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By PetMD Editorial. If your dog normally has a black nose, it turns pink or a darker brown. If your dog has a brown nose, it may turn a lighter shade of brown. What Causes Dog Snow Nose? Sandra Koch, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dog snow nose is most often seen in winter, but it can also occur in summer or even in tropical areas, says Dr. Should Pet Parents Be Concerned? One of the reasons there has been little research done into the condition is that dog snow nose itself is not harmful to your dog and should cause no concern, says Dr. Christine Cain, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology and allergy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. However, in some instances, she says, the nose will remain a lighter color. It should be noted, says Dr. If your dog is continuously rubbing his nose, or if the nose has sores, complete changes in pigmentation, changes in texture or moisture, or is crusting, bleeding or itching, then you should discuss these symptoms with your veterinarian. These types of issues can be an indication of something more serious, such as cancer, lupus infection or an immune disease known as vitiligo. Although Dr. Since veterinary science has yet to determine the cause of dog snow nose, there is really nothing that can be done to prevent it, says Dr. Which Dogs Are Affected? Koch, and Dr. Cain says she has even seen it affect some smaller breed dogs. Some pups are born with brown dog noses, which is normal and not the condition known as snow nose. Dog snow nose typically affects the central part of the nose, or the pigment of the flat part of the nose called the nasal planum, says Dr. Menu Why did my dog's nose turn from black to pink? The color of a dog's nose will vary from dog to dog depending on the breed. It can be black, brown, liver, pink, or the same color as its coat. Sometimes a dog's nose can start off one color and change to another as it ages. Puppies are often born with pink noses, which later darken. What does it mean when a dog's nose loses its pigment turning pink or white? The reasons vary. De-pigmentation of the nose is sometimes harmless, but sometimes it is an indication that the dog needs medical attention. Contact your vet if you do not know why your dog's nose has lost its pigment. Some dog's noses change colors from a dark color to pink in cold weather; turning dark once again when the weather gets warmer. Usually when the nose changes color due to the weather it only partially changes pink as seen in the picture above. Snow nose seems to be directly related to the temperature and is harmless to the dog. The culprit is thought to be a breakdown in an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is what makes melanin. Melanin is what gives color, or pigment, to the hair, skin and parts of the eyes. The enzyme is temperature sensitive and gets weaker with age. Old age: A dog's nose may lose its pigment as it ages. Injury: If a dog experiences some kind of trauma such as a scrape or abrasion, the nose can turn pink as it heals. The pigment will usually return after a while. Bacterial infection: The nose may not only lighten in color but may look inflamed, sore, crusty or otherwise unhealthy. You may want to contact a veterinarian if this is the case. Sometimes the dog's nose never does change back. In some dogs it will randomly regain its pigment or change seasonally. Contact allergies contact dermatitis : When a dog is allergic to things its nose comes into direct contact with. The lips are usually also affected. You may have to do some investigative work to figure out what the dog is allergic to. The nose and sometimes the surrounding area may look inflamed, sore, crusty or otherwise unhealthy. Sometimes a dog can be allergic to certain types of plastic. You can rule out an allergy to a plastic food bowl by switching to a stainless steel bowl. Pemphigus, an immune related skin disorder: This condition can cause sores and crusty areas on and around the dog's nose. The condition is treatable and a vet should be seen. Discoid Lupus: Another immune related skin disorder that will also cause sores around and on the dog's nose. The condition can get worse when the dog is exposed to the sun. Vitiligo: An immune disease that effects the skin as it blocks healthy, pigment-carrying cells by attacking them with antibodies. This condition can not only turn a dog's nose pink, but you will usually see loss of pigment on other areas of the body, turning the coat white either in scattered hairs or patches. The disorder can get worse over time turning a once dark dog white. A dog with Vitiligo is usually otherwise healthy as it often only effects the dog's appearance. Idiopathic is a condition that can make a dog's nose, lips and eyelids lose pigment. The cause is unknown. Skin cancer VKH-like syndrome or Uveodermatological syndrome UDS is an autoimmune disease where one's own defense against infection, the T-cells, attack the melanin-forming cells melanocytes in the body. Dogs with pink or white noses are prone to sunburn and precautions should be taken. You may need to apply sunscreen before letting the dog outside. In most cases a dog whom's nose has changed colors is not a cause for concern, however, sometimes it is. Be sure to contact your vet to make sure it is not due to a health related issue. Yes, for most pups born with a pink nose, the color will change. In some breeds, there will be individuals who retain that pink nose. This occurs more commonly in dogs with less pigment i. However, sometimes the process is slow or delayed and we may not see the change until the pup is a few months old. This is the exception rather than the rule and is within the realms of normal, so is not something we need to be concerned about. The Dudley Nose A Dudley dog is one who lacks pigment all over: including their nose, eye rims, and paws. These dogs should have pink noses from birth through to old age. These guys would lack the genes for the pink nose and would not pass it on to their offspring. The Snow Nose Amazingly, some dogs only have a lighter nose during winter. As the weather warms up, their pigment can darken once again! While we more often seen a dark brown or black nose that becomes a few shades lighter, it is not impossible for a nose to become temporarily pink. Liver Nose Liver is a specific color that is used in dog terminology. For many breeds, it will be written into their breed standard. Mixed Pigment Dogs may have a mix of pale pink and brown or black noses. However, it can also be seen in adult dogs and a small number will retain both pigments throughout their life. Absolutely, yes! This is best seen when your dog is very wet and their fur parts to show the skin underneath. The most obvious place where this is seen is on the belly, where the fur is thinner. Many owners worry when they first see this, but these pigmented blotches and splotches are entirely normal. These spots cause no discomfort or itching and the skin is smooth and unbroken. They develop gradually over years. If your dog is bothered by its skin lesions, chewing or licking, there is likely more going on. Potentially, yes. As pink noses lack melanin, they are more prone to sunburn. Due to this, it is sensible to use dog-safe sunscreen during the warmer months. It is also a good idea to keep your dog out of direct sunlight in the summer. This is especially true if they also have pale skin and white fur, as they will be more prone to sun damage. Just as the nose can go from pink to black, this process can reverse too. In much older dogs, we sometimes see a loss of pigment and the nose can lighten. If the nose is unhealthy looking, there may be more going on, such as an autoimmune disease or fungal infection. In some instances, when a dog is not supposed to genetically develop a pink nose, the nose may change color due to a disease process. Autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus and lupus, zinc deficiency, fungal infections, and cancers can all cause the nose to change color. In these instances, we would usually see other signs occurring alongside the color change such as dry and flaky skin, nasal rubbing, and bleeding. Related posts Pink spot on dogs nose: 4 Surprising Reasons Here are four surprising reasons why your dog may have pink spots on his or her nose. Pink spot on dog nose due to allergic reaction If your dog has pink spot on nose, the first reason could be due to allergy. Sometimes, a dog can come into contact with something that his or her nose is allergic to. If you happen to buy a new food bowl or water bowl, be aware of the materials they are made of. For instance, many plastic food bowls contain chemicals such as BPA or bisphenol A and p-benzyl hydroquinone. This chemical is known to prevent melanin or dark pigment production in dogs. This is why it is crucial that dog owners find out what material the food or water bowl is made of before buying it. Also, before you buy any new food bowls for your pooch, check to make sure your dog does not have any plastic allergies. Plastic allergies in dogs can cause the following symptoms: Frequent rubbing of the face. Obsessive licking of the nose. Save Big On Dog Essentials! Welcome to our pack! This can happen to many active dogs, especially when they are allowed to roam freely in the backyard or outside of the house. If the pink spot is still not healing, call your vet and ask for further advice and suggestion. Handy Hint: Some dog owners prefer to install wireless dog fences to keep their dogs from escaping the yard or premises. Many prefer wireless dog fences over physical fences in order to preserve the nice view they have. Some towns may have zoning laws that prohibit physical fences. Pink spot on dog nose due to snow nose condition Why is my dogs nose turning pink? This is what the vet may call a snow nose condition. Luckily, this color change is temporary. Snow nose is usually harmless but having your vet check up on it is also a good idea. Your vet knows your dog best and will know what is causing the pink spot. Pink spot on dog nose due to canine vitiligo Like humans, our four-legged friends can also get vitiligo. Canine vitiligo usually occurs during puppyhood. If you notice a pink spot on puppy nose, then it may likely be vitiligo. You might also like: White Chihuahua — Complete Guide! Nasal tumors can be benign or they can be malignant. Your vet may ask you to bring your pooch in for a checkup and examination. Signs and symptoms of nasal polyps include: Bloody nose. Swelling of the nose, lips, and cheek. Crusty dry bumpy nose. Excessive discharge of mucus. Nasal polyps are usually caused by a virus and going to see the vet is the best solution. Treatment can include radiation therapy or surgery to remove the nasal tumors. Wearing a cone will prevent your furry friends from touching their faces. Collie nose in dogs caused by lupus In addition to vitiligo, dogs can also have an autoimmune disorder that affects their skin and it is usually caused by lupus. While Collies dog breed is commonly affected by this skin condition, there are also other dog breeds affected by this condition as well such as: German Shepherds. Shetland Sheepdogs. When dogs have lupus, the color of their nose starts to turn pink from its original black pigment. The pink spot on the nose appears to be flaky and red and this is potentially harmful to dogs since these pink spots are essentially open sores. Dogs with collie noses should avoid being outside for too long since extended sunlight exposure can cause the collie nose to flare up and this can worsen the condition. If you know your dog has this condition, be sure to put on protection before letting your dog outside on a sunny day. If you live in mountainous areas or anywhere that has a high altitude, make sure your dog is protected from the sun since a higher altitude means a greater chance of being exposed to ultraviolet rays. Ask your vet if your dog has a collie nose and which treatment is best for him or her. Most likely, your vet may prescribe immunosuppressive drugs and ask that you avoid letting your pooch sit out in the sun for an extended period of time. If you notice your dog nose turning pink, then it means that your pooch will need some TLC or tender loving care. The sunscreen will prevent skin cancer on the nose and their skin in general. You saw dogs with pink noses. This ispink nose is usually due to two reasons. They usually belong to the breed of dog that has the pink nose. It is caused by genetics and is passed down from their parents. The dog has a black nose and it has changed color. This is due to the loss of pigmentation, often referred to as the dudley nose. This is in contrast to the snow nose, which is a seasonal phenomenon in cold weather. In case of complete depigmentation, the nose turns pinkish white. It should not be confused with an ice nose. Complete depigmentation never occurs. Loss of pigment is usually not dangerous. However, it does indicate an underlying problem that requires medical help. Consult your vet if you have problems. Ice nose. Melanin gives color to our hair, skin and eyes. At the age of the dog. The enzyme tyrosinase, which produces melanin, also weakens with age. Injury to the nose. An incision or abrasion on the nose will turn pink when it heals. The result of infection. If the dog has a bacterial infection, it is expressed on the nose. Look for a light color along with an inflamed, crusty and unhealthy look. If you notice these symptoms in your dog, consult a veterinarian for treatment to rule out any serious health conditions or if a problem is found. Caused by allergies. Dogs can cause allergic reactions to the things they come in contact with. Then, do some research to find out what your dog is allergic to. Auto-immune disease is when the body attacks its own tissues. In the case of a purchased pink nose, the dog can usually turn a black nose pink because the cells that make up the melanin pigment are being destroyed. Over time, the nose gradually turns pink as the melanin cells gradually cease to have their normal black pigment. It is similar to the human condition vitiligo, in which the normal skin color slowly deteriorates. The pink nose caused by cold weather is often found in the Siberian Husky and is called the Snow Nose. Some dogs are allergic to the chemical sometimes found in plastic food dishes. This also causes the nose to lose pigment. Dogs with Pink Noses.

Andorra and Spain Hello Starting Again and welcome to the forum. As for your question, as an outsider, you really can't tell much about the finished article by looking at a very young puppy, even at 8 weeks of age, which is when I assume you'll be bringing your puppy home. Your best indication is looking at the temperament of the parents; if you have chosen a litter with a good sire and dam calm, confident and biddable through genetics rather than through suppression then you have a high chance of having a calm dog yourself. I would always look, above all else, for confidence in the dogs; no anxiety when being left, no issues around other dogs of any size or breed, no noise sensitivity. This may give you a more rambunctious puppy and adolescent, but the final dog will have more chance of bring able to cope around these sorts of stimuli. I say this from the experience of having two anxious adult Labradors and one confident 6-month-old puppy. To be perfectly honest, I'd be a little concerned in your situation. Breeders who are breeding dogs that are going to go on to do jobs of whatever description generally do the choosing themselves, as they spend so much more time with the puppies. I didn't know until 7 weeks which puppy was to be mine. In that litter, there were puppies going to show homes, to be gun dogs, one to be a service dog and the rest pets I wanted a pup that could do some showing and train as a gun dog, too. The breeder chose which was most suitable for each new home, and I believe that's how it should be when you are after something specific. If your breeder isn't doing this, then it may be worth considering that it's not the right litter to be choosing something as important as a future service dog from. Good luck and I hope you hang around to let us know how you get on. Print The dreaded 3-month-old puppy I really enjoy young puppies. Seven- to week-old puppies can be so much fun and while they can be trouble, it is easy to contain them. But when a puppy turns weeks-old…. Three-month-old puppies start feeling good about themselves. They think they have the world all figured out and they will get into everything and run circles around you, even after being scolded or punished. Here is what you need to know about training your week-old Labrador puppy. About this series of posts This is post five of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Bubba at 12 weeks old Training and socialization for week-old Labrador puppy — week five home Bubba should have been named Spunky because she is a handful. She runs around our home with her head and tail high, like she is all that. She pulls our shoes out of the organizer, chews on closet doors and digs and splashes in her water dish. So is the life of a 3-month-old Lab puppy. Patience is required to raise young lab pups. They will give you a run for the money. Even the well-behaved ones. No one escapes the terror of the 3-month-old Lab. So, how can you survive this time. Firm and well-defined boundaries that are enforced endlessly. Now is not the time to give up on training your puppy. It is the time to buckle down and show your puppy that there are rules and boundaries, and they must be obeyed. You puppy can and will learn the rules if you are firm and consistent in your corrections. Whatever you do, do not allow the puppy to do whatever it wants with no corrections. That is not being a good puppy mama or dad and it is really not fair to the dog, because training will require much more pressure and correction when the dog is bigger and stronger. Here are the things we worked on this week for training of Bubba. Crate training Bubba is now completely at home in her crate. She remains in her crate a full 4-hours at a time without accidents, is quiet while in there and walks into her crate on a KENNEL command from feet in front of the crate. Bubba will come to me when called, even when she knows that she is going into the crate. While there are still some consistency issues to work on, Bubba is well crate trained at this point. Looking for more information on crate training? Housebreaking Housebreaking is such a difficult job. You will have periods when the puppy is doing so well that you will think you are done. And then, when you least expect it, your puppy will have an accident right in front of you. Bubba has been good at housebreaking. She has had less than a half-dozen accidents in the house and all of them pee accidents. She has never pooped in the house. So, we thought she was pretty much house broke. Then suddenly, she just up and peed right on the dog bed. Housebreaking is always an ongoing process, and we know that over time the accidents will become less and less. Looking for more information on housebreaking? Obedience training your week-old puppy With any dog training, obedience is key! She will SIT on command about 90 percent of the time. The only time we really have issues is when there is a lot of distractions. That is normal for a puppy of her age, but that does not mean that we just allow her to be disobedient when there are distractions. Rather, we look for distractions and then train through them. This is very important because you do not want your dog to just be obedient when everything is calm. You want, even need, your puppy to be obedient when the everyday distractions happen. HERE command As I have already stated, twelve-week-old puppies are cute, but they can also be little terrors. This is the age when they start to get very independent. With that independence comes the desire to run away from you, run around you, play keep-a-way and just generally terrorize your life. We get lots of calls from owners of puppies this age. They all want to know if we can take their dog now for training instead of at the usual months of age that we usually require for hunting dog training. This is very hard, even for professional trainers. But that is almost always a mistake since Bubba will decide to make a game out of not coming to us. Getting your puppy to come to you There are some techniques to help with this matter. Sometimes this is a good time to start treat-training your dog on HERE. This is a short-term fix that we will not continue for long, but it can sometimes help to get us through the next month or two. Labs are almost always driven by food, so it can help you get a better response to the HERE command. You can also have the dog drag a long check cord. The check cord gives you something to grab onto if the dog tries to make a game of coming to you, but you must be careful since the lead can get caught on something and injure your dog. Remember that each time you say HERE, you need to pull your puppy towards you. You need to associate the HERE command with coming towards you. You need your puppy to understand that coming to you is a good thing. That is why treats can help with this. If every time your puppy comes to you, you put her away or take something away from her, soon your puppy will not want to come to you. You must work hard to make coming to you a good experience for your puppy. Last week we introduced Bubba to water and got her swimming. Since then, she has been swimming a couple more times and she is very comfortable retrieving in the water. We also introduced her to decoys on land. Introduction to live birds This week we introduced Bubba to a live bird. We do this using a pigeon with the flight feathers pulled out. The pigeon can walk around and flap its wings, but it cannot fly. We ultimately would love to see the puppy chase down the bird, grab it in their mouth and bring it to us or at least prance around with it a bit. For some dogs, this can take a bit of encouragement the first time. But generally, once the puppy grabs hold of the bird, we see their whole demeanor change. This was the case for Bubba. Once Bubba picked up the pigeon, she pranced around the yard with her tail high and a spring in her step. She was so excited and proud of herself. This is a great response. Introduction to gun fire As I stated in last weeks post, we do not want to rush the introduction to gunfire. We have never had a dog we have raised and trained become gun shy and that is because we introduce gunfire is a very slow and painfully methodical way. The first step is that the dog or puppy is in a box on our dog trailer. While in this box, our other dogs are getting marks in the field. The gunners for these marks are anywhere from yards away from the dog trailer and they are using primers or starter pistols. The puppy is hearing these shots, but they are a long way away and are muted by being in the dog trailer. Our puppies hear these shots for weeks, or months before they ever hear anything closer. This is our first introduction to gun fire. Bubba was exposed to this last week and will be every week for a while before we move anything closer to her. Learn more about introducing your dog to gunfire. Continuation of assistant marks Bubba will continue to get assistant marks most days from now until she is done her training. The marks will continue to increase in distance and complexity but all our marking scenarios for our afternoon sessions involved gunners out in the field throwing marks for Bubba. Final thoughts on training for your week-old Labrador puppy You are really in the thick of it if your puppy is around the week mark. The next month or two will likely be the most challenging of your time raising a Labrador puppy. That will make obedience training easier and faster, but that is still a bit of a ways out. Hang in there and push through. Keep your commands and corrections firm and consistent and you will make progress with your puppy. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. Training your week-old Labrador puppy? But those first weeks of puppy development are very similar whatever the breed, and these landmarks are good general rules for any dog. Puppy development week by week, changes quickly. Newborn Puppies Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. They already have a fur coat but they cannot yet control their own body temperature. They are dependent on their mother or another heat source to keep them warm. Newborn puppies may cry if cold. But they do not have the strength to cry for long. Newborn Labrador puppies snuggle together to keep warm when their mother is away How Helpless are Newborn Pups? Although they rely on mom for a lot at this stage, newborn puppies are not completely helpless. They can use their front feet to drag themselves towards a heat source or their milk supply. This means their mom, not milk alternatives like cow or goat milk. Newborn pups have no teeth yet. But they can move their heads about to search for a nipple, and they can latch on and suck strongly. Their mother leaves them only to eat, drink and for bathroom purposes. While she is away, the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat, as you can see in the photo above. They may also crawl under a heat lamp source to keep warm. In every other respect newborn puppies are completely dependent on the care of their mother. Newborn pups have little control over the rear end of their bodies. The mother dog washes them and licks their bottoms to encourage elimination, licking up and swallowing anything they produce to keep her babies and their nest scrupulously clean. In fact, he may even double his birth weight! One week later and the puppies have doubled their birth weight. Changes are taking place under his eyelids to prepare them for opening. And usually begins during the second week of life. Ears open at this point too, so your puppy will begin to hear. The Labrador puppies in this picture are two weeks olds. Two weeks old and the puppies eyes are now open! You can see that their eyes are now open and the puppies are beginning to look a little more dog-like. The breeder will be handling the puppies more now. And most puppies are wormed for the first time at two weeks old. Most 3 week old puppies can stand and sit, and are beginning to totter about. They are also starting to develop their individuality. No longer are they just a row of identical little fat furry sausages! This little three week old puppy :- Can easily be distinguished from his brother: Teething and Further Development At 3 weeks old, this is also the point at which puppies start teething — cutting their first deciduous baby teeth. Obviously the teeth are appearing for a reason! Some breeders will start to offer the first tastes of solid food at this point. Especially if the litter is a large one and putting a strain on the mother dog. It is lovely to watch a litter of 3 week old puppies beginning to interact with their brothers and sisters. They are running, playing enthusiastically, and have started to wag their little tails. The puppies will start to show bowel control as they move away from the other puppies to defecate. And solid food is becoming a major part of their diet. These little pups are tucking into some puppy food. Four week old puppies having their dinner in the fresh air If the weather is warm enough, puppies will be spending some time outdoors now. Mealtimes are a messy process, so feeding puppies out in the yard can be a good idea. Breeder Involvement Some mother dogs will lose interest in cleaning up after their pups at this point or soon afterwards. And many puppies will be wormed again this week. Vocalizations are becoming stronger at this puppy development stage. The litter will greet their mother noisily when she returns to them, and try hard to follow her out of the whelping box whenever she leaves. The puppies themselves are now eating solid food several times a day and gradually being weaned of their dependency on her milk. Puppies will still suckle ravenously when their mother returns and she will now often feed them standing up and only for a short time. She will also be teaching the puppies not to bite too hard. So, they should be increasingly spending time with humans and learning to be familiar with the sounds and sights of a human family environment. Puppies being raised in kennels must be brought into a home environment regularly from now on to ensure they develop into confident, friendly dogs. Six weeks old and full of mischief Puppies Still Have a Lot to Learn at 6 Weeks In some countries, puppies are taken to their new homes at this age. But this is not a good idea, and can result in a puppy that has poor bite inhibition and is challenging to manage. The puppies are learning not to bite too hard from the reactions of their mother and siblings. Growth is not quite so fast now. But the puppies will still grow strongly for the next few months. Many puppies will be wormed again this week. All that remains is for plenty of great socialization experiences to be packed into this week, with final checks on health. Many breeders will arrange for each seven week old puppy to have a vet check this week. And though some vets advise against it, some puppies are also given their first vaccinations before they leave for their new homes. Some breeders will now have the puppies trained to pee and poop on puppy pads or newspaper. And some will have been whistling to the puppies at meal times to get them used to coming to a human signal. Potty training is now underway and puppy socialization plans are being made. At this point, many of you will be thinking about training your puppy too. The next four weeks are vital in puppy development stages. Your main job is socializing your puppy. This means taking him to lots of new places and exposing him to lots of new experiences. So, life will be starting to get back to normal. Most puppies in the U. In the U. So, not all puppies will get their vaccinations at the exact same age. Socializing your puppy is still the most important job for you at this age. But, you cannot put your puppy on the ground outside until they have received their final vaccination. So, make sure you know exactly when their final jab is. And carry on introducing them to as many new people, things, and experiences as possible throughout this puppy development stage. Some people can suffer from the puppy blues at this stage too, as your life has completely changed! But, that does not mean socialization can stop. Puppies who are isolated at this point will soon lose that friendly fearlessness. You have an important job now, building on what has been achieved so far, and introducing your puppy to the world at ground level. This part of his education can begin once his vaccination cover is complete. He should be fully immunised at around this point. But check with your vet for confirmation of the actual date. Three months also marks the point at which many puppies will drop down from four daily meals, to three. This can cause problems for some puppies because the portions are larger If your puppy gets an upset tummy when you make this change, just go back up to four meals again for a few days, and give smaller portions for a few days when you try again. But, many will need another month before they can cope without frequent bathroom breaks and the occasional accident. Your puppy will begin to lose his baby teeth. This can also be a time at which biting can be most challenging. And try not to worry, this stage will soon be over! A few will need another month or two to complete the process. Remember, no two puppies are the same. That puppy fluffiness will have gone. For many puppies, five months is an awkward, gangly time. A five month old puppy may have shed the last of his soft puppy lines and be looking quite skinny. By the end of this month most puppies will have finished teething but an urge to chew may continue for another few months in some breeds, Labradors included. Some female dogs will have their first season during this month. But, for many, it will be another three or four months before this happens. This is a major milestone for your puppy. He is now looking very much like an adult Labrador. Still a Puppy Because he looks quite grown up, people expect a lot of their 6 month old puppy. But inside, he is still very much a puppy. The beginnings of adolescence and with it an increasing independence of spirit can bring its challenges, but also a whole lot of fun. Save to Pinterest The Stages of Puppy Growth and Development Month by Month The following are the stages of puppy growth and development, starting at birth and ending when your dog reaches adulthood. The Neonatal Stage 0 to 2 weeks This is the newborn puppy growth stage that lasts until two weeks of age. At this developmental stage, puppies are blind and deaf. Expect puppies at this point to sleep almost constantly and their mother will take care of everything, keeping them warm, feeding them, and keeping them clean. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 weeks At this puppy growth stage , they will start to open up their eyes and respond to sounds, light, and movement around them. You will also notice a puppy at this point starting to get more mobile, although they will still tend to crawl instead of walking. They do, however, have enough strength to stand up, but will stumble a lot. A puppy in this developmental stage will just be starting to recognize their siblings and mother. Lab puppies open their eyes at about two weeks old. By this time, Labrador puppies will have their eyes fully open and most will be at least partly open. Ears open at this point too and your puppy will begin to hear. Period of Awakening of Senses 3 to 4 weeks At this period , a puppy develops various senses rapidly. They start to get fully alert and aware of their environment and may recognize you and other humans that are frequently around. The Socialization Period 4 to 7 Weeks Once a puppy is around four weeks old, they start to learn the most important things in life-related to social development. They will learn to not bite all the time and how to interact with their siblings. Interactions with humans are especially important between five and seven weeks. This is also the time they will start to understand discipline thanks to their mother. She will start weaning her puppies and teaching them manners, like acknowledging she is in charge. As the owner, you can start introducing food to your puppy when they are around four weeks old. Start small and begin to give them more food as the mother continues to wean them. You should also continue handling the puppy every day. However, be sure not to separate them from their siblings or mother for over ten minutes each day, since this can lead to issues with training and socialization. Dogs who are separated too soon may also be nervous and more likely to bark and bite. During this period, let the mother dog take care of discipline; you should not correct the dog for mouthing or housebreaking mistakes until later in life. To help ease them through this process, avoid traumatic events, loud voices, or harsh discipline. You should also make sure your pooch has plenty of human contact during this stage. If you want, you can start leash training and even teach simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. In terms of development, you will notice that your puppy can sleep through the whole night and starts to develop better control of its bowels and bladder. Most vets suggest that new outings should wait until they are fully vaccinated. We rub the Calmeroos Puppy Toy on littermates and mom to get their scent. When we get home the Calmeroos Puppy Toy helps our puppy feel comfortable and adjust more quickly to his new environment. Many puppies will go to their new homes at around 8 weeks old. We recently put together a blog post on our sister site detailing what you can expect from an 8-week-old puppy. The Juvenile Stage 3 to 4 Months At this point in development, a puppy can be compared to a juvenile. They will be more independent and may ignore the basic commands that they know very well. If this happens, firmly and gently reinforce the commands and other training. You may also notice your pup starting to test your authority by play biting or similar actions. You can also redirect your dog to a toy that they can bite. Either can end up teaching your pooch that it is okay to fight with you and challenge your authority. The Ranking Period 3 to 6 Months When your puppy is between four and six months old, you should expect them to be somewhat bratty, showing more willfulness and independence. They are more likely to test your limits and may try to show dominance over children or other family members. If they fail to listen to you or come when called, it can be dangerous as it puts them at risk of injury when in public. It can also hurt future responses to you, making them less likely to listen. This is also when your dog will be teething, so give them toys like frozen dog Kong toys to relieve pressure and pain. Chewing behaviors will also start growing at this point so look for some safe chew toys to keep your dog entertained. This is when hormonal changes start to occur and is the ideal time to spay or neuter your pup. UC Davis published a study comparing the long-term health effects of neutering in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Adolescence 6 to 18 Months After six months, your pup is already in the final stage of puppy development but is still young. This is a fun and exciting time for your pooch since they will be learning, full of energy, and exuberant. During this time, it is important to remember that even if your puppy now looks like a grown-up dog, they are still a puppy, at least in its mental capacity and emotional maturity. Work to slowly increase training and other activities. You can even work on advanced training such as agility or herding. Another option is to simply keep training them to ensure they interact in a non-aggressive and non-threatening way with other animals. It is also possible that your dog will go through another fearful period of time at some point after they reach six months. You can speed up the process with counter-conditioning and desensitization. It fits very well and is quite apt! Final Thoughts With the knowledge of how and when your new puppy will develop, you are better able to meet their needs. Provide socialization at the appropriate times and be sure to give your puppy plenty of social interactions with their siblings as well as humans and any other pets in your home. Your dog should reach maturity at some point between one and two years old with plenty of variation based on breed, Labradors are considered mature at between 2 and 2. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

CZ Jinopo. CZ is a group of professional breeders with 21 years of experience in breeding German Shepherds at former z Pohranicni straze z PS kennel. Our work is focused on breeding the traditional type of German Shepherd with the objective to produce progeny with versatile utilization and high degree of trainability. Our aim is to have dark pigmented healthy and strong progeny. To accomplish these goals we use proven ways of breeding and the basic method is to carry out breeding selection of German Shepherds with required features and traits such as strong bones, solid nerves, dark pigmentation and also strong hunt, prey and defense drives. You can view our available adults here and current litters here. We provide health guarantee for all the puppies and adult dogs purchased from us! It devaluates decades of work on breeding and improving working line GSDs. The event took place April 22 - 24 in Prestice and total number of 31 dogs and handlers competed. This is a great success for our team. The event took place September 16 - 20 and total number of 80 dogs and handlers competed. March .A'BRUNO pod Blanikem handled by Jiri Novotny participated in this competition and were able to achieve points earning them 5th place in overall performance. In the cathegory of tracking they won 1st place with 97 points. In total there were 47 dogs and handlers. FANT earned total of points in the competition and ended on nice 15th place. FANT performed very nice tracking with 90 points. His obedience was very happy from beginning to the end and because of some innacuracies he earned 75 points. His protection was very strong and confident and was evaluated with 88 points. FANT was the younges dog that took part in the competition. We congratulate Alice Nelibova and we wish lot of training successes in the coming years. National Championship will be held in June at Roudnice. Congratulations to A Bruno and Nada! Out of 46 dogs he finished on 25th place and he was the 5th most successful German Shepherd of the whole National Championship. The club awarded this prestigious title to Jiri Novotny in deep appreciation for his years of dedication and hard work with German shepherds dogs, both as a breeder and as a trainer. Jiri Novotny has been involved with German shepherds dogs since , working to both improve and protect the breed. Since , he has been elected and appointed into numerous functions. To mention a few: For ten years, he directed the breeding of dogs for the department of Ministry of the Interior security where he generated and perfected and supervised the breeding program of thousands of dogs for Czechoslovak police and border patrol which were bred under the protected name z Pohranicni straze. In , he was the conformation judge of the German shepherd dog where he promoted the working structure of the German shepherd. From until today, he has been a breed survey judge of the German shepherd dog. Jiri also titled more than working titles and participated in the Nationals of Czech Republic with seven dogs. Jiri traveled to the United States to present working dog seminars to police personnel and other German shepherd enthusiasts on several occasions. Every year Jiri judges hundreds of males and females GSDs in shows and breed surveys. Jiri and the teams he supervises produced thousands of puppies and working dogs. These dogs are now working and in demand all over the world for their characteristic look, tremendous working ability, and for their superior health. These characteristics all reflect Jiri's vision of a working German shepherd dog. Thank you and good job, Jiri! Granule z Jirkova dvora owned by Czech Republic Police forces has achieved the following results in 1 Explosives detection Champion 2 Scent work Champion 3 Overall winner of Czech Police K9 competition We want to thank this way her handler Jindrich Urban for large piece of hard work done with Granule. They have a long history of breeding high quality German Shepherds true to the original working type of dog. The emphasis is very much on breeding dogs of healthy and unexaggerated construction that are versatile with balanced drives. Jiri Novotny is the Czech national breed warden and a certified conformation judge. He has also completed over hundred titles with his own dogs, so sport training is very much on his agenda, as well as service training. A1K9 has a long history of importing high quality animals from the Czech Republic and our association with the Novotny family has gone from strength to strength. We are delighted to be able to offer puppies from their well-established breeding programme. Breeding and Prices The prices of our imported, Czech bred, working line, German Shepherd puppies depends on selected breeding, necessary vaccinations, pet passport and delivery to A1K9 in South Wales as well as the very important early socialisation work in the Czech Republic. Every breeding will take place with certain aims in mind and we will be able to advise whether the emphasis is towards sport, pet or service but the overall goal is to breed versatile dogs. This plays a vital part in the selection for the best family and personal protection dogs. Current pet passport regulations permit puppies from 16 weeks old to enter the UK, so discerning UK enthusiasts are able to acquire top Czech bred GSDs at a young age. The prices of our imported, Czech bred, working line, German Shepherd pups depends on selected breeding. Necessary vaccinations, pet passport and delivery to A1K9 in South Wales is included in the cost. FCI Registration Papers Every puppy will have an FCI export pedigree and you will be notified of the kennel name at the time of ordering your new personal protection dog. We may also be able to offer some young adults to police as well as service homes, however we are only limited to these. These protection dogs will be 12 months plus and have started in man work and tracking and have a good standard obedience. We may also be able to offer some young Czech working line GSD adults to Police and service homes only. For Information Call Us On. Upcoming Litters What customers say about our puppies "Dedicated to a fault is only one way I would describe her, there are so many positives.Dedication, patience, and caring are truly not strong enough words. Audrey and I discussed her breeding line and I was most impressed! She took the time to explain her dog's lines, what some of them had gone on to do : police, detection, protections, pets - it was impressive. I was beyond happy that Audrey not only had the experience, but also had the educational degrees to back up what she was saying. I did not meet Audrey when this litter was born but instead there were a few male puppies available black and sable but none had been actually chosen yet. Audrey put me down for a sable male per my request. I knew I would not see whatever puppy was to be mine except through videos, pictures, etc….She would send videos, pictures, and just general updates. Audrey was always available and responded quickly to any correspondence. I sometimes wondered when she slept with all these clients and pups. Dedicated to a fault is only one way I would describe her, there are so many positives. One day Audrey sent a particular video and I fell in love. It is the fairest way to allow clients to choose. Audrey and I continued to correspond sometimes daily and she was amazing. A day or so later, Audrey let me know that this little guy was mine. I believe that Audrey does everything within her power to ensure that clients do receive the puppy they want if the fit is correct. Now, we had to transport this little man. Audrey and I communicated a lot! I had never had a puppy brought to my door physically unseen. This was completely new to me yet, I know dogs are flown all over the world. Together, Audrey and I navigated this last leg of the journey and I could not have asked for more from her. Dedication, patience, and caring are truly not strong enough words to use when describing how Audrey was during this process. Audrey ended up keeping my pup who was named Malachi for an extra week. While he was there, she taught him his name and sent pictures and videos often. They certainly made my day! Since Malachi has arrived home, he is nothing short of amazing! He is exactly as Audrey described him and the litter Daisy x Maverick focused, well behaved, eager to learn, and dark stunning sable! Exactly what a great breeder should do. My experience with North Mountain Kennels was wonderful. If you are looking for a well bred high quality working German Shepherd l highly recommend North Mountain Kennels. Audrey is in a class all of her own and I am grateful that the stars aligned so that I was able to be blessed with one of her pups. He is a true gift and I look forward to all the days ahead with him. Thank you Audrey! Currently Available Puppies. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Hades and Kids: Versa, Voodoo, and Venice! Photo credit to Janette Arevalo! For over a decade now we have been breeding, training, and importing the Working Line German Shepherd. We specialize in Czech, Slovak, and West German working bloodlines, with our first litter being born in .Our dogs are carefully selected for balanced drives, excellent workability, and most importantly strong nerves. All of our dogs are health tested and certified for healthy hips, elbows, and full correct dentition must be examined before breeding. We also test our dogs for DM. A sound mind in a sound body is our philosophy. Our bloodlines are founded on dogs that are known for consistently producing high quality offspring. The goal here is to produce totally sound dogs with the versatility to work in whatever job necessary; whether it be sport, police work, personal protection, SAR, or loving family guardians. Our dogs live inside the home with my family and I will not breed a dog that cannot settle. My preference has always been a well balanced dog that is easy to live with in the house and engaging on the field. This page has a collection of useful information and research regarding nutrition, joint health, and training supplies. We have some very exciting upcoming litters for !

Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with joy, cuddles, and a few inevitable challenges. One of the most common questions new puppy owners ask is, "When can puppies go outside? Table of Contents Easiest Dog to Take Care of: Top 10 Breeds for a Happy Home Do you ever dream about having a furry best friend who loves to play fetch, gives the warmest cuddles, and greets you with the happiest tail wags every time you come home? A friend who is not just any dog, but the easiest dog to take care of? We know, it sounds like a dream come true, right? But we also understand that bringing a new puppy home is a big step. It's like adding a new member to your family, a little brother or sister.All French Bulldog Insights French Bulldog Breed Info If you're seeking an adorable companion with a charmingly squashed face, an easygoing personality, and a distinct penchant for lounging on the couch, the French Bulldog could just be your perfect match. With their signature bat ears and expressive eyes, French Bulldogs, or "Frenchies" as they are lovingly known, have captured the hearts of many dog lovers around the globe, consistently ranking among the most popular breeds. Renowned for their easy maintenance and the ability to thrive in apartment living, French Bulldogs are a city dweller's delight. Their small size, typically weighing under 28 pounds, makes them perfectly suited to compact urban spaces. However, their charming personalities and heartwarming companionship are universally loved, irrespective of city or countryside living. This breed's laid-back nature does not mean they're devoid of fun and play. On the contrary, French Bulldogs can be quite playful and are known for their often comical and entertaining antics, which only further endears them to their owners. Their affectionate demeanor, combined with a remarkably low barking tendency, makes them a joy to have around the house. French Bulldogs are sturdy, compact, and stocky, with a powerful muscular build that contradicts their small size. They have a smooth coat that comes in a variety of colors, from fawn and brindle to white and grey. Their facial expressions are human-like, and they're known to "talk" using a complex system of yawns, yips, and gargles. However, owning a French Bulldog does come with responsibilities. Their brachycephalic short-nosed nature makes them prone to certain health issues and less tolerant of extreme temperatures. Despite their muscular appearance, they are not the best swimmers, and care should be taken around bodies of water. Learn More Now What People Say All of our volunteers have full time jobs, families and other commitments, but we continue to make room in our hearts and homes for unwanted and neglected bulldogs in need of rescue. They're a compassionate group of volunteers helping connect loving bulldogs with loving families. My bulldog's foster mom, Casey, helped select the perfect furbaby for me. In my experience, IBR puts a lot of care and concern into matching potential parents to their new family member. Long after the adoption, IBR continues offering post-adoption support for our family. Thanks to IBR, my family is now complete with the addition of a very handsome bulldog. Thank you, IBR! When the time was right, Jeff and I were given the honor to be rescued by Mr. Humphries and Maggie. One month later, I met him and agreed to our first date, persuaded by the fact that I'd get to hang out with a really cute bulldog even if the date flopped! I met Cleo on our second date at the park, and two years later, she was the star of our engagement photos. She's a major diva, and we wouldn't haven't any other way! As Mike often tells Cleo, "Pops has a type! We found the process was appropriately diligent and thorough -- being a bulldog parent isn't a cakewalk after all. The additional "gift with purchase" was the IBR community and following the antics of fellow adoptive families and following the antics of our girl's foster family this organization gets everything right in our book. Indiana Bulldog Rescue was amazing to work with. Thank you IBR for extending our family! Even after the adoption they were there helping me understand the breed! They were a great support system for me and my bulldog! Christa West Deserree Simonson They do amazing work to unite bulldogs with loving forever home. We were blessed to find our baby Fiona through IBR. IBR is the quintessential rescue organization. An experience with IBR is a reflection of love and hope. Susy Murphy Amanda Jacob Very easy to work with! Perfect way to get the bully breed you love and still supporting adoption? We have answers. What are some fun facts about French Bulldog puppies for sale near Fort Wayne? French Bulldogs are a unique breed known for their charming personalities and appearance. Fun facts about them include that they are the 12th most popular breed of dog in the United States and they are the only breed registered that was bred as a companion animal. Their distinctive 'frog-like' posture comes from the strong muscles they have in their hind legs, giving them some of the most powerful hindquarters of any breed. In addition, on average their life expectancy is years, but with proper care and diet they can live for up to 16 years. Are French Bulldog puppies for sale in Fort Wayne non-shedding? French Bulldogs are generally not indulged into extensive shedding but they may lose a few hairs in some seasons due to normal moulting. These coats are rather short and smooth Thus, while they do not shed as much as many other breeds, they do need regular brushing to remove the dead hair. Additionally, they may require occasional shedding baths which will undoubtedly reduce the shedding. Nevertheless, it's wise to groom them consistently to keep the shedding to a minimum. What do Fort Wayne French Bulldog puppies for sale eat? French Bulldogs are carnivorous, so they need a diet that is made up of meat proteins. To keep your Frenchie healthy, make sure to feed them high-quality, nutritionally balanced kibble specifically made for small to medium-sized breeds that are high in protein and low in fat. You should also supplement their meals with some wet or canned food, and give them some high-quality treats for positive reinforcement. Before bringing home a French Bulldog, it is a good idea to stock up on a few essential items. A comfortable and well-made bed with durable covers will give your pup a place to rest and sleep. Familiar items that smell like home can help ease a puppy's transition. Additionally, a secure leash and harness, high-quality food and water dishes, appropriate toys, and grooming supplies, like toothpaste and brushes, should all be purchased. A good food and water diet should also be established before bringing your French Bulldog home. What sizes do French Bulldogs for sale in Fort Wayne come in? French Bulldogs come in a variety of sizes depending on the breed. Generally they can range from inches tall and weigh from pounds. These small but robust dogs come with a variety of shapes dependent on their parentage. Some French Bulldogs are stockier and have larger heads, while others may be sleeker with a long body and finer muzzle. In France, sizes are based on the French system of measurements, and can range from 11 inches to 16 inches. Regardless of size, all French Bulldogs have a short muzzle and sturdy body with a fuzzy face. Yes, you can take your French Bulldog running, but it may not be safe. French Bulldogs are known to have breathing problems and can easily overheat. Before taking your French Bulldog running, make sure they are in shape. A good rule of thumb is to gradually increase the distance and speed of your running sessions. Additionally, it is important to monitor the temperature, as running in heat and humidity could be dangerous. Also, stay on softer surfaces like grass or dirt during your runs to help relieve pressure on their joints. Finally, remember to always bring plenty of fresh water for your pup. Are French Bulldogs in Fort Wayne good for first-time owners? French Bulldogs can make wonderful pets for first-time owners. Many owners appreciate their companionable yet independent nature, while their small size appeals to those who live in apartments or have limited living space. Being highly social animals, French Bulldogs enjoy the company of their humans and best thrive when they are able to spend time with them. They are relatively easy to train and are known for being obedient and loyal. Frenchies are also a less active breed, which makes them perfect for first-time owners who may not be able to commit to long walks. Is training Fort Wayne French Bulldogs for sale easy? Training a French Bulldog can be easy depending on a few factors. First, it is important to establish the ground rules right away and commit to reinforcing those established rules consistently. Building a bond with your dog, especially a French Bulldog, is equally important as being consistent and firm. When your pet understands how you expect them to behave — they're more likely to obey and train easier. Additionally, French Bulldogs respond well to positive reinforcement, so a reward system can be used to reinforce desirable behaviors. Clever personality French Bulldog Temperament French bulldogs are very easy-going pups and are considered the ultimate lap dog. The French bulldog temperament is one-of-a-kind, switching from couch potato to an Indy racer. French bulldogs are freethinkers and will do what they want, which can sometimes help or hinder their training. There are other French bulldog colors like black and white, and blue, but those coat colors are not recognized by the AKC. French Bulldog Health This breed is sensitive to heat and prone to breathing issues due to the structure of their signature wrinkled face. So keep an eye on the temperature of your home and pay close attention to your pup when you are playing in the sun or getting in that minute daily walk on hotter days. What to Expect Living with French Bulldog Puppies French bulldogs are considered one of the best indoor dog breeds and best dogs for apartment living. Frenchies generally sleep for about 12 to 14 hours a day when they reach maturity, but as a pup, expect up to 18 hours a day. Training a French Bulldog Puppy Since this breed is full of free thinkers, they can be a bit stubborn when it comes to training. With research and loving commitment, we as Havanese breeders , Coton de Tulear, and French bulldog breeders in Nappanee, Indiana, have been able to raise some of the most outstanding pups. Wayne, Indiana, and Chicago, we are dedicated to providing the best Havanese puppies , Coton de Tulear and French bulldog puppies to wonderful families who will love and care for them. Family Puppies takes great pride in our French bulldog puppies for sale in Indiana and would love to help you in deciding which puppy is right for you and your family. For more information about our French bulldog puppies, call us at ! Quick Contact. Family Raised The French Bulldog puppies listed on this page were all born and raised at our facility and given lots of tender love and care in a family environment. Please know that we take the lives of these puppies very seriously and have done everything to the best of our abilities to make sure they are happy and healthy. We are not a puppy mill and never will be. Have Questions? We are available by either phone, email or live chat as much as possible. Hitting the Live Chat button at the bottom right of the screen is probably the most effective way to reach us if you have a question. Please do not hesitate to call us though if you want to talk! Adopt Responsibly Who can resist the temptation to adopt a puppy that is as cute as a french bulldog! However, one must consider whether or not they have the means to propoerly support and care for one before they impulsively bring one home. In fact, impulsive buying is probably the greatest threat facing dogs in general. So we ask that you please adopt responsibly. Thank You for visiting our website! We warmly welcome you to come visit us and our Frenchies! We believe that treating others as we would want to be treated is central to living a life of integrity. Of course, that would include our pets as well! We are not a puppy mill and take great pride in providing excellent care for our dogs. So you are welcome to come see our facilities and see for yourself why we have fallen in love with French Bulldogs!

Country Life June 21, This picture could only be improved if the puppies were using their paws to cover ears, eyes and mouth respectively.But, well, you can't have everything. Credit: Alamy If you're after a labrador — aka 'the world's favourite dog' — you'll need to take some expert advice. It is one of the most versatile breeds, capable of working in search and rescue, as a guide dog, in medical detection, as a sniffer or assistance dog and in the theatre of war. Labrador tips from the experts Go to a specialist breeder, so that you can see the different generations of a breeding line. Make temperament, not sex, your overriding factor when choosing. As soon as your puppy wakes up, take it outside. When introducing the labrador to a lead, walk it with an older dog. A yellow Labrador puppy. Possible labrador problems to look out for Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease, causing the abnormal development of the hip socket, resulting in pain and lameness. Listen for a popping sound when the dog walks, and look for reluctance to use stairs, as well as sensitivity when you touch the hindquarters. Labradors can also be prone to retinal dysplasia, an inherited condition that affects labradors used for field work, and results in their developing blind spots. Generally, the dog can work around this by changing head position. Reputable breeders will be able to show certification that the dog has no eye conditions, which you should ask to see when buying a dog. Head and skull: Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without fleshy cheeks. Jaws of medium length, powerful not snippy. Nose wide, nostrils well developed. Eyes: Medium size, expressing intelligence; brown or hazel. Ears: Not large or heavy, hanging close to head and set rather far back. Mouth: Jaws and teeth strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. Coat: Distinctive feature, short dense without wave or feathering, giving fairly hard feel to the touch; weather-resistant undercoat. No need to scroll down: we can confirm that the Golden Retriever is indeed on the list below. Credit: Alamy Which is the more popular spaniel, the springer or the cocker? Shooting Times's David Tomlinson weighs up the pros and Close up of dog. Credit: Getty Images With a silken coat, affectionate nature and boundless enthusiasm for life, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel lives up to its Credit: Getty As the dog world prepares for Crufts , we take a look at the breed of dog which has been A sprocker spaniel Picture: Alamy Whether you own labradors, springers, cockers or a mix of all three, debate over which gundog is best has raged Related. Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. Non-slip bottom dog dishes Puppies naturally move their dish around as they are eating, especially if the dish has a flat bottom that easily pushes around the floor. We have found that dishes with a non-slip bottom can help so that your puppy is not chasing around his food dish. Make sure that it is large enough. And since dogs grow fast, that means they will likely grow to that size within a year to a year and a half. Almost all dogs we train eat between 4 -6 cups of dog food a day. So, make sure that your dish is large enough to accommodate this many cups. Water dish It is vitally important that your puppy have access to clean water for drinking. With the puppies we raise, we have found that it can be challenging to keep a small water dish full, so we prefer to use these 2-gallon water dishes. They are easy to fill and allow us to only have to fill them a couple times a week instead of several times a day. We suggest that you introduce a lead to your puppy as they start to grow in confidence and walk further from you when outside. There are two great reasons to do this early on. First it teaches your puppy how to handle the pressure of not being able to go wherever they want whenever they want. And it keeps your puppy from developing a habit of running away from you. A Flexi-lead works especially well if you want to give your puppy a little more freedom to go do his potty business but still keep control. Toys Puppies need toys. If you do not give them toys that they CAN chew and play with, they will chew on your sofa leg, or a book or a blanket or anything else they can find. So, purchase some good durable puppy chew toys. But watch your pup carefully. As they get older and stronger, they will be able to rip apart cloth toys and ingest them. Or they will chew rubber toys into small pieces and eat them. When your pup gets strong enough to destroy toys, it is time to take away the puppy toys and give them only dog toys designed for older , larger dogs or quality rawhides that they can chew that will not cause digestive problems. Stay away from rope toys. Many puppies have managed to ingest strings and ropes requiring surgery to remove them. Puppy-sized bumper If your plan is for your Labrador puppy to become a hunting or competition dog, you should have a puppy sized bumper. Learn more about teaching your puppy to fetch in this post. Barriers I recommend that you section off a small portion of your home and not let your puppy have full run of the entire house. Learn more about housebreaking your Lab puppy in this post. To section off a part, it can be helpful to have some child-gates available or an area of your home that you can close doors. This means that you need to show your puppy where the boundaries are and what is and is not allowed. To do this, you will need a few more tools. This is often when we see dogs that are running away from their owners, playing keep-a-way when retrieving and just basically being naughty. A lot of this could be avoided with the use of a check cord. Yes, a check cord can be cumbersome and often a pain to use, but it only takes one or two times of your puppy running away from you to make it worth it. Put a check cord on your puppy and allow them to drag it around with them. This alone is a great lesson for a dog. Dragging the weight is a type of pressure that they will need to learn to deal with. Occasionally, step on the rope and allow your dog to feel the pressure of being stopped and controlled. These sound like such minor things, but you would be surprised how much more well-adjusted your puppy will be just from learning these minor lessons. Chain or prong collar As your puppy gets stronger, it will get more and more difficult to control your puppy with a lead just hooked up to a nylon collar. As you notice that your puppy is getting harder to control, is pulling you around or dragging you down the street, you need to move to a chain or prong collar. Actually, it would be best if you changed to a chain or prong collar long before this becomes an issue. Remember, it is always easier to fix problems when they are small rather than waiting for them to become huge problems. Larger bumpers for retrieving dogs As your dog gets larger, you will want to move away from the puppy bumper and start using regular sized retrieving bumpers. We prefer to use plastic or rubber bumpers since they do not get as dirty or smelly as the canvas ones. They also last a lot longer and can be used for both water and land retrieves. Learn all about the different bumpers used for training hunting dogs here. Orange is a color that is difficult for retrievers to see, so that color should not be used for young dogs that are just learning about retrieving and hunting. Save the orange ones for advanced dogs working on blind retrieves. Final thoughts on What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? There are many things that you will need for your new puppy both now and in the future. Take some time to prepare before you bring your puppy home so that you will avoid buying things on impulse that you may or may not need. If you are planning on using your puppy as a hunting or competition dog, check out 6 vital tools every gun dog trainer needs. You can email me at ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on.

Short, smooth, shiny and fine Colour Brindle a mixture of black and coloured hairs , pied mostly white , fawn Size Height 28 cm — .How much is a French Bulldog? How much a French Bulldog can cost can also vary based on the colour of their fur. Fawn Frenchies can range from very light to very dark beige brown, when their fur is a mix of black and fawn it is considered brindle fur. These are the most desired coat colours and typically cost more. French Bulldog personality French Bulldogs are playful, lively and easy-going. Despite being excellent watchdogs, Frenchies rarely bark, which makes them a top choice for city living. The breed commonly gets on well with other dogs, cats and children, making them a great addition to any household and especially for first-time dog owners. When do French Bulldogs stop growing? French bulldogs generally stop growing in height at nine to twelve months. This will increase as the summer months approach, and so you should introduce a weekly brushing routine to keep on top of their moulting. After washing, each of their skinfolds should be dried carefully. To prevent infection, you should also clean their ears every week. How to train a French Bulldog French bulldogs should be trained from a very young age. They can be strong-willed, so boundaries will need to be set early in life. As a companion breed, French Bulldogs love to please and respond well to positive reinforcement when training. Introduce them to different people, places and other dogs to avoid anxiety when taking them outdoors, again, this is most effective when done from a young age. How much exercise does a French Bulldog need? Your French bulldog should get at least an hour of daily exercise. Although, due to their short muzzles and breathing problems, you should let your pooch set the pace of your walks. Your dog should be well trained before you even consider taking them off their lead, but if you have a back garden, letting your Frenchie wander around and explore is completely fine. During the summer, ensure your dog has water to drink to help prevent them from overheating. How long do French Bulldogs live? The average lifespan of a French Bulldog is between ten and fourteen years. They can be prone to putting on weight, so only give them treats sparingly to ensure they live a long and fruitful life. What health issues could a French Bulldog experience? Folds and wrinkles in the tissue obstructs the airways, causing noisy breathing and a reluctance to exercise. In some cases, it also causes pain when swallowing and regurgitation of food. The problem can be managed by keeping the dog at a healthy weight. Surgery is the only way to treat BAOS, by removing excess tissue and opening up the airway. Dystocia This condition refers to birthing difficulties that can occur at any stage of labour. The cause could be foetal, maternal or a combination. Foetal abnormalities, abnormal foetal positioning and birth canal abnormalities are examples of possible causes. A vet will need to assist with the delivery of the puppies. A caesarean section may be the best option. Intervertebral disc herniation slipped disc The spine is a collection of bones vertebrae that contain the spinal cord. Intervertebral discs are spongy, doughnut-shaped pads that sit between the vertebrae. When one of these discs ruptures it pushes into the spinal cord, disrupting the nerve transmissions. This can happen as a result of trauma or premature ageing. A slipped disc causes pain, so the dog will hang their head low and round their back. In most cases, surgery is needed to treat the problem, but sometimes strict rest and drug treatment is enough. Recently added a French Bulldog to the family? Remember to protect yourself from unexpected vet bills with Argos Pet Insurance provided by Pinnacle Insurance plc. Explore our Dog insurance policies today. Please keep in mind that these are estimates to give you a general idea of how tall your French Bulldog puppy will be. At what age is a French Bulldog fully grown? A French Bulldog will reach close to their full weight around eight to twelve months old and maximum height around nine to twelve months of age. French Bulldogs will continue to slowly fill out anywhere between nine to fifteen months of age. They are considered fully grown around 12 to 14 months old, but may continue to put on muscle until they are two years old. How big should a 6-month-old French Bulldog be? A male French Bulldog will weigh between 17 and 22 pounds at six months old and have an average weight of .A six-month-old female French Bulldog will weigh between 13 and 20 pounds with an average weight of 17 pounds. Both male and female French Bulldogs will stand around seven to nine inches on average. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. French Bulldogs usually reach their full height when they are between nine and twelve months old. As short dogs, French Bulldogs barely double in height from three months of age to 1 year old. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, this is a telltale sign that they are still growing! What is the size of a full-grown French Bulldog? Most female French Bulldogs will weigh about 17 to 24 pounds, while male French Bulldogs weigh about 20 to 28 pounds. Both male and female French Bulldogs will stand 11 to 13 inches tall and have a muscular, heavy-boned build. How do I make sure my French Bulldog is healthy? As a purebred dog breed, French Bulldogs are more prone to genetic health problems. In particular, French Bulldogs are predisposed to skin problems, ear infections, diarrhea, eye problems, spinal injury and respiratory distress caused by their brachycephalic syndrome. Brachycephalic syndrome causes them to have a flat nose and shorter esophagus, creating a heightened risk of breathing problems. The Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that about half of French Bulldogs have significant breathing problems and .In addition to this, French Bulldogs are prone to obesity , which can lead to type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, disc disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, and further respiratory issues. Pro Tip: Compare pet insurance plans to save on veterinary expenses and ensure that the cost of care never interferes with the essential treatment your pet deserves. Most French Bulldogs do well with a leisurely walk or active playtime. Be careful with taking your French Bulldog out in hot weather though as their brachycephalic syndrome makes them prone to overheating and heat stroke. As a general rule temperatures over 80 degrees should be avoided for French Bulldogs. As loving pet parents, we never want to think the worst could happen to our furbaby. However, we must prepare for both everyday costs, like vaccinations and veterinarian appointments, and emergencies. Dog Insurance is here to help you with emergency costs, as well as expected costs like veterinarian care see the wellness options many pet insurance plans offer. Only .Pet insurance can help you provide your pup with quality routine and emergency care. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Key Takeaways On average, French Bulldogs weigh between pounds at age one, with inches in height. French Bulldogs stop growing around months old, so pet owners should be mindful of weight gain after their first birthday. As a breed, French Bulldogs are exceptionally prone to obesity, which can worsen breathing problems and lead to a number of secondary health concerns. Use our French Bulldog growth chart to monitor your puppy's weight and ensure they stay within a healthy range. Pet insurance promotes positive veterinary care and offsets the cost of services should your Frenchie get sick or injured at any point in life. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. French bulldogs go through several growth and developmental stages as they mature from puppies to adults. Socialization stage weeks : This is when French Bulldog puppies start to become more social and start to learn how to interact with people and other dogs. They become more active and playful. Adult stage years : This is when French Bulldogs are fully mature and have developed their adult personalities. They may become less active as they age but still require regular exercise and mental stimulation. Understanding the developmental stages of a French Bulldog can help you provide the appropriate care and training for your pup at each stage of their life. By providing proper care and socialization, you can help ensure that your Frenchie grows up to be a well-adjusted and happy adult dog. Most Frenchies are born via cesarian C-section due to dystocia — a medical term used to diagnose a difficult birthing experience. Brachycephalic breeds are predisposed to have a difficult birth because of the size of their head and narrow female pelvis. So, what is a French Bulldog litter size? On average, French Bulldogs have a 3 puppy litter, higher litter size is unusual due to the size of the dog. During the neonatal, aka newborn, stage: Puppies are blind, deaf, and toothless. Touch and taste are immediately present after birth. Their mother has the most influence over the puppy. She will feed them and keep them warm too. Puppies will mostly nurse and sleep during this stage. At the transitional, aka baby, stage: Their sense of hearing and smell will develop. Their eyes will open and will develop. Puppies teeth will begin to appear. Also, puppies will start to move. They begin to stand, take their first steps, wag their tail, and even bark. During the socialization stage, the highlights are: By 3 to 5 weeks, play becomes important as puppies become aware of their surroundings. From weeks 3 to 4, pups develop control over their bladder and bowel movements. This is when they start learning to leave their sleeping area before relieving themselves. From 4 to 6 weeks, puppies start learning dog social skills such as play, interaction with littermates, the inhibited bite, etc. Pups also explore their social boundaries, how to communicate effectively with other dogs and improve physical coordination. From the 4th week, puppies begin forming emotional attachments and bonds with the people around them. A good time to meet your future pup. Between 6 to 8 weeks, puppies should start receiving vaccinations source: American Kennel Club. After being fully weaned, pups start to be ready to leave their canine birth family and go to their new human homes. By 7 to 9 weeks, puppies can begin to be housetrained , including potty training. At 9 to 12 weeks, puppies can start learning basic commands as they start focusing on people their new parents. Socialize your French Bulldog daily. At the ranking, aka teenage, stage: French Bulldogs start teething. It will last for several months. You are the main influencer for your pup. They become more active and playful, and their energy levels increase. This is a good time to start more advanced obedience training and socialization. Usually, French Bulldogs reach adulthood between 9 to 12 months of age. They may also experience a growth spurt during this time. They may become less active and playful than when they were puppies, but they still require regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Senior French Bulldog Stage The senior stage is not typically included as one of the developmental stages because it is not a stage of growth and development like the other stages. Instead, it is a stage of aging and gradual decline in physical and cognitive abilities. During the senior stage, French Bulldogs may experience age-related health issues, such as arthritis, vision or hearing loss, and cognitive decline. However, with proper care and attention, they can still enjoy a good quality of life well into their senior years. This includes: Regular veterinary check-ups. A healthy and balanced diet. Regular exercise. And accommodations for any age-related issues they may be experiencing. French Bulldog Growth Chart This chart will give you a guideline for what to expect on how fast your French Bulldog grows and how quickly he or she will gain weight. The early months are critical. The timing is vital. Some apply to all dogs, such as distemper and rabies. If your French Bulldog is in contact with other pups, you should get him a kennel cough vaccine. Likewise, if you take him on the trail with you, consider getting him a Lyme disease vaccine. They are starting to learn social skills and how they fit in the hierarchy with their littermates. They are becoming more independent and starting to show signs of their unique personalities that will define them as adults. Socialization is critical at this age as it will determine how well he gets along with other people and pets. Anything is fair game for this pup. You can transition him to a dog food for pups at this life stage. A French Bulldog reaches his adult size at 12 months. Unfortunately, this pup has a relatively high tendency to gain weight. That puts him at risk for many chronic health conditions that can complicate the ones associate with him being a brachycephalic breed. That brings a host of other health issues that advisable to avoid. While breeding also can have adverse effects, keeping your pet intact may offer a viable option. More likely, stunted growth is the outcome. Growing up takes a lot of energy. The danger of stunted growth also extends toward so-called teacup varieties. These pups are at a greater risk for health problems because of their size. We recommend buying puppies from reputable breeders who understand the particular needs of the French Bulldog. The best way to gauge the weight of your French Bulldog is to look down at his body shape from above him. He should have a well-defined waist. You should also be able to feel his ribs. The feeding guidelines on the back of the package or can are not written in stone. Base his feeding schedule on his current weight and state of health. An online calorie calculator can help you plan his mealtimes correctly. Conclusion The cuteness of the French Bulldog makes it easy to overfeed him. His cute face begs for a treat. It will reduce his risk of chronic health conditions and improve his quality of life. After all, you want him to hang around as long as possible as your BFF. See also:. Call Vic Kasser or Email! A French Bulldog is considered a small to medium breed dog depending on the Sire and Dam size and weight. One of the first questions anyone asks when considering purchasing a dog or puppy is how big will it get? This is a very relevant and important question considering your need to ensure your puppy is cared for appropriately in your home. Double Up: Generally, an adult dog will weigh about twice as much as he did when he was 4 months of age; giant breeds will double what they weighed at 5 months. Four Fold: The weight of your puppy at 8 weeks is a quarter of his adult weight. You can also obtain the weight of the sire father and dam mother of purebred puppies. Female puppies will weigh about what their dam weighs. Male puppies will weigh about what their sire weighs. Try Puppyweights. Factors Affecting Growth While much of a French Bulldog's growth is determined by genetic factors, early environmental factors also affect growth. Puppies who nurse frequently in the first weeks of life get better nutrition and are more likely to grow quickly. A healthy diet after your puppy is weaned can also affect her growth rate. Puppies who don't get enough food or who get low-quality food may end up smaller. Overfeeding can cause your dog to become obese. Medical conditions may also affect growth. French Bulldogs who are sick in the first few weeks of life tend to be smaller. Estimating Adult Size You can estimate your puppy's adult size by weighing her at eight weeks. Be sure to get the weight in ounces, since French Bulldogs don't grow very large and a few ounces can make a difference. Double this number and then double it again. For example, if your French Bulldog is 88 ounces at six weeks, double it to get ounces, then double the number again to get ounces. Divide this number by 16 to get your dog's weight in pounds. The ounce puppy will be about 22 pounds as an adult. Growth Rate On average, French Bulldogs tend to grow to their full size height at the withers and length from the base of their neck to their rear-end between the ages of 9 months to a year, and then they tend to "fill in" and bulk-up during their second year, fully maturing by the time they're around 2. During their growth stages, puppies can certainly grow to be heavy, and then they start getting leaner and more toned in their second year, so it's not unusual for a puppy to be heavier when they're under a year, and then drop a couple of pounds in their second year. Small-breed dogs, such as Chihuahuas, do not have room in their bodies for large litters, therefore they tend to produce only two to four puppies per pregnancy. Large-breed dogs, such as Great Danes, usually have larger litters, 10 to 12 puppies being common. Breed type also impacts the size of the newborns. Small-breed puppies are typically several inches smaller than large-breed puppies, regardless of the number of dogs in the litter. Small Puppies the Mother's Health Unusually small puppies are not a result of large litters. Instead, their size can usually be traced back to the health and nutrition of the mother dog before and during her pregnancy. Because the unborn puppies share the nutrition she takes in from her food, she needs an ample diet to properly nourish the puppies. Without sufficient food, the puppies will not reach appropriate size and may suffer health problems. According to veterinarian Kathleen Hefner, writing for the American Kennel Club, most puppies who die soon after birth were probably born from malnourished mothers. Litter Size Problems Even though litter size does not impact puppy size, large litters can cause problems for the mother dog and her new babies. If the mother's uterus attempts to carry more puppies than she can physically handle, her life and the puppies lives can be threatened. Also, large litters tend to produce more stillborn puppies and runts. With so many neonatal puppies vying for nutrition, those in the center of the womb often do not get sufficient nourishment, which can cause them to be born small or to die. Great Pyrenees breeder Catherine de la Cruz warns that large litters can trigger earlier-than-expected whelping, which can be a problem for the puppies unprepared human grandparents. Predicting Litter Size While accurately predicting the size of an expectant mom's litter is difficult, some other factors do contribute. Research shows older mother dogs have smaller litters than younger canine moms. Also, dogs who had their first litter at an older age will have smaller litters. The mother's weight can be a factor. Obese female dogs tend to have smaller litters than healthy-weight dogs. However, any pregnant mom can experience a large litter relative to normal within her breed. Dog litter sizes vary from one puppy to more than a dozen newborns. The recorded largest litter had .While litter size can impact many aspects of whelping and raising puppies, it does not actually impact the size of the individual puppies. The parents genes, the puppys breed, and the mother's health and nutrition determine the puppies size at birth. This is just a tool to be used along with observations of mom and dad weight, bone structure, previous puppy mature weights and more! However, we'll still link The file. French Bulldog Adults: Average Weight and Height On average, a full-bred adult French Bulldog weighs between 18 and 28 pounds and is 11 to 12 inches tall. Again, this can vary, and all pups grow at different rates. Everything you need to know about French Bulldog weight can be read here. Can I predict the size that my French Bulldog puppy will be? Double up: Typically, an adult dog will weigh twice as much as it did when it was 4 months old. This may vary. You can also compare your pup to the height of their mother for females or their father for males. Genetics As mentioned, genetics play a major role in the size of a puppy. A high-quality breeder will happily answer questions. A responsible breeder also ensures that the mother is provided with top-notch nutrition before breeding. Diet Like with plants and babies, puppies need proper nutrition in order to grow. Keep in mind some dogs show less interest in food and may not finish their entire bowls at meal times. Vets tend to recommend giving your dog a certain amount of time to eat. After a certain amount of time is up, you pick up the bowl with the remaining food. This is to train your dog that they need to eat all of their food at one time, or they will have to wait until the next scheduled meal time. Check out this complete guide to French Bulldog food. Mental Health If a French Bulldog is under stress or suffers from anxiety, it may show a loss of appetite. If you notice your pup being uninterested in meal times, try changing up its food. When is a French Bulldog full grown? Is my French Bulldog overweight? You can determine if your French Bulldog is overweight by noticing the following: Stand over your Frenchie and feel their ribs. You should be able to feel the ribs, but not see them. While Frenchies may show difficulty breathing due to being a Brachycephalic breed short muzzles can cause obstructive breathing , dogs of a healthy weight should be able to exercise at least for a bit without struggling. Of course, getting a second opinion from your vet is the best way to determine if your French Bulldog is overweight. Can I help my French Bulldog lose weight? Providing your pup with regular exercise and a balanced diet that includes protein, fat, fiber, and water and following the serving size provided on the nutrition facts is the best way to ensure your Frenchie is at a healthy weight. Wholesome food made with natural, high-quality ingredients like this can help your pup maintain a healthy weight. Less active dogs, like French Bulldogs, should eat about 25 calories per pound a day. So, if your pup is 20 pounds and eating about calories daily, its daily treats should consist of about 50 calories. Apple slices and carrots are nutritious, tasty treats. Is my French Bulldog underweight? Can I help my French Bulldog gain weight? When a pup gains too much fat instead of healthy fats combined with muscle, it can face health issues such as joint, heart, and lung problems. If your pup seems to be underweight according to the French Bulldog growth chart or it looks malnourished, certainly contact your vet. Disclosure HappyFrenchBulldog. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. Contact Have questions about our content? Contact us at info [at] happyfrenchbulldog. Footer Nav. French bulldogs count as a dwarf breed of dog, meaning they are pretty small. Dwarf breeds are known for their short stubby legs and sausage-shaped bodies. Other dwarf breeds include pugs, Scottish terriers, welsh corgis, and dachshunds. The average size of a french bulldog typically falls between 11 and 13 inches in height. The ideal weight for a Frenchie depends on several factors such as sex and age , but a good rule of thumb is that adults of 1 year or more will weigh between 16 and 28 pounds. French Bulldog Growth Stages French bulldogs do most of their growing in the first year of their lives. In that time, they go from helpless ounce neonates to fully mature adult dogs. If you are adopting a young Frenchie especially if you are adopting a puppy , this section is for you. Use it to identify the stages all Frenchies go through so you can prepare to nurture your new family member into a happy, healthy adult. They rely heavily on their mothers for food and care. Like human infants, neonatal Frenchies spend most of their time nursing and sleeping. At this stage, french bulldog puppies will begin to open their eyes, develop their sense of hearing and smell, and start taking their first steps. You can expect to see a puppy barking, wagging its tail , and walking by the end of this stage. They will also begin to grow their first set of teeth. At the beginning of the socialization stage, french bulldog puppies are still highly dependent on their mothers. Still, they will begin to engage in social behaviors with the creatures around them. They will play , explore their surroundings, and start forming social attachments. Puppies cannot be safely separated from their mothers until they are at least eight weeks old, but the 4th week is the ideal stage for you to meet the puppy you intend to adopt. They will also become amenable to house training and learning simple commands. You can take a French bulldog training course like this one as well at this time to make it go smoother. The six-week mark is also the best time for a puppy to get vaccinated. During the ranking stage, your puppy will lose its baby teeth and, as a result, begin teething. At this stage, french bulldog puppies typically reach sexual maturity. You should plan to have your dog spayed or neutered between the ages of 4 and 6 months. That was a lot of changes in a concise time. During the adolescent stage, your Frenchie will continue to grow, but its growth will begin to slow. Most french bulldogs will reach their adult size by the time they are about one year old. French Bulldog Size Chart That was a lot of information all at once, right? Not to worry! Here is an outline of the average size of a french bulldog throughout its first year. Bear in mind that all bulldogs are different, and every puppy matures at different rates. Excellent nutrition is important in order to have a healthy and happy dog. There are many varieties of food out there; wet, dry, freeze dried, raw, or cooked. Regardless of what food you decide on, they do need to be on a high-quality and nutritionally balanced dog food. What are the signs of high-quality dog food? The food should contain lean meat-based protein sources such as chicken , turkey , pork and beef. Feeding Your French Bulldog at Different Life Stages Once your puppy is fully grown, generally, between months of age they will progress on adult dog food. As young puppies, they have a huge requirement for calories and high-quality ingredients to promote puppy growth. Puppies grow rapidly during the first six months of their life and they continue growing more after this period. Without proper nutrition, they might be stunted and underweight. Check out our other article to learn how to switch puppy to two meals per day! Once your puppy is fully grown, generally, between months of age they will progress to adult dog food. This food will provide the nutrients and calories required to maintain an adult weight. Very active dogs will need more calories while sedentary dogs will need less. Dogs that have been neutered will have slightly different nutritional requirements than other adult dogs. They generally need fewer calories to prevent weight gain which can happen in the months after neutering surgery. This can be achieved by feeding a diet with relatively low carbohydrates and high-quality lean protein. Senior dogs require highly digestible foods and a good source of omega fatty acids for potentially stiff joints. They might require varying levels of protein depending on their kidney function and body condition. Good quality nutrition will keep your dog at optimal body condition and health. Feeding stage-of-life specific recipes allows your dog to have the optimal nutrients for the life stage they are in. However, regardless of small differences, most dogs will loosely follow the growth chart below. Age of French Bulldog.

What is an "original" Australian Labradoodle? The Australian Labradoodle is different from all other labradoodles. Dogs from this cross typically were bred to each other over future generations, whereby the Australian dogs are also know as "Multi-generational" Labradoodles. The resulting labradoodles subsequently have been bred to each other, continuing the multi-generational tradition. Even when the other types of Labradoodles are bred on for generations, the result is not an Australian Labradoodle, as the attributes of the infused breeds were not included in their ancestry. The Australian Labradoodle Club of America was founded exclusively to foster and protect the original Australian Labradoodles that have come directly from Tegan Park and Rutland Manor breeding stock, or their offspring. Our mission is to maintain and improve the quality and soundness of the Australian Labradoodles, and to carefully monitor the further development of the breed. All member breeders are carefully screened to help ensure the future of the Australian Labradoodle. Our member breeders must breed to the highest standards. We have Breeder Mentors to assist member breeders and to help new breeders get off to a good start. If someone in your family has allergies, a multi-generation Australian Labradoodle from Red Desert Doodles should be your first choice. Each of our breeding dogs is fully health tested before they are eligible for breeding. Our puppies all come with a two year health guarantee. Where in the world are our Red Desert Doodles Families? Follow Us On Instagram. Here are the top 3 Labradoodle Breeders in San Diego. Shadow Mountain Labradoodles The main aim of the Shadow Mountain Labradoodles is to provide people with physical impairments with a lovely service dog. These breeds are also hypoallergenic in nature which makes them an ideal choice for people with allergies. They begin to train their dogs at a very young age so that they can develop their socialization skills and other skills. These dogs are also a good choice if you already have a pet at home. Labradoodles are extremely social with people and other animals too! This is one of the best shelters in San Diego if you are considering adopting a furry Labradoodle companion! The main aim of this shelter is to find a loving home for all their adorable little puppies. They have a puppy nursery complete with dog toys and accessories to help them socialize and play well with the other Labradoodle puppies. They also have their own personal veterinarian who regularly monitors the pups. We also practice regular vaccinations and breed testing in order to make sure they are not prone to any genetic diseases. They also give you a complete experience. Even before your pup is born, the Moo Cow Labradoodles keeps you updated with regular X-Ray pictures and pictures of when they were born to help make you feel included. This will also help you develop a connection with the pup right from the early stages! Their puppy nanny will bring them right to you! These pups are well-behaved, well-trained, and lovable animals and make for an ideal companion for your home. Contact Information Email address: moocowlabradoodles gmail. Rosebud Labradoodles The Rosebud Labradoodles is a small shelter run by a family of dog lovers. They have years of experience in breeding Australian Labradoodles, and they consider their dogs to be a part of their family. The main goal of Rosebud Labradoodles is to provide homes with healthy, happy little Labradoodle puppies in San Diego! They start training at a young age, as most breeders do. However, they use a unique approach to training these adorable canines. Since these puppies love listening to their masters, they are very easy to train. As a result, you get a highly disciplined dog for your home. They also recommend that the owners continue training the puppies this way so that they will retain this knowledge and stay well-behaved and disciplined. That being said, Rosebud Labradoodles still retain their rights of breeding and will handle all the expenses needed for breeding purposes. If you are interested in adopting your furry friend from Rosebud Labradoodle, all you need to do is simply fill out an application form and submit it. You will automatically be put on the waiting list, and if your application is selected and approved, the team at the shelter will reach out to you. Every pup has its own needs and requirements. It is known for its ability to assist people who are physically impaired. This makes them an ideal companion for those who have allergies and are looking for low-maintenance dogs. Temperament These dogs are known as very friendly, social dogs with people and other animals as well. So if you want to adopt a dog that will also get along with the other animals in your house, this is the perfect choice for you! They are also very gentle animals who require a lot of exercise and simulation. They have a lot of energy in them, and in order to release it, they constantly keep themselves active. They also require a lot of attention and leaving them by themselves for an extended period of time can cause them to become very restless. They are very easy to train as they love to please you. Training them from young ages will further help in improving their skills. Fitness Requirements As mentioned earlier, these dogs are highly energetic, and they require some form of physical activity to keep themselves healthy. A maximum of 2 hours of exercise is required every day for these animals. Possible Health Issues Labradoodles are usually less prone to catching diseases, unlike the parent breeds. However, there are a few diseases they can catch despite their immunity. Hip Dysplasia This is a genetic condition that can be acquired from one of the parent breeds of the pup. The ball and the socket of the hip do not join properly. This can cause them a lot of discomfort, especially when walking as the ball and the socket constantly rub and grind against each other. They can treat it with surgery, hydrotherapy, or pain medications. Infections Of The Ear Labradoodles usually have very droopy ears, making it very easy for them to get ear infections. The moisture in the ears can often get trapped easily because of the droopy ears, which attract many bacteria. You can easily identify that your pup has an ear infection just by the way they contact, shake and itch their ear. It is best recommended to take your doctor to a vet at this point and get it treated as soon as possible. Allergies Of The skin Labradoodle puppies in San Diego are pups extremely prone to allergies, especially those of the skin. A skin allergy to your Labradoodle can be triggered by fleas, dust, pollen, plastic, and so on. There is no specific cure for an allergy. But your vet will definitely prescribe your dog medication that can help ease the symptoms of an allergy. Retinal Atrophy Retinal Atrophy is a condition where the retina of the puppy starts to slowly deteriorate, which further leads to blindness. Initially, your Labradoodle might have only night blindness, but if this is left untreated, it can further into blindness during the daytime as well. Although there is no cure for Retinal Atrophy, Labradoodle puppies in San Diego can easily adjust to their surroundings. They will learn how to navigate around the room as long as the furniture remains unchanged. You need to find a puppy that is friendly with your children, animals, and other unfamiliar faces. Adopting an adorable little Labradoodle is the ideal choice in this scenario, but they are also an expensive long-term investment. In order to find your ideal dog, you need to look for quality breeders. There are plenty of Labradoodle puppies in San Diego. We hope our list of the three best Labradoodle breeders in San Diego helps you find the perfect companion for your home! 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. Learn more The last destination we recommend on our rundown of the best Labradoodle breeders in San Diego is Pococreek Labradoodles. Cindy and Ron Stickney are reputable breeders who offer quality Miniature, Medium, and Standard size Australian Labradoodle puppies to anyone in California and other surrounding states. Their coats have wavy or fleecy textures. They come with up-to-date vaccination and deworming records, a microchip registration, a month of pet insurance, pedigree forms, and a puppy starter pack with food samples, grooming equipment, and toys. However, these prices can differ from breeder to breeder. They can also charge extra for shipping them with a puppy nanny or meeting a family at the airport. Some questions you should ask a breeder about before purchasing a Labradoodle from them include: Their experience with the breed The types of health and temperament checks they perform for their breedable dogs and future litters. Inhumane breeders operating puppy mills prioritize selling their litters for profit without focusing on producing healthy pups or improving the breed. If your Labradoodle is prone to food allergies, consider reaching out to your vet about potential ingredients your pup might react to before switching to an alternative kibble formula. Create a chart for whenever you feed your Labradoodle or let them use the toilet to keep track of their daily routines. The number of times they eat and go throughout the day changes as your pup ages, so keep that in mind if you need to update their charts. Be sure to take your Labradoodle to the vet within the first few days of taking them home. Although your pup goes home with up-to-date deworming and vaccinations, additional blood and fecal testing can identify hidden issues early. Consider compiling a shopping list of supplies to pick up before taking your dog home, including puppy food, toys, a size and age-appropriate crate, and brushes for maintaining a non-shedding coat. Leave us a comment to share your thoughts. 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. Testimonials As a veterinarian I work with multiple breeders. Charl and Jerry Beauchat have been clients of mine for several years. Their dogs are always kept in great condition. Every puppy is health checked and micro-chipped prior to going to its new home. Providing healthy family members remains a priority of mine as well as theirs Jonathan CortezDVM We can not say enough about the integrity of your program. Pete and Jiffy …head and shoulders above the pack when it comes to a quality breeder…. Do yourself a favor and visit Charl and Shadow Mountain Labradoodles if you are considering a new puppy. We have made a full time commitment to our program. Three of us work full time with our dogs, puppies and families. Charl and Jerry are in Southern California, our daughter Jena, has branched out and is now carrying on our work in Oklahoma! We are also currently training 10 new Australian Labradoodle Breeders in California, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio to bless families and to protect this wonderful breed! Shadow Mountain Australian Labradoodles are bred with love and care in a home environment. We work hard to place our puppies in an environment where both the families and the puppies are set up for success. Quick Links. We have answers. In comparison, American Labradoodles are typically a cross between Poodles and Labs only. How much are Labradoodles San Diego? The price you see online for Labradoodle puppies will be different depending on the breeder. There are many factors that can affect price, including coat color and type, size, gender, and breeder experience. Will you only connect me with local San Diego Labradoodle breeders? How do you screen Labradoodle puppies for sale in San Diego? Our team processes loads of partner applications from prospective breeders and businesses, both near LA and elsewhere in the nation. There are so many puppy scams online nowadays, and the situation is frankly ridiculous. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are basically factories for dogs. These are places where profit takes precedence over ethics and animal care, and where dogs are treated like objects instead of living animals. Are there any Labradoodle puppies in San Diego available now? All you need to do to begin is start your MatchMaker process below, tell us a little about your dream dog, and our team will take care of the rest. MatchMaker is our process that we use to connect the right families with the right puppies, breeders and businesses. MatchMaker takes into account your preferences—like size, breed, temperament and more—and helps you match with current and upcoming Labradoodle litters we believe to be the best fit for your family.

Purebred Golden Retriever Puppies Buying a puppy is a big decision. We made that decision easy. Not knowing where your puppy has come from could lead to genetic health and socialization issues, and ultimately disappointment. There are even tons of puppy scams on the internet, some of which even try to imitate us! We believe dogs are not like family — they ARE family! Unlike other puppy adoption agencies in Ohio, we allow and actually encourage you to meet our Golden Retriever puppies for sale before you agree to take one home. Remember, too, that when it comes to getting a puppy, ultimately, you get what you pay for. You get a Golden Retriever you love, vetted for good health, from a breeder you trust. He has a very fun loving spirit and has made our family complete. Marcus and his family are very gracious and great to work with. We would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a Golden! She will be turning 9 months in a few weeks. I had a wonderful experience getting her through your company! So glad I got her. All Rights Reserved. One look and an instant calm will probably wash over you. Stress simply melts away. Because Golden Retrievers are notoriously loyal and obedient. They can look silly with their big goofy grins. Or they can look stoic and wise beyond their years with their striking, deep brown eyes. CutenessOverload Everything they do is adorable Just watching your pup go from an adorable average of 10 pounds right when you get them at 8 weeks old to a sizable 70 pounds at the year mark is cuter than anything you can imagine. Or falling asleep in your lap. Or busting your pup discreetly chewing on your brand new pair of sneakers in their new closet lair is the cutest. There are too many cute things! Everything will be adorable and glee-inducing if done by a Golden Retriever pup — even the behaviors that, by all logic, should annoy you to no end. This is a good thing because a puppy this adorable is definitely going to be a popular one. Golden Retriever puppies make friends with kids , adults, and other animals while keeping their trademark smiles on their faces. They are so friendly, in fact, that they may not be the best bet when looking for guard dogs. A Golden will usually greet any stranger, including during a break-in, with a welcoming smile on their face. But they will love you best Again, the loyalty of a Golden Retriever pup cannot be stressed enough; it is strong. At the end of the day, your athletic, big-pawed, adventurous, silly, and loving Golden pup will only have eyes for you. Fluffy Golden pup on bench Chunky Golden pup running through yard Golden puppy with big ears looking directly at camera Fluffy pup in a basket on grass Scrawny Golden pup in yard Golden puppy in lavender field Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. They're exceptionally clever dogs, and can often be found helping the blind, the police, and even rescue services. They're also extremely cute, and the only thing that I find sweeter than a Golden Retriever is a Golden Retriever puppy! Thankfully, people just love sharing pictures of these tiny cute puppies, and here are 14 of the best: 1. Golden Retrievers are born with an adventurous spirit. Playtime usually ends like this. How can anyone say 'No' to those puppy eyes? Cats and dogs don't quite seem to share the same sense of humor. He falls asleep smiling, and wakes up smiling too! This cuddly pup's birthmark makes him even cuter! Who wouldn't want to drive a car full of love? I can't ever take a picture of one puppy without the other getting in the way! My friend's puppy is just too cute for words! Regrets come in many forms. This is a common one in our house! Wouldn't want our baby to catch a cold. Who needs blankets to keep warm when you've got this many siblings? Is this a puppy or a polar bear? Motherly love in its sweetest form.

Actually, you can, when it comes to vegetables. Feeding vegetables is a great way to keep your dog healthy while also reducing costs and extra trips to the store to buy pet food. Just like us, dogs require a variety of organic foods and nutrients for a balanced diet. Veggies are rich in fiber, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and phyto-nutrients not found in meat. It's important to feed your dog different kinds of vegetables, as each type offers its own array of nutrients. How to Prepare Vegetables for Dogs The way you prep the vegetables is just as important as the vegetables themselves-chop small enough so your dog can't choke. For optimal benefits, the veggies will be pureed - see below. Here are some simple prep methods: Blanching Submerging vegetables quickly in boiling hot water and then very cold water, also known as blanching, is a great option for preparing vegetables. Blanching cleanses the surface of vegetables of dirt and retains both vitamins and flavor. It's also a healthy alternative for humans because no cooking oil is needed. For more information on different types of blanching, check out these instructions. Steaming Steam is an excellent method for cooking veggies that doesn't require submerging them in boiling water. Steaming cooks the vegetables through, while still preserving the bright color and flavor, and much of the nutrient content. Use these straightforward instructions for help properly steaming your veggies. Pureeing For maximum benefits and digestibility, veggies can be blended to a raw puree. Some vegetables, such as celery and spinach, do not need to be cooked before blending. Root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes should be blanched or steamed to make blending possible. Pureeing the vegetables breaks down the cell walls of the plant material, making them easier for dogs to digest. Freezing Cooking vegetables in large batches and storing them in the freezer is a great way to save time and effort. After pureeing, put the veggies in an ice cube tray, and just grab a cube when you're in a hurry! Simple, and healthy. Tip: Even though vegetables are great for your pet, keep veggie content to less than 25 percent of your dog's diet. Each of our recipes contain less than 15 percent, for example. Too many vegetables can create issues, such as negatively changing the gut flora, or increasing alkalinity, which would cause kidney issues. When it comes to healthy diets, moderation and balance are key. Dog-Friendly Vegetables Now you're ready to get cookin'! Next time you're at the store, try picking up these 10 dog-friendly vegetables to feed both your family and your pet: 1. Kale Benefits: Kale's key vitamins like K, A and Iron provide bone health, proper vision and immune function, fetal development and energy metabolism. Read more about kale for dogs. Spinach Read more about spinach for dogs. Carrots Read more about carrots for dogs. Green beans are also low-calorie and rich in fiber, which can help dogs feel full. Read more about green beans for dogs. Broccoli Benefits: Broccoli contains a huge variety of vitamins, including vitamin K, vitamin C and potassium, which improve bone density, battle diseases and improve heart health in dogs. Learn more about broccoli for dogs. Beets Benefits: Beets provide vitamin C, fiber, folate, manganese, and potassium. These nutrients help your dog's digestion and immune system and supports a healthy skin and coat. Celery Benefits: Celery offers many vitamins including A and C, which are antioxidants that will help keep your dog young and healthy. Read more about celery for dogs. Cucumber Read more about cucumbers for dogs. They contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese, plus they are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene. Butternut Squash Benefits: Butternut squash contains lots of vitamins and minerals like A, C, B6 and more which help your dog's immune system, vision and cardiovascular function. Read more about squash for dogs. Avoid giving your dog any of these: 1. Grapes, raisins, and currants Even a few of these fruits can cause severe kidney damage in your pooch. Keep the grapes far away. Aromatics like onions, garlic and chives These can wreak havoc on your dog's blood cells, which could cause low iron levels and harm to their kidneys. Persimmons, peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries The seeds in persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine if consumed by your dog. Similarly, the seeds or pits in peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries contain cyanide, which is poisonous for both humans and dogs. Note: The meat of the fruit itself is not harmful as long as it contains no toxic seeds see above. If you decide to cut bits of fruit for your dog, it should be fine. Mushrooms Store-bought mushrooms are fine for dogs to consume, but avoid feeding wild mushrooms as they may be toxic. If your dog has eaten a toxic mushroom , they may begin to exhibit symptoms such as wheezing, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in heartbeat. At its most severe, ingesting toxic mushrooms can cause organ failure, seizures, and comas in dogs. Rhubarb can also reduce the calcium in your dog, causing renal failure and other health issues. If your dog has eaten any of these foods, take them to the vet or emergency clinic immediately. Healthy for Us, Healthy for Dogs Vegetables can be a tasty treat for both you and your dog. Test out some of the approved veggies to see the health benefits for the whole family, including your pup. And if you're interested in more healthy food options for your dog, Raw Bistro's products are made from recipes designed to both fuel and delight your pup: Our frozen raw dog food is available in 4 pack and 6 pack quantities. For a shelf-stable alternative to raw with the same healthy ingredients, check out our dehydrated entrees. There are lots of fruit and veg that are safe some are even healthy! After all, there are a lot of human foods that can make our dogs very poorly , or even kill them. Alcohol, chocolate and foods containing the sweetener xylitol can all be deadly to our four-legged friends. This way you know your dog will get the right balance of nutrients and it will only contain safe ingredients. However, if you want to give them a treat, your dog may love some safe fruit and veg as a healthy snack. Complete dog foods contain all the nutrients your dog needs to keep them happy and healthy. Some fruit and veg, on the other hand, make great treats! Just like our favourite snacks, commercial treats from the pet shop or supermarket can sometimes be quite fattening and contain a lot of additives. Which vegetables can my dog eat? There are a few different vegetables our dogs are fine eating but remember, a little for us is a lot to our dogs so keep treat sizes small! Always cut it into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking and feed in moderation, especially if your dog isn't used to eating fresh veg. Dog-safe vegetables include: Broccoli — in small amounts, raw or steamed Brussel Sprouts Carrots — many dogs enjoy them raw, but they can be given steamed or boiled Celery Green beans — steamed, boiled or raw Peas — sugar snap peas, garden peas and mangetout, but avoid tinned peas Sweet potatoes and potatoes — plain, boiled or steamed not raw Sweetcorn — fresh cooked corn with nothing added can be given to dogs but it must be cut off the cob first! Click to enlarge Which fruit can my dog eat? Just like veg, there are a number of fruits our dogs can eat safely. She currently works as a relief veterinarian for various emergency and specialty hospitals. Washington recognizes the importance of education and also works as a freelance veterinary writer. They also serve as fantastic low-fat and healthy meal toppers and treat replacements for dogs on weight loss programs. Some veggies especially favored by dogs include carrots, green beans, peas, and cucumber. Remember that even though some veggies and safe and enjoyable for your dog, no treat should make up more than 10 percent of your dog's diet. Not all vegetables are equally great for our pups, and others think garlic, onions, and leeks can be downright harmful. Feed them fresh, cooked, or frozen, but do be sure to cut them down to a proper size for Fido or blend them to make sure they are easy to digest and don't present a choking hazard. Serve baked, roasted, or pureed. Raw sweet potatoes are poorly digestible and risk causing obstruction if large pieced are swallowed. Many pooches enjoy pea pods right off the vine, but you can also feed your dog frozen thaw them out first peas, as well. Just avoid canned varieties, since they may have added sodium or preservatives. You can serve it raw or cooked so long as you skip any seasoning, or simply give some frozen broccoli as a quick and easy snack. Be aware that there is a risk associated with this cruciferous veggie as it contains compounds called isothiocyanates. These can cause gastric irritation in some dogs when too much is fed, ranging from mild to severe. Moderation is definitely the key when it comes to offering broccoli. Benefits: Broccoli is low in fat, which makes it an excellent treat for dogs who need to lose a few pounds This green vegetable is rich in vitamin K, which improves bone strength and density Continue to 5 of 11 below. For an extra-special treat, smear a little bit of unsalted peanut butter onto the celery stalk before offering it to your pooch. Do keep in mind though that not all dogs tolerate celery well, so you'll want to avoid it if your dog develops stomach issues or urinary changes after eating. If your dog is overweight—far too many are—you can reduce calories by replacing some of your dog's kibble with unsalted green beans, whether canned or frozen. Your pooch will enjoy his meal just as much without realizing that it's helping him slim down and improve health. Cut the cucumber into slices or small chunks before offering it to your dog to reduce the risk of choking. Benefits: Cucumbers contain phytochemicals that may be able to fight against bad breath Cucumbers make an excellent snack for dogs who need to avoid excess calories, fat, or sugar. Dogs can safely eat cauliflower in many preparations—including raw, steamed, roasted, and riced. Benefits: Has a low calorie count, so may be a good choice for dogs in need of low-calorie treats for weight loss, especially dogs who suffer from joint pain Chockful of fiber to promote healthy gut activities Continue to 9 of 11 below. It's no different for dogs, but if your pooch enjoys this healthy cruciferous vegetable, it's fine to serve a small helping of steamed or boiled Brussels sprouts. Not too much though; like other cruciferous vegetables, Brussels sprouts tends to cause gas in large amounts. Tear the lettuce leaf into pieces for a small dog to prevent choking. Mash the beets or offer them in small chunks. Stay away from canned beets, however, unless you find a brand without any added salt or other ingredients. Be aware that beets can turn your dog's urine red for a few hours after consumption, but this is not harmful. To keep them safe, avoid feeding them any of these veggie varieties known for being toxic for canines:. You can try feeding them both regular and dried cranberries. Remember to practice moderation as too many cranberries can cause upset stomachs for dogs. Grapefruit - NO Grapefruit contains essential oils and psoralens that are toxic to dogs. If a dog consumes grapefruit it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other issues. So, grapefruit is a NO. Grapes - NO As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, you should never let your dogs have grapes. Grapes are extremely toxic to dogs. This also includes raisins. If your dog eats any grapes, call your vet. Grape seed extract is actually beneficial to your pup, whereas grapes are extremely poisonous. The acidic nature of lemons can cause some seriously upset stomachs, vomiting, and other issues. BUT with that being said, small amounts of lemon juice is found in some treats and foods and is safe for your dog's consumption. BUT with that being said, small amounts of lime juice is found in some treats and foods and is safe for your dog's consumption. This sweet fruit is loved by most pups, just be sure to get rid of the hard pit as it can be a choking hazard and can contain some cyanide which is poisonous for dogs. Another thing to be aware of is the high sugar content in mangoes. Sugar can cause weight gain and potentially diabetes when consumed regularly. So the final word, mangoes are safe for dogs in moderation and be sure to not give your dog access to the pit. So, as long as you just give your pup the fruit and leave the pit out, you are safe to feed your dog nectarines. Orange peels can be difficult for dogs to digest and should be avoided. Some orange benefits are below. High in Vitamin C Potassium Fiber for digestion help Just remember to limit the quantities of oranges for your dog. And like always, monitor your pup when they start eating a new fruit or vegetable. Peach pits are a choking hazard and contain cyanide, which is poisonous for dogs. Also, be sure to steer clear of canned peaches as they typically contain extremely high amounts of sugary syrups. Small amounts of cut-up peaches have some great benefits for dogs. Here are some peach benefits. High in fiber to aid in digestion Rich in Vitamin A Most dogs love the taste of peaches, again, just be sure to remove the pit. Just like other fruits though, be sure to remove the seeds and pit as they contain cyanide which can be poisonous for dogs. Pears can be a great snack because of the following benefits. And a second reminder, remove all seeds and pits before giving your dog any pears. One of the main advantages of pineapple for dogs is bromelain, an enzyme that helps dogs to absorb protein. Pineapples can be a fantastic choice for a sweet treat for your pup. Again, practice moderation and monitor your pup when he or she first try pineapple. Plums are much more difficult to remove the pit and some people get lazy and try to give their dog plums with the pit still intact. This is a big no-no. So, play it safe and just stay away from plums for your pup. Raspberries have loads of benefits for your four-legged friend. Here are some good reasons to feed your dog raspberries again, in moderation. Strawberries - YES Dogs can eat strawberries in moderation. Strawberries contain lots of sugar, so be sure to not overfeed them to your pup. Nothing says summertime quite like strawberries, and most dogs love the taste of this sweet fruit. Some benefits include: Fiber for digestion Vitamin C Teeth whitening properties not like Crest White Strips, but still better than nothing! Go ahead and add strawberries to the list of fruits dogs can eat, just remember to practice moderation. Tomatoes - NO Although the red flesh of a ripe tomato is fine for dogs, the green parts are toxic. With that being said, we recommend playing it safe and just avoiding tomatoes all-together. If you have tomatoes in your garden, we recommend fencing it off or closely supervising your pup around these plants. Some signs of a dog ingesting the green parts of a tomato include: Upset stomach. What they may not be sure about, however, is exactly which fruits and vegetables are good for Golden Retrievers to eat? Spinach and carrots are good for Golden Retrievers. Carrots are perfect substitutes for dog treats, especially for overweight dogs. For fruits, apples are great substitutes for dental treats and contain essential vitamins and fiber. This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! Treats like fruits and veggies are best used sparingly to minimize potential health risks caused by some ingredients in them. Fruits are best given sparingly, or not at all. Many vegetables, including leafy greens, are high in fiber. Fiber can be a great supplement for your Golden Retrievers digestive system, but too much can lead to vomiting. Consult a vet if you observe any concerning reactions. In order to keep your Golden happy and healthy for many years to come, scrutinizing any food you give them is a good rule of thumb to adhere to. While you know that eating fruits and vegetables is a benefit to your health, you may be unsure as to exactly how fruits and veggies can help your dog? Golden Retrievers in particular have a higher risk of cancer compared to other dogs, making watching what you feed them of critical importance. Also, keep in mind that Goldens often have to learn to eat these items. Spinach and Golden Retrievers The king of leafy greens, spinach is not only good for you but great for your Golden Retriever! Spinach has a list of nutrients a mile long. Potassium, iron, fiber, and folate are some other great additions as well. To serve, you can peel and serve no more than half a banana to a medium-sized Golden Retriever. Either whole or sliced is fine, and even better are frozen bananas packed into a Kong toy Amazon for your Golden to puzzle out on a scorching hot day. A couple Golden Retrievers taste testing fruits and vegetables. Other nutrients like minerals and antioxidants make this an even better idea, but make sure to portion correctly — a tablespoon is enough. Instead, look for regular canned pumpkin. Apples and Golden Retrievers Apples keep the doctor away for both humans and their best friends! High in dietary fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C, apples are a wonderful and healthy way to reward your Golden Retriever. To serve your dog apples, slice them up and remove the core and seeds which contain cyanide. Some Goldens are reluctant to try them, which is where your secret weapon comes into play — peanut butter! Golden Retrievers Love Carrots Carrots are a good substitution for traditional dog treats. You should always slice carrots before you offer them to your Golden Retriever we like to use pre-packaged, organic baby carrots — both raw and cooked are fine no butter, salt, or spices if cooked to use as treats or in addition to dog food. Full of fiber and essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K, green beans can be served in numerous ways. Dogs enjoy both cooked and fresh green beans, as either a treat or mixed with wet food. If your Golden always seems hungry, try giving them some green beans with their next meal. Brussel Sprouts and Golden Retrievers Brussel sprouts are full of vitamins, but the antioxidants and fiber help promote healthy blood circulation and heart health. Cook these plain, cut off the woody stem, and serve up to three sprouts to your Golden at a time. Broccoli For Golden Retrievers Broccoli stalks help fight inflammation from arthritis, cancer and boost your Golden Retrievers immune system. Too much broccoli can cause noxious gas, so only feed a few small pieces to your Golden at any given time. Vegetables should always be a supplement! Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games : 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved! As long as you serve and portion correctly, your pup will remain healthy and happy for a long time. Therefore, you must feed sparingly. Instead, remove the kernels and feed them separately. Cucumber Golden Retrievers can eat cucumber. Although cucumbers are mostly water, they are high in nutrients such as vitamin K, which is good for bone health and blood clotting. They also contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory qualities to help reduce chronic conditions. Cucumbers make a great crunchy snack for your Golden Retriever and are low in calories. Give them to your dog after removing the peel and chop them into bite-sized pieces. As they are a great source of hydration, they are super cool to feed in warm weather. Eggplant Golden Retrievers can eat eggplant, and they are an essential source of fiber. Eggplant also contains vitamins B6, K, folate, potassium, niacin, and phytonutrients that help protect your Golden Retriever from chronic disease. Some dogs may not like the taste of eggplant, so if this vegetable is a fan of yours, you may want to experiment with giving your dog a little flavor to see how he handles it. It would be best if you cooked eggplant before giving it to your Golden as he may have difficulty digesting it raw. It can be grilled, baked, or boiled. Please do not feed your dog eggplant leaves as they contain solanine. This compound is poisonous to dogs when eaten in large quantities. Green Beans Golden Retrievers can eat green beans. They are an excellent vegetable for dogs because they are so nutritious. They contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber and are low in calories. My dog enjoys a handful of chopped green beans that I add to her bowl — they are gone in a flash! Kale Golden Retrievers can eat kale — in moderation. As one of the cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, you must feed kale sparingly! Cons: Too many cruciferous veggies can cause hypothyroidism in animals. However, a study on humans found that eating g 5 oz a day of cooked Brussels sprouts for four weeks did not adversely affect thyroid function. So, can dogs eat kale and the other cruciferous veggies? Lettuce Golden Retrievers can eat lettuce. However, lettuce contains very little nutritional value due to its high water content, but it does contain beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A. Other nutrients include vitamin C, iron, calcium, and fiber. Mushrooms store-bought Golden Retrievers can eat mushrooms. They are low in calories and full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Other benefits include preventing heart disease, strengthening the immune system, sustaining liver and kidney function, and fighting cancer. Mushrooms purchased in stores are generally safe for dogs, but wild mushrooms can be toxic and extremely dangerous or prove fatal depending on the amount and species ingested. Like most vegetables for dogs, you should serve them cooked. They are very safe to feed your dog and contain many vitamins C and B6, folic acid, and potassium. They also have antioxidants that help fight cancer. Since parsnips are quite starchy like other root vegetables , only feed sparingly. You can give them raw as long as you slice them up into small digestible pieces, or you can cook them, which is preferred. Peas Peas are safe for Golden Retrievers to eat and contain an abundance of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B, and K. They also have fiber, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and lutein an antioxidant good for the skin, heart, and eyes. Peas are starchy carbohydrates that are great for increasing energy levels. You can feed your dog fresh or frozen peas, but avoid the canned varieties, as they contain a lot of sodium and additives. Potatoes cooked Golden Retrievers can eat potatoes. They contain vitamins C and B6, iron, magnesium, potassium, and many other nutrients, which are good for dogs. However, as they are high in carbs, feed them sparingly, especially if your dog is already struggling to control his weight. Do not let your Golden Retriever eat raw potatoes or if the potatoes are green as they contain solanine, a toxic compound if consumed in high amounts. However, cooking potatoes reduces the amount of solanine, making them safe. You can feed your Golden mashed, baked, or boiled potatoes without salt or butter. French fries and potato chips are absolutely off the menu as they are not healthy, either for you, me, or your doggo! Sweet potatoes are a superior option as they are way more nutritious. Pumpkin Golden Retrievers can eat pumpkins. They are excellent for your dog because they are rich in fiber, vitamins A, E, C, potassium, iron, magnesium, beta carotene, and antioxidants that help promote overall heart health. They are also low in calories and sugar. Pumpkin is one of the best vegetables recommended for digestion. The abundance of fiber absorbs water like a sponge and helps relieve diarrhea. It also helps if your dog is constipated because it contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. They contain a lot of healthy nutrients. They also act as a helpful insect deworming agent, as they have cucurbitin. Both raw and cooked pumpkin is okay for your Golden Retriever. However, cooking is better for easier consumption. Rhubarb stalks Golden Retrievers can eat rhubarb but not the leaves. It is an excellent source of vitamin K which helps blood clot , vitamin C, calcium, and fiber. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to dogs. The leaves contain soluble calcium oxalate crystals and oxalic acid. When consumed in large enough doses, it can result in hypocalcemia, tremors, drooling, upset stomach, and renal failure. As a child, I remember eating peeled pieces of rhubarb soaked in a pile of sugar to get rid of the sour taste! Fun fact! So, does rhubarb belong in the veggie section? Although you often see rhubarb in jams and fruit pies, it is theoretically a vegetable! They are nutritious, low in calories, and are an excellent overall disease-fighting vegetable. They can be eaten raw or cooked. If feeding these veggies raw to your Golden Retriever, ensure you thoroughly wash them first to eliminate any leftover traces of bacteria or pesticides. Spinach Golden Retrievers can eat spinach. This super nutritious food has lots of good qualities to benefit your dog. It is high in iron and provides fiber, vitamins A, B, C, and K, beta-carotene, folate, potassium, and antioxidants. It fights disease and is a known cancer fighter. Although the food of Popeye, there is a little controversy about whether you should feed your dog spinach — a high dose of oxalic acid. Healthy dogs can efficiently process small amounts of dissolvable oxalates. I recommend steaming the spinach first as this is the healthiest way of cooking to preserve all the goodness. Sweet Potatoes Golden Retrievers can eat sweet potatoes. In addition to vitamins A, B6, and C, they are also rich in calcium, copper, thiamine, iron, folate, potassium, copper, and thiamine. Sweet potatoes are also rich in beta-carotene, which converts into vitamin A for healthy skin and strong eye health. They are great for the overall health of your Golden Retriever, support the immune system, and reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Because sweet potatoes are primarily starchy carbohydrates, if your dog is overweight, under-active, or diabetic, they are best avoided unless you give him very little. However, they are a healthier option than cooked white potatoes and are a popular vegetable in many dog foods. You should peel and cook them first before feeding them to your dog. Sweet potatoes also hold their nutritional value better when steamed or boiled rather than baking. Squash All varieties of squash are safe for your Golden Retriever to eat. Squash is very nutritious and has many health benefits for dogs. It contains beta-carotene, fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, C, and K. It is excellent for the eyes, skin, bones, and immune system and helps fight certain diseases. If your dog suffers from diarrhea, a small amount of cooked pumpkin mixed into his regular food can help. Zucchini Golden Retrievers can eat zucchini. This veggie is nutrient-rich and includes fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Zucchini also belongs to the squash family, but it is generally easier to digest than most squashes. An excellent idea for the summer is to give your dog a thin slice of frozen zucchini. Too much can cause excess gas! Can Golden Retrievers Eat Vegetables? So now you have the list of all the vegetables your dog can surely eat; you might also be wondering, should Golden Retrievers actually eat vegetables? Are they not just carnivores? Golden Retrievers can eat vegetables and benefit from them in their diet. They provide an additional source of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Although dogs fall into the taxonomical order of Carnivora, they are deemed omnivores. But why? So they are not just carnivores. Other main physiological factors that support the idea that your Golden Retriever can eat vegetables include dogs with broad flat molars capable of grinding up fibrous plants and smaller intestines than other known omnivores. Vegetables can be a significant health boost for your Golden Retriever. They also contain no cholesterol and have less sugar than fruits. Generally, a few small pieces a day will be just fine for your Golden. Do you want to know what to feed your Retriever? Can Golden Retrievers be Vegetarian? Vegetarianism in dogs is a controversial topic. There are strong views for either side and a wide range of opinions in between. But what are the facts? Can Golden Retrievers be vegetarian? Golden Retrievers can be vegetarian as they are omnivores capable of digesting a meat-free diet. Most dogs can eat a vegetarian diet and thrive. However, careful planning with an expert canine nutritionist is essential to ensure your dog receives the proper nutrition to keep healthy. How to Feed Vegetables to Dogs Here are some guidelines on how to give your Retriever vegetables: Introduce vegetables slowly to avoid an upset stomach. Wash the vegetables first to eliminate dirt, bacteria, or residual pesticides. Cook veggies to aid digestion. I like to use a steamer. Give in small bite-sized pieces to prevent choking or stomach issues. You can feed frozen vegetables for convenience. Be vigilant of canned vegetables as many are high in sodium and other additives. They are allium family members, and the intake of toxic portions of these vegetables can damage red blood cells, making them more likely to burst and cause anemia. Garlic is five times more poisonous than leeks and onions. If your Golden swallows a toxic dose, he may show vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, weakness, difficulty breathing, and collapse can occur. Raw or green Potato Raw or green potatoes contain solanine that can affect the nervous system of your Golden Retriever. This poison can also induce blurred vision, disrupt digestion, and slow heart rate. Peeled cooked potatoes are okay as the amount of solanine is substantially reduced during cooking. Green tomatoes are also in this category. Rhubarb Leaves Although rhubarb plant stems are safe for your Golden Retriever, the leaves contain soluble oxalic acid, which is poisonous if ingested in sufficient quantities. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, shaking, and, in severe cases, kidney failure can occur. If you grow rhubarb at home, keep it enclosed and ensure your Golden is always accompanied in the garden area. Mushrooms There are thousands of species of wild mushrooms, and many are deadly to dogs. Mushroom poisoning in dogs can have serious consequences, including liver and kidney failure, confusion, convulsions, and in severe cases, death. Mushrooms purchased in grocery stores are primarily safe if they are plain, without butter, garlic, or seasoning. We all love treating our dogs and trying something new, and veggies are a great option. Many veggies are safe, but some are better than others. Experiment by feeding sparingly and little by little. Most vegetables are better served cooked to support digestion. Know the vegetables that are toxic to dogs. Related Posts You May Like:. This is especially true for vegetables. After all, vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Most of us could stand to get more of these healthy veggies, so why not our Golden Retriever, right? But, considering dogs are carnivores, and their natural diets do not include the need for vegetables, one might wonder if Golden Retrievers can or should eat vegetables? Golden Retrievers can eat some vegetables as a rare treat or snack. While they can eat some vegetables on occasion, moderation is essential. Certain vegetables should be avoided due to the potential for gastric issues or toxicity concerns. We discussed whether Golden Retrievers could eat fruit yes and good fruit options versus bad fruit options in a previous post. Unfortunately, we discovered that some fruits were outright toxic to Golden Retrievers, while other fruits were safe to eat in moderation. Others are not harmful, but they can cause digestive distress, resulting in gas, bloating, diarrhea or vomiting. The toxic vegetables need to be avoided outright, and you should ensure your Golden Retriever does not have access to those. Much like fruits, the occasional veggie indulgence is acceptable. However, any vegetables provided to your Golden Retriever should only be from the healthy list and in moderation. Some are outright toxic to your Golden Retriever, while others have the potential for some issues. Asparagus is not toxic to your dog. However, it can cause stomach issues — gas, bloating, indigestion — especially in its raw form. Cooked asparagus is more comfortable for your dog to chew. Cooking breaks down the vegetable making it less likely to cause stomach issues, but it also depletes many nutrients. There are better options for your dog, however. Garlic Garlic, like onions, is part of the Allium family and is toxic to dogs. In addition, garlic contains thiosulfate, which is a very toxic substance to canines. Thiosulfate can cause damage to red blood cells resulting in hemolytic anemia. Symptoms include rapid breathing, dark urine, lethargy, jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting, and gastric upset. Keep garlic and garlic-laden foods away from your Golden Retriever. Also, be mindful of garlic pills, which can be dropped on the floor and ingested by your Golden. Kale contains a few substances that are unhealthy for your Golden Retriever and potentially toxic at higher levels. Kale contains Isothiocyanate and calcium oxalate. Calcium oxalate is especially concerning because it can cause kidney and bladder stones. Isothiocyanate can cause gastric issues, specifically severe gastric irritation in large quantities. Avoid kale due to the nasty double combo of calcium oxalate and Isothiocyanate. Onions Like garlic discussed above, onions also are part of the Allium family and contain thiosulfate. Same toxicity, the same potential for hemolytic anemia, and other severe symptoms. Keep onions away from your Golden Retriever. Peas and Potatoes While peas and cooked potatoes raw is never an option for your dog were long considered healthy and may still be, this may not be the case after all. According to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration issued an alert about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy DCM in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds or potatoes as main ingredients. This alert is specifically concerning for the Golden Retriever owner. Stern also found the diagnosed Goldens were all eating the same grain-free diet that included potatoes and peas, among others, as the main ingredients. While at this time, the link between diet and DCM seems to be a correlation only, peas and potatoes make the unhealthy list as a precaution. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any concerns or questions. Wild Mushrooms Avoid wild mushrooms. Some can be very toxic and even deadly to your dogs. Yes, deadly. Mushrooms provide very little nutritional value to your dog. They are often prepared in combination with onions or garlic, which is highly toxic to your Golden Retriever. There are better, more nutritious options on the list for your Golden to enjoy, should you choose to make vegetables a part of its diet. These vegetables can make good snacks for your Golden Retriever in smaller quantities. Raw peppers might be difficult for your Golden Retriever to digest, so cooked peppers are better for digestion. If you choose to cook the peppers, be wary of any added sauces or spices such as garlic or onions. Also, peppers apply to bell peppers only — not chili or other varieties. Peppers are a good source of beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid, iron, and fiber. Bell peppers also contain vitamin B6 and are low in calories. Broccoli Broccoli could be on both the healthy and unhealthy list. Golden Retrievers can safely eat broccoli florets. However, the stocks can cause intestinal obstruction or choking concerns, so avoid those. Cooked broccoli without any sauces or seasoning is more comfortable for your dog to chew and swallow. Broccoli as well as cauliflower and kale contain isothiocyanate. This substance can cause stomach upset in your Golden Retriever. Because of this, you should only feed broccoli to your dog in minimal quantities. Large quantities can cause gas, bloating, and even significant health problems. However, provided owners feed the florets to their dog and keep the amounts very small and infrequent, there should be little issues with broccoli as an occasional snack. However, there are much safer options if you choose to feed your Golden Retriever vegetables. Brussel Sprouts Brussel sprouts are safe for your Golden Retriever. Brussel sprouts are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Yes, Brussel sprouts are healthy for humans and dogs alike. Similar to us as well, Brussel sprouts can cause gas and flatulence in our Golden Retrievers. So, be forewarned that your Golden Retriever may gas you out of the house after eating Brussel sprouts. Carrots Carrots are an excellent snack for your dog and are most definitely Golden Retriever approved. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, vitamin A, and fiber. While carrots can be eaten raw, cooked, or steamed is best. With raw carrots, much of the nutrients are lost due to cellulose. Cellulose makes it challenging to digest the vegetable and absorb the nutrients. Cooking breaks down the cellulose, making digestion and nutrient absorption easier for your dog. However, raw carrots are great for your Golden Retrievers teeth, and they like the crunch. So, consider mixing it up with raw and cooked to get both benefits. A full carrot can even be frozen to help a teething puppy with sore gums. Cauliflower is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins K and C, calcium, potassium, and folate. However, like broccoli, you need to go easy on the amount given due to its Isothiocyanate content. Isothiocyanate can cause gas, bloating, or significant health problems if given in large quantities. Celery Celery is a safe snack for your Golden Retriever. Low in calories and fat and high in fiber, this crunchy snack is packed with nutrients. Celery is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K and contains manganese, folate, and potassium. Celery is excellent diet food for dogs struggling with weight issues or obesity. But, like all vegetables and fruits, keep portion sizes small. Corn Yes, this vegetable some classify it as a grain is perfectly safe for dogs. The corn kernels are safe for dogs, not the cob. Corn gets a bad rap at times for being void of nutritional value. In truth, corn has protein, fiber, vitamin E and beta carotene, omega-six fatty acids, and linoleic acid which dogs cannot make on their own. Cooked corn is best for your Golden Retriever. Corn kernels are fine, but avoid feeding the cob. Green Beans Greens beans are a safe vegetable for your dog. Green beans can be eaten by your Golden Retriever raw or cooked. This vegetable is low in fat and calories, high in fiber, and is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, folate, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains omega-three fatty acids. As with any extreme dietary changes, talk to your vet first before considering this if your dog has weight issues. Cucumbers The water-packed cucumber is a great summer snack for your Golden Retriever. A medium cucumber contains about eight calories in a half-cup of slices. Although this crunchy vegetable is packed with water, it also includes some excellent vitamins and minerals. Cucumber contains vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium. Lettuce: Iceberg, Romaine, and Arugula Lettuce, including romaine, iceberg, and arugula, are safe for your Golden Retriever. Lettuce is mostly water, and there is not much in it that should pose any safety issues for your dog. The high water content and low calories make lettuce a good snack for your Golden Retriever, especially in the hot summer months. Iceberg lettuce provides nutrients such as vitamins K and C and calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and folate. Romaine is high in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Unfortunately, both iceberg and romaine are low in fiber. Arugula is incredibly healthy and nutrient-dense lettuce. Arugula is high in fiber and phytonutrients. Arugula also provides a healthy dose of vitamin A, calcium, folate, and potassium. Arugula is a cruciferous vegetable in the same family that includes broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Arugula has many of the high antioxidants and phytonutrients found in the cruciferous family. Also, wash all lettuce before feeding it to your Golden Retriever to prevent contamination with E. Spinach Spinach is one of those maybe vegetables like broccoli. In the case of spinach, that substance is oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can lead to kidney damage in your dog. However, your Golden Retriever would have to eat large quantities for that to be an issue. Feeding spinach to your Golden Retriever is a personal choice, but if you do, keep it in small quantities only to be safe. As for health benefits, spinach is packed with nutrients. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, and K. Spinach also contains iron, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and fiber. Squash including Zucchini and Pumpkin Squashes such as butternut, zucchini, and pumpkin are all safe for your dog to eat if cooked. Technically, zucchini and pumpkin are part of the squash family, which is why I have included them together. While technically, all squashes are botanically a fruit, they seem better suited to the vegetable list. Butternut squash is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. Zucchini is low in calories and a great source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, and manganese. Pumpkin is best steamed and mashed. Pumpkins are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including beta-carotene, carotenoids, potassium, and Vitamin C; it also has some calcium and B-complex vitamins. In addition, pumpkin is high in fiber and low in sodium. Like fruits, the key is moderation, and the same rule applies. Gardeners should be mindful if your Golden Retriever has easy access to your garden. Your Golden Retriever may help itself to some of the vegetable varieties that are less than optimal or downright toxic to your dog. While small amounts of vegetables are okay, large quantities of vegetables — even healthy ones — can potentially cause gastric issues. For example, consider erecting a fence around your garden to ensure your Golden Retriever cannot help himself to vegetables in your garden. Our pup Bailey up on the garden boxes. Another concern is digestive issues. Some vegetables can cause your Golden Retriever some stomach issues, while others not so much. Vegetables in their raw form can be tough to digest for dogs. Provided your Golden Retriever is only getting a small amount, there should be little issues with vegetables, provided your choices come from the healthy list discussed. An older or senior Golden Retriever might not do well with certain vegetables that it tolerated well as a younger dog. Final Thoughts Vegetables, while healthy for us, can potentially cause issues with your Golden Retriever. However, veggies should pose little issues as an occasional treat or snack and often make a better alternative to commercial treats.