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Heart murmurs are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being mild, and 5 being very loud and easily detected. When a dog is relaxed or sleeping, rates above 35 breaths per minute signify heart problems and warrant an immediate trip to the veterinarian. Count each rise during that period, then multiply that number by four to find out the number of breaths per minute. By the time you see visible signs of a heart problem — difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, coughing, weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance and collapsing — your dog may have heart disease. What are heart murmurs? There are two broad categories of heart murmurs in dogs: A congenital murmur is present from birth. Congenital murmurs are usually caused by a structural heart defect. Fortunately, most murmurs in young puppies turn out to be benign in nature. An acquired murmur is one that becomes apparent later in life. Acquired murmurs are usually due to heart valve abnormalities or cardiac muscle disease. Fortunately, most dogs with acquired valvular disease never develop congestive heart failure, as long as they receive proper care. The most common cause is myxomatous mitral valve degeneration, which is a progressive degeneration of the mitral valve. The cause is unknown, but in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, a genetic link has been identified. Larger breeds also sometimes develop murmurs associated with cardiomyopathy, which is a term for cardiac muscle disease. Learn more about dilated cardiomyopathy The mitral valve is the valve between the left atrium upper chamber and left ventricle lower chamber of the heart. Oxygenated blood from the lungs goes into the left atrium, where it is transported to the left ventricle, which then pushes the blood out to the rest of the body via the aorta. When the mitral valve degenerates, it becomes bumpy and irregular and no longer closes all the way, allowing blood to wash back into the left atrium. The heart becomes less efficient, making it work harder with every beat. Eventually, fluid backs up into the lungs. When that happens, the dog is in congestive heart failure and will require cardiac medications for the rest of their life. Monitoring is your best defense If your veterinarian tells you that they hear a heart murmur, they will likely recommend an echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis and establish baseline cardiac function. Repeating the echocardiogram annually is a good way to monitor progression. An echocardiogram is non-invasive and usually done without anesthesia or a sedative. A simple blood test, called pro-BNP precursor of B-type natriuretic peptide , is a useful tool for monitoring as well, as pro-BNP levels rise in the face of cardiac muscle stretch and stress. Obesity makes it harder to breathe, which strains the heart. It also makes it harder to exercise, and exercise is good for the heart. These diets are sodium-restricted, which helps prevent fluid accumulation and supports healthy blood pressure — both of which are important for cardiac patients. The nutrients include antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and other things that support cardiac function. If you are told that your dog has a heart murmur, you should schedule regular follow-ups to monitor its progression, help your dog lose weight through proper diet and exercise, and consider using a prescription diet for canine cardiac health. Your attention to cardiac management could be the difference between a dog who ends up with congestive heart failure and one that does not. If your puppy does not outgrow their murmur, an echocardiogram is recommended to determine the cause, cardiac status and prognosis. This is important whether your dog is intended for breeding or not. For dogs intended for breeding, the echocardiogram will help determine whether the dog ethically should be used for breeding. For dogs undergoing spay and neuter procedures, the echocardiogram provides your veterinary surgeon with important information regarding the risk of anesthesia. The ultimate prognosis depends on the type of congenital heart defect. Many puppies will live a normal lifespan. For other puppies, surgery may be an option. Call Vic Kasser or Email! A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound, usually heard by listening to the heart with a stethoscope. What causes a heart murmur? A heart murmur is caused by turbulent blood flow within the heart. Sometimes a murmur is determined to be 'innocent' or 'physiologic', while other times the murmur is determined to be pathologic or caused by disease. Pathologic heart murmurs can be caused by a structural problem within the heart i. Do all murmurs sound the same? The loudness of a murmur reflects the amount of turbulence that is present in the heart. However, the loudness of a heart murmur does not always correlate directly with the severity of disease. Murmurs are graded by their intensity, usually on a scale of I-VI. A Grade I murmur is very soft or quiet, may only be heard intermittently, and is usually only heard in one location on the chest, while a Grade VI murmur is very loud, heard everywhere that the heart can be heard, and can be felt when a person places their hand on the chest in the area of the heart in cardiac terminology, this is called a 'thrill'. Murmurs are also characterized by the time in which they occur during the heart cycle, and by whether they are long or short. Most murmurs are also characterized by their location, or where they are the loudest. The majority of murmurs in the dog occur during systole, the phase of the heart cycle when the heart is contracting to pump blood out. The specific characteristics of the murmur, along with any symptoms that your dog might be showing, will help your veterinarian to determine what is causing the murmur. What is an innocent, physiologic or Puppy heart murmur? An innocent or physiologic or Puppy heart murmur is a heart murmur that has no impact on the dog's health. It is very common for young puppies, especially large breed puppies, to develop an innocent heart murmur while they are growing rapidly. The murmur may first appear at weeks of age, and a puppy with an innocent heart murmur will usually outgrow it by about months of age. This type of murmur is benign. In general, a physiologic or innocent heart murmur will have a low intensity usually Grade I-II out of VI , and does not cause any symptoms or clinical signs. What structural heart problems cause a heart murmur? The heart is composed of four chambers - the left atrium, the left ventricle, the right atrium, and the right ventricle. Blood flows from the right side of the heart through the pulmonary artery to the lungs where it is oxygenated, and then the oxygenated blood goes through the left side of the heart and into the aorta, where it is pumped to the rest of the body. Between each of the chambers and main blood vessels there is a valve that functions to prevent blood flowing back into the chamber as the heart pumps. With structural heart disease, there is some sort of abnormal structure or defect that is disturbing the flow of blood, creating turbulence. The abnormality in the heart may be a leaky heart valve, a thickening or narrowing of a valve or large blood vessel, or an abnormal hole between the heart chambers or between two arteries that are not normally connected. Structural heart problems may be congenital the dog is born with a defective heart or acquired a structural heart problem develops later in life. Some of the congenital heart diseases in dogs are hereditary in certain breeds of dogs, and include diseases such as 'sub-aortic stenosis', 'pulmonic stenosis', and 'patent ductus arteriosis'. Other congenital heart diseases are not as well documented as being hereditary, including 'ventricular septal defects', 'atrial septal defects' and 'Tetralogy of Fallot'. The most common cause of an acquired heart murmur in the dog is 'mitral insufficiency' also called 'mitral regurgitation' , a condition in which the mitral valve becomes thickened and begins leaking see our handout 'Mitral Valve Disease in Dogs' - mitral insufficiency tends to be more common in small breed dogs. Other causes of an acquired heart murmur in older dogs include bacterial endocarditis, caused by a bacterial infection that localizes on a heart valve and dilated cardiomyopathy see our handouts 'Endocarditis in Dogs' and 'Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs'. What extracardiac problems cause a heart murmur? Some extracardiac problems can cause what is called a 'functional heart murmur'. A functional heart murmur may be due to anemia low levels of red blood cells , hypoproteinemia low protein levels in the blood , fever or infection, or by conditions such as pregnancy, obesity or emaciation. With anemia or hypoproteinemia, the blood is too 'watery' so turbulence is created as it flows through the valves. Adult dogs may become anemic because of blood loss or may have a serious underlying disorder. How is a heart murmur detected? In most cases, a heart murmur is detected when your veterinarian auscultates or examines your dog's heart with a stethoscope. How do we find out if a murmur is due to a significant problem? Most murmurs are detected with a stethoscope during a routine veterinary examination. If your veterinarian detects a heart murmur, you will be asked a series of questions about your dog's health and then your veterinarian will assess your dog's general physical condition to determine whether or not there are any symptoms or clinical signs that indicate the need for further diagnostic testing. If your pet is still a young puppy and the murmur is of low intensity, your veterinarian may recommend a re-examination in a few weeks time to track whether the murmur has decreased in intensity or disappeared, indicating that it was likely an innocent murmur. Similarly, if your adult dog appears to be extremely stressed at the time of a routine health examination and the murmur is of low intensity, your veterinarian may recommend a re-evaluation at a later time when the dog is calmer. In some cases, if a dog is extremely excited or is panting heavily, it can be difficult to determine if abnormal sounds are being caused by a heart murmur or are just related to the elevated heart rate or panting. A dog with a heart murmur that is caused by a structural heart disease or an extracardiac problem will generally have some sort of symptoms or clinical signs that can be attributed to the disease. During a physical examination, if your veterinarian detects an abnormal rhythm to the heartbeat, or finds that your dog has weak pulses or irregular pulses, it will be more likely that the murmur is caused by an underlying problem. If your veterinarian determines or suspects that the heart murmur is caused by structural heart disease or an extracardiac problem, further diagnostic testing will be recommended. In the majority of these cases, further diagnostic testing should be performed immediately so that any treatment can be started as soon as possible. What other tests may be recommended? Depending on what other clinical signs are present in your dog, your veterinarian will usually recommend x-rays, an electrocardiogram, or an ultrasound examination of the heart called an echocardiogram. If your veterinarian suspects that the heart murmur is secondary to another disease, blood tests or other extensive tests might be recommended. An echocardiogram that includes a Doppler examination is the most useful test to determine the location of a heart murmur. With an echocardiogram, the heart is imaged while it is beating, allowing the examiner to evaluate the heart's size and movement. A Doppler examination is a specialized type of echocardiogram in which the speed and direction of blood flow can be measured across the heart valves and in the heart chambers. The Doppler examination will usually pinpoint the location of the turbulence that is causing the murmur. How is a heart murmur treated? Heart murmurs are simply abnormal heart sounds caused by turbulent blood flow, and treatment depends upon the underlying cause of the heart murmur or the turbulent blood flow. Physiologic heart murmurs do not require any treatment; however, regular monitoring of a dog that has evidence of a physiologic murmur is advised to ensure that no other problems develop. If the heart murmur is caused by an underlying problem, the treatment plan will be based on the diagnosis, and may include a combination of specialized diets, medications and supportive care. Some congenital heart defects can be surgically corrected - these include pulmonic stenosis and patent ductus arteriosus. Your veterinarian will be the best person to advise you on the appropriate course of action to meet your dog's unique needs. What is the prognosis? The prognosis ranges from excellent to grave, depending on the cause of the murmur. If the murmur is physiologic, no treatment is required and the prognosis is generally good to excellent. If the murmur is caused by extracardiac disease or a functional problem that can be treated, the murmur may resolve over time. The long-term prognosis for a dog with a murmur caused by congenital heart disease is extremely variable, depending on the specific type of defect that is present; if the defect can be surgically corrected the prognosis is very good. A dog with mitral insufficiency can usually be managed with long-term medications. The prognosis for a dog with dilated cardiomyopathy varies - if the dog is showing symptoms of heart failure the prognosis will be grave. The prognosis for a dog with bacterial endocarditis will vary with the severity of the infection and the valve that is affected. The need for good dental care, including regular professional dental cleaning under general anesthesia cannot be overemphasized as a means of preventing endocarditis see our handout "Dental Disease in Dogs". Since each case is different, your veterinarian will discuss the prognosis and treatment options for your dog, based on the results of diagnostic testing. In all cases, ongoing monitoring and periodic diagnostic testing will be necessary to track the progress of the condition. Heart disease in companion animals is too often a silent killer. By the time your dog or cat shows the classic signs of heart disease like lethargy, wheezing, croupy coughing a liquid-sounding cough, as though there's fluid in the lungs or exercise intolerance, it's very often too late to save your beloved pet. To make matters worse, an enlarged heart can't be detected with a stethoscope. Significant heart disease can be present and undiagnosed by your veterinarian long before your pet shows clinical symptoms of illness. Too many pet owners too often find themselves in this heartbreaking situation. Two Types of Heart Disease Both dogs and cats are at risk for heart disease, and both can develop either type: Heart muscle disease Valvular disease Cardiomyopathy is the scientific term for an enlarged heart muscle. Some breeds of dogs are predisposed to the condition, including New Foundlands, Great Danes and Dobermans. Cardiomyopathy can also be caused by a dietary deficiency. The amino acids taurine and carnitine are critical for normal heart development and performance. If your dog's or cat's diet is lacking in these amino acids, heart muscle damage can result. Poor valve health can also lead to heart disease. A leaky valve makes your pet's heart work harder, and the harder it works, the bigger it gets. Valve disease leads to congestive heart failure in both dogs and cats. Heart murmurs which are usually present when there are valve problems are ranked on a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is considered mild and 6 is the worst case. Leaky valves or heart murmurs are frequently seen in predisposed breeds like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Leaky valves are also found in aging pets and animals with some metabolic conditions like feline hyperthyroidism. These tests, usually x-rays, EKG or cardiac ultrasound, can cost several hundred dollars. For many pet owners who want to be proactive in detecting heart disease in a dog or cat, the expense of these tests is prohibitive. It's a terrible situation to be in. If you've lost a dog or cat to heart disease, you're bound to be fearful it could happen again to another pet. You want to take proactive steps to help your current dearly loved dog or cat avoid the problem, but you can't afford the tests that will tell you whether or not you need to do more to insure the health of your companion animal. It feels as if you have no choice but to wait to see if heart disease sneaks up silently to claim another four-legged member of your family. That is, until now. At long last, veterinary medicine has developed a blood test that can identify which dogs and cats are at greatest risk for heart disease and heart failure. The test is called a proBNP test. The proBNP is a blood test that measures how much peptide hormone, released by the heart, is in circulation in your pet's body. This hormone is only released when the heart is pushed beyond its capacity. Very early in the disease process, small amounts of the hormone will be released into your dog's or cat's bloodstream, and it's presence is a signal that steps must be taken in order to preserve your pet's heart health. If heart pathology continues to progress, the blood value of the peptide hormone will continue to rise. The proBNP blood test can give you peace of mind that your pet has no early signs of heart disease. It can also help you and your veterinarian differentiate between, for example, a respiratory condition like feline asthma and an underlying heart condition. The proBNP is a simple blood test with a fast turn-around time that can provide the information you need to proactively manage your dog's or cat's heart health. You can have the test repeated as often as necessary to chart your progress in meeting your pet's cardiovascular health needs throughout his life. Make sure you're meeting your pet's CoQ10 requirement. CoQ10 is a naturally occurring coenzyme that young dogs and cats have in plentiful supply. But as she ages, your pet's ability to produce CoQ10 decreases. I recommend you supplement your pet's amino-acid-rich diet with Coenzyme Q10, especially if you have an animal that is predisposed to cardiovascular disease. Supplying your pet with extra CoQ10 can insure she has the quantity her body needs to maintain a healthy heart muscle. CoQ10 supplements come in two forms: Ubiquinone and Ubiqunol. Ubiquinol is a reduced form of CoQ10 and is the supplement I recommend for my dog and cat patients. A good heart-healthy maintenance dose is: 50 mg per day for cats and small dogs mg per day for medium sized dogs mg twice per day for large dogs. April 7, 20 Comments We all love our Frenchies, so the last thing we want to see happen is for them to get sick. Unfortunately, French Bulldogs are synonymous with health issues. Due to their flat-faced structure, hereditary bone conditions, susceptibility to allergies, and a number of other underlying factors, your life as a Frenchie owner can be riddled with visits to the vet. Breathing and heatstroke Due to a short nose and scrunched face, French Bulldogs tend to snort, wheeze, grunt, and snore more than other dogs. This may be something that you find endearing about the breed, but this smaller airway can present a problem if your dog catches a cold or becomes congested. The best remedy is to spray your dog with a cool mist to help reduce their body temperature. Never leave them in the car unattended. Think about buying a kids pool for your home. Eye and ear problems Even though the French Bulldog is one of the healthiest of all the Bulldog breeds, they still experience some of the same health issues. Due to additional exposure to the surrounding environment, yeast infections of the ears are a frequent problem that Frenchies are prone to developing. If they are left untreated, it can result in deafness or other issues. Your vet can perform a hearing test to see if your French Bulldog suffers from this condition. Frenchies also experience quite a number of eye problems. One example is where the eyelashes can become inverted and irritate the eye itself. This condition is known as entropion. The only way to treat this condition is through surgery, otherwise, the dog may suffer from chronic eye infections. Since the French Bulldogs eyes protrude from their face , the eyes can also easily become scratched. This can lead to corneal ulcers and other eye problems. So if you spot excessive blinking or irritation of the eyes, go to your vet! Finally, cataracts in the eyes can develop as your dog ages — just like any dog. This is something that you should watch out for to prevent blindness. Allergies and food sensitivities Unfortunately, French Bulldogs have a genetic predisposition to several environmental allergens. This can result in them having dry and itchy skin. In more severe cases, your dog may develop swollen glands or hives. Buy on Amazon Here Using a hypoallergenic shampoo or one that contains oatmeal can help to relieve some of the discomfort associated with the condition. Or in some cases, your vet can administer a steroid injection to reduce the histamine response to the environmental allergens. As well, your Frenchie may develop food sensitivities. These can be difficult to diagnose since the symptoms are similar to environmental allergies. Some of the more distinguishing features of food sensitivity are that your dog may suffer from extreme flatulence. Heart disease Poor heart health is something you should be aware of if you own a Frenchie. There are two types of heart problems that you need to be concerned about in this breed. Heart murmurs, which can generally be detected during the puppy years, and heart or valve disease. The second type is similar to what people suffer from as they get older. It can be brought on by lack of exercise and poor diet. However, some dogs are more genetically prone to develop heart disease than others. Look for brands of dog food that are lower in sodium so that you can be more proactive in maintaining their overall heart health. Spinal disorders Hemi-vertebrae is a congenital condition that can be seen with the screw-tail breed. It presents as a compression of the spaces between the vertebrae. This compression impedes the messages of the nervous system resulting in some form of paralysis for the dog — in extreme cases of course. Sometimes this condition can show generalized limb weakness or even loss of bowel and bladder control. Another problem that can result from this condition is bulging discs in the back. This usually occurs later in life but will present with the same symptoms as the congenital form. Joint diseases Arthritis can affect Frenchies due to their smaller stature and low center of gravity. It shows similar symptoms that it does in people. If your dog has arthritis they may refuse to move much or be in pain when they do move. There are over the counter treatments that can relieve much of the discomfort. Another joint problem with Frenchies is patellar luxation. This is where the kneecap pops out of place unexpectedly. It can cause your dog to limp or even fall down suddenly. Hip dysplasia is something that you may also observe. This is where the hip joint comes out of the socket and remains stuck. This can cause extreme pain and difficulty getting around. Other french bulldog health issues Due to the scrunched up face appearance, this puts Frenchies at an increased risk of developing problems with the soft palate. Something called cleft palate is extremely common. It is easy to identify because it presents as protruding teeth and gums. There may also be one nostril that is shaped differently than the other one. Secondary cleft palate is more difficult to diagnose. This is where the deformity is inside the mouth. Some of the symptoms include frequent sneezing, excessive snorting even after light exercise, difficulty eating or drinking, and a chronic runny nose. Surgery will be required to repair this condition. More severe cases can result in chronic respiratory infections and malnourishment due to an inability to eat properly. Wrapping up Overall, the French bulldog is a great breed. They tend to do well with other pets and the whole family. But any purebred dog is likely to have health issues. You just need to be aware that Frenchies are more prone to health problems than many other breeds. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercise are some of the best ways to prevent these health problems. By Dr. I hope you can respond quickly since the possible purchase of a puppy is involved. I recently contracted with a breeder to purchase a French bulldog puppy and I just received a call that the puppy has a Grade 2 heart murmur, as detected by their vet. The pup is 7 weeks old and is the only pup out of a litter of five with the problem. I was also informed that there was a good chance the murmur would resolve, so I was hoping you might share your opinion on whether I should go ahead with buying this pup. I also read about a test called a pro BNP and wonder if that might be helpful. Clearly, I want to bring home a healthy puppy. What is the likelihood that this murmur will go away? If I get this dog, will it have a normal, healthy lifespan? It is commendable that the breeder informed you of this cardiac issue now before you bring the puppy home and get attached, which you still might do. Heart murmurs are graded on a scale of and a Grade 2 murmur is a soft-sounding low grade one. In puppies, this can sometimes be called an innocent murmur, which is not serious and may resolve with time, usually by the age of 4 months. If it does, it has no consequence on the health or longevity of the dog. However, there is no guarantee that this will occur. Murmurs can come in different types and be heard at different times in the cycle of cardiac contractility and relaxation. They can also be caused by many different anomalies, some congenital and others that develop over time. The pro-BNP test that you mention measures the amount of stretching of cardiac muscle and typically is used in mature dogs with more advanced changes in the heart, so it might not have relevance in this case other than providing a baseline and allowing it to be monitored over time. You might ask for an EKG, echocardiogram, cardiac ultrasound or a cardiologist to further assess the dog. You could ask the breeder to keep the dog for a few months to see if the murmur goes away or you might roll the dice and take the dog home, but know that there are no sure ways of knowing that all will work out. If things do not resolve or worsen, you will be attached to a sweet dog with potentially costly health issues. Only you know what you are willing to gamble. Good luck with your decision. My pet was diagnosed with a heart murmur! What does that mean? It is caused by abnormal turbulent blood flow. Abnormal turbulent blood flow can occur when blood passes across abnormal heart valves or across abnormal structures within the heart. It can also occur when blood flows very fast across normal structures such as when an animal is excited. An echocardiogram ultrasound of the heart is a non-invasive test that is performed to determine the cause of the murmur. In some instances, the louder the murmur, the more significant the abnormality within the heart. They are soft and usually go away by 14 weeks of age. This may indicate that congenital present at birth heart disease is present. The cardiologist will perform an echocardiogram as well as other tests EKG, blood pressure, etc. Depending on the disease present, some congenital diseases can be fixed or made better with an interventional catheter procedure, traditional surgery, or administration of cardiac medications. If you have an older, small breed dog: Heart murmurs in these dogs may indicate that these dogs have a leaky mitral valve the heart valve in between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve degenerates as dogs age and when it does, the older valve allows blood to leak backwards. We refer to this disease as chronic valve disease, endocardiosis or degenerative mitral valve disease. Mild chronic valve disease that leads to small leaks across the mitral valve usually does not create a problem for a dog. The disease is slowly progressive in most cases and the leak will continue to worsen over months to years. If the disease becomes severe, the dog is at risk for developing congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure means that the leak across the heart valve overwhelms the heart and fluid goes from the heart backwards into the lungs instead of from the heart forward to the body. A cardiologist can perform an echocardiogram and determine the stage of chronic valve disease present. The presence or absence of congestive heart failure is diagnosed by X-ray of the chest. If congestive heart failure is present, oral medications can be prescribed to help maintain a good quality of life. Some dogs can do well with these medications for years. Bernard, Newfoundland, Cocker Spaniel, Dalmatian or Portuguese Water Dog : Heart murmurs in these dogs may indicate that they have a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy with a subsequent leaky mitral valve. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the pumping chamber ventricle of the heart where the muscle becomes weakened and the contraction of the heart is decreased. When the ventricle is unable to pump blood to the body, fluid goes from the heart backwards into the lungs instead of from the heart forward to the body. This is known as congestive heart failure. In addition, because the heart is not pumping effectively, these dogs can develop profound weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance and fainting. Unfortunately, they can also pass away suddenly from abnormal heart beats arrhythmias from the diseased heart chambers. A cardiologist can perform an echocardiogram and determine if dilated cardiomyopathy is present in susceptible breeds. Oral medications can be initiated in the preclinical asymptomatic phase of dilated cardiomyopathy and in some cases, these medications can delay the progression of the disease to the development of congestive heart failure. If a dog develops clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure, X-rays are used to confirm the presence and determine the severity of the congestive heart failure. Some dogs can do well with these medications for a period of months to years. If you have a middle-aged to older cat especially a Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Ragdoll, British Shorthair, American Shorthair, Sphynx or Devon Rex : Heart murmurs in cats can be due to the excitement of the veterinary visit physiologic heart murmurs or due to underlying heart disease. An echocardiogram is necessary to differentiate between a heart murmur that is just due to excitement versus a heart murmur from underlying heart disease. Heart murmurs or other abnormalities heard with a stethoscope may indicate that cats have a disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is the most common acquired heart disease seen in cats. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the pumping chamber of the heart where the muscle does not relax well after it contracts. Blood is then unable to fill the heart normally and fluid goes from the heart backwards into the lungs instead of from the heart forward to the body. Signs of congestive heart failure include a fast breathing rate, difficulty breathing, fainting, weakness, lethargy, hiding and a decreased appetite. Unfortunately, in addition, these cats can also pass away suddenly from abnormal heart beats from the diseased heart chambers. A cardiologist can perform an echocardiogram and determine if hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or other structural heart disease is present in susceptible breeds and in cats that have abnormal heart sounds on physical examination. The progression of disease is different in every cat. Some cats develop congestive heart failure soon after their disease is diagnosed by echocardiogram. Other cats remain asymptomatic for their hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for many years before they develop congestive heart failure. Still others never develop congestive heart failure or any symptoms of their heart disease. Recheck cardiology visits and echocardiograms are necessary to determine the progression of disease in each patient. If a cat develops clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure, X-rays are used to confirm the presence and determine the severity of the congestive heart failure. If congestive heart failure is present, oral medications can be prescribed to help maintain a good quality of life, and some cats can do well with these medications for a period of months to years. Eating non-food items such as grass or human food. Bacterial and viral infections. Irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Bowel cancer more common in older Frenchies. Aggression — 2. As puppies, they can be more aggressive, but most will grow out of this particular health concern by around 12 months. Aggression is a natural attribute, with many Frenchies displaying it when they feel threatened, jealous, or provoked. However, at certain times their ancestry and genes can come to the fore, with some displaying aggressive characteristics which can become problematic. The best way to head this off at the pass is to ensure that your male Frenchie is neutered when the time comes and has proper puppy training. Heart murmur — 2. However, with older dogs, a heart murmur can be a very serious health problem and can lead to a reduced life expectancy. The most common reasons for a heart murmur to develop in a French Bulldog can include: Weakened heart muscle walls dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart wall defects. Heartworm disease. Infection in the heart valves endocarditis. There are varying grades of seriousness with dog heart murmurs, all of which a vet can detect using a stethoscope. Grade 1: This is a very soft and quiet murmur that is almost undetectable. Grade 2: This is a soft murmur that can be easily heard by a vet. Grade 3: This is a low to moderate noise. Grade 4: This is a moderate to loud noise. Grade 6: This can be heard without listening directly on the chest wall. Grades 1 and 2 offer no concerns, and your Frenchie should lead a full and long life. Grade 3 will require your Frenchie having a heart scan, letting your vet then recommend a medical treatment. If the heart murmur is graded on the higher end of the scale, your Frenchie will have a reduce life expectancy. Heart murmurs are common in Frenchie puppies. In adult dogs it can be more serious. You can read more about how heart murmurs can impact on pet insurance here. Vomiting — 2. I lost count of how many times Claude used to vomit as a puppy. If your Frenchie is vomiting a lot, it should not be taken lightly. To summarise on that though, here are some reasons why your French Bulldog will vomit: Food allergies. The swallowing of a foreign body. Eating and drinking too quickly. Oesophageal issues and disorders. Vomiting is very common with French Bulldogs, and most of the time is nothing to be worried about. I would exercise caution though; if your dog is vomiting frequently and appears to be distressed and in pain, take him to the vets immediately. Infectious canine tracheobronchitis kennel cough — 2. It is highly contagious but will often be a mild illness that can be treated and cured in under a month with the use of antibiotics or prevented with a vaccination. This is one to look out for if you are leaving your Frenchie in kennels for any period of time, or if your dog lives and plays in close proximity to other dogs. Patellar luxation dislocated kneecap — 2. Our French Bulldog is a complete clown and has no sense of danger. Patellar luxation can occur in Frenchies where: They have degenerative arthritis. They have a genetic malformation. They have suffered a traumatic injury to the knee. If you see your Frenchie holding his hind legs up that could be a sign of a dislocated kneecap. He will do this so that the muscles in his hind legs relax, as that can then let the dislocated kneecap return to its usual position. Ulcerative keratitis eye ulcer — 2. Consult with your Vet should two or more symptoms be present. Accurate diagnoses are possible by using x-rays or ultrasound, where the presence of cardiomyopathy in the pedigree is unknown. Drugs to help the heart are available and may prolong life. They are usually administered at the same time as drugs that treat water retention. Low salt diets are recommended and your Vet may suggest that you switch from your regular brand of dogfood. This is because salt increases fluid retention, already a problem when the heart is not working properly. Your dog should not be allowed to be overweight when he presents with cardiomyopathy — although most dogs with hereditary cardiomyopathy tend to be skinny. Exercise needs to be monitored, as your dog needs to be fit, but not to over-exert himself. Cardiomyopathy is occasionally associated with other conditions or disorders, like hypothyroidism. Diseases like parvovirus may sometimes weaken the heart, creating conditions suitable for heart disease to develop. Heartworm , is now also of concern. Dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the most common heart diseases in adult dogs. Large breeds are most commonly affected, with three-quarters of the affected dogs being male. Affected females have a markedly lower survival rate than affected males. Survival statistics are poor. Heart Murmurs A murmur can usually be heard when the puppy is 10 weeks old — although it can be picked up earlier by a very experienced Vet, this is very difficult as the puppy has a very fast heart rate, fidgets and sniffs. It is not easy for a Vet to determine the difference between a puppy murmur and a congenital heart defect murmur by listening with a stethoscope auscultation. The blood thus flows forwards AND squirts backwards with every heartbeat. ECGs and X-rays may be needed to definitively diagnose a heart murmur, and to determine what type of murmur it may be. It is defined as an "obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract that ranges in severity from an incomplete fibrous ridge to a fibromuscular tunnel", and lies just under the aortic valve. This lesion causes turbulence in the blood as it crosses the aortic valve, and creates a murmur in most affected dogs. The subaortic lesion progresses with maturity. Heart murmurs can be detected as early as six to eight weeks of age, or develop as late as three to four years of age in milder cases. Most of the information available on SAS, including inheritance of the defect, has come from breeding studies done on Newfoundland dogs. Information from this breed is identical to the clinical features observed in other SAS affected breeds, such as Rottweilers and Golden Retrievers. The mode of transmission found in the Newfoundland dog breeding studies suggests an autosomal dominant gene trait with variable expression or penetrance is responsible, with the variability probably due to modifying gene factors. This makes the true mode of inheritance complicated, presenting a challenging problem in removing the defect from the dog population. Regardless of the degree of severity observed, any affected SAS animal can produce a degree of severity in its offspring because of the dominant genetics of the disease. Subaortic stenosis has been graded based on post-mortem exam: Grade 1 is the mildest form, with raised white nodules occurring in the area under the aortic valve; Grade 2 is the intermediate form, with a fibrous ridge that partially encircles the outflow tract; Grade 3 is the most severe form, with a fibrous band encircling the entire outflow tract just under the aortic valve, and may also cause changes in the mitral valve complex. The mildest lesions create the most frustrating problem for breeders. In studies performed on Newfoundlands, it was found that ausculation stethosope exam , cardiac catheterization, and echocardiography ultrasound , the most technologically advanced methods to detect and define heart murmurs, failed to reliably detect some, if not most, of the mildly affected dogs, as determined by post-mortem exam. The Grade 2 lesions are often associated with soft cardiac murmurs and minimal changes in the pressure gradient across the aortic valve. The Grade 3 lesions are usually associated with the more severe clinical signs, including moderate to severe murmurs, exercise intolerance, syncope fainting , congestive heart failure, and sudden death. The importance of this clinical data is clear - while the genetic makeup for SAS may be present in a dog, the actual detection of subaortic stenosis becomes difficult in mild cases, with definitive diagnosis of the carrier depending on post-mortem exams. This makes genetic counselling for this genetic trait difficult and leaves breeders frustrated. Treatment for SAS can be frustrating. Mild Cases:Therapy is usually not indicated in mild cases, as affected dogs are usually asymptomatic and can live a full and productive life. The only exception requires the use of prophylactic antibiotics for potential bacterial problems; such as dental procedures, surgery, and wounds; due to the risk of the dog developing endocarditis bacterial colonization of the heart valves , which may damage the heart valves. Moderate to severe cases: For moderate to severe cases, treatment is limited to drugs aimed at decreasing the clinical symptoms, such as those associated with congestive heart failure. However, the benefits of such drug-oriented treatment are minimal. Many moderate to severely affected dogs may develop acute heart arrhythmias as a result of heart muscle ischemia and sudden death. It is thus perhaps better to use a holistic approach based on nutrition, moderate exercise, a wellness-oriented lifestyle and dollops of affection. How can breeders decrease the incidence of subaortic stenosis? Firstly, the limitations of current diagnostics in recognizing mildly affected dogs must be recognised. It is also known that many affected animals shall be identified in a comprehensive program of screening. A carefully planned program of screening - and definitively diagnosing heart murmurs, along with genetic counseling - could reduce the incidence of the defect within a few generations. This includes screening all breeding stock, then carefully screening all progeny for the defect and eliminating parents which have produced affected offspring. A Conservative Program to Screen Dogs for Discrete Subaortic Stenosis see reference1 Most, but not all, discrete subaortic lesions will produce a murmur, and it is reasonable to use ausculation stethoscope examination as the main screening method. Some very mildly affected defects will go undetected, but neither are these likely to be detected by ultrasound or catheterization. Because the lesion develops postnatally, screening should not be begun until weeks of age. Pups with murmurs should be examined by more definitive methods, as needed, to make a diagnosis. Moderate to severe subaortic stenosis can be diagnosed by this age. Pups with mild lesions may not be distinguishable from those with innocent flow murmurs. Pups with low grade murmurs and no other evidence of heart disease should be re-examined at weeks of age. If the murmur disappears, the pup can be considered clear of clinically significant congenital heart disease. However, if there are close relatives with subaortic stenosis, it is prudent not to use such animals for breeding stock or use them only if their offspring are carefully screened for congenital heart disease. Discontinue breeding such dogs if they produce pups with confirmed subaortic stenosis. Pups with a low grade murmur that persists beyond 12 weeks should be re-examined by more definitive methods to make an accurate diagnosis. If echocardiography ultrasound or cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography are used, it should be possible to reduce the number of false positives. Pups that have a persistent murmur consistent with subaortic stenosis, but have no evidence of a congenital heart defect after further studies can be considered clear of a clinically significant lesion, but a very mild lesion cannot be ruled out. Such animals should not be used for breeding unless there are other compelling reasons for it. If bred, the offspring of such dogs should be carefully screened for evidence of congenital heart disease and breeding discontinued if any affected pups are produced. References: 1. Genes and the Heart: Congenital Heart Disease. Donald F. Linda B. Lehmkuhl and John B. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals,

Jump on live chat or leave a message. Dog food for German Shepherds With a high drive, large and fast-growing bones and a higher-chance of hip and joint issues than other breeds, the ideal German Shepherd dog food is high in quality meat protein, well balanced and low in inflammation markers. We designed Scratch for great German Shepherds like Vinnie here. What should you pay attention to when picking food for your German shepherd? Is it full of chicken, beef or poultry? This effects joints and overall mobility, as well as skin and coat. Controlling inflammation is vital in older dogs. German Shepherd nutritional needs Like most breeds, German Shepherds have genetic traits not guarantees, but higher likelihood and lifestyle-related health issues to consider, and hopefully avoid. Good breading and genetic testing can reduce a lot of risk, with diet and lifestyle also helping to avoid or reduce the effect. High-protein from quality meat sources. All Scratch meat protein comes from specific source, human-grade meat Ingredients with low inflammation markers to look after those joints. German Shepherd puppy food With fast growing bones and growth hormones in overdrive, German Shepherd puppies require a different diet than smaller puppies. Their food needs to contain: A calcium:phosphorous ratio in a range suitable for large breeds. DHA for brain development Enough salt and electrolytes Tons of protein at least .But not all protein is created equal. Dogs do better with plenty of high-quality animal protein. How much should a German Shepherd eat a day? Different foods give off different amounts of energy. Scratch for instance has more energy in a piece of kibble than most other dry dog foods, so dogs would eat less Scratch than other foods and a bag would last longer. Look for the amount of Kcal per grams. The higher the number, the more energy the food contains. The lower, the less it contains and the more they would need to eat. To find out how much Scratch your German Shepherd should eat a day, take our personalised quiz. If you have a puppy, their feeding guide will update as they grow. Comparing German Shepherd dog food Dog Food. Puppy Feeding What should I feed my puppy? Diet is extremely important in the growing months of a dog's life and their two important criteria that should be met in selecting food for your puppy. The diet should be nutritionally adequate for puppies. The diet should have physical qualities texture,abrasiveness that will help control plaque and maintain oral health. We recommend a premium dry food puppy formula only available from vets or pet shops. The brands we use are Blackhawk or Advance puppy. We recommend to give this to your puppy in the mornings. It can be left in the bowl however, please keep in a safe spot away from birds as they love puppy food. We do not use or recommend supermarket dry food as they contain mainly cereal and very little meat. Moist food is usually given at night along with their vitamins. We recommend pet meat and not supermarket human grade mince. Liver is truly a miracle food for dogs, contributing many minerals and vitamins that other foods cannot match. A small amount mixed with mince times a week is recommended and on the alternate days add a small amount of either heart, brains or kidneys approx. Puppy Beef mince, kennel mince or a mix are great. Chicken wings or necks can also be used. All of the above must be given uncooked. Your pup will also need bones times a week We recommend meaty lamb necks. Please do not give your pup canned foods they will cause very loose stools and puppies do dehydrate very quickly. Your pup deserves the best you can afford and fresh food is a lot cheaper than canned food. There are now many companies on line that will deliver your weekly food to your door fresh. We also recommend fresh vegetables. Spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, corn sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, carrots, mushrooms are very healthy for your pup. Please prepare them raw by grating your veges and adding this to your night time meal. One raw egg 4 - 5 times a week is also recommended. DO NOT feed your dog onions as they can be very toxic to a dog and can kill them. Feed your pup a wide variety of food. The only exercise allowed is play. Pups must spend most of their day outside in the fresh air on clean earth and grass in the sun with ample fresh water available. Give your pup heaps of raw meaty bones. Feed your pup mainly raw foods. Raise your pup with all the love you can give him. Vitamins; You will need to administer the following 2 items for at least 18 months but the fish oil has other qualities that will help them right throughout their life so you may want to continue with the fish oil. Dolomite Calcium Powder 2. Pernaease Powder Both of these need to be administered on a daily basis As your pup grows at a fairly fast rate he will need calcium and a range of vitamins and minerals. We use Dolomite Calcium Powder to help their bones grow strong and Pernaease Powder helps as a natural anti inflammatory. Garlic powder 1 tsp. Brown sugar or honey 6 tbs. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour, dry milk, garlic powder and sugar. Cut in meat drippings until mixture resembles corn meal. Mix in egg. Add enough water so that mixture forms a ball. Cut dough into squares appropriate to your dog size. Prick each cookie with a fork. Bake 25 - 30 minutes. Remove from tray and cool on rack. Store in air tight container. Your dog will absouletely love these great bickkies! Named Protein First: Yes. Over just a few months, their weight can go from 1 to 30 kilograms. This obviously puts a lot of strain on their body, so they need to eat food with all the important nutrients for growth. This is one of the best foods for a German Shepherd puppy you can find on the market. The formula meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO, which means it contains all your pup needs to grow healthy. The main protein is salmon, which is rich in omega fatty acids. These help with brain and vision development in puppies, among other things. Compared to the first three options, this fourth one is cheaper. However, you can bet that the low price does not compromise the ingredients they put into our dogs' meals because this dog food is still packed with nutrients. The Taste of the Wild Puppy Food being tested by our independent expert team. The kibbles are small so that young pups can easily chew them, and crunchy to help with keeping their teeth clean. This grain-free recipe contains sweet potatoes, peas and tomatoes. What we love about this brand is its specific formulation for puppies. They included ingredients that help our puppies in terms of digestion, immune system, and development. Also, we like how they considered adding Yucca extract to help with the poo smell, which is definitely a plus for us if you are living in areas that are not well-ventilated. The best food for German Shepherd puppies in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to German Shepherd breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a German Shepherd puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. Before the four month mark, it is advised to include some dry food in their diet. You can do this in a few simple steps: Mix some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy as they get older. With this rapid growth can come some risks. German Shepherds are susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia, that can start in puppyhood. They will be very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen between 12 and 24 months of age. This is because, being a larger breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. Remember that the more active the pup, the more food they require. While following feeding guidelines is important to avoid over and underfeeding, you can adjust the amounts of food you provide to your dog based on level of activity. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask your vet for guidance. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your German Shepherd puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. For puppies, this amount will often be two of three times higher, as they are more active and growing quickly. German Shepherd puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, German Shepherd puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. However, they can also be at risk of gastric dilatation or volvulus, or GDV. Certain dog breeds can be more susceptible to GDV; particularly deep chested breeds including German Shepherds. GDV can occur when a dog bloats a few hours after eating a meal. Though the exact causes of GDV are not known, grains and cereals are suspected to be contributors. The amount of food you give your German Shepherd is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult German Shepherds, between 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female German Shepherds, which tend to be about 8 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, and 1, per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your German Shepherd based on how calorically dense their food is. German Shepherds should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs who are at risk of GDV may benefit from exercise after eating, to aid with digestion. You should also try to give your German Shepherd a high quality food that is specially designed for larger or working breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. German Shepherds can be particularly susceptible to skin disease or allergies, including canine atopic dermatitis, bacterial skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, forms of contact dermatitis, or scabies. If your dog develops a skin issue, it is often a sign that they may be suffering from a form of food sensitivity. If you are unsure about what you should feed your German Shepherd, you should always consult your vet as they will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any allergies or chronic health issues: creating a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come. Part of figuring out what you should feed your German Shepherd includes deciding between wet, dry, or a raw food diet. Wet food for German Shepherds is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. A raw diet can be a good option for your German Shepherd as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your German Shepherd, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. The amount of food you feed your dog should be determined by their activity levels, age, weight, breed, and size. Any meals prepared for your dog need to contain the right balance of nutrients. You should also be extra careful not to introduce your dog to foods that are harmful to their health. While we might enjoy the taste of nuts, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and onions, these can be toxic for dogs and can cause serious illness and even death. German Shepherds in particular need plenty of exercise as they are a large working breed with a lot of energy. No matter how old your German Shepherd is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.

How long do Doxiepoos live? The Doxiepoo lifespan can range anywhere from 10 to 18 years of age. Do Doxiepoos shed? Classified as low-to-moderate shedders, Doxiepoo dogs can take after either their Poodle or Dachshund parent. Are Doxiepoos hypoallergenic? Because of the Poodle parent, a Doxiepoo can be classified as a hypoallergenic dog. How big do Doxiepoos get? The Doxiepoo breed can vary in type, height, and weight. The Poodle parent can be either a toy, miniature, or a standard Poodle, while the Dachshund can be a miniature or standard, but still on the smaller side. The result of their offspring is a tossup but can be either toy, miniature, or varied-size standard. Their weight can range from 5 to 30 pounds, and their height can be anywhere from 5 to inches tall. When will Doxiepoo stop growing? Are Doxiepoos good with kids? Doxiepoo dogs get along with children, but they do better with older children because they have delicate bodies, and oftentimes, younger kids might unknowingly injure them. Are Doxiepoos good dogs? Do Doxiepoos bark a lot? Doxiepoos stem from barking parents, so they bark a lot. They tend to bark at the mailman or anyone approaching, and just about any sound or movement around the house. Do Doxiepoos do well in apartments? Sizewise, Doxiepoo dogs can live nicely in an apartment, but because of their excessive barking, they might not do well unless they are trained from puppyhood. Are Doxiepoos aggressive? Some Doxiepoos can become aggressive, especially males. If left alone for too long or not exercised enough, their pent-up energy or anxiety could manifest itself in the form of aggressive behavior. Are Doxiepoos easy to train? If they take after their Poodle side, a Doxiepoo can be easier to train than if they take after their Dachshund side, which may cause them to have a little bit of a stubborn streak and become distracted. Are Doxiepoos smart? The Doxiepoo dog is very intelligent. How much exercise do Doxiepoos need? Walking and playing will keep your Doxiepoo happy, so incorporating different routines into your daily exercise regimen would be a good idea. Overall, your dog should have at least an hour a day of some form of activity. We promise to make your puppy purchase an enjoyable experience and ensure that your puppy is healthy, delivered safely, and right for you. Julian Perera. Life Span Did You Know? The Poodle is one of the oldest dog breeds and was originally developed in Germany to hunt waterfowl. The Poodle may have originated in Germany, but they are much-loved by the French. So much so that the Poodle is the national dog of France. The Miniature Poodle is slightly more recent. This Mini version likely originated in France. The Mini Poodle has all of the same characteristics as a Standard Poodle; they just come in a smaller package. The Miniature Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds. On top of their intelligence, they are also known to have a cheerful disposition and a sensitive nature. They get along great with children. Due to their small size, they can be easily injured by rough play or accidental falls that can happen with younger children. Because of this, they may be better suited to a home with older children. Younger children should be fine as long as they are taught how to properly interact with a small dog and interactions between young kids and puppies are closely supervised. Although they are considered part of the Non-Sporting Group, some facts about Miniature Poodles are that they are versatile and athletic dogs that are also quite playful. Provided they are well-socialized, they get along well with other dogs and tend to do well with strangers. They do tend to be protective of their home and can be suspicious of strangers coming up on the property. They are known to bark to alert you of strangers coming to the house. This makes them a good watchdog, but overall, they are more interested in making friends. This dog breed is highly adaptable. The Miniature Poodle does well in any type of home, including apartments, and fits in with just about any family type. They do well in most climates, but, as with many dog breeds, they are sensitive to heat and extreme cold. Because Mini Poodles are people-oriented, they do not like being left alone and will not handle being left alone for long periods of time very well. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to make sure they are not passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents and about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Miniature Poodles are highly intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please, which makes them a good fit for owners of any experience level and one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are a people-oriented breed and are sensitive to moods and tones of voice. They do not respond well to harsh training methods or harsh tones as they take it personally, get their feelings hurt, and lose respect for you. A Mini Poodle tends to respond best to consistent training that is fun and focused on positive rewards. A Mini Poodle is one of the fluffiest dog breeds and will have a curly or corded coat that can come in just about any color. Although this dog breed has a low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat, their coat still needs a lot of grooming. They need to be brushed daily to prevent tangles and matting. They should also be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their coat healthy. Miniature Poodles are high-energy dogs that require a good amount of exercise each day. Daily walks plus some playtime and other activities are usually enough for them. When puppies finish growing and developing, they often enjoy games of fetch and other activities like swimming, hiking, or jogging with their favorite human. Mini Poodles also tend to be great candidates for several dog sports, like agility, tracking, obedience, retriever hunt tests, and more. Just make sure to visit the vet and get your dog cleared for these activities before you jump in. Fully-grown Miniature Poodles usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Mini Poodles generally live for years on average. The Miniature Poodle was very popular among the French nobility. Featured Miniature Poodle Article. How long do Doxiepoos live? The Doxiepoo lifespan can range anywhere from 10 to 18 years of age. Do Doxiepoos shed? Classified as low-to-moderate shedders, Doxiepoo dogs can take after either their Poodle or Dachshund parent. Are Doxiepoos hypoallergenic? Because of the Poodle parent, a Doxiepoo can be classified as a hypoallergenic dog. How big do Doxiepoos get? The Doxiepoo breed can vary in type, height, and weight. The Poodle parent can be either a toy, miniature, or a standard Poodle, while the Dachshund can be a miniature or standard, but still on the smaller side. The result of their offspring is a tossup but can be either toy, miniature, or varied-size standard. Their weight can range from 5 to 30 pounds, and their height can be anywhere from 5 to inches tall. When will Doxiepoo stop growing? Are Doxiepoos good with kids? Doxiepoo dogs get along with children, but they do better with older children because they have delicate bodies, and oftentimes, younger kids might unknowingly injure them. Are Doxiepoos good dogs? Do Doxiepoos bark a lot? Doxiepoos stem from barking parents, so they bark a lot. They tend to bark at the mailman or anyone approaching, and just about any sound or movement around the house. Do Doxiepoos do well in apartments? Sizewise, Doxiepoo dogs can live nicely in an apartment, but because of their excessive barking, they might not do well unless they are trained from puppyhood. Are Doxiepoos aggressive? Some Doxiepoos can become aggressive, especially males. If left alone for too long or not exercised enough, their pent-up energy or anxiety could manifest itself in the form of aggressive behavior. Are Doxiepoos easy to train? If they take after their Poodle side, a Doxiepoo can be easier to train than if they take after their Dachshund side, which may cause them to have a little bit of a stubborn streak and become distracted. Are Doxiepoos smart? The Doxiepoo dog is very intelligent. How much exercise do Doxiepoos need? Walking and playing will keep your Doxiepoo happy, so incorporating different routines into your daily exercise regimen would be a good idea. Overall, your dog should have at least an hour a day of some form of activity. We promise to make your puppy purchase an enjoyable experience and ensure that your puppy is healthy, delivered safely, and right for you. Julian Perera.

Tweet Looking for free German Shepherd puppies? If you are looking for a German Shepherd, and your budget is tight, you can find your new best friend nearly free or at a decent price. You just have to know where to look. Most of the dogs they place are one year or more, but they often have puppies as well. This normally includes vaccinations, a heartworm test, and spay or neuter. For about one third of the price of a purebred GSD from a reputable breeder, you can give a deserving dog a second chance. Rescue groups specialize in finding forever homes for lost, abused or unwanted German Shepherds. They have extensive knowledge of every dog they place and can normally match you with the right dog for your unique situation. Do you have a German Shepherd rescue success story to tell? Adopt a German Shepherd It may take some patience and persistence, but you can find a nearly free German Shepherd from a local shelter. If they don't currently have puppies, check back often. Or ask them to call you as soon as they get one. The adoption fee will normally cover an initial vet checkup with puppy shots and a spay or neuter. This is cheaper than the cost of a purebred German Shepherd from a rescue group. One quarter of all shelter dogs are purebreeds. Why adopt a dog? You may be their last hope. Many shelters only hold dogs for a week. If they are relinquished by their owner, they are on the short list for euthanasia, as they are not considered lost and no one will be coming to look for them. My Begian Malinois , Ryder, was 48 hours away from being put down after his owner signed him over. Search for a local animal shelter. Don't make price your primary consideration. Backyard breeders and puppy mills price low to sell quickly. Avoid these unscrupulous breeders. Even if an ad reads AKC registered dogs , this is not necessarily a sign of a quality dog. Be aware that Puppy Mills also use this as a lure for unsuspecting buyers. Exercise patience. You don't have to break the bank. Your new best friend is worth the wait. Jennifer here. I've been a fan of the German Shepherd breed for as long as I can remember. Lady This sweet momma came to our rescue with her two babies as a part of a neglect case. Lady enjoys her foster siblings but doesnt need to be with them. She doesnt mind her foster cat siblings and has been around kids! She loves to be where her foster mom is at all times! Lady is still a little timid when doing new things or going to new places. We are still working on going up and down the inside stairs to bed and kennel. She is 4 years old and is potty trained! Does Lady sound like she could be a part of your family?! This girl is an angel! She seems to be potty trained and is very well behaved! She likes to have her people near her but also likes to be in her own space where she feels comfortable. Her favorite is butt scratches and she will ask for belly rubs!! She knows sit, shake, down. Before throwing the ball, she has to sit. She gets so excited. She loves playing in water and will jump up to catch any water splashed at her. This girl is amazing on a leash too, she gets a little excited to smell every once in a while but once you pull the leash, she takes the correction and is back to your side. She is cat friendly as she avoids them at all costs. Could this girl be the right fit for you? She is ready for her furever family at anytime! Adult, Female, Large Lola Name: Lola Occupation: Showgirl Likes: Food, everything, everyone, puppy toys Dislikes: Being lonely, computer printers, world hunger This gorgeous beauty queen hails from the mystical small town of Fairfield, Iowa, where she was temporarily loved by the good people of Noahs Ark Animal Foundation, and where she won her first beauty title of Best Ears. Thanks to that experience, Lola has gone on to win other good doggy titles such as Most Energetic and Employee of the Month, with her foster family in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lola is an 8 month old all white German Shepherd that would do best in a home that has experience with the breed and is prepared for puppy energy, such as a home with older kids as she can be a bit rambunctious at playtime and might knock down smaller children. She is housetrained and knows a few basic commands and tricks but would do best in a home that will continue her training to become the best version of herself. An obedience class would do her wonders as she is a very quick learner! Lola would also do best in a home that has someone there most of the day. She will not be adopted to a family that plans to crate her all day, as she is still trying to grow hair back on parts of her legs from being kenneled for long periods of time. Lolas foster mom works from home and Lola is only crated when everyone in the house will be gone, however she will most likely grow be able to be trusted to roam free alone in a home eventually. At night she is not crated but prefers to sleep with or near her people for instance the hallway outside bedrooms. Some nights she will make the rounds and sleep with everyone, to make sure no one in the family misses out on her cuddles! Lola is a very loving and delightful puppy that would make any family a very good companion that gives her returned love and attention. She told us that she is already very excited to meet you! I am a petite girl who enjoys freedom in the house but dont let my good looks fool you - I am a very smart girl and love to steal food when youre not looking! I am a polite GSD who doesnt jump on humans but I do like to bark when the mail gets delivered. I am potty trained and I know sit, stay, and will usually wait for my food if you tell me! I love squeak balls and love a good hard chew. Im not sure how I feel about other dogs - I see them at the groomers but I usually start to squeal. Im kind of picky when it comes to other dogs and Ive never met a cat before. Ive never met a stranger I didnt like and Ive even been around kids, old and young! I have a fenced-in backyard but I usually stay on a leash because I still havent mastered coming back when called. Im looking for someone who has patience and knowledge of GSDs and would love someone who can take me for a nice, long walk. Senior, Female, Large Mia Mia is a sweetheart of a gal looking for a forever home that will love and cherish her. Mia is great with people, kids, and dogs. Mia is super playful. She has a genetic condition called MegaEsophagus. Her throat does not push food down to her stomach. To help her eat, Mia must sit in a "Bailey Chair" to eat softened food. She must then sit for 30 minutes while gravity works its magic. Mia knows her chair and her routine. Mia must also drink from an elevated water dish. If she eats in any different way, she will likely regurgitate and may aspirate. Due to her condition, she underwent a gastroplexy with her spay. This means you will never have to worry about bloat with Mia. With attention to detail, Mia can live a long happy life. She will reward you with a kind heart and dedication. Mia is whip smart. Mia has basic obedience down and would shine in good citizen and advanced obedience classes. Mia's chair and supplies will come with her. He has been with his foster since June .He is heartworm negative and up to date with his vetting, including neuter. Moe gets along great with dogs. Although Moe has not been tested with children. We have no reason to believe that he would be a problem with them. We are not sure about cats. She was an owner surrender because she was not very nice to the feral kitties in the neighborhood. We will not place her in a home with cats. Nova is great with dogs and children. She is a lovely girl in the home, content to lay at your feet as you work or relax. Adult, Female, Large Pepper Pepper cam into our rescue with her sister and mom, life has not be kind to her. Pepper and her family were part of a neglect case in Oklahoma. Pepper is a very sweet girl, but she will need lots of love to get her confidence back up! Pepper does not mind cats and has been around kids. Pepper is approximately 2 years old and is potty trained. Because she is so shy and timid, she is still working on leash training. We would like Goldy and Pepper to stay together! Do they sound like they could be a part of your family?! A friends daughter fostered her and found her to be sweet. However, it didnt work with her other pets, so she took her back. Princess had a hard time at the shelter with a few incidents. I agreed to take her, and my friends daughter pulled her on the day she was to be euthanized. I picked her up in early April. At the time, she had heartworm. Treatment was completed. Shes probably due for a check on it now. The Dallas shelter had her as 13, but everyone here thinks shes younger. Maybe .When she was surrendered, she was in heat. They spayed her at the shelter. Since Ive had her, shes been sweet to others other than the growls at repairmen. She likes to lick people. Now the special issues she has. Princess has separation anxiety. Shes gone from Prozac when I picked her up to trazadone. The trazadone helps a lot. Acepromazine was too strong, but the boarding place I use sometimes gives her half doses if needed. I can now leave her for several hours without anything happening to the house. She became smart to my tricks to get her into the crate at night, so I leave her out now. She really doesnt get along with other animals. I was told that when I got her, so Ive left my four cats in bedrooms since she arrived. Thats a huge reason why Id like to find her a forever home. Im not skilled with dogs though, so maybe someone could help her overcome that problem. I understand that she was surrendered with another dog. I also go out of town a lot, so I end up boarding her. She is kept away from direct contact with other dogs. Its been mentioned that she has made a lot of progress since she started there. Shes less reactive when other dogs go by her pen. I think the best scenario for her would be with someone who is home a lot and has no other pets. She definitely loves her humans. The sweetest most gorgeous GSD mix who cant wait to find her new home! Rachel has had a rough start to life but that doesnt stop her one bit! Rachel has love for everyone and everything she does. We think she is about 2 years old but in those 2 years she was likely never inside. So know if you would like Rachel as part of your family that she will need training. She doesnt understand how house life works, whats acceptable and whats not. As her fosters we have taught her a few basics but with just a few short weeks with her she will need lots of attention in her new home. Shes a master counter surfer. She does great with the 2 young kids in her foster home ages 4yrs and 18months and also with the other 2 German Shepherds in the home male and female. We do not know how she does with cats or small dogs. I believe Rachel would benefit from having another dog in the house who loves to play as much as she does! She is so playful and full of energy she could go for hours! She is very much a Velcro dog, she will follow you step for step everywhere you go. This gorgeous girl is ready to share her sweet, smart and sensitive self with her forever family! Adult, Female, Large.

Deposits are placed to hold the pup you want untill pickup! They come dewormed at 2,4,6,8 wks,first set of vaccines and contract. Male and females available. We have pups ready the end of july at 8 wks old! Serious inquiries only. Ready for there forever homes nov 8th at 8 wks old. We accept cash or paypal only. We have 12 pups with 6 males and 2 females still availble. She just turned 4yro in march and is about 80 lbs. She is retired from our breading program and is looking for her forever home to spend the rest of her days relaxing in peace! She deserves a loving family! Due to that she will have a small rehoming fee! She would make an Excellent Emotional service dog. She is very lovable, lick happy, devoted and protective when need be! We received Ansley at the age of 2 and she was very skidish and timmed when we brought her into our home. We worked with her alot and She has come along way but could definitely work on that more. She is very friendly and great with other dogs and small children. Shes been around kids 2ys-teen not sure about cats or other Animals She has lived in our home with us not in any kennel and is use to a large yard to run free but also does really well on a leash or riding in a vehicle. I will not rehome her to just anybody. ID , proof of address, phone Exedra we can arrange a meet and great if interested! Buyers have full rights! Shes very spunky and playful. Mom and dad on premises. Please contact contact petzlover. The dad is long haired tan and black please see pics. They are friendly family pets. GSD level top line straight backed are less prone to health problems and have higher endurance as oppose to sloped backed GSD. Both parents are of superb temperament and are good around children. The dad is loving and very laid back. Mum is very loving and affectionate and extremely clever. They are all used to noises , airplanes flying over we live near an airfield hoover, other dogs barking and they like to listen to music too. They have had lots of attention and I am lucky to have the time at the moment to spend with them and look after them properly. Forever homes are required for them. I want them to go to loving homes where they will be cared for properly and enjoy a good life. They have been wormed, flea treated and fed solids and milk. Before they leave they will be vet Health checked and microchipped. A deposit will hold a pup till it's old enough to go to its forever home. Pupdates will be available every Friday, I take photos of your chosen pup and send them to you. They will be ready to leave from 8 weeks old which will be 20th June. If you would like to see them, please give me a call to arrange a visit. You can video call too if you like.

Do Father dogs know their puppies? By two weeks of age, they should be alert and trying to stand. By three weeks, they should be trying to climb out of their nest or whelping box. By four weeks, all the puppies should be able to walk, run, and play. How long do puppies stay in whelping box? During the first 3 weeks most dams like to be in a warm secluded area, not in the family living area. Pups remain contently in their whelping box for the first 20 days of their life. How do you transition a puppy from a whelping box? By the time the puppies are weeks old, the mother should have an area near the whelping box, but separate from the puppies to allow her time to rest. At about this time, the puppies will start trying to leave the box to explore. They should be well supervised and have safe toys available. Can I move the whelping box? We have found that moving the whelping box or puppy pen set-up on a weekly basis exposes the puppies to new scents and air currents and increases their adaptability and development by about two weeks, especially compared to puppies who are raised in the same corner until they go to their new homes. Is whelping box necessary? As the last week of pregnancy approaches, your female dog will often begin looking for a secure and comfortable place to have her litter of puppies. Before this time comes, it is essential to create a whelping box so she becomes comfortable with it and knows this is the preferred place to have her puppies. Do 4 week old puppies need a heat lamp? Young puppies cannot maintain their own body temperature for a week or two after birth. Heating the area over the whelping box with the aid of a heat lamp is usually all that is necessary. When should I remove the whelping box? I usually take them out at about 3 — 4weeks. This is what I have in My box they just stay there all the time. When can puppies go all night without nursing? A six or seven week old puppy can go through the night without needing to feed as long as they have had enough food during the day. Should newborn puppies sleep with Mom? A newborn puppy is completely helpless and dependent upon her mother. Puppies should remain with the mother and littermates until about age eight to 12 weeks. How do you keep a puppy whelping box clean? Clean the bottom with a chemical-free disinfectant cleanser. Spray a bit of chemical-free disinfectant cleanser on the bottom and sides of your whelping box, and use a paper towel to wipe this up. When can I leave my dog alone with her puppies? Can you leave newborn puppies alone with their mom overnight? Should I leave my dog alone while she is in labor? Should I be present during the whelping? Some dogs like the owner to be with them the whole time they are in labor. Others prefer to have their puppies in seclusion. If your pet chooses to be left alone, try to avoid intruding any more than necessary. What is the best bedding for a whelping box? Many breeders use shredded newspaper to line whelping boxes, but others prefer towels and blankets, wood shavings, or even sand. Should I keep my dog in the whelping box? A whelping box is designed to keep the newborn puppies safe, warm, and comfortable. Whelping means the process where a female dog gives birth to puppies. And a whelping box is a container or box designed to keep the puppies safe and warm. Having a whelping box makes it convenient for the mother to give birth comfortably. Female dogs are very protective of their puppies. Hence the nesting box offers a sense of security. Female dogs need assistance and a safe place to give birth. Hence, a whelping pen would be of great help. If your dog is about to give birth, it would be better to get a box or make it yourself. For a small dog like Pomeranian, you can convert a large card box into a whelping pen. You can put your creativity into the process and make a nesting box for your dog. If your dog is big, she might probably give birth to a large number of puppies. Hence, the size of the box should be large enough to fit the puppies and the mother. Furthermore, you can get the box from a pet store if creativity and DIY are not your forte. Here are some of the factors that you need to consider: The sides of the pen should be high enough that can keep the puppies safe for three weeks. Also, make sure that the mother can move to and fro freely. The size of the pen should be spacious enough for your dog and puppies. It should have enough space where the mother can feed her pups comfortably. In addition, it should allow them to move freely. It will help to keep the pups warm when the mom is not around. These are the factors that you need to consider while getting a nesting box. It helps the mother and the pups in the long run. You would notice the growth within the first few weeks. They can move and stand up over the sides of the whelping pen. By three weeks, they become mobile and able to move towards the edge of the nesting box. However, before it reaches that stage, you should take care of it diligently. Some pups would go astray and get lost. Hence, getting a box with proper height is essential. Sometimes the mother has to go out of the box for a nature call or food. The box offers a sense of security both to the dog owner and the mother. When the puppies are born, they have no control over their body temperature. So, while the mom is out, the box will keep them warm. However, you have to make sure that the bottom of the box is covered with a soft blanket. By three weeks, they will start moving, and some puppies might even get out of the box. So, the real chaos begins when they reach three weeks. It would be best if you were more careful than ever. How to Keep the Nesting Box Clean? Taking care of puppies can be quite tiring. Once the puppies are born safely in the box, it would be better to change the sheet or the beddings. The mother will take care of it. However, from the second to the third week, the real work starts. It will help if you make sure that the box is clean. While cleaning the box, you can keep the pups temporarily in a warm blanket. You need to replace the sheet or newspaper at least twice or thrice per day. However, keeping the box clean prevents the puppies from possible bacterial infections. It also helps to keep the puppies clean. You should see that the nesting box is clean and dry. So, like a responsible dog owner , make sure that the box is clean and warm. Changing the Whelping Box to Other Areas Once the puppies have passed the first week, you place the box in other areas. It will help them to get used to the new smell and sounds. However, make sure that the place is quiet and warm. Some kids would like to hold the pups, which would be too early and maybe dangerous. During the first two weeks, puppies are pretty delicate. So, it would be best to keep far away from children. The first three weeks are a crucial moment for you and the pups. The puppies are in their developing stage, and they need a quiet and calm environment to grow. So, you should make sure that puppies are kept safe and warm. They would be too young to take the regular food and would cause indigestion. But you can keep water for the mother. They get very thirsty while taking care of the puppies. She requires good protein and energy to keep the pups fed through her milk. You can place the food in the water once they can move or walk. However, make sure that the food is easily digestible. Also, puppies tend to eat food without a limit. So, you should give the food moderately. Overeating can cause indigestion and vomiting. Hence, it would help if you were careful not to overfeed them. It offers a sense of security to the mother and the dog owners as well. Having a nesting box helps to keep the puppies from going astray. The first three weeks are crucial for the puppies to grow and develop healthily. Having the right size of the whelping box can help both the puppies and the mother move freely. It allows the mother to breastfeed the puppies comfortably. If your dog is about to give birth, it would be better to arrange a whelping box. It offers safety and assurance to both the mother and puppies. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. During that first three weeks we weigh the puppies daily, trim their toenails every days, and put new collars on them every days as their growth is so rapid. The standard puppies are weighed on a regular digital scale and should gain an ounce a day at first and then up to ounces daily, whereas miniature puppies gain in a tenth of an ounce to start with and then an ounce or two a day. Jenny with litter at birth in 4' x 4' whelping box with lots of absorbent padding. Tasy in her "birthing bed" with the first three pups of the TS5 litter "Tasy" moves into her "doll crib" after the puppies are born - shown here at 3 weeks of age. We find it essential that the dam have food and water inside her whelping box the first week, however once she is willing to leave the box for short periods of time it can be set just outside the box, otherwise she will not eat and drink enough to provide all the milk needed for the puppies well being, and if you are not supplementing with goats milk, your puppies can suffer from dehydration. The standard dam has to produce almost two gallons of milk a day by the time a litter of puppies is two weeks of age. That's twice the amount a good dairy goat gives, who is at least double the dam's body weight. We find that goat milk, canned or fresh, is a much better supplement than the commercial formulas, as we have better weight gains and hardly ever have diarrhea in our puppies. If you have more than 8 puppies it is also essential that the dam's tail area and vulva be washed each time she goes out to go, as since there are not enough teats to go around there will always be a puppy trying to latch onto the vulva. The puppies can pick up bacteria and worm eggs, and a one celled organism called coccidiosis in this way which can lead to diarrhea. Mandy with AM3 Litter x Sterling at 1 week old. We practice what we call "giving the puppies an opportunity to learn" as a puppy raising method. We whelp the puppies in one corner of the living room where we have easy access to the box. We have found that moving the whelping box or puppy pen set-up on a weekly basis exposes the puppies to new scents and air currents and increases their adaptability and development by about two weeks, especially compared to puppies who are raised in the same corner until they go to their new homes. This is the first stage of their house breaking. Within hours the smartest puppies of the litter, barely able to crawl, will crawl out to use the paper and then crawl back into the whelping box. Within a few days the entire litter will usually be using the paper. Supplementing the puppies these first weeks gives us a good chance to play with the puppies feet, and get them used to their faces being handled for grooming, however even when we don't supplement we take time daily to handle every puppy and get them used to different textures, smells, and having their feet, faces, ears and tails handled. At three weeks of age when the ears open we start their cereal feeding, and use a soft clap with a "come, babies" command each time they are fed. This leads to the next step in the transition of removing the second box and the addition of a paper lined exercise pen to the whelping box at four weeks of age. At this time we start walking the puppies outside about every two hours from AM to PM. During this time ,the 4th-5th week, we teach them some basic commands - "in", "out", "potty outside", "walk", "watch", and continuing with their "come" command. Once they have understanding of these basic commands we then take them out to an outside play yard, regardless of the weather. It's really important to have this set-up close to an outside door if possible, or to use sections of an exercise pen to make an aisleway directly outdoors. Puppies can be carried outdoors, however their "potty outside" is learned much faster if they walk out the door in tune to the "out" command and the "potty outside" command at the same time. Usually within two days my standard puppies have quit having messes on the paper and are actually asking to go "out" - often at AM at this stage, and I do get up to accommodate them as this speeds their training amazingly, and I have a lot less mess to deal with - and less dirty crates when that time comes along. You can see that I do sleep within hearing of the puppies - usually until those we are continuing training with for their new families are weeks old. TS5 Miniature Litter - 2nd day of cereal feeding and 1st trip outside to the "big" world. We also start the grooming training at 4 weeks of age - starting with a bath with a soft water spray in a utility tub, and using a soft flow warm air dryer and a slicker brush - brushing the coat up the body toward the head, and up the legs toward the back as it dries. We always groom on a table, or the washer or dryer, or a counter - this is essential in getting the puppies used to being groomed on a grooming table and getting over any tendency toward the fear of heights. We cuddle them in our arms on the table to help them feel loved and secure, and to build their confidence level. We try to take pictures at birth, day old individual pictures, then every week thereafter for their new families, and for our albums. We also try to take litter shots as well at the various stages. I find that special touches add a lot of enjoyment, both for us raising the puppies, and for our families who are kept in the "link" of their puppy growing from infancy to toddler weeks. A Tasy x Promise Puppy before his first grooming and after his first grooming. My, oh my, what a difference!! We also start the worming program at four weeks of age - and this is really essential if you occasionally have a puppy that coughs after feeding, or vomits back up milk or cereal. Round worms are the one type of worm that the puppies can get in utero, and they grow as fast as the puppies. A heavy case of worms can often mimic other serious conditions in young puppies. It is also essential to use a low dosage of wormer in cases of heavy infestation, and at times give the puppy a few drops of oil by mouth, and possibly even an enema with a few drops of oil to help pass the worms. We use pyrantel pamoate for our first series of wormings. It is essential to worm every days until no worms are seen - these worms look like spaghetti - and once you see a litter of puppies pass them you never forget them. The wormer works in about six hours and is very effective. We have a computer generated health record that we complete on each puppy, and note all the worming's on it and on the litter weight records as well. Once the worming has been done, and if the teeth are coming in on the entire litter we start adding softened and mashed with potato masher kibble to the puppies cereal mixture - gradually reducing the rice baby cereal. During the next two weeks we gradually start adding cooked rice, cooked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, ground apple and carrot, and a supplement Green Vibrance which has microbials in it to their soft feed. As soon as the puppies are able to eat dry kibble well and not just play with it we gradually reduce the soft feedings to AM and PM. The puppies often prefer dry kibble during times of heavy teething, however dry kibble no matter how well promoted does not meet all of their nutritional needs. Also the more organically chemical, steroid, and low grade antibiotic free a puppy can be fed, the better for its health and longevity. We keep our puppies on microbials their whole life as this keeps their intestinal system in optimal health - they absorb more nutrients, they produce less fecal material, they are less prone to other bacterial infections, they don't have smelly gas, they are less prone to bloat typical in a number of large breeds , they have better pigmentation as a result of absorbing more nutrients. We have also found that since taking this approach to diet that puppy and show coats on adults are more luxurious. As you can see their fourth week involves a lot of changes for the puppies. At six weeks of age we start the weaning process - although most "mothers" have already started it. A poodle "mom" is the most devoted creature ever the first week or two, but after that usually reclaims part of her own life to be with her human family. She will return to the whelping box every few hours to take care of her puppies needs, but other than that spends her time on a blanket or pad outside the box. Using a higher powered water spray, a higher powered table dryer, and if the coat is still thin enough a palm pro clipper again to clip the face, feet, tummy and tail. At this time Mishelle also adds standing the puppy properly on the table and does the first scissoring around the tail head and up the rump - as much to get the puppy used to the sound and feel of the scissors as because there is that much coat to scissor off. This is also when we try to take the first pictures of the puppies in a nice stance to send to everyone. This also helps to train the puppy for standing on the table which benefits when we do the conformation evaluations at 8 weeks of age. Puppies fearful on the table are very difficult to assess. This is also essential for miniature puppies that are going to be shown. It's very sad when a miniature is put on a table in the show ring for the judges inspection, and is fearful. Just minutes a day on a table, being encouraged to stand and be touched, can make a remarkable difference in just a week. A Maddy x Calvin puppy at 6 weeks of age after her 2nd grooming Six weeks is also when we remove the whelping box, as the mother now just gets in with the puppies about 4 times a day and either sits or stands to nurse them. She also starts to regurgitate her feedings for the puppies at this stage. The teeth are starting to come all the way in at this time, and the puppies will start sparring, and at times will really yelp. They learn at this stage not to bite each other too hard, and this is the first step to them learning not to bite humans too hard. We often have families who want to get their poodle puppies at this age, especially if they are going to training in agility. We do not allow any puppies to go to their new homes until they are weeks of age, as we feel that they need the "sibling rivalry" stage to learn aggressive and defensive behavior - which is learned by their interplay with each other. Many of our poodles go to homes with runners, and I can't tell you how many times they have had to defend their owners from aggressive dogs of other breeds, and always successfully. You never know when your poodle may have to come to your defense, and the maneuvers they learn as puppies at this age are the foundation for their defensive techniques, increase their alertness, and the speed of their thinking and their reactivity time. I love watching the puppies develop their skills during playtime at this stage. It is their transition from infancy to toddlers. It is also at six weeks that we remove the whelping box replacing it with two small crates without the gates on. Our favorite crates are the Furrari's, as they just snap together, and the gates can be opened from either side and simply lifted off for this stage of training. The first night all the puppies will crowd into one small crate - then I will hear them in the middle of the night groaning and grumbling, and in the morning the puppies will be divided between the two crates. That day we add a third small crate, and go through the same process - which we repeat until there are two puppies per crate. We never put the gates on at this stage, just allow the puppies the freedom to sleep in or out of the crates, and to play with them. We estimate that a poodle puppy develops 21 years in it's first year. From infancy to toddler, to preschool, to kindergarten, to pre-adolescent, to adolescent, to pre-teen, to teenager, to post teen, and early twenties. Their intelligence is equivalent to that of many humans, and the learning of human vocabulary in a standard poodle is amazing. They are a joy to work with and to train, many almost training themselves. At this point we start giving the puppies rawhide chew bones to help with their teeth cutting, the cardboard rolls from toilet paper, paper towels, tape rolls, and small boxes that they can pack around, tear up and destroy. Much like a toddler builds a stack of bricks and then knocks it down destructive stage so also does a puppy need to go through this stage. So we give them things that don't cost anything, that are light weight, and the right size around for a puppy jaw to pick up. They love it. We also start giving the puppies soft and hard toys to play with, and also try to observe which puppies in the litter are water lovers - they play in the water and empty the container almost as fast as we can fill it. We often get asked for puppies that like water by families that boat, or live on rivers or lakes, or on house boats. We start watching closely for the different types of personalities that the puppies have, how they relate to each other, to new situations, to new people, to other animals they come in contact with. Those that are more adventuresome, more curious, more courageous, etc. We are also watching for activity levels and how they move. It is also at weeks that we take the puppies to the back yard to play - as they are then big enough to be taught to go up and down steps. We have closed back steps, and open backed steps like condos and the steps at the air cargo depots for them to learn on. This can be quite a challenge to some, and we usually have to delay this training with the miniatures for a couple of more weeks when they are a bit bigger. They are so proud of themselves when they achieve success in going up and down the steps, even though it is just three steps - and will run up and down just for the joy of it. In the back yard they also learn to drink from an automatic waterer, so that they don't fear the hissing sound as it refills. Having nice clean feet, faces, and tail head and rump helps us to evaluate the puppies much better, and they will score better when all can be seen and evaluated. We do not give the puppies any treats prior to testing, nor do we do any actual crate training in closed crates. At this age the puppies get their first bath in the grooming tub with a harder spray of water instead of in the utility tub. The Force dryer is used for the first time, and the Andis or Oster clippers. This is also the clipping that helps us to determine the color that the puppies might end up as - blues and silvers are born black, silver beige and cafe-au-lait can be born very dark brown, light apricots that are going to cream out - we study the nose, feet, heels, and under the tail and neck for signs of color change. Tasy x Promise Pup - Black - at 8 weeks! A Mandy x Sterling Pup - Silver - at 8 weeks. Silvers and blues are born black and change gradually - starting with the muzzle and feet We try to schedule temperament testing 16 tests and conformation evaluations a three page form using AKC breed requirements, International breed requirements, and Puppy Puzzle testing at 8 weeks minus or plus three days, as this is the most accurate time for assessing conformation before the puppy starts its rapid growth spurts. This is at times a little early for temperament testing, however as so many families want their puppies at 8 weeks of age, it is necessary to do this before the litter starts to go to new homes. Often our entire litters are reserved before they are even born, or at least by the time they are 6 weeks of age, and this helps us to match puppies and their capabilities and personalities and temperament to the homes they are going into, especially the puppies that are shipped across the United States. This also means asking our prospective families for lots of details about their home style, their activities, other pets or animals in or around their homes, and what they want to do with their puppy as an adult. We also help families at this point to decide the best age of puppy to suit their lifestyle, as many families in todays age have difficulty getting the time those first weeks to house train a young puppy. The weekly cost covers food, treats, training, vaccinations and wormings. Temperament testing is beneficial, although there are those that disagree. It is done in a strange place by a strange person. It's purpose is to note the natural instincts and adaptability of the young puppies, and our families have found our assessments to be pretty accurate as their puppies have developed. The disadvantage of testing at 8 weeks versus 12 weeks, is that puppies can be conceived over a ten day period. The gestation period is days, with all of the body development being in the first 50 days, and the weight gain being in the last days. If the bitch whelps according to the first puppy conceived, then the last puppy or puppies conceived may not have had much weight gain - however due to genetics it will not always be the smallest puppies. When we do temperament testing we also try to be aware of which puppies opened eyes first and last, which had teeth coming in first and last - as these can be indicative of which puppies in the litter are the oldest and the youngest - as the psychological development can also be different, with the thinking processes of the youngest not being quite as developed as the thinking processes of the gestationally oldest puppies. In temperament testing we are looking at social skills, inanimate object retrieving instincts, sensitivity testing, chase response, bird retrieving instincts, perseverance and motivation. These help to determine which puppies might be best suited as companions, service and therapy candidates, agility and obedience prospects, those with "bird" instincts, and very important today those with good search and rescue and tracking instincts. Conformation evaluations are where we literally take a puppies body structure apart and put it back together again - all on paper. We are looking for the few puppies in a litter that are the most correct by breed specifications in bone structure. As companions for runners, horse back riders, hikers, bikers, etc. Most of our standard puppies, after 10 years of breeding are quite structurally correct - however we try to match structural correctness, temperament and personality to the needs of a family. To be a pick of the litter puppy it must score high in all three areas. At times a structurally correct puppy may not have the best temperament for competitive events, and a senior family doesn't need a puppy with a high working drive. When we complete the testing we vaccinate each of the puppies and tattoo them with their individual identification number - that designates their dam, her litter number, and the number of puppy within the litter - in their left ear. This tattoo must be read and entered in the medical records of the puppy by the families veterinarian at the time of the "well puppy check" within 10 days of receiving the puppy for our 2 year from date of birth guarantee to go into effect. As soon as the testing is completed we start crate training the puppies. The first night two puppies are put into a crate with the gate on, and given 3 small treats. They are cuddled before being put into the crate, and we use the "in" command which they are used to. When they are taken out in the morning they are hugged and cuddled again, and given their "go potty outside" command as we take them "out" the front door. The second night they are crated individually, and are also crated during the day for short periods of time, to get them used to taking "naps" in their crates. They are always given three tiny biscuits when we want them in their crates, and usually within three days they compete to see who can get in the crates first and turn around for their treats. Usually at this age the puppies will crate from approximately PM to about AM without having accidents in their crates, however I do get up in the middle of the night and let them out if someone gets really fussy. In hot summer weather they at times need out during the night to get a drink just as much as they need out to go potty. We always make their last soft feeding of the day by PM, so that they have plenty of time to evacuate before bedtime. Remember poodle puppies are very smart, and if they get me up several nights in a row - I watch very carefully to see if they really needed to go - and if not they have just decided to get me out of bed for some extra attention and playtime - remember the pre-adolescent who wants another drink of water, etc. They will test their new families in the same way, and if they win they are ruling the family instead of the family ruling them. At this point the puppies are ready to go to their new homes to families living locally, or those driving from other states to get their puppies. If they are flying we keep them for two more weeks - and ship when they are approximately 10 - 12 weeks old. This allows us to start travel training and leash training of the puppies, and allow them to develop better holding capacity for daytime crating before shipping. Also it gives us time to receive family t-shirts worn until sweaty and placed in ziploc bags to give to the puppies in their crates three days before shipping. Having items of clothing which we tie into knots for a pillow or toy allows the puppy to get used to it's new families scents, and helps it to adapt and bond much more quickly. It also gives us time to ship their puppy pack to them, before the puppy is shipped. We follow up on our puppies for years, and encourage our families to keep in touch with us and contact us with any questions regarding nutrition, training problems or needs. We also board our own puppies back, which is wonderful as then we get to assess their development and personalities as adults. We have families now who purposefully plan their vacations for the Oregon Coast just so they can leave their much loved poodles with us - they come from as far away as Montana, Idaho, north eastern Washington, California, Utah, and of course the closer regions of Oregon and Washington. Unless we are expecting a litter imminently they get to come back and live in the house with us, and always enjoy playing with so many other poodles in our huge back yard, and side yard play areas. We also continue any training that is in progress on the younger puppies. A Mandy boy at 15 weeks! A Lucy daughter at 1 year - sent by her family in Idaho Many of our families also return with their puppies to take the one-on-one grooming classes with us - with Mishelle now being the primary instructor. Many of our families are now doing all of their own grooming, and even if they aren't have found the class very beneficial as they have learned what to expect from a good groomer. Many have returned for second and even third classes to learn advanced scissoring techniques, and several are now learning show grooming and handling from us as well. It's biblical that the older are to teach the younger - and we feel very strongly about this after not finding anyone willing to assist us when we first started out. We want those who have a true desire to become breeders of the poodles to start in the right way, learning to do the proper testing and research, taking part in genetic research projects, learn to groom their poodles properly, and to breed properly, caring for their whelping bitches and puppies correctly. Mishelle should have been in the picture with "Eve" but was in the Show Ring with her instead. She groomed 14 standards and 2 miniatures for this show. The poodle is a wonderful and unique breed - sharing life with it's family. Stages of Puppy Development Birth to 3 weeks The first 20 days of a pups life it is not capable of much learning. The mental capacity is about nil. The pup will react when it is in need of food, sleep, warmth and its mother. During the first 3 weeks it is VERY important to look after the dam as well. She will in turn, look after the puppies. Once or twice a day the puppies should be handled by a human and they should be weighed daily. During the first 3 weeks most dams like to be in a warm secluded area, not in the family living area. Pups remain contently in their whelping box for the first 20 days of their life. Newborn puppies sleep most of the day away. No matter what the breed, this is the time when the dormant senses wake up. From day 21 to 28 puppies are in need of their mom more than any other time as their brains and nervous systems begin to develop and they become aware of their surroundings. As mom jumps out of the box, they suddenly watch her wondering where she went. Pups may start climbing out of the whelping box at this age, so it is time to expand their home. At this stage we add a small potty area beside the whelp box. If a puppy were to loose his mom at this stage it would greatly affect his emotional wellbeing. Emotional growth is just blossoming as the puppy realizes it is alive. It is also at this age that characteristics can develop like shyness and fear. Any negative characteristics that develop at this stage in life are often permanent personality traits. The puppies sleep 20 or more hours a day. They will not go far, but they will begin to explore. At this time we expand their area to add a play and eating area in the daytime. This is the time to move them out to the kitchen and family room area, where life is happening in the home. This is not the age to be in the back bedroom, garage or barn. During this time, a puppy will learn to respond to voices, sounds and recognize different people. The puppies in their group will establish a 'pecking order', some will want to lead and some will want to follow. The dominant ones will eat first and the omega ones will wait. The dominant ones can become bullies and hog all the toys. This is an important stage to watch to learn the temperaments of each puppy and should be used for placing puppies into the proper homes. Some scientific studies prove that if there is a bully in a litter that is making others cower and be shy it can set in traits that are very hard to turn around, but it is also important to leave puppies in a social group long enough to be adventurous and for the puppy to acquire some social competitive skills. On the same note, a puppy should never be allowed to get too pushy. While shyer puppies have to learn to handle themselves in social groups, a dominant puppy needs to learn it is not acceptable to be a bully. Different breeds need to be separated at different ages. Often if the bully is adopted out first the remaining puppies will loose some of their shyness. Puppies at this age sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. By 7 weeks, a pup is considered emotionally developed and ready to learn, but the pup does not possess an adult brain yet. At 7 weeks old the breeder of the pups can start crate training for an hour or two a day with 2 pups in a crate. This helps with separation anxiety. By 8 weeks of age a puppy should be able to go in a crate alone for a nap, and it is almost ready for its new home. A puppy should never be taken away from it's mother before weeks of age. The mother dog teaches the puppies in the litter manners, respect, social skills, and proper etiquette, along with many other valuable lessons. When a puppy misses this stage it can cause the pup to have future behavior issues as most humans do not understand natural dog behavior enough to teach the pup these things. What a puppy learns now will be retained and become part of who the dog becomes and his personality. Most dams stop caring for their pups by 7 weeks, as they have teeth and she pushes them away. If a pup is left with the dam during this period it's emotional development can be altered, as it remains dependent on her. The same can happen if littermates are placed together. They rely on each other instead of the new owner and they often do not find adequate security in their mom or littermate. They need their new owner to take over the role and it is important that the humans understand natural dog behavior in order to fulfill the puppies instincts and needs. First shots should be done at 7. When a puppy stays with his litter after 8 to 9 weeks of age without adequate human contact it doesn't adjust as well to a human social life. The optimum time to take a new puppy is from 8 to 9 weeks of age. It is always best to have a pup do his learning from his new owner and in his new home. Puppies are often adopted out at 8, 9, 10 or 11 weeks. Older puppies can do just fine if the breeder has spent a lot of time socializing them away from their littermates. Ideally 9 weeks seems to be the perfect age for most breeds to go to new homes. What the dog learns from 8 to 12 weeks will be with him forever. At this time the puppy must be introduced to other people and go for walks on the pavement street avoiding dirt or grass until it has had its 2nd shots. If the first shots are done at 8 weeks and second are done at 12 weeks it is a good idea to enroll in puppy kindergarten that starts right at 12 weeks. At this age on up to several months old, puppies will sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, give or take depending on the puppies energy level and the activity around them. Sleeping more during rapid growth sprurts. The sleep is broken up between night time sleep and naps during the day. It is common for a puppy to play hard, running around with bounds of energy, then suddenly crashing into a deep sleep. It is important to keep in mind that all puppies by this time have formed a general personality. Some are natural born leaders, some are middle of the road and could go either way and some are very submissive and really prefer not to lead anything. All puppies have an instinct to have a leader who can provide structure, because in their minds without it the pack cannot survive. Therefore even the most naturally born submissive dog may feel the need to take over as an alpha should they feel everyone else around them is too weak to care for the pack. These dogs are often very stressed out about their role because they really do not want it, but feel the need to lead just the same. After all, to them it's a matter of life or death. One of the biggest questions new owners call about is that the pup is an angel for the first couple weeks and then it starts to nip in an attempt to control things around it. This happens when a puppy does not see the humans as natural born leaders to which it can respect and it attempts to get the pack in order. If this happens it does not necessarily mean you got a bad puppy, but often means you are not being a good canine owner. Owners must be calm but firm and follow through. Set the rules of the home and stick to them. Teach basic obedience and how to heel on a leash. Do not let the puppy bolt out the door. Stay calm and confident and remember that dogs can feel your emotions. If you have emotional problems your dog knows and will see you as a weak being. Always remember to a dog anger is a weakness, so take a deep breath and control yourself. Should the puppy feel it is stronger minded than the humans it will not want to be at the bottom. Puppy owners should be prepared that the pup may attempt to establish itself as the dominant one in the family. This is where you need to understand a dog's natural instincts and learn their language so you can read them. It may see whether it can physically strike out at his owner like some teens and could nip or growl. Should this happen be prepared to stop the behavior immediately. It is kind of like kids wanting dessert before dinner or to stay up later. You just have to say NO. Each dog is different, just as kids are, therefore you need to figure out what works for you and your situation. If it is being aggressive one method is to pin it on its back and hold him there with a firm NO. If a pup is allowed to get away with bad behavior it will lose respect for the owner and learn that rebelling gets him his own way. The key is for the humans to be calm, confident and firm all at the same time. If you find yourself yelling or angry you as the human are out of control and need to learn how to portray yourself as someone your dog can look up to and respect. Dogs do not listen to unstable humans and anything but calm, confident and firm, to them is unstable. There should be zero tolerance for aggressiveness. Heaps of love and understanding will not stop bad behavior. A pup must be shown fast and firmly that you are the one in charge. If you have a good breeder who understands the dog even returning him for a few days can help as the breeder gets the dog back under control and you assess your own behavior and understanding of this animal you are trying to live with. Sending a dog away to be trained without training yourself never works, as the way your dog is acting often has more to do with the humans it is living with. This goes for any dog of any age. Learn how to groom your dog. Teach it to lie still for grooming and nail trimming. If you are having trouble call the breeder or a behaviorist for help. It is best to have earned a dog's respect and trust in regards to grooming by 16 weeks of age. A pups natural instinct will be to periodically try to test the order in the pack. Especially if there are children. If the owner is submissive, quiet and week, thus making the dog feel the need to lead the home, its respect for its owner will weaken and the owner will become inferior in the dogs eyes. In these cases the owner is destined to be owned by the dog and you will surely see behavior problems emerge. A puppy should have a good start on crate training when it leaves a breeder's home. Help your puppy feel secure by giving it its own bed and crate in a place where it can be alone when it needs some quiet time. It should be crated for one or two naps per day, especially when making and eating dinner and crated at night. It should not ever have the run of the house till after 6 months of age or housebreaking and training can become very difficult. A puppy should start formal obedience by 6 months of age, preferably sooner. Remember when you choose to adopt a dog you are choosing to take an animal into your home. The animal is not a human baby and humans are not born with canine instincts. Take some time to learn about the canine and be prepared to change your way of life to accommodate the new member of the family. A whelping box is an important item to have when puppies are about to be born. You can construct something yourself or buy a specifically designed boxes from pet stores. When can puppies leave the whelping box? Puppies can often leave the whelping box at 3 weeks old. At this age, puppies can move out of the whelping box as they become more mobile. Puppies can stand up and even climb out of the whelping box nest. At this age, puppies start to explore outside of their nest, to find out more about the wide and exciting world around them. Well, I can tell you that a whelping box will help you and the mother cope better with a horde of tiny puppies in their first few weeks. What is a whelping box? Also known as a nest or whelping pen, the whelping box is a container designed to keep the newborn litter in one safe and cozy place. The mother also likes to have a place where she can give birth to her puppies in comfort while having a sense of security. Whelping means to give birth hence the name of the box. It should be placed in a quiet part of the house and set up a couple of weeks before your dog gives birth. This gives her time to get familiar with the box. Image via Pixabay. What can I use as a whelping box? If your dog is a little girl, you could convert a large, sturdy cardboard box into a nesting box. You can make your own if carpentry is your hobby or you could go to the local pet store and buy a whelping box. What to look out for when picking a whelping box You need to make sure you pick a whelping box that takes into consideration the following factors: The sides are high enough to keep the puppies safely contained in their first 3 weeks but low enough for the mother to move in and out freely. The size is big enough to accommodate all the puppies being born. The bottom of the box may come with whelping pads or you can simply line it with newspapers and a soft blanket. Some breeders will use wood shavings to cover the floor of the box. Some whelping boxes come with an extension which is great for more active puppies who are still too young to leave the pen but are moving around quite a bit. Picking the right whelping box goes a long way to keeping mum and pups comfortable and secure. When is the right age for puppies to leave the whelping box? Puppies develop and mature very quickly in their first few weeks. A whelping box is designed to keep the newborn puppies safe, warm, and comfortable. Keeping the puppies in one place and even using a heat lamp will help keep them warm. And, when the mother needs time out, she can leave the box and get some space knowing her pups are all safe in one spot. A whelping box gives you peace of mind your puppies are well-protected, staying warm, and not disappearing once they start crawling. But be ready for the exodus once they reach 3 weeks old and might start walking! How do I keep the whelping box clean? If your dog gave birth to the puppies in the whelping box, you would need to change the bedding once all the puppies are safely delivered. Keep them warm with a blanket. Use a non-chemical cleaning detergent and warm water to wash out the box. Remove any dirty bedding and replace with clean blankets, newspapers or wood shavings. Some breeders do put in a litter box for puppies once they start crawling. This could be the first step to house training your pups. Do regular inspections throughout the day to make sure the whelping box is always dry and clean. Can I move the whelping box to other areas? Once your puppies have passed their first week, you could consider moving them to different areas in the house. But remember, you need to keep them warm so make sure there are no draughts and the puppies are not too intimidated by the new environment. Be careful also with handling newborn puppies when moving them. For the first 3 weeks, the puppies are small, developing, and can be easily disturbed by too much activity around them. Do I need to put food and water in the whelping box? The puppies will be drinking milk from their mother for the first 3 to 4 weeks, before moving onto water. For the first 3 weeks, you could keep a bowl of water in the box for the mother. She will be very thirsty while nurturing her puppies. However, once the puppies start becoming mobile keep both the water and food outside the box. Conclusion Get ready for a whole lot of fun, but also stress. She will take them no doubt but being able to help just a little with whelping boxes, nesting, and more will make it so much easier for you. You might also like…. The puppies have arrived. They have been weighed and identified; they have nursed and are now sleeping quietly except for the normal twitching. Now what? Your job is not over yet, in fact, it's really just beginning. Nutrition and Feeding The mother will be ready for some food and water. Bring the dishes to the whelping box, as she will not want to leave the newborn puppies. Do not leave the dishes on the floor in the whelping box, as the puppies could crawl into them. Hang the dishes from the side of the whelping box or offer her food and water at least every hours to start. She should be taken outside on a frequent and regular basis to relieve herself. Within days, the mother's appetite will dramatically increase to times her pre-pregnancy intake. She will need a near constant supply of a high quality puppy food do NOT use large breed puppy formulas, which are generally lower in protein, fat, and minerals and water to maintain her weight and health while feeding the puppies. She should not look gaunt or thin if her weight is maintained. Ideally, she should weigh the same at the time of weaning, as she did when she was bred. A healthy puppy is firm, plump, and vigorous. Puppies should nurse every 2 hours or so. If they nurse until their stomachs appear round and they sleep quietly, they are eating enough. If they are crying and moving a lot, they are not eating enough. They may be swallowing air, which makes the stomach appear larger. As they become weaker, they will lay still and not cry. Their weight should double in the first days. Before, during, and after nursing, the mother will lick the stomach and perineal area to stimulate urination and defecation. She will continue to do this for weeks. Weigh the puppy daily for the first 2 weeks, then weigh at least weekly. A food scale typically works well for weighing the puppies. Failure to gain weight is often the first sign of illness in puppies. At about 3 weeks of age, the puppies will begin to imitate the mother's eating and drinking. A secure shallow water dish should now be available at least part of the day. Prepare the puppy mush by placing 2 cups of high quality dry puppy food in a blender with .This should be blended until the consistency of human infant cereal. This feeds puppies of a medium-sized breed. The puppies should receive meals a day of this to start. Once the puppies have checked it out, walked in it, and have eaten some, the mother can be allowed to finish it and clean the puppies off. Each week, increase the amount of food, decrease the amount of the milk replacer and water that is added and the time of blending, so by 7 weeks of age, the puppies are eating dry food. Once they are on dry food, it may be left in with the puppies when the mother is out of the box or the meal times can continue. As the puppies eat more solid food, the mother may be let away from the puppies for an ever longer period of time. If the weaning is not rushed, she will naturally start decreasing milk production, as the puppies increase their intake of solid food. As the puppies begin eating the puppy mush at 4 weeks of age, start changing the mother's diet back to adult food to also help her decrease milk production. Keep increasing the adult food and decreasing the puppy food until by the 7th week postpartum she is eating only adult food. Hopefully she has been fed well during pregnancy and lactation so she weighs the same at weaning as she did before pregnancy. Want to learn how to save on your dog's veterinary care? Click here Sanitation and Housebreaking During and after whelping, the mother should be allowed to go outside to urinate and defecate. Take her out on a leash bring a flashlight if it is dark , and watch her closely, as she could have another puppy. The whelping box needs to be changed at least once a day at this stage, and times a day as the puppies begin eating solids and the mother is not cleaning up after them. A large heavy paper may be laid on the bottom, several layers of newspaper over that, and a tightly stretched blanket over the newspaper. The blanket should be large enough to fit under all 4 sides of the box. If the box was made so the sides set into the floor, the sides are picked up, the blanket stretched, and the sides set down to hold the blanket in place. Puppies can become lost under blankets or under wrinkles in blankets. When cleaning, check the consistency and color of the puppy stool. It should be brown and formed, but not overly firm. Any deviations and the veterinarian should be contacted. To facilitate housebreaking, the puppies should be given definite feeding, playing, sleeping, and elimination areas. Once the puppies are mobile, they will use one area for elimination. Cover this area with a layer of newspapers with cedar or pine shavings on top. The new owners then place a small amount of cedar or pine shavings in the preferred location of their yard to aid in housebreaking. Keep the elimination area clean and dry. Puppies head toward the heat source to nurse so do not have the heat source warmer than the mother. Hanging a household thermometer on the inside of the whelping box will help you know the temperature in the box. Puppies typically lay side by side or on top of each other to share warmth. If the puppies are scattered throughout the whelping box and away from the heat lamp, the temperature is too warm. If they are all piled on top of each other, it may be too cold. Puppies need the extra heat, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature until several weeks old. Health of the Mother Each mammary gland and nipple should be checked at least once a day for redness, hardness, discharge, or streaking color. If mastitis develops, the veterinarian should be notified immediately. If caught early, milking out the affected gland and applying hot compresses will help prevent a spread of the problem. Sometimes, antibiotics are necessary. If she gets multiple glands with mastitis, the puppies will need to be bottle fed. The puppies' nails should be trimmed weekly starting within days of birth. This will help prevent some of the scratches on the mother's mammary glands. The deciduous teeth start coming in around day .Check the mammary glands of the mother daily for bite marks. The mother will have a bloody discharge from her vulva which may be quite heavy for several days. It should decrease in amount and become darker and be almost gone within weeks. The mother's hair may have become very thick and luxurious during the pregnancy. Around the time of weaning, the mother starts to shed. This extreme loss of hair coat is natural and it should be back to normal in about another months. This shedding is more extreme than a normal shed cycle and some mothers become quite bald. This is often called 'blowing a coat. Click here Puppy Healthcare Puppies who are not thriving should be examined as soon as possible by a veterinarian to check for birth defects. Some defects, such as a cleft palate are not compatible with life. These puppies should be humanely euthanized. Dewclaws are removed and tails docked at days of age. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for these procedures to be done. Check your breed's standard, as some breeds need to have dewclaws left intact in order to show. Tail length changes, so again, the current breed standard should be consulted. When the puppies are at the clinic and having these procedures done, the mother should be taken for a walk around the block until the puppies are done. She should not be close enough to the clinic to hear the puppies crying. Once they are put back with the mother, the puppies normally nurse and then sleep. Vaccinations are started at weeks of age. Some breeders give a parvo virus vaccine at 5 weeks of age, if the puppies are at a high-risk. Ask your veterinarian if your puppies should be vaccinated early for parvo virus. They recommend puppy deworming for roundworms and hookworms start at 2 weeks of age and be repeated at 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Thereafter, use a heart worm preventive medication that is also effective against hookworms and roundworms. Foster and Smith suggest that owners of newly acquired puppies obtain the deworming history of their new pup and contact their veterinarian to determine if additional deworming is needed. The mother should be dewormed at the same time as the puppies. A health check done by a veterinarian at weeks of age before the puppies head for new homes should include checks for heart murmurs, hernias, cryptorchidism, demodectic mange, other parasites, eye disorders, etc. Normal puppy development The umbilical cord normally falls off within days of birth. Infections of the umbilicus are rare in clean, well-managed kennels. Puppies normally twitch and jerk while sleeping. This helps with the development of their nerves and muscles. The puppies crawl well by days, walk at 16 days, and have a normal gait at 21 days. They need to be on footing that offers traction. By 4 weeks of age, the puppies follow each other and carry toys in their mouths. They will play-fight with each other and learn how to inhibit their bites. If a puppy bites a littermate too hard, the littermate will yelp and stop playing with him. If the puppy is allowed to bite humans, he will not learn to inhibit his bite. It may be cute as a 7-week old, but it will not be as a 7-year old. Puppies are born without teeth. The deciduous baby teeth start to erupt at weeks of age. All of the deciduous teeth are usually present by 8 weeks of age. The puppies' eyes will open around days of age. The retina matures around 21 days of age. Puppies should see clearly by 4 weeks of age. Do not pry open the lids for any reason, as the immature eye is not yet ready to handle light. If the eyes appear swollen before they open, take the puppy to a veterinarian immediately as an eye infection may be present that needs to be treated to prevent loss of vision. Some puppies will take a day to open the eyes while others will take days. The eyes will have a bluish color to them at first and then change to their adult color over time. If the eyes appear white or solid blue, take the puppy to the veterinarian right away. The ears open at days of age. They should hear clearly by 4 weeks of age. Deafness may not be noticeable while the puppies are together and first noticed when the puppy is in her new home. Interactions Between the Mother and Puppies By the time the puppies are weeks old, the mother should have an area near the whelping box, but separate from the puppies to allow her time to rest. At about this time, the puppies will start trying to leave the box to explore. They should be well supervised and have safe toys available. The box at this point should be big enough to be divided between eating, sleeping, playing, and eliminating rooms. At this stage, a crate with the door removed and lined with sheepskin or a dog bed can be given to the puppies for sleeping quarters and to familiarize them with crates. Puppy Socialization Early socialization of the puppies will help them become confident and develop fewer behavior problems. The puppies should be exposed to everything possible from metal food dishes dropping, to vacuums, garage doors opening and closing, thunderstorms, sirens, garbage trucks going past, cats, and other pets, etc. Do not try to keep the area quiet during the day. The puppies need to get used to normal household noises. Children should be allowed to play outside the whelping box supervised so they do not enter the box or drop toys in , as children behave differently than adults. Everything the puppy is exposed to now, will help her become a well-socialized, unafraid adult. The puppies should be handled several times a day. They can be picked up, their teeth looked at, ears checked, toes played with nails will need a weekly trimming , and have anything that may be done as an adult started slowly now. Play helps to develop the puppy's mind, as he needs to find solutions to problems he encounters. If the puppies are not in new homes by 10 weeks of age, they should be separated from each other for a large part of the day and given one-on-one time with humans. They can have play times during the day, but they should eat, sleep, and be handled separately. Being in a kennel group situation beyond weeks of age decreases trainability. 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! For heating the pups in the whelping box particle board construction with adjustable entrance and pig rails , we have a lectro-kennel pad in part of it. There is a window into the rest of the shop from the room; for mama dogs' sake, I wish we had a window to the outside.But it's not a kennel setup, so it's not perfect. The pups stay in this room for weeks.When they are big enough to move outside, they spend the nights in a chain-link fenced kennel about 8 x 13 feet on gravel. If they have to be kenneled while we're home, then we can open that up to an adjacent kennel the same size. Puppy pen- I wouldn't use hogwire. We've had pups almost hang themselves in the stuff really young pups can hang up in diamond chain link too ; albeit I think the hogwire type fence we used had smaller increments than regular hogwire. Anyways, we supervised them closely when they were in this pen. Size-wise I think the largest you can provide, the better, as long as it's safe. We've used 10x10 too but it just seemed too small especially when they were weeks old. The cement blocks should work fine. Our puppy pens are on the grass and then we just move it around the yard when the grass seems to be getting too worn out.

Usually sociable and friendly, but can be wary of new people DIET: Around 1, calories per day depending on weight Around 1, calories per day depending on weight EXERCISE: High: 12 miles per week and 60 minutes of outdoor time each day High: 12 miles per week and 60 minutes of outdoor time per day. Enjoys swimming. Size And Weight The two breeds are very similar in size and weight. Standard, adult Goldendoodles are usually between 22 and 25 inches long and weigh anywhere from 45 to pounds. Labradoodles are possibly a bit smaller, being between 21 and 24 inches long, and they do not tend to weigh more than 70 pounds. However, size and weight varies greatly on an individual basis. Coat And Color Whether a Doodle will emerge with the coat of a Poodle or not is a game of chance, though most do seem to inherit the curly poodle coat, which leaves them looking a bit like oversized teddy bears. These coats tend to be low-shedding and take the form of a double coat, which means that they have a dense under layer and a thin outer layer. While this differs greatly from litter to litter, as a general rule, Goldendoodles tend to have longer, wavy hair and Labradoodles tend to have short, wiry hair. Both dogs can come in a range of different colors. Common colors for Goldendoodles include black, white, brown, cream, gold, red, silver, and sable. You will often see Labradoodles in chocolate, cafe, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, chalk, lavender, and blue. Health Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles have a life expectancy of around 10 to 15 years and tend to suffer from similar health issues. Like most large breeds, they can suffer from Hip Dysplasia, when the cartilage in the hip is incorrectly formed, or Patellar Luxation, when the knee joint is incorrectly formed. Both issues may need to be managed with pain medication or, in serious cases, they require an operation. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles also have a tendency to develop eye issues, including Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which will eventually lead to blindness. Intelligence Both breeds of dog are highly intelligent, which in turn, makes them highly trainable. This means that they make great service dogs as search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, or medical assistance dogs. They are particularly popular among people who need service dogs but suffer from dog hair allergies , as their low-shedding coat means that they give off less of the dander that triggers allergic reactions. Both breeds, but especially the Labradoodle, enjoy retrieving and will happily play fetch with you all day if you let them. This makes them ideal for search and rescue type work, which may require dogs to seek out objects over vast distances and difficult terrain for several hours. Temperament Both dogs have a friendly temperament and are never aggressive. They are very unlikely to bark or snap at people if they have been properly raised and socialized. This makes them great family dogs to have around children, but terrible guard dogs! While they are generally very friendly with children, they can be a bit unconscious of their size and weight, and they may want to flop down on you or your kids. For this reason, kids should still be supervised when playing with either breed. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles also tend to get on well with other pets, as long as they have been properly socialized together. Goldendoodles are a little bit better in this respect, and Labradoodles can sometimes be a bit more stand-off-ish with new pets or new people. This means that if you are looking for a pet to fit in with you family, including children and other pets, Goldendoodles can be a slightly better choice. Bear in mind that neither breed likes to be left alone for long periods of time, and may act out if left in the house alone for several hours. Diet And Exercise These two dog breeds are very similar in terms of their dietary and exercise needs. Their exact calorie intake depends on their size, but the average sizes Goldendoodle or Labradoodle will need about 1, calories per day, which should be split over two or three meals. Lively animals, both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles need a lot of exercise. At a minimum, they will need 12 miles of exercise per week, including 60 minutes outside every day. Key Differences As can be seen, the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle are very similar dogs, but there are some key differences. First, Goldendoodles tend to have longer coats, while Labradoodles have a short wiry coat. But the main difference is in their personalities. While both are friendly, Goldendoodles tend to be more enthusiastic and excitable and more easy going with people and other pets. Labradoodles display very similar behavior but can be more wary when coming across new people and animals for the first time. While both breeds are also very intelligent and highly trainable, Labradoodles tend to be more tenacious when it comes to completing tasks and love the stimulation of working. This tends to make them better working dogs in terms of activities such as search and rescue. Benefits Of A Doodle Breed Whether you decide to go for a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle, there are a lot of benefits to getting a Doodle breed: Being part Poodle, Doodles tend to be low-shedding, which means that they leave behind less of the dander that triggers allergies. This makes them as close to a hypoallergenic dog as you are likely to get. Plus, less dog hair to be cleaning up! Labradoodles, and especially Goldendoodles, are family friendly and will enjoy playing with the kids and will get along with other pets in the home. Both breeds love the great outdoors and will love accompanying you on your hiking, trekking, and even boating adventures. Doodles are highly trainable, so they are great if you are looking for a working dog or just want a dog that can do cool tricks. Both breeds need lots of exercise, so you need to make time in your busy schedule to take them out to play. The Verdict Both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles make excellent dog choices, especially for anyone who has issues with dog hair as they tend to be low-shedding. Both are intelligent, friendly, and highly trainable. This makes them great pets for families as they will fit in with kids and other pets quickly, and will appreciate always having someone to play with. Their trainability and docile nature also makes them great service dogs, easily able to comprehend the required tasks and able to venture into public spaces without causing a nuisance. Both breeds also need a lot of exercise and attention, so make sure you have enough time in your schedule to care for them properly. While the decision on whether you should get a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle is down to personal preference, by a small margin, Goldendoodles are probably better as family pets, and Labradoodles better as service dogs. Labradoodles tend to be more tenacious when it comes to learning tasks and love always having something to do, but they can also be more wary or strangers. Goldendoodles treat everyone they meet as their best friend and have the right temperament for being in the home. Make sure you do your due diligence when looking for one of these dogs and find a breeder who knows exactly what they are doing with their doodles. Do you have a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle? What are your thoughts on the showdown: Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle? Tell us about your dog in the comment section below. Related Article. How do you decide which is the best Doodle dog for you? When I was trying to decide if a Doodle dog was the right fit for our family, I had many questions about the similarities and the differences between Labradoodles and Goldendoodles. I weighed the Goldendoodle pros and cons and the Labradoodle pros and cons because I wanted to make the best decision for our pack. From my experiences and research, these two lovable Doodle breeds will respond to your positive parenting and make great family dogs. You want to wrap your head around the differences and similarities…so you can some day wrap your arms around a little teddy bear pup of your own. Wondering about Goldendoodles vs Labradoodles? First, the key difference between the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle is this… The Labradoodle is a hybrid or crossbreed between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. A Labradoodle is a cross between a Poodle left and Labrador Retriever right. The Goldendoodle is a hybrid or a crossbreed between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. In other words, the biggest difference between the Goldendoodle and the Labradoodle is the parent breed heritage on one side of the family. A Goldendoodle is a cross between a Poodle left image and Golden Retriever right image This brings us to the biggest similarity between Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles have a Poodle parent on one side of the family. More on this in a minute. A hybrid or crossbreed is an intentional mixing of two different breeds to produce an offspring that is a blend of both. In other words, both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles have distinctly different parents. This is unlike purebred dogs who have parents of the same breed. These dog shows are conformation events for purebred dogs only. Also, because neither breed is a purebred dog it means they are not on the AKC breed registry. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are crossbreeds Also, both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are similar in that they may be some combination of the two distinct breed types. This combination is commonly called an F1B Goldendoodle. These numbers and letters are simply a way to distinguish the generations of Doodle dogs. This is the designation for crossing a first generation F1 back to a purebred dog. Basically, Goldendoodles are some combination of Golden Retriever and Poodle heritage. For more information on characteristics between generations, check out my article on F1 vs F1B Goldendoodles. Labradoodles are some combination of Labrador Retriever and Poodle heritage. The breed is classified as a sporting dog by the AKC—a group of dogs who are active and have natural instincts in the outdoors. Labrador Retrievers definitely shed coats, so many parents of Labrador Retrievers embrace the pet hair because there is plenty to spare! Labrador Retrievers are athletes—strong and sturdy. They require daily exercise for both physical and mental health. By understanding the Labrador Retriever characteristics—working, athleticism, affectionate—you can gain insight into the Labradoodle. A happy Golden Retriever The breed, which was originally intended to retrieve water fowl, often has a natural love for swimming and fetch. Among other qualities, sporting dogs tend to be naturally active and have natural instincts for the outdoors. For this reason, Golden Retrievers require daily exercise. Golden Retrievers have high-shedding coats in colors of golden—from light golden to reddish golden. As a reminder, the Golden Retriever is the parent breed of the Goldendoodle. By understanding the Golden Retriever characteristics—retrieving, playful, joyful, active—we have insight into the Goldendoodle. Poodle The Poodle parent breed to both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles is highly regarded for being highly intelligent, having amazing athletic ability, and sporting a distinctive low-allergen, low-shedding curly coat. In his urgent quest to find a guide dog for pet allergy sufferers, he crossed the low-shedding, allergy-friendly Poodle and the highly trainable, friendly Labrador Retriever. This is the widely accepted origin story of the Labradoodle. According to my research, there are a couple of different stories on the origin of the Goldendoodle. The other origin story credits Monika Dickens yes, related to the famous author, Charles Dickens with introducing the Goldendoodle in the s. However, the Goldendoodle did not grow in popularity until the s. Of course, as with all things related to hybrid dogs, everything can be taken with a grain of salt. This is because, there is more variety when crossing two very different breeds. In fact, if you have your heart set on a very specific size, color, coat type, weight, and personality of dog, you may find that a purebred is more your style. Labradoodle Health comparison: Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are similar in that they both may be susceptible to inherited or genetic conditions from their parent breeds. What conditions? According to Embrace Pet Insurance claims analysis on Goldendoodles and Labradoodles… Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles share hip dysplasia as a common health issue. Elbow dysplasia is a common health issue in Labradoodles. As a slight caveat, this information is not the result of a substantial scientific study, but rather based on claims. So, I rounded up three helpful tips for you: Choose a reputable breeder who is committed to the future of the breed. Reputable breeders use the latest health testing and genetic research methods to make sure their puppies have the best chances for living a happy, health life. Help your Doodle dog maintain a healthy weight. Establish a great relationship with your veterinarian. As part of your new puppy checklist , plan to take your pupper to the veterinarian within a few days of bringing him or her home. This way, you can start your puppy off on the right paw with the vaccinations and care they need. Then, plan to take your dog for yearly physical exams and well checks. Now that we have an overview of the similarities and differences in Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle health, what about personality? Temperament and personality: Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle A well-bred Labradoodle sometimes referred to as a Cobberdog is typically a smart, loyal, family dog. Due to their loyalty to their owner from the Labrador Retriever lineage , they tend to make better service dogs i. Labradoodles enjoy daily romps The Goldendoodle or Groodle is generally known as a smart, eager-to-please, and rather comical family dog. The Golden Retriever heritage typically makes Goldendoodles natural retrievers. They may like nothing more than to play a game of fetch in the backyard. They are ideally suited for a fenced in yard or place where they can enjoy energy burns. Due to the social nature of their Golden Retriever heritage, they tend to make better therapy dogs—dogs who provide comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc. Many Goldendoodles enjoy fetch Neither Goldendoodles nor Labradoodles make good guard dogs. Also, both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles do well in homes that have fenced in yards, or a place where they can get daily exercise. Both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are smart , which means they are quick to learn and enjoy mental stimulation and dog enrichment activities, toys, and games. If you give these dogs a job such as agility training, nose work training, or simply teaching them tricks, they will flourish. On the flip side, intelligence also means they are smart enough to come up with their own interests if they are bored. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles can vary greatly in size. The Poodle side of the family gets most of the credit for bringing such a wide variety of sizes to the mix. Purebred Poodles range in size from miniature to standard. This is why both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles can range greatly in size. This is logical when you consider that the parent breeds the Golden Retriever for the Goldendoodle and the Labrador Retriever for the Labradoodle are good-sized dogs. In very general terms, the smaller the dog, the longer the life. The good news is that there are things that you can do to help your pupper have the best chance to live the best life now and for many years to come. This makes sense if you think about the parent breeds. The Golden Retriever has a long coat while the Labrador Retriever has a short coat. Also, be on the look out for the Doodle puppy coat transition —a time when the coat changes over from fine puppy hair to the adult coat. BTW…you may want to check out my hack for using cornstarch for matted dog hair. That said, at adulthood the Labradoodle may have a slight edge over the Goldendoodle when it comes to a shorter, slightly easier-to-maintain coat. No dog is completely hypoallergenic. However, both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles tend to be more allergy friendly than high-shedding dogs like Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. However, the purebred Poodle is the most allergy-friendly breed of all. For more, check out my article: Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles sport a variety of coat colors due to the Poodle heritage. The Poodle parent brings 11 official standard colors and 16 other color combinations to the mix. This is according to the AKC breed outline. Popular Poodle colors More specifically, here is a list of popular Poodle coat colors that Poodles bring to the family: Red. What Is A Goldendoodle? What Is A Labradoodle? The Labradoodle is an affectionate, energetic, loyal and smart cross breed. Where Do Goldendoodle Come From? While these designer dogs became more common and more popular in the s, some dog breeders were crossing these two breeds as early as the s. The idea was to create a dog that was capable of helping people with disabilities or in need of a service animal but struggled with allergies to dogs. Goldendoodles tend to have a hypoallergenic coat that make them a good option for people with allergies to dogs. Where Do Labradoodle Come From? Labradoodle Photo: Adobe Stock Goldendoodles have an average size range of 22 to 29 inches and can weigh between 60 and 90 pounds depending on the sex of the dog. So, Goldendoodles on average are slightly bigger than Labradoodles. They can have a curly coat or a smoother coat. Goldendoodles have a number of possible coat colors and coat combinations, including cream, brown, black, red, sable, blue and silver. The most Goldendoodle coat color is cream, brown or sable, resulting in these hybrid dogs often being likened to teddy bears. They can either have what is described as a wool-like coat similar to their Poodle parent or a softer, fleece coat that is more akin to their Labrador parent. Labradoodles can have a variety of coat colors, including black, red, cream, sable, brindle, blue and silver. So each member of these designer dog breeds can differ in appearance. Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle: Temperament Goldendoodles are affectionate, eager to please, energetic, loving, loyal and trainable dogs. As we touched upon, Goldendoodles are often used to help people who have service needs. Labradoodles have a lot of traits in common with the Goldendoodle. Labradoodles can do well in a family setting but supervision around children is always a good idea. These social dogs will benefit from early socialization and training just like Goldendoodle puppies. At a minimum, you could walk your hybrid dog for 60 minutes but these two cross breeds are eager to please, highly intelligent and like to put their IQ to good use. Are Labradoodles Or Goldendoodles Calmer? Their tight curls will catch any dander they produce. Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle: Shedding Brown and white Labradoodle Photo: Adobe Stock Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are low-shedding dogs as we highlighted in the point above. So they should be minimal shedders if they shed at all. These two cross breeds will require regular baths to maintain the appearance, health and texture of their coats. First generation Goldendoodles and Labradoodles will have similar shedding levels. However, a second or third generation Goldendoodle or Labradoodle will likely shed even less than a first generation Goldendoodle or Labradoodle. Just like Goldendoodles, the price of a Labradoodle will vary depending on some key factors such as coat color and lineage. Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle: Life Expectancy Goldendoodle playing with a tennis ball Photo: Adobe Stock Goldendoodles will usually have a life expectancy ranging from 10 to 15 years. For instance, Golden Retrievers live between 10 and 12 years and Poodles have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Labradoodles have a slightly longer life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. For instance, Goldendoodles tend to be slightly bigger than Labradoodles. However, Labradoodles can live to a slightly older age than Goldendoodles. Goldendoodles do have a slightly higher average price than the Labradoodle. These two dogs can make excellent guide and service dogs thanks to their affectionate, gentle, loyal, eager-to-please, highly-trainable personalities. They need lots of daily exercise to satisfy their mental and physical stimulation needs. Overall, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles have lots of similarities both in terms of appearance, temperament, coat texture, shedding and exercise requirements. Goldendoodles are also a healthy breed in general. Common health problems include Eye problems, Predisposition to some cancers Hip and elbow dysplasia Both the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle have a similar life span of between 10 to 15 years. The smaller the Poodle mix the longer the lifespan. Miniature Goldendoodles and Miniature Labradoodles can live for even longer than the year average. Food Consumption Comparison for Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle The decision of which diet to feed your puppy is for you to make. The advice of your vet or fellow breed owners may help guide you. There are no strict rules about which diet is best for your dog. Breeders I interviewed believe that both dog breeds will do well with good quality dry food. It will meet all their nutritional needs. It will also help keep their teeth in good condition. Both dogs will have different requirements for total food volume based on their weight. Typically a Goldendoodle consumes cups of dry food per day. Labradoodles have the same guideline. If a Goldendoodle coat is curly, you can look for a few early signs to help tell the coat type of your Goldendoodle. Owners suggest that Labradoodles on average consume slightly more food than Goldendoodles of the same weight. Every dog is different however so I would not put too much emphasis on this factor when choosing a dog breed. Both breeds tend to eat a lot if given the opportunity. If you have a miniature dog then pick up the dog and step on your bathroom scales. Then weigh yourself again without the dog and figure out the difference. For large dogs visit a large pet store or your local Vet. They usually have a pet scale you can use for free. Some owners report that their Goldendoodles are prone to food allergies. For these dogs creating a diet that is free from wheat, corn, soy, and dairy products is important. The best option for them is often dry grain-free foods. A key to consider is that the first ingredient on the list should be meat. Food allergies often present with skin irritation for Goldendoodles. A commonplace for irritation and itchiness from allergies is the soft skin in-between the paws. If your Goldendoodle is licking its paws or biting its paws this can be a sign that a food sensitivity is occurring. Which is better for families? There is a reason why the two breeds are very popular, that is because they are intelligent, adorable, and family-friendly. We all want to get a perfect dog for our family, and it is natural to be concerned about making the wrong choice. The age of any children that the puppy will be in contact with can be considered when comparing Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle dogs. Although both breeds are similar — some owners of both breeds report the following Goldendoodles may be better with younger children, particularly visiting toddlers and strange younger kids Their enthusiasm and love for life suits active young children Labradoodles can be an excellent energetic match for young teenagers and older teens Goldendoodles are sometimes too energetic for shy children and this must be considered. Goldendoodles also sometimes share their excitement by barking — which can either startle children or disrupt sleep. These traits are true of all dogs of any breed and should be taken with a grain of salt as anecdotal experiences though a quick browse of the Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle subreddits show the same trends repeating. Are Goldendoodles or Labradoodles better with Separation anxiety? Separation from owners is an issue in the busy modern world. Picking either a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle requires a time investment. You need to be there for your dog or arrange some company. Separation anxiety is common for both breeds. It is a dead-tie between the two. Both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are prone to barking, panicking, crying or whining if left alone for long periods of time. There are strategies to limit excessive barking from separation anxiety. The only real solution is keeping your dog company. Labradoodles are social animals and should not be left outside for extended periods of time. So Which Pet Is best? Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle? It is obvious that both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are great pets for individuals and families. They are loyal, loving, intelligent, and friendly. They are willing to please, which helps enormously with training. Each Poodle Mix will present different kinds of personality traits separate to the physical traits. These guides can help you make a decision between two very similar breeds. Based on your experience — which dog is your preference? Who wins the Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle showdown? Do you have thoughts on which would suit your family best? Goldendoodle What's the difference between a Labradoodle and a Goldendoodle? The Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle are both designer dogs brought into the world with the perfect mixture of qualities from their parents. The main difference between the Labradoodle vs. Labradoodle Labradoodle vs. Well the parentage of these fluffy cuties can vary quite a bit, what with Goldendoodles being the result of a Golden Retriever and either a Toy, Miniature or Standard Poodle. Goldendoodle looks, size differences, coat and colouring. Labradoodle vs. The slightly trickier part of the Goldendoodle parentage is that they can have a Toy, Miniature or Standard Poodle parent alongside the Golden Retriever side. Standard Goldendoodles i. Those mixed with Miniature Poodles can weigh between 35 and 50 pounds, and those mixed with Toy Poodles can be as iddy as 20 pounds - cute! To make things simpler, we can refer to each of these Goldendoodle types as Standard, Miniature or Toy Goldendoodles. Any Labradoodle weighing under 13 pounds and growing up to 11 inches tall is often classed as a Teacup Labradoodle. The second smallest is the Toy Labradoodle, growing to between 14 and 16 inches tall, weighing in at a very cute 15 to 20 pounds. Then we have the medium Labradoodle, who can weigh up to 40 pounds and grow up to 20 inches tall. The largest Labradoodle, i. Goldendoodle Goldendoodle vs. Labradoodle coat differences Like Golden Retrievers and Labradors, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are born with different coat types with varying consistencies. Curly-coated Goldendoodles Goldendoodles with a curly coat are more likely to be hypoallergenic, like many Doodle dogs which also means less hoovering. Golden Retriever and Goldendoodle As with many Poodle mixes, the Labradoodle coat varies a fair bit as well, and when it comes to full grown Labradoodles vs. Labradoodles can be found with a hair coat which is straight , and like their Australian Labradoodle cousins, they can also be found with wool and fleece coats. What do these all mean, though? Hair-coated Labradoodles Hair-coated Labradoodles are less common and tend to resemble their Labrador Retriever parents more than their Poodle parents. Labrador Retriever and Labradoodle Goldendoodle vs. Goldendoodle coat colours. Two of the most popular doodle crossbreeds are the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle, both of which make excellent additions to the family. The Labradoodle combines the traits of a Poodle with the playful temperament of the Labrador Retriever, while the Goldendoodle blends the qualities of a Poodle with the affectionate nature of the Golden Retriever. Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle, which Doodle breed is best for you? Temperament Looking for a lovable companion? The Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle are two poodle mixes that fit the bill as they inherit desirable characteristics from both parent breeds. Since the Labrador is often calm and affectionate, the Labradoodle has the same traits. As a pet, the Labradoodle is bound to make you smile with its extroverted personality and strong desire to spend time with human family members. Both breeds are highly intelligent making them great family dogs, but this also gives them the potential to be trained as service dogs or therapy dogs. Labradoodles also have a sixth sense about what is happening, making them well-suited for busy homes or homes that get a lot of visitors. The standard Poodle and Golden Retriever are among the most intelligent dog breeds, so the Goldendoodle is a smart pooch capable of figuring things out quickly. Due to its intelligence and extroversion, it is important to set boundaries for this breed early on; otherwise, the Goldendoodle may have difficulty reigning in its energy level and enthusiasm. Coat When comparing the Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle, the most distinctive difference is the coat. Purebred poodles have tightly curled hair, which gives them their distinctive appearance. In contrast, the Labrador Retriever has a coarser, thicker hair follicle. Golden Retrievers have a thinner hair follicle, but more hair overall, so they tend to have a fluffier, wavy look. Golden Retrievers naturally have cream, caramel, gold, or red colored puppies, but Poodles come in all colors, so Goldendoodle puppies can be those colors plus black, chocolate, parti, brindle, merle, etc. Popularity Due to their attractive appearance and desirable personality traits, both the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle are extremely popular. They are especially popular among people with allergies, as with proper breeding, they should shed much less than other breeds. The lack of shedding means these dogs are far less likely to trigger allergic reactions or symptoms. Grooming Labradoodle Grooming Due to differences in their coats, the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle have different grooming requirements. Labradoodle puppies need to be brushed regularly, as their adult coats often do not grow in until they are approximately a year old. Labradoodles should be groomed in a specific way, especially if you want your dog to maintain its trademark Labradoodle appearance. For example, the groomer should use a long blade to trim the bulk of the coat. The Labradoodle is meant to have full-looking legs, so the groomer must be careful not to trim off too much hair. Goldendoodle Grooming Goldendoodles also need regular grooming. When trimming the coat, you have a few options when it comes to length. A short cut is also more comfortable during the dog days of summer. You could even give your Goldendoodle a layered look by cutting the hair so that it tapers down to the legs. Training Labradoodle Training Their high level of intelligence makes Labradoodles fairly easy to train, as a Labradoodle puppy is quick to learn new commands and has a strong desire to please its human companions. Initially, Labradoodle training should focus on building a positive relationship between you and your dog. Your Labradoodle needs to know that it can trust you, so avoid yelling or making gestures that could be interpreted by the dog as threatening. During the first training session, establish yourself as the leader of the pack. One way to establish yourself as the leader of the pack is to be careful not to give your dog too many treats. A treat should only be given when your Labradoodle follows a command. Otherwise, your dog will not understand its place in your family, and you may have trouble getting it to follow your rules. If you have children, make sure they know how to handle a puppy. Otherwise, your pup is likely to display undesirable behaviors as a response to stress. Setting expectations helps ease anxiety and ensures that your canine companion knows what to expect while living with you. When you start training your Labradoodle, one of the most important things you can teach it is to wait patiently. If you teach your dog to wait, you can avoid jumping and other undesirable behaviors in the future. The best way to accomplish this is to show the Labradoodle you have a treat and then ask it to sit and wait. If the dog runs toward you, paws at the treat or jumps on you, take the treat away. Only give your Labradoodle the treat if it sits and waits for you to take action. Otherwise, your dog will think it can get what it wants by displaying undesirable behaviors. Goldendoodle Training Due to the similarities in their personalities, the training methods for Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are fairly similar. To socialize your Goldendoodle, take it to a local dog park or look for a puppy playgroup in your area. In a pinch, you can also invite friends and family members to come to your house and meet the dog. Just make sure everyone you invite knows how to interact with a puppy without scaring it or coming off as overly aggressive. Once your dog is comfortable, start introducing it to new people and new circumstances. A hiker with a backpack, a person on a bicycle and someone wearing a hat are all people your dog should meet, as your puppy needs to get used to people who look and smell different from you. Like Labradoodles, Goldendoodles are usually quick to catch on when it comes to learning new commands and following the rules. Just be sure to establish that you are the pack leader or your Goldendoodle may decide that it would rather have fun than listen to you when you tell it to get off the couch or stop jumping on people. Goldendoodles need consistency and structure, so try to do a training session at the same time each day. Once your Goldendoodle has been socialized and learned basic training commands, try walking or hiking together to help the dog use up some of its energy. The size of a doodle depends on whether you have the standard, miniature or medium version. Standards typically range from 21 to 23 inches high for females and 22 to 24 inches high for males. Miniatures are tiny, as they are typically 14 to 16 inches high. Mediums are slightly smaller than the standard version, with females ranging from 17 to 19 inches high and males ranging from 18 to 20 inches high. The miniature version can weigh as little as 15 pounds or as much as 30 pounds, while the medium Labradoodle typically weighs anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds. Follow the link to read our guide to learn how big do Goldendoodles get? Lifespan As a mix of the Poodle and the Labrador Retriever, a Labradoodle can have health problems that are common in either breed. Labrador Retrievers and Poodles often develop hip dysplasia. With proper care, the typical life span of a Labradoodle is 15 years, making this breed an excellent choice for a long-term companion. Our guide on the lifespan of a Goldendoodle will be really helpful to understand that breed. Since Goldendoodles are part Poodle, they may also develop hip dysplasia as they get older. Eye conditions and a narrowing of the aortic valve are also possible, as these conditions are associated with Golden Retrievers. Again, working with a reputable breeder can help you reduce the risk of these problems, as quality breeders are vigilant about using only the best dogs for breeding purposes. Goldendoodles have an expected life span of 10 to 15 years. Quality is important, as good breeding practices can help you avoid common health problems and ensure you get to enjoy many years with your new companion. This is why you should always work with a reputable breeder. Feel free to contact us today to learn more!

Articles German Shepherds are considered the best working dogs around the world. Similarly, the Pomeranians are excellent working dogs and were initially bred as sled dogs. Imagine what will happen when we combine these two unrelated working buddies of dissimilar sizes to give a German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix. Also known as the Pomeranian Shepherd or the German Shepherd Pom, you will soon find out that this fluffy medium dog breed is adorable and playful despite being loud and aggressive. In this article, I will let you know about the world of these fun-loving buddies, and I will let you know about their life span, their temperaments, and how to take care of them. German Shepherd Pomeranian Mixes can grow up to 15 inches tall. The average height they can reach is 12 inches tall and is expectedly bigger than that of a Pomeranian but less than that of a German Shepherd. For their weight, a German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix can weigh between 15 to 20 lbs. Hence, this mixed breed falls under the medium-sized dog breed category, and its size will lie between a German Shepherd and a Pomeranian. In other words, the weight of a German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is often greater than that of a Pomeranian. However, it is also less than that of a mature German Shepherd. So if you are looking for a miniature-sized pooch that looks like a German Shepherd, you should go for a German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix. In addition, it is for this reason that a Pomeranian is never used as the female when breeding a German Shepherd Pom. This is because the female Pomeranian will not be able to carry the weight of many German Shepherd Pom puppies. Image from Instagram: princesspommom Physical Appearance The physical appearance of German Shepherd Poms depends on the characteristics they inherited from their parents. Their coat color and patterns also depend on this. If their fluffy coat is well inherited from their German Shepherd parent, their coat appears smoother and less fluffy. However, if their fluffy coat is inherited from their Pomeranian parents, they have a more fluffy and long coat. For their coat color, if it is inherited from a German Shepherd, it will be tan, sable, dark red, or black. On the other hand, if their coat color is inherited from a Pomeranian, it will appear red, orange, cream, sable, or black. German Shepherd Pomeranian Mixes typically can live between 12 to 14 years. During their lifespan, they may get affected by common health issues that will impact their quality of life. Here are some common health issues affecting this mixed breed. Collapsed Trachea Some canines are genetically susceptible to collapsed trachea. Since a genetic factor is involved, a German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix will likely get affected. When it does happen, the tracheal rings of cartilage that support your doggie windpipe become slack, and it collapses. Hence, your furry friend finds it difficult to breathe. It is accompanied by a lack of strength and reduced stamina because the heart can not pump enough blood to the tissues. Faulty heart valves, like the mitral valves, are the major cause of this disease. Another cause of this disease is irregular heart rhythm and narrowing blood vessels. In a situation where you observe your furry friend coughing persistently, you should consult your veterinarian. Diabetes Diabetes affects dogs, especially German Shepherd Poms. It influences how their body uses glucose for energy. It occurs when there is no glucose-insulin connection in the body. This may be due to insufficient insulin production or resistance to the insulin produced. Some of the symptoms are increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and increased appetite. However, it can still be managed by visiting your veterinarian if you observe that your canine buddy has any of these symptoms. Other health issues affecting German Shepherd Poms to note are hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, and cataracts. Due to their high-energy nature, taking care of the German Shepherd Poms requires proper nutrition, sufficient exercise, and the use of dental water additives to keep them in good health. Exercise Routine We recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise for your German Shepherd Pom every day. This can be in the form of a slight jog and walk in between. If the exercise will take longer than 45 minutes, ensure that your canine buddy has breaks to regain its energy. Alternatively, there are canine games your furry friend can participate in canine games, such as ball fetching and weave pole exercise for sprinting. To strengthen your German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix hip muscles, we also recommend that you include 5 to 10 minutes of canine squats daily in your exercise routine. This canine squat exercise is good for preventing hip dysplasia. Food containing meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains provides your canine buddy with a wholesome diet. Most commercial dog foods meet this requirement. More so, they are approved by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition as a safe and healthy option for feeding pets. One such example we recommend is the Pet Plate. It is made with human-grade ingredients and supplies your canine buddy with a balanced diet containing proteins, multivitamins, and minerals. Many of these things are harmful and can cause infections in the mouth and plague the teeth of your doggie. Having your canine buddy wash their mouth and brush their teeth with dental water additives kills these germs and prevents the growth of plagues on their teeth. For this reason, we recommend using dental water additives for the safe oral health of your dear buddy. Ideally, you should brush the teeth of your canine buddy every day. With a barking tendency, the German Shepherd Poms are an ideal candidate for being a watchdog and can alert their owners of any intruders. But do they show any aggression towards such intruders? Aggressive Yes, the German Shepherd Pomeranian Mixes display moderate aggression, especially towards strangers who intrude their living spaces or the house. They can be aggressive towards strangers and those whom they are not familiar with. Early socialization training is required for this mixed breed, especially when there are children in the household. Image from Instagram: finnthedawgg Separation Anxiety Just like their parents, the German Shepherd Poms can deeply suffer from separation anxiety when left unattended for more than 6 hours. Leaving them alone for a long time causes them to be frightened. Hence, they show destructive behaviors such as tearing shoes apart, chewing furniture foams, and barking aggressively. There are many reasons why your Pomeranian Shepherd can suffer from separation anxiety, some reasons include a change in its owner, a transition into a new home from a shelter home, or the loss of one of its loved relatives. There are many treatments for separation anxiety. For instance, rewarding your canine buddy with a special treat just before you leave the house will make it get excited, especially when it sees you leaving. This is because it knows it will have a special reward. Letting your canine buddy have its room and teaching it to be alone even when you are at home will also help in curbing its separation anxiety. Involving your pooch in crate games and exercises can relieve its stress and may help with separation anxiety. Having your pooch in dog day care centers or taken care of by a dog sitter in your absence will also relieve its stress. Though it takes time for your dog to learn to be alone, alternatively, using the above treatment options will enable it to better adjust to its new lifestyle. Besides being loud and aggressive, German Shepherd Poms can be thought to be fun-loving, playful, energetic, and courageous. Be it indoors or outdoors, and you will definitely be enjoying every moment and interaction with this mixed breed. They replace their coats seasonally, twice a year. To keep your German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix clean and have a shiny-looking coat all through the year, you should brush, trim, and wash its coat on a regular basis. Hypoallergenic The German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is not considered to be hypoallergenic due to its moderate shedding levels. Therefore, to reduce its shedding levels, its coat should be brushed 3 to 4 times every week and trimmed once every six weeks to retain its shape and fluffiness. Grooming Having grooming tools keep their coat length moderate and clean. A clean-looking German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is the goal of every pet parent. This tool is safe on the skin of your German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix, gently rolling to remove any loose hair and trimming off excessive hairs. Removes loose hair: reaches through the topcoat to remove loose undercoat hair without cutting skin or damaging the.FURejector button: just push the button to release hair with ease. Check Price on Amazon Bathing In addition to brushing and trimming your furry friend, you should also bathe them with the appropriate shampoo products. The product is specially formulated using oatmeal as an active ingredient to prevent itching and irritation on sensitive and dry skin. Because of its rarity, German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is considerably expensive. However, if you choose to adopt it, you should expect its price to be much lower. Yes, a German Shepherd can breed with a Pomeranian. However, as both breeds greatly differ in size, crossbreeding is a challenging process. During the breeding process, do ensure that the German Shepherd is the female and the Pomeranian is the male. This will enable her to carry the German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix puppies. Alternatively, artificial insemination serves as a safe method for crossbreeding. Yes, a German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix can swim just like how both their parents, the German Shepherd and the Pomeranian, are great swimmers. However, you should never leave them to swim unsupervised. Always be there to guide and play with them during swimming. What is a Pomeranian German Shepherd Mix? However, this hybrid is definitely a very recent development. The first designer breed, the Labradoodle , emerged in .Since then, people have been captivated by creating new designer breeds. These crossbreeds are often very cute, but there is a deep concern among animal welfare professionals that this trend is not a good thing. Designer Dogs -What's the Problems For example, puppy mills take advantage of this consumer craze and flooding the market with puppies that were created in squalid, inhumane conditions. Many puppy mill puppies are riddled with health issues and temperament problems due to poor breeding practices. However, people are so desperate to have these fashionable puppies that they buy them anyway. There is also a real concern that people will get tired of these puppies after the craze dies down. However, unlike a fashion item or a tech gadget that can be cast aside, these dogs will end up neglected or abandoned. This scenario has already played out with other breeds that became wildly popular for a short period of time. A few years after the trend fades away, thousands of dogs end up unwanted in animal shelters. If you are considering getting one of these dogs, please think hard and long about this decision. Keep in mind that this is a living creature, and if you get one, you must commit to loving it and caring for it for its whole life. Also please make sure that you get one from an ethical source and you are not supporting a cruel and exploitative industry by putting money into a puppy mill. We will talk more about how to acquire a dog from a responsible source later in the article. The GSD was developed in Germany to herd and guard sheep. Today, German Shepherds are primarily kept as companions, but some are still used for working purposes including herding, protection, and scent work. German Shepherds are often used by the police force and the military. Some are even used as service dogs for people with disabilities. German Shepherds require a lot of exercise, training and mental stimulation. They are not the best dogs for novice dog owners. They do best with experienced handlers who can channel their energy into constructive outlets. Check out this article for more information about the German Shepherd Temperament. Meet the Pomeranian The Pomeranian, on the other hand, is a very different type of dog. Pomeranians originated in Europe for the sole purpose of companionship. Pomeranians were popular lap dogs for European royalty. These dogs are loving, joyful, playful, and cuddly. They love to be near people at all times. They do not require an excessive amount of exercise, and they usually do fine in city apartments. On the downside, Pomeranians are known for being vocal, anxious and hard to housetrain. You can learn more about Pomeranians in this article about the Pomeranian temperament. As you can see, Pomeranians and German Shepherds have very different temperaments. Therefore, there can be a lot of variability in the traits of German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes. In general, German Pomeranians tend to be intelligent, active, alert, lively and loyal. They have fluffy coats and they definitely shed a lot! These dogs are usually medium-sized, although their height and weights can vary widely. German Shepherd Pomeranian mix colors are likewise highly variable. They can be black, tan, red, brown, or a combination of these. Their coats are usually thick, and they require a lot of grooming. We will talk more about German Shepherd Pomeranian grooming in the next section. Grooming This is a breed that has a lot of hair and requires a lot of grooming. You will need to stock up on basic grooming supplies such as combs, brushes, nail trimmers, wipes and scissors. Brushing your Pomeranian German Shepherd mix every day is a must. This helps to prevent the coat from matting. You will also need to take your Pomeranian German Shepherd mix to a professional groomer a few times per year for a haircut. Otherwise, the coat will become extremely tangled and dirty. Shedding Does the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix shed? Yes, this hybrid is definitely a shedder! Both the German Shepherd and the Pomeranian are known for shedding heavily throughout the year—especially during shedding season. You should invest in a very good vacuum cleaner! If you are not a fan of dog fur in your house, this mix is probably not the right dog for you. No, this mix is not hypoallergenic. If you are looking for a breed that is hypoallergenic, check out this article for a list of hypoallergenic dog breeds. German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix Training If you are thinking about getting one of these dogs, you are probably wondering what is the best way to train your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix? Research shows that positive reinforcement training is the most effective and humane form of obedience training. If possible, sign up for a positive reinforcement obedience class or puppy socialization class in your area. Classes are a great way for your dog to be exposed to other dogs in a safe, supervised setting. Once you have gone through basic obedience, there are endless opportunities for more advanced activities with your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix. For example, you can try out agility, nosework, rally obedience, and much more! This online resource has hundreds of fun informative dog training videos that can help you learn the basics and more. Luckily, mixed breed dogs tend to be a bit healthier since they come from a larger gene pool. However, it is still a good idea to be familiar with the genetic health conditions that are common in German Shepherds and Pomeranians. Talk with your vet about the symptoms and treatments for the following conditions:. Photo by wearesunnycoco IG Authorized and reputable breeders of Pomeranian German Shepherd mix puppies are hard to come by, especially in the United States. Aside from the controversies about intentional crossbreeding, many breeders are discouraged from producing German Shepherd Pomeranians because of the difficulty in making them. Luckily, there are still some reputable places where you can find German Shepherd Pomeranian puppies for sale: Puppies. You can find the essential information about their puppies on their website, including the puppy prices. Petango — Petango is one of the largest pet advertising websites in the United States. Their website contains comprehensive details about the puppies on their listings. You can also use their filter feature to find the nearest German Shepherd Pomeranian puppy for sale near your area. PuppySpot — This online pet website lists hundreds of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, including the German Pom. You can also try your chances on Pomeranian and German Shepherd breeders. They may be producing this mix from time to time. You should check out their website as they regularly update their listings. They are a foster-based rescue that provides medical and emotional support to the dogs they rescue. You might luckily find a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix in their listings. Aside from the rescues listed above, you can also review our directory of German Shepherd and Pomeranian rescues. But before you do, read our ultimate dog adoption guide first! Before taking home a Pomeranian German Shepherd mix, you should first know all of these so you can weigh if it is the right dog for you. Here are some of the pros of owning a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix: Unique appearances: German Sheperd Pomeranian mixes truly have astonishing appearances. They can come in different coat colors, and they can boast the unique features of their parent breeds, such as the German Shepherd mask and the Pomeranian mane. Highly intelligent hybrids: Because of their innate intelligence, German Pomeranian mixes are not that difficult to train. They also love pleasing and obeying their owners. Good family dogs: Properly socialized German Shepherd Pomeranians can get along pretty well with children and other pets. They are also good watchdogs because of their vigilant and watchful traits. Meanwhile, here are some of the cons of owning German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes: Unpredictable growth: Since this hybrid is relatively new, no established growth guide is available yet. Hence, the growth of a German Sheperd Pomeranian is very difficult to predict and monitor. Not suitable for people with allergies: German Sheperd Pomeranians have double coats, which they shed throughout the year. They also blow their undercoats heavily twice when the season changes. Tend to bark a lot: Unfortunately, German Pomeranians tend to bark a lot. They howl and bark more frequently than other dogs. Highly energetic: If you are a busy person, the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix might not be the right dog for you. This hybrid requires regular exercise and stimulation. If you think that the pros of owning a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix outweigh the cons, nothing should stop you from taking home one. However, I also suggest that you assess first whether your bank can shoulder the financial responsibility of owning this hybrid dog. You should know that having a dog as a pet is a lifetime commitment. Are you considering adding a unique and exciting pet to your family, like the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix? This rare designer breed blends the bold characteristics of two popular purebred dogs into one package. Understanding the Pomeranian German Shepherd Mix Diving into the world of hybrid dog breeds can be quite fascinating, especially when dealing with a unique mix like the Pomeranian German Shepherd. This rare combination results from artificially inseminating a female GSD with a male Pomeranian, due to the size disparity between these two purebred breeds. The resulting breed embodies characteristics from both parent breeds, presenting potential owners with an intelligent, alert and active canine companion. Because this crossbreed is not common in nature, it may prove difficult and expensive to acquire one owing to demand exceeding supply — sparking concerns about unethical breeding practices at puppy mills. Just like any pet adoption process, commitment to lifelong care for your furry friend should take precedence over novelty or aesthetics. Origin of Pomeranians Pomeranians, a purebred breed recognized by the American Kennel Club AKC , have an intriguing history dating back to the 15th century. Towards the late 19th century, these endearing dogs made their way to America where they quickly became a favored pet breed among dog lovers across the nation. Their distinct appearance and charming temperament endeared them to all who encountered them. Over years ago, these dogs were meticulously developed for their exceptional herding and guarding capacities. As versatile workers, they swiftly gained recognition for their intelligence and strength. These esteemed traits extended beyond the pastures, finding use in various roles such as police work and search-and-rescue missions. Their popularity spread globally, solidifying them as one of the most loved breeds today. Characteristics of Pomeranian German Shepherd Mix Breed Pomeranian GSD mixes are medium-sized dogs with a mix of traits from both parent breeds, including an attractive appearance and a friendly temperament. Appearance and Size The German Shepherd Pomeranian mix is an enchanting designer breed that combines the distinct characteristics of both its parent breeds. With the signature pointy ears and upright posture inherited from the German Shepherd dog, paired with the small size and thick double coat reminiscent of the Pomeranian, they are undeniably eye-catching. Their coats can be straight or curly and come in various colors such as black, white, and brown. The unique appearance of these mixed-breed dogs is sure to turn heads wherever they go. Temperament German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes have a wide range of temperaments, as they inherit traits from both parent breeds. Generally, German Pomeranians are intelligent, active, alert, lively, and loyal dogs. They are known for their playful nature and enjoy being the center of attention. These mixed breed dogs often display a strong sense of loyalty towards their families and can be protective when it comes to guarding their loved ones. Despite their small size compared to purebred GSDs, these mixes can still possess some herding instincts and may try to round up family members or other pets. Common Health Issues The German Shepherd Pomeranian mix dog is generally a healthy breed, but there are some common health issues that potential owners should be aware of. These include: Hip Dysplasia: This is a genetic condition where the hip joint is improperly formed, leading to arthritis and pain. It can cause lameness and difficulty in walking. Luxating Patellas: This condition occurs when the kneecap slips out of place, causing discomfort and difficulty in walking. It can range from mild to severe and may require surgery. Degenerative Myelopathy: This is a progressive disease that affects the spinal cord and leads to weakness and paralysis in the hind legs. It is more common in older dogs. Hypothyroidism: This condition occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, which can lead to weight gain, lethargy, and skin problems. Epilepsy: Some Pomeranian and German Shepherd mixes may be prone to seizures due to an inherited neurological disorder. Medication can help control seizures in most cases. Dental Disease: Both German Shepherds and Pomeranians are prone to dental issues such as gum disease and tooth decay. Regular dental care, including brushing their teeth, is essential for their overall health. Lifespan The German Shepherd and Pomeranian mix has an average lifespan of 10—14 years. By providing them with a balanced diet, regular exercise, grooming, and veterinary check-ups, you can give your furry friend the best chance at living a long and healthy life. So make sure to take good care of your Pomeranian GSD mix, so they can enjoy many happy years by your side! Training and Exercise Needs of Pomeranian GSD Mix To ensure a well-behaved and physically fit Pomeranian Shepherd, consistent training using positive reinforcement techniques is essential along with regular exercise to meet their high energy needs. Training Techniques Here are some training techniques that can help you in successfully training your dog: Start early: Begin training your German Shepherd Pom mix as soon as you bring them home. This will help establish a strong foundation for their obedience and behavior. Consistency: Be consistent in your training methods and commands. Use the same cues and gestures every time you want your dog to perform a specific action or behavior. Rewards-based training: Use treats, praise, and rewards to reinforce positive behaviors. Rewarding your dog for following commands will motivate them to repeat the desired actions. Short training sessions: Keep the training sessions short and focused, as Pomeranian German Shepherd mixes have shorter attention spans. Aim for minute sessions multiple times throughout the day rather than one long session. Socialization: Expose your Pomeranian Shepherd to different people, animals, environments, and situations from an early age. This will help them develop confidence and prevent behavioral issues. Basic commands: Teach basic commands such as sit, stay, come, down, and leave it using consistent cues and hand signals. Leash training: Practice leash walking with your German Shepherd and a Pomeranian mix to ensure they walk calmly on a leash without pulling or reacting to distractions. Positive reinforcement only: Avoid using punishment or harsh methods during training as it can cause fear or anxiety in your dog and hinder their progress. Exercise Requirements German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Here are some key points to remember when it comes to their exercise needs: Daily exercise: Aim for at least one hour of exercise each day to keep your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix physically and mentally stimulated. Physical activities: Engage in activities like brisk walks, jogging, or running together. These high-energy dogs will benefit from vigorous exercise sessions. Mental stimulation: Besides physical exercise, provide mental stimulation with puzzle toys, obedience training, or interactive games to prevent boredom. Playtime: Allow them ample playtime in a safe and enclosed space. Fetch, tug-of-war, and hide-and-seek are great ways to keep them entertained. Training classes: Consider enrolling your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix in obedience classes or agility training. This not only adds variety but also helps channel their intelligence and energy in positive ways. Socialization: Regularly expose your dog to different environments, people, and animals from a young age. This promotes good behavior and helps prevent behavioral issues. Weather considerations: Be mindful of weather conditions when planning outdoor activities. Extreme heat or cold can be uncomfortable for these dogs due to their double coat. If they appear tired or show signs of exhaustion, take a break and provide plenty of water for hydration. Consistency: Establish a routine for exercising your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix, as consistency is key for their physical health and overall well-being. Grooming and Care for German Shepherd with a Pomeranian Mix Grooming and care for a German Shepherd and Pomeranian mix is essential to maintain their healthy coat and overall well-being. Regular brushing is necessary to prevent matting and reduce shedding, especially during seasonal changes. Shedding and Coat Care The Pomeranian Shepherd is known for its thick coat, which requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and manageable. Shedding is a common occurrence with this breed mix, so owners should be prepared for some extra cleaning around the house. Regular brushing sessions can help minimize shedding by removing loose hairs and prevent matting. Diet and Nutrition Proper diet and nutrition play a crucial role in the health and well-being of your Pomeranian German Shepherd mix. These hybrid dogs have specific dietary needs that should be met to keep them healthy and happy. As an active breed, they require high-quality dog food that is rich in protein to support their energy levels. Regular feedin g schedules with portion control are recommended to prevent obesity, as this can lead to various health issues such as joint problems. Consult your veterinarian to determine the best diet plan for your German Pomeranian based on their age, activity level, and any specific dietary requirements they may have due to potential health concerns like hip dysplasia or hypothyroidism. By providing them with the right nutrition, you can ensure they thrive both physically and mentally. German Pomeranian can make excellent family dogs due to their affectionate and loyal nature, as well as their potential for being good with children and other pets. Compatibility with Children and Other Pets German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes are generally compatible with children and other pets, making them great additions to family households. Due to their friendly and sociable nature, they often form strong bonds with children and enjoy playtime together. When properly socialized from a young age, these mixed breeds can get along well with other pets in the household, including cats and smaller dogs. Remember that proper training and positive reinforcement techniques will contribute to a harmonious environment between your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix and your family members or furry companions. Adoption and Rescue Options Adopting a German Pomeranian is possible through various rescue centers and animal shelters. They have a network of foster homes where you can find a loving companion. Although they primarily deal with purebred Pomeranians, they occasionally have Pomeranian mixes available for adoption. Websites such as Petfinder. You can filter your search criteria to find specific breeds or mixes like the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix. This guarantees that you are getting a well-bred puppy with proper care and socialization. Reputable breeders prioritize the overall welfare of their dogs and conduct necessary health tests to minimize genetic issues. While the initial costs may be higher compared to other designer breeds, choosing a reputable breeder ensures that you are making a long-term investment in a healthy and happy companion. Websites like Puppies. Remember, when bringing home your new furry friend, always pick quality over convenience or cost-cutting measures! Estimated Costs The cost of owning a healthy German Shepherd Pomeranian puppy can vary depending on various factors. Additionally, there are initial expenses to consider when bringing home your new furry friend. Are you ready to handle the high-energy levels and exercise needs of a Pomeranian German Shepherd mix? Pros Cons A German Pomeranian can exhibit a blend of the intelligence and loyalty of the German Shepherd and the affectionate and playful nature of the Pomeranian. Acquiring a German Pomeranian can be difficult, expensive, and controversial due to concerns about unethical breeding practices and puppy mills. These hybrids can potentially be adapted to a variety of living situations — from apartments to houses with yards, given the right amount of exercise and mental stimulation. The breed is not officially recognized by major kennel clubs like the American Kennel Club, which can bring legitimacy and health concerns. If socialized and trained correctly, they can get along well with children and other pets, making them a potential choice for families. The differing temperaments of the parent breeds can make the Pomeranian German Shepherd mix a wildcard — they can be loving and playful, or perhaps vocal and anxious. With the right care and regular vet visits, these dogs can lead a healthy life. They are prone to certain genetic health problems inherited from their parent breeds, necessitating regular vet visits and preventive care. They can make great companions for experienced dog owners who can manage their exercise and training needs. German Shepherds are not recommended for novice dog owners due to their high exercise, training, and mental stimulation needs. To Sum Up In conclusion, the Pomeranian Shepherd is a unique and fascinating hybrid breed that combines the intelligence and athleticism of the German Shepherd with the compact size and charm of the Pomeranian. However, potential owners must be aware of the challenges associated with acquiring this rare breed and ensure they are committed to providing lifelong care for their furry companion. By choosing a reputable breeder or considering adoption from rescue groups, you can give these special dogs a loving forever home. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Lifespan Sociability Generally speaking, crossbred dogs are less expensive than pure breeds. On top of this, German Pomeranians are a relatively new and unknown breed. Because both parents command a high price, German Pomeranians do as well. These pups need lots of exercise and space, therefore it is probably best you have a yard. It is also important to be able to spend time with your dog, so consider things carefully before choosing a breed. The Pomeranian parent must be male. The strangest thing about this crossbreed is the massive size difference between the parents. There can be more than an pound difference in weight between German Shepherds and Pomeranians. So, how exactly do they breed? The Pomeranian must be male. A Pomeranian male can mate with a female German Shepherd, even though the logistics still seem a little off. The Pomeranian is likely to die from the attempt. They can be difficult to housebreak. You can get puppies from the same litter that take after different parents. Both parents were bred to work. Most people know that German Shepherds were bred to work. But fewer people know that the Pomeranian was also bred to be a working dog. Pomeranians are part of the Spitz family of dogs, which includes canines like Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. But Pomeranians were thrust into prominence when Queen Charlotte got two of them in the 18th century. German Shepherds are known as some of the most easy-going and laidback dogs of all time. These dogs are joyous, loving, loyal, and endlessly happy. Are These Dogs Good for Families? A few of these dogs might bond closely with just one person, but most German Poms are going to bond with every member of the family. Your German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is unlikely to chase or attack smaller dogs. German Poms are often filled with more confidence than their little bodies can hold, which often results in them acting much larger than they are. Of course, with proper socialization starting at an early age, your German Pomeranian should be able to get along great with just about everyone. They need a lot of exercise. Try a toy specifically for mental stimulation to help with boredom. But this will be dependent on which parent they take after more. If your dog takes after the Shepherd side more, then their coat will be shorter and easier to care for. These dogs will only need to be brushed once or twice a week with occasional baths thrown in when necessary. For German Pomeranians that take after the Pom side more, you can expect to spend twice as much time grooming at least. These pups will have tons of hair that will need brushing nearly every day. Forgo the brushing and you can expect a matted, tangled dog. And these dogs shed quite a bit as well. In the case of German Shepherds and Pomeranians, the list of health problems that are commonly associated with these breeds is extremely long. Minor Conditions Luxating Patella : Simply put, a luxating patella is a kneecap that can move out of place. If you see these signs, you ought to have your German Pom checked out just to be safe. Serious Conditions Hip Dysplasia : This is one of the most common health conditions that faces dogs today, particularly large breeds. German Shepherds are known to be highly vulnerable to hip dysplasia. Because of this, they rub together, causing pain, limiting motion, and eventually resulting in lameness. Elbow Dysplasia : Similar to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is when the elbow joint grows incorrectly, resulting in pain and limited motion. It results in unprovoked seizures that can happen at any time. Given the numbers above, it can be assumed that a Pomeranian German Shepherd cross would fall somewhere in the middle of the two breeds in terms of size and weight. Females GSD Pom mixes can be expected to stand around 14 — 17 inches tall and weigh between 26 — 39 pounds. Whereas males can be expected to stand between 15 — 19 inches tall and weigh between 34 — 49 pounds. Coat German Shepherds have a double coat of medium to long fur with an undercoat. The Pomeranian is also a double-coated breed with an undercoat; however, their fur is longer and fluffier. Accordingly, the coat of a Pomeranian GSD mix will largely depend on which parent the pup takes after. If the pup takes after their GSD parent their coat will be smoother whereas if they take after their Pomeranian parent, their coat will be longer and have more fluff. This mix will shed year-round. If they take after the GSD parent they are more likely to be sable, black and tan, all black, blue, or liver. Whereas, if they take after their Pomeranian parent they can be, red, orange, cream, sable, black, tri-colored, brown, or blue. Grooming The grooming needs of a GSD Pomerania mix will be a little more involved, especially if the pup takes after their Pomeranian parent. Between grooming visits, they should be brushed twice weekly, and their face should be cleaned at least every other day, as they are prone to get eye stains. Teeth cleaning and nail clipping requirement are in the same frequency as any other dog. Since German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes will have erect ears , they should be cleaned once a month, and more often if they are prone to ear infections. Strength As larger more muscular dogs German Shepherds are definitely stronger than the Pomeranian. German Shepherds have a bite force of around psi whereas Pomeranians bite force has not been documented. One could expect a mix between these breeds to lead to a medium-sized dog of average strength with a bite force ranging somewhere in the mid s. Speed German Shepherds have been documented to run at a top speed of up to 30 miles per hour. The Pomeranian being smaller obviously runs slower at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour. A mix between these breeds would likely result in a dog that runs at speeds between 19 — 21 miles per hour. Exercise Requirement Although German Shepherds and Pomeranians are energetic dogs, a mix between these two will be easier to manage exercise wise. Thirty to forty minutes of exercise a day should be sufficient for a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix. However, monitor your dog as this can vary from dog to dog. If you find your dog is starting to exhibit some destructive behaviors you may need to increase their daily physical activity. Since both Pomeranians and German Shepherds are really smart , a mix from these breeds will also benefit from engaging their minds regularly. This can be done with puzzle toys and learning new tricks. Trainability Both German Shepherds and Pomeranians are very trainable , meaning a mix between the two will be trainable as well. German Shepherds rank as the 3rd most intelligent dog breed, and Pomeranians rank as 23rd most intelligent dog breed. Accordingly, a Pomeranian German Shepherd mixed breed would be a dog of excellent intelligence making for a very trainable dog. Temperament German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes are fun-natured, active dogs with a spunky unique personality. Expect this dog to be vocal and like to bark, whine and maybe even howl. With proper socialization and training, this dog can be friendly with both their family as well as people outside their circle. You will need to focus on socialization around other pets from a young age, as sometimes these dogs can be less friendly with larger dogs and animals as they feel threatened because of their size. These dogs are better with older children but can be trained on how to interact with younger children if that is needed. Overall, these dogs will have a confident eager to please attitude and will show their family lots of love and affection. Health The Pomeranian German Shepherd cross can be prone to hypothyroidism, diabetes, cataracts, collapsed trachea, and congestive heart failure most commonly. All dogs have genetic predispositions to certain ailments, however, having a good vet and going to regular visits helps catch any potential problems that may arise early enough for them to be addressed. Lifespan Pomeranian typically live between 12 to 16 years, while German Shepherds tend to live between 12 to 14 years. A cross between these two would most likely have an average lifespan around 13 to 15 years. It is important to remember that the best way to increase the odds of your dog living longer is to provide them with a healthy lifestyle containing high-quality dog food and regular exercise and vet visits. The AKC only maintains a registry of purebreds. German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes are very rare and so are not very popular. Usually, this mix is a result of an accidental mating situation. However, there are some breeders that are intentionally mating these two breeds via artificial insemination to create this dog. When this occurs, the female is usually the German Shepherd and the male is usually the Pomeranian for safety since the size of the puppies may be too large for the tiny Pom to carry to term. Final Thoughts The German Shepherd Pomeranian mix is a medium-sized dog with a fun-loving spunky temperament. They are extremely intelligent, easy to train, and loyal to their family. This mix needs proper socialization and training to be well balanced around other dogs, small children, and strangers. Final Thoughts German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix — Breeding Mixed breeds have become increasingly popular in recent years as people look for dogs that combine the best qualities of different breeds. One mixed breed that has gained a lot of attention is the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix. As the name suggests, this mixed breed is a cross between a German Shepherd and a Pomeranian. This mix was first bred in the United States in the s and has since become a popular choice for families looking for a loyal and loving pet. While mixed breeds can sometimes be unpredictable in terms of personality and physical appearance, this mix is generally considered to be a good-natured and even-tempered dog. These dogs typically stand between 18 and 22 inches tall and weigh between 35 and 60 pounds. These pups have a thick, fluffy coat that can be straight or curly. The most common coat colors are black, white, and brown, but there is a wide range of colors and patterns that these pups can come in. One of the most distinctive features of this mixed breed is their curled tail. This tail is covered in the same fluffy coat as the rest of their body and gives them a playful and friendly appearance. While they may be small, these pups are full of energy and love to play. If you are looking for a fluffy little companion to add to your family, the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix is the perfect pup for you! The German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is a popular crossbreed that is known for being an excellent guard dog. They are loyal and protective of their family, and will bark to warn of any strangers or perceived threats. This mix is a popular choice for families looking for a guard dog, as they are both loyal and protective. However, it is important to note that they will need proper training in order to prevent them from becoming too aggressive. This hybrid mix can be found in most animal shelters, and they make excellent pets for families willing to invest their time in training them properly. The German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix — Training Needs If you have your heart set on a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix, be prepared to put in the time and effort required to properly train your dog. Providing proper training for your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix will help ensure he becomes a well-behaved, well-mannered member of the family. German Shepherds are notorious for being difficult to potty train, and Pomeranians can be stubborn as well. This generally means that this mix will also be difficult in this area. Be patient, consistent, and use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats or praise when your dog goes potty in the proper place. Crate training may also be helpful in Potty training this mixed breed. This will give your dog his own space where he can feel safe and secure and will help teach him that he needs to hold it until he is taken outside to do his business. This is a powerful, energetic dog with a strong prey drive. Without proper obedience training, your dog may be difficult to control and could present a danger to himself and others. Start obedience training as early as possible, using positive reinforcement techniques such as treats or praise. With time and patience, your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix will learn what you expect of him. Proper socialization is also important for this breed. German Shepherds are naturally distrustful of strangers, and Pomeranians can be territorial. This will help your dog learn to trust and accept new people and situations, and will make him a well-rounded, confident adult dog. With proper training, socialization, and obedience training, your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix can be a wonderful companion dog who is loyal and loving to his family. No, the German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is not aggressive. However, they do have a strong prey drive and may not be the best choice for families with small children or other pets. They need daily exercise to burn off their high level of energy. This mixed breed can occasionally show signs of aggression, but this is usually due to lack of socialization or training. Typical situations that may result in aggression include: — feeling threatened or cornered — perceiving a family member to be in danger — being startled or surprised With proper socialization and training, this mix should show minimal signs of aggression. This mix breed is a popular one among dog lovers. They are known to be very loyal and loving dogs. But how much exercise do they need? The German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix is a high-energy dog. They need at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day. An active family that can provide plenty of exercise is the best fit for this breed. Daily exercise is important for this breed, so regular walks, runs, or hikes are a must. If you are not able to provide this amount of exercise, then this is not the right breed for you. The German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix — Mental Stimulation This crossbreed is an intelligent family pet that requires a lot of mental stimulation. They are easily bored and can become destructive if not given enough to do. You can do many simple things to keep their minds active and engaged. Try hiding their food around the house for them to find, or teaching them new tricks and commands. You could even create an obstacle course in your backyard for them to navigate. Whatever you do, just ensure your dog gets the mental stimulation they need to stay happy and healthy. A variety of toys, puzzle feeders, and daily walks or play sessions will help keep their minds active and happy. Training is also important for this breed, as it gives them something to focus on and builds the bond between you. Agility courses, obedience classes or simple tricks at home are all great ways to give your German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix a mental workout. When it comes to grooming your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix, you need to keep a few key things in mind. Coat — Their coat can be either long or short, depending on the parentage. If your dog has a longer coat, you must brush them regularly to prevent matting and tangles. A shorter coat will require less brushing, but you should still brush them occasionally to remove any loose hair. This will help to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. You can use a doggy toothbrush or a finger brush designed for dogs. If you do not keep them trimmed, then they can start to grow into the pads of their feet, which can be very painful. This is because their long ears can easily become infected if they are not kept clean. By following these simple grooming tips, you can keep your German Shepherd Pomeranian mix healthy and looking their best. Some of these health issues are more common than others, and some may be more severe. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common health concerns for German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes. Another common health concern for German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes is elbow dysplasia. One of the more serious health concerns that this mixed breed can develop is degenerative myelopathy. Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive spinal cord disease that leads to paralysis. These are just a few of the common health concerns that German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes can face. Of course, every dog is different and will not necessarily develop any of these conditions. As with all dogs, the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix should have a high-quality diet that is balanced and nutritious. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to this particular breed. This mixed breed is a high-energy dog. They need a lot of exercise, which means they will also need a lot of food to fuel their bodies. High-quality dry dog food is the best option for this breed. Look for brands that are high in protein and low in fillers. The other thing to keep in mind with this breed is that they are prone to weight gain. Avoid giving them too many treats and make sure they get plenty of exercise. Are they good with other Dogs? The German Shepherd Pomeranian mix should be friendly and good with other dogs, as both parent breeds are generally good-natured around other canines. With the right training and socialization, this mixed breed should be a great companion for another dog in the family. Are they Child Friendly? Fortunately, this dog tends to inherit the best qualities of both parents, which means they can make great companions for children of all ages. They are typically friendly and playful, but also loyal and protective, so you can rest assured knowing that your kids will always have a furry friend to watch over them. Do they drool? German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix dogs may drool when they are excited or nervous. However, with proper training and socialization, most GSPOMs will learn to control their drooling instinct. They can help you determine if there is a medical reason for the increased drooling and make recommendations for treatment. In terms of barking levels, German Shepherds are known to be one of the most vocal breeds, while Pomeranians are relatively quiet. They are bred to be smaller in size than their German Shepherd parent and have a thick, double coat that helps protect them from cold weather. While they do well in colder climates, this dog can also adapt to warmer weather. However, they will need access to shade and water to stay cool. If you live in an area with hot summers, keeping your dog inside during the hottest hours of the day is best. Life Expectancy German Shepherd Pomeranian mix dogs have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Also, keep in mind that puppies from reputable breeders are more likely to be healthy and have longer lifespans. However, both parent breeds have long been recognized. The German Shepherd was recognized in , and the Pomeranian was recognized in .This is because this mixed breed is a relatively new hybrid dog breed. When it comes to finding a reputable breeder, make sure you do your research. A good breeder will be able to provide you with health clearances for both of the parent breeds. Occasionally, you may find this hybrid breed in animal shelters or rescue organizations. However, because they are still relatively rare, it may be difficult to find one that is up for adoption. They are loyal, loving, and make excellent protectors. However, they do require a fair amount of exercise and may not be the best choice for first-time dog owners.

They require lots of love, attention, playtime, training, and socialization. Vizsladoodles are rare hybrids that you will usually find from a breeder. It is also not impossible to find them from a rescue shelter, but either way, it is important to do your research and find a reputable place to adopt or buy your Vizsladoodle puppy. It is also important to remember that over and above the cost of the puppy is the addition of the initial vet visit and inoculations, beds, food bowls, and toys. Once the initial setup costs are taken care of, you must factor in monthly costs such as food and pet insurance. It may seem overwhelming at first, but the years of unconditional love and companionship make it worth it. It carries all the great traits from its parents and makes a remarkable companion for families of all sizes and singles. Because its parents are incredibly intelligent, the Vizsladoodle does not take long to potty-train and is relatively easy to train. Are These Dogs Good for Families? But like any family with kids adopting a new pet, the children need to be taught how to behave with and handle puppies and dogs. They love long walks in the park, playing fetch, and any activity involving being with their humans. They have a great adoration for their family members, and they are eager to please. Vizsladoodles will generally get along with other pets as long as they are well-socialized and trained from a young age. Because the dog is full of energy and playful, it may be a little overbearing for a cat, but that is something that most cats can handle as they usually stay out of the way. However, they generally get along with other dogs and can become good friends. Your Vizsladoodle will require a high-quality, complete diet that is age appropriate. Commercially processed canned or kibble foods are convenient, consistent, easily accessible, and affordable, and they go through a quality control process. You can feed your dog twice daily as an adult, but puppies require at least three meals daily to assist their development. Your Vizsladoodle will also benefit from puzzle feeders since it is intelligent and requires appropriate mental stimulation. A post shared by Vizsladoodle-Hummels hummels.This can be broken up into two daily sessions of 30 minutes, depending on the age and stage of growth. The dog loves to walk, run, and play, and if it is anything like its Poodle parent, it may love to swim! They will thrive with an active family that will provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation. A Vizsladoodle that is not adequately exercised may get bored and direct its pent-up energy into destructive activities, such as chewing your shoes or digging up your garden! They are devoted, eager to please their humans, and easy to train. Early socialization and training are highly recommended to get your pup off to a good start. They excel at obedience training and thrive from lots of mental stimulation. Positive reinforcement will help greatly for successful training, so lots of praise and treats are the name of the game. Regardless of whether they inherit a coat that is more Poodle-like or Vizsla-like, you will only need to brush them a few times per week to keep shedding to a minimum. If your Vizsladoodle has a coat more like its Poodle parent, it may require a haircut every 6 to 8 months to keep it neat and prevent matting. Their teeth will also require at least a weekly brushing, and their nails and ears should be checked regularly. A post shared by hilde. They are generally healthy, but like all canines, they may be prone to specific health conditions. Finding a reputable breeder will also help reduce the chance of developing any major health issues since reputable breeders perform genetic testing to ensure their stock is healthy. Minor Conditions. Origins Of The Vizsla Poodle Mix There is no documented history of the vizsla poodle mix as an intentional hybrid breed. However the origins of deliberately bred poodle mix dogs like the labradoodle is more well known and was initially driven by the need to produce a service dog for a vision impaired woman with allergies in the s. So with high demand for non-shedding dogs, it is no surprise the vizsladoodle exists today. And while not particularly common, the crossbreed offers a unique combination of a more hypoallergenic and medium sized dog for active dog lovers. Vizslas have a long documented history in Europe. But they faced extinction in the early 20th century due to war, occupation and the subsequent disruption to breeding programs in modern day Hungary. Originally bred as a water dog to retrieve waterfowl, they are now one of the most popular dog breeds but rarely used for hunting. Poodles were recognised by the AKC in and are part of the non-sporting category. There are three official poodle sizes — Standard, Miniature and Toy poodles. Based on their parentage they are likely to be an elegant, medium to large sized dog ranging in size from 15 to 24 inches high. They will have large floppy ears, a long tail, and a lean and muscular frame. In terms of color there will be a range of possibilities. Vizslas come in just one solid color, golden rust. But poodles come in a wide range of solid colors from cream all the way through to black. Their coat will vary from curly to wavy. But it is likely you will need to groom your vizsladoodle more than you would a purebred vizsla as vizslas have such short easy to maintain coats. The best way to know the likely size and color of your vizslapoo is to see the parents as your pup will inherit a combination of their appearance traits. Both are both renowned as friendly, playful and affectionate dogs so there is a good chance your vizsladoodle will have all of these characteristics. Poodles and vizslas are also intelligent, eager to please and highly trainable so training your vizslapoo and teaching them tricks should be pretty easy. In terms of risks relating to temperament, both breeds dislike being left alone and are prone to separation anxiety. As a result your poodle cross vizsla will need plenty of attention and cuddles from you. Both these breeds need plenty of mental stimulation and can be prone to boredom so you will need to keep your mixed breed dog busy when you are out. In terms of what is different and therefore less predictable, the vizsla temperament is renowned as very emotionally needy and sensitive than the poodle. And while poodles can also experience separation anxiety, they are on the whole more independent dogs than vizslas. So the degree of clinginess will vary depending on the genetic makeup of each mixed dog. With any mixed breed dog, proactive socialization and training from an early age will help combat any negative traits. The Vizsladoodle is an incredibly friendly dog and is brimming with affection for the people that this pup loves. This pup varies in size since the Vizsla can mate with either the Toy, Miniature, or Standard Poodle, which means it comes in a variety of loveable sizes. They are highly intelligent thanks to their Poodle genes and loyal as ever, thanks to the DNA from the Vizsla parent. Mixed pups usually do not get the same level of fanfare and attention as their purebred counterparts, which results in key details being skimmed over. Chances are the Vizsladoodle originated in the United States some time, either during or after the s, since that is when Doodle popularity skyrocketed. No breeder has come forward with the claim of having crossed the Vizsla and the Poodle together for the first time, and chances are this breed existed in nature through accidental mating long before any intentional efforts to bring the two dogs together began. Personality and Temperament This is an incredibly friendly pup! The Vizsladoodle loves to be around the humans that it loves and is social enough to get along well with pretty much anyone. With a bit of early socialization, these pups make great additions to families with kids due to their gentle and calm nature. They thrive in households where they get a fair bit of attention. Loyal to the core and incredibly loving, this pup makes for a wonderful pet. To get a good idea of the kind of personality your Vizsladoodle will grow up to have, it is best to spend time around the Poodle or the Vizsla parents. Their personalities are usually fairly good indicators of the kind of temperament your puppy will grow up to have. Vizsladoodle Size It is difficult to say exactly how big the Vizsladoodle will get since their size is highly reliant on the Poodle parent. The size will vary depending on whether the Vizsla has mated with a Toy, Miniature, or Standard Poodle. The lack of standards when it comes to sizes means there is quite a bit of variation from one pup to the next. Vizsladoodle Health On average, the Vizsladoodle is a hardy and healthy pooch. This is mainly because the gene pool is relatively larger when it comes to mixed breeding, resulting in hybrid vigor. The hybrid dogs are often healthier than their parents, but it is always a good idea to check the health clearances of the parent dogs when getting your puppy from a breeder. A healthy parent is a good guarantee for a healthy puppy. Take care not to buy from breeders that mate dogs that are younger than 2 years of age, since that is when most genetic illnesses rear their ugly heads. Schedule regular veterinary checkups to ensure that your Vizsladoodle is growing up healthy and so that any issues are caught early in and nipped in the bud. Vizsladoodle Care and Training The Vizsladoodle is a pretty active dog and one that will need a fair bit of daily exercise. If you are someone that likes to spend their days lazing around on the couch and would like a pup that does the same, the Vizsladoodle may not be the right pup for you. These dogs love the great outdoors and make great companions on hikes or long walks. If they do not release all of their pent-up energy through exercise, these dogs may become destructive. They are also very intelligent, so it is important to keep them mentally stimulated. When it comes to training, these pups may prove to be a bit stubborn. It is best to steer clear of free-feeding since that may cause overeating. Coat Color, Types, Shedding These pups have coats that are generally low-shedding, making them good dogs for allergy sufferers. Vizsladoodle Grooming These are rather low-maintenance dogs. The Vizsladoodle requires no more than a few brushing sessions a week to ensure its coat stays healthy and tangle-free. Vizsladoodle Breeders. Should a Vizsla Mix take after their Vizsla, or Hungarian Pointer, parent, they will grow into a medium-sized dog with an energetic, playful, and affectionate personality. The Vizsla is a family-oriented and affectionate dog. In fact, they are considered one of the most affectionate dog breeds. As one of the kid-friendly dog breeds , they tend to get along well with children and other dogs, but have a high prey drive and will need extra training and socialization around other small pets. Well-socialized Vizslas also tend to be open to strangers and warm up quickly. Should a Vizsla Mix take after their Vizsla parent, you should be able to expect a similar temperament. The other parent breed will introduce their own quirks and potential traits, so you do want to ask the breeder about them. You can also meet the mother in person to see what her temperament is like and the behavior she is modeling for her puppies. Socialization and training are essential for every puppy to grow into a well-rounded dog. Although the breeder should have started some training and socialization, it is up to you to continue to train and socialize a puppy once you get them home. Vizslas are moderately adaptable dogs. Because they need a lot of attention and exercise, they tend to be better suited for homes with fenced yards where they can run. As long as plenty of time is dedicated to giving them the exercise they need every day, a Vizsla can adapt to apartment living. Because they bond so closely with their families and strive to be near them, they do like to be left alone for long periods of time. If the other parent breed is similar, then you can expect a Vizsla Mix to be a moderately adaptable dog as well. You still want to talk to the breeder about the other parent breed so you are fully aware of all potential quirks and traits a Vizsla Mix could inherit. Although a mixed breed can sometimes be healthier than a purebred, it is not a guarantee. They could inherit a mix, all, or none of the health conditions common to their parent breeds. Good breeding practices have a big effect on the health of puppies. Potential health concerns to be aware of from the Vizsla side can include epilepsy and Sebaceous Adenitis, which is an inflammatory skin issue. The other parent breed may introduce other potential health concerns to be aware of. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Vizslas are highly intelligent dogs that are sensitive to their owners and eager to please them. Although their energy can be a challenge for first-time owners, one of the facts about Vizslas is that dog owners of all experience levels tend to be a good fit for them. If the other parent is similar, then you can expect a Vizsla Mix to also be a good fit for owners of all experience levels. If the other parent breed tends to require a more experienced owner, then novice dog owners will want to be prepared to enroll in obedience classes. Not only do they help keep your training consistent, but they can also be a good bonding experience and even offer some socialization opportunities. A Vizsla Mix can inherit a coat that is similar to one of their parents or a coat that is a mix of both. Should they inherit a Vizsla coat, they will have a short, smooth coat that sheds a little year-round and only requires weekly brushing and a wipedown with a damp cloth. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep them from growing too long. Weekly ear checks, along with careful cleanings as needed, can help prevent ear infections. Brushing teeth daily, plus cleanings at the vet as needed, is an ideal start for dental care for dogs. Vizslas are known for being super affectionate and also super energetic. They are high-energy sporting dogs that need a lot of daily activity to be happy and healthy. Also, they will almost always be up for more activity if you are; they will love the chance to spend more time being active with you. These dogs are athletic and versatile, so you can try a lot of activities with them once they finish growing and developing. In addition to hiking, swimming, training for dog sports, playing fetch, and more, Vizslas are also one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. Fully-grown Vizslas usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. Although it is not a guarantee, you can meet the mother in person to get an idea of what size to expect from a Vizsla Mix puppy. Vizslas generally live for years. Although the other parent breed may affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar average life span from Vizsla Mixes. Currently, we do not have any Vizsla Mix puppies available, but we can alert you when new Vizsla Mix puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address! Related Breeds.