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Articles Labrador Retrievers are among my favorite dog breeds. There is very little not to love about these dogs, from their looks to their amazing personalities. It is no wonder that they are considered the most popular dog in America and most other parts of the world. I am particularly fond of the rarer aesthetic variations of the Lab breed. The Dudley Labrador is one of these, and in the sections below, you will see why it is such an awesome dog to have. Dudley Labradors are Labrador Retrievers best known for their pink noses. In addition to this distinguishing feature, the dog may have other sections of hypopigmentation, including in the eyes and paw pads. They are usually Yellow Labradors with a specific gene variation that causes reduced pigmentation in these sections. Despite their unique and beautiful looks, Dudley Labradors do not always figuratively fly off the shelves. Here is more on why this is the case and everything else you need to know if you are considering one. What Causes A Dudley Lab? This variation of the Labrador breed is relatively rare and, unfortunately, plagued by controversy despite its beautiful and mystical aesthetic. They are also thought of as less healthy than other Lab variations. While the pink nose does pose health challenges, Dudley Labs are pretty much like any other Labrador Retriever in every way. Its physical features, in particular, are relatively similar to the standard breed. Here are the most important of these for some perspective. The specific shade of yellow varies based on genetics from pale, cream shades to darker, red varieties. The fur is short, straight, and densely packed for a beautiful coat. Size And Build Dudley Labradors are medium to large dogs weighing between 55 and 80 lbs and measuring 21 to 24 inches in height. They are proportionally built with very muscular limbs and wide chests. Eyes The eyes of a Dudley Labrador are oval and wide set on the face. The eye color varies depending on genetics. In most cases, the hypopigmentation responsible for the pink nose also affects the eyes resulting in light colors like blue. The Dudley Lab may also have yellow, hazel, or brown eyes. The ears are also the same distinctly large and floppy type seen with all other Labradors. Image from Instagram: shelby. Some can live for up to 14 years or even more if they are healthy and well taken care of. The Dudley Labrador Retriever variation suffers from more or less the same conditions that other Labradors do. Furthermore, their hypopigmented parts are exposed to additional and unique health issues. For some perspective of what you can expect with your dog, here are some of the most common health issues that face the Dudley Lab. Sunburn This may come as a surprise to many but dogs actually suffer from skin issues like sunburn. This is more common with hypopigmented variations like the Dudley Labrador. The noses of these Lab variations may be seriously sunburnt, especially with prolonged exposure to the sun. Sunburns and continued sun exposure put the Dudley Labrador at a higher risk of developing skin cancer lesions later on in life. Dog Nose Hyperkeratosis Dudley Labradors are also at risk of developing dog nose hyperkeratosis. Progressive Retinal Atrophy Progressive Retinal Atrophy is characterized by slow and irreversible loss of vision on both eyes. Unfortunately, this condition has no cure. However, early discovery allows you to best prepare your Dudley Labrador for their new life through special training. If management through medication, exercise, and diet modification, is not started promptly, hip dysplasia can easily progress to arthritis. This applies both to Dudley Labradors and regular Labs as well as other dog breeds. For some perspective on what a pink nose could indicate, here are some of the problems associated with the trait in dogs. Bacterial Infections Some infections on the nose and in the blood could cause a lightening on the color from black or brown to shades like pink or even white in serious infections. More often than not, these are associated with hyperkeratinization, which results in the formation of crusts. Contact Dermatitis These are allergic reactions triggered by contact with materials that the dog may be allergic to. One of the most commonly implicated triggers when it comes to turning the nose pink is plastic. This can be found everywhere, from food bowls to toys. It may also happen with rubber. With conditions like Albinism, the pink nose will be present from birth onwards. With vitiligo, a Dudley lab may have a dark nose that slowly turns pink. Autoimmune Disorders Some of the most commonly implicated autoimmune conditions when it comes to pink noses in dogs include lupus and pemphigus. These are usually associated with other skin issues, including alopecia as well as general, systemic symptoms. Skin Cancer Another insidious cause of pink nose in dogs is skin cancer. More often than not, the pink nose spots progress to growths or ulcer lesions. It is therefore best to get any new pink spots checked out by a vet just to be safe. This makes them awesome for use as companions, service dogs, and even hunting dogs. Here are some of these awesome personality traits that you have to look forward to. Smart And Eager To Learn One of the best things about having and living with a Dudley Labrador is the fact that they are very easy to train. They are intelligent, obedient, and very eager to learn. All you have to do is be consistent with your training and figure out a reward system that works for your pooch and you should be good to go. Lively Dudley Labradors are very lively dogs. They are vocal and love to stay active and are therefore ideal if you have young children in the home as they match that same energy. If you want your Dudley Lab just a little more calm, start discipline and obedience training from an early age and invest in playtime to work out all that extra energy. Friendly Dudley Labradors are great if you want a social dog. Like most other dog breeds, they may require some early socialization in order to get comfortable, especially with small pets that they may instinctively want to hunt. With this early exposure, your Dudley Lab will very easily get along with other pets, including small ones like cats. Gentle And Even-Tempered Another reason you may want to consider a Dudley Labrador for a family setting is due to their gentle nature. They can be very protective, especially over young children, and make for the perfect furry siblings. Do Dudley Labs Shed? In the sections below, we shall take a closer look at all the important care tips you need to know, from how to deal with shedding to how to take care of their special needs. Removes loose hair: reaches through the topcoat to remove loose undercoat hair without cutting skin or damaging the.FURejector button: just push the button to release hair with ease. Its automated systems and special pet dander vacuuming feature definitely make it stand out among all the other options. A regular shower with high-quality shampoo does a lot to help deal with this. Naturally Medicated Formula - Made with all natural ingredients plus pH balanced, alcohol free, paraben free Best for.Investing in a good nose balm for your dog helps you to keep their noses smooth and protected. Paw balms also go a long way towards preventing issues like cracks and infections. Most puppies are born with pink noses, which turn black or dark brown as they grow older. However, this is not always the case, especially with dogs like Dudley Labradors and other breeds and variations with hypopigmentation genes. In these cases, the noses only turn to a slightly darker shade of pink and never black. Metal bowls do not turn dog noses pink. To avoid this and other reactions associated with the materials, stick to stainless steel or ceramic food and water dog bowls. These, more often than not, form crusts or flakes that may be black, brown, or white. This trait is recessive, meaning that both parents must carry the gene for it to be expressed in their offspring. While some people may mistake a Dudley Labrador for an albino dog, this is not the case. Albino dogs have a complete lack of pigment throughout their entire body, including their eyes. Dudley Labradors, on the other hand, have normal pigmentation in the rest of their body, but lack it in specific areas. Another way of explaining this is that their natural pigmentation is diluted, but still present. They are just as healthy and friendly as any other Labrador Retriever. However, some breeders may charge more for Dudley Labradors due to their unique appearance. But remember that by rights, breeders should not ask more Dudleys. This is because the color is a fault and even they are disqualified from showing. If breeders ask more for a Dudley, it is part of the trend to ask higher prices for dogs with rare colors, like lemon Beagles , or Lilac French Bulldogs. In conclusion, Dudley Labradors are a fascinating variation of the beloved Labrador Retriever breed. While their pink noses and lighter coat color may set them apart from other Labradors, they are just as lovable and loyal as any other dog. They are known for their pinkish nose and light-colored eyes, which set them apart from other Labradors. The Dudley variation is caused by a recessive gene that affects the production of pigment in the nose and eyes. This gene is present in Labradors, but it is usually masked by other dominant genes that produce a black or brown nose and dark eyes. Dudley Labradors are therefore relatively rare, and their distinctive appearance has made them popular among dog enthusiasts. The history of Dudley Labradors is not well-documented, but it is believed that the first Dudley Labrador was born in the early 20th century. The breed gained popularity in the United States in the s and s, and since then, breeders have worked to preserve and promote the breed. Today, Dudley Labradors are recognized by some kennel clubs, but they are not officially recognized as a separate breed, but it is not a color most Kennel clubs allow for showing. They are still considered to be Labrador Retrievers, but with a unique variation in appearance. Breeders continue to work to produce healthy and well-tempered Dudley Labradors, and the breed remains a popular choice for dog lovers who appreciate their distinctive look. This is due to the lack of melanin, a pigment that gives color to the skin and hair, in the nose and eye areas. While the Dudley gene is rare, the term only applies to yellow Labradors. Some chocolate or black labs may also have a brown or pinkish nose and some people also call these dogs Dudleys, but they are not really. In the picture below you can see a chocolate lab that may be mistaken for a Dudley because of its lighter nose. Remember, breeding two Dudley Labradors together can result in health issues, such as skin cancer, due to the lack of protection from melanin or color dilution alopecia. When it comes to the genetics of Labrador retrievers , the color of their coat is determined by two specific locations on their genes, called loci. There are two important ones to know about: the B loci and the Ee loci. BB or Bb: If the Labrador inherits these combinations, it will be black. EE or Ee: If the Labrador inherits these combinations, and it has bb from the B loci, it will be chocolate. Now, the Dudley Labrador is a special case where the Labrador inherits both bb from the B loci and ee from the Ee loci. This unique combination not only makes the Labrador yellow but also gives it specific characteristics that make it a Dudley Labrador such as a flesh-colored nose instead of a black one. Help Dogs In Need Our blog posts aim to provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information on all types of dogs, helping our readers make informed choices that fit their lifestyle. We don't endorse any specific breeding practices, but advocate for ethical breeding and dog welfare. We encourage exploring adoption first. Countless wonderful dogs, from all breeds, await their forever homes in shelters. Remember, with AdoptDontShop, you can give a deserving rescue a second chance at happiness. Are all Labradors with Pink Noses Dudleys? The pink nose in a Labrador is often confused with the flesh-colored nose of a Dudley, but they are actually different. Dudley Labrador: As explained earlier, a Dudley Labrador has a flesh-colored nose, lips, eye rims, and feet. This is a genetic trait that comes from inheriting both the bb combination from the B loci and the ee combination from the Ee loci. These specific genetic factors result in a lack of pigmentation in these areas. Age: As some Labradors get older, their noses might lose pigmentation, leading to a lighter or pinkish color. Injury or Illness: An injury to the nose or certain health conditions can also lead to a loss of pigmentation, resulting in a pink appearance. Dudley Labradors are medium to large-sized dogs with a muscular build. They typically weigh between pounds and stand inches tall at the shoulder. Male Dudley Labradors are usually larger than females. Dudley Labradors have a distinct appearance that sets them apart from other Labradors. They have a pink or flesh-colored nose, lips, and eye rims, which are caused by a lack of pigmentation. Their eyes are usually hazel or green, and their coat color can vary from yellow to chocolate. The lack of pigmentation in their nose and lips can cause them to be more prone to sunburn and skin cancer. Coat Type Dudley Labradors have a short, dense, and water-resistant double coat that is easy to maintain. They shed moderately throughout the year but may have heavy seasonal shedding. They require regular brushing to keep their coat healthy and shiny. Bathing should only be done when necessary to avoid drying out their skin. They are eager to please their owners and are very loyal. These dogs are also very intelligent, ranking as the seventh most intelligent dog breed in the world, according to Dr. Studies show that many labs have a variation on the POMC gene which is linked to weight gain and hunger, leading to obesity in some cases. However, this also makes them highly trainable as they have a strong food drive. Studies have shown that Labrador Retrievers have a special affinity for water. In fact, they are often more attracted to water than to social stimuli. A pilot study published in ScienceDirect found that these dogs are more attracted to water than to social stimuli. Chocolate labs were more agitated when ignored and showed more excitability than black labs, and lower trainability and noise fear than both yellow and black labs. Dogs exercised for longer periods showed less aggression, less fear of humans and objects, and lower separation anxiety than dogs that were not as active. In other words, as dilute yellow labs, Dudleys can be some of the most trainable and easy companion dogs, but they may still need a lot of exercise if they come from working dog or gun dog bloodlines. Health and Lifespan Dudley Labradors are generally healthy dogs with an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. However, like all breeds, they are prone to certain health issues that potential owners should be aware of. One of the most common health concerns in Dudley Labradors is hip and elbow dysplasia, which can cause pain and mobility issues. Obesity is also a concern, as excess weight can exacerbate joint problems and increase the risk of other health issues such as heart problems. Atopic dermatitis, a skin condition that causes itching and inflammation, is another common issue in Dudley Labradors. This can be managed through proper grooming and diet, as well as medication if necessary. Other health issues that can affect Dudley Labradors include various types of cancers, limber tail, myopathy, and CCL Disease. Liver issues like shunts and nasal parakeratosis are also possible. To ensure the best possible health for a Dudley Labrador, it is important to provide them with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and routine veterinary care. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian can help catch and manage any potential health issues early on. Caring for a Dudley Labrador When caring for a Dudley Labrador, it is important to remember that they require the same level of care as any other Labrador Retriever. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to their unique physical characteristics. One thing to note is that Dudley Labradors have a pink nose and light-colored eyes, which makes them more susceptible to sunburn. It is important to apply sunscreen to their nose and provide them with plenty of shade on hot, sunny days. Another thing to keep in mind is their coat. Dudley Labradors have a yellow or cream-colored coat, which can be prone to matting and tangling. Regular grooming, including brushing and bathing, is necessary to keep their coat healthy and shiny. When it comes to exercise, Dudley Labradors are active dogs and require daily exercise to stay healthy and happy. This can include walks, runs, or playing fetch. However, it is important to avoid overexertion, especially in hot weather. In terms of diet, Dudley Labradors require a balanced diet that is appropriate for their age and activity level. It is important to provide them with high-quality dog food and avoid overfeeding, as they can be prone to obesity. Overall, caring for a Dudley Labrador requires attention to their unique physical characteristics, but with proper care and attention, they can live happy and healthy lives. Training and Behavior Dudley Labrador is a highly trainable breed of dog that responds well to positive reinforcement training techniques. They are intelligent, eager to please, and enjoy being given tasks to do. Early socialization and training are essential for Dudley Labradors to become well-behaved, obedient, and happy pets. Dudley Labradors are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They are excellent with children and make great family pets. However, they can be overly exuberant and may accidentally knock over small children. It is important to supervise interactions between children and Dudley Labradors to prevent any accidents. Dudley Labradors have a high energy level and require regular exercise to keep them healthy and happy. Daily walks, runs, or playtime in a fenced yard are recommended. They also enjoy activities such as swimming, hiking, and playing fetch. When it comes to training, Dudley Labradors excel in obedience, agility, and retrieving. They have a natural instinct to retrieve and enjoy playing fetch. They are also excellent swimmers and enjoy water activities. Positive reinforcement training techniques such as clicker training, treat training, and praise are effective for Dudley Labradors. In conclusion, Dudley Labradors are highly trainable and make great family pets. Early socialization and positive reinforcement training techniques are essential for them to become well-behaved and obedient. They require regular exercise and enjoy activities such as swimming, hiking, and playing fetch. They are known for their pinkish nose and light-colored coat, which can range from cream to yellow. While they are not recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club, they are still highly sought after by families looking for a friendly and loyal companion. Families who choose a Dudley Labrador as their pet can expect a friendly and affectionate dog that loves to play and cuddle. They are great with children and other pets, making them an ideal family dog. However, it is important to note that Dudley Labradors may be more prone to skin problems and sunburn due to their light-colored coat and pink nose. Therefore, it is recommended that they are kept indoors or in shaded areas during peak sun hours. Dudley Labradors are also known for their intelligence and trainability. They excel in obedience training and are often used as service dogs due to their gentle nature and willingness to please. They are also great at retrieving and can be trained to hunt or participate in dog sports such as agility or flyball. In conclusion, Dudley Labradors are a wonderful choice for families looking for a friendly and loyal companion. While they may require some extra care due to their light-colored coat and pink nose, their intelligence and trainability make them a joy to have as a pet. Dudley Labradors and Other Pets Dudley Labradors are a popular breed of Labrador retrievers, known for their unique pinkish-brown nose and light-colored coat. Dudley Labradors are generally friendly and sociable dogs, making them great companions for other animals. With proper training and socialization, Dudley Labradors can coexist peacefully with other pets in the household. Some pets may be more territorial or aggressive, which could lead to conflicts with the Dudley Labrador. Where to Get a Dudley Labrador Breeders When looking for a Dudley Labrador, it is important to find a reputable breeder who takes good care of their dogs and follows ethical breeding practices. Some reputable breeders to consider include: Labrador Retriever Club: The Labrador Retriever Club is a great resource for finding reputable breeders in your area. They have a breeder referral program that can help you find a breeder who follows ethical breeding practices. They have a list of breeders who have been screened and meet their standards for responsible breeding. They have a breeder referral program that can help you find a breeder who specializes in Dudley Labradors. When choosing a breeder, it is important to ask questions and do your research. These organizations often rescue and rehabilitate Labradors, including Dudleys, and work to place them in loving forever homes. Lab Rescue of the LRCP: A non-profit volunteer organization that rescues, fosters, and finds homes for abused, neglected, and abandoned Labrador Retrievers. More details can be found on their website. Lus Labs: Specializing in rescuing and rehoming Labradors and Labrador mixes, Lus Labs provides a safe and loving environment for dogs in need. You can explore available dogs on their website. American Lab Rescue: Dedicated to connecting Labradors with the right families, American Lab Rescue has a list of available dogs, including potentially Dudleys, on their website. Labrador Retriever Welfare and New Forever Homes Group: This Facebook group serves as a community where individuals can connect to share information about available Labradors, including Dudley Labradors, that are in need of new homes. You can join the group here. These organizations are committed to the welfare of Labradors, and they may be able to help you find a Dudley Labrador to rescue and make part of your family. Conclusion In conclusion, Dudley Labrador is a well-known and highly respected breed of dog. With their friendly and loyal nature, they make excellent family pets and are often used as service dogs due to their intelligence and trainability. Throughout this article, we have explored the history, characteristics, and behavior of Dudley Labradors. From their origins as a variant of the Labrador Retriever breed to their unique coat color, Dudley Labradors have captured the hearts of many dog lovers around the world. It is important to note that while Dudley Labradors may have a different coat color than traditional Labradors, they are still the same breed and should be treated as such. It is also important to note that while they may be in high demand due to their unique appearance, responsible breeding practices should always be followed to ensure the health and well-being of the dogs. In summary, Dudley Labradors are a wonderful breed of dog that make great companions and service animals. With their friendly and loyal nature, they are sure to bring joy to any family that welcomes them into their home. A Dudley Labrador is a Labrador Retriever with a pink or flesh-colored nose and eye rims instead of the typical black coloration. How rare is a Dudley Lab? Dudley Labs are relatively rare, as the pink nose and eye rims are a recessive gene trait. What is the difference between a Labrador and a Dudley Labrador? The primary difference between a Labrador and a Dudley Labrador is the coloration of the nose and eye rims. Labradors typically have black noses and eye rims, while Dudley Labradors have pink or flesh-colored noses and eye rims. Other than this difference, Dudley Labradors are physically and behaviorally similar to other Labradors. However, they may not be eligible for certain conformation shows or breeding programs that prioritize black-nosed Labradors. Are Dudley Labs worth more? There is no definitive answer to this question, as the value of a Dudley Labrador can vary depending on factors such as age, health, training, and pedigree. However, it is generally not considered a desirable trait for breeding or showing purposes, which may affect the perceived value of Dudley Labradors. Can I breed a Dudley Labrador? Yes, Dudley Labradors can be bred, but it is important to note that the pink nose and eye rims are a recessive gene trait. This means that breeding two Dudley Labradors together can result in a higher likelihood of producing puppies with health issues or other genetic defects. It is recommended to breed Dudley Labradors with black-nosed Labradors to reduce the risk of these issues. Final Thoughts Dudley Labrador is a beloved breed of dog that has captured the hearts of many people around the world. Throughout this article, we have explored the various characteristics and traits that make Dudley Labradors stand out from other breeds. We have learned about their unique coat color, their love for swimming and retrieving, and their intelligence and trainability. Potential owners should be prepared to provide their furry friend with plenty of physical and mental stimulation to ensure they remain happy and healthy. In conclusion, Dudley Labradors are a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a loyal and loving companion. They are intelligent, friendly, and playful, making them an excellent addition to any household. With proper care and attention, Dudley Labradors can make wonderful pets that will bring joy and happiness to their owners for years to come Tamsin De La Harpe Author Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions. Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs. Got Questions? Are Dudley Labs Rare? Yes, they are considered rare dogs because they require a specific type of genetic combination to be created. Breeders often prevent this type of Labrador from being created because Dudley Labs are not recognized by most kennel clubs, like the United Kennel Club or the American Kennel Club. They are also excluded from being registered as part of the breed because they are rarely produced. Yes, Dudley Labs make fantastic family dogs, just like any Labrador Retriever. Even though they can be highly active, Labs are a favorite among those looking for all-round dogs. A Dudley Lab is a friendly, outgoing, and active dog. Once properly trained, they would fit inside any home, even one with other pets and young children. They are more than happy to greet new people but will also be protective of their families when the need calls for it. One thing to keep in mind though is that these dogs are active and energetic. They require daily exercise or some form of physical activity to keep them busy; otherwise, they will turn destructive. They have been known to chew on furniture, carpets, and other things in the home when they have a lot of pent-up energy. You can stop them from doing this by giving them a toy they can carry around or chew on their mouth to keep them busy. This lifespan is about the same as any regular Labrador Retriever. As for health issues, a Dudley will suffer the same health problems common among chocolate, black, or yellow Labrador varieties. These include: Hip Dysplasia This is a heritable condition. For the latter, an X-ray will be required for the animal to be diagnosed. This results in a lot of pain for the animal and could lead to stiffening of the joints. The dog will be unable to move or bend the affected joint. This condition usually shows up on dogs as young as four months old. Epilepsy The Dudley Labrador can suffer from epilepsy, causing a mild seizure in the animal. Although it can be horrifying to watch a dog suffer seizures, the prognosis is usually very good. Acute Moist Dermatitis This causes the skin of the animal to become red and inflamed due to a bacterial infection. This skin problem is easy to treat with antibiotics, medicated baths as well as clipping and clearing out the hair in the affected area. Sunburn The only special thing owners need to keep in mind with a Dudley Lab is that they can be prone to sunburn because of the lack of pigmentation on their noses. Never use human sunscreen as it may be toxic to dogs. You can find specialty sunscreen for animals at your vet or pet shops. They are similar to any regular Labrador. Give them enough attention, healthy food, plenty of exercise as well as tons of love, and they will offer you the same devotion and affection in return. Prices for a Dudley Labrador can vary depending on the breeder. When it comes to money spent on a new Dudley Labrador puppy, expect to spend a lot more during the first year than in succeeding years. New dogs will require a lot. This includes new items, vaccinations and more. Again, this amount will vary because the prices and circumstances will be different. Sometimes you could be getting your Dudley for a specific purpose instead of as a regular family pet, and this will mean specialized training or other necessities you would need to spend on. However, you can occasionally find them among Labrador breeders or even in the rescue or adoption system. Here are several breeders you can check out: The Labrador Club — The Labrador Retriever Club is an organization and community dedicated to the Labrador breed. They have a breeder directory sorted by state to make it easier for you to get in touch with possible breeders when looking for a Dudley Lab. Ashland Labradors — A breeder based in Nashville, Tennessee that specializes in breeding Labradors of correct and low-key temperaments and ones that would make fantastic family companions. They are based in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Led by founder Donna Stanley, they specialize in the Labrador Retriever and ensure they are house-trained and with low-key temperaments. Marble Mount Kennels — Based in Greenview, California, this breeder has been in operation for 25 years. They focus on six traits when breeding their Lab puppies: great personality, beautiful looks, high hunting desire, proven pedigree, highly intelligent, and natural pointing instinct. If you prefer to rescue or adopt a Dudley, they do show up in the system. Lab Rescue — A non-profit organization that helps rescue, foster, and find forever homes for abandoned, abused, neglected, or surrendered Labs, particularly in the areas of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. American Lab Rescue — An all-volunteer non-profit, they not only focus on purebred Labrador Retrievers but also Labrador mixes. They focus on helping homeless dogs, whether puppies or adult dogs. Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida — Started in , this non-profit rescue focuses on rescuing Labradors and placing them in the right homes. Southern Skies Rescue — Not only does this rescue center focus on Labradors but also on other working dog breeds. They rescue these animals from high kill shelters and also taken in owner surrenders and strays. They are based primarily in Huntsville, Alabama. Based in Southern California, they can accommodate adoptions in this area only. The rescue focuses on abandoned or unwanted dogs and features an all-volunteer staff. Finally, always check with quality local breeders or animal shelters in your area to see if they have any Dudley Labradors available. Should You Get a Dudley Lab? A Dudley Labrador is a loving and gentle dog. They have an amazing temperament and will make fantastic pets. Not really. The only similarity the Dudley Labrador has with an albino is the lack of pigmentation around the nose, paws and eye rim areas. This lack of melanin does not affect the skin, fur, or other parts of the body. These areas will still contain pigmentation, so they cannot be classified as albinos. Can a Dudley Lab Compete in Shows? What Is the Rarest Labrador Color? Even if you see them fairly often, the chocolate Labrador is actually the rarest color type among Labradors. Their pink noses make them stand out at first glance, but they carry the same friendly, outgoing, and energetic personality as any other Labrador Retriever. Finally, a Dudley Lab serves as a fantastic family pet thanks to their intelligent and playful personality. These dogs care for their humans and will be a loyal companion to you and your family if you welcome them into your home. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Glad I did. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. If you are a Labrador owner or thinking of introducing a Labrador into your family, you may have heard of a Dudley Labrador. There is quite a lot of mystique around these special pups, which means they can sometimes struggle to find a home or your breeder might ask for a premium for the pup. Read on to discover everything you need to know about these handsome dogs. They are just as good a choice for a family dog as any other type of Labrador. What Is A Dudley Labrador? A Dudley Labrador is a Yellow Labrador that is born without any pigment in their nose, eye rims, and feet, so they appear pink. They will have pale-colored eyes as well, usually blue or teal. There are three recognized colors of Labradors, black, chocolate, and yellow. Each of these dogs has two genetic loci that affect their pigmentation. The first of these loci is called the B loci, and can be BB, Bb, or bb. Any Labrador that inherits a BB or Bb will be black. Dogs that inherit a bb can be chocolate or yellow. Whether they are chocolate or yellow depends on the Ee loci, which can be EE, Ee, or ee. Of these dogs with the bb loci, those that inherit EE or Ee will be chocolate, and those that inherit ee will be yellow. But, those few pups that inherit both bb and ee loci will not only be yellow, but they will also be a Dudley Labrador. So, Dudley Labradors are a natural genetic occurrence, but they are relatively rare. There are also other Labradors that have reduced pigmentation, such as Black Labradors with a chocolate nose. This type of reduced pigmentation is just natural variation within the normal color range of Labradors. Pink Nose Lab All Labradors are born with pink noses. For the majority of Labs, their noses will turn black or brown during the first few weeks of their lives. However, because Dudley Labradors have less melanin, their noses, the rims around their eyes, and their feet stay pink for their entire lives. Dudley Labradors are not albinos, because this lack of pigmentation does not affect every part of their bodies. But Dudley Labradors are not the only pink nose Labs. As Labradors age, the pigmentation in their nose reduces. This pigmentation is produced by an enzyme called tyrosinase, which makes melanin. As this enzyme becomes less effective, their nose can turn pink as they enter their advanced years. This is completely normal and is not anything to be concerned about. This is more likely to happen in colder temperatures, as the enzyme works better in hotter climates. But if a younger Lab, which is not a Dudley, develops a pink nose when they are younger, this can be a sign of a medical problem such as a bacterial infection, allergy, or skin condition. In this case, it is an indication that you should talk to your Vet. Beyond their distinctive nose, Dudley Labradors are no different from any other Labradors. They have the same temperament and intelligence. They also have the same life expectancy and are predisposed to the same medical conditions as other Labradors, but they are not prone to any additional medical issues as a result of their distinctive noses. There has been some recent research into whether the color of Labradors influences their trainability or other behavior; responding to the anecdotal evidence, Chocolate Labradors tend to be more hyperactive, aggressive, and difficult to train. The study found there was no difference in the trainability or intelligence of Labradors based on their color. There is some evidence to suggest that Yellow Labradors, like Dudleys, might be slightly more aggressive towards other dogs than Black and Chocolate Labradors, but the difference seems to be negligible. There have been no specific studies carried out to see if Dudleys are different from other Yellow Labradors in terms of their intelligence and behavior. The one area where Dudley Labradors are different from other Labradors is they are not eligible to be show dogs or breeding dogs. Their pink noses are marked as a fault in the ring, which excludes them from competition. They are also not recognized within the Breed Standard by the Kennel Club. This means that the dog can also not be registered for breeding. From the AKC website: The nose should be black on black or yellow dogs, and brown on chocolates. Nose color fading to a lighter shade is not a fault. A thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any pigment is a disqualification. So, while Dudley Labradors make an excellent pet for the home, they are excluded from competition and breeding. Dudley Labradors can be bought from all the same places as other types of Labradors, but they are pretty difficult to get hold of. Secondly, knowing the restrictions on Dudley Labradors when it comes to competition and breeding, many breeders will specifically control to exclude Dudley Labradors. If you are desperate to have a Dudley Labrador, you could ask a breeder to attempt to breed one for you. But you should expect to pay a significant premium for this service. You are more likely to find a Dudley Labrador among the litter of a non-professional breeder whose Labrador has become pregnant. If they are selling the pups, they might also want to charge a bit extra for the Dudley, as it is likely to be unique among the litter. So, long story short, actively hunting down a Dudley Labrador can be a challenging process. If your Labrador happens to produce a Dudley in their litter, or you come across a Dudley that needs adopting, they make excellent household pets. Yes, Dudley Labradors are relatively rare as you need a very specific genetic combination to produce a Dudley. Also, many breeders control for this gene and exclude it when creating new pups, as Dudley Labradors are excluded from showing and are also excluded from the breed registry. Dudley Labradors have the same life expectancy as all purebred Labradors , so around twelve years. The genetic quirk that gives Dudley Labradors their pink nose does not have a detrimental impact on their health. Are Dudley Labradors Albino? Like albinos, the pink nose in Dudley Labradors is caused by a lack of melanin, but they are not albino, as this does not affect the other parts of their body, and their skin and hair still contain pigment. Dudley Labradors suffer from all the same health issues as all purebred Labradors, but they are not susceptible to additional health issues as a result of their pink nose. Their nose may be more prone to sunburn than those of other Labradors. For this reason, extra precautions should be taken to avoid developing skin cancer in that area. Dudley Labradors will have light-colored eyes to match their noses, usually blue or teal. Their eyes will never be described as green, as this is not a color recognized for Labradors by the Kennel Club. The only purebred dog recognized as having green eyes is the American Pit Bull Terrier. As Dudley Labradors are considered among Yellow Labradors, Chocolate Labradors are actually the rarest color Labradors, though they do occur almost as frequently as Yellow Labradors. Black Labradors are roughly twice as common as the other two colored Labradors. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Chocolate Labradors are more hyperactive, aggressive, and harder to train than other types of Labradors. But recent research suggests this is not the case and that it is not possible to determine the trainability or character of a Labrador based on color. There is some evidence to suggest that Yellow Labradors might be more aggressive towards other dogs than Brown or Black Labradors, but the variation is too low to be considered highly significant. In fact, one of our puppies that we trained for nearly 2 years was a Dudley. After 2 years of training Dublin became a service dog and worked for another 6 years. In my experience there has not been any noticeable difference in the behavior of a Dudley Labrador vs other Lab colors. Final Thoughts Dudley Labradors are gorgeous Labs that lack pigmentation in their nose, the rims around the eyes, and paws. As a result, they have a pink nose, rather than the black or brown nose that characterizes most Labradors. This is an entirely natural, though slightly more rare genetic occurrence among Labradors. But, for some reason, these special Labradors have been excluded from the competition circuit, and they are also not recognized by the Kennel Club for breeding. But, despite this, these pups, if you come across one, make an excellent family dog. They are just as loving, intelligent, and playful as other Labradors. If you have any experience with Dudley Labradors, please share it with the community using our comments section. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Breeding Labrador puppies with reduced pigment. Labrador Pigmentation Genetics All puppies are born with bright pink noses, which usually become darker in color over the first few weeks of their lives. A few yellow Labradors noses will remain the same pink color, some other noses will darken but only to a light brown shade, others will become completely black. The melanin in the nose cells will depend upon the genes that your puppy has inherited from his parents. Yellow Labrador noses come in a variety of shades, from pink, to brown, to black. Yellow Labradors will have one of three possible gene combinations in order to be yellow. Resulting in a darker color being shown on the skin. A Labrador with eebb will have a brown or paler nose. The tone of this nose will depend upon the shading of colors in their parents genetic backgrounds. It is possible to have adult dogs DNA tested, to find out whether they carry the right genes to produce Dudley puppies. Some show Labrador breeders will have this test carried out as a lack of pigmentation in yellow Labs is marked as a fault in the show ring. Beautiful Jack, the pale nosed Dudley Lab. Photo kindly provided by his loving owner, Rachel York. But many Labrador noses turn pink when they advance in years. This process is known as depigmentation and is quite common and not usually a cause for concern. When the yellow Lab is younger he will have a black nose and dark rims around his eyes. But as he ages and his coat begins to turn a little white in places, he may also lose pigment in his nose. Tyrosinase becomes less effective as your dog grows old. However, you may find that the fading of his nose is less noticeable in the warmer weather as the pigment producing enzyme works better in the heat. If your Lab cuts her nose, the resulting scar might be pink and not black or brown. Dudley Labradors are no different to their dark nosed Labrador friends. However, if you are going to buy a Dudley Lab puppy then you will need to be aware of a couple of things. Low pigmentation is linked to sunburn due to increased UV sensitivity. This is not a big deal if you live in a mild climate, and you can discuss with your veterinarian how to help your dog to reduce the chances of burning on those occasionally hot summer days. The show ring also penalises yellow Labradors for their pale noses, eye rims and feet. However, if you are looking for a loving family pet or working dog then a Dudley Labrador can make just as much of a wonderful companion and hard working friend as any other Labrador Retriever. Let me say, first of all, that just because I am describing the facts here does not make your Labrador who may meet this description is any less of a Labrador, or your beloved pet. I am not belittling your fur friend, only answering a question that has been posed many times to me. A Dudley Lab is a Labrador retriever that lacks pigmentation on the eyes, eye rims, muzzle, and nose. Because some people believe that any Labradors with reduced nose pigmentation are also Dudley Labradors. There are three types of noses that a yellow Lab can have. Black, brown or pink. Labradors are always referred to as Dudley if they have a pink nose, but some people refer to those with brown noses or liver as Dudleys as well. Or it can occur if a chocolate lab is bred to a yellow. The first NO-NO in lab breeding and often occurs with inexperienced breeders. Black Labrador Nose Turning Pink. A Dudley Labrador will have a pink nose throughout its life. But many Labrador noses turn pink when they get older. This process is known as depigmentation and is quite common. When a yellow Lab is younger it may have a black nose and dark rims around his eyes. But as he ages and his coat begins to turn a little white in places, he may also lose pigment in his nose. Tyrosinase becomes less effective as your dog grows old. You may find that the fading of his nose is less noticeable in the warmer weather as the pigment producing enzyme works better in the heat. Also, quite strangely, I notice that as my girls get closer and closer to birthing a litter, their nose gets lighter. Then once the pups are weaned, it gets darker again. If you choose to buy a Dudley Lab puppy then you will need to be aware of a couple of things. The first is that they they may suffer from sunburn on their noses. The second is only relevant if you want to show your dog. The show ring penalizes yellow Labradors for their pale noses, eye rims and feet. So if you want to show your yellow lab a Dudley is best avoided. That's why they are not registerable separately. They are the same. A red coat is created by phaeomelanin, which is more intense and dense in a red coat than in a yellow coat. However, the coloring of both the yellow and the red coat is controlled by phaeomelanin. Black and chocolate coats are created by eumelanin. When the dogs were brought here from the UK, Americans didn't like the deeper yellow so they began to breed for the lighter shades. Eventually, the 'red' Lab was all but lost here in the US. Back in the 's a renewed interest in the red arose and dogs such as Balrion King Frost, Wynfaul Tabasco and Red Alert were instrumental in bringing it back into the gene pool. So, there never was a 'red' lab and a 'red' lab is really a yellow lab.Only on the red dudley, the coat has more phaeomelanin. It is the same dilution that causes a black dog's skin and coat to be diluted to chocolate - it's the double recessive on the "B" allele, or bb for a chocolate. There is no such thing as a 'dudley' coloring because it is simply a variation of yellow. So, a black dog with a yellow coat. This dog will have black points nose, lips, skin, pawpads. Rusty imported British line, pictured below is a good example of a true fox red dog. I hope this helps make everything clear as mud. I hate to see folks all confused about color. It's simple genetics, but it gets so misconstrued.
Breeds The link has been copied! However, the Border Collie Golden Retriever mix has a lot to offer as a pet. It can always be a little interesting to see what you get when mixing two dog breeds. Border Collies are mostly black and white, though there can be other colors. Goldens vary in color from light yellow to deep gold or red. The cross, sometimes called the Coltriever can be any color ranging from black and white to yellow, golden, brown, deep chocolate, or red. The best way to understand a designer dog breed a mix of two purebreds is to take a closer look at its parent breeds. As you might expect, they were used extensively for herding sheep over generations in this area. Eventually, they developed into excellent working dogs known for their intelligence, energy, and obedience. In fact, Border Collies have topped the list when it comes to ranking the smartest dog breeds. Border Collies are medium to large size dogs standing inches at the shoulder and weighing about pounds. They were made to work and require a job or at least lots of exercise and mental stimulation to be calm and happy. The Loving Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever has long been popular as a family dog in addition to being used for various jobs. Their affectionate personalities and loving attitude toward everyone they encounter are downright endearing. Interestingly, Golden Retrievers were originally developed for work. They are also from Scotland and are the result of the work of Lord Dudley Marjorbanks. He worked to produce an intelligent, hard-working dog from the extinct Tweed Water Spaniel and the Yellow Retriever. Golden Retrievers are pretty big, usually standing between inches tall and weighing up to 75 pounds. They are typically golden in color, but the shade can range from quite pale to a deep gold or red hue. However, the Golden Collie tends to be a larger dog, standing between inches and weighing pounds. Surprisingly for such a large dog, Coltrievers can handle living in small homes or even apartments — with proper exercise, of course. As descendants of the highly energetic Border Collie, these guys will go nuts if they are cooped up for too long! Goldens are famous for their easy-going, loving personalities. They are loyal, develop strong bonds with their families, and make wonderful playmates for children. As with any dog, it is important to meet their needs for mental stimulation and physical exercise. Because of their smarts, they may need more mental stimulation than other breeds but there are a lot of activities that count. Playing with the kids, puzzle games , fetch, swimming, jogging, hiking , and so much more make these pups super happy! The last section gives you a big hint — yes, Golden Border Retrievers make excellent family dogs. Because they need so much attention, it can be hard for a single person or even a couple who work outside the home to provide enough interaction for the dog. But you put a whole family in the house and that Golden Border Retriever is in heaven! They will happily play with your kids and will be gentle and loving. They will always let you know when a stranger is coming to visit! Everybody wants a well-behaved dog and it takes time and patience to achieve that. However, some dogs are easier to train than others. For busy families that may not have tons of time to dedicate to dog training, easy trainability is a big plus. Well, the Golden Border Retriever is a great choice. They can get themselves into trouble if they are bored, so plenty of mental stimulation and exercise is a must — or your furniture could pay the price. If you like the idea of a dog that can learn lots of cool and unusual tricks, this is a great dog to pick. They are also great dogs for competing in agility and other canine sports. Outside the home, Golden Border Retrievers are fantastic for use in a variety of jobs. Their smarts and obedience make them easy to use for herding, retrieving, and everything in between. But one thing is certain, they have a lot of hair and will shed frequently. Because these dogs are certainly not it. To keep their coats somewhat under control, expect to brush their hair at least once a week. Baths only need to happen about once or twice a month. Be careful not to bathe too frequently or their skin can dry out. And make sure to keep those floppy ears clean and dry to help avoid ear infections. Just as with humans, it depends on their age, size, activity level, and other factors. Adjust accordingly if you notice they are getting thinner or putting on more weight. For exercise, remember these guys are quite the energetic pups! It is best to provide your pup with at least 90 minutes of vigorous exercise daily. Though if your schedule allows, these pups will happily go strong for minutes a day and still race you to the front door! Health Concerns for the Golden Retriever and Border Collie Unfortunately, all dogs can get sick, regardless of their breed. That may be somewhat true for the breed as a whole, but individual dogs could also be susceptible to the health problems of both their parent breeds. For Coltrievers, this means they can be plagued by the health problems of both the Border Collie and the Golden Retriever. Both dog breeds are susceptible to bloat and allergies. Elbow and hip dysplasia are also common and may be passed on to their designer dog offspring. Border Collies can pass on progressive retinal atrophy and collie eye anomaly. Both of these conditions can cause loss of eyesight if not treated. Deafness and epilepsy are also common issues. Golden Retrievers contribute heart problems, other eye conditions like pigmentary uveitis, and, unfortunately, cancer. All in all, Golden Border Retrievers are generally healthy dogs and can be expected to live a long life with proper care. The average life expectancy of the crossbreed is around years. Breeders love the idea of mixing their intelligence and obedience with the looks or other characteristics of different dog breeds. Thus, there are quite a few options for Border Collie crossbreeds to choose from. The Border Aussie is very similar to the Border Collie in smarts and personality. Plus, this dog is smarter than the average toddler, so watch out and get ready to teach him lots of tricks! The Border Collie Chihuahua mix is a designer dog breed that has become quite famous in the last few years. That's because these dogs are smart, playful, and active. They also make great pets for people who live in small apartments or homes. The Border Collie German Shepherd mix , also known as the Shollie, is a unique and intelligent breed that combines the workaholic nature of the Border Collie with the protective instincts of the German Shepherd. These dogs are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and versatility, and they excel in a wide range of activities, from herding to search and rescue. A Bordoodle is a great option. With the right mix, the Poodle contributes a slightly curly, low-shed coat. The Golden Border Collie makes a fabulous companion for the right family. They can be content in an apartment or small home, but only if you have the time and energy to exercise them daily. They need to run at the local dog park, go on a hike, explore new areas, or participate in agility or other canine sports to get enough exercise. For this reason, they can be a better option if you have a house with a sizeable yard or live on a farm. If you have kids, these are great dogs to consider. They make loving and playful companions and your dog and the kids will help tire each other out. They may try to herd people around, which can be intimating for small children, but gentle correction usually takes care of that quite easily. These guys crave attention and love companionship so they will get lonely and anxious on their own for more than 6 hours every day. They are friendly and loving, even with strangers, so you can have guests over without worrying about your dog being suspicious or aloof. All in all, the Golden Border Retriever is a wonderful companion dog for active families. Find more helpful articles on pet-parenting at the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Also, be sure to check out TryFi's Fi Dog Collar , a cutting-edge GPS tracking collar that keeps you updated on your dog's location, activity, sleep, and alerts you if they escape the backyard. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. From a very young age we train our puppies in a few things that aid them in being successful adults as family members, companions, service dogs, agility dogs. The Coltriever is a mid sized dog, they weigh between pounds and are built similar to a Golden Retriever. Available Puppies Our next litter will be in September ready for their new home in early November. Usually we have… Early Learning Each of my litters is born inside my home, rather than a kennel setting. This allows them to hear the sounds and smell the scents associated with a household from the very start. They are continually exposed to the everyday sights and sounds of a family home. This includes potentially scary sounds such as vacuum… About Our Puppies I have been raising Coltrievers in Lacey, Washington since .They are a designer dog, which is a mix of Golden Retriever and Border Collie breeds. They are a mid- sized dog, weighing between 40 and 80 pounds. The conformation of a Coltriever is similar to a Golden Retriever. Their colors vary with some black… She has turned out to be the sweetest, most fun dog ever. We love her so very much!! So thankful that I found that photo of her on your website last summer — one of our greatest blessings. Shelly Tigard Or. Our dog, Scout, was an instant playmate to my kids, aged 2 and 5. I fell in love with her, Queenie. I had to know what she was, where she was from, and how I could get one. I was told she was a Crooked Rooster Coltriever. Then, I remembered Crooked Rooster! I looked it up, contacted Holly and heard back within a couple hours. We talked on the phone for over an hour and a half. I fell in love with what Coltriever stood for and where they came from instantly. We set up a time to come tour the farm, and meet the puppies. We were placed in a pen with all the little all black Coltriever angels, and immediately saw Baloo. We knew he was the one. Baloo was the most perfect little squishy guy I had ever met. We chose him and have never looked back. He has changed our life for the better and has been the most amazing buddy we could have asked for. He loves other dogs so much, and so we contacted Holly to see if she had any litters available. She did! We went to meet them, and fell in love instantly with Tibbs, just like Baloo. Holly talked us through our meet and greet with the boys and what we should look for in how they interact. Holly is always very knowledgeable about her puppies and it makes you feel very safe about making this big of a life decision. I am now obsessed with our two Coltrievers, and am excited to have them apart of our life forever! They are active, dedicatedly loyal, and have an intense eagerness to please their owners just for a little attention. Their obedience is quickly reflected through their affectionate and friendly nature, thus making them good with kids. Though some Gollies might tend to be shy, they are highly sociable, being in a jovial mood most of the time. Hence, they do not do well when kept alone for extended periods. Some dog enthusiasts think that so much of cheerfulness in their character failed to make them a good guardian. This assumption, however, is not correct, since their alertness is readily apprehensible from their barking instinct. Gollies are very active and responsive, making for excellent watchdogs. They would start to bark the moment they come across a stranger around and alert their family members about the same. Care Exercise These canids need regular exercise to burn down their calories. Take them out on a walk or jog on a routine basis to channelize their energy positively. Let them play in an enclosed yard if you have one. A total of around 90 minutes of daily physical activities is enough for this breed. Grooming The coat of the Golden Collie is average to long, and their shedding is moderate to high. For this, they need high maintenance, especially if your dog is double-coated, having a long and rough outer coat with a soft undercoat. Brush them regularly, at least times a week, so as to keep their coat smooth and glossy. Regular brushing also promotes blood flow and enhances hair growth. Hence, it is better to consult your breeder about the health history of its parents. Interactive toys that make sounds or dispense treats would give your dog the incentive to work harder. Try frozen Kong toys stuffed with peanut butter. This trick should work. To prevent your dog from being overly excited when your guests come in, teach him to display a controlled behavior when the doorbell rings. Ask your puppy to sit close to the door, and press the doorbell, holding a treat in your hand. If your puppy starts to show any sign of excitement, go close to it and ask it to calm down, showing the gift, but do not give it away. Next, repeat the process and do the same, if your dog shows any sign of excitement. Give the treat as it obeys you and sits down calmly. Doing this activity from time to time would help your dog will learn to put a check to its overly wild behavior as well as refrain from incessant barking habits. Both working breeds may do different tasks, but combining them makes an intelligent, loving, obedient, and agile offspring. Getting to know the Border Collie and Golden Retriever will already give a hint of what your Coltriever would be like in terms of looks and behavior. Through generations, this sheepdog which is the definition of the term Collie in Scottish became popular. Nowadays, Border Collies are touted as the smartest and the most excellent herding dog. They have a height of 18 to 22 inches 46 to 56 cm and a weight of 30 to 45 pounds 14 to 20 kg , where the females are a tad smaller. Black and white are the most common combination seen in the breed, though. They have high energy levels that would require lots of physical and mental stimulation. The popular and affectionate Golden Retriever A lord named Dudley Marjorbanks of the Scottish Highlands wanted to create a gundog that can adjust well to rugged grounds and rainy climates. After long years of breeding, he finally got the hardworking and smart Golden Retriever. Goldens are beautiful, large dogs that can stand between 21 to 24 inches 53 to 6 cm and can weigh up to 75 pounds 34 kg. They can either have wavy or straight hair, and feathering on their chest, underbody, legs, and tail. It can be light or dark gold, and some have a paler shade that gives a cream hue. Goldens are bright and are often used in different kinds of jobs, such as search and rescue missions. What does a Border Collie Golden Retriever mix look like? The Golden Border Collie will either inherit features from both its parents or more on one parent. Since both of the parent breeds have a fairly dense, double-layered coat, so will this hybrid. Some may get the rough and corded fur of the Border Collie, while others get the wavy and silky look of the Golden Retriever. The colors of the Border Golden Retriever can vary from black, black and white, yellow or golden, light or dark brown, chocolate, and red. Most of them have markings on their face and chest. Both the Borders and Goldens range from moderate to heavy shedders, so expect the Coltriever to do so as well. How big do Border Collie-Golden Retriever mixes get? When full-grown, this mixed breed can weigh 45 to 75 pounds 20 to 34 kg , with a height of 24 to 25 inches 61 to 64 cm. With the easy-going, happy, and kind personality of the Golden Retriever, and the eager to please, hardworking, and intelligent Border Collie, this crossbreed seems to be quite a perfect canine. Are Border Collie Golden Retrievers good family dogs? Border Golden Retrievers may not be an excellent guard dog or watchdog, but you can rely on them to be top-notch alarms! If you keep a pretty garden, it may be an issue because this pooch loves digging and getting dirty in the mud. Once she sees a muddy area, distract her away from it. Is the Golden Retriever Border Collie mix easy to train? This crossbreed is very trainable as it inherited the intelligence of the Border Collie and Golden Retriever. You can start training from puppyhood to help avoid behavioral issues from developing, too. Agile dogs will do excellent at agility rings, but with this mixed breed, they can do so much more! Their high energy levels would require them to be active as much as they can. As a pet, a lot of walking, running, hiking, and swimming would be great. For mental stimulation, there are a lot of puzzle toys where you can hide treats, and the dog has to figure out how to get it. Kick it up a notch because the Golden Border Retriever is considered as a sporting and working dog, too. They can be trained and used for herding, retrieving, and other canine sports. This designer pooch has a coat that helps it adjust in all weather conditions. Bathing should only be done once or twice a month, or when necessary, to avoid drying out her skin. Weekly brushing is needed to keep her hair from taking over your house. It should depend on factors such as their size, age, daily activities, and their current health condition. A Border Collie would generally require to 1, calories a day, while a Golden Retriever needs to 1, calories. For their mixed-breed offspring, it can be anywhere between those numbers. There are also dog foods that are best for working or sporting dogs. The Coltriever requires at least 90 minutes of exercise a day. With their high activity level, you can give your fur baby up to minutes, if your time and energy allow it. A technique you can do is start slow, then increase the time of exercise gradually as you go. Health problems the Golden Retriever and Border Collie cross may inherit No matter if the dog is pure or a crossbreed, all canines are susceptible to particular ailments. The breed parents may pass health conditions to their litter, especially the illnesses that they both have. Golden Retrievers are prone to heart problems like subvalvular aortic stenosis, eye conditions such as pigmentary uveitis, as well as cancer. Other diseases that the Border Collie and Golden Retriever mix may have are allergies, bloating, and elbow and hip dysplasia. With proper care combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, your Golden Border Retriever can enjoy their average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Border Collie Golden Retriever mix breeders Reputable breeders test their dogs used in breeding for genetic conditions that are common in each breed. They are going to provide medical certificates as proof that the Border Collie and Golden Retriever parents are free of ailments before breeding. Get the chance to observe if the puppies were born and raised in a clean place. Lifespan Sociability Given how well-known its parent breeds are, you may think that you already understand everything about Golden Border Retrievers—and you might be right. If you value your lawn or garden, this dog may not be right for you. They love everyone and everything, although they may be a bit shy around strangers. Are These Dogs Good for Families? In fact, you may need to enlist the entire family in tuckering these dogs out, as meeting their exercise requirements may be overwhelming for a single person. Having multiple family members who can take turns throwing a ball or a stick definitely comes in handy. Golden Border Retrievers are generally welcoming to strangers, although socialization helps in this regard. Also, they have strong herding instincts, so while they may not chase or attack your cat or other small pet, they may try to push it around a little bit. Here are a few things you should know about the breed before you bring one home. That usually means kibble with plenty of protein in it, preferably from a variety of lean meats. Protein burns more slowly than carbs do, so your pup will have plenty of energy to stay active all day long. The primary ingredients to watch out for in a kibble are cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. These are packed with empty calories and can cause digestive issues in some dogs. Instead, look for high-quality fruits and veggies. These dogs fail to see the appeal of an afternoon spent in front of the television. They need exercise—a great deal of it. These brainy pups love to be challenged, so obedience training, agility work, and puzzles are all likely to go over well with one of these pooches. Their big brains can quickly figure out what you want them to do, and they love to make you happy. As noted above, these dogs have destructive tendencies that need to be curbed, and they need proper socialization if you expect them to have good manners in public. You can teach these dogs to do just about anything. They respond well to positive reinforcement while punishing them is likely to backfire. Praise and affection are generally all you need to use as rewards, so be careful about handing out treats. You can quickly overload these dogs with cookies if you give them one every time they do something right. Their other grooming needs are fairly typical. They need their teeth brushed several times a week, their nails trimmed as needed, and their body bathed a couple of times a year. Be careful not to bathe them too often, though, as that can strip their coats of essential oils and dry out their skin. Below are a few of the issues that may come up if you bring one of these dogs home. Minor Conditions. Since they are known to shed frequently, they can cause allergies and other irritations. The basic grooming processes needed are: Brushing their furs weekly with a solid bristle brush to prevent them from shedding their coats too much; Cleaning their ears weekly to prevent ear infections; Bathing of one to two times a month; and Having their nails trimmed once they get too long. For first time owners who do not have experience with grooming dogs, this can be difficult because this breed requires high-maintenance grooming. You should see a veterinarian first to ask the grooming practices necessary for your dog. You need to follow the practices always. Excessive shedding is possible, so bath should be given at most twice a month. Their skins can also dry out if bathing is done irregularly. When bathing your dog, use a shampoo specialized for their furs to keep the quality. This mix is also prone to ear infections. Prevention is better than cure, so every week cleaning of the ear should be done. Their ears are one of the essential parts of their body. They cannot carry out their daily activities if their ears are in bad condition. Also, you must also trim their nails if they got too long to avoid future injuries from scratches. There are times that they even scratch their skins, so you must always monitor their nails. Golden Border Retriever Health Problems If the parents of the mixes have disorders, the chances are high that the offspring can inherit the disorder. However, there are cases in which the puppies are healthy even if one of the parents is diagnosed with a disease. It is better to check the pedigree of the crossbreed to verify if it is free from a severe illness. In biology, there is an incident known as hybrid vigor; it means that the offspring is better than its parents in several aspects such as physical characteristics and health. When you adopt a Golden Retriever Border Collie crossbreed, these are the following disorders that can attack your puppy: Skin Allergies Heart Diseases Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Because this breed shed too much, they are vulnerable to skin allergies. Once grooming is not taken care of, allergies can follow. Aside from the allergies that the shedding will bring you, your dog can also be affected by excessive removals of coats. Even though they are medium-sized dogs, bloating is also common to them. When the food matrix is not followed correctly, obesity can happen; it is a prerequisite to severe disorders. The excess weight of your dog can result in heart problems. As mentioned, this breed is highly intelligent, one of the mental diseases that this breed can develop is the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD which can be similar to humans. It will be a nuisance not just for your dog, but to you also. If they have their check-ups regularly, most of these mixes live up to 15 years. Make sure to prioritize their health. Border Collie Mixed with Golden Retriever Food Requirements Researches have proven that the amount of food intake in an individual dog is varying. The nutritional requirement of each dog is dependent on factors like weight, height, and the activities done by your dog. In the case of Border Collie mixed with Golden Retriever puppies, there is also no suggested food servings. For this breed, table foods or the foods consumed by humans cannot be fed to them. They are sensitive regarding the food they are eating. The dog food that you must give to the puppies should contain the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals for their growth. Puppies can be fed thrice in a day. As they grow, their needs for food is decreasing. To prevent obesity in dogs, a meal given twice in a day is recommended. Make a schedule on when to feed them so that they will be used to it; make sure to follow it regularly. In feeding your dogs, make sure to check the suggested amount of servings in the pack of the dog food that you bought. Monitoring the feeding habit of your dogs is essential. Their optimum performance will be achieved if they are given the right amount of food. There are also diets designed for highly skilled dogs. You should consult a veterinarian if you are planning a diet for your dog. Make sure to match their food matrix with their activities. If you want to give your pooch a happy and healthy life, start with nutrition. Avoid food that could be harmful to their health, such as the worst dry dog food. In case you brought a puppy to your home and the little munchkin is just getting used to regular food, take a look at the list of the best puppy food brands. Older dogs should also eat healthy food which is suggested in the best senior dry dog list. Your puppies come from two different parents, which makes them more likely to grow to love dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food. They require long hours of exercise. An average of 90 minutes a day is recommended. The hours needed for their exercise is comparably longer to the number of minutes required by some breeds. The reason for this is their highly active lifestyle. Without exercise, the level of their energy can be difficult to match. Even if you are not supervising them, they can exercise on their own. Allocate a place in your home where they can play around. They will eventually stop exercising once they get tired because these dogs know their limits. If you have a backyard at your home, it is the perfect spot for your dog to exercise. Let it run around your yard. With that simple activity, risks of developing serious heart conditions can be reduced. Besides, extra calories can also be burned; therefore, they can be less prone to obesity. As discussed, Golden Collie can make a great exercise companion. You can have them join you in your exercise routines such as: Jogging. Bloat Ear infections The best way to avoid these issues from arising is to get your golden collie mix from a reputable breeder. Gollies are considered to be generally healthy and have an average life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. Feeding A Collie Golden Retriever Mix Diet plays a huge role in the life of every dog and is very important for the overall well-being and health of your mix. An adult Golden Collie mix should eat dog food designed for large breed dogs with high energy and have two evenly-spaced meals a day. Since this mix can easily become bloated, you should stick with a consistent feeding schedule and avoid free-feeding your dog. When it comes to puppies, opt for a high-quality puppy food for large breed dogs and feed your mix four times a day until they reach adulthood. Once you bring your new puppy home, continue feeding the same brand of dog food the breeder was using and wait at least a month to transition your pooch to a different formula. They are moderate to heavy shedders, so be prepared to be engulfed in dog hair, particularly during the shedding season. To stay on top of all of that loose hair and remove dirt and dander, you will have to brush your Gollie mix three times a week. During the shedding season, you should brush your dog daily or every other day, depending on how much loose hair he or she is leaving all over your house. When it comes to bathing, you should bathe your Gollie only when necessary, or roughly every couple of months. If you notice anything unusual like redness or swelling, take your dog to the vet as soon as you can to avoid the occurrence of painful ear infections. After learning more about this delightful crossbreed, you might still be wondering whether a golden collie is the right dog for you. Ask yourself the following questions to help decide. Where Do You Live? Golden border retrievers are relatively large dogs, and they also have lots of energy. To be at their happiest and healthiest, these dogs need enough space to gallop around and play on a regular basis. They will do best if they have a bit of outside space to call their own. Also, are there dog parks near you where your dog can get their daily exercise? Living within walking distance of an off-leash dog park is ideal when you have a Gollie. These dogs not only make great companions, but they also need a lot of companionship. If they are left alone for extended periods of time, they are likely to develop depression and anxiety. Not only is this bad for them, but it can also be bad for you, as their restlessness tends to manifest as destructive behavior. If you are going to need to leave your pup home alone for more than six hours at a time on a regular basis, you might need to consider a different breed. One of the things that stands out most about collie golden dogs is how much energy they have. In order to manage their excess energy, they need anywhere from 90 to minutes of exercise per day! They will need to be able to run off-leash and play fetch. Is this consistent with your lifestyle? Do you and your family have the time and energy to give this dog the exercise that they need? Are you up for weekend hiking adventures and swims? Are You Experienced With Dogs? With that said, however, these playful pups also need a firm hand to guide them. How Old Is Your Family? If you have kids in the house as well, you might want to consider the age of your kids. Not only do these dogs tend to have the urge to herd younger children, but their energy and playfulness can be overwhelming for younger family members. Plus, you might not want to be running around caring after both a toddler and a hyperactive collie Golden. They fit in much better with older children who can share in the responsibility of looking after them. Exactly how much you can expect to pay for a collie Golden pup always depends on the supply and demand in your area. How big do Gollies get? Golden border retrievers can grow to be quite large, typically measuring up to 26 inches tall and weighing up to 75 pounds, but they can also be significantly smaller. To get an idea of how big a pup is likely to be as an adult, look at their parents. Remember that the female is always the largest of the two to prevent complications at birth. You can expect female pups to be roughly the same size as the smaller of their parents, while males usually take after the larger parent. However, there are always surprises with mixed-breed dogs. The Verdict On Gollies When you mix a border collie and a golden retriever, you get a friendly and intelligent Gollie that is incredibly eager to please. Golden collies are extremely high energy dogs. They need lots of exercise, lots of mental stimulation, and lots of love. It is a serious long-term commitment to adopt one of these dogs into your life. If you spend extended hours in the office and prefer to spend the weekend on the couch, you might find that you are not a good match for them. Still, while these dogs are certainly a lot of work, they are more than worth the effort. There are few dogs that are more loving and affectionate. The bond that you will form will be transformational, and you might wonder how you managed before they came into your life. Overall, Gollies are: Friendly but not the best watchdogs Highly intelligent and loyal Extremely athletic and high-energy, meaning they need regular, intense exercise Do you have experience raising border collie and golden retriever mix dogs? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. You May Also Like.
They are playful and loyal. Although Boxers were originally bred as working dogs, they make the perfect family pet. Boxers are different from each other but one trait that all Boxers have in common is their playfulness. Boxers, whether they're puppies or ones in their senior years, possess a youthful exuberance that is unmatched by any other breed of dog. Boxers have the natural ability to make their masters smile and fill a household with fun and laughter. Natural Born Entertainers Ask Boxer owners about what they think would be the most fitting profession or job for Boxer dogs and they'd likely tell you that Boxers make the perfect clowns. Boxers are natural entertainers wiggling, wagging and doing their funny antics. If you've ever been around a Boxer, you'll find it very hard to keep yourself from grinning. Put a Boxer in a room with someone in a bad mood and it will waste no time showing off its tricks to make a person laugh. One of the more familiar tricks Boxers are known for is kidney beaning, a dance they do whenever they are excited. No owner could resist smiling whenever he comes home after a hard day's work and sees his Boxer doing this dance. It isn't a bark although it is similar. Boxers are natural entertainers even when they are running. Don't be surprised to see a Boxer twist, jump and even do summersaults while it is out on a walk. However, Boxers aren't for everyone. If you're looking for a dog that will lie quietly at the foot of your bed or sleep most of the day, a Boxer is not the dog for you. Boxers are very energetic and they need plenty of attention. If a Boxer doesn't get adequate exercise every day, it can turn to doing destructive things or find ways to entertain itself like chewing on shoes. Boxers need to be walked or jogged twice a day at the minimum. In addition, they need mental stimulation. We have to start with the Queen, the one that started it all and taught me the most probably gave me the most headache LOL , Dayzee Mae. I have owned, bred, trained, showed and have been honored to be the momma to many breeds throughout my life, both in purebred and through rescue. They have been the one thing, that gave unconditional love during some of the darkest and toughest moments in my life and were always there, when humans failed to be. Many years ago, my son at 4 months old passed away of SIDS. At his funeral, I passed out yellow daisies, my favorite flower, and my Grandma whom was like another mom to me that passed away years before , and my oldest daughters middle name is May, thus where Dayzee Mae's name came from.I had an uncle that had boxers, and loved them, so when getting a boxer was mentioned, I was all in. The day we decided to get Dayzee Mae, we found her breeder and setup a time to go meet. We discussed what we would name her, and choose the name Dayzee Mae because of the meaning mentioned above. We arrived to meet the pups and running all around were many different puppies all boxers but fawns, males and females. Not really being as interactive as her siblings was this gorgeous brindle girl. I asked if this is the one we called on, and he said yes. She seemed a little shy, but was the most gorgeous boxer that I had ever saw and she started messing with my shoe strings. I picked her up and she seemed to speak to me. I think I was born part dog, or at least with a unique set of skills, that allow dogs and myself to be as one, like we truly understand each other, because she clearly said she wanted to come home with us, as odd as that may sound to some. We carried her into the house, and was going through the paperwork and the breeder mentioned that he had been calling her Daisy May but we could name her whatever we wanted and we just stopped him in his tracks and explained that we had already choose her name, and it was Dayzee Mae.SHE was meant to be my girl! From the beginning this girl rocked our world and not always in a good way. We were sitting on our back deck and she drops and starts convulsing and this was a few days of having her. Rushed her to the Vet and she had really low blood sugar, so she was treated, we learned what to do if it happened again which thankfully never did. I was going to conformation show her, and so we decided to have her ears cropped. After thousands of dollars later, her ears were a mess, scarred, however somewhat repaired, but you know what.But she quickly became one of the most expensive dogs I had ever owned in my life, still to date. Don't worry her bloodline is not part of any of my breeding dogs, Dayzee Mae was spayed. Dayzee Mae went through training and was a star, when she wanted to be LOL. We probably went through hundreds and hundred of dollars, every weekend stopping and buying different kinds of treats, to get her to like something, to gain drive to train. Nothing worked, ever! So we started thinking outside the box. Dayzee Mae loved to lick the lollipops, well.Even Lollipops she started to get bored with. Everyone said try chicken. So I boiled some chicken, and nope, still not good enough for her. I would not feed her dinner, to try to increase her drive, but it did not work. She was the most stubborn, dog I had ever met in my life. One day, I cracked open a can of white chicken to make a quick chicken salad, and Dayzee Mae who was clear upstairs, came hauling down like a herd of elephants, to see what that smell was. I thought to myself, did I just find the "magic" food. Oh boy, did I ever! From that moment on, Dayzee Mae shined like the brightest star! She was so smart, that she would do about anything, and quickly to get a bite of her canned chicken. She became my rockstar in training! She was the most well behaved, social butterfly, dog and everyone loved her. She looked scarey when she walked up to you, with those messed up ears, and she was a big girl, 98lbs. But she never met a stranger in her life! Her bean butt would start going as soon as you spoke to her. She just loved and loved. She was my best friend! If I was upset over anything, she was right in my face, making me smile. She would give me bite kisses, yell at me if I was gone to long, and get on my table to watch out the window, and pout if I left without her, but stood by my side when I needed her most, always letting me know it would be ok, and she was usually right. The day came that Dayzee Mae was not feeling well, went to Iowa State University Veternarian after our normal vet's treatment was not working the week prior and learned that day she had Lymphoma. I was so angry and hurt! They told me, she was stage 4, all throughout her body, and honestly I was lucky she was still alive it was that bad. I left her there to start treatement, even though the vets said it was to bad, I did not care, I would spend thousands and thousands if it meant having more time with my girl!!! I drove all the way home, bawling of course, and pulled into my drive, and thought to myself, she would not do this to me. She would not want me to be sick, she would not leave me in some cold, sterile place without the people I love, just to by time. She would want to be with me. So I turned around, drove back, went in and told them, if I only have a short amount of time with my girl, then its going to be the best time together. They sent me home with prednisone, and told me I would be lucky to have until the end of the week. And guess what? She did not act sick, not in pain, and she ate her food everyday and took her medication and was by my side the entire time. I told her to tell me when she was ready, because I would not let her suffer. The day came, she wouldn't eat, and the look on her face that day, told me it was time. You see, Dayzee Mae, I truly believe was here to teach me not only about the boxer, but more about life. About resilence, strength, compassion, love, and to keep going and moving forward and also not forget to stop and smell the Dayzee Mae's along the way. You give me that joy, time and time again, that I felt when I got my own Dayzee Mae all those years before and for that I am honored and thankful!!!
Welcome To Our Home Page!!! If your female is in heat or coming into heat give us a call so we can go over the details of how our stud service works. You can see more pictures of the calendar on our photo gallery page. Johnson's Labrador Retrievers is focused on providing high-quality service. We are AKC inspected, approved and licensed in the state of Tennessee. We have lab puppies for sale all the time. Labrador Retrievers are Americans top choice purebred dog. They have great temperament's, make excellent hunting dogs and are great around kids and other pets. With a variety of offerings to choose from, we're sure you'll find what you're looking for here. If you're looking for a Lab puppy right now please visit our Current Litters page to see what puppies we have available, but hurry they go fast! If you're looking for a puppy later down the road, please visit our Upcoming Litters page to see when and what color puppies we are expecting. We have a lot more information on our About Us page so feel free to visit there. We hope to see you again! Check back later for new upcoming litters and updates to our website. Thank you and God Bless!!! Please visit our page called NuVet Plus to find out more about this great immune system builder and multivitamin for your puppy or dog. Or you can click any of the NuVet pictures below and be taken right to NuVet's website! Please note: you can only order with this order code when placing an order on NuVet's website or calling them direct. Not Available in Stores. Click Here For Available Puppies! Blackfork Labradors breeding quality English AKC registered fox red labs, including yellow, chocolate and black Labradors. Our lab puppies are bred for companions, hunting, showing and therapy. Blackfork Labrador Retrievers specializes in breeding the fox red shade. We have fox red lab puppies available through out the year, along with black, chocolate and yellow Labrador pups. Blackfork Labs takes great pride in striving to improve our fox red labs taking into consideration health, temperament, soundness and the Labrador Retriever Breed Standard. Fox red is not a separate color of the Labrador but a shade of yellow. In the early years of the breed development, fox red or dark yellow was the original yellow shade of the Labrador Retriever. Fox red is the darkest shade of yellow Labradors. Tap the photo below for Fox Red Labrador Information When looking for a breeder that produces fox reds in their breeding program, it is very important that the following questions be asked: Do you have an overall goal for your breeding program? This goal should be more than just producing wonderful pets for families. Ask to see copies of clearances. It is very important that your breeder is doing annual eye CERFs to be certain that eye issues have not developed over time. Here at Blackfork Labradors we are striving to improve the overall standard of the fox red. I do not breed solely for depth of color. I spend hours researching pedigrees and calling other breeders to ask questions. That means there will be times that my fox reds will be bred to black stud dogs and yellows of all shades. Email :ashlandlabradors gmail. No matter if you are looking for a loving member to add to your family or are interested in a certain dog sport or venue, our Labradors excel in all areas. We strive for the REAL Labrador Retriever which is one that is not only correct in proper temperament but also a dog that is correct in structure as the written breed standard describes. Labradors are not supposed to be weedy, lanky individuals with pointy heads and equally objectionable are short, fat cumbersome dogs that cannot withstand the vigor's of working or partaking in a family outing. A Labrador Retriever was bred to be a gentleman's hunting dog, a family companion and a breed that can adapt to any situation with ease. They are NOT and never where meant to be a speed machine or a bouncy, over-energized four legged meat dog. Lord knows there are many other breeds out there bred specifically for those reasons. The Labrador should NOT be one of them. True to the correct Labrador temperament, you will find that our dogs are low-key inside the home but when it comes to performing a certain task they are trained for, they turn on like a light-switch. A dog you compete in the ring with, take hunting and then home to lay at your feet. Ashland Labrador Retrievers can be found in homes all across the U. Phone: M-F 9am -4pm. Menu "Glory, always faithful" Rocky Flats Kennels, Located in Eastern Tennessee, is a small selective breeding kennel having no more than two or three puppy litters a year. Our breeding philosophy focuses on conformation, intelligence, good temperament and retrieving ability. All of our dogs are registered with AKC and have had all of their health clearances done. We fell in love with Labradors over 30 years ago with our first light yellow Labrador female, "Madison'. Madison captured our hearts as soon as we brought her home at 8 weeks old. We enjoyed her intelligence, her mischievousness, her sweetness and her ever constant loyalty. Madison shared her "eager to please" attitude with us every day of her 12 years on this planet. It is because of her and the impression she made in our lives that we are now the proud breeders of "The Dogs of Rocky Flats Kennels". There have been some very special dogs that have come after Madison, each one leaving us with wonderful memories and lasting impressions. Our kennels are family owned and all of our dogs and their puppies are family members to us. We have been raising puppies for nearly 20 years and used to be dog show enthusiasts. As age crept up and sore knees were an issue running around the ring hurt our knees now we just enjoy watching our peers show the dogs that share some of our genetics. We are very selective in our puppy placing process and require an application filled out and emailed to us as well as a personal or telephone interview. Our owners for each litter come to our kennel,see how our dogs live, how their puppies have been raised for the first 5 weeks of their lives and during puppy nap time we all enjoy a lunch together and get to know more about how a puppy will fit into your family. It is a fun day,the puppies enjoy the families and we do also. Even when they have gone to their perspective families, we are there for our Labrador Retriever owners throughout the life of their dog to answer any questions and to share in the joys of their growing puppies. Contact Info:.
These are dogs that are strong, intelligent, alert, courageous, energetic, and loyal. The breed excels as a guardian and these dogs can be trained to perform a range of important tasks. But most of all, this is a dog that protects the ones he or she loves and holds dear. Naming Advice When it comes to naming your German Shepherd, there are a variety of factors to keep in mind. Check out these super cute Pet ID Tags! Personality Finding the right name may not be immediately apparent, and sometimes it takes a while to decide which moniker fits your pup best. Wait for his or her personality to fully emerge before choosing the ideal name. Spend a little time with your new friend and the perfect name will come. Name Length A good rule of thumb is to keep the number of syllables in the dog's name to one or two at most. Three is acceptable but the shorter the name, the easier it is for your dog to hear and respond to commands. Clear communication is imperative for German Shepherds, particularly during training. Avoid Confusion Some names may sound like commands and this will only serve to confuse your pup. If you name your German Shepherd something that sounds identical to those and other commands, obedience is going to be an uphill battle for both you and your pet. Perhaps one of these names will fit your pet best, or maybe these names will help you think of the best possible name for your particular pup. German Shepherds have distinct personality traits and all of these names can reflect those attributes every time you call his or her name. The act of naming your new companion is a crucial aspect of integrating her into your household. The options are manifold. You could decide on one of the most popular female German Shepherd names or choose to go with a completely unique girl German Shepherd name. The process may seem daunting at first, but the perfect name is often closer than you think. To start, you may consider trying out various German Shepherd names for your female canine. Pronounce them out loud, observe how easily they roll off your tongue. Envision yourself calling out that name several times a day. Would you feel comfortable shouting it out in the dog park? The truth is, selecting the ideal girl German Shepherd name can be a daunting task. These charming names could all make for fantastic choices. Browse through them and see which one resonates with you the most. Best Female German Shepherd Names Ideas When it comes to choosing the best female German Shepherd names, the options are as varied and dynamic as these dogs themselves. These top female GSD names perfectly encapsulate various facets of their personality, appearance, and heritage.
Things to do with your English Bulldog Kansas is a great place to live with an English bulldog. The state has a diverse landscape, plenty of outdoor activities, and dog-friendly businesses. Hike the Trails Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. There are many hiking trails in Kansas that are perfect for English bulldogs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog, and take breaks often. Visit a Campground Camping is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many campgrounds in Kansas that allow dogs. Be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, and other supplies. There are many places to fish in Kansas, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to get a fishing license and follow all the rules and regulations. Go Boating Boating is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many places to boat in Kansas, both on rivers and lakes. Be sure to bring a life jacket for your dog and follow all the safety rules. There are many places to swim in Kansas, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and follow all the safety rules. Visit a Dog Park Dog parks are a great place for English bulldogs to run and play off-leash. There are many dog parks in Kansas, both in urban and rural areas. Visit Pet-Friendly Businesses Kansas has a number of pet-friendly businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and stores. These are just a few of the many things you can do with your English bulldog in Kansas. With its stunning scenery, endless activities, and friendly people, Kansas is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your furry friend. How do you breed for a healthier English Bulldog? Like all things in life, breeding for health is simply a matter of priority. We are blind to many of the breed priorities that distract other breeders from improving the health of the English Bulldog. We focus on health and personality and very little else. We are not interested in winning a blue ribbon in the show ring. Rather, we test for things like elongated soft palates, narrow tracheas, stenotic nares, luxation in the patellar tendons, heart defects, cherry eye, optic cilia, entropion, ect. We focus and prioritize creating healthy bloodlines, therefore our bulldogs are typically much healthier than the breed as a whole. After breeding for health, what other priorities are you focused on? Our true desire is to create the perfect family bulldog. We also believe a bulldog bred for the correct personality is essential to the family unit as well. A Bruiser Bulldog is bred for intelligence and playfulness. We want our bulldogs to be full of personality and some quirk. We believe a full personality along with a little stubbornness is the true North star of the bulldog breed and is what makes the unique among other breeds. We look for these personality traits in our adult bulldogs and continue to create bloodlines that reflect these qualities. What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in Kansas? Check out our available English Bulldog Puppies page. At times, we have available puppies but almost always have a waiting list as well. A quick look at our available puppies is the starting point to begin the process. Send us an email or give us call .If approved to adopt one of our puppies you are welcome to place a deposit to hold until your puppy is ready to go home. Greetings from the Wysongs! Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. I am a sweet fun loving dog that would suit lots of different family homes who have the energy to take me for daily walks, spend time with me playing and having fun. Also it would be good for you to teach me some obedience so I can be the best dog possible and one you will be able to take anywhere! These beautiful girls are AKC registered with full breeding rights and come with a one year health guarantee. Located in Kansas City feel free to contact me anytime xxx-xxx-xxxx View Detail English bulldog 8 week old male looking for a new home vet check utd on worming and shots. Hi am rehoming my 11 wks English Bulldog because im moving house and is not enough space. It is very friendly she likes alot to play with kids and is got all the vaccinations up to date. Is used to do pee and poo on the sanitary pads and outside. Text or Call xxxx For More Info. They are Good temperament Babies with kids. I can ship my puppies to you. They are 11 weeks old, potty trained, vaccinated and dewormed. Tails are docked. Parents are tiny, Please do get back to me for more info and pics. There were 2 males and 1 females. We have 1 males available still. They are raised around my two children as well as other animals so will do great with kids and other pets. She loves to play and be with her family. Sarena is raised in the house with kids who socialize her and a vet tech owner to oversee her every need. Sarena has numerous health checks at the vets with all records that will be in her puppy pack with everything else she needs to move right in. Sarena is AKC Champion grandsired. These little ones are purebred. Beautiful white! Puppies are raised in our home, with lots of snuggling and play time. Full registration first shots and worming. Parents have amazing gentle temperament. Text me your email address now via x x if interested for more info and pics. Do not settle yourself for anything else than a High Quality English Bulldog. Our puppies have great temperament and unique colors and markings. We give our puppies all the attention they deserve and a lot of time to socialize not only with our family but with their littermates. Kindly contact us. There are male and female available! We raise our puppies in our home, where they are well socialized, kept clean, and become a part of our family. Our puppies come with Full AKC registration, one year health guarantee, vet checked, current on vaccinations, worming,a puppy pack,contact us for more details. Give the gift your family will remember for a lifetime. We have females and males available for Christmas and a female ready to go home today. Your new puppy will come home up to date on shots, vet checked, dewormed, and with a one year health guarantee. We have two puppies for adoption, one male and one female. Vet checked, AKC registered and disease free. They are 10 weeks old now. Will be coming with all health papers. Please contact contact petzlover.
By Chris Lab puppies are the definition of cuteness. But they are not always the angels they seem! What can you do when your Labrador puppy develops a biting habit? How to stop a Lab puppy from biting? These adorable little guys possess some not-so-good behaviors, especially during the first few months of their lives, a major one being biting. At first, it may seem cute, but it can be irksome, especially when your pup starts destroying things around your house or even begins biting you. Read on to learn some valuable tips on how to train your Labrador puppy to stop biting. What Causes Puppy Biting? Teething in puppies often starts when they are approximately three weeks old. By the time they are six weeks old, these little guys will have all 28 deciduous teeth. When your pup is around 12 weeks old, it will start shedding these teeth, paving the way for the permanent teeth to grow. You may notice these teeth around your home, but most likely, your furry little friend will swallow these teeth while eating. Your puppy tends to chew on everything because the teething process is quite uncomfortable and painful. That is why it will bite and nip on anything to try and relieve that pain. You may also notice your pet drooling excessively and not eating much during this phase. Even strong swimmers like Labs need a break every now and then Your Puppy Is Exploring Its Surrounding During the socialization stage which is from 4 to 12 weeks of age , puppies tend to bite and nip as a way of exploring their environment. At this stage, your pup will chew anything out of curiosity and to test its social boundaries. Separation Anxiety Puppies and older dogs who suffer from separation anxiety mostly exhibit destructive behaviors such as excessive biting. Separation anxiety is basically when your puppy becomes agitated, anxious, or depressed when you prepare to leave, or you have already left. Typically, puppies require between 16 to 18 hours of sleep every day. When they do not get enough sleep, they may begin exhibiting destructive behaviors such as excessive biting. Puppies who have the zoomies tend to show behaviors such as barking and biting excessively, running and spinning around, and so on. A lack of exercise is the leading cause of dog zoomies. These destructive behaviors are a way for your puppy to release that pent-up energy it has held in for quite some time. Here are a few ways on how to train your puppy to stop biting. Labradors are huge fans of babies as they age. Active families love a Lab! Try Bite Inhibition Bite inhibition is one of the most common methods puppy owners use to train their pups to stop biting. This is simply training it on how to control the force of its bites. Of course, you cannot entirely train a puppy to stop biting because it is part of how they socialize. Usually, puppies nip at each other while playing with their littermates or mothers. When your pup bites another puppy too hard, it will yelp, scaring your puppy enough to let go. You can take advantage of this behavior and teach your dog how much biting is acceptable. When it releases you, try ignoring it for approximately 10 to 20 minutes, then continue petting and playing with it. Another way to train your puppy to stop biting is by using positive punishment. Apart from yelping when it bites, you can also use a calm but firm voice to make it stop that behavior. Unlike humans, yelling at your puppy makes it more hyperactive and excited, making the habit even worse. When your puppy is biting excessively, you can gently place it in its cage for a couple of minutes until it calms down. However, it is essential to use this method sparingly to prevent your dog from developing negative responses. This may lead to your pup acting up when it sees someone walking towards it, which can be dangerous. It is also essential to reward your puppy when it calms down and stops biting, as it will help reinforce that positive behavior. If your pup tries biting your finger or hand, you can pull it away quickly before it does and provide a chewy toy for it to nip on instead. Do Labs like water? However, there are many things to consider when shopping for the ideal chew toy for your puppy. If you notice that your puppy shreds or destroys something it bites on within minutes, you should get a chew toy made of rubber or hard plastic. When choosing a chew toy for your furry little pal, make sure it is a good size for your puppy. Go for a toy that is not too big for your pup to carry and not too small that it can swallow and get lodged in its throat. It is also recommendable to get a treat-toy for your puppy. These toys allow you to stash some treats in them to elicit more interest. Such toys will help keep your puppy engaged enough to stop chewing on things around your home. Allow Your Puppy to Socialize With Other Puppies Arranging a playdate with other puppies is also a great way to train your puppy to stop biting. Like we mentioned earlier, puppies bite and nip at each other when playing. When one pup bites the other one too hard, it yelps, making the puppy stop nipping. This response helps your dog learn how much force of a bite is unacceptable. Is your dog a Prince or Princess? A Hero or a Pauper? Jasmine or Aladdin type? Would you give your puppy a Disney dog name? Conclusion While puppy biting is normal, it can become dangerous and uncomfortable as they grow older. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. You turn your attention back to your computer screen and suddenly feel little teeth grabbing at your sock! You look down. Your once-angelic puppy is now having a full on game of tug-of-war with your pant leg! This cute baby is now more like a furry little monster. You get up and try to walk away, but the fur alligator is still attached, munching away at your trousers and having the best time! If this sounds like your life, read on to learn how to stop a puppy from biting. Why Do Puppies Bite? Believe it or not, this scenario is actually very common! Biting is one of the most natural things in the world to a young pup; and they do it for many reasons. You would be left with your feet and mouth to interact, taste and feel your environment. Now, what if you had puppy paws — incapable of grasping anything? That leaves you with one final way to interact — your mouth. For good measure, add in the incredible curiosity of a child. How many times do you see a baby grab things with their hands and pop them into the mouth? Puppies have that same mindset. Your mouth strength and play bite helped you communicate and determine your rank in society. Your mouthy mojo gave you respect in canine culture. Puppies interact with their surroundings largely through their mouths. Labradors, like most sporting breeds, have the drive to chase after prey, put it in their mouths, and bring it back to you. This translates into a strong need to chew. They will try this same tactic with their human pack members. If ignored, one bite on the toe is often enough to get the focus back on them. Remember, to a puppy even negative attention is still attention. Terrible Teething When you add teething into the mix, you have the recipe for a furry gator. Most pups will have an increased need to chew while teething , which can begin at 6 weeks and last to 8 months of age. Unlike teething, there is no magical age that puppies grow out of a learned mouthing behavior. Thankfully, with positive training, most dogs eventually lose interest in chewing on their owners. Types of Biting: Aggression or Play? Puppies use their teeth in many ways. However, this is actually just very intense play. Play biting can be accompanied with growling and snarling. This is just part of the fun to a young pup. Instead, we will look into how we can prevent playful mouthing. However, it is important to recognize the signs of aggression. Pay attention to the timing of the biting as well. If so, the motive behind the bite may be more aggressive. Could it be Resource Guarding? Some dogs also aggressively bite when they are guarding a toy or food item, commonly called resource guarding. With resource guarding, you will see the same behavior as aggressive biting, but they will also stand over an object and defend it from any perceived threat. If you think your puppy is behaving aggressively, seek professional help to learn how to actively manage this issue. In contrast to this, playing puppies will be relaxed and have a wiggly body. They will be bouncy, easily roll onto their backs and often be panting with open mouths. Even if they are growling, a relaxed face and body mean a happy puppy. What Can Trigger Biting? Do you really want your pound Labrador to target your hands as a toy later? Children Little kids tend to excite puppies more than adults. Children move erratically, run around, make strange sounds and have a lot more energy. Puppies can easily associate them with toys. Ankle Biters Puppies target fast moving objects that excite their prey drive. Your feet moving by at their eye level can be irresistible. After all, what self-respecting puppy would snub shoes with those floppy laces that are perfect for playing tug? How do we do this? Redirection with Hands When training your puppy, always have a toy to offer. Remember, puppies are like babies. Your job is to redirect them to fun toys instead of human skin. You must do everything possible to make toys extremely attractive so the puppy chooses them over your clothing, hands or feet. Redirection with Kids You can also use redirection around children. First, teach your puppy to use interactive toys and then show your child how to play with the puppy correctly. In the event that your dog forgets, teach your kids to be a tree when their puppy begins to bite them or their clothes. This position makes them less interactive to the puppy. They look boring and the puppy will lose interest. Most bites occur because the child is running or moving erratically. Remember, dogs have the same prey triggers as wolves. If something is running away, it looks like prey. Your job, therefore, is to have an even more amazing toy than your feet. You can take a toy, tie it to a rope, and then tie the rope to your belt so that you are dragging the toy whenever your pup is out. If your puppy is coming for your feet, stop moving them and wave the toy around excitedly instead. Once the pup is attached to the toy, you can start walking again. This way, they will pounce on the toy instead of you! Bite inhibition simply means that the puppy learns not to apply too much force behind their teeth. They apply gentle, but firm, pressure to their greeting. Puppies also learn to limit this pressure with their mouths by feedback from pack members. When puppies are little, they learn bite inhibition through play with their siblings. If two pups are tussling, and one bites down too hard, the other puppy yelps loudly. This startling sound usually causes the offending party to let go. The play stops for a few minutes, as the first pup nurses his wounded ego. Play then resumes, but with less brutality. Instead, let the puppy release your hand and then simply get up and and move away from your pup while ignoring them. Your job is to teach them when they bite down on you, the fun stops. Ignore them for about a minute, then return and resume the play and praise them when they focus on the toy. If they bite you too hard again, repeat this process. You can either step over a puppy barrier or go into another room and shut the door. Just make sure they are in a puppy-proof area, as they may take out their frustration on inappropriate household items. You can also keep the puppy on a leash while playing with them. If they bite you, you can calmly tether them to something and then walk out of their reach. Your goal is to correct the puppy only by taking away your fun presence. You should not be threatening or angry. Give them the appropriate time out from the fun interaction to settle down, and then come back with a toy to redirect their energy. Once they understand they have to be gentle, you can then start to ask more of them by ending the game with lighter and lighter pressure on your skin. Finally, you can take the game to the highest standard — no teeth on human skin at all. If you slowly progress to this over weeks, you teach your pup to have a soft mouth. If they do feel the need to put their teeth on a human, they know not to put much pressure into their bite. You need to teach your puppy that human skin is fragile and requires a softer touch than a canine interaction. Your goal for this exercise should be to help your puppy understand that the play and fun things continue as long as they keep their teeth on their toy and not on you! More Ways to Stop Your Puppy Biting While the yelp and time-out method works for most pups, there are additional ways to reinforce good behavior. When your puppy bites your hand, they get a terrible taste. You can use anti-chewing sprays like Bitter Apple to make your hands less appealing. When your puppy bites you, be still and wait for them to react to the bitter taste. When they let go, praise them and redirect them onto a treat or toy. You want the crate to always be associated with only good things. Crates also should be in the middle of the household, with the rest of the pack — not isolated. This is the same way other canine pack members would isolate them. A laundry room or puppy pen works well for this exercise. Make sure the room is comfortable and safe for your puppy. When the puppy is too stimulated, calmly put him in the room with some teething toys and leave. Teaching them interactive games like fetch or bringing you a toy to tug helps show them that they can have even more fun when they play by your rules. Positive play helps develop a bond with your dog. You never want to avoid it, you just want to show them how to play without biting you. Teaching puppies to retrieve objects helps to tire them out, gives them something positive to chase, and focuses their bite on an appropriate item. Plus, most Labradors are pretty good at retrieving! Remember, anytime we ask a puppy to stop a behavior, it should be because they are rewarded in an even more exciting and positive way for doing something else and things our way. The following video shows how. Video: How to Stop a Puppy from Biting This video shows how to use clicker training to stimulate a puppy in situations where they normally would bite; and then reward them when they choose a closed mouth and calm interaction. Dominant Puppies Dogs are individuals. However, as puppies mature, there may be the rare pup that uses biting as a way to take charge. Dominant puppies may bite to show you that they want to be the boss as they mature. This happens naturally among littermates, as all packs have a pecking order. This reinforces to them that you are backing down and that they are the leader in the relationship. Always remain calm and assertive with your puppy, but end the game as soon as they begin vying for leadership instead of playing. Remember, the alternative to not training your dog is a large animal putting his mouth on people. Be patient with your puppy. Remember, mouthing and biting are normal parts of canine culture. If you stay patiently positive, train consistently, and redirect and reward good behavior, you will soon see a puppy that learns to bring you a tug toy instead of shredding your trousers. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Print How to stop your puppy from biting your hands and feet — fast! Have you ever watched a litter of retriever puppies play with each other? They are all mouths and feet as they growl, bite and paw at each other. Over time, if left to it, each pup will naturally figure out their place in the pack. However, when you bring your Lab puppy home there are no longer littermates with whom to tussle. And the result is often that your Lab puppy will start biting and growling at you! The problem is that puppy teeth are sharp. Very sharp! And when your puppy bites you, even if they are playing, it hurts. So, what can you do to stop this behavior before it gets out of hand and you find yourself or someone in your family injured by your puppy? Before I go any further, I want to be clear about what we are talking about. You should seek professional help and evaluation. Why puppies bite and growl Puppy play is a kind of training for a dog as they grow and mature. It is also a way that dogs determine rank within a group. Remember, dogs are pack animals. In a pack there is only one Alpha lead dog. Every other dog is under the authority and control of that dog. No two dogs share the same rank. So, while biting and growling starts as play, it does not stay that way. All dogs, whether in a group of dogs or a human family, want to understand their place in the family. They need to know their place. It helps they be more mentally balanced and will help solve a multitude of behavioral problems. Once a puppy or dog understands where they rank in the pack, they often assume that place, at least for a while. Remember, they are dogs. They are not robots so occasionally they may challenge their position, but if the boundary remains clear, the challenge is short lived. Biting, nipping and playful growling at a human can become a challenge of dominance. If your puppy is young, you can quickly and easily end this behavior by establishing boundaries and consistently enforcing these boundaries each and every time your puppy shows this type of behavior. If you have let this behavior go on for a while, you may be in for quite a fight to take back your authority. Biting is not the same as chewing A puppy biting your hand or feet is not the same as a puppy chewing on a shoe, toy or other item. All puppies have a need to chew. As their puppy teeth grow and their adult teeth come in, it is common for dogs to chew on things to relieve the pain and help the new teeth to come in. This should not be discouraged, but rather encouraged on an appropriate item like a chew toy, nylabone or rawhide. And if this works, this is an appropriate solution. Instead, it is likely an issue of dominance. How to stop puppy from biting you Biting is just one puppy dominance behavior. There are many others such as jumping on you, putting a paw on your feet, and lifting and placing paws on your arms or legs. The behaviors I have listed are often gateway behaviors that escalate into more aggressive or troublesome behaviors like stealing food off your plate or the counter, pushing you out of the way when going through doors and pulling you around on a lead. Start by establishing firm boundaries The first step to stopping your puppy from biting or mouthing you is to set up firm boundaries for your puppy. You can set these up for not only biting but for all dominance behaviors. So, what is a boundary? Well, here are some examples. Some people we have worked with are okay with their puppy mouthing their hand as long as there is no tooth pressure. If you feel the same way, then make that a boundary. But if there is any tooth pressure, a swift and consistent correction will follow. This boundary is stronger and does not give the dog any room for confusion. In fact, they often will understand what your boundaries are but will test that standard against everyone else in the family. Each person needs to set and enforce boundaries. React with firm consistent corrections After you establish the boundary, you now need to react every time your puppy or dog crosses that boundary. Each and every time! There can be no room for confusion. Your corrections must be swift and consistent. Not all dogs react to the same level of pressure. For some dogs, this squeeze and strong words will be all it takes to stop the behavior. Especially if you are consistent in your correction. But some dogs have a stronger or more challenging personality. This will give your puppy a taste of his own medicine since his puppy teeth are sharp and will pinch into his lips or flews. You must be consistent. How long will it take to stop my puppy from biting me? If you are firm and consistent, the behavior should stop for the most part in a day or two. Some dogs require more pressure, some less. Your puppy should feel some discomfort. That is okay. The point is to show your puppy that biting hurts and that it is not an acceptable behavior. When nothing seems to work If you puppy is a bit older and has been getting away with biting and mouthing you for a while, you may struggle to end this behavior. Often the problem is a strong dominance issue that needs to be addressed. If your puppy continues to snap or bite at you even after a correction, you likely need to exert some dominance over your puppy. This is similar to what a mommy dog does to a puppy that is not behaving. Humans can do the same thing to show dominance over a rebellious puppy. I know, it sound a bit ridiculous but it really does work. Instead, remain calm and patient. Stay in control. Reacting with emotion can lead to strong reactions or punishment that you will later regret. The point is to show your dog that you are the Alpha in the relationship, and you can and will determine what behavior is acceptable. Biting is not love As a professional dog trainer, I am always surprised at what some of clients consider appropriate behavior. Some owners feel that setting boundaries and enforcing those boundaries means that you do not love your dog. That you need to accept all dog behaviors otherwise you do not love your dog. This is a false and faulty mindset. We have seen clients who have been injured by their dog multiple times and they still refuse to take steps to end the behavior. That is not love. What if the next person that dog bites is a child? Would you be able to live with that? A dog that is allowed to continue harming humans is only one bite away from having to be put down. It may sound harsh, but it is the sad truth. Some people may argue that the dog is unable to understand what they are doing is wrong. This is not based on reality. Dogs are very smart. They can learn to do amazing things and become incredible hunting partners and family companions. But they rarely achieve this potential without an owner who cares enough to set boundaries and enforce them. Final thoughts on how to stop my puppy biting me all the time You can stop your puppy from biting you and others if you are willing to take the steps necessary to make your dog understand that biting is not an acceptable behavior. A firm consistent correction each and every time your puppy bites will quickly teach your puppy to stop biting. These corrections will not harm your relationship with your puppy, but will, in fact, enhance it. Your puppy will quickly learn where the boundaries are and how to operate within those boundaries. We see it time and again, once a puppy is taught that there are boundaries, they quickly adjust and become wonderful loving and obedient family members. Help, my Lab puppy keeps biting me! Calm puppy behavior. Conflicting advice on how to stop your pup biting Many articles will tell you to ignore a puppy when he bites and to offer him a toy instead. Some people will tell you to punish your biting puppy. Others will tell you that you must not stop your puppy biting too suddenly, or punish him for biting, for fear of drastic consequences later. So who is right, and who is wrong? Does ignoring stop your puppy biting? Many new puppy owners try to ignore the biting puppy initially. This failure tends to be for one or more of the following reasons. Does noise stop puppy biting? There is no doubt that a sufficiently loud squeal, followed by immediate withdrawal of attention, will cause many Labrador puppies to break off from biting. Sometimes long enough for a skilled owner to then redirect the puppy into a more appropriate activity. There is also no doubt that for some puppies, this has the reverse effect, and causes them to bite harder and more fiercely. A puppy that has spent sufficient time with his Mum, may be more likely to take heed of this verbal warning, as he will expect it to be followed by a sharp click of her teeth and a fiercer rebuke if he ignores her. But there are no guarantees here. And the fact is, squealing simply does not work as an effective anti-biting strategy, for some puppies. Punishing the puppy to stop biting I have heard, even quite experienced, breeders tell new puppy owners to punish their puppy if he bites. Either by intimidating the puppy with an angry growling voice, or even with physical punishment such as a scruff shake or slap. But there are problems with this approach. This process is called bite inhibition. And the use of punishment may curtail all biting rather than just the hardest, most painful, bites. Nowadays many people like to train dogs without punishment. And there are strong reasons for joining them — check out this article — the downside of punishing dogs. Teaching puppy to stop biting Why would we want to teach dogs to bite humans gently? Why is it not best to teach them not to bite at all, right from the start? The idea of reducing biting gradually was popularised by Ian Dunbar. The theory is that a dog which learns to inhibit his bite i. You can read more about bite inhibition here: Labrador Puppies Biting. The concept is a sound one, and most canine behaviorists agree that teaching gradual bite inhibition is a good thing. The problem for many new puppy owners, is stopping those painful bites in the first place! The first step is not a technique at all, but an adjustment in the expectations that we have of a small puppy How much do Lab puppies bite? New puppy owners tend to have false expectations of puppies. They also anticipate that stopping a puppy from biting will be a fairly quick and simple matter. None of these expectations is true. Most puppies bite hard, frequently and growl fiercely whilst they are doing it. This noise is not a sign of aggression see Help my puppy is aggressive. Stopping a puppy from biting is a process, a journey. And it can be temporarily an uncomfortable one! It is important to accept that there is no guaranteed way of stopping biting immediately. Indeed, as we have seen, bite prevention rather than inhibition may be a bad thing in any case. Supervise your puppy around children Once you have got your head around the fact that this process will take some time, that it will be a gradual thing, you need to think about how you are going to protect any children that might come into contact with the puppy. This is important because small children can, both hurt and, be hurt by small biting puppies. Calm your puppy to stop him biting The next priority is to keep your puppy calm. Overexcited puppies bite harder and more frequently than less excited puppies. This will merely start the biting up all over again. There are lots of ways to interact with puppies without physically playing with them. Check out our article on playing safely with your dog. What to do when a puppy bites When your puppy bites you really hard, take immediate action. Stand up, move away from him and completely withdraw your attention. You can try the squeal thing if you want to. This works well with some puppies. Be ready for it, and repeat your actions. If the puppy chases after you, biting at your legs and feet, step over a baby gate, or pop him in his crate for a few minutes. You can read up on this process in more detail in this article: How to cope with biting. Remember, puppies enjoy chewing , and teething puppies need to chew on something. Whilst you and your clothing are not suitable chew toys, you need to provide your puppy with alternatives, like Kong toys. How to stop your puppy biting Biting is normal Biting should be inhibited in stages Training takes time The key points to take away from this are that biting is normal, and that training a puppy not to bite takes time. Stop the painful bites first, then work on putting a stop to mouthing. If what you are doing is not working, you probably just need to be more patient and persistent. If your children are suffering, you need to separate and supervise. Work hard on keeping your puppy calm — it makes the biggest difference. How to train a puppy not to bite Is it normal for puppies to bite a lot? Yes it is! Almost all puppies bite and some bite much harder than others. How long do puppies teeth and bite? With some exceptions, puppy biting will stop by the time your puppy has his full set of grown up teeth at 7 months. Fortunately, you can stop your puppy from biting long before they have cut all their adult teeth. Do puppies grow out of biting? If you do nothing at all, to teach a puppy not to bite, the biting would likely subside over the next few months. But its very easy to do the wrong thing, and actually encourage a puppy to bite more. And in those cases, play biting can become very rough and the relationship between a young dog and their family can break down. Do All Labradors Bite? Anyone who shares their home with a 10 or 12 week old puppy will tell you that Labradors bite! And I can reassure you that this applies to all Labradors in the first few months of life. Fortunately this is a phase puppies go through and not a permanent character flaw. And most adult Labradors are indeed very good natured dogs. And also at what is normal, and what is not. If your children are in tears at being bitten every time they try to play with and cuddle their new friend, you may be wondering if your puppy is becoming aggressive. You may even worry that your children might be at risk. Fortunately I can reassure you that this is not the case. While your puppy may frighten your children with his sharp teeth and growling. The way he is behaving now does not mean he will be a threat to their safety in the future. Happily, studies have shown that behavior in small puppies is not predictive of the way that they will behave as adults! Why Do Puppies Bite Children? Some breeders will not sell puppies to homes where there are small children. This is because puppies often bite children and teenagers harder and more persistently than they bite grown-ups. It is normal for small puppies to make small children cry, but before you rush your puppy off to the local shelter, bear with me a moment, because I can help with that. Children give off conflicting signals to the puppy. Fortunately there are lots of ways to make it easier on yourself and on your kids. In short, you need to be a little patient at this point, and it helps to know that this phase does pass quite quickly. And that it is completely normal for all puppies to bite a lot, and to bite children with particular enthusiasm! It has to be said, Labradors are even more bitey than some other breeds of dog during this stage in their development. In fact, retrievers generally tend to be very bitey as puppies. As can the pain of being bitten. Puppy bites do hurt. And sometimes they leave marks. Pain, bruising, scratching, little tooth marks on your toddler, these are all part and parcel of raising a puppy. Some very enthusiastic puppies will even draw blood on occasions. All this is normal, but I will explain what you can do about it. Perhaps the most serious concern that new puppy parents have, is the fear that their puppy is becoming aggressive. What really worries people is the snarling. When puppies play, they practice being fierce. They throw themselves into the whole play acting thing with huge enthusiasm. And they are brilliant at it. And the most important part of that game is to make as much noise as possible and to sound as angry as possible. So, all puppies growl or snarl ferociously when they play, while they are biting, and sometimes when they are trying to entice their poor owners into yet another game. His little face will be all scrunched up, his lips drawn back, his teeth showing. So he has no idea that he is frightening your children or that you are wondering if he is turning into a horrible aggressive and dangerous beast. Please do be reassured, that however fierce your ten week old puppy sounds. It is just a game. He is truly just playing. Normal Puppy Play Behavior So, the hard truth is, all puppies bite. And many puppy bites are quite painful. Some Labrador puppies bite more than most, and biting a lot, and growling or snarling at the same time is normal. So is biting so hard that it makes your eyes water, and even occasionally breaks the skin. Puppies bite at hands that go to stroke them, at bare feet, and happily tug away at clothing, all the while trying to sound as fierce as they possibly can. All this is normal. And you, quite naturally, will want to know exactly when it is going to stop! When Do Puppies Stop Biting? It also happens in working dog families where the dogs may be kennelled or at least are not allowed unsupervised interaction with anyone apart from their trainer or main carer. A study carried out on Guide Dog puppies in showed that simply rejecting interaction and refusing to play was enough to stop the puppies biting their adult puppy walkers. But, and it is a big but — in most young families, this is not always what happens. In many families, especially where the puppy is a novelty, everyone plays with the puppy, and often in quite a physical way. This gets puppies very excited and tends to make biting worse. Inexperienced puppy owners also tend to inadvertently prolong the biting phase by rewarding the puppy with attention when he bites. The more excited they get, the harder they bite. Rough physical play gets puppies excited, rubbing puppies tummies, chasing puppies, grabbing at puppies. All these things get puppies bubbling with excitement Noisy behavior can get puppies excited too, so children squealing, or crying, grown ups shouting or getting cross. You might not think you are rewarding your puppy for biting, but you probably are. Labrador puppies are particularly social and love attention more than most puppies do. Any kind of contact with you, or other members of the family, including physical contact, talking, shouting, even eye contact, all reward your puppy. And if you give him these things while he is biting, this will reinforce the biting behavior and he will bite more in the future Poor bite inhibition What makes the bites hurt more, is poor bite inhibition. So the next section explains what bite inhibition is and how you can help your puppy improve his. What Is Bite Inhibition? At just eight or nine weeks old , Labrador puppies are actually capable of crushing bones the thickness of your little finger, with their jaws. Your puppy has been learning to inhibit his bite since he was tiny. His mother and brothers and sisters all helped to teach him how hard he can bite without hurting them. This is where your training will come in. You can read more about bite inhibition and bite inhibition training in this article What About Puppy Teething? We mentioned teething earlier because people tend to associate biting with teething. So, is it true that puppies bite so much because they are teething? And how long will teething go on for? In fact, most problem puppy biting is simply play. Puppies may chew or mouth at fingers to help relieve the discomfort of teething, but this is not the major cause of the biting problems we find in homes with small puppies. Most puppies have their adult teeth by the time they are 7 months old, but biting does not usually last that long. He is growing fast and by 11 or 12 weeks those bites will hurt a lot more. The time to begin taking action is now! But for the time being, you need to put this image aside. Children under five are simply not capable of playing with a puppy under four months without getting bitten. So you need to supervise every interaction between them. Do put baby gates across doorways, even if you no longer need them for your children. Baby gates allow you to separate children and puppies when you are not free to supervise. Do show children how to stroke the puppy gently whilst you hold one end of a rawhide chew and let the puppy gnaw on the other end. It will end in tears. Playful Visitors It is not just children that play inappropriately with puppies. I have known grown men grapple roughly with a tiny puppy, rolling him around the floor, making growling noises, whilst the puppy gnaws on his knuckles. You can find out how to play safely with a Labrador in this article. Saving your sanity and enjoying your puppy If you were not expecting this, it can seem like a big deal, but supervision and some separation is essential if you are to keep your sanity, and your children are to dry their tears and carry on enjoying their puppy. With older children, you need to teach them how to interact with the puppy without getting him overwrought. Labrador puppies, like toddlers, are easily over-excited. And when they are over-excited they start to be silly. Your first job at this stage, is to keep your puppy calm. Your second job is to stop giving your puppy rewards for biting. Make sure the puppy gets no reward at all when he bites someone. Especially no attention. The next stage explains how you can do that. The process whereby the puppy learns to use his mouth gently on your skin — and it takes a little while. Bite inhibition is taught in stages. The puppy learns to reduce the power of his bites gradually. What to do when your puppy bites If your puppy bites and hurts you, remove your attention immediately. This is where baby gates can be really helpful. If you are playing with your puppy and he bites you, you can step over the gate, thus effectively removing all attention from him. All of a sudden his playmate has disappeared. What about squealing You may have heard that a puppy will stop biting if you yelp or squeal. And you can try this, because it does work with some puppies. But many puppies get even more excited by the yelping, and on others it has no effect. The strongest signal you can give your puppy is the loss of your presence and attention. What about punishment? Some people try and stop puppies biting by smacking them or shouting at them. There are several problems with this. Firstly, it tends to only stop the puppy biting the person who did the yelling. Which is of course the very opposite of what you are trying to achieve! You can find out more about the potential impact of punishing your Labrador here. What if you need to move a biting puppy? If you need to move the puppy away rather than stepping away from the puppy you may find he bites at your hands when you go to pick him up or take hold of his collar. Others bite when they are stroked or petted. We are fond of wiggling our fingers at puppies, petting them and rubbing our fingers in their fur, not behaviors that dogs really understand. And many puppies see fingers and toes as something to chase and play with. Hands are a particular target for puppy bites so teach your children to interact with your puppy using toys that he can tug and bite on, rather than playing with him using their bare hands. Distracting your puppy If you want to sit and pet your puppy, or your children do, use treats or hold a rawhide chew with one hand so he can gnaw on the end. Have your puppy wear a harness and houseline so that you can pick up the end of the line and move him to where you want him to go without his grabbing at your hands. Stage Four: Train Your Puppy Not To Bite This is where we teach the puppy to let us stroke and pet him, or handle him in any way we like, without him putting his mouth around our fingers. The best way to do this is with a clicker and some dog treats. But you can also use a word like YES instead of the click. And place a treat on the floor in front of him You see where I am going with this? Build up slowly so that you can touch him anywhere on his head or body, pick up his paws etc. All without him grabbing or mouthing at you. What do I do if he mouths at me? If the puppy grabs at your hand, you got too close. Make smaller hand movements further away from him until he ignores those, then bring the movements gradually closer. Stage Five: Playing Safely As puppies grow older biting can reappear. Puppies between six and nine months of age, are extremely boisterous, and may start nipping with their teeth during play. At this age, your puppy is more than half grown, and his size and weight are a significant problem if rough play is allowed. The secret to avoiding and resolving this issue is to change the way you interact with your puppy. And to ensure that children follow your example. Boisterous and excitable puppies must not be allowed to play rough games with small people. The consequences can be very unpleasant, and it is no coincidence that this is the age at which many young dogs are abandoned or given up to rescue. Here are a few more articles that you might find helpful:. But as your kids approach the puppy, he starts biting and nipping them, causing a few surprised cries. The AKC says Labradors are an affectionate breed, treating adults, children, and other animals like family without causing any trouble. Labradors are easy to train and receptive to learning new commands since their main goal is to please their families. Do All Labrador Puppies Bite? As your new puppy settles into their new home, they are many stimulants, and he needs time to get to know your family, its new surroundings, and that not all slippers are a toy. Just as when people move to a new house, city, or country, your new Labrador puppy is exploring the world. This process will take a few weeks, so be patient. But what happens when he suddenly starts biting you and your kids? Every family that gets lab puppies faces this challenge. Although your puppy is only a few pounds, Labrador puppy biting is still painful. Many owners worry that the behavior will continue into adulthood, especially when biting becomes an ongoing issue. The good news is that there is usually a short time frame that you have to experience this. So in reality, Labrador puppy biting is primarily instinctual. Reason 1: Teething Puppies Sometimes, a Lab puppy biting is simply due to teething. Teething is uncomfortable, so your pup likely just wants to relieve that discomfort in any way possible. If that means biting a chew toy or your fingers, then so be it. Once your Lab puppy has its teeth, it might stop biting and nipping. You can help ease his comfort by offering him teething toys for puppies, like frozen chew toys. Reason 2: Excitement Biting Behavior Your new Lab puppy could get excited by just about anything: Your kids squealing, shouting, or crying, and adults shouting or being angry can set off your Lab puppy biting with its sharp teeth. The solution: Deter your puppy from biting you by redirecting him to what he can bite, like a toy. Reason 3: Biting for Attention Most Labrador puppies are receptive to conditioning and positive reinforcement. Dog lovers know that dogs crave attention from their families, but Lab puppies are extreme attention seekers. They love any form of contact with their families, whether playing, petting, or even just eye contact. So if your pup gets these responses from you while biting, he will interpret them as attention. The solution: Stop giving your puppy the attention he wants when he bites so he learns not to associate the two. When puppies are with their mom and siblings, the mom teaches them how hard they can bite each other without it being too painful through play fighting. Your Lab puppy learns how to calibrate strength based on his own family experience. Do Labrador Puppies Bite Children? One major adjustment is the play-biting: A small Lab puppy has a powerful bite and can cause pain, especially to such sensitive skin. The downside is that Lab puppies are more likely to bite children and teenagers than adults. It all comes down to learning how to interact with the puppy. Children and teenagers are inherently more confusing for a Lab puppy. The great news is that you can stop your Lab puppy from biting your kids through consistent training, but the training should be on both sides. Your kids also need to learn how to play and interact with the puppy, understanding its boundaries and playing just enough to keep them from overexciting. You plan to throw a chew toy into the yard for him to chase — but before you can throw it, he suddenly starts nipping and tugging at your hands while making odd puppy sounds that sound dangerously close to snarling. You might also be worried that you have a puppy displaying aggressive biting behavior. Most of the time, they mean no harm and just need a little training to control it! Without the proper guidance and education, many of these methods might be wrong: Instead of discouraging your puppy from biting, you could unintentionally reinforce it. Puppy Biting Tip 1: Discourage Play Biting Whatever stage of puppy development your adorable pup is in, he will always crave attention. If you encourage and reward play biting, he will associate it with attention, praise, and treats, causing him to do it more. So if your puppy has entered its biting phase and is displaying rough or aggressive behavior, stop yourself from giving any reaction. Simply follow rigid training steps, and it will eventually stop. Although that might be very hard to do because a Lab puppy is so adorable, you will thank yourself in the future for doing this. In fact, it might even make things worse. When you punish your Labrador, he might learn to fear you. This can worsen the biting and lead to your puppy developing more aggressive behavior as an adult. Some people also do a light swat on their puppies when they misbehave. When your pup starts biting, remain calm and follow positive training methods rather than negative ones. This is especially true when it comes to a nipping Labrador puppy. While a biting puppy is normal puppy behavior, without proper training and techniques, your Labrador might bite well into adulthood. Step 1: Teach Small Children Boundaries The first step in your training routine should be teaching your kids how to interact with the puppy. But if they start barking and biting out of excitement, you must stop playing with them immediately. Instead, pick up the toy and step away. Bite inhibition is when you teach your puppy how much is too much. After that time-out, you can return to the room and resume whatever activity you were doing. As your puppy learns to bite with less intensity, you can start training it not to put your hand in its mouth. This training takes time, so be patient, and you will see a positive result. Step 4: Reinforce with Additional Training You can also use other training techniques to reinforce positive behavior. Move your hand closer to the puppy and follow the same technique. If the puppy bites you, walk away from it. As you train the puppy to tolerate your hand getting closer to it without biting, you can finally keep your puppy calm and play safely without causing overstimulated biting. Puppies and dogs might go back to their bad habits if you change how you interact with them, so being consistent is crucial. Remember that children tend to take more time to learn training steps, so always reinforce the boundaries and supervise them during playtime in the early training days. Be patient and give your puppy time to learn. Seek help from professional trainers. Professional dog trainers are experienced in redirection, toy-play, and bite inhibition training to give you helpful tips and tricks. Take your puppy to puppy school. There are hundreds of puppy schools and programs that teach puppies good manners. Remember to never punish your puppy for biting. Invest in some good toys, such as different chew toys or Kong toys, so you always have something to redirect him towards. Conclusion Whether teething, scared or just excited, most Labrador Retriever puppies bite for various reasons. Unfortunately, those sharp little puppy teeth can hurt — so if you notice some unwanted biting from your Lab puppy, you should immediately start training him into different behavior. Learn more about what we do and check out our available Labrador puppies today! Share on.
Despite their ancestry, English Bulldogs are not ferocious anymore but laid back and affectionate. Bulldogs are one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. They are medium-sized dogs with low-hanging, thick bodies. They are perfect for inexperienced owners due to their relaxed personality, moderate exercise needs, and easy grooming. Of course, there are some negatives to owning English Bulldogs, like health problems caused by their flat muzzle and their unusual body shape. This is the English Bulldog price range for a puppy from a small-scale but reputable breeder. Gasping at these numbers is an appropriate reaction, but there are multiple reasons why Bulldog puppies are so expensive. We will cover the high costs of breeding later, but the price of English Bulldogs also depends on market laws — the popularity of the breed drives the price up. Four British Bulldog puppies on a run While the adorable Bulldog is low-maintenance in terms of grooming and exercise, various health problems can make them expensive to care for. You should also avoid buying puppies from pet shops since they usually come from puppy mills. Buying a puppy directly from a reputable breeder is the best way to go. Ethical breeders provide health screenings for their puppies and answer all your questions regarding their parents, breeding, and living conditions. Bulldogs from reputable breeders cost more due to high breeding expenses. Other breeding costs include genetic testing, vet bills, and preparation expenses. On the other hand, when you adopt from a Bulldog rescue, the dog is usually spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. Age: Caring for a newborn Bulldogs takes time, money, and energy. Older puppies or adolescent Bulldogs will cost less than newborns. Gender: The price for female English Bulldogs might be slightly higher in some cases, but the difference is usually negligible. Coat Color: Coat color can seriously affect the price of the dog because some colors and patterns are pretty rare. Standard coat colors include white, fawn, red, brindle, and their combinations. Bulldogs with these colors and patterns fall within the average range price. Meanwhile, rarer colors and patterns are more expensive. The newest colors, like merle or lilac, are even more costly. These numbers are based on the essentials like supplies, food, grooming costs, medical expenses, training costs, with microchip and license included. This price range might still increase, especially if you opt for a puppy from a champion bloodline or one with rare coat color. Compared to both cousin dog breeds, purebred English Bulldogs cost more due to the extra care needed during birth. A pregnant British Bulldog must be closely monitored once it reaches its final stages of pregnancy. Female Bulldog: Which Is Better? Besides papers and registry documents, bloodline, age, and coat color are also some factors that could affect the average price of your Bulldog. Here is a detailed list of the factors that affect the price range of an English Bulldog: Age: English Bulldog puppies cost more than seniors or adult dogs because they are healthier and more active. Senior dogs often have tons of health issues that need immediate medical attention, while puppies are a joy to be with because they are at the prime of their health. Gender: Female English Bulldogs may cost you a bit more than a male because of their breeding potential. Potential owners and Bully enthusiasts also request a female pup more than males because of their better temperament. The demand pushes the price of female English Bulldogs to a higher cost. Rarer colors like tri-color , merle , and blue English Bulldogs are typically much more expensive. Bloodline: A champion English Bulldog puppy might cost three to four times as much as typical English Bulldog puppies. They are known to exhibit the best physique, temperament, and health. Plus, they are perfect for competitions. Reputable breeders often have a long history of breeding success. Their high prices are also backed by health guarantees and other safeguards. Health Screenings: Before selling their puppies, many breeders evaluate them for health problems. They sell their puppy for a higher price if it is deemed to be in excellent health. Regardless, it is still a good idea to look for an English Bulldog puppy that comes with a health guarantee. With this list, you might already have your own cost estimation for the pup you want. English Bullies that have been rescued have already been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and have complete registration documents. Before being put up for adoption, they undergo retraining and behavioral rehabilitation as well. Rescues often house more adult Bullies as puppies are more likely to be adopted immediately. To help you in purchasing, we have compiled a list of all the initial expenses for owning an English Bulldog: Food and Treats: One of the basic items you should get for your English Bulldog is high-quality dog food and a few treat packages for on-hand training. You may need to buy a few of them to see which one works best for your dog. As a fairly slobber-ish canine, you might have a hard time cleaning leftover dog food from a cheap container. Bed: To prevent your English Bulldog from abnormal physical disorders, it is best to invest in a high-quality dog bed. A crate may also be a safe haven for your dog when you are not home or when you have visitors. Leashes and Collars: Some of the first things you should get for your English Bulldog are leashes and collars. Be sure to get one that is a good fit for your dog. Metal nameplates included in these items that are less likely to corrode might cost a little extra. Toys: Chew toys that are easy to pick up and clean are ideal for English Bulldogs. Choose interactive and sturdy toys that will stimulate their high intelligence and withstand their strong jaws. Grooming Essentials: Brushing English Bulldogs a few times a week should keep them looking nice, and their shedding would be manageable. Cleaning moisture that could be trapped under their wrinkles is also a must. Nail clippers and a doggy toothbrush are good investments, too. Initial Vet Visits: English Bulldog puppies require initial vet examinations to ensure that they are healthy. Dog License: For an English Bulldog puppy, a license is a necessity. The dog microchip should have all your important contact information as the owner, increasing the chances of your Bully being returned to you as soon as possible if they get lost. Replacement costs of these types of goodies will range based on how quickly your Bulldog destroys their current supply. You can also order subscription packs from many reputable companies that give your dog new exploratory items every month. Since these dogs are at risk for many health complications, save as much as you can—erring on the side of caution. The best time for obedience lessons is between 6 months to a year, but every trainer varies in preference. Depending on the treatment, you could spend thousands of dollars in one swoop. Pet sitting is more personalized care but can rack up extra fees. If you want to save as much as possible while still giving your Bulldog the care they need, look at these money-saving tips. They mainly offer spay and neuter surgeries at reduced costs, but they can also provide basic care. You can make anything from dog toys to intricate beds. Many things you can make may not even require going to the store for materials—you can simply make them from existing items at home. Auto-Ship Dog Food If you buy your dog food from certain websites, many companies offer discounted prices if you place an automatic, recurring order. Of course, you can always save on English Bulldog costs by using low-cost services and making tons of at-home projects and toys for your pooch. Less - The English Bulldog is a wide, medium-sized, compact dog with short legs. The body and head are massive with extra skin on both the skull and forehead falling in folds. The cheeks extend to the sides of the eyes. The muzzle is wide, short and pug with a broad, deep stop. The black nose is broad with large nostrils. The dark eyes are deep set. The rose ears are small, thin and set high on the head. The jaws are massive, very broad, and square with hanging upper lips. The teeth should have an under bite. The tail is either straight or screwed and carried low. The short, flat coat is straight, smooth and glossy. Coat colors include red brindle and other shades of brindle, solid white, solid red, fawn, fallow, piebald, pale yellow or washed-out red or white or a combination of these colors. Despite its "sourmug," the bulldog is jovial, comical and amiable, among the most docile and mellow of dogs. It is willing to please, although it retains a stubborn streak. It is very good with children. Most are moderately friendly toward strangers. Although some can be aggressive with strange dogs, the breed is quite good with other pets. These dogs were bred for sheer fighting capacity, and they were famed for latching onto their prey with an iron jaw which they refused to release—they could even suffocate opponents this way. English Bulldogs are simultaneously a symbol of British tenacity and an immensely popular American pet. Less - The Olde English Bulldogge is a muscular, medium-sized dog of great strength, and possesser of fluid, agile movement. He is well balanced and proportioned, while appearing capable of performing without any breathing restrictions in either heat or in cold. Serious Faults: Excessive wrinkle, lack of pigment around eyes, nose or mouth. Olde English Bulldogges are docile, but capable and protective, fearless and athletic, fierce-looking, determined and courageous, bold and friendly around their family and friends, but fearless adversaries to anyone who threatens their masters or property. This breed likes to chew and should be supplied with plenty of toys and bones. This breed tends to drool and slobber. History In a breeding project began using a linebreeding scheme developed by Dr. Fechimer of Ohio State to rapidly achieve a purebred dog. They are, first and foremost, excellent companions, while also possessing the drive, temperament and agility to perform in numerous working venues as well as being service dogs. The revival of a healthy dog with the longevity to live well into its teens is a primary goal.
Cockapoo The original Doodle, the Cockapoo , is still a popular choice among those looking to adopt a littler dog. The loving loyalty of the Cocker Spaniel and the proud intelligence of the Poodle makes for one heck of a combo. The perfect canine companion, these gorgeous mutts fit nicely into just about every lifestyle. As one of the small Poodle mixes, moderate exercise needs, and lack of mouthiness, they even do well with apartment living. However, you will need to make plenty of time for these people-oriented pups. Maltipoo Highly sociable, clever, and cute as a button, Maltipoos are excellent for those looking for an absolutely allergy-friendly pal. They love kids, other dogs, and perfect strangers, too. That being said, these dogs can be a little on the loud side at times and will benefit from training and plenty of socialization to reduce this at times irritating behavior. Peekapoo For fans of playful pups, the Peekaboo could be the one. With a history almost as long as the beloved Cockapoo, these darling dogs, formed from regal Pekingese, make excellent lapdogs. While they will stick to their favorite person like the velcro pups they definitely are, they can also be energetic and plenty sporty, given the opportunity. One downside is that Peekapoos could end up inheriting that flat face that creates many of the health issues in their parent pups, but careful breeders are working to eliminate that problem. Pomapoo Known for their Spitz-like good looks all done up in miniature, the foxy Pomeranian passes plenty of its cuteness on to its Doodle offspring, along with that feisty, fun working-dog attitude. Great for inexperienced owners and perfect for fans of super small pups, the Pomapoo is generally a laid-back, happy kind of dog. The biggest issue with these pooches is that their companion animal nature makes them the kind of canines that suffer greatly from separation anxiety. They cannot be left alone for long periods. Schnoodle With two parent breeds that come in an assortment of sizes, the Schnoodle undoubtedly belongs on this list. Still, it can be included among the large Doodles, too, if a Standard Poodle were to be bred with a Giant Schnauzer. In terms of personality, Schnoodles are very terrier-like, which means they tend to be much more active than your average lapdog and so do especially well with outdoorsy families. Yorkipoo The Yorkshire Terrier may well give the Poodle a run for its money in the intelligence stakes making the delightful Yorkipoo a very smart dog indeed — which is great for training. Shihpoo Set your Shihpoo up on a velvet cushion, and they will adore you for life. On a serious note, though, these dogs are consummate lapdogs. As such, they love to be doted on and spoiled more than anything else in this world. With their larger-than-life personality and a tendency towards stubbornness, you might not get very far with trying to teach these dogs new tricks or making them into athletic companions. Still, their playful, funny nature will certainly earn them a firm place in your heart nevertheless. Chi-Poo Right at the smallest end of the Doodle spectrum, the Chi-Poo has all the character of the daring Chihuahua but, much to the relief of fans of the breed, far fewer of their associated health issues that come when toy breeds are made just way too toy. Chi-poos are also quite a bit more independent than most other smaller Poodle crosses, which makes them more adaptable to various home situations. They make great first-time pets and work as well in an apartment as they do in a house with a yard. That being said, they can be pretty energetic little so-and-sos, which is something you will need to keep in mind if you do decide to take on one of these lovely pups. Something else you will need to think about is that these dogs also generally require pretty regular grooming sessions. Westiepoo Westiepoos are some of the most social and loving dogs around. They are super fun, super easy to look after, super quick to train, and super to have in your home. The West Highland Terrier — Poodle mix contains the very best of both these excellent pups. They are fun, funny, active, and larger than life in their characters. That Terrier nature of theirs means Westies have a tendency towards both barking and prey-chasing behaviors. Yet, with their superior intelligence, these are things they can be trained out of. Pugapoo Pugs have recently become quite controversial for the issues they have with breathing due to those flat faces of theirs. Happily, though, when combined with the mightily different Poodle, this becomes far less of a problem. Crossing Pugs in this way with longer-nosed hounds is a way of preserving these quirky, cute, and comical dogs. Pugapoos undoubtedly make delightful pups who are loving and loyal as they are gorgeous. With very modest exercise needs, indeed, they are perfect little lapdogs. Doxiedoodle The thing about Daschhunds, one half of the darling Doxiedoodle , is that not only are they the sweetest little sausage-looking pups, but they vary massively in both appearance and temperament. What you will know for sure, though, is that they will be gorgeous, they will be smart, and they will be floofy little bundles of perky hound. Take care, though, as these dogs can grow larger than you might think. Bassetdoodle Otherwise known as Bassetoodles , Bassetdoodles are lesser-known Doodles for sure, but an interesting combination of breeds nonetheless. Like some of the other pups on this list, they are sometimes formed from Standard Poodles, making all-around larger dogs, so make sure that the breeder knows you are looking for a smaller-sized pup. These pooches tend to be calm, friendly, joyful, and yet slightly on the stubborn side too. They also often inherit a bit of a mischievous streak that keeps their owners very much on their toes. Bossi-Poo Boston Terriers are unique-looking dogs with plenty of heart to go alongside their distinctive features and markings. When coupled with the posh Poodle, you get the amusingly-named Bossi-Poo. Cavapoo Spaniels have long been dotted on dogs, and the Cavalier King Charles is no exception. With their cute faces, beautiful coats, and happy little natures, they make friends wherever they go. When the winning personality of the Spaniel is added to the smart, comedic nature of the smaller Poodle, magic truly does happen. Cavapoos really are some of the most popular Doodles around. Jack-a-Poo Another Doodle of many names, the Jack-a-poo , Jackadoodle, or Poo-Jack, is a bright and vivacious mutt who is super loving but requires a mite more care than some of the other Doods on this list. The reason for that is not their coat which tends to be short or slightly fluffy, but, either way, very manageable, but rather the fact they tend to be teeny firecrackers, filled with all the joys of life. While this makes them entertaining sidekicks, it does mean you have to have a fairly energetic nature ayourself to keep up with their antics. Aside from their distinctive features, these dogs are known for their alert, big-dog attitudes, playful personalities, bravery, and extreme love of people. For all these reasons and more, their offspring Papipoos make a unique and excellent pet choice. Poogle Admittedly not the most glamorous name in the world! A Boodle? A Beapoo? Friendly, curious, and hopelessly devoted to their families, Poogles make excellent pets for just about anyone. They get along with everyone, from kids to other pets. However, they do need plenty of socialization to counter that sometimes fairly high prey drive of theirs. With two intelligent parents, and given that these dogs are dedicated people pleasers, Corgipoos do well in the training stakes. The Corgi actually has a fascinating history. Said to be the companions of fairies, legend has it that they were first gifted, during the Viking era, to those who needed protection in their homes. So, as you can imagine, Corgipoos are great guard dogs in addition to being excellent companions. As one of the most popular and well-known of the Doodles, these tend to be the ones that many opt for. Plus, progressive generations of Goldendoodles have enabled them to be bred in more apartment-friendly sizes as small Poodle mixes. Photo used with permission. These dogs really have it all — a sociable nature, even temperament, high trainability, and gorgeous good looks. On the downside, these dogs blow coat and how! Beyond that, their large size means they need a bigger space to hang out in and more intensive exercise than smaller breeds. Enter the Mini or Toy Labradoodle… With their smaller size and tendency toward inheriting the Poodle coat, they are even more perfect than perfect. In that case, the Bernedoodle may well have caught your attention. While the Standard versions of these pups can be pretty giant, given that the Bernese Mountain Dog is classified as a large breed, smaller versions of the Bernie come from combining them with little Poodles. These have all the best of their qualities, often including their stunning tricolored coats, but in a much more manageable package size-wise. All small Poodle mixes make great dogs for the right owners, so the question should be not what is the best one but rather what is the best one for me. The dogs on this list differ significantly in terms of their appearance, temperament, energy levels, and care needs, among other things. What is the calmest small Poodle mix? While every dog is as totally unique in its specific traits as every person is, and so it can be tricky to judge how rambunctious they will be, Doods that combine the more giant breeds with Poodles tend to be among the calmest dogs. Pups bred to be companion animals also tend to be on the lower end of the energy spectrum compared to those originally used as work dogs, such as Terriers and Spaniels. What is the smallest Poodle mix? The smallest Poodle dogs are going to be a combination of two of the most miniature parents. While that will vary depending on individual animals, Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers tend to be high up on any smallest dog lists. So if you are looking for a totally teeny pup, then a Chi-Poo or Yorkipoo might be for you. Which Poodle mix is healthiest? Luckily, for Doodle fans everywhere, due to their more diverse mix of genes creating something known as hybrid vigor , small Poodle mixes tend to be far healthier than most pedigree pups. However, differences in health will come down to how the dogs were bred. Responsible Breeders health screen their animals to ensure that the possibility of genetic conditions being passed down to their offspring is much reduced. Miniature Doods are the ideal option for those looking for a more manageably-sized dog with all the spunk and personality of their often larger parent pups. Hopefully, the information included here has helped you narrow down your choices a little in your quest to find your new best friend. You Might Also Like. You may hear people use different names for the Chipoo Chi-poo , such as the Poohuahua, Poochi, Chipoodle, and Choodle. This tiny mixed breed may weigh as little as five pounds and measure as short as five inches at the shoulder. A Chipoo sitting on the grass at a local park. But many Chipoos are larger than this. The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed worldwide, so it makes sense that a cross between it and the Toy Poodle creates what is often the smallest Poodle mix. Are you thinking about getting a Chipoo? Be careful, especially if you have children. This mixed breed is quite delicate and can get injured quite easily. A great feature of the Chipoo is how affectionate this designer breed is. Your Chipoo will probably have the same propensity. These dogs are loyal and protective, too, which is why the Chipoo is a lively and endearing little dog. A closeup shot of a cute adorable domestic Shih-poo dog There is usually a lot of variation in every litter. A Shihpoo is an excellent choice if you want an intelligent little dog. Be aware, though, that it can be a little stubborn. That can make training more challenging. But again, it all varies by individual dog. Like with other tiny dogs, be careful about having Shihpoos around kids. A Shihpoo could be injured by incorrect handling. The smallest Shihpoo is generally around eight pounds, while the largest can be 18 pounds. Height at the withers may be as low as eight inches but as high as .As we can guess from its parents, the Yorkipoo is full of energy. If you want a Yorkipoo, you must be ready to give your dog a lot of exercise every day. This designer breed tends to bark a lot. Yorkipoos are known for their affectionate nature, though. Be careful with Yorkipoos if you have kids. Yorkipoos can weigh as much as 14 pounds, but in some rare instances, they may be as light as three pounds. While some Yorkipoos will take more after their Yorkshire Terrier parent, others will be more like their parent. Most Pomapoos will weigh between five and 15 pounds. When it comes to height from the shoulder to the ground, Pomapoos usually measure between eight and ten inches. A Pomapoo lying on the grass. Want to get a Pomapoo? Like with the other designer breeds, you should see your Pomapoo puppy before adopting it. As you may already know, Poodles are among the most intelligent dog breeds. So, if you get a Pomapoo with a personality and intelligence that leans more to the Poodle side, expect to have an extremely clever pooch. They love to watch what you do and cooperate with what you want. Just be patient with teaching him how to understand what that is. When it comes to affectionate and friendly designer breeds, the Peekapoo is one of the top choices. Peekapoo height at the withers usually ranges from nine to 11 inches. When it comes to weight, expect a Peekapoo to range from eight to 20 pounds. As the Peekapoo is part Pekingese, it may be prone to Brachycephalic airway syndrome and collapsing trachea. Any kind of health problem is more likely to occur if inbreeding occurs. Peekapoos tend to be quite protective, and they may even try to guard you. It makes sense when you consider that both Poodles and Pekingnese can have these qualities. Pekapoos are often full of energy and enthusiasm. Like with any other dog, you should give Pekapoos daily walks. Like other mixes, the Maltipoo is high-energy and intelligent. There is quite a bit of variation in Maltipoo size, with weights ranging between five and 20 pounds. A white adult Maltipoo sitting on a couch. Are you thinking about getting a Maltipoo? Be ready for some barking. In fact, some people find Maltipoos are great for keeping a watch-out and alerting them of anything concerning. As with any other dog, know the grooming needs of Maltipoos before you decide on adoption. An advantage of this dog is its minimal shedding. In fact, like other mixes, you may find the Maltipoo is a good choice if you have allergies. Pugapoo Yet another tiny Poodle mix is the notoriously cute Pugapoo. As you can guess from the name, this is a mix of the Pug and the Toy or Miniature Poodle. A quirky pooch, the Pugapoo is known for being eccentric. The Pugapoo has a unique appearance, almost like an adorable gremlin. Pugapoos vary in weight, ranging from ten pounds up to 30 pounds. Their height at the shoulder tends to fall between eight and 15 inches. For an affectionate pet, the Pugapoo is an excellent choice. If your individual Pugapoo takes more after its Poodle parent when it comes to braininess, it may be very clever. Have cats and want a small dog that will get along with them? Check out the Pugapoo option. Of course, personality varies from dog to dog. A Pug and a Toy Poodle facing a camera for a photoshoot. Its height at the shoulder ranges between 11 and 17 inches. This mix usually weighs between 20 and 35 pounds. Other names for the Westiepoo are the Wee-Poo and the Westiedoodle. A Westiepoo standing in the middle of the forest. The Westiepoo is known for its gregarious and affectionate personality. Many novice dog owners enjoy having a Westiepoo as their first canine companion. Final Thoughts There are plenty of small Poodle mixes to pick from. No matter which designer breed you choose, make sure it fits your home and lifestyle. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Meet The Poodle! Poodles come in three size varieties, but this specific Poodle is a Toy. First, you have the Standard sized Poodle , who stands over 15 inches tall. Next you have th e Miniature Poodle , who is under 15 inches, and then the tiny Toy, who is generally no more than 10 inches in height. One of the great things about Poodles in general is that they are intelligent, athletic, family friendly, hypoallergenic, and they have longer lifespans than many of their other canine counterparts. This is especially true for the Miniature and Toy Poodles , who have been estimated to live up to 18 years. Small Poodle mixes are also great for families who suffer from allergies. But while we do love our small Poodle mixes, there is still some controversy surrounding the idea of crossbreed dogs. In this picture you see a crossbreed Poodle mix dog on the left with a purebred Labradoodle on the right. Any small poodle mixes you come across are going to be what is considered a crossbreed, designer dog, hybrid or mixed breed. Essentially, these are dogs that are the offspring of two specifically chosen purebred parent breeds. Crossbreeding is an age-old practice, but it was originally used to breed working dogs with specific traits, appearances or temperaments. In fact, crossbreeding is how we have developed most of the purebred dogs we know and love today. Unfortunately, it takes generations of breeding and perfecting before one can label a dog as a purebred dog, and this is where the controversy of breeding and selling early generation crossbreeds comes into play. This is especially true when it comes to aspects of health, temperament and physical appearance. For example, while you may be on the hunt for a small poodle mix that is hypoallergenic, there is a chance that an early generation mixed breed could still shed and produce dandar just as heavily as his shedding purebred parent breed. On the flip side of this, it is possible to look for breeders who specifically breed certain small poodle mixes for the purpose of ensuring their coat, temperament and health are more predictable than others. You also have the option of going through a rescue or adopting a dog that is over a year old and who already has many of his traits established. But enough about the logistics of small poodle mixes. Get ready to fall in love with 15 small Poodle mixes we are legitimately obsessed with! The Maltipoo is a mix between the sweet and adoring Maltese and the intelligent Miniature or toy Poodle. Maltipoo dogs are excellent choices for allergy sufferers, as both their purebred parent breeds are hypoallergenic. This means that this little dog will also be hypoallergenic as well. When it comes to family, the Maltipoo is a fabulous addition. He is gentle and sweet, and does well with older, more respectful children. Maltipoo dogs are bred companion dogs that do best in homes with owners who are around often. They make wonderful apartment companions and are excellent therapy dogs, thriving with seniors, singles and retirees. The Yorkiepoo The Yorkshire Terrier x Poodle Yorkiepoo dogs can be quite small and may not be the best dogs for home switch small children. A cross between the sweet and spirited Yorkshire Terrier and the athletic Poodle, the Yorkie Poo is a beloved and popular Poodle mix hitting the scene. He can be quite small, with some Yorkie Poo dogs weighing no more than six pounds. For this reason, we would recommend Yorkie Poo dogs for homes with singles, seniors, retirees or couples. They can also do well in homes with older children so long as those kiddos are gentle and respectful. Otherwise, Yorkiepoos are sweet and affectionate. They love their families but have just enough spunk to keep everyone on their toes. A cross between the clever and independent Chihuahua and the Poodle, a Chipoo is a mix unlike any other. He is clever, somewhat bossy, and very funny. Many Chipoo dogs have been described as almost human-like in their temperaments, and they will let you know what they want and when they want it. Chihuahuas in particular tend to do best in single-dog households and in homes without children. That said, a Chipoo may be more agreeable with gentle youngsters and other dogs so long as he is properly raised, trained and socialized. Enter the miniature Labradoodle. Just like his standard sized counterparts, later generation miniature Labradoodles are intelligent, family-oriented, playful, eager to please and great with children. These dogs just come in a more compact size that makes them easier to travel with! When all of their needs are met, miniature labradoodles can do great in apartments and smaller settings, and if you go through the right source, you should be able to find one of these hybrids with a hypoallergenic coat. A combination of two very intelligent dogs, the Schnoodle is ideal for active and committed families. They like to be outside and may not realize just how small they are. That said, they are eager to please and quick to learn, and are very family oriented. When raised and trained properly, schnoodle dogs do well with children of all ages and will enjoy having other dogs in the home to play with. Height: 8 to 15 Inches Weight: 8 to 18 Pounds Temperament: Friendly, Affectionate, Playful, Attentive Lifespan: 12 to 15 Years Overview: When it comes to small poodle mixes that do best with older families, singles, seniors or retirees, we like the Shih-Poo. A cross between the Shih Tzu and the Poodle, Shih Poos are a sure thing when it comes to small poodle mixes that are hypoallergenic. However, they may not be the ideal additions for homes with smaller children, as they are less playful than some of the other small poodle mixes on this list. Instead, they prefer to be with a calm and gentle owner and are the quintessential lap dog. Like all miniature poodle mixes on this list, the Shih-Poo will need routine daily exercise, training and socialization to ensure he grows up happy and healthy. This darling little dog is one that makes an excellent therapy dog. He is sweet natured, adoring and friendly to boot. He is generally between six and 20 pounds, so a larger Peekapoo can do well in homes with gentle children. Peekapoo dogs are also trainable and eager to please, and they are one of the relatively calmer small poodle mixes on this list. However, their flattened faces can lead to a greater risk of brachycephalic airway syndrome, which can cause heat intolerance and breathing issues, so keep this in mind. This is the ultimate teddy-bear dog and is beloved by families, singles, seniors and retirees alike. Like many small poodle mixes on this list, the Pomapoo makes an excellent therapy dog. He is adoring, sweet and affectionate, and becomes very bonded with his family. When left alone for too long, Pomapoos can be prone to suffering from separation anxiety and depression. This adorable little dog is the quintessential companion. A mix of brains, beauty and comedy, the Cavapoo is one of our small poodle mixes that is best suited for dog owners who can be home often and who are looking for a constant companion. Cavapoos are famous for their affectionate nature. They are eager to please and quick to learn, and will enjoy having an owner who showers them with attention and affection. However, Cavapoos may not be hypoallergenic depending on their breeding or generation. If you are looking for a hypoallergenic Cavpoo, it would be best to go through breeders who specify in these types of dogs, as we have mentioned. Height: 9 to 18 Inches Weight: 12 to 24 Pounds Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, active, outgoing, Affectionate Lifespan: 13 to 15 Years Overview: All small Poodle mixes are generally sweet, but the Cockapoo is one of our more adoring hybrids on this list. The Cocker Spaniel is known for his affectionate temperament and his special affinity for children. Gentle and calm, Cockapoos are excellent dogs for first time dog owners and they are great with families of all ages. The Poochon The Bichon x Poodle Poochon dogs have dense, curly coats and make friendly and trainable companions. This is also a sure thing for those who suffer from allergies. Both the Bichon Frise and the Poodle are hypoallergenic, and they even have similar coats. This is a small Poodle mix that is not only highly intelligent, but also very playful, fun-loving and friendly. He knows no strangers and makes an agreeable and adaptable companion to a number of different lifestyles. The Poochon does great in apartments so long as his needs are met and he can get along well with children and other pets when properly raised and socialized. However, his curly coat could be prone to mats and tangles, so special attention should be given to a Poochon when it comes to grooming. When it comes to small poodle mixes, the Jack-A-Poo sounds like some kind of fantastical creature! These dogs are athletic, energetic and highly intelligent. As such, a Jack-A-Poo dog is going to do best in homes with active, committed owners who can dedicate enough time to training and exercise. If his needs are not met, your Jack-A-Poo could be prone to destructive behaviors as well as depression, stress and anxiety. The Doxiepoo The Dachshund x Poodle The Doxiepoo could look more like his Poodle parent or more like his Dachshund parent, or he could look somewhere in between. Like Poodles, Dachshunds come in different size varieties, so you can choose between a small poodle mix or an even smaller poodle mix when it comes to this hybrid! Doxiepoos are adoring, affectionate and intelligent dogs with big personalities. Dachshunds in particular are bred badger dogs, and Poodles also have some hunting background. This means that your Doxiepoo could be unaware of his size and have a high prey drive. Walk your Doxiepoo on a leash and harness when outside of securely fenced in areas and be sure to work with this little dog on proper manners using positive reinforcement training techniques. A mix between the adoring Wheaten Terrier and the Miniature Poodle, the Whoodle is a family favorite. He is just compact enough to be considered a small dog, but large enough to do well in homes with youngsters. Whoodles are highly trainable, intelligent and affectionate. They adore their families and do well in homes where their owner is available to them consistently. Like all dogs, Whoodles are small poodle mixes that require plenty of training and exercise at an early age. They should also be kept mentally stimulated during the day to help reduce destructive behaviors like chewing, marking and barking. Keep in mind that the Whoodle does have some terrier in his DNA, and that terrier temperament is certainly spunky and fun. However, terriers can also be more challenging. Are you up for it? The Bassetoodle The Basset Hound x Poodle Bassetoodle dogs can be quite small or they can be larger than you may expect. This is quite the unique canine and probably not the first dog that came to mind when you considered looking into small Poodle mixes. His coat may or may not be hypoallergenic depending on his generation, but his temperament is sure to be quite fun! Basset Hounds are intelligent, albeit somewhat stubborn. They like to follow their noses and have a keen sense of smell. The Poodle, on the other hand, is very trainable and eager to please. You could get either temperament when it comes to this dog, or a good mix. Deciding which Poodle mix is right for you can be tough. All these dogs are so great! Before you decide, there are a few things we recommend you consider. Remember, small Poodle mixes are generally small, and they may not be the ideal dogs for homes with very young children. Some of these small Poodle mix dogs could be more prone to injury if played with too roughly or if accidently dropped. However, there are some more sturdy small poodle mixes on our above list that can do excellent with youngsters. These small Poodle mixes would include dogs like the MIniature Labradoodle , for example. If you do suffer from allergies, we recommend looking for dogs that are over a year old and already have their coats established. Or, you can go through a breeder who breeds older generation small poodle mixes to ensure they are hypoallergenic for those with sensitivities. Last, be sure to keep in mind that small Poodle mixes are intelligent, affectionate and family oriented dogs. They do best in homes with committed owners who are able to work with them, train them, and shower them with attention and love. We are in love with each dog on the list, and we want to help you find the healthiest puppy or rescue possible. If you choose to go through a breeder to get one of the above small poodle mixes, look for breeders who understand the importance of responsible breeding practices. This could lead to an uptick in health and behavioral issues down the road if you are not careful. Instead of going through backyard breeders, online sellers or those who are unqualified or uncertified, we recommend sticking with breeders with a history of breeding small poodle mixes and breeders who can provide you with paperwork. A reputable breeder should be able to provide you with certificates proving their puppies have been screened and cleared of any serious health issues, and you should also be able to ask for references. Because small poodle mixes are so popular, they are also somewhat costly. If you want to save some money and do some good we highly recommend you consider rescuing a small Poodle mix. Rescuing a small Poodle mix comes with plenty of advantages outside of price. For example, if you rescue an adult small poodle mix, you will have a better idea of whether or not he will be hypoallergenic. Some rescues also provide dogs that have already been health screened, are spayed or neutered, and sometimes even microchipped! Whichever route you choose to take when it comes to obtaining your small Poodle mix, the important thing is you know you are already on the right track by reading this article and getting all your ducks in a row! So, are you committed to raising one of the small Poodle mixes on our list? Tell us which of the above dogs stole your heart in the comment section below! Jen Jones Jen Jones is a professional dog trainer and behavior specialist with more than 25 years of experience. Well known for her intuitive and compassionate approach, Jen adopts scientifically-proven, reward-based methods, encouraging positive reinforcement over punishment. Jen specializes in obedience training, behavior modification, and puppy socialization. Her innovative methods, particularly in addressing anxiety and aggression issues, have been widely recognized. In Summary 1. Toy Cockapoo The Cockapoo is a popular designer breed that has become increasingly sought after in recent years. A cross between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, these little dogs are known for their intelligence, adaptability, and overall loving nature. Cockapoos come in all sizes; they can range from 4 to 30 pounds depending on which parent breed dominates the mix and which type of Poodle they are bred with. Toy Cockapoos must have a Toy Poodle parent, and as such, will be much smaller than Standard Cockapoos. Cockapoos require regular grooming due to their longer fur coat and will need occasional professional trimming if it gets too long or unruly. Regular brushing should be done at least once a week to prevent matting and keep them looking nice. As far as exercise goes, like any other dog they need plenty of activity each day to ensure good health and happiness. Playing fetch, going on walks, or even just running around in the backyard are great ways to get your pup up and moving! These friendly pooches make wonderful companions for almost any lifestyle. They tend to do well with children provided they receive proper socialization training early on so that everyone can learn how to interact properly together. Yorkipoo Yorkipoos, a small breed of poodle mix, are an excellent choice for pet owners looking to share their homes with cuddly and loving companions. Yorkipoos have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their playful personalities and non-shedding coats. When choosing a Yorkipoo, it is important to bear in mind that some breeds may be more active than others or require more grooming. Comparing Yorkipoos to other breeds can help potential pet owners get an idea of what kind of dog best suits their lifestyle and family dynamic. Their curly fur requires regular brushing but does not shed as often as larger, longer haired dogs do — meaning less mess around the house! Furthermore, they tend to be quite docile and friendly which makes them great pets for children. For these reasons, Yorkipoos make ideal lapdogs and playmates alike. By taking into account all these factors prior to committing to owning one particular breed or another you will ensure that both you and your pup feel fulfilled during your time together! Mini Goldendoodle Moving onto another popular small poodle mix, the Mini Goldendoodle offers a unique combination of intelligence and loving temperament. With their origins tracing back to the Golden Retriever and Poodle, this hybrid is one of the most sought after designer breeds for families looking for an affectionate companion. The Mini Goldendoodle has a moderate energy level which makes them well-suited for active households. In terms of feeding needs, these pooches do best on high-quality kibble specifically formulated for medium-sized breeds. Be sure to avoid overfeeding your pup as this can lead to health issues down the road. Due to their kind nature and intelligence, Mini Goldendoodles have become increasingly popular among first-time pet owners. Mini Labradoodle Mini Labradoodles are quickly becoming the go-to breed for those looking for a small, intelligent, and friendly pup. Not only do Mini Labradoodles have all of these qualities but they also come with some unique challenges as well. Training tips and grooming requirements should be considered when adopting or purchasing one of these amazing canines. The intelligence level in a Mini Labradoodle is quite high making them relatively easy to train when the correct techniques are used. Using positive reinforcement rather than negative punishment will ensure that your pup understands what you want from him and looks forward to training sessions. Additionally, consistency is key when it comes to training any dog so make sure that everyone in the home uses the same commands and rewards during their interactions with the pup. Grooming requirements of Mini Labradoodles can vary based on which type of coat they possess. Curly coats tend to need more frequent brushing while wiry coated dogs may require an occasional bath or trimming depending on how long their hair gets over time. Regardless of what kind of coat your pooch has, regular brushing is essential for keeping the fur healthy and free from tangles or mats — something both you and your pup will appreciate! With proper care and lots of love, this breed is sure to bring joy into your home for years to come! These small poodle mixes have been gaining in popularity due to their loving personalities and playful nature. Here are some things to consider when exploring whether a Mini Sheepadoodle is right for your home: Breeding Standards — Most breeders will adhere to certain standards when breeding Mini Sheepadoodles. This includes health testing of both parents as well as temperament assessments prior to breeding. Additionally, make sure any breeder you research has experience with the breed. Health Concerns — As with all breeds, there can be potential health concerns associated with owning a Mini Sheepadoodle such as hip dysplasia or eye problems. Researching these issues ahead of time helps ensure that you select a healthy pup from a reputable source who follows good breeding practices. Breeders with experience in both purebred dogs can ensure you get the best possible puppy. These small poodles mix packs plenty of personality into one tiny package. Their intelligence also means they can easily be trained to do basic commands like sit and stay. Plus, they look absolutely adorable when dressed up! Their grooming needs vary depending on whether they inherited more of their coat from the Poodle side or the Australian Shepherd side — either way, regular brushing will keep their coats healthy looking and mat-free. All in all, these pups make wonderful additions to any home because of their sweet demeanor, trainability, and affectionate nature. This designer breed has the best of both worlds — they are loyal, friendly pups but come in much smaller packages than their purebred parents! Their small size makes them perfect for apartment living or those with limited space. Many experienced breeders will have waiting lists due to high demand, so make sure you plan ahead when searching for your fur baby. Mini Bernedoodles vary widely in price depending on lineage and breeder reputation. Be sure to do research into potential breeding practices before investing any money into a puppy purchase. These intelligent dogs are easy to train as long as they receive consistent training sessions with positive reinforcement techniques like treats or playtime. When properly trained, Mini Bernedoodles fit right in with family life without too many behavioral issues. In terms of health care needs, this hybrid breed benefits from regular vet visits just as all other canine companions would — along with proper diet and exercise tailored to their individual needs. This mix tends towards being laid back and gentle natured while still having plenty of energy for playing games outdoors or snuggling up indoors after a day spent exploring new places together. They thrive off human interaction so be prepared for lots of loving attention if you bring home one of these cuddly cuties! Bichonpoo The Bichonpoo is a small, adorable companion dog that has become increasingly popular in recent years. The breed is created by crossing two other breeds — the Bichon Frise and the Poodle. This mix of two very different yet beloved family companions produces an intelligent, loving pooch with many desirable traits. With any mixed-breed dog, there are certain breeding considerations to be aware of when selecting a puppy from this hybrid line. Responsible breeders will always ensure that both parents meet all health requirements prior to mating them together. In terms of grooming needs, the Bichonpoo will require regular brushing and combing to keep their coat free from mats and tangles. With proper training from day one — along with plenty of love and attention throughout its lifetime — owning a Bichonpoo can bring lots of joy into your home for years to come! Cavoodle A Cavapoo puppy Cavoodles, also known as Cavapoos, are a hybrid breed of small poodle mixes that have become increasingly popular in recent years. The Cavoodle is the result of crossing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Miniature or Toy Poodle to create an intelligent and friendly canine companion. This breed has many advantages over other breeds, such as its low-maintenance grooming needs and good health record. Regular brushing will help keep their fur tidy and free from tangles. Their coats come in various colors including black, brown, white, gold and apricot, so owners can choose which one works best for them. Additionally, regular visits to the groomer are not necessary since they do not need frequent haircuts like some breeds do. In terms of health care, the Cavoodle has a generally good record compared to other purebreds because it is a crossbreed; this means that it inherits beneficial traits from both parents while avoiding potential hereditary illnesses linked to certain dog breeds. Still, it is important for owners to provide their pup with routine vet checkups and proper vaccinations when needed. With lots of love and attention—as well as exercise—this little pooch promises to be a loyal friend who loves nothing more than spending time with his family! This hybrid is surprisingly smart, loyal, and full of energy. When it comes to temperament, these dogs tend to have outgoing personalities and enjoy being around people. They have an innate curiosity towards new things which makes them great learners. Plus they get along well with both children and other pets in the house—a real plus if you already have furry family members at home! With proper diet and exercise, these charming pooches can live up to 15 years old! Doxiepoos are small poodle mixes that have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their endearing appearance and lively disposition. Additionally, carbohydrates like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and oats can provide valuable energy for them throughout the day. Making sure your doxiepoo has access to plenty of fresh water is also essential for good health and hydration. Doxiepoos are generally healthy breeds but there are some conditions particular to this breed which require special attention. Commonly found ailments include luxating patellas dislocated kneecaps , otitis externa ear inflammation and progressive retinal atrophy degenerative eye disease. Fortunately all three can be managed with proper veterinary care and diet modification. This mix can offer some incredible attributes that often draw owners in: intelligence, playfulness, low-shedding fur, and loyal companionship. Generally speaking, however, these dogs tend to have sweet dispositions. They are considered affectionate and loyal towards people they love and also enjoy being around other animals. Additionally, as hybrids go through less inbreeding than most purebreds experience, they typically possess fewer health issues than either parent line. Toy Poodles have curly coats that do not shed much while Miniature Poodles have wavy coats with moderate shedding tendencies. The length of the fur should also be taken into account since short-haired varieties require minimal brushing whereas long-haired ones need more frequent upkeep. In any case though, regular bathing should still occur once every few months in order to maintain healthy skin condition! These dogs have become increasingly popular due to their size, intelligence, and playful nature. When it comes to training tips, positive reinforcement like treats or verbal praise works best with this breed. Consistent routines help reinforce commands quickly while giving them plenty of playtime helps keep them entertained throughout the day. With proper socialization from an early age they will be confident around other animals and humans alike. These pups require regular grooming in order to stay healthy and look their best; depending on coat length brushing should be done anywhere from twice a week up to daily. A professional groomer can trim nails every few weeks if needed which prevents any accidental scratches during playtime! Training Tips:. They may have originated in Germany, but in France they were adored. Poodles are a highly intelligent breed in general. Toy Poodles, in particular, had an aptitude for learning tricks due to that intelligence. They wowed circus audiences across Europe with their stage performances and adorable charm. Toy Poodles are, first and foremost, performing pups. They love being the center of attention, but too much pampering can go to their heads. And with their intelligence, training is a breeze! They will often join in family activities and try to be a part of the action as much as possible. In fact, if left alone too long to their own devices these dogs may become destructive. This breed is highly adaptable. They tend to require mental stimulation and affection, so leaving brain teasers at home will work for some time. However, if the Toy Poodle Mix finds themselves alone and becomes bored, they may attack your shoes. The Toy Poodle Mix has moderately good health. However, they experience similar health concerns as other toy breeds with some additional Poodle-specific illnesses. For example, Toy Poodle Mixes may suffer from the following: hypothyroidism, teeth crowding, trachea collapse, kneecap migration, blood clotting disorders, skin inflammation, and hip dysplasia. As long as this pup regularly attends vet visits, exercises moderately, and maintains a healthy weight, they should enjoy a long, healthy life. Keep an eye out for certain things, like limping and weight loss, to be extra careful. Toy Poodles are companions through and through. So, a Toy Poodle Mix is likely to gleefully accompany owners on runs, errands, and even cuddles. In fact, these dogs love to sit on laps and are overjoyed at all the attention. These clever pups also pick up on commands very quickly and are eager to please. They make impressive little acrobats as long as a stern, consistent trainer is by their side. Their coats are curly and dense — requiring frequent grooming to prevent matting. Because of their crowding teeth, your Toy Poodle Mix may need a little extra brushing to keep their teeth healthy and strong. They can be just as active, but will tire out after a few laps around the living room. A Toy Poodle Mix is a good companion for people who tend to prefer lapdogs as opposed to running partners. A Toy Poodle Mix will only weigh about 7 pounds, on average, and stand under 10 inches tall. This dog breed lives between 12 and 15 years on average. Featured Toy Poodle Mix Article. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, because all dogs produce dander that carries allergens. However, Poodles with their tight curls are very low shedding dogs. This means as long as they are kept in a good coat condition and your house is kept clean, the risks of allergic reaction is low. However, small Poodle mixes like the Cockapoo can cause allergic reactions to some pet parents. This is because their coat is not always the same texture. So, every owner can find one that truly suits their home and family life. This mini Poodle mix is highly active, but also very patient, making a great family pet. But, like many small Poodle mixes, Bichon Poodles can be quite the little barkers. Barking will often be made worse when they are left alone for long periods of time, since this mix is prone to separation anxiety. They do best in a home where they are never left alone for long periods of time. Depending on whether the Poodle parent is Toy or Miniature, Bich Poos may weigh anywhere from 6 pounds to 12 pounds. The Bichpoo typically has a medium-length, curly coat which is white or apricot in color and which sheds minimally. Daily brushing and monthly coat trims are a grooming requirement. Generally, this hybrid is known to be gentle, friendly, and loyal to their family members. But, like any dog, it must be socialized well as a puppy for the best personality! This combination can be great with children, as long as playtime stays gentle and calm. In terms of looks, this mix can be quite varied, since the parent breeds are so different to one another. Although they will usually stand between 12 and 14 inches tall, weight can range from 15 to 40 pounds as an adult! There are a couple of behavioral quirks with this hybrid, as there are with many small Poodle mixes. Cavapoo may exhibit guarding tendencies. But, proper socialization can alleviate this behavior. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a high prey drive. This cross may reach 10 to 18 pounds at maturity. They are sturdy dogs which thrive in a moderately active environment. But they also enjoy lounging in your lap. Or some combination of both. Their coat may be solid or multi-colored, and it may require weekly or daily brushing as well as regular trims. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do shed seasonally. So Cavapoo shedding will depend entirely on the coat that your puppy inherits. Despite its tiny size, this mix has plenty of energy. It will need daily interaction and lots of mental stimulation! These little dogs will be loyal, devoted, and affectionate, but socialize them well to avoid any fear-based reactivity. As an adult, the Toy Poodle Chihuahua mix will be anywhere between 3 and 20 pounds, standing from 5 to 15 inches tall. A Chipoo with a Miniature Poodle parent will often be a little larger. Their appearance will vary depending on the traits they inherit from each parent, but also on the type of Chihuahua used. Deer head Chihuahuas and apple head Chihuahuas have different skull shapes, leading to very different looking little dogs! Some may also call this mix a Miniature Cockapoo , to distinguish it from the standard size mix. Cockapoos are typically pleasant, intelligent little fellows. They rarely inherit an unfavorable disposition. But, socialization is still important to encourage this wonderful temperament. When the cross involves a Miniature or Toy Poodle, you get a curly-coated ball of pure cute, which may weigh anywhere from 6 pounds to about 18 pounds. But the Cocker Spaniel is a heavy shedder. So depending on which coat type they inherit, this cross may shed pretty profusely, seasonally, or hardly at all. Exactly what type of dog you get will depend on the specific parents used, but generally this small Poodle mix is active, intelligent, and affectionate. They may also have a strong drive to herd — particularly other pets or young children. So, this small Poodle mix is often better in homes with older children. Some Corgipoos will have short legs, but others may inherit the longer legs of the Poodle parent. Their coat will be likely to differ in the same way. Generally, this mix will have quite a fox-like appearance. Particularly if they inherit a red coat. Doxiepoo The Doxipo o is one of the more popular small Poodle mixes. It combines a Mini or Toy Poodle with the short Dachshund! In most cases, this mix will be independent, intelligent, loyal, and very stubborn! It will likely become very close to its family, but this can lead to guarding aggression. If you bring home this mix, socialization and training are vital from a young age. Looks, again, will depend on the genes that a puppy inherits from either parent. But this mix tends to be on the short side. They will likely have floppy ears, and a long pointed snout. Their coat will vary, particularly depending on the type of Doxie that you use. They can also come in long-haired and wire-haired varieties! Havapoo The Havapoo mixes a small Poodle breed with the lovable Havanese! This little mix is affectionate, friendly, and very people-oriented. They will be clever, and will often pick up commands quickly with positive reinforcement training. As long as they are socialized well, they will get along with other pets, animals, and children in and out of the home. In terms of size, the Havapoo often falls between 8 and 15 inches tall, weighing anywhere from 12 to 45 pounds. Of course, those with a Toy Poodle parent will often be at the smaller end of this scale. Havapoo pups tend to have floppy ears, long fur with a slight wave or curl, and relatively short legs. These are agreeable dogs which make perfect companions. But this makes them less than happy about alone time, and may bark their displeasure at this! They will do well in homes with constant company, but may not suit homes with very young children that could accidentally hurt them during play. Depending on whether the Poodle parent is Toy or Miniature, Maltipoos may weigh anywhere from 5 pounds to 15 pounds. But, regardless of their coat type they will need weekly brushing and monthly trips to the groomers to keep their coat from matting. They will be smaller than the standard Goldendoodle mix, but will have a similar, lovable temperament. This means, they will be friendly, social, and very active, despite their small size. The best homes will have lots of time to dedicate to training, exercise, and play every day. When left alone, mini Goldendoodles can become stressed and destructive. Typically, Miniature Goldendoodles reach between 14 and 17 inches tall, weighing from 26 to 35 pounds. Golden shades are the most popular, but thanks to the influence of the Poodle, this mix can come in a variety of different colors and patterns. The amount of curl in their coat can also vary. Which means their shedding levels and grooming needs will vary from one dog to the next. These small Poodle mixes are the cousins of the vastly popular Labradoodle, a cross between a Standard Poodle and a Labrador. Labradors are usually happy to greet strangers. But Miniature Poodles can be shy. So, the exact personality of this cross can vary depending on the genes it inherits. And, on how well you socialize it as a puppy. Not all Miniature Labradoodles stay small. The cross could be as small as a Miniature Poodle, as large as a full-sized Labrador, or somewhere in between. A curled coat will require regular trips to the groomer for trims to prevent matting. Owners must be prepared for any possible outcome with this mix! Usually, a Peekapoo dog is active, outgoing, and agreeable. When socialized well, they will be friendly and sociable, even with strangers. On average, they tend to stand at around 11 inches tall. Those with Toy Poodle parents will be smaller than those with Miniature Poodle parents. Weight will fall under 20 pounds as an adult. But, coat color and type will vary. Generally no Peekapoos will shed excessively, but they will need regular grooming. Since there are so many Pitbull breeds out there, the results of this mix will really depend on the individual parents used. Although, owners of this mix can expect a strong, and often muscular dog that forms very strong bonds with its family. Socialization is vital, particularly to avoid any aggression towards other dogs which could stem from the dog-fighting past of the Pitbull parent. However, many owners report that this mix is gentle, friendly, and loving, especially towards close family and children. Since both Pomeranians and Toy Poodles are very loyal to their families and tend to bond closely with one person. They may exhibit guarding tendencies. Proper socialization can help with this behavior. Pomapoos may also get grumpy or nippy when they are tired of being petted or messed with. This makes this mix an unlikely candidate for a family with small children who may not know when enough is enough. This tiny hybrid weighs just 3 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Which means they do not need a lot of exercise. About an hour of play time, short walks, or a combination of both each day will suffice! A Pomapoo will need daily brushing with a slicker brush or pin brush, respectively, as well as monthly trips to the groomer. Additionally, Pomeranians shed seasonally, so a Pomapoo may also shed seasonally. If their coat more closely resembles that of a Poodle, though, then they may shed minimally. Pugapoo The Pugapoo is also often called a Pugadoodle. This mix combines a Pug with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. Both parent breeds were originally bred to be lap dogs. And this shows in the personality of this mix! It will be happy to spend all of its time with you, particularly chilling out on the couch. However, owners also report that this mix is playful, cheeky, and affectionate. Appearance will vary from one dog to the next, but generally a Pugapoo will be small. They can grow from 10 to 12 inches tall, weighing anywhere from 14 to 18 pounds. This is a popular look, since many owners love the cute baby-like face. But, it brings with it a number of painful and lifelong health complications. This includes difficulty breathing and eating, vulnerable and exposed eyes, overcrowded teeth and increased dental issues, heatstroke, and more. Or, since this mix can live into its teens, you could consider rescuing an older version of this mix. Scoodle The Scoodle is one of the lesser known small Poodle mixes. Some owners will also call this mix a Scottie Poo. These little dogs will be active, playful, and confident. Scoodles need plenty of interaction, fun, and exercise! Scottish Terriers are similar in size to the Miniature Poodle. So, this mix will usually reach a maximum of 22 pounds and 15 inches. However, many are much smaller than this, particularly if they have a Toy Poodle parent. Both parent breeds are also low shedding. So you can expect the same of a Scottie Poo, although they will need plenty of grooming. Generally, this mix has a lot of energy and intelligence. They will enjoy training, and will need plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs and their brains. Appearance will vary a lot, but in general this mix will have a lot of hair! The amount of curl can differ, but grooming is a must for a Miniature Sheltipoo. On top of this, color can depend on the parents used. Size will again change depending on the genes your pup inherits. Some may be tiny, like the Miniature Poodle parent. But, others can be as large as the Sheltie. Owners must be prepared for any outcome. This hybrid is usually a cuddler, and needs just a little bit of running amok each day to satisfy their energy requirements. A Shih Poo may inherit a tendency to get defensive of their owner or family as well as a barking tendency. They may also get tired of being fussed over and get nippy. With these traits in mind, socialization and keeping these dogs in the proper environment are ideal. Shih Poos may weigh anywhere from 4 to 16 pounds. And is easier to maintain at home. These dogs will have plenty of energy, and will be very affectionate towards their family. They will take well to positive reward training, which is also a great way to give them some much needed mental stimulation. However, bear in mind that they may have strong natural instincts, including the desire to chase smaller pets, and potential barking. In terms of looks, this can be a real teddy bear dog! They will often have a slight curl to their coat, but the extent of this will vary from one dog to the next. In terms of color, the Springerdoodle can come in almost any shade! But, choosing two parents with similar coats can help you predict what color you will get in your puppy. Due to their Poodle lineage, some Westiepoos bond very closely with one or more family members. This can make them wary of strangers. Extra early socialization with people and animals will be necessary to prevent yippy or nippy behavior. Due to their Terrier lineage, some Westiepoos can also have a high prey drive. This may disqualify them as candidates for homes with cats or other small pets. Of the small Poodle mixes, this hybrid is on the larger side. It has a full-grown weight of about 20 to 30 pounds. Both Westies and Poodles have long and curly coats. A Westipoo will require daily to weekly brushing and monthly trips to the groomer to keep things clean and trimmed up. This mix will have a strong prey drive, so it may not suit homes with other pets or with very young children. But, other than this, a Whoodle will be playful, affectionate, and full of energy. They can be a great choice for an active home. Size will vary depending on the traits this mix inherits. Wheaten Terriers are medium-sized sturdy dogs. So, if it takes after this parent, your mix can be as tall as 20 inches, weighing up to 50 pounds. Generally, a miniature version will be smaller than this, but owners should prepare for any outcome. Coat and color will also vary. Yorkipoo This is perhaps one of the most popular small Poodle mixes. The Yorkipoo is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Poodle. They enjoy spending time with their humans and will do whatever it takes to get your attention! However, some Yorkipoos may get a little too attached to their family. We cannot stress proper socialization enough with these types of dogs. This hybrid also needs short bursts of exercise each day, as they are quite energetic. Their coat may be any color which is accepted for Terriers and Poodles. It will also require regular brushing to eliminate matting. Yorkipoos may shed minimally, like a Poodle, or seasonally, like a Yorkshire Terrier. But the good news is that any shedding can be minimized with regular grooming. Small Poodle Mix Puppies When choosing a small Poodle mix puppy you need to make sure that you like both parent breeds equally. That you are a fan of both coat types, colors and personalities. Good breeders of Poodle mixes health test both parents, and only breed from dogs with friendly personalities. They will be happy to show you health certificates and answer any questions you have. No matter how small! Due to their popularity, small Poodle mix puppies are quite expensive and may run you to several thousand dollars. If a Mini Poodle Mix takes after their Mini Poodle parent, they will be a small dog that is affectionate, loving, and playful. Miniature Poodles are intelligent, sensitive dogs with cheerful dispositions. They tend to get along well with children, other pets, and other dogs. They even tend to be good with strangers as long as they have been properly socialized. They do tend to alert you of things, which can make them prone to barking. Working to train your dog to stop barking early on can keep this from becoming a nuisance behavior. If the other parent breed has similar traits, then you can expect a similar temperament from a Miniature Poodle Mix. You can also meet the mother in person to see what temperament she has and the behavior she is modeling for her puppies. The breeder should have started socialization and training. However, it is up to you to continue to train and socialize a puppy once you get them home to ensure they grow into a well-rounded dog. A Miniature Poodle is a highly adaptable dog that does well in apartments as well as larger homes and in most climates. Because they are so people-oriented, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If the other parent breed is similar, then you can also expect a high adaptable Miniature Poodle Mix. The other breed in the mix is likely to have their own quirks, so you do still want to ask the breeder about them. Are mixed-breed dogs healthier than purebred dogs? Just as a mix can inherit none of the conditions common to their parent breeds, they could also inherit some combination of them or all of them. Make sure you ask about the health history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Miniature Poodles tend to be intelligent dogs that are eager to please and easy to train. They tend to be a good fit for owners of all experience levels. As long as the other parent breed is also a good fit for all experience levels, then you can expect a Mini Poodle Mix to be highly trainable as well. If the other parent breed is more difficult to train, then you will want to prepare for that possibility in a Miniature Poodle Mix. A mixed-breed can inherit a coat similar to one of their parents or a coat that is some combination of them both. If a Miniature Poodle Mix inherits the Poodle coat, it will be low-shedding, require daily brushing, and require professional grooming every weeks. Once or twice monthly nail trims keeps them from growing too long. Weekly ear checks with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. Brushing teeth daily or using an enzyme toothpaste every day in addition to cleanings at the vet as needed are ideal dental care for dogs. Although they are small, Miniature Poodles are high-energy dogs that require daily walks plus playtime and extra activity to be happy and healthy. If the other parent breed is also a high-energy breed, then you can expect a Mini Poodle Mix to also be a high-energy dog. If the other parent breed has a lower energy level, a Mini Poodle Mix could take after them, but you still want to be prepared for the potential of a high-energy dog. A Miniature Poodle is usually inches tall and weighs pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother, so you want to ask the breeder about them. Miniature Poodles generally live for years. Although the other parent breed may affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar life span in a Mini Poodle Mix. Featured Miniature Poodle Mix Article. Small-sized Doodles often weigh less than 10 lb. They make excellent lap dogs and are highly suitable for city dwellers or people with small houses. They make great lapdogs and love to play fetch indoors. Pekapoos do not need too much exercise and easily tire with a minute activity. This makes them great for seniors and people with less mobility. Weighing just between lb. You can easily take a Shihpoo to work and if you travel, your Shih Poo will gladly give you company. Shihpoos weigh around 8 and 18 lb. They are so cute to look at that it is hard not to hold one in your lap! They weigh around 5 to 15 lb 2. However, they do need consistent, positive reinforcement based training and puppy socialisation from the start. Pugapoos Pug x Toy Poodle nesty. They also vary in size but are within the lb. They are among some of the calmest poodle mixes available. Pomapoos Pomeranian x Toy Poodle moimoi Pomapoos are obtained by crossing the adorable and feisty Pomeranians and the clever Toy Poodle. They measure between 8 and 12 inches cm and weigh between 5 and 15 lb. These highly adaptable dogs thrive in any environment as long as they get adequate mental and physical stimulation. They mostly fare well in suburban areas but tend to bark a lot. You need to train this sweet small dog to curb its barking. However, they still need plenty of obedience training to prevent bad behaviors. Most ChiPoos weigh between 5 and 20 lb. They are perfect for compact homes and small spaces. Poochons or Bichoodles are devoted, loyal, loving, and smart. They weigh just around lb. Prospective owners of this small Doodle will be wise to invest in early dog training to prevent unwanted behaviours. Cavoodles and Bichoodles are similar small poodle mixes but there is one important difference between the breeds. Bichoodles are a good option for allergy sufferers. These small dogs weigh just around 10 lb. The Havapoo is gentle, relatively docile, loving, affectionate, and easy to train. With proper socialisation, they get along with kids and other pets. Havapoos make excellent therapy dogs. They are well-suited for apartments and city dwellers. They weigh around 15 pounds 6 to 7 kg and measure about inches 22 to 33 cm. Their temperament also means that they can be stubborn, keeping training a positive experience is important. Worry not, Lhasapoos are smart dogs and learn quickly. With patience and consistency, you will see great results! Small Poodle Mixes — Summary Small poodle mixes are available in array of coat types, temperaments and conformations. Some of the calmer poodle mixes are the Pugapoo, Shipoo, Peekapoo and Lhasapoo. While the Bichoodle, Yorkipoo, Havapoo and Moodle are generally non-shedding and popular among allergy sufferers. We hope our guide to 10 Small Poodle Mixes helps you find the right Doodle companion for you to love! Subscribe for information on the Best Poodle Mix Breeds in Australia, access to our ethical breeder community and exclusive offers on the best products for your pup! 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english bulldog puppies adoption near me - Breeding Frenchies is a lot of work! It requires a lot of time, effort, and money to breed happy and healthy Frenchies. These breeders are what give French Bulldogs a bad rep. That certainly holds true when looking for a French Bulldog puppy. A high-quality, reputable breeder will conduct many tests to ensure your puppy is free of any preventable genetic health problems. A good breeder can minimize the risk of health issues Getting your French Bulldog from a reputable breeder can minimize the risk of your Frenchie having health issues such as deafness, hip dysplasia , respiratory problems, and more. Not to mention the heartache involved with dealing with a sick pup. Be wary of shady breeders All I know is that my worst nightmare is falling in love with my new Frenchie puppy only to come to find out he has a serious illness that the breeder failed to disclose to me. Consider Investing in Pet Insurance to save money If you are worried about the possibility of serious health issues , pet insurance is a great investment! French Bulldogs have been quickly rising in popularity — in fact, they just ranked 1 on the American Kennel Club rankings in .Why does everybody want a Frenchie?! I could go on all day. The French Bulldog can do it all Frenchies can lay on the couch all day with you or go out to explore the great outdoors! Frenchies are huge couch potatoes! Your Frenchie will be more than happy to travel where ever with you! However, that price can increase significantly, even into five figures, depending on the location and reputation of the breeder. Reproducing requires artificial insemination. These factors increase the investment for French bulldog breeders. The more investment a breeder makes into producing healthy high-quality dogs in good environments, the higher the price will be. The rarer the color is, such as blue, lilac or chocolate, the more you can expect to pay. Certain coat patterns, such as pied, merle or brindle, will also be more expensive. Female French bulldogs and those with blue eyes are pricier as well. Adopting through the French Bulldog Rescue Network is a more affordable way to acquire a new puppy or adult Frenchie. The French bulldog breed is exceptional with many rare characteristics that make them popular among dog owners. But there are also some challenges and things to watch out for. French Bulldog Size Fully grown French bulldogs average 12 inches tall. Adult females often weigh between 16 and 24 pounds, and males reach 20 to 24 pounds. Most French bulldogs will continue to gain weight until about 14 months old but stop gaining height between nine and 12 months. There are also mini Frenchies, also known as teacup French bulldogs. These are bred to be miniature versions of standard French bulldogs, weighing between five and 14 pounds. They typically shed in spring and fall, so you should increase coat brushing during that time to help reduce hair in your home. This can help you save on grooming costs. French Bulldog Appearance Along with breeds like English Bulldogs and pugs, French bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, which means they have a shortened snout. Their faces are wrinkly and scrunched, giving them a distinct look, even as puppies. French Bulldog Colors French bulldogs come in many different coat colors. These include neutral colors — such as cream, gray, tan and black — as well as more rare colors like lilac, blue and chocolate. The rarer the color, the more expensive the price of a French bulldog will be. French Bulldog Temperament These pups are affectionate and playful, making them great companions. Training is recommended for French bulldogs since they can march to the beat of their own drum without guidance. Most Frenchies respond well to training, especially when treats are involved. Trainers believe French bulldogs understand commands but are moody and will respond as they feel like it. Frenchies are great family dogs, do well around other pets and prefer companionship. A companion will also allow you to leave them alone for longer periods of time without them getting frustrated. But, of course, another pet will come with its own costs. French Bulldog Activity Level Frenchies are not the best dog if you want a jogging companion. French Bulldog Life Expectancy French bulldogs have an average lifespan of 12 years if well taken care of. If they remain in great health, they can live as long as 15 years. Your veterinarian will periodically examine your Frenchie to ensure he or she is growing properly. Due to their flat faces and short necks, it can be difficult for French bulldogs to use standard feeding bowls. You can instead provide elevated dog food and water bowls to help your pet eat and drink more comfortably. Buying treats, toys or a comfortable dog bed can also help your Frenchie feel welcome in its new home. Check out our French Bulldog Puppies What is included in our prices? We provide nanny service to all major US airports for an extra fee. Shipping to other countries is also possible, contact us for more info! PayPal and Stripe have payment insurance which means that they keep your money pending until you get the puppy. We get your money just after you have confirmed that your puppy has arrived in your arms safe and sound! Shots up-to-date worth USD Our pups receive all the necessary shots while they are with us: 1. Deworming worth 50 USD Our puppies are dewormed every two weeks from the age of 4 weeks old and they also get Simparica Trio against ticks, fleas and heartworms right before they leave. Anti-parasite treatment worth USD We give our puppies anti-parasite treatment against all parasites before they leave except for heart worms. Echocardiogram heart examination, worth 1, USD We do echocardiogram on our Frenchies and when we find the slightest chance of heart murmur in one of them, we rather cancel the adoption and find a loving home for them locally. Valer, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies Membership and right to post in the TomKings Frenchie Family closed Facebook group We created a Facebook group for our adopters where we answer their questions and they share their experiences with each other. We are a Family because we are connected by the love towards Frenchies and we are always there to help and support each other, as well as share valuable experiences and advice! Only TomKings Frenchie parents are allowed to post and ask from us or any other member in the group. Participation in TomKings Frenchie Meetups We organize Frenchie Meetups in major cities throughout the States where you can talk with other TomKings Frenchie owners and exchange advice while your Frenchies are playing with each other. Frenchie Love eBook worth .Lifetime Health Guarantee We give you a lifetime health guarantee on all genetic disorders which cause death, which means that we send you another puppy if your Frenchie dies. We have never had that so far since the parent dogs go through a rigorous selection process before the breeding program and our vet checks the puppies often. We know that Frenchie owners have a bunch of questions about feeding, raising, training, etc. Our goal is to have only happy and healthy puppies so we will always be there to answer your questions! Lifetime vet assistance Frenchie owners have a lot of questions about the health of their puppies and most of the time they run to their vet right away and leave a fortune there for nothing. We even tell you whether you need to visit your vet at all! Health certification TomKings Frenchies are examined strictly before they leave for their new homes and we give you a health certificate which can be used if you want to have insurance for your puppy which we highly recommend. Exceptional care We treat every puppy as a family member from the moment they are born. We believe that the secret of having socialized and healthy Frenchie puppies is spending time with them all day long and letting them run and play in the backyard. Potty training It is crucial how puppies are trained at the beginning of their lives. At TomKings Puppies we are focusing not only on their health but their proper training as well. We start potty training for them so that you have a much easier job! Ultimate Guide. Depending on where you live sorry California, it is expensive where you are! This could indicate the dog is coming from a puppy mill. You can read why you should avoid buying dogs from puppy mills here. But the popularity of the dog means there can be a lot of competition for the Frenchies that do need a home. There are a lot of factors that can influence price, and if you are looking for a show dog or a dog for breeding, you should expect to pay a lot more. Certain colors, which are desirable but genetically quite rare, can also push up the price. A brindle or black puppy will usually be at the lower end of the scale, but a breeder might ask a lot more for a platinum or blue fawn puppy. This is Micro, a perfect body specimen for a Frenchie. He also has a blue coat and orange eyes, which are quite rare in dogs. What About Mini Frenchies? Mini Frenchies, also known as Teacup Frenchies, are the same fantastic dog, but they are quite a bit smaller than usual. You can expect them to weigh just 5 to 14 pounds on average. Due to their smaller size, though, their bodies can be fragile, so it is important not to engage in rough play with them. These dogs are even harder to breed see below than standard French bulldogs, so they are also quite a bit more expensive. Why are they so expensive, then? One factor is high demand since they are a very desirable dog breed. But that is not the whole story, since Labs are also one of the most popular dog breeds. Health Problems One of the biggest factors is these dogs have a lot of health problems. Most of their health issues are related to their flat, brachycephalic faces similar to Pugs and American bulldogs , which makes them particularly prone to breathing issues and allergies. This unique facial structure can also affect the formation of their jaw, and the health of their eyes, and can even affect their healing from certain illnesses and injuries. On top of this, they can also be prone to hip dysplasia, kneecap shifts, and heat stress. Fortunately, breeders try to control these breed-specific issues. It is essential that responsible breeders do their best to control these conditions, which means DNA scanning, genetic testing, multiple trips to the vet, and paying extra close attention to the developing puppies. Of course, all of this comes with a cost. Breeding Problems The other big problem is that Frenchies are extremely hard to breed. As well as the operation itself is expensive, the mother and pups need extra care afterward. Plus, breeders need to give their mother dogs significantly longer to recuperate before they can think about breeding them again. On top of that, French bulldogs have small litters—usually just three puppies. It is very unusual for a Frenchie to have five or more puppies in a single litter. So, if you are looking for a French bulldog puppy, you can expect to be on a waiting list for several months before a puppy is available. As well as being expensive to buy, French bulldogs can be pretty costly to care for, again mostly because of their health problems. They will probably need regular trips to the vet, and insuring them can be expensive because they are known to have health issues. But what are some of the main costs that you can expect to incur when bringing home a new puppy? Supplies It can surprise pet parents just how many things you need to care for a new dog. For starters, your new pup will need a bed, toys, bowls, a collar, and a leash. A crate can also be a big expense if you choose to crate train. However, because crate training is not so common among French bulldogs, first-time owners might also want to consider some professional training classes. Food Food is one of the biggest neverending expenses for any dog. Puppy food is also a bit more expensive than adult food because of its high protein content. Ideally, your dog should be eating puppy food until they are about 9 months old. French bulldogs should be eating around 25 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight each day. You can read more about pet insurance for puppies here. They will usually only bark when there is something wrong, so it is worth paying attention when they do vocalize. This is one of the reasons why they make excellent apartment dogs. While French bulldogs are adorable, they are specifically bred for their appearance, and this has led to a lot of genetic issues that affect their health and can leave them in a lot of pain in their later years. Many people object to putting the health of an animal second to appearance and therefore object to buying French bulldogs and supporting the purebred breeding industry. In theory, if there was no demand for these dogs, this kind of exploitative breeding would stop. In practice, this is difficult to imagine, considering how popular the breed is. Can French bulldogs stay home alone? French bulldogs actually tolerate being left alone relatively well. However, all dogs need a lot of love and companionship, and no dog responds well to being left on their own for 10 hours a day five days a week. Dogs become members of the family, and if they are going to thrive, they need to be treated with that kind of attention. Are Frenchies hard to potty train? However, they are little dogs with small bladders. They also tend to gobble down their food, which means they can be prone to smelly gas expulsions. How much exercise does my Frenchie need? French bulldogs do well on just a 15 to minute vigorous walk each day. They are also quite playful, so they burn off energy just playing around as well. Are French bulldogs aggressive? Despite the reputation of bulldogs, Frenchies are not aggressive. They are friendly and get on well with people and other animals. However, all animals are a combination of nature and nurture, so they can learn aggressive habits if they are not properly cared for. Are Frenchies high maintenance? They can also be left alone without expecting too much trouble. On the other hand, their tendency towards breed-specific health issues does mean they need regular visits to the vet. They may need special medications for things like breathing issues, and in later life, they may need things like a special bed. The Verdict French bulldogs are excellent dogs. They are great little companions who will find it easy to live in your apartment with you, but they are also fun-loving and curious. While they are great dogs, they are also quite expensive. This is due to high demand and some pretty serious difficulties when it comes to breeding them. They have small litters, almost always delivered by c-section, and health screenings and vet visits are a big burden for breeders. If you want something special, such as a rare color, you should expect to pay a lot more. You can also expect them to be relatively expensive dogs to own because they do need regular and close contact with a good vet to maintain their health. At a glance, the French bulldog is: Highly intelligent and trainable Small, meaning it does well in fairly small apartments Expensive due to demand and how difficult they are to breed Prone to breed-specific health issues So, are they worth all this expense and trouble? We think they are. French bulldogs can be the ideal pet for first-time owners with limited space and time but a lot of love to give. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.
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english bulldog puppies adoption near me - Following the Labrador feeding chart by age will give you a rough idea of how much to feed your puppy. Labradors are known for their playfulness, and sweet disposition, and are good at fetch which is why you should provide them with the best nutrition to support their growth. Ensure that the food contains the right amounts of protein, carbs, fat, and vitamins. You should avoid feeding your Labrador puppy too much food as they are prone to joint issues, but also avoid feeding them less food as they will be malnourished and not reach their growth milestones. Continue reading to understand how much to feed a Labrador puppy. The amount of food that your Labrador puppy should eat depends on a combination of certain factors such as activity level, weight, type, and brand of food. Heavier and bigger puppies need to eat more food than smaller puppies, and dogs that have active lives will need more calories than those living sedentary life. Fortunately, all dog food contains a feeding guideline on the packaging to get you started. It is important that you create and maintain a feeding schedule for your puppy so that they can maintain a healthy weight and develop good habits. Consult your pet nutritionist or vet, to learn more about how much food you should give your specific Labrador. Labrador Feeding Chart By Age A Labrador can be fed between one and six cups of food depending on their level of activity, age, and type of food. The amount will differ from one puppy to the other as every puppy has there own requirements. Therefore, you should follow a feeding guideline that is indicated in the dog food brands or the one designed by your vet. As a Labrador owner, it is important to understand that the nutritional requirements of your puppy are different at each stage as they grow. Therefore, adult and puppy dogs should be trained to eat the correct amount at the right schedule. Ensure that you keep a Labrador puppy feeding chart with you. Calculating the Resting Energy Requirement RER of your puppy and doubling it can help you get the right number of calories to feed them. Feed your puppy a little amount, in the beginning, to ensure that they are ready to eat. If they are not ready, do not force the food on them. Be patient with your puppy and they will be on puppy food soon. The puppy will be relying less on the milk. When your puppy starts eating all the food you offer them, you can reduce the amount of water and increase the food amount. The puppy will start becoming active and start exploring away from the mother as they no longer rely on the mother. By the end of the week into week seven, the puppy will be able to eat just puppy food. Ensure that you feed them dry food that is full of healthy protein. They should be eating three to four times per day and need about 2 cups of food. Avoid free feeding the puppy as it may be hard to know exactly how much they are eating. Create a feeding schedule as early as possible and this will help them develop good habits in the future. Put the food out for only 10 to 15 minutes and take the bowl away if they do not finish. This can be tricky if you are working but it is important that you maintain their feeding schedule as this is a developmental stage. Three meals per day will help your growing puppy develop their digestive system and ensure that they are getting their nutrition. This is also the beginning of the teething stage and they will be biting a lot of things including hard dog food and chew toys. They should eat about two cups of food distributed over three meals. But you should still maintain feeding them two cups of food but can reduce the mealtimes to twice per day. Watch out for the amount of food your puppy eats to avoid them gaining weight. Also, ensure that they are getting enough exercise to burn off the food. So, you should transition them to adult food. Ensure that the switching process is done slowly to avoid causing vomiting and diarrhea to your puppy. Your Labrador can be fed once per day now and the amount reduced to about two cups of food. Understanding Labrador Puppy Nutritional Needs If you stick to feeding your Labrador high-quality food, be assured that they are getting all the necessary nutrients. However, it is useful to know the types of nutrients that they need and the ingredients to watch out for. Carbohydrates — healthy carbs are necessary for providing energy for your puppy. Sources like barley, rice, and oatmeal are great. Healthy carbs can also be found in veggies such as sweet potatoes, peas, and lentils. Fiber — it helps regulate the digestive system of your puppy and helps the stool become healthier and firm. Sources include spinach, chicory root, and beet pulp. Sources include fish oils, fish, canola oils, and fish. Vitamins and Minerals — are needed for improving the immune system which helps in protecting your puppy from diseases. Veggies and real fruits like cranberries and blueberries are great sources. The frequency of feeding your Labrador depends mostly on their age. Puppies need to eat three to four times per day while senior and adult Labradors can eat one to two times per day. Labrador is a breed that is motivated by food, meaning that the chance of them turning down food is low. Given their nature, it can be difficult to figure out whether they are really hungry or just food obsessed. Since they cannot regulate their eating habits, it is important that you develop a feeding schedule to prevent them from gaining weight. Both types of food provide your dog with the best nutrition they need to grow and develop. Also, check the label on the packaging and make sure that it contains the perfect balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Kibble is cheaper than wet foods and stores easily as it does not require refrigeration. It also helps clean the teeth by removing tartar and buildup when your puppy chews it. Wet food also provides balanced and complete nutrition for your Labrador. It provides more hydration to your puppy as it contains high moisture content. However, wet food needs to be put in the fridge once opened otherwise it will go bad. Some dog owners mix wet food and kibble to give their dogs the best of both worlds. Therefore, most premium dog food brands have different specially formulated puppy food. Puppies can be fed with puppy food until they are about 12 to 15 months old then transition to adult dog food. When transitioning your dog from puppy food to adult dog food remember to introduce the feed gradually for about seven to ten days by mixing small amounts of the adult dog food with the puppy food. Decrease the puppy food gradually every day with a simultaneous increase in adult dog food. This will helps the pup o adjust to the new meal easily. Experienced Labrador Retriever owners will tell you that not all puppies eat a lot. Studies also have indicated that puppies eat more when fed with other puppies or in a group. When the puppy gets to a new home, they might go off the food for the first few days. They might eat a few kibbles and then leave it. Your puppy may also prefer to eat from your hand and not the bowl. However, call your vet if your puppy refuses to eat for more than four hours. Call immediately if your puppy looks unwell. There are a few reasons you need to keep an eye on because they indicate serious problems: Your pup neither drink nor eat Diarrhea. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. In the beginning, the food needs for my Labrador Molly changed dramatically. I worried that I was feeding her too little. As she grew older, I became concerned that I was feeding her too much. So, how often should you feed a Labrador? You should feed an adult Labrador two meals per day. You should feed Labrador puppies three meals per day, unless otherwise stated on the food packaging. It is essential to adhere to food schedules that are consistent for the long-term health of your Lab. You should also be aware of how to handle situations when your dog doesn't want to eat on schedule or doesn't finish its meal. In this article Labrador Feeding Schedules Labrador adults, like most dogs, work well when fed on a schedule. Twice per day is the standard as it allows the dog to eat and digest properly. Puppies will require more frequent feedings, though, as they expend far more energy and smaller stomachs to hold their needed food. If you have a Labrador that gets a lot of exercise, you may want to consider feeding them less food more often, as they will likely feel hungry sooner. Age, size, and the food's nutritional content should determine the amount of food given. Whatever the frequency, it's crucial for your puppy or dog to have a regular feeding schedule. Disrupting this can cause digestive problems that are unpleasant for the dog and the owner. According to Veterinary Centers of America, dogs are creatures of habit that need the security and predictability of their feeding routine. In addition, keeping the feeding schedule consistent helps your pet cope with other changes that may occur within the household. Lastly, never free-feed a Labrador. While Labradors may not technically eat themselves to death , they can certainly make themselves sick if you let them decide how much and how often to eat. This is especially true while you're trying to establish a set routine for when your Lab will eat its meals. Feed Your Lab Less Food More Frequently If you find that your Labrador isn't interested in eating the entire meal in a single sitting, you can add more mealtime if it works for your schedule. To do this, you should take the whole day's meal portion and divide it evenly into the desired number of meals. If you add an extra mealtime, you should serve 1 cup at each of the three meals. In other words, adding another mealtime doesn't mean that you add more food intake to the day's total. Use Interactive Food Dispensers Another option is to use an interactive toy to dispense the food, which may help to keep your dog's attention for the entire mealtime. It is an excellent option to hide food or treats. This particular item is perfect for a Labrador because it will allow your pet to use its intelligence to solve a puzzle and problem-solve while being rewarded with the kibble hidden inside. Although it isn't a good option for every Lab's mealtime, it is an idea for a pup that loses interest in their food before finishing. How Much to Feed a Labrador Your Lab's portions at each meal should depend on a few different factors. First of all, you need to know if your pup is currently at a healthy weight. So the best thing to do in this case is to ask your veterinarian if your Lab is at a healthy weight. If your Lab is not at an ideal weight , you'll need to talk to your vet and amend the feeding plan. You may also consider a specialized food designed to help your dog reach the appropriate weight. Your Labrador's activity level will also impact how much he needs to eat each day. It's always a good idea to consult the feeding guide on your dog food and your veterinarian's advice to make an informed decision. Labrador Feeding Schedule Examples To give you an idea of a standard feeding schedule and meal plan, here is a chart based on the feeding recommendation from Royal Canin's Labrador Retriever dry puppy food : Adult Target Weight:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As we all know too well, what we put in our belly has a huge impact on our health, vitality, length and quality of life. They have to strike a fine balance between getting enough nutrients to grow and avoiding an over-abundance that can lead to abnormal growth and disabling conditions. In this article you will learn precisely how to feed your puppy. What they can eat, what they should not, how many times you should feed them each day, basic information on home-made diets and the pros and cons of various commercial dog foods. The majority of Labrador owners feed their puppy kibble. Kibble is ground meal, shaped into dried biscuit-like pellets that are extremely convenient to buy, store and feed, providing everything a puppy needs in one easy to handle product. All the major brands carry a range of kibble and many are specifically formulated to suit the precise needs of puppies. For our recommendations of the best puppy food for labs, please read our article on: The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Good breeders will supply you with all the information you need to feed your new puppy and you should follow this advice. Puppies almost always get upset tummies during a change of diet. The stress of moving to a new home is enough to deal with without them potentially having tummy upset on top. So try to avoid this. But expect your puppy to get diarrhea after such a sudden change. What Can Puppies Eat? With a bewildering choice of different puppy foods available, what to feed your puppy may not be the easiest decision to make. You Can Feed Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is ground up food, formed into pellets and dried for easy storage and convenience. It is a specially formulated, complete and balanced diet, containing everything a puppy needs to grow and be healthy. Many people believe kibble is the best way to feed a puppy, with it being so easy to buy, store and feed while containing every nutrient a puppy needs in the right proportions. Wet, Complete Puppy Foods Are An Option As the name suggests, complete wet dog food is complete and balanced, meaning nothing should be fed in combination. Everything needed is included in this one food. Complete wet foods come in individual pouches or tins with one pouch or tin containing one single serving. In the main these foods are low in nutrition, contain a high amount of cheap fillers, by-products and water and need mixing with a biscuit to give them some substance and to make them more complete. Because the food is such low quality, you have to feed a lot of it. And what goes in, must come out. This type of feeding was popular decades ago and I do remember my parents feeding our first dogs this way, but most people have moved on from this and are feeding their dogs in better ways now. Raw Food, BARF And Home-Made Diets Raw feeding is a diet that consists of mostly raw meat, edible bones and animal organs, though most practitioners also mix in small portions of fruit, veg and selected other foodstuffs. There are many people feel strongly that this is the best possible way to feed a dog. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Many people wonder if they can feed their puppy human foods, anything found in the fridge or larder. Furthermore, there are many human foods that are toxic to dogs that you should avoid at all costs. Too much of some nutrients can be bad in itself, but also prevent the absorption and use of other nutrients too. So supplementing a balanced diet is a bad thing to do. Can You Give Puppies Milk? Assuming you get your puppy at the recommended 8 weeks, they will have been fully weaned before you bring them home. Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. One exception is for very young puppies under 6 weeks of age. When we have newborn puppies at our house we sometimes need to supplement and use Esbilac Milk Supplemen t. However, if you have a very young puppy that you think may need supplementing please first consult with your veterinarian. Are They Necessary? You will likely be feeding your puppy a commercially available complete and balanced dog food, in which case you certainly should not supplement their food. Supplementing this will mean too much of one or more things, making it unbalanced which can actually lead to harm. But an excess amount of calcium in the diet of a Lab puppy can lead to skeletal development problems. So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. There may also be times your vet advises you to do so. But if feeding raw, you should know more about nutrition than I do. This is a hard question to answer and sadly I cannot give you a definite quantity or weight to feed them each day. Puppies grow at different rates, some are more active than others and there can be large differences between metabolisms too. However… The biggest determining factor is how concentrated the nutrients and calories are in the brand of food you feed them. High quality foods are nutrient rich and give a puppy all they need from quite small amounts of food. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. Start by feeding your puppy according to the guidelines on the label of the puppy food you buy for them. Then see how their body develops. Puppies should not be fat! But at the other end of the scale if they start to look and feel a little slim, up their portion sizes a little. The guidelines on the food you buy are just that…guidelines. You might also be interested in:. Naturally, Labrador puppies would require more feeding times. Hence, you should only set a few hours interval between meals. As for adult Labs, optimal feeding times would be one in the morning, afternoon, and night. Almost identical to human eating hours. Along with implementing a time frame for mealtime, owners must be open to modifying combinations of puppy food throughout the first two years of the pup. Abrupt growth spurts may bring changes in their eating habits. Once your dog reaches one year old, its dog food is enough to sustain its energy for longer. Always ensure to follow the correct feeding schedule when feeding kibble or other types of dog food to ensure nutritional requirements are met. Regardless if you have chocolate , red fox , or Dudley Labrador , make it a priority to visit a pet nutritionist to obtain an accurate feeding time and quantity specifically designed for your pooch. They help in hunting, farming, and even therapy. As such, they require an energy-loaded diet and dog foods that are rich in protein and carbohydrates to keep up with their activities. Since they belong to the large breed classification, they are also prone to common health risks such as arthritis and other joint diseases. To prevent this, scour the local pet store with dog food that contains omega fatty acids, B vitamins, beta-carotene , and amino acids. These nutrients are essential to obtain, whether from a raw food diet, home-prepared meals, or commercial dog food. Here are some of the best dog foods we recommend for your Labrador Retriever: Wet Food: Like kibble, commercially available wet dog food is common and already a complete and balanced diet for your Labrador puppy or adult dog. Its smooth texture is well-loved by purebreds and mixed breeds alike. Eating wet food that contains Docosahexaenoic acid DHA , glucosamine, and Eicosapentaenoic acid EPA helps support the condition of their joints and heart. Dry Food: When on the hunt for the most suitable dry dog food, always look for grain-free and made from whole food sources so it can easily be digested. Also, check the food labels and ensure that it has a perfect balance of carbohydrates and fats. Highly fortified and breed-specific kibble is also recommended. Homemade Food: Considering how much your adult dog or Lab puppy eats, a healthy diet made from scratch can be a great alternative to avoid obesity. Just mix everything together with a little water to incorporate them better. Furthermore, this diet opts for low sodium content. Owners should include fish and flaxseed oil, carrots, eggs, liver, and beans into the raw puppy food diet. Since Labrador Retrievers are energetic and active dogs, it is best to give them a moderate to high-fat diet. As long as they are able to exercise daily, they can easily work it off and avoid being overweight. However, if they are more on the lax side, adjust their food intake from low to moderate calories. If they cannot burn off the calories, enroll them in a low-fat or low-protein diet instead. Excessive carbs can increase their blood sugar and may put your dogs at risk for diabetes. It may take extra time and effort, but the investment will definitely pay off. Once you learn the appropriate feeding pattern, then having a healthy dog with strong joints and a better digestive and immune system is easily attainable. That includes sharing our belongings, space, and most especially, our food. However, the American Kennel Club reminds owners to be aware of what human food is safe for dogs. In this section, you will learn which foods are okay for consumption and which food can harm our Labrador Retrievers. Physically, it can block their esophagus if not chewed properly. Moreover, some may also contain salt that can be fatal to their heart. Chocolate: Chocolate in any other form should not be given to dogs. Chocolate has toxic substances called methylxanthines that put a stop to their metabolic process. It can still be toxic even in the smallest amount as it may cause diarrhea or vomiting. Garlic and Allium Plants: Alliums such as garlic, chives, leeks, and onions are not good for dog consumption. Although regularly seen across social media, feeding your pooch ice cream is not recommended. It contains loads of sugar, and some dogs may be lactose intolerant as well. As an alternative, owners can always freeze berries and apples as a regular icy treat. On the contrary, here are some of the most friendly human foods for all dogs, including Labrador Retrievers: Milk: Milk is a great supplement of other nutrients for dogs. Just be mindful that your dog is not lactose intolerant. It should only be given in small quantities as a treat. Popcorn: On a movie night, dogs can also munch on popcorn. However, ensure that it is unsalted, unflavored, and air-popped. In moderation, it is a good source of thiamine and riboflavin for eyesight. Remove any unpopped kernels to avoid choking. Seafood: In addition, seafood such as salmon and shrimp contain good fats and are high in antioxidants. Seafood boosts their immune system and brain health. Be sure to thoroughly cook salmon, fish, and shrimp all the way through to avoid parasites. Eggs: Eggs are also safe for dogs so long as they are also cooked well. Cheese: Cheese can also be given to dogs in moderate quantities. Go for low-fat cheese as a treat. Mozzarella and cottage cheese are some that can be fully enjoyed by dogs without the fat guilt. A small amount of prohibited food is not worth an emergency trip to a vet. Throughout their life stages, a dog will not just undergo one food switch. Age, health, and other factors can fuel a change in their diet. As stated earlier, an abrupt change in their food will only cause an upset stomach and indigestion. There are a couple of reasons to switch food. Add the new food into each meal gradually and reduce the portion of their current food. This method can also be followed when changing from dry kibble to raw feeding and vice versa. Some reasons for change can be prompted by age. Different life stages will require different nutritional requirements for your dog. Other reasons may be caused by allergies, brand availability, and weight management. It is still best to consult your trusted vet about changing their overall food regimen. They just enjoy feeding their pooch with tons of food and love seeing them get fat. However, that is not considered proper care for them. Experienced dog breeders know precisely what an overweight dog looks like and how to feed them properly. Labradors are known for their love of food. They are incapable of switching off their hunger signals even after eating. As a result, Labs have a higher number of overweight dogs in the United States. Like with other dogs, overfeeding a dog can lead to obesity. Thankfully, there are ways to address this and protect the health of our pooch in the long run. An eye-opening first step is to have a handy Labrador food guide. Having this will help you gauge the correct amount of food your dog needs depending on its age and other factors as well. Log what they eat and how much they eat during each meal. Calculating their calorie intake is also helpful for medical purposes and when switching food. Furthermore, avoid feeding overweight dogs table scraps. Many owners are guilty of this habit. Much like table scraps, it is also best to limit dog treats. Entice dogs with treats only on special occasions and during training. These are just some of the simple things you can do to control an overweight pooch. When it comes to other methods, it is always advisable to speak with your vet. Dogs lose their appetite due to some reasons. Do Labrador Retrievers Eat a lot? Yes, Labrador Retrievers are a food-motivated breed. This is why owners need to control their food intake. Can Labrador Retrievers Eat Bones? Bones are a good source of minerals, so they can be good for Labrador Retrievers. However, it may come with serious physical trade-offs. Give only large, raw bones and supervise them from time to time. Dispose of the bone after 3 to 4 days. Can Labrador Retrievers Be Vegetarians? Yes, Labrador Retrievers can thrive with a proper vegetable diet in place. In fact, soy and other whole grains are perfect substitutes for meat for protein. However, a vegetarian diet is something that needs professional input from vets. Final Thoughts Labs are the most popular dog breed in the United States. Thus, there are a lot of available materials on how to take care of and feed this easy-going pooch properly. For starters, it is highly recommended to have a Labrador feeding schedule to guide you with the amount and frequency of feeding. Although Labrador food is accessible for purchase anywhere, you can also introduce them in a raw diet or homemade meals. Regardless of what type of food you choose to give, you need to ensure to feed your dog a complete diet that supports their growth and overall health. As an owner, it is a big responsibility to provide them with only the best, so these high-spirited companions can have a happy and longer life. Will you follow this Labrador food guide? What are your feeding methods with your pooch? Share and comment your thoughts below! My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Made with real meat and no artificial colors or flavors how much should a lab eat? Allergies Labs can also have allergies. Some dogs may be allergic to wheat, macadamia nuts, etc. It can manifest as a runny nose, high volumes of shedding, rashes on the skin, and so on. Different dietary needs are crucial, especially if they display allergy symptoms. Avoid all types of human foods. You can give your lab puppy supplements You can get great quality adult dog food and puppy kibble from companies like Royal Canin Labrador Retriever, Blue Buffalo, Canidae Grain-Free, etc. Only adult food must be given to labrador retrievers who have crossed 1. Your puppy needs 4 small meals consisting of half a cup of food per meal till he is 2 months old. From 2 to 6 months, he needs 3 meals daily consisting of 1 cup of food per meal. From 6 months onwards , you can give your puppy 2 meals daily of 2 cups of dog food per meal. Is This A Problem? Yes, this is a major problem! Fat dogs are adorable but also extremely unhealthy. An adult labrador retriever should weigh at most pounds. Labs that are fatter than this stand at the risk of obesity, arthritis , and other lifelong diseases. Refrain from feeding your labrador too many dog treats. Onions and garlic: surprisingly, anything in the onion and garlic family is incredibly toxic to dogs. Meat with bones: if not chewed properly, sharp edges can rupture the throat, stomach lining, intestines, and other parts of the digestive tract. Other human foods and beverages to avoid giving your dog are alcohol, sugar, citric fruits, and anything with caffeine. Your labrador retriever should weigh between 55 to 70 pounds at full adulthood. Male labs are heavier than female labs, so they can fall on either side of the optimal weight spectrum. Some healthy treats for your labrador retriever are cut fruits and vegetables. Carrots, celery, cucumber, beetroot, apples, bananas, and berries strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, etc. Dogs also love peanut butter! Veggies dipped in peanut butter also make a great snack for your dog. This is entirely up to you as dog owners. If you have the time and patience to cook meals for your dog, go for it. Store-bought food is easier and is filled with the right nutritional requirements for your lab puppy. On the other hand, with the right recipe, home-cooked food works, too. What Should I Do? A dog growling at you when you go near his food bowl is most commonly a trauma response or a way to protect his food. We often see this with rescues. House training your lab puppy is equally important to avoid food aggression. Labrador Retrievers get piddly after their meals. Dog owners must take out their lab puppy as frequently as they eat sometimes even more often to let their energy out and adult labradors less frequently. A lab puppy needs a ton of exercise. The amount of kibble you should feed your Labrador puppy will vary depending on their age, weight, and activity level. A good rule of thumb is to start with cups of kibble daily and adjust as needed. Best Dog Food For Lab Puppies: The best dog foods for lab puppies include those that are high in protein and low in fillers. The food you should feed a black lab puppy is the same as for any other Labrador puppy. A chocolate lab puppy should be fed the same food as for any other Labrador puppy. A 2-year-old chocolate lab should eat about cups of kibble daily. You should stop feeding puppy food to your Labrador at around months of age. At this point, their growth plates will have closed, and they will no longer need the extra nutrients found in puppy food. Labradors live for years. They start to slow down around 7 and may develop some health problems in their senior years. You should also increase their exercise level. Lab breeders feed their dogs high-quality dog food specifically formulated for large-breed puppies. A lab puppy should drink about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily. This amount may increase as they get older and more active. A labrador needs at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This can be a combination of walking, running, and playing. Golden labs live for years. Chocolate labs live for years same like labs of any color. Labradors lose their baby teeth between 3 and 6 months of age. You can start to transition your puppy to eating twice a day at around 6 months of age. By the time they are 1 year old, they should eat only once daily. You should stop feeding your large breed puppy food at around 18 months of age. Why Are Labs So Hungry? Labradors are a very active breed of dog, and they need a lot of calories to fuel their energy levels. They are also prone to gaining weight, so keep a close eye on their food intake About The Author Shradha Kabra Shradha is a seasoned writer at Labradorandyou. Her experience as a pet owner and dog enthusiast drives her to create meticulously researched and fact-checked content, offering valuable insights on Labrador training, grooming, and health. Each article reflects Shradha's passion and dedication, enriched by personal experiences with her beloved Labradors, Tom, and Kurt. Whether exploring breed-specific training techniques or providing product reviews, Shradha ensures Labrador owners receive the most accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy information, aimed at enhancing their companions' health and happiness. The source of protein matters when considering a high-quality diet. FATS The rest of the diet should be made up of fats, carbs, and vitamins. Labs need to have a correct protein -to-fat ratio, where protein takes the lead. Dogs tend to convert fat into glucose, so this is an important source of energy. Dogs rely mostly on protein and fats, but carbs are necessary. That said, a low carb diet is best for puppies. However, you still need the right percentage of carbs, since this gives your dog the sensation of being full. These include starches, fibers, and sugars. Try to opt for more complex carbs like starchy grain and veggies because these are easier to digest. Your Lab puppy will thrive when his or her diet includes: Vitamin B12 especially during puppy development , Vitamins A and E, C, Vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium, Potassium Each of these required vitamins and minerals contributes to a healthy, happy, and energetic puppy. They also help offset issues like obesity. Vitamins A and E are important because they help your dog burn calories and promote eye and skin health. Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, on the other hand, are part of a trifecta that works to strengthen teeth and bones. Potassium is a heart health-preserver. Labs with poor genetics are especially prone to orthopedic issues. Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are common health problems for this breed. Glucosamine, an amino-sugar, together with chondroitin sulfate, helps replace and support naturally degrading cartilage during old age. Recently,"grain-free" foods are being championed as a preferred and even high-quality form of dog food. That's, not the whole story. An investigation launched by the FDA revealed that there are potential links between a form of canine heart disease and grain-free foods. So far, researchers have provided an update to this researchers have provided an update to this research staring that the issue may not just be grain-free diets. Grain-free may be part of other trends knows as "BEG"- boutique companies. Puppy diets don't' need to be complicated. They also don't need to include ingredients that humans might enjoy. Enjoyment doesn't necessarily bring any nutritional value to your puppy's development. Keep it simple, using the guidelines for fats, proteins, and carbs above and don't shy away from food with grains in them. It's not their presence that's a problem it's often the ratio. There shouldn't be more carbs or grains than protein. Nor does including only legumes, seeds, lentils, or chickpeas as the primary ingredients make the food more superior. It's perfectly healthy to include complex carb sources like starchy rice and other grains. Grain-free isn't and shouldn't be a qualifying factor for your choice in puppy food. Feeding Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is dried, pelleted food that stores well is easy to eat, and is pre-formulated with everything your puppy needs to thrive and grow in his early developmental months. There are plenty of popular brands that don't measure up to the Snowy Pines standard. That's why it's so vital for you to learn how to read puppy food labels. Puppies should stick with "puppy stage" food, while adults should stick to bags marked "adults. Instead, your dog should have regular bowel movements, allowing them to absorb all the nutrients available. You should also keep in mind that caloric intake is calculated a little differently for puppies. Kibble diets are measured by how many calories the proteins, fats, and carbs represent for each gram. For puppies, this should be 3. Sticking to these ratios will help ensure your kibble choice is a healthy one. It's also important to note that kibble calories are often higher when compared to wet food. If it's high-quality wet food, it won't have as much fat to preserve it, which means fewer calories. You may have to supplement with dry food, especially if you're trying to keep the calories of carbs, proteins, and fats in the right per-gram ratio. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies.