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We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. It is, therefore, no surprise that some breeders are starting to mix the two. Considering whether a German Shepherd Lab Mix is right for you? Read on for everything you need to know about this amazing mixed-breed dog. Lab German Shepherd Mix Overview Size — 22 to 25 inches tall and 50 to 80 pounds Coat — Medium length, double coat, color varies Shedding — Yes Temperament — Intelligent, active, and loyal, but can be wary of strangers Trainable — Highly, but prone to destructive behavior when bored Activity — Highly active needs two hours of activity per day Best For — Families and people with active lifestyles and lots of time to spend with them What is a German Shepherd Lab Mix? As these dogs are roughly the same size, the mother can be of either breed as long as she is larger than the father, to ensure against any difficulty in the birthing process. Sheprador Appearance As is the case for most mix-breed dogs, it is a bit of a gamble what you will get when these two come together. They might have the pointed ears of a German Shepherd or the floppy ears of a Labrador. There is nothing to do but wait and see. But luckily, both German Shepherds and Labradors are attractive dogs, so however they turn out they should be handsome. That said, we can make a few generalizations about the appearance of Shepradors. Size As both German Shepherds and Labradors are medium- to large-sized dogs, you can expect their mixed offspring to be the same. German Shepherds are the larger of the two and are usually between 50 and 90 pounds and 22 to 26 inches tall. Labradors are only a little bit smaller, at 50 to 80 pounds and 22 to 25 inches tall. So expect your German Shepherd Lab Mix to stand between 22 and 25 inches tall and weigh 50 to 80 pounds. You can narrow this range down a bit by looking at the size of the parents. Color The color of these gorgeous mixed-breed dogs is also highly variable, and you might end up with a pooch of a solid coat color, like Labs, or striking mixed coloring, like German Shepherds. A lot of this depends on the color of the Labrador parent, whether they are yellow, black, or chocolate. As a general rule, the darker the lab parent, the darker the coat of the pup. But you also get white German Shepherd Dogs, which can result in striking white Shepradors. Coat When it comes to coat length, you should expect in most cases that your Lab German Shepherd Mix will have a shorter coat, like that of a Labrador. This seems to be a dominant gene, and the vast majority of German Shepherd Lab Mixes end up with this type of coat. The dog will certainly have a double coat, as this is a feature of both breeds. The undercoat will be soft and fluffy, and the guard coat rough. This does mean that they shed—a lot. This is not the type of dog to have at home if anyone in the household suffers from allergies. Shepherd Lab Mix Puppy Lab German Shepherd Mix Character While temperament is again unpredictable with mix-breeds, both German Shepherds and Labradors are intelligent, active, and loyal dogs, so you can expect their offspring to share these traits. German Shepherds are very intelligent and have a natural protective instinct. They have a tendency to guard whatever they consider to be theirs. Labradors were originally bred as gun dogs, to retrieve the wild game of hunters. As such, they are very obedient and tend to be pleasers, and they like nothing more than spending time with their humans. As both breeds are intelligent and highly trainable, you can expect these characteristics to appear in a Sheprador. However, whether they will be a guard dog that can be aggressive with strangers, or a pleaser that is great with children, you will have to wait and see. While dogs are a mix of nature and nurture, if you want to take a Lab German Shepherd mix into a family home, or if you are a first-time dog owner, you will want to be careful about which individual dog you choose. Activity Levels However their personality turns out, you are going to have a dog with a lot of energy. These larger dogs that are used to working need around two hours of exercise each day. Their intelligence also means they get bored easily, and when they do get bored, they can have a tendency toward destructive behavior, which means digging and chewing. They do best with active owners with whom they can go walking, hiking, and running. Whether these dogs will like swimming is a coin toss. While Labradors love the water, German Shepherds are a bit more wary. But their size and adventurous nature mean they can be trained to love the water. So you have a good chance that your Lab German Shepherd Mix will be a swimmer. These dogs are loyal and love being around their humans. You will find them at their happiest and healthiest when you make them part of the family and shower them with love. Exercise Ideally, your Sheprador will need around two hours of exercise per day. This might be more than just a long walk, as their high energy levels mean they will like to run as well. They will enjoy tackling tough trails with you at their side, and the retriever nature of Labradors also means this breed is likely to enjoy a good game of fetch. Bear in mind that these dogs will need this level of exercise rain or shine, or they will become frustrated and start engaging in destructive behavior. This is not only bad for them in general, but can put excess pressure on their hips, which are also prone to issues. Intellectual Stimulation German Shepherd Lab Mix dogs are invariably highly intelligent, which makes them easy to train but also means they get bored very easily. When they do get bored, they are smart enough to find trouble, and you may come home to quite the scene. These dogs need to spend time with people to occupy their minds, and they also benefit from intellectually stimulating games. But expect them to make short work of these challenges, as they are chewers. You will be getting them new games quite often. Companionship Labradors need a lot of companionship, and this is a trait their offspring with German Shepherds are likely to share. Not only will they get bored and start acting up, but they can become depressed. Grooming Both German Shepherds and Labradors are shedders, so you can be sure their Sheprador offspring will be as well. This is just a fact of life with Shepradors. They will need to be brushed at least twice a week, and as often as once a day during the shedding seasons fall and spring. As well as brushing, invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner that has special functionality to help you pick up dog hair. These dogs are also likely to enjoy jumping up on the couch for a snuggle and a snooze. Invest in coverings and be sure your swanky vacuum cleaner has an attachment for upholstery. Their coat is not the only part of their grooming to attend to. You need to clean their teeth three times a week, with a brush or with dental treats. Finally, trim their nails every three months. This is both for their health and the health of your home, as their nails can damage your floors. For a big dog like this, it can be a good idea to take them to the vet to get their nails clipped. But if you feel confident to do this at home, check out our list of the best nail clippers. Diet German Shepherd Lab Mixes are big dogs that have lots of energy, but they also have a tendency toward obesity, which means they have to get their energy from good sources. This means high-quality protein and fats over carbohydrates. Preferably this means meals made from quality meats rather than meals or byproducts. When looking at the ingredient list, look for named meats at the first ingredient. Lab German Shepherd Mixes also benefit from novel proteins in their diet, as they can be prone to allergies. Dogs tend to develop allergies to the meats they eat the most, which often means beef and chicken. When they are puppies, Shepradors should be fed three times a day, and this should be cut down to two times a day from about four months of age. As a rule, dogs need 25 to 30 calories per pound of their weight per day, though you should watch their individual weight and energy level to see if you need to adjust their meals up or down. You can also check the label on your dog food to get a rough estimate of how much you should be feeding your Sheprador. Of course the amount will also vary depending on how often you exercise your dog. Known Health Problems While there is no limit to the number of health problems that a dog of any breed can develop, or they might not develop any at all, some dog breeds are more prone to some conditions than others. German Shepherd Lab Mix dogs have the potential to develop the health problems that are common in goth German Shepherds and Labradors. These include: Hip and Elbow Dysplasia — This is a condition where the hip and elbow joints do not develop normally and that can cause extreme pain and arthritis in later life. For more information check out our list of Glucosamine for Dogs. Progressive Retinal Atrophy — This is a group of degenerative diseases that affect the eyes and can lead to blindness. Shepradors are also prone to eat whatever is put in front of them, so you need to be conscious of what you are feeding them. Gastric Dilatation Volvulus — Poor diet can lead the stomach to dilate and expand, in turn leading to a twisting of the stomach that is life-threatening. It can block the flow of blood to the abdomen, leading to rupture of the stomach walls, and put pressure on the diaphragm thereby inhibiting the lungs. Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy — This is a condition that affects the spinal cord and leads to progressive weakness of the hind limbs, and eventually paralysis. Panosteitis — This is an inflammation of the outer surface of the long bones in the legs, resulting in a shifting lameness and making bones more susceptible to breaks. Allergies — Dogs can be born with allergies or develop them over time. Dogs often develop allergies if they eat the same foods consistently. Underactive Thyroid — The thyroid manages hormones, and an underactive thyroid is unable to secrete the required hormones. This can result in weight gain, lethargy, and cold intolerance. At this time, their energy levels will drop and they will need some changes in their diet and exercise. GSD Lab Mix Puppy But no matter how well trained they are, if they are left to get bored for too long, they can engage in some pretty destructive behavior, such as digging and chewing everything in sight. You have been forewarned. The highly assertive nature of German Shepherds means they do not respond well to domination training. They are likely to revolt when subjected to punishment. The best way to train a Labrador German Shepherd Mix is through positive reinforcement. Labradors are pleasers that love to make their humans happy. This means their offspring are also likely to feel the same way. So they will respond rapidly to training based on rewards for positive behavior. Deal with this behavior early, with specific training for dealing with children and strangers. They are very active and need lots of attention, so they need to be in households that support this. But they do great with adults and kids, so they can be a great family pet. Remember that German Shepherd Labrador Mixes need around two hours of exercise every day, so they need someone who can commit to that level of activity. But at the same time, it means they are the type of dog you can take on all of your adventures if you like hiking and trailing. They also need attention and stimulation throughout the day. If anyone in the house suffers with pet hair allergies, this is another reason Labrador German Shepherd Mixes are not the right dog for you, as they shed a lot. Consider something like a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle instead. Also, ask for medical records of the parents, to see what health conditions the pup might be prone to in the future. If you decide to adopt a mature dog, spend a bit of time with them to see what their temperament is like. History of the Breeds German Shepherd German Shepherds originated in Germany in the late 19th century as a sheep herding dog. But, because they are very intelligent, trainable, obedient, and strong, they have since moved into many different working roles including police, military, search and rescue, and disability assistance. German Shepherds can have a reputation for being aggressive, but they are more alert and wary than aggressive. They can have a tendency to become overprotective of family and territory. But if socialized and trained properly, this tendency should be highly manageable. German Shepherds are the second-most popular dog in the United States and the seventh-most popular dog in the United Kingdom. Labrador Labradors, also known as Labrador Retrievers, were initially used in Newfoundland as fishing dogs to retrieve fish that had gotten away. Because they are incredibly friendly but also intelligent and therefore easy to train, today Labradors are favored as disability assistance dogs, often helping individuals with blindness, ptsd, mobility issues and autism. Labradors are the most popular dog breed in the United States. They are intelligent and therefore easy to train, and loving and loyal, so they will quickly feel like part of the family. However, they do need a lot of exercise and attention, so adopting a Sheprador into your family is a commitment. German Shepherds have a reputation for being aggressive, but it is not really deserved. They are natural watchdogs and reserved around strangers, but they are not aggressive dogs that are likely to attack. They are also intelligent and easy to train, which means easy to control. Beagles, Poodles, Boxers, Golden Retrievers and Spaniels are all extremely friendly dogs as well, many specifically bred to be companions. They do best with active people or families who are full of people to love them. Like all dogs, they will do their best when they are cared for properly. This means training them appropriately, exercising them, keeping them mentally stimulated, and feeding them well. But these loyal pooches will repay your care and commitment with a lot of love and affection. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Characteristics Life Span As pointed out in the intro paragraph Shepradors generally live between 10 and 12 years, and sometimes they can reach the age of .However, they tend to be cautious with strangers, thanks to their German Shepherd ancestors. Caring Grooming: their shorthaired coat needs regular brushing: every day in the shedding season spring and autumn and three-to-five times a week in the rest of the year. Activity level With two highly energetic parent breeds, these dogs need an active life, so be ready to spend several hours a day keeping your pet busy. A Labrador Shepherd is generally 20 to 26 inches tall cm. Besides being active, you should have a large house, with a yard to provide her with enough space to move around. The Labrador Shepherd likes cold climates rather than hot weather, so be sure to have the ability to keep her comfortable all year. Further Reading Top 10 Dog Sports 2. They have it in their blood, and can successfully do police work, including searching, tracking, rescue, or guard work. If you care about your flowers and plants, you should also consider building an enclosure to keep your dog away from them. When you bring her inside, provide her with toys and games to keep her busy. She will enjoy any activity that stimulates her mind, such as dog puzzles or training sessions. The vacuum cleaner will be your new best friend German Shepherd Lab Mix is a double-coated breed, which means they have an undercoat next to the skin with longer hair over the top. Dogs from this crossbreed shed a lot, especially when the seasons change. If you want to keep her hair shiny and healthy, you should take time to brush her for at least minutes, three-to-five times a week. A consistent brushing schedule will help you reduce the amount of hair around the house. Besides brushing, you should include in your schedule: cleaning her ears once a week , brushing her teeth at least three times a week , and cleaning her eyes when needed. While this sounds like a lot, on the other hand, she only needs to take a bath about once a month. Exercising her on a concrete surface could help you keep her nails in good shape and reduce the number of visits to the vet. Always buy non-toxic toys, and substitute them with new ones as soon as they start deteriorating to avoid accidents. Your dog will need some strong toys, adapted to her age. Most hybrids tend to have a balanced personality, but as your puppy could be the result of more crosses , she may not inherit the exact characteristics you want in a dog; your future dog is prone to a series of health issues, caused by her bloodline. Obesity, hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases and diabetes are a lot more common with these dogs, but she could also develop epilepsy, skin allergies, bloat or cardiovascular diseases, these being common among Labradors and German Shepherds. From my point of view, most estimations work well for average dogs. You should buy your dog from a responsible breeder In most cases, a Labrador Shepherd has high potential and is a great candidate for the title of the perfect family dog. However, as mentioned before, hybrid dogs could have unpredictable coat colors, personalities, and health issues, so buying your puppy from a reliable source is as close as you can get to a clear image about your future dog. Generally, this hybrid can be 26 inches 66 cm tall and can weigh up to 88 pounds 40 kg. Taking into account the height and weight of its German Shepherd and Labrador mix parents, this crossbreed is a medium to a large-sized dog. So measurements can still vary more or less from that range. Good news for you! It will shower you with love and loyalty, and make you proud with its intelligence and playfulness. Do you think you can deal with this? Shepradors has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, but some of them can reach this age. We all want our pets to live longer and spend more years with us, so read this section to avoid and better prepare against genetic illnesses. Conclusion As you could see above, when buying a Sheprador you get the best of two great breeds. I think that this mix of German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever makes for the perfect family dog — kind, loyal, patient with children, and protective. However, they have endless energy and require a lot of time and attention, which makes them suitable for active families only. So are you ready to handle such a dog? Leave us a comment below and tell us about your personal experience with this unique crossbreed. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. But I adopted my little Hank recently and he seems both very playful and very cuddly. He likes to snuggle a lot but is very active too. Just wondering if I should expect him to go crazy one of these days? Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic German Sheprador Highlights The German Sheprador is a mixed breed dog. The main colors of German Shepradors are black, white, red, cream, blue, and grey. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of colors. While they are not a good choice of dog for allergy sufferers, their coats are pretty easy to care for. A good brushing per week will probably do the job. Many German Shepradors absolutely love to run and play in the snow. Their double coats also help to keep them cool during hot summer months. German Shepradors make excellent family companions and watchdogs. Protective in nature, they will alert when strangers approach. They can easily become board, depressed, and frustrated, which will result in unwanted behaviors. German Sheprador History The German Sheprador dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer breeders started intentionally mixing German Shepherds and Labradors in North America, possibly in the s. Breeders wanted to mix the two parent breeds to minimize health problems that affect many purebreds as well as create an ultimate family companion and watchdog. They continued to create German Shepradors as demand for the mixed breed pups climbed. Even though the German Sheprador got their start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the dog for you. Check your local shelters, look up German Sheprador rescues, or check with breed-specific German Shepherd and Labrador rescues, as they sometimes help to re-home mixed breeds. German Sheprador Size As the German Sheprador is a relatively new mixed breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between German Shepherd and Labrador parents, you can expect the German Sheprador to be on the large side. Most weigh in at 60 to 95 pounds and range in height from 20 to 27 inches at the shoulder. That said, many can be smaller or larger. German Sheprador Personality German Shepradors make excellent family companions and watchdogs. However, once they befriend you, you have a friend for life. These pups hail from a line of two working parents. Their German Shepherd parents regularly work as military, police, and guard dogs, while their Labrador Retriever parents have jobs as hunting and guide dogs. German Shepradors like to work and need to have a job to do, whether big or small. Give them a sense of purpose, and this dog will earn their keep ten fold. They are highly trainable, and thrive on positive reenforcement. Do not leave them alone for long periods. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. German Shepradors are prone to weight gain, and they have high energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one hour long walk per day with several shorter walks mixed in. Hiking and other adventurous activities are also recommended. Check their ears for debris and pests daily and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth daily, as this mixed breed is prone to tartar build-up. Normal play on grass is fine, as is puppy agility with its one-inch jumps. Crate and kennel training should start in puppyhood. German Sheprador Feeding An ideal German Sheprador diet should be formulated for a large breed with high energy. They have a tendency to gain weight if they are overfed, so you should stick to a regular feeding schedule and not leave food out during the day. Limit their amount of treats, as well. They usually have medium length, dense coats, and while they are not a good choice of dog for allergy sufferers, their coats are pretty easy to care for. A good brushing per week will probably do the job and bathing is recommended every few months with a mild shampoo. Too much bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils. Their double coats do shed quite a bit. You will definitely want a vacuum on hand. You will need it. Have you tried robot vacuums? See if the Eufy RoboVac is right for you! Their double coat gives them an edge when it comes to extreme weather. Many of these dogs absolutely love to run and play in the snow. Their double coats also helps to keep them cool during hot summer months. Keep in mind they are an indoor dog and need to live indoors. Like all dogs, however, German Shepradors need to be trained how to behave around children and vice versa. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. Learn more about this awesome breed by reading about their parent breeds the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. German Sheprador Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for German Shepradors because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try German Shepherd Dog or Labrador Retriever breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. For a dog to qualify as a German shepherd labrador mix, its parents must be a purebred Labrador and a purebred German shepherd. Parent Breeds This breed is a crossbreed between German shepherd and Labrador retriever parents. As these parent breeds are both large dogs with similar appearances, the resulting mix displays similar looks and personality traits. German Shepherd The German shepherd, or Alsatian, is a large, black-and-tan-colored dog hailing from Germany in the late s. This large breed is good with children and is best suited to active families. Labrador Retriever The Labrador retriever is a large British dog with cream, tan, or black coloring. This friendly, affectionate dog breed was developed from fishing dogs imported to the UK from Newfoundland in the s. Lifespan The German shepherd Labrador mix lives for 10—12 years. Healthy, active dogs that eat nutritious foods and live stress-free lifestyles are likely to live longer. German Shepherd Lab Mix Appearance German shepherd lab mixes are large dogs with medium-dense, short-to-medium-length fur. The dogs are usually black, brown, tan, or a combination of several colors. Height and Weight German shepherd lab mixes are considered large dogs, with a height at the withers of 20—27 inches, and a weight of 75—95 pounds. The size and weight of the dog depend on which parent the mix takes after most — German shepherds are taller and heavier than Labrador retrievers. Colors German shepherd lab mixes are typically black, brown, or tan. Patches of white are common on the neck and muzzle. Blue and red are uncommon colors for a labrashepherd. Occasionally, labrashepherds are all-black, all-brown, or all-cream, resembling the Labrador retriever. Coat The German shepherd lab mix has a medium-dense, double coat that sheds frequently. The outer layer of the coat is long and wiry, and the inner coat is short, thick, and soft. The coat comes in a variety of colors, and the undercoat is a lighter shade than the outer coat. Personality and Temperament German shepherd lab mixes have the combined temperament of the watchful German shepherd and the easygoing Labrador retriever. According to the American Kennel Club temperament guide , Labradors are eager to please, adaptable, outgoing, and intelligent. Meanwhile, German shepherds are fearless, confident, eager, and alert. German shepherds are known to be aloof with strangers, and Labradors suffer from separation anxiety. These two traits are often passed on to the German shepherd lab mix. The confident, loyal, eager nature of the labrashepherd makes it a loyal family pet. Barking The German shepherd lab mix has a low barking tendency. A properly-trained dog will only bark to alert its owners of a potential threat. Keeping a labrashepherd entertained with daily walks and playtime should prevent the dog from barking out of boredom. German Shepherd Lab Mix Care Caring for a German shepherd lab mix is easy as long as you have the budget and the energy to look after a big dog. Labrashepherds need daily long walks, a nutritious diet, and plenty of mental stimulation to live happy, healthy lives. Food Needs Provide your German shepherd lab mix with a high-protein diet suitable for large, high-energy dogs. On average, German shepherd lab mixes need about 3 cups of kibble per day. Use a slicker brush and brush in the direction of hair growth, applying fine strokes that remove dead hairs and mats. Exercise Needs The German shepherd lab mix is an energetic breed that needs at least one hour of daily exercise, divided into two or more walks. Ideally, give your labrashepherd access to your backyard throughout the day between walks to allow your dog to run around and let out energy. Mental Needs Provide at least 30 minutes of daily mental stimulation to keep your German shepherd lab mix happy and satisfied. The breed is intelligent and enjoys playing hide-and-seek, fetch games, and puzzle games with food release toys. Common Health Concerns German shepherd lab mixes inherit some of the common health issues affecting their parent breeds. Obesity Like Labrador retrievers, labrashepherds are prone to overeating and obesity. Lab results have found that Labradors are missing all or part of the POMC gene, which senses body fat storage and regulates appetite. Give this mix plenty of exercise to prevent weight gain. Skin Allergies German shepherd lab mixes are sensitive to mites, dust, pollen, and chemicals, which cause itchy skin and skin allergies. Redness, rashes, persistent itching, infections especially around the ears , and hair loss are all common signs of skin allergies in dogs. Treatment for skin allergies includes diet changes, avoiding triggers, and medication to reduce itching. Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a common hereditary condition in large dog breeds, including the Labrador retriever and the German shepherd. The condition causes the hip ball and socket to deteriorate and lose function. This issue commonly affects overweight or under-exercised dogs. Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs include decreased range of motion in the back legs, decreased activity, lameness, and limping. The condition is treated with physical therapy, weight reduction, and surgery. Consistent training is important for this breed, so train your dog for at least 15 minutes every day. Start training your puppy from the age of eight weeks old. To prevent this, train your dog during or after a long walk. While the breed mix is affordable to buy, the expense of feeding a large dog is high. The upfront cost of a German shepherd lab mix depends on whether you buy from a reader or adopt the dog from a shelter. Factors that affect the cost of the dog are age, coloring, and whether the dog is adopted or bought from a breeder. Dogs with rare coat colors are more expensive than dogs with common colors. Additional, optional costs are dog sitting and boarding, professional dog grooming, and dog training classes. The German shepherd lab mix is an affectionate, loyal, energetic dog that makes a great family pet. However, this dog has traits that make it unsuitable for some people and lifestyles. Labrashepherds are high-energy dogs that are ideal for active, outdoorsy households. German shepherd lab mixes are responsive to training if proper boundaries are established, so this mix is best suited to people who have the time to train the dogs from an early age. Check out these other hybrid dog breeds: German Shepherd Mixes. German Shepherd Lab mix puppies German Shepherd Lab mix dogs are a combination of energetic friendliness and natural protection. As well trained adults they have the potential to make great herding, hunting, retrieving, therapy, service or pet dogs. German Shepherd Lab mixes are affectionate with their family, but need plenty of exercise, shed heavily, and can be destructive if left alone for long periods. That is, they have one parent of each pedigree. So there is huge variation in how they look, and no standard appearance. Some have the telltale muzzle and tall ears of the German Shepherd, others more resemble a Labrador. The color of their coat will depend on the coloring of their parents. For example, a black Lab German Shepherd mix is likely to have a dark coat, and a German Shepherd yellow Lab mix is likely to have a mid-toned coat. There are even arresting-looking white German Shepherd Lab crosses. An ultra-warm undercoat and a coarse outer coat to protect them from the elements as they work outdoors. This is because the gene for long coats is recessive and very unusual among Labs. Gathering up their lost hair will be a never-ending task! A good vacuum cleaner is essential. This might be reason enough to choose a different crossbreed if you have a busy family or someone with allergies in the home. German Shepherds are large dogs. They stand 22 — 26 inches tall at their shoulder blades, and weigh 49 — 88 pounds. Meanwhile, Labs are a medium sized breed, 22 — 25 inches tall at their shoulders, and 55 — 80 pounds on the scales. A Labrador German shepherd mix could be as petite as their smallest parent or as big as their largest parent. Your German Shepherd Lab mix could weigh anything from 55 pounds to 80 pounds. As usual, the lower end of the range is typically made up of female dogs, and the top end is dominated by the boys. They love to interact with people, show their affection, and get on well with children. Also, the German Shepherd is confident, courageous and smart. They are loyal and full of life. Furthermore, Labradors and German Shepherds are both fast learners and eager to please. German Shepherds in particular need productive ways to channel their intelligence, or they will get into mischief to stave off boredom. Your German Shepherd Lab mix could inherit any combination of the traits of their parents, which is why meeting both parents before committing to bringing home a puppy is so important. Socialization Socialization is the process of making a dog comfortable with other animals, people, places and activities. Even for breeds that are known to be friendly and easy-going, like Labradors, socialization is very important. German Shepherd Lab mixes are likely to inherit a love of people and company from both sides of their family tree. But socializing them properly as puppies will be vital to give them the confidence they need in meeting new people. German Shepherds, despite their great loyalty to their family, can be wary of strangers. So thorough socialization from puppyhood is essential, even for a mix. For instance, Socialization can involve having new people call over to the house regularly so your pup gets used to new faces and voices. It can also involve introducing your puppy to new dogs, cats, children and other animals so that they do not become fearful or territorial. A young dog in good health could require even more. They will also need human company for much of the day, and training to keep those big brains from getting bored. They are working dogs at heart. Highly motivated to learn and impress you with their ability to follow instructions. Like with any dog, training them is an ongoing commitment that lasts a lifetime. But with your ultra smart dog it should be a satisfying and rewarding one. German Shepherd and Labrador Health Magnification of health problems in pedigree dog breeds has become a well-documented problem. Labrador Health One of the biggest health problems facing Labradors today is hip and elbow dysplasia — looseness in the joints that eventually leads to painful arthritis. Another is progressive retinal atrophy, a gradual failure of the retina at the back of their eyes that can ultimately leave them blind. Also, Labs are also notoriously greedy, and prone to obesity if their penchant for snacking is indulged too often. Another less serious but common issue in Labs is ear infections. These are easily treated but may require veterinary care and frequent inspections. In addition, they are more than usually prone to: Gastrointestinal diseases.

Look no further than Hooch Jr. With his endearing resemblance to the iconic Hooch from the movies, Hooch Jr. His expressive eyes and that classic pitty smile will melt away your worries in an instant. But wait, there's more — Hooch Jr. It's like he's a master at tugging at your heartstrings with every glance. Hooch Jr. He thrives on human companionship and can't wait to become your new best friend. While he's more than happy to make new furry buddies, his heart truly belongs to his human family. He's a prime example of a lap dog trapped in a slightly larger body, and he's guaranteed to provide you with an endless supply of cuddles, snuggles, and affectionate gazes. Whether it's a romp in the yard or a leisurely stroll with his canine pals, Hooch Jr. This little guy is no slouch when it comes to learning. And if you're a fan of peaceful walks, you're in luck! He's a leash-walking extraordinaire, making every stroll a breeze. If you're looking for a furry companion who wears his heart on his paw, Hooch Jr. His enthusiasm for life and his love for everyone he meets are truly heartwarming. Whether you're young or young at heart, he's bound to wrap you around his little paw with his irresistible charm and his expertly executed pout lip. If you're ready to open your heart and home to a forever friend, don't miss the chance to bring Hooch Jr. He is microchipped, current on his vaccinations and preventatives. If someone has caught your eye and you wish to arrange a meet and greet, we do need you to fill out the adoption application. When your adoption application is received our screening team will verify the information given. Once your application has been confirmed and approved, we will be send it over to the foster parent for review to determine if your home is a good match for the dog. In the event one lucky dog receives multiple applications, please know we do not select based on a first come basis. We try our best to select the best-fit for our animals and families. We invite you to take a peek at our handsome, friendly, large breed American Bulldogs. We are a a team of private American Bulldog Breeders and our dogs and pups are never kenneled or crated. They are our family pets and roam our house and land. We breed loving American Bulldog Puppies for you and your family to cheerish. Learn More After breeding these amazing creatures for 22 years. We have perfected the best breeding standards that have award us the 1 American Bulldog breeder in America. At We Love American Bulldogs we take a lot of care and pride in helping educate families about the breed that are interested in bringing one of these beautiful creatures into their homes. As any breed the most important thing you can do, is educate yourself about the breed that you are about to bring into to your life. We hope by offering these documents and our YouTube videos, about the breed and about the puppy you are about to consider to be a part of your family, that you will do it with complete awareness of your responsibility to the breed and your puppy. Get a Puppy Our team at "We Love American Bulldogs" feel blessed to care for these wonderful creatures we brought into the world. We worked very hard to make sure the foundation of your puppy is stable, loving and strong. Now we hope with all the information my over 22 years experience with this breed bring me, that we will share with you, that you will stay the course and make sure these pups are the best and true American Bulldog they can be. A Day In The Life.We specialize in Bully-type, also sometimes referred to as Johnson American Bulldogs. However on occasion we do produce fantastic standard- and hybrid-type American Bulldogs. We breed for functional and balanced temperament allowing for the American Bulldog to be a family member and a companion while having the drive and intelligence to perform desired functions. At Grand Future, we typically produce large American Bulldogs. Males range in lbs and females range in lbs. We have always bred to a significantly stricter breed standard than the current American Bulldog breed standards under U. Dogs with the following characteristics are not shown at conformation shows nor bred in our kennel: 1. Full black mask — this genetic trait is usually a result of another breed having been infused into the gene pool. Usually a dog with a kinked tail itself is not at risk of health complications as a result of the kinked tail. Teeth — dogs missing more than 3 teeth. Dogs lacking full pigmentation are more susceptible to various health problems. Lack of pigment is also responsible for deafness in dogs. We have never produced a deaf dog. Interested in a puppy? We have many repeat buyers — over 30 families have purchased 2,3,4, and even 5 dogs. Our dogs generally love children and have balanced temperament. Having produced over dogs in 7 generations, we have history and data that allows us to make some conclusions that we believe are significant. The very common problem of hip dysplasia that afflicts this breed is nearly non-existent in our kennel. Our dogs tend to have normal locomotion — good movement due to anatomically sound physical structure. Our dogs have never torn ligaments such as the Canine Cruciate Ligament CCL , which leads us to conclude that such problems are likely hereditary in nature. Our dogs have never prematurely died from heart problems, which leads us to conclude that such problems are likely hereditary in nature. Our dogs have never been diagnosed with tracheal hypoplasia — a hereditary genetic defect common in bulldog breeds that leads to potential deadly obstruction of the airway. Our dogs tend to live long. Our foundation dog lived to the age of 15 years and 10 months old. Our dogs have never been afflicted with cancer at a young age. The earliest instance of cancer has been encountered at 8 years of age by one dog. The remainder of cases have been documented at over 10 years of age. The biggest tragedy for an owner is in having to care for a sick dog as a result of poor breeding, and be absolutely helpless as that dog passes in their arms. Exorbitant medical bills end up being paid to prolong the time together even by just a little with the beloved family member. As with any animal breeding program, our kennel is not immune from problems. This drives us to continually improve. We maintain contact and help our owners in any way we can; even at 4AM or during a vacation since we have owners all over the world in various timezones. Our breeding expertise enables us to deliver healthy, beautiful, strong, and intelligent American Bulldog puppies. We provide a contractual health guarantee against the following genetic health problems — hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Canine Cruciate Ligament CCL ruptures, cataracts, entropion, ectropion, heart, kidneys, thyroid, ichthyosis, cryptorchidism, epilepsy, and any neurological disorders including NCL. Our conversation with a prospective owner always involves questions to understand the kind of dog the person would like — the more details the better. If so inclined, the prospective owner can request guidance in picking the puppy based on personality and activity level, temperament, phenotype, and more. We evaluate our puppies at 6 weeks of age on a variety of parameters. We provide lifetime unlimited advice and guidance by phone to owners concerning all subjects relating to dog ownership. You can be sure you will have the information you need to succeed even if this is going to be your first American Bulldog puppy. Because we stand by the quality of our work, we want our owners to participate in our breeding program and we are happy to provide the necessary guidance. Our dogs are also ideal candidates for service animal work. Training a service dog requires a significant investment of time and money, making the genetic health and temperament of the dog even more critical. A service dog needs to be healthy, hassle-free, intelligent and receptive to training, have stable temperament to handle any type of environment, and of course lead a long life disease-free. All of these selective requirements for service dog candidates make Grand Future American Bulldogs an ideal fit. Join us in our mission of producing the best American Bulldogs possible! Professional worry-free shipping worldwide Of course our preference is for you to come visit our home, get acquainted with us, and pick up your new American Bulldog puppy in person. However, we understand that it is not feasible for everyone. Even if you do not live anywhere near Nevada, do not be concerned — we are highly experienced at shipping our American Bulldog puppies worldwide, as even just the list of our Grand Champions and Champions spanning 9 nations attests. We can prepare all necessary export documentation. Search this website.

For the complete list please see our Listings of Boxer Breeders page. This price is not too high and it will depend on the age of the puppy that you choose. Typically older puppies will cost more than younger puppies. Always check with your local Boxer breeders to see what they are asking for their pups before agreeing on a purchase. The price does not include any necessary veterinary care such as vaccines and medical treatment if needed, so always remember to factor these expenses into your financial consideration when shopping around for boxers. The cost will vary depending on the breeder, the lineage of the animal, and location in Kentucky. Breeders could charge different prices based on what type of lines their dogs are coming from. If your dog is registered with the AKC American Kennel Club , this could increase its worth significantly when selling to another person or purchasing it. How to Find A Responsible Boxer Breeder in Kentucky Finding a responsible boxer breeder in Kentucky can be very rewarding, but it can also be difficult, time-consuming and stressful. There are many things to consider when looking for a reputable breeder. The first thing that you should do is research. Search online for reviews to see if the person or business has had any issues with previous customers or breeders. If they have, contact these people and ask them about their experience. The more positive reviews you find, the better the chances of finding a good breeder. Also, check out local message boards and Facebook groups — there might be something posted where other people in your area talk about their experiences with different breeders or share information about their favorite breeders to help give insight on who could be a good option for you. If the breeder has a website, look at their site to get a feel for what kind of person they are and how much information they share with their customers. Their website should have pages about their facilities, photos of the dogs and puppies, health guarantees offered on their pups, and more. Remember that it is important to find an ethical and responsible breeder who cares about the dogs and that will guarantee their health. Stay away from calling and asking about prices and availability on the phone. The breeder should want to meet with you and talk about their puppies before giving any kind of price quotes or discussing what is included with the cost of one of their pups. Visit your chosen boxer breeder in person at their location. Talk to the people who work there and ask questions about the dogs and even about themselves You can tell a lot just by talking to people and asking questions, so use this opportunity to learn as much as you can about the breeder. Visiting your potential breeder will also give you a chance to see their facilities and to meet the parents of any puppy that you may take home with you. Look around carefully and ask questions about the animals and what is required of future owners. The breeder should be knowledgeable about the breed, health-conscious, and willing to answer your questions. This includes emailing back and forth or even using video chat so that you can see where the puppies are kept and how other people who have bought from this breeder interacted with them. Price should not be your first priority when looking for boxer breeders in Kentucky. A responsible boxer breeder in Kentucky should be able to give you the names and phone numbers of people who have purchased puppies from them. The best breeders are usually focused on making sure that their pups go home with loving families, so they want to make sure that anyone who buys one of their dogs is responsible. When you do call these people up, ask about the process of buying their pup. If they had any issues or concerns with the breeder, this should be brought up during your conversation. If you follow these steps, you should have no problem finding the right person or place to buy your new puppy from. Meeting past customers will give you a chance to talk to people who have already bought their boxer from this breeder. Talk to them about the process of buying their puppy, and ask if they had any concerns or issues with the breeder in question. There are many Boxer breeders in Kentucky that care about their animals and will only sell their pups to ethical homes. Do your research before you visit anyone, make sure you visit the location of the puppies if possible or speak over video chat , and make sure that all references are checked before agreeing on a purchase or payment. You should ask your breeder the name of the veterinarian they use. You may call and ask for a reference from that vet if needed. A board-certified veterinary surgeon or specialist is a good choice for a dog with orthopedic problems. Hip dysplasia is common in dogs and often requires surgery. It may seem like an off-the-wall question at first because you are just looking for a Boxer Puppy but remember that this dog will be part of your family for many years to come so it is important that he is healthy. The cost of having your Boxer examined by a Veterinarian should not influence your decision on where to buy your puppy from. Although you are excited to welcome your new family member into your home, spending a few hours preparing will ensure that both you and your pup have a safe and comfortable environment in which to play. If you already have a crate at home that you use for traveling or other purposes, this would be an ideal time to introduce him to his new box. While in the cage, give him some toys and treats so he will get accustomed to spending time inside until he gets older. It will also give him a place to call his own and create a den-like environment inside the crate. Try acquiring different types of toys like fuzzy stuffed animals or rubber balls that he can easily pick up in his mouth. Of course, make sure not to leave any type of chew toy unsupervised because accidents can occur if they are eaten by mistake. Since puppies often like to sink their teeth into something during playtime. If the area where he will spend most of his time is accessible to him, such as a bedroom or living room, this would be an ideal place to begin. Remember, patience is a key element to successfully training your Boxer puppy. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter. Reviews 0 Boxer puppies kentucky Boxer puppies kentucky is a muscular dog that is happy, intelligent, and friendly. Boxers tend to grow close bonds with their humans. They get along well with children and other pets as they love having a playmate. A Boxer will make a fantastic family companion that provides you with a lifetime of entertainment. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed. They need plenty of exercise to remain happy and healthy. As such, they should not be permitted to run loose, but will do fine on a leash or in a secured area, like a fenced-in backyard or dog park. Boxers have smooth and short coats that require minimal grooming. A brush down once or twice a week will keep their short coat healthy. Coat colors are usually fawn or brindle with white markings and can include a black mask on the face. A Boxer will only need the occasional bath, but their nails should be trimmed monthly and their teeth brushed regularly. The boxer puppies near me, as we know it today, was originally developed in the late s by crossing the Bullenbeisser and English-bred Bulldogs to chase wild game. Now, as part of the working group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports, like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. We also advertise stud dog services and other puppy for sale related items. The Boxer is one of the top 10 most popular dog breeds in the US. It has been a recognized as a purebred by the American Kennel Club since .The Boxer dog breed is of German descent and its origins date back to the late 19th century. Their ancient ancestors were the Assyrian empire war dogs, which can be traced back to B. The Boxer, as we know it today, was originally developed in the late s by crossing the Bullenbeisser and English-bred Bulldogs to chase wild game. This is a fun-loving Boxer puppy who is curious and loves to explore her surroundings. She is well socialized and raised with children. This puppy is ACA registered, vet checked, vaccinated, wormed and comes with a 1 year genetic health guarantee. She is waiting for you to call!

Trying to better the breed and insure you get the best quality puppy available. Our puppies are all AKC registered, and come with papers. All of our puppies are vet checked at six weeks of age by a certified veterinarian and receive their health certificate and first round of shots. All of our puppies come with age appropriate shots and deworming. Your puppy will also come with a one year health guarantee, a bag of food and also a bag of goodies. We are located in Mineral Virginia just outside of Fredericksburg and Charlottesville Virginia. Our English bulldogs All of our bulldog parents are our pets and are loved dearly. We do not own a kennel! Our dogs are family raised in our home and spend time living a very relaxing life. We had such a wonderful experience with Kristie 4yrs ago when we adopted Buddha that now that we were ready for a second there was no one else I would go to except U Lucky Bulldog!! She is knowledgeable and has kept in touch and has always been available for questions that have come up over the past 4 years. We are U Lucky Bulldog family members forever because we will only get from Kristie!! She was easy to get hold of and talk to and went out her way to make us feel comfortable with choosing and buying our little sweetheart! I wish we could give her more than 5 stars! Bless you and keep up the good work. She was very professional and helpful throughout the process. Kristielee sends videos and pictures as well as staying in constant contact. Highly recommend her for your new puppy! Even though we live miles away, Kristielee regularly sent us pictures and videos of our puppy, which was greatly appreciated.I had a good sense of our puppy's personality long before I met him. Kristielee is very responsive and happy to answer any questions we might have. And we brought home a beautiful, sweet-tempered boy.This was a truly positive experience all around, and I will turn to Kristielee without a second thought when it comes time to expand our bully family once again. Would highly recommend and purchase from again! Charlie is wonderful and we get complements wherever we go! After searching for years for the perfect pup, I found ULuckyBulldog. Followed their page for months and saw the care and love they give all their dogs. They do not disappoint! She is our first bulldog we have owned, and Kristie made the process so easy! We received regular updates on her growth, feeding, and health along with adorable pictures and videos! We were able to visit with Cannoli before taking her home which was such a joy! Kristie is very knowledgeable and answers all of our questions about bullies and puppies even after we have brought her home! So thankful for our little bundle of joy! Her bulldogs are absolutely beautiful! I would absolute recommend U Lucky Bulldog to anyone! Our beautiful Hudson is playful, happy, and such a sweetheart. All the pictures and videos she sent while we waited for him to be ready to come home were awesome and so appreciated! All of her pups are well taken care of and loved. This is our first English Bulldog and we are so in love with him already. Thank you for such a terrific experience! From stalking the page to see the litter and watching them grow, the messages and picture updates from Kristie, and the whole experience of picking her up and of course all the check-ins since! If you are loo king to add a nugget to your family, we highly recommend U Lucky Bulldog! Follow our Willow on IG at willow gray the nugget and watch her adventures! Kristin Harris Every now and then you find a breeder who you truly trust! Trading Puppies with Kristie was a win win! She enjoys her babies as much as I do! Pups are well socialized and cared for! You will love your pup and the after-arrival support!! I highly recommend U Lucky Bulldog if you are looking for a great breeder who is knowledgeable and caring. She kept us updated throughout the entire process and has even checked on Sal through his transition home! Highly recommend U Lucky Bulldog! Katie Ruggiere Kristie is awesome!!! We decided to make a trade to benefit both of our programs, and Delilah is a great addition for us at Bearwallow Bulldogs. Kristie stayed in touch throughout this whole process and has become another mentor for me in the bulldog world. She will offer me help any anytime and answer any questions that I have. We feel very blessed to have found Kristie and U Lucky Bulldog!! We had our hearts set on specific things and she made sure we knew everything we needed to know and so much more. She kept us updated on his growth through pictures and video and even updating us on his 1st veterinary visit. Thank you so much for everything, we are so excited to welcome Otis into our family! Our baby is so smart, healthy and loves ALL people! We had an awesome experience dealing with Kristie. I would highly recommend U Lucky Bulldog! I can't say enough how much we appreciate all the time and love you put into your pups. Thank you for allowing me to add the sweet addition to my family. I highly recommend anyone looking for a bulldog check out U Lucky Bulldog. We brought our puppy home today and it has been a wonderful experience from the very first week. She is super responsive to texts, always posts lots of update pics and videos, and most importantly gives the puppies so much love and care while they are with her. I would absolutely recommend U Lucky Bulldog and will hopefully get another puppy from her one day! Kristie was very informative and answered my questions. From the beginning she was responsive, supplied photos and videos upon request. I am so happy we found U Lucky Bulldog! A wonderful experience! Kristie was awesome! She answered the million questions I had and has given me several tips. She always answered my messages and kept us updated. The pictures she sent were my favorite. I wound highly recommend her. Very easy to talk to and professional. Every little question I had before we adopted Willow and after we got her home, she took her time to answer. Kristie checks in consistently because she cares about her pups being happy and healthy all the way. The whole experience was wonderful. I would whole heartedly recommend her and U Lucky Bulldog to anyone! Thank you so much Kristie for sending us our sweet Willow! Very timely in their responses. They posted pictures through the weeks leading up to picking up our baby. The guidance and support we have received and continue to receive is amazing! We truly are blessed to have been placed in your path. Your passion and commitment to ensuring we were informed and updated on his growth and progress is unmeasurable. Pictures, calls, texts, and messages were very much appreciated. We are blessed to be a part of the Bulldog family! Kristie was very kind, prompt and informative on Bulldogs and the process. She answered every question that I had and continues to do so! Stella had her first vet appt today and they were very pleased with how much we already knew, Stella in general and U Lucky Bulldog to include all of the paperwork Kristie provided to us. Stella is fabulous with our two daughters and completes our family. Thank you so much for providing quality pups. He is absolutely perfect! I can honestly say that I felt complete trust with her during this whole process. If you are searching for your next bulldog puppy, look no further and talk to Kristie at U lucky Bulldog. Not only is Cherish aka Dorito beautiful but a super sweet baby as well. Kristie was very kind, knowledgeable about the breed and available at all times for any questions. We love our little guy Oakley pecan. He is healthy and active. They were very responsive and answered all our questions. Highly recommend this great breeder! I called Kristielee 4 days after loosing my Bulldog of 11 years, completely heartbroken and we immediately connected. Not only did she send pics a videos for 8 weeks leading up to pick up day she helped me heal my broken heart. Not only did I get an amazing healthy well bread Bulldog I made a friend in Kristielee. Highly recommend. Love our Buckshot baby!!!! Jenny Smith—AL Kristie made this a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend and purchase from again! Beth Bonicca—PA Great experience! Kristie sends videos and pictures as well as staying in constant contact. Even though we live miles away, Kristie regularly sent us pictures and videos of our puppy, which was greatly appreciated. Kristie is very responsive and happy to answer any questions we might have. This was a truly positive experience all around, and I will turn to Kristie without a second thought when it comes time to expand our bully family once again. LOVE their dog family.Can't ask for better. Pete Siebel—VA If anyone is out there looking for a english bulldog breeder who is upfront and honest this is the lady to go to. I wish we could give her more then 5 stars! Robin Miller—VA We first found our new baby 4 days after he was born. Kristie allowed us to come visit him that very day. Throughout the 8 weeks waiting for him she was awesome!! She sent new pictures several times a week and kept us updated on everything thing about our new baby! She updated us after his vet appointments, when he started walking, and whenever anything happened. It was really wonderful to be able to keep up with everything. She always responded right away when we had any questions or just wanted to check in our pup. She allowed us to come and visit with him during our 8 week wait also!! She is truly awesome and extremely knowledgeable with anything and everything you need to know about your puppy! We had an amazing experience with U Lucky Bulldog and when we are ready for our next pup we will look no where else!! We were very pleased and in love with our 2 new babies! Kristie is wonderful and an honest ,awesome breeder. She also taught us a lot that we did'nt know about English Bulldogs. ALL her pups are beautiful but we could only take 2. She still has 2 girls and 1 boy waiting to go home with a new family. If you're looking for pup with good bloodlines and very good temperaments give her a call! You were wonderful. Thanks to y'all my home is Finally complete! I called they answer and a bond was formed instantly! I quickly realized how lucky we were to have found her. Her and her family are incredible; easy to get in contact with, reliable, and just overall really good people. We bought our sweet Penny from her first litter! She is a blessing to our family. We get comments from everyone who meets her about how pretty she is. I have two young children 3 and 5. She is their best friend. So gentle and good with my kids from day one. Incredibly well tempered and such a loveable dog. Our life wouldn't be the same without her in it. And we have Kristie to thank for that. If you are looking for an English Bulldog - you've come to the right place! Best wishes to you, your family and your new addition. Kristie was kind enough to send us video and pictures of our pup since the day he was born and allowed us to come visit him as he was growing to get in some personal time. Kristie even called Duncan by his name while he was still weaning, when we picked him up, he already knew his name! He will be 8 months old in a few days and continues to be an absolute joy! He's smart, playful and healthy! We could not be happier with our boy and would certainly recommend U Lucky Bulldog to anyone looking to add one of these beauties to their family. Thank you, Kristie! Frank and I have well over 35 year of combined breeding experience. Our dogs are raised on our acre farm were that have all the room they need to run and play and swim! If you are someone on Facebook, please take a look at our page Kaigan Kennels, we have also dedicated a page to Frenchies called Kaigan French Bulldogs. Aside from our exceptional breeding program we enjoy taking our dogs out to compete and earn AKC titles. Our breeding program is supported by one of the top reproductive specialists in the country, all of our dogs are health tested and we offer a very comprehensive 2 year health guarantee for each of the breeds we specialize in. When getting a puppy from us here at Kaigan Kennels you are set up for success, our puppies go through the Puppy Culture program which is a wonderful socialization program that enriches and shapes emotional responses of the puppy during its time with us. Puppies are handled from Birth to Release. You can follow the progression of the litter with weekly videos posted to our website.Here you will get a weekly glimpse of weekly puppy growth, and we will talk about what we are seeing developmentally. We look forward to hearing from you, and welcome your questions. Please feel free to em us at [email protected] , call or text and of coarse visit our website where you will find loads of information. Northern Neck Bulldogs. Contact English Bulldog Known for their loose-jointed, shuffling gait and massive, short-faced head, the English Bulldog is known to be equable, resolute and dignified. A medium-sized dog, they are not your typical lap dog, but would like to be! They are one of the most popular breeds according to AKC Registration Statistics due to their lovable and gentle dispositions and adorable wrinkles. The English Bulldog may be brindle, white, red, fawn, fallow or piebald. The original bulldog had to be ferocious and courageous, and almost insensitive to pain. When dog fighting became illegal in England, fanciers set to the task of preserving the breed by eliminating the fierce characteristics. Within a few generations, the Bulldog became one of the finest physical specimens with an agreeable temperament. Temperament English Bulldogs are recognized as excellent family pets because of their tendency to form strong bonds with children. They tend to be gentle and protective. The breed requires minimal grooming and exercise. Their short nose makes them prone to overheating in warm weather, so make sure to provide a shady place to rest. Generally, Bulldogs are known for getting along well with children, other dogs, and pets. They can become so attached to home and family, that they will not venture out of the yard without a human companion. Bulldogs do better with positive training. They love getting rewarded with treats! Ranging in size from 40 to 50 pounds. Family companion. Apartment is fine, also small condo Low activity indoors, due to their snouts thrive in moderate climates.

However, it is a relatively big dog and has long, droopy ears. In addition, it has a dense fur coat that makes it appear huge. Its head is square with a straight muzzle that ends in a black or brown nose. Having a pink nose is out of the window, as it would be almost impossible. The common eye colors for this breed are typically light and dark brown. However, puppies can be born with blue eyes. Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes can live between 10 to 15 years. Of course, Black Goldadors can die long before they reach these ages under poor conditions or because of accidents. One popular question people ask is if Black Goldadors are healthy. The most prominent of these illnesses include: Image from Instagram: lincolnthegoldador Joint Dysplasia In general, joint dysplasia is a common issue that Black Goldadors will face. This condition usually manifests in areas at the hips and elbows. It occurs slowly and is caused by the gradual death of photoreceptor cells present in the retina. Cataracts Cataracts are another condition that affects the eyes of Black Goldadors. This happens when the lens of your pooch is covered with a cloudy film that impairs its vision. Luckily, with surgery, you can remove this film. But in most cases, it ends in blindness. The good thing about these diseases is that they can be diagnosed on time. Therefore, you must take your pooch to the vet regularly for checks. Taking care of a Black Goldador is relatively easy. A high-quality feed contains all the nutrients your pooch needs in the right proportion. Three significant nutrients your Black Goldador requires daily are carbohydrates, protein, and calcium. An adequate amount of carbohydrates gives your dog the energy it needs for daily activities. In addition, protein helps to repair worn-out tissues and replace cells that die daily. Apart from that, there are other nutrients that your dog needs which include vitamins and some other minerals. And because it can be pretty challenging to get all of these in a meal, your dog can have a deficiency of these nutrients. And you prefer already made high-quality feed for it. If this is the case, look no further, as Pet Plate contains all the nutrients your dog needs to grow healthy. But if you are someone who works from home or stays at home all day, then you will need to take your pooch for walks. Moreover, exercise is essential for this hybrid as they have a high disposition to obesity and heart disease when they stay inactive. Take a look here! Are Black Goldadors Aggressive? They are very friendly and playful dogs. They associate well with their owners and other dogs that they are used to. Nevertheless, Black Goldadors do not welcome strangers well. They will bark and even attack people when they feel that they or their owners are threatened. So, if you live in a place where your dog sees strange faces every day, do not be surprised when you see it displaying some aggressive behavior. To enable your dog to be friendly towards people, you can start socialization training early. Training Being bred from two intelligent dog breeds, you will find the Black Goldador very easy to train and versatile. These mixed dogs have shown to be outstanding guide dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs. Another reason is that this hybrid is very bent on pleasing its owner. Therefore, your Black Goldador will obey every command you give it just to make you happy. So, whenever you want to teach your pooch something new, always give it a good rub to let it know it has done well. Also, giving it treats is a good motivator. However, it will be best to give your dog treats occasionally to avoid situations where it expects treats every time. Nevertheless, this hybrid is quite clingy, and it may take some time for your dog to get used to your absence. Therefore, it will be best to find a professional sitter for your Black Goldador in your absence. Is A Black Goldador Hypoallergenic? This dog has two layers of thick fur that it sheds in little quantities every day. This Black Goldador also drools a lot, especially when it feels hot. Its fur and saliva have been known to cause allergic reactions in some people. So, this is something you should be aware of. Deshedding The Black Goldador sheds a lot. It sheds heavily during seasonal changes. But daily, it sheds little amounts of fur. Seeing fur around your home can be annoying for you. How exactly do you deshed your dog? Deshedding is relatively easy. So, with the right tool, you can keep your home fur-free. 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. But on occasions when yours gets dirty or starts developing an odor, you should bathe it. For example, acidic shampoo can be corrosive to your dog, thereby decolorizing its fur and damaging its skin. As a result of poor skin health or peeling skin conditions, your dog can produce more unwanted dander. However, Black Goldadors puppies with more desirable fur colors, such as pure black and golden, can cost a lot more. Do Black Goldadors Like Swimming? Yes, Black Goldadors generally like to swim. However, your dog may develop a phobia for water if it has had bad experiences. Therefore, it will always be best to supervise your Black Goldador while it swims. No, Golden Retrievers are not smarter than Black Labs. Given that both breeds essentially share one common ancestor , namely the St. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic Goldador Overview The idea was to create a working dog with the sensitivity of the Golden Retriever and the tolerance of the Labrador Retriever. It worked. Cross them, and the result is the unequivocally genial Goldador. Thanks to their easygoing nature and keen intelligence, Goldadors have proven outstanding guide dogs, service dogs, search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, and bomb detection dogs. But like their parent breeds, Goldadors are happiest simply working alongside a person they love. Goldadors are active and require at least half an hour of daily exercise — most enjoy retrieving games as well as hiking and swimming. Training the eager-to-please Goldador is relatively easy — they come from a long line of dogs who work closely and willingly with people. This makes them an excellent choice for first-time owners, provided they get the exercise, structure, and positive reinforcement they crave. Goldadors are also a good option for families with children though they can be a bit rambunctious for toddlers , as they want nothing more than to be part of family activities. The ideal residence for a Goldador is a home with a fenced yard, but with regular exercise and companionship they can live and thrive in apartments and condos. Whatever his home, a Goldador should live indoors with his people. Goldadors are good family dogs and generally do well with children of all ages. The Goldador sheds moderately and requires weekly brushing. Goldadors require about 30 minutes of exercise per day. They enjoy being outdoors and can make excellent jogging companions. Although a house with a fenced yard is the ideal home for a Goldador, he can do well in an apartment or condo with proper exercise. Goldadors can be a good choice for first-time dog owners. Goldador History The Goldador was first developed more than a decade ago: the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever were crossed with the hopes of creating a sensitive, tolerant working dog. The effort proved successful. At this time, there are no breed clubs or any efforts to create a breed standard for the Goldador. Goldador Size The Goldador is one of the few designer breeds with a fairly predictable size, as both parent breeds are large and similar in size and shape. The Goldador is usually 22 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 60 to 80 pounds. Goldador Personality The Goldador is affectionate and loyal, alert enough to make an excellent watchdog, but too friendly to be an effective guard dog. His intelligence and desire to please render him highly trainable, and he responds best to positive reinforcement techniques. Socialization helps ensure that your Goldador puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog. Goldador Health Goldadors are prone to certain health conditions. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but it can be worsened by environmental factors, such as rapid growth from a high-calorie diet or injuries incurred from jumping or falling on slick floors. Elbow Dysplasia is a heritable condition common to large-breed dogs. This can lead to painful lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem, or medication and weight loss to control the pain. Cataracts are an opacity on the lens of the eye that causes difficulty in seeing. The eye s of the dog will have a cloudy appearance. Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels are regulated in part by insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. Glucose sugar is needed by the cells of the body to burn for energy; insulin is the key that lets the glucose into the cell. Without insulin, the glucose cannot enter the cell, so the cells are hungry even though there are high levels of glucose circulating in the blood. A diabetic dog will eat more food to try to compensate, but he will lose weight because food is not being used efficiently. Signs of diabetes are excessive urination and thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss. Diabetes can be controlled by diet and daily insulin injections. Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA : This is a degenerative eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. PRA is detectable years before the dog shows any signs of blindness. Fortunately, dogs can use their other senses to compensate for blindness, and a blind dog can live a full and happy life. Both parents should have health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for hips, elbows, heart, and thyroid and from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation CERF certifying that the eyes are normal. Goldador Care The ideal home for a Goldador is a house with a fenced yard where he can play safely; however, he can do well in an apartment or condo if he gets daily walks or runs. Interested in dog sports? Goldadors make formidable competitors in agility and flyball. Mental stimulation is crucial as well. Teach your Goldador to fetch the paper or your slippers, practice obedience training regularly with him, and put his mind to work from time to time with an interactive dog toy. As with all dogs, positive reinforcement techniques praise, play, and food rewards work best with the Goldador. Goldador Feeding Recommended daily amount: 3. Note: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. For more on feeding your Goldador, see our guidelines for buying the right food , feeding your puppy , and feeding your adult dog. Goldador Coat Color And Grooming A Goldador should have the same double coat as a Labrador Retriever, with a short, thick, straight topcoat and a soft, dense undercoat some have a slight wave down the back. Weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush will remove dead hair, helping to keep it off your clothes and furniture. During seasonal shedding periods, however, daily brushing is recommended. Bathe your Goldador as needed, and be sure to give him a thorough freshwater rinse any time he goes swimming. The Goldador can be prone to ear infections, so check and clean the ears weekly. Other grooming needs include dental hygiene and nail care. Trim his nails once or twice a month, as needed. Handle his paws frequently — dogs are touchy about their feet — and look inside his mouth and ears. Goldador Children And Other Pets Goldadors are an ideal family companion and are generally gentle and loving toward children of all ages. As puppies, they can be a bit rambunctious and may knock over smaller children unintentionally, so close supervision is important. Social and easy-going, Goldadors do well with other dogs and pets, especially when raised together. Always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. No dog, no matter how good-natured, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. Goldador Rescue Groups There are no official rescue groups for the Goldador, but this cross is frequently available at private and municipal animal shelters. More Info For You. It is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. Nearly 2-year-old Danish origin Labrador x Golden Smorre with Dutch owners on beach in Portugal—after catching the fish and showing us how clever he is, he ate it all! She has lovely blue eyes and a killer smooth golden tone on her fur not yellow. Nala is very playful but also very demanding Top Dog trait? She has already seen her vet for general checkup and parasite deworming at 1 month. She only had 2 young eggs, medicine was administered and on 2nd visit 6 weeks , she was all clear. That 1-month general health assessment went great! Doctor found her in super great shape and her 6-week-old first vaccination went very well also. She was fed on Royal Canin Puppy 33 up until now. She just started Pedigree Puppy. This transition helped her well. She favors tennis balls, a teething rope with two plastic balls, and a teething plastic lifesaver as her toys, but also likes to call for attention and be petted and played with. We started the "Sit" and "Down" commands yesterday with the information on your page and we were amazed!!!! For now, I showed her I am Top Dog and she behaved better!!! This is incredible and powerful stuff!!! Loud barking and calling for attention are still issues at hand, but we will not be disappointed easily and we will keep training and interacting in a more knowledgeable and effective way each time. Tomato leaves stem or unripe fruit Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor Grapes or raisins Golden Retriever Crossed with Labrador Exercise Requirements The Lab Golden Retriever Mix has an active temperament so they might get destructive if they get bored. It is recommended to exercise them at least 2 hours daily. Getting them to do physical activities every day will help keep him happy and healthy. Here are some outdoor activities that you can try with your Golden Retriever Lab Mix: Hiking: It is a great way to turn your daily walk more challenging and exciting for your dog. Swimming: Utilize your private pool and do a swimming exercise with your dog companion. Swimming does not only serve as an exercise activity to yourself and to your companion dog, but it is also a great bonding experience. It also provides relief from the heat during the summer months. Make sure you supervise your dog all the time while doing this activity. Dock Diving: This is a fun sports activity to enjoy with your dog. All you have to do is throw a floating toy and encourage your dog to jump and swim out to retrieve it. If you and your Golden Retriever Lab Mix want to upgrade the challenge, you can try joining a Dock Diving Club and compete with other dogs. Play Fetch: This is a classic outdoor game that is great to do in summer. Challenge your dog by putting a twist to the activity, you can either use a Frisbee or a tennis racquet to make the object travel farther for your Golden Labrador to retrieve and return back to you. However, you should not be working them too much because when it comes to recovering objects, both parent breeds of Golden Retriever Lab Mix can be overly enthusiastic. However, even though they are intelligent dogs and has a friendly nature, you still need to put time and effort to train them better. Both parent breeds were bred to carry things. The best way to teach your Goldador not to bark is to socialize them frequently with strangers. Use Positive Reinforcement The Labrador crossed with Golden Retriever is a sensitive type of dog, so training them using positive reinforcement will be very helpful. Make sure to avoid negative punishment-based training since this hybrid dog may end up fearing you rather than respecting you as their leader. Make it a regular routine to reward your puppy whenever they do something right. Training your Goldador consistently in a positive method will give you pet companions that are obedient and good-natured. Do Mental Exercise The Golden Retriever mixed with Lab is an intelligent dog, and they need stimulating mental activities to avoid developing any aggressive behaviors, such as nuisance barking and chewing. Without proper mental exercise, Goldador puppies will grow into a passive, timid and uninspired dog. Labrador Golden Retriever Mix and Families Despite its large size, the Labrador mixed with Golden Retriever is a great family dog because of its easy-going personality. It is extremely friendly and affectionate. The Goldador is the type of dog that goes well in a loving and active family — one that considers him as a family member. The Golden Labradors cherish the company with children. They are naturally gentle, but they can play tirelessly as long as your kids can keep up. However, due to their sheer size, supervision is still needed around toddlers and infants. The Goldadors makes an excellent therapy and companion dog. Because of their affectionate nature, they generally do well when given lots of attention and affection. These hybrid dogs love to be with people, and hence it is tough for them to cope with solitude. So give love lots of love and affection to your Goldador Lab Retriever Mix and expect that it will shower you back with love. Finding black Lab Golden Retriever puppies for sale? The black Lab Golden Retriever mix is still a Goldador. But, by using a black Lab parent, many breeders aim to get puppies with a black coat. A black Lab Golden Retriever mix will have the same general traits as any other Goldador. They will be friendly, energetic, and playful. Black Lab Golden Retriever mix dogs are also great with kids and other animals. Especially when they are socialized and trained well from a young age. This dog is simply a puppy with one Golden Retriever parent and one black Labrador Retriever parent. Since the genes for a black dog coat are dominant, many breeders hope that they will get black Goldador puppies when they breed with a black Labrador parent. But, first generation mixes like this are quite unpredictable. A Goldador with a black Lab parent will usually have a black coat. But, in some instances, puppies may have lighter, or golden coats. Other than their coat color, their traits will vary as much as any other Goldador dog. It will depend which parent they take after the most. Generally, you will have a medium to large dog. Typically, a Goldador will grow between .They usually weigh between 55 and 80 pounds as adults. Females are often smaller than males. In terms of coat type, this mix will have a double layered coat that sheds all year round, and more heavily during shedding seasons. Their coat may be slightly longer if they take after their Golden Retriever parent, with some feathering around their legs and chest. However, a puppy must receive two recessive genes one from each parent to have a non-black coat color. So, it is much less likely that your puppies will have golden or chocolate coats if they have a black Lab parent. If your heart is set on a black Goldador puppy, let your breeder know. They may be able to give you first pick of the litter to ensure you get the shade you want. Both parents of this Goldador mix are known to be friendly, energetic, and loving. Especially toward their close families. Generally, when they are well socialized as puppies, they will get along very well with everyone they meet. This includes other pets and even young children. However, since they are quite large dogs, they can accidentally bump and hurt young kids during play. Socialization is Proven to Help Studies into dog behavior have shown that socialization from a young age helps to prevent behavioral issues in older dogs. This includes aggression and fearfulness. So, you should train and socialize your black Goldador mix well from a young age to get the best of their temperament. You should also meet the parent dogs to see what traits your puppy may inherit. If its parents are friendly and keen to meet you, your puppy will often be similar! Most families get on well with a black Lab Golden Retriever mix. They tend to love everyone they meet, especially when socialized and trained from a young age. These dogs need families that have plenty of time to dedicate, and who can take their dog with them everywhere. Plenty of Energy On top of this, a black Goldador is a very energetic dog, that comes from two hardworking, athletic parents. A black Lab Golden Retriever mix will usually be as healthy as its parents. Mixed breed puppies like this are vulnerable to the same health issues as their parent breeds. Common problems to look out for include: Cancer big issue for Golden Retrievers Hip dysplasia. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Labrador is a designer dog breed that originated in the United States. They are a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever. The goal was to combine these two highly popular breeds to create a dog that exhibits the best traits from both of them. A mixed dog breed can take after one parent breed more than the other or any combination of traits from the parent breeds. This can result in some variation among individual puppies. But, overall, a Golden Labrador is friendly, intelligent, energetic, and affectionate. Although this mixed breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by other notable organizations like the American Canine Hybrid Club and more. This large designer breed is characterized by their energetic personality and friendly disposition. Both of the parent breeds in this cross are open, friendly, and affectionate, so you can expect the same in your Golden Labrador puppy. They are very playful and get along fabulously with children, other dogs, and other pets. They may be alert enough to be a good watchdog, but they do not make good guard dogs. They are instinctually more interested in making new friends and getting attention than they are with anything else. They can have a slight prey drive, but most of the time, they are just curious and interested in playing and making friends. The Golden Labrador is a moderately adaptable dog breed. Their large size and energy tend to make them a better fit for larger homes with room to run. They can adapt well to apartment living as long as they are given enough exercise and mental stimulation. But, small spaces can be a challenge because they are large dogs that are so playful and energetic. Golden Labradors do well in just about any climate. As with most dog breeds, they are sensitive to heat and extreme cold. Because they love their families, thrive on attention, and get bored easily, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. As a mixed breed, a Golden Labrador can inherit the potential health conditions of one or both of the parent breeds. Although the Golden Labrador is a relatively healthy dog breed, there are some potential health conditions to be aware of. These include eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy and joint issues common to large dogs like patellar luxation and hip dysplasia. Like their parent breeds, the Golden Labrador can be prone to weight gain, which does put them at risk of diabetes later in life. Reputable breeders will screen their stock to ensure genetic conditions are not being passed on to puppies. Regular vet visits, proper nutrition, and sufficient exercise can help keep your dog healthy and reduce preventable diseases. Both of the parent breeds in this cross are highly intelligent and highly trainable, so the Golden Labrador should be no different. Eager to please their owners, these dogs pick up on things quickly and respond best to positive training methods focused on praise and reward. This dog breed, like both of the parent breeds, is a great fit for owners of all experience levels, including first-time dog owners. Their high energy can sometimes be a challenge, so you may want to consider puppy training and obedience classes. This designer dog breed may be called a Golden Labrador, but they can show up in many colors. A cream, yellow, or golden coat may be the most common, but a Golden Labrador can also have a black, red, or brown coat. It tends to be a dense double coat that is short or medium in length. This dog breed will shed moderately year-round with heavier shedding sessions twice a year as the seasons change. During seasonal changes, you may want to increase to daily brushing. Not only will this make your dog more comfortable, but it will also decrease the amount of loose fur that ends up around your house. In addition to coat care, you will also need to handle nail, ear, and dental care for your Golden Labrador. Floppy ears tend to trap more dirt, moisture, and debris, which makes them more prone to developing ear infections than ears that stick straight up. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked, which is why gum disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. Beyond that, you can use vet-approved dental hygiene chews and treats and even a specially-formulated dental care diet to supplement your efforts. Getting them used to it early and keeping it a positive experience can make grooming a lot easier as your puppy grows into a big dog! Plus, it can become a bonding experience that your dog looks forward to. Golden Labradors are high-energy dogs. Daily walks, playtime, and some extra activity are generally enough for this dog to stay happy and healthy. But, they will probably tire out before you do! Their friendly nature makes the Golden Labrador a great fit for trips to the dog park. Try teaching your dog how to play frisbee. With their retriever background, it could become one of their favorite activities. You can also train your Golden Labrador for several dog sports like agility, dock diving, obedience, and more. A fully-grown Golden Labrador usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. A Golden Labrador generally lives years. Although Golden Labrador is the most popular name for this designer dog breed, they are also sometimes referred to as a Goldador or a Goldador Retriever. Featured Golden Labrador Article.

Other costs include healthcare, toys, insurance, and the cost of any training, socialization, and canine sports classes you join. You can get wellness or preventive care plans to help spread the cost of some of these monthly fees. You can feed commercial or opt for homemade food, but if you do make the meals yourself, you will have to calculate protein, carbs, and vitamins and minerals to make sure your dog is getting everything it needs. If your dog has allergies, sensitivities, or general health problems, you may need special food that caters to these requirements. Labradoodles can have similarly high requirements. Some owners choose to undertake grooming and maintenance themselves while others book and attend regular grooming sessions with a professional. Which route you choose will ultimately determine the cost of grooming. A good compromise is to pay for professional grooming every 6 months and to brush, trim, and clip between professional sessions. If treatment and medication are not covered by pet insurance, you will have to meet these costs yourself. While this is true, insurance does offer peace of mind , as well as financial protection. If your dog is involved in an accident or does come down with an expensive illness, you may be hit with a vet bill of thousands of dollars. With pet insurance, the majority of this should be paid by your insurer, which means that you can decide on the best course of treatment according to how beneficial it is and not how expensive it is. If you have the kind of dog that gets through toys in no time, consider subscribing to a dog toy box. If yours gets bored of their toys, rotate new toys in and out of circulation, keeping old toys in a cupboard before giving them back after a few months. Your dog will treat it like a new toy. Image Credit: Mariusz S. It can be trained, enjoys working or taking part in canine sports, and does benefit from regular walks. Otherwise, the primary costs for owning one of these dogs will be food, insurance, and the cost of any professional grooming. The Labradoodle also benefits from being given plenty of exercise, but also mental stimulation. Canine sports, including agility, are a good way to provide the stimulation your Doodle needs, and these do cost money. If your dog develops behavioral issues that you are unable to fix yourself, there is a cost associated with training or canine behavioral work. First, consider adopting rather than buying, and if you do buy, do you really need a dog with an exceptional pedigree? You can save money on food by buying in bulk when the food is on offer, and ensure that you are getting the best value for money from the food you do buy. Insurance is another area where you can reduce regular costs. It is a good idea to have insurance but look at the level of coverage you get, as well as the excess and the copayment levels. For a slightly higher excess, you may be able to save some money on your monthly bills. Preventive care, or wellness, plans can also save you some money in the long run, but you do need to do the math and ensure that they really do represent good value for money or whether it would be cheaper to pay for each treatment individually. Grooming costs can add up , especially if you visit the groomer every month. Conclusion The Australian Labradoodle is considered a Breed in Development by the American Kennel Club and one should be fifth generation from the parent breeds, at least, to be considered a true Aussie Labradoodle. The breed is smart and intelligent, level-headed, and it gets along with family and friends while also tending to be friendly with strangers. SC Tax, Training, boarding and delivery are all additional. Australian Labradoodle Sizes: Australian Labradoodles come in these size ranges: Micro mini Australian Labradoodles are " to shoulder and grow to be 10 to 15 lb. We occasionally have them here and there but it is hard to determine which are truly micro minis since puppy choosing happens at 6 weeks of age when all our puppies are tiny. Our miniature Labradoodles are " to the shoulder and around lbs. Our miniature Labradoodles or minis are the result of a miniature Australian Labradoodle bred to a miniature or medium Australian Labradoodle. The vast majority of our puppies fall into this category. Medium Labradoodles are " to the shoulder and weigh 30 to 45 lbs. Standard Labradoodles are about 20" to 22" to the shoulder 45 to 60 lb. The breed standard for "Standard Labradoodles" is 20" and up. We do not breed standard sized Labradoodles in our breeding program. Coat Types: Fleece: also known as borderline or wavy, is soft to the touch - an allergy friendly coat. It can be curly or wavy. Wool: also known as curly, slightly coarse feeling to the touch - an allergy friendly coat. Hair: also known as flat or slick coat, this is a shedding coat and is NOT allergy friendly. Grooming requirements of Australian Labradoodles: There are several factors to consider in grooming your Australian Labradoodle. One is: how long do you want to keep the coat, or what look are you going for? The "shaggy" look is most popular and they can be groomed just a couple times a year. If you keep your pet indoors most of the time you can get away with an occasional bath and brushing every few days. If you want the shorter look, which requires less brushing you will want to groom your pet every couple of months. The next thing to consider is coat type. A curly wool coat is not one you can keep "shaggy" but would tangle and mat if let grow long - they should be groomed every months, depending on care given. A fleece wavy coat will allow for the two different grooming options I spoke about and is the most desired Labradoodle coat. The other coat options we do not breed as they often produce shedders - that is why we breed multi-generation Australian Labradoodles, to produce the best coats and temperaments. Labradoodles are a very popular mix-breed pet and they are highly sought-after because of their lovable personalities. However, the cost of an Australian Labradoodle can greatly vary across the board with some costing hundreds of dollars and many costing thousands. There has been a huge increase in demand for Australian Labradoodle puppies in recent years — with more people buying this breed than ever before. This is an amazing dog with so many great personality traits to offer a household — hence the popularity. An Australian Labradoodle originates from the Poodle and Australian Labrador dog breeds, which give this dog a very playful and affectionate temperament, as well as highly intelligent and clever. To add more dynamic characteristics to the coat, the pup is then bred with an Irish Water Spaniel. With that being said, Australian Labradoodles are often priced quite a bit higher than your average dog. There are a number of different factors that contribute to this and we need to carefully assess all of them to determine the actual price of an Australian Labradoodle. After extensively researching Australian Labradoodles, I have been able to gather enough information to determine the cost of this breed. Cost of an Australian Labradoodle An Australian Labradoodle is not your everyday breed and they can be priced quite higher because of it. They are priced differently based on how the Australian Labradoodle was bred — with reputable breeders charging the most. On the other hand, amateur breeders may sell their Australian Labradoodles at a much cheaper price, but you need to approach them with caution. We also need to consider that not every Australian Labradoodle has had the same upbringing. Although most people buy their Australian Labradoodles as puppies, some get theirs for specific purposes such as for therapy dogs. Cost to Adopt an Australian Labradoodle The most affordable way to buy an Australian Labradoodle is to get one from a shelter. There are a number of different rescue shelters that specialize in Labradoodles but you want to ensure that you choose your dog carefully if you are specifically looking for an Australian variation. That is why people often prefer to pay extra for their dog and get it as a puppy from a reputable breeder. Cost Factors of an Australian Labradoodle The Australian Labradoodle is quite dynamic and there are a number of different factors that influence the price of this dog. There are defining characteristics that certain owners search for when picking out an Australian Labradoodle and they are generally willing to pay more for them. High Demand In recent years, there has been a growing demand for Australian Labradoodles — and understandably so. These are loving, affectionate, and intelligent dogs that will fit right into any household. However, the increase in demand has resulted in prices becoming higher for these dogs. Breeders that work with Australian Labradoodles are intentionally increasing their prices due to the demand surge from customers. The demand for Australian Labradoodles in some regions has become so high, that many people are having to sit on waitlists. Reputable Breeder Depending on where you go to buy your Australian Labradoodle, you will see that their prices can fluctuate quite a lot. This usually has to do with the type of breeder that is working with the animals. A reputable breeder that has built credibility within the industry will charge more for their work. They are professional breeders who put effort into ensuring the health of their animals and the satisfaction of the customers — but it comes at a price. An amateur breeder or puppy mill will charge a fraction of this cost. However, there are a number of issues with getting an Australian Labradoodle from one of these breeders. It is easy to get conned and buy a pup that is not a genuine Australian Labradoodle — with an American Labradoodle sharing many of the same qualities. In addition, a reputable breeder will take steps to ensure the long-term health of your Australian Labradoodle. Not only are the dogs kept in safe and humane conditions but they will be bred to prevent future health issues. These pups are known to develop hip dysplasia — a common hereditary disease for the breed. Reputable breeders run tests on their dogs and only use those that have healthy hips, which greatly lowers the chances of the disease developing. Size Australian Labradoodles come in a few different sizes — standard, miniature, and toy. The reason for this is that these pups originate from the poodle, which can also be seen in these size variations. This can influence the price of an Australian Labradoodle quite a lot. In general, Australian Labradoodles that are small and toy-sized will have a marked-up price — sometimes costing double the amount. This is what you can expect to pay for an Australian Labradoodle based on its size. However, this also has to do with demand. A lot of people are more than willing to pay extra for a miniature or toy variation and breeders mark up the price because of this. These pups have three different types of coats — curly, wavy, and flat. In general, each type is known for being hypoallergenic and hardly sheds at all. For people with dog allergies, the Australian Labradoodle is one of the few breeds that they can buy, which increases the demand for these pups. Although each coat has hypoallergenic qualities, curly coats are highly-regarded for shedding even less than the other options. With that being said, an Australian Labradoodle with a curly coat tends to fetch a higher price, as people are willing to spend more for it. Professional and skilled breeders will work specifically with Australian Labradoodles that have curly coats for this very reason. In addition to coat types, we also need to consider that Australian Labradoodles have unique hair colors and patterns. A lot of this comes from the careful mixing of additional breeds such as the Irish Water Spaniel, which creates a dynamic and unique coat aesthetic. Australian Labradoodles that have rare hair colors and patterns can often be seen sold at a higher price. Labradoodles are intelligent dogs and enjoy playing games and playing with a variety of toys. Australian Labradoodles may benefit from a monthly subscription to a dog toy box because they can get bored easily and will most likely appreciate a fresh set of toys. Additional Costs to Factor In Make sure to include a budget for unexpected or occasional care items. Sometimes, your Australian Labradoodle can get into an accident, or you might require pet-sitting or boarding services if you plan to be away from home for more than a day. Many Australian Labradoodles also benefit from obedience training classes or one-on-one sessions with a professional dog trainer. If you live in an apartment or condominium, you may need to start paying a pet fee. Some buildings require an annual pet fee or a one-time fee. You can cut down on your budget in practical ways by making smart choices with the products you use. For example, you can always request cheaper alternatives or generic brands of medications from your veterinarian. Also, be wary of pet food brands that use fancy word choices to make their products sound more appealing. Make sure to check and compare ingredient lists. There are some occasions when a premium food brand and a more budget-friendly brand share similar ingredients. Saving Money on Australian Labradoodle Care You can save on costs by finding a good balance between purchasing high-quality products and generic products. You can also find discounts if you choose subscription options. Many pet food brands and pet supply retailers offer discounts if you sign up for monthly shipments of food and toys. Conclusion Overall, you can expect to pay a couple of thousands of dollars on initial costs for an Australian Labradoodle. You can expect to pay a couple hundred dollars more if you include pet insurance, pet sitting or dog walking fees, and professional grooming. You can experience some savings by looking for discount opportunities and making smart pet supply purchases. Featured Image Credit: litthouse, Pixabay Written by Jessica Kim Author Jessica is a freelance writer who spends most of her day researching and writing while her fluffy Cavapoo, Nora, naps beside her. As a dog mom, she understands the special connection that pet parents have with their pets. So, she loves sharing helpful information that people can use to better understand their pets. When she isn't writing, you may find her walking dogs, tending to her plant babies, or drinking her nth cup of coffee.Read more Advertisement. Due to the nature of our program and careful attention to the development of each puppy, they are usually reserved before they are born. For your convinience, we accept the following means of payment: cash at the time of your puppy pickup Venmo and Zelle you can use our phone number or email address texasdoodles gmail. Therefore, if, for whatever reason you do not receive a puppy from the litter you made a reservation for, or you are unable to take the puppy home at the time of puppy pickup, your deposit will transfer to the next litter of your choice. It is your responsibility to let us know which litter you are interested in and you would like your name to be added to. The adoption price of your Authentic Multigenerational Australian Labradoodle includes the following: 1. Microchip 2. De-worming and Age-Appropriate Vaccinations 3. Important Puppy Care Information .A Lifetime of Support pertaining to questions you might have regarding your Authentic Multigenerational Australian Labradoodle .Puppy Gift bag: Snuggle Puppy Toy with the scent of their litter mates and parents. Visit our store! Prices Now that you have seen our Australian Labradoodle puppies and want to see what is available visit the available puppies page or if you arent ready right now visit the f uture litter page. If you what to see what more of my Australian Labradoodles look like, visit our photo gallery. I am sure you are wondering what they cost. The price of Australian Labradoodles or American Labradoodles can vary greatly amongst breeders, generations, and types of Labradoodles. A breeder that does not put any time or money into caring for their dogs and puppies or does not spend any money on health testing will have the ability to sell puppies cheaply. Is it cheap when you get a puppy with a bad temperament, shedding coat, or health issues? Your puppy comes with: Microchipped with application and Tag Current vaccinations and worming Day trail Pet Insurance from Trupanion note: must be activated within 24 hours of adopting your pooch Spay-Neuter contract required Puppy certificate for registration with the ALAA. We only feed our dogs top-quality dog food. This ensures healthy skin and coat. It also ensures proper growth and nutrition from the balance of various vitamins, proteins, and fats. Information on how to care for your new puppy, potty training, feeding, grooming, etc. A lifetime of continued customer support There is no price difference for gender. Both males and females make great family pets. Payments can be made in the following ways: You can email us for an invoice or select the Buy NOW buttons below. The amount below reflects a convenience fee included. Puppy Reservation Fee.

They are not the only dog breed capable of displaying such furry finery, however. Known to be prim and polished, the posh poodle is also capable of coming in a variety of coat colors. Beyond the accepted tans, browns, blues, and cream coats, merle poodles have been known to exist. Merle is more than just a coat color, though. A merle poodle is a dog who looks like a poodle, acts like a poodle, but has a cacophony of colors on its coat. Merle tends to express itself in patches, dots, spots, and dashes. This is different from parti-poodles who usually have a white base paired with one shade of either only black, red, or brown. Usually known to have black skin, the dog could end up with a mottled black and pink discoloration. They look like a run-of-the-mill though still beautiful! What makes them merle is their genetics. Phantom merles are important to look out for when it comes to breeding. While some breeds have spontaneously developed the merle gene, merle poodles are not natural. This means that the gene has been introduced into the poodle pool by another breed of dog, making merle poodles not purebred even if they look and act like it. In order to get a merle poodle puppy, you must have a merle parent to breed with a regular poodle. It will never occur naturally. While there are several breeds which are known and accepted as merle such as the Australian shepherd and corgi , merles are not accepted by the AKC in the poodle category. This is especially because it is not a naturally occurring trait in poodles, whereas it is in the other breeds. The AKC sees merle poodles as a corruption of the purebred and any merle poodles presented will be automatically disqualified. Dogs carrying the merle gene would show as Mm. Then there are double merles, who show as MM. A double merle dog is a poodle who got double the dose of genetic mutation, meaning that both of its parents carried the merle gene. They are more than likely to have the tell-tale coat markings of a merle dog — or sometimes come out as completely white, but never phantom — along with several unsavory side effects. It is common for double merles to have birth defects: malformed ears or eyes, even missing ears or eyes is possible. Less extreme but still severe for any dog, double merles could be born blind or deaf. Breeding merle poodles is risky especially if a phantom merle has not been discovered for what it is. Breeding two confirmed merle dogs together is almost guaranteed to produce a double merle. As you can see, the odds of the offspring being MM are very high and the effects of a double merle disastrous. Breeding merle dogs of any breed is a tricky business. It needs to be carefully regulated due to some serious side effects. While not all mutations are bad, the merle one can be. Basically, breeders need to have their poodles genetically tested if they suspect that a dog carries the merle gene. Remember, it can be hidden like in phantom merles. If the dog carries a merle gene, it should not be bred with another merle visible or phantom. On its own, if a merle is matched with a dog who has been proven to have no merle gene whatsoever not even phantom! Because merle is a rather dominant gene, it is more than likely that the litter will have several merle puppies. As we mentioned, doubling the gene can cause double the problems. Without genetic testing, blind breeding should not be done. Poodles as a pure breed are at risk from several health problems. Most of which can be treated or avoided with proper breeding and owner care. Other orthopedic problems can occur more in toy and miniature poodles. They can also suffer from epilepsy and hair regrow issues like sebaceous adenitis. As long as breeders are responsible, poodles should lead long, healthy lives. Merle dogs of any breed are almost guaranteed to face health problems. Across all breeds, merles face auditory and ophthalmologic problems — both visual and internal. They can also have problems with their cardiac, skeletal, and reproductive systems. Many of these diseases are not ones that can be treated easily. Because merle poodles are exactly the same breed as regular poodles, all the health problems they can face are compounded. Start with the ones common for regular poodles, then add on the health problems faced by merles specifically. That makes a merle poodle at risk for more health problems than its plain-coated contemporaries. Some breeds very rarely carry and display merle genes, some breeds almost never do. The merle poodle is rare because it is not naturally occurring. Interestingly, the merle poodle kind of breaks this mold. Merle Poodles are expensive. A rather average price for a purebred dog. This is pretty standard for type of poodle standard, toy, or miniature and age range puppy or adult. The breeding and ownership of a merle poodles is much more contested than with other breeds. The poodle poses a greater problem, though, as many are vocally against the introduction of this non-naturally occurring mutation in these plush pups. Poodles are known for their smooth-colored coats. It seems like adding merle into the gene pool is a waste. If an addition to the family is on the horizon, think merle for other breeds and try to keep poodles pure. To start off here is a little about the Merle Gene. The Merle Gene is an incomplete dominant gene, which means that it only requires one copy to reproduce it, so only one parent must carry for Merle. This does not apply to certain sine lengths, but to keep this simple I will never breed two Merle parents together. As well, there are other color genes that can cover the Merle gene, so you will not visibly see it, but it is still present genetically and can be passed down to offspring. As well, many that are not trained to Merles, can mistake a brindle with the Merle gene as not carrying Merle. If are breeding a Merle to any of these colors, you should genetically test them to ensure they do not carry for Merle and therefore, you will not have double Merle. There are many people out there that insist that Merle is not a naturally existing color in Poodles. Many of these people will claim that it is naturally occurring in many other breeds though, such as Australian Shepherd, Great Danes, and Dachshunds. There are several AKC Breeders that register them regularly. What I must note for all those people is the fact that there is also is no specific color for Parti, Sable, Brindle, or Phantom. So now the controversy is where did this gene come from and since nobody knows for sure we must look at our options. The Merle gene was introduced using another breed, many, many generations ago. If for instance, we go with this option, we would assume that it was introduced with either Great Danes, Australian Shepherds, or Dachshunds. There are some other breeds with Merles, but they are just as different as these breeds in coat type, size, structure, and temperament, so we will just work with these breeds for now. If these breeds were used to introduce the Merle gene, we can all visibly see the obvious difference in coat type, structure, size, temperament among other things. Poodles have two curly genes, do not carry for improper coat, and have too long hair genes, for a dog to get curly hair it needs one copy of the curl gene, but with only one copy you will not get as much curl as a dog with two copies, actually, it takes many generations to get that amount of curl back as there is natural variation within the gene and if you talk to Poodle breeders that show, they breed only dogs with thick full coats and it takes a long time to get these coats. You need two improper coat genes to get not facial furnishings and you need two copies of the long hair gene to get long hair. So, if you took any of the three breeds we are using as examples to infuse Merle into the poodle. Two of the breeds have short, straight hair with no furnishings Great Dane and Dachshund and one has long hair, but it is straight with no furnishings Australian Shepherd. So, if you crossed with the Great Dane or Dachshund you would end up with wire haired, short-haired dogs with some furnishings, these dogs would look nothing like a poodle at all, even crossed back to the poodle again, you still would have F1 Goldendoodle looking coats on the curlier sided puppies. You would need to cross them back at least generations to get an even remotely looking Poodle coat. Now, with the Aussie, they at least have a long coat, so their first-generation puppies coats would be a bit closer in resemblance to a poodle than the other crosses, but would still only be wavy coats and would need to be crossed back to the poodle at least generations to get Poodle looking coats. This is assuming that the Breeder that chose to infuse this other breed genetically tested the puppies to ensure the puppies with the right coat genetics were bred back to the poodle. The next thing to assess is structure, we can all agree that the poodle is built very differently from the Dachshund, Great Dane, and Australian Shepherd. It takes decades to change the entire structure of a dog, but with careful breeding, you can do it. But the dachshund and the Australian Shepherd are completely different in structure body-wise to the poodle, and, likewise, the Great Dane is also completely different in structure, particularly in the head structure. It would take many generations to change this structure when bred back to the poodle. Okay, so keeping all this in mind, it is possible that some AKC Breeder did infuse one of these breeds and genetically tested each generation, breeding them back to the poodle over generations to achieve a dog that looks like a poodle. They would have had to not only register each generation while hiding the offspring that would obviously not pass as a poodle because if they did not, but they would also be reported to AKC. They would need to keep careful consideration to the structure of each puppy and genetic tests and temperament so that these dogs would eventually show no sign of another breed in them, as the AKC registered Poodles that are out there now breed true to type. While I admit that this is possible, I also think it is highly unlikely and I would go as far as saying that if they did infuse another breed and it was that many generations back that it is unrecognizable in the current Poodles, as the current ones breed true to type in every way.Does it really matter? Also, before you say that someone just lied on their papers, I know of several breeders that have DNA's done many generations back too. The second option is that it has always occurred in the breed. There was a phase in which all multicolored poodles were thought to be flawed, due to a vast lack of knowledge and many misconceptions on people parts. During this time multi-colored poodles were not bred, and many were culled almost getting rid of those colors altogether. With merle being a gene that can easily be hidden by other genes such as White, Cream, Apricot, and Red, it could have stayed hidden by these genes for many generations, especially due to the fact that these colors were often only bred together, so Merle would have never shown up until people realized that there was nothing wrong genetically with multicolored poodles and started breeding them again, once these poodles were crossed with other colors the merle gene could have emerged then. The last option is that the Merle gene was a natural mutation in the Poodle, which is how it is believed to have occurred in other breeds that it is present in. They are beautiful and breed to the breed standard. I really feel when there are so many health and temperament issues in so many breeds, we should be focused on breeding healthier, better temperament, more structurally sound Poodles and not cause so much drama and conflict over a color that we cannot prove one way or another how it came to be in Poodles. Looking for a merle poodle puppy? Check out our planned litter between Luna and Alastor or Bellatrix and Magic , for your next opportunity to own your very own Merle Poodle Photos from our Instagram Page. Last updated on April 21st, at pm What is a Merle Poodle? A merle poodle is a poodle that has a patterned coat with patches. Merle poodles come in all poodle varieties. There are standard, toy, and miniature poodles that are merle. The merle coat color pattern is not peculiar to poodles. However, there is a LOT of controversy around merle coat patterns in poodles. Many people ask if Merle Poodles are purebred. Many people also ask if a merle poodle can be registered with the AKC. We will discuss all of these later on in this article. The purpose of this article is to answer questions on merle poodles that have clear-cut answers and to expose you to both sides of the merle poodle arguments. There is still so much that remains unknown about the merle color pattern. Color genetics experts still are not sure whether the merle gene is something entirely different from the piebald gene, which is a gene that is found in Great Danes and other breeds. It is the piebald gene that makes dogs like the Great Dane have spotted coats. The merle gene could be a variation of the piebald gene, or something entirely different. Is the piebald gene in Great Danes same as the merle gene in Poodles? The merle gene occurs naturally in some dog breeds without question. However, there is an argument over whether or not the merle gene occurs naturally in the poodle breed. Moreover, there is a certain ethical dilemma that comes with breeding the merle color. Unlike breeding regular poodles, merle poodle breeding can easily go wrong if not done properly. A poodle can have the merle poodle pattern if it inherits a single merle gene from its parents. When merle breeding goes wrong, a poodle puppy may end up inheriting a double merle gene. When this happens, the resulting merle poodle puppy is usually born blind and deaf, and with severe health problems. This is one of the factors that makes the merle poodle rare, expensive, controversial. An Australian Shepherd. Is Merle a Poodle Color? A merle poodle has the physical appearance of a regular poodle with the exception of its color. For example, a blue merle poodle refers to a black poodle with white and gray coat patterns. These white and gray patterns make the black poodle appear bluish. Moreover, the merle poodles sometimes but not always have blue eyes or part of their eyes colored blue. Also, merle poodles can have eyes that are of different colors. Also, the color on the paw pads and nose of a merle poodle may be mottled pink and black. Are Merle Poodles Purebred Poodles? There is a lot of controversy on whether merles are purebred. Some breeders believe that merle poodles are not purebred, that the Merle gene got introduced into the poodle gene poodle by unscrupulous breeders that dishonestly bred poodles with dogs like the Australian Shepherd. Dogs like the Australian Shepherd can be naturally merle. There are claims that breeders that breed merle poodles are motivated by the high price that they can charge for fancy-color poodles like merle poodles, that these breeders do not about raising purebred poodles. Some breeders , on the other hand, believe that the merle gene has always been in the poodle breed and that this gene has been lying hidden in the poodle gene pool throughout the course of the poodle history. They argue that the merle pattern was hidden in the past because breeders used to favor breeding practices that led to the manifestation of solid color coats. Yes, many breeders favor breeding solid-colored poodles because multi-colored poodles cannot contest in AKC-approved conformation dog shows. What is a Blue Merle Poodle? The blue merle is the kind of merle that can be seen in poodles. Blue merle poodles have a grayish-blue coat with a pattern of faded spotting throughout the coat. A blue merle is sometimes referred to as a grey merle. What is a Cryptic Merle Poodle? The cryptic merle poodle is a poodle that has a merle gene, but it either does not present itself or it presents itself so slightly that it hardly alters the appearance of the poodle at all. If the merle gene truly is naturally occurring in the poodle breed, it would have remained hidden in cryptic merles for virtually all of poodle breeding history with the exception of the last decade. This is possible because it was not until recently that breeders began to produce multi-colored poodles purposely. If the merle gene was naturally occurring and hidden in cryptic merles, it would have allowed the gene to continue to be passed on without any noticeable merle markings for generations of poodles. Recent developments in genetic testing have allowed this merle gene to be detected even when the merle pattern is not visible. If cryptic merle poodles are bred with another solid-coat poodle, a merle offspring with a patterned coat could result. The merle genetic test website can help you in testing if your poodle has a merle gene in it. How Much Is a Merle Poodle? We found 7 merle poodles for sale in our merle poodle price survey. Therefore, merle poodles are relatively expensive. Some prospective poodle parents find the unique color markings on merle poodles very adorable, therefore these prospective poodle parents are willing to pay more for merle poodles. How to Buy a Merle Poodle Most people agree that a good breeder will never pair two merle parents together for breeding. Although new research shows that there are varying degrees of the merle gene, which means two merles might be safely paired together. However, the knowledge of this is still too rudimentary to allow the ethical practice of breeding two merle poodles. Breeding a merle dog to another merle dog will lead to what is called a double merle puppy. If both are merle, find another breeder. Do not buy a puppy that might be deaf or blind. While it is true that those puppies will need to find homes, you do not want to support a breeder who practices breeding double merles. Supporting such a breeder will only encourage this unethical practice of breeding double merles. Poodles of other recessive colors can also carry recessive merle genes, making it possible for them to produce double merle puppies when paired with a merle poodle. White, Apricot, Red, and multi-colored poodles can all hide the merle gene. If the puppy you are looking at has one merle parent, and one parent that is white, apricot, red, or parti, you will want to ask the breeder to see the color coat testing that was done on the parent dogs to ensure that there is no chance of the offspring being double merle. Are Merle Poodles Hypoallergenic? Yes, merle poodles are hypoallergenic. While some would argue that no dog is truly hypoallergenic, poodles are among the most tolerable dogs for people with allergies, and the merle poodle is no different from poodles of other colors when it comes to causing allergies in humans. Merle poodles have the hypoallergenic properties of regular poodles. Merle poodles have a reputation for being calm, docile, and affectionate. They love to be near their humans, and they are very compliant and eager to please. Some owners and breeders alike have noticed that temperaments seem to correspond with color. Black poodles have been noted as being intelligent and aloof while creams and apricots have been noticed for their uniquely affectionate and calm personalities. Of course, there will always be exceptions to the stereotypes that relate poodle color to poodle temperament, but many breeders and owners have noticed patterns. Merle poodles, though they have not been around in large numbers for very long, have quickly earned a reputation for being some of the most docile and calm poodles. To learn more about the personality and temperament of poodles, read our article on poodle personality and temperament. Do Merle Poodles Fade? No, merle poodles do not fade. Merle poodles keep their coloring for life. Sometimes, you may see gray hairs sparsely growing in the black patches when a merle poodle is getting older. However, for the most part, a merle poodle will stay the same color from birth throughout their lives. Poodles that change color over the course of their lives are usually reds, silvers, and blues. These all start out looking black but fade over time until they reach their permanent color around age three. This is because they have a dilute gene that takes time to be apparent. The merle poodle coat, however, is already diluted in certain places at birth. To learn more about poodle colors, read our article on the different poodle colors. A parti poodle has a pattern of two colors throughout his coat. A merle poodle also has a pattern of colors but also has a variety of dilution throughout the coat. A parti poodle will have two solid colors that appear in patches. Parti poodles are usually seen in black and white, red and white, or brown and white. White is usually the base color and the spots are the other color. In a merle poodle, the base color is blueish gray, and the spotting is black, blue, or gray appearing in different shades throughout the coat. That is quite possibly the most controversial question in poodle breeding today. While the merle color is unique, majestic, and some might even say mesmerizing, many have no idea all that goes into producing a poodle puppy that is of merle coloring. This is way higher than the average price of a standard poodle puppy , or the average price of a miniature poodle puppy , or the average price of a toy poodle puppy. The reason why merle poodles are so expensive is that it is very difficult to breed and produce merle poodles. Some poodle breeders would argue that breeding merle poodles is unethical in itself, while others would argue that there is an ethical way to produce merle poodles. Producing merle colored poodle puppies takes immense research, careful pairing, and considerable risk. We will talk about each one of these aspects as we talk about the ethical dilemma of breeding merle poodles. As long as a merle poodle is not a double merle, he should have the same chance of a healthy life as any other poodle. If, however, a merle poodle comes from two merle parents or received two copies of the merle gene, he will have a high likelihood of being unhealthy. According to research , when two normal merle poodles are bred together, their offsprings tend to have serious developmental health problems. Double Merle poodles also tend to have eye problems and hearing problems that are not typical of poodles with regular colors. If a merle poodle is not a double merle, all other health concerns of the merle poodle depend on the health of the parents. No matter what color poodle you are looking to get, always ask the breeder for the health and genetic testing done on the parents. This will help you make sure you get a poodle that will be able to live a long and happy life with you. However, some merle owners have reported that merle poodles have a higher sensitivity to sunlight and that there is a possibility that merle poodles might be more prone to skin cancer than poodles of other colors. We do not have the scientific evidence to back up this claim. But this recognition is conditional on the lineage that the merle poodle comes from. One fact is that it is quite difficult to find a merle poodle with AKC registration. This could be seen as circumstantial evidence that merle poodles are not full poodle that can be registered with the AKC. Because if they were purebred, then why are so many of them unregistered? A merle poodle can be registered with AKC as a multi-colored poodle. There is no registration specific to the merle pattern. The reason why you can register a merle poodle is that there are no special AKC requirements to register other non-solid color poodles such as parti poodles, phantom poodles, or sable poodles, but the AKC allows people to register these poodles under approximate colors such as Black and White, etc. Therefore, you can register a Merle poodle under the colors that are closest to the combination of its colors that the AKC accepts. Merle poodles are often registered as Black and Silver or Brown and Tan. Note that you need to provide proof that the parents of your merle poodle are AKC registered poodles before you can register your merle poodle with the AKC. However, merle poodles cannot participate in AKC conformation dog shows because AKC dog shows are for mostly solid-colored poodles. If you want to show your poodle in AKC conformation dog shows, you may not want to get a merle poodle. But if you want a pet poodle as most people have, without the intention to show your poodle in dog shows, then you may consider getting a merle poodle. Also, The Kennel Club KC , the official dog club of the United Kingdom which is also the oldest running dog club in the world, recently released a memo explicitly stating that merle poodles cannot be registered with the KC. Again, if all you want is a pet poodle without the intention of exhibiting your poodle in dog shows, then you may get a poodle with the merle coat pattern. Dog clubs rules and regulations evolve over time. In fact, red poodles were not AKC-registerable until the s. Merle Genetics The merle gene is very unique. It is neither recessive nor dominant. Rather, it is called an incomplete dominant gene. When a gene is dominant, it usually overpowers other genes. When a gene is recessive, it must be paired with the same recessive gene to present itself in the offspring. Incomplete dominant genes work a bit differently. Only one incomplete dominant gene is necessary to present itself in the offspring. However, if two merle genes are paired together, the offspring will be a double merle. This is another reason some poodle breeders deem merle breeding unethical. Proponents of merle breeding claim that with genetic testing, they can breed this color without any risk of producing blind and deaf puppies. The genetic testing for the merle gene is different from other types of genetic testing. There are different levels of merle, and some color genetics experts say that there is a way to safely breed merle parent dogs to one another based on the type of merle gene each parent carries. This practice is not widespread, and the technology and science surrounding this theory are fairly new, so most ethical breeders simply choose to pair a merle with a non-merle poodle that does not carry the merle gene. This is certainly the safest way to breed a merle poodle, although it does not guarantee merle offspring. The merle gene, when present, is a gene that dilutes the other color or colors of the dog. The gene is different from the normal dilute gene, however, because it does not dilute the colors evenly across the dog. Instead, it leaves patches of dark, undiluted colors while diluting the color in patches across the coat of the dog. This is what gives the merle poodle such a uniquely colored coat. If you pair one merle to another dog that is not a merle and does not contain a copy of the merle gene, the pair may or may not produce merle puppies. This is why the merle color is so rare. In order to ensure that a litter would contain merle puppies, a breeder would have to breed merle to merle, or merle to a dog that carries the merle gene. Both of these options carry a risk of producing a double merle. However, if a breeder pairs a merle poodle with a poodle who does not carry a copy of the merle gene, there is a chance that none of the puppies in that litter will be merle. Breeding merle poodles is such an ethical dilemma. To ensure a merle colored poodle litter, there would be a risk of breeding a double merle puppy. To eliminate the risk of producing a double merle puppy would also be to risk producing no merle offspring at all. This is why the merle is such a difficult poodle color to produce ethically. It is also why merle poodles are so expensive. Merle poodls are rare and they are not easy to reproduce ethically. Final Thoughts It seems that knowledge of the merle gene is still elusive to scientists and color genetics experts. And yet, they have made significant progress in understanding the gene in the last few years. We know that breeding merles to merles involve some risk, although new research suggests that genetic testing might someday be able to guide breeders in which merles can be bred to one another. For now, however, to avoid the possibility of blind and deaf puppies, breeders avoid pairing two merle poodles together for breeding. The downside of this is that this makes it difficult to ever guarantee the production of a merle puppy. The upside is that the chances of producing a double merle poodle with health problems is greatly reduce. Breeders and owners have an ongoing debate regarding whether the merle gene was introduced to the poodle breed from an outside breed or whether it is naturally occurring in poodles and simply remained hidden for most of poodle history. If you can find a well-bred merle poodle, it will likely cost a lot of money as they are few and far between. If you find one, however, they are likely to have a sweet and calm temperament. A well-bred merle poodle can make a fantastic family pet and companion. The merle controversy is still very hot in the poodle community. The purpose of this article is to present you with different viewpoints on the Merle poodles. The viewpoints in this article are contradictory, as it should be. We advise you to do your own research to make your decision on Merle poodles. We hope that the resources in the reference below will further help guide and educate you on the controversial issue of Merle poodles. Alue Standard Poodles will not sell to merle breeders or those who support the breeding of merle mix Poodles. Catahoula got merle from these breeds, and collie type herding breeds in other parts of the world got their merle from European herding dogs. Other breeds and dog types did NOT have merle years ago, and most didn't even 50 years ago. Chihuahua might have had merle over 50 years already, but this fad "look, there is merle in our breed too" started to happen only in 's or later, and we Europeans first heard of it around 's or even later as it didn't start here, where most of these breeds originate, but mainly in US. ONLY "we didn't have merles and now we do" breed which can officially trace their first merle is Hungarian Mudi, aka they got it "legally". Well, in American Cockers it can be kind of traced back to certain dogs, but not properly explained how they just started getting merle offspring. Merle is such a complicated mutation that it doesn't happen again and again and always in just the same way, but merle is always introduced to a new population by using existing merle dogs from other breeds. Merle is naturally present in a surprisingly small number of breeds, mostly herding breeds along with Great Danes. It has been bred into breeds such the Chihuahua and Pomeranian as well. So what's the deal with merle and why are all the Poodle people losing their minds over it? Well, let me tell you. As I prefaced this with, merle is a complicated gene, but it's especially complicated when it gets bred into breeds of which it doesn't belong in. If it doesn't belong there, how did it get there? Well, while we will never know the absolute truth, what happens is a breeder will take a Poodle and breed it to a breed that produces merle, such as a herding breed like an Australian Shepherd. This is referred to as paper hanging. Paper hanging is an issue for many reasons- the first being that someone lied and ethically that is wrong to do. Second, if you have someone that lied on a pedigree and someone unknowingly buys a puppy descended from that line who then wants to breed that dog, they have no idea what true health issues are behind their dog, which means they have no idea what issues their puppies could end up with. This kind of act causes issues for generations. Another issue with merle is, of course, how the genetics work themselves. That e gene will override merle, which is where phantom merle terminology comes into play. What that means is that you can have a dog that looks like a solid cream but is genetically a merle dog and that can cause big problems for that new owner. If the buyer wanted to breed that dog or had an oops litter with a merle dog, they just created double merles, which means they could produce some serious health issues. Parti can also break up the merle pattern, so if you do not know what you are looking at, you could easily be convinced you are looking at a weird clearing blue or black parti. The problem with merle Poodles is that they are not purebred and were made from deceit for money--bottom line, plain and simple. The breed now faces pedigrees that are lies. We face health issues from herding breeds being bred into our genetic population, and we have people lying to the public saying that merle Poodles are purebred and we "just don't like them". That couldn't be further from the truth. Breeding these dogs comes down to being unethical as a breeder by lying to buyers saying they are buying a purebred Poodle and doing a massive disservice to the breed by breeding in health issues and coat traits none of us are prepared for or know how to work around. When we talk about breed testing, such as Embark, merle breeders point to the fact their dogs test as Poodle as the proof merle is a Poodle color. Embark only tests back generations. So what does that mean? Well, if someone bred an Aussie to a Poodle 5 generations ago, Embark would not pick that up. If they bred an Aussiedoodle to a Poodle even three generations ago, Embark would not pick that up. Genetic breed testing is not sensitive enough to pick up generations past parents. People will also say, "if it's bred back to a Poodle enough times it becomes a Poodle". The fact of the matter is, someone introduced a non-Poodle into that line, and those progeny are mixes. Alue Standard Poodles will never sell to a breeder that breeds merles or supports merles. You are visitor number: All photos are property of Alue Standard Poodles and are not to be used without written permission. Merle tends to express itself in patches, dots, spots, and dashes. Merle is a genetic pattern that can be in a dog's coat. Merle comes in different colors and patterns and can affect all coat colors. The merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat, blue or odd-colored eyes, and can affect skin pigment as well. The Merle Gene is an incomplete dominant gene, which means that it only requires one copy to reproduce it. Yes, Merle Poodles are purebred. Poodles are a breed of dog that are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and hypoallergenic coat. There are three sizes of Poodles: Standard, Miniature, and Toy. Merle is a coat color pattern that is found in some purebred dogs, including Poodles. The Merle coat color pattern is characterized by a mottled or marbled appearance, with patches of solid color mixed with areas of diluted or faded color. The Merle pattern can occur in a variety of colors, including blue, red, chocolate, and black. It is important to note that the Merle coat pattern is not recognized by all Poodle breed standards, so it is not considered a standard coat color in some Poodle breed clubs. However, it is still considered a purebred Poodle. It has been recognized that the Merle coat pattern in dogs is not only a visually interesting feature, but it also exerts an important biological role, in terms of hearing and vision impairments. Unfortunately, the situation turned out complicated as genotypes of Merle-tested individuals did not always correspond to expected phenotypes, sometimes with undesired health consequences in the offspring. The refinement of allelic identification was made possible by systematic, detailed observation of Merle phenotypes in a cohort of dogs from known Merle breeds, by many breeders worldwide, and the use of advanced molecular technology enabling the discrimination of individual Merle alleles with significantly higher precision than previously available. We also show that mosaicism of Merle alleles is an unexpectedly frequent phenomenon, which was identified in 30 out of .Importantly, not only major alleles but also minor Merle alleles can be inherited by the offspring. Thus, mosaic findings cannot be neglected and must be reported to the breeder in their whole extent. In light of negative health consequences that may be attributed to certain Merle breeding strategies, we strongly advocate the implementation of the refined Merle allele testing for all dogs of Merle breeds to help the breeders in the selection of suitable mating partners and production of healthy offspring. Merle is thought to be inherited in an autosomal, incomplete dominant way. Dogs heterozygous for the M allele show a typical coat pattern, however, dogs homozygous for the M allele may also exhibit auditory and ophthalmologic impairments and abnormalities together with very pale or completely white coat phenotypes Strain et al. Such negative health effects associated with the M locus encouraged the research to identify the gene responsible. They look like a traditional merle, however, what makes them merle is their genetics. Cream, Red, Apricot, or Parti can hide the Merle pattern. This is pretty standard for the type of poodle standard, toy, or miniature and age range puppy or adult. Merle dogs of any breed are likely to be more expensive than solid-colored dogs, even though a lot of responsible breeders try to change that. Red Merle Poodles have a red brown , copper, beige and white coat in a mottled pattern. Most of their coat is a beige-grey and they feature red brown , white and copper patches throughout it. Red Merle Poodles have light or dark brown noses. In most cases they have light brown eyes however they can sometimes have blue eyes. They are also called Chocolate Merle Poodles. Tweed Merle Poodles carry the Tweed merle modifier that turns the majority of their coat into a variety of brown and tan shades. Tweed Merle Poodles have extensive brown patching compared to a regular Merle Poodle. They are an extremely rare Poodle coat pattern. Merle Phantom Poodles have a coat with a merle background with patches of tan on their chin, throat, chest, legs, beneath their tail, above their eyes and on the sides of their muzzle. They are extremely rare. They have the typical phantom pattern but instead of having a solid background color, their coat is mainly merle. A Cryptic Merle Poodle is a Poodle that has very small patches of merle or none at all. These Poodles appear to be non-merle however they carry the merle genotype and produce merle offspring. Unfortunately, Double Merle Poodles are affected by severe ocular defeats and deafness. They may be deaf in one or both ears and may be blind or have totally lost an eye. This is because Double Merle Poodles will always pass on a copy of Merle to their puppies and should not be bred together. Most official bodies refuse to register dogs that are a product of merle-to-merle breeding. Are Merle Poodles Healthy? Merle Poodles are likely to have health issues, especially Double Merle Poodles. See Also.

About products and suppliers: Personalized dog shaped pencil cases A personalized dog pencil case is a great way to show your business's adeem to clients, and also a great way to promote your business. Engraved pencil cases and custom pencil cases are great for small gifts or to give your customers an edge of this world. Buy dog shaped pencil cases and buy dog shaped pencil cases wholesale from Alibaba. What is dog shaped pencil case? A cute dog shaped pencil case can be used for schools, restaurants, and at the office as a gift. Find a cute dog shaped pencil case that is perfect for your customers, especially those who want to keep small pencils and their pooch at the same time as a cat-shaped pencil case. Foldable pencil bags are a great way to keep young customers motivated in their purses and pencils at home, and they are looking for a cute and shaped pencil case to keep their pencils and pensch. 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Some of these you can help prevent, while others are out of your immediate control. If your GSD carries the genes for ears that lie down, instead of standing erect, then more than likely they will have floppy ears. This means they may have ears that never stand up and are floppy for life. Breeding Some breeders choose to pair parents that both have large, erect ears. And some buyers and owners prefer this larger style of ears for show or aesthetic purposes. But, there is some theory that breeding a German Shepherd with larger and larger ears might contribute to ears that stay flopped over. Always see the parents of the puppy you buy from the breeder on the premises to see their appearance. Physical Damage or Accidents Puppies are active and mischievous and can get into plenty of trouble. This includes physical damage or accidents that have the cartilage or muscles in their ears. If this happens their ears may suffer long-term damage and not stand up naturally on their own. So watch out for a rough play that might lead to ear damage. And, if your pup has been in an accident that hurt their ears, take them immediately to the vets. Improper and Poor Nutrition German Shepherds need balanced nutrition during crucial growing stages, including vitamins and minerals that aid in cartilage and muscle development of their ears. You should ensure your dog gets the right nutrition from the start to avoid any issues. Along with Vitamin D, calcium helps strengthen the cartilage to aid in building a strong foundation for the ears to stand up later. Neglecting Ear Cleaning Puppies still need ear cleaning when dirt and build-up are overly present. Dirty ears that become neglected can inhibit proper growth and cause discomfort for your dog, causing them to excessively scratch their ears which can cause damage. This could cause them more harm! Instead, wipe away the dirt from the skin of the ear with a warm, damp washcloth or use special ear cleaning wipes. A dog with one floppy ear and one ear upright is totally normal. Occasionally, your German Shepherd might have one floppy ear and one ear standing upright. If they are a small puppy then they are most likely growing and the one ear down still needs time to go upright naturally. These are some of the best techniques that will help their ears to stand up. They only need to sit inside the ear enough to support cartilage growth. Make sure you check for any creases or folds in their ears before moving on to the next step. Repeat in the other ear. Make a Popsicle Support Now, take the popsicle sticks and place them at the top of the foam rollers both ears should have foam rollers in them at this point. You might need another pair of hands to help with this, so ask your family or friends to help. Take the self-adhering waterproof tape and place a medium-size piece across and around the two foam rollers and popsicle sticks. This ensures even and symmetrical growth. Make a bridge across their ears instead. If your German Shepherd puppy is 9 months old and their ears still flop over, please see your vet for further assistance. When in doubt, get your vet to show you what to do for their ears. Your puppy might become annoyed with the tape on their ears, so they may need close supervision and even some distraction during the taping process. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a German Shepherd that has floppy ears and putting them at risk to have any unnecessary surgery to get their ears to stand up can cause them pain. Speak to your vet about the side effects and pain associated with ear implants. You can help prevent floppy ears in your dog by taking the appropriate steps to keep them healthy. The top ways to help a GSD with floppy ears include: 1. Feed them a high-quality food Giving your dog the proper nutrition for optimum growth is a necessity, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. Choose a puppy food with the correct ratio of nutrients and vitamins to ensure they get the correct building blocks for development. When you choose to give them treats, pick ones from this list of the best healthy dog treats for German Shepherd puppies. Provide them with the proper chew toys Chewing helps to strengthen the muscles that surround the ears. Or worse… Injure them. Learn to play and discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way to avoid accidental ear injuries or damage. German Shepherds with ears that are floppy are a joy to own, no matter their age! Floppy ears are adorable and give your dog even more character. Go on, and find out what makes your companion the happiest dog on the planet! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Aug 18, Share German Shepherds have a distinctive look that includes alert, erect ears. For most pups, the ear cartilage begins to harden around week 20, or when the pup is finished teething. At that point, it can take up to 20 weeks for the ears to stand up fully. This can vary by the individual, however. Like human ears, dog ears are made of cartilage. As they grow and gain nutrition, German Shepherds develop stronger and stronger cartilage to support those ears. Typically, puppies at weeks will have floppy ears that occasionally stand up but quickly fall back down. Around week 20, or 5 months, your pup is done teething and its ears will begin to harden and stand. Your vet may have some suggestions to help the process along. If your pup reaches 8 months and still has floppy ears, the chance of them standing on their own is slim. Some breeders try to breed for larger ears, leading to ears that are too heavy to stand up. If strong, alert ears are important to you, be sure to look for a pup with parents that have erect ears. If the ears sustain trauma during that time, it can cause permanent damage to the cartilage. If your puppy gets parasites, it can impact healthy development, which includes the hardening of its ear cartilage. Be sure to take your puppy to the vet regularly and have routine fecal exams to check for worms and other parasites. Your vet can recommend an appropriate deworming protocol for your growing puppy and treat parasites if they occur. However, if you want your puppy to have strong, alert ears, you can help the process along in a number of ways. In an effort to move ear development along, some owners will add supplements like calcium. Chew toys are also good for teething and keeping your puppy occupied. German Shepherds are strong, even as pups, so be sure to choose solid, durable chew toys that are safe and appropriate for your puppy. It should only be used as a last resort, however. If you use tape too early, it can hinder natural development. That said, if you wait until the seventh or eighth month, it may be too late to help. Glue the ends of the popsicle stick to the tape on both ears, horizontally. Once a week, remove the popsicle stick, foam, and tape. If the ears stand on their own, leave them. Related Reads:. I get a lot of emails about taping German Shepherd puppy ears. The majority of these emails come from people who are jumping the gun and worrying too much. By that, I mean their pups are 3 or 4 months old and they are starting to panic because their puppy's ears are not standing. I tell these people that they need patience, they need to wait until their pup has finished teething. I caution these people not to jump the gun and tape the dog's ears too early or in the wrong way. I know people who have screwed their dog's ears up for life by doing this. I have had puppy customers who go ballistic on me and panic. So I issue a word of caution here. With that said, the other side of the spectrum of taping ears is something that many people do not take seriously until it's too late. When ears are taped at 7 and 8 months, there is very little chance of it working. This is an unfortunate fact of life. German Shepherd puppy ears can come up between 8 weeks and 6 months. If they are not up when the dog is through teething this varies from dog to dog but in general between 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age , I tell my puppy customers to get very interested in their ears. While it's not time to panic, it is time to sit up and take notice. The first thing to do is make sure that your puppy is in good health. This means no intestinal parasites. Take a stool sample to your vet to have it analyzed. It's also important to make sure the pup is getting good quality food. We feed and recommend a raw diet but if you do feed a commercial diet, I strongly recommend researching all the options available and feeding the highest-quality food you can afford. View our list of all-natural kibble alternatives. In fact, a lot of times, a pup will have both ears up and all of a sudden, they will come back down when the pup starts to teeth. Many owners panic when this happens. But not to worry, I have never seen a pup whose ears did not go back up when this happens. If a pup does not have his ears up by 5 months, I strongly recommend that you get involved with taping your dog's ears. Use the thin white surgical tape the kind that's paper-thin and tears easily. The 3M Micropore tape, 2" wide, works well. I like to use women's hair rollers. Take the plastic out of them and just use the foam. Wrap the ear around the foam and tape them into a tight roll. In a vertical position. Take a popsicle stick and attach it to the top part of both ears. In a horizontal position. The pup is going to tear the tape or stick off the ears several times. The key is to continue to re-tape the ears. Sooner or later, the pup will forget the tape and ignore it. About once a week, take the tape off and see if the ears will stand on their own. Continue to re-tape until the ears stand. If the ears are not up by 7 or 8 months, they are not going to come up. The ears should look like this once taped. The same dog with ears now up. I have seen ears that did not stand, which in my opinion would have stood had they been taped. So this process is not something to take lightly. I also need to say that many ears will be a little weak right after taping but with time, they will strengthen. So when an ear does not stand perfectly after taping don't panic. Just have patience and see what happens. You will really not have an idea exactly what you have until the pup is 12 months old. When ears do not stand, there are ear implants that can be surgically added. I have no experience with this and do not know anything about them. If you are unlucky enough to have a dog whose ears will not stand, I would point you toward a vet that has some experience in this area. I don't think it's something that normal small animal vets know how to do well. In my opinion, too young to tape. The material to use to tape German Shepherd Ears The pup with its ears taped I prefer taping German Shepherd Dogs ears after the dog has finished teething. This usually means the dog is older than 4 - 6 months. Maybe waiting another month would have been a better idea for this puppy.