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A low-calorie diet is enough for an older dog, but it should still be full of nutrients. Moderate protein and fat content are still needed. Typically, Golden Retriever puppies need to be fed at least three times daily. Meanwhile, adult and senior Golden Retrievers are satisfied with two meals per day. A Golden Retriever puppy should be fed three times a day at scheduled intervals until it reaches six months. You may divide the three meals into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When your Golden Retriever puppy turns six months, you can begin feeding it twice a day until it reaches adulthood. For adult Golden Retrievers, the most ideal feeding schedule will be twice a day with equally spaced meals. You can give it high-quality food in the morning and evening. The same goes for senior dogs but with fewer calories. For an easier routine, you can create a customized feeding plan based on your daily schedule or commitments. A proper routine also prevents under and overfeeding. As Golden Retrievers have a ravenous appetite, you might be tempted to feed your dog often. But you should be firm and watchful to avoid any weight-related problems. Here, we provided the optimal feeding times you can follow for your Golden Retriever: 2 to 6 months: am — am, pm, pm 7 months to 8 years and above: am — am, pm — pm Ideally, you should not feed your Golden Retriever puppy after pm. Instead, give your pup an ice cube to chew on when it gets thirsty. Your Golden Retriever puppy should also be fed in the same area daily without distractions. This way, your young puppy can focus on eating its puppy food. Allot around 20 to 30 minutes for your Golden puppy to finish its meal. Remember that some Golden Retrievers like to gorge on more food while some are finicky. Keep your pooch lean with the right feeding schedule, feeding amounts, and proper physical activity. You can also consult your vet for more insights. You may give your pooch kibbles or cold-pressed dog food. Both are packed with necessary ingredients that are filled with nutrients! It can be a bit costly, but wet dog food is still a better choice for Golden Retrievers that are picky eaters and for senior Golden Retrievers, too. You may either mix them or alternate the two at every meal. Just make sure that when you take this approach, your pooch is getting the right food with proper calorie and nutrition requirements. Complete Raw Diet: Feeding your Golden Retriever raw food should be fine after it turns three to four weeks. However, feeding dogs with this option is linked to many food safety concerns. Meanwhile, freeze-dried dog food is also a raw food that has been repacked. Both have no preservatives added and are easy to store with long shelf lives. When choosing the best dog food for your Golden Retriever, you should take into account the ingredients, nutrient details, and feeding instructions as well. Based on the general guidelines, the nutrients you should be looking for besides meat products or animal protein and fats are high-quality grains such as brown rice. Fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals are also vital. This can be ideal for dogs that are sensitive to different types of grain. But grain-free food has been controversial due to its link with heart disease. Your vet can also help you personalize a diet plan for your dog. Curious to see what a homemade meal looks like for Golden Retrievers? Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers are known for their strong appetite, and on top of this, they are also curious. Several foods are toxic to Golden Retrievers, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. Alcoholic drinks and foods that contain xylitol are also dangerous for your dog. Even a tiny amount of alcohol can cause severe issues to your dog, such as vomiting, and diarrhea, among others. Meanwhile, xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is also unsafe for your pooch. If your Golden Retriever consumes too much xylitol, it can result in a dangerously low blood sugar level and even acute liver failure. This substance is usually found in sweet candies, gums, cookies, and the like, so make sure that you check what treats you give your dog. Read food labels or buy organic brands instead. Other vegetables that are harmful to your Golden Retriever are Brussel sprouts, kale, and wild mushrooms. The pits, skins, and leaves of avocados contain a toxin called persin. Meanwhile, cherries contain cyanide which can be extremely harmful to your dog. You may also consult your vet to check the safety of specific foods, especially if your pooch has allergies or sensitivities. These gradual transitions typically occur over 5 to 7 days. The range of amounts is based on the activity of your Golden for the day, either low, moderate, or high level of activity. Golden Retrievers should have scheduled times to eat daily. The scheduled times will help them with their energy levels and keep them healthy. You can schedule their eating times as to what works best for your schedule. For example, feeding them before you leave for work and then when you get home. As a puppy, they will eat three times a day, so you will need to find times in those first few months to feed them more often. When they are an adult or senior, the scheduling of feeding times will be easier because they will only eat twice daily. For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is once in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at am, lunch at noon, then dinner at pm. Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period. After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated. Golden Retrievers can experience food allergies often caused from proteins in dairy or meat products. If your dog experiences symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or itching they may have a food allergy. They warn that feeding dogs any raw animal-source protein could cause illness because it has not gone through a process to remove harmful pathogens. However, a raw diet can be healthy if you are willing to go through the extra cleaning processes of the meat. This is a lot of work and difficult to do correctly and safely. We do not recommend it without expert veterinary help. Before starting a raw diet with your Golden, be sure to consult a veterinarian. Find one that is familiar with raw foods and can help with the proper handling of the foods. If you work hard to make sure your homemade foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that a dog needs, then it might work for your Golden Retriever. It takes a lot more time to find recipes and make sure it has all the nutritional value of a store-bought dog food. If you are willing to research expertly formulated recipes internet is making it easier to do this , and take the time to cook for your golden then go for it! Consulting your veterinarian is a must before starting any homemade diet. A veterinary nutritionist should also review your plan before starting. Feeding your Golden Retriever table food is not the best practice but a small amount of dog healthy table food is fine. Some example table foods that are healthy for them are carrots, blueberries and plain yogurt. Just be aware that feeding them too much table food can throw their entire diet out of whack. They may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals like they do from their dog food. Conclusion Making sure your Golden Retriever is getting the right foods at the right amounts will help them live their best life. There are many choices of foods with all the right ingredients. Be sure to choose one that works best for you and your Golden. Consult with your veterinarian on which food will bring the most nutritional value to the health of your Golden Retriever. If your Golden is experiencing any health issues related to changing foods, visit your veterinarian. If this article was helpful, please consider sharing this post on Facebook with the button below! She is board certified a specialist in canine reproduction. In her day job, she is a leader in a small biotech where she and a team of veterinarians and scientists work to develop new medications for pets. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of this wonderful breed of dogs. She and her husband have 2 children, 3 dogs and one cat. They love camping and hiking and she can often be found with her head in a good book. Recent Posts. Learn more » Congratulations on your new golden retriever puppy! You now have a beautiful, smart, and loyal dog who will love you for life. To make sure they grow into a healthy and happy companion, you need to feed them the right amount of food. At months old, which is usually when they are ready to leave their mother, a golden retriever puppy should be eating 3 cups of dog food divided into three meals per day. This is based on a typical large-breed puppy food. Different brands will give a feeding guide on their packaging. However, how much and how often to feed your golden retriever will keep changing during this time of rapid growth. Golden Retriever Puppy Feeding Timeline Image Credit: PxHere All puppies are different as are the foods, but some general guidelines for feeding your golden retriever during their first year are: 0—6 weeks: A golden retriever puppy can start eating solid food when they are 3—4 weeks old. Give them a total of 3 cups of dog food per day by their third month, 3 to 4 cups by the time they are 6 months old. The AKC recommends waiting until large breed puppies are at least 12 months old before switching them over to adult dog food and more likely 18 months. The amount will depend on their weight and activity level, but a rough guide is 1—2 cups per meal. Image Credit: Kinek00, Shutterstock Large breed puppies like golden retrievers should eat three to four small meals a day for the first 3—6 months of their lives. Smaller portions spread throughout the day are easier on their tummies and help prevent bloat, a serious condition that can be deadly for dogs. It also helps them maintain their energy level throughout the day. Puppy food has more calories and fat to support their growth, as well as extra vitamins and minerals for their developing immune and nervous systems and bones. The protein source matters, too. Puppies need animal-based proteins like chicken, beef, or lamb for their growing muscles. Choose a Large Breed Formula: Large breed puppies grow quickly, which means they need extra support for their bones and joints. Formulations for large breeds contain the correct calcium and phosphorus ratio for strong bones and glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints. They can help you choose the right food for your puppy based on their age, weight, and activity level. But puppies need to be fed on a schedule to prevent them from overeating and becoming overweight. How do you know if your puppy is getting enough to eat? After that, their growth will start to slow down. He Has a Healthy Appetite: A healthy puppy is interested in food and eager to eat. He Has Plenty of Energy: A well-fed puppy is full of energy and ready to play. Make the most of mealtime with these tips: 1. It also helps other aspects of puppy training, such as potty training and crate training. Image Credit: Alena Marchuk, Shutterstock This means leaving food out all day for them to graze on whenever they want. Leave food down for 10 minutes and then pick up what is not eaten. If they have not eaten anything, offer it again in an hour. Slow them down by scattering their kibble around the bowl, using a puzzle feeder or snuffle mat. This will help them learn to eat slowly and enjoy their food more. If your puppy is not drinking enough water for your liking, try adding a bit of broth to their bowl to make it more appealing and help them stay hydrated. Resist the Urge to Sneak Them Table Scraps Puppies are experts at giving those big, soulful eyes that make it hard to say no. But resist the temptation to give them table scraps or human food. Aside from teaching them bad manners, it can also lead to health problems, like obesity. A lot of human foods are not safe or healthy for dogs. For instance, garlic and onions are toxic to dogs. Oily food can upset their stomach, and carbs add a lot of calories. This helps them learn that mealtime is a specific time and place and not something that happens all over the house. Let Your Puppy Eat in Peace. This includes other pets in the house and small children who might want to bother them or try to steal their food. Otherwise, meals can become a stressful experience for your puppy instead of a happy one. Conclusion Feeding your golden retriever puppy the right amount of quality dog food will establish a strong foundation for their health and happiness. In addition, make mealtimes more meaningful by turning them into lessons and bonding moments between you and your dog. The puppy phase is over before you know it, so enjoy it while it lasts! Golden Retrievers are very food motivated. If your puppy seems to be getting fat, you may need to switch to the lower end of the above recommendations. Alternatively, if their ribs are becoming too prominent, you should work to the upper ends of the guidelines. Golden Retriever puppies have much smaller stomachs than adults. This means their daily food allowance should be split into smaller, more frequent meals. Rather than just feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening, as you might plan to do eventually, their food will need to be split into 3 or even 4 portions, like so: 8 — 12 weeks: 4 meals a day 3 — 6 months: 3 meals a day 6 — 12 months: 2 meals a day However, like the feeding charts, this should only be used as a guide. Feeding too much food at once can lead to cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, and discomfort for your puppy. How to Choose the Best Golden Retriever Puppy Food Puppies need a balance of certain nutrients and vitamins to support their growth — not just as much food as possible. In fact, simply giving as much food as possible is linked to certain joint-related health problems. So, when searching for a high quality puppy food, there are a few key ingredients you might want to search for. This includes a real meat source, and the correct amount of nutrients like calcium and iron. Commercial Food vs Homemade Food There are pros and cons to every type of puppy food available. Dry food is long-lasting and easy to use during training, but can contain filler ingredients. Wet food is palatable and easy to serve, but can be more expensive and harder to use during training. Homemade food is often very appealing in terms of taste for our dogs, but is the most likely type to contain nutritional imbalances that can lead to serious health problems. So, they will continue to grow and develop physically until somewhere between 12 and 18 months. You may want to transition your puppy to a new food when you bring them home, rather than whatever your breeder was giving them. Ideally, you want to make the change over the course of a week. Replace a very small amount of their old food with their new food at mealtimes. Over the week, you can change these amounts by decreasing their old food and increasing the new. By the end of the week, they will be eating only the new food. Changing abruptly can cause stomach upsets and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. But, Golden Retrievers should generally look lanky rather than chubby. But, the most successful rewards in this type of training are often food, such as kibble or small chunks or meat and cheese. Doing all of your training in the morning can lead to stomach upsets if your puppy ends up eating a large amount of their daily allowance all at once. Instead, try and complete shorter training sessions before each mealtime, and give whatever allowance is left for each meal after training is done. This can also benefit your training, as a hungry dog will be more motivated to work for those treats! Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We all want our golden retriever puppies to be healthy and happy. We envision them running through a verdant field chasing a ball. Full of energy with the beautiful, lustrous golden coat. But, just like us, eating the proper food in the proper amounts will help your golden properly grow and thrive. After all, what we eat impacts how healthy we are. How much you should feed your golden retriever puppy will vary depending on the quality of food you feed, his age, his weight, his general health, and his activity level. Your golden will be growing for up to two years. And the amount of food during that time will have to be adjusted depending on his needs. Because most people feed kibble to their pup, this article will focus on that. Kibble is convenient and cost effective. Instead, they should be lanky and full of energy. They should love to eat their food with gusto. Instead, you should be able to feel his ribs when you pet him there. There should just be a thin coating of fat under his skin. And he should have a defined waistline. Of course you should check with your veterinarian to make such adjustments. And remember a young puppy should get only so much exercise a day. Their joints and bones are developing and can be damaged if the exercise is too extreme. Assuming you have an eight-week-old puppy, he should receive three to four meals a day. From eight weeks old until about five or six months old, three meals per day are advisable. Of course, feed at the same intervals every day and split the total amount per day in half to be given at each feeding. After about six months of age through adulthood, two feedings per day are the norm. Always check with your vet regarding how much and how often to feed. These are just guidelines. Feed him at the same distraction-free location so that he focuses on eating. As much as goldens love to eat, a young golden puppy is also very easily distracted. This can lead to possible health problems, including joint and bone problems. Goldens can easily become overweight. Free feeding can also lead to a picky eater. Some puppies figure out that if their buffets are always there, and they can just go graze at will. Most foods you purchase will have guidelines on their bag or box. When you first get your puppy, feed him the same food that the breeder or rescue fed him for a few weeks. Then, if you want to change his food, do so over at least 10 days. Add more of the new food and subtract more of the old food each day. After about five days, you should be giving him approximately 50 percent of the new food and 50 percent of the old food. Switching food over such a period of time will help prevent stomach upsets and diarrhea. Overfeeding will result not only in him becoming overweight but it will also make him grow too fast. Periodically—even weekly— test whether you can still feel his ribs without them protruding. You can then increase the amount he eats. You should also feed his last meal of the day at least 90 minutes before his bed time so that he can digest his food and potty before bed. A well-balanced, high-quality food should provide all the nutrients he requires. Golden puppies require a formula made for large-breed dogs. Puppy formulas for large-breed dogs regulate their growth. Eating too quickly can lead to digestive upsets and even bloat, which can be deadly. I rescued my golden retriever Riley when he was about six months old. To say that he ate as if it were his last meal would be an understatement. He had a voracious appetite. I bought one of the maze bowls to slow him down. The kibble is placed between each section of the bowl, and he had to forage for his food. It worked! He ate at a more normal pace. Of course, dogs should be given free access to fresh water. Other Feeding Options Although I concentrated in this article on feeding kibble to your new puppy, there are other options. There are some drawbacks to them because they may not be nutritionally complete, may be cost prohibitive, or may be too time-consuming to make. Wet Food Canned food alone or mixed with kibble is an option. But wet food alone is very expensive. He may become a picky eater. Feeding raw is controversial. Dehydrated raw foods reduce some of the risks. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is crucial to puppy development. Homemade Diet Cooking for your best friend can be very appealing. And many people do. You know what ingredients and their quality are. But it has its drawbacks. Of course, the amount you feed is important for his growth rate and general health and well-being. But there is no one-size-fits-all in determining how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. Any amounts you see are just guidelines. Adjust them as necessary regarding your own special puppy. Do you have a golden retriever puppy? How did you determine what and how much to feed him? Please leave your comments in the section below. 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. Debbie has been training dogs for over 24 years and has nationally ranked obedience and rally dogs, agility dogs, trick dogs, and therapy dogs. Post navigation. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.

Until I met Forest and River. Forest was first. I happened to be living with them at the time, and I really did not care for the furry child who had entered the home. Forest peed and pooped everywhere, and then there was all the biting and the chewing and the howling. I swear, dog care books conveniently downplay the actual reality of daily puppy life, which is mostly that they chew on everything. Photo courtesy Jessica Pineda That all changed when I went with my brother-in-law and niece when they took Forest to a trainer. Watching Forest learn things and seeing how smart he was changed my entire outlook on dogs. I never truly realized what they were capable of and how eager they were to learn. I never realized how easy it is to teach them, and what kind of bond it built between you and your pet. I devoured books and YouTube videos on behavior, training and breed history. I quickly taught Forest a variety of tricks and trained certain behaviors, like not pulling me down the street when we went for walks. I was obsessed. So I yearned for the day I could get my own. Not soon after, I met River. I was well into my dog obsession when I met River. All I know is that she was found wandering the streets with a shattered femur and was between 9 and 11 months old. While River recovered, I knew I needed to find a place that would let me have a big dog like her. And again, with luck, I found a little guest house on a 5-acre property. It was the perfect place to have a dog, and the moment River was recovered enough that I could adopt her, I did. Then, almost a week after I moved into my new place and brought River home, I got a text from my niece. She asked if I would be interested in taking Forest too, since she was concerned about his quality of life. Without me, Forest was kind of neglected, everyone too busy to play or walk him. Without hesitation, I agreed. One German Shepherd puppy is a handful, but two? I know, I know. I feel you. I had no idea what I was getting into, even in just introducing the two. Also, walking two dogs at once is a sure-fire way to die when you trip over their leashes. Unless you want to watch your house and yard destroyed by a bored dog, you have to put in the time or you will be in over your head fast. And even though I did it, I would not recommend that anyone adopt two German Shepherds at once unless they have experience with the breed. All dogs deserve that, of course, but I feel for these super-smart, active breeds — they really need it. If I had known what joy Forest and River would bring me, I would have become a dog owner much sooner. However, one advantage this breed offers is how eager even puppies are to learn. When you start training early and are consistent, your puppies will understand what they are supposed to do very easily. Puppies raised together are likely to bond quickly. As puppies that show the promise of becoming large dogs very quickly, getting both puppies used to going on walks or other activities is essential for them to get used to interacting with new people. Better socialization makes all the difference. If you live in a setting where your puppies will have easy access to the outdoors, it will be that much easier to help them meet their exercise needs. Because young GSDs are high-energy , exercise always helps keep them calm and focused. Having two puppies who grow up together will help them get along better. Many of the conflicts that might otherwise arise between dogs are less of a problem with two German Shepherd puppies who have grown up together. Dogs that learn to share resources easily will be less possessive. Being able to train both dogs at the same time, as is often the case with puppies, is another significant advantage. Being able to teach both dogs at once makes it easier to train them in less time. The sooner your puppies are trained, the better for them. Shepherds raised in the same household from an early age could have fewer problems than you would find from adding another dog later. After all, an adult dog introduced into a home could have acquired bothersome behavior that is hard to cope with. However, buying or adopting two puppies may not be the best solution for every household. There are advantages to adding an adult dog as well. Owners will do well to consider the advantages or disadvantages of both situations. One common concern that German Shepherd owners have is whether a second dog might eliminate dog aggression issues. A second GSD should seldom become a problem. Your main concerns should involve the feasibility of an additional pet in general. All of these are vital factors in any new dog. One of the most severe mistakes for anyone who gets a new dog to make is giving the new dog a lot of attention while spending less attention on the first dog. It will be very important to find a healthy balance in how you provide attention to your dogs. Each dog will require individual attention to make sure they receive the right amount of interaction. However, one dog should not receive a large amount of attention in front of the other. Doing so will probably encourage a rivalry between the two. Another consideration besides time and attention that you will need to keep in mind if acquiring a second dog is what resources you have for additional food, exercise, and veterinary care. The decision to take a second German Shepherd is important. German Shepherd Dogs can have special feeding needs, including eating foods that protect joint health. Food sensitivities and allergies may require one dog to have special food. Daily walks can be helpful but are better if someone else in your household can assist. Supervised play in a fenced-in yard might be the best option. The higher veterinary costs are also an important consideration. German Shepherds are susceptible to health issues that range from bone and joint problems to gastric torsion. When you have two of these dogs, being able to afford care is vital. Adding a second Shepherd to your home when you already have one can be a good choice. In most cases, the dogs should get along well, with minimal fuss, as long as you supervise both of them. However, making sure that you are in a position to handle both dogs is ideal. If you have plans to deal with any of these circumstances, adding another German Shepherd might be a good choice for you. Your current dog will probably adjust well to the second dog, with a similar size, temperament, and activity level. One of the things you might need to think about if you decide to have two German Shepherds is whether you want to have two dogs of the same or opposite gender. There are advantages and disadvantages that are important for GSD owners to consider. Contrary to popular belief, neither gender is more or less likely to have aggression issues. Some dogs of the same gender get along perfectly well, while others do better with another dog of the opposite sex. A dog that is reactive toward dogs of the same sex would probably do better with a dog of the opposite sex. The good thing is that taking steps like having both dogs altered when possible and practical, as well as making sure the introductions are done correctly, will help ensure that both dogs get along as well as possible. Taking some steps to ensure that the introduction goes as smoothly as possible is a good idea. This video demonstrates how smoothly an introduction can go when done properly. Meeting in a neutral setting works best for these dogs. Both dogs should be leashed for the best results. In fact, taking a walk together is one of the best ways to start the introduction. The dogs should be kept at a healthy distance from each other during their walk to avoid any possible problems. After the dogs have had a chance to rest for a moment after the walk. The dogs should be allowed to smell each other for a couple of minutes. After they do this, it should be safe to allow them to interact with the leashes still attached. Watch the behavior of the German Shepherd Dogs very carefully. If you see behavior that indicates a willingness to play, like bowing or tail-wagging, encourage the dogs to play together gently to help them get better acquainted. When both dogs are going to be in the house together, it is an excellent idea to let the new dog in first. Let your first dog in next. Make sure you keep an eye on the dogs so you can separate them if there are signs of aggression or tension that could escalate. If the dogs show any signs of hostility, separate them, and only allow them to interact again after they have calmed down. For at least the first few days, you should make sure the German Shepherds are not left alone unattended. Making sure each dog has a training crate or other dedicated area to sleep will help the dogs maintain proper space. Dogs who have had proper introductions are not usually as likely to fight. Ensuring the dogs have separate areas to rest and sleep helps to make a difference. Even though these methods are not entirely fool-proof, they are helpful. In some cases, aggression has its roots in two intact dogs of the same gender having problems. These types of disputes have their origins in sexual frustration. However, there is a remedy in the form of having one or both dogs spayed or neutered. Neutering can help eliminate aggression, especially in the case of two males. Aggression between two German Shepherds can be terrifying, considering the size that most of these dogs reach. Even though steps like trying and having the dogs altered can make a difference, aggression between the two could occur at some point. Dogs this size who start fighting can inflict injury on each other or anyone who tries to stop the fight. Knowing how to stop a row in a way that reduces the threat of harm is essential. When your dogs have difficulty getting along, it is vital that you know how to deal with the situation. Any number of circumstances can lead to dogs fighting, from quarrels over food to fights over toys. If your dogs have a disagreement, you need to know how to eliminate the problem in a positive way that reduces the possibility of injury. Having taken steps to introduce your dogs properly will reduce the likelihood of the fight being drawn-out. Remove whatever is triggering their hostility, such as food or a toy. Separate the two dogs to give them time to calm down. Once the dogs have had a chance to settle down, allow them back into the same area, with proper supervision. Reward both dogs with praise and treats or pats for behaving themselves. Rewards for good behavior will accomplish more than negativity. Two German Shepherds can be a perfect addition to any household, regardless of whether they have been raised together or if one of the dogs is a later addition. Being adequately prepared and making proper introductions makes a world of difference. So, two German Shepherd Dogs would be even better, right? German Shepherds that are of similar size, temperament, and energy levels get along the best. Are you wondering if having two German Shepherds means twice the goodness or double the trouble? Keep reading to understand the potential risks and best conditions for raising two puppies together. The short answer is yes, you sure can! German Shepherd Dogs GSD are fiercely loyal and develop bonds quickly, even in as little as a few weeks. They are also exceptionally intelligent which makes training them much quicker than with other breeds. This is great if you train one puppy first and then the second. However, they must trust and respect you before you train them together. If their bond is stronger with each other instead of with you, the training will be poor. Raising them simultaneously too early may create an inseparable bond that inhibits them from socializing with other dogs and humans. On the other hand, they might develop the exact opposite relationship with each other and end up fighting one another instead. Because they can easily view the second dog as intruding on their territory, and they might not want to share the house or you. There is also the risk of littermate syndrome, a situation where two German Shepherds start fighting so severely that it leads to having to relocate one of the dogs to a new home. This will allow you to focus your attention on training the first puppy who can then help you train the next. While they are still puppies, they can teach each other to share resources and your attention. Your first puppy will adjust better because both will be more willing to play, will be less likely to fight, and neither of them will be able to dominate the other. However, some GSDs will get along better with a puppy of the same sex. The results of their relationship vary from case to case, but it is something you still have to consider. What is much more important to consider is how well your current puppy gets along with other dogs right now. All of that to say: you can have two German Shepherds of either gender so long as the age gap is small and the first puppy you have has been properly socialized. Introduction Have the two puppies meet in a neutral area, such as a park, rather than in the house several days before you bring the new puppy home. Keep them leashed. Stop the session if one of the dogs gets nervous. Each puppy should have their own space in a quiet area around the house, especially when they want to get away from its new sibling. Be sure to encourage the new puppy to recognize their bed by teaching them to sit in it, and if they do, give them a treat. It helps if you do your best to show both dogs the same affection and give them the same attention with exercise, treats, etc.

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What is Elbow Dysplasia? The condition eventually causes pain whenever the forelimb is moved and may eventually cause arthritis. Trauma to the elbow joint can also lead to changes within the elbow that mimic elbow dysplasia, but this disease results from genetic factors that cause abnormalities in joint formation, not trauma. Symptoms of Elbow Dysplasia: Dogs who have elbow dysplasia may show signs of the disease by suffering from mild to moderate pain and lameness in their forelimbs as early as four months old or they may not have any symptoms until later in their life. Even though the disease can manifest at any age, it is commonly diagnosed when dogs are around two years old. Dog owners frequently take the dog to the vet complaining of stiffness in the front legs but both elbow joints are usually affected. How soon a dog will show symptoms is related to how severe the abnormality in the joint is. Dogs eventually develop arthritis inflammation in the joint from years of the parts of the joint rubbing against each other. On physical examination the vet may find pain when the elbow is manipulated. There may also be swelling, crepitus a crunching noise and a decrease in the range of motion the dog has. There are different types of elbow dysplasia and the vet may order a CT scan to identify which type of elbow dysplasia the dog has. In addition, arthroscopy surgery or open joint surgery is considered the best way to determine the extent of the damage in the joint. If arthritis has already set in it is more difficult to know how beneficial this surgery will be. Arthroscopic surgery surgically inserting a scope -is considered the best option for cases that are good candidates for surgical intervention. Open joint surgery — may also be the best option for some cases. Board-certified veterinary surgeons are advisable for the surgical diagnosis and treatment of all forms of elbow dysplasia. Elbow replacement surgery — is currently being researched, but still unavailable. Non-Surgical Options: We can manage pain by treating dogs with pain relieving drugs and glucosamine and fatty acid supplements. However, due to the discomfort and debilitation a dog suffers from this disease, some dogs may have increased lameness and even a decreased lifespan. Prevention: The best way to prevent elbow dysplasia is to prevent it from occurring by not breeding dogs can pass it to future generations. Elbow dysplasia Elbow lameness: In a young dog, a deformed elbow may be the problem The term dysplasia refers to a developmental defect, where abnormal cells appear in a particular type of tissue or organ. And while hip dysplasia tends to get the headlines for canine orthopedic health, elbow dysplasia can be equally debilitating. Elbow dysplasia is the second-most common cause of elbow lameness in dogs. The first is osteoarthritis, which can be associated with elbow dysplasia. Breed prevalence Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers and Chow Chows head the list of breeds with a high prevalence of this orthopedic problem, but any dog can suffer from elbow dysplasia. Large dogs are most likely to develop it, but Pugs are second on the prevalence list produced by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Elbow dysplasia is a genetic ailment, so breeders are encouraged not to use affected dogs in their breeding programs. While elbow dysplasia cannot be cured, it can be well-managed. With surgery and the appropriate medical management, many dogs have a good long-term prognosis. Some dogs will start refusing to exercise, with a noticeable decrease in their overall activity level. Dogs with this defect often move by turning their paw inward, noticeably holding their elbow out from the body in an attempt to shift weight off the sore part of the joint. If your dog has elbow dysplasia only on one side of their body, you or your veterinarian may notice their lameness earlier. That is the clinical picture if both elbows are affected but one side hurts more than the other. If both elbows are equally affected, then it can be more difficult to pick up on lameness. Most dogs will try to compensate with a shortened stride, and the range of motion in their joints is generally reduced. Another clue is if you see your dog manipulating their leg by extending and flexing the elbow joint — an action that is often associated with pain. Even with a more stoic dog, owners may notice some swelling of affected elbow joints along with abnormal warmth in the area. In dogs, the elbow joint involves three bones: the humerus, ulna and radius. These bones must all work together perfectly to give your dog pain-free movement in their elbow joint. Diagnosis True elbow dysplasia will not be diagnosed before 4 to 6 months of age, when the growth plates in joints are still closing. Most dogs are a couple of months older before a clear-cut diagnosis is made. Most dogs are diagnosed with elbow dysplasia by physical examination and by doing a thorough lameness evaluation at 4 to 12 months of age. In mild cases, however, affected dogs may not show lameness until 7 or 8 years of age, when arthritis kicks in. Diagnosing an elbow problem requires a thorough lameness exam with radiographs. Flexed views of both elbows can show defective areas and identify early arthritic changes. A CT scan and arthroscopic surgery to look into the joint are used to guide diagnosis and therapy. Treatment As with so many health problems, early intervention is best. For mild cases of elbow dysplasia, the goal of surgery is to remove any damaged tissues, which will often help to relieve pain, at least temporarily. Dogs with moderate-to-severe elbow deformities may need extensive surgery to realign the malformed elbow joint. A new option for dogs is surgical elbow replacement, a very difficult, expensive option. There are several elbow replacement systems available, but they all come with very serious complications. We are still diligently working on improving surgical approach and implant designs to reduce complications. Follow-up rehabilitation will be critical. Prevention For any puppy, but especially ones with a greater risk for any orthopedic defect, keeping the puppy trim as they grow is important. Your veterinarian may recommend some joint supplements right from a young age, even for normal pups, and they will encourage moderate exercise. This is when your dog repetitively jumps down off the bed, off the couch, out of your car and other similar movements. Going down long flights of stairs frequently can also add trauma. Many breeders recommend that puppies avoid more than 2 or 3 stairs until 6 months of age or older since the potential for damage is worse for puppies than for adult dogs. Rigorous use of screenings for breeding animals with full public information is currently the best bet for decreasing cases of elbow dysplasia. Normal parents may produce elbow problems, but the incidence is much lower than if one or both parents have bad elbows themselves. He personally recommends taking action as soon as possible to detect pain and lameness early, perform an arthroscopic coronoidectomy, followed by intensive non-surgical supportive care. It has been a humbling experience," he says. I believe it is arrogant to think we can fix it once the problem develops. Some dogs feel very sore with a Grade 1 diagnosis, whereas others rated Grade 3 are minimally lame. Grade 1: Minimal bone change along the anconeal process of their ulna at less than 2 mm Grade 2: Additional bone proliferation along the anconeal process 2—5 mm and subchondral bone changes trochlear notch sclerosis Grade 3: Well-developed degenerative joint disease with bone proliferation along the anconeal process being greater than 5 mm There are three other processes that describe specific types of bony defects in the elbow: fragmented medial coronoid process FCP , osteochondrosis of the humeral condyle and ununited anconeal process. These all fall under the umbrella of elbow dysplasia umbrella, and they all lead to secondary arthritis. Some dogs will be affected on just one side, but many dogs will have problems with both elbows. Fragmented coronoid process is the most common. There is the potential to make them worse, and surgery is expensive. The elbow cannot correct itself. That said, if surgery is impossible for other reasons, then medical-management strategies designed to help with severe arthritis are your next-best choice. Therapies include: Weight management: Simply getting your dog to their normal weight may decrease their pain dramatically. Exercise: Moderate exercise moves the joint and builds cushion. Be sure to use proper warm-up and cool-down periods. For example, if your dog loves to play ball, a minute walk will help loosen their joints so that they can move more freely. Laser treatments, TENs transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation , ice therapy and acupuncture may be worth trying. Pain medications: Your veterinarian may recommend a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAID , such as carprofen, to help keep your dog comfortable. Joint supplements: Ingredients like glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin encourage healthy cartilage and increased joint fluid, which help act as cushions. Work with your veterinarian to choose the best supplement for your dog. Injectables: Adequan is another injectable drug that could help with the accompanying osteoarthritis and pain. Injecting platelet-rich plasma PRP into the joint has also been used with some success in canine elbow dysplasia. Synovetin OA is a new, injectable medication that uses electron therapy to target macrophages and synoviocytes in the painful elbow. It must be injected directly into the affected joint. Elbow Dysplasia Overview Canine elbow dysplasia is a common disorder and has been shown to be more prevalent than hip dysplasia in some breeds. The problem is a congenital, hereditary disease affecting young dogs, usually under one year of age. This mal-alignment causes abnormal pressure or joint loading, and chronic rubbing which wears away the cartilage resulting in severe osteoarthritis. Elbow dysplasia can be broken down into numerous underlying pathologies such as fragmented medial coronoid process, osteochondritis dissecans and medial compartment syndrome just to name a few. Definitive diagnosis is made via CT scanning and arthroscopic examination. Some cases can be treated entirely with arthroscopic procedures. Clinical signs of elbow dysplasia The primary clinical sign of canine elbow dysplasia is limping or lameness. Head bobbing at a fast walk or slow trot is typical of front limb lameness. The lameness is usually not recognizable at a run. Some dogs with elbow dysplasia are reluctant to go for long walks or play for long periods of time. Dogs with elbow dysplasia also have limited range of motion ROM in the elbow joints and have pain on elbow extension and flexion. The limited ROM may cause discomfort and difficulty when lying down in sternal position. Diagnosis of elbow dysplasia The diagnosis of canine elbow dysplasia is based on physical examination, radiographs X-rays , computerized tomography CT Scan and ultimately arthroscopy. The surgeons at CCOR can make a fairly accurate diagnosis of elbow dysplasia and discuss the next steps based on physical examination and simple X-rays alone. CT scanning is often needed for the ultimate, final treatment plan. Arthroscopy is used both as a diagnostic tool and to treat elbow dysplasia. Treatment options for elbow dysplasia The treatment options for canine elbow dysplasia depend on the actual definitive diagnosis. Non-surgical treatments include pain management, physical therapy, nutraceuticals such as glucosamine, and various intra-articular injections. All of these options may be indicated in older dogs, or in conjunction with arthroscopic treatments, but none of the above listed treatments address the underlying problem. A common misconception regarding joint injections stem cells, PRP, etc. Intra-articular injections joint injections are commonly performed but with somewhat variable clinical results. Stem cells, platelet rich plasma PRP , hyaluronic acid HA and glucocorticoid steroids are the typical products injected. Recent studies have shown clinical improvement in some dogs with elbow dysplasia treated with PRP. The duration of improvement is currently unknown, but a best guess would be 6 months. Colorado Canine Orthopedics has extensive experience with intra-articular joint injections and we would be happy to discuss the pros and cons of joint injections for individual patients. Surgical treatment options can be broken down into arthroscopic treatments, osteotomies bone cuts to realign the bones, or a combination of both. Virtually all board certified surgeons agree that dogs with elbow dysplasia require a thorough arthroscopic examination both to evaluate pathology and provide treatment. The arthroscope usually mm in diameter is passed through the opening and into the joint. Joint visualization via magnified arthroscopy is incredibly thorough comparted to open joint inspection which is minimal at best. Bone and cartilage fragments and other joint debris can be identified and removed via arthroscopy. Dogs undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery have a fair to excellent prognosis depending on the exact diagnosis, degree of incongruency and existing osteoarthritis OA. Nearly all surgeons agree our best defense against progressive OA is to obtain an accurate diagnosis CT and arthroscopic examination , remove any free fragments and minimize abnormal joint contact. Overall, the majority of dogs with elbow problems lead a fairly normal life although some degree of OA is inevitable. Fragmented medial coronoid process Fragmented coronoid process is a subset of elbow dysplasia that affects large and giant breed dogs, particularly Retrievers, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Bernese Mountain dogs, and German Shepherd dogs. Malalignment and overloading of the medial innermost aspect of the joint compartment are believed to be key in this pathology. Loading or abnormal weight bearing on the medial compartment leads to concurrent cartilage erosions often full thickness and possible fragmentation of the medial coronoid. Diagnosis of fragmented coronoid process and medial compartment disease can be challenging. Radiographs are helpful but not definitive. In our opinion, arthroscopy is the ideal modality for the diagnosis of fragmented coronoid process because it allows accurate diagnosis and treatment of the fragment, as well as cartilage assessment. Traditional open surgery to diagnose fragmented coronoid is antiquated. First and foremost, the surgical approach to the elbow joint that affords the surgeon a thorough inspection is invasive and has moderate post-operative morbidity. Secondly, the arthroscopic visualization of key structures is far superior to an invasive surgical approach. Treatment of fragmented coronoid process in mild cases involves arthroscopic removal of the fragmented bone and cartilage. Arthroscopy is fast, effective, and minimally invasive. Arthroscopic treatment takes between 15 and 30 minutes per elbow and virtually all dogs can be treated on an outpatient basis. In mild cases the prognosis for return to normal activity is excellent. Most dogs return to normal activity within a few weeks to a few months with little or no lameness. In moderate cases, the coronoid process is both fragmented and abnormal in size and shape, cartilage erosion is present on both the medial humeral condyle and the non-fragmented portion of the remaining medial coronoid. In these situations, the fragment is removed and a partial coronoidectomy is performed arthroscopically. An ulnar osteotomy may also be performed in moderate cases. The prognosis for moderate cases of fragmented coronoid process is less certain. If the aforementioned treatments are performed and the cartilage is in fair condition, many dogs have no or minimal lameness and the progression of arthritis is slow. Medial compartment disease In the majority of dogs with chronic severe elbow dysplasia, all of the cartilage on the medial innermost aspect of the joint is worn away, resulting in what is now termed medial compartment disease. Unfortunately, this degree of osteoarthritis is difficult to successfully treat. Arthroscopy can be used to remove any free fragments and the joint. Several osteotomies such as proximal dynamic ulnar osteotomy and PAUL procedure can also be used to treat medial compartment syndrome with variable results. Platelet rich plasma has shown some promise for short term improvement but will not promote cartilage regrowth. Elbow replacement is available, and has been performed at CCOR, but the procedure is new and long-term results are not yet available. Canine osteochondritis dissecans OCD Osteochondritis Dissecans OCD is a juvenile bone disease that can affect the shoulder, stifle, tarsal and elbow joints of young dogs. Osteochondritis Dissecans is a subset of osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis is a failure of endochondral ossification; the process by which most bones grow and involves juvenile cartilage being replaced by bone. This failure of cartilage becoming bone results in overly thick joint cartilage adjacent to the joint figure 1. The deepest layer of this thickened cartilage is inadequately nourished resulting in cell death figure 2. Cartilage debris and inflammatory mediators are released into the joint fluid and inflammation ensues. Elbow OCD affects young large and giant breed dogs. Limping is the common clinical sign. Many dogs have pain on elbow flexion and extension, as well as limited range of motion. Radiographs are helpful in diagnosing OCD, but CT scanning and arthroscopy are used for definitive diagnosis. Treatment for elbow OCD involves arthroscopic debridement followed by a cartilage grafting procedure called osteochondral autograph transfer system OATS. Artificial cartilage plugs Synacart by Arthrex can also be used to fill the defect. Some forms of biological treatment such as platelet rich plasma or stem cells have also been advocated but will not result in cartilage regeneration despite claims made by some. Canine ununited anconeal process UAP Ununited anconeal process UAP is an elbow disorder most often affecting young German Shepherds, although it can be seen in almost any breed. The underlying problem is not clearly understood. UAP may be associated with malalignment of the elbow joint or a genetic juvenile bone disorder called osteochondrosis. The most common clinical signs are limping and swelling of the elbow joint. Clinical signs usually appear at about months of age. Radiography, CT scan and arthroscopy are used to make the diagnosis. Treatment options include arthroscopy, ulnar osteotomy, fragment removal or fragment re-attachment. Treatment should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is made. The prognosis is fair to good. Cost of elbow disorder treatments Veterinary specialty care is a double-edged sword these days no pun intended. All major orthopedic procedures are more sophisticated, successful, and less invasive today than they were in the past. These advances come at a cost for the surgeon and client. Fees for elbow arthroscopy includes anesthesia and monitoring, nerve blocks when needed, and routine go home medication. Radiographs and CT scans are charged for separately and should be discussed at the time of the initial consultation. Osteotomies, when required, are charged for separately and should be discussed on a case by case basis. At Colorado Canine Orthopedics we are committed to providing only state of the art, non-compromised pet healthcare. We realize some pet owners may find this level of care relatively costly. However, despite the inherently expensive nature of our work, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of care at the most affordable price possible. We believe if you compare our fees to other specialty practices you will find this true. Back to Top. References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Elbow dysplasia ED is a general term that encompasses five distinct anatomical problems that tend to result in malformation of the elbow joint and to early-onset osteoarthritis. HCO, and the other four, are described below. Fragmented medial coronoid process FMCP : The medial coronoid process is a piece of bone that should form part of the top of the ulna and part of the elbow joint. In FMCP, during early development, this fails to connect to the ulna. Ununited anconeal process UAP : The anconeal process is a protrusion of the top of the ulna. Developmentally, it starts as a separate bone which should fuse to the ulna. When this fusion fails to happen, the dog suffers from a UAP. Elbow incongruity IC : Dogs with IC have malformed articular surfaces of the three bones that make up the elbow and because of this they do not fit together normally. It can affect the weight-bearing surfaces between the humerus and the radius and ulna and also the way in which the upper part of the ulna fits inside the lower end of the humerus Schwarz .Ununited medial epicondyle UME : This is an uncommon condition in which the medial epicondyle, a bone on the end of the humerus, fails to unite with the humerus during development. Here the focus is on HCO. Other forms of elbow dysplasia can also occur in this breed, especially UAP Keller et al , and HCO is also common in other dogs, particularly those of large body size. More than one form of elbow dysplasia may be seen in the same elbow. Figure 1. The three bones of the elbow joint separated and in normal alignment. In a healthy canine elbow joint the ulna and radius form a flat surface for articulation with the humerus. Image property of Phil Witte, to whom we are grateful for permission to reproduce it here. At their upper ends, the radius and part of the ulna form a flattened surface that bears the load imposed by the condyles of the humerus. The condyles of the humerus are two fist-like projections on the lower end of the humerus that articulate with the radius and ulna bones at the elbow joint. They are formed of bone covered with joint cartilage. The condyle on the inside on the side of the humerus adjacent to the body is the medial condyle, the other is the lateral condyle. Figure 2. The anterior front view of the humerus, highlighting the location of the humeral condyles. Bones grow through growth of cartilage and, as the cartilage layer thickens, the lower, older layers become ossified — that is, they turn into bone. In osteochondrosis, trauma, nutritional disturbance or other factors disturbs this process of ossification so an area of thickening cartilage develops. As cartilage has no blood supply it cannot function well when it is thicker than normal. Thick cartilage degenerates and an area of diseased cartilage forms. This may crack, cavities may form within it, and it may fragment Guthrie et al .When cartilage fragments break free into the joint the condition is called osteochondrosis dessicans,and the function of the joint is compromised. In early stages, when only cartilage is affected, the disease is only detectable with direct observation by surgery usually arthroscopy. Only later, when bone is also diseased, will changes be detectable on radiography Remy et al , Baines .Figure 3. The deeper layers of articular cartilage red covering the surface of the humeral condyles have failed to turn to bone. The result is an abnormally thick layer of cartilage, which can then crack and fragment due to a lack of blood supply, causing discomfort and inhibiting the action of the joint. Dogs with HCO develop osteoarthritis degenerative joint disease of the elbow. In osteoarthritis there are progressive changes to the cartilage of the affected joint, varying amounts of inflammation and ongoing damage to other joint structures - the joint capsule, the synovial fluid of the joint and the surrounding bone. These changes are often present by months of age but can show later. Typical signs include: stiffness after rest, lameness which can be worse after exercise and pain when the leg is straightened or bent. Such signs are indistinguishable from other causes of elbow dysplasia and imaging of the joint eg by radiography is usually needed to make a definitive diagnosis Schwarz , Shell .Affected dogs may be treated with rest and pain-killers, and often treatment needs to be life-long. Removal of the diseased cartilage is often recommended. This can be performed using open joint surgery or with an arthroscope an endoscope designed for joints via key-hole incisions. Figures 4a and 4b. Osteoarthritic changes to the shape and structure of the elbow joint. The shaded areas on figure 4a extended elbow and 4b flexed elbow represent the changes to bone and cartilage as a result of HCO and other forms of elbow dysplasia. Images property of the British Veterinary Association Elbow Dysplasia Scheme, to whom we are grateful for permission to reproduce them here. Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact HCO causes pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis. This can vary from mild to severe. Welfare may also be affected as a result of the veterinary investigations from visits to veterinary practices, examinations, anaesthetics and surgery and treatments of the disease for example: the side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — examples of which include aspirin and ibuprofen - on the gastrointestinal tract. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact The mild to severe pain and disability that result from the osteoarthritis seen in this disease can be expected to start during the first few months of life and, without successful treatment, to continue for life. Treatment may help. Return to top 4. From data on estimates of total dog population in the UK and on the percentage of all micro-chip registered dogs that are German Shepherd dogs Lucy Asher, , personal communication , we estimate that the UK population size of this breed may be around , million. It may be, therefore, that there are about 50 - 85, dogs with this form of elbow dysplasia in the UK. Return to top 5. Determining the type of elbow dysplasia, its extent and the degree of secondary osteoarthritis requires further diagnostic investigations. Exploratory surgery is used to find fragments of bone, this is both diagnostic and can be therapeutic. It has been suggested that the best combination of diagnostic tests is CT plus arthroscopy Moores et al .Return to top 6. The heritability of the disease in GSDs has been found to be around 0. This is the proportions of the disease considered to be due to genetic rather than environmental influences. There may also be genetic factors affecting the degree of osteoarthritis that develops in an individual, independent of the genetics of the initial cause of the disease Clements et al .A genetic link between the presence of ED and hip dysplasia has been found but the genes involved have not been determined Cachon et al .Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? Affected dogs should not be used for breeding. Determining carriers - those which carry and may pass on the gene s but which do not show signs of the disease themselves - is not currently possible. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem A voluntary scheme for grading the elbows of dogs susceptible to elbow dysplasia all forms has been in operation in the UK since although it has been suggested that breeder uptake has been relatively low Sampson .It is recommended that animals are not bred before two years of age females and 18 months males. This is so that animals selected for breeding are old enough to have revealed signs of the disease. In this scheme, dogs are scored once when over one year old. Radiographs taken by a local veterinary surgeon are forwarded to veterinary radiologists on the scheme panel for assessment. Each elbow is graded , with zero meaning that no evidence of elbow dysplasia was seen. If the two elbows have different grades, then the higher of the two grades is the one used for the dog. The scheme recommends that dogs used for breeding should have grades of zero or one and that those with higher scores are not bred from. Like other complex, multi-gene diseases in which environmental factors also play a part, good progress in reducing the prevalence of HCO is likely to be aided by greater knowledge of the underlying genetics. Treating the different forms of ED as separate entities is also likely to be helpful Innes .One approach is to breed from dogs that have better a breeding value see below than average for the breed Sampson .This takes account of both the individual being evaluated and its relatives and compares its likely genetic health to the average for the breed Malm et al .This would also take other conditions with known genetic influences into account, and there are many of these in GSDs eg degenerative myelopathy and hip dysplasia. It has been found that ED is more likely to occur in animals with hip dysplasia and both conditions should be screened for and considered in breeding programmes Cachon et al .Out-breeding GSDs with dogs of breeds known to have a much lower prevalence of HCO and of elbow dysplasia ED in general may lead to fewer being born with a lifetime of painful joint problems before them. Return to top 9. References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Elbow dysplasia ED is a general term that encompasses five distinct anatomical problems that tend to result in malformation of the elbow joint, and that lead to early-onset osteoarthritis. Ununited anconeal process UAP is one of these problems, and is the main focus here, but some of the other four conditions outlined below are referred to in the descriptions below about how UAP may develop. These conditions are: Fragmented medial coronoid process FMCP : The medial coronoid process is a piece of bone that should form part of the top of the ulna and of the elbow joint. In FMCP this fails, during development, to connect to the ulna. Osteochondrosis dissecans OCD : In OCD an area of joint cartilage develops abnormally or becomes damaged leading to thickening, cracking and fragmentation of the cartilage. Elbow incongruity IC : Dogs with IC have malformed articular surfaces of the three bones that make up the elbow and because of this they do not fit together normally. It can affect the weight-bearing surfaces between the humerus and the radius and ulna and also the way in which the upper part of the ulna fits inside the lower end of the humerus Schwarz .Ununited medial epicondyle UME : This is an uncommon condition in which the medial epicondyle, a part of the humerus, fails to unite with the humerus during development. At their upper ends, the radius and part of the ulna form a flattened surface that bears the load imposed by the humerus. The anconeal process protruberance is normally part of the end of the ulna. Its main function is not weight bearing, rather it helps to stabilize the elbow joint, particularly when the leg is extended. The anconeal process articulates with the caudal towards the tail of the dog surface of the humerus the back of the elbow joint and when the leg is extended straightened it fits into a hole at the lower end of the humerus called the humeral fossa. Figure 1. The three bones of the elbow joint separated and in normal alignment. In a healthy canine elbow joint the ulna and radius form a flat surface for articulation with the humerus. Image property of Phil Witte, to whom we are grateful for permission to reproduce it here. Figure 2. A diagram of the upper end of the ulna illustrating the locations of the coronoid and anconeal processes. But in breeds with large body size it is normal for the anconeal process to start as a separate small bone at birth, which, during development, should fuse on to the ulna. This usually occurs by 20 weeks of age. In UAP this fails to happen. The cause of this is unclear but one possibility is that it is a consequence of the radius growing disproportionately longer than the ulna such that the elbow joint is malformed and the anconeal process experiences abnormal pressures that cause it to be pushed away from the ulna, thus preventing it from fusing uniting. UAP therefore only becomes apparent in dogs aged over 20 weeks Schwarz .Figure 3. In larger dog breeds, the anconeal process forms separately. It should fuse with the ulna during development. Dogs with UAP develop osteoarthritis degenerative joint disease of the elbow. In osteoarthritis there are progressive changes to the cartilage of the affected joint, varying amounts of inflammation and ongoing damage to other joint structures - the joint capsule, the synovial fluid of the joint and the surrounding bone. These changes are often present by months of age and lead to clinical signs later. Typical signs include: stiffness after rest, lameness which can be worse after exercise and reduced mobility of the joint, with the leg tending to be held twisted outwards abducted and suppinated. Such signs are indistinguishable from those shown in other forms of elbow dysplasia and imaging of the joint is usually needed to make a definitive diagnosis Schwarz .Figure 4a Figure 4b Figures 4a and 4b. Osteoarthritic changes to the shape and structure of the elbow joint. The shaded areas on figure 4a extended elbow and 4b flexed elbow represent the changes to bone and cartilage as a result of UAP and other forms of elbow dysplasia. We are grateful to the BVA for permission to reproduce them here. This male bias may be associated with the greater weight of males Hazelwinkel .Affected dogs may be treated with rest and pain-killers, and often treatment needs to be lifelong. Various surgical procedures have been recommended but there is no clear consensus as to which is best. Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact UAP causes pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis. This can vary from mild to severe. Welfare may also be affected as a result of the veterinary investigations and treatments of the disease. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact The mild to severe pain and disability that result from the osteoarthritis seen in this disease can be expected to start during the first few months of life and, without successful treatment, to continue for life. Treatment may help but keeping affected dogs free from pain and avoiding disabilities is often challenging. Return to top 4. However, they suggested that this population of dogs may have already been prescreened to exclude dogs likely to be affected by UAP. From data on estimates of total dog population in the UK and on the percentage of all micro-chip registered dogs that are GSDs Lucy Asher , personal communication , we estimate that the UK population size of this breed may be around , Return to top 5. Diagnosis UAP can only be diagnosed in dogs older than about five months as it is normal for those breeds in which UAP occurs to have an ununited anconeal process prior to this Schwarz .Elbow disease and pain may be apparent. In cases of UAP it is more difficult to detect other concurrent forms of elbow disease Meyer-Lindenberg et al .Return to top 6. Genetics UAP is generally a disease of large dogs, as it is only in these that the anconeal process develops separately from the ulna. It is known that the father and mother contribute equally to the likelihood of the development of elbow dysplasia Maki et al .There are genetic influences both on the presence or absence of UAP and on whether, and to what degree, osteoarthritis occurs in an individual with UAP Clements et al .Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? Affected dogs should not be used for breeding. Determining carriers - those which carry and may pass on the gene s but which do not show signs of the disease themselves - is not currently possible. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem A voluntary scheme to grade the elbows of dogs susceptible to elbow dysplasia all forms has been in operation in the UK since although it has been suggested that breeder uptake has been relatively low Sampson .In this scheme, the elbows are scored once when the dog is over one year old. Radiographs taken by a local veterinary surgeon are forwarded to veterinary radiologists on the scheme panel for assessment. Each elbow is graded , with zero meaning that no evidence of elbow dysplasia was seen. If the two elbows have different grades, the higher of the grades is the one used to characterise the dog. The scheme recommends that dogs used for breeding should have grades of zero or one and that those with higher scores should not be used for breeding. No evidence has yet been published as to whether this scheme has been effective in reducing the prevalence of elbow dysplasia in the GSD. A comparable scheme run in New Zealand since seems to have significantly reduced the severity of ED in GSDs being screened for the disease prior to breeding Worth et al and one run in Sweden since , appears to have reduced the prevalence of elbow dysplasia in Swedish Bernese Mountain dogs and Rottweilers Swenson et al , Malm et al .In common with other complex, multi-gene diseases that are influenced also by environmental factors, efforts to reduce the prevalence of UAP are complicated by the lack of information about the underlying genetics. One approach is to breed from dogs that have a better estimated breeding values EBV than average for the breed for this condition Sampson .The EBV is a numerical prediction of the relative genetic value of a particular dog in relation to one or more genetic problems and to degree of inbreeding. EBVs are calculated using all available information on the dog including pedigree, health status and physical characteristics. For this type of health programme to work many breeders and owners need to submit their animals for monitoring and analysis. EBVs are also useful because they enable selection against several hereditary diseases simultaneously and this is relevant in the case of the GSD which is predisposed to a number of hereditary disorders eg hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, anal furunculosis. Out-breeding GSDs with breeds known to have much lower prevalences of UAP and elbow dysplasia ED is likely to result in fewer dogs being born with a lifetime of painful joint problems before them. Return to top 9.

Panda German Shepherds are simply uniquely colored offspring in a Shepherd line. These shepherds show unique markings of symmetrical black and white coloring, mostly around the face, often resembling markings of a panda bear. This coloring amongst other animals is known as Piebald. Out of that discovery, it was shown that future GSD breeding prospects could be tested in order to tell if they had a chance of producing panda offspring. This means that they have the same health record as their lineage. The overall health is dependent on the breeder in which the Panda came from, as is with all purebred dogs. Panda German Shepherds health depends on their lineage. A responsible breeder who genuinely cares about the outcome and health of their dogs will not breed dogs that are predisposed to health issues. However, there are certain health issues that German Shepherds including Pandas can have due to their build. Such things as hip dysplasia can be bred out of a line but because it is so prominent, it can skip generations or even littermates. A common health issue among German Shepherds that cannot be bred out is bloat. This happens due to the size of the breed, and is found among other large and giant breed dogs with deep chests. As mentioned above, the only difference between the Panda and the German Shepherd is their coloring. Per dogbreedinfo. Strong rich colors are preferred. Pale, washed-out colors and blues or livers are serious fault. A white dog must be disqualified. Therefore, it is rare. And because of that rarity breeders who bank on the mutation often are not in it for the health of the dogs, unfortunately. Things to consider before getting a Panda German Shepard There are several things to consider if looking to adopt a Panda German Shepherd. The first, know what you are getting into! Have you ever had a German Shepherd before? While they are known to be loyal, confident, and make great guard dogs, they require a lot of exercise, training, and socialization. The owner of a Panda German Shepherd should not just be worried about the looks of the dog, although that is the main reason most people are attracted to the Panda. When looking for a reputable Panda German Shepherd breeder it is essential that you do your research. Find a breeder that is in it for the good of the breed. A good breeder will do health testing on all of their breed stock. A GSD breeder will focus on common health issues and temperament of their dogs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals recommends German Shepherds be tested for both hip and elbow dysplasia. The German Shepherd Dog Club of America also states that conscientious breeders are to breed for temperament, confirmation, and trainability. In comparison to a black and tan German Shepherd, this is rather expensive. It is no doubt that this steep purchase price is due to supply and demand. Because the Panda is so rare, when born, they are often spoken for before their eyes even open. While the black and white markings of the Panda German Shepherd are undoubtedly beautiful, are they worth paying the extra price? German Shepherds are highly driven dogs that need specialized care and are not suitable for uneducated owners. The Panda should be reserved for those that have a love for the breed itself and want to own a beautiful dog that they know how to properly care for. Once an ethical breeder is found, the prospective owner should be sure the Panda is healthy, has a good temperament, and is trainable. It is only then that a Panda should be owned, trained, loved, and cared for, by a responsible owner. As always patterns are just the icing on the GSD cake!! Blue long coat with Panda type 1 pattern Another example of 2 patterns at once, this one has color and 2 patterns. Panda German Shepherd Information I had never heard the term Panda German Shepherd much less know of their existence until my best friend Dawn got one. Her name was Franka. It is a dominant gene which means it only takes one parent to reproduce the pattern. The pattern is secondary to the color and the original pattern of the Dog. Puddin was born here and lived with another breeder for a couple of years and is now back home. He is a big sweet always wants to be right with me Chocolate Teddy bear. He is a 7th generation GSD with the Panda pattern. Currently being bred to a few select girls. His photo is below sitting facing the camera. I have onwed several Panda Patterned GSD over the years and find that many like the white markings as it helps the breed to have a sweeter expression so to speak. Some people are afraid of GSD visually, however with the white pattern on them their appear less intimidating. Some that do therapy work prefer the softer look that the white pattern provides. Others cant have a GSD as per insurance reasons but can have mixes, by the GSD having the white pattern insurance companies can be told they are a 'mix'. Even though we know they are not. After all we know that a good GSD will deter and even prevent breaking and entering more times than being an actual Shame on insurance companies for preventing families that want to keep their things and family safe. The Panda gene does not change any internal workings of the GSD, it is merly a white pattern over the color that would normally be there if this gene were not present. Any health issues that crop up are or would be due to anything other than the Panda gene itself. Panda's can have one blue eye, partial China eyes, 2 blue eyes or traditional colored eyes that accompany the actual coat color of the GSD. UCDavis currently has a test on the market that is available to the public now to see if what you have had born in your litter is affected by the Panda gene or the white spotting gene. My recommendation is to test for the recessive white spotting gene and the Panda gene, so that you will know which gene caused the white spotting on your dog. So when you sell your puppy you advertise it for what it is and not as something it is not Panda. Remember all Panda's are related as they stem from one dog named Franka. The test a simple cheek swab. Scroll through the albums and if you do not find what you are looking for please send me a message. Keep in mind you do not have to have a facebook page to see this page. The Panda German Shepherd dog is basically the German Shepherd you know and love, except for interesting colour combinations, which are not common in this breed. It has black and white markings, especially around its eyes, similar to the panda of the same name. Contrary to the meaning of the word panda, not all panda German Shepherds puppies are black and white. Many of them can exercise a third colour, usually tan, distributed throughout the body. German Shepherd Panda dog Panda german shepherd size The german shepherd panda has a muscular, elongated body and solid bone structure. They have a rounded forehead and a black nose. They have almond-shaped eyes. Their ears are wide at the base, upright and pointed. They possess an average weight of 77 to 85 pounds. Their males have a height of 24 to 26 inches and females have a height of 22 to 24 inches. Panda German Shepherds, like their standard colour counterparts, originated in Germany, where they kept sheep until the late 19th century. With their industrious and intelligent nature, the panda german shepherd puppies have become one of the preferred dog breeds for the disabled, as well as for police and military assistance. What makes the panda German Shepherd dog distinct is that it carries a mutation of the KIT gene, which leads to its unusual markings. Otherwise, it is the same as regular-coloured German Shepherds, and its colouring has no bearing on its pedigree. Studies showed that the dog was purebred but had the mutated KIT gene, which is said to be dominant. It is a spontaneous mutation, and its ancestors did not have Bai Demu. There are some other dog breeds that look like Panda like the chow chow panda dog which is not a purebred breed. Panda dog Are Panda Shepherds Rare? It is pretty hard to give birth to this breed with the breeding of two shepherds. They have a single GSD bloodline, and thus it is not a designer breed. The color of the coat of a dog depends on the genes and the code of the doggie. Piebald refer to the white markings on a panda GSD. In a Panda German shepherd, the piebald gene determines the proportion of white marking in a panda german shepherd puppies. That means a copy of the piebald gene is crucial in a dog with a white color in its coat, and that too only a single copy of that as two copies will increase the white markings on a Panda German Shepherds drastically. This piebald gene is quite rare to find in the dog, and so it is hard to find a dog breed with a coat resembling that of a Panda. It is a spontaneous mutation and has no white German Shepherds in it is ancestry. The rest of the puppies in the litter were standard looking black and tan German Shepherd pups. In order to protect the image of her breeding program, the founding breeder Ms Cindy took the piebald puppy to Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital for genetic DNA testing to find out the exact cause of the anomaly. This was a purebred GSD that was born with piebald coloring. The same sire and dam that produced the piebald puppy were bred three more times and all the pups were born with the traditional black and tan coloring. A lot of canine genetic coat color testing was done on the piebald puppy who was named Frankie. When Frankie matured she was bred to a traditional colored black and tan GSD. Panda is a dominant gene. In its homozygous state, the mutation is considered embryonic lethal as no live dog has been observed with it german shepherd panda dog German Shepherd Panda Description The Panda Shepherd is a brindle-coloured German Shepherd. It is well proportioned and very strong. The mottling color appears in a single GSD lineage. Its ancestors did not have a white German shepherd. The panda shepherd has a strong, muscular, slightly slender body, with a light and firm bone structure. The head should be in proportion to the body and the forehead should be slightly rounded. The nose of the panda german shepherd dog is usually black, but sometimes blue or liver color may appear, but it is considered a defect and cannot be displayed. The teeth bite in a strong scissors bite. The dark eyes are almond-shaped and never protruding. The ears are wide at the base, pointed, upright and turned forward. The ears of puppies under six months may drop slightly. The bushy tail reaches almost to its hocks and hangs down when the dog is at rest. The front legs and shoulders are muscular and the thighs are thick and sturdy. The round feet have very hard soles. Temperament Often used as working dogs, Panda Shepherds are courageous, keen, alert and fearless. Cheerful, obedient eager to learn, tranquil, confident, serious and clever, Panda Shepherds are extremely faithful and brave. They will not think twice about giving their lives for their human pack. They have a high learning ability. Panda Shepherds love to be close to their families but can be wary of strangers. This Panda Dog needs his people and should not be left isolated for long periods of time. They only bark when they feel it is necessary. Often used as police dogs, the Panda Shepherd has a very strong protective instinct and is extremely loyal to its handler. Socialize this breed well starting at puppyhood. Aggression and attacks on people are due to poor handling and training. The panda shepherd puppy needs owners who are naturally authoritative over the dog in a calm, but firm, confident and consistent way. A stable, well-adjusted and trained dog is, for the most part, generally good with other pets and excellent with children in the family. They must be firmly trained in obedience from an early age. Panda Shepherds who have passive owners and or whose instincts are not being met can become timid, skittish, may be prone to fear biting and develop a guarding issue. The panda shepherd puppy should be trained and socialized from an early age. Panda Shepherds will not listen if they sense that they are stronger minded than their owner, however, they will also not respond well to harsh discipline. Owners need to have an air of natural authority to their demeanour. Do not treat this dog as if he were human. Learn canine instincts and treat the dog accordingly. Panda Shepherds are one of the smartest and most trainable breeds. With this highly skilled working dog comes a drive to have a job and a task in life and a consistent pack leader to show them guidance. Panda Shepherd puppies need somewhere to channel their mental and physical energy. This is not a breed that will be happy simply laying around your living room or locked out in the backyard. The panda colored german shepherd is so intelligent and learns so readily that it has been used as a sheepdog, guard dog, in police work, as a guide for the blind, in search and rescue service and in the military. The Panda Shepherd also excels in many other dog activities including Schutzhund, tracking, obedience, agility, Flyball and ring sport. His fine nose can sniff out drugs and intruders and can alert handlers to the presence of underground mines in time to avoid detonation or gas leaks in pipes buried 15 feet underground. The Panda Shepherd is also a popular show and family companion. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. Most shepherds love to play ball or Frisbee. Ten to fifteen minutes of fetching along with daily pack walks will tire your dog out quite nicely as well as give him a sense of purpose. Does best with a job to do. Are German shepherds good with kids? Although the german shepherd panda has a reputation for being tough dogs and smart dogs, German Shepherds particularly females are generally sweet-natured and good with children. Males might be a little less forgiving of rough play and unless raised with children and well trained, they should be supervised. The most important characteristics of the German shepherd panda German Pandas are amazing dogs. They have the same desirable personality traits as other GSDs, including intelligence, loyalty, and confidence. These dogs are an excellent addition to any home, as long as their owners can provide them with adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and care. Intelligence German pandas are very smart. They are often used as guard dogs, police dogs, guide dogs, and especially for people with special needs because of their high intelligence. Panda dogs also have very strong noses capable of sniffing intruders, drugs, bombs and other types of contraband, so the uses of this breed vary in the field of security. Since they are so intelligent, they need frequent mental stimulation to avoid getting bored. When they are not provided with sufficient stimulation, they are more likely to act haphazardly and difficult to control. They are known to give up their lives for their owners because of their deep-rooted loyalty. Where these dogs can change the life of the family and become a member of it. Well-trained panda german shepherd puppies must be able to distinguish between threats and non-threatening, which means that they only act aggressively when their owners are in trouble. The panda german shepherd dog needs early training to help them distinguish between threatening and non-threatening situations. If they do not receive this training, they may act aggressively when an unfamiliar person or pet approaches their owners. Trust German pandas are generally very confident. They are alert, alert, and attentive to their surroundings. They enjoy trying new things and taking on challenges. German Panda Shepherds need reliable, confident leaders. If their owners are passive, they can become very shy. According to the Panda Shepherd Dog Standard, this breed is considered a faulty character if they are shy. German pandas who hide behind their owners or brood are considered defective. Shyness is also a problem because shy German pandas are more likely to act aggressively toward humans and other animals out of fear. Grooming is an everyday need for almost all dog breeds. Whether they have smaller hairs or long hairs , everyone needs regular grooming. Similar to the German shepherd dogs, these shepherd dogs breed requires proper grooming and care. Because they have large hairs that shed a lot, especially in the spring season, it is crucial to brush their hair daily. Apart from this, their white coat is more prone to dust and dirt, thus bath them on a regular interval to keep their unique coat shining all the time. Also, dry their coats with a hairdryer after washing, as it will take a lot of time for its fur to dry naturally. What is the Best Exercies for panda German shepherd? Panda German Shepherd puppies love strenuous activity, preferably combined with some sort of training such as running, chasing or making moves, because these dogs are very intelligent, strong and crave a good challenge. Where dog experts believe that Panda Shepherd Dogs should be taken on daily walks over long distances such as jogging or jogging alongside you when riding a bike. Or during a walk, the panda german shepherd puppy should be made to walk next to or behind the person, as, in the mind of the dog, the leader The way, this leader must be human. Most dog shepherds love to play ball or frisbee. Ten to fifteen minutes of fetching combined with daily walks will tire your dog out pretty well, and also give him a sense of purpose. It works best with work to do. How to Train Panda German Shepherds? Panda German Shepherds will do anything to please their owners. As long as they are given adequate and consistent training, this makes these dogs tend to behave well. German pandas learn best from positive reinforcement training techniques in which owners reward them with praise or small rewards whenever they behave appropriately. For example, if your Panda German Shepherd puppies are not listening or behaving in an inappropriate manner, the appropriate behaviour on the part of the owner is to ignore the dog. Owners must then wait for the dog to perform the desired behaviour before rewarding them with attention, praise, or rewards. Doing so will help German pandas to quickly distinguish what their owners find acceptable and unacceptable. The panda GSD Owners need to be confident and consistent during training to get the best results. Confidence will teach German Shepherd Pandas that their owners are the leader of the herd, not the other way around! Consistency is also important when training this breed. These dogs need to experience consistent reactions from their owners to avoid confusion. For example, if the owner does not want the shepherd to jump on his friends, he should not let them jump on them either. German Panda Shepherds must receive socialization training, starting from a very young age. They should be social with a variety of people, animals, things, locations, and situations. This will make them behave better in the future. Panda german shepherd puppy obedience classes are also a great idea for panda GSD dogs. They work well with confidence and intent, which these classes are designed to deliver. Additionally, these classes will introduce them to humans and other dogs in a safe environment. For a detailed look at socializing with your German Shepherd, we have a great informative article for you linked below. It will take all the guesswork out and tell you exactly what you need to know! These panda dogs should also be fed puppy, young, adult or old food, depending on their age. If you are trying to cut costs, it is best to either avoid getting a panda german shepherd puppy or perhaps cut your budget in other areas. In comparison to a black and tan German Shepherd , this is rather expensive. It is no doubt that this steep purchase price is due to supply and demand. Because the panda german shepherd puppies are so rare, when born, they are often can be taken for before their eyes are even open. While the black and white markings of the Panda German Shepherd dogs are undoubtedly beautiful, are they worth paying the extra price? German Shepherds are highly driven dogs that need specialized care and are not suitable for uneducated owners. The Panda dog should be reserved for those that have a love for the breed itself and want to own a beautiful dog that they know how to properly care for. Once an ethical breeder is found, the prospective owner should be sure the Panda dog is healthy, has a good temperament, and is trainable. It is only then that a Panda should be owned, trained, loved, and cared for, by a responsible owner. How much is The Price of a Panda German shepherd? Since Panda German Shepherds are rare, they become one of the most expensive dogs in the world, they generally cost more than normal GSDs. Before purchasing a Panda German Shepherd, you should make sure that your breeder has the correct documentation, including DNA paperwork for the puppies and their parents. Panda shepherd price is so high for some people but in the end, you can really know how much this dog is worth. Are you looking for the panda German Shepherd breeders? Most do just fine on high-quality commercial food. Of course, some dogs may have specific health conditions that need to be managed through diet. If your dog has a chronic condition, ask your vet if they should be consuming a specific food. These are large dogs, so it is crucial to choose a puppy food specifically designed for larger breeds. Puppies growing into larger dogs often need less of certain nutrients to ensure that they grow correctly. For instance, large dogs need less calcium than smaller puppies. If they consume too much, they may be at greater risk for hip dysplasia and similar conditions. Besides their nutritional needs as puppies, German Shepherds do not need any specific nutrition. Often, this is simply a marketing ploy. Most breed-specific recipes have very few differences from regular dog food. They have high exercise needs and are only recommended for active families. Panda German Shepherds have the exact needs as any other German Shepherd, as their genetic mutation only affects their coloration. You should plan on exercising your German Shepherd for at least two hours a day. This exercise can involve walks, playtime, active training, and a variety of other activities. Often, we recommend combining mental stimulation with physical exercise. Consider things like agility training or even just training while you walk. You should spread the exercise out throughout the day. A lack of exercise can cause all sorts of problems. Destructive behavior is often the result of too little exercise. Your canine may become bored and decide your couch leg looks very tasty. In many cases, these dogs were specifically bred to train efficiently and quickly. Unlike some other breeds, they will often respond to commands in real-life situations with ease. Their need to please often overrides everything else. However, these dogs do need training. If they are not trained, it is easy for them to get bored. This boredom can cause destructive behavior. Due to their high intelligence, they must be mentally stimulated throughout the day. Training is the easiest way to do this, though you can also make use of puzzle toys. Furthermore, these dogs are highly protective of their owners. They can become aggressive if they are not socialized as puppies. Puppy classes are highly recommended, as they can provide socialization alongside the training your puppy needs. As with many dogs, proper training is key to having a well-behaved German Shepherd. They also shed quite a bit, so their grooming needs can be pretty high. However, you will need to stay on top of their coat care. Otherwise, you may need to pay a professional to help you catch up. You should brush your German Shepherd a few times a week. This is necessary for their overall well-being. Otherwise, dead hair, dirt, and debris can quickly build up in their coat. Bathing can also cause skin sensitivities and itchiness. Dogs were not meant to be bathed very often. Most German Shepherds do not mat. However, some with long hair might develop a few tangles. This predisposition makes brushing them even more critical. Some lines are healthier than others. Dogs bred as working animals tend to be the healthiest, as they were made with a practical purpose in mind. Luckily, many health tests can be performed on German Shepherds before they are bred. These health tests ensure that only the healthiest dogs are bred together. Be sure to ask the breeder you are purchasing from for this health testing information. German Shepherds are prone to quite a few health conditions. Hip dysplasia is prevalent, especially amongst dogs with sloped backs. Hip and elbow dysplasia can cause arthritis-like symptoms when the dog is relatively young. Degenerative myelopathy is quite common in these dogs as well. It occurs with a high enough frequency that this breed is likely predispositioned to it. A test is available, so a breeder that does appropriate health testing will likely be able to prevent it from popping up in their puppies. You can also purchase the test for your puppy yourself and request that it be done before you finalize the adoption. This step is often unnecessary if the breeder provides health testing for both of the parents, though. German Shepherds also have a higher-than-average occurrence of Von Willebrand diseases. This condition is an inherited bleeding disorder. Treatment is possible, but there is no cure. Most of the time, the dog will be on life-long medications and supplements. Minor Conditions. It does not differ much in its temperaments and qualities from its black-and-tan counterparts. The only distinctive difference is the unusual color of the coat with black-and-white symmetrical markings on the body and especially around its eyes. These markings remind people of panda coloring. A Panda GSD is a perfect match for experienced dog lovers, but it needs a lot of training. So, it may not be the best choice for first-time dog owners. Because these dogs are quite rare, the Panda German Shepherd price is a bit higher than that of a common German Shepherd. Be sure that you buy your pet from a reputable breeder who can provide you with all the required documentation, including DNA testing for a puppy and its parents. It involves immunization, neutering or spaying , feeding, accessories, and training. We have compiled the main appearance and behavioral characteristics, exercising, feeding, health care needs, and training tips for this amazing dog. We hope that you will learn a lot of helpful things from this article. Beowulf was the father of about puppies. However, the first panda-colored German Shepherd was bred unintentionally in the United States in .Cindy Whitaker received it from a black-and-tan father and solid black mother who were AKC-registered. Though there were doubts about whether the panda dog was purebred, the DNA testing held by the AKC proved that it was. The breeders noticed that the coloring is similar to the piebald one in other breeds. In , UC Davis discovered the reason for this mutation. The gene can also influence the pigmentation cells called melanocytes. White spotting is caused by their lack in certain areas of the coat. Nevertheless, this mutation is dominant in GSDs. The white color is shown minimally on the tail, but forms a white ring on the muzzle, and is spread across the chest. It can also be a collar around the neck. The Panda gene can also produce lethality in its two copies that kill the embryo. Some Panda Shepherds can have black-and-tan, solid black, blue, or liver as base colors. You can also encounter such mutations in liver and tans, blue and tans, and silver and tans. Appearance and Characteristic Features Typical Panda German Shepherd dogs look the same as their other counterparts, with possible differences in body shape. They are characterized by a large head with a slight dome-shaped forehead, big upright ears, and a strong muscular body and thick legs. White fur is usually displayed on the muzzle, chest, belly, collar area, and the end of a tail on the basic black-and-tan coloring. The other characteristic features include strong bodies that are longer than their height, heads that are proportional to bodies, almond-shaped eyes, and strong nails on muscular and heavy feet. Males are usually inches cm tall, while females are a bit smaller — with a height of inches cm. Males weigh pounds kg and females weigh pounds kg. The life span of these Shepherds is years if they are properly fed and exercised. A Panda Shepherd female usually has puppies in a litter. Some of them can be fully white, and others may even be of a common GS color. Though, there may be long-haired Panda German Shepherd dogs. These pups are double-coated with the upper coat that is much thicker and the underneath layer which is very soft. Just brush it once in several days and more frequently during their heavy shedding periods in spring and autumn. You need to be very confident too while training them because they need a leading influence, or they will start displaying disobedience. Their characteristics are perfect for performing services in police, military, agility, tracking, guarding, herding, guiding, and Schutzhund. They can also become great family pets who are good to kids if socialized early and supervised properly. These are high-energy dogs that need a lot of about two hours daily exercising. They also need continuous training and ongoing mental stimulation. Initially, a Panda German Shepherd puppy can display aggression toward other dogs and smaller animals as well as toward strangers if not properly socialized. Panda Shepherds prefer to spend time with their owners and family. They suffer when left alone, so it may lead to some behavioral problems in the future. When trained, the recommendations are to perform tracking, herding, agility, and dock diving with them to keep the animals physically fit and mentally energized. Panda Shepherds are very smart and intelligent. They also have strong noses to sniff contraband, drugs, weapons, and dangerous intruders. They can bored quickly, so mental stimulation is a perfect method to avoid that. If not stimulated, they may become either timid or destructive. These pups are very loyal to their owners and will fiercely protect them from intruders. If they are properly trained, they can distinguish between threatening and non-threatening intrusions, so they will perform aggression only if their owner is in trouble. Panda dogs are pretty confident. They are always alert about their surroundings. Such a pup enjoys discovering new things and learning new experiences. The unique characteristic feature of these animals is that they can become very shy if their owner is not a confident leader. Such dogs are considered faulty according to canine standards. Their shyness can be a problem because, when frightened, they can display immense aggression toward other humans and animals. Exercising and Training The first question to ask yourself if you choose to acquire a Panda German Shepherd is whether you can deal with it. Remember that your potential pet is very energetic and curious. You will need to exercise and train it a lot, always challenging it with new tasks. When left on your own, this dog will get bored, frustrated, and even depressed. That can lead to heavy misbehavior or aggression in the future. These German Shepherds hate staying alone at home. They cannot be too active inside, so think about whether you have time to walk and play with your doggy. Or, if you are planning to leave it for a long time, get prepared to see your home topsy-turvy. Playing and exercising outside is a must for this Shepherd. You should run, jog, swim, and ride a bike with it for at least two hours per day. Or you can play fetch, frisbee, or joint games with other dogs. The only thing is that you need to monitor your dog and rule it properly when it is playing with other animals to ensure that it behaves properly. You need a backyard or a nearby park for walks. However, if you are a first-time dog owner , you may not be confident about how to exercise and train your dog. That is why, if you insist on this breed, try to find puppy training classes. They will teach your pup the basic commands and socialization with other animals and people in a safe environment. It can forget everything it was taught in the classes or not be able to transfer these skills to your home environment. Panda GSDs are pretty intelligent, and they will do their best to please their owner. Reinforce your pet positively while training and give it rewards in the form of praise and treats. Your doggy will learn quickly what is acceptable and what is unacceptable for you. So, you will receive a properly behaving Shepherd soon if you are persistent enough. Consistency is one more thing you need to practice in your relationships with your pet. Your reactions to its misbehavior should be the same all the time. For example, if your puppy is taught not to jump at people, tell your friends that they should not allow it to jump at them either, or your doggy can be confused with such different reactions. If your little Shepherd misbehaves, your best reaction should be to ignore it. Socialization training is important for a Panda German Shepherd puppy from a very early age. It should be socialized with different people, other animals, little kids, strange objects, and changing locations. You may also take obedience classes with your puppy. They will teach it to be confident and structured in its behavior. Feeding Feed your panda-colored German Shepherd with high-quality dog food. It should include a lot of protein, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins for better growth and more energy. Be very attentive when you choose the food. It can differ as specialized food for puppies, juniors, adults, and seniors. If you feel that your budget is rather restricted, it is better not to get a German Shepherd because, if you choose low-quality food, your pet will suffer from numerous diseases soon, and you will have to spend a lot on veterinarian bills. How much should you feed your doggy? Adults Panda German Shepherds consume from 3. It is better to feed your dog twice per day, with continuous access to fresh water. Though, you should weigh your pet to check it in accordance with the weight chart. You may see that it is either overweight or underweight. In this case, talk to your vet. Remember that how much your GSD eats depends on its age, size, and activity level. Health Concerns Like all other more traditional German Shepherds, this variety of dogs can suffer from certain diseases, including hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, bloat, keratitis, and sometimes, epilepsy. Degenerative myelopathy is a genetic disease that affects the spinal cord. It can lead to weakness in the hind legs and even paralysis. The first signs of this disease can display when the dog is 4 years old. However, when it is well-cared, you can observe them much later, at the age of years old, or they will not show up at all. Hip dysplasia results from poor growth of the ball and socket joints in the hips. Joints become loose, and the dog gets osteoarthritis which leads to lameness. This disease is, unfortunately, common in most large breeds with a weight of more than kg. Apart from German Shepherds, it can also affect Golden Retrievers. It is also an inherited condition, however, you can minimize it with proper nutrition and exercise. Bloat is a life-threatening condition characteristic of most big dog breeds with a wide chest. The stomach twists and the blood cannot get to all the organs. The condition can be lethal, so it is strongly recommended to feed your pet in smaller portions twice a day to slow down the pace of eating and improve digestion. Keratitis is an inflammation of the eye cornea. You will need special drops and ointments to treat it. If properly treated, it goes away in a week. Though, if ignored, keratitis can influence deeper layers of the eye and lead to blindness. Epilepsy is a heavy brain disorder that results in severe seizures. It is not so common in Panda Shepherds. In general, it can affect only 0. The disease is also genetic, or there may be some other stressful causes that provoke it. This condition whose roots are unknown is called idiopathic epilepsy. It is the most common disease in German Shepherds. You will need anti-epileptic drugs, such as potassium bromide or phenobarbital to treat the symptoms of this disease. These dogs are purebred. The unusual color is a result of the gene mutation but not of mixing breeds. Moreover, it cannot be considered a designer breed, either. These dogs have exactly the same characteristics as their counterparts of another, more traditional, color. They are also prone to the same health issues. However, you should be cautious while buying a Panda German Shepherd puppy and demand specific documentation about the little one and its parents from a reputable breeder. Are Panda German Shepherds rare? It seems that such panda-colored German Shepherds are rather rare. This is the rarest color of the coat in Shepherds. In fact, the fur is tricolor, but the large area of it is white. It is striking and looks very beautiful. The color is connected to the piebald gene, common in other dog breeds. How big do Panda German Shepherds get? German Shepherds, including panda-colored ones, belong to big dog breeds. Males grow as tall as inches cm and females are inches cm tall. The weight of males ranges between 75 and 95 pounds kg , and females weigh pounds kg. It is intelligent, loyal, and confident. It can become a stunning companion and reliable family member. That is why these dogs are often used in the military and by police, or as caring guides for the blind. However, getting such a doggy is not recommended to first-time owners and people who are not confident in their dog training skills. These pets need a lot of your time and energy, and you cannot leave them alone for a lengthy time. Your pet will need at least two hours of exercise every day, so be sure that you will have enough time for it. If properly trained and cared for, a Panda GSD makes a great choice for every dog lover. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. It is well proportioned and very strong. The piebald coloring has occurred in a single GSD bloodline. The Panda Shepherd has a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body with a light, solid bone structure. The head should be in proportion to its body, and the forehead a little rounded. The nose is most often black, however blue or liver still do sometimes occur, but are considered a fault and cannot be shown. The teeth meet in a strong scissors bite. The dark eyes are almond shaped and never protruding. The ears are wide at the base, pointed, upright and turned forward. The ears of puppies under six months may drop slightly. The bushy tail reaches almost to its hocks and hangs down when the dog is at rest. The front legs and shoulders are muscular and the thighs are thick and sturdy. The round feet have very hard soles. Temperament Often used as working dogs, Panda Shepherds are courageous, keen, alert and fearless. Cheerful, obedient eager to learn, tranquil, confident, serious and clever, Panda Shepherds are extremely faithful and brave. They will not think twice about giving their lives for their human pack. They have a high learning ability. Panda Shepherds love to be close to their families, but can be wary of strangers. This breed needs his people and should not be left isolated for long periods of time. They only bark when they feel it is necessary. Often used as police dogs, the Panda Shepherd has a very strong protective instinct, and is extremely loyal to its handler. Socialize this breed well starting at puppyhood. Aggression and attacks on people are due to poor handling and training. This breed needs owners who are naturally authoritative over the dog in a calm, but firm, confident and consistent way. A stable, well-adjusted and trained dog is, for the most part, generally good with other pets and excellent with children in the family. They must be firmly trained in obedience from an early age. Panda Shepherds who have passive owners and or whose instincts are not being met can become timid, skittish, may be prone to fear biting and develop a guarding issue. They should be trained and socialized from an early age. Panda Shepherds will not listen if they sense that they are stronger minded than their owner, however they will also not respond well to harsh discipline. Owners need to have an air of natural authority to their demeanor. Do not treat this dog as if he were human. Learn canine instincts and treat the dog accordingly. Panda Shepherds are one of the smartest and most trainable breeds. With this highly skilled working dog comes a drive to have a job and a task in life and a consistent pack leader to show them guidance. They need somewhere to channel their mental and physical energy. This is not a breed that will be happy simply lying around your living room or locked out in the backyard. The breed is so intelligent and learns so readily that it has been used as a sheepdog, guard dog, in police work, as a guide for the blind, in search and rescue service and in the military. The Panda Shepherd also excels in many other dog activities including Schutzhund, tracking, obedience, agility, Flyball and ring sport. His fine nose can sniff out drugs and intruders , and can alert handlers to the presence of underground mines in time to avoid detonation, or gas leaks in a pipes buried 15 feet underground. The Panda Shepherd is also a popular show and family companion. Height, Weight Height: Males 24 - 26 inches 60 - 65 cm Females 22 - 24 inches 55 - 60 cm Weight: 77 - 85 pounds 35 - 40 kg Health Problems Indiscriminate breeding has led to hereditary diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia be sure both parents have had their hips certified at least OFA good , blood disorders, digestive problems probably due to nerves , epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis inflammation of the cornea , dwarfism and flea allergies. Living Conditions The Panda Shepherd will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. These dogs are relatively inactive indoors and do best with at least a large yard. Exercise Panda Shepherd Dogs love strenuous activity, preferably combined with training of some kind, for these dogs are very intelligent and crave a good challenge. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk , jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Most shepherds love to play ball or Frisbee. Ten to fifteen minutes of fetching along with daily pack walks will tire your dog out quite nicely as well as give him a sense of purpose. Does best with a job to do. Life Expectancy.

As such, they are recognized experts in facts and figures for many breeds of dogs. According to their data, most labrador litters contain between five and ten puppies, with the average being seven. In comparison to all dog breeds, Labradors are right in the middle. The average size of a litter of puppies, in general, is five or six dogs. The largest known litter of labradors ever recorded was 14 puppies , born to a black labrador in the United Kingdom in .Labradors are huge fans of babies as they age. Active families love a Lab! In short, probably not. Your vet can confirm pregnancy, give an estimate of how far along the pregnancy is, and give you an approximate due date. Humans and canines alike know the excitement of a first pregnancy. When it comes to labradors, this can also impact the size of the litter. Biological and evolutionary factors come into play and make first litters smaller. Expect one or two additional puppies from her first two. After the fourth pregnancy, the litter size tends to taper off. In addition to whether or not it is her first litter, the age of the mother labrador also affects the size of the litter. Generally speaking, the older the mother, the smaller the litter size. This fact is a little confusing, though, when you also consider that first litters are smaller. It means that a 3-year-old labrador will have larger litters than a 5- or 6-year-old labrador. So, if two female labradors have their third litter at ages four and six, the four-year-old labrador is likely to have the larger litter of the two. How Old is Dad? Believe it or not, the age of the father of the puppies can also impact the size of the litter. This is because of the viability of his sperm. When a female dog is in heat, her ovaries release several eggs that are ready for fertilization. However, if the male dog is older, his sperm tends to be less vigorous, meaning fewer will reach the eggs, and therefore fewer eggs will be fertilized, resulting in smaller litter size. A Labrador lounges on his dog bed Natural versus Artificial Insemination How did the mother dog become pregnant? Many labrador breeders and breeders for other types of dogs, as well prefer artificial insemination. It also takes the social interactions of the two dogs out of the equation. Some dog handlers and breeders hesitate to put their mama dogs in such a sensitive and potentially unpredictable situation. The bad news is that, while artificial insemination seems to be the more controlled and safe option, it usually yields fewer puppies. Of course, the breed of the dog is a significant factor in genetics. Does the Size of the Mom Matter? Not really. If you have a mom who is part labrador herself or is a purebred labrador but has puppies with another breed, some of these numbers and averages change. If your pregnant pooch is only part labrador, the size of her litter will also depend on what other breeds she contains. The general rule of thumb is that the larger the breed, the larger the litter. If your lab is a part German shepherd , expect a somewhat bigger litter. The breed of the father matters less, though. The breed of the father has more to do with the size of each individual puppy. Fun fact: the largest known litter of puppies ever recorded is a whopping .Unsurprisingly, the 15 male and nine female puppies were born to a Neopolitan Mastiff in , one of the most giant breeds around. Do Labs like water? Healthy dogs tend to produce larger litters. 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. Smaller breeds will usually have puppies in a litter, with a max of .Larger breeds will usually have 7 puppies in a litter, with a max of .A Norwegian study from revealed that the following factors have an influence on the amount of puppies a dog will have: Size of the breed. The bigger the breed, the more puppies in a litter. Age of the female. Younger and older dogs will have fewer puppies, that dogs in between these age groups. Method of breeding. Insemination will generally give fewer puppies than breeding done the old fashioned way. The most important factor when seeing the number of puppies was the size of the breed. The study was done on .Photo by Pixabay on Pexels. In the Norwegian study from , it was shown that a large dog breed such as Labradoodles will produce an average of 7. There have previously been claims of puppy litters with up to 20 puppies, but that has yet to be confirmed anywhere. More Info About The Amount Of Puppies The above-mentioned Norwegian study is the most comprehensive study done on litter sizes and mortality rates in puppies and is therefore the best source for any information on this subject. But there are other sources of information available, and we will try to summarize some of them below. Rule of thumb: There is an old rule of thumb that says that mammals, in general, will have half as many offspring as the number of teats the mom has. Other factors: Other factors mentioned include in-breeding, the age of the male dog, and diseases, and other health issues. Photo by Chevanon Photography on Pexels. A lot of us know that aunt in the family who claims to be able to tell the size of the litter just by looking at your pregnant dog from 30 feet away, but can you guess how many puppies your dog is having? People who work with dogs professionally such as vets, breeders, shelter owners, kennels, and so on, might be able to give a qualified guess. Mortality Rates In Puppies The same group of researchers who did the study above also made another study on the same .These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. Labradoodles can have varying litter sizes, typically 4 to 8 puppies. Miniature Labradoodles tend to have smaller litters of 3 to 5 puppies, while Standard Labradoodles have larger litters of 6 to 8 puppies. Multigenerational Labradoodles fall within the average range. Parent size, health, and care during pregnancy influence litter size. It is essential to have veterinary assistance during the birthing process. The joy of welcoming Labradoodle puppies lies in the surprise and uniqueness of each new arrival. Labradoodle Labradoodle Litter Size Variability Like any other dog breed, Labradoodles can exhibit variability in litter sizes. The number of puppies a Labradoodle will have is influenced by various factors contributing to the breeding process. Parent Size: The size of the parent dogs plays a significant role in determining the litter size of Labradoodles. Generally, larger dogs tend to have larger litters, while smaller dogs may have smaller litters. Suppose a Labradoodle is bred between a Standard Poodle and a Labrador Retriever, typically medium to large-sized breeds. In that case, the litter size may be larger than when a Miniature Poodle is bred with a Labrador Retriever. Health and Fertility: The overall health and fertility of the parent dogs can influence the litter size. Healthy dogs with no reproductive issues are more likely to produce larger litters. Breeding dogs screened for any genetic disorders or health conditions can help ensure healthier offspring and potentially impact the litter size positively. Genetics : The genetics of the parent dogs are crucial in determining the litter size of Labradoodles. While genetics can be complex, certain genetic traits related to litter size can be inherited. If both parent dogs come from a lineage with larger litter sizes, it increases the likelihood of having a larger litter. Individual Characteristics: Each Labradoodle has unique genetic makeup and personal characteristics. This individuality can contribute to variations in litter sizes even when bred from the same parents. It is common to have different litter sizes among different litters from the same pair of Labradoodles. Occasionally, Labradoodles may have smaller or larger litters that deviate from the average range. Nature has its way of surprising us with the joy and unpredictability of puppy births. When considering breeding Labradoodles or welcoming a litter into your home, it is essential to consult with experienced and responsible breeders. They can guide on selecting healthy parent dogs, ensuring proper care and nutrition during pregnancy, and offering professional assistance during whelping to safeguard the well-being of both the mother and the puppies. Labradoodle Labradoodle Average Litter Size On average, Labradoodles tend to have litters ranging from 4 to 8 puppies. Some Labradoodles may have smaller litters, while others might surprise you with larger ones! Miniature Labradoodles typically have a smaller litter, ranging from 3 to 5 puppies, due to the smaller size of the parents. Labradoodle Standard Labradoodles Litter Size Standard Labradoodles, which result from breeding a Standard Poodle with a Labrador Retriever, tend to have larger litters than their miniature counterparts. These litters usually consist of 6 to 8 puppies, though occasionally, there may be even more! The litter sizes of multigenerational Labradoodles can vary, but they typically fall within the average range of 4 to 8 puppies. Understanding these factors can shed light on how they impact the litter size. Dogs with good overall health, free from any reproductive disorders or genetic abnormalities, are likelier to produce larger litters. Regular veterinary check-ups, genetic screening, and appropriate breeding practices can help ensure the health and fertility of the parent dogs. Breeding Practices: Responsible breeding practices can also influence litter size. Experienced breeders carefully select compatible pairs based on their health, temperament, and genetic traits. Breeding dogs with a history of producing healthy litter can increase the chances of larger litter sizes. Conversely, breeding dogs with a history of smaller litters may result in consistently smaller litters. A well-balanced diet rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals helps support optimal fetal growth. Adequate nutrition can contribute to healthier and more robust puppies. Breeders and owners should work closely with veterinarians to ensure that the pregnant Labradoodle receives appropriate nutrition. Overall Care of the Mother: The care provided to the mother during pregnancy and whelping can also impact the litter size. A stress-free and comfortable environment, regular exercise, and sufficient rest are critical for the well-being of the pregnant Labradoodle. Adequate prenatal care, including regular veterinary check-ups, monitoring, and support during whelping, can promote a successful and healthy litter. Responsible breeders prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs and take the necessary steps to ensure a healthy and successful breeding program. They follow best practices, seek veterinary guidance, and provide appropriate care throughout the reproductive process. Labradoodle How to Care for a Pregnant Labradoodle Caring for a pregnant Labradoodle requires attention, diligence, and care to ensure the health and well-being of the mother and her growing puppies. Here are some essential tips to help you care for a pregnant Labradoodle: Veterinary Care: Schedule an appointment with a veterinarian experienced in reproductive health to confirm the pregnancy and establish a prenatal care plan. Proper Nutrition: Provide a well-balanced, high-quality diet for pregnant and nursing dogs. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate type of food and feeding schedule for your Labradoodle. Pregnant dogs have increased nutritional requirements, so ensure their diet includes essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Avoid overfeeding, as excessive weight gain can lead to complications during delivery. Exercise and Rest: Encourage moderate exercise to keep your pregnant Labradoodle fit and healthy. Regular walks and gentle activities help maintain muscle tone and prevent excessive weight gain. However, avoid strenuous exercise or actions that may put undue stress on the mother. Provide a comfortable and quiet space for resting, ensuring she gets enough rest and relaxation. Environmental Comfort: Create a quiet, comfortable, and secure space for your pregnant Labradoodle. Provide a cozy whelping box or nesting area where she can give birth and nurse her puppies. Ensure the area is warm, clean, and well-ventilated. Consider using soft bedding to provide comfort and insulation. Keep the environment free from hazards and potential stressors. Monitoring and Observation: Monitor your Labradoodle closely during pregnancy. Watch for any signs of distress, discomfort, or abnormal behavior. Keep an eye on her appetite, water intake, and weight gain. Note any changes in behavior, as these could indicate potential complications that require veterinary attention. Socialization and Mental Stimulation: Continue to provide socialization and mental stimulation for your pregnant Labradoodle. Engage in gentle play, interactive toys, and positive interactions with family members and pets. This helps maintain their well-being and reduces stress levels. Preparing for Whelping: Educate yourself about the whelping process and signs of labor. Prepare the whelping area with clean towels, blankets, and necessary supplies. Familiarize yourself with the signs of potential complications, such as prolonged labor or difficulties in birthing. Postnatal Care: After the birth of the puppies, continue to provide attentive care. Ensure the mother is nursing correctly and that the puppies are gaining weight. Monitor their health and consult with your veterinarian if any concerns arise. Each dog is unique, and circumstances may require additional care or adjustments. With proper care and attention, you can help ensure a healthy and successful pregnancy for your Labradoodle and the arrival of adorable, thriving puppies. Labradoodle Vet Assistance During Whelping Whelping, the process of giving birth to puppies, is crucial for the mother and her litter. Regular check-ups and professional assistance can help mitigate any potential complications. Labradoodle The Joy of Puppy Surprise One of the exciting aspects of welcoming Labradoodle puppies is the element of surprise! Each new arrival brings its unique personality and charm. Labradoodle Conclusion Labradoodles are charming and affectionate companions who bring wonder and surprise during their journey into this world. While the average litter size of Labradoodles ranges from 4 to 8 puppies, remember that individual litter can deviate from these numbers. The best way to embark on this heartwarming adventure is to seek guidance from reputable breeders who prioritize the health and well-being of both the parents and their precious offspring. Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Popular Posts. Factors that Affect Labradoodle Litter Size A black and brown Labradoodle up close Labradoodles, like all dogs, can have litters of varying sizes. The size of the litter depends on several factors, including: Ready to Adopt Puppyspot Poodle Adoption 5. They have placed over , puppies into homes in the US! The size of the mother The age of the mother The health of the mother The quality of the breeding The size of the mother is one of the most significant factors that affect litter size. Generally, larger dogs have larger litters. However, this is not always the case, as some smaller dogs can have larger litters than larger dogs. The age of the mother is another factor that can affect litter size. Younger dogs tend to have smaller litters, while older dogs may have larger litters but also have a higher risk of complications during pregnancy and birth. The health of the mother is also a crucial factor in determining litter size. If the mother is not in good health, she may have a smaller litter or may not conceive at all. It is essential to ensure that the mother is up to date on all vaccinations and is free of any underlying health conditions that could affect her ability to conceive or carry a litter to term. Finally, the quality of the breeding can also affect litter size. If the breeding is done correctly, with healthy, genetically diverse parents, the litter is more likely to be larger and healthier. However, if the breeding is done poorly, the litter may be smaller and may have a higher risk of health problems. The fur is usually clipped to 2 inches or less, making brushing and upkeep between trims a snap. A red Labradoodle coat. Labradoodles are a hybrid breed that results from the crossbreeding of a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. As with any other breed, the size of the litter depends on various factors such as the size, age, and health of the mother, as well as the quality of care she receives during pregnancy. On average, a Labradoodle can have a litter size of 6 puppies. However, it is not uncommon for the litter size to range from 4 to 8 puppies. Factors such as genetics, age, and size of the parents can also influence the litter size. It is important to note that the litter size of a Labradoodle can also be affected by the breeding method used. For instance, artificial insemination may result in smaller litter sizes compared to natural breeding. It is therefore essential to consult with a reputable breeder who uses ethical breeding practices to ensure healthy and happy puppies. When it comes to caring for a pregnant Labradoodle, it is important to provide her with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest. Regular veterinary check-ups are also crucial to ensure the health of the mother and her puppies. Overall, the average litter size of a Labradoodle is around 6 puppies, but this can vary depending on various factors. By providing proper care and attention during pregnancy, breeders and pet owners can ensure healthy and happy puppies. Breeding Considerations for Labradoodles When it comes to breeding Labradoodles, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. Another important consideration is the timing of breeding. Breeding too early can increase the risk of complications and health issues for both the mother and the puppies. When Breeding Can Start for Labradoodles When it comes to how many puppies a Labradoodle can potentially have, the answer will depend on when it first starts breeding. Before beginning a breeding program, one should consider the age of the potential parents. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, dogs should be at least two years old before being bred for the first time and this is especially true for Labradoodles, due to their health considerations. At two years of age, most Labradoodles have reached full physical and emotional maturity and can safely endure the stress of pregnancies and caring for puppies while they are still young themselves. Additionally, waiting until two years of age allows Labradoodles ample time to mature mentally and physically which leads to healthier offspring down the line. You should also be aware that pet insurance is often more expensive for a Labradoodle puppy that has not been neutered or desexed. Conclusion Labradoodles are a popular breed of dog, and many people are curious about how many puppies they can have. Based on the research, it appears that the average litter size for a Labradoodle is between five and six puppies. Breeders should always prioritize the health and well-being of both the mother and the puppies, and should never breed a dog simply for the sake of producing more puppies. Overall, Labradoodles are a wonderful breed of dog that can make great pets for families and individuals alike. Similar Posts. From their friendly, playful personalities to their intelligent, eager-to-please natures, there are plenty of advantages to owning labradoodles. What Are Labradoodle Puppies? Not only was this new breed low-shedding and hypoallergenic, but it was also incredibly friendly and intelligent. Their sociable, affectionate natures make labradoodle puppies great for new owners and experienced pet parents alike. Most labradoodles require around 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day, which can be easily fulfilled by walks or games. Intelligence: Thanks to their poodle parentage, labradoodle puppies are highly intelligent. Their natural curiosity and eagerness to please makes them fairly easy to train which is why labradoodles are common candidates for therapy dogs. Most mother dogs give birth to anywhere from one to 12 puppies at a time, with the average being just a few pups around five to six. It can be hard to single one puppy out — each one is adorable! Here are a few important factors you should look out for. Size Every new pet owner wants to go home with a healthy puppy. If a puppy is much smaller than its littermates, it may have a congenital or genetic issue that could affect its lifespan. On the flip side, if a puppy is the largest of the litter, it may be stealing food, which could mean it has trouble listening to commands. Personality The way a labradoodle puppy acts around its siblings and mother dog can be very indicative of its personality. When examining a litter, watch how the puppies interact with one another. A withdrawn, shy pup that keeps to itself may have aggression and biting issues in the future. An aggressive, independent pup that bullies other dogs may be reluctant to listen to commands. Meanwhile, a friendly, relaxed pup that gets along with its littermates will likely be easy to train. Playfulness The way a labradoodle puppy acts around its littermates can tell you a lot about its personality. But what about the way it acts around you? As you greet the puppies, observe how they behave. The puppies that rush forward and are interested in playing are more likely to be sociable and friendly. See if any puppies roll over on their backs — pets that exhibit this behavior tend to be more easygoing and trusting, which will come in handy while training. Gender For many prospective owners, the gender of their new puppy is probably inconsequential. However, if you already have a dog at home, gender may be an important factor to consider. According to many experts, male and female canines tend to get along better than two dogs of the same sex. Thus, if you have a female dog at home, you should consider getting a male pup and vice versa. Appearance Many prospective dog owners have a certain look in mind when searching for a new pet. For example, some people may want a puppy with a solid-colored coat, while others like multicolored pups. If you have any appearance preferences, look for a puppy that meets those expectations. Generally, you can expect labradoodle siblings to look pretty similar. However, there may be some slight differences — for example, one may have a traditional, golden curly coat, while another has a few spots of white. The only thing you can count on for sure is that all the labradoodles will share a distinguishable curly coat. Legs: Is your desired puppy walking and running normally? Any limping indicates a paw or leg injury. If this spot is larger than the size of a dime, the puppy may experience bone problems in the future. Stomach: Check to see if there are any protrusions or hernias around the belly area. Moreover, the puppy should not be scratching its eyes and ears excessively. Reputable breeders should answer your questions thoroughly and do everything they can to help you find your perfect match. Here are some good questions to ask. How Does the Puppy Behave in General? No puppy acts the same way throughout the entire day. The breeder will let you know if the puppy is a good match or if another puppy might be better for you. Before you take any puppies home, try to get some more specific information about them. For example, you could ask what activities a puppy enjoys. If you exercise frequently and want a labradoodle puppy that can keep up with your excursions, the breeder can direct you to an active puppy. On the flip side, if you prefer to stay in, the breeder can introduce you to a calmer, lower-energy puppy. For instance, if the breeder says a puppy likes spending time with people and learning new tricks, it suggests that the puppy will be more responsive to training. What Do the Parents Look Like? Generally, standard labradoodle puppies grow to be anywhere from 20 to 25 inches in height. You can get a better idea of what your new labradoodle puppy is going to look like by observing the parents. For example, if the parents seem too large, you might want to try another litter. In some cases, you may be able to meet the parents of your new labradoodle puppy in person. Are the Puppies Health-Tested? For example, ear discharge could indicate an infection, while a dull coat suggests skin allergies. Make sure the breeder health-tests all their labradoodles for common puppy diseases. Get a Labradoodle Today! There are probably plenty of healthy, friendly puppies within a litter that would fit well in your home. The best way to find the right puppy is by observing the litter, asking the right questions and working with a high-quality breeder. All our trained labradoodle puppies go through health and coat testing, as well as obedience training and housebreaking that meets therapy dog standards. Learn more by contacting us today! Progressive retinal atrophy Progressive retinal atrophy PRA is the malformation or deterioration of the retina over time. PRA can be inherited or late-onset and age-related, but both lead to complete blindness over a period of years. Pups with inherited PRA will begin showing signs of vision loss at months of age. Symptoms include: Loss of vision, starting with night blindness Anxiety about dark rooms or nighttime Dilated eyes that are very reflective of light Clumsiness No eye contact General anxiety and clinginess PRA can be diagnosed following a veterinary eye examination and ERG testing. Although there is no cure, it is not a painful or life-threatening condition, but it can be frightening. It creates a dazzling, light-colored, mottled effect in the coat that is very striking and beautiful to look at. This is dangerous because the lack of pigment doubles, which affects the eyes and ears and often results in vision loss, hearing loss, or both. Most Doodles are sweet-natured, so this is not usually a problem! How to breed Labradoodles When looking to breed Labradoodle pups, you first need to make sure that your parent dogs are healthy and of good temperament, as discussed above. Visible signs of pregnancy such as a swollen belly will develop at the week stage, and a veterinary ultrasound should be done to clarify the number of pups. The average litter size for Labradoodles is puppies. Birth can take hours. Signs of labor in dogs include restlessness, discomfort, contractions, and dilation. Breeders should have the number of the emergency vet on hand just in case, and be familiar with the signs of dystocia, or difficult birth. These include strong contractions for more than 30 minutes with no delivery, straining for more than 2 hours with no delivery, more than four hours between puppies, and blood with no delivery. Breeders should also have the necessary supplies for whelping, including a whelping box, medical scissors, blankets, and towels. Good breeding practices with Labradoodles When breeding Labradoodle puppies, breeders should adopt good breeding practices only. This means no inbreeding, or breeding of related dogs, and no breeding runts of litters. All parent dogs and their puppies should be treated with the highest quality of care, with safe, spacious housing, clean bedding, healthy food, and constant access to water to drink. They should also be sufficiently groomed, walked, socially and mentally stimulated, and receive all of the necessary medical care, such as vaccinations, check-ups, and preventative parasitic medications. Top tips when breeding Labradoodles When breeding your Doodles, be sure to take their genetic traits into consideration. For example; what size Labradoodle do you want? Which color? What is backcrossing? This means that the gene pool is kept large and healthy. How much is a Labradoodle puppy? The exact price tag will depend on a number of factors, including the breeder. In fact, smaller breeders tend to provide a much higher and personal level of care to their dogs than big-time breeders. Unfortunately, puppies are twice as likely to come from illegal breeders and inhumane puppy farms than legal breeders in the US. Pups bred from show dogs and working dogs will always be more expensive than those bred from regular pets, and rarer or more desirable coat colors such as pure-black Labradoodles , or the merle-patterned ones will be more expensive than more common colors or those considered less desirable such as the brown coat. Size can also play a part, as these days, Labradoodles come in all shapes and sizes , including the micro Doodle and the teacup Doodle, both of which are highly desirable and highly costly because of their trendiness and cuteness. When looking for a micro or teacup Doodle, extra care must be taken when selecting a breeder to ensure good breeding practices. This may be anywhere from fifty dollars to a few hundred dollars. The exact price will depend on the shelter you adopt from. Rescue centers that are well-known nationally may charge lower prices as they receive a good amount of publicity and donations. Whereas smaller, localized shelters may be more expensive. How to make sure your Doodle pup is healthy When you buy a Labradoodle pup from a breeder, always remember to ask for proper health documentation that proves they have been tested for the genetic conditions mentioned above and received all of their essential vaccinations. Make sure that the breeder was providing a high-quality food for Labradoodle parents and puppies , too! The adult dogs should look happy and healthy. They should be in good condition, have clean eyes and a shiny, well-groomed and clean coat. Some illegal breeders even forge health documentation, so you should always have new puppies checked over by a vet, just in case. With Doodles, your vet should pay particular attention to their joints and eyes. Unleash the real potential of your companion! 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We are experienced Labradoodle breeders with 6 years of working with Australian Labradoodles. Our puppies are non-shedding and hypoallergenic, making them not just a family pet but a perfect addition to any family. Quality - At Michigan Labradoodles, we have the best team! Our dogs , are members of our family—they are all descendants of experienced selective family- based Labradoodle breeders in the business. Our business is centered around our family, including our dogs—you can always expect an exceptional experience with our family based company. We are a recognized ALAA breeder, our goal is to breed our wonderful Australian Labradoodles to provide you with an excellent addition to your family. Service - Honesty is a foundation of our family that stretches far beyond our business. We understand that it takes a lot of trust to buy a puppy online. At Michigan Labradoodles, we are committed to making this a fun and memorable experience for you and your family. When you buy a labradoodle from us you can expect constant communication through the puppy adoption process. While our labradoodle puppies are born in Michigan, we provide delivery service anywhere in the US. We provide updates through our Facebook and Instagram page and email variety of forms, including detailed descriptions, pictures, and videos. Why Authentic Australian Labradoodles? Consistent - Our dogs and their puppies are consistent, they are descendants of a multigenerational breed. The pedigree is true back eight plus generations, breeding Authentic Australian Labradoodles with the same great qualities of their breed. This gives us the ability to closely predict the size, shape and color of your puppy. On top of that we breed for excellence and closely adhere to the ALAA standard. They were originally bread as service dogs and therapy companions with an allergy friendly coat dating back to the 's. Coat - Our Australian Labradoodles all possess a soft fleece coat that has been developed over generations - a quality that you will only get with experienced dog breeders. It provides the allergy friendly coat qualities of the poodle, without sacrificing the amazing soft to the touch feel you will love. Temperament - Originally the Authentic Australian Labradoodle was bred as the ideal therapy dog. They interact well with adults and their playful personality makes them a fun addition to families with children. They are a great mix of playfulness and cuddly. The organization promotes responsible dog companionship for labradoodles for sale in Michigan and the United States by cataloging helpful information about the breeds making it easier to buy a dog online by offering networking services to breeders and owners. The organization protects our breed from inhumane puppy mills. This status recognizes our commitment as a breeder to maintaining a high health standard for our dogs, as well as our recurring investment in health testing of our breeding dogs. It assures potential adopters that our litters have come from the healthiest parents possible along, with a strong level of health guarantees that can be maintained. When our applications are open, your first step is to apply for a puppy. Once we have a rough idea of timing, we accept deposits on each litter prior to being born, and have an ongoing interest wait list no deposit needed for a wait-list spot for any additional puppies after they're born or we've confirmed extra puppies via ultra-sound! Full payment is due by 7 weeks of age. Our reservation lists fill quickly for each litter! We rarely have puppies available once born, and when we do, we contact our wait list first. How can I get my puppy if I live in another state? This is best for you and your puppy. We do not fly puppies alone in cargo. Please contact us for more information on this. Please call us to discuss any other options. Depending on availability, we may not have availability for everyone on our waitlist. We keep people on our waitlist for any puppies that may become available, or for as soon as we open up a list to accept reservation fees. Before reservation fees are accepted, it is difficult to determine how long our actual waitlist is. We accept reservation fees only when we are pretty certain of the availability we know we have coming. As a very small breeder, we generally don't accept reservation fees that would leave someone waiting for longer than a year. While we typically have over 50 people interested in being on our waitlist at any given time, many of those on our waitlist are not all going to be interested in being placed on our reservation list for a particular litter's timing, coloring, or size. Those that are more flexible with size, coloring, and of course, gender will likely be put on a reservation list before someone that is looking for particular features. The typical wait for a puppy can be from about 4 months to a year depending what we have coming and how many people will end up being interested in that particular pairing. We will sometimes close applications for our waitlist when it looks like the wait may be longer than a year to give those on our current waitlist the opportunity for a puppy first. This extended-care fee will be added to the final price of your puppy. We also will occasionally offer extended training in conjunction with a trainer. Please note, this option is in limited availability and is not always possible due to availability and family plans. What is your selection process? Breeder reserves the right to hold back a puppy for any reason. Choices will be further narrowed down by order of deposits received if necessary. If a family is unhappy with their puppy match this has never happened! What happens if you don't have enough puppies for your reservation list? Once we know how many puppies are born, we can go back to our reservation list or contact those on our "to contact" list to add more families. The process would start over at the next upcoming litter. Address — P. Box St. A Labradoodle breed has been prevalent. They have this teddy-bear-like feature that makes everybody want to get their hands on it. Adopting a Labradoodle is more enriching than buying. You can also save money if you choose to adopt and rehome a Labradoodle than buy one. This is just one reason why it is better to adopt a dog than to buy one. Choosing A Good Labradoodle Rescue If you are planning to adopt a Labradoodle from Labradoodle rescue, there are some things that you might need to know in picking a good Labradoodle rescue. There are so many Labradoodle rescues globally, but not all of them are reputable and have quality. In finding good and quality rescue, here are some things that you can look for in a rescue. Of course, their main objective is to take care of the animals and make sure that they are healthy until they have been found in a new home. These criteria can be reflected through the status of their animals. You can look if the animals are well taken care of and if they are adequately groomed. If the organization is good, they will attend adoption events and even conduct their own. This is to allow awareness of the people. If the rescue cannot allow any more animals in their facility, they will not do it. A good rescue cares for the animals and not for the money. You can check if the staff are friendly and are accommodating by talking to them. They will be happy to assist you and answer your questions. Some people felt overwhelmed entering a dog rescue because they all want to adopt each dog in the facility. This guide is what you should look for when picking a Labradoodle rescue for you and your family. You can look for well-groomed dogs, good and healthy-looking hair, and a dog with so much energy. Pick a dog that is not aggressive. You want to pick a dog that is friendly and open with its possible new owner. Pick a friendly Labradoodle A friendly Labradoodle is easy to take care of. A shy dog will cost you more time and attention because they will not respond to you. You will have to coax them to be comfortable with you. Summary In summary, you can pick any Labradoodle you want in Michigan, but finding the perfect Labradoodle for you is priceless. You can try the lists above of Labradoodle rescues and shelters to help you choose the suitable Labradoodle rescue in Michigan for you. Labradoodle rescue is everywhere, but you need to find a good and quality Labradoodle rescue. With the list provided above, you will be able to have a jumpstart on your new journey to adopt and rehome a Labradoodle. Adoption was never easy, and you will need all the help you can get to start the adoption process. It is also essential to know how to spot a good Labradoodle rescue and a good Labradoodle. Other States. Top 5 Labradoodle Rescues In Minnesota Preparing for Adoption The transition period for adopted dogs can be very challenging for them, and it is imperative to remain not only patient but consistent. Some adopted dogs forget their potty training if they are potty trained and will rely on you to help them get into a good routine. It may also help to have a trainer lined up so they can help you with any potential behavioral challenges or simply refresh your Labradoodle on basic commands. Dog-proofing your home before bringing your Labradoodle in is also important. Rescues that require a home check before adoption may point out tips and safety techniques for you and your pup. Use baby gates to block areas of your home containing: breakables electrical cords household cleaners Ensuring your adopted Labradoodle is safe is an excellent place to start when preparing for adoption. Make sure to give your dog time to adjust and explore its surroundings. If children are in the home, use this time to teach them how to calmly and gently approach your new family member. The first few days should be quiet and calm to reduce anxiety and give your Labradoodle an easier adjustment. A sudden change in food can cause some gastrointestinal issues, so it is best to continue the same diet they had been on or gradually transition to the new diet you want to give. Take the time to identify things that interest or frighten your Labradoodle. Your Labradoodle may fear some objects or unexpected items. Setting realistic expectations from the start will smooth over communication with your Labradoodle and help make the transition into their new home a much more pleasant, fun life. Things to Keep in Mind The following are some important things to keep in mind when you have brought your Labradoodle home: Communication Communicate with your rescue and veterinarian to see what preventatives and vaccines are needed to keep your Labradoodle safe and healthy. Most rescues will cover all required vaccines, but groomers and daycare centers may need additional vaccines to keep your pet. It is also important to keep an eye on your Labradoodle and note anything of concern, whether physical or behavioral. Microchipping If your Labradoodle has a microchip, be sure to have the chip registered online and with your veterinarian. Feeding and Nutrition If you adopt a senior or puppy, be sure their nutritional needs are met. Special diets, supplements, and medications should be discussed prior to adoption. Behavior If you are concerned or unfamiliar with a specific behavior, contact the rescue, a certified trainer, or your veterinarian. Some behavioral issues may indicate pain or discomfort, so it is essential to have a complete exam after bringing your Labradoodle home. Grooming Make sure you keep in touch with a professional groomer. Labradoodles also require daily brushing, so you will need to make sure you have the time to commit to training, potty time, feeding, and giving attention. Interaction Discuss how to properly interact with your new Labradoodle if there are children in the home. Avoid rough play, wrestling, or encouraging the dog to play with its mouth. Be mindful of feeding time and the eating area, as your new pet may feel protective over food. Crate Be sure to purchase a crate for not only crate training but for safely transporting your Labradoodle to various locations such as the veterinarian, groomer, and day center. Crate training aids in containing your Labradoodle when you are not home, avoiding accidents in the house during periods you cannot let your Doodle outside to potty, and offers a place of safety during stressful situations. In Conclusion A lot of preparation goes into welcoming a Labradoodle into your family, but the companionship of this wonderful dog makes the effort well worth it. Follow this information and tips to help prepare your family for a new furry member from a Labradoodle rescue in Michigan. Did you enjoy this list? Feel free to share! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments. Meet our writer Jen Clifford is an animal behaviorist and veterinary technician with more than a decade of hands-on experience working in small animal and specialty veterinary clinics. Leave a Comment. After all, they are so cute and adorable. Instead, getting a rescue dog can be highly enriching. A rescue dog will still show you all of the same love that you would want from your dog, and that is an amazing thing. Why a Rescue Dog? The very idea of saving the life of a Labradoodle, and giving them this opportunity to go ahead and have a fun life, is a wonderful feeling. For some people, that means the stress of owning a dog is going to be reduced. A rescue dog can provide you with so much love. It can just feel so rewarding in giving them a second chance to be with a family that loves them. Why a Labradoodle? So why get a rescue Labradoodle? These dogs will bring absolute joy to your life. But their popularity does mean you are going to have to move fast to get a rescue Labradoodle in the first place. They will generally come into a rescue situation, and be back out of there within a couple of days. Basically, you need to keep on checking the rescue place to see if they have a Labradoodle at any given time. However, we do want to give a word of caution. You need to know that the place where you are going to get your rescue Labradoodle is a place to trust. Rescue organizations are generally wonderful places. However, what we are going to do is to provide you with a list of places in Michigan that we know you can trust. So, onto the list. This is often the first port of call when it comes to finding a Labradoodle in a rescue situation. This organization does specialize in all of the different Doodle breeds of dogs. They will probably be your best bet to get your hands on a Labradoodle that has found its way into this situation. But the Michigan Doodle Rescue is not all about just getting the dog in, and then adopting them out. Instead, they really do take care of all of their needs. However, make sure that the Doodle in question is in perfect health. They really do look after them. They give the dog a thorough checking over as soon as they come into their organization. Also, they will not only rescue dogs but also accept people surrendering their dogs to them. They will also work on training each dog. So If you do sign up to get one of their rescue dogs. Then you know that there will be very little work to do on your part once you get them home. However, if you do want to own and care for a Labradoodle, then you should contact the Michigan Doodle Rescue. You may ask to be put on their waiting list. The DDR still manages to pick up the occasional Labradoodle throughout the year. Founded back in , the DDR became the very first no-kill shelter to exist in Michigan, and that is a wonderful thing. Why Rescued? The dogs that they deal with can enter their organization via a number of roads. They may have been abused or abandoned. They could be given up because people can no longer look after them. Alternatively, they could have been orphaned, and need us to care for them. No matter how they land at the DDR, they will undergo training and are checked over from a health point of view before people are able to adopt them. It means you know you will be taking home your Labradoodle which is in perfect health, and also well trained. Do note that the DDR is going to want to carry out a home visit before they consider giving you a dog. Also, they will place each dog in the home that they feel is best for that single dog, so you may see a Labradoodle. So, that means you need to be patient if you plan on using the DDR. You may miss out on a Labradoodle on a number of occasions until they feel the dog in question is the perfect one for you. Contact Info:. Share A Story! Doodle Rescues In Michigan A small commission may be earned on any purchases made via links on this page. Read our full affiliate disclosure. Doodle Rescues In Michigan Doodles are among the most popular types of mixed-breed dogs, but you may not want to buy a doodle puppy. Whatever your reason for adopting, rescuing a doodle can be a great path to doodle ownership. Doodle coats are often more prone to matting than pure-bred poodle coats because the coat types have a tendency to mix together and mat more easily. Doodles in the shelter system are even more likely to have a high maintenance coat that is prone to shedding than doodles you may buy from a breeder. When they find that they have a dog that sheds and also mats easily, they may surrender the dog to a shelter or rescue. A combination of different breed traits means that these dogs are sometimes very high strong and sensitive, which can make them a challenge to live with and train. If you have never owned a doodle before, fostering is a great way to get acquainted with doodle ownership without having to commit to owning a dog right away. Furthermore, fostering is the backbone of most rescues, enabling them to save more dogs. Many rescues also give priority to foster homes when they are considering applications to adopt a dog. If you do fall in love with your foster dog, there is a good chance you will be able to adopt. A Guardian Home, Retired Breeder, or Returned Doodle Is A Great Option You may not want to buy a puppy from a breeder, but a breeder can still be very useful in helping you to find the best dog for you and your family. At CharityPaws we never would advocate going to a breeder for a dog, and we would always suggest adopting from a rescue or shelter. In some cases a breeder who is being shut down will have a surplus of dogs that need to be saved. Breeders want a lot of genetic diversity in their breeding stock and plenty of options when choosing which dogs to breed together. Guardian homes take care of a breeding dog, usually until the dog is bred a specified number of times. Then, the dog is spayed or neutered and becomes your permanent pet. Retired breeder. Some breeders keep all of the dogs that they breed, but others do not have room or resources to care for dogs once they are no longer suitable for breeding. Adopting a retired breeding dog is a great way to get a beautiful mature dog and give an ex-breeding dog a wonderful home. Returned dogs. Good breeders are always willing to take back a dog that they have sold, for any reason. Sometimes family circumstances change, other times people realize that the doodle breed is not a good fit for them. They will typically offer these dogs for adoption at a significantly discounted rate. Buying such a dog is a great way to give an adult dog a good home. Many of these dogs are quite young. Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect primarily rescues dogs who are being given up by their owner or breeder, so if you are looking for somewhere to surrender your dog , this may be the place for you. Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect prides itself on creating a strict no judgment zone for people who need to find a new home for their pets. Therefore, they take owner surrenders without passing judgment on the person who is surrendering their pet because the dog is in poor health, has not had proper grooming, or for any other reason. They also understand that while breeding doodles can seem like a great way to have fun with dogs and make a living at the same time, the reality is that this can be a very challenging pursuit that requires a lot of money for veterinary care, grooming, and caring for dogs if homes are not found. Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect encourages owners or breeders to give all of the available information that they can. They almost never refuse a dog, but knowing as much information as possible enables them to give each dog the best possible care. They provide transport over the state of Michigan, as well as Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. In some circumstances they will go anywhere in the US in order to pick up a dog. All of the dogs that are taken in by Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect immediately see a licensed veterinarian who gives them an exam, vaccines, and addresses any medical needs they may have. Each dog receives a microchip so they can be tracked if they are ever lost. Dogs also receive mental health support. A sensitive and people-loving breed like the doodle can become highly traumatized by being surrendered to a shelter or given up by their owners. Many of these dogs have not received the care that they have needed for some time, which can also be extremely stressful for them. Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect offers support with techniques like physical therapy, massage therapy, and a calm, gentle, loving environment. Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect has both on-site and off-site training to prepare any dog to live in a home. They have a beautiful training yard with turf that keeps coats clean and dogs happy. Grooming is available on site. They have a heart monitor and can also measure oxygen levels and provide basic care so that even dogs who are severely matted or traumatized can receive appropriate grooming. When you adopt a dog from Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect you will also be given a collar, a leash, harness, seat belt, and any favorite blanket, toys, or chews the dog may have. Dogs can be adopted from Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect by anyone in the United States, but you are responsible for picking up your dog once it is adopted. Simply fill out an application and you will receive a link to see available dogs. You can view their available dogs on their Facebook page here. You can also choose to be a member of Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect, which enables you to see dogs as they come in on the group page and have the first opportunity to apply to adopt dogs. Rescue and Adoption Details.

You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace. Written step-by-step video tutorial: For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin. Step 1: Lightly sketch two small circles for the pug's eyes. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. The dog's eyes should be spaced out a bit. When you get the shapes and sizes right, darken the lines. Inside each eye, draw two tiny circles to represent glare or highlights. Shade in the eyes but don't overlap the shapes of the tiny glare circles. Leave a small sliver along the bottom of each eye blank to separate the pupils. Step 2: Between the eyes, closer to the left side, draw a small oval for the pug's nose. Shade the nose except for a smaller oval at the top that represents highlight. Step 3: Add the pug's muzzle by first drawing a curved line above the nose. Continue to draw this line around the nose. Curve the bottom part up so that it points toward the nose. The whole shape should be similar to an upside-down heart. Draw a small line under the dog's nose. Step 4: Draw a small, curved line under the muzzle for the pug's bottom lip. Add a small, curved line over the nose and each eye for a wrinkle and the eyebrows. Step 5: Draw a short, curved line to the left of the pug's muzzle for the cheek. Draw a longer line that curves high above the eyes for the top of the dog's head. Sketch lightly at first and only darken the lines when you get the shapes right. The cheek line should curve at the bottom, toward the muzzle. The top line should stretch above the eye on the right. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace. Use light, smooth strokes to begin so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. Step 1: Draw two circles as guides for the pug's body. They don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. Pay close attention to the spacing of the circles. If you place them too far apart, your pug dog will end up too long. Step 2: Draw a slightly smaller circle on the top right side as a guide for the pug's head. Pugs have big heads, so don't draw the circle too small. Notice how it overlaps the other circle a bit. Step 3: Draw two intersecting lines inside the pug dog's head to help you place the facial features later on. Step 4: Draw a shape similar to a square with rounded corners on the lower part of the head as a guide for the pug's muzzle. Step 5: Draw two triangle shapes on the top of the head as guides for the pug's ears.

I have always been an appreciator of all breeds of dogs. I have owned and been involved with many different breeds of dogs. Her uniquely charismatic ability to bond with each member of my family and friends was amazing. Her quirky personality brought a smile to everyone she met. In terms of intelligence, clarity, drive, heart, athletic ability, speed, power, and desire to learn, she was off the charts! Never did I believe that the Shorty Bull Breed would exceed all my expectations. My last dog I purchased was a 12 week old male pup, X- lines Iron-Man, a breeder's dream. We have a small select breeding program in which we have had 4 litters with fantastic success in terms of distinct type, bone mass, structure, movement, and most importantly temperament. Our dogs are top show quality with unique personalities and excellent temperament ideal for families and children. Our goal is simply to have the highest quality of Shorty Bull pups. As a true dog enthusiast, I know this breed was developed with purpose. I am grateful for all involved in the development and creation of the Shorty Bull. Contact: Californiashortybull yahoo. California Shorty Bull. All rights reserved. There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, check out the Shortybulls, available puppies, and everything we have to offer. We hope you enjoy our site and take a moment to drop us a line. We have acquired some of the best blood available to help us achieve a very distinct look and attitude of what we feel best represents the ultimate shortybull. What is a Shortybull? The Shortybull is a composite bulldog with classic bulldog features. They are all around healthy bulldogs with a stable tempermeant in a small, fun sized package. Shortybulls are thought to be the healthier alternative to the English and French Bulldog and are adaptable to different environments. These athletic bulldogs are eager to please and make excellent pets. We are excited in helping this young breed move forward with our ultimate Shortybulls. Shortybulls are the most exclusive bulldog breed in the world and TSU Shortybulls offers some of the best bred shortybull puppies around. If you are looking for a reputable breeder with top quality Shortybull puppies give us a call to help you find your perfect puppy. Our puppies are very loved and well taken care of and we want this to continue when they go to their new homes. Buyers can call us anytime for advice and guidance after you bring your puppy home. Temperament and Behavior The prime characteristic of the shortie bull is its comical personality. The shorty bull is alert, agile, curious and watchful and would usually alarm the family of a stranger or an unusual noise. They are well-behaved dogs with an even temper and are naturally happy with a fondness of its family. It is particularly good with kids. Always willing to please, the shorty bulls suit well in apartments and even farms, and would make a good companion dog. However, they do best living indoors, close to its family members. The shorty bulls have a high prey drive and would chase anything that is moving. The shorties love sports and activities, and would frequently bounce and jump. They are more athletic than the English bulldog. However, the high-spirited shorties need short exercise schedules regularly. Take them out for walks every day. If you have an enclosed space, let them play unleashed. Although, make sure that the enclosure is above 4 feet by height. They are fond of pulling games like the tug of war. Only a thorough brushing once a week is enough to retain the gloss of its short coat and keep it clean. Rest is all general care common to most other dog breeds. Health Problems This breed is generally healthy. Being a very new breed, very little could be known and studied about any breed-specific health issues. Training It is always effective to begin training at an young age. Follow a routine over a period of time to give them housebreaking and crate trainings, until the puppy makes it a habit by itself. Shorty bulls are prone to same-sex aggression. Train them to socialize well with strangers, other animals and pets. Interesting Facts This dog has been bred not merely on its looks, but also for its working ability and physical characteristics. How much do Shorty Bull puppies for sale cost? The cost for a Shorty Bull puppy for sale varies greatly and depends on many factors such as the breeders' location, reputation, litter size, lineage of the puppy, breed popularity supply and demand , training, socialization efforts, breed lines and much more. Before searching "Shorty Bull puppies for sale near me", review their average cost below. This is the price you can expect to budget for a Shorty Bull with papers but without breeding rights nor show quality. Expect to pay less for a Shorty Bull puppy for sale without papers, however, we do not recommend buying a puppy without papers. Looking for a Shorty Bull puppy with a superior lineage? Are you trying to determine how much a Shorty Bull with breeding rights and papers would cost? You should expect to pay a premium for a Shorty Bull puppy with breeding rights or even Shorty Bulls for sale advertised as show quality with papers. What can I expect to pay for a Shorty Bull puppy near me? Annual cost of owning a Shorty Bull puppy for sale When googling "Shorty Bull puppy for sale near me" it is important to understand the associated costs of owning a dog. The annual cost or "upkeep" is often overlooked when determining a Shorty Bulls true ownership cost.