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Next up is another thing to do before you bring your puppy home… How To Puppy Proof Your House When puppy-proofing your house, think like a puppy. Crawl around on the floor and take note of what you see. Puppies will chew nearly anything, so make sure that there are no valuables down at puppy-height, or things that could be poisonous to them or be a choking hazard. Make sure there are no open cabinets or pantries where your puppy could get into food. Be careful of small trash cans that could hold some smelly trash that would be enticing to a puppy. And finally, next are a few other random tasks to do before you bring home your new puppy. Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! Not exactly. Find a vet. Find the closest emergency animal hospital. This is not something you want to wait until you need it before looking it up and making a plan. Find a list of local poisonous plants and animals. Talk to your vet and do some research so that you know which plants and animals to avoid. Find a puppy kindergarten class. This will help with training, socialization, and general learning how to be a puppy parent. Check your yard or house for any escape routes. This next section will cover everything from what to expect with a puppy, what to do the first 24 hours of bringing them home, how to train them, and more. A week after bringing Oliver home, it was very obvious to me why she asked me that. Puppies are hard work! Their little bladders can only hold it for a few hours, so this is expected. Chewing Puppies will try to chew any and everything. Like every thirty minutes often. Now, for the most important expectation of them all… You will miss puppyhood! Yes, you will miss the sleepless nights and puppy bites. So make sure to take lots of videos and pictures. How would you like to be treated in this situation? Here are some tips to help your puppy get comfortable in their new home. Let your puppy make decisions When you get to your house, set them at your open front door and let them choose to walk inside. Let them explore their new home on their own terms. Letting them make decisions can give them a sense of confidence, hope, and control, and ease into their new home. Limit visitors Now is the time to build the bond with your puppy and let them get to know you, not overstimulate them with a lot of people. Limit their access to your home Getting used to a new home with two rooms will be a lot easier than getting used to a new home with five rooms. Only let your puppy have access to a few rooms so that they get acclimated to their new area quicker, then as they get more comfortable you can allow them to explore new areas of the house. You can use baby gates to restrict access to sections of the house. Bonus benefit: this will also decrease the chances that they leave you a present in the guest room. In general, just keep things low key when you bring them home and let them get used to their surroundings. Training Your Golden Retriever Puppy Training your golden retriever puppy is one of the best things you can do both for them and with them. They have short attention spans and like to have fun, so short training sessions and training games work best. A lot of people think that training is just obedience training, like sit and stay , but it also includes life skills like crate training , potty training , how to not jump on people or bite them, and how to not pull on the leash. Socialization Socialization is something that is not talked about as much as it should be. It can help mitigate fear and aggression and help them become confident, well-adjusted adult dogs. You can socialize your puppy with other dogs by setting up play dates with gentle dogs that you know are vaccinated and by going to puppy kindergarten. Dog to other living beings includes humans, cats, and other animals. You can socialize them with other people by taking them to a pet-friendly store like home depot, and you can socialize them to other animals by taking a walk by the neighborhood cat with lots of distance between them, so neither animal gets overwhelmed. Dog to stuff is the broadest category, but no less important. When Oliver was very young we were on a walk and a FedEx truck drove by. He had never heard a big truck like that and was terrified. So make sure that your puppy is comfortable with trucks, cars, the garage door, buses, umbrellas, and whatever other objects they may encounter. For instance, if you live in Chicago, get them used to trains, buses and crowded streets. Every day, separate out five special treats for your puppy. For example, you might let your neighbor give your puppy a treat, or maybe you take your puppy to a bus stop and when the bus goes by you give them a treat, or maybe you introduce them to a cow and give them a treat. The treat helps them have a positive experience with these new things and people, plus it helps you easily remember to expose them to lots of these new things. Do this for the first four weeks of their life and before you know it, your puppy will have been exposed to new dogs, people, things, or environments, and will be well on their well to becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. Puppy Raising Mistakes Below are some mistakes that new puppy owners make that could make it harder to train and raise their puppy into a happy, confident adult. Not remembering how young they are Puppies are like little toddlers. Waiting to train your puppy until they have a problem Training your puppy before they have any behavior problems will make life so much easier for you. Forcing things too quickly Things like crate training and potty training take time. Setbacks hurt more than stretching their limits will help, so be patient and take things slowly. Conclusion Golden retriever puppies might just be the best living beings on the planet. However, they are a lot of work and can be quite naughty sometimes. Have any questions about golden retriever puppies? Let me know in the comments below! And if you know someone who is thinking about getting a golden retriever puppy, please share this with them. Related articles:. Share 0 Shares A six-week-old golden retriever puppy is a wonder to behold. Golden Retrievers are so cute around this age, and of course, people will impatiently want to take one home at only 6 weeks old. The extra time is quite necessary because it gives them enough time with their mother and siblings, and allows for additional development. But you have to resist that urge. Waiting for the extra two weeks allows the puppy to have enough time with its family to foster healthy development. Another important reason to not remove golden retriever puppies too soon is that it affects their health. Pups who are prematurely rehomed often have weakened immune systems and a lack of appetite. Being with their litter allows them to develop confidence and learn about how they should act with each new thing they encounter in their world. Puppies need to play. It helps them to learn to get used to touching and being picked up or moved around. Bite Inhibition One of the things that golden retriever puppies learn from their moms is proper bite inhibition. However, their teeth are really sharp. When they bite their mom or their siblings and they react to the bite, the puppy learns that biting hurts. The mom might either walk away from the pup or growl at them and put the fear of God in them. A littermate will usually let out a startling yelp, which is enough to put a stop to whatever sort of play had been previously happening and let the puppy know that they bit too hard. These things just happen sometimes. The best thing you can do is to call up the breeder and return the puppy to its mother for the next two weeks. It may seem like an extra expense, but you would have paid to buy the puppy food and such, anyway. And it really is worth it just to make sure the puppy develops properly. When the puppy is 8 weeks old, you can go pick up your pup from the breeder and take it home. Ask your friends and family about finding a surrogate canine family for your puppy. Most responsible dog owners will understand the situation and be willing to help if they can. Your vet can give you important information, like what to feed your puppy and when to feed them. Of course, you may be advised about other ways you can keep your puppy healthy and avoid behavioral issues. Puppies grow a lot during this time both mentally and physically , so they need loads of sleep to ensure they properly develop. Pottying Just as with sleep, puppies poop and pee a surprising amount. Some of the games that six-week-old puppies play are chase, wrestling, and tug, as well as running around, and something similar to tag. When playing with your six-week-old puppy, watch out for their super-sharp teeth. Teeth Six-week-old golden retriever puppies are very mouthy. They use their mouths to explore their world, so just about everything winds up in their mouths at some point. You can expect your six-week-old golden to have developed a full set of razor-sharp puppy teeth. Eating Puppies need their teeth because, by six weeks old, puppies are typically fully weaned. This is typically just habit and bonding because the puppy no longer needs the milk at this point. Most breeders start feeding six-week-old puppies several times throughout the day. You can expect your golden puppy to average between 4 and 6 meals every day. Personality A six-week-old golden retriever puppy starts displaying its personality. This is quite important when it comes to choosing which puppies are suited to be service dogs, and which ones would be better suited as house pets. Breeders typically start running pre-tests with puppies this age to see which of the puppies are cut out to be service dogs. Most breeders recognize this as the ideal time to start socializing puppies. This makes puppies more adaptable. Socialization is an important part of puppy development because it can prevent behavioral issues from developing as the puppy grows. It can also help your puppy be the best version of itself. If your puppy starts showing a little fear or trepidation when it encounters new places or things, you need to remember that this is perfectly normal. Sometimes humans are afraid of new things, too, right? Six-week-old Golden Retrievers should be experiencing positive interactions with humans. This means that you should be inviting other people around your puppies to get them used to people. However, if your puppy has been fully vaccinated, then it should be allowed outside and should be gradually introduced to other animals. Six weeks is a good time to start training puppies , as well. And their intelligent little brains will be eager to learn anything you teach them, so you should definitely start teaching them as much as you can before you send them to live with their new family in a couple of weeks. Growth Up until this point, your puppy has likely experienced a lot of growth. But how much does a six-week-old Golden Retriever puppy grow? From the sixth week on, you can expect your puppy to gain 5 ounces per week. But which type of food should you feed your puppy? When you start feeding your puppy solid dry kibble, you need to moisten it to soften it a bit. You can do this with either water or broth. Personally, I put the water or broth in with the kibble for about minutes, or long enough for it to soak up the liquid. Give your puppy small meals around 4- 6 times a day so that it gets all of the nutrients and energy it needs. In some places, certain vaccinations are required, like rabies vaccinations. Patience with Your Puppy Patience is key when it comes to bringing home a new puppy. Even if you want to immediately bring home a six-week-old ball of adorable fluff, you need to resist that urge so that the puppy can receive all the experiences it needs to develop properly. This will give you fewer chances that the puppy will develop behavioral disorders later down the road. Check out our other posts about the development of Golden Retriever puppies:. I am planning on buying a baby golden retriever, and I was just wondering what age I should buy it at. I've heard from 6 weeks to 10 weeks. I'm not sure. I want it to be healthy so please give me an accurate age. Also, I was wondering about the price range, so if you could add that in your answer it would be greatly appreciated. Answer by millypeed The minimum age to buy a Golden Retriever puppy is 8 weeks, but it's better to wait until 10 to 12 weeks, pups need to stay with mum and siblings until then, even though they have been weaned and are eating solid food they will learn vital socialization skills in these last few weeks. Answer by TJ First, let's break this down just a bit. Separating a LITTER from their mother is part of the weaning process, and is a completely different thing to when the litter is split up and the pups sent to new homes. With my breed, we separate the litter as a litter from their mother at 5 weeks, obviously way too young to send to new homes. I will not split up a litter before 8 weeks but will split them up before 10 weeks. The reason for 8 weeks is because we have their eyes CERF examined at 8 weeks. The reason for 10 weeks is because fear memory is said to develop during the 11th week. Price ranges from A to Z. I just know that there are only two places that I would get a Golden from. June Atkinson Holway Goldens Answer by Melissa S 8 weeks to ten weeks, any younger is too young, the longer it stays with the mother the better because in those first 8 to 10 weeks the mother gives them the milk, weens them onto food, and also passes down good behavior, she keeps them in their place, and usually, the pups are healthier at this age, and bigger to cope with the separation anxiety. Answer by T weeks. The price I have no idea with this breed. However, I'm sure other people will answer that for you. Do you have your heart set on buying from a privet party? Answer by Amanda H No sooner than 8 weeks, but 10 weeks is better. Some states have laws against selling puppies under 8 weeks. I would say expect to spend at least 1, Know better? Give your own answer to this question! See other posts in dog price , golden retriever , puppy Reader Interactions. Golden Retriever puppies are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They enjoy physical activity and have many favorable traits as a gundog bred to retrieve downed game birds. They are friendly and gentle and often train as assistance or detection dogs due to their easy trainability. Apart from starting training while young, other breed-specific reasons make training a Golden Retriever puppy easy. Here are three examples: Golden Retrievers are among the smartest dog breeds. In his book, The Intelligence of Dogs , canine psychologist Stanley Coren ranks Goldens fourth of the brightest working dogs. So, even at just two months old, your puppy has it in his genes to learn and execute commands. To perform their original hunting job of retrieving felled ducks and other game birds in the Scottish marshland, Golden Retrievers had to be watchful, eager, and energetic. These are primary learning attributes. Golden Retrievers also have advanced skills as gundogs. They also have to excel at obedience. These are core training requirements that make your Golden Retriever easy to train. To succeed in your training mission, however, there are specific principles you need to follow. Read about these key training standards in the next section. Key Principles of Golden Retriever Puppy Training The purpose of any dog training is to have behavioral skills mastered. I explain these training requirements in my 10 key principles of successful Golden Retriever puppy training. However, they also have to handle grooming, making them feel uncomfortable. Your Golden Retriever can learn to manage this uneasiness if exposed to handling when young. In one study, puppies subjected to early gentling behaved more calmly at 8 weeks old than puppies not experiencing early handling. You can continue to hold your pup gently as soon as you arrive home. Teach Name Recognition How does your Golden Retriever puppy know you are talking to him if you only make commands? It would be best to teach him his name as this is the foundation for his future training. Say his name first, then give the command. That way, your pup knows to answer when you call. Assert Yourself as the Alpha Leader In dog training, your Golden Retriever must know that you are the boss from the start. Set rules and boundaries, and be consistent and fair. He will respect you as being top of the hierarchy. Never mistake being the alpha with punishment. It will only cause resentment. An alpha leader is calm and assertive, teaches his dog to be happily submissive, and approves of the behavior. Rewards reinforce the behavior, and you can use treats, a favorite toy, or activity, in conjunction with lots of verbal praise. Only Give a Command Once When it comes to training, you reap what you sow! Teach your pup to heed a command the first time you say it. Then make lots of eye contact. Repeat until he learns to obey the first time you give the cue. Dogs have poor short-term memory and will typically forget an experience in 2 minutes, as discovered in this experiment. However, dogs can recall your training commands through associative memory, which means they remember based on associations and not memories. For example, if you put your shoes on and grab your car keys, your Golden Retriever knows you are going out. Once your puppy has corrected his undesirable behavior with the required behavior, reward him with a high-value treat and heaps of praise. Other unacceptable confrontational methods include growling at your dog, forcefully removing an object from the mouth, withdrawing food, staring, using a shock collar, or tying your dog for hours. Your dog needs to have consistency, which means everyone else in the household. Dogs need simple training instructions, and everyone should also use the same verbal and non-verbal cues. Perform the same basic commands every day. At this young age, ten minute sessions are far better than a ten-minute session. For this reason, it is important to wean your puppy off treats when he has repeatedly performed the desired behavior and mastered it, including in different locations and with various distractions. With these ten principles, you can now apply them to the essential areas that you need to train your 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppy in first. How to Socialize a Golden Retriever Puppy Dogs are social creatures, especially the Golden Retriever, who is super friendly, good-natured, and loves to be around you. To socialize a Golden Retriever, expose him to many different experiences, places, and situations. Include noises, smells, other people, children, babies, animals, cars, bicycles, objects, the weather, etc. Early socializing and training your Golden Retriever plays a significant role in developing adult dogs, as found in this exciting study. Check out these two important findings: Dogs socialized well as puppies are less likely to display unwanted behavioral problems such as fear and aggression. Socialized dogs are more likely to engage in positive social behaviors with humans. They also learn better how to play games, helping them establish a real bond with their owners. Socialization will make your puppy feel confident around people and teach him to engage in his new world happily. You can teach your Golden Retriever social skills and confidence through intentional training moments in the family. My best tips: Take one step at a time. Use positive reinforcement. I often get asked whether you can socialize your puppy before his final vaccinations. Take him to non-doggy places or carry him where necessary. To potty train an 8-week-old Golden Retriever, create a separate area where you want your puppy to go, establish a routine, and start with hourly potty breaks. Supervise your puppy at all times, learn to spot the signs, and never punish him after an accident. Give lots of rewards and praise when he goes. Many new dog owners fall for this — your puppy has to learn to tell you he needs the toilet. Make sure you take your puppy outside often enough. Stick to your schedule! It is a gradual process for him to grasp this. It may take a few weeks to master potty training, not days! Usually, puppies will need to go early in the morning, after a meal, and after a play session. Use their natural rhythm for daily poop walks. Dogs hate messing in their sleeping area, and most will usually hold it. Walk your Golden after his morning meal and hang around for 15 minutes or so to allow him to poop. Do the same in the evening. Puppies need to be allowed to relieve themselves every hour, and a short walk every hours is an ideal routine. If you crate your puppy when going out, get friends or family to help you stick to your routine. Repeating this routine for the first few days will give your new pup a pretty good idea of your expectations. To crate train a Golden Retriever puppy, get him used to the crate by letting him explore it. When he is happy to go in and out freely, introduce treats or feed inside, and close the door; that way, he associates nice things with his crate. Gradually increase the time he spends inside with the door closed. Here are seven fundamental principles when crate-training your Golden Retriever: Let your puppy sleep in the crate at night. Initiate crate training on the very first day. It will be harder to succeed if he gets accustomed to other sleeping arrangements! My puppy cried during the early hours of the first night, but then, she was just fine. A rough guideline for puppies to be left alone in a crate is one hour for each month of age, up to four hours. Keep your puppy in the crate when unsupervised. It only sends a message that he can get his way. Instead, reward good behavior in the crate, i. He will quickly associate that being quiet leads to positive things. He will quickly learn that this is his particular spot. Interesting toys and comfy bedding will offer some solace for your Golden Retriever. Dogs are denning animals, so they often go underneath tables or desks. Instead, buy a crate with an adjustable divider that allows him to grow into it. My favorite is the MidWest Homes for Pets Dog iCrate from Amazon, as it has everything you need, including a divider and a handy removable wipe-clean plastic pan. Travel kennels like this Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel check price on Amazon are also hardy when you are on the move with your dog. This one is also airline adaptable and meets most airline cargo specifications. This sends a message that the bite hurts. Persist by leaving your hand in his mouth to prevent chase drive until he releases. Then, give praise and redirect the biting with a chew toy. When your puppy gets the hang of repeatedly letting go, and his bite becomes softer, this is a good sign that he is beginning to learn his bite inhibition. Helping a dog learn to curb the force of his bite is necessary to living with humans. All puppies need to master this technique that they initially began learning from their mother and siblings. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Training your Golden Retriever puppy soft bite must be done in puppyhood as an adolescent dog will not be able to adjust the force of his jaws when he has adult teeth and jaw muscles. Remember to have realistic expectations, as it can take your puppy weeks to learn his bite inhibition. Teach a leash cue, and start very short walks. Reward with a treat and praise. You can do this by letting him wear them inside the house or yard for a few minutes. I use this one as it gives you more control, is inexpensive, and comes in various colors and styles. Give a treat when your dog obeys the command. Introduce your Golden Retriever to short outside walks on his leash. Anticipate the behavior and quickly distract him with a treat. Timing is the crucial part. Reward him every time commands are obeyed and gradually reduce the rewards as the art of leash walking is perfected. Follow the excellent training principles above and use reward-based training to train your puppy in these areas successfully. Be consistent in your commands, and always discipline at the precise moment of unwanted behavior. Are you looking for a puppy training schedule? Related Posts You May Like:. Read the full disclosure here. So what is correct? What is the best age to bring a Golden Retriever puppy home? I think the most important things to consider are any long-lasting negative effects on the puppy by taking it away too early. Lessons that are vital to the early development of a normal puppy. There are many things a puppy learns from its mother and litter-mates that are vitally important to their early development and could take you an extreme amount of time and effort to make up for if they miss out: Bite Inhibition When a puppy bites and hurts their mother or litter-mates they get growled and snapped at. Combined with being the victim of biting from their litter-mates in return, this gives continuous feedback and an education in how painful biting can sometimes be. And so they very quickly learn to inhibit their bite, to not go full force and to hold back when play biting. If a puppy is taken from the nest too soon they miss out on this learning process and the responsibility passes to their new owners who will at first have a puppy who bites hard. And sometimes extremely hard. Acceptance Of Discipline When a puppy does wrong in the nest, their mother regularly disciplines them to keep them in line. And a puppy will often throw a little hissy fit but the mother will be unmoving. They learn that bad behavior gets you disciplined and they have to accept it. They learn their actions have consequences and they cannot have things their own way. The puppy then becomes a dog that is so much harder to train and is less controllable for their owners. In the nest, a puppy will be constantly pawed, clawed, rubbed against and climbed all over, all day every day by their litter-mates. This results in your puppy getting used to being touched and becoming highly tolerant of it. They learn about appropriate play and how to interact with others of their species safely, considerately and happily. This can mean less time…or no time…interacting with his own species, having to be on the leash in dog parks and woods when other dogs are around and ultimately living a less fulfilling life than they could otherwise have had. And this is the important thing when it comes to leaving a puppy in the nest for too long. A puppy must be introduced to as many sights, sounds, environments, people and other dogs and animals as possible before they reach 14 weeks of age. This 14 week window of opportunity is a time where a puppy has little fear and instead has heightened curiosity that compels it to explore and test things out. The first 14 weeks is also the time when a puppy will form its strongest bonds with people and other animals. And so for the best possible relationship and strongest bond between your puppy and you, this is a time when you want your puppy living with you, seeing your entire family and social network so your puppy truly integrates and feels a part of the pack of humans around it. So think to yourself, if you get a puppy at 8 weeks of age, you have 6 weeks to take them to the shopping mall, the park, the pet shop, to meet as many people as possible, get them in the car, on the beach, in a swimming pool etc. I did this for a reason! Yes, 8 weeks old is the recommended perfect time to take a puppy away from its mother and litter-mates and home with you to live. But you would be doing far from the best for your new puppy and could be stunting their development, leading them toward behavioral issues and affecting their entire future lives. On the other end of the spectrum, leaving it later than 8 weeks to take your puppy home they could be missing out on essential socialization opportunities. Conclusion Take your puppy home at 8 weeks of age. A breeder telling you to take them any earlier is trying to avoid investing further time and effort into caring for them and possibly trying to save a little money by moving them on faster. And this early time spent with their mother ensures the best development of a puppy that will result in a dog far better suited to spending an entire life with you. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This was the first time we had a chance to chart puppies from birth until 8 weeks old. We tried to take as many pictures as possible so we could have a journal of our Golden Retriever puppy growth week by week. When raising guide and service dog puppies we usually bring home our puppies at around weeks old. On occasion we are allowed to see puppies before 8 weeks of age, but they need to stay with their mother and siblings during those important early weeks to get milk and antibodies from mama and learn how to interact properly with siblings, learning important behaviors like bite inhibition. During our days as a foster we raised two litters of puppies , but both were already weeks old by the time we got them home. We actually own the Puppy Culture DVD and Workbook which includes charts, lists, worksheets and other great information for raising your litter. Keep your eyes and ears open and absorb it all like a sponge! Birth To 1 Week Old Guess what? This was the first litter we ever whelped!? We got a lot of advise, but we were largely on our own. Large Puppy Dish — great for feeding the puppies when they moved to solid food. Whelping Mats — we ordered 2 of these mats and washed them several times a day. Whelping Box — We have a homemade whelping box built by my father-in-law, but if we continue raising litters I plan on purchasing an EZWhelp Whelping Box. Our homemade box lasted three litters. We ended up purchasing the Magnabox which was hellu expensive but if you plan on raising multiple litters we highly recommend it. We recently put together a whelping checklist with all the supplies we gathered together to help out with our second litter of Golden Retriever puppies. Check out our whelping supplies checklist here. However, none were overly huge and none were extra small. No runts and no beasts. It was my understanding that when the cord was chewed down to the base of the belly it was sometimes difficult to get it to stop bleeding. I took the hemostat and pinched the umbilical cord about 2 inches from the base of the pups belly then cut the cord rather than let Raven chew it off. I kept the hemostat on the cord for about 2 minutes to let it clout. The umbilical cord dries up quickly and then within a day or 2 it falls off. Raven was a good mama and took care of her poops. Puppy eyes and ears are closed at this stage and puppies army crawl around the whelping box looking for a teat to suckle. We did everything we could to make sure our pups stayed warm by adding a watt heat lamp to the whelping box and portable heating unit in the puppy room. As I mentioned Raven stayed in the whelping box most of week 1 and of course… the puppy piles! One thing I learned is if I had a puppy on my lap then do not let Raven lick those areas or be prepared for a little accident on your lap. While caring for Raven and her litter Raven was really blowing out her coat that first week, but as time went on it slowed down. I heard from other friends this is common and that Raven blew out her coat much less than other mama dogs. We got Probiotics for Raven before her first litter, but forgot to order them for her second litter. After an upset stomach for the first week or so we realized our mistake, got Probiotics, and no more upset tummy. Week 2 — Pups eyes are opening starting to waddle. Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — The great puppy escape artists! Week 8 — Our golden puppies head to their new homes. Have you ever had a litter of Golden Retriever puppies? Tell us about your experiences with puppies in the comment section below. Are you about to raise a litter of puppies? Not raising a litter, but getting ready to bring home your first Golden Retriever puppy? Puppies for Dummies will give you the basics on how to raise and train your new puppy. 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. The Breed Best Time For Puppies To Change Homes The best possible time for puppies to change homes and leave the breeder is between 10 and 12 weeks of age if a breeder has the time and the talent to start them in training and to give each and every puppy ample individual attention. If a breeder does not have time to train their puppies, puppies should be placed with new families between 7 weeks 2 days and 8 weeks. Puppies do best if they change homes either before or after the week fear period. No puppy should ever leave his litter prior to 7 weeks of age for any reason. First we will discuss why later than 10 weeks is best. Is it time for me to go to my new home yet? Additional Time With Litter Mates One very important reason for keeping our puppies until they are 10 to 12 weeks of age is to give puppies additional time with litter-mates. This extra time with litter-mates gives puppies a better foundation for relating to other dogs. And more importantly litter-mates teach each other bite-inhibition. Bite inhibition is the ability of a dog to regulate how strong his bite is. Having good bite inhibition creates a gentler mouth and more importantly, it teaches a puppy to control the intensity of his bite in case he should have a knee jerk reaction and bite someone. If he has not practiced good bit inhibition as a puppy, his bite could do major harm. However, if he has good bite inhibition, his bite will instinctively be softer. In addition, our 10 to 12 week old English Golden Retriever puppies are less mouthy than puppies leaving litter-mates sooner. Later First Vaccine Another advantage for later pick up is that it gives us an opportunity to give a first vaccine at the optimum vaccine time. Puppies vaccinated at older ages have fewer vaccine side effects. They also have a greater chance of having an immune response to the vaccine than puppies vaccinated sooner. We feel that 9 weeks is the optimum time for a puppy to have his first vaccine. In fact, waiting for later vaccines is so important that before we started training all our puppies, we sent our puppies home without any vaccine at all. Early vaccines can set a puppy up for a wide variety of health problems. By 10 weeks, most puppies are completely out of it. By 11 weeks, virtually all of them are out of it. Many 8-week old puppies experience digestive upsets when changing homes. Training an 8-week old puppy is time consuming, sleep depriving, and sometimes exhausting. Very few 8-week old puppies are able to sleep all night in a crate without needing to go outside. More than half of our week old puppies are able to hold it for 6 hours. Our 11 week old puppies are not fully house-trained by any means. However, by weeks of age, our puppies are accustomed to peeing and pooping almost exclusively outside. Their bladders are a little more mature than at 8 weeks enabling them to hold it longer. If you will take our 11 to 12 week old puppies out often enough, the number of accidents will be minimal. As we already discussed, there are many reasons to leave a puppy until he is 12] weeks of age. There are also several good reasons to not wait too long. We think that all puppies unless there are extenuating circumstances need to be in permanent homes by three months of age. Here is why. The Benefit of Staying With Littermates Ends First of all, puppies no longer benefit from staying with littermates at older ages. The benefits of leaving puppies with littermates grows tremendously until puppies are 10 weeks of age. The reason for this is bite inhibition development and learning good dog-to-dog behavior. However, after 10 weeks, these benefits level off. Then after 3 months of age, puppies need to learn to live independently from the litter. If they will be living in a city, you should acclimate them to heavy traffic, loud noises, and big crowds early. Puppies that will be living on a farm need to be getting used to the sights, sounds, and smells of farm animals. A Short Window of Opportunity There is a window of opportunity for heavy socialization that ends when puppies are about 4 months of age. The period of time between a puppy turning three and four months needs to be packed full of as many different experiences in the type environment a puppy will be spending his life in as possible. Breeders Are Limited Breeders are not in a position to take puppies to many places. Public places and stores where other dogs frequent risk disease. Breeders need to be especially careful because certain diseases like Parvo and Distemper can kill an entire litter of young puppies. However, the risk of serious disease in a puppy who has had a 9-week vaccine is minimal. In fact, the risk of disease pales in comparison to the risks of not properly socializing a week old puppy. In addition, we take our older puppies to other potentially scary locations where puppies can experience such things as fast moving and loud traffic and possibly construction equipment. We know how to properly introduce puppies to something that is scary. Socialization is not simply a matter of throwing a puppy in every possible environment. You must do it with care. If you introduce a puppy too quickly to a new and scary environment, a socialization experience done wrong can do more harm than good. Us starting the socialization process for families gives puppies the self-confidence needed to face more and more new situations. The more situations you can properly introduce your puppy to, the easier it will become for the puppy to acclimate to even more situations that could possibly be scary. We start the process with what we have available on our property and what is accessible by mule thereby making it easier for families to pick up the socialization where we leave off. See our page on Puppy Socialization for more information on how to socialize a puppy. Travel Issues With Older Puppies Three month old Golden Retrievers are pushing the limit on being able to travel in the cabin of an airplane. Because we keep our puppies growing slowly, our puppies can still fly at 12 weeks with most airlines. If you were getting a puppy from most breeders, your 12 week old Golden would already be too large to fly in the cabin. Even our puppies are too large once they get over 3 months. We keep our puppies growing slowly because there are tremendous health benefits that carry into later life. Studies have shown that it is important to keep puppies growing slowly until they are over 4 months of age. Slow growing puppies have lower chances of hip dysplasia and even lower cancer rates. Unlike people, puppies that are overfed will grow too fast before they become fat. An added bonus is that they can fly in the cabin of an airplane for longer! In addition to the size issues, there can also be vaccine issues when traveling with puppies over 3 months of age. Most airlines require a rabies vaccine for puppies over 3 months. We feel strongly that 3 months is far too young to give a rabies vaccine. This page will give you more information on what we do with our puppies before they leave us. Primary Sidebar Breeders and Trainers of English Golden Retrievers We focus on breeding and training beautiful English Golden Retriever puppies with health tested champion parents, great pedigrees, and fantastic temperaments.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Instead, use a washcloth or sponge to clean their face. Another way to give their face a good cleansing is by using shampoo in a small applicator bottle to apply around the eyes and nose. A small shampooing brush can be used to lather the soap into the fur. You can apply the shampoo directly on their coat, working your way from the neck down to the tail. This includes their undercarriage, legs, and paws. If any shampoo gets left behind, then their skin could become dry and irritated. To thoroughly rinse a Goldendoodle, the best way to go about it is starting at the top and working your way down. Keep it systematic — also work from the front to the back. It may take a few rinses to get out all of the shampoo from their fur. Wipe them down thoroughly with a dry towel and try to soak up any excess water in their fur. Let them have a moment to run and shake themselves dry. A miniature Labradoodle puppy after a shower The next part is up to you. If you feel like the dog is dry enough, then you can let them take off. However, if you feel that they need to be dried off more, you may use a hairdryer on the lowest setting. However, that may not be the right option for every Goldendoodle because the sound does startle some. Remember to never do any grooming to the Goldendoodle while their fur is still wet. This is crucial because any extra water build-up in their ears could lead to an ear infection. Keep your pet smelling and looking good with their monthly bath. Does your Goldendoodle do well in the bath? If they are well behaved, and you would like to give their skin and coat a little more moisture, a mild conditioner or cream rinse is optional. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Your puppy may be a little skittish, but there are ways to keep your Doodle at ease during their first bathing experience! Your supplies should include a gentle shampoo-plus-conditioner for dogs, a dog brush made for thick fur, a towel, and, yes, a hairdryer! Let them sniff and play with the brush, then move on to gently combing through their hair. Brushing is something your puppy will need at least once a week, so it is vital to make them as comfortable as possible to ensure cooperation into their adult years. Then, gently place your puppy into a bath tub filled with warm water. They may be uncomfortable at first, but remain calm and patient, giving them as much time as they need. As they adjust to this new environment, provide lots of praise and treats! This will ensure your puppy is well socialized for a lifetime of grooming needs. Shampoo When your puppy is comfortable, move on to your shampoo! Make sure their coat is fully saturated with water and gently massage the shampoo into their fur, avoiding their eyes, mouth, and ears. Clean these sensitive areas with a damp cloth or toothbrush. Rinse them thoroughly until all of the suds are gone with a removable shower head or a large cup. Leftover shampoo can make brushing more difficult later on. After your puppy is shampooed and rinsed, you can move on to the drying process. Use a towel to wipe down your Goldendoodle and let them shake off the excess water. Pay close attention to cleaning and drying their ears, inside and out — damp, dirty ear canals can cause an infection! Drying When your puppy is damp and your towel is soaked, bring out the hairdryer! Use a low heat and velocity setting for their first blow dry to prevent nervousness. This will prepare your Goldendoodle for future trips to the groomer and the bathtub alike! When your Goldendoodle is completely dry, you can finish their grooming by giving them a thorough brush. Brushing your puppy before and after bathing will prevent uncomfortable mats and knots. Next, introduce them to the nail clippers. Socializing your Goldendoodle with nail trimming as young as possible will ensure comfortability throughout their life! Now, you have an adorable, clean puppy. That is… until their next adventure! Do Goldendoodles Need Conditioner? We may bathe often, but bathing a dog too often can lead to dry skin, which causes itching in dogs. Grooming a Goldendoodle puppy should begin as early as possible in their life to promote acceptance of this task. This breed requires a lot of grooming, so get them used to a routine early. Some dogs will enjoy it, while others may only mildly tolerate it. The good thing is that puppies love to play, making it easier to undertake this ritual. Our Recommendation is to Take it Slow The first session can be a bit of a challenge for Lexie, but they will become less nervous about the process after the first few months. Having a puppy is a joyous time for a pet owner. We know it was for us when we adopted our beautiful Lexie. All that loveable cuteness with all that energy and curiousness about life can be fantastic fun to have around the home. As Lexie grew, she liked to go on little adventures around the house and our fenced-in yard, exploring and discovering lots of trouble. We found a perfect balance for bathing our cute teddy bear girl around once a month through research online and trial and error. We would only clean her more if she got extra, especially smelly or dirty, and needed it. In between those bath or shower times, we would brush her as needed with a slicker brush to remove tangles and prevent mats. If any mats have formed in their curly coats, you may need to cut them out with scissors or clippers. Puppies need to learn early on that bath time can be a fun experience. Regardless of how often a Goldendoodle puppy is bathed, it should always be positive since grooming is a lifelong task that they must accept and learn to enjoy. How do I bathe my Goldendoodle puppy? Those first bathing sessions were fun, where we ended up with just as much water on us as she did her, it was more like a family bath than a mini Goldendoodle puppy bath, but that was okay. Treats, verbal praise, and games can make the bathing experience enjoyable for everyone, from that first initial wash down to old age. These tools help keep it acceptable and fun for the whole family. It is important to brush and comb a Goldendoodle puppy before they receive a bath. Any discovered issues can be addressed, and then they can be bathed with a gentle dog shampoo free of fragrances designed for the unique needs of a puppy. You can follow this with a dog conditioner if desired. After this is done, offer a few treats and some much-needed praise. Overall it should be a positive experience for all involved, so everyone looks forward to the next time. We had a window of time to get it all done in those beginning days, fast before Lexie got bored. Thankfully her size made it easy for us to manage. A final brushing should do the trick, and both you and your beautiful fur baby pup will be headed for the next adventure of the day. It is highly recommended that a Goldendoodle puppy be bathed in a bathroom or possibly outdoors if the weather is tolerable. Some people like to think that bathing a dog weekly or bi-weekly will prevent them from being dirty, and to a certain point, depending on the dog itself, this is partly true what comes in its place though, can be much more irritating to deal with, dry skin. Not everyone enjoys baths at first, including us humans. Making it a fun experience can go a long way to creating the right environment for acceptance. Curiosity is the name of the game when it comes to bathing a Goldendoodle puppy. Depending on their unique pup personality, this may take a bit of time, a couple of sessions even, but throw in a few toys, and what Goldendoodle puppy can resist this fun? We did this once when Lexie was a puppy, and it was a warm summer day. If, after these sessions, a Goldendoodle puppy is less than enthused about a bath, their owner could undoubtedly join them in the tub for some water fun. Bathing a Goldendoodle puppy once a month is a guideline, not etched in stone. Should I have my Goldendoodle puppy bathed at the groomer every month? While a groomer can make a Goldendoodle look adorable, at the puppy stage, there is no need to waste money and time for them to do a task that a Goldendoodle puppy owner can do at home. Should the family be averse to doing it in their own home or yard, then a groomer will do a lovely job while offering them the experience of someone else handling them. This is a passive way to socialize with the Goldendoodle puppy. Grooming and bathing, whether at home or at a groomer, teach and train them while socializing them, which is beneficial for their mental and emotional development. They learn what is expected of them, and after a time, it naturally becomes a part of their life. In Conclusion A Goldendoodle puppy should be bathed about once per month. How often you bathe your Goldendoodle puppy is likely more informed by how dirty they get. This time frame is only a guideline as there may be certain times when they are bathed more or less than monthly. Whatever the length of time, we can tell you, a freshly bathed Goldendoodle puppy is too hard to resist! How Often Should I. Twitter Pinterest Splish, splash! How do you give your Goldendoodle a bath? To answer this question, I put together this how-to guide filled with my favorite tips on how to bathe a Goldendoodle. How often should you bathe a Goldendoodle? Before we dive into the how-to, you may be wondering how often to bathe your Goldendoodle. In theory, I bathe my Goldendoodle once a month. Many Goldendoodle parents wonder whether they should bathe then brush or brush then bathe. Actually, when it comes down to bathing a Goldendoodle, I recommend all three: brush, bathe, and brush again. Brushing thoroughly before the bath will remove tangles and mats. Gather your supplies. The next step in bathing a Goldendoodle, is gathering supplies ahead of time. Most Doodle dogs have enough hair and fluff to go around! Choose clothing accordingly. Some Goldendoodle parents even make clothing optional! Your cell phone because who can resist taking a few pics of a soggy doggy! Create an atmosphere your dog enjoys. Just like a human spa day, creating a calm environment will help your doggo enjoy the experience. Here are some ideas: Play soothing music. According to a study on music and dogs I found in Science Direct, dogs respond positively to soft rock and reggae music. Just hearing your happy voice can set a happy tone for your dog. Make it positive. Give your dog plenty of verbal praise, love, and even treats. If your dog is food motivated, it may be helpful to use a lick mat that can be suction cupped to the side of the tub. Before your dog hops into the bathtub, place a nonslip mat in the bottom of the tub. Also, it could help prevent a slip-and-fall injury for your dog. This is very important. Since dogs are a little more sensitive to warm water than we are, even making it a little less warm than you might like it is probably about right. Keep the water pressure low and gentle. Also, it allows you to focus on keeping water out of the ears and eyes. Use a dog shampoo to wash your dog. Do not use human shampoo to bathe your Goldendoodle. I simply put shampoo and water in a nonbreakable cup and mix it up. Then, I massage the shampoo into her coat one section at a time. For all the details on the dog shampoo we love and use check out: Best Shampoo for Goldendoodles. Working gently, I start from the top and work down paying extra attention to the paws, which tend to be the dirtiest. GOLDEN TIP: Especially for our long-haired or fluffy Goldendoodles, visually assessing the body while wet makes it easier to determine body condition—overweight, underweight, or just right. Also, I make sure to avoid getting water in her eyes and ears. Rinse thoroughly. This may take several passes. When washing my Goldendoodle, I usually start rinsing from the top and work down. That way all the soap gets off the highest point and goes to the lowest point. Leaving shampoo on the coat can result in irritation. Towel dry working in the direction of the coat. Then I wrap a towel gently around her body and help her out of the tub. Holding her like a baby, I pat her coat, working in the direction of her hair and not against it. When bathing a Goldendoodle, my goal is not only happiness but also not to tangle the hair. Rather, I towel dry working with the direction of the coat and not against it. Over the years, my Goldendoodle has become so accustomed to this, she gives me her paw so I can dry it for her. Blow dry the coat. After bathing a Goldendoodle, the gold standard is to blow dry the coat with a high velocity pet grooming dryer. This helps separate the hair. When the hair is completely dry, gently brush the coat again. Once your dog has had a good break, comb or brush the hair. For this last step, I think a dog grooming table comes in handy. Sometimes we celebrate with our favorite pupsicle frozen yogurt dog treat. More Goldendoodle bathing tips What else can you do to help your dog love and not stress over a bath? I typically plan on making Goldendoodle bathing a two-day event…one day for brushing and the next for bathing, drying, and brushing. Use your happy voice and give your dog plenty of sweet talk. Always check in with your dog. Is your dog cooperative? Never take this for granted. What about bathing a new puppy? If you have a puppy, there are several things you can do set your furry bestie up for a lifetime of happy baths. When my Goldendoodle was just a puppy, I honestly lucked into making bath time happy for her. She loved drinking out of the bathtub faucet. I turned it on so it was just a trickle of cool water. She clamored into the tub. She lapped up the trickling water from the spigot. Then I cupped my hands under the faucet and she drank from my hands. She still loves doing this as an adult. Your Goldendoodle puppy may love this too. Or, maybe your dog is food motivated. If so, you can try placing a lick mat on the side of the bathtub to provide a happy distraction. Here are more ideas for how to help prepare your Goldendoodle puppy for the first bath: Preparing your puppy for a happy bath time experience Before the bath, plan a time to just let your puppy have fun exploring the area where bathing will happen. Of course, have the area puppy proofed first. Let your pup sniff, explore, or approach the bathtub on their own terms. Slow and steady wins the race. If all is going well, try placing your puppy in the tub, which should be empty with no water running. Give treats, praise, and make it fun! Always end any new experience on a positive note. Once your puppy likes the bathing area and the bathtub, try turning the water on…just a trickle. Remember, the sound of the water may be frightening to a puppy. Give treats and use your happy voice to give lots of verbal praise. Enhance the experience by using a lick mat suction cupped to the wall. This makes a happy distraction. Thank you for sharing your valuable time with us and for loving Goldendoodles. Goldendoodle hugs and kisses! How to Wash a Goldendoodle How to Wash a Goldendoodle Goldendoodles are a popular mix between golden retrievers and poodles, and their coats share features with both parent breeds. The coat can range from gentle waves to full-on curls, with the longest growth on legs, tail, ears, or body. All these make it easy to wash a Goldendoodle. Start with Brushing and Clipping The first step to wash a goldendoodle is to thoroughly brush the coat. Some areas are difficult to access regularly with a brush and may be prone to mats or knots. Use a sharp and well-maintained set of clippers to remove the knots. Be sure to use clippers specifically designed for dog grooming as they are better equipped to cut through dog hair than human clippers. Never use scissors to clip your goldendoodle as sudden movements could cause injuries to the dog. Shampooing The next step is to move the goldendoodle into a bathtub or washbasin for shampooing. Choosing the right dog shampoo for a goldendoodle is critical to avoid drying out their often sensitive skin. Consider mild human shampoo options such as no-tears baby shampoo or fragrance-free shampoo-plus-conditioner. Once you have the right shampoo, you can jump in with the wash. Also, consider using a dampened washcloth. Massage the soap gently to create a lather as you go. Repeat this process multiple times until all of the soap is removed. Let the goldendoodle shake itself dry as needed and then air-dry or use a blow dryer on a lower setting so as not to startle your dog or hurt its ears. Be sure the dog is completely dry before any further grooming, as wet fur can appear shorter than it actually is. If you still have questions, contact us today. They are fun-loving and the most lovable dog especially in the US. If anyone is a new owner of the dog or may going to welcome your new pet as a Golden doodle then you have to know about all in and out of the Golden doodle. However, these dogs need low maintenance but the half information may cost you more in comparison to other pets. You have to know how to take care of these dogs and what is their behavior. Especially when you take them for bathing or any grooming activity. Are they get irritated or get aggressive when you give them training or any exercise. But in their daily activity, the grooming of dogs is very necessary. Most of the time new dog owners think about how to bathe Goldendoodles. We know this is a little bit difficult for the new owner. Basically, Golden Doodle is a designer dog and if you groom them frequently and give them bathing on daily basis, it helps to look them more attractive. It also helps to avoid any fungal disease because this breed bears the layer of coat on its body. Key Points you should know Before taking Goldendoodle to bathe As a new owner, you should know about all the behavior and nature of the Golden Doodle to be convenient while making them bathe. It helps to avoid unnecessary situations like mood swings or sudden aggressive behavior in your Golden Doodle that may tend to harm you. So, here are some points that you have to remember before taking them to bathe. Invest in a good wire brush that has soft pins with rubber tips help to groom them easily. So, remove the debris easily while combing. Never use cold water or hot water while making them bathe because their skin is too much sensitive and it may affect their health. So, use always lukewarm water. Before getting them to bathe you should fondle your Golden Doodle to make feel convenient and associate with the tub. They know when you are angry and when you are in a happy mood. Golden Doodle has a tendency to feel the mood of the humans so always talk to them in a calm voice. Never use a shampoo that has the ingredients of a chemical. Because that kind of shampoo may react on their body and it tends to hair loss for your designer dog. So always buy sulfate-free shampoo. Use only dog shampoo which is specially made for dogs while bathing them. What to do at the time of Goldendoodle bathing When your golden doodle is ready to bathe then keep yourself calm to make them feel positive. Take your dog to the bathing area and make them familiar with that bath area so they never get afraid to go there. So you have to follow some tips at the time of bathing your dogs. At the time of shampooing your dog, use a comb of soft pins so that all the knots of curled hairs are open. Rinse properly throughout the body while bathing with shampoo so that you can remove all the spoors of the shampoo from the body. Be attentive while bathing to avoid the shampoo getting in their eyes as well as ears. It may cause irritation to your dog and that tends to get them in an aggressive mood. What to do after Goldendoodle bathing After bathing your dog, use a dry towel that is soft and that soaked the water easily. Never rub the towel hardly to soak the water on their wet hair, it tends for hair to fall and may also tangle after dry-up. Always use a dog blow dryer which is certified because it helps to dry their hair easily. The final and important thing after making them bathe is always to appreciate your Golden doodle so that they feel comfortable and praised. After getting special treatment after bathing your dog will be familiar with bathing. Benefits Of Bathing Your Golden Doodle There is not a hard and fast rule for how frequently you bathe your dog but make sure that your dog should be clean and dirt free. So, it is very important to bathe your Golden Doodle at a regular interval. Bathing your dogs helps to remove dirt from their body and make them feel fresh. It also removes the bad odors from their body which is good for people around them. If you bathe your dog on regular basis then it helps them to reduce their shedding. Frequent bathing helps to avoid allergies because Golden Doodle hair is the easy way to transfer the allergies to humans as well as dogs themselves. Their hair carries dirt and bacteria which tend to grow the chance of allergies. It helps to monitor the health of the Golden Doodle. At the time of bathing your dog, you have a close look at your Golden Doodle like you brushing their teeth and while shampooing, you check their skin and ears. If you see any redness on their skin or anything abnormal then you can get them to a veterinary. Last but not least, it helps to make a strong bond with your Golden Doodle. While bathing your Golden Doodle, you fondle and make soft touches on their head to help strengthen their bond with you. Summary Golden Doodle a designer dog needs some care while bathing because it has a curly coat on its body which also cover its eyes as well. More frequent you bathe your dog helps to make them healthier and freshen their moods. It also reduces the chance of getting caught the allergies to the owner and their family members including their children. So, always keep in mind that bathe your Golden Doodle to avoid spreading any unnecessary disease and allergies to keep them safe as well as healthy. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Every dog loses their puppy fur to grow in their adult coat. For Goldendoodle puppies, this poses a challenge. A quick solution to this is using a slick brush a few times a week. Here is one of our favorites. All of our Doodles of NC puppies are brushed from just a few weeks old so they grow fond of the one-on-one bonding time. Bath time! In addition to brushing, our puppies learn to love bath time. Using a tear-free or mild dog shampoo allows you to bathe your doodle as frequently as every week without drying out their fur. Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo is our all-time top pick. Dogs, in general, have sensitive ears. If their ears start emitting a strong odor, or your dog scratches their ears and whines, we recommend a trip to the vet to check for an infection. Mini goldendoodles can easily be bathed in the kitchen sink. For larger Goldendoodles a walk-in shower or bath tub with a shower wand works beautifully. Lather twice and rinse thoroughly! Then towel dry and brush the coat. To speed up the drying process, a hair dryer on a low, cool setting, can speed up the process. Trips to the Groomers A goldendoodle's fur grows quite rapidly. We encourage a few trips to the groomers a year to help trim up their coat especially around their eyes to help minimize madding of the fur and healthy coat growth. And, one last tip! It is gentle enough for their delicate skin, but also smells super clean and fresh. And, feel free to reach out to us with any other questions you have on providing the proper care for your Goldendoodle. How often should I brush my puppy? Your puppy needs to be brushed daily with a slicker brush followed by a metal comb. The slicker brush will only brush the surface. The comb will help you detect any mats that are forming underneath, which is a vital part of the process. Daily brushing will keep your puppy mat free and will also teach your puppy that grooming is a routine event. Typically they need to be clipped weekly to be kept at the proper length. As they grow, you can move to once or twice a month. A groomer will typically clip nails as part of the grooming service. How often can I bathe my puppy? As long as you use a tearless shampoo, you can bathe as often as you like. Be sure to fully brush after a bath to avoid matting. When should my puppy have its first hair cut? Your puppy will probably be ready for its first hair cut at months of age. You will want to find a groomer before you bring your puppy home so that you can take them to the groomer before their first hair cut to get them comfortable with the groomer and the process. How much does a professional clip cost? Pricing will vary based on location, kind of cut requested, and the length and condition of the coat. How long does a professional clip usually take? You can expect the grooming appointment to be hours depending the size dog and the kind of cut you request. This is a widget ready area. Add some and they will appear here. For all other questions: Email: admin goldendoodleassociation. Your membership helps to fund research and development regarding health, genetics, puppy development, and more. Member Application.
Dog domestic dog The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is a medium-sized, muscular dog of around 40—55 lb 18—25 kg. They have large heads with thick folds of skin around the face and shoulders, and a relatively flat face with a protruding lower jaw. The breed has significant health issues as a consequence of breeding for its distinctive appearance, including brachycephalia , hip dysplasia , heat sensitivity, and skin infections. Due to concerns about their quality of life, breeding Bulldogs is illegal in Norway and the Netherlands. The modern Bulldog was bred as a companion dog from the Old English Bulldog , a now-extinct breed used for bull-baiting , when the sport was outlawed in England under the Cruelty to Animals Act. While often used as a symbol of ferocity and courage, modern Bulldogs are generally friendly, amiable dogs. Bulldogs are now commonly kept as pets; in it was in twelfth place on a list of the breeds most frequently registered worldwide. The first reference to the word "Bulldog" is dated or in a letter by a man named Preswick Eaton where he writes: "procuer mee two good Bulldogs, and let them be sent by ye first shipp". This entailed the setting of dogs after placing wagers on each dog onto a tethered bull. The dog that grabbed the bull by the nose and pinned it to the ground would be the victor. It was common for a bull to maim or kill several dogs at such an event, either by goring, tossing, or trampling over them. Over the centuries, dogs used for bull-baiting developed the stocky bodies and massive heads and jaws that typify the breed, as well as a ferocious and savage temperament. Bull-baiting was made illegal in England by the Cruelty to Animals Act .However, emigrants did have a use for such dogs in the New World. In midth century New York, Bulldogs were used as a part of a citywide roundup effort led by Governor Richard Nicolls. Because cornering and leading wild bulls was dangerous, Bulldogs were trained to seize a bull by its nose long enough for a rope to be secured around its neck. Rockstro founded the first Bulldog Club. Three years after its opening the Club ceased to exist, not having organized a single show. Samuel Wickens, treasurer of the club, published this description in under the pseudonym Philo-Kuan. The first English Bulldog entered into the register was a male dog named Adam Adamo , born in .The founders of the club collected all available information about the breed and its best representatives and developed a new standard for the English Bulldog, which was published on 27 May , the same year they held the first breed show. Since , exhibitions of the club were held annually, except during the Second World War. On 17 May , the Bulldog Club was granted the status of a corporation and since then has carried the official name "The Bulldog Club, Inc. It is the oldest mono-breed dog kennel club in the world. King Orry was reminiscent of the original Bulldogs, lighter boned and very athletic. Dock Leaf was smaller and heavier set, more like modern Bulldogs. King Orry was declared the winner that year, finishing the mile 32 km walk while Dock Leaf collapsed and expired. Although not as physically capable as their ancestors, modern Bulldogs are much calmer and less aggressive. Note the "rope" over the nose, and pronounced underbite Bulldogs have characteristically wide heads and shoulders along with a pronounced mandibular prognathism. There are generally thick folds of skin on the brow; round, black, wide-set eyes; a short muzzle with characteristic folds called a rope or nose roll above the nose; hanging skin under the neck; drooping lips and pointed teeth, and an underbite with an upturned jaw. The coat is short, flat, and sleek with colours of red, fawn, white, brindle , and piebald. In the United Kingdom, the breed standards are 55 lb 25 kg for a male and 50 lb 23 kg for a female. These attributes should be countenanced by the expression and behavior". Bulldogs are recognized as excellent family pets because of their tendency to form strong bonds with children. At five to six years old, they start to show signs of aging. Those that died of old age had an average lifespan of 10 to 11 years. Left to right, the skulls are from approximately the s, s, and s. A study by the Royal Veterinary College found that Bulldogs are a much less healthy breed than average, with over twice the odds of being diagnosed with at least one of the common dog disorders investigated in the study. A degree of BOAS has been normalized in the breed, as an inevitable consequence of their distinctive face. Since dogs regulate heat primarily by panting, Bulldogs are very sensitive to heat; they may actually gain rather than lose heat due to their inefficient breathing, leading to a vicious cycle. Bulldogs must be given plenty of shade and water, and must be kept out of standing heat. If not properly exercised it is possible for a Bulldog to become overweight, which could lead to heart and lung problems, as well as stress on the joints. These cause the dog some discomfort, but are treatable either by vet or an experienced owner. Other problems can include cherry eye , a protrusion of the inner eyelid which can be corrected by a veterinarian , allergies , and hip issues in older Bulldogs. Due to the high volume of skin folds on the Bulldog's body, they have high prevalence of skin-fold dermatitis. Opposed by the British Bulldog Breed Council, it was speculated by the press that the changes would lead to a smaller head, fewer skin folds, a longer muzzle, and a taller thinner posture, in order to combat problems with respiration and breeding due to head size and width of shoulders. Among these is a fitness test where the dog has to walk 1 km 0. Its temperature and heart rate has to recover after 15 minutes. They are often used as mascots by universities, sports team, and other organizations. Below is baby english bulldog puppies week by week. Variables such as temperature, air movement, and nutrient intake must be tightly controlled. Puppies are kept separate from their mother to ensure they are not laid on nor neglected. Your English Bulldog Baby at this age, most often do not have their eyes open yet. Instead they rely on their sense of hearing to know where their mom is and the other littermates. Week 3 The third week of life is a big week as major, physical development and progress are made during this week. The baby bulldogs should begin cracking their eyes open and begin developing their new found eyesight. Increased visibility adds a small level of independence that is certainly appreciate. The young puppies are now able to locate their mother and nurse more consistently on their own. During this week, we most often make the decision to leave the litter with their mother permanently. Mom will take on the responsibility of not only nursing the puppies but also cleaning up after them. This also means we are able to get a full night of sleep! What do we look for in a good Bulldog mother? Bulldog mom has to have a genetically clean pedigree history. We make sure each bulldog line that we produce has the best chance to stay healthy and happy. Bulldog mom has to have a great personality. We demand that all the bulldogs we own are extremely confident and great with both children and other pets. Breeding bulldogs with great personalities is very important as many social traits are passed from the parents to the baby. Bulldog mom has to have a great maternal instinct. Because the babies are so vulnerable we try to select and keep female English Bulldogs that show endearing and caring traits towards their babies. Week 4 Week four is our walking week! While bulldog puppies do begin to walk earlier at times, typically during week four we begin to see some major walking. The new found mobility is a joy to watch but does present some different types of responsibility as our bulldog puppies certainly can get themselves into trouble! During this week, we will start to perform some basic socialization steps to ensure that they are prepared for their new homes. Week 5 The puppies are now able to run, chew, and yes, sometimes bite! With the physical progress there are certainly ample teaching opportunities to develop these little guys into well behaving bulldogs. During this time we continue to analyze each puppy socially and develop unique, social profiles of each bully. The puppies start to focus less on physical survival and devote much of their time to playing with their littermates. This is a great learning environment for the puppies! This mushy treat quickly becomes a favorite for the pups. A robust bulldog puppy can now weigh around 5 pounds. The puppies will also undergo their first round of vet checks to ensure they are developing physically sound bodies. Socially, we continue work with the puppies to ensure they are exposed to the many different environments of the new homes they will be going to all while balancing a high level of biosecurity to ensure they are not exposed to harmful diseases to ensure for a healthy English Bulldog! The puppies are now old enough and confident enough in themselves to begin developing expectations. Being held and being fed are no longer special occasions rather they are rights to life that are demanded. We continue to provide the high level of care that we hold ourselves to while developing flexibility within each bulldog pup. Week 8 The theme for week 8 is adoption preparation. We will make a decision with our vet the age in which the bulldogs are able to be taken home. The primary variable within this decision is physical development. Most of our bulldogs will go home right around the end of week 9 all the way to week .It simply depends on the bulldog. At this point we encourage our adopters to finish prepping for their puppy. Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. Greetings from Bruiser Bulldogs and The Wysongs We are a family absolutely in love with the Bulldog breed and are dedicated to breeding genetically healthy English Bulldog puppies. As responsible AKC English Bulldog breeders, our extensive experience and unique take on the need for a healthier English Bulldog has positioned our breeding program as a visionary leader for adopters in search of a higher quality Bulldog. At our core, we love placing healthy, properly socialized puppies into loving families. There is no greater joy than to be able to share our lifelong passion for English Bulldogs with our adopter families. Feel free to read our blog , watch our videos and learn why Bruiser Bulldogs is producing a better bulldog. Instead of focusing on maximizing wrinkles or winning in the show ring, we have built our foundational bloodlines over the past decade with a focus on health first on foremost. Sires and Dams are health tested with a unique criteria. Bruiser Bulldogs must breathe freely, move athletically while still maintaining that classic English Bulldog look that people around the world have come to love. Our goal has always been consistently produce puppies that are both a head turner and fundamentally healthy Bloodline development is the key to producing healthy bulldogs. We believe that foundational genetics are created through layer after layer of breeding healthy generations of bulldogs. Over the course of a decade, we have focused on a stringent set of health criteria to gradually improve the health and quality of the dogs we produce. The rare combination of experience, repetition, and ethical awareness of correct breeding practices has set our breeding program at the forefront of responsible breeding practices. The process truly is an adoption that affects the time, focus, and schedules of each household that gets a puppy from us. After a healthy puppy , the single most critical factor for a successful bulldog adoption is adopter support. The English Bulldog is unique breed with a unique set of caretaking criteria. Previous dog ownership, while helpful, is not enough to fully prepare an adopter for English Bulldog ownership. We always say the adoption is just the beginning of our journey. Through blog articles and email prep, we focus on such topics as socialization, crate training, disease prevention, potty training, nutrition, and basic puppy supplies to ensure that each adopter will be fully prepared for their new puppy. Activities Conformation, Obedience, Rally Obedience Bulldogs are a popular breed known for their lovable disposition and charming wrinkles. Resolute and courageous, this breed is an excellent family companion, requiring minimal grooming and exercise. Temperament Bulldogs are friendly and courageous, with a happy disposition. Characteristics Bulldogs may look gruff, but these kind and courageous dogs make loyal companions. Though their mellowness can be mistaken for laziness, Bulldogs enjoy brisk walks and other activities. Bulldogs are sweet, devoted and aim to please, making them fun to train. Many Bulldogs love to chew, so having plenty of tough toys is a must. They also enjoy games of tug-of-war. Their patterns and markings may include brindle, piebald, ticking, black masks, black tipping and a minimal amount of black in piebalds. Shedding Bulldogs require minimal grooming but do go through periods of heavy shedding. Perform an all-over brushing 2 to 3 times a week to keep them looking their best and keep his wrinkles clean and dry to avoid infection or irritation. Health Bulldogs are prone to overheating and should not be left out in the hot sun without access to shade and water. Food for Bulldogs can include:. Vocality level 1 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. He is willing to please, although he retains a stubborn streak. He is very good with children. Most are moderately friendly toward strangers. Although some can be aggressive with strange dogs, the breed is quite good with other pets. Upkeep The Bulldog appreciates a daily outing but cannot tolerate hot humid weather, which can be deadly. He should not be expected to jog or walk great distances, or to jump from any heights. Most Bulldogs cannot swim. Most Bulldogs wheeze and snore, and some drool. Coat care is minimal, but facial wrinkles and any folds around the tail should be cleaned daily. Special precautions must be taken when anesthetizing a Bulldog. Caesarean deliveries are commonly needed. Hip radiographs show most Bulldogs to be dysplastic but few show overt symptoms. History With the most distinctive mug in dogdom, the Bulldog has an equally distinctive history. Some Bulldogs were also set against bears for bear baiting, purely for entertainment. In , bull baiting was outlawed, and a new phase began for the Bulldog. By all rights, the breed should have become extinct, except that it had gained so many ardent admirers that they set out to rescue the Bulldog by selecting against ferocity while still maintaining—and often accentuating—its distinctive physical characteristics. Its tough steadfast persona led it to be identified as a national symbol of England. Its amiable clownish personality belies its appearance, and the Bulldog is a popular pet. Related Content.
Kenya Labradors breeds the best, so YOU will live with the best. Kenya Labradors is solely dedicated to "breeding excellence" in order to offer you the most outstanding family pets and champions of conformation, hunting, agility, and obedience. We specialize in English-type chocolate and black Labs of exceptional quality and brilliance. See our website for photographs, pedigrees, and information! Why Labradors? Our home is on 20 acres in the gorgeous Santa Margarita Valley on California's central coast. With all this land, we could have chosen ANY breed of dog.Why did we choose Labradors? We chose to love, train, breed, and show only English-type Labrador Retrievers because we believe no other dog will suffice. These fabulous dogs fulfill our every criterion for the perfect canine companion. They are magnificently built for stamina and agility. They are off-the-charts bright and eager to please — loving, easy to train, and full of personality. Kenya Labradors are filled to the brim with SO MUCH love, devotion and intelligence — sure to become an important member of your family. It was an easy choice for us. World's Most Popular Breed of Dog! That's a BIG title and with good reason! It is also one of the most popular assistance dog breeds in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their intelligence and desire to please. Labrador Retrievers - Central California We started with one dog, as many people do. Read our story. Now we strive to produce the best quality Labs possible, specializing in chocolate and black colors with the English-type conformation. Kenya Labradors are beautiful, bold looking dogs, and especially athletic. They love to swim, play catch, and retrieve, but can just as easily kick back to watch movies with you. Our Labs are super friendly "people dogs" that are good with young children and the elderly, and for announcing to welcome visitors. Please contact us for a phone appointment. We don't post our phone number here because we are often outside with our dogs, and paying proper attention to numerous phone calls became quite a challenge. Establishing a first contact by email allows us to agree upon time where you will receive our full attention. We appreciate your understanding on this. Simply click on "contact us" or fill out the quick form — at the bottom of every page. Unless we are at a dog show or hunt trial, we will get back to you typically within the day. We look forward to meeting you! Sorry, we do not ship. Kenya Labradors does not sell puppies via the Internet or to pet dealers. You must be physically present to purchase a Lab puppy from us. We also do not cross-breed Labs to make designer dogs. We breed amazing English Labradors and take great pride in doing that one thing well. Come and see for yourself. You just might fall in love! Santa Margarita, CA .Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Labrador Retrievers are consistently among the most popular dog breeds worldwide, due in large part to their cheerful personalities and obedient natures. If you live in California and want to expand your pack with a new Labrador Retriever puppy, the breeders on this list should be the first places that you check. The 8 Labrador Retriever Breeders in California 1. However, they emphasize preparing their pups to be working dogs, ready to help you with your next hunt. For an additional fee, you can have your new dog taught basic obedience and advanced gun dog training. Summerland Labradors Visit Their Website Phelan, CA Summerland Labradors is a small operation, producing only two to three litters per year, so you need to be on the ball if you want to adopt from them. Kenya Labradors Visit Their Website Santa Margarita, CA The biggest downside in buying a dog from Kenya Labradors is that the animals are raised on a gorgeous, acre plot overlooking the California coast, so the dog might be a bit disappointed when they get to your house. Still, all that room enables these dogs to get plenty of exercise and socialization before they join your pack. This kennel breeds well-pedigreed dogs, and your pup will come with more paperwork than the average new car. Your dog will be accustomed to living like you do long before you pick them up, which should cut down their adjustment time significantly. All their dogs are AKC-registered, and each one has many generations of champions in their heritage. They go to great lengths to try to match each pooch up with the perfect home for them, so your dog will be chosen based on how their temperament fits in with your existing lifestyle. They also guarantee that their dogs will be free of genetic defects up to 1 year of age or your money back. Your new pup will be thoroughly vetted, registered with the AKC, and microchipped before being handed over to you. They also have an extensive blog that answers just about any question that you might have about raising your new family member. You may also be interested in:. Here at Kentfield Kennels we are firmly committed to breeding the traditional English Style Labrador Retriever that will become your best friend, a loving family member, hunting companion, service dog, or will be out there competing in one of the many events you can enjoy with your dog. What we wish to produce is a substantial, medium sized dog with a good bone structure, strong muscles, a broad head and muzzle with wide set eyes that have a kind expression. A great double coat to keep out the cold and that thick traditional otter tail that is carried straight and flat from the body is our goal in each breeding. We want our females to weigh approximately lbs, and our males to weigh around lbs. All of our puppies are registered with the American Kennel Club, micro-chipped and enrolled in the AKC ReUnite program before they go into a new family home. What makes us different The Labrador Retriever is a loving, affectionate and patient dog. They are highly intelligent, quick to learn, lively, good-natured and love to play, especially in the water! We wish to breed into our dogs the excellent, reliable temperament that is sociable, friendly, loyal and above all else, great with children and other pets. You are among an elite group whose love for dogs is unwavering; and it carries through in all you do as a breeder and dog owner. The AKC is proud to have you represent the largest, and most respected registry in the world! The program gives AKC a new way to engage, encourage and recognize ALL breeders who meet specific health testing standards and who participate in continuing education. We would love to invite you to compare our testimonials with other Labrador Retriever breeders in Southern CA. We invite you to view pictures and read some of the touching letters we received from Read Testimonials Read More About Us We are a large family that loves Labs! We began breeding Labradors simply for the love of the breed. My wonderful kids are involved with the care of our pets and the socialization of the puppies. Some of our Labs have been trained to surf! They even drive from Arizona and Las Vegas Nevada! Acts Help Heal and Protect your Pet for life! Learn more click here! A lifetime of Nu Vet is cheaper than one major vet visit. Puppies and dogs that are on Nu Vet have beautiful coat and skin and are far less likely to ever suffer from allergies. Nu Vet Plus is an immune system builder that will help strengthen your pets immune system as well as the cardiovascular, skeletal and nervous systems. It will help protect pets from the side effects of vaccinations and the stress of new and different environments. Your righteousness is like the mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike O Lord. Psalm .As my website states, I am not like other breeders in many ways. First, I want to explain how the average Labrador breeder raises their pups the first few weeks of their life. They expect these tiny pups without their senses fully developed to find their way to a nipple without being smothered. I understand that this is what dogs do in the wild, but this is also why many puppies die in the wild. .Then, on top of that they hope that each of the pups will get enough milk on it's own to make it through the 1st week of life. They expect the Lab mom to do all the work, so they don't have to lose a wink of sleep. This is all very sad to say but it's true. I, on the other hand, care about each individual pup's life, I care that each and every one of them survive so that they can live a full and happy life. So, I make sure that each individual pup is given outstanding care. How do I do this? I began with hand raising each one of my pups the first 3 weeks of its life. What do I mean by hand raise my pup? It means I personally make sure each individual pup is fed every 2 hours- 24 hours a day, the first 2 weeks of its life. At feeding time, I make sure each puppy gets on a nipple so they don't have to struggle to find one. I make sure that each puppy gets an adequate amount of milk. Then, once I see that they have been well fed. I pick up one pup at a time and have the mom lick it to go potty. And then I put them in their little crib to ensure they are safe and not smooth by the mother until the next feeding 2 hours later. At three weeks, we feed the pups every 4 hours. But at this point, even though the pups eyes and ears are open. I still supervise the feeding to ensure that each pup is adequately fed and again not smothered by it's mother. I believe in giving these pups outstanding care. Even if that means that I lose a lot of sleep, and even if it ends up just saving one pups life. That one pup could be the next Labrador that I get a testimony about how it brought so much joy into one person's life! So, in the end, all the work and lack of sleep is worth it. I am up now about to give my pups their 3 am feeding. Hope this helps you all understand what is put into each litter. She is from our breeding between Cash and Bella, both parents are health certified. Sugar is overnight crate trained and has some other training. She has the sweetest disposition; we absolutely love her! However, we have had a family emergency that has come up that may cause us to have to put Sugar up for sale. If you would be interested in Sugar, please email us and let us know about yourself, and the lifestyle that you would be able to give Sugar. We will be reviewing potential families who would be interested in Sugar and pick the best family for her, and make a decision later this month. They are given constant positive attention their whole time with us. We have a big game room that we call the "Labby Room" This room is designated for our labs and their lab puppies. The puppies get a lot of interaction with all our kids in this room. They also become well adjusted to all the sounds of the home life, like the sound of a vacuum. When the pups are born, I will contact you and inform you on how many pups were born. We will post up pictures of each litter soon after they are born. And try to post weekly picture updates so you can watch the puppies grow. We will also post video on our face book page. When the pups are 6 to 7 weeks of age, I will contact you to set up an appointment for you choose and pick up your pup at 8 weeks of age. If you had first deposit in for a male pup you will have first choice of all the males available. If you have second deposit in, you will have the next appointment to choose from the males that are left and so forth. This order of reserving pups would also apply to the females as well. We honor all reservations on a puppy by not selling the puppy to anyone else. So if you are interested in a litter and don't want to make a reservation until "you see the litter". An appointment can be made to view the left-over puppies when they are 10 weeks old, and no sooner. No appointments will be allowed at a younger age, except for the families that made a prior reservation. We will not allow our baby puppies to be exposed to potential life threatening viruses from people that are just "shopping". We wait until all puppies that have been reserved are safely home, before we show any left-over puppies. Any left-over pups will be at least 10 weeks of age before any viewings are allowed, to insure they have at least had 2 sets of shots in. The only other accommodation that we can offer is a zoom call, so you can see the pups before you make a reservation. Most of our sweet puppies are sold before they are even born. Reserve your puppy today! Why buy a puppy that could have health issues later in life? Please buy and shop responsibly, or adopt a dog in need. Are they doing OFA clearances on hips, elbows, eyes, and heart at 2 years of age? Do they recommend not to spay until 2 years of age to ensure hormones help growth plates close properly? Are they showing their dogs in some type of AKC sanctioned event? Conformation, hunt tests, agility, fun sports such as dock diving, etc? This shows the breeder is dedicated to the dog, not the check from breeding. Does the dog have AKC titles? From Canine Good Citizen, to Trick Dog, to Championship Conformation titles — you want your breeder to be helping make the breed better. They should be in every generation, not 3 generations ago. Does it destroy toys, does it eat the wall, do they have to be crated, do they counter surf, are they walked on a simple slip leash or a harness? Nothing against doodles, but ensure your breeder is doing proper health testing and x-rays. You as a buyer need to know that down the line this could lead to health problems and vet bills that could have been avoided. Just because your dog is registered does not make it well bred. You want your breeder dedicated to the breed and only whelping puppies that meet this minimum criteria for well bred dogs.
View all adoptable dogs Our Mission Our mission is to find safe, loving, lifelong homes for Golden Retrievers. No Golden Retriever will ever be turned away, regardless of medical needs or age. Every furry friend goes through a wellness check with our experienced veterinarians. We make sure every dog is up-to-date with current vaccinations, are spayed and neutered if necessary, receive heartworm treatment and are treated for any other medical issues that are needed. We have a c 3 classification with the IRS, making your donation tax deductible. We also meet the requirements for corporate matching, employee giving, and volunteer grant programs. Help us out today! Volunteer We are always in need of kind-hearted volunteers to join our team. Check out a few of the great volunteer roles available and then fill out an application form. Our Volunteer Director will get in touch and match your time and talent to our needs. Volunteer today! Community Events These community events are vital to new volunteer recruitment as well as finding homes for our dogs. Most events are held on the weekends throughout the year. Volunteers are always needed to help set up, man our table, and help tear down. We have answers. What are Golden Retriever puppies for sale near Birmingham like? A Golden Retriever is a large, lovable, and highly intelligent breed of dog. Their thick golden coats make them irresistibly cute, and many people find that they can't help but take home one of these beautiful animals. Golden Retrievers were originally used as working dogs, which is why they are so obedient and loyal. They excel in activities like tracking, retrieving, and obedience competitions and are also great for jogging companions, search-and-rescue missions, and as therapy dogs. With Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Birmingham, what is their coat like? The Golden Retriever has a beautiful double-coat that consists of a waterproof, outer coat and a fluffy, downy undercoat. This coat may come in different shades of gold ranging from light cream to dark golden. The long, thick outer coat can protect them from water, cold temperatures, and even some brush and brambles. The undercoat can provide insulation during the cold months. Grooming for the Golden Retriever can be time-consuming and require weekly brushing to keep the coat free of mats and tangles. Do Birmingham Golden Retriever puppies for sale have special dietary needs? Yes, Golden Retrievers do have special dietary needs. Unlike some other breeds, Goldens require a nutrient-dense and balanced diet to stay healthy and active. Protein should make up between 18 and 25 percent of their diet, and it should come from sources like fish, poultry, and meat. They should also be given omega-3 fatty acids and other fats to help keep their coat and skin healthy. Fruits and vegetables, as well as grains and cereals provide necessary carbs, vitamins, and minerals. Am I ready to adopt Golden Retriever puppies in Birmingham? Before bringing your new Golden Retriever home, it's important to create a safe environment for them. Start by puppy-proofing the home by making sure any areas with electrical cords are secured, any cleaning or potentially toxic materials are moved out of reach, and any small objects that could be swallowed are put away. Next, get the supplies you'll need for your pup, such as a comfortable bed, healthy food and treats, water and food dishes, and any toys you'd like them to have. How big do Golden Retrievers for sale in Birmingham get? Golden Retrievers are a larger size of dog, typically weighing anywhere from 55 to 75 pounds as adults. On average, mature male Golden Retrievers can reach between 21 and 24 inches tall, while females tend to be slightly smaller, ranging between 20 and 22 inches. That being said, some may be smaller or larger than this depending on the individual. The most important thing is that Golden Retrievers receive a balanced diet and plenty of exercise to stay healthy and strong. How many minutes per day should I walk Golden Retriever puppies near Birmingham? The amount of time you should walk your Golden Retriever on a daily basis depends on a number of factors including age, energy level, and size. Generally speaking, an adult Golden Retriever should receive at least 30 minutes to an hour of daily exercise. This can take the form of a leisurely walk, a more efficient hike, or even playing fetch. Of course, exercise needs may vary depending on the individual dog, so it is important to monitor your pup and adjust the amount of time he is walking per day accordingly. Are Golden Retrievers in Birmingham good with kids? Golden Retrievers are renowned for having gentle dispositions. Their intelligence and ability to learn quickly make them excellent family companions. They are patient and playful, so they are ideal around children and are always willing to share their love. Golden Retrievers are even-tempered, affectionate, and loyal. Their warm and loving nature ensures they will happily give any child they meet their full attention. With supervision, they are the perfect companion for adventures and activities, so they are more than capable of being a wonderful companion to any child. Is training Birmingham Golden Retrievers for sale easy? Training a Golden Retriever can be an easy endeavor if the proper techniques and principles of dog training are followed. Golden Retrievers are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and eagerness to please, making them well-suited to learn with positive rewards-based training. This approach focuses on rewarding desired behaviors with praise, verbal cues, and treats in order to reinforce good behavior. While patience and consistency are key during the training process, Golden Retrievers are quick learners and exceptionally responsive to the positive reinforcement of rewards-based training.
Before you start training your Boxer puppy—or, even better, before you get the puppy—read up on what kind of training is ideal for your breed. Check online, local libraries and local organizations. You can also ask your vet for advice. Remember, the more knowledgeable you are, the better you know how to react under different circumstances. Make sure as well that you have what you need to effectively train your dog. If you're planning to clicker train, get a clicker. If you're planning to crate train, get the right-sized crate. Also be sure to pick up an appropriate collar and leash for general training. A leash should be no more than five to six feet in length. The best leashes for training are leather. Always check your equipment to make sure it is in good order and not liable to snap or break. Training works best when you dedicate a couple of short sessions 10 to 15 minutes twice a day to it. Try to train at times when the dog is not tired, but also not bursting with pent-up energy. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Ringpress Books Consider expending your Boxer's energy before training sessions by allowing him 20 to 30 minutes of high-intensity physical activity. This will enable him to better focus on training. Try to train the dog in a place where there are few distractions, so that your Boxer puppy can focus his attention on you. This means avoiding places with other animals or people. Always begin training in your home or yard and build up to environments with more distractions e. Your commands need to be simple, short, clear and consistent. Don't lecture your dog; they're not human so they don't process language in the same way. Phrases like "I've told you not to do that" or "Please stop chewing on the table" will not work as they are too complicated. John Bradshaw. Publisher: Penguin Experts believe that a given dog registers the first part of the word as the most important, so longer commands such as "Sit Fido if you want a treat" are liable to confuse him. Just say the word "Sit" instead. In general, shouting at any dog is ineffective. This is especially true for Boxers who are hyper breed by nature. Use a firm but pleasant and upbeat voice when instructing your dog; don't yell or lose control. Dogs are very intuitive and will be able to sense your frustration and may react in kind. The tone of voice matters, especially since, again, dogs don't process language in the same way that humans do. So how you say something may mean as much if not more than what you say. Publisher: Penguin Boxers are playful by nature, and a light, breezy tone will not suffice; he will think you are just playing with him if you are not firm enough. Try using hand gestures at the same time as you issue verbal commands. For example, raise your hand at the same time as saying "Sit". Dog behaviorists believe that dogs look for multiple clues as to what we want them to do, which includes the command word, tone of voice, and body language. Admonishing a Boxer puppy too long after the incident is ineffective. If you need to admonish or correct your dog, it needs to be done during or within a few seconds of the act. Dogs will have forgotten the event within seconds of its occurrence, so it's key to address the behavior immediately in order to facilitate the retraining process. Boxers are notoriously stubborn and steadfast, so you may have to correct your puppy numerous times. Always be consistent in your commands and desires of the dog. This helps your dog to understand what is expected. Don't forget to enforce training when you are out and about, so that your dog doesn't just thinking that "Sit" and "Stay" are things he has to do in the yard or house. By enforcing commands in public places it helps your Boxers to understand he must obey under all circumstances. Leave no room for doubt about what is acceptable behavior for your Boxer puppy. If he is not allowed on the furniture, be consistent. Boxers won't understand the concept of "sometimes"; they are either permitted to lie on the couch or they are not. If you live with other people, make sure that everyone in the house is on board with the training program. Using different words for the same action will confuse the dog, disrupt the training already done, and ultimately delay progress. But at the moment, they need your guidance. For now, this includes sleeping next to you for the first few weeks, maybe even longer. Just have their crate or bed close to wherever you sleep. Our articles on sleeping through the night and establishing a nighttime routine will give you extra tips on getting through this phase. A puzzle toy or Kong will work great at making them feel like you leaving them is actually something quite fun. Potty training All new puppy parents expect potty training to be on the cards. It will help to remember your Boxer pup is a bit of a goofball. For now, we definitely want to let your pup get used to you and settle into their new home. Teach your puppy about surfaces — Different surfaces can feel strange to pups. Use surfaces like grass, moss, paving and sand. Basically, make their tail wag and we bet yours will too. Teach your Boxer their name. Teach your Boxer puppy to sit. Remember what we said about Boxers and their jumping? Recall — Trust us. Preventing resource guarding Resource guarding is where your dog fiercely protects something they have and will do everything they can to keep hold of it. Dogs can resource guard food, a toy, even a person. You can do this by teaching them that hands and touch can be a good thing. As always, back up your soft touches with some treats. Remember that consent is also a thing with dogs! Never force your Boxer to be handled or pick them up against their wishes. Socialization exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week — Fireworks — Watch the world go by outside your house — Play dress up. Love Boxer Dogs? Boxer Dogs are great family pets. They can often be referred to as the clown of dogs because of their joyful personality and clumsy behaviour, which can be very entertaining! They are a loyal companion and make great guard dogs, alerting their owners of anyone who approaches the property. Also, they tend to love affection from people they meet, including children, and enjoy an energetic run around with other dogs they come across! However, as with all breeds of dogs, Boxer Dog training from a young age is important. Boxer Dogs are a clever breed and can be quite trainable once you find the right reward to motivate them. The pros of this breed could go on forever. They really are amazing dogs. However, one of the main things people need to consider with this breed is their high energy levels! If you do not have a particularly active lifestyle then the Boxer Dog may not be the right breed for you. Boxers are highly energetic and require lots of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. If you are unable to dedicate time to put into exercising your Boxer Dog or finding ways to give mental stimulation, then you will find it exceedingly difficult to train and get along well with your dog. They also hold a reputation for being stubborn. This can cause problems for when you are trying to get them to do something. You need to have a lot of patience and persistence for Boxer puppy training. They are quick learners but you have to get through that stubbornness first in order to train them really well. Boxer Dogs are really energetic! Many people worry that training their new dog is going to be hard. Here are our top 10 tips for training Boxer Dogs to help you along your way… Make sure to exercise before training Boxers are an energetic breed and can become distracted easily. To help focus their attention on to you, exercise them before a training session. Discover what your dog likes When starting your Boxer puppy training, rewards are crucial. Every Boxer Dog is different and, as a result, they will all be motivated by different rewards. For example, some prefer treats and some prefer toys. You need to find out what your dog prefers and use that as a reward. If your dog likes treats, find their favourite treat. If your dog likes toys, find their favourite game. You can use these as rewards for good behaviour, which will make training sessions far easier! Reward Accordingly Depending on the exercise you and your dog are doing, you need to reward accordingly when it comes to Boxer Dog training. For example, if you are training your dog to walk to heel down the road, it may not be a good idea to reward your dog with a game of fetch. Focus on the good stuff Even though your Boxer may exhibit unwanted behaviour sometimes, you still need to focus on the good behaviour. As we said before, Boxer Dogs are stubborn, so reward their good behaviour and you will motivate them to do it more. The more you reward the good behaviour, the more likely it is that it will happen again. Motivation This is a similar point when it comes to Boxer Dog training. Boxers are known to be stubborn, but if we motivate them then they are more likely to do what we ask them to do. Using their favourite treats and other rewards is the best way to do this. So, we need to structure regular play times in for them. Dogs naturally want to play in the evening after their meal. You may notice that at some point in the evening they get a surge of energy and bounce around and want to play. This is a good time to play with them. One, two, three, and go Boxers are a very sociable breed and often get caught up with wanting to play with other dogs. To help with Boxer Dog training and for them to understand that they do not have to stay and play with every dog, you can teach them the 3-second rule. The rule is they can only meet for three seconds and then they are called away. This allows them a brief amount of time to say hello and then come back to you. If you do this enough, you will condition your dog to say hello and then walk on, making your walks a lot less hassle! Change Direction Boxers can be quite excitable when taking them out for walks and they may pull on the lead. To help combat this, you can change direction every time your Boxer Dog walks in front of you. This key point in Boxer dog training will teach them to follow you. And, if you reward them when they are well behaved and next to you, they will learn that they will get treats when they are beside you. Consistency is key It is very important to be consistent with the rules you are setting in place when it comes to Boxer puppy training. If you do not want your dog on the sofa but someone else allows it, then you will confuse your dog. Everyone in the household has to be reading off the same page in order for your dog to understand what it is you want from them. Set clear rules, and make sure everyone sticks to them! Learning to settle Teaching your dog to settle and relax is important for them so that not only can they unwind and relax, but they also understand how they should behave when you have visitors. This is when your dog lays down but rocks their hips over to one side. When your dog is in this position you can reward them and pair it with the word settle. If you wanted to take it a step further you can teach them to do this in their bed. Taking the time to teach them this key skill will really help the harmony in your home! What can good Boxer Dog training look like? Here at Royvon, we absolutely love working with Boxer Dogs to help them reach their full potential and thrive with their owners! Have a look at the video below to find out more! Meet Pippa! Pippa came to Royvon with obedience issues and problems with keeping her focus on her owner. She worked with our trainer Anna to help improve her behaviour! Anna and Pippa made great progress using positive reinforcement to reward her for ignoring possible distractions. Great work Pippa and Anna! Here at Royvon, we love working with dogs of all breeds, not just Boxers! With options to suit everyone from group puppy classes to intensive one-to-one residential training, we can cater for all needs! Whether your pup just needs to learn some basic manners, or they have issues such as aggression and anxiety, our progressive and science-based training methods are here to help! Want to find out more about what we can do to help you and your dog? Bookmark Boxers are the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States. Training should be started as soon as possible with Boxer pups. Among the wide range of dog breeds, Boxers are known to be one of the most trustworthy and intelligent. Their suspicion of strangers, alertness, agility, and strength make them formidable guard dogs. Because of their sturdiness and robust personality, they have been employed occasionally on police and military operations. These strong and intelligent animals have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and therapy dogs. These canines have interesting traits, in spite of their menacing appearance, that make them easy to take care of and a wonderful family favorite. It is essential to make yourself aware of the type of dog that you are going to handle, as well as the right time to start training your puppy. Ideally, Boxer training is not initiated until the Boxer pup turns three weeks old. During this period, he is able to learn how to obey simple commands which will make the upcoming training more effective. Furthermore, Boxer owners must know the various characteristics that this type of canine possesses. The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands great attention. Boxers are renowned for their great love and faithfulness to their master and households. They are harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers; bright and friendly at play, but brave and determined when aroused. The Boxer's intelligence and willing tractability, its modesty, and cleanliness make it a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. This breed is extremely loyal, and is never mean or treacherous even in its old age. However, you must keep an eye on the precipitating factors for his anguish when it does appear and find out the reason for his unpleasant behavior right away, so that his frustration does not become part of his personality. TIP 2: Socialization is vital. Boxer dogs need interaction during the entire training process. Boxer puppies, in general, love to fool around, be with other human beings, and need some form of recreation. If integrated into the training environment, your dog will grow up more responsible. Boxers do not like being loners. They need to socialize with others just like humans. If not properly socialized or interacted with on a regular basis, Boxer aggression problems such as biting, chasing and barking loudly might arise unexpectedly and be difficult to correct. TIP 3: Providing regular exercise is absolutely essential. Boxer training should also include having your dog perform exercises. It can be a kind of sport or any outdoor activity. The key is to keep him active and agile, which helps him manage his energy levels when indoors. This exercise can be anything from a nice afternoon walk to playing a sport with him such as tossing a ball or frisbee. Boxers enjoy moving around, frolicking, and playing for hours. More movement means more strength and vigor for your dog. TIP 4: You are the alpha dog! During Boxer training you get to assume the role of a leader. It is imperative that your dog always treat you as his master and have no control over you. Make yourself the Alpha dog, especially during leash training. Leaders should be strict and dominant especially when setting rules. You must have the power over him and not allow him to overtake you. Adhering to this strict regimen until your dog fully learns and understands what behavior is acceptable and required will be worthwhile when taking him for a walk or to a dog park for exercise. Want to learn how to save on veterinary care? Click here TIP 5: Use a reward system. If your Boxer has been conforming well to the rules you have taught him during training, praise him often. Positive reinforcement is also an important element in Boxer leash training. You may give him his favorite bite-sized treat for being a good dog. Foods, toys, and telling him "Good job! Just as important as praise is remembering that if he misbehaves, you should just correct him and not punish. Punishing him violently or excessively may trigger Boxer aggression problems in the form of biting and scratching. The whole idea here is to repay him for his excellence and to reprimand in a firm but friendly manner. TIP 6: Whenever possible, spend extra time with your Boxer, beyond the training sessions. Some owners who do Boxer training might not appreciate the significance of the amount of time shared with their dogs. Insure that you allot time for your pup beyond the training to reassure him you love him and that he is your friend and companion and member of the family. Keeping your dog company is one way to bring your relationship with him to the next level, as well as increasing the success of the training. Avoid letting him feel unwanted or neglected. TIP 7: Teach your Boxer basic tricks. In Boxer training, teaching your dog a new skill is also important. As he learns a trick or two, it will not only impress friends and family, but also helps to increase your dog's mental development and obtain his trust easier. Sit, stand, roll, and kneel are a few examples of basic tricks you can teach your canine. These tricks just need patience and perseverance and he will grow into a very clever dog. TIP 8: Visit your veterinarian for help when needed. Certain problems may come up while training your Boxer. In this case, seek help from your vet for experts in your area familiar with this particular breed. Some of the issues such as proper crate training, ways to prevent Boxer anxiety and how to keep him from jumping on other people might require some extra help. The greatest tip for training your Boxer will be to approach him with patience, persistence and lots of love. Your Boxer will become a remarkably well trained dog, and a wonderful member of your family. Ready to start saving money on pet wellness care? Then take a look at Mint Wellness, the pet wellness plan that provides fast reimbursement on routine pet care. Save on vaccinations, wellness exams, preventatives, dental, and more! WhatsApp If you own a pet dog, one of your key priorities should be training it. It has also been noted that the earlier you start training your dog, the easier it would be to do so. You can train your dog a number of commands when it is quite young. Furthermore, every breed is different and they all have varying personality traits. Today, we will be talking about dog training the popular Boxer dog breed. Boxer Dog A medium-sized guard dog that originally came from Germany, the Boxer is one of the most popular choices as pets today. This breed has a box-shaped face, with a squarish jaw and muscular body which makes it quite good-looking. But they are not only friendly companions. They are also extremely intelligent, intuitive, alert, and patient; all traits making them a very popular breed. In addition to being family dogs, they can be raised as guard dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, and will also help owners in many other activities- if trained to do so. Are Boxer Puppies Easy to Train? They are intelligent dogs, who are extremely willing to learn provided that the training process begins at the right time and in the correct manner. Make sure that you do not neglect training your boxer puppy because this breed has a high-energy level. Without learning the commands, your boxer puppy might develop bad habits or become overly hyper, aggressive, or even fearful. However, there are some tips that will greatly help dog owners in achieving success while training. Training the Boxer Early On When it comes to Boxer puppies, it is best to begin the training sessions within the first 20 weeks of their life. You have to start defining boundaries, setting rules, and assigning them their role in the initial stages of life. So, start with basic commands as soon as you can. This does not mean you can start professional training when the boxer puppy is only a few weeks old. Different obedience training should be started at different stages. While some of them are advised super early, others can be started when the pup is around 6 months old. However, Boxers learn best and quickest when they are taught early in life. This should be started as soon as possible for Boxers. However, remember that the boxer puppy is still young and scared, so you have to be extremely soft and never scold him. Start training by taking it to the potty spot around mins after a meal and stand and wait there till the puppy eliminates. You have to start building a regular potty training schedule and overtime, you will see how your boxer dog follows a consistent routine themselves. You can also teach them voice commands from the start as the dog can easily pick these too. So, potty train your dog as a start and then slowly add more commands. Proper crate training is also important for teaching responsibility and good behavior to them. When the boxer is three to four months old, you can start teaching your dog these commands. Remember to use food treats as a way of rewarding them every time they understand your voice cues. The best training method is giving your dog lots of praise and reinforce good behavior with a reward system. Leash Training Boxer Dogs All dog breeds must be taught how to stay on the leash and get used to it. You will be taking your dog for walks regularly, and using the leash is the only way to control them while they are out. Boxer dog training cannot be complete without this important lesson. Make sure that you have a suitable and comfortable collar and leash for your boxer. Again, keep a tasty treat with you when you are on a walk and offer it whenever the dog stays by your side. Remember, these sessions should be kept short and positive. You should constantly lure it towards yourself so it learns to walk with you. When it starts to act like a devil and keeps pulling away, then ignore it. When your dog comes back to you, reward it. Always troubleshoot related leash behavior problems by sticking to this strategy. Crate Training For Boxers Your dog must know how to stay in a crate happily. You can teach them to do so by providing them a large and comfortable crate. When you start to crate train your Boxer, you can expect some crying and whining initially. Puppies tend to cry a lot in the first few nights. But you must stay strong and pull yourself through no matter how your pup reacts. So the golden rule is, you are not to allow the puppy out of the crate until it stops crying on its own. Keep practicing this and soon, your doggo will be totally fine. When you finally open the crate, keep a treat ready so your dog knows it did a good job. Importance of Proper Socialization In successful boxer dog training, socialization also plays a key role. Boxers need to be given the opportunity to interact and get along with other human beings. Simply spending time with their dog trainer or owner is not adequate for them. This will help to prevent aggression issues like biting or chasing as well as barking loudly. This should be integrated with puppy training early on as it is much harder to correct such problems later on when you have an adult dog. Who is the Alpha dog? Before you begin puppy training, you must know that dogs have a pack mentality. This means that there is only one alpha, who is their leader. And this alpha leader should always be you, the owner! Dominance training is an important approach that is often recommended while training the boxer breed. No matter what you are training, let your puppy know what is acceptable and what is not. You will be the rewarding giver and the commander at all times. Make sure to always exude confidence and control with your demeanor and voice, because dogs can easily pick these cues. This entire approach is very effective in training your dog well. Spend time with your Boxer Dog Although it is important to be the alpha, you also need to take on the role of a loving owner. Boxers love attention and time, so it is important that you also have separate fun, playtime with them-apart from training sessions. This allows your dog to see you in a different light as well. It helps you bond with them better, and as these dogs are so loyal and affectionate, it will also help achieve more training success. After all, boxers are known to be obedient and faithful to their owner, especially when they have developed a deep connection with them. We recommend you to always visit the veterinarian if your Boxer is facing behavioral issues that stand out as odd to you or if you are having too much trouble training it. This is to ensure that your doggo is fine and not facing any other issues you may be unaware of. Boxers are a family favorite and a highly recommended canine companion for everyone. Using our tips, you can train it to be an excellent partner who will be forever obedient and extremely well-behaved. We hope this guide was helpful to you. Enjoy training your Boxer pup!
Breed Profiles By Kate Brunotts 10 min read May 25, 2 Comments K9 of Mine is reader-supported, which means we may earn a small commission through products purchased using links on this page. Are you looking for a magnificent mutt to take over your home and heart? The Labradane — an endearing cross between a Great Dane and Labrador retriever — might be the perfect fit for your family! These dogs commonly exhibit a combination of traits from both parent breeds, as is the case with most mutts. However, there are a couple of traits that most Labradanes tend to have in common, such as a loyal, loving nature. There are also a couple of similar canine crosses and purebred pooches Labradane lovers may want to consider. This includes big best buddies like Irish Wolfhounds and designer dogs like the Goldendane. But despite their impressive statures, Great Danes can adapt well to relatively small spaces, as long as they are provided the exercise, stimulation, and training they need. Great Danes are known for their easy-going natures and dependable demeanors. In fact, these big doggos are actually super cuddly canines. You can find Great Danes in colors ranging from solid grey, to black to tan, and they also display merle, brindle, or harlequin coats on occasion. As they grow older, it may be more difficult to guide your gargantuan Great Dane, so make sure he has mastered his manners. These good-natured furry friends need plenty of room and moderate exercise to keep their tails wagging. Labrador Retriever The other half of the sweet Labradane can be traced back to one of the most coveted canines: the Labrador retriever. Labs have a history as bird-hunting dogs , so they certainly like to stay active and are happy to accompany you on any adventure. These smart sweethearts also make amazing therapy dogs and tend to follow their favorite humans from one room to the next. Labradors are excellent canine companions, though they need to be placed with an owner who can keep up with their moderately high energy levels, and provide plenty of exercise throughout the day. These medium-sized dogs weigh about 50 to 80 pounds and come in golden, chocolate or black coat variants. Labradane Traits and Characteristics Are you considering bringing home one of these gentle giants? Here are some generalized traits and characteristics for you to take into consideration. With that in mind, still take the time to meet your individual puppy and his parents before committing to your canine. Size and Shape: Labradanes are large furry friends weighing anywhere from 80 to pounds. But as with all mixed breeds, deviations from this range are common. These sweet dogs are highly intelligent, and eager to please their family members. They are also incredibly loyal dogs and known for their friendly, playful nature. These are quintessential family dogs, who do well in households where someone is usually around to keep them company. Coat and Colors: Labradanes usually have a white, brown, black, or brindle coat. Like his Great Dane and Labrador parents, the mixed breed will have a fairly short, slick yet thick coat. Labradanes shed fairly regularly and should have their ears groomed on a regular basis as their large, floppy size makes them prone to ear infections. Intelligence: Labradanes are incredibly intelligent furry friends that should be fairly easy to train. Training Challenges: Luckily, Labradanes are known to be star students out of love for their humans and training treats. Labradanes can also suffer from separation anxiety and do not like being left alone for long periods of time. Health: Labradanes have a life expectancy of anywhere between 8 and 12 years. Best Families and Situations for a Labradane Not all homes are suitable for these unique furry friends. Use this checklist to make sure you can provide a lovely Labradane everything he needs to live a happy life. You have plenty of space. So, Laberdanes are best for homes with plenty of room and a big backyard. Someone is usually home. Labradanes are highly social and love spending time with their humans. The ideal home for a Labradane is lively and usually has someone around to keep these patient pups entertained. These sweet dogs want nothing more than to embed themselves as part of the family unit. How Can You Find a Labradane? Tracking down any designer dog can be difficult, and the grand and great Labradane is no exception. Here are a couple of key ways you can narrow down your search: Start with an online search. Using an online doggie database like Petfinder can make it much easier to determine whether or not there are Labradanes in your area. Look into local shelters. Seek out a ruff-ural. If you happen to know a Labradane owner, you can ask for them to refer you to their breeder. Additionally, you can shoot your shot by reaching out to Labrane owners on social media if you feel comfortable. Keep in mind that not all breeders are reputable. If you choose to purchase your pooch, make sure your breeder is someone you can trust. Here are a few that have similar characteristics to these special canines. Laboundland: These gentle canines hit the sweet spot between their Labrador and Newfoundland parents. Like the Labradane, this mutt is on the larger side with an equally proportionate heart. Bernese Mountain Dog: Berners are known for their good-natured, laid-back demeanor paired with their distinct tri-color coat. These fluffy furry friends do well with kids and other pets. These big best buddies are super sweet and maintain a joyful, puppy-like spirit well into their years. Irish Wolfhound: These purebred pups are one of the tallest breeds you can find and make agreeable canine companions. Irish Wolfhounds are active, loyal, and dedicated family companions. Have you ever met a Labradane before? Like it? Share it! Is this Great Dane and Labrador Retriever crossbreed for you? What is a Labradane? Designer dog breeds became popular during the s when breeders started to intentionally mate two purebred dogs to create healthier offspring. Great Danes are giant dogs from Germany. Today, Great Danes are known as one of the gentlest and most affectionate breeds around. They are people lovers, patient with children, and eager to please their owners. They were bred to help their owners in retrieving game and hunting. Today, Labrador Retrievers are known to be outgoing, friendly, and smart. They are working dogs and help in search and rescue operations and drug and explosive detection. Labradanes are affectionate. It should not come as a surprise that the Lab Great Dane mix is one of the sweetest dogs since both its parent breeds are very loving. This hybrid craves human attention and they take every opportunity to show you they love you. You can expect a Labradane to cuddle up when you watch TV or sleep next to you. While its clingy nature is endearing, this breed is prone to having separation anxiety if left alone for too long. Great Dane Labs are playful and energetic. Labradanes have high energy levels and they love to go for walks, run, and swim. They need moderate exercise daily to keep them healthy and happy. A Labradane is required to have at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. These dogs need their exercise to put their energy to good use and maintain a healthy weight. Great Dane and Labrador Retriever mix puppies tend to be bouncy because they can get overly excited when at play, but this can be taken care of by proper training. Labradanes are patient with kids and other pet dogs, making them a good addition to the family. A bit of caution, though: they can be over-enthusiastic and might unintentionally hurt small children when playing. While Great Dane and Lab mixes are friendly with the people and animals they know, they have an instinct to protect their owners. These dogs are usually wary of strangers, but they will not bark unless they perceive a threat. Even if your Labradane can be protective, they are not ideal guard dogs. They are naturally sweet and they just happen to scare strangers off because of their size. This breed is classified between a large to a giant dog. The size of this breed is at times described as smaller Great Danes, but bigger Labrador Retrievers. Great Dane and Lab mix puppies experience the fastest growth in the first 6 months and stop growing at months. What does a Great Dane and Lab mix look like? It may be difficult to predict how a crossbreed would look as they can take physical attributes from either parent. In general, this hybrid has a muscular body with a broadhead. They have also inherited their floppy ears and long, curled tail from their parents. They have short, thick, and glossy coats that shed moderately. A Labradane may have a coat in shades of black, brindle, chocolate, brown, fawn, white, cream, merle, and golden. Twice-a-week brushing is enough to keep their coats looking healthy during the non-shedding season. Here are some grooming tips to make this time enjoyable for you and your pooch: Brush in the direction in which the coat grows. Be gentle to avoid hurting your dog. Instead of looking at it as a task, think of it as an experience where you and your pet can bond. Give your Labradane a treat after grooming so he behaves at the next grooming session. Bathing this dog too often will strip its coat of natural oils and result in dry skin and allergies. A bath every month or two or when your dog gets really dirty works best for this crossbreed. The floppy ears of the Labradane will also need weekly checking and cleaning. Make sure the ears are completely dry to prevent the spread of bacteria. Labradanes are smart, but some can be stubborn. Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers are known as working dogs , which means that they are smart and capable of carrying out specific tasks such as guarding property or pulling sleds. Like its parent breeds, the Labradane is quick to pick up on commands. Generally, the Lab Great Dane mix is easy to train because of its intelligence and eager-to-please attitude, which it mostly inherits from its Labrador Retriever side. But you might also encounter dogs who are a little more stubborn in following commands. Training will also ensure that Great Dane Lab mix puppies will grow up to be well-behaved giant dogs. Here are some types of training that this breed needs: Socialization — Labradanes can be protective and will be suspicious of strangers. While these dogs are puppies, you will need to socialize them with people or other animals that they would need to get along with. This is dangerous for your dog, especially because of its size. This breed can get over-excited so you also need to train him on how to express its enthusiasm appropriately. When training your Labradane, keep in mind that your puppy must see you as the leader of the pack. You always have to be calm and assertive. They would take opportunities to make you happy in training so they would listen well and follow instructions. Positive reinforcement such as treats and praise also goes a long way in helping good behavior stick. Remember, these dogs are sensitive to your attitude and the tone of your voice. Yelling at your Great Dane and Lab mix will not yield positive results and might hurt his feelings. They also have a tendency to overeat just like their Labrador Retriever parent. Feed your Labradane 4. Both parent breeds are prone to obesity, which can result in other serious health problems. Dog food for giant breeds like Great Danes may also be the best food for the Great Dane Lab mix since these two dogs are around the same size and will share similar nutritional needs. The right kibble will give your pup healthier skin, a shinier coat, and higher energy levels. It would be better to consult your vet to prescribe a specific diet for your beloved canine. Please note that as your Great Dane and Lab mix puppy grows, it would have different needs for its growing body and activity levels. Health issues the Great Dane and Lab mix may inherit Like with any crossbreed, we have to check its parent breeds to see the potential health issues it may inherit. Here are some common conditions this hybrid may inherit from the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever: Elbow and Hip Dysplasia — this is a condition that usually affects large dog breeds. It occurs when the ball and socket joint is malformed, so that instead of sliding smoothly, the ball and its socket do not meet properly and grind against one another. This condition can cause great pain to your Great Dane and Labrador Retriever mix. Obesity — Labradors love to eat and the Labradane can inherit this hearty appetite. It is best to observe portion control when feeding your Great Dane Lab mix. Its daily exercise should also be helpful in keeping excess weight off this dog. Panosteitis — this is bone inflammation that is common in puppies with long legs due to the rapid growth of bones. Cardiomyopathy — is a heart condition Great Danes suffer from. It is a disease of the heart muscle resulting in an enlarged heart. Your Great Dane and Lab mix should have a heart checkup at least once a year. As a deep-chested breed, the Labradane is also prone to bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus GDV. There are several theories about the cause of bloat. The most common theory is that it happens when a dog overeats or eats too quickly. Gas buildup causes the stomach to inflate like a large balloon, and the stomach becomes overstretched. This is why bloat is often a fatal condition. One of the easiest ways to prevent bloat is to keep your dog from physically rigorous activities right after meals. This list of health issues might look overwhelming and may make you think twice about getting yourself a Labradane. But advocates of designer dog breeds say that hybrids are much healthier than purebred dogs due to genetic diversity. This crossbreed may or may not inherit these illnesses, but the key to having a healthy Great Dane and Lab mix lies in the care and attention you give to your pooch. Visits to the vet to have health checks are strongly advised to prevent any serious issues from developing. Giving your pet a proper diet and sufficient exercise is important as well. All of these sound good! Where can I get a Labradane pup? You can get your Great Dane and Lab mix from a rescue or a dog who is for adoption and is looking for a new home or you can buy a puppy. It will be heartbreaking if you take home a puppy and find out that it has a chronic illness. It may not be easy finding a breeder that focuses on Labradanes, so you can check breeders of Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers and go from there. Here are some breeders for Great Danes and Labrador Retrievers:. Video: Labradane Lab Great Dane Mix Playing and Retrieving Temperament and Behavior The Labradane, characterized by a pleasant disposition, makes a great companion desiring to be closely bonded to its human family. Always eager to please its owner, the dog craves for praise and affection. It will welcome your visitors unless it sees something suspicious. Besides its protective nature, its imposing appearance can be intimidating for an unwanted stranger. A Labradane is well disposed toward kids and other pets if raised with them. However, its size can cause problems, as it can accidentally knock over a small child. Make sure that you teach your kids how to approach and get along with these big dogs safely. Care Exercise Even though Labradanes are quiet indoors, they need regular minute walks or interactive playing sessions in a secured area. They should not be overly exercised especially when young since puppies are vulnerable to bone and joint problems. Grooming Their coat needs regular brushing with a firm-bristled brush, as it helps in keeping the fur healthy and clean, thereby reducing the number of baths they need. Brush their teeth times a week and trim their nails once a month. When their ears show signs of infection, clean them with a pH-balanced solution. Health Problems The Great Dane Lab mixes are affected by certain health issues including elbow and hip dysplasia, improper development of bones and joints, PRA, epilepsy, cataracts, gastric torsion, and acute moist dermatitis. Training Start training the Labradanes early because their sheer size could make them difficult to control by the time they become adults. Socialization: To prevent your pet dog from exhibiting aggression or fear when meeting strangers, properly socialize Labradane puppies with unfamiliar people and pets. You may check in your neighborhood for groups that take their dogs to the park or ask the dog walkers to join you on the route. Teaching your dog to chase and fetch: Encourage your pet to go after a ball, Frisbee, or stick by tossing it a short distance. When your dog goes for it, reward with praises and treats. If your dog refuses to bring the toy back, you can use another object and throw it in an opposite direction. This will help in familiarizing your pet to the idea of going back to you once it has grabbed the object. After your dog has mastered this, try calling your dog back and ask it drop the object. Feeding The Labradane needs four and a half to six cups of dry dog food per day. Due to their popularity, Labradanes are priced quite high. If you are looking for a unique hybrid, the Labradane may be the pup for you. They are gentle giants full of love! Labradanes can weigh over pounds Labradanes can easily weigh over pounds, sometimes hitting close to pounds. Although the average Labrador Retriever rarely weighs over pounds, the Great Dane can weigh over pounds. Labradanes Shed a Lot Labradanes may have short coats, but their shedding can be overwhelming. Labradanes Love to Eat Unlike some breeds and mixes, Labradanes love to eat. These large dogs are happy snuggling on the couch with their favorite person, but they do enjoy playtime and romping around off-leash. While not all Labradanes may possess the same qualities as their littermates, we can take a closer look at the parents to have an idea of what to expect: Great Danes are known for being the gentle giants of the dog world but are sadly known for their short lifespans. These massive canines are excellent companions that rarely have aggression issues, but their imposing size makes them deterrents to unwanted visitors. Great Danes are also a popular choice for service work, often trained in helping people with physical disabilities move around from place to place. Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dog breed almost exclusively around the world, mostly due to their cheerful and good-natured demeanors. Although they can be raucous as young puppies, Labs usually mellow within a few years. Labs, as well as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, make exceptionally great seeing-eye dogs. Temperaments can vary wildly with mixed breeds, but Labradanes seem to have missed the memo and are known for being relatively calm and mild-mannered. They do best with homes that have adequate space for them, so this hybrid is not the best choice for small apartment living. Labradane Overview Labradanes are mixed breed dogs. They are not purebreds like their Labrador Retriever or Great Dane parents. The most common colors of Labradane coats are brown, black, and white. They are usually solid colors, although small markings might be present in some cases. Labradanes love humans and need big spaces. The Labradane is great with kids, even though they sometimes forget about their own size. Labradanes tend to overeat or eat too quickly, which can lead to bloat or obesity. Labradane History The Labradane came about during the designer dog craze in the s. The Labrador was previously called the St. Labradane Size The Labradane is usually described as a large or even giant dog. As a newer dog breed, exact size standards might vary, but with Labrador and Great Dane heritage you can definitely expect your dog to be on the bigger end of the scale. Most weigh in at to pounds and range in height from 24 to 30 inches. Female Labradanes can sometimes be a little smaller than their male counterparts. The gentle giant reputation the breed has picked up is very warranted. This dog loves to hang out with humans whenever possible, although they might, on occasion, be wary of total strangers. Brisk walks are great for them, and the Labradane is always a star at the local dog park. Just be wary that sometimes they can act a little goofy and not always realize the extent of their own size! It goes without saying that big dogs need big living spaces. A large family environment is preferred—this is not a dog for a single person living in an apartment situation. Labradane Health Labradanes are generally considered to be healthy dogs—although the breed is a deep-chested dog, which can lead to digestive issues and bloat. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Labradanes can become obese due to overeating—consider serving smaller, monitored meals throughout the day rather than letting the dog free-feed. Twice daily walks are standard for a Labradane. Labradanes need to keep up a structured exercise regime through their life, not only to stay toned but to avoid any mobility issues that might arise from inactivity. The breed also likes to be mentally stimulated, so provide interactive toys and consider adding variety to play sessions and walking routes. This will help ward off infection. Labradane Feeding An ideal Labradane diet should be formulated for a large-sized breed with medium energy. Labradanes need to stick to a heathy diet. The breed is usually the same color all over, although small markings might be present in some cases. Labradanes have short and dense coats. Their short hair should be brushed twice a week as part of a regular grooming routine, although in spring months you may notice slightly heavier than usual shedding, so update your regime as appropriate. Bathing your Labradane once a month is recommended. The breed is usually fine living in all climates—although, in hot weather, make sure that heat exhaustion is not a risk during walks. This is a playful breed that enjoys forming close bonds with the humans in their life. Labradanes can also become quite protective of the people they live with. However, if you have very young kids, make sure to supervise play sessions as sometimes this gentle giant of the dog world forgets about its large size. The Labradane is usually tolerant of other animals, including dogs. Although always exercise caution before introducing new pets to each other. Labradane Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Labradanes because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Labrador Retriever or Great Dane breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Rescues that cater to large or giant breeds might also be able to help. Here are some rescues you can try:. Shedding is light throughout the year, but it may get heavier during its shedding season. When shedding is light, brushing once or twice a week would suffice. While heavy shedding might require regular daily brushing. A firm-bristled brush may be used as it helps in maintaining the fur healthy and clean. Applies to all dog food recalls in the U. You can also opt for a swimming activity since this hybrid dog loves swimming a lot. Proper cleaning and care should be given to their ears as these sites tend to accumulate dirt and bacteria easily. If you suspect any signs of ear infection, clean the ears with a pH-balanced solution. Long nails should also be trimmed to avoid problems concerning tearing or splitting if they are not worn down naturally. Just like other dog breeds, dental health is also essential with your Lab Great Dane. Make sure to brush their teeth at least twice or thrice a week to prevent tooth decays. Regular exercise activities should also be helpful to keep off gaining excess weight. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia: These conditions are common among large dog breeds. It happens when the ball and socket joint is malformed, so instead of sliding smoothly across one another, the bones do not adequately meet. Dysplasia causes unbearable pain to your Great Dane Lab mix. Cardiomyopathy: Your Labradene may also suffer from heart conditions, such as cardiomyopathy. Make sure to always to bring your Lab Great Dane to his veterinarian at least once a year. Panosteitis — Also known as Shifting Leg Lameness or Pano, this condition is occasionally seen among dogs with long legs due to the rapid growth of their bones. Bloating: Your dog may also suffer from bloating caused by gas buildup in the stomach. It may inflate like a large balloon wherein the abdomen may become overstretched. At worst condition, the heart and the stomach may not get enough blood and oxygen, which may cause the stomach to die. Bloating can be fatal. Moreover, the key to having a healthy Labradane also lies in the care and attention you give your pet companion. For optimal results, go for the tried and tested best large breed dry dog food and our picks of the best dry dog food brands. The Great Dane Lab diet should include lean meat-rich foods, with the right amount of vegetables and fruits. Make sure not to forget supplying him with a fresh, clean bowl of drinking water from time to time. Moreover, always remember to not feed your dog with foods stuffed with preservatives. If you are not sure how to tell which ingredients to avoid, take a look at our guide on the worst dry dog food and go from there. Make them into a bona fide canine powerhouse by adding supplements to their diet. We would start with Nutra Thrive dog food supplement — after consulting with the vet first, of course! Apart from minding the nutritional value and the ingredient list of the food you serve to your pooch, you have to make sure it matches their age. If your Lab Great Dane mix is but a puppy, there are numerous best puppy food brands that you can opt for. While your dog is a cub, they can also eat food designed for tiny pooches, such as the best dry dog food for small dogs. When they become old and wrinkly, their frail health will be best sustained with these best senior dry dog food brands. Lab crossed with Great Dane Exercise Requirements The Labrador crossed with Great Dane is an energetic dog, so regular exercise is needed to release its excess energy and to keep him happy and healthy. Regular routine practice is not only good for your dog, but it is also beneficial for your health. He requires at least 30 minutes of physical activity or interactive play sessions daily. The Labradanes love to go for walks, but you can also try other outdoor activities. Here are some examples that you can enjoy with your Labrador crossed with Great Dane: Hiking: It is a great way to turn your daily walk to an exciting and fun activity for you and your dog. You can try going to the woods near your area for a little adventure and hike for a few distances. Swimming: Because of the Labrador Retriever in his lineage, the Labradane is also one of those few dogs who love swimming. It also provides relief from the heat during the summer months. You may also add some twist to the activity by using either a Frisbee or a tennis racquet to throw the object farther. Lab Great Dane Training Since the Labradane is a highly energetic breed which can sometimes be overly enthusiastic and boisterous, early training and socialization are essential aspects in calming down this hybrid. This is important because they can be difficult to control once they become adults because of their sheer size. Here are some types of training your Lab mixed with Great Dane may need: Socialization Training: Socialization at an early age has been proven to prevent your Labradane from developing aggressive behaviors, anxiety, and fearfulness later on in their adulthood. It should be included in the training routine of any responsible dog parent. The key to socialization training is to introduce and expose your dog to different people, animals, and environments as early as a puppy. Basic Obedience Training: Your Labradene puppy needs to grasp basic obedience training commands such as sit down, come, stay drop, stop and recall so you can control their behavior when needed. As previously mentioned, this crossbreed can be overly enthusiastic, so you also need to train him how not to get too excited. Encourage them to go inside their crate by using treats as rewards. When training your Great Dane Lab, keep in mind that your puppy must see you as the leader of the pack. Avoid being overly strict while training your pup as he may grow up fearing you instead of showering you with loyalty. Make sure to be gentle but firm in training him. They will easily listen and follow your instructions and are eager to participate in the training session with you. Remember to implement positive reinforcement. Treats and praises can go a long way in helping good behavior stick. Great Dane Labrador and Families Despite his large size, the Great Dane crossed with Labrador Retriever is a great family dog because of his affectionate and loving nature. They are patient, friendly and gentle with children and other pet animals. Careful attention should still be given when they are around babies and infants as they can be overly-enthusiastic and they might unintentionally hurt small kids when playing due to their large size. With proper socialization and training, the Great Dane Lab should make a loveable and excellent family companion. They can be your loyal pet companion as long as you shower them with equal love and care. Be a responsible dog parent by feeding them well, socializing them and giving them sufficient amount of exercises and training. References: Wang, Ping, et al. Walton, Joel, and Eve Adamson. Labrador Retrievers for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, .Lee, Muriel P. Kennel Club Books Llc,
What Causes Older Dogs to Cough? A pug can start coughing for a number of reasons, ranging from kennel cough to a congenital condition that produces a distinctive cough. Most of these are treatable. If your pug starts coughing, listen to him, then take him to the vet. Collapsed Trachea Tracheal collapse or narrowing is a congenital condition commonly seen in small dogs such as the pug. The distinctive coughing sound a pug makes if he has this condition is usually compared to the honking sound that geese make, or to a child with croup. You need to take him to a vet, who will examine his windpipe using various diagnostic tools such as a fluoroscope, X-ray and endoscope. The trachea consists of rings of cartilage. In affected pugs the cartilage is weaker than usual, and over time normal breathing flattens the rings, causing narrowing or collapse. Standard treatments for the condition are cough suppressants, bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and sometimes tranquilizers to keep your pug from overexcitement that can bring on a coughing fit. If your vet can't manage the condition with medication, he might recommend surgery. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A significant number of pugs are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Because of their shortened airways, this condition is harder on pugs than on humans. At its most basic, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an obstructed airway, with coughing, wheezing and gurgling sounds as typical symptoms. Environmental factors such as smoke, dust and chemical irritants are external causes of the disease. An elongated soft palate is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a pug, but a swollen larynx, enlarged tonsils, narrow nostrils and asthma can also cause it. A pug with asthma usually has a chronic cough. Coughing and gagging up phlegm are often signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, combined with louder than normal breathing. See your vet if you notice any of these signs. Your vet will treat your pug with a bronchodilator and anti-allergy drugs, treatments also used for humans. Kennel Cough Kennel cough is an infectious disease that your pug can catch from other dogs. As its name suggests, boarding kennels, grooming salons, and places where dogs hang out in groups are often sources of the infection. Typical signs are a high-pitched, honking cough if your pug's vocal chords are swollen, or a dry, hacking cough. Other symptoms are fever, nose and eye discharge and breathing problems. Pugs are prone to upper respiratory tract diseases like this, so prevention and treatment are important. Vaccination is the main form of prevention. Treatment usually consists of cough suppressants or expectorants, but if the condition persists, the vet usually prescribes antibiotics. Because kennel cough is so infectious, it is important to seek your vet's diagnosis as soon as possible, particularly if you have other dogs, or if your pug regularly socializes with neighbors' dogs. Fluid builds up in the lungs over time, and your dog coughs or gags in unsuccessful attempts to bring up the fluid. This is most noticeable after exercise. The coughing increases if the condition is not diagnosed. If your vet diagnoses a cough related to a heart condition, he will prescribe medication to improve the pug's heart function. More Articles. Shop All Cat Food Key Takeaways: Some of the most common reasons why your dog is coughing are heart disease, pneumonia, kennel cough, tracheal collapse, heartworm disease and canine influenza. Keep track of any other symptoms, such as coughing blood, mucus, foam, etc. If you've noticed your dog coughing and your curious about all the different reasons why dogs cough, know that many different conditions, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening, can lead your dog to cough. Fortunately, though, most conditions that cause a dog cough are easy to treat. Here are five common conditions that cause dogs to cough: 1. Heart Disease One of the most common reasons for a dog cough is a disease of the heart valves or heart muscle; this prevents a dog's heart from pumping blood efficiently. Coughing results when parts of the heart enlarge and compress the major airways in the lungs, or when fluid backs up into the lungs. You can usually tell if a dog cough is caused by heart disease if their cough is soft and continuous. If your dog is coughing due to heart disease, their cough will likely be worse at night or when they're resting on their side and may be accompanied by a decrease in energy and stamina. If your dog's veterinarian diagnoses that the cough is the result of heart disease, they may prescribe a heart medications. Pneumonia Pneumonia is another common condition that pet parents often worry about when they notice their dog coughing. Dog pneumonia inflammation of the lungs can be the result of bacteria, a preexisting viral infection such as canine influenza or distemper , swallowing difficulties, regurgitation or certain metabolic disorders. With pneumonia, a dog cough sounds moist and soft. If your dog has pneumonia, they'll likely have a high fever, poor appetite and low energy. They'll need veterinary treatment, lots of fluids and rest, and they might even need hospitalization to recover. Kennel Cough Kennel cough — another one of the most common causes of coughing in dogs — is a catchall term for tracheobronchitis, inflammation and infection of the windpipe and the main lower airways. While kennel cough is more common among younger dogs, dogs of any age can be affected. Dogs in group settings — whether at obedience training, doggy day care or boarding — are at higher risk of contracting the infection. So, if you find yourself noticing that your dog is coughing after they've been at day care, there's a chance they could have a case of kennel cough. Dogs with kennel cough have a hacking, dry and raspy cough that sounds worse if they pull while being walked on their leash. Kennel cough can even lead to retching and subsequent vomiting. Kennel cough may resolves on its own, but antibiotics and cough suppressants are often prescribed to reduce coughing and the likelihood of secondary problems, such as pneumonia. Dogs with kennel cough are very contagious to other dogs. Kennel cough is a form of Bordetella bronchiseptica, for which there is a vaccine that can help protect your dog from getting kennel cough in the future. Talk to your vet about vaccinating your dog to reduce the chance of getting kennel cough. Tracheal Collapse Tracheal collapse is a condition that causes the trachea, or windpipe, to become soft and floppy; it affects small and toy breeds most often, including Pomeranians , Chihuahuas , pugs and shih tzus. The official name for the condition is tracheal chondromalacia. Dogs with tracheal collapse have a dry, hacking and spasmodic cough. They cough repeatedly and have a hard time calming down. Their coughing will worsen if they pull while they're on a leash. If your dog's trachea has collapsed completely, their cough can sound asthmatic. The cough is also worse in obese dogs, dogs who are hot or excited and dogs exposed to irritants or allergens in the air. Treatment for tracheal collapse includes weight loss as well as medicines including cough suppressants, bronchodilators, steroids and antibiotics. In severe cases, your dog's vet may recommend surgery. Heartworm Disease Depending on where you live, heartworm disease may be a more or less likely cause of coughing in dogs. While heartworms are more prevalent in warmer areas, such as Florida and California, the risk of heartworm disease exists anywhere there are mosquitoes transmitting the disease. Dogs with heartworm disease may have a cough or they may exhibit no signs at all — it depends on the dog's size, how many worms they're harboring and the dog's overall health. If your dog does show signs of the disease, they may have a mild, persistent cough; low energy; weight loss and reduced appetite. A severe heartworm infestation could result in signs of heart failure, including a swollen abdomen from fluid buildup. Canine Influenza Dogs, like humans, are subject to contracting the flu, known in dogs as canine influenza. The cough exists as the result of the respiratory infection that can last anywhere from ten to thirty days. Your dog will likely be prescribed medicine as a course of treatment. If you have other pets in the home, it is best to quarantine your sick dog to their own area of the home, as canine influenza is contagious between animals — but lucky for you, it cannot be transmitted to or from humans. Many causes of coughing in dogs are completely treatable, but they need to be properly diagnosed in order to be treated. When you bring your pup in to see their vet, be sure to describe their cough in detail and to tell the vet about any other signs your dog has had such as coughing blood, mucus, white foam, etc. With the right care from your veterinarian, your dog will be back to howling and barking in no time. Contributor Bio Dr. Sarah Wooten Dr. Wooten divides her professional time between small animal practice in Greeley, Colorado, public speaking on associate issues, leadership, and client communication, and writing. How to prevent coughs in dogs? Why do dogs cough? As your pet explores the world with their nose or mouth, they encounter germs, dirt, tiny bugs, bits of grass, and many other particles. If some of this material is breathed in, your dog may cough to expel it. No big deal, right? And if the coughing is accompanied by changes in breathing, it could indicate something more serious. Set goals. Compare with dogs like yours. Monitor sleep. Detect issues and keep them healthy. Shop Dog Trackers Is it a cough or a gag? Coughing and gagging may sound similar when they happen, but they are not quite the same. A cough is caused when your dog forces air out of the mouth and throat. Gagging is more akin to vomiting, but nothing comes out except some phlegm or mucus. Gagging can lead to coughing and coughing can lead to gagging, but either can happen on its own. Gagging is often the result of your dog gulping down large chunks of dry food or swallowing something distasteful. Gagging is a natural process to rid the body of the swallowed or partially-swallowed item. What are the various types of dog coughs? Your pooch feels the same way! Take action sooner rather than later to help your pup recover from the cough and head off a more serious illness. This will help your vet decide the best way to care for the cough and make your pooch more comfortable. Dry, hacking, cough that is deep-sounding Gagging and high-pitched cough Wet and phlegmy Deep and honking, like a goose Each type of cough indicates a different problem. Take a video of your dog coughing and show it to your vet. This will help the vet decide if the cough signals an emergency or could be contagious, like kennel cough or canine influenza. What are the symptoms of kennel cough? Kennel cough typically causes your dog to produce a deep, dry, honking cough. Kennel cough is caused by several types of bacteria or viruses, but it produces only mild illness. Kennel cough is highly contagious and is often spread in group settings such as obedience classes, boarding facilities, or dog parks. Your veterinarian can prescribe medication to alleviate the cough. Be sure to keep your pup away from other dogs until they are no longer contagious. The Bordetella vaccine can protect your dog from getting kennel cough. It can be administered as an injection or nasal spray. Talk to your vet about this vaccine, especially if your dog is boarded frequently. Look around for clues to determine if your dog recently chewed on or ate something that could have lodged in the throat. If you suspect a foreign object is lodged in the throat, seek veterinary care as this could block the airway or cause infection. Just keep a close eye on your pup after an incident like this. Environmental allergens Pollen, smoke, fungi, and other inhaled allergens can cause coughing in your dog. If your dog has allergies, consider keeping them indoors during peak allergy season, or ask your veterinarian for medication to alleviate the symptoms. Toy dog breeds and obese dogs have an increased risk of developing a collapsed trachea. Tracheal collapse occurs when the cartilage surrounding the airway weakens. Treatment for a collapsing trachea includes weight loss and medication to reduce coughing. Pneumonia A wet, phlegmy cough may indicate a buildup of fluid in the lungs. If the fluid becomes infected, then your dog will have pneumonia. One way to know if your dog might have pneumonia is to watch their breathing. If breathing is labored even when the dog is resting and not coughing, that may be a sign of pneumonia. You may notice the cough becoming more prevalent when your dog is lying down. Heart disease is more likely to occur in older dogs. Canine influenza Coughing, along with sneezing, runny nose, runny eyes, fever, and lethargy can signal canine influenza dog flu. Ask your vet about supportive care for your pup, such as fluids and other medications to reduce fevers. If your dog has coughed daily for more than two months, they may have canine chronic bronchitis. This chronic condition is unlikely to resolve, so treatment focuses on addressing the symptoms. Other reasons for coughing in dogs include heartworm disease — which should not be a problem if your pup is on regular heartworm medication. In a reverse sneezing episode, a dog actually sucks air in rather than forcing it out. If reverse sneezing becomes a daily occurrence, contact your vet to rule out any other conditions. Laryngeal paralysis is another condition that may seem cough-related. In laryngeal paralysis, the muscles that surround the voice box larynx become weak. Your pup may pant loudly and their voice may change. Always see your veterinarian when your dog experiences changes in breathing. Lung cancer can cause persistent coughing in dogs. But lung cancer is not a common reason that dogs experience coughing. What to do if my dog is coughing Coughing is uncomfortable for your dog and can be tough to listen to for days on end. Plus, it can be a sign of a serious or contagious illness. Do your dog and yourself a favor and seek treatment as soon as possible. And if your dog has a life-threatening underlying cause, beginning treatment early can improve the outcome for your dog. Persistent coughing can irritate the throat. Add a spoonful of honey to a bowl of water, up to three times per day. Close the bathroom door so the room gets extra steamy. Allowing your dog to plenty of rest is important for recovery form any illness. Their body just needs time to recover. When should I bring my dog to a vet? Most cases of coughing in dogs are completely treatable. By Sandra C. While dog gagging can be a benign behavior, there are things you need to know and be aware of so that you know when it is time to visit your veterinarian. It sounds sort of like they are trying to vomit while also coughing. There is a difference between coughing, vomiting and dog gagging, and it is important to be able to distinguish between them. If you can take a video of the behavior, it will help your veterinarian to distinguish what is happening. When a dog vomits , it is usually pretty obvious because food or stomach contents wind up on the floor. Dog gagging usually happens in conjunction with a cough. When a dog is gagging, they may widely open their mouth and make a retching sort of sound. With gagging, there will be no expulsion of stomach contents, like with vomiting. Believe it or not, it does matter. For a veterinarian, the order in which these two actions happen can help them determine which types of diseases they need to be considering. What Causes Dog Gagging? Gagging is caused by inflammation in the area of the larynx. There are a number of things that can cause a dog to gag, and it will often require a veterinary exam to sort the problems out. When a dog coughs first and then gags, we are commonly thinking about problems which cause bronchitis and lower respiratory disease. When a dog gags first and then coughs, we are considering things along the lines of dysfunction of the larynx. Two very common things that can cause gagging in dogs are infectious problems and laryngeal paralysis. Kennel cough , which is a type of respiratory infection, is a common cause of dog gagging, which results in a harsh, goose-like cough, sometimes followed by a gag. There are other infectious diseases that can also cause gagging, and a more severe disease—pneumonia—can sometimes cause gagging in dogs, as well. Laryngeal paralysis can occur often in older Labrador Retrievers. In this condition, the larynx no longer closes properly, allowing some food and fluid to access the airway. Another feature of this condition is a very loud, harsh panting. Laryngeal paralysis often starts out subtly and worsens with time. If your pet is bright, alert, breathing normally, eating and drinking as expected, and appears to be feeling fine, you should monitor the problem for hours. If the gagging lasts longer than this, it may well be something more significant than just some minor reaction from swallowing wrong. If any other symptoms are present—your dog appears worried or distressed, is having ANY trouble breathing, has an increase in noise during breathing, or is not feeling well in any fashion—I would recommend an exam sooner rather than later. Whenever the respiratory system is not quite right, we tend to take the condition seriously as veterinarians. What happens at the veterinary appointment will vary quite a lot depending on the specifics of what your dog is displaying. In all cases, a complete physical examination is indicated. Sometimes, the doctor may be able to make a tentative diagnosis based on this exam alone. Other times, some additional tests may be required. The most common initial tests include blood work looking specifically for signs of infection as well as radiographs of the neck and lungs. Particularly, if the veterinarian is concerned that laryngeal paralysis is a possibility—or if the dog may have swallowed some foreign material such as a ball that is lodged—sedation may also be required for a complete exam of the larynx. The good news is that most cases of dog gagging are relatively straightforward to treat. Even the causes that are more significant, such as from pneumonia or laryngeal paralysis, do have treatments available to either cure or significantly reduce the gagging and make your dog more comfortable. By: Dr. Sandra Mitchell. Prevention Back to Top If your dog suddenly starts to make gagging noises or cough, it can be alarming. Sometimes, it's just a single cough or gag, while other times it is chronic problem. If the symptoms are ignored and there is an underlying disease causing them, things can progress to a potentially life-threatening situation. Find out what causes a dog to cough or gag and what you can do to help prevent unnecessary issues from developing. Coughing vs. Gagging A cough and a gag are similar but not the same. A cough is a hacking noise that occurs when your dog is forcing air out of the throat and mouth. A gag is a retch that is similar to vomiting but nothing comes up and out, except maybe a little phlegm or mucous. Sometimes a dog will both cough and then gag at the end of the cough, but either can happen on its own. Causes of Coughing or Gagging in Dogs Airborne debris, food, diseases, and more can result in your dog developing a cough or gag. Knowing the cause of your dog's symptoms may help you determine whether or not they are serious. Food Sometimes a dog will eat so quickly that the food will go down the trachea instead of the esophagus. This can cause a dog to cough or gag in an attempt to get the food out of the wrong tube. In this case, you could encourage your dog to eat more slowly and place food in a bowl that is at an appropriate height for the size of your dog. Slow feeders and elevated dog bowls can help. It's caused by inflammation and irritation of the trachea or lungs and until it is treated, the coughing and gagging will continue. Pneumonia , kennel cough , influenza , tracheitis, lungworm infestations, fungal infections, distemper , and other diseases that cause respiratory tract issues will require veterinary attention. Heart Disease Certain types of heart disease can cause a dog to cough. Fluid accumulation in the lungs can lead to coughing and difficulty breathing. Heartworm disease can interfere with heart function and cause inflammation within the lungs. With these conditions, a dog is likely to cough and gag in an attempt to clear the airway, but that won't help. Only veterinary attention can get your dog some relief. Nausea If a dog is nauseated or experiencing gastrointestinal reflux, gagging may occur. Dogs with chronic reflux can develop a chronic cough. Tracheal Collapse Some dogs, especially small breeds, are prone to tracheal collapse. This occurs when the cartilage holding the trachea open weakens. Coughing may result due to a decrease in the opening of the airway. Treatment for Coughing or Gagging Your veterinarian will perform a full physical examination and obtain a patient history to see what may be causing your dog to cough or gag. X-rays, bloodwork, echocardiograms, and other tests may be needed to make a diagnosis depending on what your vet suspects the problem is. Depending on the reason for your dog's coughing or gagging, the treatment plan will vary. If your dog is diagnosed with a disease or illness that requires short-term treatment, medications including antibiotics, steroids, and cough suppressants are likely to be prescribed. Dogs diagnosed with heart disease may be prescribed life-long medications to manage the disease and its symptoms. If the problem is so severe that your dog is not well-oxygenated, oxygen therapy may be needed, too. How to Prevent Coughing or Gagging in Your Dog While you can't prevent all things that can cause your dog to cough or gag, there are still several things you can do. Keep your dog current on its vaccinations , on heartworm prevention , and away from dogs that are not fully vaccinated or sick. Additionally, keep up with regular check-ups with your veterinarian to help with prevention and early diagnosis. This will enable your vet to start treatment as soon as possible. More from The Spruce Pets. Why is My Pug Coughing? Most of the time, this is nothing to worry about. This could be a sign of an underlying health condition, allergy, obstruction, or illness. For example, a cough that sounds wet or mucousy can be a sign of fluid build-up in the lungs due to infection. If your Pug has a lung infection they will need prescribed antibiotics. Coughing is a natural bodily function that helps protect the respiratory system. Coughing is a reflex process. That could be anything from mucus or dust to a larger obstruction caused by a foreign object or blockage. Pugs and other dogs may be prone to coughing because they spend so much time nuzzling and exploring the world around them. So, coughing is perfectly natural. Not all coughs are the same and, depending on what is causing your Pug to cough, each type will present with different signs and symptoms. Hacking cough A hacking cough is a dry cough accompanied by a raspy, hacking sound. Your Pug might sound like they are trying to remove something from their throat, airway, or mouth. Hacking coughs should be taken seriously as they could indicate that your Pug has developed kennel cough, or that your Pug has an obstruction that needs to be removed. Honking cough A honking cough is a dry cough accompanied by a honking noise a bit like a goose honk. Again, honking coughs should be taken seriously as they could indicate kennel cough, infection, or even a tracheal collapse. Ensure that you visit your veterinarian immediately if you notice that your Pug develops this kind of cough. Wet cough A wet cough will sound moist and usually indicates the presence of excess phlegm. This could be a sign of dog flu or canine pneumonia. You may notice a gurgling sound and your Pug may try to cough up phlegm. Pugs may let out high-pitched coughs if they have a sore throat, blockage, or upper airway irritation. It is really important that you bring this up with your vet as soon as possible. Common causes of Pug coughing Again, much like for humans there is no one, single cause of Pug coughing. Coughing is an accompanying symptom of many conditions, ailments, and allergies. Heart disease Coughing can sometimes be a warning sign of a heart condition. Other symptoms that might indicate heart disease include: breathlessness, panting, lethargy, weight loss , fainting, exercise intolerance, and heart murmur. Heart disease is a very serious condition that must be treated by a veterinary professional. Bacterial lung infections will need to be treated with a course of antibiotics that can only be prescribed by your veterinarian. Kennel cough Kennel cough is a well known phenomenon in boarding kennels, doggie daycares, salons, or any place where dogs are together on mass. This infectious disease often causes fever, eye discharge , abnormal breathing , and a very dry cough. Kennel cough can be experienced by any dog breed. However, Pugs are particularly prone to upper respiratory diseases such as this. If you suspect that your Pug has kennel cough it is essential that you contact your vet as soon as possible. Kennel cough is extremely infectious and you will need to keep your infected Pug away from other dogs until they have recovered. Canine distemper is characterized by a persistent cough caused by a viral infection. If not treated, canine distemper can be fatal, so if in doubt visit your vet immediately. Top-tip: Canine distemper can be easily prevented by ensuring your Pug gets their annual vaccinations. Obstruction Coughing might also be caused by an obstruction. If your Pug swallows something that then gets stuck in their airway then they will cough to try and get it back up. This is very common especially amongst puppies because, as we all know, puppies like to chew…. This video will help you take the right steps if your Pug is choking. Tracheal Collapse Coughing is sometimes an indicator of tracheal collapse especially with small breed dogs like Pugs. A tracheal collapse occurs when the rings of cartilage that surround the trachea become weakened and the trachea collapses in on itself as a result. This is a progressive condition that develops over time and gradually restricts the airway. Pneumonia Coughing is a common symptom of canine pneumonia. Pneumonia occurs when the lungs and airways become inflamed due to bacterial infection, canine influenza, or kennel cough amongst other causes. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD , otherwise known as chronic bronchitis, is quite common amongst pugs due to their short airways. COPD is caused when an airway becomes obstructed. Typical symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and gurgling. Other possible causes include:.
Spike [1] who goes by different names in a few episodes - Killer for four episodes, Butch for two episodes, and Bulldog for one is portrayed as an English Bulldog , who is generally amiable and friendly, and a loving father to his son Tyke in several episodes. However, Spike's character also has a very stern, and fierce side, for occasions such as when he is defending his son Tyke. Spike made his early appearance as an unnamed Bulldog in the Tom and Jerry cartoon Dog Trouble , [2] and his first appearance and his first speaking role was in The Bodyguard , where he was voiced by Billy Bletcher. Spike and Tyke's characters, provide a model of father and son behavior, with Spike spending much of his free time taking Tyke on father-son outings, teaching him the facts of life for dogs and guarding him diligently when they are sleeping. In Tom and Jerry Kids , Tyke has a speaking role for the first time, aside from traditional dog noises he expressed in the prior films. Spike's relationships with Tom and Jerry have varied from time to time, but essentially Spike has little affection for Tom Cat, who seems always to be disrupting his life, causing trouble, antagonizing Tyke or all of the above. The Truce Hurts , Pet Peeve and Hic-Cup Pup are so far the only cartoons where Spike actually cares about and shows affection for Tom; these relationships often dissolve and usually end with them fighting. Tom does not usually antagonize Spike intentionally, but Spike often ends up in the middle of a Tom and Jerry chase, as they are all seemingly living together which ends up waking Spike up, ruining his new dog house, wrecking his and Tyke's picnic, and so on. Spike has a few weaknesses that Tom tries to capitalize upon: his possessiveness about his bone and his ticklishness. Several stories also have Jerry taking advantage of Spike and Tyke's size and proximity, as he often tries to hide or sleep with or near Spike and Tyke for protection. Early appearances[ edit ] In his early appearance, Dog Trouble , Spike as an unnamed Bulldog is the main antagonist, chasing and attacking both Tom and Jerry on sight, even trying to eat Jerry, which forced the two to work together to defeat him. However, in his first appearance The Bodyguard , after Jerry willingly saved him from being poached, he became Jerry's protector whenever needed. In all subsequent shorts, Spike becomes typecast as the stereotypical dumb brute who is always duped into becoming a shield for Jerry from Tom. It is only in two episodes where Jerry gets Spike out of a jam and the dog willingly protects him from Tom in well-earned gratitude The Bodyguard and Fit to Be Tied. On most occasions, Jerry causes trouble for Tom by luring him near Spike and harming him to get him angry, and in some cartoons when it's perfectly obvious that Tom is not responsible, as seen in The Invisible Mouse , Spike still blames Tom and hurts him instead of Jerry. Spike, however, is not without a softer and sympathetic side: in the episode Pet Peeve , after believing that Tom is willing to leave the house in Spike's favour, Spike feels sorry for him to the point that he offers to leave instead, which Spike does until he realises that Tom is only using reverse psychology to trick him into leaving. In The Truce Hurts , Spike is portrayed as a very intelligent and equilibrated character when he convinces Tom and Jerry to stop the fighting among the three of them and sign a Peace Treaty, but their newfound friendship comes to an end when they argue over how to share a big steak, symbolised when Spike tears the truce contract to shreds and they go back to fighting again after Tom accidentally threw the steak into the sewer drain. He is also a Devil Dog in Heavenly Puss. Spike's later years and Tyke's debut[ edit ] In Tom's later attempts to catch Jerry, he has to deal with Spike for bothering his son. In 's Love That Pup , Spike was given a puppy son, Tyke, who became another popular supporting character in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. His voice was taken over by Daws Butler , who styled Spike's voice after Jimmy Durante taking after his s radio series with Garry Moore. He is named Spike from then on and is not changed again. When Tyke is introduced, Spike is given a softer approach mainly towards his son and is kinder and less aggressive, but is still portrayed as a dumb animal on more than one occasion. Spike's love and affection towards Tyke becomes Jerry's newest weapon against Tom, as his strategy goes from luring Tom towards Spike to inflicting harm on Tyke, and even when it is perfectly obvious that Jerry is responsible and not Tom, as seen in Love That Pup. Spike fails to notice this and still blames Tom although this can be partially due to Spike's dislike of Tom. A short-lived Spike and Tyke cartoon series was produced by MGM in ; only two entries were completed. Spike would continue to appear in Tom and Jerry full-length features released in the early s and finally, Tom and Jerry Tales. Spike and his son Tyke also appear as regulars in the recent reboot series. He was voiced by Bobby Cannavale. Comics appearances[ edit ] Spike and Tyke made frequent appearances in the second Tom and Jerry daily newspaper strip, which was distributed by Editors Press Service from about until .The strip was produced in the US, but only appeared in foreign newspapers. They also appeared in three issues of Dell's Four Color series between and .Unlike their portrayal in the cartoons, both characters spoke in the comic book stories. Create New Good boy.The Cat's Me-Ouch! While emerging from his mouse hole, Jerry is almost sliced in half by Tom wielding a cleaver. He manages to escape from the cat in a magazine about dogs and falls down the stairs, and upon seeing an ad in the magazine for a bulldog, he decides to order the canine in order to scare off Tom. However, when the delivery finally arrives, the bulldog turns out to be a diminutive puppy, much to Tom's amazement and Jerry's confusion. But when Tom picks up the puppy and makes fun of him, the little canine then proves to be surprisingly strong by shearing off some of the cat's fur with his razor-sharp teeth. From that point on, the tiny bulldog then becomes Jerry's pet and guardian. Tropes: Affectionate Gesture to the Head : Jerry pats the bulldog puppy's head after the latter scares off Tom by shredding some of his fur off. Attack the Tail : The bulldog puppy shreds some of the fur on Tom's tail off, revealing that it is shaped like a string of sausages. Then, at the end of the cartoon, Tom unwraps the bandage covering the tip of his tail to reveal Jerry biting onto it. Agony of the Feet : Tom's right foot gets flattened by the head of the axe, and while in the hospital, has the doctor unwrap the bandages on his other foot to reveal the bulldog biting onto it. Axe Before Entering : When Tom realizes that he is outside the house and the bulldog is inside, he brandishes an axe and chops his way through the door just as the dog is freeing Jerry from his jar prison. Acting instinctively, the bulldog then shreds the handle of the axe with his teeth, leaving behind the blade to fall on Tom's foot. Badass Adorable : The tiny bulldog puppy that can shred things like a piranha. Bait-and-Switch : Jerry's delivery has arrived, and as Tom grows increasingly worried and scared, Jerry opens the massive crate and whistles for the dog to come out. The canine then emerges from the crate.Big Ball of Violence : The bulldog mauls Tom near the end of the cartoon, and their tirade is surrounded by a Taz-like tornado. The Door Slams You : When the tiny bulldog prepares to charge into the house to confront Tom, who has imprisoned Jerry in a jar, the cat shuts the door at the last moment, only for the canine to effortlessly slam it down onto him. Tom then flips the door so that the dog is beneath the door, yelling "Aha! The process then repeats and shifts to the walls until the door is back where it originally was, with Tom outside and the bulldog inside. Flashback : A scene from "Tom-ic Energy" is played when Jerry comes up with a plan to scare Tom away. Half the Man He Used to Be : Jerry nearly comes close to being sliced by Tom's cleaver at the start, and only his back fur has been chopped clean off. Hollywood Healing : Semi-averted. The fur on Tom's tail grows back after it has been shredded off by the bulldog puppy, but not the fur on his arms. Inconvenient Itch : At one point, the tiny bulldog senses a flea on his rear end and tries to scratch at it like how a dog normally would. When the flea doesn't come off, the pup then resorts to using his buzzsaw teeth, causing the flea to fall off while screaming and die. Instant Bandages : Tom has bandages wrapped around his head, left foot and tail as he walks to the hospital. The doctor then unwraps the bandages on his foot to reveal the bulldog clutching onto it with his jaws, and Tom does the same with his tail to reveal Jerry biting on it. Later-Installment Weirdness : The dog, who effectively serves the same purpose as Spike - Neutral until he is disturbed. Misleading Package Size : The crate is big enough to hold a medium-sized dog, yet it contains a mouse-sized bulldog puppy that's even smaller than a Chihuahua. Pint-Sized Powerhouse : The dog. Pun-Based Title : Of the phrase, "the cat's meow". Staircase Tumble : Jerry manages to escape from Tom by taking refuge in a dog magazine, but as he runs off after sensing the coast is clear, he ends up falling down a nearby flight of stairs and lands face-first on a page with a bulldog on it. When we think of Tom and Jerry, the iconic cat and mouse chase instantly comes to mind. The popular cartoon series featured not just one but two dogs. The large cartoon dog in Tom and Jerry is named Spike. On several occasions, Tom, while chasing Jerry, inadvertently harms, disturbs, or even comes close to harming Tyke. This is when Spike steps in, showing his fierce loyalty and protective nature. Interestingly, while Spike is his most common name, he has also been referred to by other names including Butch in some episodes—as well as Killer and Bulldog. But regardless of what name he goes by, his character has remained consistent — a symbol of strength, loyalty, and parental care. In a world of animated slapstick humor, characters like Spike add an extra layer of depth and relatability. Did You Know? Spike the Bulldog is the name of the mascot of the Gonzaga University Bulldogs. What Does the Name Spike Mean? The next time you watch Tom and Jerry, keep an eye out for Spike—and Tyke, and appreciate not just the chaos, but the layers of emotions and stories interwoven into this timeless cartoon. More Posts You Might Like. Sonny Cartoons Though Tom and Jerry have made their own cat-and-mouse game one of the most iconic pairings in cartoon history, the long-running duo has had some help. And, of all the supporting Tom and Jerry character, dogs have proved to be the most comical and reliable of all their foils. Here, then is a list of the dogs who have helped make Tom and Jerry who they are today. Though he was usually on point pun intended , his overconfidence would often lead to a downfall of some sort or another. He appeared to be a more gentle and playful pup than his father, but he was always there when Spike needed backup. Like Spike, he loves to fight and spar with Jerry. He moves around on a skateboard because of his big belly and tiny legs. Ferdinand likes to raid kitchens surprise! Despite his troubles, though, Puggsy is one of the more cheerful characters in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. And old Puggsy just might not be quite so happy and cheerful about his situation without his ride-a-long friend to keep him company. So here, on our list, Frankie DaFlea gets honorary dog status all day long. Like Tom and Jerry Characters? Dogs Who Made the Duo Run? Then you might like our article Cat Cartoons from the 80s, click here.
german shepherd labradoodle mix puppies - We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. When considering bringing a new dog into your life, it is always important to consider how long that dog is likely to live. In this article, we will go through exactly how long you should expect your Labradoodle to live, which is largely determined by whether their poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy poodle. We will also go through all the different life stages of a Labradoodle and what to expect in each. What Is A Labradoodle? Labradoodles are crossbreed dogs that you get when you mix a Labrador retriever with a poodle. They are varieties that are a mix between a Lab and all the different poodle sizes including standard, miniature, and toy. They were bred because, while the temperament, intelligence, and trainability of Labrador retrievers make them excellent service dogs, they shed—a lot. This can be a huge problem when it comes to taking them into hospitals, public places such as restaurants, and even cleaning up after them at home. Poodles were chosen to crossbreed because they have a low-shedding coat. Their tight, curly coats mean that instead of leaving hair wherever they go, it gets caught up in their coat. Poodles are also highly intelligent dogs, even more intelligent than Labradors, and also very friendly, having been bred as companion animals. They are less outgoing than Labradors, but overall it was thought that they would add to, rather than subtract from, the characteristics that make Labradors excellent service dogs. You can read more about the Labradoodle coat and shedding in this article. How Long Do Labradoodles Live? All Labradoodles have a lifespan of roughly 12 to 14 years. Various factors influence where each dog is likely to fall within this scale. Labrador retrievers and standard poodles both tend to live around 12 years. So if you have a standard Labradoodle, you should probably expect them to have a slightly shorter lifespan at around the year mark. Miniature and toy poodles often live longer, as small dogs tend to live longer in general. So if you have a Lab that is mixed with one of these smaller breeds, you might expect them to live for an additional year or so. While these expectations are based on the average lifespan of their parent pups, some research suggests that crossbreed dogs live longer than their parents, by about a year or two. There are plenty of examples of Labradoodles living well into their late teens. Labradoodle Life Stages Throughout their lives, you can expect your Labradoodle to pass through five main life stages: puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and senior. Exactly when they will pass through each of these stages again depends on whether the Labradoodle is a standard, miniature, or toy cross. Smaller dogs tend to grow to maturity more quickly but then live longer. Conversely, larger dogs stay puppies longer but have shorter overall life expectancies. Puppyhood Labradoodles tend to be classified as puppies for the first five months of their lives. But just like with human babies, because they are growing so quickly at this time, they will pass through a number of different puppy stages. It is during this stage that you will find that littermates love to cuddle up and spend the day sleeping one on top of one another. During this stage, they are more interested in their mother and siblings than there are in people, but they do begin to learn that there is a bigger world and might start to explore a little in the later weeks. It is around this stage that they can also start to move onto dog food. This is often a necessity, as the mother will refuse to suckle them as their growing teeth cause her pain. This is a very important time, as they are also very impressionable. So they need plenty of attention, praise, and love. Training them at this stage will also teach them about action and reward, which will make them easier to train to do other things as adults. They will already understand that correct behavior can result in good things. At this stage, you can also start to expose the puppy to new people and new experiences. This is essential to the socialization process, so that they learn what to do when confronted by the unknown. This is a great time to try to take the puppy with you most everywhere you go. Essential training should continue throughout this stage. Adolescence Much like humans, during this stage Labradoodle puppies seem like they are either eating or sleeping all the time to manage big growth spurts, or getting into trouble. This period tends to last from around five or six months until about two years of age. But they also become more unpredictable as hormones start to play a role. Expect them to want to play all the time, to jump up a lot, and to do things that test your limits. Nevertheless, at this stage your Labradoodle should be fully housebroken, should have passed through that biting phase, and should be better at paying attention to you. They also lose their awkwardness around this age and seem more coordinated. Labradoodles in particular will start to show quite a bit of strength and agility at this stage. They should have all their adult teeth, but they still love to chew! This is something they inherit from the Labrador parent. Make sure to have an abundance of chew toys available to focus their otherwise destructive chewing. It is also during adolescence that territorial behavior tends to kick in. Your pup may become protective of their possessions, territorial of their home, and could start to bark at strangers. Also be aware that at some stage during adolescence—it can vary quite a bit—your dog will become sexually mature. Adulthood Depending on the particular type of Labradoodle that you have, you can expect them to settle down into adulthood at between two and three years of age. They should be about fully grown at this stage. So instead of getting bigger, you need to worry about them getting fatter! While it is natural for them to fill out a bit in the early stages of adulthood, it is important to keep an eye on their weight and their diet at this time. They will enter their physical and mental prime during this period, as they are much calmer and more tranquil. If they are being trained as a service dog, they can start working once they reach adulthood. None of this is to say that Labradoodles cannot continue to develop and learn new things at this time. Labradors and Labradoodles are very easy to train and can be taught new skills and behaviors at almost any age. Middle Age Your dog will start to enter the later stages of their life at about the ripe old age of seven years. At this point, Labradoodles still tend to be active and healthy dogs, but they do start to slow down a bit. It is also at this time that their joints might start to become stiff, and they can begin to develop more serious joint problems. You can try and alleviate this by feeding them supplements to support their joints. You can read more about joint supplements here. Senior When your Labradoodle hits nine or 10 years, they are truly senior and they will probably start to need a bit of extra care and attention. Joint pain is a common problem for Labradoodles, so you may need to make some adjustments to your home to accommodate them. Labradoodles also have a tendency to lose their eyesight in later years, and to feel the cold more intensely. Their appetite is also likely to change as this time, as is their metabolism. So again, watch their weight and what they are eating to maintain them at a healthy weight. This is especially important if they are suffering with joint issues, as excess weight will just make mobility even more challenging. Labradoodles are inclined toward a variety of health conditions, inherited from both their Labrador and poodle parents. The main Labradoodle health conditions to be aware of are: Allergies Labradoodles often develop food allergies, usually in their early years before they reach two years of age. This can often be caused by eating too much of certain foods in these formative months. But Labradoodles can also develop allergies in later life, and you might find that at age eight they are suddenly reacting to something that they have eaten their entire life. Labradoodles usually show an allergic reaction with skin itchiness and an upset stomach. If you notice these signs, visit your vet to try to identify what might be causing the problem. Ear Infections Labradoodles have floppy ears that cover the ear tracts. This means they are generally moist, dark spaces, which means breeding grounds for infections. This is also a common problem for Labradors but can be worse for Labradoodles because the curly hair in their ears can also trap moisture and foreign bodies. If they seem to have itchy ears, or if you notice smells coming from their ears, this is a sign that something is not quite right. This will mean a trip to the vet to determine the type of ear infection and the best treatment. Regular ear cleaning, especially after sleeping or bathing, is the best way to reduce the prevalence of ear infections in Labradoodles. Epilepsy Epilepsy is a neurological condition, of which one of the main symptoms is seizures. Labradoodles are quite prone to this condition. There is no cure, and treatment depends on the severity of the seizures and how often they occur. If your dog rarely has seizures, your vet will probably avoid medication, as it is not worth the risk. You may need to do some things to make your home safer for your dog, making it less likely that they will accidentally hurt themselves in the event of a seizure. Joint Issues Another issue inherited from their Labrador parents, Labradoodles often develop joint issues, especially in the hips, but it can be anywhere. Over time, what was an uncomfortable twinge can develop into serious pain, arthritis, and even lameness. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Sometimes joint supplements can be enough to keep your dog comfortable, while in other cases they might need serious pain medication. Progressive Retinal Atrophy This is a condition where a portion of the eye degenerates, eventually leading to blindness. This is quite common in Labradoodles and will usually affect both eyes, resulting in complete blindness. However, it is known to occasionally occur in puppies as well. There is no known treatment, though it is thought that a diet high in antioxidants may be able to help slow the progression of the condition. Signs of the disease include excessive bleeding and bruising where the dog is injured, but also spontaneos bleeds, for example nosebleeds, or blood in their urine or stool. This poses a risk to your Labradoodle throughout their lives, as they may need to avoid certain medications that can further thin the blood, as well as activities where they are at risk of getting injured. If they need surgery for some reason, such as when they are neutered, they will probably also require a platelet transfusion before the surgery. The Verdict When you decide to bring a Labradoodle puppy in your life, you are committing to love and care for that dog for about 12 to 14 years, which is the average lifespan of this crossbreed. During that time, they will pass through a number of different life stages, from being adorable puppies, naughty adolescents appropriately called the terrible twos , intelligent adults, and vulnerable seniors. But throughout all these life stages, a Labradoodle should give you a great deal of love and fulfilment. Do you have a Labradoodle? What is your experience living with these wonderful dogs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or via our social media. Related Article. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic Labradoodle Highlights Friendly and intelligent: Labradoodles are known for being friendly and intelligent dogs. They are good with children and other animals, and they are easy to train. Hypoallergenic: Labradoodles are often considered to be hypoallergenic, which means that they do not shed as much as other dogs. This makes them a good choice for people with allergies. Active and playful: Labradoodles are active dogs that need regular exercise. They enjoy playing fetch, going for walks, and swimming. Loyal and devoted: Labradoodles are loyal and devoted dogs that make great companions. They are always happy to see their owners and they love to cuddle. Versatile: Labradoodles are versatile dogs that can be trained for a variety of tasks, including therapy work, obedience, and agility. They can be expensive to purchase and maintain. They require regular grooming, especially if they have a curly coat. They are prone to some health problems, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Overall, Labradoodles are wonderful dogs that make great companions for people of all ages. If you are looking for a friendly, intelligent, and hypoallergenic dog, a Labradoodle may be a good choice for you. Labradoodle History Wally Conron, who was in charge of the breeding program for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia, purposefully crossbred a Standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever in to develop the Labradoodle as a hypoallergenic guide dog. The first cross produced Sultan, a dog with a hypoallergenic coat, aptitude, intelligence, and personality suitable for being an effective guide dog. Sultan worked successfully with a woman in Hawaii. Other breeders saw the merit of crossing these two breeds, and the Labradoodle quickly rose in popularity like its Labrador Retriever parent. These dogs are often produced by crossing a Labrador Retriever with a Poodle, but multigenerational breeding has begun in an attempt to produce a viable and recognizable breed. The Australian Labradoodle Association and the International Australian Labradoodle Association are taking steps to move this designer breed into registered breed status in the next few years. These groups have made great efforts to bring breeders together so that they are working to achieve the same standards through multigenerational breeding. Labradoodle Size The Labradoodle comes in three size variations, depending on the size of the Poodle used for the first-generation breeding. The three sizes are Standard, Medium, and Miniature. The Standard Labradoodle should be 22 to 24 inches in height for a male and 21 to 23 inches in height for a female, while both can range in weight from 50 to 65 pounds. The Medium Labradoodle should be 18 to 20 inches high for a male and 17 to 19 inches high for a female, with both weighing from 30 to 45 pounds. The average size for a Miniature Labradoodle is between 14 to 16 inches and 15 to 25 pounds. All of that said, there is a lot of variation in Labradoodle sizes. Some can be smaller or larger than expected. Labradoodle Personality The Labradoodle is an intelligent dog who can make the ideal family pet if properly trained. They are friendly and accept and treat everyone like their best friend. They can be gentle, but they can also be joyful, showing their happiness through exuberant jumping and playing. They also tend to be easygoing, since the Labradoodle was bred not to be aggressive. Temperament is affected by a number of factors, including heredity, training, and socialization. Puppies with nice temperaments are curious and playful, willing to approach people and be held by them. Meeting siblings, parents, or other relatives of the dog is also helpful for evaluating what a puppy will be like when they grow up. Socialization helps ensure that your Labradoodle puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog. Enrolling them in a puppy kindergarten class is a great start. Inviting visitors over regularly, and taking them to busy parks, stores that allow dogs, and on leisurely strolls to meet neighbors will also help them polish their social skills. Here are a few conditions to watch out for: Ear Infections: These can plague Labradoodles because of their floppy ears. The ears trap moisture and should be regularly checked. X-ray screening is the most certain way to diagnose the problem. Either way, arthritis can develop as the dog ages. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Elbow Dysplasia : Similar to hip dysplasia, this is also a degenerative disease. The disease varies in severity: the dog could simply develop arthritis, or they could become lame. Treatment includes surgery, weight management, medical management, and anti-inflammatory medication. It can cause mild or severe seizures that may show themselves as unusual behavior—such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or hiding—or even by falling down, limbs rigid, and losing consciousness. Seizures are frightening to watch, but the long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is generally very good. Allergies: Allergies are a common ailment in dogs, and the Labradoodle is no exception. Treatment varies according to the cause and may include dietary restrictions, medications, and environmental changes. Diabetes Mellitus: This is a disorder in which the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels. The dog will lose weight because food is not being used efficiently. Symptoms of diabetes are excessive urination and thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss. Diabetes can be controlled by diet and the administration of insulin. Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA : This is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina. Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind; they lose sight during the day as the disease progresses. Many affected dogs adapt well to their limited or lost vision, as long as their surroundings remain the same. Hypothyroidism : This is a disorder of the thyroid gland. It is treated with medication and diet. They require about 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day and would do better with a fenced yard in which to expel some energy. Some Labradoodles, especially in the first generation, can require even more exercise. The Labradoodle makes an excellent jogging companion but also needs some time off-leash to burn off steam. The Labradoodle is an intelligent and eager-to-please dog. Training should be easy as long as consistency and positive reinforcement are the methods. Socialize them from puppyhood, since they tend to hurl themselves headlong into canine situations without regard to the feelings of other dogs. This can lead to some problems if the unknown dog is aggressive. Despite their activity levels, a Labradoodle can adjust to living in suburban or city environments and can do well in rural settings. A crate is also a place where they can retreat for a nap. Crate training at a young age will help your Labradoodle accept confinement if they ever needs to be boarded or hospitalized. Never stick your Labradoodle in a crate all day long, however. Labradoodle Feeding Recommended daily amount: 1 to 2. NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on their size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. Keep your Labradoodle in good shape by measuring their food and feeding them twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time. First, look down at them. You should be able to see a waist. Then place your hands on their back, thumbs along the spine, with the fingers spread downward. You should be able to feel but not see their ribs without having to press hard. For more on feeding your Labradoodle, see our guidelines for buying the right food , feeding your puppy , and feeding your adult dog. Labradoodle Coat Color And Grooming Although a Labradoodle can have one of a range of coat types, the desired length is four to six inches. They have a single coat with hair ranging from straight to loose curls. There are three types of texture: The Hair coat, which is similar to fur in shedding breeds, is the least popular. Hair coats shed and usually have a normal doggy odor. This coat is seen in first generations, although breeders try to avoid it. The Fleece coat has a silky texture often described as an Angora goat texture. This coat ranges from straight to wavy. Labradoodles are considered to be non- to low shedders, especially those with a Fleece or Wool coat. Hair coats tend to shed just as they do in other breeds, ranging from very low to average shedding. The Labradoodle comes in a wide variety of colors. They can also have parti-colored coats, which consist of brindles, phantom, patched, or sable colors. Grooming requirements vary depending on the length and type of coat the dog has. Generally speaking, you can expect to brush a Labradoodle about once or twice per week. Some can be clipped or trimmed every six to eight weeks to keep the coat easy to maintain. Like Labs, Labradoodles can be prone to ear infections, so take a little extra time caring for their ears. Dry and clean them after a swim, and check them once a week for dirt, redness, or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. Then wipe them out weekly with a cotton ball dampened with gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner to prevent problems. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath. Dog toenails have blood vessels in them, and if you cut too far you can cause bleeding—and your dog may not cooperate the next time they see the nail clippers come out. Handle their paws frequently—dogs are touchy about their feet—and look inside their mouth. As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet. Eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early. Labradoodle Children And Other Pets The Labradoodle does well with children and can be an affectionate and gentle companion for any child. They can also be exuberant and might knock down smaller children, but they will love them with all their heart. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. Labradoodles usually get along well with other dogs and pets. Like most dogs, they need training and socialization for optimum success at living with and visiting other animals. Labradoodle Rescue Groups Labradoodles are often brought home without any clear understanding of what goes into owning one. Many end up in the care of shelters or rescues because of this. It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Labradoodles because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Labrador Retriever or Poodle breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Reputable breeders are committed to breeding healthy, well-socialized puppies that will make great companions. They will screen their breeding stock for health problems, socialize their puppies from a young age, and provide you with lifetime support. On the other hand, backyard breeders are more interested in making a profit than in producing healthy, well-adjusted dogs. They may not screen their breeding stock for health problems, and they may not socialize their puppies properly. As a result, puppies from backyard breeders are more likely to have both health and behavioral issues. More Info For You. He is medium size approx 30 to 35lbs , with a loose curl non shedding silky soft fleece coat. He is dark chocolate colored He is a laid back and very sweet, he is a goofy boy. He is a fun loving comical young dog, he will have you laughing. He is doing very well with his puppy training and eager to please. He would make a great family companion in any household. He is crate trained and knows how to use a dog door. He is good for the groomer and up to date on all puppy care. We do not leave him unattended in our home as he is still a puppy. He will need redirecting in his new home as he has only know our home our family and friends, this will take about a week or two. Her parents are Charlie and Hero. She is a very happy go lucky little girl, with a loving personality. She is well socialized and she is good with children. Buttons is doing well with puppy training and she is eager to please which has made her easy to train. She is crate trained and knows how to use a dog door. She sits, comes when called and we are working on the leash. She is very easy to groom and up to date on all shots and puppy care. We do not leave her unattended in our home as she is still much a puppy. She will need redirecting in her new home as she has only know our home our family and friends, this will take about a week or two. She can be spayed at 8 month. He is standard size approx 50 to 60lbs , with a wavy curl non shedding fleece coat and he is beautiful blue merle color. He has a very laid back disposition and a goofy but sweet personality. He is doing well with his puppy training and eager to please. She is a mini to small medium size approx 25lbs , with a loose curl non shedding fleece coat. She is a chocolate merle with a white chest,one green eye and one blue eye. Blossom is a happy playful little girl with comical personality. She loves playing in the water and she is a very social with everyone she meets. She is very smart and eager to learn which has made her easy to train. Blossom is crate trained and knows how to use a dog door. She does very well for the groomer and she is easy to bathe. She comes when called sits and she is walking on a harness and leash. She is also doing well in our home however I do not leave her unattended in our home as she is still a puppy. Blossom is up-to-date on all shots and worming and she can be spayed at 8 months of age. He is medium size approx 35 to 40lbs , with a curly non shedding coat. He is a red phantom with a with white on his chest. He is a very laid back little lover boy. He is medium size 35 to 40 lbs with a curly non shedding coat. Cyress is doing well with his puppy training, eager to please. He would make a great therapy companion. He is good for the groomer and eager to please. Why choose an older puppy? We have raised these puppies in our home from birth and are much further in their development. Depending on the age, they may already be crate trained, doing well with potty training, basic puppy training, etc. They are very well socialized with other dogs and lots of people. Many bad habits that puppies form from age eight weeks on will be avoided, such as chewing, barking, jumping on you, etc. Why do we have these puppies? Often times they are breeding prospects held back as potentials and then released. A few are selected to be raised into older puppies for people wishing for a puppy that has started training as a family member or as therapy and service companions. Older dogs available: Why choose an adult dog? Trained, loving dogs! Why do we have adult dogs available? These dogs are awesome! Raised by a family or us in their home as a guardian family. Additionally, we are committed to a lifetime of support for our dogs and their families. Please fill out our online puppy application if you are interested in one of our puppies. To adopt a puppy, please fill out our online application ; no deposit is required until your application has been reviewed and approved. These puppies are priced according to their age and level of training. All older puppies are in excellent health and will be spayed or neutered according to age. Our puppies have a 3-year health guarantee and are up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, worming, grooming, and a flea treatment. You may qualify for guardianship. There are often older dogs and puppies available in our guardian program. Their adorable curly fur and expressive faces make you want to cuddle them — and these little guys love nothing more than a good squish. All this and more makes our labradoodle puppies for sale one the most in-demand in our center. Activity-loving families adore these dogs for their propensity towards sports, and anyone who prefers low-shedding pooch benefits from their wooly or fleecy fur. Labradoodle puppies for sale are so cute and come in such a wide range of colors that it makes choosing your new best friend super-hard! While spearheading the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia breeding program, he conducted the crossbreeding of a standard poodle and Labrador retriever in view of it being a hypoallergenic guide dog for blind people. The first example of this type of dog, called Sultan, went to live with a lady in Hawaii, where other breeders saw him as an inspiration and this is how Australian Labradoodle puppies started. Both the International Australian Labradoodles Association and the Australian Labradoodles Association of America are working hard to incorporate more intergenerational breeding so these dog breeders can register this type of dog as a purebred dog. Its gentle, obedient and intelligent personality combined with a hypoallergenic coat make it ideal for family members with allergies, but it also makes an excellent service or therapy dog. Labradoodle Puppies Lifespan When properly taken care of, healthy dogs tend to live anywhere from 10 to 13 years. The lifespan of our Labradoodle puppies for sale is slightly above average at 12 to 14 years. Here are the life stages of multigenerational Australian Labradoodles: Puppyhood: First five months Adolescence: Between five months and two years Adulthood: Between two and three years Middle age: Between seven years and 10 years Senior: Over 10 years Labradoodles need the most attention and care in the first and last stages of their life. During puppyhood, their minds are highly impressionable, which is ideal for training. During their senior years, Labradoodles are more susceptible to health problems, which means owners need to keep a watchful eye. Labradoodle Size The size of labradoodle puppies for sale directly relates to the size of their parents and which generation of breed Labradoodle breeders chose. The larger the puppies, the larger the adult dog will be, and the faster their growth will be coming out of the puppy stage. A standard labradoodle puppy will weigh from pounds by the time it reaches two months of age. By a year old, it will have grown dramatically to up to 80 pounds, depending on the size of its parents. Medium Labradoodles occupy a spectrum of sizes between standard and mini Labradoodles, with the specifics depending heavily on the details of the breeding pair that birthed them and the breeding program they come from. Labradoodle Puppies Temperament While Labradoodle breeders originally bred the Australian Labradoodles as therapy dogs, their fun, friendly personalities made them popular pets. Now you can find these sociable dogs in homes across the globe. Here are some of the top personality traits of our Labradoodle puppies for sale. They tend to do best in active households where they can work off all that pent-up energy. You can fulfill their needs through the following activities: Walks or jogs: Labradoodles make great walking companions and can even keep up with you during a jog. Playing in the yard: Enjoy a game of fetch with your furry friend in the yard or just let it loose on its own. Dog sports: If you stay active through sports, consider making your labradoodle a part of your routine. Bring it on bike rides, go for a run together or kick a ball around in the yard. Obstacle courses: Set up an obstacle course for your dog using household items. Scavenger hunt: Creating a scavenger hunt for your canine is a great way to exercise its body and brain. In general, Labradoodles need anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. You can also enroll them later at a Labradoodle puppy alumni school for proper training. Friendliness What makes Labradoodles the perfect puppy compare to other dog breeds is their ability to get along with just about anyone. They inherit this trait from their Labrador retriever parent, a breed also known for its outgoing nature. You can trust your labradoodle to form friendships with everyone, from children and older adults to strangers and other puppies. Thanks to their affectionate, sociable personalities, Labradoodles make great pets for first-time owners, families, or anyone looking for a companion. Intelligence Thanks to their poodle parent breeds, Labradoodles are incredibly intelligent dogs. Because Labradoodles are intelligent, they often crave mental stimulation. Labradoodle Puppies Grooming Our Labradoodle puppies for sale have a variety of coat textures that dog owners enjoy, but in general, their low shedding coat needs brushing at least twice a week. Not only does this keep them tangle-free but it also removes excess debris from their coat, keeping them fresh and hygienic. Regularly trim the hair around their eyes and in between their paws to prevent these problem areas from causing irritation. Pooches with fleece coats tend to have longer fur and benefit the most from going to a professional groomer — although every dog loves getting pampered once in a while. At Pride and Prejudoodles, we send a can and a bag of the foods we use for free with your hand-delivered bundle of joy. If you need to change it for any reason, it must be done gradually to avoid stomach upsets. Just bear in mind that a diet is such a crucial aspect of wellness that feeding them good quality food will add years to their lives compared to opting for low-quality feed. Pride and Prejudoodles is here to help. We hope you found our guide informative. Please contact us with any other questions you have about our Labradoodle puppies for adoption. Many times we have adults that we are thinking of retiring, to increase your chance of adopting one of our dogs please complete our adult application online FIRST and then send an e-mail. Please be specific about your interest in an adult. Provide as much information as possible about your lifestyle and family. Please specify why you feel an adult is best for your family vs a puppy. When these dogs retire from our programs they stay with these families. It is very rare for a dog to be returned to be re -homed, I have personally had only 2 in 17 years. When our dogs that live with us retire from our program they will be fully tested and in an age range of years old. They are priced based on age, training and health testing. We would almost never have any dogs available that would be 6 mo -3 years of age. Watch our website we will post adults in advance of being available so that we can make the best possible match. With a reservation we will keep a puppy for additional training, and taylor the training to your specific situation. Additional fees will apply.
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german shepherd labradoodle mix puppies - Most German Shepherds have straighter tails that hang down with a slight curve. As explained above, German shepherds typically have fairly straight tails. If the curl is tightly wound, held high, and raps around over the back over vertical , this suggests that your GSD likely has mixed genetics. The most common genetic mix causing a tightly curled tail would be from a breed in the spitz family, all of which have tails like this. Can we be sure of that? Typical German Shepherd tails follow the line of their croup lower back smoothly down to their hock joint ankle. When resting the tail should hang lower rather than high, predominantly straight but with a slight curve like a saber sword. When excited the tail will likely raise up and be held in somewhat of a higher position. Photo Examples: Source The end of the tail can sometimes be straight or slightly curled. Genetic make-up plays the most significant role in the appearance of your GSD, as do inherited faults and unique body structure differences. The only true way to know if your GSD is purebred is to have a DNA test done or have official documentation of both parents stating that they are purebred. Is it possible? This is very important to keep in mind. Additionally, tail positions change depending on their current mood, feelings, and temperament. Puppies that are excited and playful will almost always have a raised tail, but this might drop down when they are either calm, resting, nervous, fearful, or anxious. On the other hand, if your GSD puppy has an extremely curled tail that sits high over his back, this does point towards mixed genetics. Brush Regularly Most GSD owners already know that having a regular brushing routine is extremely important. The issue, however, is that the tail is often neglected for other pairs of the body such as the back and neck. The tail needs just as much brushing! Be sure to spend an extra couple of minutes focusing solely on the tail. The best brush for the tail would be a quality slicker brush. This is essentially a mini bath , without the hassle, and without risking those essential oils. A quick baby wipe of the tail will help keep muck, dirt, and bacteria from building up. This sensitivity then causes the GSD to curl the tail upwards. Although this makes sense, to a certain degree, there has been no scientific evidence or any substantial research to back up this claim. Redirection training will likely be your best bet, but this will take time and consistency on your part to ensure you redirect your GSD on to something else, every single time he tries biting his tail. Additionally, be sure to have a quick inspection of the bum area. Anal Furunculosis is another potential cause of tail biting. This is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease and will need veterinary attention. A casual look and feel while your GSD is calm and relaxed in the evening times could get you in front of any potential problems. Last thoughts German Shepherds typically have straight tails that hang down with a slight curve, similar to that of a saber sword. If a German Shepherd has a tightly curled tail that sits high up, curling over the back, this is a strong indication that he has mixed genetics. What kind of tail does your German Shepherd have? Let me know if this article has helped you if you have further questions! Thanks for reading! The Puppy Mag makes an active effort to search for plagiarized content using plagiarism detection software. If plagiarized content is found, action will be taken. The tails of German shepherds are usually straight, as explained in the previous paragraph. The tail should not fly high, but rather hang low and slightly curved, like a sword. Dogs often raise and hold their tails at a greater angle when they are aroused. Having a curled tail does not imply that your GSD is not a purebred. This is a frequent blunder. A curling or elevated tail is not a guarantee that a GSD puppy will retain this trait as an adult. This is a crucial point to keep in mind. Tails may be lifted when pups are joyful and lively, but they may be dropped when they are peaceful, resting or feeling worried or scared. An excessively curled tail that rests high on the back of your German Shepherd puppy, however, is an indication that he was crossbred. To compound matters, many people pay more attention to the neck and back than to the tail. Focus on the conclusion for a few additional minutes. Grooming the tail is a simple matter of using a decent slicker brush. Wiping the tail with a baby wipe will help keep mud, filth, and germs away from your dog. Although it sounds reasonable, there is no scientific proof or extensive investigation to back this notion. It is not suggested to trim or clip the tail of your GSD. Avoiding Tail Chasing and Biting In order to avoid problems like hair loss, sensitive skin, wounds, and infections, you should stop your dog from chasing or biting his tail right away. While redirection training is most likely your best course of action, it will require a lot of patience and consistency from both you and your GSD. If your German Shepherd dog is chasing or chewing its tail, it might be showing signs of agitation, anxiety, boredom, or anal furunculosis. So be sure to see your veterinarian if you observe a swollen anus. Anal furunculosis, a parasite infection of the vaginal region, may also induce tail biting. Veterinary treatment is required since this is a chronic and severe condition. Swelling or redness around the anus may be a symptom of an infection. Maintain Consistent Inspection Protocols On a weekly basis, the tail should be examined and inspected to ensure that it is clear of skin rashes, sores, hair loss, and any other irregularities. Having a casual appearance and feel in the evenings when your Dog is more relaxed might help you avoid possible problems. The movements and the German Shepherd tail positions have the following meanings. Wagging Tail Negative emotions such as nervousness can be indicated by German Shepherds wagging their tails to the left. Wagging their tail more to the right indicates that a German Shepherd is experiencing positive emotions, such as excitement or joy upon seeing you or upon engaging in playful activity with you. When training your dog, be aware of this. By examining the base of the tail, you can tell the difference between a low-hanging and a slightly tucked tail. If the tail is somewhat tucked, it will have a steeper downhill slope than if the tail is low-hanging. If there are some male dogs around, you should be on the watch for signs of hostility or play. If there are other female dogs in the area, your GSD is more likely to display signs of lust and be ready to mate if you see him become excited. Something as simple as a squirrel outside the window could be the cause for the shift. Fear, arousal, aggressiveness, and play are just a few of the many meanings associated with a high-positioned tail. Understanding the behavior of a German Shepherd requires an understanding of its surroundings. The fact that a GSD is still evaluating the position and has not yet committed to a response means that you should be aware of the current scenario. Make sure there are no fleas hiding in its coat by thoroughly inspecting it. Several GSDs had a genetic defect. There is no way to correct this inherited flaw. German Shepherds are known for their strong and powerful appearance, and a straight tail is a great way to achieve this. Due to this, owners of GSDs with gay tails frequently choose surgical treatment as a solution. It is not a long-term solution to have your GSD support a surgical procedure to straighten a curled tail. Even after surgery, puppies of a GSD with a gay tail will have a gay tail as well because it is a genetic trait. Final Thoughts The tails of German Shepherds are usually straight, but they do have a slight curve to them, like a saber sword. Tails that curl over the back of a German Shepherd are a strong indication that the dog is a crossbreed. The tails of German Shepherds are just as important as the rest of their bodies. Owners of German Shepherds may encounter a variety of tail issues, some of which are genetic and some of which are acquired. Curled tails are not a sign that anything is wrong with your GSD, and he or she will be able to lead a full and happy life regardless. When it comes to German Shepherd tails, what kind is yours? If you have any additional questions, please let us know in the comments. Thank you for taking the time to read this! He is very passionate about training and caring for dogs, that is why he started this website. Want a free 5 part dog training video series? German Shepherds are proud, easily trainable , highly intelligent dogs, who love being active and pleasing their owners. If you are interested in showing your Shepherd or wonder if you indeed have a pure-bred dog we will help you determine if your Shepherd meets the standard or AKC definition of German Shepherd dogs. It is set smoothly into the croup and low rather than high. At rest, the tail hangs in a slight curve like a saber. A slight hook- sometimes carried to one side-is faulty only to the extent that it mars general appearance. When the dog is excited or in motion, the curve is accentuated and the tail raised, but it should never be curled forward beyond a vertical line. Tails too short, or with clumpy ends due to ankylosis, are serious faults. A dog with a docked tail must be disqualified. What is a canine hock joint? The canine hock joint is like the ankle joint in humans. What is a canine croup? The croup is the section of the dog where the back flows into the tail. Therefore according to AKC standards the back should flow into the croup which smoothy transitions into the tail. The position of the tail should hang down rather than be set high up on the croup. What is a docked tail? A docked tail is purposely cropped or surgically removed called a caudectomy to change the appearance usually for cosmetic reasons. According to AKC standards a German Shepherd with a docked tail is cause for disqualification in competitions. What is ankylosis? Ankylosis, is the complete loss of movement in a joint caused by degeneration and fusion of the bony surfaces. This may result from injury, infection, or inflammation. Ankylosis in dogs may also occur as a consequence of surgical fusion of a diseased joint to correct a deformity or to alleviate persistent pain. You may be wondering if a curly tail in German Shepherds is normal? A typical German Shepherd tail is supposed to be between 9 and 14 inches long. Basically long enough to reach past the hock joint. Curly tails in Shepherds are a genetic trait. It could also be a sign of mixed breeding. If your dog does have a prominent curly tail and you are certain she is a pure-bred Shepherd it could just come down to random genetics. That is why a purebred German Shepherd can still have a curly tail. So it is perfectly normal for your German Shepherd to have a curly tail, because the curl is a genetic trait passed down from one or both parents, and not necessarily the fault of the breeders. A curly tail is only a problem if you intend to show your dog as the AKC has strict standards when it comes to the shape and curl of the tail. In and of itself a curly tail is unlikely to have an impact on the incidence of tail problems or be an indicator that your dog will develop them down the road. The rate of tail problems and other genetic issues are most impacted by breeding. Common Tail Problems In German Shepherds Even though a curled tail is not an indication of future problems with the tail German Shepherds do have three common issues with their tail. Skin infections German Shepherd tails usually do not have that much skin, so this area is prone to infection. Infections can lead to hair loss due to constant itching and chewing to relieve the discomfort of allergies. That is also perhaps the main reason your Shepherd might be biting his tail. Cuts, scrapes, and bites can also lead to skin infection. If left untreated hair loss is likely. Since dogs are likely to lick or scratch infected areas topical antibiotics are usually not very effective. For that reason oral antibiotics are usually recommended. Anal Furunculosis An inefficient immune response or genetic traits passed down from the parents can cause a chronic inflammatory disease called Anal Furunculosis. It typically occurs in middle age to older German Shepherds. In that regard a Shepherd with a curly tail is less likely to develop this issue because the tail curls higher away from the anus creating better air flow. Often caused by overexertion, it can also be caused by: Swimming in cold water. Is it normal to have a German Shepherd with a curly tail? If your German Shepherd dog or puppy has a curly tail, it is natural and not a health concern. A curly tail in German Shepherds is an inherited genetic feature, most commonly undesirable in the show circuit. The curly tail is classified as a tail held up higher than the normal position and exhibits an upward curl. A German Shepherd tail can have a slight curve to it or a prominent loop of a curl. The two types are different in the sense that a dog with a straight tail can still choose to hold its tail with a slight curve. This curve is not considered a curly tail provided that the tail does not raise above the horizontal. The way that the tail looks comes down to genetic factors, for the most part. It can also be caused by tail breakage upon birth or problems in the womb. It is perfectly normal for your German Shepherd to have a curly tail. The curly tail is most often merely an inherited trait. However, it is considered a defect or genetic fault by the AKC standards. A tail affected by breakage or problems in the womb has less of a smooth curve and possibly a kink in the tail, causing it to bend, giving the appearance of a curl. The curl is a genetic trait carried down by one or both parents. Contrary to popular belief, even well-bred German Shepherds are born with defects at times, and this not necessarily the result of backyard breeders. Although it is considered a genetic defect by the AKC, there is nothing inherently wrong with German Shepherds with a curly tail. A curly tail is only a problem when you intend to show your dog and hope to win prizes for their appearance, as a curly tail often results in disqualification from shows. For the most part, it is impossible to completely avoid breeding puppies with a tail defect. Unless one of the parents had a tail defect before breeding with them, there is no way of determining whether or not two parents will produce puppies with or without tail defects. If one of the dogs you intend to breed with has a curly tail, you can take preventative action and abstain from breeding to avoid passing on the defect. If your German Shepherd is born with a curly tail, it may feel tempting to have it reversed or fixed to pursue a career in the show ring. There are many ill practices performed on German Shepherd tails, including surgery to the tendon and even breaking the tail. Changing the tail in any way unnatural to your dog is considered malpractice and should be strictly avoided. If the defect occurred in the womb, it is still unlikely that there is any humane procedure to reverse the kink or curl. A curly tail in itself is unlikely to have an impact on the recurrence of tail problems; however, poorly selected breeding pairs could have an effect. In general, good breeders carefully select the two parents before breeding, taking into account defects, hereditary diseases, and conditions. In the case that inexperienced breeders breed two German Shepherds, defects, including tail defects and problems, are substantially more likely. It is always wise to be aware of these conditions to care for your German Shepherd dog properly. Anal Furunculosis In German Shepherds A common hereditary problem that German Shepherds get affecting their tails is anal furunculosis. This disease is aggravated by the common tail position of a classic German Shepherd. The bushy tail is held close to the anus when in a normal position. The disease thrives in areas like these with constant moisture and lack of air movement. The skin under the tail is better exposed to oxygen. It can remain dry easily with less contact against the anus, as is the case in dogs with a highly held or curly tail. German Shepherds And Limber Tail Syndrome Limber tail syndrome is a condition common in working dogs, including the German Shepherd dog, often referred to as cold tail, water tail, or limp tail. Source A limber tail syndrome is a condition caused by overworked tail muscles. The most common causes for over-exerted tail muscles are swimming in water that is too cold, exposure to hot temperatures, or intense exercise. Source The most common signs of Limber tail syndrome are: A limp or hanging tail that could appear broken. Pain or aggression when touching the tail. Swollen tail tissue. The condition is generally treated with anti-inflammatories, and symptoms can subside within a week or two. A common area of inflammation is the skin on the tail. You may notice your dog is chewing and scratching their tail a lot. Watch out for hair loss and signs of itchiness if you suspect your dog has a skin infection on his tail. If you notice symptoms associated with a skin infection of the tail, visit your vet as soon as possible. Your vet will most likely treat your dog with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for the infection and itching. Ultimately, curly tails are just as prone to skin infections as straight or curved tails. Body Language: Curly Tail Vs. However, the movements of a curly tail hold the same meaning as straight tails. A tail position that may confuse you with a curly-tailed German Shepherd is when the tail is held up to express excitement. When a German Shepherd with a straight tail is alert or excited, they erect their tale, holding it higher in the air. A curly tail that is naturally held above the horizontal may appear excited or alert when this is merely the relaxed tail position. As mentioned above, the meaning of tail movements between a curly tail and a straight tail is the same. A tail that is swinging or swaying side to side in a slower way shows that your dog is insecure of something in its environment. When your German Shepherds tail is raised higher than its normal position, something has grabbed its attention. There are no side-effects to having a curly tail, and, at the end of the day, all that matters is that their tail wags when they see you. When a German Shepherd is always holding its tail upright and stiff, it means he is the leader of the pack. According to him. It is just cutting the ends of the hair, and not the tail. If you will brush its hair, make sure to brush its tail too. Regularly check its anus and the skin under the tail, it is where Anal Furunculosis begins. If you notice that your German Shepherd is losing hair on its tail, and it keeps on biting it, it could be a sign of infection. Check for cuts or scrapes on the tails, it can cause infections too. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that starts under their tail and around their anus. This problem starts when the immune system of the GSD fails to respond properly. The best way to avoid having a GSD with this hereditary disease is to ensure that your pup comes from GSD parents that are free of Anal Furunculosis genetically. A report by www. When a GSD spends too much time in cold water, it can damage its tail muscles. The symptoms of Limber Tail Syndrome are swollen tail muscles, cramps, and painful tails. This condition heals after days but if it is causing too much pain, you can ask your vet for a pain reliever. You might notice how your GSD is chewing its tail to curb its itchiness. When scraped and left untreated, it might also lead to infection. If your GSD starts to lick its wound, it might make the cut bigger. To treat a skin infection, it is best to see a vet immediately. Antibiotic is often prescribed to treat skin infection. Do you love seeing your GSD pup chasing its tail? They love loving round and round, trying to chase their tail and when they catch it, they produce that low growling sound. It means they won. No matter how fun it is watching your pup chasing its tail, the act itself tells something about your pet. You will see your GSD catching its tail when it finds itself in a small enclosure. When a GSD is placed in a cramped space, it becomes anxious, hence it catches its tail You will see your GSD catching its tail when it is boring. Having a curled tail is not bad for German Shepherds. It is a genetic fault that affected some GSDs. However, some owners prefer a GSD with a straight tail. A straight tail projects a strong and powerful look that German Shepherds are known for. For this reason, owners of GSDs with gay tails often opt for surgical remedies. Having your GSD undergo surgery to straighten up a curled tail is not a permanent solution. Because it is hereditary, puppies of a GSD with a gay tail will also have a gay tail even after surgery. Other Health Concerns for a German Shepherd Aside from having tail problems, German Shepherds are also prone to developing other hereditary conditions according to iheartdogs. It can lead to difficulties defecating, having bloody stool, and itchiness in the surrounding area of the anus. Dog Bites — German Shepherd are playful and very active. They can easily injure one another, and the tail is one body part that gets bitten easily. Dog bites should be cleaned and treated immediately according to petmd. Megaesophagus — when your GSD starts throwing up especially after eating, it can be a sign of megaesophagus. This condition affects the esophagus, causing it to be limp and unable to pass digested food. It can also cause regurgitation. A GSD with a megaesophagus is often given a soft or liquid diet. Treatment is lifelong. Hip Dysplasia — This is the most common hereditary medical concern for the German Shepherd. As a large dog, their socket joints are at risk of being malformed. A GSD with hip dysplasia requires lifelong treatment. Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis is common to older GSDs. It happens when they suffer an injury and the injury took a while to heal. One symptom of osteoarthritis is when your dog seems to be slowing down. Tail-wagging related injuries — German Shepherds are known for wagging their tails all the time. Sometimes, too much enthusiasm can lead to injuries such as banging their tails on furniture or the wall. Tail-wagging accidents can lead to fractured tailbone or cuts and bruises. Degenerative Myelopathy — as GSDs grow older, they also tend to develop age-related conditions such as Degenerative Myelopathy. This condition affects the spinal cord tissue leading to weaker limbs that can end with paralysis or death. Fleas — fleas itself is not a medical concern but the effect of having fleas is. Fleas can cause skin infections. A German Shepherd with fleas often suffers skin irritation that leads to irritation, inflammation, and skin infection. At the first sign of tail problems such as cuts or excessive hair fall, check with your doctor immediately. Check its body parts for possible signs of infection or medical condition. Check its head, its toes, and its tail. Thoroughly check its coat and make sure that no fleas are hiding underneath it. As canna-pet put it, with proper diet and regular grooming and check-up, you can raise a healthy, active, and more fun canine that you can spend your days with for up to 13 years. There are lots of reasons why your German Shepherd might bite their tail. Lots of different breeds do this at different points in their lives, so most of the reasons why your German Shepherd is biting their tail might explain why any breed does this. One of the most common reasons why German Shepherds bite their tails is because they are playing. However, you will usually be able to tell if your dog is biting their tail playfully through their behavior. Your German Shepherd could also be biting their tail because they have fleas or because they are suffering from allergies. German Shepherds are one of the breeds that often suffer from allergies, so if you suspect this to be the cause, then you should speak to your vet. Do you dock German Shepherd tails? No, you do not dock German Shepherd tails. This, sometimes controversial, the process is something that should only be done on working dogs as a way to protect them from injury. As German Shepherds are often working dogs, many people expect that their tails should be docked, but this does not need to be done. The primary breeds that have their tails docked for working purposes are corgis and Aussies. This is done to protect their tail when they are working with heavy livestock, such as cows and oxen. But, German Shepherds only ever work with sheep and smaller animals, like ducks, goats, and geese. Due to this, there is very little risk of injury to the tail, as the animals that German Shepherds work with are small. Meaning that there is no need to dock their tails. German Shepherds are well known for being very fluffy, with their tails being one of the most memorable things about them. If your German Shepherd passes this age, and their tail is still not fluffy, then it is probably due to genetics. Some breed lines of German Shepherds do not have fluffy tails, so it is possible that your dog belongs to one of these lines.