when do german shepherds lose their puppy fur

Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Final Thoughts A German Shepherd is an iconic breed. These dogs are best friends, companions, and workers. They are very intelligent, hard-working, and loyal. However, they need a lot of care and attention while raising. If you are a happy owner of a 10 month old GSD puppy, you need to consider the many things we are talking about in this article. Your task is to do your best to raise your dog to be healthy, strong, and admirable. Of course, its growth is not completed. These dogs continue growing until they are 1. Moreover, they are still filling out. Usually, a male dog is obviously bigger than a female. The height is measured at the withers. It is in the back section above the shoulders. The females are 49 cm 19 inches tall. Males are also heavier — pounds .The measurements can differ among dogs due to their heredity and keeping conditions, though the parameters should not differ too much. Practice weighing your puppy every week to know whether it develops properly. Teething usually ends at the age of around months, so now your Shepherd has all its 42 adult teeth. Ears stand upright, steady by about 8 months. You may need to talk to your veterinarian about the possible reasons for it and proper correction or think about the purity of the breed. The coat is double-layered and entirely adult. Your pup is an adolescent, very curious and exploring. It may lead to getting into trouble if not managed properly. Interactive games, proper training, and stimulation can help it burn off the excess energy and get controlled. Your puppy becomes more independent and even tries to test your authority. On the other hand, it gets more protective and eager to guard its territory. It likes socializing with dogs and other animals, but a male can grow aggressive and competitive if another male enters its realm. A female experiences its first heat ovulation. Further on, it will come into it twice a year or every 18 months. Every cycle lasts for about 3 weeks. It can make your girl anxious, uncontrolled, and seeking mating with a male. She becomes sexually mature and can produce offspring if you are not careful enough. Your pup needs a lot of sleep now because it continues growing. Provide your pet with comfortable bedding for its nap times. You may also notice that your doggy does not want to sleep too much during the daytime. It is because of the immense energy it needs to burn out. However, if you suspect that your pup does not get enough sleep, you may need to correct its exercise routine. Your German Shepherd needs much time for running and playing, too. Provide it with just two hours of intensive exercise per day. However, give it one rest period between the sessions not to overload it with physical activities. Several walks or play sessions will be ideal if you have enough time to do that with your pet. Walking time can be counted by adding 5 minutes to the number of months of age. So, your puppy needs at least 50 minutes of walking per day. The rest of the time can be spent playing fetch or Frisbee. Provide your pet with sufficient mental stimulation, too. Choose a proper place for walking and let your friend explore the environment or train it to behave properly outdoors. Use interactive toys, nose work, and puzzles to provide enough exercise. Your doggy will become destructive and disobedient if it does not get much physical and mental stimulation. Buy durable and specifically designed toys. Avoid small sizes to prevent choking. So, it may resemble a bird or a small animal to make playing more interesting. They can help keep teeth clean and healthy; playing with them is always entertaining. Balls and tug toys are also good choices. You can use balls for fetching and tug toys for interactive games. It does not need any vaccination sessions at this age, provided it got all the necessary vaccines when it was 5 months old. The next vaccination will only take place when it is a year old. However, you had better be aware of possible health issues your doggy may be prone to due to its breed or heredity. This list includes the following: Arthritis. This condition is age-related and can cause joint pain and stiffness. The causes of allergies can differ, but all of them lead to hair loss, itching, ear problems, and redness. They can appear at any age, so you must be alert. Hip and elbow dysplasia. This condition is common for Shepherds and can cause pain and lameness. Large dogs like GSs are immensely susceptible to this condition. Gastrointestinal problems. They may include vomiting and diarrhea. Your large dog has a fast metabolism, so you need to be careful about any changes in its feeding behavior. German Shepherds are prone to specific types of this life-threatening disease, like bone cancer and lymphoma, at any age. Talk to your veterinarian if you see any signs of possible health disorders. Proper nutrition and care can help avoid many of these issues. You also need to think about spaying for girls and neutering for boys at this age. It is a surgical removal of the reproductive organs. The procedure is safe, and it has many health-related benefits. It reduces territorial roaming, aggression, and risk of cancer. You can prevent uncontrolled litter production and risks of life-threatening behaviors. You can opt for it if you do not intend to mate your dog with a purebred partner. Feeding The dietary needs of your 10 month old GSD differ from those of a small dog. It needs the proper combination of minerals, fats, and vitamins for healthy growth. When your pup reaches the age of 10 months, continue feeding it twice per day. If the diet is natural, give preference to animal sources of proteins, like chicken, fish, lamb, pork, beef, and eggs. You can also include vegetables and grains in the diet if your doggy does not have allergies. You may also prefer to feed your pet with dry food called kibble. It is more cost-effective, but the food has to be high-quality. You can also give your pup dry and wet food in turn. This amount should be spread between the two daily meals. Your dog needs to have access to fresh water all the time, so keep a bowl of water at its feeding place all the time. Training Training is essential for your 10 month old German Shepherd because it is very curious and intelligent at this age. It is a quick learner, though a bit stubborn. It may already know the basic commands, like come, stay, and sit. Try to be positive while training your doggy. Use treats and praise, but never force your pup to do anything. You must be consistent with all the commands and reinforcements, or your pet will get confused. The attention span of your puppy is very short at this age due to hormonal changes, so you need to make out some individual ways to keep its attention. Use interactive toys to do that. Give it more time to acquire new skills. They have to be small, soft pieces that are easy to eat. Too many treats can cause weight gain. The most common treats dogs love include cheese, chicken meat cut into small chunks, and vegetables, like carrots or green beans, also chopped properly. Your doggy needs at least 2 hours of exercise per day at this age. You can spread it between two or more sessions. Walking can take about 50 minutes 5 minutes for every month of age. Do German Shepherds grow after 10 months? Even if it seems to you that your pet looks like an adult dog, it will continue to grow after 10 months. Most dogs reach full physical maturity at the age of two, and some even continue growing until they are three. They need this time to fill out and build their muscles. However, when we speak about a 10 month old German Shepherd, you need some more knowledge because you deal with an adolescent influenced strongly by hormones. So, taking care of it requires even more accuracy and consideration. We hope that the information provided in this article will help you a lot to ensure that you are doing everything correctly and your doggy will grow up healthy, strong, intelligent, and obedient. You need to follow them and always talk to experts to enjoy a happy life with your perfect furry friend. 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. All right. Is the dog potty trained? If not, that's your priority 1. Get her socialized asap with both dogs and humans. You want her to be comfortable with both strangers AND dogs. Keep her entertained when everybody is away. With something to chew on for example. When puppies are bored and alone they might chew on things. Including the couch, the carpet, cables, controllers. Dogs have short attention spans. She will not know what she did was wrong nor associate it correctly. For that matter, minimize punishing corrective behavior and opt for positive ones. It might be harder, but it will do good in the long run. Trust me when I say the early punishing behavior I did on my dog eventually caught up with me and I had to learn to stimulate positive developments to get rid of negative behaviors he caught up on. First alone puppy mistake from a single guy, do not want others to repeat it. There's debates on whether you should train dogs to use a kennel, I would recommend to do so. At least get her comfortable to see the kennel as her 'cave' or bed so in situations she has to be in a kennel due to medical, travel, or hotel reasons she has some experience with it and hopefully can do so more peacefully. You have a big dog on your hands now. You also have a dog classified as an aggressive breed. Bad news? This means you need to do a bit more investigation when it comes to renting apartments and moving to cities. You will also have to pay deposits and likely pet fees each month. Good news in this particular regard? You have a german shepherd. You will still find places who place blanket bans on aggressive breeds, but many places focus on pitbulls and variations. This is a pain in the ass to deal with. But I love him. Get dog insurance as soon as you can if possible. There's a certain period you need to pay prior for the insurance covering issues such as hip dysplasia and other conditions these dogs may develop. Better to have it than not. Find a good vet, keep your dog up to date on her shots, and get her on preventative pills if doable. Keep on with the analogy and wait until your baby becomes teenager. The adolescence phase lasts usually month an starts between 8 and 12 months. Appearance and Average Size Technically, he looks more like and adult dog then the puppy, but he will continue growing until almost 1,5 years. Male German Shepherd should weight about 72 lbs. But your pup can be bigger or smaller, genetically or due to feeding style and nutrients he gets. Important things are — he looks grown and healthy. They are much more strong and clever than before, but they completely lack agility. The behavior also starts to change. The dog at this age can behave, well, exactly like teenager. Be crazy, or not wanting to move from his place. Destroying everything, forgetting the skills he seemingly already mastered, eating too much, not eating, becoming too suspicious, biting. Whatever the symptoms are, at month age German Shepherd can be a handful. The best thing you can do is to try to relax, screaming at the dog or getting nervous each time he does something bad is not going to improve your mood. Stay zen and the dog will feel that atmosphere around lost its electric charge, then he will behave better. Training What to do with all this? He just tests waters and tries to stretch his borders. If you stop exercising now or change things according to what the dog wants to do — it will be much harder to fight the stubbornness and lack of obedience later, when the character if fully formed. Schedule There are more complaints about teenage phase in winter than in summer. If your dog seems to be more destructive at home and mischievous, think if your routine schedule changed because of the weather. Do you still take him out as much as you used to? Does he get enough playtime to burn all this crazy energy he has? Limping One thing many dog owners notice at this moment is that the puppy starts limping suddenly, without any sign of trauma. This is a bone inflammation that appears without a reason in adolescent dogs. It can bring him quite a lot of pain. All you can do is to check with the vet, to rule out other possible sicknesses, and then use the painkillers and steroids to help the dog to feel better while this goes away. Physically, they will have reached their full height but will still be filling out. German Shepherds are a medium to large breed and are usually still growing, reaching their full adult size by 18 months to 2 years of age. In most cases, a male German Shepherd is bigger than his female counterpart in both height and weight. That is the back section just above their shoulders at the bottom of their neck. The average size and height of a German Shepherd at ten months is 55 to 60 cm for males and 49 cm for females. Usually, male German Shepherds weigh between 63 to 73 pounds, while females weigh between 57 and 62 pounds. Some individual dogs may range in size, but most will fall within this range. Nutrition for a Month German Shepherd German Shepherds are large dogs with different dietary needs than smaller dog breeds. They should get the right combination of vitamins, minerals, and fat. It would be best to feed your German Shepherd at least two meals a day when they reach 10 months old. Choose high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, and eggs when feeding your German Shepherd. You can also include plant-based proteins like legumes and grains. German Shepherds are prone to joint problems, so ensure that their diet contains enough omega-3 fatty acids for joint health. Dry food is the best for your German Shepherd, and the most cost-effective, even with a high-quality brand. To bring in variation, you can feed your dog both dry and wet food alternately. As your German Shepherd puppy grows, pay close attention to his eating habits, making sure to meet the changing needs of his diet. Physical and Behavioral Changes By this age, our German Shepherd will have essentially finished growing. They will, however, continue to fill out and increase in muscle mass until they reach around 18 months old. You may also notice that their coat becomes glossier and thicker during this time. They are often full of energy and enthusiasm because they are now entering adolescence. They are also very curious and may be more prone to exploring and getting into mischief. As a result, providing them with plenty of stimulation through interactive games, training , and walks to help burn off excess energy is vital. They will become more independent and may start to challenge your authority, even becoming more protective of their territory. Though, they like socializing with other dogs. Females generally come into heat ovulate twice a year, although some may only do so once a year, or as infrequently as once every 18 months. Each heat cycle lasts approximately three weeks. During this time, the female German Shepherd will be receptive to mating with males. In this stage, they have already reached their sexual maturity, meaning they can produce offspring. A vet does the procedure, and it is considered to be a safe and routine operation. There are many benefits to spaying or neutering, both for the animal and for the owner. For example, the procedure can help reduce territorial aggression, roaming behavior, and the risk of some types of cancers. Spaying or neutering also helps control the pet population, preventing animals from producing unwanted litter. German Shepherds are quick learners, but they can also be stubborn. Your dog should already master the basic commands such as sit, stay, and come. You should also begin to introduce more advanced commands such as heel and rollover. The best way to train your dog is to use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats or praise. However, be consistent with your commands and rewards during obedience training, or your dog will quickly become confused. You should find creative ways to keep their attention during dog training sessions. For example, you might want to try using food puzzles or interactive toys to keep your German Shepherd engaged. Give them plenty of time to practice new skills. You should avoid giving your dog too many treats, leading to weight gain. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. A few small, healthy treats per session will do the trick. Chicken — Another popular option among dogs is a lean protein that is easy on the stomach. You can offer cooked chicken pieces or shred some raw chicken into small chunks. Vegetables — Dogs may not be as fond of vegetables as meat, but most will still enjoy the occasional carrot or green bean as a treat. Toys for Month German Shepherds Look for toys that are durable and specifically designed for dogs. Avoid small toys that could pose a choking hazard, and opt for ones that will encourage your dog to be active. One option is to select a toy that encourages your dog to use its natural predatory instincts. For example, you might want to choose a toy that resembles a small animal or bird. These toys can help your German Shepherd burn off excess energy and stay mentally stimulated. There are a variety of chew toys on the market that are specifically designed for German Shepherds. Other good toys for German Shepherds are balls and tug toys. Balls are great for fetching, and tug toys can help your dog to burn off excess energy. Here are some of the most common health problems of this breed. Allergies can cause various symptoms, including itching, redness, hair loss, and ear infections. Arthritis: Arthritis is a common age-related condition that can cause joint pain and stiffness. If your dog shows signs of arthritis, such as limping or difficulty getting up, take him to the vet for treatment. Cancer: Cancer is a severe health problem that can affect any age. However, German Shepherds are more susceptible to certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma and bone cancer. Gastrointestinal Issues: Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea and vomiting, are common in dogs. Large breeds are particularly prone to gastrointestinal problems due to their large size and fast metabolism. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia: Elbow and hip dysplasia are common joint problems that cause pain and lameness. A German Shepherd is particularly susceptible to these conditions due to their large size. Exercise Needs for Month-Old German Shepherds Once he reaches this age and beyond, your German Shepherd should have at least two hours of exercise per day, which can be divided into several walks or play sessions. German Shepherds love to run and play, so activities like fetch or Frisbee are usually a hit. However, make sure that your dog is getting enough mental stimulation as well as physical activity. Interactive toys and games, such as puzzle toys or nose work, can be a great way to give your dog the mental stimulation he needs. It may seem like a lot, but they must grow and develop properly. You should provide them with a comfortable place to sleep during their nap times, such as a dog bed or a blanket. German Shepherds are very active dogs and often have a lot of energy to burn off. As a result, they may not always be able to sleep during the day. If your dog is not getting enough sleep, you may need to adjust its exercise routine. Make sure they have plenty of time to run and play with at least one period of rest during the day. Also read:. Final Thoughts A German Shepherd is an iconic breed. These dogs are best friends, companions, and workers. They are very intelligent, hard-working, and loyal. However, they need a lot of care and attention while raising. If you are a happy owner of a 10 month old GSD puppy, you need to consider the many things we are talking about in this article. Your task is to do your best to raise your dog to be healthy, strong, and admirable. Of course, its growth is not completed. These dogs continue growing until they are 1. Moreover, they are still filling out. Usually, a male dog is obviously bigger than a female. The height is measured at the withers. It is in the back section above the shoulders. The females are 49 cm 19 inches tall. Males are also heavier — pounds .The measurements can differ among dogs due to their heredity and keeping conditions, though the parameters should not differ too much. Practice weighing your puppy every week to know whether it develops properly. Teething usually ends at the age of around months, so now your Shepherd has all its 42 adult teeth. Ears stand upright, steady by about 8 months. You may need to talk to your veterinarian about the possible reasons for it and proper correction or think about the purity of the breed. The coat is double-layered and entirely adult. Your pup is an adolescent, very curious and exploring. It may lead to getting into trouble if not managed properly. Interactive games, proper training, and stimulation can help it burn off the excess energy and get controlled. Your puppy becomes more independent and even tries to test your authority. On the other hand, it gets more protective and eager to guard its territory. It likes socializing with dogs and other animals, but a male can grow aggressive and competitive if another male enters its realm. A female experiences its first heat ovulation. Further on, it will come into it twice a year or every 18 months. Every cycle lasts for about 3 weeks. It can make your girl anxious, uncontrolled, and seeking mating with a male. She becomes sexually mature and can produce offspring if you are not careful enough. Your pup needs a lot of sleep now because it continues growing. Provide your pet with comfortable bedding for its nap times. You may also notice that your doggy does not want to sleep too much during the daytime. It is because of the immense energy it needs to burn out. However, if you suspect that your pup does not get enough sleep, you may need to correct its exercise routine. Your German Shepherd needs much time for running and playing, too. Provide it with just two hours of intensive exercise per day. However, give it one rest period between the sessions not to overload it with physical activities. Several walks or play sessions will be ideal if you have enough time to do that with your pet. Walking time can be counted by adding 5 minutes to the number of months of age. So, your puppy needs at least 50 minutes of walking per day. The rest of the time can be spent playing fetch or Frisbee. Provide your pet with sufficient mental stimulation, too. Choose a proper place for walking and let your friend explore the environment or train it to behave properly outdoors. Use interactive toys, nose work, and puzzles to provide enough exercise. Your doggy will become destructive and disobedient if it does not get much physical and mental stimulation. Buy durable and specifically designed toys. Avoid small sizes to prevent choking. So, it may resemble a bird or a small animal to make playing more interesting. They can help keep teeth clean and healthy; playing with them is always entertaining. Balls and tug toys are also good choices. You can use balls for fetching and tug toys for interactive games. It does not need any vaccination sessions at this age, provided it got all the necessary vaccines when it was 5 months old. The next vaccination will only take place when it is a year old. However, you had better be aware of possible health issues your doggy may be prone to due to its breed or heredity. This list includes the following: Arthritis. This condition is age-related and can cause joint pain and stiffness. The causes of allergies can differ, but all of them lead to hair loss, itching, ear problems, and redness. They can appear at any age, so you must be alert. Hip and elbow dysplasia. This condition is common for Shepherds and can cause pain and lameness. Large dogs like GSs are immensely susceptible to this condition. Gastrointestinal problems. They may include vomiting and diarrhea. Your large dog has a fast metabolism, so you need to be careful about any changes in its feeding behavior. German Shepherds are prone to specific types of this life-threatening disease, like bone cancer and lymphoma, at any age. Talk to your veterinarian if you see any signs of possible health disorders. Proper nutrition and care can help avoid many of these issues. You also need to think about spaying for girls and neutering for boys at this age. It is a surgical removal of the reproductive organs. The procedure is safe, and it has many health-related benefits. It reduces territorial roaming, aggression, and risk of cancer. You can prevent uncontrolled litter production and risks of life-threatening behaviors. You can opt for it if you do not intend to mate your dog with a purebred partner. Feeding The dietary needs of your 10 month old GSD differ from those of a small dog. It needs the proper combination of minerals, fats, and vitamins for healthy growth. When your pup reaches the age of 10 months, continue feeding it twice per day. If the diet is natural, give preference to animal sources of proteins, like chicken, fish, lamb, pork, beef, and eggs. You can also include vegetables and grains in the diet if your doggy does not have allergies. You may also prefer to feed your pet with dry food called kibble. It is more cost-effective, but the food has to be high-quality. You can also give your pup dry and wet food in turn. This amount should be spread between the two daily meals. Your dog needs to have access to fresh water all the time, so keep a bowl of water at its feeding place all the time. Training Training is essential for your 10 month old German Shepherd because it is very curious and intelligent at this age. It is a quick learner, though a bit stubborn. It may already know the basic commands, like come, stay, and sit. Try to be positive while training your doggy. Use treats and praise, but never force your pup to do anything. You must be consistent with all the commands and reinforcements, or your pet will get confused. The attention span of your puppy is very short at this age due to hormonal changes, so you need to make out some individual ways to keep its attention. Use interactive toys to do that. Give it more time to acquire new skills. They have to be small, soft pieces that are easy to eat. Too many treats can cause weight gain. The most common treats dogs love include cheese, chicken meat cut into small chunks, and vegetables, like carrots or green beans, also chopped properly. Your doggy needs at least 2 hours of exercise per day at this age. You can spread it between two or more sessions. Walking can take about 50 minutes 5 minutes for every month of age. Do German Shepherds grow after 10 months? Even if it seems to you that your pet looks like an adult dog, it will continue to grow after 10 months. Most dogs reach full physical maturity at the age of two, and some even continue growing until they are three. They need this time to fill out and build their muscles. However, when we speak about a 10 month old German Shepherd, you need some more knowledge because you deal with an adolescent influenced strongly by hormones. So, taking care of it requires even more accuracy and consideration. We hope that the information provided in this article will help you a lot to ensure that you are doing everything correctly and your doggy will grow up healthy, strong, intelligent, and obedient. You need to follow them and always talk to experts to enjoy a happy life with your perfect furry friend. 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. Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Keep on with the analogy and wait until your baby becomes teenager. The adolescence phase lasts usually month an starts between 8 and 12 months. Appearance and Average Size Technically, he looks more like and adult dog then the puppy, but he will continue growing until almost 1,5 years. Male German Shepherd should weight about 72 lbs. But your pup can be bigger or smaller, genetically or due to feeding style and nutrients he gets. Important things are — he looks grown and healthy. They are much more strong and clever than before, but they completely lack agility. The behavior also starts to change. The dog at this age can behave, well, exactly like teenager. Be crazy, or not wanting to move from his place. Destroying everything, forgetting the skills he seemingly already mastered, eating too much, not eating, becoming too suspicious, biting. Whatever the symptoms are, at month age German Shepherd can be a handful. The best thing you can do is to try to relax, screaming at the dog or getting nervous each time he does something bad is not going to improve your mood. Stay zen and the dog will feel that atmosphere around lost its electric charge, then he will behave better. Training What to do with all this? He just tests waters and tries to stretch his borders. If you stop exercising now or change things according to what the dog wants to do — it will be much harder to fight the stubbornness and lack of obedience later, when the character if fully formed. Schedule There are more complaints about teenage phase in winter than in summer. If your dog seems to be more destructive at home and mischievous, think if your routine schedule changed because of the weather. Do you still take him out as much as you used to? Does he get enough playtime to burn all this crazy energy he has? Limping One thing many dog owners notice at this moment is that the puppy starts limping suddenly, without any sign of trauma. This is a bone inflammation that appears without a reason in adolescent dogs. It can bring him quite a lot of pain. All you can do is to check with the vet, to rule out other possible sicknesses, and then use the painkillers and steroids to help the dog to feel better while this goes away. Physically, they will have reached their full height but will still be filling out. German Shepherds are a medium to large breed and are usually still growing, reaching their full adult size by 18 months to 2 years of age. In most cases, a male German Shepherd is bigger than his female counterpart in both height and weight. That is the back section just above their shoulders at the bottom of their neck. The average size and height of a German Shepherd at ten months is 55 to 60 cm for males and 49 cm for females. Usually, male German Shepherds weigh between 63 to 73 pounds, while females weigh between 57 and 62 pounds. Some individual dogs may range in size, but most will fall within this range. Nutrition for a Month German Shepherd German Shepherds are large dogs with different dietary needs than smaller dog breeds. They should get the right combination of vitamins, minerals, and fat. It would be best to feed your German Shepherd at least two meals a day when they reach 10 months old. Choose high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, and eggs when feeding your German Shepherd. You can also include plant-based proteins like legumes and grains. German Shepherds are prone to joint problems, so ensure that their diet contains enough omega-3 fatty acids for joint health. Dry food is the best for your German Shepherd, and the most cost-effective, even with a high-quality brand. To bring in variation, you can feed your dog both dry and wet food alternately. As your German Shepherd puppy grows, pay close attention to his eating habits, making sure to meet the changing needs of his diet. Physical and Behavioral Changes By this age, our German Shepherd will have essentially finished growing. They will, however, continue to fill out and increase in muscle mass until they reach around 18 months old. You may also notice that their coat becomes glossier and thicker during this time. They are often full of energy and enthusiasm because they are now entering adolescence. They are also very curious and may be more prone to exploring and getting into mischief. As a result, providing them with plenty of stimulation through interactive games, training , and walks to help burn off excess energy is vital. They will become more independent and may start to challenge your authority, even becoming more protective of their territory. Though, they like socializing with other dogs. Females generally come into heat ovulate twice a year, although some may only do so once a year, or as infrequently as once every 18 months. Each heat cycle lasts approximately three weeks. During this time, the female German Shepherd will be receptive to mating with males. In this stage, they have already reached their sexual maturity, meaning they can produce offspring. A vet does the procedure, and it is considered to be a safe and routine operation. There are many benefits to spaying or neutering, both for the animal and for the owner. For example, the procedure can help reduce territorial aggression, roaming behavior, and the risk of some types of cancers. Spaying or neutering also helps control the pet population, preventing animals from producing unwanted litter. German Shepherds are quick learners, but they can also be stubborn. Your dog should already master the basic commands such as sit, stay, and come. You should also begin to introduce more advanced commands such as heel and rollover. The best way to train your dog is to use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats or praise. However, be consistent with your commands and rewards during obedience training, or your dog will quickly become confused. You should find creative ways to keep their attention during dog training sessions. For example, you might want to try using food puzzles or interactive toys to keep your German Shepherd engaged. Give them plenty of time to practice new skills. You should avoid giving your dog too many treats, leading to weight gain. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. A few small, healthy treats per session will do the trick. Chicken — Another popular option among dogs is a lean protein that is easy on the stomach. You can offer cooked chicken pieces or shred some raw chicken into small chunks. Vegetables — Dogs may not be as fond of vegetables as meat, but most will still enjoy the occasional carrot or green bean as a treat. Toys for Month German Shepherds Look for toys that are durable and specifically designed for dogs. Avoid small toys that could pose a choking hazard, and opt for ones that will encourage your dog to be active. One option is to select a toy that encourages your dog to use its natural predatory instincts. For example, you might want to choose a toy that resembles a small animal or bird. These toys can help your German Shepherd burn off excess energy and stay mentally stimulated. There are a variety of chew toys on the market that are specifically designed for German Shepherds. Other good toys for German Shepherds are balls and tug toys. Balls are great for fetching, and tug toys can help your dog to burn off excess energy. Here are some of the most common health problems of this breed. Allergies can cause various symptoms, including itching, redness, hair loss, and ear infections. Arthritis: Arthritis is a common age-related condition that can cause joint pain and stiffness. If your dog shows signs of arthritis, such as limping or difficulty getting up, take him to the vet for treatment. Cancer: Cancer is a severe health problem that can affect any age. However, German Shepherds are more susceptible to certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma and bone cancer. Gastrointestinal Issues: Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea and vomiting, are common in dogs. Large breeds are particularly prone to gastrointestinal problems due to their large size and fast metabolism. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia: Elbow and hip dysplasia are common joint problems that cause pain and lameness. A German Shepherd is particularly susceptible to these conditions due to their large size. Exercise Needs for Month-Old German Shepherds Once he reaches this age and beyond, your German Shepherd should have at least two hours of exercise per day, which can be divided into several walks or play sessions. German Shepherds love to run and play, so activities like fetch or Frisbee are usually a hit. However, make sure that your dog is getting enough mental stimulation as well as physical activity. Interactive toys and games, such as puzzle toys or nose work, can be a great way to give your dog the mental stimulation he needs. It may seem like a lot, but they must grow and develop properly. You should provide them with a comfortable place to sleep during their nap times, such as a dog bed or a blanket. German Shepherds are very active dogs and often have a lot of energy to burn off. As a result, they may not always be able to sleep during the day. If your dog is not getting enough sleep, you may need to adjust its exercise routine. Make sure they have plenty of time to run and play with at least one period of rest during the day. Also read:. All right. Is the dog potty trained? If not, that's your priority 1. Get her socialized asap with both dogs and humans. You want her to be comfortable with both strangers AND dogs. Keep her entertained when everybody is away. With something to chew on for example. When puppies are bored and alone they might chew on things. Including the couch, the carpet, cables, controllers. Dogs have short attention spans. She will not know what she did was wrong nor associate it correctly. For that matter, minimize punishing corrective behavior and opt for positive ones. It might be harder, but it will do good in the long run. Trust me when I say the early punishing behavior I did on my dog eventually caught up with me and I had to learn to stimulate positive developments to get rid of negative behaviors he caught up on. First alone puppy mistake from a single guy, do not want others to repeat it. There's debates on whether you should train dogs to use a kennel, I would recommend to do so. At least get her comfortable to see the kennel as her 'cave' or bed so in situations she has to be in a kennel due to medical, travel, or hotel reasons she has some experience with it and hopefully can do so more peacefully. You have a big dog on your hands now. You also have a dog classified as an aggressive breed. Bad news? This means you need to do a bit more investigation when it comes to renting apartments and moving to cities. You will also have to pay deposits and likely pet fees each month. Good news in this particular regard? You have a german shepherd. You will still find places who place blanket bans on aggressive breeds, but many places focus on pitbulls and variations. This is a pain in the ass to deal with. But I love him. Get dog insurance as soon as you can if possible. There's a certain period you need to pay prior for the insurance covering issues such as hip dysplasia and other conditions these dogs may develop. Better to have it than not. Find a good vet, keep your dog up to date on her shots, and get her on preventative pills if doable.

They are playful and loyal. Although Boxers were originally bred as working dogs, they make the perfect family pet. Boxers are different from each other but one trait that all Boxers have in common is their playfulness. Boxers, whether they're puppies or ones in their senior years, possess a youthful exuberance that is unmatched by any other breed of dog. Boxers have the natural ability to make their masters smile and fill a household with fun and laughter. Natural Born Entertainers Ask Boxer owners about what they think would be the most fitting profession or job for Boxer dogs and they'd likely tell you that Boxers make the perfect clowns. Boxers are natural entertainers wiggling, wagging and doing their funny antics. If you've ever been around a Boxer, you'll find it very hard to keep yourself from grinning. Put a Boxer in a room with someone in a bad mood and it will waste no time showing off its tricks to make a person laugh. One of the more familiar tricks Boxers are known for is kidney beaning, a dance they do whenever they are excited. No owner could resist smiling whenever he comes home after a hard day's work and sees his Boxer doing this dance. It isn't a bark although it is similar. Boxers are natural entertainers even when they are running. Don't be surprised to see a Boxer twist, jump and even do summersaults while it is out on a walk. However, Boxers aren't for everyone. If you're looking for a dog that will lie quietly at the foot of your bed or sleep most of the day, a Boxer is not the dog for you. Boxers are very energetic and they need plenty of attention. If a Boxer doesn't get adequate exercise every day, it can turn to doing destructive things or find ways to entertain itself like chewing on shoes. Boxers need to be walked or jogged twice a day at the minimum. In addition, they need mental stimulation. Most of the time we do not have much history on them and only know what we have learned about them while in their foster home. Some of these dogs have had some training and some have not. Every profile is accurate to the best of our knowledge and we would never intentionally mislead anyone about any dog's health, personality, or breed. All dogs will need continued training, adequate time for adjustment, and slow introductions to help them succeed in their new forever homes. You and your family have decided to add a Boxer to your home. However, have you considered a few things first? If you prefer, you may fax the application to .When we receive the application, we will contact you to schedule a home visit. Click here for the Adoption Application Are you aware that a Boxer.Can chew? Can dig? Can bark? Can be provoked to be aggressive? Can jump over fences and gates? Can chase cats, birds or small dogs? Can play too roughly with small children? Can be possessive of food, toys and treats? Needs socialization and training? Can live to be 8—12 years of age? Can challenge other dogs in the household for dominance? Can become overly protective of their home and family members? Will need daily love and attention for the rest of their life? Requires flea and tick preventative medication? Can develop health problems as they grow older? Requires a lot of patience, time, effort, money and love? Is very loyal and loving and can be heartbroken if they lose their home and family? If any of these things are a concern for you, please do your research before adopting a Boxer. Hear me woof! I'm looking for some help finding a new place to crash. I'm almost a year old, have a few things yet to learn but I'm eager to please. You Like Kisses? When I'm happy, I'm a kissing machine. I know how to sit. I'm doing better with other dogs but you gotta take it slow and protect me when I get overwhelmed I especially like girl dogs. One of the things I'm working on is jumping. I get excited and my legs become springs.I'm working on that and the leash thing. I would rather just run, jump, play in the fenced back yard but sometimes humans put that leash thing on and I have to behave. Tough for a pup to understand but with your help, I know I'll get the hang of it. Every pup needs to have some boundaries and training, I get that, but I haven't been to puppy school so YOU will help me, right? Gotta go play.He would do best with a female but its not mandatory! He doesn't like the crate and is not destructive if left out. He is a beautiful 2-year-old boy. Neutered and up to date on shots. Potty and crate trained. Sweet boys who need to stay together. Great with kids! Exercises Grooming From ancient Germany precisely around the 19th century had the now extinct mastiff breed Bullenbeisser and bulldogs brought in from England. At the time of their arrival, they served as hunting dogs for bears, deer, and other ferocious beasts, it would capture the prey with the help of its awesome teeth and detain it until the hunter arrives. And in the first boxer standard club was launched with a comprehensive document that is still in use today. Shortly after, the breed made its way into other European countries and got into the U. S in the late 19th century with the American Kennel Club taking registration of its first boxer around .During the first world war, boxers played the role of a military dog as a pack-carrier, a guard dog, and an attack dog, later they were taken home by the soldiers and got introduced into the domestic world as a show dog, best companion, and a reliable guard. One with so much life, energetic, curious, attentive, active, smart, sociable and incredible fun with children is the boxer, they are also known to be very patient and highly protective of their family members making them the love and desire of many homes. As active dogs, they need a lot of exercise to keep them mentally fit, apparently having a mind of its own, you will find your boxer entertain itself by digging the ground often, chewing, and licking the mouth to beat boredom. They are also very stubborn in character which makes them a terrible choice for first-timers with dogs, they are generally a bit difficult with adult dogs including dogs of a similar breed but friendly with puppies. They usually do not bark unless there is a genuine reason behind it but they love to growl. If you have occupied home with people around all the time or you want a canine buddy the whole time, then a boxer is just the perfect breed to get. Being a highly active dog, they dread loneliness and they can cope finely in both a house and an apartment as long as you provide it with enough room and spaces for exercises and activities. What you must have is a large yard if you are living in a house for it to dig the ground and run around as it likes. And more so, if you are given to being away from home most of the time, getting a boxer may not be the best for you and the dog, because they usually get aggressive when left alone. Boxers are known as loud snorers and they drool greatly too. Boxers are playful and very energetic dogs as such regular exercises are part of a good canine relationship, especially a breed of this sort. Your boxer should be allowed to play in a fenced area and on-leashed since it is likely to jump and leap around in excitement. This puts a boxer as a bad choice for a frail owner as they may find it a tad impossible and daunting keeping up with its excessive activity demands. Being a breed with a short and thin coat its grooming demands are quite easy and little, all it needs is a light brushing of the hair twice every week to maintain its good and gleeful looks. Bathing should be a once in a while since boxers are generally clean dogs and its nails, be trimmed once every month or as often as they grow worn on surfaces, its teeth should also be brushed daily to avoid tartar formation and other dental crises. Our Boxer puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. Boxer Puppies for Sale.

Contact Us for Details on Our Puppies! After the surrender of Germany at the conclusion of the war, Berlin and the remaining German territory was partitioned into four occupation zones by the Allied forces. Strict breeding criteria was put in place and breed wardens aggressively culled dogs with any sign of hip dysplasia or weak temperament. DDR dogs were bred for power and athleticism , with straight toplines and large, strong heads. Breed wardens inspected every litter for proper dentition, temperament, bone structure, ear set, coat quality, and total overall appearance. Males with undescended testicles were culled. While West German dogs were tested over five-foot angled walls, East German dogs were required to scale straight six-foot walls. West German dogs searched six blinds, DDR dogs searched ten blinds. West German tracking tests included eight corners and angles, DDR tracking tests included .The DDR border patrol dogs served as sentries, tracking dogs, and attack dogs. Special units were formed to track deserters over large expanses of countryside. When the German borders were opened in the need for guards and guard dogs ended. Within five months of the border opening half of the 50, guards had been dismissed with the remainder retained to dismantle the border fortifications. Many of the DDR dogs were sold, abandoned, or put down. Today, Vom Banach K9 is one of a small number of dedicated breeders worldwide actively preserving the DDR lineage and its physical soundness and structure, intelligence, working abilities, natural drive, highly developed tracking abilities , temperament, and devotion to their handler. Quick Find. This dog would not fair well with a novice owner. Moreover, if you do not have the time to invest in sufficiently training, socializing, and exercising this breed, the DDR German Shepherd is not the right pooch for you. With breeding regulations being more lenient worldwide, it is possible for you to end up with dog with different and diluted characteristics to the original line. Puppies sold by bad breeders, including puppy mills and backyard breeders, can be brimming with behavioral and health problems. The new bloodline would be able to withstand frigid winter temperatures and excel in military and police work. Many dogs were even abandoned or put down. Some dogs were sold to breed-type enthusiasts to preserve the bloodline. This makes him great for search and rescue missions. DDR German Shepherds can withstand all types of weather conditions and easily traverse most types of terrain, helping them effortlessly locate people who are trapped in rubble after a disaster. If you properly socialize your dog from a young age, he will be a protective and playful playmate for your tots. Reward-based training methods work best for this breed. Always offer your pet high-value treats and plenty of praise when he does what you ask of him. Breed Info German Shepherds have a distinctive look that makes them instantly recognizable. Because of this, few people realize that there are actually different types of GSDs. Show lines are quite different from working lines, and there are even different types of working lines based mainly on their origin and lineage. They are also called the East German Working line because it was in East Germany where this line was developed. There, they were also maintained at high standards by the local government. Some bloodlines have been subjected to selective breeding to develop work drives that are more easily managed. However, the DDR differs greatly even from other working lines. This is because it was developed through a breeding program led by the East German Communist Party, which identified and bred for specific traits that could assist soldiers during the Cold War. Their heads are larger and their thicker coats help them thrive in extreme weather. Although the DDR German Shepherd looks different from its West German and similar counterparts, its distinction goes beyond physical appearance and strength. These dogs were developed to have incredible stamina and work drive. DDR German Shepherds excel at work that involves both their superior physical conformation and their exceptional intelligence. Today, among their most common roles as working dogs are in the fields of personal protection and police work. These dogs also tend to excel in rigorous and highly disciplined canine sports like Schutzhund. Among their most distinct attributes are: Physical Appearance DDR German Shepherds typically have solid black or sable coats with undercoats that are denser than what you would normally see on a show line dog. As a result, these dogs are generally less prone to bone and joint issues like elbow or hip dysplasia. DDR German Shepherds also tend to have more muscular bodies and broader chests that make them more suited to rigorous physical work. They have wider and larger heads, especially compared with show-line GSDs. Additionally, their paws were developed to be larger so they would be better suited to rough terrain. Stronger paws also helped them climb and scale the walls they were tasked to patrol. Temperament DDR German Shepherds are known for their even tempers and especially for their work drive. They are bred to be confident and courageous, which are essential traits for the types of work they are expected to do. As a result, these dogs could also be more aggressive but in a manner that an experienced handler should be able to direct. Additionally, these dogs have incredible energy, which could lead to bad behaviors when not honed or managed properly. Their superior intelligence could also be a source of hard-headedness but could be addressed through firm leadership, training, and proper care. Personality Personality differs between individual dogs and some can be significantly more sociable than others. Believe it or not, these dogs can also be very goofy and light-hearted. Some are also more playful with others are more aloof. Nevertheless, DDR German Shepherds are always eager to please and could be very affectionate, especially with their primary handlers. Training Needs With their large size, superior strength, and remarkable intelligence, having firm leadership is essential. Every DDR German Shepherd needs an experienced handler that is dedicated to providing a high level of training and control. DDR German Shepherds that are used for police, military, and personal protection are selected based on temperament and certain physical attributes at only a few weeks old. Then, they are trained from puppyhood to become the workers they need to be. Care Requirements Because of the dense undercoats that make them better suited for cold weather, DDR German Shepherds tend to shed more. They need frequent brushing to keep shed fur more manageable, especially during their twice-a-year shedding seasons. Other grooming requirements are generally the same as any other GSD. DDR German Shepherds will need high-quality food, possibly in larger quantities to support their larger build and athleticism. Lastly, these dogs need plenty of training, lots of exercise, and regular opportunities to sharpen their mental faculties. However, this also depends on how you train them, how well you assert your leadership, and how much socialization they receive. Generally, however, DDR German Shepherds can be excellent household pets to homes that can meet their physical and intellectual requirements. Although they are best known as strong and active working dogs, they can also be gentle with babies, small children, and the elderly. Proper socialization is also critical to ensure a DDR German Shepherd relates well with other animals. They could be good with other dogs as well as other household pets. Some may not be as playful with other animals but will tolerate them and be respectful of their presence. After the Berlin Wall had been demolished and East Germany was reunified with West Germany in the early 90s, the demand for these dogs fell and some bloodlines were inevitably diluted with their West German counterparts. Nevertheless, enthusiasts of the breed type made an effort to preserve it and paved the way for the existence of DDR German Shepherds today. Today, it is apparent that not all DDR bloodlines have been preserved to have the same level of work drive as they were intended to. However, given the stringent selection and breeding requirements that go into the East German Working lines, you can expect these dogs to be at the higher end of the range with some breeders collecting much, much higher for each puppy. The price of a single DDR German Shepherd depends largely on the reputation of its breeder as well as its pedigree. Responsible breeders that dedicate themselves to preserving the best traits of their bloodlines spend plenty of money on proper care and health screenings. Physical conformation, appearance, and general temperament could also affect the price of individual puppies. DDR German Shepherds can also be purchased as adults that are already trained for a specific purpose. These dogs are much more expensive because of the amount of specialized work it takes to get them at a certain level of training. The average life expectancy of German Shepherds is 12 to 14 years. However, because DDR GSDs are selectively bred and subjected to stringent health screenings, those that come from well-reputed breeders will generally live for longer. These dogs are also less prone to joint issues that are common in senior show-line GSDs. Plus, they could be excellent family pets with proper training and socialization.

Exercise Grooming In the 19th century, Shepherds bred all kinds of dogs mainly to herd and guard flocks. Thus, the dogs needed to display a high level of intelligence, extra normal strength, resilience, courage and bravery, a keen sense of smell, and trainability qualities, etc. These mongrel combinations provided dog breeds that could efficiently guard and herd flocks but differed in appearance and ability, from one locality to another. German Shepherd dogs are well known to be highly inquisitive which makes them excellent for rescue mission training. The German Shepherd has a noble character and shows very high levels of loyalty to its owners. The dog is also described as extremely territorial and has displayed characteristics of overprotectiveness in some cases. The German shepherd can survive in all types of environment; their thick furriness makes them better prepared for cold climates. German Shepherds are considered extremely playful and active. These breeds spend half of their daily routine with activities. The German Shepherd is popularly known as an athletic natured dog and requires a good dose of daily exercise to keep up muscle tone, build and development. If improperly exercised the German Shepherd has been known to become frustrated and exhibit undesirable behaviors. The German Shepherd requires an occasional brushing, as this helps with removing loose hair from its fur. The German Shepherd sheds fur once or twice a year and in this time the breed requires a lot of soft brushing. This can be done using a soft to medium bristle brush. The German Shepherd occasionally requires that its nails are trimmed off when they grow too long, however, some breeds instinctually file their nails against any hard surface that can be fine. Excessive nail growth can cause much pain and even lead to structural concerns. In choosing a German Shepherd breed you must ask yourself what it is you want in a dog and what kind of person are you? Our German Shepherd puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. Healthy German Shepherds live for as long as between nine to thirteen years, however, some german shepherd has lived much longer than Thirteen years. How fast can German Shepherds run? An adult German Shepherd can run approximately 30miles per hour. Originally the German Shepherd was bred for guarding and herding of flocks. The German Shepherd dog is highly intelligent and a fairly quick learner and that is why Police and Military institutions use them in operations. How do I care for a German Shepherd dog? The German Shepherd sheds lightly all through the year so be sure to brush it at least twice weekly. Bathe it after each shedding season. Brush its teeth at least once a month. Feed with healthy meals. Routine exercise of at least 45 minutes each day is crucial to the existence of a German Shepherd. Do they shed a lot? Yes, German Shepherds sheds heavily all year round and blows the thick, dense fur under its harsh topcoat twice a year. Are German Shepherds good with kids? German Shepherds are good with kids, however, they can become very protective because of this adult supervisor is highly recommended. At what age are German Shepherds fully grown? In moderation German Shepherds, reach full maturity between months i. There have been known cases of some Eastern European lines taking up to 3years i. Why do German shepherd ears stand up? During the early puppy age weeks German shepherds have floppy ears but this usually becomes pointed ears, standing up due to the cartilage in the ear becoming hard and strong thereby making the ears stand permanently. Are male or female German shepherd more affectionate? The female may also be less tolerable than the male when it comes to playing with children. Are you interested in purchasing a German Shepherd? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Dogs in our program are in foster homes private homes of volunteers and treated like one of our own. We do NOT have a shelter. The advantages of having our rescued GSDs in private homes is that we interact with them frequently and have insight into the personalities and likes and dislikes. Our volunteers give freely of their time, money, and affection to save these animals. Please keep in mind that they are ALL volunteers - no one gets paid, and we all have full-time jobs, families, and lives too. Please be patient if we cannot answer you immediately - we do strive to respond within hours to all inquiries. German Shepherds GSDs are loving and loyal companions, who provide comfort and security to those privileged enough to share their friendship and love. All of our rescued GSDs are spayed or neutered, are current on vaccinations, and are tested for heartworms, lyme disease, and ehrlichia. All of our animals are on heartworm preventative. Your assistance will allow us to keep saving these wonderful canine companions. We couldn't do it without you. Awesome training. They helped me with a few behavioral issues I had with my Great Dane. Well worth the money. Bentley is soon to become a service dog — Kimberly Rybka google Jordan was extremely helpful and patient! We have way too many dogs with lots of personalities. He was able to assist with E collars and beginning training for us. He was professional and efficient. I would recommend Jordan and Elite any day! I had the opportunity to work with many talented members of their team. Jordan and his amazing dog Atlas helped me and Aries work on distractions in public. He was patient, clear and very knowledgeable. He was attentive, helpful, able to answer ALL of our questions, and kind. We would recommend him to anyone. Since we first got him as a puppy we knew he had great potential, we just never knew how. We started working with Jordan and his dog Atlas with basic to intermediate training. His level of knowledge and expertise was quickly demonstrated, having a steadfast and effective solution for every issue that Chesty had was something that we truly appreciated. Kyler and Tray have helped transform him from your average family pet, to a certified service animal that will protect and love our family for years to come. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite for any and all dog training development. She was in training to be a service dog, and he was so patient, knowledgeable, and Punxsy loved him. Punxsy is now a certified service dog only 7 months old , and I was able to fly home to Delaware a week ago to visit my family. She was perfect in the airport and on the plane. Jordan played a major role in her training and getting her certified as a service dog. Thank you Jordan and Atlas! I highly recommend Jordan and all the trainers! Jordan is great to work with. He gave us alot of tips and tricks to keep our dog engaged. He was patient and calm with Lulu and teaching us what to do. Lulu learned very quickly. We also got to meet his dog Atlas who is a sweet dog and very well trained. More importantly, we wanted to manage her distracting behavior when other dogs are walking outside as well. I cannot say enough great accolades on how Jordan has assisted Krewe and myself in transforming her negative behavior. Jordan brought his dog Atlas and Atlas is extremely well trained pet! This has been a great experience for Krewe and myself. I highly recommend Dog training elite and Jordan!

Puppy pads Create a Schedule Golden Retriever pups would do well with a schedule. Dogs live with a routine, and they are easy to train by having one. For this reason, make a schedule of the things you need to do regularly. Eventually, your pup will learn the routine events and will make itself adept at them. It will help you prepare for your pet, especially in the first few days of living together. As you allow your pet to adjust, do your best to create a stress-free environment for it. Always supervise it as it familiarizes itself with its new home. It can even grow louder as they age. Moderate Training Golden Retrievers responds well, especially to positive reinforcement. Squeaky Toys Out of all toys, your pet will love the squeaky ones. For this reason, prepare for a lot of loud squeaks every time your pet is active. Thus, in picking your pet, you may want to consider getting it from the best. Tells you any health problems A good breeder will tell you any significant health problems in any of the dogs he or she bred. Asks more questions than you A good breeder would ask for more items from you than you would for him or her. Not in a hurry to send off A good breeder is not in a hurry to send the puppies off and get your money. He or she will even show you other breeders and veterinarians caring for their dogs. Requires expectations on both sides A good breeder will create a contract that offers not only what he or she expects from you. More than that, he or she will also show what you can expect from him or her. Sends puppies properly A good breeder will never send a puppy in a compartment and without any responsible person to go with it. Works only with one or two breeds A good breeder works only with a single or a couple of species. Shows breeding experience A good breeder shows her dogs in recognized confirmation shows. He or she will also join his or her breed in other breed-related performance events. Other states. Clark, J. Fea admitted under oath that on April 30, , she submerged her golden retriever puppy in a pond located in West Milford disregarding whether the dog was alive at the time. She further admitted the puppy died because of her actions, Valdes said. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the State has recommended that Fea be placed on probation for a period of 5 years with the condition that she serve days in the Passaic County Jail. Under the terms of the plea, she will also be required to continue counseling, perform days of community service, and refrain from owning dogs in the future, Valdes said. Fea is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, , Valdes said. Jay Edwards August 13, 2, 1 minute read Jay Edwards Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter award winning , NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. 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.

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Which is why a lack of exercise can be the root cause for many destructive behavioral problems for active dog breeds such as Labs. As WebMD. This is a game that combines both mental and physical activity. To start, teach your dog the specific names for his or her toys by pointing at them and repeating the names. Ask your dog to fetch a particular toy. If they bring back the wrong one, throw it back and ask again until you get the right toy. This can be played indoors—as long as you have enough space—or outdoors. And if your Lab especially a puppy grabs any part of you or your clothes, stop the game for a time before trying again. Make a circle of about 20 feet or more with your Labrador square in the middle and take turns calling him or her to you. Praise your dog or give a treat when they come, and then step back to let someone else call. Once your dog understands how it works, call faster and faster for a great doggie workout. You can also have family members in different parts of the house calling to give your Labrador the exercise they need on a rainy day. If you have the room, you can set up the hurdles indoor and have your dog run through them until blissfully tired. You can also set them up in the yard and create a true agility course, complete with jumps, twists and turns. Your Labrador has an incredible nose. Keep it in top shape by hiding treats around the house or yard and asking your dog to find them all. You can hold one treat in your hand and let your Lab sniff it before sending him or her out to search to give an idea of what to look for. Alternatively, you can use people instead of treats and have your dog find your loved ones instead for a twist on the game. Just make sure to have treats on hand to reward your Labrador for their excellent finds. Kong makes some of the most popular models, but you have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to picking the right toy for your Labrador. Designed to help cut down on boredom, food dispensing toys are like puzzle treats for your dog. Click here for our list of the best chew toys for labs and strong chewers. Upgrade Your Fetch Toy To a Frisbee Unlike balls that tend to sink and roll away, Frisbees hold air much longer, making them a very fun toy for your Labrador. See if you can teach your Lab to jump and grab the Frisbee midair for even more of a workout. As for durability, you can choose between soft Frisbees your dog can easily grip with their teeth yes, even puppy teeth! Then you can scatter multiple toys around the house and give the command for your dog to put them all away. Start by having your dog sit and show them a piece of their favorite treat. Hide it under a plastic or Styrofoam cup right in front of them. Once your Labrador has gotten the idea of how it works, rub a piece of treat over three cups to keep your dog from cheating with his nose. Then place the treat under one of the three cup and ask your dog to find it. If your dog is a whiz at identifying the right cup, you can then make things more challenging by slowly rotating the cups. Have you any favorite games you like to play with your Labrador? Let us know in the comments! Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. The secret to successful play with a large dog is to define the boundaries and rules of the game, and to control where it starts and stops. This is almost impossible with free play or rough housing, where dogs often become over-excited and careless. Structured games enable you to remain in control whilst keeping your dog happy and entertained. It is not just bloodhounds that are great at following a trail. Labradors can do it too. Try laying a scent trail for your dog, with a treat at the end, and watch him follow it with his nose. You will lay your trail with a scent marker. A piece of cloth rubbed in some roast meat juices should do the trick. And you will also need some little chunks of roast chicken or beef steak, for the treat at the end of the trail. Your First Scent Trail Lay your first trail in a straight line on an open piece of ground. Keep your dog out of sight while you do this. Step 1 Mark the start of the trail with a cone or a rock, so that you know where to begin tracking Drag your cloth along for 3 feet. Place a little piece of meat or some other yummy treat at the end. Step 2 Now fetch your dog and take him to your start marker. Watch him sniff around and follow the scent to the treat. Step 3 Repeat a few times. Now you can start to make the game more fun. Making scent work it more difficult One way to make the game more challenging, is to make your trails longer. You can also gradually introduce turns or changes in direction so that the trail is wiggly rather than straight. After a few weeks of practicing you will be able to lay quite complicated trails for your dog to play the scent game. The next game can be played indoors 2. Statue Games To Play With Your Dog In this game, your dog has to sit perfectly still without moving a muscle, whilst you walk all around him in a circle. Take care not to step on his tail as you cross behind him. You teach this game in easy stages, using an event marker to let the dog know when he is on the right track. Your event marker The event marker is just a sound that you make each time the dog is successful. Step 1 To begin with, sit your dog next to you, stand still, and watch him carefully. As soon as he is completely still, mark and reward! Step 2 The next step is to mark and reward 3 seconds of not moving. Fidgety dogs may need you to mark 2 seconds first, and then move on to 3. Step 3 When your dog can sit like a statue for 3 seconds, it is time to teach him to keep really still whilst you move your leg. To start with, just lift one foot off the ground and put it back down again. If he keeps still, mark and reward. If he moves or fidgets go back to standing still for 3 seconds, then try and smaller movement of your foot. Making it more difficult Once he can do this, you can progress to bigger movements of your leg. If he moves, make the game easier for a moment. When you give him his treat, let him move around, then bring him back to sit next to you for the next attempt. Over the space of five to ten games of five minutes each, you will be able to progress from lifting your leg, to taking a step to one side, to taking a step backwards. All without the dog moving. Soon you will be able to step forwards, turn and face the dog! You will also be able to step back wards and to one side, so that you step across his tail. It is then just a short step to be able to step all around your dog whilst his sits like a statue. Step 1 Choose a toy your dog really loves. Use the name of the toy a lot whilst your dog is holding and playing with it. Step 2 Now sit your dog or get someone to hold him and let him see you take the toy through and open doorway and place it on the floor in full view in another room. Tell him how clever he is when he gets it. Step 3 Repeat a few times, then begin to make things more complicated. Making it more difficult Try placing the toy where he cannot easily see it until he is in the room. You need to build up his skill gradually. After a few more games, you will be able to make the game more difficult, hiding the toy under a cardboard box or a cushion. You can also teach your dog different names for different toys and see if he can pick up the right one. Teach Your Dog To Freeze! This is great fun to play with an active dog. Step 1 Have your dog move around near to you. Keep throwing him tiny treats to hold his attention and dance around to keep him moving. Step 2 Start dancing around again. Each time you freeze, wait for him to freeze too and immediately mark and reward. Step 3 Now you can start to add a cue word. Mark and reward the dog when he stops. Making it more difficult Now start throwing the treats further away and saying freeze when he has picked up the treat and is starting to return. But as long as you always throw the treat well behind him, he will soon start to freeze further from you. Freeze is not just a fun game, it can also be a useful cue to give a dog that is heading towards danger or getting too far away. Keeping it fun With all these games, it pays to make haste slowly, and to stop whilst the dog is having fun. Many dogs will get bored if you carry on much longer than this. How to play with a puppy through training. Playing has been a part of social development for both humans and dogs since the days of hunting and gathering. Nowadays, our daily routine has been reduced to mostly hunting burgers and gathering fries, but playing still remains a critical part of human social development. This is true for our canine companions as well. Ensuring adequate and healthy playtime is a big part of raising a well-rounded dog. Some types of puppy games are good for physical development, whereas others are important for mental and social development. Here are a few of my favorite twists on classic puppy games. Puppy Running Games 1. Use a Flirt Pole Flirt poles are fabulously simple and absolutely brilliant. A flirt pole is simply a stick or pole with a rope or bungee hanging from the end. At the other end of the rope is a fabric-type toy that bounces and moves easily. By bouncing the pole or dragging it slowly across the ground, the toy at the end of the rope becomes wildly animated like a small animal. Your dog will go nuts chasing and trying to capture it. But, how do their trainers first start them on that path? Playing hide-n-seek! To initiate the game, trot away from your puppy while looking over your shoulder and calling her name. Stop after a few yards, squat down to your knees and scoop her up into a playful snuggle. Repeat several times, each time going a bit further away and calling her less and less until you are no longer calling her at all. The final phase of hide-n-seek is to wait until your puppy is distracted such as when they first go outside to use the loo! Wait and see if she can find you based on sound and smell cues alone. The following games can be played with your puppy indoors, in the comfort of your sweatpants as your dinner simmers on the stove. Blow bubbles My shepherd mix Lily had a blast chomping at the bubbles and sneezing as they pop on her nose. Be sure to dry off the floor afterward so nobody slips on the little bit of soapy residue bubble-blowing sessions will inevitably leave on the floor! Certain toys work better than others—a knotted rope, length of fabric, or Kong tug toys. Start by initiating tug with the toy. Tug-of-war is only fun when two are playing, so your puppy will drop the toy eventually. If you time it right, you can praise your puppy for dropping the toy and then re-initiate the game right away. And the game will go on and on. This is the easiest indoor game for puppies. It also helps your puppy become desensitized to being touched—useful for future grooming or vet visits! A bored puppy is a destructive puppy! So here are my favorite brain games for puppies. Tracking Games Tracking games are great for dogs to put their awesome olfactory system to work! All you have to do is drag a treat like a milk bone across the ground a few yards and hide. The best hiding places are inside something like a box or overturned flowerpot. Next time you go to the pet store for kibble, bring a few old rags and ask the staff if you can get some scents from the hamsters, birds, and maybe even the fish department! Then move them around, mix them up, and let your puppy use his nose to knock over the tubs and find the right one. Leisurely Sniff-n-Strolls Going for a walk is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to socialize your puppy. The point is to mix it up with keeping your puppy on a tight lead for polite walks, versus leisurely strolls with a little more leash to sniff around and explore. A fun way to desensitize your puppy to a variety of noises is to play this game. Gather a basket of objects from around the house and hide it behind your back. One by one, make noise with each object while your dog looks on, probably confused. Then show him the object and let him sniff it and explore it while you make the noise again with the object in plain sight. This could include your shaking keys, dropping a small pan on the floor, crinkling some plastic wrap, or clicking a ball-point pen. Meet the Car It may not occur to you to introduce your puppy to the family car, but you should! Walking around the car together, opening and closing doors, honking the horn, and letting him jump in and out are good activities. Crate games Getting your puppy comfortable going into a crate or bed is one of the earliest goals of training. So why not make a game out of it? Toss tiny treats inside and around the crate while she gets used to walking in and out without fear. Then up the ante by occasionally closing the door after she walks inside. Then let her out again and start over. This is one of those puppy training games for the whole family to get in on! Have everyone stand in a big circle in the backyard. It seems simple, but we always end up having a laugh at the antics that puppies get into when they start running around the circle looking for who has called! Pick two objects and set them in front of your puppy. Say the name of one object a few times, and wait. Repeat, using the same object as the target a few times before repeating the same thing with another object. Then alternate back and forth and see how many sessions of this game it takes for your dog to know the names of the objects! Freeze Quick Labrador Facts to Maximize Fun Time Before we jump into the list of the seven best games to play with your Labrador, we should look at some facts about this awesome breed. Knowing what to expect from a Labrador will help you choose appropriate activities that can maximize their health, fitness, and happiness. Labradors Love Food Labradors are notorious overeaters. Overfeeding a Lab can result in obesity and a drastic reduction in energy—that means far fewer games for you to enjoy together. On the other hand, underfeeding a Labrador retriever can result in decreased energy, too. It can also lead to muscle weakness and quick fatigue. You need to find the right balance between feeding amounts and activity to keep your pup in tip-top shape. Labradors Are Incredibly Intelligent Labs of all sub-breeds are intelligent, curious, and active. This is why they make amazing therapy dogs, assistance animals, and hunting dogs. Their intelligence also means they are exceedingly easy to train. That means they may like to put all kinds of things in their mouths, including your hands or arms. One way to do this is to train your Labrador to chew on appropriate things. A healthy, well-fed, well-trained Labrador can play for hours on end with very few rest breaks. This is important to understand because you should always match your dog choice with your own energy levels. A young, fit, and exuberant Labrador is unlikely to be happy living in a household with sedentary humans. Be sure you give your Lab plenty of time to play, run, and seek adventures. Each of these games was chosen because it combines time with you, intellectually stimulating activity for your dog, and a way to expend energy in a safe way. You can then tie a favorite toy or lure to the rope. The idea is to tempt your dog to chase the toy as you slowly turn around in place. As your dog learns this game, you can speed things up and bounce the toy up and out of reach to encourage acrobatic jumps. This is a favorite of many breeds, but hunting breeds such as the Labrador are especially fond of it. This is the flirt pole that we use that is inexpensive and incredible fun. Fetch Fetch is a good old classic game that nearly all dogs enjoy. It plays on the prey drive, the need to run, and that playful interaction that Labradors crave with their humans. Fetch can be played indoors and out, with any toy or treat that your dog loves, and at any energy level. As with many of the other chasing and retrieving games, you can mix things up by adding a hold or wait command after you throw the toy. Swimming is a great exercise for Labs and helps keep them slim and trim. The idea behind dock diving is simple. If your Labrador enjoys playing in the water and also like to play fetch, simply combine the two! Stand at the end of a dock or on the beach and toss a favorite floating toy into the water. You can either let the dog chase it right away, or you can use your hold and release commands to teach your dog patience and obedience. If that sounds like you, then a rousing game of chase me might be just what you and your Labrador have been looking for. This is one of the most basic games, but also one of the best. Chase me is a game all puppies play, so this one comes naturally for all dogs. Mat Time Not all games have to be about running, jumping, and burning energy. Sometimes, a great game involves thinking and waiting. Mat time is just that kind of game. It will help your Labrador learn to relax, focus, and be patient—skills many Labs lack all on their own. Training for this game is simple in concept but might take some practice for energetic pups. The goal is to teach your dog that any time a specific mat, blanket, or towel is on the floor, they are to lay down on it and be quiet. It should be the same mat, blanket, or towel each time in the early days. However, you can teach a Labrador to do this with any mat or blanket once they understand the rules. See also Can Dogs Eat Cantaloupe? The reason this is one of the best games to play with your Labrador is that it builds trust and deepens your bond. Your dog learns to trust that you will eventually let him off the mat and he will be rewarded for being obedient. When you teach a dog to sit quietly on a mat, you teach them to stay safe and out of the way if you happen to be busy or have to work with dangerous materials. Hide and Seek Since dogs mainly use their sense of smell to navigate the world, why not play a game that uses that incredible sense? To play hide and seek with your dog, simply choose a favorite toy, let her sniff it, then hide it under a blanket. At first, you should let her see you put it there so she starts to understand the game. You may be surprised to see just how quickly she can sniff that toy in some very difficult situations! Freeze Games that can be played anytime, anywhere, are some of the best games for Labradors. In this case, the game of freeze is a lot like the mat game. It teaches your dog to listen, focus, and wait. Instead of using the mat or blanket as the safe zone, this time you can teach your dog to freeze anywhere. Just be consistent. This should not be taught using common phrases such as stay or wait. Freeze should have its own separate command and expected actions. They should stop in place immediately and look to you for the release command. If done properly, this command should work anytime, no matter what else is going on around your dog. Not only is it fun to freeze and unfreeze just for kicks, but this is also a great way to teach your dog about safety. Conclusion And there you have it. These are the seven best games you can play with your Labrador. They are fun, engaging, and help build a strong bond between you and your pet. But each one is also a good way to teach obedience, burn off some calories, and help your Labrador learn manners. Post navigation. Labrador Retrievers are usually very kind , friendly, and even-tempered, even when they are puppies. It is actually for this reason that Labs make great family dogs. The fact that they love to play with people—whether they are kids, adults, or seniors—contributes to making them one of the most popular dog breeds. Take note, however, that every dog also has its limits. Just like humans, if you push your Lab too hard and annoy them during playtime or while they exercise, they may grow to dislike it and may even snarl, bark, or nip. Additionally, Labradors need obedience training while they are young. Their temperament may change as they age if they do not learn how to obey you. Generally, however, it is fairly easy to play with your Labrador puppy. They love to be around people and enjoy most games that you teach them. If a child tries to play with a Lab puppy, they often play more carefully, but again, that depends on your particular pup. What toys can you use to play with Lab puppies? Here is a quick list of the basic toys that your Labrador Retriever puppy will love: Balls Whether soft or hard, having balls as toys for your Lab puppies is great. Ideally, however, puppies should have softer balls, while older dogs may prefer tougher ones. Just make sure that the ball is always too big for them to swallow to avoid choking hazards. At the same time, however, the ball must be small enough to fit in their mouths. Squeaky toys Some Labs get excited whenever they hear a squeaky toy. Puzzle toys For Labradors that are known for being very smart dogs, mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. You can also get them activity toys, boxes, and balls to present them with a challenge. These puzzle toys usually have spaces where you can put food inside. Chew toys Chew toys are always great toys, especially when your Lab puppy is teething. For these types of toys, you can try chew toys and rawhide bones, among others. Tug toys Dogs love tug toys because the goal is to win. However, you also need to be careful with these kinds of toys, especially if your puppy shows aggression. How long should Labrador puppy play sessions be? Typically, if your puppy looks energetic and wants to play, they can play as often as they can. They should take breaks, though, whenever they show signs of exhaustion, like lying down, panting, and aggression. However, a lot of people agree that puppies should play for 5 minutes for each month of their age twice in a day. For example, a four-month-old puppy can play for 20 minutes two times a day, while a 5-month old puppy can play for 25 minutes two times a day. Be gentle, however. While Labrador Retrievers are big dogs, it does not mean that they can handle rough play all the time. This is especially true when your Lab is still young. They could get hurt or feel scared of you if you play with them too roughly. Fetch game to play with your labrador puppy A simple game of fetch is a great way of bonding with your Lab puppy. Plus, it helps them exercise their mind and body. When your Labs are still very young puppies, stick to the basics—throw the toy and encourage them to bring it back to you. Once your Labrador Retriever gets good at playing fetch, you can make the game more interesting. For instance, you can get specific toys and name them. Of course, you need to say the names to your dog as well and point at your dog so they can identify the toy. Start slow by throwing two toys in front of your dog and saying the name of one toy that your dog knows. Your dog should get the right toy. To encourage them to make the right choice, give them treats every time they get the right toy. The name game Once your Labrador gets good at playing fetch, you can make the game more interesting. Of course, you need to say the names to your dog and point at the dog so they can identify the toy. Start slowly by throwing two toys in front of your dog and saying the name of one toy that your dog knows. Hidden treasure Another great brain game for Lab puppies is to find yummy treats. Show your Labrador a treat and let them smell it, but do not let them eat it. Make your dog leave the room and hide the treat. Let them enter the room to find the treat. Make sure it is not too hard to hide at first to make sure they understand the game. You can increase the difficulty the more you play the game. Chase game to play with your labrador puppy If you have more than one Lab puppy, then you can encourage them to chase each other. However, you may not need to since puppies love to naturally chase each other to play. Do not be alarmed if it looks like one of your Lab pup is getting bullied. Bubbles game to play with your labrador puppy A fun way to play with your Lab puppy is to blow bubbles! You can get non-toxic bubbles and blow them into the air. Some pet shops will sell flavored play bubbles so your dog will love the game even more. Most Labradors will instinctively try to grab and bite the bubbles, which can be lots of fun for them. Plus, it is definitely cute to watch! However, you need to have a mop or a rag to use after playtime. The bubbles can make your floor very slippery because some bubbles will fall on the floor and leave a soapy, slippery residue. Tug of war With tug of war, you can get a few chew toys and rope toys to play a classic game of tug of war. Your Lab will simply bite on one end as you pull the other. Make sure you take regular breaks, though. Do not be too rough and let your Lab win sometimes. Frisbee game to play with your labrador puppy Does your pup love to jump in the air? Encourage them to run and jump high by playing frisbee! All you have to do is throw the frisbee, and they will run and catch it. Play with sprinklers Most Labs love water, so this is a great game to help them enjoy playtime and get used to water. All you have to do is turn the sprinklers on, and you can run and play with your Lab through the water! Hide and seek If you want to play a fun game, make your Lab sit and stay. Make sure they stay as you find a place to hide. Once you are hidden, call out their name one or two times until they find you. Piggy in the Middle If you co-own a dog or have multiple people in the house, this game is a fun way for many people to play with your pup. Find a way to surround the puppy without making them feel closed in. Grab a ball and throw the ball to the other person. Your dog will probably not get the ball, which is fine, but they will definitely try their best! In short… It is easy to play with a Lab puppy and keep them entertained. You can buy them the appropriate toys, be gentle with them, and play fun games with them to keep them happy and healthy. Post navigation.

You make it seem like puppy ownership is as simple and trouble-free as the world presented in cute puppy pictures. We can all agree that, at birth, all puppies are too adorable for words. We can also agree that raising puppies is a weighty responsibility, and never one to be undertaken lightly. Boxer puppies are not special in this regard. These caveats out of the way, it seems like no time at all between the stages of tiny, mewling infant and the first time you get the guilty look from Boxer puppies. Out of the whelping box, straight into mischief Boxer puppies start up with impish behavior from the moment they take their first tentative steps out of the whelping box. Training and socialization are key elements to a happy life with Boxer puppies. These little guys and gals, after all, become huge and physically imposing dogs. Keep an eye on this little fellow! Boxer puppies were made for the outdoors. Being outside, running about, playing with toys, and pawing at stuff — this is a top-flight day of action and adventure for Boxer puppies. When they want a snack before dinner, though, Boxer puppies will try and get sneaky. That we have such things as cute puppy pictures, of course, owes as much to human waggery as to anything Boxer puppies get into of their own accord. Boxer puppies are well known for toting things around in their mouths. No room in the house is safe from the shenanigans of Boxer puppies. Did you remember to close the bathroom door? Have fun re-rolling the toilet paper! Boxer puppies are eager, excitable, and enthusiastic friends to dog owners who are ready and willing to put in the work that training requires. Is it possible to sit Boxer puppies next to flowers and not have them inspire confidence, ease, and a sense of pervading calm? Sure, this brindle Boxer puppy seems contented, seated next to a little garden pinwheel, but be careful not to let her sit idle for too long. Boxer puppies need stimulation and interaction, so make sure she has toys to play with and things to occupy her mind! Boxer puppies love to play. Growing into solid, well-built dogs, they never really lose the joy and excitement that comes along with meeting new friends. Are your Boxer puppies naughty or nice? Every dog is different; each has her own personality and tendencies. Much depends on us, as dog owners, to train and socialize them in order to corral their wilder instincts. Do you have any experience with Boxer puppies? Share your experiences with Boxers at every stage of life in the comments! I think he's about 7 years old, but I'm not sure. Jordan is a very special dog. Like a lot of dogs, Jordan was rescued from a very bad situation. He was extremely emaciated, he had no hair, covered in parasites, and extremely afraid of everything. He could barely walk when I got him. I have owned him for about 7 months now, and he has all his hair back too much, actually , has gained a lot of weight, is MUCH happier, but most importantly he is no longer afraid of people. With spending a ton of time with his socialization , training , and guidance , he is now a well-balanced dog. I don't exactly know what happened to him before me, but it doesn't matter anymore, anyway. Jordan did have all sorts of bad behaviors at first due to his neglect which included: excessive barking, digging, pulling, jumping, etc. Typical "bad dog" behavior. But with all the walks and adventures we go on he is not only well-balanced, but truly happy. I am his "Guardian Angel. He gives hugs and kisses. He is my suction-cup when we are outside together; he has to be by me always. I love it! He is happiest when the whole family is out in the backyard playing together. He is very much a part of our family, even stays inside now, after some time housetraining. He was never aggressive toward anything or anyone. He loves his "girlfriend"! My other Boxer Baby Girl who also is a rescue. She was rescued at 2 years old and is now a whopping 8 years old. A few months after losing another rescue of mine I was really considering adopting another dog because I needed some form of protection living in a rough neighborhood. One day, while I was sitting in my living room my neighbor knocked on my door, "Hey, there's a Boxer outside running around crazy, and the owner doesn't want it. OK, I will take a look! I saw that happy face and that wiggly butt, I was in love! I said yes! Little did I know what I was getting myself into. This dog was an absolute nightmare, lol! At first she barged out of every door, broke every collar, leash, chain, tie-out cable we bought! She was horrified of so many things. She had separation anxiety really bad, so bad she made herself bleed to get out. After a very long and bumpy road we finally accomplished what I dreamed: "the perfect dog. She is so well-behaved and excellent mannered. She even stops on a dime if I tell her to. She is my everything! I have taught her a lot, but not as much as she has taught me. She taught me patience, understanding, love, devotion, and so much more. She has won the hearts of everyone she has met AND has even made a dog lover out of the people who were "scared" of dogs or "hated" dogs. I take her everywhere with me. She loves her bath time, especially playing "torro" with the towel during drying time! She hugs me, and she gives me the gentlest kisses. She has no aggression toward anything or anyone, she loves everything! This dog is my entire world. She always rests her head on my lap and gives me those soulful puppy dog eyes. Unlike any other dogs I've ever had she and I communicate mentally or something. She and I just know what each other want. Before I got her she had never been out other than a quick potty break on a 4-foot lead. She also had been through a lot of owners. She's great inside now, though! With all that work she's perfect inside! I can leave a whole plate of food on the floor for hours while I'm not in the room and she won't touch it. No accidents, never chewed on anything, very quiet. She's my angel. Her favorite activity would be eating. She's loves food. This is a dog who has taught me to be strong, all good things are worth fighting for, never give up, and you never get the dog you want, always the dog you need. I cannot say I follow his methods, because I have been training my dogs this same way before I ever heard of him. I also train therapy dogs, and guide dogs. Not certified, or anything. I rescue dogs and train them to help those who don't want to go through the certified Therapy Dog Associations for such reasons as waiting lists. I thank god for Cesar, though, because he is one of the few proving that Pit Bulls can be rehabilitated, and showing the world everything they need to know to save their dog's life. My love for Baby Girl made me fall in love with Boxers period, which led me into rescuing another Boxer, so I guess in a way she's saved two lives. Just like me. She's been through a lot, and has come very far. Most important thing she didn't give up on me, either. So, this photo is a dedication to Baby Girl so the entire world can hear Baby Girl's message of never giving up on your dog, because they will never give up on you. Thank you for the strength, you have given me Baby Girl, and I hope together we can save lives: the lives of dogs. She's a Boxer in every sense of the word. Callie the Boxer full grown getting some sun though the window blinds. He is pictured with Abby left who is 3 years old and 68 pounds 32 kg. Boss is a Boxer from working lines and Abby is from North American show lines. See the difference? You see our two legged children are all grown, or mostly grown, and we are pretty much empty-nesters. Our dogs have become much like our kids and they have actually given us grand-puppies, unlike our adult offspring. She is a four year old AKC registered Boxer and not only did people comment on how pretty she is, and what a nice confirmation she has, but total strangers come up to us and remark on how gentle and calm she is for a Boxer. Nope, not Leah. People in our town would randomly come up to use when we took her for a walk and ask us if you ever breed her we would be very interested in a puppy. Choosing a Stud Dog The first thing we did was bring her to the vet had have a health exam, make sure she was current on all her shots, and get x-rays for hip dysplasia. I wanted a match for her that complimented her coloring, body style and most of all her personality. We were looking for a gentle male and a breeder family that had the same goals of matching pups to families who would appreciate the Boxer breed and personality. Theo and Leah We found Theo online yes doggie computer dating and in January, before Leah went into heat, we visited his home and introduced the dogs. It was a doggie match made in heaven. The Surghoe family lives on an acreage in central Nebraska and have two young boys who are VERY involved in caring for the dogs and have the main job of socializing puppies. We compared papers, which in our case was really important because Leah was born about 40 miles away, and found no relation. We also inspected each others health records. One particular person who had shown and bred champion Boxers even felt the need to message me privately and complement me on Leah and her head confirmation and was very impressed with Theo as well. They too had fallen in love with her. She has her bed on the floor by my head. Supplies For Birthing Puppies.

Labs are attractive dogs, known for their blocky heads and solid coloring — traditionally in black, brown chocolate , and yellow. When we imagine the perfect family dog it always seems to be a Labrador, and many of us have fond memories of growing up with one of these patient and easy-going dogs. This is one of the most versatile breeds, which only adds to their charm. A Labrador is capable of being a show dog, hunting dog, therapy dog, and most importantly, a loving companion. This is a dog that is known to live well into its teens, and as such should be viewed as a life-long commitment. Getting a puppy from a reputable breeder will ensure that you bring home a puppy that is confident, healthy, and ready to follow you through every adventure. Our list will be discussing the best Labrador Retriever breeders in Oregon. These kennels have proven to be knowledgeable in their breed, and take all of the care in the world to produce puppies of solid temperament, structure, and type. Their focus is on American lines, known for a more streamlined physique, and they only breed the colors black and yellow. Ultimately, this program seeks to produce Labs that are truly versatile and able to fit within every part of your life. Sunnyview has some of the most impressive breeding standards, and it shows. Due to their rigorous health screening of sires and dams they have nearly eliminated hip dysplasia, PRA progressive retinal atrophy , and cancer in their lines. They also regularly title their dogs in hunting trials, proving their capacity and talent in the field. Breeder Since. The goal of Merganser Labrador Retrievers is to produce good looking, intelligent puppies that have a strong desire to retrieve, are structurally and genetically sound, have that wonderful loveable Labrador Retriever temperament, and are exceptional family companions and hunting partners. We believe that Labrador Retrievers should have nice broad heads, otter tails, good conformation, plus have that innate desire to hunt. Our stud dogs 3 Active and 6 Frozen Semen Only and females are intelligent with exceptional pedigrees. Eyes have passed CERF examination. Dianne competes with our stud dogs in field trials and hunt tests. Our dogs also enjoy pheasant and duck hunting. All of our Labrador Retrievers are house dogs, although not at the same time. We whelp 1 to 2 litters a year. Merganser puppies are whelped in our house where they have close human contact. We feel that puppies raised in a stimulating environment with close loving human contact produce well adjusted, happy, and better trainable adult dogs. We give a written guarantee on our pup's hips and eyes. Puppies are usually advertised year round on our website as our stud dogs are bred frequently to females not owned by us. Check out the " Other Puppies " section of our website. Merganser Labrador Retrievers has been breeding Labrador Retrievers since .Most of our puppies go to non-competition homes and are family dogs. Use Order Code: I have been a trainer of studio animals for the past twenty years. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Gretchen when she entrusted me with 8 of her beautiful Labradors for a Budweiser Super Bowl commercial in .I have worked with a lot of breeders over the years and trained numerous puppies for many different commercials, none of them compare to Gretchen's puppies. Her puppies came out of the gate bold, confident, super friendly and I have to say the smartest of any Labrador puppies I have ever trained and I've trained a lot! Having well socialized, outgoing puppies is critical for my job and you can see how much love, dedication and time Gretchen has put into her pups before they reach 8 weeks old and are ready for their new homes. I have absolutely no hesitation recommending Cold Creek Farms. Just make sure you can provide as much love to your new puppy as Gretchen does for the first 8 weeks of his or her life! He is also the dog who starred in Hawaii five O. His owner is one of the trainers on the team that trained the puppies in the puppy love Super Bowl commercial. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Well-known for being friendly and loyal, Labs are excellent family dogs. They have a sturdy body, wide head, and eyes that hint at the mischief these energic dogs can get into if they get bored. Labs love their humans and will be happy to follow you wherever you go. Their breeding Labs are all AKC registered, and health testing of their dogs is an important part of their breeding program. You will need to fill out an application for a puppy and the breeders will contact you about available puppies, or the next available litter. Labrador Lovers Visit Their Website Salem, OR Labrador Lovers is a small hobbyist breeder and they focus on the Rules of 7 for their puppies starting at 4 weeks of age to promote trainability, confidence, and socialization in their puppies. Their puppies are light yellow to dark golden colored. Puppies are sold under limited registration, which voids any breeding rights. Puppies have their first round of shots, are dewormed, and are ready to go home with you around weeks of age. Westland Labradors breed only the AKC-recognized colors of yellow, chocolate, and black. Puppies from this breeder are also Limited Registration, which means the dog itself is registered with the AKC, but any offspring from the puppy would not be eligible for AKC registration. Puppies are available at weeks of age and go home with a purchase contract, pedigree paperwork, microchip , microchip registration, and a vet health certificate from a recent well-puppy check. Puppies are registered to their new families upon receipt. They also send you home with a bag of chews, treats the puppy has been eating, toys including one that smells like mom , and a bag of dog food the breeder has been feeding the puppy. Puppy mills do not hold themselves to the same high standards as reputable breeders and puppies from mills often come from unhealthy circumstances and then suffer from serious health issues for the rest of their lives. There has been a rise in online puppy mills so we felt we should share some tips with you on how to avoid them. Puppy mills breeders may look legitimate , but some common red flags indicate you should take a closer look at where your potential puppy is being bred. A reputable breeder will want to meet you. Never buy a puppy without seeing it first. An online puppy mill will offer to ship a puppy. Shipping a young puppy can cause lifelong anxiety and behavior problems. Responsible breeders will have no problem letting you meet the parents and show you their living conditions. They will offer many different breeds of dogs for sale. They want to meet you in a parking lot, a rest area, etc. They are selling puppies younger than 8 weeks old. These are just some of the things to watch out for when looking online for a puppy, which is why we compiled the list of breeders in Oregon. Good luck on your Labrador Retriever puppy journey! You May Also Like:.