. Frenchie Health Guide An in-depth guide on nearly every health problem affecting Frenchies. Are Sable Frenchies purebred? Yes, a French Bulldog with a Sable coat may be purebred — but this is not always the case. There are some colors that would be impossible for a Frenchie to have if they were purebred, but Sable is not one of those. How much are Sable Frenchies? What health problems are common in Sable Frenchies There are no color-specific health issues for Sable French Bulldogs — but they still are prone to the same health issues that any Frenchie would be prone to. These would be: allergies, breathing issues, joint, eye, and spinal problems. Is a Frenchie right for me? Are you trying to decide whether or not a French Bulldog is the right breed for you? Share Introduction A color variation of the popular breed, the Sable French Bulldog is one of the rarest colors and features a fawn coat with black tips that make it appear darker. Regardless of color, a Frenchie is a Frenchie. The French Bulldog as a breed has a rich history, however. At the beginning of the 19th century, Bulldogs were bred in the UK for blood spots like bull baiting, which was banned in .In the coming decades, miniature Bulldogs will become popular. During this time, lace workers from Nottingham were displaced by the Industrial Revolution and ended up in France, along with their Bulldogs. The dogs gained popularity in the country, and many small Bulldogs were imported. The UK started sending undesirable Bulldogs, or ones that were too small or had features like erect ears. Eventually, breeding these undesirable Bulldogs led to the creation of the Bouledogue Francaise, or French Bulldog, that became fashionable among society women and creatives. Americans eventually caught on to Frenchies and began US-based breeding. Like France, they were primarily owned by society women and shown in major dog competitions. The dogs became more popular and fetched high prices—often in the thousands of dollars—in the early 20th century, leading public figures like the Rockefellers and J. Morgans to acquire them. Now, the French Bulldog is consistently one of the 10 most popular breeds, often coming in first place. By , the French Bulldog was the fifth most popular dog breed in America. The breed standards include a square head, large, pointed ears, a flat face, dark eyes, a short coat, and brindle, fawn, cream, or pied colors. While French Bulldogs are recognized by the American Kennel Club, the sable color is considered undesirable for the show ring. Breeders also have variants of the sable color, including blue sable, red sable, lilac sable, chocolate sable, and sable pied. As mentioned, Frenchies gained popularity with society people, including the Vanderbilts. They communicate via a complex system of yips, yawns, gargles, growls, purrs, and other noises. Sable or otherwise, the French Bulldog is an excellent companion breed that enjoys spending time with humans. They are patient and affectionate, as well as tolerant of other pets. Though they can be stubborn, French Bulldogs are generally easy to train with positive reinforcement and consistency. Sable French Bulldogs are prone to a number of health conditions , however. In order to achieve the flat-faced appearance, breeders selected dogs with these traits. Now, French Bulldogs have malformed skulls that cause brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome. This causes side effects like difficulty breathing, snoring, and heat intolerance due to narrow throats and nostril openings and an elongated soft palate. Other common health conditions in Frenchies include ear infections, skin problems, and back and spine problems. They are prone to congenital or hereditary conditions like congenital hemivertebrae, hereditary cataracts, and the corkscrew tail defect caused by deliberate inbreeding. Female Frenchies are difficult to breed and frequently require Cesarean sections to deliver puppies safely. Aside from the attractive coat , Sable Frenchies are the same lovable companions as all other Frenchies. These dogs pass their message with expressive eyes, enthusiastic demeanor, and even the Frenchie Talk. French Bulldogs make wonderful watchdogs and fit in nicely with a family. A sable Frenchie resembles a fawn Frenchie with denser black hairs across the coat. Some rare French bulldog colors include all black French bulldogs, Trindles, blue coats in French Bulldog, chocolate Frenchies, Frenchies with tan points, and merle coats in French bulldogs. The French bulldogs do not mind spending most of their time indoors. They will get along with other animals and like making friends with visitors and relatives. It is no surprise that this is a popular city dog in Europe, the United States, and beyond. Sable is one of the rare colors available in French Bulldogs. It is possible to correlate Sable French Bulldogs with cream or Fawn Frenchies if you do not know what one looks like. The sable coat of a French bulldog is very similar to the fawn coat; it is, however, less prevalent than the latter. The fawn coat is the foundation, with black tippings primarily on the rear, giving it a gloomy look. This dog appears to be a standard fawn French Bulldog at first view, but closer inspection reveals there is far more to him. Sable Frenchies have a smattering of black tips or black hairs on their bodies and heads. Unlike patches or spots, these Frenchies' black hair is equally spread and combined with fawn fur, creating a distinct appearance. Sable Frenchies have color traits that are similar to tricolor and fawn Frenchies. The "A" locus expresses all of these colors. The term locus refers to a specific region on the DNA molecule. The A locus could contain up to four alleles, each leading in different coat color. Although the Sable gene is not uncommon, Sable Frenchies are difficult to come by. Breeders still do not fully understand their genetic makeup, so breeding Sable Frenchies is often a gamble. Aside from the coat color, a Sable Frenchie is identical to a standard Frenchie. Their bodies are tiny and athletic, with a flat nose, classic bulldog cheeks, and bat-like ears; the stunning coat of a Sable French Bulldog is its most noticeable trait. All Frenchies are classified as tiny or toy dogs. A fully mature blue Sable French bulldog can stand up to 13 inches and weigh 28 pounds. Sable male French Bulldogs reach the same size as females; sable Frenchies are delightful pets for any home. They are adaptable to various living situations and like making new acquaintances. They are cool, confident, and do not have a reputation for being confrontational. However, this does not guarantee that they will accept you immediately. Sable Frenchies take their time getting to know their new acquaintances; sable Frenchies are small and safe for children. They also take great precautions not to be injured by children; these characteristics make them ideal small dogs for families with children. When you keep training sessions brief and lively, Sable French Bulldogs will start to enjoy them. If you make training a job for your dog, he will not understand what you are teaching him. Sable Frenchies have difficulty concentrating, so you will want to finish the class before it gets dull. Sable Frenchies get out of breath quickly; therefore, they are not the best jogging companions. A daily gentle walk can keep your Sable Frenchie fit. If you have a tiny area to work with, Sable Frenchies are very simple to groom. They have smooth, short fur that does not entangle, and extensive weekly grooming should suffice. Although Frenchies will go without washing for lengthy periods, they still need to be cleaned regularly. Clean these small pups weekly with a moist towel or pet wipes. Sable Frenchies do not have any hypoallergenic properties; those who are allergic to dogs may experience allergy symptoms due to their dander, shedding, and saliva. A Sable Frenchie's owner should be cautious about what their dog consumes. While Sable Frenchies are willing to eat everything, you should keep an eye on what they eat. Leave human food, leftovers, rubbish, snacks, and hazardous components out of your Sable Frenchie's diet. Although the Sable French Bulldog is energetic and healthy, its breathing problems limit its lifetime. On average, these puppies survive for 10 to 12 years. A blue Sable French bulldog will cost more than a black one. Hence, the Sable French bulldog also has several health issues that owners must watch out for. Below are some of the health issues of Sable French bulldogs. When it comes to the colors of Frenchies, there are several options. The rarest or hardest-to-find colors will cost more than colors like white or black. Breed Overview Small to medium 11 — 12 inches Weight: 20 — 28 pounds for males, pounds for females Lifespan: 10 — 12 years Colors: Fawn, fawn and white, fawn brindle, brindle, brindle and white, cream, white and brindle, white and fawn Suitable for: Families looking for a playful, easy-to-groom lapdogs that does not require a lot of space. Temperament: Easygoing, sociable, gentle, friendly, playful, affectionate You might wonder what sets a Sable French Bulldog apart from the other colors. Well, we have the answer and more below. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. When the inhumane sport was outlawed in , people began breeding smaller versions of the dog. Dogs deemed to have flaws, for example, if they were too small or had ears that stood up on end, were sent to France. The Sable Frenchie is a color variant of the familiar French Bulldog. They look like regular fawn Frenchies until you take a closer look at them. Sable Frenchies have sporadic black hairs and tips that are spread evenly and mixed with fawn fur, unlike a patch or a spot. Because breeding a Sable French Bulldog is challenging, their popularity has increased, and so has their price tag. The price will vary depending on the breeder you get them from. Image Credit: Firn, Shutterstock 3. Instead of black-tipped hair, they have blue-tipped hair with a blue mask. The French Bulldog, regardless of its color, is a wonderful pet. They are playful, affectionate, and well-behaved with children. They also have various health problems that can be difficult to deal with and costly to treat. What is a Sable French Bulldog? Sable Frenchies have sporadic black hair or black tips spread throughout their heads and bodies. Unlike spots or patches, the black hair on these Frenchies is distributed evenly and mixed with fawn fur, giving them a unique look. Locus refers to the location on the DNA. The A locus can have four alleles, and each allele results in particular coat colors. These alleles are a, at, aw, and ay. Of these, the ay gives the French bulldog Sable color. Are Sable Frenchies rare? Breeders still have not completely understood their genetic makeup, and most of the time, producing Sable Frenchies is a shot in the dark. Save Big On Dog Essentials! Welcome to our pack! Sable French Bulldog physical appearance Besides the coat and coat color, a Sable Frenchie is in every way similar to a regular Frenchie. They have petite, athletic bodies, flat muzzle, traditional bulldog jowls, and signature bat-like ears. Sable French Bulldog coat colors The most distinguishing feature of a Sable-colored French Bulldog is his striking coat. Sable Frenchies have a fawn or reddish fawn base coat littered with black hair. These black hairs are denser at the dorsal area top of the back, neck, and head. Some say fawn French Bulldogs have a black mask, but we also have the black mask Sable French bulldog. Let us help you distinguish between Sable and fawn next. So, what is the difference between fawn and Sable? Sable Sable is yellowish or reddish tan. Fawn is also yellowish or reddish tan. Sable Frenchies have black-tipped hair. Sable Frenchies have denser black hair on dorsal areas and mask. Fawn Frenchies have denser black hair only on the mask. Sable Frenchies are rare. You need to register them as fawns. Fawn Frenchies are AKC-recognized. A French bulldog Sable fawn color denotes that the Frenchie is both Sable and fawn, which is always the case. Blue Sable vs blue fawn French Bulldog The only significant difference between blue fawn and blue Sable French bulldog is the presence of dark-tipped hair. Blue Sable Blue Sable Frenchies have a fawn base coat. Blue fawn Frenchies also have a fawn base coat. Blue Sable Frenchies have blue-tipped hair. Blue Sable Frenchies have denser blue hair on dorsal areas and mask. Blue Fawn Frenchies have denser blue hair only on the mask. Blue Sable Frenchies are very rare. Blue Fawn Frenchies are not as rare as blue Sable Frenchies. The merle gene can also give Frenchies congenital disorders like blindness and deafness. Their coat is white with patches of fawn and blue tips throughout their body. Their coat has three colors with blue sabling, meaning they need to express the tri-color, dilution, and sabling genes simultaneously. The only difference between fawn and Sable is the presence of dark-tipped hair. The presence of all three genes gives this Frenchie a fascinating look. Lilac Sable French Bulldog Lilac or Isabella is a rare coat color that results from dilution of the chocolate color. These Frenchies can also have black-tipped hair, making them lilac Sable French Bulldogs. Red Sable French Bulldog Fawn comes in various hues, one of which is reddish fawn. Red fawn Sable French Bulldog Red fawn is another way to describe the color we mentioned earlier. A red fawn Sable Frenchie is simply a fawn Sable Frenchie with an orange tinge on their coat. Chocolate Sable French Bulldog Chocolate Frenchies can have any color coat, but their nose, eye rims, paw pads, and lips are brown instead of black. Sable tri French Bulldog A Sable tri Frenchie has three colors on his coat in addition to the black-tipped hair. This gene gives them blue eyes and splotches of faded color on their coat. These are very striking dogs which are fairly rare. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images. Eve is a lighter fawn color but is still a dark sable. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Eve. Darla is a darling girl who could pass for a light sable or a fawn. Like this time of year, Autumn is beautiful. She is a dark red fawn sable girl. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Autumn. Crow is simply adorable. He is a dark red fawn sable boy. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Crow. Colt is a cute little dark red sable boy. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Colt. Ruger is a stunning dark red sable boy! Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Ruger. Shade is a gorgeous sable boy who will look very much like his pretty mother, Eve. He is such a sweet and content boy who loves to snuggle. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Shade. Her name is Fiona, and she may be stubborn like an Ogre by not being very cooperative for her pictures, but she is a sweet and shy little princess! Fiona is a beautiful dark sable girl. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Fiona. Check out some of our other puppies. All Fawn Frenchies have a fairly uniform coloring although some of the lighter tan Frenchies often have darker tinting on their backs and heads and fawn Frenchies do not have any brindling. Stoic is a gorgeous red fawn boy look at that head. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images. Astrid now known as Honey is a beautiful light fawn in which we proudly co-own with family. Jordan is an adorable medium colored fawn that is like a golden color. Shaq is a beautiful light fawn. Tyler is a stunning red fawn. Bracken is a beautiful red fawn female. Trenton is an adorable golden fawn color boy. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Hope. Porky is a precious red fawn boy. Look at all those yummy rolls! Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Porky. Buckwheat is such a sweet little fawn boy. He has a very short back like his daddy, Little Rascal. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Buckwheat. Kennedy is a beautiful red fawn girl who looks so much like her handsome daddy, Rascal, and has his nice short body as well. Click on pictures to enlarge and to view full images of Kennedy.

Prices: For information on the prices of our puppies, please visit our Purchase a Puppy page by clicking on the "purchase a puppy page" icon. You may also use the bars cell phone or page names website at the top to go to our other pages on our website. Red Collar available for adoption. Blue collar Male available for adoption. Our puppies' new homes. We will update this map soon! These are our foundation dogs - Mady, Dayna, and Kaiser Check out this great video of our foundation dogs. About Us! We love our German Shepherds! They aren't just our pets, they are an important part of our family. Our dogs have calm temperaments, intelligence, loyalty, are healthy, and loving. Schutzhaus pronounced "Shoots-House" German Shepherds is a small breeding facility striving to maintain the old-fashioned lines of the German Shepherds. We are located in Southwest Missouri where we live on a small farm. Old-fashioned German Shepherds are taller, have straight backs, large bone structure, a longer life span, big heads, and generally are larger in weight than the German Shepherds of today's standards. Our dogs are tested! Since we are dedicated to a healthy legacy for our puppies, we test our dogs on various health tests seeking to produce the healthiest puppies. Please see our current litters page. We are taking deposits on our future litters! Please see our upcoming litters page. Our babies are adopted quickly, so reach out to reserve your furever friend or to ask any questions. Schutzhaus German Shepherds. German Shepherds for sale in Missouri Regis Regal Specializes in providing world class German Shepherd puppies and trained adult dogs Serving Missouri with german shepherds since With over 30 years experience in the breeding and training of world-class German Shepherds from some of the top bloodlines out of Germany, here at Regis Regal German Shepherds we've been very proud to have sold our puppies and adult dogs to the residents of Missouri. We're a small family run operation with our main training and breeding facilities based in Spring Grove, Illinois. Because of the quality and pedigree of our German Shepherds there's been a demand for our dogs all over the world. The owner, Cynthia Kelly, has a lifetime of experience in creating the perfect family companion, service dog or therapy dog. Because of the lack of top quality German Shepherd breeders in some parts of the United States, we've carefully set ourselves up so that we can send our dogs direct to your home by use of a private courier service. Louis, but have you considered looking further afield for the perfect puppy? At Regis Regal German Shepherds we produce a select number of puppies at any one time, and take the utmost care when raising and training them ready for ownership. You should not forget that when it comes to buying a puppy you also need to be mindful of other costs outside of the purchase or adoption fee. Included within the cost of our puppies are: Lifetime health guarantee contingent on meeting criteria stated in the contract. Send us a message or give us a ring on .Emotional support dogs are suited for both children and adults and have the ability to work with their owners in all types of locations. We have placed many dogs with children and teenagers in MO that suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and manic disorders. Service dogs provide a physical service to their owners. We have been incredibly successful in providing service dogs to children afflicted with Autism and Asbergers, as our dogs can help to enhance the verbal skills of non-verbal Autistic children and support their overall way of communicating. Some of our previous placements our dog courier service - we ship to your door in MO! You might find this a bit hard to believe but we actually ship right to your door, wherever you are based in the US! Such is the demand for one of our dogs we decided it would make things a lot easier for our customers if we could hand-deliver them right to you. For those people in need of a top class GSD, and who can't get to our premises, this is a bit of a lifesaver. We make use of a private courier service whereby they come to us and pickup the dog in their vehicle before making the journey to your home. Our driver is well trained in the handling and care of your dog on the trip, and due to their temperament our dogs always enjoy the journey! On rare occasions our dogs have flown out to their destination, again accommpanied by one of the Regis Regal team to ensure for a very smooth and calm trip. We also go through a very thorough process to make sure our dogs are going to the right kind of owner - at the end of the day it's really important that we can rest easy at night knowing they'll be going to someone that's going to love them as much as we do. Because of COVID we've held plenty of online meetings where you can ask us any questions about our dogs, and you can even get to meet-and-greet them virtually! Reviews from Customers based in MO We like to think we've made a lot of people in Missouri happy over the years that we've been in business. Take a look below at some of the feedback we've received to date. You can find more reviews of ours here too. He is so sweet, intelligent, and such a cutie. Cynthia was very knowledgeable and eased our minds in regards to this larger breed. As you can imagine this can change quite regularly - so please send us a message below, or give us a call on .We look forward to hearing from you! Your name. The picture of puppies in the bathtub is a past litter of German Shepherd puppies from Robin Blue. They are all adults now and all have happy loving homes and awesome families they live with. I have been a German Shepherd breeder since .I have all colors black and tan, black and silver, black and red, bi-color, black, white, black and tan brindle, sable brindle, silver sable, tan sable, fawn, blue, liver, and red sable of German Shepherd puppies. I have German Shepherd puppies for sale as pets that are wonderful, loving, family protectors. I also have full working line German Shepherd puppies for sale that would do well in a working job, SCH, agility, therapy dog, search and rescue, or as a very energetic family member. They are all sweethearts. Feel free to call or email. I always enjoy meeting and talking to people that are interested in German Shepherd dogs, as I am. Thanks for your interest in my puppies. If you are interested in having one of my puppies be one of your new family members you will have to call me on the telephone and talk to me about the puppy. I love all my puppies and just try to match them up to the right homes. If you are interested in one of my puppies please call me at home or my cell is .I will return your call. If you have any questions about any of my puppies you are welcome to email me too. My email address is whitefamily semo. I only have one email address. So if you are interested in any of my puppies I look forward to talking to you on the phone. I am proud of all my puppies and their parents and always enjoy talking about them all.

Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for New York Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in New York? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in New York? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Thus, it will do good for both you and your pet. First, however, you must pick your future pet to adopt from a good rescue. Rescue should have active and preventative programs to reduce animal killing. The Rescue or Shelter must have an aggressive public education about overpopulation. Further, they should exert efforts to apply differential licensing. Thus, a good rescue should comply by neutering all animals before going to their new homes. All these should always direct towards the well-being of the animals. A clean and comfortable place means the animals are also well-cared. Further, it echoes a skilled, compassionate, and good hygiene and healthcare program. How do I pick a good rescue Golden Retriever? Thus, you may want to do the following in choosing a good Golden Retriever. Observe the dog Most shelters have an observation room for you to do this. If it has none, just do your best to find some quiet place. As soon as the dog gets comfortable, you may start observing. The Golden Retriever should be friendly. It should come at you with no hesitation, sniff you, or even jump for attention. If you see it exhibits exciting behavior, like tail wagging, it means it wants you to pet him. Thus, you need to give it different tones and noise, especially with your voice. Touch the dog with caution Shelter or rescue dogs are usually under stress. Thus, you always need to be cautious when touching it. You may also see how it reacts when you touch it. A Golden Retriever likes getting touched or petted. Thus, if you cautiously touch it and begs for more, it can be a good sign for you. Other things you can note would be tail-wagging and endless sniffing and licking. Play with the dog Since Golden Retrievers are playful by nature, you should also play with the dog. Moreover, you need to take note of how well it interacts as it plays. Golden Retrievers are born to play. Thus, it should get excited upon seeing a ball or any other toys. At other times, excitement means circling and moving enthusiastically. Walk with the dog Golden Retrievers like to walk, so you may want to test that out as well. Observe how it reacts when on a leash or when it sees other dogs, people, or anything on the road. A good Golden Retriever does well with walking. So anything it sees around, like cars, bikes, or even other people and animals, would draw its attention. Let the dog interact with other dogs or animals. It may or may not be possible, but you may ask to observe how the dog interacts with other animals. It will also be necessary if you have other pets at home. Golden Retrievers play and interact well with other pets. Thus, if you have a pet at home, it would be great to take it to the shelter and allow it to play with the dog. Summary If you live in New York, you will have numerous alternatives to explore, owing to a large number of Golden Retriever shelters in the area. As a result, if you contemplate adoption, you will not have a difficult time finding your pet. As always, if you want to adopt a pet, you will need to put in a lot of time and work. Other States. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. How Adopting a Golden Retriever Puppy Could Change Your Life Whether you're adopting a puppy for yourself or your kids, you understand the importance of choosing the best kind of dog and finding a responsible breeder to work with. Our experience with Golden Retrievers goes back eight years to when the first one joined the farm as a birthday gift. Lacey brought so much joy and fulfillment to our family that we decided to share some of it with you. Here are a few things we like about Golden Retrievers: Social. They crave interaction with people and will reciprocate the attention you give them. They learn quickly and are often trained to work as service animals. They have a remarkable ability to sense and respond to human emotion. They were born to play and will give you a reason to stay active. They learn games quickly and love water and the outdoors. They are conversation starters on the beach or at the park—even strangers can't help falling in love with them. They like being with you all the time, filling a basic human need for companionship. They are easy to train and love to please their master. They generally get along with other pets and tend to watch out for children. If trained, they won't bark unnecessarily. They thrive in both small spaces, such as apartments, and large living spaces. Not sure if a Golden Retriever is a good fit for you? We understand how overwhelming it can be to choose the perfect companion for your family. Contact us and we can help guide you in your search for the puppy that's best for you. Copyright Happy Haven Retrievers. Developed by Bonflare. History Where are Golden Retrievers from? One of the best documented and most fortuitous efforts to produce a breed resulted in the Golden Retriever. The man responsible for the breed was Lord Tweedmouth, who lived just north of the Scottish border along the Tweed River. How big do Golden Retrievers get? Goldens can reach a weight of 55 — 75 lbs, and a height between .A Golden Retriever has a dense, straight or wavy outer water-repellent coat, which sheds heavily twice annually and lightly throughout the year. Groom a Golden Retriever weekly to maintain the double coat and control shedding. What are the Golden Retriever colors? The breed was first considered to be a yellow variety of Flat-Coated Retrievers but was recognized as a separate breed, the Yellow or Golden Retriever, in .What makes the Golden Retriever dog so popular? The breed was valued for the hunting abilities so ably produced by the careful blending of foundation stock, and only later became popular as a pet. How long do Golden Retrievers live? Golden Retrievers have a lifespan of 10—13 years. What are some Golden Retriever facts and information? Facts Golden Retrievers are best known to: Push through heavy vegetation. We are a c 3 nonprofit relying on donations , supporters , fundraising, and event and retail proceeds for funding to provide top-quality care to all DVGRR dogs. Learn more about our Golden Gateway campus and watch our campus tour video. Watch our video to take a quick tour. Click to learn more. Our mission is simple: Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue provides new beginnings for displaced Golden Retrievers, and other golden-hearted dogs, along with a full array of adoptive and educational support for the adopters and broader community. If you are interested in adopting, please attend one of our Monthly Open House: Meet the Dogs, Tour, and Shop events, held every second Saturday of the month from 10am until 12pm. Plus, we always need event sponsors. Learn more, click here! All dogs must remain on lead during the event; no flexis. We ask that each dog be handled by one human. Click here for all the details! Details are coming! Help us cover the costs of renovations! Click here for details! Kennel Caregivers — Dedicated, responsible, hard-working, compassionate individuals. Must be 17 years or older. Click here to learn more and apply.

Once again, the intelligent, family friendly Labrador retriever has taken the 1 spot on the most popular list for the 23rd consecutive year, the longest reign at the top in AKC history. We have helped birth and place more puppies this year than in any of our previous forty. Read the full text of the AKC press release here. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for almost forty years. Our industry setting Puppy Guarantee makes buying one of our pure-bred Labrador retrievers one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Labrador Retriever owners from around the country. Our Labs can be found across the country in forty 40 states from the great Southwest to historic New England, from frigid Alaska to the Sunshine state. Located near Laurel Hill, NC, we have shipped more than 8, world class Labrador retriever puppies and adults to locations as far away as Alaska. We can easily ship our guaranteed Labs to your location in or around Buffalo. For details, Visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-the-minute puppy information at .Labrador Retrievers Make Good Therapists In recent articles, a licensed professional counselor with thirty years of experience, explained how owning a Labrador retriever can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children and seniors. Children with dogs for pets have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and fewer overall physical complaints than those without dogs. In fact, there are several diseases where dogs have been used to help those who have the disease. Two of these are: rheumatoid arthritis and emotional disturbance stemming from cases of severe abuse. Samuel B. Taking care of a dog gives one a great deal of joy and satisfaction. Older people greatly value their friendship with their dogs. This greatly improves their emotional health. Furthermore, it helps people to overcome one of the greatest nuisances of old age, boredom. The responsibility of taking care of the dog who is dependent on them gives the older adult a reason to live life meaningfully. As far as the dog, having such good companionship from an owner is very good for their overall pet health. Dogs are especially responsive to conversation—specifically, tone of voice. Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! From Winnie's humans, Hazel's Parents say, "Everything was perfect! I just Love Crawford. He has a wonderful personality and isn't afraid of anyone or anything! Thank you! This was our first time getting a puppy from a breeder and you made it such a wonderful experience! Hazel is exactly as your website states.All Wag and less Bark! She is beautiful, smart, and so excited to meet new people and dogs! Who knew we would be bringing home our puppy at the beginning of a Pandemic! She provided us a lot of laughs and dare I say sanity during the craziest time we have ever experienced. She is amazingly smart and beautiful! From the day Ellie was born it was so wonderful to watch her grow with all the FB updates. Picking her up was a great experience too, the facility is beautiful and very clean. We highly recommend Silver Feathers Labradors!!! Today's his 3 month birthday 13 weeks exactly. He is the most relaxed puppy ever and he's learning so much and growing so fast! He's doing great with his potty training, and he's learned so many tricks already - sit, stay, down, roll over, paw, crate and he comes when called. It also seems he's not afraid of anything - the 4th of July fireworks didn't even phase him. Not to mention he is the absolute cutest. I could gush about him forever but we really do feel like we hit the jackpot with him and can't thank you enough. People have been asking us where we got her from, and we have been directing them to your website for more information. She loves to play with our kids and other dog and loves to snuggle up to them when she is tired. She has gone camping with us twice now, and she is the hit of the campgrounds when we take her for walks. Thank you very much for what you do. Keep doing it! Cooper has been a true blessing to my life. I am certain that his gentle nature has a lot to do with the loving care that he received from your family! She is so healthy and full of energy. She is sweet and smart, and she fits into our family so well. She has quickly become part of the family and we couldn't be happier. Thank you so much for raising such amazing dogs and caring so much about their well being. We believe dogs are more then pets, and one of the reasons we chose to get our lab through you is because we could see that you feel the same way. Thanks again. You have a wonderful operation and are really great people. Thank you for our newest member of our family. Jax is a perfect fit and very loved by all. She is definitely the most confident puppy we have owned. I'm sure she slept on top of her brothers and sisters because she likes to sleep on Onyx's back. She is learning fast sit, fetch and come when off leash. I will be taking her to training classes now that she is fully vaccinated. We are very thankful for Raya and Onyx they have made our empty nest whole! He is huge. LOL for that, 2nd smallest in litter! We love our Wayon!! I left you a review on google to brag about our amazing dog and experience : Thank you! Milo is a wonderful addition to our family. He is sweet, cute and playful. Possibly confused as some folks who look at his silver coat and call him a Weimaraner - LOL!! We fix that right away with a quick education and review of the SFL Facebook pages! The reaction is always the same - joyful faces, gasp and compliments to Milo! At Humehill we strive to consistently produce beautiful Labrador Retrievers with classic English style, sweet loving temperaments, good health and outstanding trainability. We are just as driven to produce top quality Pomeranians with classic style, good health and sweet, silly personalities in a rainbow of exotic colors. Humehill Jr Poms are sweet little fire-crackers with comical personalities. What more can be said for such a wonderful breed of dogs? We love our Charley and would always recommend Humehill. Pam absolutely does a great job of making sure her dogs are loved, and it shows in her puppies. Thanks, Pam for our amazing family member!! Jessie Santillo Kirby is a happy-go-lucky and good-natured little fellow. His personality is another indication of a reputable and conscientious breeder. You will gain a new family member who will end up stealing a piece of your heart! Begin your extraordinary adventure into pet ownership by inquiring about one of our heart-warming Labradors or Pomeranians. We are more than delighted to assist you in finding the perfect furry addition for your family! Thank you David for all the joy you have given us. We love our beautiful dogs! He is just perfect! My vet said he has never seen a better put together Lab. He is the hit of our community and has to say hello to everyone he meets. Hidden Ponds is just the best place to purchase a Lab. David is so kind and informative. His dogs are gorgeous and well mannered. They treat their dogs with kindness and it shows. They are smart, their costs are beautiful! He has a great personality and is wonderful with the kids! He is lbs and thinks he is a lap dog. We would definitely buy from Dave again!! Lindie is an incredible athlete, as you can see by the photo. Lindie also volunteers at our local hospital in Glens Falls, NY comforting anyone that needs fur therapy! She is an amazing ambassador for the Labrador breed! Thank you! He hiked his first mountains this weekend in the Adirondacks. He is such a wonderful addition to our family and we will be back for a companion for him next year. Read more testimonials Bentley Bentley is almost 4 years old and is absolutely amazing! She is the happiest, cuddliest, wiggliest ball of fur, and I love her more than I can say. She is super smart, very curious, and a little mischievous. She has already learned to walk very well with my wheelchair. Thank you, Hidden Pond! At 9weeks she has accomplished stairs,swimming learned to sit and give paw. Play time and eating remain 1 LOL but,she is full of kisses and love all the time too. My sweet service dog, Rhett, came home in October of and has been the biggest blessing in my life. This breeder not only breeds for confirmation and health but for perfect personality and temperament. They are perfect in every sense of the term responsible breeder. I cannot imagine life without my Labs. And not to mention how welcoming everyone was when we went to pick Rhett up. They care about each puppy they welcome into their home. And they strongly support several forms of care to keep the puppies happy and healthy in their new homes like food and supplements! I cannot thank them enough or recommend them enough!! Savannah Stevens Read more testimonials Chip Chip is a crazy, funny, lovable gem. He is the most gorgeous dog. He has the most regal head. Everyone who sees him stops to tell us what a handsome dog he is. Thank you to Hidden Pond for letting him be ours. We picked her up in early July , and she made our family complete! She is such an amazing dog: sweet, gentle, loving, and playful. It is wonderful to see how much she loves our three young boys. We love how much she loves being outside — especially swimming and playing in the snow. Thank you Dave and your family for bringing her into our lives. She was exactly what our family needed to be complete. She is the sweetest, spunkiest and most wonderful dog we could have asked for. We picked him up this past September. He is a joy, fully housebroken, and so very funny. Everyone who meets him always comment on how handsome he is. He is really beginning to look like his dad, Thunder. He loves walking and meeting all his dog friends in our community. Thanks, David, for this wonderful dog! He has made our house a home again!! She brings so much joy to our home. She is loyal, smart and a lot of fun. She loves going on walks or long hikes in the woods and is a big snuggler in the house. Scout has a very sweet disposition and people comment on what a beautiful girl she is. She enjoys people and dogs of all ages. Thank you Dave, we are enjoying every day with one of your Hidden Pond pups! Courtney Hundley Read more testimonials Raemo This Lab is truly a best friend to everyone that comes his way. Very kind and affectionate. Raemo is now 6 months old and is great with the family, friends and the neighborhood. He is great with other dogs too! David and his Labs are simply the best and worth the wait! Rob Amurao Read more testimonials Daisy We got Daisy in June , but Dave introduced us to her the day she was born; it was love at first sight!!! Dave kept us updated with pictures and short videos as we anxiously awaited the day we could pick her up. She has been an absolute joy in our lives! She is incredibly smart, a sweetheart along with being an active puppy. She was swimming at 10 weeks with our other dogs. She is now 10 months old; everyone she meets loves her. Thank you, Dave, for such an awesome new family member!!! Marilyn Morey Read more testimonials Mabel Mabel is 6 months and we thank you for this blessing. She is a wonderful addition to our family. We love going on adventures with our little girl. Highly recommend and reasonable pricing! He has an amazing temperament, his favorite activities are long walks and swimming! Marlana Broderick Read more testimonials Chip Chip is the best dog we have ever had. He is funny, silly, smart and so handsome. We get stopped on the street every 5 feet. Everyone asks where he is from and tells us how gorgeous he is. Thank you Dave. This photo is with his sister Cocoa. Chip on the left Cocoa on the right. She has such a great personality. Gets along so well with the grandkids ,and so adaptable she took to the crate and house breaking so easily. Accepts new experiences so calmly. Dave has been great to work with a fountain of info. We also went with the dog food he recommended an love the results that we switched our cat to it as well. She is the most beautiful, sweet tempered, smart lab. We could not be happier having her as part of our family. Romy Ziegler. For nearly 50 years we have produced English Labradors in the true style of the all-around dog they were meant to be. Our ultimate goal has been a beautiful dog conforming to breed standards with soundness of temperament and body. Our Labradors retain the hunting ability that has made them the supreme hunting retriever. This intelligent, well-tempered dog is a perfect family companion and service dog. We are pleased to not only have many of our On The Bluff Labradors in pet, show and hunting homes, but also used as guide dogs for the disabled and specialist for airscent detection. Our breeding program strives for perfection in every litter. We use the highest quality stud dogs with a background of multiple Grand Champions. We combine their linage with the outstanding genetics of our females. The result are not just cute, adorable puppies, but dogs that can be well trained, healthy companions for a lifetime. We have never lost sight of our initial goal to produce the perfect Labrador- in mind and body. Feel free to email us for additional information or to get on a waiting list for one of our puppies. Staffed by professional trainers- each puppy receives several weeks and hundreds of hours of individual lessons- Obedience Training, House Living Training, Group Socialization, and Outside Etiquette. We believe our unique training methods and individualized programs sets us apart from any other breeder. Here you will find many adorable pictures of our current puppies.

Umbilical cord training Throughout the rest of this guide I will be referring to each of these 4 methods and when you should or could be using them. Once used to using the paper or the pads, you slowly cut the area covered until they reliably use just a couple of sheets and never miss. You then slowly move the paper toward the outside where another set is placed and you begin to encourage your puppy to go outside only, before completely removing the papers inside. At this point they will have made the transition. A top tip when paper training is when you clean away soiled paper, you should hold one piece back and place it as a middle layer of the new papers. Puppy pads have a scent that attracts a puppy, paper does not. Effectiveness: On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 3. This is confusing and will make the learning process take longer. Best suited to: Either people who are going to have an indoor bathroom spot long-term, or people who will not use a crate for training yet cannot commit to constantly supervising their puppy when inside the home. Ease of use: On a scale of 1 to 5, definitely a 5. But it does result in more mistakes from your puppy until later in life. Equipment needed: Nothing but stacks of old newspapers! A very cost-effective method. Description: The method takes advantage of the fact dogs have a natural instinct not to soil the area where they eat and sleep. Key to this is making the crate just large enough to stand in, turn around easily and lay down stretched out but no bigger. The rest of the time you watch them and regularly take them outside to potty to teach them good habits. Best suited to: Everybody! This is because you will have to crate train your puppy before you can use a crate for house training which does take time and effort. Click here for my free and detailed guide to crate training your puppy. Equipment needed: A suitable crate. I have a guide to help you select the right size and type that you can read by clicking here. Effectiveness: On a scale of 1 to 5, I tentatively give it a 3. It could actually score higher or lower depending on how committed you are and how successful at supervising your puppy you are. Best suited to: People who are against any kind of confinement and can stay at home to watch their puppy all day every day. Mostly people who work from home and the retired. But this method also forms a part of every house training plan, whether you use other methods alongside or not. This is because when a puppy is free inside a home, they MUST be closely supervised to prevent any mistakes. Ease of use: On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 2. It scores low as it requires a lot of input from you as the owner. It is quite draining never being able to take your eye of your puppy. Equipment needed: None. Not a crate, newspapers, puppy pads or anything. The cheapest of all the methods…unless you put a price on your time. But it is highly effective. Description: This technique calls for you to tether your puppy to you by leash and have them follow you wherever you go when inside your home. You will notice and be able to intervene and correct every possible mistake, taking them outside every time they need to relieve themselves. Used correctly, the opportunity for your puppy to make mistakes is completely removed so every single time they need to visit their bathroom spot is a training opportunity you will take advantage of and no mistake goes uncorrected. Best suited to: People who spend all their time at home with their puppy and would also enjoy literally being tied to their pup all day. Further Info: for a detailed discussion of this technique, the benefits, downside, and many more tips, please see my article: Umbilical Cord House Training: What is It? How Does It Work? A Mix Of 3 Methods I use and recommend a mixture of crate training, constant supervision and paper training. I use constant supervision extensively because when a puppy is outside of the crate you have to watch them diligently to avoid puppy mistakes. Admittedly this is somewhat going against my advice because I always recommend to avoid paper training if possible. It encourages or allows your puppy to toilet inside the home, before then training them not to do so. This is confusing to your puppy and harmful to our house training efforts. But even though I recommend against it, using paper training ever so occasionally as a fall back plan works well for me. Most dogs love being outside and will use any excuse to get out there and stay there. You do this by using a cue word and walking them on leash to their potty spot, not allowing them to do anything else and if they do not potty, taking them back inside and trying again in a few minutes. Because a full bladder or bowel is uncomfortable, dogs are happy to relieve themselves, but some may try to hold it if they think they can get to stay outside and sniff around a while. If people use different words, your dog will get confused. This will slowly teach them the command. And this is fine for the first couple of weeks while they have no bladder control and will perform their business very quickly. And some dogs even learn to actively hold their bladder just so they can stay outside to explore for longer. Before you can do this you need to first get your puppy used to wearing a collar and leash. Have You Got Everything Prepared? A Check-list Before You Start Like everything in life, house training runs smoother if you have everything ready before you start, hopefully before you even bring your puppy home. Have you: Decided on and marked out a suitable bathroom spot? Chosen and purchased a suitable high-quality nutritious food? Figured out the times of day you will feed your puppy? Got a collar and leash? Put in place a leash training plan? Bought a suitable crate and set it up in a suitable place? Bought bedding for the crate? Bought chew toys to occupy your puppy in the crate? Decided on the commands you will use if any? Purchased either baby gates, a pet barrier or an exercise pen for longer term confinement? Sourced stacks of newspapers or puppy pads to use in the long-term confinement area? Bought some small but highly tasty training treats to use as a reward? Bought specialized pet stain removing and odor neutralizing cleaning products? Bought a UV light to find hidden spots of urine that must be removed to prevent repeat accidents? Sat and discussed with every member of your household your finalized plans so everybody has the same info? Successful House Training Is All About Schedules And Routine Dogs thrive when living to schedules and routine, doing best when they have set times for eating, going to toilet, exercise, training and play. But because the passage of food through their digestive system stays roughly the same, if you feed your puppy at the same times every day they will need to defecate at roughly the same times every day. This results in fewer mistakes, more opportunities to praise your puppy for going in the right place and so speeds up their learning. Depending on their age a puppy will need to poop 3 to 6 times a day, and wee many more times than that. Can these times be predicted? Mostly they can. When a puppy needs to potty depends on when they last ate, drank and their recent activities. Mostly they need to go: First thing in the morning The instant they wake up from a nap at any time of the day Just before going to bed Within a few minutes of eating or drinking Immediately after a play session Immediately after any excitement But a puppy also needs to go many times per day regardless of recent activities, so you should also take your puppy to their bathroom spot on a consistent schedule such as the following: At 8 weeks old — every 30 mins. At 10 weeks old — every 45 mins. At 12 weeks old — every 1 to 1. At 16 weeks old — every 2 hours. At 20 weeks old — every 3 hours. Some will need to wee within 2 minutes of drinking, others after 20 minutes. Some will need a bathroom break within 2 minutes of waking, others 15 minutes later. You have to determine your puppies own natural tendencies and create a schedule to suit. To achieve this, you need to follow this 5 step process: Feed them to a strict schedule. Decide on exercise, play and training times. Develop a schedule including feeding, exercise, play, training and all scheduled potty times. Use the information gathered in your diary to learn from any mistakes and adjust your schedule for the following week. The more you can stick to schedules and routines, the smoother and faster the process will be. But you can stray from the path when necessary and still find success, it will just take a little longer. You should feed your puppy 3 times a day when 12 to 26 weeks old. From 26 weeks old and onwards, feed your puppy just two times a day For 2 meals a day you need to space them out 8 to 12 hours apart. What works for me is shortly after I get up at and when we have our evening meal between PM and PM. Availability Of Water: You should make sure fresh water is always available but because drinking too much or too little can be a sign of health problems, you do need to monitor their water intake. Physical activity often leads to a puppy needing to potty very soon after. So to encourage predictable potty times for your puppy, you want to schedule their exercise and play. Deciding when to exercise, train and play with your puppy is entirely up to you. You should fit it around your lifestyle and commitments, but try to make it the same times each day if you can. Enter all the following details into a single column in an excel spreadsheet, or write them down as a day schedule with a pen and paper: When you wake and add an instant bathroom break before you do ANYTHING for yourself! Enter the times you will play with, train and exercise your puppy. Enter a scheduled visit to the bathroom spot after each of the activities listed in points 1 to 3. Add scheduled bathroom visits after any length of time longer than your puppy should be expected to hold it according to their age. Write in scheduled sleeps for your puppy, place them in the crate or confinement area. After writing down this schedule, tick off each task as you go through the day with your puppy. This way you will always know what needs to be done and when, and there will be no confusion about whether someone else in the house fed, exercised or took the puppy to the loo. I discuss this further in step 5 below. You should be able to pick up on any patterns and adjust your own behavior to avoid mistakes in future. Was puppy left alone and peed in the living room while you made breakfast? Puppy should never be left alone unsupervised, learn from this mistake. Or maybe puppy peed in the crate after an hour? Learn from this mistake. Well done for watching them closely enough. So increase the frequency. Therefore you should stretch out the time between visits by 10 to 15 minutes for the following day. This is how you find out. And Now House Training is So Much Easier By writing out the schedule as in step 3, you should never forget to feed, train or take your puppy to potty. And by using the schedule as a diary as in step 5, you get feedback on how you and your puppy are performing, and are armed with the necessary info to make changes to your schedule over time. You, your puppy and their needs all stay in sync and house training becomes that much easier. Just make a spreadsheet in excel and print it out, or simply buy some lined paper. Keep it somewhere you can always see and know where it is, alongside a pen or pencil and write entries in it as you watch your puppy throughout the day. After this, continuing with a diary every day is the best advice, although keeping one for 3 consecutive days each week will be sufficient for you to pick up on any changes as they mature. Once your puppy is 5 to 6 months old, they will have sufficient bladder control and experience to make a schedule and diary unnecessary. Just make sure they get access to the outside at least once every 3 hours and all will be fine. Extending The Time Between Toilet Breaks I discussed earlier how a puppy will need regular visits to their bathroom spot, something like every 30 minutes at 8 weeks old, every 45 minutes at 10 weeks old and so on. But every puppy is different and their progress in having longer time between needed toilet breaks will vary too. You do this because as a puppy grows, the size of their bowel and bladder increases, so they will be able to hold more for longer and you want to take advantage of this. This is also teaching them necessary bladder and bowel control. Use your cue word before you take them: By using your chosen cue word every time before you take them to potty, your puppy will learn what the trip is about and what they must do. This eventually leads to faster results as they know what is expected of them. Lead your puppy to the bathroom spot on leash: This gives you the ability to keep your puppy at the bathroom spot and prevent them wandering off, getting distracted and forgetting what they are there for. Make sure you stay with them at their bathroom spot: If you have them on leash, then of course you will be. When they start to go, say your chosen cue word in a soft warm voice. Mix up the reward between play, time off leash and a food reward to keep them guessing, but keep the food rewards to a minimum as what goes in must come out and random feeding promotes random elimination times! Many people pop out, stand for 1 minute and then come back in. Some people recommend to stay out there for 10, 15, 20 minutes, whatever it takes until they go, then praise profusely when they do. I recommend you give them 3 to 5 minutes, saying your cue word every 30 seconds or so but otherwise standing silently still just holding their leash so they cannot wander off. Take them back to their bathroom spot in 10 minutes or so. If using a crate for house training: Pop them back in the crate and leave them for 10 minutes. Then take them back to their bathroom spot. Take them to their bathroom spot after 10 minutes. If not, take them away from their bathroom spot and watch them for 10 minutes before returning them to their bathroom spot. And if crate training, do not leave them in the crate too long else they may be forced to soil in there. Prevent this at all costs. Rinse and repeat the visits to and fro like this until they do potty, then follow the next sections advice. What You Should Do Between Scheduled Bathroom Breaks Between scheduled bathroom visits you should do two things: Allow some supervised free time in your home, and use your chosen house training method. By free time I mean time outside of their crate, or off leash, or out of their confinement area. Time free to roam, explore and live life. When 10 weeks old they may need to toilet every 30 minutes, so they only get 5 to 10 minutes free time. When 12 weeks old, they may need to toilet every hour so they can get 35 to 40 minutes free time. You allow this free time because you are of course working toward a time when they will always be free and trusted unsupervised. To get there they need the experience, to get used to being free in your home and begin seeing it as a place they need to keep clean. They also need social interaction and life experiences. But what are the signs a puppy is about to potty? Heading toward, barking at or scratching the door to the outside. The minute you see any of these signs you should take your puppy to their bathroom spot immediately. There may well be some false alarms, but better safe than sorry. Carefully watch them and you should soon notice what body language means a wee or a poop is imminent. There will be recognizable signs. We do this because the time is fast approaching when mistakes are most likely to be made. If using constant supervision: Carry on as you are. Then at their scheduled potty time, attach a leash and lead them to their bathroom spot. If using a crate for house training: Encourage your puppy into their crate and close the door, leaving them there until their scheduled potty time and then release them, instantly attaching a leash and leading them to their bathroom spot. If using umbilical cord training: Attach a leash and tether your puppy to you, ready to react if they make moves to eliminate. Take them to their bathroom spot at the scheduled time. If paper training: Take your puppy to their confinement area where their papered bathroom spot is and supervise them, ready to intervene if they make moves to potty away from the paper. Not good when you need to be there to encourage them for doing it in the right place. If they do, you can pick them up and carry them, or take them by the collar and gently lead them to their bathroom spot, then encourage them to finish where they should. But to me this seems foolish. Instead of a little pile or puddle, you then have a long line of wee or poop from where you caught them all the way to the bathroom spot that you then have to deep clean instead. Then think how they were able to make such a mistake and tweak your plans so it cannot happen again. But any corrections or punishment now will be futile. House Training For Full Time Workers This advice applies not just to full-time workers , but also if you must occasionally leave your puppy home alone for a few hours. Most importantly, follow all the advice in this guide so far for the times that you are home. Supervise them, correct any mistakes, set feeding and elimination schedules and everything else I have advised. First of all, if like me you use a crate, you simply cannot leave your puppy in the crate for many hours. This is very unfair on your puppy and it will destroy the crates power as a house training tool if they lose the instinct to keep it clean. Secondly, please do your best to enlist the help of a family member, friend, neighbor or hire a dog walker to periodically pop in to visit your puppy, take them to their bathroom spot, give them some social interaction and so on. But I also freely admit to using paper training myself occasionally, for the unavoidable times I have to leave my puppy home alone for a few hours. If you have to leave your puppy home alone for any reason, usually because you work, then paper training in your absence is the only thing you can do. You then have two options available to you: Buy and use an exercise pen, or confine your puppy to a single, puppy-proofed room. As they get used to pottying on paper, reduce the area covered one sheet at a time until just a small area remains covered. Once you know your puppy can hold their bladder for longer than they have to be left alone, remove the paper altogether. By 16 to 20 weeks, they should be able to last the 3 or 4 hours max they will be left alone and somebody comes to exercise them and allow a bathroom break. Between 8 and 12 weeks when weeing seems spontaneous , my puppy spends a fair bit of time in there and I paper train them to use puppy pads. Our kitchen and dining room was separated by an arch where a door used to be, with tiled flooring, making it ideal. I used a baby gate across the arch between the kitchen and dining room, and initially covered the dining area with paper, over time reducing it to just two sheets with the puppy pad holder on top. The dining area is completely empty, with no furniture, nothing in there. Skirting boards, the corners of furniture items, anything within reach is a potential target for teeth and claws. My girlfriend works from home, we crate trained and we had no problem finding house sitters in an evening if we needed one, so we all but had things covered. But this is something you need to be mindful of. Whatever the reason, there just WILL be times you cannot supervise your puppy. The essence of house training is to prevent mistakes and praise your puppy heavily when they potty in the right place. If you cannot watch your puppy, the chances of them making a mistake go through the roof. So even if you choose to use a constant supervision method exclusively, you will still need to confine your puppy sometimes to a paper covered area just in case. I mean literally none at all. One minute they are trotting along, the next they are leaking. No warning signs for you, not even any warning signs for them. I recommend setting up an exercise pen with the entire area papered, or do as I do and confine them to a room with the entire area papered. Use this time to paper train them, to get them used to weeing on paper and gradually reduce the area because you will use this method if you ever have to leave them home alone during the next 4 or 5 months. They will sniff, circle and so on as I mentioned before. At this point you can now move on to using your chosen house training method. Start encouraging them to potty in the right place from the minute you get them home. So the good news is, even at 8 weeks they will be able to last 4 or so hours and you will only need to wake once during the night. Also, make sure to take them to their bathroom spot right before you go to bed so they can empty themselves. Then set an alarm for 4 hours after their bed time when you must get up and take them to their bathroom spot. No excuses, you simply must do this. If you find your puppy has soiled in this time, you should set the alarm for half an hour earlier the next night 3. After a few days of not having a night-time accident, set your alarm for 15 minutes later and increase the time by 15 minutes for each successful night they do not have an accident. If you find they make a mistake one night before you wake, set the alarm back half an hour, make sure they stay dry a few days and then increase 15 minutes nightly again. And by using this schedule, you strike a good balance between a couple of inevitable accidents while stretching out the time at a good pace to lasting a full night. If they soil their crate more than once in any given week, you may have to progress slower add 15 minutes every 2 or 3 days , or perhaps sleep them in a papered exercise pen or their confinement room. Maintaining their instinct to keep the crate clean is of utmost importance. What To Do At The Bathroom Spot At Night When you take them out at night, say your chosen cue word, take them straight to their bathroom spot, praise them gently when they finish their business but do not reward them with anything else. The last thing you want is to teach your puppy that during the night is a time for play or food treats! This will come back to haunt you in a big way and result in noisy sleepless nights. You want your puppy to learn that night-time is for sleeping and for nothing else. Do nothing else. Some will be able to last the whole night without a potty break at 10 weeks rarely , and some may not be able to at 15 weeks also rarely. But certainly by 16 weeks old your puppy will be able to last a 7 hour night without needing to potty if you do not feed them for 3 hours or provide water for 2 hours before bed time and allow them to empty themselves right before you lay down for the night. No Progress? If you are feeding, exercising, training and playing with your puppy to a schedule, and when you look at your diary there seems to be no pattern to the times they need to potty, you should seek the advice of your vet. Common ailments such as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection and health issues affecting internal organs and the genitalia can lead to a dog needing to potty much more frequently, often leading to eliminating in the house. Again, seek the advice of your family vet. You cannot successfully house train a puppy who is ill because their bodily functions will be too unpredictable. But 6 to 7 months is the ball park figure to aim for. A single mistake in the home can cause a major setback. A puppy may not make a mistake for 2 weeks, then you give them too much freedom, they make a mistake and all of a sudden they are regularly trying to potty in the home again. Also, some puppies just seem to forget everything for a few days now and then while growing up, even after being perfect for a couple of weeks. Just stick to your plan and they WILL eventually get it. Conclusion With house training, the fewer mistakes you allow your puppy to make and the more they are rewarded for doing the right thing, the quicker they will learn and the faster you will find success. Because of this, the more effort you put in and the more time you spend with your puppy at the beginning — supervising to correct mistakes and taking them to their bathroom spot many times each day — the better. But there are many other things you can do to help yourself and your puppy to find success. This guide has provided you with all the theory, strategies, tips and tricks you will ever need to successfully house train your puppy as quickly and efficiently as possible, with the fewest mistakes along the way. Please see the entire series linked to below:. Print Potty train your puppy quickly Housebreaking is one of the least desirable tasks when adding a new puppy to your family. It is never fun but consider it a necessary task. You will never regret having a dog that knows your home is not a bathroom. When to start housebreaking Housebreaking should begin the day you bring your puppy home from the breeder. It is important to establish quickly that there is a right and wrong place for your puppy to go potty. How long does it take to house train a lab puppy? I wish I could give a definitive answer for this, but the truth is that every puppy is different. Most puppies can be completely house broke by the time they are months. But assume there will be a lot of ups and downs through the process. Some puppies learn very quickly and rarely have an accident. Others take more time to make the connection. Here are some things you can do to help the process go smoothly. Have the right attitude! Keep your attitude in check to help this process go quickly and smoothly. Have patience! As already stated, potty training can take some time. It may happen, but it is unlikely. Instead, plan for a long haul and then you will be more patient and understanding when mishaps happen. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Step 1: Establish a place for your puppy to go potty To get started housebreaking your puppy, you must first establish a place where it is okay for your puppy to do his business. Find a place outside that is not too far from your home, but an area where you are not worried about killing the grass or trampling plants that are important to you. Consider this carefully, because once your puppy starts going potty in this area it will be exceedingly difficult to move or change the area. Once the scent is there, it is natural for dogs to continue going potty in the same area over and over. Do I have to potty train outside? In some areas of the country, winters can be very cold. Some new puppy owners wonder if it is too cold for their Labrador puppy to go outside to potty train during these times. The answer is no. Most Labs can easily be outside for a few minutes even during the coldest nights to go potty. A pee pad is a disposable, leak proof pad that is scented to attract your dog and encourage going potty on them. We highly discourage using pee pads because in the long run it is confusing to your dog. If you spend time teaching your puppy to NOT go potty inside your home and then flip-flop and begin letting them go inside your home on a pee pad, your dog will be confused. Besides, eventually you must retrain them to going outside, so the best policy is to never start letting inside be an option. Step 2: Establish a routine and schedule for your puppy Establishing a routine is the single most important step for housebreaking. The more consistent you are, the faster your puppy will learn to go outside for potty. This time will increase rapidly over the next few weeks, but that first week is going to take a lot of time and energy on your part to consistently let your puppy out on a schedule. To make being consistent easier, consider this: Set a timer When housebreaking puppies, we find that setting a timer is helpful. An hour flies by and you hardly realize it. For the first few days at least, set a timer and let your puppy out hourly, especially if your puppy is not in a crate. We will discuss that more in a bit. Timing is everything There are other times when you need to let your puppy outside. Immediately after eating or drinking your puppy should go outside. Eating and drinking will trigger a need to go potty, so to avoid accidents, take your puppy out every time they eat or drink. And if they drink a lot of water, you may have to take them out several times before they are back on schedule. Anything you can do to make going potty a routine will help your dog learn and associate that going outside is where I need to go to go potty. Use a command I know this sounds crazy but using a command can help your dog form an association between the command and going potty. At first this is meaningless to the puppy. And you cannot discipline your puppy for a potty accident in the house that you never saw happen. The solution for this is never let your puppy go unsupervised. This can be exhausting, that is why we suggest using a crate to help. The stern words must be said during the accident or immediately after to have any effect. Using a crate to house train your puppy First, while your puppy may not love his crate right away, if properly introduced and used consistently, Labs usually come to love their crates. As den animals, dogs will view their crate as a den where they can go to sleep or get away from the business of the home. Learn more about crate training your Labrador puppy here. When using a crate to housetrain your puppy, you first want to make sure that you have a very small crate. One that is just a little bigger than your puppy. This is particularly important because you do not want your puppy to be able to move around much in the crate. If they can move around, they can and often will go potty in the crate. So, start with a very small crate and get bigger crates as the puppy grows. Whatever you choose to use to block off the larger area, make sure that it is not something your puppy can chew on or ingest. You will still need to find a way to gradually increase the area that the puppy has access to, so I just find the multiple crate solution easier. You should still set a timer and take your puppy out on a regular basis, and you will want to schedule some time each day for the puppy to run around the house and play while supervised. Step 4: Using praise to speed the house breaking process You can help your puppy more quickly understand that going potty outside is the right thing to do by giving your puppy well-timed praise. But the praise must be well-timed. You should give the praise while your puppy is going potty outside or immediately after. Timing is very important! Lots of people get upset when the dog goes inside but fail to praise when the dog does the right thing. Not all dogs are the same. Some puppies will whine just before they go potty in the house, or whine at the door when they need to go. Some will hide somewhere you cannot see them and do their business there. Still others may scratch at the door. How long can a puppy hold it overnight? With young puppies, weeks old, you will need to get up several times a night to let them out. It can be helpful to limit the amount of water your puppy has access to close to bedtime. We usually aim for every 3 hours and then steadily increase the time as they get older. But each puppy is different. Final thoughts on how to house train your Labrador puppy Remember that housebreaking is a process. It rarely follows a straight line and more often there will periods of success and occasional mishaps. Stick with it and before long your puppy will understand that going potty in the house is not okay. Until next time, happy retrieving. How to housebreak your Labrador puppy. Time to start potty training your Labrador Puppy Potty training or house training is one of the first things that you will have to focus on after bringing home a Labrador Puppy. However, you must know what to expect when toilet training a Lab puppy, you must be prepared with patience and dedication since house training can be difficult in the beginning. Here are the house-training basics that you will need to follow to train your puppy. House training is done over time, and here is how. You can also take your puppy into your yard if you have one. Teaching your lab puppy go potty in the yard is the best idea since Labradors produce a lot of waste when they are grown. If you live in an apartment you have no other option but to take your Lab outside to evacuate. Lab puppies love to go outside and explore new territories. So for apartment dwellers, the first months of potty training will happen indoors. Puppies can refuse to go potty on surfaces that they are not used to. For example, if your puppy gets used to evacuating on hard floors, going potty in the grass will feel awkward to your puppy, and will prefer to do it on the sidewalk. So, using an artificial grass puppy pad while you potty train your Lab indoors can help to transition to real grass when your puppy is ready to explore the outside world. How to toilet train a Labrador Retriever Puppy Keep an eye on your puppy for signs like circling, sniffing, and scratching the floor. This means that your puppy needs to potty. Take your puppy outside or to the designated potty place in your house or apartment. This will help your dog know that is the place to go do the thing. If the activity is successful praise your puppy for doing a good job. You can also give your Lab puppy a treat for doing a good job, Labs are a food-motivated breed, so yummy treats help a lot with training. Positive reinforcement will help your Labrador to go potty in the right place. Limiting the movement of your puppy will make it easier to keep an eye on during this process. Consider using baby gates to close an area of your house. The area must be big enough so that your puppy can move and play inside. It should be close to your yard or the area of your house where you want your Lab to go potty. Also, this area must be easy to clean, you can expect accidents in this part of the potty training. Then take the puppy to the potty place and let it finish there. Do not scare the puppy if you catch it in the act, the goal is to get its attention and let it know that it is not doing the right thing. This is something you must teach your dog. Do it patiently and be consistent with the training and eventually, you will get your Labrador fully house-trained. Use some white vinegar diluted in water or an enzymatic odor remover to thoroughly clean the area. For this period, you might need the following items to begin potty training your Labrador puppy. Make sure they are all pet-friendly and of a reputable brand name. Absorbent pee pad : Dog training pads mostly come in handy in the first stages of house training, before your puppy can go potty outside. The benefit of a pad is that the mess your puppy makes will be confined to just one place and it will be easier for you to clean up. Stain Remover : As a routine, accidents are bound to happen. And this is why having a good cleaner is extremely important. Along with a pet, cleaner make sure you also have ample small towels on hand. Dog poop bag and Pooper scooper : Having these is also very important. They will come in handy when you have to pick up and discard the mess your little friend makes. You can carry these in your bag or even in your pocket when you go out on a walk with your dog. Treats: Many dogs are motivated by food, and this is why you will need food treats that your Labrador puppy enjoys. After your dog listens to your commands and goes to the right place, give him a treat, so he understands that food comes after he goes to the right place. A leash and collar: This will allow you to show your dog where the right place is. Barrier gates : This is also an essential supply as it will confine your dog to a specific place. Barrier gates make it easier to keep your house floors clean. Pee finder : Finding and cleaning dried pee will help prevent future accidents. You might also want a car seat cover in case you have to travel somewhere with your little friend. An artificial grass pad to train your puppy for the outside. When to start house training your Labrador puppy: On a general note, younger Labrador puppies have very short attention spans. At what age should a lab puppy be potty trained? House training should begin as soon as your Lab puppy arrives at your home. Which is normally at 7 to 9 weeks of age. So, if your little Labrador puppy is a few weeks old, you might begin with basic command words to get familiar with the house routine and also your voice. You can use this time to show your new Lab puppy the areas of your house it is allowed to be in, and close off any part of your house that is off-limits to your dog. The best moments to train your Lab puppy are: After a nap. Silver Labrador Retriever sitting in the forest. This can make potty training a bit like trying to teach a tornado to sit still. You may find your pup is more interested in playing than actually doing their business. Distraction Central: Speaking of energy, Labs are easily distracted. One whiff of an interesting scent or the sight of a squirrel can derail your potty training efforts. Make sure to minimize distractions during potty breaks and keep your pup on a leash to maintain control. If your Lab is hesitant to go potty in wet weather, try using a large umbrella or a doggie raincoat to make the experience more comfortable. Labrador Retriever nibbles nose of his owner. Growth Spurts: Labs grow quickly, and with rapid growth come frequent potty breaks. Remember when you were a teenager and you could eat an entire pizza without consequences? Well, your growing Lab needs to relieve themselves just as often. Adjust your potty schedule to accommodate their increasing bladder capacity. Hunger Games: Labs have a hearty appetite, and what goes in must come out. Be prepared for more frequent potty breaks if your pup is eating like a champ. So gear up, dear Labrador parent, and embrace the journey! Why Potty Training is Important Potty training a Labrador puppy is an essential aspect of their early development. It is a process that requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Potty training helps your puppy learn where and when to eliminate, which is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment. Moreover, potty training helps prevent behavioral problems such as house soiling, which can be frustrating and time-consuming to address. By teaching your puppy to eliminate in the appropriate place, you can avoid unpleasant surprises and keep your home smelling fresh and clean. Another benefit of potty training is that it helps strengthen the bond between you and your puppy. When you take your puppy outside to eliminate, it provides an opportunity for exercise, fresh air, and socialization. It also gives you a chance to reward your puppy for good behavior and reinforce positive habits. Two Labrador puppies playing Kong toys. Lastly, potty training is important for the health and well-being of your puppy. When puppies eliminate in inappropriate places, they are at risk of exposure to harmful bacteria and viruses. By training your puppy to eliminate in a designated area, you can reduce the risk of illness and ensure their health and safety. When to Start Potty Training Labrador puppies are adorable, but they can also be a handful. But when should you start? By this time, your puppy should have enough control over their bladder and bowel movements to start learning where to do their business. You should also consider your own schedule and lifestyle when deciding when to start. Establish a routine for your puppy, with set times for meals, playtime, and potty breaks. Your labrador puppy is still learning and may have accidents along the way. Instead, reward your puppy for going potty outside and praise them for their good behavior. With time, patience, and consistency, your labrador puppy will learn where to do their business and become a well-behaved member of your family. Establishing a Routine Establishing a routine is crucial when it comes to potty training your Labrador puppy. Make sure to take your puppy out to potty at the same times every day, such as after meals, naps, and playtime. Choosing a Designated Potty Area Choosing a designated potty area is another important step in potty training your Labrador puppy. Pick a spot outside that is easily accessible and consistently use that spot for potty breaks. This will help your puppy associate that area with going potty and make it easier for them to understand where they should go. Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is key when it comes to potty training your Labrador puppy. When your puppy goes potty in the designated area, make sure to give them lots of praise and treats. This will help them understand that going potty outside is a good thing. Avoid punishing your puppy for accidents, as this can cause fear and confusion. Instead, simply clean up the mess and continue with the training process. Potty training a Labrador puppy can be a challenging process, but with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, it can be accomplished successfully. Remember to establish a routine, choose a designated potty area, and use positive reinforcement to help your puppy learn where and when to go potty. Common Potty Training Problems and Solutions Labrador with red collar sitting outside in an afternoon. Accidents in the House One of the most common problems that new puppy owners face is accidents in the house. The key to dealing with accidents is to clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove any traces of urine or feces, as the scent can attract your puppy back to the same spot. Another way to prevent accidents is to supervise your puppy closely. Keep him in the same room as you, or use a crate or playpen to limit his access to the house. Take him outside frequently, especially after meals, naps, and playtime. Praise him when he goes potty outside, and give him a treat as a reward. Resistance to Potty Training If your puppy seems resistant to potty training, there could be a few reasons why. He may not understand what you want him to do, or he may be scared to go outside. Try to make potty time fun and rewarding by using treats and praise. Take your puppy to the same spot every time, so he knows where to go. If your puppy still resists, you may need to try a different approach. Some puppies respond well to a potty bell, which you can hang by the door and ring every time you take him outside. Others may need a little extra encouragement, such as a favorite toy or a special treat. Inconsistency in Training Consistency is key when it comes to potty training. Make sure everyone in your household is on the same page and using the same commands and rewards. Stick to a regular schedule for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks. This can help you identify patterns and adjust your training as needed. Remember, potty training takes time and patience. With the right training and plenty of positive reinforcement, your puppy will learn to go potty outside in no time. These techniques are designed to reinforce good potty habits and make the training process more efficient and effective. Labrador Retriever with the owners at the park. Bell Training Bell training is a popular technique that involves teaching your puppy to ring a bell when they need to go outside. To start bell training, hang a bell near the door that you use to take your puppy outside. Eventually, your puppy will associate the sound of the bell with going outside to potty. Encourage your puppy to ring the bell themselves by gently nudging the bell with their nose or paw. Crate Training Crate training is another effective technique that can help with potty training. By using a crate, you can teach your puppy to hold their bladder and bowel movements for longer periods of time, which can help prevent accidents inside the house. To crate train your puppy, choose a crate that is the right size for your puppy. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not so big that they have room to go potty in one corner and sleep in another. Gradually introduce your puppy to the crate by placing treats and toys inside and encouraging them to go in. Outdoor Training Outdoor training is the most important aspect of potty training your Labrador puppy. By teaching your puppy to go potty outside, you can prevent accidents inside the house and reinforce good potty habits. To outdoor train your puppy, take them outside frequently, especially after meals, naps, and playtime. Reward your puppy with praise and treats when they go potty outside. If your puppy has an accident inside, clean it up thoroughly and avoid punishing them, as this can make them afraid to go potty in front of you. Conclusion Potty training a Labrador puppy can be a challenging process, but it is essential for a happy and healthy life with your furry friend. It requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. By establishing a routine, choosing a designated potty spot, supervising your puppy closely, and being patient and consistent, you can successfully potty train your Labrador puppy and avoid future accidents in the house. Remember that every puppy is different and may require a unique approach to potty training. Be flexible and willing to adjust your methods as needed. With time and effort, you will have a well-trained and happy Labrador puppy that enjoys spending time with you and exploring the world around them. Good luck! Thomas Meet Thomas, a certified dog trainer with years of experience helping owners develop strong, positive relationships with their dogs. With a strong belief in the power of positive reinforcement training, Thomas has helped countless dogs overcome behavioral issues and learn new tricks. When he's not working with his four-legged clients, Thomas can be found hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his own rescue dog by his side. Load More. Labrador house training routines. We want them to learn to wait until they are outdoors before emptying their bladder or bowels. It is about maturity too. We need to understand that tiny puppies have immature bodies and are not physically capable of waiting very long. On your side There are two factors on your side in the potty training process. When it comes to bladder control, fortunately your puppy improves with every day that passes, so this factor does not work against you forever. The same applies to the fact that the puppy has been removed from his nest, he will soon learn to accept his new nest. The principles of puppy potty training The puppy is learning the principle of extending the nest area, which he keeps clean instinctively, to include your entire home. Punishment is counter-productive in this process as it teaches the puppy to avoid emptying himself in your presence. Rewards are helpful, but given the right routine, a puppy will naturally learn to be clean without them. The secret to successful house training lies in selecting targets that the puppy can achieve. If your puppy sometimes needs to wee every 15 minutes whilst he is awake and active, you will have to take him outside every 15 minutes. Restricted access Start small applies here too. Allow your puppy access only to a small part of your home. Increase the area he has access to, only when he is capable of keeping the current area clean. Just because he can. And because the sensation of a filling bladder is a new one. Your job is to teach him to wait a little longer. You do this by confining him for a short time, every time his bladder fills. You can confine him in his nest within a crate , or in your arms. He will be reluctant to wee in either location. If he wets himself, you have waited too long! It takes two You need to go outside with your puppy, and stay out there with him, each time he needs to wee. A tiny puppy is unlikely to empty himself on his own. This especially applies in cold or wet weather. Routines Matter When House Training a Labrador Retriever Based around these practical requirements you can create your own house training routine. For a puppy that needs to wee every half an hour, it will go something like this Take puppy outside to the toilet area and wait with him until he empties himself Bring him indoors and allow him free access to your kitchen for fifteen to twenty minutes Crate or cuddle the puppy until it is thirty minute since his last wee Take the puppy back out to the toilet area If at any time the puppy does not empty himself then confine him for another ten minutes and try again. As soon as he is regularly not needing to wee after thirty minutes you can extend the duration of free access to your kitchen. Provided you stick to these principles and strategies, the house training process, though quite intense for a short while, will pass smoothly. Supervise Your Puppy Your second job is to supervise or contain your puppy when his bladder is filling up. You can do this by crating him for a few minutes, or by cuddling him in your arms. I recommend the cuddle option for the first few days, that way you can introduce the crate gradually once he has settled into his new home. Either spend your first day together in the yard getting a feel for how frequently they pee. As you can see, there is some guesswork involved in house training a puppy, but not too much. The secrets of successful outdoor toilet trips Not wanting to pee outside is a common toilet training puppy problem and one we look at in more detail in this article. Keeping your puppy company is the key. You need to go outside with your puppy and wait there with him until he has done a wee. This may take longer than you would like, and you probably have better things to do than stand in your yard while your puppy chases butterflies or plays with your shoe laces. But stay outside you must, until he has done that wee. Coming Indoors Early If you must come indoors before your puppy has relieved himself, you need to supervise him very closely. Hold him in your arms — or put him in a small crate for a few minutes — before going back out to try again. It is a new puppy problem, and it will pass. And if you teach your puppy to pee on command, it will pass even quicker! Rewarding success If you put plenty of effort in, and take your puppy out a great deal in those first few days, he will quickly learn that the place you have allocated to him for potty purposes is the place to pee. You can praise him and give him a little treat for doing so. Have your treat on hand keep them next to your poop bags so you remember to grab both on the way out , and deliver it right after your puppy has completed their business. Rewarding his successes and ignoring his accidents is the quickest way of successfully communicating what you want, and quickly potty training your puppy. Stage 2 — Learning self control During stage 2 your puppy begins to develop some self control. This means he can wait a few minutes before emptying himself when his bladder starts to feel full. Keep an eye on your puppy for the tell tale signs that he needs to use the toilet: whimpering, whining or barking sniffing about, especially sniffing in circles! Using Your Crate If your puppy is now used to his crate, you can start using it stretch out the gaps between toilet trips. Accidents during stage 2 At some point during stage 2, many puppies will be able to last an hour or so between wees. This is when puppy parents often relax their vigilance, and their puppies start having accidents in the house again. Simply go back to shorter gaps between trips to the yard for a few days. Then start to space out those trips again, but more gradually this time. Stage 3 — Extending the clean zone This is where all your hard work starts to really pay off. Once your puppy is confidently and consistently toileting outdoors, and you can further stretch out the gaps between toilet breaks, and start to introduce your puppy to the rest of your home. Take it slowly, and if accidents occur, to go back to shorter gaps between trips outdoors for a few days. Bear in mind that your puppy may be used to peeing in the yard and not in the kitchen by now, but they might not automatically understand which rule applies to the lounge. Method 2: How to potty train a puppy indoors This section has a lot in common with how to potty train a puppy when you work. So follow method 2 if you need to know how to potty train a puppy in an apartment as well. And that means using pads. How to potty train a puppy on pads The simplest way to do this is to restrict the puppy to a smallish room with washable floors. Cover the floor with puppy pads to begin with, with their bed in one corner. How do you train a puppy to pee on a pad? With this arrangement in place, as long as your puppy leaves his bed to pee which his mom will have encouraged him to do , he will pee onto the pads. So over the next few days, reduce the area of the floor that is covered with puppy pads by half. You should find he begins to make an effort to pee and poop on the part of the floor that is covered — but it needs to be a sizeable part to get this good habit established. How to potty train a puppy fast using pads — reducing the toilet area By the end of the first week, you can begin to reduce the part of the floor that is covered with puppy pads right down to a small area, preferably near the back door. It is usually best to do this when you have some time booked off work — or during a long weekend when the weather is fine. But if you choose to crate train your puppy LINK alongside potty training him, the crate can be a useful aid for potty training too. Once your puppy thinks of the crate as their bed, they will be reluctant to soil in it. You Still Need To Watch Your Puppy Always watch puppies closely in their crate during potty training, and whisk them out to the right spot at the first sign they might need to relieve themselves. You can find out a lot more about crate training and the role it plays in rapid house training on this page. As well opportunities to use the toilet, Labrador puppies need company and socialisation while they are small. So, if you are going to go back to work you need to arrange someone to look after him, or to come in at intervals throughout the day to play with him and take him out. Here are some articles which will be of interest if you are thinking of getting a puppy and work full time:.

We have answers. The cost of Poodles change depending on several things. The experience of the breeder, type of coat, as well as size affects price. Uptown is so great because you can find amazing Poodles to love, and pups you can afford too! Do your breeders arrange travel for Los Angeles Poodles out of state? Without a doubt! M ost of the breeders, businesses and companies in our network really know their stuff when it comes to transporting Poodle pups all over geographically. They are also able to arrange for your Poodle puppy to be sent by plane to the nearest major airport close to you. Our network is also growing by the day, so you may be able to pick up your pup really close by! How do you screen miniature Poodle breeders in Los Angeles? To make sure that the health and wellbeing of your puppy is safeguarded, our standards are very strict when it comes to experience of the breeder, the places where breeding occurs, care of the animals, etc. The internet is easily accessible to anyone and everyone, making it basic for bad breeders, as well as puppy mills, to hurt families who are just looking for a new best friend. We just want to help families that care find honest breeders, companies and businesses who can help give you the Poodle you have always wanted. What is a puppy mill like for miniature Poodle Los Angeles? Puppy mills are an absolute nightmare for all the dogs and puppies involved. The mothers are stuck in cages all their lives, their only purpose to give birth to litter after litter. The puppies that come out of puppy mills often have behavioral issues and health problems that can end up costing you thousands in vet bills. These puppies often die at a young age. Are there any miniature Poodle puppies Los Angeles for sale now? We will help connect you with the best breeders, companies and businesses based on a variety of preferences, and before you know it, you will have your new best friend, on or by your lap at home. What kind of dogs are mini Poodle puppies Los Angeles? There are many types of Poodles available. Poodles are very popular and are also incredibly intelligent. Their actual intelligence is just after the Border Collie. They are also highly skillful, able to be dogs that assist, and more! Right now the internet is populated with puppy scams. We aim to create long-term relationships with our Breeder Pledge, screening process and more, with our customers as well as our dog breeders. All you need to do is take a look at our reviews and see all the families and Poodles we have connected and you will see how well our network works! Easiest Dog to Take Care of: Top 10 Breeds for a Happy Home Do you ever dream about having a furry best friend who loves to play fetch, gives the warmest cuddles, and greets you with the happiest tail wags every time you come home? A friend who is not just any dog, but the easiest dog to take care of? We know, it sounds like a dream come true, right? But we also understand that bringing a new puppy home is a big step. It's like adding a new member to your family, a little brother or sister.Top 30 Smartest Dog Breeds In The World If you're a dog lover, you've probably heard the age-old debate: which dog breeds are the smartest? While all dogs have their own unique intelligence and personality, some breeds have proven to be consistently brilliant over time. In this guide, we'll explore the top 30 smartest dog breeds ranked, from problem-solving whizzes to trainable and intuitive pups. We've done our research to provide you with an updated and informative.These pooches are joyful, lively, eager to please dogs. They are adventurous, kind, family-oriented pups who love hiking, swimming, canine games, sports and any, and all, family activities. These puppies are merry and bouncy little marshmallows. They are cuddly and sweet pups who love running around, playing, making friends and are very enthusiastic learners. The breed is divided into 3 recognized categories: Toy Poodle; Mini; Standard. Although they differ in size, one thing is for sure: they are glamorous companion pets. He is happy and active. He likes the plush soft toys I bought for him. He was a wee excited when I put his bone done to see what he would do. So far he hasn't chewed on it. Prefers my fingers. Right from the start. Just wanted you to know he is one health active sweet adorable puppy. He is so cute and happy one. His beauty amazes me. Well, he is safe now sitting in my lap. Just stopped chewing and curled up for a nap. He is sp precious and loves yo be right with you. When he was running down the hallway this morning - so happy - I got a chance to see his pretty little body. Our Bentley is doing great.He is still cuter than ever and people just can't get over it! And it's not just the girls he wins over!! He is quite the Mommy's boy, and I find it hard to leave him even for a short time.And when I get home he is so excited and almost vibrates out of his skin!! He makes us smile all the time! He and our male cat, Tango, play like they've always been brothers! They are hilarious to watch! And Bentley likes the cat toys even more than his own! He has been trained for a while now. We got these bells that hang off a ribbon from the Pet store for a training aid - and it worked perfectly!! He is such a smart little guy! Now when he wants out he just goes to the door and rings his bells!! And thank you so much for following fate and letting us bring Bentley into our family.My heart now overflows! Leanne Hi, Bev! Here he is one day after his fresh new haircut, and wearing his special t-shirt, sitting on the blanket that was his present! I am so thankful for Bentley - my little ball of sunshine!! The vet gave her a clean bill of health. She weighed 3. She has such a calm and great disposition - she did not even tremble or squirm when she got her shots. We just love her! Renee Hi Beverley Just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas! Chara is our best present! I can't even put into words how much we all just love her! She is so smart and completely bell trained - she rings her bell when ever she wants to go out! She is so calm, sweet and lovable! We can't imagine our house without her! The boys are complete, now that she is in their lives! I hope you are enjoying this holiday season! I see all your new beautiful puppies on your site! Thank you once again! They love each other very much!!! They love each other and we love them to pieces. Thanks and I always go on your website to see what you have. My son, Andy, just loves his doggies. Takes care of them every day! Minnie is beautiful and bear is way too cute! We are so happy now that the weather is better we go outside every day.In the morning we wait by our doggie door to go out in to our big back yard.Storm has learned to go down the stairs and we chase the birds that come to the bird feeders.We find these treasures after the snow melts called sticks and we run and play with them but if we start to chew them mom comes and takes them away.In the afternoon we go for a walk on the leash down the road with mom to get the mail we have lots of neighbors we stop and talk too. We are learning all new stuff.We get to play with other puppies that are learning too.People come up to us and pet us and say how beautiful we are as we shop after our lesson. Rebel isn't so sociable but me Storm I eat it up.Rebel stays close to dad and likes to just hang out at the front of the store and look cool, but Storm loves the attention and walks anywhere with mom in the store to shop and talk to people and other pets.The other morning we ran outside the doggie door and saw our first moose.It was at the end of the drive way Storm is so brave he barked and barked but I Rebel ran in the house shaking to get mom.Believe it or not Storm is braver then Rebel and barks a lot.Well that is about it for now we hope you like the pictures.We are happy here in French River.We at PuppyFor. We have them in all sorts of colors, including red, black, grey, sable, silver, white, brown, apricot, and cream. Adults grow to be between pounds, and a height of 10 inches or under. Teacup poodles are smaller, between pounds, and under 10 inches in height. This means you can take them with you in-cabin when flying. Intelligent - Did you know that toy poodles and teacup poodles are the second smartest of all puppy breeds? They are also highly trainable. Hypoallergenic - Do you or someone in your family suffer from allergies? Social - Poodles have wonderful temperament, and are very social. Your friends and family will fall in love with one in no time. Extremely affectionate- Toy poodles and teacup poodles are very affectionate, and love to cuddle and be around you. We only breed parents if they have had no health or genetic issues for at least 2 generations. When you purchase a Toy or Teacup Poodle from us, we provide a health guarantee, X-Ray report showing the puppy has no joint issues, a health and vaccination certificate, and microchip the puppy. We always offer high quality videos of each Poodle, so that you can see for yourself how they look in real life. We never use stock photos or re-use photos of puppies. Each and every photo and video of our Teacup and Toy Poodle puppies are of that puppy. Puppy Breeds.