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Please be aware that we do not place puppies that are represented as show prospects, as those puppies go into our program. Your puppy will be current on shots; normally we will release them to new homes at approximately 8 weeks of age. Please call or email for more details. Visitors are always welcome. Please Contact Us for information. Contact for information on upcoming litters. We do not sell our Labs for breeding purposes. A puppy you find for less will most likely come from a backyard breeder. Most of these people who breed their pets together are not in the sport of purebred dogs and do not research the health and genetics behind their Labrador pedigrees. Many do not do the necessary hip, elbow and eye testing. Although x-rays and tests can get pricey, these tests give breeders a higher chance that their puppies will live long and healthy lives free of the genetic problems that affect so many Labradors around the world. Please call or email for pricing on current litters. Plus details about older puppies. Here is a link that will help you confirm the parents of a puppy you are interested in have their basic breeding clearances- www. All you have to do is type in the registered name or number of each parent in the search box and a page will appear with their hip and elbow scores. Hip scores will be rated as either Fair, Good, or Excellent. Labrador Retriever Breeder Welcome to Hanova Labradors, we are a small kennel located in the countryside just west of Bastrop, Texas and about 30 miles east of Austin. We strive to produce Labradors that are healthy both mentally and physically. Our dogs excel in performance events that include competition obedience, hunt tests, as well as certified therapy dogs and most importantly as family companions. We only breed pure Labradors which only come in black, yellow and chocolate colors. Our priority when breeding is temperament and quality breed type, that includes the willingness to please and beautiful heads we love to see. Labradors have been a part of our family since .My parents, Al and Katy started the joyous venture with Labs. However, they have since retired from breeding and we work together with the breeding, love, care and training of the Labs. All of our dogs are registered with AKC and certified through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to be clear from signs of hip and elbow dysplasia. All of our dogs are tested to be clear from inherited genetic diseases to promote the health and welfare of all offspring. For more information on our puppies go to our puppy page. Teaching Puppie to Sit Excellent Companion Perfect Hunting Dog The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-couple dog that possesses a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog. It has both the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions. We believe the 10 lab puppies inherited these traits also. Obviously, Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed in America. Because of their even temperament and trainability, millions of Americans own Labrador Retrievers as pets. In addition, Labradors are well-suited as disability-assistants in many countries; for example, Labradors are frequently trained to aid the blind and those who have autism. They also work as therapy dogs, as well as perform screening and detection work for law enforcement and other official agencies. Additionally, they are prized as sporting and hunting dogs. The Lab is such a versatile and family-friendly breed. From hunters to sportsmen, pet owners, and event competitors, Labradors are the dog of choice for the best of reasons. Labradors are a loving breed that make excellent furry family members, are wonderful with children, adults, and animals alike, and offer years of unconditional love and support to the right owner and caretaker. I purchased my lab puppy from them in .Grover is a wonderful pet. We are very pleased, and would purchase another lab pup from them again. Larry called me to ask for a recommendation, and I said I would gladly give him one. Zeva my yellow female lab is 12 years old now, and she is getting up there in age. If the time came, and I wanted another dog, I would call Larry for certain. We have been very pleased with Zeva through the years. She is a wonderful companion!! Laura Bein Larry, and Tracey are my next door neighbors. We purchased Lacy combo of Larry, and Tracey in .We know what kind of dogs they had, and how they cared for their dogs. It was an easy decision to purchase Lacy from them. She passed away this year, and we dearly miss her. My sister is getting a black female from Larry when the puppies are available. I will also purchase my next lab from Peoples Choice Labs when I am ready for another lab. I am just not quite ready to pull the trigger yet. Contact info. The Labrador Retriever is also the most popular purebred dog in America for the 21st straight year. More than twice as many Labs were registered than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come. In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Lab can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Here is an excerpt from her article: The ten reasons that I am giving for children to have a dog are not listed in order of importance. All of us have different characteristics which we find more important than others. Every reason I list, however, is important to the childhood of your son or daughter. Dogs help children to be more cooperative and sharing. For children, a close relationship with a dog is a proven benefit in study after study. For instance, in research with preschool children, psychologists at Oregon State University found that teaching children to care for a puppy enhanced their social skills. Sue Doescher, a psychologist involved in the study. And that transfers to how other kids feel. Be sure to read the rest of her seven part article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for more than thirty-five years. Our Labs can be found across the states from the great state of Texas to Maine, from Alaska to Florida. Our second-to-none Puppy Guarantee makes buying a pure-bred Labrador retriever one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Lab owners from around the country. And visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-date puppy information at .The earliest known inhabitants of the area lived during the late Pleistocene Ice Age and are linked to the Clovis culture around BC 11, years ago , based on evidence found throughout the area and documented at the much-studied Gault Site, midway between Georgetown and Fort Hood. In —, Texans fought and won independence from Mexico. Texas thus became its own independent country with its own president, congress, and monetary system. The name Austin is considered to be derived from Augustine, a variant of Augustus. The location was seen as a convenient crossroads for trade routes between Santa Fe and Galveston Bay, as well as routes between northern Mexico and the Red River. Source: Wikipedia Are you interested in learning more about labrador retriever puppies for sale in Austin, TX? Call us for more information at to purchase a world class Labrador Retriever from Woody Thurman today! Twin Lakes Kennel is the number 1 resource for Labrador Retriever puppies. We select from the most dominant American field bloodlines and breed for natural hunting instinct and tractability. Our Labs, both puppies and adults, are out of the top working Labrador Retriever bloodlines in the country. The end results are the most talented, well rounded Labrador Retrievers possible, making them a most desirable family pet. More than eight thousand 8, Labrador Retrievers have been bred and trained during those thirty-five years. He has won the Ducks Unlimited Open Championships twice. Our Labrador Retriever puppies are the culmination of a 30 year search for the most talented, well rounded Labrador Retriever possible. Our puppies begin a structured socialization program in the litter box and are introduced to birds at six weeks. All our Labrador Retriever Puppies carry a guarantee against hereditary defects and to have basic retrieving instincts. Parents of all our Labrador Retriever puppies are physically sound with certified hips and eyes. They are out of the top working Labrador Retriever bloodlines in the country. We guarantee all our Labrador Retriever puppies to be free from hereditary defects. Call Woody and Judi at for more information. Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! We have answers. While prices vary, part of our MatchMaker process involves connecting you with breeders and companies who fit your budget, too. What if your network has no available Labrador Retriever puppies in Austin Texas? Luckily, businesses and breeders in the Uptown network can easily make travel arrangements for your puppy to fly to your closest major airport excluding Alaska and Hawaii , meaning your dream dog is always within reach. Take a look at our Breeder Pledge here for more information on how we select and vet our top partners and businesses. We created a network that brings together awesome families, breeders and puppies, bringing an end to unethical breeding and helping you meet the companion of your dreams. What is a puppy mill? A puppy mill is a dog factory where Labrador Retrievers and other breeds are treated like machines and products rather than living animals. Are there any purebred Labrador Retriever puppies for sale near me? What is the MatchMaker process? MatchMaker helps us connect the right families with the right breeders and businesses to find the right dogs. How do I know I can trust you? We know just how common online puppy scams are, and we want to make it easy and fun for families to find happy puppies from ethical breeders.
Tiny bernedoodles range in size from pounds. F1B Mini Bernedoodles will have a higher success rate for non-shedding and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies. The F1B Mini Bernedoodles have beautiful loose wavy to curly plush coats Utahbernedoodles welcomes you to a world of Bernedoodles. We raise the best Bernedoodles in America. Bernedoodles are a hybrid cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle. To my knowledge I was one of the first breeders in America to purposely cross the Bernese with the poodle. I have worked hard to develop a program that focuses on health, calm temperament, and consistent beautiful colors. We focus on Tricolor, Sable tricolor, Merle tricolor, and Phantom. Be sure to also check out our Available Puppies page and information on our Upcoming Litters. A mini bernedoodle is a cross between a mini poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog. Mini Bernedoodles can range in size from pounds with the average pounds. While the Mini Bernedoodle is typically a low-shedding dog, it does shed some. The Mini Bernedoodle works well for many allergy sufferers. F1B Bernedoodles will have a higher success rate for non-shedding and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies. The F1B Bernedoodles have beautiful loose wavy to curly plush coats. If a reservation fee is placed, the balance is due when you choose your puppy. This only applies to families that are going onto the waitlist not to puppies that are openly available. We do not accept payment at pick up. We do not accept PayPal or Venmo. We send out an email letting you know that choosing will begin, including details of the litter. You need to respond as needed and do so promptly. Check the pictures and videos of the litter you might choose from and have your top three picked out. When we contact you directly via text or call, offering you a choice, you have 2 hours to make your decision. We understand a family's excitement for their potential new family member, so as soon as there are updates to be had, we will send our announcements as posts on our Instagram and Facebook pages. The LK team will go through our waitlist when puppies are available of a certain size and generation to the families on that same size and generation waitlist. You may not be on multiple lists. If you want to know more about the Waitlist Process, watch this video. We will post birth announcements to our Instagram page. Skin allergies Most breeders offer new Bernedoodle owners one to two-year health guarantees for life-threatening health issues. Limited Litter Production Consider reaching out to a breeder who produces limited litters per year, typically one or two litters per mother. This practice lets the breeders focus on each litter at a time without overwhelming themselves and gives the mothers plenty of months of rest before producing their next litter. Puppy mills usually advertise that they always have puppies available, so you should avoid them and look elsewhere for your ideal Bernedoodle. Where They Raise Their Puppies Another factor to consider when choosing a Bernedoodle breeder is the setting where they raise their puppies. They usually keep them and their mothers in their homes to protect them from outdoor elements and diseases. Home-raised puppies get accustomed to everyday household noises to prepare them for life with their new owners. Transparent Communication Trustworthy Bernedoodle breeders always keep in touch with their customers whenever they have questions about raising their new puppy, even after they take the pup home. They usually reach out to eligible applicants within a few days and email updates about their puppies through email or social media. Many of these contracts require owners to get their puppy spayed or neutered by a specific time and show the breeder proof of the operation. This clause also informs the buyer not to surrender the puppy to a dog shelter or rescue. Several factors can impact the cost of a Bernedoodle puppy, including coat color, health coverage, generation, size, and breed popularity. Breeders also charge extra if they offer shipping services. Choosing the right breeder can feel overwhelming, so you should consider reaching out to your top options and ask them any questions about their breeding programs. You will also like:. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. What IS a Bernedoodle? These are NOT mutts which implies a breeding between unknown breeds or not carefully planned. These are designer breeds that are bred for a specific purpose. We produce an incredible bernedoodle that displays the qualities of both our champion line Standard Poodles and the Bernese Mountain Dog pedigrees. The advantage of a carefully planned mixed breed is that you get the added advantage of a phenomenon called "hybrid vigor". This process shuffles new combinations of genes that helps to increase longevity and decrease the usual ailments that impact many purebred dogs such as various forms of inherited types of cancer not all cancers have a genetic basis such as small and large cell lymphoma which is usually a result from environmental exposure. The bernedoodles are super healthy and are not as prone to the same issues that Bernese mountain dogs and standard poodles are. As a result, you have a family member for a lot longer and that will live a vibrant and healthy life if properly cared for diet, exercise, and family integration are all important components toward helping the dog to live a long happy life with you.You can see the links above about the qualities of Standard Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs as both are extraordinary breeds in their own right and for many, purebreds of these may be a great option as well. We prefer the Bernedoodle as they get the best of both breeds, incredibly loyal, goofy, smart, playful, intelligent, and has one of the best dog personalities we have seen in a family dog. The Premier F1 Standard Bernedoodle is a low- to mostly nonshedding we use standard poodles that do not carry the improper coat alleles and Bernese mountain dogs that have thick wavy curly coats.If you want a guarantee on non shedding, then you should try to select an F1b or F1bb bernedoodle. Both look amazingly similar to the F1 standard bernedoodles but maybe a little smaller. We will produce about 2 F1b and F1bb standard bernedoodle litters per year for those wanting a more curly coat in their bernedoodles. Premier Bernedoodles love to be with the family and do not do well in enviroments of isolation. Wherever the family is, that's right where they want to be. They are stunning dogs, and you'll likely get alot of attention and people asking you what kind of dog you have. They are beautiful and along with their incredibly gentle personalities, you will have an absolutely stunning dog. They are a perfect companion dog that love to go on walks through the city or hikes in the woods or mountains or a swim at the beach. They love it all and will be at your side the entire time. They don't tend to wander away as they prefer to be with you.They equally love just hanging out with you on the couch watching your favorite movie or watching you reading a book. They really love it all as long as you're a part of it. They are so loyal to the family. Bernedoodle puppies do have energy like most puppies, and this will continue thru about years of age at which time they really mellow out. They are not nervous nor hyper but will need some off leash time where they can really stretch their legs and run. The old motto "a tired puppy is a good puppy" always prevails! Just make sure they have a lot of fresh water and a cool spot to cool off afterward. Due to the the recombination and shuffling of new genetic variations, they do show some variation in their coloration however they also all have a common morphology that tells you it's a bernedoodle. Although we do take deposits on a first come, first pick basis, we will know the puppies well, their personalities, and can help select a puppy that best fits your lifestyle and what you are looking for. We only use Standard Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs to produce our Premier Bernedoodles so that any dog we accept into our Premier Bernedoodle program have passed stringent health tests, display family oriented personalities, and exhibit the best of conformation so that our bernedoodles are absolutely beautiful. Be very cautious when purchasing a purebred or bernedoodle without doing your due diligence as the puppies will always be cute, but will exhibit the personalities of the bloodline used later in life.Therefore, use a reptutable breeder that has invested in the dogs they use for their breeding programs and that raise them as their own family members. They should be able to produce their pedigrees as well, and should have both parents on site so you can see how they react to you. We are very Type A when it comes to the quality of dogs which makes it more difficult to give referrals. We are always going to be biased and believe that the wait for a Premier Bernedoodle is worth it and you'll be very happy you did! Also you can visit your local humane society and help rescue a dog at the shelter.If you have young kids be sure to get a younger dog from the shelter that can adapt to your family. But if you're looking for a unique new family member, a Premier Bernedoodle will be a true delight. Colors and Fur Our Premier Bernedoodles will be traditional tri-color much like a Bernese Mountain Dog , abstract tricolor similar to a traditional tricolor with less white in the face , sable similar to a traditional tri-color but has more reddish-browns due to the poodle genetics we use , phantom, merle, merle tricolor, or bi-colored brown and white, black and white, or shades thereof. Our F1b's will consist of black and whites, traditional tricolors, abstract tricolors, and lots of variable brown and reddish brown and whites. Color never reflects temperament and personality so usually most people don't really care too much what color they are. They are all really beautiful. Although there's variation due to the hybrid vigor present as a result of the recombination of genes in many arrays, there is definitely a bernedoodle appearance that is fairly consistent. If you let the hair grow, they will look like big shaggy dogs that you can't help but to give a big hug to. And they enjoy every minute of it! Our Premier Bernedoodles will tend to have wavy curly coats due to the coat types we require in our bernese mountain dogs which helps to minimize or eliminate shedding.We do make sure that our standard poodles do not carry the genetic marker known as the "Improper Coat" allele or IC for short. Wavy curly coats do require a little more grooming as compared to straight, but many, straight coats shed more.Although they are considered to be large, they don't act like a large dog in the house. They are generally very careful and calm natured as adults however they do have some puppy-fun energy thru the puppyhood stages and thru 3 years of age. They love people and other pets! We do thorough genetic testing of our adults that we use in our breeding program to assure that you are purchasing the healthiest of bernedoodle puppies. Our Bernese mountain dogs come from very long-lived blood lines in Western Europe and these longer lifespans is one of the many reasons we obtain our Berners from several specific populations known for their longevity. Obviously we can't guarantee lifespan as there are many variables outside of our control not to mention, environment, stress, climate, food, etc. But track record seems to show a longer lifespan. What's the Difference? An F1b is an F1 standard Bernedoodle backcrossed to a standard poodle or could be a backcross to a Bernese mountain dog but we generally use the poodle as the backcross. An F1bb is an F1b standard Bernedoodle backcrossed to a standard poodle. Behaviorally they are all very similar with the F1b and F1bb's being slightly smaller than our F1 standards and tend to have slightly curlier coats to a tight wave. If you're looking for a smaller standard Bernedoodle these would be a great option. Pictures are posted below with the other pictures. We continue to get lots of praise from those that have purchased our F1b and F1bb standard bernedoodles. Is the Bernedoodle for Everybody? I would like to think so, but if you do not plan on being with your bernedoodle and keeping it with you, in your home, as part of your home, this is definitely not the dog for you. They thrive on being with the family and not isolated we believe this is the case for all dogs, and especially bernedoodles. Any of our puppies kept in a permanent kennel situation, on a tether, or the like, will violate the terms and conditions of our puppy contract and will have to render the puppy or dog back to Premier Doodles see puppy contract in link above. We definitely support crate training, but these dogs are not meant to live their life in a crate nor kennel! If you want a pet that prefers to be in isolation, you may want to consider a nonsocial pet perhaps a Betta fish! Yes we have done a lot of the hard work the first 8 weeks as we do extensive early neurological stimulation bio-sensor and Puppy Culture program, along with starting crate training and housebreaking, BUT, they are puppies and will need your undivided attention for the next weeks as they work towards being completely housebroken and earning more privileges. They have been communicating with their siblings for the past 8 weeks using their mouth. During their normal daily interactions, you will occasionally hear a loud "yelp" in response to one biting another too hard. This yelp usually ends the mouthing behavior. Now puppies have fur and people generally do not. When you bring your bernedoodle home, they will likely display some degree of mouthing behavior toward their human family. This will usually stop this behavior. We then redirect their desire to mouth to something more appropriate like a chew toy and after a few seconds of cooperating we praise them. The good news.We have a Puppy Guide under our tab "Puppy Central" on how to unpack this process so that you can have success. If you put them time in early, they will have this knocked out in a few days. The rule of thumb is to get them outside ALOT.Be sure to purchase two Midwest XL crates can get from our Puppy Store , one for the back door and one next to your bed. The power of meiosis specialized cell division event that occurs in the reproductive organs, ovaries for females and testes for males and crossing over assures that each offspring will be diverse and different and this difference will be noticeable in color and a little bit in behavior. All will be superior, but some will be more playful and others less so, some will mouth more than others, etc. Available Puppies.Check out our "Available Puppies" tab at the top to find out how to get onto our Master List for a future puppy! Life Span Did You Know? These large, fluffy dogs are known for their non-shedding coats and lovable personalities. Bernedoodles tend to be a great addition to any family! Although the Bernedoodle is not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by other dog registries. As long as they are properly socialized, they tend to be open and friendly dogs that get along well with just about anyone. These dogs tend to do well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Although they can be initially wary and watchful at first, they even tend to warm up quickly to strangers once introduced. Bernedoodles are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. Despite their size and energy, they can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise and attention. These dogs tend to handle the cold better than the heat; you may even have some trouble getting them to come back inside after some playtime in the snow. Because Bernedoodles bond so closely with their families and enjoy nothing more than being around them, they do not like to spend long periods of time alone. They can also be prone to skin issues like sensitive skin, allergies, and hot spots. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a large dog breed, the Standard Bernedoodle is also at risk for bloat like both parent breeds. The Bernedoodle is a highly intelligent and easily trained dog breed. Some facts about Bernedoodles are that they are a good fit for owners of any experience level and tend to pick up commands easily. Although they tend to grow out of this initial stubbornness with age, puppy training classes will certainly help with training and socialization early on. Bernedoodles tend to have a longer coat that ranges from curly to wavy. Although they tend to be non-shedding, they still need a lot of maintenance to keep their coat looking great. Daily brushing to remove tangles and prevent mats along with grooming every weeks are recommended. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. Brushing daily along and cleanings at the vet as needed are an ideal start to a good dental care routine for your Bernedoodle. Standard Bernedoodles can range from moderate to high energy. They tend to sit in a more moderate activity range and have bursts of higher energy when they play. These dogs are known to play hard and energetically until they are tired, but are not usually considered high-energy dogs. Daily walks plus playtime and some time to run should be enough for a Bernedoodle. But, these dogs will likely be up for more activity if you are. They will love the opportunity to spend more time being active with you. A fully-grown Standard Bernedoodle usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. Standard Bernedoodles generally live for years on average. A Bernedoodle is also sometimes called a Bernese Mountain Poo. Featured Bernedoodle Article. I am so happy that I spent so much time and effort to find the right breeder and the right puppy. Thank you for bringing her into our lives. I personally did months of research, and was very particular on the type of breeder and dog we wanted. First and foremost, I needed our puppy to come from a loving and family oriented home. I wanted to feel a "connection", I wanted to be treated as a family member, rather than just a credit card number. I was turned off from the amount of "money hungry" breeders that I was in contact with, and those that just bred dogs for their final payment.A weight was taken off my shoulders, and speaking to Tyler was like a breath of fresh air. He is everything I wanted in a breeder and more. His answers were honest and to the point. The love he has for her family and dogs was gleaming.I knew deep inside that I finally found the breeder "of our dreams! Our Kash is everything we dreamt for. He has the biggest heart, and gentlest personality. We prayed for a large boy, and he is lbs of pure joy. We can't imagine our lives without him. With our upmost respect we give all the credit to Tyler. He maintains the highest of standards, and we think we got the best dog because of that. People to this day stop us on the street and compliment his coloring, size, and temperament. Bernedoodle's are a stunning breed, and our lives have forever changed by meeting Tyler, and having Kash in our family. Kami Dunn Albuquerque, NM Read More Great experience brought our puppy home she has slept through the night the very first night , I have never had a puppy do that. She hasn't had any accidents in the house she even went to the patio door the second day as if she was saying ok It's time to go out. Smart, mellow, and the sweetest thing ever. His best friends is our orange tabby. He loves snuggles and if he's not sleeping on someone's lap, he's as close to them as he can get. Oso is 38 lbs now and has had two haircuts. He is so chill that he fell asleep during his first blowdry. He is smart and has learned sit, down, off, stay, jump, and up. The kids love laying on him, running in the backyard with him, and fight over who gets to give him treats. He is a fantastic sleeper but has to be where we are to sleep well; in the bathroom during bath time, in the kitchen while I cook, under my desk when I'm on the computer, on the couch while the kids watch movies. He's gotten along well with every dog and cat he's met: french bulldogs, pit mixes, mini daschunds, everyone is his friend! You did an amazing job raising him, we can not thank you enough. He is the light of my life. I take him everywhere. He is a recent puppy school graduate and an all the time good boy. Such a great personality! He loves running on the beach, playing fetch, and cuddling. Thanks for helping me find the sweetest pup! Helen Cuevas Rock, MI Read More My husband said to start looking for a new puppy to become part of our family, I knew I wanted to look for a breeder that was family-owned with a great reputation. We wanted a smaller dog that could travel with us and enjoy the company of our current dog. Tyler is a wonderful communicator - he always answered texts, emails or phone calls quickly and kept us up to date on Paris weekly until she came home. When my daughter and her boyfriend decided they wanted to get a puppy, there was no question they would also get it from Home Trained Bernedoodles, i picked up the puppy at the Chicago airport, and I was all the goodies they added to the puppy package after the necessary documentation. She and multiple others asked where we got him and I gave her the name of Home Trained Bernedoodles. She said she will refer you to some clients who are looking for a doodle as their second dog! He is just beautiful and we already adore him. She has been a total pleasure since she joined us less than 2 weeks ago. She is a wonderful, healthy and playful puppy. She has had minimal accidents and continues to sleep through the night with not one accident in her crate. Today she walked over to the door and sat down to let us know that she needed to go out and then did both businesses in a very timely manner. Our daughter, Millie, is loving on Charlie and has really stepped up with many of the daily care items. Finally, she does enjoy her naps as she goes full throttle and then crashes. You've brought joy to our home and hearts, may God bless you.
Coming in at number three this year is our fluffy friend, the Golden Retriever! Golden Retriever Breed Basics Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle and friendly dispositions. They were originally developed to retrieve waterfowl for hours on end, but they also make amazing companions. The Golden Retriever is eager to please and fun to train, which helps them excel at almost anything. They enjoy people of all ages and generally get along well with other dogs. Colors range from almost white to red-gold, and anything in between. They have long, feathery tails and floppy ears. Golden Retrievers stand anywhere from .Goldens have a soft, fluffy coat that needs daily care in order to minimize shedding and keep them looking their best. Pay special attention to any feathering around the hindquarters, tail, and ears because mats can easily develop in those areas. If dog hair is a problem for your household, this breed may not be a good fit. Golden Retrievers are beautiful dogs with many fine qualities, but the breed is prone to a number of health problems. At the top of the list is cancer. Goldens are susceptible to a number of different kinds, all of which can be difficult to treat and emotionally challenging to owners. No one really understands the reason for high cancer rates in the breed, but inheritance is suspected to play a role. As with almost all popular purebred dogs, Goldens can also be prone to hip or elbow dysplasia, so be sure your breeder screens their dogs for these disorders. This breed can gain weight easily, so be sure to monitor calory intake and keep table scraps to a minimum. Keeping your Golden at his ideal body weight can help keep him healthy and happy throughout his life. They get along with kids and do well with other dogs. These are happy, active dogs who are willing to try almost anything, which is part of their charm! These dogs do best in active households where someone is available to exercise them regularly. They bond strongly with their families, which makes them prone to separation anxiety if left alone too often. Crate-training your Golden will help prevent this from becoming a problem. Goldens are energetic, active dogs who love doing stuff and need daily exercise. Long walks are great, but Goldens really love games of fetch, and will often carry around toys for their humans to throw. They generally adore anything involving water, hiking, or jogging. Goldens are fun dogs that want to make their people happy. They love training and excel at almost every canine activity. They are often top competitors in obedience competitions, agility, and field trials. Also, their excellent temperament has made them very popular as service dogs for people with disabilities. The breed was developed by Scottish noblemen who wanted to create a versatile hunting dog for their upland estates. The AKC recognized the Golden in , and today, they are the 3rd most popular breed in the country! Today, Goldens are still used for hunting, but they have been trained for a number of other jobs as well. They serve as service and therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, and even drug detection dogs! The Golden has also been popular for starring roles in a number of movies and TV shows, most notably the Homeward Bound films. British Christmas Traditions British people have a lot of the same Christmas traditions that we do here in the U. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, and bacon-wrapped sausages are typical side dishes. Picture a flakey biscuit-type pastry. Then, picture filling it with gravy. Sound delicious? Trifle is another popular, and delicious, dessert. Be sure to try one if you ever get the chance! Christmas trees are popular in England too, as are stockings, with a twist. Instead of hanging them over the fireplace, most British children hang their stockings at the foot of their beds. That would be boring. Instead, British children burn them in the fireplace, in hopes that the ashes will float up the chimney and reach Santa as quickly as possible! Please check back soon to learn about our runner-up, the German Shepherd! This entry was posted in TevraPet. Bookmark the permalink. Cody Tromler. Christmas Eve morning and my four-year-old daughter, Hailey, was in the hospital again, this time in a brand-new wing of Swedish Issaquah Medical Center. She was the only pediatric patient. The doctor was with Hailey, waiting to talk to my husband, Gary, and me, but I paused for a moment in the hallway, bracing myself. An artificial tree, festooned with lights and ornaments, stood in the corner. Carols played over the PA. The staff had tried to give the place a festive air, but it felt grim and sterile to me. Hailey had battled chronic lung disease and epilepsy since birth. Even when she was home, she was mostly bedridden. A surgically inserted feeding tube kept her alive. Her big brother, Logan, and sister, Harmony, were wonderful to her, but when they went off to school or to play with friends, Hailey was left on her own. What kind of lonely life is this for a child? I just wanted my little girl to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. Gary and I had scrimped for months and managed to save enough for our family to celebrate. Then Hailey caught some kind of respiratory virus. In the middle of the night on December 23, she had such trouble breathing that her lips turned blue. I called .The diagnosis was acute pneumonia. If she comes home, I thought. Hailey lay in bed, her face as pale as the sheets, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed. The doctor spoke in a low voice to Gary and me, telling us Hailey needed immediate surgery to move the feeding tube from her stomach to her small intestine because she was aspirating fluid into her lungs. Hailey had been incredibly brave through all of her treatments over the years. How could I encourage her to keep fighting? Suddenly it hit me. The perfect solution, the thing she wanted most. I brought it up with Gary that evening when we went to the cafeteria to grab a bite. When I throw the ball, he brings it back. Simply having him lie next to her comforted her. And it was just goldens she responded to. A golden retriever. Way beyond our budget. We were living paycheck to paycheck. And we lived in an apartment with no yard—not the kind of place for a big, active dog. Besides the initial cost, there would be food and vet bills. He wanted Hailey to be healthy and happy as much as I did. But he was practical. I already worked full-time taking care of a child with disabilities, an ideal job because I could watch Hailey at the same time. Hailey kept talking the whole time about her dog: what she would name it, how much she would love it. At one point, the anesthesiologist had to tell her to slow down and take a breath. The surgery went smoothly, and three days later Hailey came home. But the journey to get her dog was only just beginning. I picked up odd jobs. I walked dogs, cleaned houses, worked for an on-call nanny agency at night while Gary watched the kids. Every Sunday night, we would empty the jar and count the money so we could see our progress. It took eight months, but by the following August we finally had enough money saved. We found a golden retriever breeder and made plans to pick a puppy from his next litter. New worries sprang up in my mind: What if the dog was too rough for Hailey? We met the breeder in the parking lot of a grocery store on a Saturday morning. It was a chaotic scene, with other families clamoring to play with the 15 adorable puppies waiting for homes. But soon she was taking him on walks. The first time was just to our mailbox. Gary went with her, and they would add a block or so with every walk until Hailey could walk for 20 minutes without losing her breath. She took over the responsibility of feeding Hunter. By December, she was eating small portions. Most important, Hunter was her best friend, her constant companion. Hailey still spent much of the day resting in bed. Hunter lay right next to her. One day, Hailey overheard me sharing my biggest worry with Gary, that she would never be able to lead a normal life. If God can get Hunter for me, surely God can take care of me! We had Hunter trained to alert to her seizures, and her health and confidence grew. At age 9, she was eating so well, the doctors removed her feeding tube. Our lives have grown as well. Hailey now has three younger siblings. Our next dream is launching a center to train service dogs for other families. Like Hailey, I have faith that God will help us get there. For more inspiring stories, subscribe to Guideposts magazine. Share this story.
This breed comes in a variety of colors, and while these dogs always look like a mixture of a Greyhound and a German Shepherd, you never know which look will be dominant. As is the case with their parents, this is a medium to large-sized dog , with a greater chance of being large. While Greyhounds normally have a shorter coat of hair, you will notice that the coat on this breed will more resemble the medium-length coarseness of the Shepherd. Because of this, your Greyhound German requires more hygienic maintenance than a Greyhound. Regular brushing and bathing is recommended with this breed. Like both parent breeds, this is an active dog that is athletically built. When you decide to take this pet into your life, you are also deciding to play that much more! When playing, this breed loves to get rowdy! They may seem disinterested in people at first, but once you have their trust, you have a play partner for life. Greyhound parents have a long history. While many people associate greyhounds with the racetrack, those who study history know them from the distant past. The earliest signs of Greyhounds come from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics; the earliest ones are purported to be as old as 8, years. Greyhounds are visible with famous Egyptian figures such as Cleopatra and King Tutankhamen. In fact, the Greyhound was so highly revered they were seen as gods that the only death more important in a family was that of a son, and to kill a Greyhound meant being sentenced to death. Esteemed Grecians who visited Egypt were able to bring a few dogs back to Greece. The Greyhound became a worldly dog during the Roman Empire, when the Romans, who brought their Greyhounds everywhere, took them to Britain and Ireland. Eventually, from Europe, they made their way to America. No one is sure about the origin of the name. German Shepherd genetics make them super versatile. After 7, years of the Greyhound, the German Shepherd was born. One look at the name, and you can take a pretty good guess at where most people think it originated. They first appeared in after decades of Europeans attempting to standardize breeds. Their name is quite literal: Bred by shepherds in Germany, these dogs were meant to make life easier for the German farmer. These dogs were bred to be all the things that we think of German Shepherds now: smart, strong, and loyal, with a great sense of smell. While early breeders had success, results still varied from one location to the next, most notably in appearance. In , the Phylax Society was formed to help the standardization process, but in-fighting over whether the dog should be cute or hard working led to the demise of this group after only three years of operation. Fortunately, this inspired many to attempt to breed their own version of the Shepherd. This leads us to , when an ex-member of the Phylax Society, Max Von Stephanitz, attended a dog show and had a similar reaction that we all do when we see a dog, which was the need to go give it a hug. In his case, it ended up being a historic moment, as the dog he laid his eyes on was a Shepherd named Hektor, whom he immediately purchased. The rest, as they bark, is history. Well, not quite — there was a bump in the road for the name of the dog in the s and 40s. They changed the name of the breed to the Alsatian Wolf Dog, which was then adopted by other Kennel Clubs around the world. In the 70s, the breed was once again officially recognized as the German Shepherd While the German Shepherd is a wonderful family dog, it is still primarily used as a working dog by police forces, military, and other groups. Mixing the purebred parents has its benefits. This lovely hybrid has the perfect combination of ideal dog traits. They are built to be loyal, caring, affectionate, and cuddly. When you want to spend the day in bed, they will be the first to snuggle in next to you. The Shepherd Hound loves to cuddle and can be every bit as lazy as the laziest fluff balls on the planet. Are These Dogs Good for Families? However, each breed wil offer a friendly and sweet companion to any other fur babies you have in your home. They also get along well with cats and other pets, especially if they have been socialized well from a young age. Owners of Shephounds know that they are not aggressive or hyper pooches. Instead, they are always easygoing and friendly. And they always enjoy making friends with new people. The dogs are also friendly to strangers. When they meet unfamiliar people, their first reaction is one of curiosity rather than protection. They are the kind that would meet your guests and find a safe place to stay while you chat with your guests. It is one of the best designer dogs since he is not an unruly or an off-character dog. Although Shephounds may seem a bit reserved at first, they normally get along with other dogs within a short period of time. As such, the German Greyhound is a friendly dog that makes a great family pet. When it comes to barking, both Greyhounds and German Shepherds tend to be very vocal and can howl or bark frequently. Want to train your dog without spending hundreds of dollars? Click Here to check out the brain training for Dogs course now! Training A German Shepherd Greyhound Mix The Greyhound Shepherd is trainable if you are ready to dedicate at least 30 minutes each day in training your puppy. They are not particularly easy to train, but they are also not so challenging. They are generally somewhere in between. GSDs are intelligent and easy to train. Greyhounds, on the other hand, tend to be stubborn and can be difficult to train. Therefore, you should start housetraining your Shephound as soon as you bring them home. You should actually dedicate some time to housetrain them each day. Training your German Greyhound early will help prevent behavioral issues from developing in your pup. With patience and consistency, you can successfully train your Greyhound Mixed with German Shepherd. But if you are not confident enough, you can always seek professional advice and training. A good dog trainer can successfully train your dog so you end up with a well-behaved family pet. Exercise Needs It is difficult to know how much each German Greyhound will require. Generally, the German Shepherd requires more exercise than the Greyhound. A German Shepherd needs one to two hours of daily exercise while a Greyhound will do fine with a minute walk each day. Your German Greyhound will most likely be somewhere in the middle. However, both parent breeds require more exercise than smaller dogs. Be sure to provide your Greyhound Shepherd with enough room to play and run around. Also, take your pooch on a walk once or twice each day for at least 30 minutes. Since the German Shepherd parent is intelligent, you also want to provide your Greyhound Shepherd with interactive dog toys to help keep him occupied and mentally stimulated. In order to know the grooming needs of German Shepherd Greyhound mixes, we need to study the grooming requirements of each parent breed. A German Shepherd should be brushed after every one or two days. Since their coat has a soft undercoat and a coarse outer coat, they shed all-year-round and they also blow their coat twice per year. A simple rundown with a piece of cloth at least once a week should be enough for these pups. Both Greyhounds and German Shepherds need a bath at least once a month. Apart from brushing and bathing, you should trim their nails from time to time to prevent them from splitting. Also, check and clean their ears regularly for dirt or wax buildup to prevent infections. Regular tooth brushing is also essential for your Greyhound German Shepherd Mix. Here are nine health problems common to a German Shepherd Mix Greyhound: 1. Cherry eye Unlike us humans, our dogs have 3 instead of 2 eyelids and under that third eyelid is the nictitans gland. Though this condition does not require an emergency trip to the vet, if not addressed, a prolapsed nictitans gland reduces tear production and dry eyes. Severe cases can cause blindness. Epilepsy This is a neurological problem wherein the exact cause is hard to identify. There is no cure, instead, medications and a change to a vet-prescribed diet can help reduce the frequency and severity of the seizures. Skin infections Skin problems arising from ticks , fleas, food, or a sudden change in temperature may cause some dogs to suffer from skin allergies. The symptoms are itching, reddening of the skin, or hair loss. Hip dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition that results from a hip deformity. Blame it on genetics, big dogs such as a German Shepherd is susceptible to this condition. One of the causes is playing around after eating a large amount of food. This requires an emergency trip to the vet. If not, a dog can die from a bloated stomach. Canine degenerative myelopathy Canine degenerative myelopathy is a disease that is caused by the breaking down of white matter in the spinal cord. This results in weakness and eventually paralysis. It commonly affects older dogs. The first few symptoms are wobbling and pain while getting up. Osteosarcoma Osteosarcoma in dogs is a very painful bone tumor in dogs. It is more commonly found among larger dog breeds rather than small dog breeds. Elbow dysplasia This disease is also a developmental abnormality where the three bones in the elbow joint fail to fit together. This is more common among larger dog breeds. Cataract Aside from age, canine cataracts can also be caused by an eye lens disease, diabetes, or nutritional deficiency. German Shepherd Greyhound Mix lifespan If you provide your German Shepherd Greyhound Mix with proper nutrition, exercise, and regular trips to the vet for wellness exams, you can enjoy their company and companionship for an average of 9 to 14 years. You may also want to attend dog shows because in almost all cases, dog handlers can introduce you to other German Shepherd Mix breeders. Keep in mind that when you are dealing with German Shepherd Greyhound Mix breeders, always expect the breeder to show you the mother with her puppies. You should also expect the breeders to give you an insurance document. This way, in case the puppy gets sick within a certain timeframe, you will get a puppy replacement or the breeder will be the one to shoulder the treatment expenses. Generally speaking, male puppies are more active, playful, and territorial. Plus, male dogs tend to urine mark more often than female dogs. On the one hand, a female Greyhound German Shepherd Mix puppy will begin to go into heat by around 6 months of age. This equates to more work because of bloodstains around the house. Regardless of your choice, your German Shepherd Greyhound Mix puppy should have received two vaccinations, been dewormed, and microchipped before you bring him or her home. There may be crossbred puppies that are sold at a more affordable price range. German Shepherd Greyhound Mix puppies for sale As mentioned earlier, it is not easy to look for Greyhound Shepherd puppies. Instead, we will provide you with a list of trusted breeders of German Shepherds and Greyhounds. These breeders may offer you referrals to those who crossbreed these two purebred dogs. Greyhound Friends for Life greyhoundfriendsforlife. They were able to find a loving home for a 5-month-old Greyhound Shepherd puppy. You can get in touch with them and find out if they still have Greyhound mixed-dog breeds up for adoption. Lancaster Puppies lancasterpuppies. We do not guarantee you that there is a German Shepherd Greyhound Mix but you can check their website from time to time. KraftwerkK9 kraftwerkk9. Having been in the business for a long period, they might give you referrals to where you can find rare Greyhound Shepherd puppies for sale. They have a list of available mixed dogs for adoption. To adopt, fill out the adoption form and in three days, an adoption counselor will get in touch with you. You can also visit the Petfinder petfinder. Greyhound Pets, Inc greyhoundpetsinc. If your application is approved, a staff member will schedule a home visit to check if you are qualified to adopt a dog. Contact them and see if they have available German Shepherd Greyhound Mix up for adoption. GSD-Greyhound mix puppies can inherit either of the two coat types and so their appearance will greatly depend on which parent they take after. Apart from length and texture, the coat color could also be one of a great number of possibilities. Given all these possibilities, German Shepherd-Greyhound crosses tend to look vastly different from one another. Typically, all they need is a weekly rubdown using a hound glove or a damp cloth. In contrast, those that take their coats after their German Shepherd side have double coats that shed steadily throughout the year and then more heavily twice a year. GSDs need to be brushed at least once a week, but more frequently during the shedding season. As for the rest of their grooming requirements, a Greyhound-German Shepherd mix will need regular bathing and frequent tooth brushing. Strength Even though Greyhounds are not particularly known for its strength, its offspring with a GSD will undoubtedly be a strong dog. This is not just because of its size but also because it can take its strength after its German Shepherd parent. Additionally, its size alone can make it capable of developing great strength. GSD-Greyhound crosses are expected to run somewhere between those speeds. Exercise Requirement Because German Shepherds are incredibly energetic and Greyhounds even more so, you should be ready to give the Greyhound GSD mix plenty of opportunities to exercise. Ideally, they would get at least an hour of physical exercise per day apart from having access to ample space where they can run and play independently. Apart from physical exercise, the GSD-Greyhound cross needs opportunities to use their mental faculties so that they stay on their best behavior. They need toys and activities that stimulate their brains. Generally, this need can be met through regular training exercises. Nevertheless, what they lack in intelligence, they make up for in their eagerness to please their humans. The trainability of a Greyhound German Shepherd mix will depend on which parent they take after. Although the intellect of GSD-Greyhound mixes can vary greatly, you can at least expect them to be easily housetrained and learn basic obedience with ease. Temperament German Shepherd-Greyhound crosses are confident and courageous dogs. With proper training and socialization, they can be excellent family dogs. However, because of the prey drive they might inherit from their Greyhound parent, they might need extra training and supervision if they need to share a home with smaller animals. Additionally, Greyhound-GSDs are generally even-tempered and they are known to be gentle with their family members. Health German Shepherd-Greyhound mixes are generally healthy, although they are susceptible to life-threatening bloat. Owners of this crossbreed should talk to a vet about how to avoid this condition. Additionally, hip and elbow dysplasia are conditions that the German Shepherd-Greyhound cross can inherit from their GSD parent. From the Greyhound side, the most serious health concern is a genetic condition called Greyhound Polyneuropathy. This is a progressive neurological disorder that severely affects their muscles. Lifespan A Greyhound-German Shepherd mix can be expected to live between 10 and 14 years. Like all other dogs, they can live beyond the life expectancy of their parents when they are given a balanced, high-quality diet. Ample exercise, proper hygiene, and regular vet examinations will further enable them to lead long and happy lives. By enrolling in this program, dogs that are not eligible for purebred registration and are disqualified from conformation events can participate in many other AKC events. These include canine sports like Agility , Flyball , and Diving Dogs. The GSD Greyhound mix is not very common. So, professional breeders do not have enough financial incentive to propagate this cross. Final Thoughts A Greyhound German Shepherd mix is undeniably a beautiful dog with a noble quality and a pleasing personality. Nevertheless, it is a large dog with boundless energy. A Greyhound shepherd is a mix between a German Shepherd and a Greyhound. Both German shepherds and Greyhounds are large dogs, and so is the Greyhound Shepherd. Every German Shepherd Greyhound mix will be different. It is impossible to know which traits the mixed pup will inherit from its father and which traits it will get from its mother. However, most German Shepherd Greyhound mixes share some specific characteristics. Both German Shepherds and Greyhounds are large dogs, so you can expect a Greyhound Shepherd to be a medium to a large dog as well. You can also expect this mix to have a coat of hair that is somewhat in between the short hair of a Greyhound and the thicker, coarser hair of a German Shepherd. Both German Shepherds and Greyhounds are athletic dogs. The Greyhound, in particular, is very muscular and can run very fast. As such, you can expect a mixed dog to be athletic as well and probably stronger and more muscular than a regular German shepherd. Like the German Shepherd, the Greyhound is very loving, affectionate, and loyal. And as such, whether a mixed pup takes after its mother or father, you can expect it to be gentle, fun-loving, loyal, and affectionate, both with you and your kids. As for its exact appearance, expect a lot of variety depending on how much it takes after its mother or father. Regardless, this particular mix is always cute and adorable. Before you get any dog, it is important to know what the breed is like. Are they small or large? Gentle or aggressive? Fun-loving or introverted? Athletic or restful? Will it bark, or is it almost always quiet? It is important to know what you are looking for as well and what you can handle. As mentioned, the Greyhound Shepherd is a large dog. You will need enough space to keep it satisfied. If you have very little extra room in your apartment, you might want to consider getting a smaller dog. A male German Shepherd Greyhound mix can be up to 30 inches tall though it is likely to be a couple of inches shorter if it has more German Shepherd traits. Also, remember that both German Shepherds and Greyhounds love to run around. After all, German Shepherds were bred for shepherding purposes and have evolved to live in big, open spaces. Greyhounds love open spaces as well. If you have a fenced in front or back yard where your dog can run around and enjoy itself, as well as enough room in the house, a Greyhound Shepherd is a good choice. Greyhounds are not known to be aggressive, and neither are German Shepherds. In fact, both are generally described as docile and gentle. However, Greyhounds are extremely fast and very strong dogs, and many German Shepherd Greyhound mixes will be as well. As such, it is important to know how to train your dog properly. If you are a first-time dog owner and are looking for a gentle dog, a Greyhound Shepherd should not be removed from the running automatically. However, be aware that it will probably be strong, fast, and powerful, and if you have small kids around, it might be better to get a smaller dog. Important Note If you are planning on adopting an abandoned German Shepherd Greyhound mix, they may be traumatized and living in a state of fear. This is because many Greyhounds are adopted out of a former life of being abused as racing dogs. The trauma that a dog suffers from this unethical practice can cause deeply ingrained and long lasting fear in a Greyhound. Because of this, it is very important that you be prepared to spend adequate time training this mix through positive reinforcement. If you do not have the time or confidence to do this yourself, be sure that you are prepared to reach out to a professional dog trainer, as neglecting this step will lead to a lower quality of life for your dog, and may even bring about some very preventable aggression issues. Although they are not usually acquired to be guard dogs, they are fiercely loyal and will stand up for you until the end. Greyhounds, in particular, are lightning-fast and are sometimes bought for racing purposes. They are one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds and are popular in households worldwide. He went on to found a club for German Shepherds, with his own German Shepherd being an original club member. Eventually, Max von Stephanitz realized that not only were German Shepherds great for herding, but they would also serve as great companions and helpers in the police and military. For that reason, he encouraged their use in police work, which is why so many are used in policing today. German shepherds are kind, loyal, affectionate, wise, and easy to train. They are also athletic and generally very healthy and able dogs. They are great with kids and forever loyal. They are tall dogs, with the average male being between inches centimeters. German Shepherds have thick, coarse hair, so they will shed a lot. As such, they require a lot of maintenance. German Shepherd owners know how much they love to run outside. If you have a large yard, they will really enjoy themselves. On the other hand, if you have a garden or have carefully planted flowers and other plants, your German Shepherd can end up ruining them. Like all dogs, German shepherds must be trained. Here are some things to know before getting a German Shepherd: Greyhound Basic Facts Greyhounds are very large dogs as well, with an average male growing up to 30 inches tall. Unlike German Shepherds, they are very skinny without a lot of hair. In fact, they look very different from German Shepherds, which is why the German shepherd Greyhound mix has a lot of potential for variety. Greyhounds, as mentioned, are very fast dogs. Because they can run up to 45 miles an hour, they have been historically bred to be hunting dogs. They can hunt rabbits, foxes, and even larger animals such as deer. Unfortunately, some people also breed them for racing. However, this does not mean that they can not be aggressive. When not trained properly, or if they adopted and living under a state of constant fear, they can become aggressive. Many times, however, they are just trying to play, and this is mistaken for aggression. Greyhounds are also generally obedient and easy to train. Here are some things to know before getting a Greyhound: What to Expect With the German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Now that you know a little about the German Shepherd and the Greyhound, you can understand what you might be getting with the German shepherd Greyhound mix. Here are some things to expect: Loyalty As mentioned, both the German Shepherd and the Greyhound are extremely loyal. Because of this, you can expect a Greyhound Shepherd to be very loyal as well. If you are looking for a companion to double as a guard dog, a Greyhound Shepherd would be a good choice, not because they are aggressive dogs but because they are fiercely loyal until the end. If your sole purpose of getting a dog is to get a guard dog , a Greyhound Shepherd is probably not the best bet. Gentleness Since both German Shepherds and Greyhounds are gentle, you can expect a Greyhound Shepherd to be gentle as well. This is why it is important to be mindful if you have small children. Yes, your Greyhound Shepherd might be gentle, but it is also quick and strong. While it may just be playing and it probably only means well, it can still end up hurting a small child or baby by mistake. Greyhounds typically are thin and have a thin coat of hair. German Shepherds, on the other hand, have rough, thick, coarse hair. They also shed a lot. Most Greyhound Shepherds will be somewhere in between. They will likely shed a fair amount of hair, but not as much as a German Shepherd, and it will probably require more maintenance and cleaning than a Greyhound, but probably not as much as a German shepherd. Health Concerns Most Greyhound Shepherds are generally healthy. However, like all dogs, they are susceptible to health problems. As a dog owner, it is important to know about these problems so that you can properly care for your dog and take them to the vet in a timely manner if you spot any warning signs or red flags. Cherry Eye Dogs have a third eyelid, which can become swollen. This is known as cherry eye. The exact cause of cherry eye is unknown it may be hereditary , but it can be treated through anti-inflammatory medications or surgery. Bloat What is commonly known as bloat is actually officially called Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus. Sometimes, it is also referred to as GDV. This can happen rather quickly. And if this does happen, their intestines can flip on themselves. GDV or bloat can be life-threatening to your dog. That is why it must be treated right away. Since Greyhound Shepherds are large dogs, they are more susceptible to bloat. Although it is more common in deep-chested dogs, it has been reported in Greyhounds as well. Symptoms can include retching without anything coming out, a swollen abdomen, and breathing difficulty. Again, GDV is life-threatening and must be treated right away. Surgery will be required. Joint Problems Greyhound Shepherds can suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is genetic and refers to an abnormality and deformity of the hip, and elbow dysplasia refers to the deformity of the elbow. Hip and elbow dysplasia can lead to arthritis and problems such as difficulty moving around and a decreased range of motion. It is important to treat dysplasia with surgery before it gets worse and turns into degenerative joint disease. Dysplasia is common in larger dogs, which is why Greyhound Shepherds are at risk. Greyhound shepherds can also suffer from degenerative myelopathy , which is a spinal cord disease. Skin Conditions Like all dogs, Greyhound Shepherds can suffer from various skin conditions. These can include bacterial infections such as strep, fungal infections, and cysts. They can also include warts and irritation. Fortunately, most skin conditions can be treated and alleviated. UTIs can be painful and, if left untreated, can lead to more serious problems. If your dog is having trouble urinating or is bleeding while urinating, get it checked by your vet. Depending on the cause of the infection, it may be simple to treat. Epilepsy Dogs can experience seizures for a number of reasons. It may be due to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar or the result of a stroke or brain tumor, but it can be inherited. Since Greyhounds often experience this type of seizure, you can expect a Greyhound Shepherd to be at risk as well. Trainability In general, it is easy to train a Greyhound Shepherd because of their high level of intelligence. However, remember that they are powerful and strong too. You should have some experience with training dogs. You can also get a professional trainer to help. Be gentle with them, but be firm when needed — always using positive reinforcement. Be consistent and give them rewards to motivate them. Temperament If you train your Greyhound Shepherd properly, you can expect it to be kind and gentle. They may get excited at times and want to run around, and that is okay. Make sure they have a way to release their pent-up energy so that they can continue being kind, gentle, and loving. If they feel trapped and cooped up, they are more likely to be unhappy or even aggressive. Nutritional Requirements Greyhound Shepherds are large dogs, so they will need a lot of food to help them stay strong and healthy. Make sure they get a lot of calories and protein but make sure your dog is getting vitamins and minerals through vegetables as well. Protein can come from sources such as raw beef and lamb. However, make sure not to overfeed your dog, as obesity can lead to many problems , including diabetes and joint issues. If you are unsure, ask your vet for guidance, as each dog is different. Exercise Requirements It is hard to say how much exercise your Shephound will need. German Shepherds generally need more exercise than Greyhounds; a Greyhound might be fine after a daily minute walk, while a German shepherd might need up to two hours of exercise. Your Greyhound Shepherd will probably fall in somewhere in between. Nonetheless, both breeds need more exercise than a smaller breed. Make sure to provide a Shephound room to run around and take it on a walk at least once or twice a day for minutes. If they need more time to run around, give it to them, but if they just want to relax, that is okay as well. Cost Greyhounds are quite expensive, and German shepherds are not cheap either. Greyhound Shepherds are also rare, so you can expect the cost to go up because of that. If you are on a small budget, a Greyhound Shepherd is not for you unless you plan on adopting one that happens to be available. Final Thoughts Greyhound Shepherds are extremely intelligent, loving, and loyal dogs. They are perfect if you want a large but gentle dog that is easy to train and who will be loyal and protect you. However, they are not cheap, but they are most certainly worth the cost! As we have established, this crossbreed is a mix between a German Shepherd and a Greyhound. They are both large breeds of dog, so as you would expect, the result of this cross-breeding is also a big dog. These terms are used interchangeably to describe this crossbreed. As these dogs are a mix, no two puppies will be the same. This is because it is impossible to know what personality traits and characteristics will be taken from each breed, making every dog different. Despite this, there are a few things that you can expect from this crossbreed. The main one being its size. You can generally determine the size that a litter of puppies will grow to by looking at the parents. As both German Shepherds and Greyhounds are large breed dogs, you can rest assured that the puppies will also be large. You can also expect them to be muscular, affectionate, and loyal. Is this the right mixed breed for You? Before you welcome any dog into your home, you need to decide if this is the right breed for you. Here are some of the key things that you need to consider before making that decision: Time One of the most important things that you need to consider before buying a Shephound, or any dog for that matter, is if you have the time to dedicate to this dog. Dogs are hard work, and they require a lot of time and effort if you want them to be well-behaved and loyal. This is especially important with Shephounds as both the Greyhound and German Shepherd breeds can be nervous at times. A lot of this is down to the fact that both breeds have been treated badly historically. A lot of Greyhounds are traumatized from a history of being forced to race against their will, and because of this, it can take a lot of time for these dogs to adjust to being family pets. Likewise, a lot of German Shepherds have lived their lives as working dogs, so it can take a little while for them to adjust to being pets too. You should bear this in mind when buying a Shephound. Space Another major thing that you need to consider before bringing a Shephound into your home is whether, or not, you have the space for a dog of this size. While they may be small when they are puppies, these puppies quickly grow into large dogs, so it is very important that you have enough space in your home for them. Nothing can prepare you for quite how big these dogs are, and as they grow in your home, they can quickly shrink your house. But, these dogs are large and heavy, so they take up a lot of space. If you only have a small house, or you have a large but busy house, then you might want to consider if you have the physical space to give to this dog before bringing one home. Professional Training Finally, you need to consider your provisions for giving this breed professional dog training. Both Greyhounds and German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs, so they will require training. Both Greyhounds and German Shepherds often have a very high prey drive , and this can make them very difficult to control when you are out walking them. This can be very difficult to do, which is why you should ensure that you have access to a professional trainer to help you. But, as both Greyhounds and German Shepherds are breeds that have existed for centuries, there are lots of facts that we know about these dogs. Without a doubt, German Shepherds are one of the most striking dog breeds in the world. With just a single look, you can easily identify one of these breeds by their classic black and tan markings, wonderful gait, and simply breathtaking look. They are famous for being one of the most loyal dog breeds to exist and are also well-known for being fiercely protective of their owner and their pack. These dogs absolutely adore being outdoors, and this is one of the main reasons why they make such wonderful herding dogs. This is, after all, where their name comes from. Instead, they are better known for being used as working dogs in the military, police , and even as support dogs for people who are blind or living with other disabilities. The main reason why these dogs are so commonly used as working dogs is that they are so easy to train. German Shepherds are undoubtedly one of the most intelligent breeds on the planet. Anyone who has ever owned a German Shepherd will tell you that this breed can learn a trick after only one or two goes, they simply are that smart. They are affectionate, loyal, and kind. They really do make the perfect companion, and you know that you are never alone as long as you have a German Shepherd by your side. These dogs are energetic and healthy, and absolutely wonderful with children and other pets. This is why they are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. As we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of similarities between these two breeds, and this is why this crossbreed works so well. Just like German Shepherds, Greyhounds are also a large breed of dog. In terms of height, they are very similar, but Greyhounds are a lot thinner than German Shepherds. As Greyhounds were bred to run, they are extremely skinny, to the point where you can often see their ribs. While German Shepherd dogs are bred to be a lot bulkier. Yes, Greyhounds do look very slim, but this is because they carry absolutely zero body fat. Just by looking at a Greyhound, you can see how muscular they are, and this is partly aided by the fact that they have a very short coat. Greyhounds are most famous for being fast. These dogs have been racing dogs, and unfortunately, this practice still goes on today. Due to the shape of their body, Greyhounds are able to reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, which is why they have been used in racing. But traditionally, Greyhounds were bred as hunting dogs with the ability to hunt foxes, rabbits, and even deer. They are unbelievably calm, and will spend a lot of their time sleeping. Just like German Shepherds, Greyhounds are incredibly loving, and there is nothing that this breed likes more than cuddling up to their owner and giving them lots of wet kisses. While they will be loving to all members of their pack, Greyhounds tend to choose one member to be their person, and if that person is you then you are truly blessed. They are incredibly smart, and as long as they are trained, then these dogs will not become aggressive. This is why they make such wonderful pets. Key Characteristics of the German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Shephound We have looked at these breeds independently, but it is time that we look at them together. Every Shephound is different as it is a crossbreed, however, there are some key characteristics that you can expect. One is the fact that your puppy is going to have a lot of growing to do. Both German Shepherds and Greyhounds are breeds that transform a lot during the first 6 months of their life. So, this makes it difficult to tell what their coat is going to look like when they grow up. It is also partly because these two breeds have very different coats. German Shepherds have incredibly thick fur, with multiple different layers, while Greyhounds have very thin coats which help make them more aerodynamic. Due to this, it is impossible to tell exactly what your Shephounds coat is going to be. If your Shephound is a mixture of a short coat German Shepherd and a Greyhound, then you can expect the fur to be mid-way between the two. However, if your Shephound is part long-hair German Shepherd, then there is no knowing just how thick their coat will be. Gentle Something that you can almost guarantee from a Shephound is that they are going to be gentle. Both German Shepherds and Greyhounds are docile breeds, and they are well-known for being gentle around their owners. So, this is something that you can expect from a Shephound. But, these dogs will have moments of madness. While these dogs will be calm and gentle most of the time, there will be periods where they will be hyper. When this happens, it is important to remember that Shephounds are big dogs, and they are incredibly strong. Loyal But there is one thing which you can definitely guarantee from a Shephound, and it is their undying loyalty. So, whether you are looking for a Shephound as a guard dog or a companion, you can always trust your Shephound to be by your side. However, if you are looking for a dog to use as a guard dog, then a Shephound might not be the best choice. You would be much better off choosing a pedigree German Shepherd. But if you want a dog that has your back until the end, then a Shephound is absolutely perfect. All dogs suffer from health conditions, and the majority of breeds will have genetic predispositions to certain issues. Joint Problems The most prevalent potential health condition that your Shephound might suffer from is joint problems. In particular, hip and elbow dysplasia. This is a genetic condition where there is a deformity in the hip or the elbow, which can lead to limited mobility and arthritis as your dog ages. This is a common health issue for both German Shepherds and Greyhounds, which is why this is the condition that your dog is most likely to suffer from. In fact, this is a condition that most large dogs, and even large cats, suffer with. This condition is a degenerative disease, so the earlier that you pick up on it, the better. That way, you can treat it early and prevent your Shephound from suffering too greatly with this condition. Skin Conditions Another part of the body that both Greyhounds and German Shepherds often suffer with is their skin. Both breeds are genetically predisposed to skin conditions, so there is a fair chance that your Shephound could suffer from this too. In particular, German Shepherds are prone to allergies, which can lead to a lot of scratching and discomfort. Cherry Eye Something else that these breeds are often prone to suffering with is cherry eye. This condition displays itself as a red lump on the third eyelid. This red lump is actually an enlarged and swollen gland that has become infected due to allergies. All dogs are at risk of experiencing this, and it is a very common condition. So, just be prepared that you might have to go to your vet to get conditions like this treated if you get a German Shepherd Greyhound mix. Epilepsy The final condition that your Shephound might be prone to is epilepsy. This is a condition that a lot of Greyhounds develop, so there is a small chance that your Shephound may also suffer from this. Epilepsy affects dogs similarly to how it affects humans, so if your Greyhound Shepherd develops this condition, then they may experience seizures. Dogs can experience seizures with lots of different causes behind it. Some dogs will fit if they become too hot, or dehydrated. But, these seizures could be caused by a health condition such as epilepsy or diabetes. So, you should be prepared that this condition could also develop in your Shephound. If your German Shepherd Greyhound mix does begin to experience seizures, then you should seek veterinary advice immediately. German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Temperament One of the biggest influences on whether you will choose a dog breed, or not, is temperament. Everybody wants their dog to have a good temperament, and for their dog to be loving. This is why a lot of people purchase dogs based on the temperament of that breed. So what is the Shephound temperament like? As we have said, Greyhound Shepherds are incredibly loving dogs, and above all else, they are loyal. Fiercely loyal, in fact. Generally, these dogs have a calm temperament, and they are usually very gentle. Especially when they are around children and small animals. But, for the most part, these dogs are lovely. Walk them regularly, and train them well when they are young, and you will have a fiercely loyal companion for the rest of their life. Ability to Train Speaking of training, you may also be wondering how easy it is to train a German Shepherd Greyhound Mix. Well, as you might expect, it is usually very easy to train a Shephound. These dogs are incredibly intelligent, and because of this, they can often pick up tricks incredibly quickly. A lot of people are surprised at how quickly Shephounds can learn commands, and people are also often surprised at how early in their lives these dogs will begin learning. From as early as 8 weeks old, a German Shepherd Greyhound mix will begin listening to their owner and learning commands. So start early with training, and you will have a very well-behaved dog. Nutritional Requirements Shephounds are very large dogs, so they do have some nutritional requirements. You should avoid feeding them grains as this can lead to GDV a bloating condition , instead you should feed them lots of protein. Make sure their diet is well-balanced with protein, vitamins, minerals, and also high in calories. Exercise Requirements The amount of exercise that your German Shepherd Greyhound mix needs will differ depending on your specific dog. Greyhounds only need around 30 minutes of exercise a day, whereas German Shepherds can need up to 2 h ours. Find a happy medium and go with the amount of exercise that suits your dog. Cost These dogs are expensive. Shephounds are also very rare, so you should expect to spend anywhere in this region for a healthy German Shepherd Greyhound mix. Summary In short, this has been a complete guide to one of the most loving and loyal dog crossbreeds on the planet, the German Shepherd Greyhound mix. So, if you are considering this breed, read this guide before you buy. This mixed breed can vary in size, but they are typically medium to large dogs. What else do you need to know about Greyhound German Shepherd mixes? Large and athletic dogs As both parents are big dogs, it is no surprise that the Greyhound German Shepherd mix is also a large dog. They can weigh anywhere from 50 to pounds and stand at 23 to 30 inches tall. This mixed breed is muscular and athletic, with a long neck and head. In addition to their size, Greyhound German Shepherd mixes are also known for their long legs. Loyal, and affectionate The Greyhound German Shepherd mix is a very loyal breed that will bond closely with its human family. While they can be protective of their loved ones, they are typically gentle and affectionate with children. This breed is also known for being intelligent and eager to please, which makes them easy to train. Gentle, quick, and strong The Greyhound German Shepherd mix is gentle, quick, and strong. They are very agile and fast, making them perfect for agility or other dog sports. For instance, Greyhound German Shepherd mixes do well in obedience trials, flyball, and even frisbee! While each dog is unique and no two dogs will have the same personality, there are some common traits among Greyhound German Shepherd mixes. Read on as we delve into some of the main breed traits of this wonderful mixed dog. The German Shepherd was originally bred for herding sheep and other livestock, but they quickly became popular as working dogs in a variety of different fields. The Greyhound, on the other hand, has been around for a long time. One interesting Greyhound fact is that, some historians believe that the Greyhound may have existed in Ancient Egypt over 4, years ago! This mixed breed is relatively rare today, which means that it can be hard to find a responsible breeder if you want to adopt or purchase one. With proper research and planning, you can find and adopt the perfect dog. This is because they are a mixed breed and can inherit any combination of physical traits from their parents. However, most Greyhound German Shepherd mixes are medium to large dogs with long legs and necks. They typically have short, smooth coats that can be any color, but they are most common in black and tan. They range in height from 23 to 30 inches, and they can weigh anywhere from 50 to pounds. The Shephound is also known for its large, pointy ears. Greyhound German Shepherd Mix — Temperament The Greyhound German Shepherd mix is a friendly and intelligent breed that makes a great companion for families with children. This mixed breed is very loyal and affectionate, and they bond closely with their human families. While they can be protective of their loved ones, they are typically gentle and good-natured with children. Importantly, they famously get along with other dogs and pets. So if you have another pet at home, a Shephound could be a great choice for you. Their short, smooth coats only require occasional brushing, and they are average shedders. When brushing your Shephound, be sure to use a good quality comb that can handle tangles and knots. Unlike other Greyhound mixes , they only shed their coats once or twice a year. This will help avoid any infections. This means brushing their teeth at least once a week and taking them to the vet for regular cleanings. German Shepherd chew toys can also help to keep their teeth clean. The most common health problems for this mixed breed include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, allergies, and bloat Hip and elbow dysplasia are both hereditary joint conditions that can cause pain and mobility problems in your dog. Allergies are also common in German Shepherds, and they can cause a variety of symptoms including itching, runny eyes, and ear infections. Bloat is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects the stomach. It is important to watch for signs of bloat in your dog, such as a swollen belly or pacing. If you think your dog is bloated, bring them to the vet immediately. However, some of these can be avoided by finding a responsible breeder who screens their dogs for these conditions before breeding them. Like the Greyhound Retriever mix , this mixed breed does best on a diet of dry kibble or wet food. When choosing a food for your Shephound, make sure to pick one that is high quality and made for large breeds. You will also want to avoid foods with fillers or artificial ingredients, which can cause digestive problems in your dog. Be sure to feed your Greyhound German Shepherd mix small meals per day rather than one large meal, as this can help prevent bloat and other health conditions. What kind of food is recommended? Some good options to include in their diet include: High-quality dry kibble with plenty of protein and fat Wet food that is high in protein, such as fish or beef Freeze-dried raw food, can provide a more natural diet for your dog For treats, avoid foods with lots of sugar or grains. Instead, try to find healthy options like bits of meat or veggies. You should also avoid giving your dog table scraps, as this can lead to obesity and other health problems. This mixed breed loves to run and play, so they will need an owner who can provide them with plenty of space to do so. A fenced-in yard is ideal, but not required. If you live in an apartment or other small space, you will need to be extra diligent about taking your dog for walks and runs. This breed needs at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, but more is always better. Some good exercise options for your Greyhound German Shepherd mix include: Running or jogging Going for long walks or hikes Swimming The great thing about the Shephound, although they are active dogs, is that a long walk or a vigorous game of fetch should be enough to keep them happy and healthy. This breed is also known for being relatively calm indoors, so they are a good choice for owners with limited space or time. Greyhound German Shepherd Mix — Training The Greyhound German Shepherd mix is a smart breed that is eager to please, so they are relatively easy to train. This mixed breed does best with positive reinforcement training methods, such as treats or praise. It is important to start training your Shephound early, as this breed can be stubborn if not trained properly from a young age. Some good tips to keep in mind when training your Greyhound German Shepherd mix include: Give your dog plenty of space and not be aggressive when training them. Using positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats or praise, rather than punishments like leash corrections or shouting. Creating a routine for exercise, feeding, and training. If you are consistent and patient when training your Shephound, then they should be easy to train in most situations. This is about average for dogs of this size and type, but there are some things you can do to keep your Shephound healthy and extend its lifespan. Some good tips include: Providing high-quality food and plenty of exercise. Avoid obesity by feeding them the correct amount and not overfeeding them. Taking them to the vet regularly for check-ups and vaccinations. Keeping up with their dental health by brushing their teeth regularly. If you take good care of your Greyhound German Shepherd mix, then they should have a long and happy life. Greyhound German Shepherd Mix — 4 Little-Known Facts They Love the Outdoors This mixed breed loves to run and play outside, so it is important to have a fenced-in yard or regular access to parks where they can blow off steam. This mixed breed is also known for being protective of their family, so they make good watchdogs. Some Shepherds have even been trained to work with the police or military as service dogs. This mixed breed is also known for being loyal and protective of their family, so they make great companions and watchdogs. If you are looking for a family-friendly dog, then the Shephound may be a good choice for you. However, this mixed breed can be stubborn if not trained properly from an early age, so it is important to start training your dog as soon as possible. If you are consistent and patient when training your Shephound, then it should be easy to train them in most situations. The cost of this mixed breed can be higher if they are being bred for show or working purposes. The cost also varies based on where you are buying them from, as well as the quality of the puppy. Yes, the Shephound is a great breed for families. They are sweet, loyal, and gentle, which makes them perfect for families with children or other pets. However, they can be protective of their family and may not get along well with strangers or new guests in your home. Yes, this mixed breed usually gets along well with other pets. However, some Shepherds can be more territorial than others and may not be as accepting of new pets in your home. It is important to supervise your dog when they are first meeting another pet and watch for any signs of aggression or hostility. Conclusion The Greyhound German Shepherd mix is a loyal and affectionate dog that makes a great companion. This mixed breed loves spending time outdoors and getting plenty of exercise, so they are perfect for families with active lifestyles. If you are looking for a family-friendly dog that is easy to train and good with other pets, then the Shephound may be a great choice for you. However, it is important to train your dog from an early age and to be patient and consistent when training them to get the best results. Have you ever met a Greyhound German Shepherd mix? What is your impression of this breed? I mostly work with Puppy Rescue , Inc.
Cute, electronic poodle toy walks in a circle and comes back to you. Toy barks and makes puppy sounds when you pet her back. Poodle toy gives you her paw. Soft and cuddly. Pet comes with instructions. The variety of features that our different pets display can make you want to snuggle, play, and laugh out loud. Walkin' Puppies Pretty Poodle pet is a new FurReal Friends plush puppy that really walks, has poseable front legs, and makes adorable puppy sounds. Just pet her back and watch her go. She will respond to your touch and walk toward you. When you pet her back, she'll make sweet puppy sounds as she happily walks across the floor to you. Her head is poseable too, so you can even turn it to make her look at you! You'll fall in love with Walkin' Puppies Pretty Poodle puppy. Corporate Social Responsibility Hasbro is committed to being an ethical and responsible company and is a recognized toy industry leader in the areas of product safety, environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing and philanthropy. From the Manufacturer Play with this sweet and soft Pompom Poodle puppy toy and she'll play with you. Put your new little friend on the ground and she'll walk around and back to you, just looking for some love. She even gives you her paw when you ask for it. How will you know when she's as happy as can be? When you pick her up and pet her back, she'll bark and make puppy sounds - just like a real poodle. But unlike a real puppy, she'll always be puppy-cute. FurReal Friends and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Both are cute, however, I'd go with the "Get up and GoGo" if you're looking for something that's going to be played with more. The pink one is fun because it's pink, and it doesn't have a bulky leash.I think my girls 5 and 7 like the control of being able to "make" the dog walk, like the "GoGo" does. But all in all, this dog is super cute, and works perfectly. It's exactly what it advertises it to be. My 2 yo loves this. Yes, it's not the most solid construction ever of a toy but for the price it's cute, entertaining and functions well. Some reviewers commented that you could feel the buttons through the fur but the idea is that the dog responds to touch so it needs to be sensitive. My daughter likes this toy a lot. It's not one that she plays with daily though. We have had it for almost 6 months and it still works perfectly so it's a good quality toy. I would recommend it to others. I had previously given one to me friend for her new puppy that has been enjoying it for over a year by now. I do think the dog enjoys it far more than the cat, however, as cats can be so underwhelmed. I probably like it more than the cat does! Disclaimer: The price shown above includes all applicable taxes and fees. The information provided above is for reference purposes only. Products may go out of stock and delivery estimates may change at any time. For additional information, please contact the manufacturer or desertcart customer service. While desertcart makes reasonable efforts to only show products available in your country, some items may be cancelled if they are prohibited for import in Aruba. For more details, please visit our Support Page. We have a dedicated team who specialize in quality control and efficient delivery. Since , desertcart has been delivering a wide range of products to customers and fulfilling their desires. You will find several positive reviews by desertcart customers on portals like Trustpilot, etc. The website uses an HTTPS system to safeguard all customers and protect financial details and transactions done online. The company uses the latest upgraded technologies and software systems to ensure a fair and safe shopping experience for all customers. Your details are highly secure and guarded by the company using encryption and other latest softwares and technologies. Plush, electronic puppy acts like a real pup Leash controller lets you move her the way you want Pet walks, wags her tail, sits, tilts her head Pet responds with barks when you talk to her. Their exciting, engaging, and interactive play help to encourage caregiving, forge lifelong friendships, and create unforgettable memories! She's so adorable with her poseable head and wagging tail, you may want to take here everywhere you go! Press the button on her leash controller and watch her go. Press and hold the button and she'll keep on walking with you. You can even play games with her through the free FurReal Friends app. When you keep her close to you, she will play along and respond in adorable ways to the many app activities that you play. Sit her beside you, face the mobile device toward her, and watch her interact with the app activities you play! There are many app activities to play with her in a variety of ways! The seven featured pet friends will even perform for you in their FurReal Friends app band! Mobile device not included. View largerHighlights1. Walk her using her attached leash controller 2. She sits when you pet the top of her head 3. She responds to your voice with sweet puppy sounds 4. She is the star of the new, free FurReal Friends appView largerCorporate Social ResponsibilityHasbro is committed to being an ethical and responsible company and is a recognized toy industry leader in the areas of product safety, environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing and philanthropy. Package Dimensions:
All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. If you are following my training of Bubba, you know that training a 3—4-month-old puppy is a big challenge. By the time your puppy reaches the 5-month age, they have generally started to mature some, not a lot and are usually a bit more receptive to training. Here is the training you can work on with your 5-month-old Lab puppy. Regarding this series of posts This is post nine of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Bubba Bubba has turned the corner from puppy to adolescent. She now understands the training schedule and looks forward to being trained twice a day. I know this because when Bubba comes out of the dog trailer, she is watching me and bouncing in anticipation of being trained. She has learned that if she does her obedience work, she gets to retrieve. So, she is willing to do the work to get the reward. This simple shift has made working with Bubba so much more enjoyable. Now is when I get to really see her start to improve, and I find that so rewarding. Training and socialization for five-month-old Labrador puppy Here are the things we have been working on and will continue to work on with Bubba in month five. Increased self-control and restraint This goes hand-in-hand with obedience. I must continue to increase my expectations of Bubba and put her in more and more situations where she must make the decision to obey. At this age, I can see the conflict going on in her mind. I call her with a HERE command, but she wants to run after the cat. She looks at me, so I know she heard me and then she looks at the cat. At this point, she will more often than not choose to obey the HERE command and come to me. This is huge. It shows some maturity and an increase in knowledge and understanding of right and wrong behavior. Dog trainers live for times like these. It means the dog is growing and learning and making good choices. This drill is very simple. Why is this important? Well, most people have problems with their dog coming to them consistently. The reason is most often because each time the dog comes the dog gets put away in the house, or in a crate. Or they get something taken away from them like a toy or a stick. It allows your dog to learn that coming to you is a good thing and not a bad thing. Obedience training your 5-month-old puppy We continue to work on obedience daily with Bubba and will for at least the next months. After that, we will still do obedience training at least twice a week. You are never done obedience training. Your dog may get very good at obedience work, but if you do not work on it for a few weeks or longer, it will start to deteriorate. For now, we simply use a chain collar and heeling stick, but not too far down the line we will start collar conditioning her for corrections by the electronic collar. In fact, technically, we are already collar conditioning Bubba since each time we take her out to train we put an e-collar on her. It is a small puppy sized collar and it is not turned on, but she wears it each time she gets trained. So, when I pull out the e-collar, Bubba gets very excited because she knows she is going to get trained. This is the response we are looking for. Some dogs get very excited when the owner grabs the leash, because they know that they are going for a walk. This is the same reaction we are looking for from putting on an electronic collar. The dog should not act differently when the e-collar is on. If your dog cowers or fights you when you want to put the e-collar on, then you have introduced the collar incorrectly and your dog now thinks that the e-collar is a bad thing. This means that your dog is collar wise and will act completely different when the e-collar is on. This is a huge problem because it is very likely your dog will be obedient when the collar is on and disobedient when the collar is off. That is not what we want to achieve. We want your dog to be obedient with or without the e-collar on. Micro-obedience sessions At this young age, we often do what I call micro-obedience sessions. These are obedience training sessions, but they are only around minutes long. These are very effective for puppies because they have a very short attention span. You just must pick one obedience command to focus on for each micro-session, preferably only one drill. It is better to do micro-sessions a day than to try and pack too much into each session. She is not perfect, she is still a puppy and therefore makes a lot of mistakes, but she understands the HEEL command and I can walk in squares or a figure 8 and she is following my legs for the turns. I will continue to work on longer and longer walks with Bubba at heel throughout the month. Learn more about How to obedience train a Labrador puppy. Bubba is a chocolate Lab, and as I have said in the past, chocolates tend to mature slower than black or yellow Labs. Because of this, Bubba really struggled with a remote SIT for a long time. She could not seem to stop her little butt from moving! However, we have made progress and she is now sitting still, and I can walk away from her to a distance of around six feet while she remains seated. Again, she makes mistakes. She is a puppy, and we must give her some grace, but we still correct the mistakes and continue to work on improvement. The distance can be anywhere from 3 feet to 6 feet. Later, this will be very important since this is the position to which I expect all my dogs to deliver the birds. She will end facing the same direction I am facing, sitting next to me. This is a vital drill that we do with every dog that goes through one of our programs. It teaches the dog to deliver the bird to a HEEL position. By starting this with Bubba at this young age, she will learn quickly what the HEEL position is and soon I will be able to say HEEL and put my left hand out from my side slightly and she will come into that position. I did use treats for a short time, which again, I am not a fan of for many reasons. HERE is a vital command and so we will work on it daily. And for those of you who are wondering, yes, manually does mean chasing her puppy butt down, putting on a lead and pulling her towards me with the HERE command all the way back to where I was when I issued the command. It is so important that you never, and I mean NEVER, give a dog a command that you are not willing to enforce in one way or another. For your dog to learn that commands are meant to be obeyed, they must understand that any refusal of the command will be backed up with a correction. The correction may only be a sharp NO, or it may be more serious like a lead correction. Retrieving with your 5-month-old Lab puppy In my last post, I talked about how important it is for you to NOT retrieve with a teething-puppy. Bubba has most of her adult teeth in already, we are just waiting on a few, but she is showing us she is more than ready to retrieve again. So, we have begun hand thrown marks again and she is going out like gangbusters and delivering the bumpers right to my hand. If I notice any problems with her carrying the bumpers or if she starts dropping them a lot, I will stop again until the teeth are more solid. If Bubba seems to be in pain at all during retrieving, we will stop immediately. We never want her to associate retrieving with pain. Bubba already understands the retrieving game when it comes to assistant thrown marks too. She sits with me or Steve at the line and faces the gunners throwers in the field. She sits tall and proud; she knows what the gunners are out there for, and she is ready to do the work. It is so fun to watch these puppies figure out the game and what their job is. It is time to start a new retrieving drill with Bubba. The drill is designed to get a dog to mark throws that are further and further away. It gets them to run out a longer distance to a mark and not even notice the change in distance. It is done by starting with a 20—yard mark, generally on shorter grass where the bumper can be seen on the ground. Have the thrower throw the bumper and send the dog using their name. After the dog picks up the bumper and is running back to you, take a few large steps backward. Take delivery of the bumper and line your dog up for another mark. The mark will be in the same place, but that location is now several yards deeper since you have backed up. Have the thrower throw another bumper and again send your dog. After the dog picks up the bumper and is running back to you, again back up several yards. Repeat until your dog is retrieving at longer distances. This drill works well for dogs that have a very strong retrieving desire. For dogs with less desire, you will need to move much slower, only doing marks total in a session. Remember, you never want to burn out your dog with retrieves. Always leave them wanting more! Final thoughts on training for your 5-month-old Labrador puppy If you have been following these posts, you are getting very close to moving your dog into hunting training. We take dogs for our hunting programs right after their adult teeth are in, so generally at months of age. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. Training your 5-month-old Labrador puppy. What commands should my six month puppy know? And much more! Average 6 month old Lab size? It seems amazing that the little fluff ball you bought home just four months ago should be so big. And bouncy! But I know you want an answer, so as a very rough guide, many 6 month old lab puppies will weigh around 50lbs. The remainder of his growth, another lbs or so will take place more slowly over the next 6 months. What should my black, yellow, or chocolate Labrador weigh at six months? People often ask if there is any difference between the different colors with regard to weight and size. The answer is kind of. Working type American or field bred Labradors are often lighter at six months than show type English or bench bred Labradors. And in the UK at least, most field bred Labradors are either black the majority or yellow including fox red. Most not all, but most chocolate Labs in the UK are show or pet bred Labradors and tend to be more heavily built. There is a softness to his features that will last another couple of months or so. How much food does a 6 month old Lab need? How much food your puppy needs will depend on how much he weighs and what condition he is in. Have a look at our puppy feeding chart and also at the instructions on the packet of food that you are using. If your puppy is a little on the skinny side give him a tiny bit more food than recommended and if he is looking a bit plump, a little bit less. Consistent overfeeding will make a puppy fat. Consistent underfeeding will see him lose weight. How often should I feed my six month old puppy? Your 6 month old Lab can drop down from three meals a day to two without any problems. This means that you will be giving the same amount of food as before, but in two larger meals instead of three smaller ones. So, if your pup gets diarrhoea when you switch to twice daily feed, skip a meal to let his tummy settle, then go back to three meals a day for a few days. When you next try going down to two meals a day, give him two small meals to begin with and increase the meal size gradually over the next few days How far should my six month old be walked every day? If you are not familiar with it, the five minute rule says that a puppy needs five minutes of exercise per day for each month of his life. Like many young Labs, adorable six month old Myles loves everyone: by Ericka from the USA Most experts would divide that into two sessions. This refers to formal walks, not playing in the garden or messing about with other dogs. And the reason for that caution is that your puppy is still growing and the growth plates in his joints are still vulnerable to damage. So my advice would be to avoid hard exercise until your puppy is well past his first birthday and then to build up gradually over a period of several weeks. Sexual maturity in Labradors Puppies become sexually mature before they are physically mature and long before they are mentally adults. Some six month old puppies are capable of breeding. And definitely should not be allowed to do so. Apart from the ethical and moral implications, it may be physically harmful to breed from such a young female. Many female Labradors will have their first season sometime between six months and a year, so this is something you need to be looking out for. Neutering Some of you will have already had your 6 month pup neutered, others will be thinking about doing so in the next few months. If you decide against neutering, this is a good point in time to review the security on your property and make sure it is thoroughly dog proof. Labradors are surprisingly agile and can often jump higher, and dig deeper, than you imagine. Beautiful Poppy at just seven months old: by Karen R from Germany Once sexually mature, many a Labrador, particularly but not only males, will make more effort to explore beyond the boundaries of your property. And if you have a female in season, other enterprising males will do their best to find a way in! Whatever your intentions, the time for breeding is a long way off right now. Bear in mind your dog is nowhere near grown up. In many ways he is still a baby. Has my 6 month old Lab finished teething? Most puppies have shed the last of their baby teeth by six months of age. And will have cut many of their adult teeth by this point too. Most will have all their adult teeth within the next month or so. This is the point at which most young dogs start to lose their fear of losing you. This has some big implications for those that exercise their young dogs off leash in open country, where there are temptations such as wild birds and animals to chase. Which brings us to the next question. As a trainer of working retrievers I can tell you that I have had six month old Labradors that were quite advanced with their training and others that had barely started. All reached the same standard eventually. However, it is important to get started with training now. And while there is no set standard your puppy should have reached, it is definitely time to get some safety cues installed. What commands should my six month old puppy know? Most six month old pups have only quite basic obedience and are not yet reliably obedient when there are lots of distractions about. While many six month olds will sit when asked, and come when called in the house and yard. And a lot the majority of six month old Labradors are still pulling on the lead. Professional or serious hobby trainers aside, this is fairly normal. Most importantly, you need to focus on proofing these cues against distraction. Come The come cue, or recall, is important so that your dog can be allowed safely off leash and recalled if any hazards appear. You can find information on teaching recall here: How to teach a basic recall Even if you have made quite good progress with recall, now is quite a good point at which to be thinking about the about turn walk this is a technique to prevent your dog from getting too far away from you on walks. This is especially important as he grows bigger. Labradors are strong and often friendly dogs. This makes pulling on the lead very common as your puppy does his best to engage every passing stranger in a game. Gorgeous Charlie enjoying a run at six months of age — he also appears in our feature at the top of the page: by Julie T from Cornwall UK I have seen grown ups pulled clean off their feet by large dogs on leash. Being pulled off your feet, or losing control of your dog at the roadside is a very real risk. Many young Labradors are very friendly and while this is a great thing overall, it can cause some problems with training at this age. I mentioned proofing earlier, and proofing is the process which teaches our dogs to come away from other dogs or people. And proofing is the way to succeed. The main problem with proofing is that it takes time and help. You might also find proofing Labrador obedience helpful. What is the best way to train my 6 month old? Training methods are changing. We are in something of a new era with regard to dog training methods and there are now plenty of good trainers who can show you how to train your dog effectively without fear or pain. Behavior problems Most six month old pups are through the housetraining phase, though there may be very occasional accidents if a your dog is left alone for a lot longer than usual. Female dogs may have an occasional accident during their first season too, but these are usually isolated incidents. What about chewing? If you are expecting chewing to stop at the same time as teething coming to an end, you may be disappointed. We look at destructive chewing in more detail in this article , but it can be at its worst between 6 and 9 months of age. Which brings us to a common question Can I de-crate my six month old Lab? It seems mean to shut him away at bedtime. Why not give him the freedom of the kitchen during the night? Well, this can work. But often it does not and results either in a bad chewing problem or occasionally, in a relapse in house training. You can find out more in this article which includes detailed de-crating instructions. The other big issue for many puppy parents with six month olds, is excitable behavior. Particularly jumping up, and sometimes nipping How do I stop my six month old Labrador from jumping up? Jumping up is a common problem in young labs. These are friendly and affectionate dogs who enjoy close contact and like to greet their friends up close! You and your visitors not only tolerate it, but actually reinforce it by petting the puppy as he does it. Or rather over- excitement. This is the age at which excitable behavior can become quite a challenge again. Partly because the dog is now physically bigger, stronger, and more difficult to control. Now, more than ever, you need your dog to listen and respond to your voice. Playing safely More often than not, excitable behavior that has got out of control, started out as a game. However, if you are struggling a bit, you are not on your own. Drop into the forum and say hello to all the other puppy parents. Puppy training development after 6 months It is very tempting to get carried away with puppy training. Your young do is so willing to please and such fun to be around. It is important to go at a happy pace for you both. Positive reinforcement training is the right choice for your puppy because there are no negative consequences to getting something wrong. But you can still both suffer from burnout and frustration if you try to reach the later puppy training stages without totally aceing the earlier developments. Your Puppy Training Schedule This may not be exactly the same for each puppy, especially with retrieving which is more Labrador specific. However, it gives you a rough idea. Constantly changing direction. Stopping frequently for cuddles and rewards. This means I blow the recall whistle whenever the puppy runs towards me, no compulsion, and no whistle unless the recall is already underway. Socialisation: Lots almost daily of outings to different places rural and urban carried Visits to family and friends. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow mouthing. Working with food: Learning how to take food gently without snatching or grabbing at the treat pot. I still give the puppy lots of encouragement by running away as soon as I blow the whistle. Socialisation: More socialisation, at least twice a week to busy public places. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow gentle mouthing. Retrieving: Encourage chase and pick up retrieve drive. Hand touch: I teach all new puppies to touch my hand with their noses. This is a great foundation for other skills. Recall: Puppy recall continues, reduce my run to a walk, avoid any distractions. Still frequently blow the recall whenever the pup runs towards me of her own free will. Socialisation: From ground level after vaccination. No other leash walking at all Bite inhibition: No biting, gentle mouthing allowed. Retrieving: Continue to build drive. Positions: I introduce three positions — sit, stand, down. What to expect from your 3 month old puppy Most three month old puppies will be sleeping through the night. And will be having less potty training accidents in the house. There are a few potty training problems that arise at this age, and they are all covered in 15 potty training problems solved. Biting is a big shock and a big problem for many new Lab puppy parents so do check out our complete guide to biting , and join the forum for help and support. Help encourage your puppy to stay in their bed while you are eating. I have a pot of dog treats on our kitchen table, and whenever we sit down to a meal, the puppy gets a treat each time she steps into her basket. Just a treat for stepping in there. What to expect from your 4 month old puppy Your 4 month old puppy will be pretty much potty trained, but accidents still happen if they are left alone too long. Biting is usually starting to subside now, and many four month old puppies will be able to mouth at your hand without hurting you. At this point I start to discourage all mouthing. I teach every puppy to let me touch her face or approach her with my hand, food, a leash etc while holding eye contact and not grabbing at me, or at what is in my hand. This is the age at which people often start to push forward with training. Your 4 month old puppy is capable of quite a lot. There is nothing wrong with teaching your puppy different cues and even some tricks. I recommend you still avoid long duration activities at this point as they are a common stumbling point with puppies young enough to have a short attention span. A ten second sit is ample. Add mild distractions Recall: Fade additional cues. Begin to whistle the pup and stand still. Add mild distractions. Clicker train to polish this in more mouthy puppies. No commands are needed for this. Gradual introduction of distractions. Advanced puppy training begins in earnest This is where I start a programme of sporting training with my Labs. You can begin raising your standards and expectations, asking for longer and more complex behaviors. Teaching your puppy to walk to heel nicely for longer distance and past all kinds of distractions and temptations. Or teaching your puppy to sit and stay for longer periods of time, and even while you go out of sight or while other dogs play nearby. What to expect from your six month old puppy Six months is a common time for people to have a lot of questions and to be struggling with a few challenges. This is now a very bouncy, quite powerful and rapidly maturing young dog. And you may need to patch up a few holes in his training or manners. We have a great article for owners of six month old Lab puppies. Size 5-months Labrador retriever is already a big and large dog by its size: its average weight is kilos and its height at the shoulder is approximately cm. Training Take walks a day and do not overstrain a puppy with active games. It is still too young to undergo some special training which starts from 1 year, as a rule. You just can proceed with slightly breaking of the habit of relieving a puppy at home and praise your puppy for doing it outdoors. Advice: from this age start to show your dog that you are his master and it should obey you. Be careful! It is necessary to unleash a puppy in safe and enclosed areas only. Healthcare Your 5-months Labrador puppy was vaccinated in 2. Besides, you can already treat your puppy against worms before the next immunization. Remember, that puppies under 1 year are still have vulnerable immune system. Feeding Now you can feed your puppy less frequent, 3 times a day, at that, one meal should be a between-meal snack. For example, you can feed your puppy like that: 8 a. Labrador retrievers are prone to obesity, so, you should not overfeed your puppy. Feed it 3 times a day in strict proportions and, if you feed a puppy with dry food, choose one for puppies prone to extra weight. Advice: your Labrador puppy is growing very fast, so, it needs some food supplements to be strong and healthy, with correct body and skeleton development. Choose special vitamins for puppies with a maximum content of calcium, vitamin D3 and phosphorous. Conclusion 5 months is the age during which a dog owner should be very responsible towards a puppy since its health, immune system, as well as behavior traits, are beginning to form. Take care of your Labrador puppy since its puppyhood to make your dog sound and healthy. This post may contain affiliate links. That Mutt may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post. My Lab puppy Rip is almost 5 months old at the time of this writing. He is a very good puppy with just the usual puppy issues like trying to chew rugs and jumping on us for attention. The potty training also seems to have finally clicked! I wanted to write this update about Rip for my own reference. So, here is my Rip update! He will be a bigger puppy then but he will also learn so much. During 3 weeks of introductory training, my puppy will get a lot of experience with flushing and retrieving live birds and a lot of proper exposure to gunfire. Lab puppy, Rip! I hope to hunt with Rip next fall and possibly take him to some retriever hunt tests. Puppy training vs. Meeting different dogs and people Rip has met lots of different dogs and people of different ages. He gets excited and will sometimes jump on people but he is not as over the top as my dog Remy still is. Rip is more reserved and does a lot of thinking. He plays appropriately with different dogs. He is not too rough. Such as in the car while driving somewhere fun. I will say, Rip seems to be a very well-adjusted puppy and I know most of that is from his genetics. When Rip comes back from bird dog training, I plan to dive into obedience a lot more. Right now, he really only knows sit, down and stay for a few seconds and come! I already have one resource guarder , I would prefer not to have two! Not jumping on people Rip does not get quite as excited as Remy does when we greet people but he does want to jump on people , as most dogs do. So I am going to try to really get ahead of that habit and correct it early. Wish me luck. Puppy leash training and walking Once he turned 4 months old, Rip finally wanted to go for walks so I started walking him for about 1 mile twice a day. My parents are doing something similar with him now, I believe. He is so different from my weimaraner Remy who was marching along for miles a day by 10 weeks old. Right now, Rip has no leash manners. He pulls, stops, sniffs, cuts behind me and in front of me, chases leaves, bites plants, sits down, zig-zags, stops to look at birds. So, I have a plan to work on some serious leash manners starting in late November when he comes home. How to stop a 5 month old Lab puppy from pulling There are different methods to teaching a dog not to pull. If he pulls, I simply will not move. My adult dog Remy pulls all the time. Due to my lack of patience and his strong will, I gave up on him and just manage him with a no-pull harness. Let me know if you have suggestions on this. I wrote a Facebook post a few months back where I said I purposely have my dogs spend time away from each other each day — chewing on Kongs in different rooms or walking with me at separate times. Remy is a very high-energy dog and needs to run hard every day to be fulfilled. My adult dog guards toys from my 5 month old Lab puppy The other issue is how Remy will guard toys. Thankfully, he does not lunge and bite over a toy. Instead, he snatches the toy and then clamps down hard on it with black eyes and hackles raised, growling. This can get frustrating because the puppy obviously needs toys to chew on or he starts chewing on rugs and furniture. So this is another reason why they get separated at times. Remy chews on a Kong in another room while Rip plays with some other toys. Puppy kennel training I have never had an issue kennel training a puppy. He usually just falls asleep. So, those are the latest updates with my 5 month old Lab puppy Rip! He really could not be any better. He is such an easygoing puppy. If you are raising a puppy right now, what is your biggest struggle? Thank you! Lindsay Stordahl is the founder of That Mutt. She writes about dog training, dog exercise and feeding a healthy raw diet.
How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. It is also a vital element for brain and eye development. Fresh chicken meat in the diet provides protein with high biological value. Natural Prebiotics to boost the overall digestive process. The benefits of Orijen Puppy Large: A calorie limited diet to promote a healthy weight and to put less pressure on joints. Rich in protein for making German Shepherd pups healthy and strong. Highly delicious chicken and turkey liver tempt the pickiest of eaters. The crusty and crunchy kibble texture of this food promotes good periodontal health and helps in curbing problems like Tartar and Plaque buildup. An essential fatty acid like Omega 3 has been added in the diet for boosting the overall skin health of the dogs. A natural antioxidant like Vitamin E fortifies the natural immunity of the pups, keeping them strong and healthy. You can feed your adult German Shepherd 2 times a day. You should avoid feeding them synthetic preservatives. High in Fibres: Natural fibres maintain superior digestive health and also an ideal body weight. Vitamin C: Vitamin C keeps the joints healthy, preventing problems like hip dysplasia and arthritis. Natural fibres promote excellent digestion and maximum nutrient absorption. The benefits of Fidele Adult Large Breed: Contains a substantial amount of protein for enhancing strength and endurance in grown up German Shepherds. Omega fatty acids boost skin health and also maintain good eyesight. It consists of Real Chicken meat as the main constituent which is favourite for German Shepherds. It has a good combination of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids that significantly improves the skin health of the dogs. They do not contain any fillers or preservatives which makes this diet completely safe for German Shepherds to savour. Breed Specified Recipe specially made for German Shepherds Real Chicken meat offers good protein content for supporting strong muscle mass Excellent blend of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids endow the dogs with good skin health. This dog food has a rich protein content that fortifies the muscle mass in the dogs. Moreover, the crusty texture of this food helps in removing Tartar and Plaque build-up. Ideal dog food for a large breed like German Shepherd Consists of Calcium and Phosphorus that boosts bone density Glucosamine and Chondroitin provides anti-inflammatory effect to the dogs Beet Pulp and FOS prebiotics boosts overall digestive health of the dogs Crusty kibble texture of the food eliminates Tartar and Plaque build-up 5 Hills Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dog A highly nourishing meal that has Chicken and Barley as its primary constituents, the Hills Science Diet Adult Large Breed is an easy-to-digest meal offering a nutritional profile that suits an adult German Shepherd. Omega 6 and Vitamin E promote beautiful skin and coat in German Shepherds. Ample amounts of protein maintain lean muscle mass and endurance. They need foods that are low in protein and fat content while richer in fibres. However, an overall moderate diet with all the components is also considered healthy, provided your dog trains and exercises regularly. A senior German Shepherd consumes around calories daily. They can be fed 2 times a day. Fish Oil Omega 3 : Fish oil is an excellent source of Omega fatty acids that provides a good anti-inflammatory effect to senior dogs. Fewer Carbs: As elderly German Shepherds are quite vulnerable to obesity and diabetes, a diet that has a low glycemic index is most preferred to them. A combination of Vitamin E and C, builds a stronger immune system. Devoid of artificial flavors and preservatives. Fresh meat and freeze-dried liver make the meal highly delectable. A biologically appropriate diet that nurtures your older German Shepherds according to their biological and evolutionary needs. Thus, when you adopt a German shepherd pup, make sure that you provide it with a fully nutrition loaded diet and maintain a lifestyle with lots of physical activities. A comprehensive diet including all the above parameters will lead to a healthy and long life span of your little beasts. An avid nature and animal lover, Akhil likes to read and watch anything related to wildlife. He also has a great interest in athletics, mainly track and field events and is a big Masala Dosa fan. More like this.
And when is the best time to start training them? Naturally, the sooner your start with training, the easier it will be. Moreover, you have to remember that you are responsible for your pup. You need to show consistency in your own behavior. Your Doodle will have an easier time adjusting to his new home and family if you start from day one. Establish a Proper Routine Firstly, you should establish a proper routine for your Doodle. This includes meal times, bathroom breaks, playtime, naps, and bedtime. Keep in mind that consistency is key in Goldendoodle training. A structured routine gives dogs a sense of security. It will also help your new Goldendoodle puppy understand how you want them to behave. Routine is also an important part of housetraining , as consistent feeding times will also beget consistent potty times. If you have other family members living with you, make sure you all follow the exact same routine. It is usually recommended that puppies younger than six months of age eat three meals per day. Socialize Your Puppy Secondly, all dogs, and especially Goldendoodles, are social creatures. They enjoy spending time with their families and meet other dogs at the dog park. Early socialization is important for your Goldendoodle pup to get used to new people, pets and situations. Goldendoodle Training Sample Routine Goldendoodle puppy behavior is very much your responsibility. Puppies usually need to use the bathroom first thing in the morning. Tip 2: Feed your pup at the same time every day. This is a great way for your puppy to socialize with you and your family. Tip 3: Potty time around 30 to 60 minutes after each meal. Tip 4: Playtime or exercise after potty time. Playing with toys and shorter walks are perfect for baby Doodles. Tip 5: Puppies usually need to relieve themselves after exercise, as well. Puppies can sleep up to hours every day! Make sure no one distracts their sleep, as they need to rest. Tip 7: After naptime or being in their crate, take your pup for a bathroom break. Tip 8: Bedtime every day around the same time is also very useful to enforce a consistent routine. Remember that puppies around weeks of age need smaller portions and more frequent meals. Therefore, they will also need to go potty more frequently. And as we already said, all dogs and puppies are unique. This is a rough guideline that most Doodle owners find useful. Well, all dogs are unique, so there is no one size fits all approach in Goldendoodle training. However, there are a few main training methods that most dog owners find useful when training a Goldendoodle puppy. Of course, the younger your puppy is, the shorter their attention span. Usually, the general guideline is to start formal training at four to six months of age. However, keep in mind that first you should build a relationship and bond with your pup. Clicker Training Clicker training is one of the most popular Goldendoodle training methods that professional dog trainers use. It combines reward training with a small hand-held clicker that you will click every time you reward your pup for good behavior or when following a command. Your puppy will soon start associating the clicking sound with a reward. Therefore, your pup will also associate it with good behavior. Best for Clicker Training Compare Products 2. Positive Reinforcement Your behavior and attitude has a huge impact on your Goldendoodle pup. Always use positive reinforcement and do not scold or punish your pup for accidents. Remember, your puppy is still learning and growing. Instead, it will just make them fearful of you. Whenever you want your Goldendoodle puppy to do something, always keep a positive and enthusiastic attitude. If your pup has completed the task, always give plenty of praise and a nice little treat or a toy. Some dogs respond better to reward with food and others respond better to toys. However, always use these rewards together with lots of praise and enthusiasm. Crate Training Crate training is another very popular Goldendoodle training method. Crate training can take a few days or a few weeks, but the results are worth it. Keep in mind that you should only leave your pup in the crate in hours equal to the age in months that they are. See Also: Click the image 4. Mirror Training Mirror training method uses positive reinforcement and a clicker to teach a dog how to follow your lead. As your pup is looking up to you, they will naturally want to mimic your behavior and attitude. A great way to keep this from happening is to keep your kitchen counters clean and tidy at all times. Do not store food on counters longer than you prepare your meals. Surely you enjoy a clean kitchen, as well! Another tip is to put your pup in a crate or away from the kitchen while you prepare your meals. Jumping One of the very first things that you can start teaching your Goldendoodle puppy is to sit to be greeted. This will teach your puppy that they will only get attention once they sit. If you reward them, they will continue doing it. Barking With every common behavioral problem, the key is to think about what you want your puppy to do instead. How would you like them to react when someone is knocking on the door, or how should act when you have guests over? For instance, you can train your dog to sit still in a designated place when the doorbell rings. Leash Pulling When your puppy starts to pull the leash, immediately stop walking. Once your puppy has stopped pulling, you can start walking again. Doing this continuously will teach your puppy good leash manners. No-pull harnesses and headcollars can also be great tools for training your pup not to pull on the leash. See Also: Click the image 5. Make sure your pup has enough interesting toys and provide them plenty of playtime and exercise. Biting and Mouthing Biting is a completely natural behavior for dogs. As with any other behavioral problem, biting also can stem from your pup wanting your attention. Also, biting and mouthing might indicate that your pup needs more playtime. See Also: Click the image 7. This means that I may earn a small commission if you click on them and make a purchase. We picked our Mini Goldendoodle up when she was seven weeks old and immediately started training her. Our training consisted of strategies we had learned in books along with some tips that our breeder has passed along to us that were very helpful. However, the biggest help in our training efforts was the experience of actually doing it. Learning all you can is great but nothing can beat the first-hand experience. I write this article knowing that each dog is different so they will respond differently to training. The tips I will share worked for our Mini Goldendoodle and hopefully will be of help in training yours. Our Mini Goldendoodle was our first puppy. As a newly married couple who had no idea what we were doing, we had to learn as we went. This was our first test and there was no time to mess around. We were thrown right into the fire and had to learn quickly. We read books, watched training videos, and talked with other dog owners all in an effort to gain an edge in the process. We learned through trial and error. In the end, our dog became a well-trained and obedient family member. Perhaps it was our training or maybe it was her high intelligence and pleasing temperament. However, if we were to do it all over again, it would probably go a little smoother knowing what we know now. Dogs generally respond well to training when they are young puppies and the earlier you start, the better off you will be. I have put together some tips that I feel were crucial in training our puppy the way we did. If I could go back and give advice to us, these are some tips that I would share. We started with the basics such as potty training, leash training, walking without pulling, and just basic obedience. We also began early with the task of teaching her to do common tricks such as sit, shake hands, and give five. As with any puppy though, it can be challenging. They are like a toddler and are just experiencing the world for the first time. Positive reinforcement is needed to help them understand exactly what you want them to do. Your efforts will be greatly rewarded if you start as early as possible, taking it seriously and truly understanding that what you do in their earliest years will either harm or help your efforts in training your Doodle. Your dog will be able to read your emotions. They have a way of picking up on your frustration and will not respond well during these moments of frustration. If you are more patient in your approach, they will respond more positively and feel your calm, reassuring energy. It will help them to retain the teachings that you are trying to get through to them. A dog that experiences this may develop scars from such actions that they will carry with them the rest of their lives. It will take time for your puppy to respond to commands. A leash is a primary way you have to control your dog when on walks or out in public. You see this all the time when people are walking their dogs. The is especially true with a large breed but even a small dog like a Mini Goldendoodle can become challenging if not trained properly. This takes time and a lot of patience. Our Mini Doodle pulled like any other dog in the beginning but we often corrected her with commands and a slight tug here and there. Because we started young, she became good on a leash and has continued this trend for most of her life. The best way we found to leash train our Mini Goldendoodle was to take her on walks consistently. Rather than just letting her run free, our focus was on keeping her by our side at all times. We also practiced around the house and gave rewards with treats when she did what we wanted her to do. Our breeder suggested that we make use of a bell so that our dog would have an easy way of letting us know she needed to go outside and potty. We gave it a shot and it has been super convenient for our Doodle to let us know that she needs to go outside. You can read more here about our process of training our dog to ring a bell to go outside. Many people are amazed when she goes over to ring her bell to go outside. Rather than walking around crying, they can ring a bell and you can hear it all over your house. Any dog that I ever have in the future can expect to have bell training incorporated into their potty training. Eventually, they will catch on that every time they go outside, the bell needs to ring. It signals to them that what they have done is worthy of a reward so they are more likely to do that in the future. If you are going to train your dog like this, you will go through lots of treats throughout a training session. Using healthy, low-calorie treats for this is a must. Our favorite was baby carrots which we cut up into small pieces as we were training her to do different things. She loved the crunch and taste of them and now 14 years later, they are still among her favorite foods. We have used them as treats her entire life. You can also give them small fruits like blueberries , or small apple pieces. Just make sure not to give them anything that might harm them. Here is a good list of foods that should be avoided. If you just purchase boxes of treats and commence to giving these as training rewards, you might see them gain weight if you are not careful. If not now, at least later on in life since they are going to be conditioned to eat these types of processed treats. You can still include the commercially made treats but these healthy options will give you an additional way to reward them. We used our crate to train our dog and keep her in it when we were gone for small amounts of time. She would generally fall asleep in her crate and curl up with the pillows and toys that we had left for her. As a puppy, she found comfort and shelter in her crate. She often ran to it with her treat and ate it there so that no one would bother her. I worked from home and would often keep her in a crate in my office as I worked. Never use a crate as a place for punishment. Doing this will make a crate a negative place. Learn more about crate suggestions for a Mini Goldendoodle. If you have an area that is not carpeted, a gate can be a great way to make sure they stay in an uncarpeted area which makes it much easier to clean up if they have an accident. It also allows you to get them on a routine without them messing up throughout your house on carpets and rugs. Just a simple gate that opens and holds itself together pushing against the wall on each side is what we used. The following gate is similar to ours and is very cost-effective. Get up at the same time each morning, go to bed at the same time at night, take them out to potty at the same times each day, and take them to the same locations when they potty. All of these routines combined will help to build the connections in their brain needed to become a well-trained dog. This had multiple purposes. To keep her from tracking dirt into the house. Condition her to allow us to touch and mess with her paws. Doing this has helped with being able to clip her toenails, trim her paw hair, and inspect for other issues regularly. We also did the same with her teeth. We often looked inside her mouth and messed around with her teeth to get her used to it. I started brushing her teeth when she was young and this has all helped to maintain her teeth over the years. We have no issues opening up her mouth and inspecting areas, and cleaning areas that need to be cleaned. I brush her teeth regularly and starting young was a key to making it possible. However, it would have probably been better to opt for this type of training from a professional. We are self-learners so we chose to learn on our own. If you have a location in your area that offers basic obedience school, which can often be done with a group of people and their dogs , then sign up for it. There will be a fee to pay but it will give you a good start and a foundation to grow from. Not only is it good for the dog but it will also help you to be the human and leader that your dog is looking for. It will give you the tools you need to become a great parent to your Mini Goldendoodle. You can usually find classes like this at your local pet store or from a professional dog trainer in your area. It will definitely give you a leg-up with being able to communicate with your dog. You need to be intentional about the process and make sure everything you do around them is thought out and you are at least aware of how it might affect them in the future. If you have a Mini Goldendoodle that you are training, you are in for a fun ride and will hopefully end up with a best friend that is well-trained and a complete joy to be around just like mine is. Dan Collins Not only am I a dog or pet lover, but an animal lover. My Goldendoodle has opened my eyes to how special animals can be and I am proud to be her dad. I write about Doodles and share my knowledge and experience of owning a mini Goldendoodle for 16 years. Recent Content. There might be days or even weeks when it seems to regress, but as long as you stay calm and stick to the training schedule and daily routine, your doodle puppy will thrive. Remember, the younger your pup is, the shorter its attention span and the less it understands. A lot of the earliest work involves planting seeds for the future and maintaining that consistent routine. Many goldendoodles respond best to one or more of the following methods: Positive Reinforcement Your number one tool as a puppy parent is positive reinforcement. Scolding and punishment will make it fear you, which might garner very short-term results but will ultimately lead to long-term problems like destructive behavior, biting and excessive barking. Use a mixture of praise and toys as your primary rewards, with food used as big rewards and treats very occasionally. Clicker Training Many puppies respond best to clicker training, and many professionals use it. It combines positive reinforcement with a handheld clicker that you press whenever you reward your pet for following a command or behaving well. Very quickly, it starts associating the click with a reward, until the clicker itself becomes the reward and a treat is no longer required. Animals are territorial by nature, and giving your pup a little island of its own in your home is a great way to prevent unwanted behaviors. Remember, the crate is not a punishment. However, like every breed, they have their character quirks. Below is a list of the main issues doodle owners encounter and how to approach them. Jumping All dogs have the potential to get excited and jump up on people when they meet or greet them, but this can be scary for strangers and children. Teach your doodle puppy that it only gets a reward if it sits when greeted and this behavior will eventually become second nature. Stealing Food Every dog loves to eat. A clicker can be particularly good for this behavior. Mouthing and Biting Biting is natural for dogs, and they might use it as a way to get your attention in addition to it being a sign of aggression. Check out our training program to find out more. The Labradoodle is a gorgeous cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, and the Goldendoodle is an adorable mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Characteristics and traits can vary significantly because these pups are a hybrid breed, but they are usually incredibly people-focused, laid back, and playful, making Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training an enjoyable moment. Doodles make awesome pets, especially if their owners fully comprehend the importance of training from a young age. The type of adult dog breed you end up with depends a little bit on their personality and a lot on how you take care of them. Before you begin Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training, it helps to decide exactly what kind of dog you want to have. Do Plenty of Research It is vital that you have an understanding of canine learning theory because dogs learn very differently from people. A puppy does whatever it can to get what it desires the most at that moment. There are plenty of online resources that can teach you about methods to get the best out of your training. It may be helpful to consult a puppy training professional or spend some time at doggy school to get a headstart and pick up tips from experts. Your pup is a blank slate — with your guidance, they can develop the traits and learn the behaviors that you value the most. Labradoodle and Goldendoodle puppies are curious and they love exploring their new home as they make it their own. Getting it right during the early stages sets a precedent for the rest of their life. Spending as much time as you can with them helps build the foundation for a happy, confident and well-behaved dog. Form a Bond and Gain Trust With Your Doodle Before you do anything, you will need to develop a strong bond with your new pal to make sure they trust you. Try to keep your own energy as calm as possible — they bounce off you. While it may be tempting to get excited by their cuteness and mirror their enthusiasm, this makes it more difficult for them to listen to you and regulate their own behavior. Teach your furry friend what to expect from the moment they get into the home to stop them from getting confused. Use Positive Reinforcement Intimidation or fear tactics are never the best way to build a loving and secure bond between you and your fur baby. To make the most of this method, reward your pooch for good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Treats, verbal praise, and clicker training reward them for a job well done. This also helps them to make positive associations with you and training time. Everyone has their own list of priorities and yours will depend on factors such as whether you have children or other pets. Potty training is a straightforward, formulaic process that your new puppy will adapt to. A consistent routine is the key to getting them toilet trained as efficiently and effectively as possible. Let them outside at the same time each day, and take them to the same spot. In the early days, it may be difficult for them to make it all the way through the night, so try to make provisions for this stage. Select a word for them to associate with potty training and repeat it over and over whenever you take them to the toilet. Every time they do their business outside, give them lots of cuddles and praise, treat them and play one of their favorite games. There will be setbacks — getting it right takes time! If they mess in the wrong place, take them outside to their toileting spot and give them the chance to relieve themselves. We cannot emphasize the importance of praising them when they get it right enough! Crate Training Not everyone opts to crate train their puppy, but it can be useful for the earliest stages of Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training. The crate gives them a safe place they can call their own. Be sure to make the time they spend in the crate a positive experience, and never leave them in there for more hours than their age in months plus one hour. For example, a three-month-old puppy can be kept in their crate for no more than four hours. Socialization Dogs are social animals, and Goldendoodles and Labradoodles, in particular, are happiest when they spend time pleasing people and playing. However, building confidence takes effort and guidance from their pet parent. If you want to ensure they grow up to have a balanced personality, you need to expose them to plenty of dogs, people and different situations. Take them out and about as much as possible to help them become accustomed to a range of noises, sights and sounds. Bring them to a local dog park to get them used to spending time around other dogs. Manners Your adorable little pup has the potential to develop a host of bad habits, but these behaviors can be nipped in the bud. Temperament and Dealing with Small Children There are several steps to take while getting your canine cutie used to being a member of a family with children. Both pup and child will need to have clear boundaries mapped out for them so they can build mutual trust and be kind to each other. Let the child practice with a toy before they pick up or cuddle the pup. Ensure the child sits down when they play with the dog; this helps to prevent the pup from getting overexcited. Teach the child to do small tasks to help care for the dog, such as filling the bowl or helping with grooming. Knowing what to expect according to the time of day helps them to settle and feel reassured. Always wake them up at the same time, feed and walk them around the same time and do training exercises at a set time. Patience Is Everything! The best piece of advice for Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training is to have patience. Spend lots of time bonding and playing with your pooch so you can make training something fun that you both enjoy. If there is a behavior your puppy exhibits that you may think is cute while your puppy is small, you need to think ahead and determine if this behavior will be acceptable from an adult dog. Consistency is the most important tool for training a puppy in their first year and beyond. Each family member needs to use the same techniques and commands so as not to confuse your puppy. It is important to remember that a puppy associates a reward or a disciplinary action with its behavior in the past 3 seconds. Waiting longer than 3 seconds to reward or discipline is very confusing to a puppy. You cannot stop this behavior, but you can certainly direct your puppy to chew upon acceptable items until this phase passes at about a year of age. The only way puppies know how to play is the typical wrestling, biting, chasing, tackling, pulling, and nipping they do with littermates. In the absence of littermates, you and your family suddenly become the littermates. Repeat this same disciplinary action a total of three times in a row. Every now and then, a particularly feisty puppy will become more excited by this disciplinary action and need a more distinct disciplinary measure. This next action needs to be initiated quickly. This will be uncomfortable for your puppy. When behavior meets with uncomfortable consequences, the behavior will stop. With all this being said, the absolute best remedy is for you to arrange daily play dates with other puppies or young dogs. The bottom line is that your puppy needs to have active playtime each day. Jumping — Your puppy will jump on you to get your attention. This may seem innocent while your puppy is small, but Grandma may not appreciate being knocked over by the full grown untrained dog. Make sure you do not reward the puppy for the act of getting down as this will enforce the behavior of jumping up only to be told to get down for a reward. This is not a sign of aggression unless you allow this to go undisciplined over time. You need to actively discourage any and all growling directed at you. If your puppy growls at you when you get close to the food bowl, immediately remove the food bowl and feed the puppy out of your hand. Do not stop brushing until the puppy accepts this without growling. Each puppy needs to learn its place in the pecking order of a family. Obviously, they need to be the lowest on the totem pole. If allowed to be boss, growling is a normal thing for a puppy to exhibit when showing its dominance. Each family member must establish they are boss. This includes young children who are timid or fearful of the puppy. Remember that any behavior you allow as a puppy is then extremely difficult to curb later in life. If you do not wish to have your adult dog on the furniture, do not sit on the sofa holding your puppy. If you do not want your grown dog to grab your pant leg, etc. Leash Training — Training your Goldendoodle puppy to walk on a leash without pulling will take some time. Be patient and read our complete guide to leash training here. Buying a Trained Puppy — You can opt to have your puppy purchased at Fox Creek Farm trained by a professional trainer. Buying a trained puppy can save you a lot of time and benefit the entire family. Please visit our board and train services page for more information. Pet Insurance — We always recommend that any dog owner have a good quality pet insurance. Choosing the best pet insurance will take you a bit of time to learn about the coverages and fees associate with the brand and your particular dog. Spend some time with our blog articles on pet insurance linked above to determine what is right for you and your furry friend. In fact, good dog training schools will conduct interviews before starting obedience training to develop a training plan with the pet owner. Dog Obedience Training Method: Clicker Training When it comes to obedience training, clicker training is a very popular dog training technique among certified dog trainers. Clicker training for dogs involves the use of a hand-held device that creates a clicking sound. Over time, the dog begins to associate the clicking sound with the reward. Once the dog is reliable in his obedience skills, the food rewards are given only occasionally, but the clicking continues on a consistent basis, serving as an indicator of praise for the dog. If you need a clicker, you can find them at a pet store or on Amazon. Goldendoodle training is similar to training most puppies since they are a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle, which means that rewarding with treats usually works well. Many dogs have a very high food drive. Food rewards can work well for a dog obedience training reward in these dogs. A food reward can consist of a traditional dog treat or other less traditional pet treat foods like baby carrots, pieces of cheese, cold cuts, hot dog bits, or other high-value foods. The food also serves as an effective, high-value reward for the dog. Obedience Training Methods for Dogs: Toy Rewards Dogs who have a high prey drive — like sighthounds such as the greyhound breed, will often place a higher value on toy rewards like a ball. Or use my affiliate link to find this dog toy that we have it has 11, 5-star reviews on Amazon! Toy rewards are good for the dog that would be apt to pick the toy when presented with an option between a treat and a toy. Certified dog trainers who are working with clients who undergo frequent dog training courses, such as a police dog or a cadaver dog, will typically opt to use toy and play rewards since toys can be used for specialized dog training. In essence, the working dog learns to detect drugs by seeking his toy during retrieval exercises. Obedience Training Using Praise as a Reward This approach is good when training a very people-oriented dog and in tune with his humans. When we want to reward good dog behavior, especially when house training, we use praise with food rewards. Often, praise is used in conjunction with toy rewards, clicker training, or food rewards. Occasionally, a dog trainer may use praise and attention alone to teach certain obedience training commands.
chihuahua bulldog puppies - Pugs will eat as much as you give them. Measure your pug's food and feed him small meals at scheduled times. As he ages, decrease how often he eats. He should eat four times a day. High-quality dry foods and wet foods are nutrient-dense, so your little guy will not need as much of it as he would lower-quality foods. You can find high-quality puppy foods in pet stores and at your veterinary clinic. Avoid semi-moist puppy foods because they contain high amounts of sugar. Adjust the amount so he is still getting his daily requirement. He may want more; but as long as he is at a healthy weight, don't start giving him extra food. Pugs gain weight easily. Obesity in pugs can lead to muscle and joint problems, diabetes and heart disease. It is doubtful that you will need to increase the amount of food per day even though your pug is growing. Your vet may suggest that you decrease the amount of food if your pug is starting to gain weight. Some owners prefer to continue the twice-a-day feedings because pugs have a smaller stomach than larger dogs. It's hard for them to digest a large amount in one feeding. It is now time to consider adult food. Introduce the new food slowly so he doesn't have difficulty digesting it. If you are concerned that your pug is not getting enough to eat, look at his shape. He should be broad at the shoulders and narrower beyond the shoulders, with a slight widening in the rump area. If his shape is square, he is getting too much food. More Articles. You may find yourself on the dog food isle trying to make sense of all the ingredients, types of foods and categories. And all you want to know is… How often and what should I feed my Pug? Every dog is different, every type of food has its specific quantities and it even varies between brands. Start simple and figure out all the details and methods. I have collected information about the different types, brands pros and cons of dog feeding to try and give an unbiased as much as I can look, so you can make a better-informed choice which will be right for you and your Pug. Remember, people care deeply about their dogs and will often get very emotional about the health and feeding they chose. Having been the owner of a pet store, I have learned that although I have my personal preferences and very good reasons for them, others may have different choices and they believe they are the right ones for them. There are a lot of issues to consider. How Many times a day should I feed My Pug? A mature Pug can easily live a healthy life with one meal which provides all his nutritional needs. In most cases, it is more convenient for both us and the pug to split this to two meals. If your Pug had a full meal in the morning, be sure he will nag you like crazy in the afternoon. Puppies have smaller stomachs and need, relative to their size, a larger quantity of food so it is better to break it up to three or even four meals a day. If you are around your Pug all day and prefer to give 4 meals a day to a mature dog, there is no harm in it, as long as the overall daily quantity stays the same. Free Buffet or Set meals? Pugs are notorious for becoming overweight and need to be limited to a set amount. If your Pug is not typical in that sense, you are welcome to put the full daily portion in the bowl and see how long it lasts. One more reason for set meals is monitoring. You want to know how much you Pug eats. If you want your Pug to lose weight, you need to know how much he is eating in order to cut down. On the flip side, if your Pug is not eating the usual amounts it may be an indication of a medical condition. What food do Pugs Eat? Pugs love food. They love treats, dry food, wet food, table scraps, raw meat, cooked meat, spicy meat and meat gone bad. In rural areas and farms, they may have also got more meaty scraps. Our Pugs who grew up with Emperors and Royalty were probably treated to high quality scraps. Today, dry bagged kibble or canned wet food are the standard for most homes, although there is a growing number of people and companies promoting more natural diets of either raw or cooked food for dogs. Every type of food claims to be the healthiest, more appropriate, tailored and nutritional. Kibble Kibble is the most common dog food available and has become the staple for the average dog. Pros of Kibble The makers of dry food claim it has the most balanced and scientifically based formulas to provide the best nutrition for a dog. They also tailor these formulas to dogs of different size, breed, age or other needs. Even the most discerning dog owners should be able a composition to satisfy them. The ingredient list is unclear and misleading. There are numerous food recalls yearly. There are websites dedicated just to keep up with the recalls. Teeth are going to need cleaning. Wet canned food Aside from the meatier texture and the higher water content, there is little difference between kibble and the canned, wet counterpart. The ingredients can be similar and so are the health benefits. Some dog owners report that wet food makes for softer stools when fed exclusively. Many dog owners will give a combination of wet and dry food. Home cooked As with human food there is a growing number of people fed up Pun intended with commercial and over engineered food. Raw food Also called the BARF Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods , the idea behind it is that the dogs digestive system has not evolved as their behavior, and much like wild dogs or wolves, they should eat the equivalent to small animals they would pray on in nature. Since dogs are also scavengers this diet will include some vegetables, berries etc. The pros As with the home-cooked diet, you have total control of ingredients and quality No preservatives, additives, fillers etc. You need to learn how to make, takes time Ingredients like bones and internal organs may not be available in your area. Can be pricy. Even More expensive if buying ready and frozen. Takes freezer space Raw Disclaimer I am a little bias towards raw food. I used to own a pet food store specializing in raw food for cats and dogs and I have been feeding my own Pugs raw food for over twelve years. Obviously, I am very happy with the raw diet and its outcomes as switching to dry food would have been easy and cheap. I believe it is the better choice for myself and my dogs. I believe I have presented the facts fairly objectively as far as the other feeding options go. There is no standard or way to measure what natural is and what the added value of it is other then the origin of it. Natural color could come from some secretion of an insect. Special Needs Puppies These little ones need the most nutritious and high-quality food you can find. If you want to find an economic way to feed your dog, please do it later in his life. Allergies Pugs are relatively sensitive to allergies. In some cases, this is due to an external source such as home detergents, but more often than not it has to do with their diet. There are a few brands that you can try with low, or no grain. If you are feeding your pug home cooked food or a raw diet, taking the carbs and grain out would be easy. Our Pugs were and are on a raw diet from day one and we never had any issues with allergies, except for one time. We started noticing that Preston had pinkish skin around his paws and around the nose fold. Since we owned a pet food store specializing in raw food, at the time convenient, I know we tried different types of meats, but nothing helped. It took us some time to realize the cause. We had our baby daughter at the time, and since she was very close and intimate with Preston, and he was eating raw, we made sure to wipe his mouth and feet with baby wipes after every meal. The baby wipes were the culprits. We switched them both to hypo-allergenic wipes and the skin went back to normal… Hip Dysplasia Pugs are ranked as one of the breeds with the highest chances of suffering from Hip Dysplasia. This can lead to trouble in walking and running and arthritis may follow as well. If your Pug is suffering from Hip Dysplasia to any extent you may want to either supplement their diet with Chondroitin and Glucosamine or to choose a brand that is made for joint support. Vets and nutrition. Having said that, if I needed nutritional advice, I would go to a nutritionist and not to my Doctor. The nutrition training vets get in many schools is provided by agents of the commercial food companies who are bias at best. Skipping meals Dogs will sometimes skip a meal. It is natural for them as food is not something that was always available on daily base. It is not typical for Pugs but it may happen. If it happens it will probably be a one meal deal. If your Pug misses a few meals in a row you may want to consult a vet. Treats and snacks I try and think of treats and snacks the same way I think of candy for my daughters. If the amount of treats your Pug is rivals the actual food, in quantity, you should reconsider or at least re calculate it. If you are using kibble both at meals and as treats for training, and your stubborn Pug ends up consuming a lot of treats, just take it off the next meal. The same goes for snacks. They should be a part of the total daily feeding and not extra. How long can a pug go without eating? An adult Pug can probably survive many days without food, but no Pug would stand for it. Unless your Pug has a medical condition, he will surely let you know he is hungry. Do make sure that your Pug is not deprived of fresh drinking water at all times. More so if the weather is hot and if he is on a dry food diet and has no other source of hydration. What if my Pug is overweight? Pugs love to eat and have a tendency to eat too much. A chubby Pug is very cute, but at some point, it becomes a health issue. Overweight Pugs may suffer from a wide range of conditions and or aggravate others. Conclusion Food is an important part of your Pugs life and will directly affect his health and well-being. Do make sure you know what your Pug is eating, the quality as well as the quantities. Actually, yes. This is an actual condition called Eye Displacement or Proptosis. It is not a common occurrence but with extreme trauma or circumstances it may happen. In most cases the condition is treatable. More on the condition here… Are Pugs Loving? Pugs have been bred as companion dogs for over two thousand years. Being with people is almost in their DNA. So yes, Pugs love to cuddle, snuggle and just be in contact or as close as they can to their human friends. More on Pug Love here. Best Dog Foods for Pugs Choosing the right dog food for a Pug is essential as this will ensure that it gets proper nutrition. However, this can be challenging and time-consuming, considering that there is a lot to choose from. Whether you choose to feed your Pug commercial, homemade food, or raw food, make sure that they are of good quality and recommended by a trusted veterinarian. Proper nutrition is one of the factors that affect their lifespan. Below is a list of the best dog food choices for your Pug: Dry Food: One of the best options for Pugs is dry dog food as it is widely available, cheap, and has a long shelf life. These are packed with all the nutrients essential for your Pug. Wet Food: Wet dog food is another good option for Pugs. Its flavor and texture make it more appealing to Pugs than dry food. Wet food contains fewer grains, making it healthier and easier to digest. However, wet canned food has a shorter shelf life and should be consumed immediately after opening. Wet foods are also more expensive than dry foods. Homemade Food: Your Pug may benefit from cooked food consisting of chicken, eggs, fish, rice, and vegetables. The process is time-consuming, but it is less expensive and more convenient in the long run, especially if you plan on giving them a grain-free diet. Raw Food: Raw food diet for most Pugs results in better digestion, healthy skin, and a stronger immune system in Pugs. Mixing any of the aforementioned food choices is also good. Hence, you may want to try dog food alternatives to fit your budget. With their sensitive little stomachs, some foods can be poisonous, cause allergic reactions, and can even be lethal. Below is a list of food that you should completely avoid feeding to your Pug: Alcohol: Any amount of alcohol is hazardous for Pugs. Pugs do not have the enzyme to metabolize alcohol. Ingestion can cause hypoglycemia , metabolic acidosis , breathing problems, and central nervous system CNS impairment. Avocado: Avocado contains persin , a fungicidal toxin that has been linked to the death of many animals, including Pugs. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and heart damage in large quantities. As a result, even small amounts of chocolate can cause poisoning. Grapes and raisins: Grapes and raisins contain tartaric acid , which causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and kidney failure among Pugs. Unfortunately, even one whole grape can cause irreversible damage and death in small breeds like Pugs. Macadamia nuts and walnuts: While the exact reason why they are poisonous is unknown, it is best to avoid giving them to your Pugs entirely. In Pugs, macadamia and walnuts can cause diarrhea, weakness, breathing problems, and pancreatitis. Onion, garlic, leeks, and chives: All these vegetables contain N-propyl disulfide , which damages the oxygen-carrying substances in red blood cells. Ingestion of these vegetables can eventually lead to hemolytic anemia. Xylitol: In Pugs, xylitol can cause a rapid release of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia, lethargy, collapse, and seizures. It is frequently found in gums, candies, syrups, and toothpaste. Pugs should avoid the foods listed above at all costs. Food with high sugar content: If your Pug consumes too much sugar, it is more likely to develop health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay. Food with high sugar content can also give Pugs an upset stomach. Salty food: Just like sugar, too much salt can cause health problems in Pugs. If left unchecked, it has the potential to poison your Pug. Excessive salt consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and kidney failure. Milk and dairy products: Because the majority of Pugs are lactose intolerant , dairy products can make them sick. They will have digestive problems because they are unable to break down lactose. This causes gastrointestinal blockage and death if left unattended. If you think your Pug has accidentally ingested any of the aforementioned foods, bring your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic for appropriate treatment. Transitioning to a new brand or type of food may be beneficial to their well-being and development. For most dogs, transitioning to new dog food can be difficult. Fortunately, Pugs are not born picky eaters, so changing their diet will be easier. The ideal transition for Pugs should be gradual changes spread over three weeks. Do this until they are comfortable with the new food. Below is a more detailed breakdown of how to transition your Pug to a new food: Days. Still, you may discover information about how much to feed a Pug puppy here if you were unaware of the specifics before. Pugs are very food-motivated and will do just about anything for a tasty treat. Unfortunately, pugs gain weight as fast as any other dog breed. You are, supposedly, what you eat. The pug is a little dog, so even a slight increase in weight might be noticeable. Because of their tiny stature and low activity levels, pug pups have a lower caloric need than puppies of other breeds. Because of their unique nutritional needs, small-breed puppies should be fed food that has been developed particularly for them. Furthermore, make sure the puppy food you choose has all the nutrients it needs, and ask your physician for recommendations on how much and how often to feed the puppy. By the age of three to four weeks, you may begin feeding your puppy solid food. Mix equal parts of puppy chow and milk replacer as a first step. Give a little bit teaspoons many times a day. Weaning off of milk and onto solid food is complete when a pug puppy reaches this age. Independence from their mother and siblings and other littermates may begin to emerge. Puppies may start interacting socially and maturing rapidly at this age. Water should be kept fresh at all times. This is a good age to start teaching children to use the restroom without assistance. At this age, pug pups are full of energy and wonder. As they become older, puppies often become more receptive to training and socializing. There may be a period of boundary testing when they need constant guidance in training and socializing. Baby teeth may start falling out and adult teeth emerging in puppies. Proper potty training should have been completed. They may begin to express themselves more openly and build their own identities. Get started on the changeover to puppy food for adult dogs. They may test limits and need ongoing socialization and discipline. Make sure they get lots of exercise to keep their weight in check. Their interests and preferences in playthings and other pursuits may become more clearly defined. Maintain a high volume of physical activity and intellectual challenge. Pug pups achieve their full size at this point, however they may continue to gain weight. As puppies become older, they often become more devoted to their families and develop stronger bonds with them. The amount they eat should be adjusted based on their weight. At reaching adulthood, pugs often slow down and spend more time lounging. They may set in their ways, but they can still be taught new tricks with enough repetition. Aging symptoms in adult pugs include the development of gray hair and a general slowing down of activity. Understanding Pug Puppy Nutritional Needs Depending on factors including their age, weight, and level of activity, the calorie needs of Pug puppies might change over time. Pug puppies, on the whole, may need anything from to calories each day. The food of a Pug puppy should consist of between 22 and 25 percent protein, since this is the macronutrient most crucial for promoting healthy muscle and tissue development. Consuming between 8 and 10 percent of their calories from fat is recommended for optimal health and energy levels. To maintain a healthy skin and coat, they need omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well. High-quality commercial puppy chow designed for pups is what you should be feeding your Pug. The growth and development of pug pups may be supported by feeding them multiple little meals throughout the day. Feeding them three to four times a day till they are roughly six months old is the norm. To figure out how often and how much to feed your Pug puppy, talk to your vet. Having access to clean water at all times is also crucial. Puppies of the Pug breed need three meals every day. For ages 8 weeks to 6 months, try to stick to this schedule for feedings. As soon as your Pug reaches 6 months of age, you may begin reducing the number of times each day it is fed to twice. Kibble is practical since it may aid in the prevention of tartar accumulation and can be stored easily. Yet, the added moisture provided by wet foods may aid in the fight against dehydration and support efficient digestion. Wet food may have a better texture and flavor for certain Pug pups, while kibble may be a better choice for others. You should talk to your vet about what kind of food and how often you should feed your Pug puppy. Yet the specific time might vary from dog to dog based on their nutritional requirements. To prevent stomach trouble, the change should be made slowly over the course of a few weeks. Puppy anorexia may be caused by several things, including sickness, dental issues, stress, and dietary or habit changes. In the meanwhile, you may try introducing a new kind of food or moistening their normal kibble with a little quantity of wet food or broth to pique their interest. Do not feed your Pug puppy any human food or table scraps since this might cause gastric discomfort and other health issues. Pugs have a tendency toward becoming overweight and overeating, which may lead to a host of medical complications. Instead, you should make sure your Pug puppy is receiving the right quantity of food by sticking to a regular feeding schedule and controlling portions. This may improve general conduct and aid in the process of teaching toilet independence. This formula is designed for purebred Pugs. Little dogs with short muzzles may easily pick up and chew the kibble design. This meal supports Pug immunological, skin, and digestive health with antioxidants and important nutrients. Supports digestive health 2. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins strengthen bones and teeth in this specifically prepared combination. Vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants for immune system, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and hair No corn, wheat, soy, or chicken or poultry by-product meal Cons May contain artificial flavors 3. This puppy chow supports strong muscles and a healthy heart by starting with high-quality protein. Antioxidants and natural glucosamine will maintain his joints for a lifetime of sports. Pros Protein-rich chicken is the first ingredient DHA aids puppy brain and visual development Four antioxidants boost immunity Omega-6, vitamins, and minerals for skin and coat No artificial flavors or preservatives. Aug 25, Share An important part of taking good care of your Pug puppy is making sure that they are properly fed and that they get all the nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and if your Pug is like most, they seem to like anything that they are fed. Luckily, there are many commercial foods available on the market. There is also the raw doggy food diet that seems to keep getting more popular as time goes on. But what kind of dog food is right for your Pug? How much should you be feeding them? What will the dog not eat? Are there special considerations for a senior Pug? The answers to these questions and more can be found in our Pug feeding guide below. What you do decide to feed your pooch should be based on the quality of the food, no matter the type, and your personal feeding preferences. Here is what can be on the table for your Pug. Image credit: PxHere Commercial Dry Food Kibble Commonly referred to as kibble, commercial dry dog food is the most common and widely available option on the market. Manufacturers of this type of food work hard to balance the ingredients and create a completely balanced nutritional profile for dogs like your Pug. In fact, some brands, like Royal Canin, offer puppy and adult foods made just for Pugs. Whether you choose a dry dog food made just for Pugs or one made for dogs in general, it should include real meat or animal meal as one of the first ingredients on the list. The upside to commercial dry dog food is that it is affordable and easy to administer. It is also typically easy to store for the long term without worrying about it spoiling. The downside is that it tends to be dehydrating, so water should be available to your Pug throughout the day. Commercial Wet Food Commercially made wet dog food tends to be more nutrient-dense than dry food because it contains fresher ingredients and usually has fewer grains, if any at all. Most wet foods have real whole meat or seafood and broth as the first ingredients. Sometimes, veggies are thrown in for good measure, but many are meat-centric to meet the high protein needs of your growing Pug. Wet food is not as easy to store as dry food is, because it must be refrigerated after being opened. However, Pugs tend to enjoy the flavor and texture of wet food more than dry. Wet food is also a little more expensive than dry food, especially when trying to feed Pugs that are full-grown and in their prime. Raw Food A raw food diet is said to result in better digestion, a healthier coat and immune system , optimal dental health, and less susceptibility to allergies among other things. A raw food diet typically consists of quality meat, a source of calcium such as bones , animal organs, and a lower fat count than most commercial foods offer. Feeding your Pug a raw food diet will take commitment and a strong understanding of the nutrition that they need. This type of diet can be expensive and can require storage space in the fridge and freezer. It is recommended that you consult with a veterinarian to put together a complete meal plan to follow if you choose to go this route. It is a freeze-dried raw food supplement that is delicious and nutritious. The process requires about a day of cooking in the kitchen, but the time that you spend in your kitchen should yield enough food for your pooch to eat all week long. You will just have to store the leftovers in the fridge each day until the entire batch has been offered and consumed. Homemade dog food usually consists of whole meat like chicken, eggs, fish oil or flaxseed, brown or white rice, possibly vegetables like carrots and peas , and maybe even supplements of some kind. It depends on what kind of recipe you decide to follow. Any recipe that you consider feeding your dog should be approved by your veterinarian first. But you can quickly tell whether your pooch is being underfed or overfed by checking out their physique every day. If your dog is underfed for too long, you could notice signs like lethargy and an unwillingness to interact with family members. If your dog is overfed, they may succumb to problems like diabetes. If you find that your dog is getting underweight, start feeding them up to an extra cup of food each day. Reduce the amount by up to a cup if your dog is getting pudgy and out of shape. To help avoid under and overfeeding your dog, follow the feeding directions on the packaging of any commercial food you buy for them. If you decide to go the raw or homemade food route, your veterinarian can provide you with a feeding guide. You are free to use this image, but please give credit back to Hepper. Extra immune support is also typically present in puppy food. Once Pugs become adults, they are not as active as when they were pups, and they are not growing at exponential rates, if at all. Therefore, they need food with less protein than what puppies get. Pugs can typically switch to adult dog food between the ages of 9 and 12 months because much of their growth will be complete at this time. The tricky part is the actual process of switching your pooch from puppy to adult dog food. If not done slowly and intentionally, switching to a new food can cause digestion issues for your dog that could create messes around the house. Lethargy and nausea may follow. Finally, offer only adult food. There are many reasons why your Pug might seem like they do not have an appetite. The first thing to consider is whether you are overfeeding them. If your pooch does not want to eat their last meal of the day, they could simply be full and satisfied. However, other issues could lead to a pup not eating such as: Dental Problems. If your Pug has a toothache or some other kind of dental problem, they may not be comfortable eating. Check for red gums, bleeding, and tenderness throughout the mouth. If something unusual is detected, consult your veterinarian immediately for guidance. Recent Vaccinations. Vaccines can cause side effects, including a lack of appetite. So, if your Pug does not seem to want to eat for a day or two after getting vaccinated, this is normal. Uncomfortable Surroundings. If your pooch goes on an adventure with you and is expected to eat their meal in a situation that is not familiar to them, they may pass on the meal altogether in favor of waiting until they get to what they feel is a safe space to eat. Even if your dog seems fine in every other way, a lack of wanting to eat could mean an illness of some kind is brewing. If you cannot find any other reason for a lack of appetite, you should see your vet as soon as possible. Adult Pugs will generally eat about a cup of dry commercial dog food each day or the equivalent, although certain differences might scale this amount up or down as time goes on. Here are the most important factors to consider. Active vs. Sedentary More active dogs will require more food than those that tend to be sedentary. If your pooch takes multiple walks every day, spends a great deal of time playing with kids throughout the day, or enjoys outdoor time with family members each afternoon, chances are that your dog will need a little more food than the average pooch. If your pooch takes only one short walk each day and spends most of their time lounging around the house, chances are that they should be fed as sedentary dogs. Spayed vs. Neutered Sometimes, dogs that are not spayed or neutered eat more than the average pooch. This is because they tend to be more active and excitable, which results in the need for more calories to support their energy needs. Pregnancy Pregnant Pugs need up to twice the amount of food that an adult dog would need. Instead of feeding your pregnant dog puppy or adult food, consider a food designed for all life stages that indicates its suitability for pregnancy. This type of food offers more protein and fat than adult food to support the extra growth they go through, but not as much as puppy food, which could make them overweight after the birth. What Foods Are Bad for Pugs? Image By: Momentmal, Pixabay There are a few foods that you should never feed your Pug to ensure their good health and to avoid serious problems like poisoning and even death. Here are a few food items that should be avoided at all costs: Alcohol. And the total number of dogs all breeds in the reports are .So while this is something that should be monitored and many more studies need to be done, it's important to keep in mind that this is a very small number compared to the estimated 77 million dogs in the U. The latest update is that there are no recalls at this moment that are linked to this issue. The Best Food for Pug Puppies and Adults What to Avoid: Quite a few ingredients that are found in a lot of dog food brands can be severely detrimental to a Pug and cause everything from allergic reactions itching, rashes, wheezing, running eyes, etc. Corn which includes as corn germ meal, corn gluten meal, and corn bran High grain counts which includes high levels of wheat, oats, barley, and other cereal grains which may be listed as hominy feed. Rice can be an exception; with rice, the hull, bran layer, and cereal germ is removed and for this reason, rice is often tolerated very well. By-products which are animal body parts deemed unfit for human consumption and can include brain, lungs, undeveloped eggs, and more. Generic meats or oils which can legally include roadkill and deceased zoo animals. What to Look For: All-natural preservatives; there are vitamin blends that work very well to preserve dog food and this often will show as mixed tocopherols. Natural flavoring Protein will come from wholesome animal sources including chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, bison, and beef. There will be no by-products or generic meats. If you offer grains, gluten-free grains are usually best. No other fillers or controversial additives. Helpful extras such as glucosamine and chondroitin beneficial for joint health , omega-3, 6 for healthy skin and coat , probiotics for immune health and antioxidants to help prevent disease. Some of the best food for Pugs includes: Best Formulas with Grains: 1. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. The base of this kibble is turkey and oatmeal which is easy on the stomach for most Pugs. There is also salmon, brown rice, peas, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples. There are excellent levels of a wide-range of vitamins and minerals, good levels of omega-3 and 6, and glucosamine and chondroitin which are extremely beneficial joint supplements for Pugs. This is made in the US. Note that this offers puppy and adult formulas as well as 'healthy weight' for Pugs that need to lose a few pounds, and a senior formula. This line of Halo offers holistic recipes. This one has non-GMO produce and meats that are antibiotic-free and hormone-free with factory-free farming. The grains in this are oatmeal and pearled barley which are generally known for being well-tolerated. This is sized ideally for Pugs, and has no artificial additives, by-products, or corn. And, this is made in the US. Best Grain-free Formulas: 1. This is one of the best grain-free kibbles for Pugs; it's really top-of-the-line. The base is chicken and turkey. There is a wide selection of vegetables and fruits compared to some other brands spinach, broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, apples and blueberries. Levels of omega fatty acids are ideal, via both salmon oil and flaxseed. And, there are good levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which as mentioned earlier are important for joint health. There is no corn, wheat, by-products, fillers, or artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives and this is made in the USA. This is another excellent choice that is formulated for dogs under 70 lbs. There are several great bases including lamb, beef, chicken, and salmon. There are zero chemical preservatives and no artificial ingredients. Added extras are healthy antioxidants, omega-3 and 6, and the very important glucosamine and chondroitin which are very beneficial for breeds like the Pug that are prone to joint and hip issues. This is a holistic kibble that offers non-GMO veggies and fruits and sustainably-sourced wild-caught fish and is ideal for Pugs that are carrying a few extra pounds. The base is salmon and whitefish, so most dogs love the taste. There are no chemical preservatives, corn, by-products, coloring, or fillers. Switching a Pug onto a Different Food If you just got a new Pug puppy, you may want to feed your little guy or gal something different than what was being given. And in many instances, this will be a good idea. The sooner you start your pup on a superior food that you've chosen yourself, the better. If you have an adult Pug, you may decide to switch foods due to an intolerance to certain ingredients some dogs do best with certain proteins like beef as opposed to chicken or vice-versa or maybe you realized that your Pug was not on the brand and you want to make a change. No matter the circumstances, if at all possible, it is best to change to a new brand of dog food in a gradual way because a quick switch can disrupt the digestive system. The goal should be a incremental change over the course of 3 weeks. Home Cooking Owners decide to home cook for their dogs for a variety of reasons: It can be less expensive; though, this depends quite a bit on what you buy and if you can purchase ingredients in bulk. It may be done to fully avoid preservatives, additives, by-products and other subpar ingredients; you know exactly what you are putting in. This can help avoid an intolerance or allergic reaction to an unknown ingredient. It is very flexible and adjustable. It can be a good choice for picky eaters. Other sources include beans such as lima beans, kidney beans, and butter beans must be cooked. Vegetables - This includes peas, carrots, spinach, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, and butternut squash. You can also offer asparagus, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli in moderation since these foods can cause gas, Pumpkin in moderation is fine but typically reserved to help ease upset stomach issues. Fruits - This includes blueberries, raspberries both are low calorie, high in antioxidants, and water-packed , strawberries, huckleberries, banana, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mango, kiwi, pear, peaches no pit , plums no pit , nectarines no pit , fresh pineapple, and apple no core, no seeds. Additional - This includes oatmeal plain , white or brown rice if no intolerance , quinoa, potato, sweet potato, cottage cheese, plain whole white yogurt, and eggs most dogs do best with scrambled eggs vs. Read more about home cooking for a Pug. Snacks and Treats We've covered the frequency of giving snacks and treats, but let's recap. Dry snacks, meant to satiate a dog in between meals should be given 3 to 4 times per day. And moist treats, meant to reward training and reinforce good behavior, should be given as needed. Now, the question remains on what to offer. All snacks and treats should be held to the same high standards that you have in place for your Pug's meals, meaning no synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, soy, corn, by-products, high wheat levels, or generic meats. If your Pug's calorie intake needs to be carefully watched due to issues with weight gain, there will also be a need to opt for some low-calorie treats. And, to see more options, including moist treats for giving reward, continue on to the best snacks and treats for Pugs. After 2 to 3 days, if the problem has resolved, adding in additional ingredients can be done. Any diarrhea lasing longer than 3 days or moderate to severe vomiting lasting more than 12 hours should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian. Water Different elements will dictate just how much water a Pug dog requires , though a general rule of thumb is that each day, dogs need to drink about 1 ounce for each 1 pound. Offer bottled spring water or use a filter device like the. Related Articles: When a Pug is a Picky Eater - If you find yourself constantly scrambling to find foods that your Pug likes and their taste buds seem to change weekly, this will help you get things back on track. When a Pug is Always Hungry - If your Pug's appetite is ferocious and nothing seems to satisfy, these issues may be at the root of the problem. When a Pug Won't Eat - If your Pug puppy or dog refuses to eat or getting them to eat feels like a chore, these tips will help. How to Stop a Pug from Begging - If your Pug wants your food and is relentless about getting it, these guidelines will help stop this sort of behavior. Top 10 Pug Dog Eating Problems - A roundup of the most common eating-related issues seen with this breed and exact steps to resolve them. Do you have your book? All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. For a more detailed growth milestone description, check out our sections below to see how and when you should switch your pug puppy from nursing to solid food. This case or scenario usually happens if the litter is too large and the mother is not healthy enough to supply milk to all of them. It also happens when some members of the litter overpower the other, causing some puppies to be thinner. The third week is usually the best time to start training your puppy with solid food. Again, talk to your vet if your puppy is already capable of handling such food before you start, or you can do a taste test. Most pet owners mix water and puppy food so that the pug puppy will easily digest it. Keep in mind to not let the food go bad and remove it from their cage or quarters after 20 minutes of not being eaten to avoid bacterial contamination. However, you should be mindful of the puppy food that you put in. Ask for advice from your vet, especially if your pug puppy experiences food allergies. However, this will vary depending on when you start feeding your puppy with solid food. The nursing amount during this period will be very minimal. Half a cup of food is still the recommended daily amount for your pug puppy. However, you have the option to extend the number of feedings up to 4 per day. This is especially if your puppy gets hungry more often due to growth spurts. Feel free to supplement their daily food if you see them even more active than the usual pugs. Always make their food healthy as much as possible by providing plenty amounts of protein and little to no artificial flavorings and fillers. This is also the time when your puppy can be re-homed or adopted. They should be fully weaned by 8 weeks of age. However, if you will be the one to adopt, listen carefully so that you know what to feed your puppy. It helps to create a checklist and written schedule so that your puppy feeds properly and with the same type of food that the breeder gave to them. If you have to switch to a different brand of food due to unavailability or other reasons, make sure to address it first and ask for a counterpart. Be wary that food changes should be done over days. This includes doing a portion ratio of for the new food to the old food, gradually increasing the new food after every few days. However, if you are feeding wet food, make it 3 times a day instead, and it should be four ounces in total. Again, consult our puppy chart above or talk to your vet about changes in their weight to know if they are underfed or overweight. Treats should be counted in their daily calories and should be limited to avoid weight issues. Recommended Food Pugs generally need a combination of healthy ingredients to manage their weight. Dry food or kibble is typically the best choice for pug owners who live in a place near the shorelines where food can go bad quickly. If you have kibble that is rich in omega fatty acids, it will help your coat and skin to stay healthy, as well as to maintain a healthy tummy and keep them away from most canine illnesses. Protein-rich wet food If you want to feed your pug puppy wet or canned food, make sure it has fewer preservatives and more nutrients and protein. Wet or canned food is also better for puppies that need hydration. Carrots and similar vegetables Pug puppies work best with carrots not just because of their vitamin A content but also their crunchiness. Glucosamine-rich foods Look for glucosamine foods such as those with fish and chicken, as well as seafood. Pug puppies can be prone to joint problems if not taken care of concerning their diet. Glucosamine and chondroitin can help fight the onset of hip dysplasia. Like chocolate, caffeine is also not suitable for canines due to its toxicity to their digestive system. They will only cause your pug pup to become obese if they take too much of it. Instead, stick to whole meat and protein sources. Foods with too much fat This includes fats that come from various meat sources. Instead, do it in weeks or so. Build up their daily dish with a ratio of adult and puppy food. Gradually decrease the old puppy food while increasing the adult food, until only the adult food is left. You might ask: why should I do the transition slowly? Their tummies might get shocked if you feed them with a different kind of food right away, so get them used to a little bit of the new food first. What should I do if my pug puppy refused to eat? A possible problem with your pug pup could be a toothache or something related to their dental health. Have them check with their vet to see if they have something wrong with their teeth or gums. Aside from that, if they have recently moved from one home to another, they could also feel stressed and overwhelmed if they are in a new environment. This causes them to not eat at all or only eat a few bites of the food. Moreover, getting vaccinated could also be a possible cause of the loss of appetite. Raw feeding a Pug puppy Raw food is okay to be fed to your pug puppy. However, it must be done with care because too much or too little amount of certain foods will lead to a lack of nutrients that they need. For example, you might give too much protein but not much calcium and other vitamins to your puppy. Another possible challenge with raw food is the time for preparation. If you are a very busy person, raw feeding might not be your forte since it requires shopping for the right ingredients and calculating the correct amount of food nutrients for your puppy. Conclusion As a whole, pug puppies should be fed with care, especially with watching their calorie intake and meal portions. We hope this guide helped you in feeding your pug puppy properly! This feeding routine should be followed from 8 weeks to 6 months old. But how much food should that be exactly in each feeding session. How many cups of food should I feed my Pug puppy and adults? Before you check out this Pug feeding chart below, you may just want a quick reference to how many cups of food you need to feed a Pug. The common guidelines say you should feed a Pug puppy of 8 to 20 weeks different cup sizes depending on their weight and age. You can see the cup amounts in the chart here: Puppy feeding amounts This Pug puppy feeding chart explains just how many cups of food you should give them and the regularity. It will be 3 times a day, then twice a day as they get older. As your Pug ages, the number of cups of food you need to him or her will change, as will the regularity. Take a look at the guidance in the graphic below. Adult feeding amounts This is feeding chart for adult Pugs explaining how many cups and how often in the day the feeding times should be. The Pug feeding charts you see above have been scanned from the Royal Canin brand of dog food. This is a very trusted brand, and you will find it being sold in vets all over the world. It contains all the nutrients your Pug puppy will need and is great for starting out with and into adult ages. Almost every time, this happens by the age of 3 weeks; and puppies should not leave their mother until at least 8 weeks of age. They will be like eating machines at this age because they have so much energy to burn. You could also try to sit your Pug down on some scales, but good luck with trying to make them sit still. Instead you can weigh yourself if you have accurate scales, and then get someone to pass you your Pug puppy to see what the difference is. The age of your Pug You might find it hard to get your Pug used to commercial dry food at first. The commercial puppy food should be high enough in calories and nutrients to make up for what they used to get from their mother. In terms of adjusting for their ages, Pug puppies of 8 to 12 weeks old can have one and half cups of food each day, split into 3 servings. By the ages of 6 to 9 months, Pug puppies will be in a regular eating routine where they drop to two meals a day — and this is how it will stay as adults. The dangers of over-feeding Some Pug owners might decide to go to 4 meals a day, but still with the same amount of food. This is because tinier Pugs might find the half a cup 3 times daily, too much of a large meal. Overfeeding is something to keep a strict eye on. If you feed your Pug puppy too much, he could get gastric dilatation-volvulus see definition on ACVS. This is the medical term for a twisted gut and can actually be fatal. Feeding more senior Pugs As Pugs get older, they will start to get less active. With reduced levels of energy comes the need for a lower calorie intake. But only if they are reducing their exercise due to age. With an older Pug you might start to see them putting on weight. If you do see weight gain, start to pull back on the portion sizes. Sometimes your vet may even recommend you go to a higher frequency of daily meals albeit smaller portions , almost like they are puppies again. With senior dogs this can help with weaker stomachs. Overweight or underweight? The average Pug puppy will weigh between 2 and 4 pounds at 8 weeks. These are healthy weight ranges. If you do have a Pug puppy who is clearly underweight, start to add a little bit more food to each of the daily meals until they come back into the health weight range. With overweight Pugs you do the exact opposite but mix more exercise into their daily routines as well. Handy Hint: If your Pug is losing or gaining weight and how much food they eat makes no difference, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. Health problems related to Pug feeding Not all dogs are the same, and all the guidance on this page is very generic towards how much you should feed a Pug. The bottom line is that your vet will be able to properly tell you how much your Pug should eat due to their age and weight. Raw food vs. I understand why people feed their dog raw food though; they say commercial food has too many additives plus preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and proteins. Consult with your vet for a professional opinion. Pugs that eat their food far too quickly You should also monitor how quickly your Pug is eating. Puppies are used to having to compete for food, and even when they are home alone with you, they will still have an instinct to wolf their food down. This can cause indigestion and vomiting, so there are a few things you can do to slow their intake down. Use a muffin tin evenly spread the portions throughout the tin. The best dry dog foods should have a high percentage of meats and fish in. Omega-3s are healthy fats, so those will also be a good sign if listed. All of the notes and guidance are based on my own personal experience of raising puppies, with exception to the feeding schedule which is from the Canin dog food brand. However, the Canin Pug feeding charts you see, are exactly how I have fed my puppies and adult dogs. Once your dog reaches adulthood, the best times to feed your Pug will be breakfast and dinner times. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Pug will stay at healthy as our dogs have! You might also like… If you have found this useful and are new to Pug ownership, you might find these other handy guides useful during the puppy phase:.
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chihuahua bulldog puppies - At this shelter, Rex suffered seizures, which are now well controlled with medication. Rex also suffered from irritable bowel syndrome a very messy condition , which requires prescription food and medication in order to be completely managed. The treatment and maintenance of these two chronic conditions meant Rex was unlikely to thrive in a shelter environment, but the rescue network saw that this could be a happy dog and connected him with Kingston Animal Rescue. At times, he could not move them properly, they would seize up, and he would drag his back feet until they were bloody or be almost immobile. The amazing animal loving community came together to help get Rex more care, so he went for a specialist visit to Ottawa. This meant the padding between two of his lower, spinal vertebrae was misplaced and being pinched. In early March, Rex had surgery to correct the compression. Following a successful surgery, he underwent rehabilitation to regain his strength and mobility; he was so lucky to find himself in a home dedicated to getting him back on his feet. Rex stabilized, his fosters went above and beyond to see him through each and every issue, which included a thyroid condition and aggressive arthritis. His medical regime requires attentiveness, and symptoms of different conditions will emerge from time to time, but his seizures, irritable bowel disease, pain, and thyroid condition have all found points of relative resolution. Rex medically had stabilized, so his move out to the country in the spring of was a chance for his personality to blossom. Rex has become more patient, engaging and has grown into a great companion in his long-term foster home. He plays with other dogs, diligently watches their chickens, and herds their daughter. Rex is almost never without a ball in his mouth and keeps up with the pack as they rush down to a nearby pond, the almost daily swim has been helpful for regaining mobility. Rex lives a wonderful, shepherd like life. Frosty is a little shy at first, but he does get along with people of all ages as well as other dogs and even cats! Frosty loves the companionship of other dogs and learns a lot from them. Frosty is an absolute love-bug. He is a playful pup who loves running around the back yard, chasing tennis balls, shaking and tossing his squeaky toys, and chewing frozen marrow bones. He loves to lay at your feet at night while you watch TV or snuggle in bed with you if allowed. He will follow you everywhere and lay wherever you are. He walks very well on a leash using a harness. Frosty spent his early life on the end of a chain and would like his new home to have a fenced yard so he can be free to get the puppy zoomies and chase balls! Frosty has already learned many commands and has even had some foundation training in agility. Frosty is a very sweet boy who just worships his people. Frosty is now searching for an active family of his very own. Is there room in your heart and home for a loving, active boy like Frosty? Echo Dogs fosters dogs in many states. Transportation for the adopted dog IS available. Remember, we are an all-volunteer foster rescue organization - we DO NOT have a physical shelter to visit. This would be the responsibility of the adopter at their own expense. To complete an online application: Click here. The Application can be found at the Adoption drop-down menu on the navigation bar above or by clicking here: Echo Dogs Application Form The application is sent electronically to our processing team, where references are checked. Yes, we really do call your references! The information provided to us by your references is kept strictly confidential. We believe that we get honest information by assuring references that we will not disclose to anyone the content of our conversations. You should call your references to let them know that they may be contacted by Echo Dogs. Occasionally, we have encountered some references, such as veterinarians, who are reluctant to speak with us unless they have your permission. It is easier for all of us if you let them know to expect our call. No application can be approved without veterinary and personal references. Either an Echo Dogs volunteer or someone who has agreed to help us usually another rescue group or animal shelter volunteer will contact you to set up the home visit. We will contact you to let you know who will be working with you to find a mutually-convenient time for conducting the home visit. Home visits are not scary!! This is often the most nerve-wracking part of our application approval process -- but it needn't be. The home visit is designed to accomplish three main goals: 1. To verify that the information provided on the application is true and accurate; 2. To determine whether the home has the ability to provide a safe, loving environment for a dog through Echo Dogs; and 3. To help determine the personality of the dog that would best suit the home and family. However, not every dog is appropriate for every home. We will work with you to find the dog that is best suited for your home, family and lifestyle. We want you to get a dog that will enrich your life and delight you and we want each one of our dogs to have a home and family that thinks he or she is the absolute best dog on the planet. Our Adoption Coordinator takes over at this point in the process. She will look at your application and home visit report and will send your application to the foster home that has a dog she thinks you might be interested in. The foster home will either call or e-mail you with some information about the dog. You should ask as many questions as you feel necessary to understand whether this dog is the "one" for you. If you don't think one sounds just right, just let the foster home or the Adoption Coordinator know and we will look for a different dog. If you can tell us why a particular dog didn't appeal to you, it will help us look at other dogs in our program that might be more suitable. Please do not feel pressured to adopt any dog that you aren't absolutely comfortable about adopting! Each of us loves our foster dogs, but we realize that he or she might not be the right dog for every family or home. We do not feel offended or hurt if you decide you would rather adopt a dog other than our personal foster dog. After all, our goal is to get our foster dog into a home where she or he will be truly treasured. Depending on the distances involved, we have various options available, which we can discuss prior to finalize the adoption. Bear in mind, that the transportation, depending on the distances involved, the speed with which you want to receive the dog and sometimes just plain luck, may involve some additional expense and almost always require you to drive some distance to pick up the dog. We keep each of our dogs on Heartgard or Interceptor and Frontline Plus while in foster care. Many of our dogs have received considerably more medical treatment than the above, depending on what they need when they arrive into foster care. If a dog has a chronic condition that is diagnosed while in our care, we will inform you of the diagnosis and the course of treatment that the dog has been receiving while in our care. Just ask!