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English Bulldog swims on a clean water pool. Here are a few examples to help you get started during your search: Skin Condition and Age The best shampoo for your English Bulldog should match its breed-specific coat and skin care needs. Several moisturizing formulas are ideal for treating itchiness or bacterial infections like skin fold pyoderma. Ingredients Consider looking for dog shampoo containing natural ingredients and vitamins, like aloe vera, vitamin E, oatmeal, and coconut oil. These formulas are less likely to cause skin irritation than a shampoo with harsh detergents, sulfates, and parabens. Fragrance Shampoos with artificial fragrances are more likely to trigger skin allergies in some English Bulldogs. In contrast, others recommend diluting it with water before applying it to your dog to reduce potential skin irritation caused by its concentrated ingredients. Consider bathing your English Bulldog every six to eight weeks to prevent escalating their potential skin problems. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Most of all, you might be thinking about whether your shampoo could work on your dog. When it comes to shampoos, we often think that it only takes care of our hair. However, it can also affect the skin — mainly our scalp. Our shampoo products are simply not suited for our dogs. They have a more sensitive, thinner, and more alkaline skin than ours. It can then cause several problems such as itchiness and hot spots. Dog shampoos , on the other hand, were manufactured and formulated for their specific needs. However, finding the right shampoo for English Bulldogs is essential to guarantee their needs are met. Dogs have different coat types from its length to its density. There are even dogs with double coats. For example, dogs with thinner or shorter coats will need a gentler shampoo type as their fur is closer to their skin. Meanwhile, dogs with thicker or double coats will need a more powerful shampoo. While you still need a chemical-free shampoo, there are organic shampoos that pack more power and can penetrate through the coarser top coat and the undercoat. English Bulldogs have a shorter and straighter coat, so they make shampoo for English Bulldogs that are milder. Skin and Coat Condition If your English bulldog suffers from a certain skin or coat condition, you need to find a shampoo for English Bulldogs that are made to treat these issues. If your dog has a healthy skin and coat, most normal dog shampoos will work. If they suffer from dry skin, you will need a product that can hydrate and moisturize the skin. Normally, dry skin could lead to itchiness and worse — hot spots. For these problems, shampoos with an oatmeal formula or aloe vera extract would work best. Greasy coats are also common. For this kind of issue, you should avoid oatmeal formula shampoos and choose other emollients like aloe vera. Shedding is normal for dogs, but excessive shedding might be a problem. Anti Ticks and Fleas Ticks and fleas are a year-round threat that your dog faces. But be reminded that these tick and flea shampoos are only temporary remedies. These pup-specific shampoos are often milder and offer a no-tear formula. Your dog will be squeaky clean by the time they step out of the bath. There are no harsh chemicals included in its formulation. While this product was specifically marketed towards dog owners with puppies, you can use it on your adult English Bulldog, especially when they have sensitive skin. It also has the right pH balance that works for dogs of all breeds and life stages. As there are no synthetic colorants and perfumes, the ingredients are veterinary-grade and are safe for use. If the skin is healthy, itching and flaking can also be avoided. Apart from healing dry and itchy skin, this shampoo also effectively cleans your dog and deodorizes them, leaving no traces of bad smell from dirt, urine, or poo. It claims to keep your dog smelling good every after bath and retains this smell for a while. All the ingredients are natural and there are no synthetic colorants, perfumes, harsh chemicals, and parabens. This shampoo does not only deep clean their coat but lightens and whitens their fur even more. However, this shampoo does leave your dog smelling like pina colada after bathing. It also has a synthetic fragrance and uses dyes. Double check these chemicals to ensure that your dog is safe and discontinue use if your dog starts experiencing problems. This product claims to work on a broad spectrum of skin conditions including flaking and scaling from mange, pyoderma, seborrhea, and even mites and acne. However, it is best that you use this with the guidance of your vet. It also has a refreshing and pleasant citrus smell. Leftover shampoo, especially as strong as this one, could cause drying and itching. The best shampoo for English Bulldogs could be different for each dog and dog owner. However, it should be able to clean them while leaving their skin healthy and coat healthy. Also, it should work well on skin and coat issues your dog might have. And remember, find a product with safe ingredients. I was born into a dog-loving family and have been a proud doggy mommy ever since I can remember. I love sharing my dog knowledge and love being an active part of the dog-loving community. Related Posts. I recommend bathing a Bulldog monthly or every two months. If you bathe a Bulldog any more than that, you are risking stripping him of natural oils. This can result in dry, itchy skin and a damaged, unhealthy coat. However, not bathing your dog enough can result in the opposite problem, leading to excessive oil buildup. This is why a consistent bathing schedule and a good, high-quality dog shampoo are so important. This product includes oatmeal to help alleviate any dry or irritated skin. It is also hypoallergenic, which means it is helpful for Bulldogs with sensitive skin or allergies. Best of all, this product is tear free! This brand is full of natural ingredients for sensitive skin. This product deodorizes that stinky Bulldog in need of a bath. However, our favorite thing about this product is the baking soda. Baking soda helps to alleviate itching while also working as a natural deodorant. This product is not only cleansing but conditioning, leaving your Bulldog clean and smelling fresh. It also strengthens and regenerates his skin cells with chamomile. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. We should note that a medicated or anti-itch shampoo may not be necessary for your Bulldog, but we suggested them because Bulldogs are more prone to skin infections than other types of dogs. This is mostly due to their skin folds, which are part of the reason why we love them. But the truth is that these skin folds create a warm and moist environment for bacteria to grow in. But when given the right environment in which to grow, bacteria can multiply in such a way that it is unhealthy and can actually cause discomfort for your dog. If this happens, bacterial skin infections can occur, which can cause itchiness, skin redness, hair loss, and even skin crusting and flakiness. Bacterial skin infections often require a medicated shampoo to treat, which is why we suggested a few for you. However, your vet can also recommend a reliable medicated shampoo as well. The bottom line is that anti-itch shampoos are okay to use with Bulldogs in any situation, but not all Bulldogs will require a shampoo that is medicated. Conclusion We love English Bulldogs due to their wrinkled appearance, but those wrinkles can also lead to skin problems as well. If you need something medicated, there are several great options on our list for that as well. Whatever your Bulldog needs as far as shampoo goes, we hope you found it with our product suggestions and reviews. She is currently living in the United States with her husband and daughter. Other members of her family include a long-haired chihuahua named Penny, three cats Bubba, Kittylina, and Thunder , and an aquatic turtle named Creek. In addition to writing, her passions include gardening, traveling, and protecting our wildlife and natural resources.Read more Advertisement. He has a lot of presence and style and ought never to be shoved out in the ring without the formal rituals of good grooming. A great deal has been written about the origin of the British Bulldog, much of it speculative, but most writers agree that the earliest ancestor was the Alaunt. This dog was described in a dictionary published in as being like a Mastiff and serving butchers by bringing in fierce oxen and keeping them in their stalls The British Bulldog may be a power pack type of dog, but he can display oodles of glamour given the chance. As your standard says the coat should be fine in texture, short, close and smooth and we have the products to help you achieve this! When bathing, attention must be given to finding the right shampoo for your British Bulldog as this breed can suffer a scurfy powdery dandruff problem. If this is the case, use the Plush Puppy Sensitive Skin Shampoo at a ratio of 1 part shampoo to 3 parts water until the scurf clears. Then dilute further to a maximum of for maintenance. Use at a ratio of for show grooming. Your standard also states the coat should be lying smooth and close. No fluffy coats for this dog! This will not soften but retains the correct coat texture. Seabreeze Oil is excellent for maintaining the healthy vigour to the skin and coat and is all plant sourced from Evening Primrose and Calendula Oils. It is non greasy and totally water soluble making it easy to apply and remove each time without build-up. Dilute 1 tablespoon in 4 Litres of water and work well through the coat, right down to the skin with a large sponge. It gives incredible sheen and finish to the hair. This also helps keep any scurf at bay and leaves the coat smelling delightful. We cannot stress enough the wonderful attributes of this product. If you have, as is permitted, white markings on your Bulldog, then you can use either the Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo for a white finish on those areas or Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo for a brilliant white finish. Then follow with the Seabreeze Oil as above. Herbal Whitening Shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources with Ginseng extracts, protein, and violet tone combined in a concentrated and rich formula. It works brilliantly in reducing yellowing or warm tones in white coats or white area of the coat without bleaching or lightening. All coat colours are made of the full spectrum of the colours of the rainbow and first tones to fade are always the blues and purples leaving a reddish, orange overtone to the coat. This is a quick and effective way to give depth back to your blacks and reds without damaging the coat or using any artificial coat colourings. This shampoo will intensify these colours and give a sparkling clear sheen. It negates unwanted warm tones from sun fading or reddening in the coat and adds back the lost cool tones to the coat. Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo is specifically designed to remove product build-up and to reduce unwanted stains in dogs coats. Its rich formulation using organic sources with added Green Tea and Seaweed extracts to provide the deepest coat clean available. Not only will it spruce up dull whites, this product can be used on any colour coat for a thorough cleansing and clarifying when required. Another clever stain reducing product is Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. It helps to maintain a white stain free coat. Best used on a damp or wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing time minutes and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. Blow drying is brilliant on short coats to dislodge any dead hair. Grooming mitts and brushes will never get the amount of dead hair out that a good forced dryer will remove. The quicker the dead hair is dislodged, the faster it will regrow. FAST dramatically reduces drying time, adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. It contains Australian Native Flame Tree extracts that hydrate a dry or old coat making it look perfect. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. FAST is amazing on short coats for a brilliant shine. A light spray to a wet or damp coat, then brush through before drying. Now let the grooming begin. If you thought this was the end of the contribution to show day — you have another thing coming! I believe in the principle of small things to make a great dog rather than any one big thing. I have seen ordinary dogs turned into extraordinary dogs with the right approach and yet they were always good dogs. Unfortunately, no-one else got to see just how good they could be till taken in hand. Trim the whiskers. This breed looks great with a clean face. Using thinning shears, neaten under his tail and neaten the point of the tail by rounding off. Proceed to neaten also the 2 cowlicks where the 2 hair patterns meet at the back of stifle. This dog does call for good musculature and to appear powerfully developed with all that power pack of dog showing under the skin. When you really need to cover stains your whites or intensify white areas, Cover Up Cream will do the trick. Apply with a barely damp sponge using a small amount. Build up coverage as required layer by layer. Then use powder or chalk as required whilst cream is drying. Brush off excess when dry. Add a tiny bit of Plush Puppy Chalkestral with your fingertips to the white legs to assist holding the white powder you apply. You need something to help grip and to protect the coat from abrasion. Best of all is Plush Puppy Fairy Frost. This ultra-fine and bright white powder that is more effective and innovative than the usual methods of white chalking and adding powder to coats. Fairy Frost will create the brightest white tone that clings all day. Plus, it covers all coats without creating harshness. Fine and easy to use, our formulation means a little goes a long way. Fairy Frost Regular is naturally sourced and contains no chalk or talc. Use this product instead of chalk or mix with your usual white powder. This product is best for glamorous, perfect whites as it never gets clumpy, even when wet. This stays on the coat well and will last the day till washed off. Work well into the area where required for enhancing whites and cover. The absolute best for glamorous perfect whites. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off. Wonder Wash is a brilliant quick self rinsing bathing alternative solution for quick and easy clean ups without the need for a complete bath. In moments when regular shampooing is not an option, Wonder Wash will clean, whiten and brighten problem areas on all coat kinds. Always keep our handy Plush Puppy Wonder Wash spray in your tack box. It contains optical brighteners, has a fresh apple fragrance, and violet tone. You can sneak in a tiny amount of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust. I do say a tiny amount and add it into the Fairy Frost Regular. I also like a spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher for a nice clean smelling dog. It literally deodorises and gives a pleasant fragrance to the dog negating most odours with ease. I can be very frivolous when I am away for a cluster of shows and cannot find time nor facilities for another bathing. A light mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb. Good handling, good presentation and a great dog — what else can beat that? Plush Puppy Australia.
These adorable, even-tempered dogs have squashed faces and upright ears and are around 12 inches in height. These French Bulldogs are less common than regular French Bulldogs and are pricier. English Bulldogs were bred with Pugs and terriers to create their smaller size. They became popular companions amongst Nottingham lace makers for their loyal personalities and rat-catching abilities. They were taken along to northern France when many of the lace makers relocated there for better work opportunities. In France, the miniature Bulldogs were sought after by the locals, who instantly fell in love with them, and more and more of these small bulldogs that were considered unfit for breeding by the English were shipped over to France and sold. Although they were seen as flawed in their country of origin, they grew in popularity in France and ultimately became known as the French Bulldog. French Bulldogs come in many colors, including blue fawn. However, this type is rarer because they carry two recessive dilute genes as well as two fawn color genes. The small Bulldog with pointy ears started as a miniature rat-catching companion in England but was eventually seen as unfit for breeding because they no longer matched the breed standard of the English Bulldog. However, they were popularized by the French. In France, the breed was welcomed by all levels of class but soon became a status symbol as more and more high-society artists, actors, and celebrities claimed them as pets. Wealthy Americans traveling through Europe in the late s brought the breed to the US and big names, such as the Rockefellers, soon welcomed them into their homes, quickly drawing attention to the breed and causing them to skyrocket in popularity in America. However, the French Bulldog Club of England was formed four years before that, in .Markings and patterns that are allowed are brindle, piebald, black masks, black shadings, white shadings, and ticking. The accepted eye color is black or dark brown, with lighter brown being accepted too. Because of their little, disproportioned bodies, male French Bulldogs have a tough time mounting their mates, which makes puppy-making almost impossible. Due to this, most Blue Fawn French Bulldogs are brought about through artificial insemination. Females have narrow birth canals, which puts both the mother and the pups at risk during natural birth. Instead, to reduce the risk and the stress of natural birth, most French Bulldogs deliver their puppies via Cesarean section. Of course, artificial insemination along with C-section delivery is costly, which in turn pushes up the price of the puppies. Blue Fawn Genetics Are Pretty Complicated The blue color that Blue Fawn French Bulldogs are known for is the result of a dilution gene that lightens all the black pigment to a greyish color. However, for this to be evident in a puppy, both their parents would need to carry that recessive gene. To be fawn in color, these puppies would also need to carry two genes for the fawn color. Other than their coat coloring and green or blue eye color, Blue Fawn French Bulldogs are just like the rest of their French Bulldog breed. A long-haired French Bulldog can be the product of two short-haired French Bulldogs, as long as both those dogs are carriers of the rare recessive gene. Flying can often make their existing struggle with breathing worse because of the tighter space, changes in air quality and temperatures, and the high level of stress that often accompanies the trip. Getting your dog familiar with the crate and being carried in one is a way to reduce flying stress and better their chances. Blue Fawn French Bulldogs make wonderful pets due to their gentle, friendly, loyal, and playful natures. They get on well with children and seniors but do like to be the center of attention. They generally get on nicely with other pets but also do well on their own. This breed is a favorite amongst the wealthy for several reasons. However, many Frenchie lovers deem the breed worth the price, with the French Bulldogs ranking as the second most popular dog in the US. See Also:. But they do live the longest among the bulldog breeds, approximately years according to the AKC English Bulldogs live for years. But you have to be aware of some health risks that the breed is prone to. French Bulldogs are a sensitive breed when it comes to some allergens in their food, the most common being chicken and grains. As a result their skin can become itchy and irritated, and they may also have diarrhea. Read our article about the best food for French Bulldogs. Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome The French Bulldog is a brachycephalic breed, which means flat-faced, short-headed, the reason for looking so cute. This causes them to snort and snore, and in some cases can lead to breathing problems. How to avoid it: as a Frenchie parent, make sure your pup avoids excessive heat or over-exercising. That adorable, cute flat face again! This shape causes the eyes of French Bulldogs to protrude, making them more prone to infections and injuries. If you spot cherry eye or anything unusual in the eyes, contact your vet. Odie, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies How to avoid genetic problems in your French Bulldog By adopting your French Bulldog from a reputable breeder, you massively reduce the likelihood of them having or developing genetic disorders. Such breeders sell pups coming from a premium bloodline and carry out all the necessary testing to make sure you get a healthy and happy boy or girl. Male vs female French Bulldog — which one is the best for you? French Bulldogs are friendly, playful dogs regardless of gender. In terms of height and weight, there are no real differences. Their temperament can be different but remember that each dog has their own personality within the genders. Below is a general description about boy and girl Frenchies. They also want to show their dominance more when being around other dogs, or pets. They have a tendency to mark everything. Males may go crazy around female dogs who are in heat. All male dogs not only Frenchies have a yellowish-greenish discharge, coming from the sheath. They come into season twice a year for 10 days each unless they are spayed , when they have to wear special hygiene pants. Girls can be timid around other dogs. Girls are often recommended for first-time pet owners, and also cost more as they can be bred. Boys are the preferred choice when the pet parent wants a more energetic little rascal. You might fall in love with a baby regardless of the color, but if you want to choose based on the colors, in this section, you can read about The standard and rare colors Fluffy French Bulldogs Misbelieves and the truth about them Standard French Bulldog Colors Brindle French Bulldog The most common French Bulldog color is brindle, which is in fact a pattern and a color. There are many variations of brindle depending on how prominent it is seal brindle when the pattern is very light, and tiger brindle when stronger. Beige Frenchies often have black masks. It can be combined with fawn or brindle. Their nose, lips and paw pads may be pink or a somewhat darker almost black color. Cream French bulldog — TomKings Puppies Non-standard or rare French Bulldog colors Rare and unique colors and patterns have gained more popularity in recent years. Bear in mind that unique colors are rare and are in high demand, which results in higher prices. Blue Frenchies have a coat color ranging from light to dark grey, with a bluish shine. They have blue parts around their muzzle and eyes, and their coat has a bluish shine. Blue fawn french bulldog — TomKings Puppies This pattern is made up of blue and fawn hair. Depending on the mixture of blue and fawn hair, their color can range from very dark to very light. Blue brindle French Bulldog — TomKings Puppies Their coat color is predominantly white, with patches of blue covering their head and body the proportion of white and blue can vary. Blue merle Frenchies have gray coat with bluish spots. Blue merle French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies They have a solid blue base color with beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows. Blue and tan French Bulldog — TomKings Puppies A very rare pattern, a lighter coat color with darker patches scattered over their bodies. Black French bulldog — TomKings Puppies They are often mistaken for blue French Bulldogs, but they have a lighter, silverish coat, which gets lighter as they age. They also have light-colored eyes. Their eyes are available in various colors, like emerald, brown, gold, yellow. Chocolate French Bulldog A chocolate base color with red or beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows. Choco and tan French bulldog — TomKings Puppies This color is similar to albino but retains some luster in the coat, and not pure white seen in albino. Similarly to lilac Frenchies, they are the combination of blue and chocolate but they have a much more unique greyish liver coat color. The only difference from their short-haired cousins is that they have furry, fluffy hair, which makes them extra adorable. They get their fluffiness from a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor 5 FGF5 gene. Fluffy Frenchies are rare and expensive. Compared to other dog breeds you might see higher prices for Frenchies: they are actually considered one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world! You might also experience a wide range of prices that breeders charge for a French Bulldog baby. French Bulldogs are expensive to breed: due to the narrow hip of the moms, they have to be artificially inseminated. Because of the big head of the baby and again, the narrow hip of the mom , Frenchie babies are born by a C-section. Puppy parents coming from a premium, award-winning bloodline are more expensive, and not all the breeders have access to them. There is a high demand for French Bulldogs, as they are the most popular dog breed of America according to the American Kennel Club. The actual price of the puppy depends on: Gender females cost more because of the breeding ability Age younger puppies cost more Coat color unique colors cost more You might find that there are price differences among breeders, even if the puppies they sell are similarly cute. If a breeder spends money on raising a physically and mentally healthy dog, it will have to be reflected in the price. If the price is very low, or you are offered a sale, be cautious, as it could be a scam. You might be dealing with a hobby breeder, or, even worse, a puppy mill , where they breed hundreds of puppies in very poor conditions. Q: Is TomKings Puppies expensive? GK: We have over 17 years of experience breeding only French Bulldogs, with an expert team of vets, trainers, nannies, professionally supervised by our co-founder who has a degree in animal breeding. We invest a lot of money into raising happy and healthy French Bulldogs, and finding loving families for them. Our prices are comparable to those of similar reputable breeders. See below our price list and what the price includes. Q: How to buy good quality French Bulldogs cheaper? Find below the TomKings prices and what the price includes as a reference. A very important thing to remember is that there are big differences in the quality of puppies, from one Frenchie breeder to the next. The French Bulldog is both a brachycephalic flat-faced and chondrodystrophic dwarf breed, so they are prone to health issues, if they are not properly bred. The current popularity of the breed has brought a lot of inexperienced breeders, unscrupulous breeders, backyard breeders, and scammers into the market, so the advice is, buyer beware. Please make sure you are dealing with a reputable Frenchie breeder who has years of experience, high-quality dogs, good customer reviews, and a good guarantee. We introduce each litter when the puppies are generally between 6 and 8 weeks of age, after they have had their Vet check-ups. We post a video of each litter under the names of the parents and date of birth. This video will help show the personalities of each of the puppies in the litter, in addition to their color, conformation, and size. To minimize confusion, we generally do not include the puppies we plan to hold back for ourselves. It is at this time we start the reservation process. We do maintain a waiting list, and when new litters are introduced, we give priority to clients on the waiting list, based on the dates they made their deposits and puppy preferences they have given us. As puppies are reserved, we indicate the first names of the clients and their home states. Since we try to give clients a reasonable amount of time to make decisions on puppies they are considering, we cannot guarantee that puppies that are not shown as reserved will in fact be available. Our puppies are often mature enough to go to their new homes starting at 9 weeks of age, although not all puppies develop at the same pace, and we may want to hold some puppies a little longer. Some airlines also require that puppies that fly in the cabin with a puppy nanny or their owner be at least 10 weeks old. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you would like more information. We produce all of the brindles in black, blue, chocolate, lilac , fawns and sables in golden, red, blue, chocolate, lilac , creams, pure coats and tan points in black, blue, chocolate, lilac , and pieds in ALL of these beautiful colors! Call Us Are you ready to own the most popular dog breed in the U. We appreciate you visiting our site, whether you have been here many times in the past, or if this is the first time you have paid us a visit. We hope that the time you spend with us will be enjoyable, and that you will feel it is worth your time and effort. Of course, we invite you to come back as often as time permits, as we have provided a lot of information regarding the French Bulldog, and we doubt if you will cover everything in one visit. Under Owner Information, you will find a lot of information to help you determine if the French Bulldog is the breed for you. There are also FAQs for New Owners, if you have made the decision to adopt one of these wonderful dogs. Under Owner Info, you will also find several products that we use and highly endorse. We then have the unpleasant talk about scammers, who are rampant in the puppy arena, especially regarding French Bulldog puppies. If you see a deal that sounds too good to be true, there is a .It breaks our hearts every time we are contacted by someone who has been scammed, or nearly scammed. Please be careful. Lastly, under Owner Info, you will find information regarding our contract and our guarantee, which we believe is one of the best available, and it is the least we will do in the unlikely event that there is a problem with one of our dogs. Under Our Frenchies, you will find information regarding our breeding males, our females which have puppies on the ground, and retirees that are ready for their forever homes. We are very proud of the breeding male and females we have assembled. You can click on Former Puppies and scroll down to see a few examples of all of the various colors that Frenchies come in that we have produced in the past. We know that the different colors can be a bit confusing, so we have tried to make it as straight forward as possible. The only problem is that there are so many gorgeous colors that they come in, a decision regarding color preferences can be difficult .Also, under Our Frenchies, you can click on New Puppies to see all of our currently available puppies, along with a list of the litters that are born, but not yet introduced. We have placed multiple puppies in every state of the union except Hawaii, as they have a very long quarantine period. We have been using very responsible puppy nannies for years to deliver puppies to major airports all over the country, for very reasonable rates. We would love to work with you to place the perfect little Frenchie in your home. Some of our puppies, especially very specific requests, are placed with clients on our waiting list, but many are available to potential clients that are looking for puppies right away. If you are looking for a high-quality Frenchie puppy, please contact us and we will send information which will help you determine if we might be the breeder for you. We will do our best to help you adopt the Frenchie of your dreams. We do not post earlier videos. All of the puppies shown in the videos will have had their vet checks and will be available for adoption with the exception of a few that we may belatedly decide to hold back. Generally, those that we will be holding back will not be included in the videos. As a reminder to each of our Waiting List clients who have passed on prior puppies due to poor timing, when you are ready for your puppy, please let us know so we do not bypass your name when we are placing new litters. Meeting the puppy Nanny was easy and smooth at the airport! Hank was love at first sight. Happy Holidays! Just thought I would write to give you an update on our Dieter. Thank you again for doing what you do, and raising such amazing dogs! Dieter is loved by all who meet him, and he has met several people on his adventures this year. He is such a mischievous, but entertaining boy. He is the sweetest, craziest, cutest, cuddliest, puppy! Hi everyone! Just wanted to give you guys an update on Hank Mowgli. He is the center of every minute in my girls day. There were tears of joy and excitement — it was wonderful! Night went well — I had my hand in her kennel so she could sleep — she would make sure it was there and then fall back to […] Danielle, Rich and Rowan Hi BlueHaven!! Hope all is well! Rich and I would like to thank you for the care and love you put into your breeding program. Rowan is a healthy and fun-loving Frenchie! We hope all is well in your neck of the woods. All is well here. Originally, when we listed our preferred colors, we did not select brindle, but as you can see, once we saw GiGi, […] Catherine, Nick, Kolbie, Natty, and Dieter Dieter had an awesome first night. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Just wanted to send an update on Pearl formerly Sinah. At nearly 4 months old now; Pearl is doing very, very well. She had her 3rd series of shots and vet check last week and is perfectly healthy.
Home » Blog » Fat French Bulldog? However, the good news is that with a few lifestyle changes, you can help your pup shed those extra pounds and get back to a healthy weight. What is the ideal weight of a Frenchie? French Bulldogs are known for their charming personalities and unique appearances, but did you know that they also have a specific ideal weight range? Maintaining a healthy weight for your Frenchie is crucial for their overall well-being and quality of life. Angelica, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies She is not overweight The ideal weight for a French Bulldog typically ranges from 16 to 28 pounds, with males weighing slightly more than females. One of the easiest ways to determine if your Frenchie is at a healthy weight is to perform a visual and physical examination. A healthy French Bulldog should have a defined waistline, and a visible ribcage, and be able to move comfortably without excessive panting or fatigue. On the other hand, an overweight Frenchie may have a rounded abdomen, no waistline, and appear sluggish or tired. Overfeeding Frenchies have a small body frame and a slower metabolism, which means they require fewer calories than larger breeds. Feeding your Frenchie too much food, or giving them too many treats, can lead to weight gain. Lack of exercise French Bulldogs are known for being couch potatoes, but they still need regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight. A lack of physical activity can cause weight gain and other health problems. Read our article on how much exercise a French Bulldog needs. Remington, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies He is not overweight Age As Frenchies age, their metabolism slows down, making them more susceptible to weight gain. Genetics Unfortunately, some Frenchies are genetically predisposed to gaining weight, making it more challenging for them to maintain a healthy weight. Food Calories Another factor that can contribute to weight gain in French Bulldogs is the difference in nutrient density between dog food in the United States versus dog food in Europe. In general, dog food in the United States tends to contain more calories and nutrients per serving than dog food in Europe. Jacinda and Nerissa at TomKings Puppies They are not overweight By understanding these causes of weight gain, you can take steps to prevent your Frenchie from becoming overweight. Difficulty moving: If your Frenchie has trouble climbing stairs or jumping up onto furniture, it could be a sign that they are carrying too much weight. Round belly: An overly rounded belly that sways side to side when your Frenchie walks is a sign that they may be carrying too much weight. Low energy: If your Frenchie seems lethargic or disinterested in physical activity, it could be a sign that they are carrying too much weight. Here are some tips for helping your Frenchie shed those extra pounds. Reduce Portions Reducing portions is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help your French Bulldog lose weight. Overfeeding is a common cause of weight gain in dogs, and it can be challenging to determine the right amount of food to give your Frenchie. Many pet owners make the mistake of leaving food out all day or giving their dogs large portions at mealtimes, which can lead to overeating and weight gain. Subscribe to our weekly blog newsletter: Subscribe to our blog newsletter! Follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging of their dog food, and adjust as needed based on their weight, activity level, and age. Avoid giving your Frenchie table scraps or too many treats, as these can add up quickly and contribute to weight gain. Rapid weight loss can be dangerous for dogs and can lead to health complications. Sirius, Fluffy French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies He is not overweight Consider home-cooked dog food Another tip for helping your French Bulldog lose weight is to consider home-cooked dog food instead of store-bought dog food. This can be especially beneficial if your Frenchie has specific dietary needs or food sensitivities. Additionally, many store-bought dog foods can be high in calories and may not be the best option for weight loss. Daily Walks Daily walks are an essential part of helping your French Bulldog lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. If your Frenchie is not used to regular exercise, start with shorter walks and gradually increase the duration and intensity over time. This will help prevent injury and make the walks more enjoyable for your Frenchie. Alex, Fluffy French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies He is not overweight Avoid walking your Frenchie during the hottest part of the day , as they can quickly become overheated. Early morning or late evening walks are ideal, as the temperatures are cooler and there are fewer distractions. To keep your Frenchie engaged and motivated during walks, consider bringing along toys or treats. Playing fetch or other games can also help them burn more calories and build muscle. Walking the same route every day can become boring for your Frenchie. Mix it up by exploring new neighborhoods or taking different paths in your local park. Check out our French Bulldog Puppies Always keep your Frenchie on a leash during walks and avoid busy streets or areas with heavy traffic. Also, be sure to bring along water for them to drink and take breaks as needed. Remember, regular exercise is essential for helping your Frenchie lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. By making walks a regular part of their routine, you can help your furry friend stay fit, healthy, and happy. Weight loss in French Bulldogs should be gradual and done in a healthy manner to avoid health complications. With patience, commitment, and the right approach, you can help your Frenchie lose weight and live a happier, healthier life. Summary We hope this article has helped you understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for your French Bulldog. By following these tips, you can help your furry friend live their happiest, healthiest life. The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies and their Ultimate French Bulldog Price List, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article. The breed is instantly recognizable, with his low-slung body, massive flat muzzle, wide shoulders, and strong limbs. Unfortunately, they are prone to some serious health problems. And extra weight can make these worse. So how do you know if your Bulldog is carrying too much weight? And what can you do to help him slim down? Do Bulldogs Get Fat Easily? Unfortunately, for a breed who loves to eat, the answer is yes, Bulldogs have a tendency to gain weight easily. This is because Bulldogs are physically unable to do any vigorous activities. The disparity between how much they eat and their inability to do sufficient exercise is the main reason for obesity in Bulldogs. Bulldogs are brachycephalic, or short-muzzled. Despite having a flat face, the skin, palate, teeth, tongue and tissue are still the same as they would be for a dog with a much longer muzzle. This makes them highly prone to the conformation-related, respiratory disorder known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS. This condition presents a wide array of symptoms, from snoring and snorting to very severe breathing problems. Small nostrils and a short windpipe often cause severe sleep apnea. These interrupted breathing episodes cause a decrease in blood oxygen levels and excess carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Already predisposed, an overweight Bulldog will be at a high risk for a sleeping disorder. Is My Bulldog Fat? An adult male Bulldog weighs about 50 pounds. The female weighs approximately 40 pounds. Standing just 14 to 15 inches, this is a breed who is meant to be thick and heavy. These weights are guidelines. There are ranges that fall within the parameters of normal weight based on genetics, shape and size. Due to their unique physique, it can be harder to judge whether a Bulldog is overweight just by looking at him than it is with other breeds. When you run your hands along either side of his rib cage, you should be able to feel his ribs. Also, if he gets winded easily, is snorting more or short of breath, these could be signs that he needs to lose weight. Are Fat Bulldogs Unhealthy? A U. Obesity is the most common medical condition in dogs. The reality is that Bulldogs are an unhealthy breed with a life span of just eight to 10 years. When you add extra pounds to a dog who is already suffering, it can escalate many health conditions. Bulldog Health Problems Here are a few ways to better understand monitor common health problems for Bulldogs. The older they are, the worse things can get. Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket. If severe, it can cause lameness and painful arthritis. Intervertebral Disk Disease Intervertebral disk disease occurs when the discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst. Patellar Luxation Patellar luxation happens when the kneecap, or patella, is dislocated from its normal position in the thigh bone. It can cause pain, lameness and can lead to a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament. Spine Deformities Pelvic deformities and degenerative spine disease also affect the breed. Ultimately, when joints, bones, tendons and ligaments bear the stress of extra weight, they can become damaged or worsen existing conditions. There could be other medical reasons for his weight gain. There are plenty of specialty dog foods on the market that can make things somewhat confusing. There are dog food brands that are designed to decrease digestive problems, protect joints, strengthen skin and even reduce flatulence. Whether you choose dry or canned food, your Bulldog should receive a high-quality formulation. Look for organic or all-natural ingredients and no fillers, animal by-products, additives or preservatives. A high-quality food with a good source of protein can make him feel fuller, which might reduce calorie intake. Also look for a recipe with few ingredients to reduce the chance of allergies and tummy upset. Like human snacks, those tasty in-between-meal treats are often a big factor in putting on pounds. While treats can be an important aid during training, giving too many can cause obesity. Make sure to deduct these calories from his daily food allowance. Swap Training Treats for Healthier Alternatives Instead of high-calorie, commercially formulated treats, consider the benefits of natural foods. Natural foods , such as carrots and apples, are good, low-calorie treats. For four days in a row, give him a third less food than he was getting. If your Bulldog was eating one and a half cups of high-quality dry kibble twice a day, reduce the amount to one cup for each meal. Then check him again. Keep repeating this process until you can detect a visible waist and can feel his rib cage when pressing along his sides. Like all dogs, your Bulldog is an individual and some will be more active than others. As this study found, Bulldogs with more severe BOAS walked a shorter distance, moved more slowly and took longer to recover from exercise than those with only mild signs. However, the reality is the Bulldog is simply not capable of managing more than a low level of exercise. Hot, humid days can make breathing even more difficult. Under no circumstances should you over-exercise this breed. It can result in collapse and further health complications. If your Bulldog shows signs of overheating, has trouble walking or falls down, you should take him to the vet immediately. Caring for a Fat Bulldog Being fat is no fun for any dog. But for a Bulldog, it can greatly impact his quality of life and reduce an already short life span. Because his ability to exercise is very restricted, the best way to care for your fat Bulldog is to monitor his diet so he loses those extra pounds. Carrying around less weight can also make it easier for him to breathe and reduce the risks of injury to bones and joints. Your Bulldog is probably going to be hungry and wonder what happened to his treats. Just remember that saying no to extra calories is saying yes to a better life for your Bulldog. Do you have a fat Bulldog? References and Further Reading:. At BigBullDogs. We offer the best service for purchasing the perfect bulldog puppies, and we have quality studs that have set us apart as the top breeders for bulldogs. Whatever it is that you need regarding these beautiful bullies, this is the right place for you. Here are the varieties we have; What You Need to Know About English Bulldogs English Bulldogs are very distinct from the other breeds of bulldogs and are the more prevalent breed. These sturdy, muscular dogs have a cute waddle walk that directly results from their short, stubby legs. The English bulldog also has a flat-looking face, dark and low set eyes, massive and broad jaws, and fleshy cheeks and lips that give it that signature pouty and droopy look. Its short neck, thick shoulders, and barrelled chest, slightly arched back make it one breed that you can easily identify anywhere. Our standard Male English bulldogs are inches and weigh an average of 50 pounds, while the Female English bulldogs weigh about 40 pounds. All our English bulldogs have the finest textured coats and healthiest skin with a variety of colour patterns. Whether you pick a male English bulldog or female English bulldog from us, you can be assured of their wonderful demeanor and gentle disposition. The AKC recognizes over dog breeds and rated the Bulldog as 2 for the best family dog breed. They are incredible family dogs but not the best watch dogs these days. The last nine decades of domestication has turned them into couch potatoes, considerably different from their original genetic breeding that made them perfect for Bull Baiting. Nevertheless they are fantastic at lying on the couch and giving you the stink eye when you disturb their rest. Quick Guide to French Bulldogs French bulldogs were named for their origin story, which says that they were a breed of English toy bulldogs and several unidentified dog breeds. They have distinct features that make them stand out against their English counterparts, such as their pointy, bat ears. French bulldogs are small, cute dogs that are very playful and perfect for being a home pet. Regardless of whether you pick the male french bulldogs or the female French bulldogs , you get a pet that is calm, attentive, attention-loving, and a partner to you and your kids. The male french bulldog is an estimated 12 inches in height and 25 pounds in weight. On the other hand, the female french bulldog is about 11 inches and 20 pounds. The male french bulldogs are usually a bit more muscular than females and have larger heads. However both are equally affectionate and super family oriented. Not to be outdone by their British Bulldog cousin, the female french bulldogs also made the Top 10 Best Family Dog breeds list in .Looking to Adopt Bulldogs?
Blankets, pillows, and towels. The mother GSD and her litter need a quiet place to stay. It should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. If money is not an issue, you may purchase a commercial whelping box and a washable vet bed. But if you want to be thrifty, you can just make use of a clean cardboard box. Just make sure that the box is big enough for your GSD to stretch out comfortably. You may also buy a heat pad. It will provide warmth to the litter. Instead, put the heat pad under the whelping box, with one end on top of the box. Cover it with a towel to avoid overheating. The whelping box should be close enough to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug in the heat pad once you need more warmth for your Litter. Make sure they stay warm by providing a heating pad and lamp. You may add blankets, pillows, towels, or even old newspapers and a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Be careful though because puppies might get entangled and suffocate if the blanket, pillows, and towels are not taut. Puppy milk replacer, baby bottle, or feeding syringe If the litter is abandoned or orphaned, ask your vet to prescribe milk formulated for German shepherd puppies. Purchase a baby bottle or syringe for feeding. If you leave newborn German shepherd puppies with their mother, give her the first two days to bond with her litter and feed them. Once you see that your GSD has accepted her litter and is feeding them, you can put the puppies in a box beside their mother. She will take care of cleaning and nurturing her pups while continuing to feed them with her milk. But if she still refuses to take care of her pups, you must take matters into your own hands. To do this, place a clean towel or a washable vet bed inside a cardboard box. Keep the box beside your GSD but make sure that she cannot get in touch with her pups. Plug the pad into an electrical outlet and adjust the heat to maintain its temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The pups can get hypothermia if their body heat drops below 94 degrees Fahrenheit. See also How long should a puppy chew on a bully stick and when to take the bully stick away? Now, put your German shepherd puppies under the warmth of the heating pad at 95 degrees F and wait for them to feed. Only put three puppies per towel or one puppy per section of the vet bed for ease in feeding and monitoring. A mother GSD can produce about 4 to 5 cc of milk every hour. This means that she will need someone to feed her pups every 2 or 3 hours. To correctly use the eyedropper, put your puppy on its stomach and tickle its throat to induce swallowing. Repeat this process until you see that the pup has emptied the eyedropper. Pups will probably fall asleep after feeding. To avoid suffocation, place rolled-up newspapers in their box the pups can use them as pillows when they sleep. These are only temporary until the mother GSD starts to take care of them by licking them clean and keeping them warm with her presence. Weighing scale To make sure if the German shepherd puppies are gaining enough weight, monitor their weight by using a weighing scale at least 4 times a week. If the puppies are not gaining enough weight, they may not be getting enough milk or nourishment so consult your vet right away. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to massage or rub gently the anal region. A mother GSD can give birth to 4 to 9 puppies in one litter, 6 as the average. Newborn German Shepherd Puppies Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after your GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Avoid over-bathing the pups because it can cause dehydration. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at. The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time in 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean. Their ears will open so they can hear the sounds around them. Though their legs still shake when they attempt to walk, they can finally stand on their own. They will begin to socialize and explore their surroundings more so you should not separate the puppies from each other. They will start teething so they tend to bite everything. They will also be interested in eating solid food. The puppies can walk well at 4 weeks so they will continue socializing with their siblings, their mother, and their handler through playing. They can begin eating solid foods for the first time now that their teeth are fully developed. The puppies can be fully weaned when they reach 6 weeks because they become independent of their mother. They also improve their social skills by playing not only with each other but also with people. Not to worry because this is just a normal phase. This is a good time to expose the puppies to various sounds, places, and people. Teach them basic commands but focus on socialization and bite inhibition. If the puppies are not fully potty trained , train them now. At 9 weeks, the weight of male German shepherd puppies normally ranges from 9 to 10 kg while the females would be from 7 to 9 kg. Their height ranges from 12 to 15 inches. See also How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy When the German shepherd puppies reach 10 weeks, their ears will become pointy but sometimes the ears are floppy. Their height and weight will continue to grow as long as they are adequately fed. By this time, your puppies should already know how to gently use their mouth in dealing with humans so you can enhance their training by teaching other basic commands. When they are done, let them play so that they learn how to do this on their own. Be patient because it takes time before they get the hang of it. If after 24 hours it still refuses to eat, use a baby bottle or feeding syringe to feed the puppy. Prepare a milk replacement formula using evaporated milk mixed with egg yolk, using two egg yolks for every half cup of milk. To avoid bacteria growth, boil the water first before mixing everything and store any leftover formula in the fridge. Gradually increase the proportion of milk replacement formula and decrease the proportion of puppy chow until you wean them off milk replacement completely. Your GSD puppy may have parasites because stools may look like pebbles or tan-colored, small balls which can be a sign that they have swallowed something in their litter box. This is particularly common when they are still with their mother because they tend to eat the feces of the other pups. Diarrhea can also be caused by stress, which is common for a newborn GSD puppy that has been removed from its mom. If this happens, make sure you give them enough attention and place your hand gently on their body to calm them down. Conclusion German shepherd puppies are truly a sight to behold from birth to adulthood. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. They cannot see or hear yet, or regulate their body temperature, and they require a lot of tender care from their mom. The new mom is usually very excited and concerned about each newborn, and sometimes overly enthusiastic about chewing off the umbilical cord, which may later result in an umbilical hernia that will take a little longer to close, but is no danger to the puppy. We record the ribbon color and weight of each puppy so that, when we weigh the pups throughout the next days and weeks, we can make sure that each one is gaining weight. Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from g to g 0. We take great care to ensure that our newborn German Shepherd puppies have the best chance for a healthy start. A German Shepherd female can be in active labor for 6 to 18 hours, sometimes even longer if she takes a break while having a large litter, and we of course do not leave her side during this time. I stay up making sure that the whelping box which is always in my office or bedroom is clean and dry after each puppy is born, and that the temperature stays constant 86 - 88 F in the room. We keep the temperature at this level for about 2 weeks, gradually reducing it down to normal F by the end of the third week. Someone is always present with the puppies during the first 5 days. I handle the puppies several times a day, as well as weigh them every other day during this period, to make sure that everyone looks and acts healthy, nurses well, and is gaining weight. I usually buy a dozen fluffy cotton towels, and use two at a time as bedding for the whelping box. I change these towels twice daily at this stage to make sure the puppies are always clean and dry. Starting from day 3, and until day 16, I follow The "Super Dog" Program for our puppies - an early neurological stimulation program described by Dr. Carmen Battaglia. It has numerous benefits later in life for puppies. Often, puppies that were born the smallest overtake the bigger ones. Even at this tender age strong individual differences can be noted among German Shepherd puppies. Also, there is difference in their color and markings, and long-hair German Shepherd puppies can often be identified at this age. The new mom is very attached to her puppies at this age and is very reluctant to leave them even for the shortest time. She spends a lot of time sleeping with the puppies nursing peacefully, and is also very happy to be busy cleaning each puppy several times a day and flipping them around gently with her nose. At about 2 weeks of age German Shepherd puppies actually start looking more like puppies, and not just fat black sausages with feet attached. We use undiluted evaporated goats milk from a can, warmed up to be pleasant to the touch. Most puppies readily accept the bottle, and we consider this to be very important bonding and social time as well. Three weeks of age is my favorite age of all. The puppies now can be recognized as German Shepherd puppies. They are alert, playful, and there is a lot of wrestling, tail-wagging, and even barking going on as they explore their surroundings and interact with each other and their mom, all of which is extremely cute. I will often just sit in the whelping box with them, letting them play with my clothes, climb up on my lap, and generally just enjoying their carefree company. We also provide them with various toys starting at this age, and make sure that they listen to loud music, banging on the door, vacuum cleaner, etc. They weigh around 1. At first, they may not have a lot of success with it, as some of them try to suckle on the meat, but in a few days they master this new type of eating very well. We also continue giving them goats milk, but in a shallow saucer pan now, and with some rice baby cereal added, so that they can practice lapping. At this age, the mom is no longer so keen on constantly staying with her puppies, and only visits them to feed them and for a clean up. We continue changing the bedding twice a day now, knowing very well that in about a week it will become times a day, as the mom will not be able to keep up with her cleaning duties any more. We wash soiled towels with a little bit of bleach and a little bit of perfume-free detergent. Four weeks of age is even more fun as the puppies keep developing, but the amount of cleaning starts to increase in geometrical progression, and it becomes a full time job to keep the puppies well fed and clean. The mom is only visiting now and then at this point, and enjoys spending her time in the office, so that she can hear and see the puppies, but not necessarily be with them. With mom visiting for a few brief feedings each day, we feed them three times a day with the following diet: 1. Cottage cheese 2 tbsp per puppy , mixed with plain yogurt 1 tsp per puppy , evaporated goats milk, rice baby cereal 1 tsp. Raw tripe, or beef liver cooked with all kinds of vegetables At about 5 weeks of age the duty of keeping the whelping box clean becomes nightmarish, and this is a good time to introduce German Shepherd puppies to the outdoors. This is a room that is a part of the house, but has free access to the outside world. This room is equipped with a wooden resting platform so that puppies do not lay on concrete, with a heating lamp above it, and the floor is completely covered with a layer of pine woodchips. The outside area is about 6 x 6 ft and the floor is made of paving stones. There is another wooden laying platform here. This is a very important period when we introduce our German Shepherd puppies to more noises, show them the way in and out of the house, introduce them to the other dogs, play tug-of-war, etc. Also, we introduce raw frozen sardines and "The Honest Kitchen" products to their diet, and will occasionally feed kibble, soaked well in warm water and mixed with green tripe from a can At 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age our German Shepherd puppies get dewormed with a high quality wormer, to be certain that they are free of intestinal parasites. At about 6 weeks of age the puppies get their first combination 5-way vaccine including Parvo and Distemper , and at 7 weeks of age we start welcoming visitors who are interested to come and look at the puppies. Often during weekends we have several groups of visitors of all ages coming to interact with the puppies, which is such a great socialization opportunity for them. Copyright .All rights reserved. Baby German Shepherds growing up! German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds out there at the moment, with many devoted fans. They can be large and imposing as adults. But, like every breed, they have a cute puppy phase that many fall in love with. However, since most puppies are bought at weeks old, most of us miss out on this magical period of their lives. So what happens during those first important weeks? A typical German Shepherd litter consists of around puppies. The mean average, according to a study performed in , is 6. When they are first born, they will still have an umbilical cord attached and may be covered in amniotic fluid. Their mother should chew off the umbilical cord and spend the first few hours cleaning their pups. Then mom will focus on keeping her newborn pups warm while allowing them to nurse. At this stage, German Shepherd puppies will just sleep and avoid expending energy. They will frequently nurse from their mother. Newborn German Shepherds When baby German Shepherd puppies are first born, they are completely dependent on their mother. Their ears and eyes will be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. A coat should be present, and the color will depend on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common for this breed. Additionally, they will be relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. Therefore, they will commonly crawl on their stomach to move about. They will also be unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet. One Week Old Baby German Shepherd In the first week, the puppies should bulk up significantly and double their birth weight. However, there will not be much change in their behavior. They will still primarily be focused on nursing and sleeping. To help themselves stay warm, the puppies will normally cuddle close to each other, except for when they are in a hot environment. At this stage, they will still be blind and deaf. While they are still unable to see very well, this is a big step. Eyes should open for the first time at around days of age. They will appear blue in color, but this will change into brown as they develop. They may become a little more inquisitive about their surroundings with their new-found eyesight, and may begin to crawl around a little more. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage. Firstly, at around days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly. Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly. You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food. They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own. Beginning Of Socialization With their sight and hearing, they are likely to show a little bit of adventure and courage for the first time, exploring their surroundings as much as their unsteady gait will allow them. This milestone also marks the beginning of the socialization period, a critical phase of their development. Things learned now can shape their personality and behavior for the rest of their lives. They may engage the other puppies in clumsy play and show body language such as tail wagging for the first time. They will form relationships with their den mates, their mother, and humans. This stage is critical in getting the puppies used to humans. This can be achieved by gently exposing the puppies to human presence and contact so that they can see that they are no threat. While their brains are still very much in development, they are still able to learn some simple concepts at this stage. Crate and potty training can begin at this age. They should now be able to walk pretty well. This mobility will allow them to further play with their family and be even more curious about their surroundings. On top of this, their baby teeth should now be fully formed and the weaning process should be fully underway. They should be offered soft but solid food. They may begin to show signs of more complex social behaviors towards their other den mates, and they should learn important skills like bite inhibition. The socialization process should continue, with the puppies gently being exposed to new people, sights, and sounds. The German Shepherd babies will also be further weaned off the mother at this time, slowly moving onto a fully solid diet. Six Week Old Baby German Shepherd At this age, you will begin to see the puppies become even more independent of their mother. Six week old puppies are gaining social skills rapidly, and love to play with people and each other. Seven Week Old Baby German Shepherd When we move into the seventh week of their life, a new significant phase of development starts to begin: the fear period. While this sounds disconcerting, it merely means that this is the time that many puppies begin to show fear towards new things, rather than curiosity. Things that the puppy may find scary or uncertain during this time can make for big changes in their personality throughout life. For example, if a puppy has a bad experience with a human at this stage, it may lead them to becoming fearful and distrustful towards people for the rest of their life. This is why gently exposing the puppies to humans and common sights and sounds beforehand is important. By preemptively socializing the puppies with humans, we can help this period run smoother. The puppies will have reached weights of around pounds and should be around inches tall. Their ears will lie flat but should begin to become erect and upright over the coming weeks. They will be fully independent of their mother at this age. They should be completely weaned, with some basic training and socialization. From here, new owners are expected to continue to train and socialize them, as they are still within a critical period of development. New owners will also need to continue to ensure the German Shepherd puppy is fed a good, nutritionally balanced diet. For more information, you can check out our full puppy development guide here. And make sure you also take a look at this guide to bathing a puppy!
Black Black and tan Once the breed becomes standardized, these coat colors may become official. But, for now, the goal is to create the blue version as much as possible. Blue Bay Shepherd Temperament Though Vicki was aiming for the lupin look with these dogs, she will sacrifice the look for the temperament. Her primary goal was to create a family pet though getting them to look like wolves was a close second. Regardless, she succeeded at both. Blue Bay Shepherds have a sweet, loving temperament without the aggression and aloofness of their wolf ancestors. But the dogs naturally tend to be sociable, gentle, affectionate, and playful. You can even trust them around livestock and other animals! Can you trust this dog that looks so much like a wolf with other pets? Owners report that their Blue Bay pups have done well with other dogs and cats. They should be properly socialized and raising them with other pets is best. However, this is common amongst dogs in general — not just ones that look like wolves. Their sweet, affectionate nature makes the Blue Bay Shepherd a great family pet. But they will do best in a specific type of home. They also tend to be huge. So a home with a large yard and lots of space to run is an ideal place for them. Are you looking for a simple way to keep track of your dog's daily activity? It has never been easier to monitor your dog with the Fi smart collar. With this slender, smart collar, you can count your pup's steps and set daily, weekly, and monthly goals. You can keep an eye on Fido's fitness routine with it, almost like a FitBit for your dog. Blue Bays can also be prone to separation anxiety, so an active family that will be spending lots of time with the pup is best. Homes with small children may not be the best choice for them purely because of their size. They are gentle, but they are still big and energetic which means they can accidentally harm tiny family members. Wondering if your home would be a good fit? The best way to find out is to ask Vicki herself. However, because the breed is so new, there are no established health patterns and no way to know if there are common problems. Dogs with wolf blood in general tend to be healthy and have a long life expectancy. However, counter this with the tiny gene pool. All Blue Bays come from the same place and the breeders at Southern Breeze Ranch have to be cautious to avoid inbreeding and the problems this can cause. Vicki specifically used the old-style German Shepherds to avoid the modern GSDs' sloped back and the hip dysplasia that commonly comes with it. Plus, the Shepherds she used may still pass down issues like epilepsy, degenerative myelopathy, pituitary dwarfism, and eye abnormalities. To help prevent this, avoid feeding within 30 minutes of exercise — either before or after. You may also consider using a slow feeder bowl if your dog tends to eat too fast. And wolf dogs are exactly the same. A Blue Bay Shepherd requires daily brushing during the worst seasons to keep this shedding under control. The rest of the year, you can get away with brushing them times a week. Regular brushing will also help keep their long hair free of tangles and give it that shine that makes them so beautiful. Regardless, brushing your dog is a great way to bond with him and helps him to feel safe and loved in your home. Since they are so active, Blue Bay Shepherds will generally wear down their own nails running around on hard ground. If not, you should have clippers on hand to keep them from overgrowing. Note that ear infections are common in German Shepherds. Since there are so few and the breed is still in development, there is commonly a one or two-year waiting list for these pups. The pups can also be quite pricey, though less than you might expect from an exclusive breeder. This innovative collar offers real-time GPS tracking, ensuring that you can easily locate your furry companion whenever needed. It goes beyond just tracking by providing valuable insights into their daily exercise levels and sleep patterns. With its sleek design and durable construction, the Fi Smart Collar seamlessly integrates into your dog's lifestyle. Prioritize your peace of mind and strengthen the bond with your Blue Bay Shepherd. Invest in the Fi GPS Smart Collar and the Fi app today and experience a new level of connectedness and care for your beloved furry friend. Final Thoughts Do you love the idea of adding a blue wolf German Shepherd-type dog to your family? The gorgeous Blue Bay Shepherd could be a great option for you. Plus, you would become part of the development of a new breed! Vicki keeps in contact with all the owners of her pups to monitor their development and behavior over time. She wants to create and maintain a standard with her new breed and well as make improvements with each new generation. If you become the lucky owner of one of these pups, you will join a new adventure that is more than just getting a new dog. Plus, you will be the lucky recipient of more love and loyalty than you might have bargained for! The link has been copied! You might also like. The German Shepherd resembles a wolf in appearance, to begin with, so you can count on the hybrid to be large, with a long face, thick coat and pointed ears. The coat of the Wolfshepherd can be gray, sable, white, black, or a mixture of these colors. It will most likely inherit the thick fur that is standard for both parents and is known to shed heavily. You can take a closer look at this Wolfdog mix in the video. Is a Wolf Shepherd dangerous? If a Wolfdog is uncomfortable, it can attack out of defense. This has earned them a reputation for being dangerous and they are banned in several US states. Wolves build dens and roam frequently. They also have a strong pack and predatory instincts. These traits translate into destructive behavior for the Wolfdog, such as digging holes in the garden and chewing up wooden furniture. They also may urinate more frequently than other dog breeds to mark their territory. It takes one who is passionate and willing to devote time and energy to a German Shepherd Wolf dog. Because of its unpredictable nature, it is advised that this crossbreed should not be left alone around other pets and especially children. Black German Shepherd Wolf mixes in particular, are known for being less tolerant towards children. They have been known to react by biting and shaking. This is a natural response of the Black GSD when correcting puppy behavior. With rigorous training, a Wolfdog makes a protective and loyal companion. They are strong, intelligent, playful, and affectionate towards family. Are Wolf German Shepherd Mix health issues common? As we mentioned above the life expectancy of a German Shepherd Wolf Mix is up to 14 or even .However, the German Shepherd breed is vulnerable to serious genetic diseases that can get passed down to this particular Wolfdog hybrid. Hip Dysplasia : A painful hip joint deformity that causes loss of mobility and lameness. Elbow Dysplasia: A joint deformity that affects the elbows and can cause pain and loss of mobility. Bloat: A build-up of gas in the stomach that can cause it to twist and lead to shock or even death. Cancer: Abnormal cell growth that can spread throughout the body. Feeding time Since the Wolfshepherd is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia , it is important to keep her on a strict feeding regime to avoid obesity. Aim for 2 to 3 cups of meat-based dog food divided between meals each day. Remember that every dog has different health needs. Exercise time The German Shepherd Wolf hybrid needs daily activity to thwart destructive behavior and keep physically fit. A house with a large fenced-in yard is the most suitable environment for this crossbreed. They need room to stretch their legs and roam. If you live in an apartment, you might want to consider a smaller dog breed or perhaps a dog that resembles a wolf. Not only is an apartment too small a space, but this mix prefers to spend time outdoors, like its Wolf parent. Playing fetch with a ball or tugging games can help get that chewing habit under control. Can you train a Wolf Shepherd? This is the only way to lessen the inclination towards aloofness, fear, and an unpredictable temperament. Training needs to start at the puppy stage to be effective. Be prepared, because Wolfdogs are not easy to train and require time, patience, and consistency. Dominance is one of the main German Shepherd Wolf mix characteristics that you will have to focus on. As the owner, you must be confident and assert that you are the leader of the pack. If attention wanes during a game or your Wolfdog decides to ignore commands, stay positive yet firm and above all — do not let them dominate you. Socialization is key to helping a Wolfdog accept other pets in the household. Walks around the park can help, but always keep your pup on a leash. Supervise them when other dogs are present. When searching for reputable German Shepherd Wolf mix breeders, look for someone that is open to you visiting and will provide health clearances. They should be able to answer questions about the parents, especially regarding medical history. This results in a high number of them being left at rescue shelters. Here are 3 Wolfdog rescues where you can look for a German Shepherd Wolf mix along with other Wolfdogs. As their name suggests, this mix is made up of a German Shepherd and a Wolf, these hybrids crossbreeds are often called Wolfdogs or Wolf-Shepherds. Whilst there are many types of German Shepherd Wolf mixes, the Saarloos Wolfhund is the most notable. They were created by Leendert Saarloos back in when he crossbred a German Shepherd with a Eurasian wolf. The aim of this cross-breeding was to bring back the natural traits the GSD had lost when domesticated. You should also keep in mind that they are illegal in several areas across the US, so do your research before keeping one. The German Shepherd already resembles a wolf, so this hybrid does not look hugely different. Due to the genetic diversity, there is no way to tell what a specific pup will look like when they mature. However, there could be a pup that will look more like their German Shepherd parent, rather than their Wolf parent, and vice-versa. Wolfdogs tend to have smaller skulls than the common wolf, they have pointed ears and brown almond-shaped eyes. Height and Weight A German Shepherd can weigh around lb male and lb female. Males stand at around inches and females between inches. So depending on age, sex, diet, and genetics, the German Shepherd Wolf mix can weigh anywhere from lbs. Colors Pups can be found in a number of colors as the classic German Shepherd has 11 different official colors, with the most common being black and tan. But they can also have colors such as sable, black, white, and gray. Wolves can be mottled gray in color, but occasionally can be nearly pure white, red, brown, or even black. Coat German Shepherds have a thick double coat that is medium length. They have a dense outer coat with straight hair that lies close to the body. They have short undercoats and long, coarse outer coats. The GSD and Wolves have very similar coats, so it is fairly likely that their mix will have a double coat and medium-length fur. They will also shed annually, getting rid of their winter coat when the days become warmer. It is safe to say that this crossbreed should not be kept in warmer climates. German Shepherd Wolf Mix Personality and Temperament Both German Shepherds and Wolves have very different personalities, so it can be difficult to predict what their mix will be like. But we will do our best below to explain some behaviors which should be expected. Wolves are pack animals, meaning they are very protective and loyal to their family — they will do anything to protect their kin. They are den-dwelling animals, meaning that your mix is likely to dig anywhere they want. Being wild animals, Wolves are reserved when it comes to unfamiliar surroundings, people, and inanimate objects. They may be very protective but will cower at the sight of strangers. It should be said that the German Shepherd Wolf will be unpredictable in social situations, they can become aggressive when fearful. This can be avoided by giving them lots of socialization as a young pup. They are also very curious and will try to escape whenever opportunity strikes, so make sure to keep your backyard securely fenced. This hybrid will have a strong prey drive, as the GSD was bred to herd livestock and the wolf is a natural predator, so your Wolfdog mix will chase anything and everything that moves. They are also prone to howling as this is how they communicate in a pack. This is not a dog that should be living with small children. This dog should be kept by experienced keepers who are firm and disciplined with their pooch. If they favor their German Shepherd parentage, they will be eager to please dog training will be easy. Either way, you should be training them with positive reinforcement. Give them rewards when they follow your command or when they stop unwanted behavior. Many people believe that dominance training is the way forward with this dog as wolves are pack animals, but studies show that this training method leads to further aggression and reduces the quality of your relationship with your doggy friend. This is a dog for someone who has experience training strong-willed dogs before — you need to be firm and consistent. Do not let them think they are the boss of you. Socializing a dog like this is very important as the wolf can be reserved and unpredictable. Make sure to socialize them with a range of people and different situations. Mental stimulation is very important if you do not want your Wolfdog to get bored and chew everything in sight. You can give them lots of toys and play with them, playtime can decrease their stress levels and make them more confident. Caring for a German Shepherd Wolf Mix Owning a German Shepherd Wolf mix is not something you should take lightly, there are specific laws on owning Wolfdogs, so you should check your state regulations. This cross breed needs an owner who is experienced in training difficult dogs that need lots of attention and care. You will also need a large backyard which has very secure fencing. You should not own a Wolfdog in heavily populated areas, as they have a habit of howling a lot. There are many other responsibilities that you will have when owning this hybrid so keep reading to learn more… Exercise Requirements This is a very energetic dog, as wolves can travel up to 30 miles a day. They will need around hours of exercise each day to keep fit and healthy. Not getting their exercise will result in them destroying your furniture and anything else they can bite. It is also recommended to let them roam around in a fenced backyard, so they can play, dig and explore. You should not take your Wolfdog to dog parks and make sure to keep them on a leash and harness. They will need regular brushing to avoid matting and tangles, and more when shedding season comes along. Do not bathe this dog too much as it can strip away the natural oils that make the coat healthy and shiny. As with every dog, dental hygiene is important so brush their teeth once a week. You should also cut their nails, to avoid overgrowth and splitting. Feeding and Diet Deciding what to feed your Wolfdog is not an exact science, but you should be feeding your dog a diet rich in protein. Avoid buying traditional store-bought dog food as these are rich in carbohydrates and artificial ingredients. You will need to do research into what type of meat-based diets you would prefer your dog to eat. Be mindful of how much you are feeding your dog, too much food can lead to obesity. Keep an eye on their weight by using a body condition score. Known Health Problems Wolfdogs are generally healthy animals, but they are still prone to certain health issues. Having pet insurance could save you from the headache of going to the vets with reimbursement for every vet bill from now on! Many places have laws against owning any sort of wolf mix, including a German Shepherd-Worf hybrid. This is because, unlike dogs, wolves are completely wild animals, and while they can be domesticated to a certain extent, that wild streak is likely to live on. It just means that in extreme circumstances, these dogs are likely to be less predictable than those without wolf DNA inside them. The appeal is undeniable, but you still need to do your homework before adding one to your pack. Most experts would contend that a wolf mix is one with a purebred wolf in its bloodline within four or five generations. They act just like canine puppies for the most part. However, once they start to grow up, the wolf-like tendencies begin to emerge. They can start slowly in adolescence before becoming extremely apparent in adulthood. Many people have fallen in love with a wolf mix puppy, thinking that it has the features of a wolf but the sweetness of a dog. That may be true in some cases, but in others, the animal grew up to be quite a fearsome pet indeed. They Can Be Quite Unpredictable You would think that a wolf mix would be proud and fearless, never backing down from anyone or anything. The fact of the matter is that while these dogs can certainly be ferocious, they also tend to be extremely shy and skittish. Wolves are scared of people and for good reason, sadly. That means that while your German Shepherd Wolf mix would readily sacrifice their own lives to protect their family, they usually also prefer to cower and hide when strangers arrive. That can lead to dangerous situations, especially with children. If you push these dogs past their breaking point, the wolf will eventually come out — and that can have tragic results. Some of these animals take after their canine parents, while others favor their wolf lineage. Generally speaking, though, you can expect your German Shepherd Wolf mix to be fiercely loyal and protective of their families yet wary of outsiders. Due to the wolf in them, these dogs tend to be more pack-driven than other pups. You may even want to give them a canine companion, although this can have its own set of challenges. That intelligence makes them capable escape artists, though. Are These Dogs Good for Families? Little ones will often push a pet too far, and you never know when the wolf will come out. If you do bring one of these animals into a home with little kids, never leave them unsupervised. You should also teach your kids how to deal with the dog, making sure they know not to mess with their food or toys or abuse them in any way. Older kids may be able to get along with them, though, so if your children are a little more mature, you might be able to bring one of these dogs home without issue. All of this assumes that you know how to handle one of these animals, of course. They get lonely easily and may become depressed if left alone for long periods of time. However, they may be prone to aggression with other dogs as well. Pack culture is a much bigger deal for wolves than for dogs, so your mix may be prone to dominance. Other pets, however, are likely a bad idea. Cats and smaller animals will most likely be seen as food rather than friends, so you should keep your German Shepherd Wolf mix as far away from them as possible. All of this also means that you need to be absolutely certain that your mix is kept on a secure leash and collar or harness during walks. You may not feel up to the task once you realize how much is involved with raising one of these animals. That will affect how much they eat, but you can expect them to have a healthy appetite regardless. These are energetic pups, so they need as much long-lasting energy as they can get. Avoid problematic ingredients like soy, wheat, corn, or animal by-products, as these can make your dog fat without giving them much in the way of nutrition. Many dogs have trouble processing these ingredients as well. In addition to feeding them a proper diet, you should exercise strict portion control and never allow them to free-feed. As a result, expect to provide your pet with plenty of exercises. They can easily destroy your entire lawn if not properly tuckered out. Long walks are a good idea, but you should also play fetch or something that requires more energy every day. Just be careful not to make them run and jump too much, as it puts quite a bit of strain on their spines. Mental stimulation is equally important. You can give them puzzle toys, play hide-and-seek, or put them through extensive training sessions. They respond best to positive reinforcement, so try to convince them to cooperate by offering them treats or affection. The problem with this is that eventually, those emotions will boil over. That could lead to unpleasant consequences for you. The shedding becomes extreme twice a year when the dogs blow their coats. You should only need to bathe them if they get visibly dirty, but you will need to brush their teeth and trim their claws regularly. Be sure to keep their ears clean as well, as they can be prone to infection. This reduces the risk of spinal issues later in life. Still, there are a few things to be aware of. Minor Conditions. Wolf vs. While these are generic numbers, they can still give you a better understanding of the ideal size to expect. Of course, note that your German Shepherd has to be a purebred, and the mating needs professional intervention. Below is a photo of a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog , which was initially bred from working line German Shepherds and Carpathian grey wolves in .This hybrid has a special diet requirement. Look for high-quality dog food that contains real meat as the first ingredient, and avoid fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. Some options include: Dry kibble: This is the most common type of dog food and is convenient and easy to store. Look for brands that offer high-quality protein sources like chicken, beef, or fish. Wet food: This type of dog food is more palatable than dry kibble and can be a good option for picky eaters. Look for brands that use real meat and avoid fillers. Raw food: Some dog owners prefer to feed their GSD-Wolf Mix a raw food diet, which consists of uncooked meat, bones, and organs. But why do I stress it under the diet section? Hip dysplasia: This is a genetic condition that affects the hip joint and can cause pain and mobility issues. To help prevent hip dysplasia, make sure your dog maintains a healthy weight and gets regular exercise. To help prevent these issues, feed your dog a high-quality diet and avoid table scraps and other human foods. Joint problems: Because of their size and activity level, GSD-Wolf Mixes are also prone to joint problems like arthritis. Multivitamins: A multivitamin supplement can help ensure that your dog is getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. Here are some tips to help you keep your GSD-Wolf hybrid healthy and happy. Grooming Your German Shepherd-Wolf Mix has a thick, dense coat that requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and shiny. Here are some grooming tips to keep in mind: Brush their coat at least once a week to remove loose fur and prevent matting. Bathe them as needed, but not too often, as it can strip their coat of its natural oils. Trim their nails regularly to prevent them from getting too long and causing discomfort. Clean their ears regularly to prevent infections. These are only a few tips. Ideally, once you get a German Shepherd Wolf Mix, you may encounter new requirements based on their health conditions as well. Nevertheless, regular grooming is mandatory! Combining the power and strength of a German Shepherd and a wolf, this mix is inherently stronger. Here are some exercise tips to keep in mind: Aim for at least 2 hours of exercise per day, including walks, runs, and playtime. Provide plenty of mental stimulation, such as puzzle toys and training sessions. Consider enrolling your dog in agility classes or other activities to keep them engaged. Training Your GSD-Wolf Mix is a smart and independent breed that needs consistent training and socialization to thrive. In fact, they can understand and grasp commands faster than usual because of their mix. Here are some training tips to keep in mind: Start training and socialization early to prevent behavior issues. Use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats and praise, to encourage good behavior. Be patient and consistent in your training approach. Consider working with a professional trainer if you need help. Maintaining a German Shepherd Wolf Mix requires a bit more effort than other breeds, but with the right approach, you can keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come. By providing them with plenty of exercise, training, and health care, you can enjoy a strong and rewarding bond with your unique and beautiful German Shepherd Wolf Mix. They have a natural instinct to protect their loved ones and can be fiercely loyal to those they trust. Your German Shepherd Wolf Mix is a smart and inquisitive breed that thrives on mental stimulation. They are quick learners and respond well to positive reinforcement training techniques. Similar to their parents, your GSD-Wolf hybrid is an independent breed that can be stubborn at times. They may not always follow commands or listen to their owners and may prefer to do things their own way. However, this hybrid needs early and consistent socialization to prevent behavior issues. They may be wary of strangers and other animals if they are not properly socialized from a young age. Your GSD-Wolf Mix has a strong prey drive and may be prone to chasing small animals like squirrels and rabbits. A German Shepherd Wolf Mix is safe for people professionally trained to handle wolf dogs but is not safe for ordinary pet owners, first-time dog owners, and families with children. Three primary reasons move people to interbreed wolves and German Shepherds, or any other dog breed: The desire to create the attractive wolf look in a wolfdog. The expectation is that breeding a German Shepherd and a wolf will produce an exceptionally hybrid pup with a balanced blend of the domestic and the wild traits in the two canines. The attempt to tame the wild in the wolf and create a fiercer guard dog than the purebred German Shepherd. Unfortunately, these expectations rarely materialize. Instead, German Shepherd Wolf hybrids can manifest extreme aggression and stubbornness for several reasons. Dogs sexually mature by 6 to 8 months, but they also have less aggressive hormonal changes and a more stable behavioral pattern in the years of sexual maturity. In contrast, wolves only mature sexually at around 1 to 4 years. The species-specific roles that come with sexual maturity, such as fighting their place in pack roles, can generate aggression and stubbornness and make their behavior patterns extremely unpredictable. Inheriting the unpredictable behavior of a wolf can make German Shepherd Wolf Mixes challenging to manage. And pruning out the wolf traits in the Wolf Shepherd can be tricky, even with training. That means having to deal with a difficult-to-manage pet. A Wild Prey Drive Prey drive is the instinctive tendency of carnivores to pursue and capture prey, also known as predatory behavior. Both the wolf and the German Shepherd have a strong prey drive , the first more than the second. This behavior can make your wolfdog threaten the safety of livestock and other animals when you walk with them or even try to escape to meet this instinctual hunting drive. Territoriality Wolves are a territorial species, a trait that German Shepherd Wolf Mixes can inherit. Wolfdogs often show territoriality through urine marking. But being territorial especially means that the wolfdog will be possessive of things and spaces in the home. As a result, the Wolf Shepherd will tend to be aggressive and defensive when other animals and people approach areas and things they consider to belong to them. Winter Wolf Syndrome Winter wolf syndrome, or seasonal aggression, is the aggression that characterizes wolves and wolfdogs around the mating season. The manifestation of the winter wolf syndrome can vary from wolf to wolf or wolfdog to wolfdog. Some wolves and wolf dogs may just show a bit of grumpiness, while others can show outright aggressiveness and extreme possessiveness. In German Shepherd Wolf hybrids and other wolfdogs, the extent of the winter wolf syndrome behaviors may vary with: Wolf content: The amount of wolf in a German Shepherd Dog. Sex: Males show protective behavior towards females, and females may show aggression towards their fellow females. In both cases, the wolfdogs can direct this aggression toward the owner or other persons. According to the Colorado Wolf Sanctuary , because of the natural element in the winter wolf syndrome, wolves and wolfdog owners should be aware that it is unsafe to interact directly with their pets in the five months or more around the mating season. The resulting question from the discovery that wolfdogs can be unsafe is whether governments allow people to own wolfdogs, even though they can turn violent. In some states, owning a wolfdog is illegal. Others regulate the ownership of wolfdogs with the same laws set for the ownership of wild animals, while others regulate wolfdogs in the same way as dogs. When owning a wolfdog is permitted by law, some states and local laws may specify the permissible wolf content in the wolfdog or require owners to get additional permits. A good number of states, including California, Montana, Idaho, and Florida, have both local and state restrictions on wolfdog ownership. Fewer states like Alaska, Georgia, Michigan, and Illinois completely outlaw wolfdogs. No state in the US is without restrictions on wolfdog ownership. As laws are constantly changing, please contact your city, county, and state governments before purchasing a wolf dog. In other countries like the UK, you require a license to own first-generation F1 wolf dogs, which are regulated by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act .However, it is legal to own a wolfdog as long as it is 3 generations F3 from the parent wolf. In other words, you can own a German Shepherd wolfdog if it is born of second-generation wolfdogs or a second-generation wolfdog and a German Shepherd. Going forward, you should check the safety and legality associated with the mix before you decide to get one. Even if you possess adequate knowledge in raising one, this hybrid is pretty challenging and can pose complexities on the go. Related Posts You May Like:. Prone to shedding. Lifespan: 12 - 14 years. They can have several health issues including joint problems and cancer. No - definitely not recommended for families with young kids. Unpredictable temperaments. Although GSDs are easily trainable, wolves are wild animals. These hybrids should be reserved for very experienced dog owners. They need a ton of exercise, which is easier said than done. Once they reach a certain age and level of strength, walking your wolfdog in public can be difficult. In most places in the United States, it is illegal to own a wild animal like a wolf unless you have a special and expensive wildlife permit. GSD-wolf mixes walk a tightrope between being considered wild animals or domestic pets. Because of the wolf parent or grandparent, the law considers the resulting mix not reliably domesticated, and thus prone to acting dangerously. Therefore, if you want a wolf-dog mix, you may have to do a lot of research to even find a place in the world that will let you do so. Some proponents of wolf-dog mixes claim that some dog breeds have more grey wolf parent DNA than other dog breeds. If these breeds are allowed, then so should GSD and wolf mixes. According to Science Trends. These breeds include the Finnish Spitz, the Shar-Pei, the Siberian Husky another breed often crossed with wolves , and the Greenland dog. However, the ancestors of these breeds branched off from wolves thousands of years ago, and not simply one or two generations ago. Over one hundred years ago, German shepherds were popularly called Alsatian Wolf Dogs, since they were bred in the Alsace region of what is now France and looked like wolves. However, no wolves were actually involved in creating German Shepherd mixes. Other breeds mistakenly thought to have wolves in their recent ancestry include Siberian Huskies and the Alaskan Malamute. Although descended from wolves, the last wolf in their pedigree was thousands of years ago. Even puppies in the same litter can act in vastly different ways. Wolves tend to ignore people and do what they want. Any wolf-dog mix will be prone to unpredictable behavior at times, and will tend to act more like a wolf than a dog. Wolves are intensely territorial creatures. They attack any predator in their home range, including wolves not in their packs. This behavior has convinced some people that GSD-wolf mixes make better guard dogs than dogs. This, however, is a myth. According to the International Wolf Center, dogs have been bred for thousands of years to bark when intruders appear. Wolves on the other hand stay silent. This is because large dogs age faster than small dogs. Why this happens in dogs and not other species is not known. The future health of a wolf mix is harder to predict than the health of a purebred dog. After decades of study, it is now known what health problems certain breeds are prone to. Because German Shepherd — wolf hybrids are a genetic toss of the dice, you have no way of knowing what health problems these animals will be prone to. A wolf mix needs to be well-behaved in order to be treated for an illness, but the mix may even be too dangerous to treat. Never assume that all vets will be willing to take in a German shepherd wolf mix as a patient. All the vets in your area may refuse to work on such an animal, and this is not due to prejudice against wolves. Although all vets are trained to help domestic animals like dogs, very few are trained in the care of exotics. One problematic area for vets and exotic animal owners is that of vaccination. Rabies vaccines are crucial for dog owners. Because of the threat of rabies and the problems of the rabies vaccine working on wolf-dogs, any wolf-dog that shows signs of rabies or has been exposed to a rabid animal needs to be euthanized. The two most common medical problems with any wolf-dog mix are complications from being overweight and hip dysplasia. Being overweight can also contribute to hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is very common in German shepherds and in most large dog breeds. Hip dysplasia symptoms like limping start when the dog is young, and gets worse over time if left untreated. This is a very painful and chronic condition that may require surgery to treat. Depending on the genetic roll of the dice, a GSD wolf puppy may be looking at a very short, unhealthy life. GSDs are also prone to a deadly and incurable condition called degenerative myelopathy that hits GSDs seven years of age and older. However, this can become quite complicated since wolf-dogs cannot be walked and played with like normal dogs. Puppies may be able to walk on a leash in the beginning. Sadly, a lot of wolf-dog hybrids wind up staying permanently in an outdoor pen because they cannot be walked or trained. Despite the endless unknowns surrounding a GSD wolf mix, their size is actually predictable. The smallest hybrids will be as small as a GSD — roughly 49 pounds. The largest will be about pounds, which is the size of a large male Mackenzie Valley wolf, the largest known wolf species. As is common in most wolf species and dog breeds, females tend to be smaller. GSDs are as tall as small wolves, but wolves can actually reach heights of 34 inches tall at the shoulders. GSD wolf mixes come in a wide variety of colors, but most have two or even three tones to their coats. Common two-toned colors include black and tan, grey and white, silver and white, brown and grey, and tan and grey. Puppies of dogs, wolf-dog mixes, and even wolves can be trained and easily handled. However, once the wolf-dog hybrid becomes physically and sexually mature, all bets are off. Just when a GSD wolf mix matures differs from puppy to puppy. Dogs mature a lot faster than wolves. A German shepherd wolf mix could mature as early as six months, when a GSD matures, or as late as four years old when a wolf typically matures. However, these are not wolves. However, if you want an animal that obeys commands all the time, why not just save yourself the time and money, and go with a dog? They also ask people for affection. They have to be taught to hunt by their older pack-mates. They grow accustomed to being given food at predictable times. All wolf hybrids, including GSD wolf mixes, have severely bitten or attacked people and pets in the United States. Wolf-hybrids often attack children more than adults because children make noises resembling small prey animals. More often, wolf-dog mixes will attack other pets than people. These are very territorial animals. If any other animal is perceived as being on their turf, a GSD wolf mix may not only attack but kill a dog, cat, or other animal. Not only will you have to pay restitution and possible court costs, but depending on your local laws, your GSD wolf mix may be confiscated and euthanized. Your chances of appeal are very small, and will involve significant legal expenses. The only known factors are that this is a large animal with the ability to inflict serious damage on pets, livestock, wildlife, and people, especially children. You may have to keep the animal in a pen for the rest of its life. You may never be able to find a vet willing to look after the GSD wolf mix. You may have laws banning the ownership of such an animal where you live. A GSD wolf mix puppy or adult costs thousands of dollars. You will need plenty of land, fencing, and legal advice in order to keep it. When it comes to any wolf-dog mix, leave it alone. Get one of the safer German Shepherd mixes instead. German Shepherd wolf mix breeds are one of the biggest dogs you can get, averaging to around 24 inches tall. In terms of weight, they average to around 60 lbs heavy when they are fully grown. While this is slightly smaller than the average German Shepherd, this is still large for a dog. Remember, their personality will make them seem even larger than they physically are. This mix breed is highly unpredictable. This means that while German Shepherds are generally bigger than the wolf mix breed, they are much more obedient. A larger and more obedient German Shepherd will seem much smaller than a GSD wolf mix that has an unpredictable and potentially dangerous temperament. Even though GSD wolf mix breeds might grow to be slightly smaller than a regular German Shepherd, the average lifespan of both is the same. They are both considered medium-large breeds, which means that they can come with a variety of health issues including joint problems and cancer. What percentage of German Shepherds are wolf? Technically speaking, every dog derives from wolves. They were never bred with wolves. It all depends on the genetics of the German Shepherd, as some might have come from a background that bred wolves into the family. Instead, German Shepherds descend from the Canidae biological family in the same way as other domestic dogs do. This biological family includes wolves, foxes, and dingoes. Other breeds of dogs like Siberian Huskies and Finnish Spitz are more closely related to wolves as their ancestors had been wolves for thousands of years. How can you tell if your German Shepherd is part wolf? German Shepherds were never bred with wolves when the breed was standardized in Germany in the s, which means that there is no element of wolf in their DNA. Still, they are part of the Canidae family in the same way as other domesticated dogs are. However, you can still commit to a genetic test to see if your German Shepherd has come from a family that attempted to breed a wolf into the genetic line. Also, when buying or adopting your GSD, the seller should make you aware of if the dog is part wolf. Serious applicants only. Potential homes will be vetted for proper placement. Every breed has different requirements, whether the space they must have or the amount of exercise they need. If you are not certain yet, check out our essential Wolfdog breed info to find out everything about the Wolfdog. How to find Wolfdog puppies for sale? When buying a puppy, it is important to consider not only the pet but also the breeder. Because a responsible breeder will ensure their dogs come from the strongest bloodlines and have the best start to life. Ask about the health and temperament of their Wolfdog pups as well as their living environment. But also find out about the breeder's practices and commitments. A good breeder will be happy to answer everything before you decide. After all, they will want to ensure that their dog goes to a good home. When you have done your research and got all the info you need, you can then choose the right breeder with confidence. To help ensure you choose a responsible breeder, all the Wolfdog kennels you see listed here are verified by Pets4You. You will also find that the best breeders will provide a guarantee with their dog. This information, and more, is available on the breeder's website within Pets4You. Browse through our dog breeder directory with complete breeder profiles and current puppies for sale to find your dream dog. Disclaimer It is the duty of every person that is considering buying a puppy or dog to confirm all the information provided to them by the breeder is accurate. Pets4You makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the condition of any dogs offered for sale, the standards or practices of any breeder, the quality of their canines, or the accuracy of any information contained within our site. Pets4You does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee a particular kennel, breeder or dogs listed on the Pets4You website. For Buyers.
Tom Thorpe Blog Golden retrievers are in demand the world over. They are popular because of their versatility. Goldens make awesome family pets because of their wonderful dispositions. They are also great at hunting and amazing show dogs. You might be wondering what is wrong with your Golden. Overall, there will be nothing wrong with your Golden since growth is not a linear process for any breed. Instead, it might occur in spurts, especially the first 24 months of their life. However, it is crucial to monitor your puppy carefully during this vulnerable stage. It might be both fun and educational to watch your little golden puppy grow and develop. They are at their most impressionable. This is the stage where you can shape the personality of your puppy. In the first seven weeks of life, your golden puppy will be struggling to walk. They might be staggering and falling often. After growing several weeks after birth, the puppy will be able to develop stability while walking. It is extremely crucial at this point that the puppy is with their mother and litter. The mother will instinctively teach the puppy the necessary survival behaviors. During this time, the mother will teach the puppy the importance of obedience and affection. It is crucial to gradually socialize the puppy without separating it from the litter to get used to human interaction. During the third month of the Golden retriever puppy behavior stages, it is important to introduce it to its lifelong human family. It is crucial to spend plenty of time with the new puppy for socialization. But be cautious about moving the puppy around eight weeks or even later. The puppy might get traumatized and experience fear. During this period, any traumatic experience will have a dramatic impact on the puppy. Make sure to mitigate these stressful experiences, and if they do happen, it is crucial to remove the puppy from fear-inducing situations at once. Fourth and Fifth Month During the fourth and fifth month of Golden retriever puppy behavior stages, especially the sixth month, the puppy is already acting like a spunky puppy with full energy and teeth emerging. Make sure to train good habits in them by laying down consistent rules. Be cautious that your puppy might suffer their second fear impact. It might occur during the fifth month or later. During this Golden retriever puppy behavior stages, the puppy will act like a typical puppy—full of unlimited energy and plagued by growing teeth. Promote good habits in the puppy by enforcing rules. Be vigilant about the second onset of fear-impact, which might happen around the fifth month or later. Keep in mind Goldens are eager to please and are extremely trainable. Training classes give them a chance to stimulate their need for physical, social, and mental activity. You must establish a good working relationship with your Golden to build solid obedience skills. You should be able to overcome the challenges of handling a rebellious teenage Golden successfully. You should bond with your dog and develop trust. They will be exploring their potential and form friendships with other dogs and animals. It should be noted that not all dogs will like other dogs. Dogs are just like their human owners. Growth milestones At this Golden retriever puppy behavior stages, they will tend to have a short attention span. They require various activities to expend energy. You might find that they will be teething at this stage. Goldens were bred to carry stuff in their mouth, such as waterfowl. You might find that your Golden will enjoy picking up things with its mouth. Keep in mind that your Golden enjoys communicating. These dogs can be motormouths as well. They will be whining and barking. At this stage, it is crucial to focus on their style of communication. They must know the difference between friendly vocalizations and aggressiveness. Moreover, a dog owner must be able to interpret the body language of their puppy. It should be noted that puppies might undergo a fear stage. Training enables your puppy to work through their common fears that might arise during this developmental stage. Purposely expose them to loud sounds such as thunderstorms, fireworks, and crying babies. They should also witness unexpected movements such as awkward elderly movements and children playing. Exposing them to these will help them develop coping skills. It prevents them from being fearful and recognizes these events as normal and harmless. Purpose of training The purpose of training at this point is to establish schedules, rules, and routines. It is the time to lay down boundaries and expectations in the household. Make sure to explore and discover the talents and interests of your puppy. Most owners ask the breeder for a calm Golden who will simply sit on the couch with them during evenings. After this, they will find that their Golden will be happy to sit by their side at night and watch TV. Training is extremely crucial. Pet owners tend to prepare well for the baby stage, which is 2 to 6 months. However, they find themselves shocked and underprepared to handle their rebellious teenage Golden retriever. Unfortunately, this stage lasts much longer. The sudden spurt can send them to behave in extreme ways. They might be cranky, occasionally feisty, and have bouts of brooding. It is crucial to find friends for your puppy. They must interact with other dogs to release their pent-up energy. They must engage in play such as frolicking and wrestling. Similar to children, they will have their preferences. Respect the choices of your Golden. Although they are over the teething stage, the Golden must indulge their instinct to have something in their mouth. You can stimulate this need by giving toys and instructing them with commands such as drop, leave, and fetch. Keep in mind that at this stage, your puppy will require increased levels of physical stimulation. Engage them in exercises such as fieldwork, diving, and obedience. Scent games and hunting also prove exciting. It also helps them establish crucial traits such as teamwork and respect. At this point, your Golden retriever has overcome a difficult stage, and their well-mannered behavior becomes established. But keep in mind that another fear stage might occur. They are nearing 18 months and are closer to two years of age. You might find that their rebellious tendencies are diminishing. Female Golden retrievers might enter 1 to 2 heat cycles. Once they reach 12 to 24 months, they will need adjustments in their nutrition. Their caloric intake will depend on their growth and physical activity levels. Goldens are born athletes and must be slim and lanky their entire life. Adult female goldens should be in the range of 55 to 65 pounds while male Golden should be in the range of 65 to 75 pounds. Mature Goldens at 18 to 24 Months Training Training at this point should be well ingrained in your Golden. It helps if you were to provide activities that are fun and enjoyable. Growth Milestones Once they reach two years of age, the Golden will have reached the final phase of growing. But male Goldens will need another year to finish their full physical maturation, especially the development of their head and facial structure. In this stage, males and females should be neutered and spayed if you have no intention to breed them. Making sure your Golden meets the breed standard of weight can be a challenging task. Teenage Goldens require higher numbers of calories. But as their calorie needs peak, there might be changes in their body, especially if they have undergone sterilization. Weight control becomes a challenge. Their physical activity needs should be met. Goldens have athletic requirements similar to an Olympic athlete. The temperament and traits of the Golden come into full bloom at this point. It may be only nascent at the previous stages, but now it is fully manifesting. Purpose of training Keep in mind that their physical and emotional development is fully complete. The owner must take advantage of this period and build a strong training and foundation with their Golden. If you invest time and effort in the first two years of your Golden retriever puppy behavior stages, you will have the perfect dog of your dreams that will be your companion for life. Ideally, you should help them grow slowly. There are plenty of dangers associated with a dog growing too fast. Risks include bone diseases and arthritis. These conditions are even more prevalent in large breeds such as Golden retrievers. Overfeeding with low quality food results in growing too fast. When you examine ingredients on dog food labels, the first ingredient should be an animal protein source. If you find that your puppy is gaining weight, make sure to cut down the calories you give them. Keep in mind that bigger is not always better. Make sure your dog is within the weight range of the stage they are in. Managing their food intake and activity levels keep them healthy and fit. Final Thoughts You must know the Golden retriever puppy behavior stages so you can meet their needs and requirements. It is crucial to monitor not only the health of your developing puppy but also their training. Puppyhood is the time to instill good behavior to have the perfect dog companion that obeys your household rules and commands. When you invest time and effort in training and interacting with your Golden, it creates the huge potential that they might just become your ultimate friend. Following these tips can keep your furry companion healthy and happy. Exercise Requirements for Puppies: If you own a Golden Retriever, you want to keep them happy and healthy. This includes providing them with the appropriate amount of exercise for their age. If your Golden Retriever is a puppy, it will require less exercise than an adult. So, if your puppy is three months old, it will need about 15 minutes of exercise daily. It is important not to overdo it, especially with puppies. Because they are still growing and developing, excessive exercise can cause bone and joint problems. Starting to exercise with your Golden Retriever at a young age can help you bond with them and set them up for a healthy lifestyle. While you have to be careful to not overexert your Golden puppy, making sure they get plenty of exercise can also help prevent unwanted or destructive behaviors, which will talk about more later. Adult To Senior Golden Retrievers Staying active is crucial for adult Golden Retrievers to maintain good health, strong muscles, healthy joints, and weight management. They require minutes of exercise twice a day. Keep an eye out for any signs of pain or difficulty keeping up as your Golden Retriever ages. They tend to push themselves to please their owners, which can result in soreness or joint problems. Consider your lifestyle and make adjustments to ensure your Golden gets enough exercise. Consider games like fetch or dock diving if you prefer more relaxed activities. Bring your dog along if you enjoy going for walks or runs! Spending time being active with your pet will keep them happy and healthy. Types Of Exercise For Golden Retrievers Golden retrievers are an active breed that needs regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Here are some of our favorite different types of activities that Golden Retrievers enjoy: Hiking: Explore new trails and enjoy the outdoors with your furry friend. Bring a collapsible bowl with you for water breaks. Visit a dog park: Let your Golden interact and play off-leash with other friendly dogs. Go for a swim: During the hot summer months, keep your Golden relaxed and happy by taking a dip in a dog-friendly lake or pool. Just keep an eye on them and give them a bath afterwards. Play fetch: This classic game never gets old. Take your Golden to the park or play with their favorite toy indoors. Try agility training: Strengthen your bond with your pet while having fun setting up a backyard agility course with hula hoops, tunnels, and PVC pipes. Take a walk or run: A simple walk or run with your Golden can be enjoyable. Go hunting: Your Golden can enjoy this natural form of exercise with proper training. Try dock diving: if your Golden enjoys being in the water. Toss their favorite toy into the water and watch how much fun they have. Tug of war: Play a friendly game of tug of war with your pet using a durable and safe toy such as the Goughnuts Tug Toy. How To Make The Most Of Golden Retriever Walks Taking your golden retriever for a walk is not only an opportunity for exercise but also a chance to bond and create lasting memories. In this section, we will share valuable tips to help you make the most out of your golden retriever walks, ensuring an enjoyable experience for both you and your furry friend. Just stay away from any roads or sidewalks that run alongside them. Because these sessions require a lot of concentration and discipline, they should be kept short. To keep things interesting for your pup, experiment with unexpected changes in speed and direction. This will keep your furry friend entertained and interested. Incorporating Training Into Your Walks A walk with your Golden Retriever is an excellent opportunity to practice some training exercises on and off the leash. It is not only essential to maintain your training skills, but it is also beneficial to practice in various settings. Reward your loyal companion with a game or a treat between exercises to keep them motivated. Remember to leave time for free running! A good recall is essential if you intend to walk your Golden off-leash. While walking on the leash, vary your speed and make quick changes in direction. You can zigzag, circle, or retrace your steps before proceeding. Trying something new instead of your usual walking route is also a good idea. Remember to shower your dog with love, praise, and treats for its excellent behavior! Implementing these changes will make your furry friend more attentive and engaged during your walks. Furthermore, it is a perfect way to keep their minds active and stimulated. Playing Hide And Seek Playing hide-and-seek with your Golden Retriever can make exercise time more exciting and engaging. Keep an eye on your dog and call out if they panic and believe they have lost you. When your Golden Retriever finds you, they will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride, which can boost their confidence. Remember to keep the game safe and enjoyable for your furry friend and to always reward them for their efforts with plenty of love, praise, and treats. This will encourage your pet to pay close attention to you if the toy reappears, and they will be less likely to wander too far away. You can stop occasionally and play a quick and exciting game with them using the toy. Make sure to end the game while your dog is still interested, and then send them on their way. Because most Golden Retrievers enjoy chasing and retrieving balls, consider throwing a ball far away with a racket or ball launcher. Hand throws, on the other hand, are more lively and keep your Golden close by. Remember that throwing sticks can be dangerous. As a safer alternative, use a rubber stick or an old hosepipe. How Exercise Impacts The Behavior Of Golden Retrievers Golden retrievers are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to stay healthy and well-behaved. Not only does exercise improve their physical health, but it also significantly impacts their mental and emotional well-being. A tired and satisfied dog is less likely to engage in these behaviors and more likely to relax and enjoy their time with you. Furthermore, exercise can provide an excellent opportunity for socialization, which is especially important for Golden Retrievers, who are known for being friendly and sociable. Walking your Golden Retriever with other dogs or participating in organized activities such as obedience classes or agility courses can help them gain confidence and comfort around other animals and people. Regular exercise not only improves their physical health but also has a significant impact on their mental and emotional well-being. Exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety, preventing unwanted behaviors such as destructive chewing, excessive barking, or aggression. By keeping your golden retriever active, you provide them with a healthy outlet for their energy, leading to a more well-behaved and relaxed companion. The Importance Of Mental Stimulation: Exercise is not just about physical activity; it also provides mental stimulation for golden retrievers. Engaging in activities that challenge their minds, such as puzzle toys, obedience training, or agility courses, can enhance their cognitive abilities and prevent boredom. Mental stimulation through exercise contributes to a well-rounded and balanced behavior in golden retrievers. Socialization And Exercise: Golden retrievers are naturally social dogs and enjoy interacting with other animals and people. Regular exercise provides an excellent opportunity for socialization, allowing them to become more comfortable and confident in various social settings. Activities like dog park visits or group walks can help your golden retriever develop social skills, reducing the likelihood of behavioral issues related to fear or aggression. Destructive chewing often stems from excess energy and boredom. When dogs do not have an outlet for their energy, they may resort to chewing on furniture, shoes, or other household items. Exercise helps to burn off that energy and keeps dogs physically and mentally stimulated, reducing their inclination to engage in destructive chewing behaviors. By providing your Golden Retriever with sufficient exercise, you can help redirect their energy into more appropriate activities and promote overall behavioral well-being. The Truth About Golden Retriever Behavior Issues Golden retrievers are adorable dogs, but like any other breed, they can have behavioral issues. The good news is that all golden retrievers can improve their behavior, and with some work, you can have a well-behaved golden in no time. It is not a permanent issue, and numerous methods exist for correcting bad behavior. You can use strategies for stopping bad behavior in golden retrievers, such as satisfying their needs, giving them a job, removing temptation, and not reinforcing bad behavior. Conclusion Exercise plays a vital role in shaping the behavior of Golden Retrievers. Regular exercise not only keeps them physically fit but also has a significant impact on their mental and emotional well-being. Furthermore, exercise provides an excellent opportunity for socialization, allowing your furry friend to develop confidence and comfort around other animals and people. By understanding the relationship between exercise and behavior in Golden Retrievers, you can provide your furry companion with the physical and mental stimulation they need to lead a happy, balanced, and well-behaved life. Golden retrievers are naturally curious and enjoy exploring their surroundings with their mouths. Providing plenty of chew toys and positive reinforcement for not chewing on inappropriate items can assist in redirecting this behavior. This behavior also serves to relieve teething discomfort and satisfy their oral fixation. How to prevent aggression in your golden retriever Aggression prevention in Golden Retrievers begins with early socialization and training. Positive reinforcement and teaching appropriate behaviors and boundaries can be helpful in the prevention of aggression. Seeking the assistance of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist can also help deal with any aggressive behavior. Why do golden retrievers roll on their back? There are several reasons for this. They might be looking for your attention or a tummy rub. They may also be scratching, marking their territory, or regulating their body temperature. Rolling over is not always a sign of submission, and it could be used as a combat strategy during playtime. If your dog rolls over to scratch its back, this could be due to a flea or tick infestation. Are golden retrievers good with exercise? Golden retrievers are known for their love of physical activity and exercise. They are active and require daily exercise to keep their physical and mental health in check. Can you exercise a Golden Retriever too much? Yes, it is possible to exercise a Golden Retriever too much. Overexercising can result in injuries, exhaustion, and even heat stroke. How can exercise help with Golden Retriever separation anxiety? Exercise can help reduce anxiety and stress in Golden Retrievers, including separation anxiety. Regular exercise can help your dog burn off excess energy and promote relaxation, making it easier for him to cope with being alone. Adding mental stimulation through puzzle toys or training sessions can also be beneficial. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase the item. This comes at no extra cost to you. Is your golden retriever struggling with some behavior problems? Welcome to the life of a golden retriever parent! Have you ever been around a baby late at night? There are also physical and mental stimulation needs. Golden retrievers were originally bred to retrieve gunned down birds for their owners. They had to work all day running through fields, streams, and marshes… It required a lot of energy to do all of that work, so being full of energy and desiring a job to do is in their genes! Can you see how your golden might be bored and looking for an outlet for all of their energy? So the question is, how do you mentally and physically exercise your golden? Here are seven ways to do that: 1. Give them puzzle toys My golden retriever, Oliver, has a ton of energy, so we give him a lot of puzzle toys. We give him frozen kongs often, which is where we take some of his food , soak it in water for ten minutes, stuff it in a kong , then freeze it. It takes him anywhere from minutes to get all of the food out and he absolutely loves them. Plus, they use up a ton of mental energy. We have a rubber ball that we put his food in and he has to roll it around to get his meals out. Teach them to love chew toys Dogs naturally love to chew and it releases feel-good endorphins. If your golden is anxious or has a lot of pent-up energy, getting them to go to town on a chew toy will do wonders for them. You can play tug or fetch, or especially if you have a mouthy puppy you can use a flirt pole to play with them. Take them on walks Taking your golden retriever on a walk will allow them to sniff, which will help with the mental stimulation, as well as get a little physical exercise. Usually, with Oliver, we go on walks and sprinkle in some training throughout. Train them Challenging your golden retriever by teaching them new things and making them earn treats and praise is a great way to burn off some of their mental energy. Plus, when you challenge them and they overcome those challenges, that will help build confidence and give them a sense of satisfaction both of which will help decrease bad behaviors. Check out this article to learn how to train your golden retriever. Set up doggy play dates Most goldens love playing with other dogs, so if you have a friend who has a dog, or you meet some people in an online dog group, that could be a great way for them to get some exercise. We recently attended a local golden retriever meetup and Oliver absolutely loved playing with all of the other goldens. Take your golden to daycare A few times a month, Oliver goes to doggy daycare and he has a blast. Whenever we pull up to the building he realizes where we are and he gets so excited. One of the workers there even told me he has a girlfriend! Remove The Temptation One day, seemingly out of the blue, Oliver developed the bad habit of digging into the trash can in the office. He would grab Post-it notes, tissues, crumpled up paper, anything… Then he would run around the house and try to get us to chase him to get it back. Eventually, we got fed up with it, so we moved the trash can on top of the desk for a few weeks. He got out of the habit, and now we can use the trash can in peace again. Are there any temptations for your dog that you can remove, either temporarily or permanently? Can you put your shoes in the closet so your dog will stop chewing them? Can you not give them a certain toy that they become aggressive or possessive over? If your puppy is biting you, leave the room. This is called redirection. You give them pets and tell them how much you love them. They pull on the leash and you let them go up to the smelly smell, which makes them happy because they get to check it out. Are you accidentally rewarding and positively reinforcing this bad behavior? If you are, that could be adding to your problem. You have to kindly and patiently teach them what you want them to do. Puppies also love to have fun. Be sure to not give in to their games and accidentally reinforce bad behavior like stealing socks. Another thing is puppy biting. You can learn more about the golden retriever puppy timeline here. Common Golden Retriever Behavior Problems Here are several common golden retriever behavior problems: jumping on people. It is your responsibility as a dog owner to understand why your Golden barks as often as he does and when. When learning to decipher the different types of dog speak, you must figure out what excessive barking means. Golden Retrievers bark for many reasons, including alerting you of danger, such as a stranger. Here are some examples: A warning or alert bark will be quick and sharp and may become more intense. A Golden Retriever demanding food or attention will have a piercing and persistent bark directed at you. A bored dog will have a repetitive monotone bark. A Golden Retriever suffering from distress, such as separation anxiety or panic, will have a high-pitched and highly repetitive bark. As the dog gets more stressed, the barking may become even higher pitched or progress to howling. A fearful or suspicious bark will be fast and low. A playful bark will be high-pitched, more tonal, and modulated. Golden Retrievers can bark at other dogs, any movement outside the house, and noises around them. Your Golden Retriever will bark at you demand barking to communicate various things to you, especially when he wants to get your attention or something specific from you, such as food, play, or to go potty. Dogs soon learn that they can get what they want, especially if you usually give in. Prevention is better than cure in this instance. It sends the wrong signal if you start taking care of your dog when he barks at you. But if this barking results from his need to exercise, you can address that need before he starts barking at you. Never take care of the underlying need immediately after your dog barks at you. You should also take care of the issue causing him to bark. Daytime barking bothers remote workers working from home. Nighttime barking bothers everyone except those working the night shift. A one-off occurrence can be chalked up to an illness. But this can become a regular habit. And for social reasons alone, it is essential to understand and fix the cause for your Golden Retriever barking overnight. Your Golden Retriever might bark at night to alert you of a danger or if he is anxious, fearful, or wants attention. Other causes are if he sees or hears other animals in the yard, hears another dog also barking, feels lonely or bored, or has not had enough exercise. Here are some tips to prevent your Golden Retriever from barking at night: Use a crate from the first night you bring your pup home. Choose something like the all-inclusive Midwest for Pets icrate from Amazon. It comes with everything you need, such as a divider and a removable wipe-clean tray. This crate also gives you the option of a single or double door, which is pretty handy. You have to ignore him. It can be hard to do this on the first night you bring your new puppy home, but you will undoubtedly thank me for this advice! Ensure your dog is comfortable whether you leave him in his bed or crate. Have water and plenty of toys handy. Make sure your Golden Retriever is exercised sufficiently throughout the day. Most well-exercised dogs are desperate to go to bed at night to enjoy a sound sleep. Why Do Golden Retrievers Howl? Most people associate howling with the wolf-like Siberian Husky. But did you know your Golden Retriever also manifests this wolf-ancestry behavior once in a while? Golden Retrievers howl to warn you about a danger they can sense or to respond to another howling dog in the neighborhood. They also howl when reacting to high-pitched sounds such as music or sirens, when seeking attention, if in pain or distress, or if suffering from separation anxiety. Usually, howling is a form of communication that dogs use outside their usual barking, groaning, or whining. Unless it is incessant, you have a normal dog. If your Retriever is howling to get your attention, treat this behavior similarly to demand barking. You must ignore and teach him that howling at you will not work. When he stays silent and stops howling for a few seconds, use positive reinforcement, such as treats, toys, and lots of praise. Why Do Golden Retrievers Cry? Have you ever taken your dog on a car trip and heard the most horrendous crying or whining as you park up somewhere? You may wonder why your Golden Retriever is crying. Identifying health problems that may cause your Golden Retriever to cry is important. Consult your vet if stress and anxiety have become an issue for your dog, as anti-anxiety medication may help. Separation anxiety. Treatments include counterconditioning that focuses on developing an association between being alone and good things, like treats. Desensitizing techniques can also help, along with medication. Again, consult your vet or a professional animal behaviorist. Attention-seeking whining. This is similar to demand barking, as mentioned in the section above. You must teach your Golden Retriever that remaining quiet will lead to a more positive outcome. Recognize appeasement whining is normal canine behavior. This occurs when your dog tries to appease people or other dogs when they perceive aggression or a threat. Why Do Golden Retrievers Groan? You will undoubtedly have heard your dog groan, moan, or sigh. My dog often groans after eating a meal and flopping down with a full belly! Sometimes, it can be really amusing. But why do they do this? Medical reasons can also cause groaning, e. Behavioral groaning is of no concern and is normal canine behavior. However, consult your vet if you suspect your Retriever is groaning due to a medical reason. Why Do Golden Retrievers Dig? A little digging can be expected from a Golden Retriever or any dog. Golden Retrievers dig to relieve stress or get rid of excess energy. If your Golden Retriever is digging many holes, then he is excited and has too much energy. If he is digging fewer holes but is going deep, he is anxious. Whatever the reason, this behavior needs to be reigned in. You can establish a digging zone, interrupt your Golden Retriever whenever he is digging outside of it, and take him to the acceptable digging area. Since digging can be tied to excess energy boredom , you can engage your dog in a game of fetch or take him for a long walk. You may wonder why your Golden will circle his bed, an area of the rug or carpet, before lying down. Dogs may also assess their laying spot for anything harmful, such as vermin, or anything that could cause them injuries before making a comfy nest. However, despite centuries of domestication, there is little scientific data to prove the above — except for the understanding that canines circle before lying down to make a comfy nest. This small study of 62 dogs suggested that dogs are more likely to circle before lying down when presented with a soft, uneven surface to make a temporary nest to sleep. OCD is a psychological condition that often has a genetic tendency. Stricken dogs will repeatedly perform normal canine behavior and often fail to respond to therapy. Dogs worried about predators and protected their bellies by sleeping on them in the wild. Sleeping belly-down also allowed them to get up quickly if needed. So why do Golden Retrievers sometimes sleep on their back? Golden Retrievers sleep on their back with their paws in the air to cool down or when they feel very relaxed with their environment and are at ease exposing their belly. This shift is the result of thousands of years of dog domestication. One of the cutest sleeping positions of puppies is when they sleep upside down — they are just more comfortable sleeping on their backs! Adult Golden Retrievers who sleep on their back for a while are also adorable. They are trusting of you and will no doubt sleep anywhere. Golden Retrievers may roll on their back for many different reasons. This behavior might occur when your dog is alone, playing with you, or with other dogs. Golden Retrievers roll on their back when seeking attention from you, e. Or to groom or scratch themselves, mark their territory, change their body smell e. A roll on the back is often interpreted as being submissive during canine play. However, research has shown that lying face upward is a combat tactic, not an act of submission. Your Golden Retriever may roll over when playing with other dogs for two key reasons: To avoid a bite on the side of the neck be defensive. To launch an attack be offensive. Golden Retrievers often roll over to scratch their back — since they cannot reach it with their paws. This could be normal scratching, but it could also be due to a flea or tick infestation. Dogs will roll on their back to get a rub or tickle on their tummy when playing. So, avoid it if you do not want him to always ask for it! Your dog may also roll on his back to cool down. One of the weird dog behaviors that I find a little difficult to grasp is rolling in stinky things, such as fox or badger poop or bird droppings! Some dogs love to cover themselves in foul smells that leave you spluttering in disgust. So, why do Retrievers roll in poop? Golden Retrievers roll in poo, such as fox poo, due to instinctive canine behavior. Dogs like pungent scents, and they encourage rolling action. Wild dogs had to hunt to survive. Your Golden Retriever is leaving his scent behind. Your dog might be trying to leave his scent, similar to marking or spraying behavior. Your dog is interacting with you, his pack! Other packmates would track the scent back in the wild, which helped their hunting. So, now you know why your Golden Retriever rolls in poop, how do you prevent him from returning with a foul, pungent stench? When walking with your dog, stay alert and limit his poo-rolling activities. Learn to anticipate it right before it begins. If I notice my dog sniffing or tracking the ground with greater intensity, I know she can smell the strong scent of the fox. Do you find it funny when your Golden Retriever chases his tail? Golden Retrievers may chase their tail due to boredom, insufficient mental or physical exercise, or attention-seeking behavior to get something from you. Medical reasons can also be the cause, such as being irritated by fleas or ticks, infection, or in cases of OCD. Healthy adult dogs need at least two hours of daily activity, including various walking, off-leash running, fetch, frisbee, agility, or swimming — Retrievers love to swim! He will, therefore, keep doing it, especially if he needs you to notice him! Golden Retrievers have soft mouths because of their innate retrieving instincts. They learned to retrieve birds and other prey and return them to their hunters without damaging them. They also learn to minimize the impact of their bites as puppies and avoid putting too much pressure on their bites. Golden Retrievers put everything in their mouths because of their retrieving instincts. They retrieve things to show affection, stay entertained, and expend their excess energy. Golden Retrievers love socks because socks can carry the scent of the human who wears them. Retrievers often miss their owners and feel close to them when they fetch or play with their socks. If you start spending more time with your Retriever, he is less likely to steal your socks. But the ones that are territorial or signal an illness require immediate action. Related Posts You May Like:. The bottom line As perfect as we would all like our retrievers to be, there are some factors you should consider regarding their temperament before choosing to adopt or buy one of your own. Getting to know your retriever: the basics What falls under the normal behavioral categories for dogs may be a blur to some, especially for new dog owners. So, here are the fundamentals you need to know. Now, like all dogs, Goldens jump, bark as a form of expressing their emotions, such as being happy, or scared in specific scenarios, digging around, and loving to chase small animals like chipmunks or squirrels. All of which are natural and normal. Retrievers are also highly sociable and energetic dogs, as they are called retrievers, after all. These then develop into behaviors, which can either be good or bad. With that being said, read on to learn more about common behavioral issues in retrievers. People-jumping Golden retrievers naturally love everyone they meet, even if it happens to be someone they have not met before. But sometimes, they may get a little too friendly. One particular way retrievers typically greet people is by jumping on people to say hello. And yes, these breeds were meant to be hunters the good kind with the everflowing energy they have within. A primary reason this happens is a lack of physical and mental stimulation through exercises or activities such as puzzle toys or dispensing toys to meet their physical and mental needs. Because of this, they tend to find their own way to meet these needs, some of which may not be pleasant. These destructive means may include chewing up socks or the furniture and even sneaking to rob your food on the counter! It could be your long-sleeved clothing, your arm, or a random twig they found at the park. No matter how gentle your retriever may be, when they hold you with their mouths, it might develop into a rather irritating habit, and may even hurt someone, if left unaddressed. A joy that Golden retrievers are more than eager to pursue. When out and about, retrievers tend to go on tunnel vision on where they want to go, such as an empty and open field just a few feet away. In doing so, they may pull on your leash and can sometimes topple you over with that sudden sprint as you get pulled down. This may also lead to breaking free off the leash and may cause your dog to get injured or lost. Needy for attention Goldens are undoubtedly and naturally friendly. Because of it, this means wanting to be in the spotlight of attention and care. This is why retrievers are suitable for and found in many family homes. Some ways they demand your attention can be through barking, grabbing, and nudging your arm to establish their presence, to name a few. Though each retriever may vary individually, there may be instances where how they get attention becomes negative. Such as stealing off your gloves from the table when you want to go grocery shopping. Over-the-roof energy levels When you walk by any golden retriever you see, there seems to be an overflow of energy through their smile as they pant or their wagging tails as they walk. Though this sounds fun to be around outdoors, it is not the case when being indoors. With energy to spare, retrievers will find anything they can do to use that energy. In most cases, it may be unwanted things or activities. These include running around and knowing over objects in the living room, biting or chewing off pillows, and leaving feathers all over the house. Separation anxiety The fact that they are sociable, loving, and family-oriented dogs, also makes them prone to separation anxiety. This may be when you have to leave the house to watch the movies or do some groceries. In fact, Golden retrievers tend to suffer separation anxiety at a higher rate than other dog breeds. The severity of their separation anxiety may range from mild to severe, which may be indicated by distinct symptoms. For retrievers with mild separation anxiety, they may pace, whine, drool, walk around frantically, or any other distress-related behavior. When the anxiety becomes severe, this may cause them to engage in destructive behavior such as digging at windows or doors or anything to get them outside. In doing so, they may be susceptible to unwanted injuries, especially when they dig at windows. Puppy biting Like all breeds, it only comes naturally for puppies to bite anything they can get their paws on, and yes, that means retrievers do too. It is crucial at this stage to train and teach golden pups how to inhibit biting. If this progresses without interference, it may lead to harmful injuries such as biting through the skin. Digging Digging is innate in all dogs, no matter what breed, size, or shape. This may be an issue, especially when they start digging objects at homes such as window frames, doors, or the fridge, as they may cause damage over time. This may result from being deprived of exercise and mental stimulation, which causes them to turn to digging as their way to cope and fulfill their physical and mental requirements. A great way to handle this is by either turning their attention with a pet toy or a simple game of fetch. Alternatively, you can also provide a safe outlet for them to do their personal digging, such as a dog-friendly sandbox. There are several factors or reasons why this may be the case for the rare few that do have aggressive tendencies. They include physical punishment from their past, a poor breeder, or a lack of socialization with other dogs or humans. At this point, resolving them simply comes by avoiding these factors in the first place, by choosing a reputable breeder, never physically punishing them for bad behavior, and ensuring they get socialized and introduced to other family members they meet from time to time. The bottom line The Golden retriever is a great dog breed for anyone, including individuals, couples, and especially families. Like all social beings, retrievers, too, naturally develop their sets of behavior as they are a hunting breed are innately set to retrieve things in their mouth. These include lack of physical exercise, mental stimulation , socialization, bad breeders, and lack of training on the rights and wrongs. Some of the best ways to combat them are by addressing these factors, that is by finding a reputable breeder, ensuring they get introduced to other dogs and humans to get familiarized, giving them puzzle toys for mental stimulation, taking them out on dog walks for physical exercise, and teach them how to properly greet strangers without jumping on them without any physical punishment. More Behavior. But how long will your bundle of fur stay a puppy? Puppy which begins at birth and continues until the end of rapid growth, generally lasts between months depending on the breed of the dog. Puppies have a sensitive period for socialization which runs roughly between three weeks and three months. Below are some things to consider for safety, nutrition, socialization and training: Purchase books and videos by professional positive reinforcement trainers and behaviorist. Puppy proof your home- keep electrical cords safely away from chewing, toxic materials should be stored in a safe place including medications and plants. Provide your puppy with appropriate chew items, toys and games. Supervise your puppy at all times or make sure they are in a safe pen or crate area no free roaming without supervision. Safety: Crate training, on leash, fenced yards, transportation safety restraint, temperature in cars, no riding in open truck or with windows wide open. Consult your veterinarian for approval and get your puppy started in a puppy class at weeks. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up-to-date on vaccines throughout the class. This is something that your puppy class will help with if they have supervised play time with other puppies. If you have a well-mannered older dog, they may help you in teaching your puppy or young dog proper etiquette. Puppies will often follow and mimic older dogs behaviors. Enjoy, love and be kind to your puppy at all times. Young Adult starts when the puppy stage ends, and young dogs go through a period where they are still maturing both socially and physically. This stage usually lasts to about years of age. If your dog has behavioral issues fear of loud noises, aggression, separation anxiety, food guarding, excessive barking, etc. Some dogs may not enjoy being petted or made over by lots of new people in a structured setting, but they would be outstanding in nose work or dock diving. Dogs burn energy three ways; with their paws, brain and mouth. Mature Adult stage continues for the next quarter of their expected lifespan. At this time, you and your dog have a routine and they are well trained and happy. Below are some suggestions and signs you should look for as your dog matures: Continue to keep your dog active in physical and mentally stimulating activities that are suitable for their age. Make sure they are still getting social interaction with people, animals and new environments. Behavior changes can be due to medical problems and not out of spite. If a potty-trained dog starts urinating in the house, it may be a sign that there is an underlying medical problem that should be examined by a veterinarian. Consult your veterinarian as soon as possible if you have concerns. Seniors are in the last quarter of their life. This is a time that you may need to alter things in your home so that your dog can easily get around and be supported properly. Non-skid rugs or mats, harnesses, doggie boots, ramps, and orthopedic beds may be needed at this time. Senior dogs can still enjoy walks, car rides and fun activities; being with you is their greatest desire. Moderate activity, nutrition and frequent health examinations are key to keeping your best friend happy, healthy and enriched in their golden years. Below are some geriatric symptoms to be aware of: Weakness, lethargy. Going through life with a badly behaved dog can be very demanding and stressful, usually resulting in a lower quality of life for both dog and owner alike. The list of articles will be growing all the time to cover everything from understanding what natural personality characteristics of a Golden Retriever are, why they act the way do, what behavior issues are, how they can develop and how to solve common Golden Retriever behavior problems. I think every owner has a duty to learn what makes a dog tick. They have different instincts, drives and needs that fuel their temperament. The key to raising a well balanced and well obedient dog is first understanding what these different behavioral needs are, then finding acceptable ways to satisfy those needs. This opens up a whole new level of communication because you can then adjust how you behave toward your dog and what you ask of them depending on their state of mind. And this impacts every aspect of your lives together. These next few articles will help you to understand your Golden Retriever:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Golden retrievers are such great family dogs. And they tend to have some behavior problems because of their great characteristics. Most goldens want to be near their people. And they love to be petted and get attention. They may jump, grab our hand or arm, or engage in some destructive behaviors. Many of these are normal dog behaviors that can be modified through training and exercise. Normal Dog Behaviors Versus Abnormal Behaviors Dogs naturally dig, bark, express fear in certain situations, mark territory, chase small animals, and jump. They may steal food. Or want to be with us all the time. Goldens were bred to be sociable, high-energy dogs. My rescued golden Spencer almost always had to carry something in his mouth. So I made sure there were safe toys for him to happily tote around. Unfortunately, many dogs are given up to shelters because of behaviors that can be modified. To have a great companion takes a lot of work, patience, and time. And to meet those needs. These should be dealt with by behavior specialists who can evaluate the individual dog and determine the best behavior modification plan. These abnormal behaviors include aggression to those around the dog, obsessive-compulsive disorders, shutting down, and severe separation anxiety. Why Behavior Problems Develop There is no one reason why some behavior problems occur. Unfortunately, goldens are so popular—the third-popular breed ranked by the American Kennel Club—they are often poorly bred. There are too many back-yard and puppy mill dogs who are more likely to not be the examples of what the breed should be. Jumping on People Golden retrievers usually love everyone and never met a stranger. Goldens are the greeting committee of the dog world. Many dogs want to jump on people when greeting them. The golden can, of course, unintentionally injure someone, knocking them over in his exuberant greeting. Engaging in Destructive Behavior In addition to friendliness, goldens were bred to hunt. They have energy to spare. And they were bred to retrieve and have something in their mouths. They may dig up the garden. Or chew up our furniture. Or they may steal the food on the counter. And the food they eat may be toxic, such as chocolate or raisins. Or they may get a blockage from ingesting a towel or sock. A bored, under-exercised golden can get very creative in meeting his needs. They often need to have something in their mouths. That is, he may constantly try to hold our clothes, arm, or hand in his mouth. Biting is a natural canine behavior. But puppies should be taught bite-inhibition. And it can be dangerous. Someone can be badly bruised or even pulled down. Pulling on the Leash Goldens love to go places and greet all their new admirers. But they want to get there sooner rather than later. Many dogs pull on a leash, but not all are as friendly as goldens are known to be. And they can be lazer-focused on getting where they want to go. Being a rather large dog, a golden pulling on a leash can injure someone. An owner can be pulled down and get injured. Or the dog himself can get free and get lost or injured—or worse. Demanding Attention Because of their natural friendliness, goldens may want to be the center of attention. They are so family-oriented, they love to be with us. Some goldens may bark at you for attention. They may nudge you and grab your arm to be recognized. Some may even engage in unwanted behaviors like taking something off the table. Even negative attention is attention. Hyperactivity Some goldens seemingly bounce off the walls. They are like a hurricane passing through the living room. Tables are cleared of bric a brac. Pillows are shredded and on the floor. But your happy golden is furiously wagging his tail, looking for the next item he can use to help expel his excess energy. Separation Anxiety Because of their innate friendly, family-oriented behavior, goldens may suffer from separation anxiety at a higher rate than some other breeds. Their need to be with us can lead to some unwanted behaviors. Dogs with mild separation anxiety may drool, pace, whine, and generally behave in a distressed manner. Dogs with severe separation anxiety may become very destructive. They may try to get out of doors and windows, feverishly digging at door and window frames. They may even severely harm themselves in their attempts to get free. Dogs with separation anxiety may need professional behavioral help. We owe it to our goldens to do all that we can do to meet their natural needs. A bored, untrained, under-exercised, unsupervised golden is going to develop some problem behaviors. Some of the tips below will even help your golden from developing any of the potential problems cited above. I wrote the ways to help fix a problem separately from the problems because it will probably take more than one item to successfully change an unwanted behavior. All of the favorable interactions we have with our goldens also help further our bond with them. Physical Exercise Goldens were bred to hunt. They are highly-energetic dogs. Walks, fetching, jogging, agility, and swimming can all be great ways to physically exercise your golden. A vet check-up is advisable prior to starting any exercise program. Physical exercise can help decrease or eliminate the above-named problems. Of course, you want to exercise your dog enough but not over-tire them. Dogs who have been sufficiently exercised are less likely to jump or engage in destructive activities such as digging or chewing. Also, dogs who are exercised and calm before we leave are less likely to develop separation anxiety. Obedience Training Obedience training helps us communicate with our dogs and informs them what behaviors are desired. So we can teach them to sit before they receive attention. Or to lie down next to us and settle. And we can show him what toys he can put in his mouth rather than destroying items or turning us into his chew toy. Redirection works. And we can teach them to not pull on a leash and to walk on a loose leash. Part of the training should include how to leave your dog alone. This will help prevent separation anxiety from developing. Start with short sessions. Make leaving a happy opportunity—when great things appear. Leave a frozen, stuffed Extreme Kong with him as you leave. If your dog has already shown signs of separation distress, get the help of a qualified behavior specialists. As far as your golden inappropriately seeking attention is concerned, you can ignore your dog. Turn away or get up and leave. But do give him the attention he needs on your terms by calling him over to you occasionally. Pet him. Have him do a command or trick. Praise, pet, and treat. You should also play games with him. Teach him to tug a toy like a rope or long fleece to and give. You can have him play fetch. You can play hide-and-seek where you go and hide and call him to you. Make a big deal when he reaches you YES! Good boy! And not at all with a dog who has separation anxiety. But, to goldens, this is what they often enjoy most. Everyone is a potential friend. Goldens will thrive if they are fed the same times each day, are exercised as needed routinely, and receive attention from their people every day. No dog should be just put aside like a statue. Goldens especially need attention through positive daily interactions—play, training, exercise. If ignored, their sweet, golden personality will wilt. Final Thoughts Golden retrievers are such happy, affable, family dogs. But they are prone more than some breeds to certain problem behaviors because of their genetic purpose to retrieve and their desire to be with people. By doing so, their lives—as well as ours—will be full and happy. Does your golden engage in any unwanted behaviors? How have you handled them? Please tell us about it in the comment section below. Related Article:.
I have loved dogs all my life, but my love and appreciation of Labrador Retrievers started with the addition of our chocolate Labrador, Ben, to my family in .I love the temperament, beauty, trainability, and versatility of this great family companion breed. There is no mystery as to why the Labrador Retriever has been the number one AKC Registered dog in America for many years, this breed is my passion! My breeding goals are to to improve upon the health and conformation of my own dogs, and to preserve the bloodlines, working ability, and the temperament already present in the Labrador Retriever. I registered my kennel name with the AKC in after satisfying the requirements to do so. I am equally proud of them all. I breed litters primarily for myself and I reserve the right to pick my puppy s until at least 8 weeks of age. These puppies will be the future of my show and breeding program, although I will have puppies available to highly qualified, pre-screened homes. We do not ship puppies sight unseen, no exceptions. Puppies placed in pet homes will come with AKC Limited Registration and must be spayed or neutered at the appropriate time. We reserve the right to refuse to sell a puppy to any individual s at anytime, for any reason, at our discretion. My dogs are considered full fledged family members and spend the majority of their time in the house with us, and make excellent couch and foot warmers. Please make yourself at home, and contact me with any questions you have! Kenya Labradors breeds the best, so YOU will live with the best. Kenya Labradors is solely dedicated to "breeding excellence" in order to offer you the most outstanding family pets and champions of conformation, hunting, agility, and obedience. We specialize in English-type chocolate and black Labs of exceptional quality and brilliance. See our website for photographs, pedigrees, and information! Why Labradors? Our home is on 20 acres in the gorgeous Santa Margarita Valley on California's central coast. With all this land, we could have chosen ANY breed of dog.Why did we choose Labradors? We chose to love, train, breed, and show only English-type Labrador Retrievers because we believe no other dog will suffice. These fabulous dogs fulfill our every criterion for the perfect canine companion. They are magnificently built for stamina and agility. They are off-the-charts bright and eager to please — loving, easy to train, and full of personality. Kenya Labradors are filled to the brim with SO MUCH love, devotion and intelligence — sure to become an important member of your family. It was an easy choice for us. We started with one dog, as many people do. Read our story. Now we strive to produce the best quality Labs possible, specializing in chocolate and black colors with the English-type conformation. Kenya Labradors are beautiful, bold looking dogs, and especially athletic. They love to swim, play catch, and retrieve, but can just as easily kick back to watch movies with you. Our Labs are super friendly "people dogs", good with young children and the elderly, and for announcing to welcome visitors. That's a BIG title and with good reason! It is also one of the most popular assistance dog breeds in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their intelligence and desire to please. Please contact us for a phone appointment. We don't post our phone number here because we are often outside with our dogs, and paying proper attention to numerous phone calls became quite a challenge. Establishing a first contact by email allows us to agree upon time where you will receive our full attention. We appreciate your understanding on this. Simply click on "contact us" or fill out the quick form — at the bottom of every page. Unless we are at a dog show or hunt trial, we will get back to you typically within the day. We look forward to meeting you! Sorry, we do not ship. Kenya Labradors does not sell puppies via the Internet or to pet dealers. You must be physically present to purchase a Lab puppy from us. We also do not cross-breed Labs to make designer dogs. We breed amazing English Labradors and take great pride in doing that one thing well. Come and see for yourself. You just might fall in love! Santa Margarita, CA .Here at Kentfield Kennels we are firmly committed to breeding the traditional English Style Labrador Retriever that will become your best friend, a loving family member, hunting companion, service dog, or will be out there competing in one of the many events you can enjoy with your dog. What we wish to produce is a substantial, medium sized dog with a good bone structure, strong muscles, a broad head and muzzle with wide set eyes that have a kind expression. A great double coat to keep out the cold and that thick traditional otter tail that is carried straight and flat from the body is our goal in each breeding. We want our females to weigh approximately lbs, and our males to weigh around lbs. All of our puppies are registered with the American Kennel Club, micro-chipped and enrolled in the AKC ReUnite program before they go into a new family home. What makes us different The Labrador Retriever is a loving, affectionate and patient dog. They are highly intelligent, quick to learn, lively, good-natured and love to play, especially in the water! We wish to breed into our dogs the excellent, reliable temperament that is sociable, friendly, loyal and above all else, great with children and other pets. You are among an elite group whose love for dogs is unwavering; and it carries through in all you do as a breeder and dog owner. The AKC is proud to have you represent the largest, and most respected registry in the world! The program gives AKC a new way to engage, encourage and recognize ALL breeders who meet specific health testing standards and who participate in continuing education. We have answers. Chocolate Labrador Retriever and golden Labrador Retriever will be priced differently. But if you use our MatchMaker process, we can easily connect you with an ethical breeder who offers litters at a price that fits your budget. Do your breeders ship puppies out of state? We have a large network and can help you find a great match near you. Our breeders and businesses are able to ship their puppies by air to all major airports in 48 states, except Alaska and Hawaii. Besides that, you are welcome to pick your puppy from Labrador breeder in San Francisco in person. How do you screen San Francisco Labrador breeders? We have developed a strict screening process which is based on multiple criteria, including animal care, facilities, breeder experience, and much more. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other places? The internet offers fantastic opportunities for dog lovers to find the puppies of their dreams online, but since online puppy scams are on the rise, it is difficult to determine whether you are dealing with ethical breeder or not. Our job is to help you easily contact the best breeders and find your ideal puppy! What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are inhumane dog breeding facilities that breed dogs for profit with little to no regard for the animal well-being. Bred dogs are kept in tiny, filthy cages and don't receive any affection, exercise or proper veterinary care. And when they can no longer produce puppies, they are abandoned or killed. Are there any Labrador Retriever puppies for sale near me? Thinking about adoption of a Labrador in San Francisco? Start our MatchMaker process below and tell us a bit about you and how you imagine your ideal puppy. What is the MatchMaker process? We created the MatchMaker process to help the top breeders sell their great puppies and make it easy for dog lovers to find these perfect puppies. We ask you to answer several questions about yourself and the type of the dog you would like to have and help you find the perfect match, quickly and easily. How do I know I can trust you? Everyone is aware of online scams involving puppies. We use our Breeder Pledge, our screening process, and MatchMaker process to establish strong long-term relationships with our customers and breeders. Read some of the reviews written by our real customers to learn more about it.
Pugs will eat as much as you give them. Measure your pug's food and feed him small meals at scheduled times. As he ages, decrease how often he eats. He should eat four times a day. High-quality dry foods and wet foods are nutrient-dense, so your little guy will not need as much of it as he would lower-quality foods. You can find high-quality puppy foods in pet stores and at your veterinary clinic. Avoid semi-moist puppy foods because they contain high amounts of sugar. Adjust the amount so he is still getting his daily requirement. He may want more; but as long as he is at a healthy weight, don't start giving him extra food. Pugs gain weight easily. Obesity in pugs can lead to muscle and joint problems, diabetes and heart disease. It is doubtful that you will need to increase the amount of food per day even though your pug is growing. Your vet may suggest that you decrease the amount of food if your pug is starting to gain weight. Some owners prefer to continue the twice-a-day feedings because pugs have a smaller stomach than larger dogs. It's hard for them to digest a large amount in one feeding. It is now time to consider adult food. Introduce the new food slowly so he doesn't have difficulty digesting it. If you are concerned that your pug is not getting enough to eat, look at his shape. He should be broad at the shoulders and narrower beyond the shoulders, with a slight widening in the rump area. If his shape is square, he is getting too much food. More Articles. You may find yourself on the dog food isle trying to make sense of all the ingredients, types of foods and categories. And all you want to know is… How often and what should I feed my Pug? Every dog is different, every type of food has its specific quantities and it even varies between brands. Start simple and figure out all the details and methods. I have collected information about the different types, brands pros and cons of dog feeding to try and give an unbiased as much as I can look, so you can make a better-informed choice which will be right for you and your Pug. Remember, people care deeply about their dogs and will often get very emotional about the health and feeding they chose. Having been the owner of a pet store, I have learned that although I have my personal preferences and very good reasons for them, others may have different choices and they believe they are the right ones for them. There are a lot of issues to consider. How Many times a day should I feed My Pug? A mature Pug can easily live a healthy life with one meal which provides all his nutritional needs. In most cases, it is more convenient for both us and the pug to split this to two meals. If your Pug had a full meal in the morning, be sure he will nag you like crazy in the afternoon. Puppies have smaller stomachs and need, relative to their size, a larger quantity of food so it is better to break it up to three or even four meals a day. If you are around your Pug all day and prefer to give 4 meals a day to a mature dog, there is no harm in it, as long as the overall daily quantity stays the same. Free Buffet or Set meals? Pugs are notorious for becoming overweight and need to be limited to a set amount. If your Pug is not typical in that sense, you are welcome to put the full daily portion in the bowl and see how long it lasts. One more reason for set meals is monitoring. You want to know how much you Pug eats. If you want your Pug to lose weight, you need to know how much he is eating in order to cut down. On the flip side, if your Pug is not eating the usual amounts it may be an indication of a medical condition. What food do Pugs Eat? Pugs love food. They love treats, dry food, wet food, table scraps, raw meat, cooked meat, spicy meat and meat gone bad. In rural areas and farms, they may have also got more meaty scraps. Our Pugs who grew up with Emperors and Royalty were probably treated to high quality scraps. Today, dry bagged kibble or canned wet food are the standard for most homes, although there is a growing number of people and companies promoting more natural diets of either raw or cooked food for dogs. Every type of food claims to be the healthiest, more appropriate, tailored and nutritional. Kibble Kibble is the most common dog food available and has become the staple for the average dog. Pros of Kibble The makers of dry food claim it has the most balanced and scientifically based formulas to provide the best nutrition for a dog. They also tailor these formulas to dogs of different size, breed, age or other needs. Even the most discerning dog owners should be able a composition to satisfy them. The ingredient list is unclear and misleading. There are numerous food recalls yearly. There are websites dedicated just to keep up with the recalls. Teeth are going to need cleaning. Wet canned food Aside from the meatier texture and the higher water content, there is little difference between kibble and the canned, wet counterpart. The ingredients can be similar and so are the health benefits. Some dog owners report that wet food makes for softer stools when fed exclusively. Many dog owners will give a combination of wet and dry food. Home cooked As with human food there is a growing number of people fed up Pun intended with commercial and over engineered food. Raw food Also called the BARF Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods , the idea behind it is that the dogs digestive system has not evolved as their behavior, and much like wild dogs or wolves, they should eat the equivalent to small animals they would pray on in nature. Since dogs are also scavengers this diet will include some vegetables, berries etc. The pros As with the home-cooked diet, you have total control of ingredients and quality No preservatives, additives, fillers etc. You need to learn how to make, takes time Ingredients like bones and internal organs may not be available in your area. Can be pricy. Even More expensive if buying ready and frozen. Takes freezer space Raw Disclaimer I am a little bias towards raw food. I used to own a pet food store specializing in raw food for cats and dogs and I have been feeding my own Pugs raw food for over twelve years. Obviously, I am very happy with the raw diet and its outcomes as switching to dry food would have been easy and cheap. I believe it is the better choice for myself and my dogs. I believe I have presented the facts fairly objectively as far as the other feeding options go. There is no standard or way to measure what natural is and what the added value of it is other then the origin of it. Natural color could come from some secretion of an insect. Special Needs Puppies These little ones need the most nutritious and high-quality food you can find. If you want to find an economic way to feed your dog, please do it later in his life. Allergies Pugs are relatively sensitive to allergies. In some cases, this is due to an external source such as home detergents, but more often than not it has to do with their diet. There are a few brands that you can try with low, or no grain. If you are feeding your pug home cooked food or a raw diet, taking the carbs and grain out would be easy. Our Pugs were and are on a raw diet from day one and we never had any issues with allergies, except for one time. We started noticing that Preston had pinkish skin around his paws and around the nose fold. Since we owned a pet food store specializing in raw food, at the time convenient, I know we tried different types of meats, but nothing helped. It took us some time to realize the cause. We had our baby daughter at the time, and since she was very close and intimate with Preston, and he was eating raw, we made sure to wipe his mouth and feet with baby wipes after every meal. The baby wipes were the culprits. We switched them both to hypo-allergenic wipes and the skin went back to normal… Hip Dysplasia Pugs are ranked as one of the breeds with the highest chances of suffering from Hip Dysplasia. This can lead to trouble in walking and running and arthritis may follow as well. If your Pug is suffering from Hip Dysplasia to any extent you may want to either supplement their diet with Chondroitin and Glucosamine or to choose a brand that is made for joint support. Vets and nutrition. Having said that, if I needed nutritional advice, I would go to a nutritionist and not to my Doctor. The nutrition training vets get in many schools is provided by agents of the commercial food companies who are bias at best. Skipping meals Dogs will sometimes skip a meal. It is natural for them as food is not something that was always available on daily base. It is not typical for Pugs but it may happen. If it happens it will probably be a one meal deal. If your Pug misses a few meals in a row you may want to consult a vet. Treats and snacks I try and think of treats and snacks the same way I think of candy for my daughters. If the amount of treats your Pug is rivals the actual food, in quantity, you should reconsider or at least re calculate it. If you are using kibble both at meals and as treats for training, and your stubborn Pug ends up consuming a lot of treats, just take it off the next meal. The same goes for snacks. They should be a part of the total daily feeding and not extra. How long can a pug go without eating? An adult Pug can probably survive many days without food, but no Pug would stand for it. Unless your Pug has a medical condition, he will surely let you know he is hungry. Do make sure that your Pug is not deprived of fresh drinking water at all times. More so if the weather is hot and if he is on a dry food diet and has no other source of hydration. What if my Pug is overweight? Pugs love to eat and have a tendency to eat too much. A chubby Pug is very cute, but at some point, it becomes a health issue. Overweight Pugs may suffer from a wide range of conditions and or aggravate others. Conclusion Food is an important part of your Pugs life and will directly affect his health and well-being. Do make sure you know what your Pug is eating, the quality as well as the quantities. Actually, yes. This is an actual condition called Eye Displacement or Proptosis. It is not a common occurrence but with extreme trauma or circumstances it may happen. In most cases the condition is treatable. More on the condition here… Are Pugs Loving? Pugs have been bred as companion dogs for over two thousand years. Being with people is almost in their DNA. So yes, Pugs love to cuddle, snuggle and just be in contact or as close as they can to their human friends. More on Pug Love here. Still, you may discover information about how much to feed a Pug puppy here if you were unaware of the specifics before. Pugs are very food-motivated and will do just about anything for a tasty treat. Unfortunately, pugs gain weight as fast as any other dog breed. You are, supposedly, what you eat. The pug is a little dog, so even a slight increase in weight might be noticeable. Because of their tiny stature and low activity levels, pug pups have a lower caloric need than puppies of other breeds. Because of their unique nutritional needs, small-breed puppies should be fed food that has been developed particularly for them. Furthermore, make sure the puppy food you choose has all the nutrients it needs, and ask your physician for recommendations on how much and how often to feed the puppy. By the age of three to four weeks, you may begin feeding your puppy solid food. Mix equal parts of puppy chow and milk replacer as a first step. Give a little bit teaspoons many times a day. Weaning off of milk and onto solid food is complete when a pug puppy reaches this age. Independence from their mother and siblings and other littermates may begin to emerge. Puppies may start interacting socially and maturing rapidly at this age. Water should be kept fresh at all times. This is a good age to start teaching children to use the restroom without assistance. At this age, pug pups are full of energy and wonder. As they become older, puppies often become more receptive to training and socializing. There may be a period of boundary testing when they need constant guidance in training and socializing. Baby teeth may start falling out and adult teeth emerging in puppies. Proper potty training should have been completed. They may begin to express themselves more openly and build their own identities. Get started on the changeover to puppy food for adult dogs. They may test limits and need ongoing socialization and discipline. Make sure they get lots of exercise to keep their weight in check. Their interests and preferences in playthings and other pursuits may become more clearly defined. Maintain a high volume of physical activity and intellectual challenge. Pug pups achieve their full size at this point, however they may continue to gain weight. As puppies become older, they often become more devoted to their families and develop stronger bonds with them. The amount they eat should be adjusted based on their weight. At reaching adulthood, pugs often slow down and spend more time lounging. They may set in their ways, but they can still be taught new tricks with enough repetition. Aging symptoms in adult pugs include the development of gray hair and a general slowing down of activity. Understanding Pug Puppy Nutritional Needs Depending on factors including their age, weight, and level of activity, the calorie needs of Pug puppies might change over time. Pug puppies, on the whole, may need anything from to calories each day. The food of a Pug puppy should consist of between 22 and 25 percent protein, since this is the macronutrient most crucial for promoting healthy muscle and tissue development. Consuming between 8 and 10 percent of their calories from fat is recommended for optimal health and energy levels. To maintain a healthy skin and coat, they need omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well. High-quality commercial puppy chow designed for pups is what you should be feeding your Pug. The growth and development of pug pups may be supported by feeding them multiple little meals throughout the day. Feeding them three to four times a day till they are roughly six months old is the norm. To figure out how often and how much to feed your Pug puppy, talk to your vet. Having access to clean water at all times is also crucial. Puppies of the Pug breed need three meals every day. For ages 8 weeks to 6 months, try to stick to this schedule for feedings. As soon as your Pug reaches 6 months of age, you may begin reducing the number of times each day it is fed to twice. Kibble is practical since it may aid in the prevention of tartar accumulation and can be stored easily. Yet, the added moisture provided by wet foods may aid in the fight against dehydration and support efficient digestion. Wet food may have a better texture and flavor for certain Pug pups, while kibble may be a better choice for others. You should talk to your vet about what kind of food and how often you should feed your Pug puppy. Yet the specific time might vary from dog to dog based on their nutritional requirements. To prevent stomach trouble, the change should be made slowly over the course of a few weeks. Puppy anorexia may be caused by several things, including sickness, dental issues, stress, and dietary or habit changes. In the meanwhile, you may try introducing a new kind of food or moistening their normal kibble with a little quantity of wet food or broth to pique their interest. Do not feed your Pug puppy any human food or table scraps since this might cause gastric discomfort and other health issues. Pugs have a tendency toward becoming overweight and overeating, which may lead to a host of medical complications. Instead, you should make sure your Pug puppy is receiving the right quantity of food by sticking to a regular feeding schedule and controlling portions. This may improve general conduct and aid in the process of teaching toilet independence. This formula is designed for purebred Pugs. Little dogs with short muzzles may easily pick up and chew the kibble design. This meal supports Pug immunological, skin, and digestive health with antioxidants and important nutrients. Supports digestive health 2. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins strengthen bones and teeth in this specifically prepared combination. Vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants for immune system, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and hair No corn, wheat, soy, or chicken or poultry by-product meal Cons May contain artificial flavors 3. This puppy chow supports strong muscles and a healthy heart by starting with high-quality protein. Antioxidants and natural glucosamine will maintain his joints for a lifetime of sports. Pros Protein-rich chicken is the first ingredient DHA aids puppy brain and visual development Four antioxidants boost immunity Omega-6, vitamins, and minerals for skin and coat No artificial flavors or preservatives. Best Dog Foods for Pugs Choosing the right dog food for a Pug is essential as this will ensure that it gets proper nutrition. However, this can be challenging and time-consuming, considering that there is a lot to choose from. Whether you choose to feed your Pug commercial, homemade food, or raw food, make sure that they are of good quality and recommended by a trusted veterinarian. Proper nutrition is one of the factors that affect their lifespan. Below is a list of the best dog food choices for your Pug: Dry Food: One of the best options for Pugs is dry dog food as it is widely available, cheap, and has a long shelf life. These are packed with all the nutrients essential for your Pug. Wet Food: Wet dog food is another good option for Pugs. Its flavor and texture make it more appealing to Pugs than dry food. Wet food contains fewer grains, making it healthier and easier to digest. However, wet canned food has a shorter shelf life and should be consumed immediately after opening. Wet foods are also more expensive than dry foods. Homemade Food: Your Pug may benefit from cooked food consisting of chicken, eggs, fish, rice, and vegetables. The process is time-consuming, but it is less expensive and more convenient in the long run, especially if you plan on giving them a grain-free diet. Raw Food: Raw food diet for most Pugs results in better digestion, healthy skin, and a stronger immune system in Pugs. Mixing any of the aforementioned food choices is also good. Hence, you may want to try dog food alternatives to fit your budget. With their sensitive little stomachs, some foods can be poisonous, cause allergic reactions, and can even be lethal. Below is a list of food that you should completely avoid feeding to your Pug: Alcohol: Any amount of alcohol is hazardous for Pugs. Pugs do not have the enzyme to metabolize alcohol. Ingestion can cause hypoglycemia , metabolic acidosis , breathing problems, and central nervous system CNS impairment. Avocado: Avocado contains persin , a fungicidal toxin that has been linked to the death of many animals, including Pugs. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and heart damage in large quantities. As a result, even small amounts of chocolate can cause poisoning. Grapes and raisins: Grapes and raisins contain tartaric acid , which causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and kidney failure among Pugs. Unfortunately, even one whole grape can cause irreversible damage and death in small breeds like Pugs. Macadamia nuts and walnuts: While the exact reason why they are poisonous is unknown, it is best to avoid giving them to your Pugs entirely. In Pugs, macadamia and walnuts can cause diarrhea, weakness, breathing problems, and pancreatitis. Onion, garlic, leeks, and chives: All these vegetables contain N-propyl disulfide , which damages the oxygen-carrying substances in red blood cells. Ingestion of these vegetables can eventually lead to hemolytic anemia. Xylitol: In Pugs, xylitol can cause a rapid release of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia, lethargy, collapse, and seizures. It is frequently found in gums, candies, syrups, and toothpaste. Pugs should avoid the foods listed above at all costs. Food with high sugar content: If your Pug consumes too much sugar, it is more likely to develop health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay. Food with high sugar content can also give Pugs an upset stomach. Salty food: Just like sugar, too much salt can cause health problems in Pugs. If left unchecked, it has the potential to poison your Pug. Excessive salt consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and kidney failure. Milk and dairy products: Because the majority of Pugs are lactose intolerant , dairy products can make them sick. They will have digestive problems because they are unable to break down lactose. This causes gastrointestinal blockage and death if left unattended. If you think your Pug has accidentally ingested any of the aforementioned foods, bring your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic for appropriate treatment. Transitioning to a new brand or type of food may be beneficial to their well-being and development. For most dogs, transitioning to new dog food can be difficult. Fortunately, Pugs are not born picky eaters, so changing their diet will be easier. The ideal transition for Pugs should be gradual changes spread over three weeks. Do this until they are comfortable with the new food. Below is a more detailed breakdown of how to transition your Pug to a new food: Days. Final Thoughts Due to their love of food, pugs would do anything for you as long as you will feed them in return. But the tragic aspect of the tale is that pugs gain weight fast, just like any other dog. You have to pay special attention to the way you feed your dog. The pug is a little dog, so even one more pound would change how it looks. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my personal experience working for a veterinarian. Pug Nutritional Requirements Pugs are small sized dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog. The small size of a Pug will require adequate and quality nutrients to maintain its body weight and strong bones to support its massive frame. Anything short of this, can result in many health problems and prevent your dog from reaching its peak size. Their fat source can be from fish oil or vegetables. Their source of fiber can come from wholesome healthy vegetables like cabbages, carrots, sprouts, and broccoli. Pug puppies are incredibly energetic and have a high metabolism. They grow very fast and will require quality nutrients to keep up. They require protein for building healthy muscles and minerals for strong bones; carbohydrates for energy; and fats for maintaining a healthy fur. At this stage, Pug are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage as Pugs are prone to obesity and will develop health complications. Senior Pugs will need more minerals and vitamins in their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy. Factors Affecting The Feeding of A Pug Some factors will affect the diet of your Pug, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions. Size consideration The average length of a Pug for males is 30—36 cm, and for females, it is 25—30 cm from the soles of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a male Pug is kg and that of a female is kg. Male Pugs are generally bigger than female Pugs, which means that the male will require a larger intake of calories than the female to stay healthy and strong. Age consideration Pug puppies will require more calories during their growing stage due to their high metabolic rate. They need to be fed a lot if you want them to grow into strong, healthy dogs. Adult Pugs should not be fed more often than puppy Pug. Your senior Pug will be less active and require fewer calories than when they were younger. Doing otherwise might lead to obesity and other serious health problems. Activity Level Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your Pug away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities. Health Consideration Pugs are prone to certain health conditions , which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues. These health problems could be avoided or mitigated by eating or avoiding certain foods from the start, rather than treating them as they arise. It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your Pug sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses. Pug Feeding Quantity Your Pug, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need to meet their nutritional requirements. On average, feed your Pug puppy 0. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. How Much To Feed a Pug Puppy For your puppy and adolescent Pug to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat. A Pug puppy should be given 0. The feeding requirement of your Pug puppy is given in detail in the charts below: Age. Aug 25, Share An important part of taking good care of your Pug puppy is making sure that they are properly fed and that they get all the nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and if your Pug is like most, they seem to like anything that they are fed. Luckily, there are many commercial foods available on the market. There is also the raw doggy food diet that seems to keep getting more popular as time goes on. But what kind of dog food is right for your Pug? How much should you be feeding them? What will the dog not eat? Are there special considerations for a senior Pug? The answers to these questions and more can be found in our Pug feeding guide below. What you do decide to feed your pooch should be based on the quality of the food, no matter the type, and your personal feeding preferences. Here is what can be on the table for your Pug. Image credit: PxHere Commercial Dry Food Kibble Commonly referred to as kibble, commercial dry dog food is the most common and widely available option on the market. Manufacturers of this type of food work hard to balance the ingredients and create a completely balanced nutritional profile for dogs like your Pug. In fact, some brands, like Royal Canin, offer puppy and adult foods made just for Pugs. Whether you choose a dry dog food made just for Pugs or one made for dogs in general, it should include real meat or animal meal as one of the first ingredients on the list. The upside to commercial dry dog food is that it is affordable and easy to administer. It is also typically easy to store for the long term without worrying about it spoiling. The downside is that it tends to be dehydrating, so water should be available to your Pug throughout the day. Commercial Wet Food Commercially made wet dog food tends to be more nutrient-dense than dry food because it contains fresher ingredients and usually has fewer grains, if any at all. Most wet foods have real whole meat or seafood and broth as the first ingredients. Sometimes, veggies are thrown in for good measure, but many are meat-centric to meet the high protein needs of your growing Pug. Wet food is not as easy to store as dry food is, because it must be refrigerated after being opened. However, Pugs tend to enjoy the flavor and texture of wet food more than dry. Wet food is also a little more expensive than dry food, especially when trying to feed Pugs that are full-grown and in their prime. Raw Food A raw food diet is said to result in better digestion, a healthier coat and immune system , optimal dental health, and less susceptibility to allergies among other things. A raw food diet typically consists of quality meat, a source of calcium such as bones , animal organs, and a lower fat count than most commercial foods offer. Feeding your Pug a raw food diet will take commitment and a strong understanding of the nutrition that they need. This type of diet can be expensive and can require storage space in the fridge and freezer. It is recommended that you consult with a veterinarian to put together a complete meal plan to follow if you choose to go this route. It is a freeze-dried raw food supplement that is delicious and nutritious. The process requires about a day of cooking in the kitchen, but the time that you spend in your kitchen should yield enough food for your pooch to eat all week long. You will just have to store the leftovers in the fridge each day until the entire batch has been offered and consumed. Homemade dog food usually consists of whole meat like chicken, eggs, fish oil or flaxseed, brown or white rice, possibly vegetables like carrots and peas , and maybe even supplements of some kind. It depends on what kind of recipe you decide to follow. Any recipe that you consider feeding your dog should be approved by your veterinarian first. But you can quickly tell whether your pooch is being underfed or overfed by checking out their physique every day. If your dog is underfed for too long, you could notice signs like lethargy and an unwillingness to interact with family members. If your dog is overfed, they may succumb to problems like diabetes. If you find that your dog is getting underweight, start feeding them up to an extra cup of food each day. Reduce the amount by up to a cup if your dog is getting pudgy and out of shape. To help avoid under and overfeeding your dog, follow the feeding directions on the packaging of any commercial food you buy for them. If you decide to go the raw or homemade food route, your veterinarian can provide you with a feeding guide. You are free to use this image, but please give credit back to Hepper. Extra immune support is also typically present in puppy food. Once Pugs become adults, they are not as active as when they were pups, and they are not growing at exponential rates, if at all. Therefore, they need food with less protein than what puppies get. Pugs can typically switch to adult dog food between the ages of 9 and 12 months because much of their growth will be complete at this time. The tricky part is the actual process of switching your pooch from puppy to adult dog food. If not done slowly and intentionally, switching to a new food can cause digestion issues for your dog that could create messes around the house. Lethargy and nausea may follow. Finally, offer only adult food. There are many reasons why your Pug might seem like they do not have an appetite. The first thing to consider is whether you are overfeeding them. If your pooch does not want to eat their last meal of the day, they could simply be full and satisfied. However, other issues could lead to a pup not eating such as: Dental Problems. If your Pug has a toothache or some other kind of dental problem, they may not be comfortable eating. Check for red gums, bleeding, and tenderness throughout the mouth. If something unusual is detected, consult your veterinarian immediately for guidance. Recent Vaccinations. Vaccines can cause side effects, including a lack of appetite. So, if your Pug does not seem to want to eat for a day or two after getting vaccinated, this is normal. Uncomfortable Surroundings. If your pooch goes on an adventure with you and is expected to eat their meal in a situation that is not familiar to them, they may pass on the meal altogether in favor of waiting until they get to what they feel is a safe space to eat. Even if your dog seems fine in every other way, a lack of wanting to eat could mean an illness of some kind is brewing. If you cannot find any other reason for a lack of appetite, you should see your vet as soon as possible. Adult Pugs will generally eat about a cup of dry commercial dog food each day or the equivalent, although certain differences might scale this amount up or down as time goes on. Here are the most important factors to consider. Active vs. Sedentary More active dogs will require more food than those that tend to be sedentary. If your pooch takes multiple walks every day, spends a great deal of time playing with kids throughout the day, or enjoys outdoor time with family members each afternoon, chances are that your dog will need a little more food than the average pooch. If your pooch takes only one short walk each day and spends most of their time lounging around the house, chances are that they should be fed as sedentary dogs. Spayed vs. Neutered Sometimes, dogs that are not spayed or neutered eat more than the average pooch. This is because they tend to be more active and excitable, which results in the need for more calories to support their energy needs. Pregnancy Pregnant Pugs need up to twice the amount of food that an adult dog would need. Instead of feeding your pregnant dog puppy or adult food, consider a food designed for all life stages that indicates its suitability for pregnancy. This type of food offers more protein and fat than adult food to support the extra growth they go through, but not as much as puppy food, which could make them overweight after the birth. What Foods Are Bad for Pugs? Image By: Momentmal, Pixabay There are a few foods that you should never feed your Pug to ensure their good health and to avoid serious problems like poisoning and even death. Here are a few food items that should be avoided at all costs: Alcohol. And the total number of dogs all breeds in the reports are .So while this is something that should be monitored and many more studies need to be done, it's important to keep in mind that this is a very small number compared to the estimated 77 million dogs in the U. The latest update is that there are no recalls at this moment that are linked to this issue. The Best Food for Pug Puppies and Adults What to Avoid: Quite a few ingredients that are found in a lot of dog food brands can be severely detrimental to a Pug and cause everything from allergic reactions itching, rashes, wheezing, running eyes, etc. Corn which includes as corn germ meal, corn gluten meal, and corn bran High grain counts which includes high levels of wheat, oats, barley, and other cereal grains which may be listed as hominy feed. Rice can be an exception; with rice, the hull, bran layer, and cereal germ is removed and for this reason, rice is often tolerated very well. By-products which are animal body parts deemed unfit for human consumption and can include brain, lungs, undeveloped eggs, and more. Generic meats or oils which can legally include roadkill and deceased zoo animals. What to Look For: All-natural preservatives; there are vitamin blends that work very well to preserve dog food and this often will show as mixed tocopherols. Natural flavoring Protein will come from wholesome animal sources including chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, bison, and beef. There will be no by-products or generic meats. If you offer grains, gluten-free grains are usually best. No other fillers or controversial additives. Helpful extras such as glucosamine and chondroitin beneficial for joint health , omega-3, 6 for healthy skin and coat , probiotics for immune health and antioxidants to help prevent disease. Some of the best food for Pugs includes: Best Formulas with Grains: 1. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. The base of this kibble is turkey and oatmeal which is easy on the stomach for most Pugs. There is also salmon, brown rice, peas, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples. There are excellent levels of a wide-range of vitamins and minerals, good levels of omega-3 and 6, and glucosamine and chondroitin which are extremely beneficial joint supplements for Pugs. This is made in the US. Note that this offers puppy and adult formulas as well as 'healthy weight' for Pugs that need to lose a few pounds, and a senior formula. This line of Halo offers holistic recipes. This one has non-GMO produce and meats that are antibiotic-free and hormone-free with factory-free farming. The grains in this are oatmeal and pearled barley which are generally known for being well-tolerated. This is sized ideally for Pugs, and has no artificial additives, by-products, or corn. And, this is made in the US. Best Grain-free Formulas: 1. This is one of the best grain-free kibbles for Pugs; it's really top-of-the-line. The base is chicken and turkey. There is a wide selection of vegetables and fruits compared to some other brands spinach, broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, apples and blueberries. Levels of omega fatty acids are ideal, via both salmon oil and flaxseed. And, there are good levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which as mentioned earlier are important for joint health. There is no corn, wheat, by-products, fillers, or artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives and this is made in the USA. This is another excellent choice that is formulated for dogs under 70 lbs. There are several great bases including lamb, beef, chicken, and salmon. There are zero chemical preservatives and no artificial ingredients. Added extras are healthy antioxidants, omega-3 and 6, and the very important glucosamine and chondroitin which are very beneficial for breeds like the Pug that are prone to joint and hip issues. This is a holistic kibble that offers non-GMO veggies and fruits and sustainably-sourced wild-caught fish and is ideal for Pugs that are carrying a few extra pounds. The base is salmon and whitefish, so most dogs love the taste. There are no chemical preservatives, corn, by-products, coloring, or fillers. Switching a Pug onto a Different Food If you just got a new Pug puppy, you may want to feed your little guy or gal something different than what was being given. And in many instances, this will be a good idea. The sooner you start your pup on a superior food that you've chosen yourself, the better. If you have an adult Pug, you may decide to switch foods due to an intolerance to certain ingredients some dogs do best with certain proteins like beef as opposed to chicken or vice-versa or maybe you realized that your Pug was not on the brand and you want to make a change. No matter the circumstances, if at all possible, it is best to change to a new brand of dog food in a gradual way because a quick switch can disrupt the digestive system. The goal should be a incremental change over the course of 3 weeks. Home Cooking Owners decide to home cook for their dogs for a variety of reasons: It can be less expensive; though, this depends quite a bit on what you buy and if you can purchase ingredients in bulk. It may be done to fully avoid preservatives, additives, by-products and other subpar ingredients; you know exactly what you are putting in. This can help avoid an intolerance or allergic reaction to an unknown ingredient. It is very flexible and adjustable. It can be a good choice for picky eaters. Other sources include beans such as lima beans, kidney beans, and butter beans must be cooked. Vegetables - This includes peas, carrots, spinach, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, and butternut squash. You can also offer asparagus, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli in moderation since these foods can cause gas, Pumpkin in moderation is fine but typically reserved to help ease upset stomach issues. Fruits - This includes blueberries, raspberries both are low calorie, high in antioxidants, and water-packed , strawberries, huckleberries, banana, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mango, kiwi, pear, peaches no pit , plums no pit , nectarines no pit , fresh pineapple, and apple no core, no seeds. Additional - This includes oatmeal plain , white or brown rice if no intolerance , quinoa, potato, sweet potato, cottage cheese, plain whole white yogurt, and eggs most dogs do best with scrambled eggs vs. Read more about home cooking for a Pug. Snacks and Treats We've covered the frequency of giving snacks and treats, but let's recap. Dry snacks, meant to satiate a dog in between meals should be given 3 to 4 times per day. And moist treats, meant to reward training and reinforce good behavior, should be given as needed. Now, the question remains on what to offer. All snacks and treats should be held to the same high standards that you have in place for your Pug's meals, meaning no synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, soy, corn, by-products, high wheat levels, or generic meats. If your Pug's calorie intake needs to be carefully watched due to issues with weight gain, there will also be a need to opt for some low-calorie treats. And, to see more options, including moist treats for giving reward, continue on to the best snacks and treats for Pugs. After 2 to 3 days, if the problem has resolved, adding in additional ingredients can be done. Any diarrhea lasing longer than 3 days or moderate to severe vomiting lasting more than 12 hours should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian. Water Different elements will dictate just how much water a Pug dog requires , though a general rule of thumb is that each day, dogs need to drink about 1 ounce for each 1 pound. Offer bottled spring water or use a filter device like the. Related Articles: When a Pug is a Picky Eater - If you find yourself constantly scrambling to find foods that your Pug likes and their taste buds seem to change weekly, this will help you get things back on track. When a Pug is Always Hungry - If your Pug's appetite is ferocious and nothing seems to satisfy, these issues may be at the root of the problem. When a Pug Won't Eat - If your Pug puppy or dog refuses to eat or getting them to eat feels like a chore, these tips will help. How to Stop a Pug from Begging - If your Pug wants your food and is relentless about getting it, these guidelines will help stop this sort of behavior. Top 10 Pug Dog Eating Problems - A roundup of the most common eating-related issues seen with this breed and exact steps to resolve them. Do you have your book? All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. For a more detailed growth milestone description, check out our sections below to see how and when you should switch your pug puppy from nursing to solid food. This case or scenario usually happens if the litter is too large and the mother is not healthy enough to supply milk to all of them. It also happens when some members of the litter overpower the other, causing some puppies to be thinner. The third week is usually the best time to start training your puppy with solid food. Again, talk to your vet if your puppy is already capable of handling such food before you start, or you can do a taste test. Most pet owners mix water and puppy food so that the pug puppy will easily digest it. Keep in mind to not let the food go bad and remove it from their cage or quarters after 20 minutes of not being eaten to avoid bacterial contamination. However, you should be mindful of the puppy food that you put in. Ask for advice from your vet, especially if your pug puppy experiences food allergies. However, this will vary depending on when you start feeding your puppy with solid food. The nursing amount during this period will be very minimal. Half a cup of food is still the recommended daily amount for your pug puppy. However, you have the option to extend the number of feedings up to 4 per day. This is especially if your puppy gets hungry more often due to growth spurts. Feel free to supplement their daily food if you see them even more active than the usual pugs. Always make their food healthy as much as possible by providing plenty amounts of protein and little to no artificial flavorings and fillers. This is also the time when your puppy can be re-homed or adopted. They should be fully weaned by 8 weeks of age. However, if you will be the one to adopt, listen carefully so that you know what to feed your puppy. It helps to create a checklist and written schedule so that your puppy feeds properly and with the same type of food that the breeder gave to them. If you have to switch to a different brand of food due to unavailability or other reasons, make sure to address it first and ask for a counterpart. Be wary that food changes should be done over days. This includes doing a portion ratio of for the new food to the old food, gradually increasing the new food after every few days. However, if you are feeding wet food, make it 3 times a day instead, and it should be four ounces in total. Again, consult our puppy chart above or talk to your vet about changes in their weight to know if they are underfed or overweight. Treats should be counted in their daily calories and should be limited to avoid weight issues. Recommended Food Pugs generally need a combination of healthy ingredients to manage their weight. Dry food or kibble is typically the best choice for pug owners who live in a place near the shorelines where food can go bad quickly. If you have kibble that is rich in omega fatty acids, it will help your coat and skin to stay healthy, as well as to maintain a healthy tummy and keep them away from most canine illnesses. Protein-rich wet food If you want to feed your pug puppy wet or canned food, make sure it has fewer preservatives and more nutrients and protein. Wet or canned food is also better for puppies that need hydration. Carrots and similar vegetables Pug puppies work best with carrots not just because of their vitamin A content but also their crunchiness. Glucosamine-rich foods Look for glucosamine foods such as those with fish and chicken, as well as seafood. Pug puppies can be prone to joint problems if not taken care of concerning their diet. Glucosamine and chondroitin can help fight the onset of hip dysplasia. Like chocolate, caffeine is also not suitable for canines due to its toxicity to their digestive system. They will only cause your pug pup to become obese if they take too much of it. Instead, stick to whole meat and protein sources. Foods with too much fat This includes fats that come from various meat sources. Instead, do it in weeks or so. Build up their daily dish with a ratio of adult and puppy food. Gradually decrease the old puppy food while increasing the adult food, until only the adult food is left. You might ask: why should I do the transition slowly? Their tummies might get shocked if you feed them with a different kind of food right away, so get them used to a little bit of the new food first. What should I do if my pug puppy refused to eat? A possible problem with your pug pup could be a toothache or something related to their dental health. Have them check with their vet to see if they have something wrong with their teeth or gums. Aside from that, if they have recently moved from one home to another, they could also feel stressed and overwhelmed if they are in a new environment. This causes them to not eat at all or only eat a few bites of the food. Moreover, getting vaccinated could also be a possible cause of the loss of appetite. Raw feeding a Pug puppy Raw food is okay to be fed to your pug puppy. However, it must be done with care because too much or too little amount of certain foods will lead to a lack of nutrients that they need. For example, you might give too much protein but not much calcium and other vitamins to your puppy. Another possible challenge with raw food is the time for preparation. If you are a very busy person, raw feeding might not be your forte since it requires shopping for the right ingredients and calculating the correct amount of food nutrients for your puppy. Conclusion As a whole, pug puppies should be fed with care, especially with watching their calorie intake and meal portions. We hope this guide helped you in feeding your pug puppy properly! This feeding routine should be followed from 8 weeks to 6 months old. But how much food should that be exactly in each feeding session. How many cups of food should I feed my Pug puppy and adults? Before you check out this Pug feeding chart below, you may just want a quick reference to how many cups of food you need to feed a Pug. The common guidelines say you should feed a Pug puppy of 8 to 20 weeks different cup sizes depending on their weight and age. You can see the cup amounts in the chart here: Puppy feeding amounts This Pug puppy feeding chart explains just how many cups of food you should give them and the regularity. It will be 3 times a day, then twice a day as they get older. As your Pug ages, the number of cups of food you need to him or her will change, as will the regularity. Take a look at the guidance in the graphic below. Adult feeding amounts This is feeding chart for adult Pugs explaining how many cups and how often in the day the feeding times should be. The Pug feeding charts you see above have been scanned from the Royal Canin brand of dog food. This is a very trusted brand, and you will find it being sold in vets all over the world. It contains all the nutrients your Pug puppy will need and is great for starting out with and into adult ages. Almost every time, this happens by the age of 3 weeks; and puppies should not leave their mother until at least 8 weeks of age. They will be like eating machines at this age because they have so much energy to burn. You could also try to sit your Pug down on some scales, but good luck with trying to make them sit still. Instead you can weigh yourself if you have accurate scales, and then get someone to pass you your Pug puppy to see what the difference is. The age of your Pug You might find it hard to get your Pug used to commercial dry food at first. The commercial puppy food should be high enough in calories and nutrients to make up for what they used to get from their mother. In terms of adjusting for their ages, Pug puppies of 8 to 12 weeks old can have one and half cups of food each day, split into 3 servings. By the ages of 6 to 9 months, Pug puppies will be in a regular eating routine where they drop to two meals a day — and this is how it will stay as adults. The dangers of over-feeding Some Pug owners might decide to go to 4 meals a day, but still with the same amount of food. This is because tinier Pugs might find the half a cup 3 times daily, too much of a large meal. Overfeeding is something to keep a strict eye on. If you feed your Pug puppy too much, he could get gastric dilatation-volvulus see definition on ACVS. This is the medical term for a twisted gut and can actually be fatal. Feeding more senior Pugs As Pugs get older, they will start to get less active. With reduced levels of energy comes the need for a lower calorie intake. But only if they are reducing their exercise due to age. With an older Pug you might start to see them putting on weight. If you do see weight gain, start to pull back on the portion sizes. Sometimes your vet may even recommend you go to a higher frequency of daily meals albeit smaller portions , almost like they are puppies again. With senior dogs this can help with weaker stomachs. Overweight or underweight? The average Pug puppy will weigh between 2 and 4 pounds at 8 weeks. These are healthy weight ranges. If you do have a Pug puppy who is clearly underweight, start to add a little bit more food to each of the daily meals until they come back into the health weight range. With overweight Pugs you do the exact opposite but mix more exercise into their daily routines as well. Handy Hint: If your Pug is losing or gaining weight and how much food they eat makes no difference, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. Health problems related to Pug feeding Not all dogs are the same, and all the guidance on this page is very generic towards how much you should feed a Pug. The bottom line is that your vet will be able to properly tell you how much your Pug should eat due to their age and weight. Raw food vs. I understand why people feed their dog raw food though; they say commercial food has too many additives plus preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and proteins. Consult with your vet for a professional opinion. Pugs that eat their food far too quickly You should also monitor how quickly your Pug is eating. Puppies are used to having to compete for food, and even when they are home alone with you, they will still have an instinct to wolf their food down. This can cause indigestion and vomiting, so there are a few things you can do to slow their intake down. Use a muffin tin evenly spread the portions throughout the tin. The best dry dog foods should have a high percentage of meats and fish in. Omega-3s are healthy fats, so those will also be a good sign if listed. All of the notes and guidance are based on my own personal experience of raising puppies, with exception to the feeding schedule which is from the Canin dog food brand. However, the Canin Pug feeding charts you see, are exactly how I have fed my puppies and adult dogs. Once your dog reaches adulthood, the best times to feed your Pug will be breakfast and dinner times. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Pug will stay at healthy as our dogs have! You might also like… If you have found this useful and are new to Pug ownership, you might find these other handy guides useful during the puppy phase:. But the sad part of the story is that just like any other dog, pugs get obese very quickly. As they say, you become what you eat. Since the pug is a tiny dog, even one extra pound will affect its appearance. For this reason, it becomes important to keep a check on what your pug is eating. The present article talks about the feeding guidelines of this adorable dog: How much is too much? It is very important to feed your dog the correct amount of food to ensure that the pug is getting enough calories for proper growth. Any deviation from the right amount will led to health problems in a pug. Age, activity, metabolism and build of a dog are the major factors on which the amount of food which should be given to a dog depends. Also, the type of food you are giving to a dog is another important factor. If you are feeding home cooked food to one pug and commercial dog food to another dog with same age, build and activity level, it is not necessary that both of them will consume the same amount. As a general rule of thumb, a puppy pug should be given 1 ounce of food per one pound of body weight. For adult pugs, the amount is halved. What about calories? A pug puppy which is in his growth phase requires more calories than adult and senior pugs. On an average, a puppy requires 50 calories per pound of their body weight while an adult pug requires 40 calories per pound of their body weight. Senior pugs need fewer calories because of slow metabolism and less activity level. Free feeding is not recommended to the pug. The following table illustrates the right feeding regime and meal frequency for pugs: Age Amount of food given at one time No.
Caring for your Pug Pugs can be highly entertaining dogs due to their big personalities and clownish nature. They generally do well in family environments where they have lots of company all of the time as they love to spend time with everybody. Pugs and barking As with any dog, your Pug is likely to make noise in one form or another. How much your dog barks will be down to them as an individual. Training and socialisation When it comes to training Pugs, although they are a clever breed they can also be very strong willed. Training needs to be ongoing and firm but fair. You can start positive, reward-based training from day one, whether you get your Pug old or young. Exercise Pugs can be prone to gaining weight that can make breathing problems worse, so it is important to keep them active and avoid any weight gain. Your Pug will need up to an hour of exercise a day. This should include shorter walks, with extra playtime and lots of brain-stimulating activities. Several shorter walks throughout the day can help to stop them from becoming too tired or overheated, which is a great way to keep them active throughout the day. Keep a close eye on your Pug as they can tire easily due to their difficulties getting enough oxygen. As soon as you start to notice them struggling to breathe, stop and make sure they get enough of a rest. You will also need to avoid exercising them in the heat as this can cause even more problems since they can be at higher risk of heatstroke. Grooming Even though their coats are short, Pugs can still shed loads. Luckily, they tend to love being groomed as it means a lot of attention all on them. Pay close attention to the folds in their skin, as these are the perfect breeding ground for bacterial and fungal infections if left damp. You can teach your Pug from an early age to love tooth brushing and nail clipping so you can keep those pearly whites and paws in great condition. Pugs and children Pugs adore company and really love people of all ages. They often get on well with children, especially if the Pug loves to play. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and play with dogs with care and kindness, to prevent any issues. Always supervise children and vulnerable people with your Pug and make sure you can recognise the signs of unhappiness or anxiety in your dog to help avoid any conflicts. Pugs and other pets Pugs are known for getting along well with other pets and dogs. Introductions still need to be done carefully, though, just in case. Good, kind training will also help them become well-rounded dogs that keep calm in new situations. Your vet or vet nurse will be able to tell you how much your dog should be eating. If you give your dog an occasional treat or use treats for training, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily food allowance. You should try to feed your dog at the same time every day to get them into a routine. Remember to leave a gap after eating and before exercising. Beware unusually cheap puppies as they could come from a puppy farm. These breeders must do extra health tests and meet higher standards for breeding. See our advice on what you need to know about flat faced pets and how to choose a healthier pedigree pet. Set-up costs Puppy vaccines — if you rescue a dog, some centres will vaccinate them for you. Remember that ongoing booster vaccinations will be needed to continue their immunity. Neutering — you should usually arrange for your dog to be neutered at around six months old, though your vet will be able to advise you exactly when is best. Check prices at your local practice as these will depend on your vet and where you live. Some rescue centres will have already neutered the dogs they rehome where appropriate. Equipment — including a collar and tags, lead, harness, dog beds, dog bowls, pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrushes, grooming brushes and toys. Keep in mind that all these will need to be replaced with wear or if your dog outgrows them! Ongoing costs Food. Preventive healthcare — budget for routine vet visits to help stop your dog getting ill and catching any problems early. They need annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular flea and worming treatments. Check if your vet offers a health care plan as this can help spread the cost throughout the year. Accessories — including lots of poo bags, replacing worn toys and grooming accessories, buying doggy toothpaste and any other extras they might need. Other costs Training — basic training is very important and dogs can benefit from formal classes. Some dogs may have, or develop, behavioural problems which might need professional management. Boarding — you may also need to budget for boarding or dog sitting costs if you are planning to go away from home on holiday. If you are having difficulty with veterinary costs, you can check if you are eligible for treatment at PDSA here. A group of Pugs is called a grumble! Pugs are an ancient breed, dating back to Ancient China where they were bred for Emperors. Pugs were bred to be companions, which is why they love people so much. Getting a Pug Do plenty of research before you get a Pug. Although they are loveable and friendly, they are sadly likely to get a lot of health issues more so than many other breeds. Rehoming centres There are plenty of rescue centres across the country where you may find a Pug. Breed-specific rescues specialising in Pugs are out there too. Good rescue centres should let you know of any existing health and behaviour problems. Breeders If you buy from a breeder, make sure your puppy will have been well socialised and have all necessary health checks and vaccinations. We recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured breeder as they meet higher standards. Not sure if a Pug is the right pet for you? If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Teacup Pug price So, how much are Teacup Pugs? Teacup Pug dog price varies. The factors that affect Teacup Pug price range are veterinary expenses such as cesarean section, and health screenings, just to name a few. Plus, the gender and the size of the litter may also affect the Teacup Pug puppies price. After purchasing a puppy, the expenses do not end there. The Teacup Pug cost of raising one could be higher than raising a standard-sized Pug because of the higher health risks associated with teacup dogs. Now that you are aware of how much are Teacup Pug puppies, make an extra effort to screen the breeders carefully so you can get to bring home a healthy and well-socialized Teacup Pug. Teacup Pugs for adoption Are you wondering if you can get Teacup Pugs for free? Most likely not, but you can probably get Teacup Pugs at a lower price in Teacup Pugs for adoption near me. Check out these two 2 places that may have Teacup Pug puppies for adoption: Pugs Home pugshome. Pug Rescue of Austin austinpugrescue. Places to find Teacup Pug puppies for sale Finding Teacup Pug puppies come with some difficulties because of the limited number of breeders who produce these tiny versions of regular-sized Pug. Nevertheless, go ahead and contact the breeders below for Teacup Pug puppies. The puppies come with health certificates and registration papers. Feel free to ask if they have Teacup Pup puppies coming soon. Many scam sites will play on your heartbreak of losing a previous canine companion as a way to get you to pay before even seeing the puppy. If the website does not look legitimate, make sure to do a little bit more research and read the reviews. This will save you a lot of time, money, and hassle. They are located in southern Minnesota, sixty minutes from the Twin Cities. They have an Instagram account for more photos. Hopefully, they have Teacup Pugs for sale. Teacup Pug puppies for sale in Illinois Sharp Pugs midwestpugs. Their Pugs are raised in loving families, have exceptional personalities, and are healthy. Teacup Pug puppies for sale in Virginia One of the responsible Pug breeders in Virginia who takes pride in the selection process of healthy parents is Colebrook Push Pugs colebrookposhpugs. Finding healthy Teacup Pugs for sale Would you rather look for an adult Teacup Pugs sale in your neck of the woods? You can inquire when they have another Teacup black Pugs for sale again. Have you tried Posh Pocket Pups poshpocketpups. The breeder offers a money-back guarantee for sickly Pugs. The breeder is a member of Bred with H. Kloud 9 Boxers and Pugs kloud9boxers. The breeder is a Minnesota licensed dog breeder. Try Andi Pugs andipugs. They currently have a Teacup Pug available. In the same manner, try Sally Teacup Pugs Paradise sallyteacuppugs. Teacup Pug mix These days, a lot of teacup-sized dogs are getting the attention of many dog lovers because they are easier to tag along and have minimal food cost. This is why a growing number of breeders are crossing Teacup Pug mix with other purebred dogs to produce smaller versions that will look like puppies forever. Attention to grooming is necessary to control shedding. Teacup Puggle puppies are good with kids and are fairly easy to train. Pug and Teacup Yorkie mix Pug Teacup Yorkie mix is also referred to as Pugshire is an affectionate and moderately active dog breed. A Teacup Chihuahua Pug is affectionate and a good family dog. Small these dogs may be, the Teacup Chihuahua Pug mix is on the yappy side. Therefore, she can alert her owners of incoming persons. This is an intelligent dog but can also show some stubbornness streaks. Pros Gets along well with kids. Gets along well with other pets. Prone to injuries. Does not need a lot of exercises.
golden retriever puppy first heat cycle - Reset to default 32 Your puppies energy levels your described are what I would be expected from a 3-month-old. I would recommend exercising your puppy less at this stage. Don't forget your puppy is still an infant and like you said he has a lot of growing to do! Sleep is important for the growth of your pup. Exercise I'm sure if you look around you may find different rules for exercise. I have always followed the rule of 5 minutes per month for a growing puppy at a time can be multiple times per day. Longer than this can be overly demanding on your puppy and some vets believe could stunt the growth and create joint problems for larger breeds. Being part collie he will need plenty of exercises later - but for now, a lot of his energy should be growing big and healthy. Personally, I have a 9-month old collie x GSP. He was very similar to your dog at 3 months when he would urgently need a rest after doing any exercise or training. From about months he had more energy than he knew what to do with! He now gets 2x 45 min walks a day, is 30 kilos and still growing! Of course, if you are worried about any change in the behaviour of your pet - you know them the best, and it is always safest to use your own discretion when seeking professional help. Some of these sources could be improved - I will try and update when I have the chance. If your dog suddenly started to act lazy when you began to feed them something different, then this can definitely be something to consider. German Shepherds need high-calorie and high-protein meals to provide energy. Too many empty carbohydrates or excess fat can lead to sluggishness and laziness. Is my German Shepherd just bored? German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs who need a lot of mental stimulation to remain happy. If you never take your dog out to play or on walks, or if you never provide ways for them to exercise their brain, then this boredom can manifest in the form of lethargy. Your dog will lay around all day, acting listless and uninterested in the world around them. Sometimes, this can also lead to hyperactivity whenever you do decide to take your German Shepherd for a walk or play session. Do not let this scare you out of exercising your dog! With more exercise, they will actually become more calm and well-behaved. Is my German Shepherd just out of shape? This goes hand in hand with the above section on boredom. If your German Shepherd never gets the opportunity to exercise, then they are probably sorely out of shape. This can lead to laziness as they will begin to find exercise unpleasant. However, this is very unhealthy for your German Shepherd, and you should make every effort to get them back into shape as soon as possible. Does laziness mean my German Shepherd is sick? It is entirely possible that they are not lazy, but rather not feeling well. Make sure to check your dog over for any physical injuries, especially on their paws and legs. In addition, watch out for any other changes in behavior besides laziness. Is your dog whining or crying? Have they become suddenly aggressive or developed a tendency to snap at you when certain parts of their body are touched? These are all signs that can point to sickness or injury. If you are worried that your German Shepherd is injured or ill, make sure to seek professional veterinary advice as soon as possible. How can I make sure my German Shepherd gets the proper exercise? There are many different ways that you can physical exercise your German Shepherd. These include walks, runs, playtime, or even practicing specific tasks. German Shepherds are working dogs who love to be given jobs to do. You can also take your German Shepherd running, walking, or hiking with you. Getting out into the outdoors is a great way to both physically exercise your dog and provide mental stimulation at the same time. It is important to remember that mental stimulation is just as crucial for your German Shepherd as physical exercise, and without proper mental stimulation, they can easily become bored and lazy. How much physical exercise does a German Shepherd need? German Shepherds need quite a lot of physical exercise. The average one will need at least an hour and a half per day, though this can be broken up into multiple walks, runs, or play sessions. What is mental stimulation? This is especially important with highly intelligent dogs such as German Shepherds, as they will be constantly looking for things to test their brains. If they do not show their boredom in the form of laziness, they may become destructive and damage things around the house in an effort to occupy themselves. Just like humans find such activities enjoyable, dogs need them to be happy. Keep reading to discover a few different ways that you can provide your German Shepherd with sufficient mental stimulation. How can I give my German Shepherd mental stimulation? There are many different things you can do to provide your German Shepherd with mental stimulation. Here are a few ideas: Puzzle toys Training sessions Specific jobs Puzzle toys and Kong treats are both excellent choices when it comes to mental stimulation. They are both toys where you put a treat in the center and your dog must work to get the treat out. With puzzle toys especially, your dog has to really think to figure out how to get the treat out from the center. With Kong toys, your dog will be slowed down significantly instead of simply devouring the treat. Training sessions and specific jobs are both additional ways that you can provide your dog with mental stimulation. Teaching your dog new tricks forces them to use their brains to figure out how to interpret the commands that you are asking of them. Specific jobs fall into the same category because it involves training. You can train your dog to do specific tasks so that they feel important and useful. This is crucial for a working dog such as a German Shepherd. Are German Shepherds lazy? Ultimately, every dog is different. If you have run through all of the above scenarios and nothing is out of the ordinary for your pup, then it is possible that your dog simply does not enjoy exercising. In fact, this may be why you are here today asking this very question. However, it is important to remember that German Shepherds need a lot of exercises to remain healthy. In fact, a dog who does not have enough opportunities to exercise can easily become unhealthy and out of shape, leading to the laziness described above. Make sure that you are giving your dog the opportunity to get the recommended hour and a half of exercise per day, even if your dog does not seem to want to. Is my lazy German Shepherd normal? Again, every dog is different. If your German Shepherd simply does not like exercising, it could very well be perfectly normal. However, there is also the chance that it is abnormal. For example, your German Shepherd could be depressed or suffering from anxiety related to leaving the house. If you are concerned that either of these factors may apply to your dog, it is important to seek a professional veterinary opinion. Your vet may suggest medication or some other solutions to make sure that your dog is as happy and healthy as can be. Conclusion Are German Shepherds lazy? In general, German Shepherds are very active and energetic working dogs. If you have a German Shepherd who prefers to lounge on the couch all day to exercise, it may well be normal—or it may be a symptom of an underlying cause, such as an unhealthy diet, low fitness level, or even illness or injury. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why it might be lazy and the signs to look for. This would be more likely if it suddenly started to become lazy when you started feeding it something different or you fed it more or less than usual. You can take a look here to see everything that you need to know about what you should be feeding your German Shepherd puppy. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. You can find dog food specifically designed for German Shepherd puppies on Chewy here. It has depression Dogs can get depression, like humans do, and it could be the reason why your German Shepherd puppy has been acting lazy. This would be more likely if it has not always been so lazy. It would also be more likely if it suddenly became lazy after something happened such as if it lost a friend, you moved home or a family member moved away. It is naturally calm It might be the case that it is naturally a calm dog. This would be more likely if it does not act unusually in other ways as well and if it has always been calm. It would also be more likely if it does show signs of getting excited sometimes such as when it sees a squirrel. Related post: How to tell if your German Shepherd loves you Illness The cause could be that it is ill and it has less energy than normal because of it or it is causing it to feel less energetic. It could also be that an injury is causing your German Shepherd puppy to be less active. This would be more likely if it started being less active suddenly and if it started after it ate or did something that might have caused it to get ill or injured. It would also be more likely if it has been acting differently in other ways as well such as if it has been crying or if it has become slightly snappy or aggressive. If you think that illness or injury might be causing it then it would be worthwhile for you to see what a vet has to say about it. Heat Being too hot can also cause your German Shepherd puppy to start acting lazy. This would be more likely if it started to act lazy when it started getting hot outside and if it tends to become more active in the mornings and evenings when it is cooler. If it is hot outside then be sure to give it access to shade, water and a cool area. Generally, it is recommended that a German Shepherd get at least an hour of exercise per day. However, it is also recommended to limit the amount of exercise for German Shepherd puppies to 5 minutes per day for every month of age. So, a 4 month old puppy would get 20 minutes of exercise daily. This is because the exercise could damage their rapidly growing joints. However, this is a debated topic so it would help to consult with your vet on how much exercise your German Shepherd puppy is ready for. Other ways to stimulate it would be to train it or to give it toys to play with. Things to consider Before trying to get your German Shepherd puppy to be less lazy it would help to have a good understanding of what is causing it to be lazy. Some things that you can consider are mentioned below. If it has always been lazy If your German Shepherd puppy started to be lazy suddenly then it is important that you consider what happened at around the time that it became lazy. It would also help to consider whether or not it has been acting unusually in other ways as well. If your German Shepherd puppy started to act lazy suddenly then it would normally be a sign that you should take it to the vet. When it becomes less lazy It would also help to consider the timing of when it becomes lazy. If it seems to become lazier at certain times then it could be the case that there is something causing it to happen. For example, if it gets lazy shortly after dinner then it could be that there is an issue with its diet. How to get your German Shepherd puppy to be less lazy There are a number of things that you can do to get your German Shepherd puppy to be less lazy that I will mention below. Make sure its diet is right As mentioned above, if it is not getting the nutrients that it needs in its diet, it can cause it to become less energetic. If you want to get your German Shepherd puppy to be less lazy and for it to be as healthy as possible it is important to make sure that it is eating correctly. You can look here to see what you should be feeding it. Take it to a vet Since illness or injury could be the cause of your German Shepherd puppy being lazy it would help to take it to a vet. It would also help to talk to them about the diet it is getting while you are there since they will be able to give you tailored advice. Keep it cool Since heat could be contributing to it being lazy it would help to keep your German Shepherd puppy cool by giving it access to shaded areas, lots of water and allowing it to come inside whenever it needs to. Give it toys to play with Another thing that you can do is to give it things to play with such as toys or puzzle games. You can also spend more time playing with it or training it yourself to help keep it stimulated. Give it exercise As mentioned earlier a lack of exercise could be the issue. If it is not currently getting much exercise it would help to make sure that it does by walking it, playing fetch with it or letting it swim. As was also mentioned above, it is important to take its age into consideration when deciding on how much exercise to give it. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. It becomes a little surprised when your German Shepherd act like a lazy dog, their nature is to be active and energetic most of the time. Because of their active nature, they are also the best guard dog but some of them may be lazy. The main question here arises in our is why lets them be lazy. German Shepherds are not naturally lazy but there may be factors that can let them lazy more often. They may be feeling bored, suffering from depression, sickness or not getting enough exercise. There may be some vital reasons that may force your German Shepherd to be lazy. Here are some of the reasons why your German Shepherd may be lazy: 1. Age Factor The age of your German Shepherd may one of the factors for their laziness behavior. They must be becoming old which may let them not do more physical exercise. Older German Shepherds lack physical stamina and they avoid doing more exercise. In such a case, you must ensure their mental health. Be sure that they must be happy so that they can live with their beloved ones a happy life. However, you should not force them to do more exercise that may affect their health too. Rather you can make them walk for some distance as it would be good for them. Diet Plan If your German Shepherd is lazy or not active most of the time that their diet plan is the factor because which they may be being forced not to do anything. They must not be getting a nutritional diet that allows them to be active. Being an active breed German Shepherd needs a diet with sufficient calories and protein that provide them with enough energy. Boredom Your German Shepherd may be lazy because of boredom , they may not be getting fun or getting enjoyment which may result in them in boredom. Again physical activity for German Shepherd plays a very crucial role in making them active and energetic. You should take desired steps so that your German Shepherd can easily get rid of this issue. You can provide them with some toys to play with or some other instrument which they can enjoy. Fatigue Ness Your German Shepherd may be tired which may also let them act lazy more often. Fatigue ness or tiredness in German Shepherds occurs for many reasons, they may be overexercising which can also exhaust their energy and as result, they may become lazy. The important thing your can do is follow the proper routine for your German Shepherd and avoid overexercising. You should also know that they are a very active breed and do a lot of physical activities that are also treated as some type of exercise. Overexercising your German Shepherd may also affect their hits. They may get injured and as a result, they may ignore doing physical activity further and they may become lazy. Separation Anxiety Another reason your German Shepherd is lazy is because of the issue of separation anxiety. They may be living alone for a longer time and become bored which may lead them to suffer from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety in German Shepherd is also popular when the dog owners do not spend enough time with them and leave them alone for a longer time. Leaving German Shepherd for a long time will also let them suffer from severe stress as there will also change in their behavior. Your dog will show initial signs like howling more often, excessive barking or whining, chewing unnecessarily, and others when they suffer from separation anxiety. When all these activities become excessive they will become frustrated and ultimately they will stop doing any physical activities which you may also consider a lazy German Shepherd. Depression Depression may be the other reason your German Shepherd is acting lazy. This type of issue again arises due to loneliness as you may not be spending enough time with them. Your German Shepherd has gone through a lot of mental trauma which may lead them to suffer from depression. German Shepherds may go through this type of mental issue if they live alone for a longer time period. When your German Shepherd suffers from depression they will show some signs like a lack of doing physical activities, loss of interest in doing the thing they enjoy earlier, excessive sleeping, licking their paws, and many more. However, it will always be important to spend most of the time with your German Shepherd as meeting your vets for better suggestions will also be helpful. Once they find their enjoyment they will be happy and will get rid of this mental issue. Health Factor German Shepherd is not naturally lazy, there may be some health factor that can force them to be lazy most of the time. They may be suffering from some type of illness or injury that may be preventing them from doing their physical activities. Sickness may force them to be less energetic. This can easily be determined if you see a sudden change in their behavior as your German Shepherd was more active earlier and they remain calm and less active suddenly then there will be the possibility of sickness or injury. Injury may also force them to be more aggressive and they will not be able to do their physical activities. Here observing the behavior is also important whenever you notice your dog is ill then you should immediately meet your vet for their treatment. Lack Of Exercise You may not be allowed to provide them with enough exercise which may also force them to be lazy most of the time. They are a very active breed and will require a lot of exercise which is also essential to exhaust their energy but again if they are able to do so they remain lazy. This issue in German Shepherds can easily be resolved as you should provide various types of exercise at regular intervals. Also exercising your German Shepherd makes their body muscular and they remain active most of the time. But again this should be done at a moderate level as excessive exercise may also affect their health. Naturally Less Active If your German Shepherds are born naturally less active then they may remain lazy most of the time. However, they are a very active breed but remaining lazy most of the time is a thing to consider. You can provide your German Shepherd for doing physical activities or exercise regularly. Feeding them a nutritional diet can also provide them the energy that will also let them be more active. However, you can also take help from your vets for better suggestions. Environmental Factors Environmental factors may be the major reason, your German Shepherd is acting lazy more often. They may be facing unfavorable environments or surrounding that may force them to express their physical experience. The only thing you should do is provide them with favorable conditions where they would enjoy their life and do a lot of ever exercises will also allow them to express their feelings as a dog owner you will also enjoy lot seeing their adorable behavior. German Shepherds are a very active breed but whenever they show less activeness there may be some issue that may be preventing them from doing their activities. An active German Shepherd is always a treat to watch and you should always be knowing to let them be more active. Earlier we discussed the laziness behavior of German Shepherds. However, you should also know the important measures that you should apply to them to make them more active. It provides them to gain all the benefits of calories, protein, fats, and carbohydrates that are essential parts to make them active. You should also keep in mind that they have muscular bodies and need a proper nutrient diet to maintain their energy. Regular Exercise German Shepherds are a highly energetic breed and they need regular exercise to maintain their energy level. Provide Enjoy full Toys German Shepherds can remain active when they get an environment with a lot of enjoyment that you can provide them by giving them toys. They will enjoy their surroundings by playing with them as it removes their stress and let them remain active most of the time. Things To Consider German Shepherds always love their beloved ones and as a good owner, you should also respect their feelings. If they are lazy then you should not feel frustrated rather you can take important measures so that they can easily get rid of such types of issues. However, you should also consider the German Shepherd which will help you a lot in maintaining their health as well as fitness level. Never Scold them Always be friendly with them Provide favorable environmental conditions Spend as much time as you can Never leave your GSD alone for a long time Provide fun activities for them Always provide a nutrient diet Monitor their behavior regularly Meet your Vets if required Related Questions: Q1. Is My German Shepherd bored? The tendency of German Shepherds to be active most of the time, they do a lot of physical activities to exhaust their energy like other dogs but if they neglect to do such types of activities or exercise they may be bored. They must not get proper attention from their owners or may live alone because of which they may be feeling bored. However, you should monitor their behavior and observe any neglection play or doing exercise then you must take important measures to prevent such type of issues in your German Shepherds. You can spend more time with them or play with them to avoid such types of issues. What do German Shepherds need to be happy? German Shepherds are happy to breed but you can also make them happy by taking some steps: Playing with them.
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golden retriever puppy first heat cycle - You should bathe your puppy about no more than once a month unless necessary. Puppies and adult dogs have natural oils in their coat to prevent their fur from getting brittle or damaged and to keep it soft and silky. Bathing your dog too often can strip away those oils. How often to bathe a puppy will vary from breed to breed. A long-haired dog breed is likely to get tangled or matted fur if they go too long between baths. Frequency of baths may also change from one season to another. Puppies are playful, curious explorers. Puppies should not be bathed until around eight weeks old. A puppy less than eight weeks old might get overheated or too cold during the bathing process. Prior to them being old enough to bathe, try wiping them down with a warm, wet cloth when needed. You can bathe your puppy at home or take them to a groomer or a self-wash station. Groomers often have vaccine requirements as well. Puppy Bathing Checklist When the time comes to bathe your puppy for the first time, make sure you have everything you need on hand, including: Treats. Use puppy treats to reward them for good behavior and to help them associate bath time with things they love. A brush can help remove loose hair and address any tangles. Choose a shampoo made specifically for dogs, as human shampoo is not suitable for their fur. Hair dryer. Use with caution, as puppies can overheat if you hold the dryer too close or for too long. If the loud noise scares your puppy, try rewarding them with treats so it becomes a positive experience. Bathtub, sink or container. Whether you use bathtub, sink or kiddie pool, your puppy will probably splash around or shake water from their fur. So, make sure the surrounding area is suitable for getting wet. Gently brush out their coat. Before bathing them, start brushing your puppy slowly, as this can help them relax. Simple movements with an appropriate brush will also remove dirt and debris from their coat, and alleviate matting and knots. Pick a spot. Sinks are perfect for bathing small puppies. A hose or kiddie pool in the backyard can work for larger breeds in the summer months. Make sure the surface is non-slip with something like a rubber mat to help them feel more secure, then gather all your supplies pre-bath. Don't leave a wet puppy unattended, or you may end up mopping the whole house. Give plenty of praise and the occasional treat. Bath time should be an enjoyable experience for you and your puppy. A great way to make baths something they look forward to is to give them lots of praise and reward any good behavior with treats. Make it fun. Try tossing their favorite toy into the tub, or just give them lots of love and attention. Scrub gently. Gentle scrubbing will wash and massage your puppy while getting them used to being handled. This is also an excellent time to check their skin. Feel all over for lumps and rough areas and call your veterinarian if you find anything suspicious. Rinse well. Just like humans, leftover shampoo can cause dry, itchy, flaky skin. Try to avoid getting water in their ears or eyes. Prepare for the post-bath shake. Dogs dry themselves quite a bit by shaking. Unfortunately, that can mean your puppy is mostly dry, but everything else is soaked. You can try tossing a towel over them and rubbing them dry before they shake. Using a hair dryer on a warm or cool setting can also help speed up the process. Treat time. Reward your puppy for a successful bath by offering them a special treat or fun toy. In this case, using a hairdryer might be necessary. Sometimes, puppies can find hair dryers to be loud, confusing and even a little frightening, so reassure them and reward them for good behavior if they seem to tolerate it well. To get your puppy used to the hair dryer, introduce it from an early age, initially just using the dryer to make noise in the room, before moving towards your puppy while giving them calm and soothing encouragement. Find more valuable puppy health insights and tips from our experts on our Pet Expertise page. Related articles. While some people use their bathtub, many prefer bathing their Poodle in a large plastic tub with a hose outside. If your Poodle has a white coat, you may want to purchase a purple or blue-colored shampoo. These shampoos have properties that help make a dull coat appear more brilliant. When brushing your Poodle , start at the skin level and work your way out to the tips of their curly hair. With your Poodle in a safe and comfortable tub, hose them down with warm water. That way, you can test to see if they have any allergic reactions. The important part is that you end up scrubbing every inch of their fur and skin from head to tail. If you have a nervous dog, make sure to use positive reinforcement techniques, including talking to them in a soothing voice and using treats to reward them for good behavior. If you thought you had to be careful with getting water down to their skin when getting them wet, you need to be even more cautious with the rinsing process. As a result, you could end up watching them display skin allergy-like symptoms despite not having an issue with their shampoo. Repeat the Process If your eyes just grew twice as large by reading this title, I get it. But hear me out—you only need to repeat the last two steps shampooing and rinsing. The benefit of doing so is that the first wash will remove dirt and oil, and the second wash will leave your Poodle sparkling clean. So, given that Poodles have such a dense coat of curls, it makes sense that shampooing their fur twice is beneficial for them. Dry Your Poodle You should dry your Poodle thoroughly with a towel after a bath. The coat will dry better with some help. Instead, use a towel to dry them well. Take special care to dry their face well, including their ears. Standing water in the ears is one of the leading causes of ear infections in dogs. So, grab the cotton you gathered and dry their ears. Some conditioners and creams require rinsing after application. In other cases, conditioners are leave-in. I recommend bringing your Poodle to the groomer every six to eight weeks. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. How often should I groom a poodle's hair? When to bathe a poodle puppy for the first time Poodle puppies are very delicate, just like babies, and must be handled with care during bath time. If the puppy lives with the mother, it is important to wait until they have weaned to prevent the parent from not recognizing their own puppy. The mother will clean and care for the puppy herself when the puppy is considered to be dirty. On the other hand, it is important not to bathe a puppy if is has just started their vaccination schedule because bathing could their effects. The recommended age to bathe your poodle puppy for the first time is 3 months old, once the administration of their vaccines has ended. You should bathe your puppy once a month because dogs have a natural protective lipid layer on their skin. If you bathe them excessively, you will get rid of this layer that protects them, so it is not advisable to bathe them too much. Tips to clean them without bathing If your puppy is very dirty and smelly you don't have to let them stay that way. There are some very effective tricks that will help keep your unruly puppy clean: Wet wipes: Use baby wipes to clean specific areas of hair that are dirty and then brush the fur thoroughly. It is the easiest and cheapest option. Wet sponge: Wet the sponge and rinse it well. Apply to the dirty areas. You should then dry your dog to prevent them from catching a cold. Wrap them in a towel and use a dryer if necessary. Dry foam: You will find professional products to dry-bathe a dog in pet shops. All you need to do is apply the foam and then brush it thoroughly to remove traces of the product. Bathing a puppy poodle, step by step A poodle's first bath will undoubtedly be the most important because this will determine whether the puppy is fearful of the water in the future. It is a fundamental part of the socialisation process. Of course, don't fill the tub with too much water; the level should not cover your puppy too much. Choose a safe place with no drafts. Remember that the puppy poodle can get a cold very easily, so they should not be too cold. Wet your dog with a sponge or with your hands and when they are completely wet, apply the shampoo. We recommend you look for a special shampoo for puppies, with an acid pH, and carefully massage it into your puppy's skin. Don't forget to reach all areas - legs, belly, groin. .You should try to make this experience as positive as possible, so that the puppy associates it as something they like and enjoy doing. When you have finished, rinse your puppy well. At the end of the bath, you must take precautions to prevent the puppy from getting too cold, as puppies do not regulate temperature as well as adult dogs can. Wrap your poodle in a towel and when it is fairly dry, use a dryer at its gentlest setting. Products to bathe poodles Although you can use more generic products on your poodle, it is advisable to use shampoos, conditioners and sprays specific to the breed. It may also be good to use shampoo for white-haired dogs if your poodle has white or light fur. This will make the stains in the fur disappear. Take advantage of the situation to remove the stains from your poodle's eyes , which usually accumulate as time goes by. How often should I bathe my poodle? There are sebaceous glands in your dog's skin that help keep the skin stable and give the hair stability. It is very important to understand that excessive washing or using of inappropriate products will result in a dermatological alteration which can cause allergies, for example. You should bathe your poodle approximately every 21 to 35 days, which is enough time for the skin to regenerate and regain its natural oils. After this period of time, you can bathe them without any problems. Bathing an adult poodle, step by step Remember to use specific products such as those mentioned earlier, so that your dog's ph is not altered: Fill your tub with warm water without the water level being too high. Help your dog into the tub, but make sure they don't slip! Wet your dog using your bath hose so that their entire body is wet. We recommend starting with the legs: rub them thoroughly to remove any dirt. Carry on with the torso, genitals and neck. Don't get the head wet or soapy. Once completely lathered, you can begin rinsing the entire body. Take your time when rinsing to remove all traces of soap in their fur. When you've finished, cover them with a towel and wait so that it absorbs some of the water. Next, simply use the dryer until they are completely dry. Use a brush to make your poodle look better. Don't forget that after the bath, you must apply an anti-parasite pipette to prevent fleas and ticks from settling into their freshly washed coat. How often you clip it and groom a poodle depends on the choice of hairstyle. If you're not sure how you want to style it, don't hesitate to visit our article on 10 haircuts for poodles. However, and in general, on average you should clip your poodle's hair every 40 - 50 days. Even though you can cut your dog's hair at home , it is highly recommended to go to a dog groomer until you have the necessary experience to do it. The different types of cuts require expert hands who know how to shape and what they should look like. For example, you should cut the hairs around the ears carefully and avoid getting them inside the ears, which can cause moisture and fungi. If you want to read similar articles to How often to Bathe a Poodle and Groom them, we recommend you visit our Beauty tips category. Shampoo color enhancing if the coat is dull or yellowing Creme Rinse or conditioner Several clean, soft bath towels Young puppies and toy Poodles often do best in the kitchen sink. Prepare this as you would the bathtub by having it clean and having all your supplies within reach. Before you begin the bath, use cotton to gently plug your Poodle's ears so that water cannot enter the ear canal. If your Poodle has any type of chronic ear troubles, you can put a bit of Vaseline on the cotton to make double sure that water does not enter. For show dogs - All topknot, ear wrappers and bands must be removed. While it is not mandatory, if you show, you may find it helpful to part the long mane down the center of the back with a pin brush, letting the long hair fall to ether side. Phase 3 - Shampooing Most owners know this, but it is so important that it must be mentioned: Never use human shampoo. It is vital that the shampoo be Ph balanced for canines, it is essential for healthy skin and coat. All shampoos are either acid, alkali or neutral. The degree of acidity or alkalinity is measured on a Ph scale that runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Anything between 0 and 7 is "acid" and anything between 7 and 14 is "alkaline" You need to use an alkaline based shampoo on a Poodle. Coats can become stained, colors can become uneven.For this reason, some owners may wish to use color enhancing canine shampoo , which does not contain any dyes but rather intensifies the natural color of the Poodle's coat. For white and light colored Poodles, this will help to remove yellow or grayish discolorations. For black or brown Poodles, it will help to remove any red or orange tipping and make the coat more solid. There are 2 methods for shampooing a Poodle, the most common being to stand the dog in the tub and then use warm water with the spray hose or container to wet the coat thoroughly, avoiding wetting the head or ears. It is very important that the coat be extremely wet, to the roots, before you apply the shampoo. If you are using a hand held spray, hold the nozzle as close as possible to the dog's body, this will force the water to the skin and flush out any dirt. For show dogs, the Poodle should be shampooed and rinsed 2 times. If you are keeping your Poodle in oil treatments, 3 cycles may be necessary. Please do refer to the AllPoodleInfo Book for full chapters on bathing both pet and show Poodles correctly. Phase 4 - Rinsing When rinsing, it is very important to be sure all traces of shampoo are removed. The final rinse should begin at the head, with the eyes covered and ear flaps held down by your hand. If any shampoo remains it can cause the coat to look dull, cause irritation that can result in scratching and it will be more difficult to do an scissoring. Phase 5 - Applying Conditioner or Cream Rinse Shampooing does a great job of cleaning, but unfortunately can cause tangles at the same time. Conditioner is an important step in bathing a Poodle. The shampoo does little to protect the hairs. The conditioner or creme rinse will moisturize the hair and skin, smooth the cuticle, restructure the hair shaft, restore elasticity and add depth of color. Excess moisture should be squeezed from the Poodle's coat 1st and then the rinse or conditioner applied by gently working it into the the coat with your fingertips. You may also be interested in: Removing a tangle from a Poodle - You'll want to take time to try and remove any knots from the coat since clipping them off and add up over time and lead to quite a messy, uneven coat. How to remove Poodle tear stains - If your Poodle has stubborn discoloration of hairs under or around the eyes, you will find this information to be helpful. How much food to feed a Poodle - This section covers all feeding questions including when to offer meals, how much to give and the types of feeding options that owners have. Are you a Member yet? When you sign up to become a Member, you will be able to receive a friendly notice when new information is added to the site. Poodle Coat Issues - Common yet troubling issues that can happen to the coat. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. Categories Poodle How often should you be bathing your poodle? The correct bathing frequency can be the difference between your poodle having healthy skin and coat, or a trip to the vets! As explained above, the best frequency is every weeks. This is more than enough to keep her clean and healthy. However, If your poodle gets particularly dirty only a week after her last bath then, by all means, go ahead and bathe her again. That will be fine. I will go into this further below. Bathing at this frequency is good for two important reasons: 1. To preserve natural oils. Bathing at this frequency should not remove too many of the natural oils. Natural oils are constantly produced by the skin and are responsible for keeping the skin and hair moisturized and strong. The moment that these oils are removed in excess it leaves the skin dry and scaly and the hair brittle. Then, the body will realize this and suddenly produce an excess of oil to compensate. Unfortunately, this only leads to further issues, with clogging of the pores, matting of the coat, and a smelly greasy coat. Which then requires another bath, right? Sufficient to keep her clean. Many owners prefer to bathe their poodles on a weekly basis. So is this okay? Well, it seems to be working well for many others, so it may also work well for your poodle too. But I would without a doubt, pay very close attention to how her body responds. Keep tabs on the texture of her hair, how she feels and how she smells. If all is well, then weekly will be fine for your poodle too. The kind of shampoo and conditioner you use on your poodle is important anyway, but at this increased frequency, could be the difference between whether your poodle reacts badly or not. The Best Kind of Shampoo For Your Poodle The shampoo and conditioner can make all the difference when it comes to bathing your furry friend. The best and only shampoo and conditioner you should be using on your poodle is a natural-ingredient dog shampoo. This means avoiding the use of human shampoo and even regular dog shampoo. The issue with regular dog shampoo is that it contains far too many harsh chemicals, alcohols, detergents, parabens and fragrances. Yet, will still do a great job at cleaning. Baby shampoo is designed to be incredibly mild, yet still has some basic cleansing ingredients included. Popular Article: Why is my poodle so clingy and needy? Brush first Brushing first is a must. This will help to brush out any loose hairs as well as detangle her coat before getting wet. For poodles, a pin and bristle brush is by far the most appropriate. Use lukewarm water only To keep this as pleasurable as possible, the water should not be too hot or too cold. Lukewarm is ideal. This will avoid your poodle getting too cold, and avoid the chances of her skin drying out by using water too warm. If your poodle stays still then a leash might not be needed. With enough positive associations with bath time, a leash might not be necessary for the future. Even small dogs can slip and really injure their legs, hips, and joints. A simple, but important precautionary measure to take. Quality non-slip mat 5. Cotton balls in the ears To avoid ear infections, use some cotton balls placed just inside the ear to keep her ear dry. Of course, keep the balls large so there is no risk of them going deep inside. Shampoo thoroughly Use your fingertips to really get the shampoo down through her coat and onto her skin. One of the most common mistakes owners make is not sufficiently lathering up the shampoo and massaging it into the skin. Shampoo twice Yep, double shampooing is such a thing. Shampoo, rinse, then repeat. This ensures you really clean her skin and coat sufficiently. This will leave her smelling extra amazing! Believe it or not, your voice is the single most important sound to your poodle and you can do a lot with it when using the right tone. Any amount of shampoo residue could lead to scratching, irritation, dry skin, and even infections! This is an easy mistake to make so be sure to rinse thoroughly. Dry with a towel and hairdryer Pat your poodle down with a clean towel as much as possible, then use a hairdryer on a cool to low heat setting. Be sure to keep the hairdryer moving at all times, remaining about centimeters away from her. She should be dry to touch, before being allowed to do the post-bathtime zoomies! Leaving her wet could result in her getting too cold, too quickly, which could end up being a medical emergency. This is the final touch and helps to detangle and separate the curls in case they became knotted throughout the bathing or drying. Trending Article:.