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German Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the country. They are renowned for their strength, agility, and fierceness, as well as their ability to protect their families. The best age to buy a German Shepherd puppy is around seven to eight weeks. This ensures that the pup is not taken from its mother too early, but still has enough time to integrate into being a part of your family. Read on for more tips on when the best age is to bring home your new German Shepherd pup. If you try to adopt or purchase a German Shepherd puppy earlier than seven weeks, you will likely encounter several problems. The first of these problems is like the legality of purchasing a dog at such a young age. The District of Columbia is the only state or district in the country that allows puppies to be sold at the age of six weeks. The second problem that you will likely encounter if you try to buy a German Shepherd puppy earlier than that seven-week mark is a lack of puppy socialization. The American Kennel Club states that puppies begin their socialization period at the age of six weeks , while an article from Psychology Today written with help from a prestigious dog breeder suggests that socialization begins even earlier — as early as three weeks old in some breeds. This socialization period is important because it allows puppies to learn essential behaviors from the other puppies in their litter as well as from their mother. When puppies begin to play and bite with their siblings and their mother, they will learn that these behaviors are not okay because their family members will bite at them or bark, which will teach the puppy that those behaviors are not okay. If your puppy is rehomed too young, they will miss out on these important lessons and will be disobedient. While the puppy will have to be separated from its mother, eventually, this process should not be allowed to happen too early. If pups are taken away from their mother too young, they will suffer from behavioral issues that are deeper than just poor socialization. Due to factors such as lack of maternal soothing, premature weaning, and separation anxiety, puppies who are removed from their mothers too early are prone to fear and aggression. In a study conducted in the journal Veterinary Record as quoted in the Psychology Today article , it was determined that pups who were taken from their mothers before the age of 40 days around 5. Finding the right timing to bring home a German Shepherd puppy can be tricky. There are a few factors that make it difficult to properly raise a German Shepherd puppy if you bring it home after that eight-week mark. The reason that people buy puppies so young is that they want their dog to be able to become a well-socialized part of the family unit. The second reason you should get a German Shepherd puppy before it passes eight weeks old is that it makes obedience and work training much easier to accomplish. They will need to be able to perform commands and tasks through nudges, picking up items with their mouths, and calling for help or assistance in order to help their owner. This is why training organizations teach puppies as young as possible so they can be competent service animals for people with disabilities. German Shepherds can easily be trained as seeing-eye dogs as well as animals that help people with epilepsy or neurological disorders. The author of the Psychology Today article believes that if puppies are left in the litter for too long, they will begin to build a sort of hierarchy or to peck order among themselves. Because German Shepherds have that reputation for aggressive behavior, you want to mitigate this potential as quickly as possible. Summary The best age to adopt a German Shepherd puppy is between the ages of seven and eight weeks old. This is the age suggested by the American Kennel Club as well as psychological researchers. It is also illegal in most areas of the country to rehome a puppy before the age of seven weeks, save for the District of Columbia. No breeder should be selling a puppy younger than six weeks old. At the same time, you should not let the puppy remain with its litter after the age of eight weeks to avoid aggression and to make training easier. Teaching Proper Socialization One of the main reasons why it is not recommended to get a puppy under the age of 7 or 8 weeks is because puppies at this age still need a lot to learn from their mother and littermates. The role of the mother dog is not only to give birth and nurse the puppies but also to teach her puppies their first few life-lessons that include self-discipline and social interaction. As her puppies begin to play with each other and tease their mother, the German Shepherd mother becomes an active teacher and role model. If the puppies bite her or their littermates too hard, she disciplines the offending puppy by swinging her tail and even growling at the mischievous puppy. The mother will keep delivering the correction, week after week until the pups fully understand to control the strength of their bite. Timid mother dog may make her puppies cowardly, as can an overly aggressive mother. Ideally, what you want to see is a German Shepherd mother dog who is calm, stable, and confident. Pierantoni, M. Albertini, and F. Pirrone 1. They compared two groups, consisting of 70 adult dogs each. One group had been separated from their litters at 30 to 40 days, while the second group had been separated from their litters at 8 weeks. The veterinarians concluded that the chance of behavioral disorders occurring in the first group was significantly higher than in the second group. The behavioral disorders explained in the study include destructiveness, excessive barking, fearfulness on walks, noise reactivity, food or toy possessiveness, and attention-seeking behavior. It Is Illegal in Some States The second reason why you should avoid buying a puppy under 8 weeks old is that in 26 states, it is illegal to buy a puppy that is deemed too young 2. Of those, 22 states state that all puppies must be 8 weeks old. The remaining three states—Wisconsin, Virginia, and Maine—require that all puppies must be at least 7 weeks old before they can be sold. For example, in the state of Kansas, in order to be legal to sell puppies, breeders need to make sure that the puppies must be 8 weeks old and weaned 3. A puppy that has been weaned too early can develop many behavioral problems that will follow him throughout his life. Some of the signs that your German shepherd puppy has been weaned too early include aggression, excessive biting, destruction, possession, and separation anxiety. In addition to behavioral issues, the puppy can also develop health issues such as malnutrition and a weakened immune system. Going After an Older Dog If a puppy that is too young is risky, then what about adopting an older puppy? Some people may be tempted to adopt an older puppy hoping to skip the tasks involved with the younger pup, from housetraining to car riding. If you select the right pup, you may be able to avoid some of these situations. However, bear in mind that older pups are less accepting of new people and new situations. That said, older pups can make a terrific companion if you know where and how to select them. Where to Get a German Shepherd Puppy? Thanks to their popularity, German shepherd puppies are available in so many different places that deciding where to look can be stressful. Here are some of the most popular places to buy a German shepherd dog: Breeders Buying a German shepherd puppy from a breeder is still your best bet for obtaining a healthy, lovable German shepherd. As is true in all professions, there are good breeders and bad breeders. So what are the differences between good breeders and others? Their reputations are such that customers come to them. They also temperament test every puppy to ensure the best possible placement. You should ask lots of questions too. Asking the right questions can help you to winnow the bad breeders from the good ones. Furthermore, there are lots that you can learn from established breeders. They can tell you more than you possibly imagined about the breed. The common assumption is that these dogs are abandoned because they have problems. However, this is not always the case. According to some statistics, German Shepherds are one of the most common breeds found in shelters. In the right home, these dogs can make great companions. This is why you should not be dissuaded from considering shelter when choosing a puppy or dog. Breed Rescue Groups If you are willing to accept a grown dog instead of a puppy, breed rescue can be the right place for you. Breed rescues are organizations that work with a single breed or a couple of related breeds. They are run by volunteers, comprised of experienced breeders, trainers, and owners of that breed. Thus, you can be sure that these people know what they are doing. As for the fee, it is a steal often just the cost of the veterinary care. Pet Stores The last and the worst option for getting a puppy is a pet store. No reputable breeders in their right minds will send the cream of their litters to pet stores. If they do send their puppies here, the puppies are usually undersized or poor conformation. Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful and useful as you raise and train your German Shepherd. Here are some of my favorite reviews for German Shepherd supplies that I personally use and recommend. Here is my recommendation for the best dog food for German Shepherds. Leash: A leash is a must-have for any German Shepherd owner. With a good leash, you can give your dog the freedom they need while keeping them safe and under control. Here are my top picks for the best leashes for German Shepherds. A harness that is improperly fitted or used can cause serious injury to your dog. Read my review of the best harnesses for German Shepherds here. Different bowls serve different purposes, and the bowl that you need will depend on a number of factors. See my recommendation for the best dog bowl for German Shepherds here. There are a ton of different factors to consider when choosing a crate. Beds: German Shepherds need a bed that is comfortable, supportive, and durable. This breed is known for being high energy, so you need a bed that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. House: It can be tough to find the best dog house for German Shepherds. Shampoo: You want to find a shampoo that is specifically designed for German Shepherds. This breed has a lot of furs, and you need a shampoo that will be gentle on their skin and coat. Shock Collar: A shock collar is a training tool that can be used on German Shepherds. It delivers an electric shock to the dog when they exhibit certain behaviors. While some people are against the use of shock collars, I believe that they can be helpful in certain situations. Read my review of the best shock collar for German Shepherds here. Vacuum: If you have a German Shepherd, you need a vacuum that is specifically designed to deal with all of the furs they shed. Shedding is a natural process for dogs, but it can be hard to keep up with. The right vacuum will make your life much easier. Related posts:. Best age for buying a GSD? People say that the best age is Months so he can be trained and took all the vaccines. .Others say buying a pup months is the best way the dog get used to his living place and the his family! I don't know which is right and which is wrong. Now with that being said let me clarify that by saying that you really need to match the age of the German Shepherd you bring home to fit you and your home and your needs. Maybe you have needs for an older dog because you don't want to go through all the puppy teething, housetraining, etc. I would have to say though that maybe a first time owner would do better with an older, calmer German Shepherd. Check with your local rescues and shelters for potential companions. Then again, maybe you do want a puppy instead of an older GSD - maybe you have other pets and kids that you want the puppy to grow up with that might not accept an older German Shepherd easily. And you're willing to go through weeks of teething, housetraining and the whole nine yards. And that's all right too. Truth be told, you really need to assess your own situation and your needs - not necessarily your wants - about what will be the best pet for you - an older GSD or a GSD puppy. Both can make good pets in the right home and both have very specific, but different, needs. But for a first time owner an older GSD would be a great choice. Either way, training and socialization will be very important too. So take your time, think it through and good luck getting your new German Shepherd. Are German Shepherds good with kids? These majestic and loyal dogs are a popular breed for a reason, but can they be trusted around children? Yes, a German Shepherd is child-friendly and enjoys children when properly socialized and trained. They are a highly intelligent breed that is specially selected throughout history for their loyal, watchful temperament with their families. A properly trained GSD is a good addition to a home with kids when the children are taught to respect the dog and the dog is taught to respect the children. They bond quickly with kids in the home, tend to protect their families, but may become overly protective of family members if not properly socialized and trained source. Child-friendly German Shepherds are dogs that have been socialized around many different age groups of kids, spent time on their obedience training, and have been temperament tested if rescued or adopted. Yes, a socialized, trained, and healthy German Shepherd is generally known to be good with kids, a gentle family pet, and a steadfast guardian. This breed has a history of patience and tolerance, both qualities that are sought after by families with kids. While the GSD takes to its family, the GSD is still aloof with strangers and is usually not outwardly friendly to those outside the family unit. For some families, this is a highly desired trait. In general, large dogs are often a better choice than little dogs when your family includes small children and toddlers. Large breeds, like the GSD, are less likely to get hurt when accidentally stepped on or tripped over by kids. They must learn to discipline a German Shepherd the right way to maintain a kid-friendly German Shepherd. Small kids get over-excited, move rapidly and unexpectedly, and scream in high-pitched voices. GSDs may interpret these actions and noises as invitations to play. The German Shepherd is also a natural herder and has guarding tendencies. All of these normal behaviors can intimidate young kids. Luckily, there are some safety tips that you can follow to help your German Shepherd and kids get along. They are, however, much less friendly to strangers and visitors to the home. An exciting game of chase and tag nearly always ends with the child getting knocked over. GSDs love to jump and are highly active. Thus, small kids are easy targets for accidental knockdowns during greetings. This is terrifying for little kids not used to big dogs. Both friendly Shepherds and children need supervision to prevent misunderstandings. GSD puppies are a lot of work! Young families with preschool age kids are advised to delay getting a puppy until the youngest child is at least five years old. Some families with young children choose a puppy, thinking they are safer and easier to train than older, adult Shepherds. Puppies are fragile. They require more time and care. And German Shepherd puppies are especially prone to play-related scratching, jumping, and biting. Kids at least 8 years of age or older are better suited to living with German Shepherd puppies. Consider also how much exercise the German Shepherd needs. And what about training your GSD? Along with temperament testing and personality evaluations, the rescue or adoption agency will have more information about child-friendly German Shepherds available for rehoming. Always check with the dog adoption agency what the age requirements are before looking at German Shepherds to rescue. Not a dog who merely tolerates kids. Check with your local German Shepherd Dog rescues or other dog organizations for adoptable adult dogs that have shown success with families. When looking to get a German Shepherd puppy, always read up on how to buy a German Shepherd puppy first to avoid unscrupulous sellers. The best GSDs for kids are those who receive proper socialization, positive family-friendly training, proper amounts, and the right type of exercise and attention. Especially with kids. Teach Your Children to be Shepherd Savvy Your dog needs training so they can regulate their behavior around your family. Fortunately, this breed is one of the smartest dogs in the world and responds well to obedience commands. German Shepherds get along with children when both the child and dog take active and successful steps to live with one another. Success starts with adult planning, participation, and direction. First, parents teach the GSD how to act in a controlled manner through obedience, also known as German Shepherd lure and reward training. Second, parents must teach children how to interact with the dog. Third, remember that training is a family effort but must start with the adults. They take time, commitment, and plenty of the right socialization and training to avoid their guarding tendencies. Aggression in German Shepherds is generally from a lack of proper socialization early on in their life. Poor behavior management of these unwanted behaviors can cause unfriendless later on. Your dog soon learns to positively associate your kids with food. Rolling over on request, or performing another command such as down, means your dog shows willing and happy appeasement. A major side effect of lure-reward training is that your dog grows to like and respect his trainer. In this case, he learns that children are fun and give tasty treats! Besides socialization, basic training is one of the biggest contributors to a well-behaved dog. And all German Shepherds need the right home care to stay healthy and happy with their families. As a pastoral or herding breed, the Shepherd needs exercise to avoid behavioral issues such as anxiety, excessive barking , and chasing other pets. They do best with two hours of exercise a day. At a minimum, they need two minute walks daily and plenty of mental stimulation and training. Do you have an active family? Do your kids love to run, swim, and hike? If so, this breed will match your energetic family! If you prefer to stay indoors and are a quiet family, then they will likely overwhelm your family with their energy needs. German Shepherd Breeding Age Male German Shepherds Male German Shepherds become fertile after six months of age but should not stud until they have reached sexual maturity. Although males can technically impregnate a female, they should not be allowed to mate until they are fully sexually developed, so at least one year old. Once an adult German Shepherd is sexually mature, he can mate at any time. If the dog is healthy, he may be able to keep his fertility and be sexually active for his lifetime. However, just because German Shepherds can reproduce and have puppies well into their senior years does not imply they should. German Shepherds enter their senior years around seven years of age, and as they get older, their fertility and ability to whelp healthy puppies diminish. The quality and amount of male sperm are affected by age. So although males could sire puppies at 9 or 10 years old, many breeders will check the sperm count monthly to check for quality. Furthermore, if their doggy partner consistently delivers smaller litters or the puppies are weak and unwell, a breeder may decide that the male dog is too old to sire puppies. Responsible breeders are patient and wait for the perfect German Shepherd breeding age. A female German Shepherd will have her first heat cycle around months old. This is when she can technically get pregnant, although you should never breed a female dog during her first heat cycle. Mating during the first season increases the chance of pregnancy complications, premature labor, and stillborn pups. Labor can become complicated and comes with risks, and older females can have difficulty producing milk. You should retire a female GSD from breeding around years old or after four or five litters. Like the UK Kennel Club, many breed associations have enforced an age limit of eight years for breeding female dogs, as found in their Assured Breeders Standard. However, this is for all breeds. German Shepherds, as a large breed, age faster. Understanding Female Heat Cycles When a female German Shepherd goes into heat, her body prepares itself for conception. Heat, breeding cycles, and periods are all terms that refer to the same thing. Although a German Shepherd stays in heat for around three to four weeks, her most fertile days begin days into the heat cycle. This heat cycle consists of four stages: proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. This stage can last around days. She may even tuck in her tail to cover her vagina and keep males away. Estrus : This is the main phase in the GSD heat cycle when ovulation occurs. The female dog is now fertile and ready to mate, and she will follow her bodily instincts and accept a male. This stage lasts between days. The swelling of the vulva will go down. Estrogen levels are low, while progesterone levels slowly increase. The fertile window has now closed, and she will no longer accept males. Anestrus: This is the final stage of the heat cycle of your female German Shepherd and will last about four months. Most female German Shepherds will go into season twice a year. The ovarian activity of a female dog starts to decline in the fifth or sixth year of life. Waiting until the dam is physically and mentally mature enough to bear and raise a litter is essential, as is waiting until the sire is old enough. This allows any genetic or conformation issues to become apparent, making breeding a poor decision. But what are the health concerns if a German Shepherd conceives too early? Physical maturity. The dam must be physically mature to carry a healthy litter to term. If the dog becomes pregnant before she has fully grown herself, it will put extra strain on her body, and she may not be able to deliver her pups. Young dams may miscarry, have puppies with disabilities, or have stillborn pups. Mental maturity. Pregnancy and raising pups require maternal instincts and a mature mind. If the dam is too young to breed, she may not understand what to do and may reject her pups. However, most females over the age of 8 have a tough pregnancy and difficulty giving birth. Significant problems are common during labor, and a caesarian section may be required. Unfortunately, one or more stillborn puppies in a litter are pretty common in older dams. Older German Shepherds may also have trouble producing enough milk to nurse their puppies, who will die if not bottle-fed. Senior female dogs are also at risk of pyometra, a potentially fatal uterus infection. Due to all these risks and complications, most ethical breeders will retire their dams at around five or six years old. Pre-breeding Health Tests Both German Shepherd parents require proper care and conditioning to produce beautiful, healthy, strong puppies. Apart from good physical health, they also need to be in good mental condition. A mentally strong and happy female German Shepherd will make a better mother than one that is insecure or has an unstable temperament. Regular exercise and an excellent diet and nutrition are essential parts of conditioning before conception. Bitches should not be overweight and should have good muscle tone before mating. A month before breeding, the female German Shepherd should go through a pre-breeding examination by a vet. You need to check her for common breed-specific health problems, such as hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy. Vaccinations, flea, and worming treatments for both parents should be current. Are you looking to buy something for your dog? Make sure to check out my favorite dog gear below. The new owners are very gentle with the puppy and simply talk softly to him and give him pats and toys as he gets settled in. Sadly, the Puppy Mill Project states there are more than 10, puppy mills operating just in the United States alone. Puppy mills keep breeding pairs of dogs in often horrific conditions and take the puppies away from their moms much too soon so they can breed another litter of puppies. The Humane Society states that there are some warning signs you can watch for to indicate you may be getting your puppy from an unethical breeder or even from a puppy mill: The breeder is willing to release the puppy to you at a very early age before the age of eight weeks. The breeder will not allow you to visit their kennel and see their operation or meet the parent dogs — they only sell at off-site locations or over the internet. Here again, this question is a topic of often intense debate between different breeders. As one canine biologist explains in Psychology Today , the very earliest any puppy should be allowed to leave the litter and go to their new home is 79 days seven weeks. But many other breeders feel that even seven weeks is too early, as the GSDCA article cited earlier here states. There are a variety of reasons why letting a puppy leave the litter sooner than seven to eight weeks is considered a bad idea. The puppy is still too little and fragile Some breeders believe a primary reason to keep puppies with the mom and littermates longer is that puppies are very little and easily injured. However, because the German Shepherd is a large breed dog and has a sturdier body to start with, some breeders may be apt to release GSD puppies closer to the eight week age range. In contrast, smaller and toy dog breeds that are very delicate may need a bit longer to grow up before going to their new home. The puppy needs to learn social skills Another common reason why many breeders feel that puppies should stay with their litters and mothers at least until they turn eight weeks old is that the puppy will learn important social skills. The best trainer for any German Shepherd puppy is typically going to be the mother dog. As well, GSD puppies will have the chance to play and learn from their littermates and get comfortable with having people around by watching their mother interact with the breeder. Some theories suggest that this initial period of dog-to-dog socialization needs to happen before the dog-to-people socialization so the puppy can learn to be a dog first and then to be a companion to humans next. This benefit is simply that the German Shepherd breeder is experienced working with this dog breed and can give your puppy some early expert training and socialization with people. The difference here would be bringing home a puppy that is already used to a collar and lead, puppy pads, and some initial potty training commands, playing with toys and being handled by people. The rehoming process is always going to be stressful enough on its own that you want to be sure your puppy has the most confidence possible before coming home with you. Set aside time to just be with your puppy Your puppy is going to be a bit nervous or even frightened at first — this is normal. Rehoming is a big change. You can make it easier by just carving out time to sit nearby, praising your puppy, offering pats, and talking softly. These guidelines can ensure that your new German Shepherd puppy feels at home right away living with you. EbubeLarson The German Shepherd dog is a very nice breed known as an all-purpose utility dog. The dog is also a great pet and home protection choice. If you own a German Shepherd, you will have a sharp and vicious dog to protect you and a warm and gentle dog that can give you great care and love. And if trained properly, the German Shepherd can be the perfect pet. You want to know the right age to get your kid a German Shepherd puppy. Well, there is no specific age to get your kid a German Shepherd puppy. The most popular opinion is that the earlier, the better. So if you have kids right now, go ahead and get them a GSD. The reason is that kids and adults interacting with dogs are very different. While your instinct as an adult is to pat, play and train the dog, your kids only see a giant teddy bear. So they might scratch, pull, and kick at the dog. If a German Shepherd puppy is not introduced to all these situations early, it may become aggressive when handled in such a manner. Then again, other questions are running through your mind. Questions include choosing the right German Shepherd puppy for your kid and how to do the introductions. You might also be wondering if older German Shepherds are good with kids and whether or not to get your kid an adult German Shepherd. We will answer all these questions in this post, so stay with us. Choosing the right Greman Shepherd puppy for your kids is no easy task. So with you in mind, I have broken it down into four simple steps. Do thorough research. Get to know your kid. Search for reputable and licensed breeders. Take your kid along for the selection. And if you are new and have little or no experience with the German Shepherd breed, you will most likely get scammed. So before you run off and buy yourself a GSD, do enough research about the breed and get to know what features make the German Shepherd stand-bred and of high quality. For more information on how to identify a purebred German Shepherd, be sure to check out my previous post here. Well, you may wonder what getting the right German Shepherd has to do with your kid. This is because you are getting the German Shepherd for your kid. And the fact remains that since the dog is for your kid, its personality has to work nicely with that of your kid. To do this right is to study your kid and get to know them well. You need to gauge the hyper nature of your kid. How much energy do they expend during the day? You might already know what you are looking for by steps one and two. Now is the time to look for your German Shepherd. And to ensure that what we said earlier does not happen to you, you will need to find a reputable breeder. Use the internet as your tool, and do a lot of digging. Ensure that the breeders you choose to visit our licensed and have generations of breeding pedigrees. Also, ensure they all have a hand full of litters for you to choose from. Since you are looking for a Greman Shepherd to serve as a pet, selecting home-licensed breeders with kids around will be advisable. They will be best positioned to help you select the right puppy. Now, you may be wondering how this is going to be helpful. And if you have a kid or kids who already love dogs, you may be worried they will like every puppy. The truth, though, is that no matter the age of your kids, they already have a preference. You will need this preference from them, which is why they are tagging along. As they inspect the litter with you, please pay close attention to how they interact with the puppies. Please pay attention to how the puppies interact with them and cross off your list of those that are timid. As cruel as that may sound, doing that will save you from a life of stress. Following this process will surely narrow it down and pick the right puppy for you and your kids. What if you already have an adult German Shepherd and a kid on the way? You might wonder if having the Germa shepherd around will be a problem. The answer is yes! Older German Shepherds are great with kids, especially if they view the kid as part of their pack. All you need to do is make your German Shepherd trained and well socialized. Doing this could make a difference in how your German Shepherd reacts to your kids. But what if your German Shepherd has never had experience with kids, and you have one on the way? What can you do to ensure the safety of both your child and the GSD? Well, you will need to introduce them properly. How do you do that? Here are two steps that can help. Well, this may seem basic, but it is vital in properly introducing your baby to your German Shepherd. If your child is months old, you can hold your baby in your arms while your German Shepherd watches, or you could put your baby in the carriage and then encourage your GSD to come around. Do this for some days until you are sure your dog is comfortable around the baby. Once you notice this, you can move over to the next stage. By now, your German Shepherd must already be comfortable around your kid. Now carry your baby in your arms and call your German Shepherd over. Once he gets close to you, kneel before it and allow him to smell like your baby. Watch him closely and pat him for being gentle. Do this several times, and then, voila, you are done. From here on in, your German Shepherd should interact nicely with your kid. And please be careful not to rush this process and only stop once you are sure your kid and German Shepherd have the best relationship. Related Posts.

All our parent dogs are our pets, first and foremost. We love our Doodles so much; we are thrilled to be able to provide deserving families with their furever best friend. We believe a puppy is more then "just a dog" , we are trying to change the way puppy choosing is done. Rather then choosing a pup based solely on appearance, we conduct evaluations to better understand each pups personality, and best living situation, ensuring a perfect match! We truly believe our pups are very special. And stand out from the rest. Our breeding program is a small in home structure. We breed responsibly, as well as in a loving caring, manner. Health and temperament are a main priority; our dogs have been through extensive health testing and are all cleared. Our entire family puts so much love into each and every pup! Including our 3 young kids, who provide multiple daily puppy snuggles, and love. We use the puppy culture program with all our pups, which puts them in the ideal place to thrive in their furever homes. We help with resources for training, pet insurance , and nutrition. The unconditional love, and companionship these beautiful pups bring is indescribable We also use BAB empowered instruction in our program. All will have been seen by our trusted vet, and have undergone puppy evaluations before allowing any selections to be made. Once we have completed these necessary pre-go-home evaluations, we supply this information about each puppy to the clients on the reservation list. At Western MA Doodles, we allow clients to make informed choices on go home day in order of their spot on the reservation list. Some breeders choose to match each individual puppy with a specific client, not allowing them to choose. Neither approach is right or wrong, but it is important in either case that clients have all of the information they need to evaluate if the puppy will be a good match for their family, and vice versa. It is amazing how almost always my clients choose the puppy I would have matched them with anyway. Human nature is a funny thing. We want to make sure the pup meets their needs and will excel in your household. I offer myself up to clients in advance of go home day and answer any preliminary questions about the puppy evaluations. We hash through the pros and cons of each pup. And a beautiful thing happens. The focus is moved from solely their needs to the pup's, as well. And that is what I want. Clients who consider what is best for the puppy as much as for them, setting up a beautiful, lifelong partnership to heal hearts and change lifes! Truly an amazing, beautiful thing. After finding good Bernedoodle breeders in Massachusetts, it is quite common to have second thoughts about the adoption process. However, here we have some information you can consider if you want to see if a Bernedoodle is the right match for you and your family. The best way to understand what the best Bernedoodle for your family is is to take a look at the generations. They all come in different sizes, colors, and coat types. Some of them are more hypoallergenic than others. This is determined by the generation: F1, F1b, F2, etc. F1 refers to the cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. F1b refers to the cross between an F1 Bernedoodle and a purebred dog of any of the original breeds. These dogs are usually one of the most hypoallergenic, as the Poodle attributes are more present. F1bb is the result of the combination between an F1b Bernedoodle and another original purebred within the line. F2 Bernedoodles are born when both parents are F1 Bernedoodles. This classification is quite unpredictable, which is why most breeders avoid it. They typically shed fur. Sometimes, breeders choose to breed two F1b Bernedoodles, which can give similar results. F2bb Bernedoodles are born from an F2b Bernedoodle and a purebred Poodle. Again, due to the prominence of the Poodle genes, these dogs are more than likely to be hypoallergenic and non-shedding. F3 or multigenerational Bernedoodles are usually born from F1b parents or F2 parents. F3 Bernedoodles are generally hypoallergenic and non-shedding. Conclusion Bernedoodles can be excellent companions for all kinds of families. These dogs have goofy, loving personalities that make them appropriate for both kids and adults. Some people recommend looking after the coat color instead of the generation, but if you live with someone that has pet allergies, taking into account the generation is an important factor. As of now, there are only two Bernedoodle breeders in Massachusetts. Both of them are characterized for offering high-quality dogs with excellent training. Thus, if you want to add a new member to your family as soon as possible, these breeders are the best options you can consider. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. Welcome to New England Bernedoodles we are a family-owned breeder of exceptional Bernedoodles. We breed for temperament, trainability, and affectionate, lovable companions for any family. We started with this breed after having Australian Labradoodles for many years. However, the shedding and the largeness of the breed were off putting. We decided to put our understanding of genetics to work and combine quality, loving, gentle Bernese Mountain dogs with smart, affectionate poodles to produce Bernedoodles here at New England Bernedoodles. We are also producing the Australian Bernedoodle. Yes, they really are low to non-shedding. We here at New England Bernedoodles breed specifically for temperament so we know that our bernedoodles will excel in gentleness, trainability, love and sweet demeanor. Our bernedoodles have exceptional beautiful coats. There is nothing like snuggling up close to your New England Bernedoodle. New England Bernedoodles strive for excellence and we produce puppies that are extremely intelligent, abundantly affectionate and forever your best friend. For the adoption application, please click here. Our Mission: 1. What better time than now to bring home a trained puppy? MBD University is now open to anyone who would like to enroll their new or older puppy in our Board and Train Programs! We are based out of Ashby, Massachusetts and welcome customers, by appointment. Here, we invite you to take a tour, learn about how amazing Bernedoodles and Goldendoodles are and what makes MBD so incredibly unique! A professional, is a breeder who breeds their own dogs and sells the puppies directly to the customer. We are not a commercial dog breeder and we will never compromise on our very high standards, ever. Two of our top initiatives include; 1. Setting the bar high for all dog breeders everywhere and 2. Educating ALL customers with regard to responsible dog breeding practices. That is our promise. After all, very few of us knew about puppy mills until fairly recently! Did you know that by having an overnight employee at MBD, your puppy receives an additional 2, hours of socialization vs. We offer Turnkey Puppy Training and everything in between. Watch the video demo below! Smiling yet? We have openings on the following all 2. We are also accepting reservations for Spring ! Here is the link to our upcoming availability Google Doc! When you fill out the application, I will respond with personal recommendations based on your preferences. JUST in time for the Holidays! Choose a Bernedoodle that is already trained and ready to go, if available, or choose your own puppy to enroll. Check out this link for more details! Featured in this video, Mocha! Mocha is practicing her training commands with lots of distractions around at Home Depot. She is also being socialized with places, loud noises and KIDS! Yes, you heard right, we will be bringing you Mini Goldendoodles due in October ! The waitlist has just opened for Millie the mellowest Golden Retriever everrrr! Calm, healthy parents make calm, healthy puppies! We have honeymooned for a Mini Goldendoodle litter due Oct. Now is the best time ever to get on this waitlist! Guardian Home Program: We currently have openings in our Guardian Home program for adult doodles! Click here to learn about becoming a MBD Guardian! Graham Memorial Fund! These funds will go towards your pups training and to one of our very own MBD employees starting or heading back to college in Congratulations to Thomas Bianco as the 1st recipient of this award! To California Delivery and more! Instead, we hand deliver each puppy with our very own MBD employees. This way, your puppy is safe for the whole journey and would not be exposed to other puppies that may have illness or parasites. Doodles in Pairs are the best! He traveled all the way to the United Kingdom! We never ship puppies, rather, we deliver our babies personally, with MBD employees, for their safety and your convenience. We will personally deliver your puppy to you! Click here for more information on how we deliver, personally, from MBD to you. We hand deliver these precious puppies from our door to yours and with our own employees! The Furnished puppies are non-shedding while the Unfurnished Bernedoodles may be low shedding. Nature AND Nurture, …. They are, by far, the calmest most loving doodle breed I have ever encountered. Just as every person is unique, so is each Bernedoodle! The variety of colors and patterns are endless BUT the temperament stays consistent and that comes back to choosing great parent dogs. We are the only completely transparent breeder nationwide to offer eight full weeks of live puppy action! Very few breeders offer this unlimited access because puppies poop a lot and they have bigger poops as they get bigger. They are also susceptible to more because, well, their still very young and therefore have immature immune systems. Similar to human babies. They even have poop parties! We are proud of our work here at MBD and we would love for you to be an active part of the journey to bringing your new fur baby home. Having a Guardian Home program is the gold standard for quality of care. We want our parent dogs to be happy and that means no kennels, lots of love, living in a regular home surrounded by amazing people and kids and going to watch them play at their games! They love their babies, like we do, and have a limited number of pregnancies. Five, at the most, if everything goes perfectly. We even have a Guardian club! Happy dogs, happy puppies! With this model, MBD will never become over crowded, dogs would never ever be over bred and they are ALL happy happy happy dogs. To learn more, please visit the guardian page and then e-mail us at Elisa MAbernedoodles. Entertaining, educational and transparent! Our puppies are cuddled and loved by people from the day they are born and you get to see it all! Therefore, I have made the decision to keep the environment for my parent dogs kennel-free in our exclusive MBD doggie daycare! All of our parent dogs either live with guardian families or at MBD! They play together in their groups by day, in one of our six doggie play arenas, and sleep together by night! Some sleep in crates at night in order to maintain their house training but usually my bed is quite full! At MBD, we maintain the highest standard of care for every dog and puppy. They are all very well socialized, much loved and very happy! Doodles in pairs pictured above! The Process: 1. Please take a few moments to explore the website! Learn about Bernedoodles and what makes us unique at MBD! Most of your questions will be answered on this website. Conversely, please also research what a puppy mill is and what it looks like so you can be sure not to buy from a puppy mill. Caution: Extreme cuteness overload may occur and could last several decades. Tendency to become addictive and you may want more than one. .Click here to learn about our puppy pricing and click here to find the 5 minute puppy adoption application. Filling this out will prompt Elisa to reach out to you via email with our upcoming availability. You can go ahead fill out the 5 minute adoption application and place a deposit via the PayPal button on the puppy deposit page. You will receive a confirmation email within business days. PayPal is our deposit method of choice because it offers YOU protection against the many scams out there currently. However, we do accept other payment methods for the balance when you come to choose your puppy! Additional questions? However, on occasion, there are last minute openings! Blue Merle Mini Bernedoodle at 9 weeks old Bernedoodles are by far, the most loving, loyal, loving, family friendly, non-shedding, most intelligent canine companions created. They come in many sizes depending on the sizes of the mother and father. Every Doodle from MBD is one-of-a-kind with the most wonderful, family-friendly temperaments. It is always so exciting to see what each litter will look like! A Mini Bernedoodle at 3 months old pictured above. However, doodles are widely accepted as the best dog for most people who have fur related allergies. View Our Available Bernedoodle Puppies! Standard Bernedoodles are bigger than Mini Bernedoodles reaching weights of pounds. They average inches in height at the shoulders when fully grown. Our Standard Bernedoodle puppies are all 1st generation-F1 variety puppies. They have purebred Bernese Mountain dogs for moms and the dads are Standard poodles. Their Standard Bernedoodles life expectancy is years old. Blue Diamond Bernedoodles have a loving, easy-going, and calm temperament. Bernedoodles are very loyal and social and love to spend time with their parents. Standard Bernedoodles need regular grooming because of their curly and thick coats. Shedding is very minimal after their first haircut and grooming. This breed is known to be a hypoallergenic choice. Here at Blue Diamond Family Kennels, we specialize in breeding Standard Bernedoodles along with a few other great breeds. We have teamed up with a few other reputable Bernedoodle breeders that breed and raise Bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. On our Standard Bernedoodle puppies page you will see all of our available puppies for sale. Questions about Bernedoodle puppies for sale in Boston MA? We have answers. Give me a an overview of Bernedoodle puppies for sale in Boston MA. While a Bernese Mountain dog is also a large dog, the size of a Bernedoodle puppy typically depends on the size of the Poodle parent. The best way to understand exactly how the Bernedoodle came about is to speak with one of our top rated Boston Bernedoodle breeders where you can even express your interest for a new puppy! What if there aren't any Bernedoodles for sale near me? We hear all the time from our customers that they are tired of sorting through local breeders or Bernedoodle breeders in Boston when there are so many other experienced breeders willing to arrange travel for a puppy to meet you at your preferred major airport. One of the greatest benefits of working with Uptown Puppies is our expertise in connecting puppies with loving owners. Why should I trust Uptown Puppies? Why is Uptown Puppies different from finding a Bernedoodle puppy online? Most of the time, when you search for Bernedoodle puppies for sale in Boston using an online search, what you are really doing is sorting the breeders by marketing dollars spent, not necessarily by their reputation within the animal community. This is the trickery that Uptown Puppies is trying so hard to help our customers avoid. How much is the average Pug? Prices of Bernedoodle puppies in Boston are likely to vary based on several factors, such as experience of the breeder, rarity of the sub-breed, or even the location of the dog. No matter your price range, with help from the Uptown Puppies network you can find your ideal pup. What is a puppy mill? A puppy mill is a factory like breeding facility where popular breeds are forced to reproduce more often than they naturally would which can cause stress and eventually health issues down the line. Can I only pick from local breeders? Before companies like Uptown Puppies existed, consumers were pretty limited when it came to finding qualified Bernedoodle breeders because it was exclusively a local search. Luckily, the companies and breeders in the Uptown Network have decades of experience arranging travel for their dogs to major airports around the US, which makes your search easier than ever! What should I expect from Bernedoodles in general? When you first bring home your Bernedoodle puppy you should expect a friendly, affectionate, clever puppy, one with a very hypoallergenic coat that is still soft like a blanket. Do Bernedoodles come in different colors? Bernedoodles are commonly available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes! What about Bernedoodle grooming?

Please stay tuned. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. A note about our process: We are hobby or preservation bulldog breeders. This means that we show our dogs in the confirmation show ring and when we have a nice female or male, we will consider breeding in order to improve the breed and give us another dog to compete in the confirmation ring with. What this means for families looking for a pet bulldog is that typically there will be puppies in each litter that are not suited for the show ring their tails may be too high, for example, or their ears may be set wrong, etc. They are from champion lines, with only small imperfections that make them unsuitable for the show ring. We evaluate our puppies at between eight and 10 weeks to determine who will stay with us to be shown and who will go to pet homes. While we post puppy pictures on our website and Facebook page, not all of these puppies will be available as pets. After a litter is eight weeks old, all of our available puppies will be listed on our website. Our pet puppies are sold with a limited AKC registration. This means that the dog is registered but no litters produced by that dog are eligible for registration. Please note: We do not ship puppies. We ask that each puppy we place has someone come and pick him or her up. If you are traveling by air, the puppy can ride with you in the cabin. For more photos and videos of our bulldog puppies, follow Cascade Bulldogs on Facebook or Instagram! Please contact Gail by calling or emailing [email protected] if you have any questions. We are located in the Seattle, Washington area. A big thank you to Two Hounds and a Cat Photography for the beautiful photos! For More Information. American Bully Stud Service!! Bulldogs for sale in Columbus can only breed with the help of veterinarians as they have to go through artificial insemination due to their very narrow hips. Crate trained which will come with him Toilet trained, Good recall and knows commands. They are compact, agile, and become extremely attached to their human companions. We shrive to meet and even goes past those expectations in our Bully puppies. Find your American Bully puppy for sale in Ohio Puppies. Find American Bulldog puppies for sale Near Ohio Athletic, confident, and sturdy, the American Bulldog is a temperamentally sound breed. Golden Retriever Puppies For Sale. Kilkieran Kennels And Snowstorm Labradors. Disaster American Bulldogs. American Bulldog puppies for sale in Cincinnati, OH from trusted. American Bully puppies for sale in Ohio from trusted breeders. Join millions of people using Oodle to find puppies for adoption, dog and puppy listings, and other pets adoption. The pups then need to be delivered by C-section. Find American Bully puppies for sale Near Ohio Originally developed to be a family companion dog, the American Bully is characterized by their gentle disposition, cheerful. Kessler Kennels LLC. They leave May 5th will be utd on shots and tails and few claws will be docked View Detail. Cambridge, OH. American Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Ohio. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to find your perfect puppy in your area. Canine Corral works with our reputable American Bulldog dog breeders. Also, be sure to check the American Bulldog. Ohio American Bully Classifieds Hoobly. Adopt American Bulldogs in Ohio. Breeding Announcement! American Bulldog puppies for sale in Cincinnati, OH from. I m not opposed to going on walks but I don t like to go too far. Health tested, vet checked, up to date on shots, dewormings, dewclawed more. All of our puppies are vaccinated with 6 and 7 and 8 week age appropria… more. American Bulldog. American Bulldog puppies for sale in Ohio from trusted. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want. What if there are no Bulldog breeders in Columbus? Adopt an American Bulldog near you in Waverly, Ohio We don't see any American Bulldogs available for adoption right now, but new adoptable pets are added every day. I m a pretty mellow fellow that likes to lounge around. American Bulldog, Ohio » Cleveland. They come with vet certification registration papers a certified pedigree and a puppy starter kit. Laurkim Labradors is located in Medina, Ohio and breeds high quality black, yellow including the fox red shade of yellow Labrador Retrievers. Cute nice and good looking pit bull puppies for sale vet and Akc registered with all heal. Find American Bulldog puppies for sale. American Bulldog For Sale in Cleveland .Athletic, confident, and sturdy, the American Bulldog is a temperamentally sound breed. Tom Road, Marietta, OH .Grown up with other dogs of all breeds and sex. Our focus is on breeding for quality , health, genetics while making the transition from our loving home to yours as easy as possible. Adopt American Bulldogs in Ohio Filter American Bulldog mix Bentley has it all - good looks and a winning personality to go along with his sweet face! You can train our dogs to be hunters but they are mainly family bred dogs. A huge part of the American culture, the American bulldog is one of the most loved and sought-after dog breeds in the United States and the world at large. We have our boy LouisVLines's Akono open to the public. American Bulldog puppies for sale. Try a different search below! Search Now Search for an American Bulldog puppy or dog. Jemm's American Bulldogs is an entire family whose love and devotion to this great breed has produced a breeding program we are all extremely proud of since .These puppies are family raised and well socialized with children and other pets. How are American Bulldogs priced near the Ohio area? Find your American Bully puppy for sale in Ohio. They come with vet certification. Registration: Other Registration. First set of puppy vaccinations. Bulldogs for Sale in Cleveland. American Bulldog For Sale in Ohio .Bulldogs for Sale in Dayton. American Bulldogs for Sale in Columbus. Registered miniature bulldogs. Female American Bulldog Height: .This is the price you can expect to pay for the American Bulldog breed without breeding rights. These XXL Bullies dogs have the desired breed size, and muscle. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to. This map shows how many American Bulldogs are posted in other states. American Bulldog Puppies for Sale. Due to their obvious strength and agility, they are often viewed as a kind of cultural icon in America. We are the home to some of the best XL American Bullies across the globe. English bulldog boy. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. Maple Heights, Ohio. I have XXL American. Find American Bully puppies for sale Near Ohio Originally developed to be a family companion dog, the American Bully is characterized by their gentle disposition, cheerful nature, and an extraordinary willingness to please. Our American Bulldog puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. Activity level: Moderate Litter Size: 7 - 16 puppies. These puppies would be perfect as a Christmas gift or just an addition to your family! He is the biggest of his litter coming in at 8. Don't miss what's happening in your neighborhood. If you are unable to find your Bulldog puppy in our Puppy for Sale or Dog for Sale sections, please consider looking thru thousands of Bulldog Dogs for Adoption. American Bulldog bulldog Puppies For Sale. Our bloodlines are healthy and strong. Dogs and Puppies, American Bully. Browse these American Bulldog rescues and shelters below. This can raise their price compared to other breeds. Our puppies are raised inside our home and. Millersburg, OH .Our pups are hand raised in our home with lots of love and come pre spoiled. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for. OH ID: .Miniature English. American bulldogs for sale jlrzrr member 23 days Cleveland, Ohio Dogs and Puppies, American Bulldog American bulldogs for sale ready to go to there new home going home with nkc registration and vaccinations 4 females American Bulldog NKC available for stud service gregwb member 9 months Massillon, Ohio Dogs and Puppies, Male American Bulldog Height: .Click on a number to view those needing rescue in that state. Mom is fawn and dad is brindle. I have 10 American Bulldogs puppies with parents on site. Parents are fully health tested Hips,elbows, eyes, heart echocardiogram, full Labrador genetic testing , dilute clear, American Bulldogs for Sale in Cincinnati. American Bully puppy for sale in Ohio. There are not to many dogs that bear the name Anerican or bulldog. Centrally located in Michigan between Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to. Discover more about our American Bulldog puppies for sale below! Our breeding programs consists of temperament and genetic testing. Here are a few organizations closest to you: Rescue .Evy's French Bulldog Puppies. As of right now theyre 12 weeks born Septem… more. Bulldogs for Sale in Cincinnati. He is loaded with wrinkles, has deep blue eyes, and loves to play. American Bulldog puppies for sale in Ohio from trusted breeders. All our American Bulldogs are gentle family dogs we breed social family dogs, we don't breed for high prey. We do show our Bulldogs and conformation is the key. So every breeding is carefully thought out. We are always looking for that special show dog but we also are very mindful of health and temperament. We breed to our bulldog Champion males and males that we are showing for their Championships, occasionally we breed to Champion males that other breeders have that we think will compliment our females and improve our line. While doing these things we believe it also adds to the quality of our bulldog puppies that become loved companions to the wonderful homes that are strictly interested in spoiling one of these awesome Bulldogs. English Bulldogs are wonderful with children and adults alike. Intelligent, loving and gentle, the English Bulldog will steal your heart away, especially the English Bulldog puppies. With their distinctive mugs English Bulldogs have a look all their own that will have you hooked before you realize it, and those adorable bulldog puppy mugs will capture your heart. Check out our Puppies Page for pictures of our newest arrivals, and come back often as we post new puppy pictures often. If you are looking for a loving companion for yourself or maybe a puppy for your children, the English Bulldog is a great addition to any home. There is no better place to find Bulldog puppies for sale. Please note: if you want to purchase a quality Country Bulls English Bulldog from our quality Bulldog stud, there is only one place on the internet. If you have any questions, all you have to do is pick up the phone.

Sponsor Meet Erin Erin is a wonderful, loving and loyal girl who has anxiety; she can be unsure of herself in situations that are new to her. While the veterinary behaviorists don't believe she has separation anxiety, she will need a home dedicated to making her feel comfortable when she is feeling overwhelmed. She forms a huge bond with her people if given the time to earn her trust. Erin is looking for an experienced dog guardian who is willing to continue her training to ease her anxiety and help her feel safe. Her ideal home would be outside of the city where there are fewer environmental aspects to worry her. The shelter can be a stressful environment despite all efforts to make sure our animals are happy and comfortable. Erin receives daily training, meditation, and decompression time to ease her stress. At this point, we've done our utmost to make her comfortable, but she needs that 1-on-1 care to continue her journey of tackling her anxiety that we simply cannot provide in a shelter environment. Consistency, patience, and the ability to understand dog body language will be key to helping her start the next chapter of her journey. If you are interested in meeting Erin, please contact Animal Haven and schedule a time to meet her. Considering Erin for adoption? The state has a diverse landscape, plenty of outdoor activities, and dog-friendly businesses. Hike the Trails Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. There are many hiking trails in New York that are perfect for English bulldogs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog, and take breaks often. Visit a Campground Camping is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many campgrounds in New York that allow dogs. Be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, and other supplies. There are many places to fish in New York, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to get a fishing license and follow all the rules and regulations. Go Boating Boating is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many places to boat in New York, both on rivers and lakes. Be sure to bring a life jacket for your dog and follow all the safety rules. There are many places to swim in New York, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and follow all the safety rules. Visit a Dog Park Dog parks are a great place for English bulldogs to run and play off-leash. There are many dog parks in New York, both in urban and rural areas. Visit Pet-Friendly Businesses New York has a number of pet-friendly businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and stores. These are just a few of the many things you can do with your English bulldog in New York. With its stunning scenery, endless activities, and friendly people, New York is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your furry friend. How do you breed for a healthier English Bulldog? Like all things in life, breeding for health is simply a matter of priority. We are blind to many of the breed priorities that distract other breeders from improving the health of the English Bulldog. We focus on health and personality and very little else. We are not interested in winning a blue ribbon in the show ring. Rather, we test for things like elongated soft palates, narrow tracheas, stenotic nares, luxation in the patellar tendons, heart defects, cherry eye, optic cilia, entropion, ect. We focus and prioritize creating healthy bloodlines, therefore our bulldogs are typically much healthier than the breed as a whole. After breeding for health, what other priorities are you focused on? Our true desire is to create the perfect family bulldog. We also believe a bulldog bred for the correct personality is essential to the family unit as well. A Bruiser Bulldog is bred for intelligence and playfulness. We want our bulldogs to be full of personality and some quirk. We believe a full personality along with a little stubbornness is the true North star of the bulldog breed and is what makes the unique among other breeds. We look for these personality traits in our adult bulldogs and continue to create bloodlines that reflect these qualities. What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in New York? Check out our available English Bulldog Puppies page. At times, we have available puppies but almost always have a waiting list as well. A quick look at our available puppies is the starting point to begin the process. Send us an email or give us call .If approved to adopt one of our puppies you are welcome to place a deposit to hold until your puppy is ready to go home. Greetings from the Wysongs! Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T.

Thanks for submitting! It has been proven by mixing this combination of dogs it can drastically reduce many health problems. We only choose quality breeding stock for our breeding program. Our breeding dogs are genetically tested for different genetic defects through Embark. We also do OFA certification and Penn hip. It is our priority to produce only the healthiest puppies that will be part of your family for many years! We want all of our dogs to live long, happy, health lives. Miniature golden retriever personality There's a lot of reason why golden retrievers are so popular and why people want a miniature version of them. For many, they are an ideal dog breed. Friendly, easy going and clever, they make great family pets for most families. Mini golden retriever Size We use www. We cannot guarantee the size of your puppy but we do the best we can. Our Miniature Goldens range in size from lbs. Their affable nature, stunning appearance, and remarkable intelligence have made them a favorite among dog enthusiasts for generations. And now, a new variation has emerged that takes all these wonderful qualities and packages them in a smaller size — the Miniature Golden Retriever. We'll delve into the captivating world of Miniature Golden Retrievers, exploring their characteristics, care needs, and the considerations to keep in mind if you're interested in bringing one of these delightful pups into your home. These pint-sized companions are the result of carefully selected breeding, combining the beloved traits of the standard Golden Retriever with smaller breeds to create a charming and compact version. They retain the signature golden coat, the warm eyes that reflect their boundless affection, and that unmistakable wagging tail that instantly brightens any room. Characteristics That Steal Hearts Miniature Golden Retrievers embody all the qualities that have made their larger counterparts cherished members of countless families. Their intelligence shines through as they quickly grasp commands, making training an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Just like standard Golden Retrievers, they possess a natural desire to please, making them fantastic companions for families, singles, and seniors alike. While they may be smaller in stature, their hearts are as big as ever. Mini Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle and friendly demeanor, making them excellent playmates for children and other pets. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in various living environments, from apartments to spacious homes with yards. Care Considerations Caring for a Miniature Golden Retriever is a deeply rewarding journey that requires attention and dedication. Their lush double coat requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and free from tangles. Weekly brushing not only helps maintain their appearance but also strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend. Consult your veterinarian to determine the right type and amount of food to keep your Mini Golden Retriever in optimal health. Regular exercise is equally important, as it keeps their minds sharp and their bodies in shape. Bringing a Miniature Golden Retriever Home Now, you might be wondering where to find these enchanting companions. You might have searched "mini golden retriever puppies for sale" or "mini golden retrievers for sale" which led you to us. So when seeking a breeder, it's essential to prioritize ethical practices. Reputable breeders focus on the health and welfare of their dogs, ensuring that puppies are raised in loving environments. These dogs can live up to years, so be prepared for a long-term partnership filled with love, loyalty, and unforgettable moments. Their friendly nature, intelligence, and undeniable charm make them a wonderful addition to a variety of households. Whether you're seeking a loyal companion for leisurely strolls or a furry friend to join in family adventures, the Miniature Golden Retriever is a breed that promises to enrich your life in countless ways. So, if you're captivated by the idea of sharing your life with a Miniature Golden Retriever, take the time to explore reputable breeders offering mini golden retriever puppies for sale or mini golden retrievers for sale. With proper care, patience, and a heart full of love, you're bound to find a loyal companion who will brighten your days for years to come. Not only will you learn the skills you need to be successful, but your puppy will learn incredible manners and behaviors as well! Each puppy that comes from our kennel comes home with a beautiful Registration Certificate. Continuing this daily regimen is the easiest and best way to keep your pet on the path to perfect health! NuVet Plus is a lifetime product to help support their immune system and provide assistance to their optimal health. A strong immune system will protect them from environmental and food toxins such as back yard pesticides, hormones, germs from public places, and even toxic formaldehyde in furniture and carpeting. NuVet Plus is a full spectrum, immune system support supplement that contains over 30 different nutrient dense ingredients that well better equip puppies to get and stay healthy. She is already so comfortable here and so attached. She gets so excited every time she sees us. And she has such a sweet disposition Everything goes for her. She just rolls with it. She loves to play and has lots of playful energy when she chases behind a toy or plays tug of war. But she loves to cuddle too, and she can busy herself well too without complaint. Yesterday we left her home when we went on a walk and she never barked or whined and was fast asleep when we returned. She accepted her crate as if she had never known any other place to rest. She just crawls in there and rests when she is tired. And when she wakes up, she quietly plays until we take her out of the playpen. Her potty training is going well. A couple of accidents here and there, but most of the time we catch her before anything happens, and she always does her business right away when we put her on the grass patch we have on the patio. She is getting a treat when she does her business. So, she actually figured out that if she spares some pee and squats several times, she will get several treats. Only One treat for the first time, everything after does not get rewarded any more. Wow, I have never seen a puppy learning that fast. And loving to learn. Being really food driven helps. I could not think of a better quarantine buddy to brighten up our day. I think she will be an amazing therapy dog who brightens up the day if many more people. Oh, and did I mention she is absolutely beautiful? Thank you again for that gift, Michele. I hope you are all doing well and are coping with the many new puppies. Some stressful days ahead of you, I am sure. And you are the best puppy mom I have ever encountered. Lots of love to your whole beautiful family! We are passionate about these little treasures and our small breeding program. We are a busy family with 4 children ages .Our dogs are part of our family and live with us, in our home, and under foot. The Miniature Golden Retriever, also known as the Petite Golden and Mini Golden, is a Designer Breed that has been crossbred to produce a healthier dog with the happy people-loving temperament of the Golden Retriever, the small size and sweet cuddly personality of the King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel, and the intelligent temperament and low shedding coat of the Poodle. Our Miniature Golden Retrievers range in size from pounds. Occasionally we may have smaller puppies maturing at closer to 15 pounds and larger puppies maturing closer to 50 pounds. We will do our best to make an estimate of the adult size of your puppy, but ultimately we can NOT guarantee adult sizes. We breed for temperament, health, and size. Our dogs are DNA tested and annually health screened by our vet before breeding. All our puppies come with a 2 year health guarantee. Start the adoption process today!!! We are a family-owned breeder located out in the country in Loudonville, Ohio where we have 30 acres of beautiful farmland for the puppies to run. It is our goal to make sure all of our Golden Retriever Puppies are ready for their new family, so being a family of 11, the puppies are well socialized. We pride ourselves on making the adoption process easy, convenient, and comfortable. If you are looking to adopt a Mini Golden Retriever and do not live nearby, we offer specialized delivery right to your door. Thank you for visiting - we look forward to meeting you! Our Mini Golden Retrievers are magical! They also can be mixed with only Golden Retriever and Poodle. We strive to duplicate the Standard Golden Retriever but with added benefits. These benefits include fewer health problems, more manageable size and weight, and less shedding. Available Puppies Nationwide Puppy Delivery We offer specialized and custom delivery to any destination in the lower .We want your new puppy to arrive home safe and happy, which is why we have a designated puppy delivery team to hand deliver your special new family member! We can deliver by car or by plane and are flexible to meet your needs. More About Delivery Options Recommended Food For Your New Puppy We know that it's important for us to consume a healthy diet to maintain our health and keep us away from the doctor, and your puppy is no different. Proper nutrition plays a vital in supporting growth, muscle development, a strong immune system, and overall health so your puppy can live as long as possible. It is important not to cut corners and give your puppy food that is filled with non-nutritional fillers. PawTree is an AMAZING company that offers incredible products, and we have never found another company that is so focused on the health and growth its customers' puppies. Their recipes are clean and don't have any artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or poultry by-products. They offer interesting seasonings to change up your puppy's food flavors, a variety of treats, toys, shampoos, potty training products, and more. Use the link below to begin shopping for the best dog food you can get! Order pawTree Products Recommended Supplements For Your New Puppy Weaning your new puppy can be quite a change in your puppy's life and your puppy won't have the antioxidants it used to have while nursing. So let's take look at your future puppy a bit closer. If your puppy is recently weaned, it may not be receiving all of the strong nutrients and antioxidants like they used to during weaning. This, along with the added stress of rehoming, can be a bit concerning for your puppy's health. With all that your new puppy is experiencing during this period of time, it is important for us to watch them closely and get their immune system up so they can naturally fight off certain ailments such as environmental and food toxins like backyard pesticides, hormones, and germs from public places. You may be thinking, "WOW, sounds pretty worrisome! These supplements come in a wafer or powder form. The wafer form can even be offered as a treat since puppies enjoy the taste so much. With these supplement boosts you can rest easier knowing you are improving your new puppy's overall health. NuVet Plus has natural ingredients and they go to great lengths to create this product in a safe yet effective form. We have not found any alternative that we recommend more! We suggest taking advantage of this product and ordering NuVet Plus even before your puppy is either delivered or picked up. When ordering, use code for our special discount. Life Span Did You Know? This cross is meant to produce a smaller version of a Golden Retriever that retains the classic Golden look and their characteristic friendly and sweet temperament. Mini Golden Retrievers tend to maintain a temperament very similar to Golden Retrievers. They tend to have a sweet, open, and friendly nature. Mini Goldens get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. These dogs tend to make great family pets and can also be found working as service dogs or therapy dogs. Due to their smaller size, the Miniature Golden Retriever is a highly adaptable dog breed. As long as they get enough exercise, they are happy in apartments as well as larger homes with yards. They also do well in just about any climate. As with most dog breeds, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. Because these dogs are so people-oriented, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time as they would much rather be an active member of the family. For Mini Golden Retrievers, these could include elbow dysplasia, heart issues, eye disease, and hip dysplasia. Asking the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and checking out available health clearances or tests can help allay potential health concerns. All of the dog breeds in the cross for a Mini Golden Retriever are highly trainable. So, these dogs tend to be highly trainable, intelligent, and eager to please their owners. They tend to be a good fit for dog owners of all experience levels, including first-time dog owners. They respond best to positive training methods focused on praise, play, and reward. Although the aim is to have the Miniature Golden Retriever look just like a smaller version of a Golden Retriever, there will be variance in the coats because it is a mixed dog breed. You may have puppies that look identical to a Golden Retriever or you may have puppies with tightly curled or wavy coats from their Poodle or Spaniel parents. With the Poodle in the cross, there may be a chance of a low-shedding coat, but you will want to be prepared for a dog that will shed moderately year-round and that requires regular brushing and bathing with the occasional professional grooming session. Floppy ears tend to be more prone to ear infections, but regular checks and careful cleaning can help prevent them. Dental care for dogs is so important. But, it is often overlooked, which is why dental disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. The Miniature Golden Retriever is likely to be a high energy dog that requires plenty of exercise to be happy and healthy. Daily walks, plus playtime and some extra activity should be sufficient for this dog. They will likely enjoy any activity that means they get to do things with you, which means they may enjoy hiking with you, taking trips to the dog park , swimming, or even training to compete in dog sports. A fully-grown Miniature Golden Retriever usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. A Mini Golden Retriever generally lives years. Dwarfism does occur in Golden Retrievers, which results in a smaller Golden Retriever and can also cause additional health concerns. Meeting the parent breeds in person and asking to see health tests can help you verify that you have a Mini Golden Retriever. Miniature Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale. 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We have answers. We look at a multiple factors, including price range, when helping you choose the best puppy. In general, prices can vary based on factors like age, temperament, pedigree, size and more. Golden Retriever puppies in Washington DC will be priced similarly to comparable puppies in other areas. We do! Our network of breeders and companies includes Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Washington DC and across the country. We only work with the best of the best and our Washington DC area Golden Retriever breeders and partners are no exception. Are you able to provide puppies from out of state? Not a problem. The breeders and businesses that we partner with are skilled at getting puppies safe and secure from one state to another, excluding Hawaii and Alaska. We vouch for the trustworthiness of any Golden Retriever puppies Washington DC that are acquired through our network. Many boutique pet stores get their supply from these places and the animals can sadly have health and behavioral issues. This is why we are committed to our Breeder Pledge and only working with experienced and vetted experts. The pedigree of the puppies with the breeders and companies we work with is impeccable. If you are looking for a purebred, you will be able to verify through all of the proper paperwork the lineage of your new puppy. How does the Uptown Puppies service work? Our special MatchMaker tool enables us to make only the best matches to create those special memories! By finding out the most critical components of your preferences and lifestyle, our algorithm and experts are able to introduce you to one of our one of a kind breeders and businesses where you can meet your new fur ball! Why should I go with Uptown? The most important part of bringing home a new puppy is knowing that you are supporting ethical breeding and can provide a good home. We take away the stress of these worries and do all the work behind the scenes so you can focus on what really matters, getting to know your new pooch. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We are a small, hobby breeder that raises highly socialized, health tested, in-home quality puppies. We are a retired couple and live on a beautiful hobby farm in Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. We are not a puppy mill, and average 4 litters a year. Our daughter lives in Silver Spring, MD and we visit often. We can usually hand-deliver to your area, which makes it convenient for our families. Our daughter is a a breeder too, so occasionally has her own litters right in your back yard. We often sell to Maryland and DC buyers, so we make it easy and convenient for you because we know the process. We've become a trusted breeder for your area. We only offer our Golden puppies for sale to homes where we can screen the buyers ahead of time and make sure it's a great forever match. We usually take deposits ahead of time on our beautiful puppies and form a relationship with great relationship with you. There's always a level of trust formed between breeder and families, and we do our best to gain and maintain your trust throughout the process. It is also good for us to get to know our puppy families. It ensures that the puppies we care so carefully for are placed very responsibly into homes. English Cream Puppy Process What is our deposit? We lock your price in for your golden retriever puppy when you place your deposit, so if the price goes up, yours does not. We take deposits via email invoice with cards, so it is convenient for you. We have a real "business" so we do things professionally. How do you pick your puppy? We temperament test our puppies and observe them since birth. We are professionals at matching puppies with families lifestyles, but the choice is ultimately yours, which puppy you get. Our Golden Retriever puppy pick-outs are at around 6 weeks. We allow you to choose out of a group of puppies depending on your pick spot. Our out-of-state buyers usually use Facetime or Facebook to pick their puppies out with live video. You'll see weekly videos and pictures of the puppies as they grow, so you it will be an informed decision for you to choose when it's your turn. We will share with you their temperaments, sizes and builds, so you get a great match. You are also welcome to visit the farm and pick your puppy out in person. Most of our buyers reserved to visit once when they pick their puppy up at 8 weeks. Life Companions We know that your puppy will be your family member for life. The greatest part of our job is the magical moments that you first get to hold your English Golden Retriever puppy. It often brings tears to everyone's eyes. If you are interested in one of our beautiful puppies, please fill out our form on our home page or available puppies page at no obligation. We will be in touch with you within a few days and will have your preferences saved. We are diligent to follow up with every inquiry. We look forward to hearing from you. We had professional careers until we retired, putting all of our extra time and money into our hobby farm. We have a horse barn with our beautiful work horses and several retired English riding horses. It is a peaceful yet adventurous place for our beloved English Golden Retrievers. They get to explore the top part of our acre farm with us every day. Message sent. All rights reserved. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. So cute! White-golden-retriver-in-md Country is a phenomenal example of the blocky European style head and frame that is sought after in the English cream goldens. English-cream-golden-retriever-puppy Destiny is a beautiful English cream puppy, new to the family but already a huge part of who we are! We have been specializing in Goldens for over 25 years and we have puppies to visit that will be ready to go to their new families just in time Christmas!! Please check our puppy page for updated information and don't hesitate to ask any further questions or request a visit.What is a "white golden" English Cream Golden Retriever? That is a great question, and one we get pretty often, visit our learn about Golden's page here, to learn more about the breed and how to care for your English cream Golden Retriever. About us! Welcome to Wonderkind White Gold! Our white gold English cream puppies are born and raised in a family setting on a private mini-ranch in Fallston, Maryland. On our site you can get more information about us, our puppies, our outstanding nutrition program to insure their proper growth from the start! Our family would love to meet yours! If you want us to drop the cuties off along the way just ask!

When you bring a new puppy home, it's important to keep feeding it the same food that it has been eating at its previous home. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Talk to the person or organization that you are adopting your puppy from to see what food they are feeding it. They should willingly provide that info and they may even send you home with some if you can't find any to buy. If you can't find the right food in your local pet supply store, consider ordering it online. However, you would need to order it ahead of time so that you have it on hand when the puppy comes home. If you want to feed your puppy a different food from what it has been eating, you will need to switch its food over the course of several days. Feed that mix for several days. Finally, you can give the puppy all new food. If you are content to give your puppy the food it was originally eating, it's fine to do that. Every puppy will have different nutritional needs. Because of this, it's a good idea to discuss proper nutrition with your vet. They can suggest great foods to give your puppy and how much it should be eating. Go to source The right portion size depends on the size of your puppy and its metabolism. Ask your vet to teach you how to body score your puppy. This will allow you to do a quick visual check to see whether your puppy is losing or gaining weight. Tip: If your vet suggests a specific food but doesn't tell you how much to give your puppy, follow the instructions on the packaging. Doing 3 or 4 feedings per day allows your puppy to get enough nutrients without overwhelming its digestive system with a huge amount of food at once. This is especially important when your puppy is under 6 months old, as they have delicate systems. Go to source Don't just leave the food out all day. Take the food away after the puppy eats for about 10 or 15 minutes. Lab puppies should always have access to fresh water so that they can stay adequately hydrated. Put out a dish of water and dump it out, clean the dish, and refill it daily. Some puppies are really messy with their water dishes. To prevent a mess, try putting the water dish on a tray, so that spilled water won't go right onto the floor. Helpful tips for caring for your puppy About the Labrador Retriever The Labrador Retriever originated in Canada in the 19th century and is now a world-wide beloved dog breed. These dogs are medium-sized dogs, females have a height of .Their average weight as an adult is pounds for females and pounds for males. They have a life expectancy of years. When it comes to their temperament, Labrador retrievers are very loyal, friendly and affectionate companion dogs. They are known for being very social towards strangers and other dogs. Labrador retrievers also come in three colours : black, brown or yellow. These dogs are very active as they need plenty of walks, play time and affection. They are great with children and make a great companion dog. If you're thinking of adopting a Labrador retriever puppy, keep reading as we go through how to care for them! Learn more about the Labrador Retriever in our breed sheet. When to collect your Labrador puppy You can adopt and collect your Labrador puppy once they are 8 weeks old. This way, you make sure that they have had enough time to socialize with their family, mother and siblings. It also makes sure that they have developed good bite moderation before being adopted to their new family. Other advantages are that they have had time to drink their mother's milk and properly wean off. They will also feel more independent and will transition better to their new home after being 8 weeks old. We also encourage you to check out your local animal shelter before buying from a breeder. Where your puppy should sleep the first night When it comes to sleeping at night, your puppy will have some difficulties. This may be due to the new environment and new people. They may feel unprotected and disoriented. For this reason, it's normal to hear them cry as they may be calling their mother for guidance and company. Now that you've adopted this puppy, this is your job as their human companion. When they call out, try to be there for them as they are scared and lonely. Be understanding as your puppy learns to adapt to their new home. As a puppy is very dependent and on their first night they will feel scared and disoriented, it's best they sleep near you on their first night. Remember that puppies tend to sleep with their siblings and their mother. Being alone in a new place for the first time will be difficult for them. The best option for your new puppy is to sleep in their own bed inside your room, near you. So that if they feel scared or lost and cry, you can let them know that you are there with them. Once they feel more oriented and safe in their new home, you can move their bed to another location where they can sleep. Learn more in our article where we elaborate on how to prepare for your puppy's first night in their new home. What to feed your Labrador retriever puppy When feeding your Labrador retriever puppy, you will need to provide them with a rich and balanced diet. Keep in mind that puppies begin weaning when they are around weeks old. This means that they will slowly transition from their mother's milk to a solid food canine diet. A natural canine diet mainly consists in essential fatty acids and meat-based protein. The protein should have two or three types of protein from meat. For example: whole chicken, lamb, beef and fish. For fat sources, you can opt for chicken fat. Good fat sources can solute some of the most important vitamins a dog needs. When it comes to carbs, it should be kept in a low amount as dogs thrive on meat. If you are cooking for your dog, then we recommend to include low amounts of whole carbs, such as sweet potatoes. Lastly, you can offer some fruits and vegetables that provide good vitamins and minerals to help your dog's over-all health. Training your Labrador retriever puppy Labrador Retrievers are very active and intelligent dogs. Other than daily exercise, they will need basic dog training. Yes, even as a puppy! You can begin training your dog with paper training. Learn more about that in our article about paper training for puppies. You can then begin to teach them basic commands, such as to sit, stay, or even to play fetch. Remember to always train them for short amounts of time each day, not exceeding 15min, and always through positive reinforcement. This way, training will be enjoyable for them and will help you create a greater bond with them. To learn more, read our article about when to start training your puppy. Exercising your Labrador retriever puppy Your Labrador retriever puppy will needs plenty of exercise. Due to their small size as a puppy, this will mostly be at home. They will begin by playing with their siblings and walking or running around the house. Then, after their first round of vaccinations, usually around the age of 7 weeks old, puppies will begin to go outside. This is a very important part of their puppyhood as they will learn to go out on walks with their caregivers and will begin their socialization period. During this period, they will meet and interact with new people and other dogs. They will also explore new places. It's very important that during this period they have good interactions and don't get traumatized. When a puppy is well socialized from a young age, they will have a balanced temperament as adult dogs. Learn more in our article about socializing puppies. Hygiene care Next, we're going to talk about maintaining our puppy's hygiene. As Labrador puppies haven't grown their full coat, they won't need to be brushed regularly just yet. A bath is only necessary when they get very dirty on their outdoor walks. Dental hygiene is also important when it comes to caring for a puppy. You can opt for a dog tooth paste or a dental canine treat. Talk to your veterinarian to see which would be best for you puppy, and learn more in our article about dental hygiene for dogs. Other than that, we must make sure that their everyday environment is also clean and that we refresh their water bowl everyday. This way, our puppy will have great personal hygiene and we can help them prevent certain health issues from a young age. Health care Lastly, we're going to talk about your Labrador retriever's health. The Labrador Retriever is a relatively healthy and long-living dog, especially if they stay in shape. However, the lack of genetic diversity resulting from breeding programs makes them prone to certain hereditary diseases and conditions , which are usually manifested as the dog grows old. For instance, Labradors tend to suffer from hip dysplasia. When your Lab is a puppy, you must ensure they get the necessary vaccines, and you must follow their vaccination schedule during the rest of their lives. This will prevent them from suffering very serious diseases that tend to affect dogs. If you want your dog to stay as healthy as possible, go to the vet for check-ups every 6 months. You can prevent the development of common diseases by watching your Lab for symptoms and caring for them as best as you can. Labrador Retrievers are prone to obesity - they love treats, and if they don't get enough exercise they will soon become overweight, with the related muscular and joint problems. Helpful tips for caring for your puppy We hope that this article has given you great insight when it comes to caring for a Labrador Retriever puppy. Here are some other helpful articles for caregivers that are adopting puppies:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Well-bred Labradors are relatively low maintenance, fit and healthy dogs. But your Labradors continuing health and well-being does depend entirely on you. A nutritious diet, regular exercise, grooming, preventive measures and regular visits to the vet are the real key to maintaining a high level of wellness and good health. All these actions are your responsibility and solely under your control. Daily routines will be diet control, exercise and physical inspections. Weekly routines will be grooming, ears, eyes, teeth and nail care. Quarterly routines could be shared between visits to the vet, a canine dentist and bathing. And the annual routine will be vaccinations. Just remember that prevention is always better than cure, so doing your best to prevent any illness and catching problems at the earliest possible stage is the goal to aim for. The following are all areas where you only need a little knowledge to effectively take care of your Labrador well. And if you cannot dedicate this time and effort, then in the nicest possible way, you might be better suited to a pet with less demanding care requirements such as goldfish. Making Safe Your Home and Garden Labradors are a lively and inquisitive breed, especially during their first three years so you need to keep dangerous household items out of their reach. Conceal electrical wiring…we all know of their infamous love for chewing. Sharp teeth and electricity do not mix! A Labrador can easily choke on wrappings or trash that may be swallowed along with edible scraps. Labs are smart and opening cupboards and drawers soon becomes easy for them. Be mindful of the toxicity of certain plants — Over plants have been identified as toxic to dogs , so be sure to research any plant before bringing it into your home. Fence of any ponds or pools in your yard. These are just a few points to consider around your home and garden, there are many more. Just try to put yourself in your Labradors shoes and take a good look at his environment as he would see it. Try to see how he could get into trouble and take measures to prevent it. Click here for a more detailed guide on puppy-proofing your home and garden. Brushing also helps to shake loose dirt out of and spread the natural oils throughout their coat for that desirable, healthy glossy look we know and love. Related article: The Best vacuums for removing pet hair from your home. Frequent baths will strip their oils, leaving them prone to wet and cold in winter, causing dry skin and making their coat look dull and not shiny. Keeping Nails Trim Most Labradors will need a nail trim every 2 to 3 months, although some may never need it. Regularly walking your dog on hard ground, especially sidewalks and roads, will have a natural filing effect and keep your dogs claws in order. This can make them sore and bleed. Ear Care What with a Labradors slightly drooping ears and their love of water, the inside of their ears can sometimes retain too much moisture, causing bacteria to build up and infections to form. I shall be writing an article on this very soon. Just some of the problems a Labrador may have with its teeth are gum disease, loose teeth, cracked or broken teeth, root abscesses and a build up of tartar. These can be very uncomfortable for your dog and can lead to further problems if neglected. Therefore, you need to inspect their teeth regularly, take measures to clean their teeth and even visit a professional canine dentist every 6 months or annually for a thorough check up and any necessary treatments. Treat their teeth like you would your own. Dealing with Parasites Controlling fleas, ticks and other parasites is essential for keeping your Labrador healthy. Immediate problems include extreme irritation and skin sores, but extreme infestations can lead to more dangerous problems including Lyme disease and tape worms. If you stick to a regular grooming schedule as you should! Simply brush your hand against the lie of your Labradors fur and watch for any small moving dots and check for any clearly visible ticks. There are many safe and effective over-the-counter flea control products , many of which contain formulations to prevent ticks at the same time. Finally, depending on where you live in the world, you may need to put your Labrador on medication for heartworm. Where mosquitoes are a problem, they can pass on heartworm and this can be fatal. Even the medicine for heartworm makes your dog very ill so prevention is definitely better than cure! Diseases such as distemper, rabies, hepatitis and parvoviros to name just a few. Your puppy will have had his first shots at five or six weeks before you got to take him home, and he will need a few further shots over a period of up to 18 weeks. A rabies shot usually follows at 6 months of age or so. After this, your adult Labrador will need just a single booster each year to stay protected. For many facts on vaccinations and the schedule you should follow when vaccinating your puppy, please click here. Dogs need a balance of vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins different to that of a human and feeding them on human leftovers can lead to malnutrition, as can a diet based on cheap filler packed dog food. You should perform a little research to find and use a recognized healthy brand of dog food that will cater to your Labradors needs. To help with this, please see our articles that list 4 of the best foods for Labrador puppies opens in new window or the best dog foods for adult Labradors opens in new window …yours really will thrive on these handpicked, quality foods! Additionally, the best thing you can do is set up a feeding schedule for your dog, twice per day being the recommended, and be mindful of any extra treats. Your Lab should always be well fed but not over-fed. I shall discuss this more in a later article. An Important Note On Drastic Changes In Eating And Drinking Habits If your dog is off their food, drinks way too much or way too little for a period of time more than 36 hours, you should call your vet as this is almost surely a sign of an underlying problem. They are voracious eaters and will eat just because they can, not because they need it. Excess weight can lead to all sorts of issues including arthritis and heart problems. To prevent this, control their diet and give them plenty of exercise for them to burn off those calories. They really do need very little exercise of just a few short minutes a couple of times per day. Too much exercise for a puppy can cause skeletal formation issues and plays a large part in joint problems. Take it easy until your puppy is at least a year old. Bedding and Shelter A Labrador should always have a soft surface to lay upon. To prevent this you should get your Lab a large sized dog bed or line a crate to offer a soft and comfortable place to rest. If your Lab spends any amount of time outside, you must provide shelter to offer an escape from the sun in summer, and preferably the shelter should have a raised floor so the wet and cold is kept away in winter. If your Lab puppy gets used to sleeping in a bed of yours or your children, it will be a hard habit to break and will more than likely end in separation anxiety and night-time whining. You want your Labrador to be comfortable alone for periods of time and should start forming this habit ASAP. Training The importance of training your Labrador cannot be overstated. A dog is a dog and not a human. You need to teach your dog how to behave and what your instructions are asking them to do. Before a puppy can become a trusted, well-behaved dog they have a lot of learning to do…and you a lot of teaching! To learn from the written word, I am part way through building the ultimate resource in the form of this site. Routines for feeding, exercise, grooming and visits to the vet are all easily managed with a little knowledge and by planning a schedule in advance and sticking to it. Spending quality time with your Lab is also key, especially regular grooming sessions. You should also attempt to learn your dogs normal living habits, how much he eats, drinks and sleeps. Anything To Add? As always, if you have any questions, would like to offer feedback, suggestions or further advice on the subject, please do so in the comments section below. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Owning a Labrador can be lots of fun An introduction to Labradors If you are considering buying or adopting this popular dog breed, our guide to owning a Labrador is just for you! We will answer all the most frequently asked questions below, to help you determine if living with a Labrador would be ideal for your family. Originally bred to retrieve nets for fishermen and later to retrieve fowl and game for hunters, the Labrador Retriever is now one of the most popular pets in the UK. The breed benefits from the positive character traits of being reliable, trustworthy, good natured and dependable, leading to their reputation as great family pets. Labradors are very sociable by nature, forming strong bonds with their owners. They do however, need lots of exercise and mental stimulation and can be inclined to being over enthusiastic and bouncy. They are renowned for their huge appetite for food and tendency to chew as puppies. What size are Labradors? Labradors are a strongly built medium — large breed of dog. When purchasing one as a puppy, it is important to consider this. You should ensure that your home and garden have plenty of space to accommodate a large and lively doggy resident. Fully grown males typically weigh KG and measure around cm to the withers. Females weigh KG and measure around cm to the withers. Do Labradors make good family pets? Labradors generally have an easy going temperament with playful and intelligent character traits. Their affectionate and loyal nature means that they can be ideally suited to becoming a family pet, with the vast majority enjoying the company of children. Labradors are known to thrive in a family home environment with plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, attention and training. However, please note that young children should always be supervised around any breed of dogs and appropriate care should be taken. What colours are Labradors? Labradors come in three colour varieties, which are black, chocolate and yellow. Yellows range from light cream to red fox. What is the average life span of a Labrador? Labradors live for approximately years on average, when cared for correctly and fed appropriately. How much does owning a Labrador cost? This is just the purchase price of course, there are also ongoing costs. These include equipment such as collar, lead, toys, bedding and a dog guard or car harness. You should also budget for the cost of food, pet insurance and regular vaccinations, flea and worming treatments. There may also be additional costs, such as training classes. Are Labradors easy to train? Labradors are generally always very eager to please, with kind and willing natures. This means that they are relatively easy to train. They also have a very high food drive meaning that they learn very quickly when there is a food reward at the end of a training session. They are particularly suited to training for assistance dog roles, genuinely enjoying this kind of activity. At Barking Mad Dog Care, we are proud to be official charity partners of Dogs for Good , a life-transforming charity, which creates partnerships between people living with disability and specially trained assistance dogs. We are proud to sponsor Prince, pictured below. He is just about to be matched with a family after completing initial training. Labradors like Prince are often selected to be assistance dogs 7. How much exercise do Labradors need? Labradors need to be given the right amount of exercise to stay fit and healthy. An ideal amount of exercise for this active breed is roughly two hours a day. This relates to fully grown adult Labradors. Puppies should be walked following the rule of five minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day. It is important to include activities other than just walking, as Labradors require lots of mental stimulation. They love to retrieve, as their name suggests, and are generally sociable when playing with other dogs, if well socialised. If Labradors become bored, they are far more likely to become destructive and display unwanted behaviour. How much grooming do Labradors need? Labradors are fairly low maintenance when it comes to grooming. Like all breeds though, regular grooming on a weekly basis will keep their coats and skin in good condition. Frequent grooming can also help with their tendency to excessively shed fur. Feeding a Labrador 9. Feeding a Labrador Labradors are notorious for their love of food and are prone to putting on weight if fed an inappropriate diet or quantity. It is important to feed your Labrador a good quality food with all the right nutrients, right through from puppyhood to old age. Do Labradors like water? Labradors were originally bred for retrieving objects from the water. They generally love swimming and splashing around in water courses and lakes. Remember to take care when walking them near to water which is unsafe for them to swim in. Many Labradors will decide to jump in of their own accord. Conclusion: owning a Labrador should be determined by your lifestyle When making the decision to own any kind of dog or puppy, it is important to give real consideration to whether or not they are suitable for your lifestyle. However, it is natural to worry about what will happen if you have to leave your new best friend to go away on holiday, for work or for a non dog-friendly occasion such as a family wedding. Established in , we have many years of experience of offering home-from-home care for Labradors and the many other breeds of dog. Why not find your local branch today and get in contact to discuss care for your Labrador? Please note, our information about Labradors is a brief description for the benefit of our website visitors. The points we make are a generalisation of breed characteristics. Every dog is an individual and will have different needs. We would advise carrying out lots of research, both online and in person such as with your local vet before making a decision to purchase or adopt a Labrador puppy or adult dog. Share This Article:. They help you find the information you need right now. You might also want to check out our sections on Labrador Puppy Training. Do let us know what you would like to see added to the site. We are always happy to have your comments and suggestions. When To Collect Your Puppy We highly recommend that puppies are not removed from their breeder until they are 8 weeks old. There are lots of good reasons for this. It helps puppies develop good bite moderation skills before they are adopted into a family, ensures that they are ready to adapt quickly to their new life. And it helps to reduce the sad numbers of puppies bred for a quick profit. Puppies sold under seven weeks old often have health problems and need special care, and extra veterinary attention. Check out the following articles for further information: When can puppies leave their mother Your first puppy Your first puppy is a huge adventure. You have so much fun ahead. Labradors are generally very friendly dogs, but they can also be very distractible. So do start daily training games, using plenty of food. You can get regular training tips from Pippa by email, using the box below. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. There are hunter-dogs named after their origin, the Labrador region in the United Kingdom. Despite being retriever gun dogs, labradors are friendly, intelligent, kind, outgoing, and high-spirited. Many dog owners like to have labs as companions because of the very nature of the breed. The Need To Puppy-Proof Puppy-proofing your home should be your primary focus when you bring home lab puppies. For example, when the baby teeth come out during teething, you must be careful of objects the puppy might chew up. Be careful of house plants. Puppy proofing is necessary to keep your new puppy safe and in good health and care. Rugs and carpets: Your puppy needs to be potty trained and might confuse training pads for carpets. Some puppies also chew up carpets and rugs while teething. Poisonous products: These could be in your garden, garage, toilet cleaning products, washing detergent, batteries, etc. Keep an eye out for poisonous liquids your dog might ingest, and keep them far above or out of sight. Case your wires: Curious pups eat up everything — wires for your lamps, mobile and laptop chargers, etc. They eat up shoes, and slippers can rip up clothing, upholstery, toothbrushes, pens, pencils, and more. It may be funny at the moment, but the laughter goes away when you have to rush to the veterinarian for an ingested TV remote. Labs enjoy 10 to 12 years of happy and spirited living. Rest assured. A Labrador is one of the best things for your kids to grow up around. This includes providing good care and ensuring they have all the nutrition, exercises, and training. How to Set Lab Puppies Up for Successful Training The key to setting your lab puppy up for training is to reward them when they do it right. The way is through positive reinforcement rewards for good behavior and negative reinforcement removing something for bad behavior. Negative reinforcement instills fear in your puppy. It leaves the puppy confused and leaves behind some trauma. Reinforcement is most commonly used to train puppies. Remember that a puppy must be fed enough to meet their growing and rapidly changing needs. After that, they begin to wean, but regular milk works if the mother is not around. Here are a few notes on how to feed your growing labrador puppy : Puppies need calories to fuel their growth! Feed yours three meals a day until they reach the six-month mark. After six months, two meals a day is enough. Puppies younger than 8 weeks need soft or wet food — now this can be either store-bought puppy food soaked in warm water to make it spongey or homecooked food. Here are some recipes to make wet puppy food at home. This is important to avoid your pup becoming aggressive and not well-adjusted. Other consequences include excessive barking , snapping, growling, and fear. The socialization window is between 3 and 16 weeks when the animal is curious and less wary of danger around them. After this period, it can be challenging for you and the dog to create a healthy atmosphere for socialization. However, many labs have been known to live up to 14 or even 16 years with impeccable care. Throughout these years, they go through various stages, and you must be in the loop about what each entails. This allows pet parents to see if their dog is on the right track, if he needs additional care, or to be checked by a veterinarian. This falls under house training your curious pup, and there are multiple methods. Remember that the key to potty training is a tight schedule and a designated place for labs to relieve themselves. Besides, they should only be taken for walks after vaccination, not before the eight-week mark. These are liquid-proof, lined pads that aid your puppy in understanding that they cannot simply pee and poo anywhere. It requires vigilance and guidance on the part of the puppy owner to guide him to the pad. Using training pads also requires you to know how often your puppy needs to relieve himself differently-aged dogs have differing pee and poo requirements. This is how you keep your puppies house-trained. Having your puppy accustomed to crates is an invaluable necessity. Also, once accustomed, dogs like sitting in crates and find it relatively comfortable. They seek safety you may have noticed dogs digging holes in sand or dirt to sit comfortably. However, it would be best if you did not keep your dog crated or caged all day. Have a crate just enough for the dog to turn around but not big enough to walk about. This prevents the puppy from peeing or pooping inside the cage. Believe it or not, dogs also dislike when their spaces are dirty! Your pup may defecate a few times but will stop if it causes discomfort. If you see your pup whining, barking, scratching, or trying to get your attention another way, react. He is signaling that he wants to go to the bathroom, which is when you take him for a walk. At this point, you need to be wary of when your puppy calls out for you; otherwise, he might do his business in the crate. Timely walks during crate training are the key to potty training your dog perfectly. Socialization Labrador puppies are active dogs known for being outgoing and friendly, so socializing tends to be simple. Regular walks also accustom your puppy to new sounds, smells, and sights. Visits to dog parks, public parks, and dog-friendly markets are also helpful. Invite people often, allowing your puppy to interact with more humans. Even better if your guests come over with their dogs! This prevents separation anxiety. Puppy love play dates! If you know somebody with a new puppy, set a play date for the two or more. Give them chewing toys , have some treats handy, and allow them their space to play. Be wary. Watch closely when your puppy is playing with another puppy so you can intervene in case something goes wrong. Grooming There are two ways to groom labrador retriever puppies — professional grooming or baths at home. The idea is to keep your pet clean and tidy. When your pups spend a lot of time playing, they risk catching ticks, fleas, mites, and other pests. Tick fever and other illnesses caused by parasites can be incredibly harmful to your puppy. Make sure to comb for ticks frequently, especially if you often spend quality time outdoors. Grooming also includes ear and teeth cleaning to avoid infections in these areas. Nail cutting , and haircuts, keep your dog looking as well as feeling healthy. Keeping your puppy clean with pet wipes is advisable until they are at least 8 weeks old. You may bathe your puppy at home after the 8-week mark. Pups run the risk of both becoming too cold and hot. Your pup may also feel frightened at being left alone at the groomer. Refrain from fretting because this is where his socialization training will help. Given that the immune systems are developing until six months, immunize your puppies on time. According to the American Kennel Club, puppies should ideally be fully vaccinated against a long list of diseases by the time they are 16 weeks old starting from 6 weeks. These diseases, once contracted, are treatable but not curable. Worms can come out in the poop or via vomit and can be seen by the dog owner. While an adult dog requires deworming every three months or so, puppies require the same more often. Even though their mother may be dewormed, parasites can often pass over to the baby dog during birth. The following deworming schedule is appropriate for growing labrador puppies: Between birth and 3 months — every 2 weeks Between 3 and 6 months — once a month After 6 months — every 3 months Teething Labradors usually start teething at about 2 weeks. Pups can use them to scratch, bite, and even tear up things. Teething can be painful, itchy, and uncomfortable, and puppies usually feel the urge to chew up things at this point. Instead of letting them chew up your furniture, invest in chewable toys. Cold and frozen foods can also soothe the discomfort. Alternatively, you could freeze some meat broth into cubes and feed them to them. Not only does this relieve the growing pains, but it also makes for a fun treat! How To Care For A Labrador Puppy The Juvenile Stage — 16 week old- week-old labrador puppy Around four to six months, or the juvenile stage, labradors are almost done with their growth and ready to wreak havoc. Your lab must be potty trained, vaccinated, dewormed, and socialized by this point. Remember, these are your responsibilities as a pet owner. Playing with them, taking them for long walks, and taking them to the dog park help. This includes leash and obedience training for basic commands sit, stand, no, off, down, stay, drop it, come, and so on. Basic training can be carried out both by you or a puppy trainer. Training your puppy is a fun activity for you and your dog pet. Leash training Teaching your puppy best how to behave while on walks is essential. Most use a collar for home and a harness for walks to prevent hurting the neck during outdoor activity. You must teach your dog you are in charge, even though they might lead you. Refrain from training your pup to run along with an extended leash, which can be dangerous. Frequent walks aided with treats and play for good behavior are the key to appropriately leash training your labrador puppy. Obedience training Make your dog listen when you command them to act, such as sit, stand, come, down, etc. This is the most basic form of training to raise a well-mannered doggo. Thus obedience training is mandatory. There is a multitude of ways to go about training your lab. Your best bet is an experienced trainer who can teach your puppy the basic commands and fun tricks like roll over, turn around, high five, paw , and more. Oh and get them a dog house. Labradors have large bodies and relatively small legs, so climbing stairs can be dangerous if not done right. Swimming comes naturally to dogs; many boarding centers, groomers, and vet clinics offer doggy swimming pools. Adolescent Period — 24 week old- 72 week old labrador puppy This stage warrants the continuation of obedience training, so it is instilled in the pup for his lifetime. These babies look like adult labs but are still puppies at heart and in their behavior. Only get one if you have the time to manage and train them. Lay off the kibble and give your dog more home-cooked solid dog food. Raw food works, but be careful Natural treats like sweet potatoes peeled , cucumber, watermelon de-seeded and peeled , carrots, and other veggies can be super nutritional for your dogs. Peanut butter has a strong smell which can mask that of medications. Use it both as a snack with veggies or to administer oral medication. Although Labradors are generally healthy dogs, they are notorious for developing particular health problems. Hip dysplasia and arthritis : Owing to the dwarf gene in many labs resulting in large dogs with relatively shorter legs. Progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts: Many labradors may inherit eye problems. Look out for cloudy, red, or puffy eyes, bumping into objects, and pawing at the eyes. After this, reduce this to once a year or so for regular checkups, leaving aside emergencies. Bathing your puppy before the eight-week mark is not advisable; one must be supremely careful. Store-bought organic treats are good, but the healthiest are always home-cooked. Veggies like carrots, celery, broccoli, green beans , and cucumber often with peanut butter are wonderful for your puppy only after they switch to hard food. Labradors are healthy and outgoing breeds that are not difficult to care for. However, only get your pups from reputable breeders. With potty training, consistency, and a tight schedule are key. Check your method — you may need to be more attentive when your pup needs to go for a walk or may not be taking him for enough walks. Make sure to create a good schedule and, more importantly, stick to it. If your puppy has done something wrong, give her a timeout or take something away, like her toys. Ensure not to be intimidating — avoid screaming, shouting, or using physical punishments. This can cause more harm than good. A loud clap, a yelp in case of biting , or ignoring your pup for a short while works. You can bathe your labrador once a month — more frequent baths can dry out their skin and give way to rashes and infections, and less frequent baths can leave your lab stinky and dirty. Male labradors are generally much larger than female labradors. The dog grows between 50 and 80 pounds, with male labs on the higher side. Male labs are also taller and longer than females, usually around 20 to 25 inches tall. Think of puppies as children because they are! Fun toys or their own bed create a stress-free atmosphere. Consider getting a frisbee and teaching your dog how to catch it and play frisbee with you. Her experience as a pet owner and dog enthusiast drives her to create meticulously researched and fact-checked content, offering valuable insights on Labrador training, grooming, and health. Each article reflects Shradha's passion and dedication, enriched by personal experiences with her beloved Labradors, Tom, and Kurt. Whether exploring breed-specific training techniques or providing product reviews, Shradha ensures Labrador owners receive the most accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy information, aimed at enhancing their companions' health and happiness.

Raising a puppy while working is tough, but it can be done. Puppies have different needs depending on their age. After those intense first few weeks, things ease off. A combination of planning, friends, and paid help will certainly be a great support for you. Oh, those puppy eyes! Leaving that adorable bundle of cuteness is hard, but is it fair? Actually, yes it is. This can make them over-dependent on people. How long can puppies hold their pee? This is the number of hours they can hold their bladder. For example, a two-month-old pup can hold for three hours max. A four-month-old pup can hold for five hours. This equation levels out at around 6—7 months, with no dog being comfortable holding their pee above eight hours. Excluding comfort breaks mean risking the puppy getting confused about potty training, therefore, leading to an untrained dog. This raises the question: What to do about the dog while at work? The answer is to get help. They need toilet breaks at least every three hours for more options see the Toilet Training section. Somehow they need walks outside for potty training and a game to amuse them. This means planning ahead. Popping home in your breaks; Having a friend or neighbor called in; Employing a dog walker or puppy sitter to drop by; Leaving pup with a friend; Doggie daycare. And to plug the gap a dog walker calls in. But this still means leaving the puppy alone for some of the days. How do you keep your puppy happy? Keeping Your Puppy Happy People have strong opinions about whether raising a puppy while working full time is fair to the dog. Moreover, raising a puppy in an apartment! Their main objection is that puppies need companionship and plenty of play. Of course, it fills you with sadness to think your pup might miss out, so what to do with a dog while at work? Rule 1 is to leave the puppy pleasantly tired. This means plenty of play before heading out to work. Problem one sorted! Rule 2 is to give the puppy plenty to occupy them in-between visits. As well as the friend playing with the puppy, have a variety of toys and games pre-prepared for them to pop in with your pup when they leave. Rule 3 is to think about your puppy's safety before you leave. Make their space safe from things that could harm or scare them. Hide the glass vase, put away cutting or piercing objects, and dog treats, so your child doesn't eat too much. If you need even more reassurance that your dog is safe and that you can leave them alone, there is a solution. So you can be prepared if something happens to your four-legged friend in your absence. Freeze the Puzzle Feeder: In warm weather, freeze the food-filled Kong. It will take the puppy hours to lick out their meal. This provides great mental stimulation to prevent boredom from setting in. Safe Chew Toys: Make sure the toy is sturdy enough to be left with a teething puppy. Smear the toy with peanut butter, to make it extra tasty. The Cardboard Box Trick: Seal a treat inside a cardboard box. Let the puppy chew through to the treat. Rolled-up Newspaper: Put a few pieces of kibble or a treat inside a rolled-up newspaper. Add tape around it to stop the treats from falling out and offer it as a chew toy. You get the idea! No one said that doing it while working was easy! It hurts to be away from your pup. Petcube is more than a pet camera although this is important. While at your desk, Petcube shows what your furry friend is up to right there and then. More than this, you can speak to your pup through Petcube. Establish good behaviors, even from a distance. With Petcube dog camera you can praise them for resting peacefully and get them into good habits. As virtual pet sitting goes, Petcube spells furry fun for your pet pal. Preventing Separation Anxiety If the puppy links your disappearance with long hours of tedium, they may cry for you to return. This can become a learned behavior, where the dog cries when left alone. Preventing this means leaving boredom busters for the pup to play with see above. And you can always discuss tips for raising a puppy with a vet online! So when you leave, you make a big fuss, give lots of cuddles, bury your face in their fur, and apologize for going. Heck, you may even shed a tear or two. But what message does this send to the pup? Puppy cries when left alone. You soothe their crying, hence rewarding their anxiety. This is a pattern of action and reward which ends with the dog always acting up when you leave. In fact, sneak out. Play with the pup ahead of leaving. Then settle them down with a chew stick. Also, shake up your leaving routine. Change the order in which you put on your coat and pick up the car keys. Go out through different doors. So how to potty train a puppy when you work? The Puppy Pen Method A puppy that regularly soils themselves will stop trying to hold on. Down this path lies the dog that is not house trained. Encourage and praise the puppy to use the pads as a toilet. Done badly, a crate is a prison and a place that a puppy will hate spending time in. How to potty train a puppy with a crate? If necessary, buy a larger crate but use a partition to get the size right. Then make the crate super comfy with a soft bed and some toys. Good Things Happen in the Crate Hide treats in the crate and let the puppy find them. Put great toys in the crate. Feed the puppy in the crate with the door open. The idea is that the puppy will begin to link the crate to good things. Reward Calm Behavior Feed your puppy in the crate and briefly close the door. Praise their calm behavior and then open the door. Gradually extend the length of time the door is closed. Be sure to tell your pup how clever they are for remaining calm. This rewards their good behavior, rather than crying. Leave the Room With your puppy in the closed crate, leave the room for a few seconds. Only return when they are quiet and then let them out and give lots of praise. Well done! You now have a crate-trained puppy. Your puppy is kept safely away from objects they may chew or swallow; They feel safe in their den; It promotes good bladder and bowel control. First, crate train your puppy, and second, arrange for regular toilet breaks at appropriate intervals. Before leaving for work, play with your pup and take them out for a potty break. When they go, give the usual praise and reward. Then pop your pup into the crate with a safe chew toy. Make a low-key departure for work. Check that they are OK via Petcube. Have a friend pop in to give them a comfort break. For a week-old puppy, make sure this is at least every 3 hours. Take your pup to the potty training spot by this time they should be busting , and praise and reward when they go. Play with your pup and then settle them back down into the crate. Repeat this throughout the day until you return home from work. Few puppies have any bladder control before 8 weeks of age and this basically answers the question "can I leave my 8 week old puppy home alone? Some pups learn faster than others, so be patient. Set Up for Success Recognize when a puppy is most likely to pee. A puppy is easily distracted and will probably play with a leaf rather than concentrate on the job. Never Punish a Puppy When a puppy has an accident in the wrong place, never smack or rub their face in it. This makes toilet training harder, not easier, as a puppy learns you have an irrational dislike of their bodily function. Clean Accidents Effectively Clean up spills with a good deodorizing cleaner. This removes scent markers that might draw the puppy back to the same spot. Plan ahead, ask for help, and use Petcube to raise a puppy through those demanding early days. The reward is a well-adjusted adult dog with a wagging tail to welcome you home at the end of a long day. Plus, you can always have a peace of mind for your pup in case of a critical medical emergency. Petcube has got you covered for that as well. Woofs to happy puppies! Was this article helpful? Schools Hospitals The veterinary clinic. Plus puppies are a great stress relief and your puppy may be just what the staff need to get through a hard day. Not only does it keep them healthy but it may also decrease the tendency toward poor behavior and helps them sleep. There are many things you can do with your Golden Retriever beyond just neighborhood walks, here are some suggestions: Swimming. Even puppies can swim, just take the time to introduce them slowly to deep water. Throwing a toy helps. Playing catch. Playing ball is great exercise, just avoid tossing things like discs where they may try to jump and injure them selves Tug of War. Gentle tug of war is a great game that most Goldens love. Playing with other puppies or similarly sized dogs Chasing the kids around the yard. Have them drag a rope toy and run let your pup catch it every once in a while. This has the added benefit of exercising your kids too. Training your Golden Retriever puppy is essential, he or she needs to understand what is good behavior and what is not. Golden Retrievers are very smart dogs who learn quickly and enjoy training with their people. House training and teaching basic commands is an essential part of raising a Golden Retriever puppy. Additional training, whether that is advanced obedience or training them to do tricks, can be a great way to enjoy your puppy and creating a lasting bond. Golden Retriever puppies are able to learn as well as adults by 8 weeks of age. Even younger pups can learn basic behaviors like sit with just a little patience. Here we give a few suggestions, but we have a fantastic article on Training your Golden Retriever that goes into detail. Here are some commands every dog should know. Your Golden Retriever puppy should come right away every time you call. Carry treats in your pocket and practice this command everywhere you go. Coming when you call could save your dogs life one day. This one is critical for when you want your Golden to stop jumping on guests or when you want your pup to calm down. It can also be used in place of sit for not jumping on guests. Leave it. This one is important to get them away from that dead animal they want to roll in, the goose poop they want to eat, or the pacifier that your neighbors toddler dropped in front of your pup. Yes wait not stay. This means walk by my side without pulling on the leash. Some Fun Tricks and Commands to Teach Your Dog One of the best parts of raising a Golden Retriever puppy, is seeing first hand how smart they are and how much they love learning new things. Here are a few just for fun things you can teach your dog. Bring it. Point to a toy or object and have them bring it to you. Turn off the light once they are big enough to reach the switch. Off is easier than on but they can learn that too. Jump through the hoop. All you need is a simple hula hoop and a partner. Note Golden Retriever puppies should not jump higher than a inches before 6 months. They should not jump more than shoulder height before 1 year of age when their growth plates are closed. High five. Yup this is exactly what it sounds like, having your pup give you a high five. Be careful not to use the same hand signals for other commands. For example holding your hand up by your shoulder usually means sit, so you should hold your hand in a different spot for high five. If you are loving teaching these tricks, AKC has a Trick dog title you can earn with your dog. Or if you love dancing, canine freestyle, dancing competitions for you and your dog might be fun for you. Again, this could be an entire article on its own, but since I have not written one, I have included a link to a video that I think will be helpful. What I like about this trainer is his emphasis on positive reinforcement rewards and NO punishment negative reinforcement. This is exactly the technique I used to train my own dogs. See what you think. For other helpful tips see our article on article on Training your Golden Retriever. Also, you will discover while raising your Golden Retriever puppy, that they can be a bit exuberant or really hyper in the case of some field bred lines , check out this article on How to Train your Golden Retriever to be Calm. Dogs are by instinct more comfortable sleeping in a den a confined space with only one opening. Staring crate training early will make sure everyone in your household gets the right sleep. Even if you plan on letting your Golden pup sleep in your bed again I remind you they will be big dogs, so prepare for a bed hog , crate training can be helpful as a safe place for your pup to stay while you are not able to watch them. This is especially important if you plan on raising a Golden Retriever puppy while working. See our article on How to crate Train a Golden Retriever for tips. That is where some really great dog toys come in. This critter is on of our favorite toys for Golden Retriever Puppies. It is fairly sturdy so it can handle a lot of shaking and a little bit of tugging. Plus it is just really cute and will pose well with your pup for all sorts of photos. Make sure to watch your puppy carefully. You may need to change types of toys as your puppy gets older. Many companies claim their toy is chew proof but there is no such thing. However if your puppy becomes a moderate chewer, here are two that my dogs enjoy. Best Ball Toy View on Amazon This ball is made of tough rubber and is a different texture than the ever ubiquitous tennis ball. My dogs can pop, skin and take apart a standard tennis ball in about 5 minutes, making it both a hazard and a waste of money. They come in a couple of sizes so you can get the larger ones as your puppy grows. Here I have recommended the 3. It comes as a set with a ball thrower and a ball but you can get the balls separately if needed. The good news is that inside is a regular Kong toy so even after they remove the fabric, your pup will still have a toy to play with. The Wubba is great because they or you can throw it around, play tug, or just fetch it. They do come smaller for younger puppies. For more dog toy ideas and recommendations, check out our article on the Best Dog Toys for Golden Retrievers. This needs to start early with letting them get used to normal things like brushing, bathing, and dental care. You should gently brush your Golden Retriever puppy as often as times a week for just a few minutes. It is not that they need it, as much as you are training them that the brush is nice and feels good. Wait until they are sleepy and treat it like a petting session at first until they get used to the idea. For the rest of the list of recommended brushes here is the Full article, Best Brushes for Golden Retrievers. When to bathe and groom your puppy might become obvious. I find that there is not much of a need to put dates in the calendar because they find something to get into that necessitates a bath every couple of weeks. The first veterinary visit should be right after you bring your puppy home even if the breeder or shelter has already started their puppy shots. At that visit your veterinarian will make sure your pup is healthy and recommend the preventative care your pup needs. This may include a series of vaccinations to protect against common infectious diseases, heartworm and intestinal worm preventatives, and flea and tick medication. It takes tons of time, money and dedication. If you are not a professional breeder or are not willing to do all of the things necessary to become a responsible breeder, then your puppy should be spayed or neutered. For detailed information in this required surgery and when do have it done, see our article on Spaying and Neutering Golden Retrievers. Conclusions on Raising a Golden Retriever Puppy Following these essential steps when raising a Golden Retriever Puppy will help you to have a happy, healthy family member for years to come. As a new puppy parent, leaving your new Golden Retriever puppy alone can be a very stressful and guilt-ridden experience. However, you can ensure that your puppy is calm and well adjusted when being left alone with some planning and preparation before returning to work. So, how do you raise a Golden Retriever puppy while working? The key to raising a Golden Retriever puppy while working is knowing what to expect beforehand and implementing a structured plan. A plan that includes home preparation, teaching your puppy to be alone, and enlisting help when necessary will make the process manageable and less stressful. When working and leaving a Golden puppy alone, the main issues are that puppies need to relieve themselves frequently and require plenty of exercise and socialization. Puppies are also very dependent on you, especially when they are very young. A Golden puppy left alone for too long may experience separation anxiety and other behavior problems. To do this, you have two options; a dog crate or using a playpen, baby gates, or a room in the house to create a confined area. A dog crate is an excellent option for short periods. Dog crates can provide your Golden puppy with a sense of safety and keep them secured when you are not home or not able to supervise them such as when cooking. Most Golden puppies will love their crate if you make it a positive experience , so crate training is an excellent idea. However, the crate is a smaller space. Some puppies may do better with more freedom, especially when your Golden Retriever puppy becomes a bit older and larger in size. For puppies that are 4 months or less, an hour or two is all they can handle in a dog crate. No dog should be crated for longer than 4 hours, puppy or not. They need to be let out to do their business and stretch their legs. Dog crates are a tool, not a prison. The advantage of the confined space option is its larger size. Your Golden puppy also has more space to move about and play. Depending on what you use to cordon off an area for your puppy e. If the confined area is large enough, you can also place the crate within that space with the door open this is a great option. Your puppy can then use the dog crate when and if desired, and it gives your puppy an additional layer of security. Puppy Proof the Confined Area Are there toys that your puppy can easily pull apart and choke on? Are there items that, if swallowed, could cause poisoning or stomach issues? Can he be cut or get entangled in anything? Can he snag an ear, paw, or tail? You get the picture! Whether opting to use a crate or confined area, make sure the place you have chosen for your Golden puppy is safe and free of hazards. Expect Accidents Golden puppies will have potty accidents as they adjust to being left alone. Just remove your puppy from the enclosed area and clean the mess with no emotion. Just continue to do your potty training as you normally would. As your puppy gets older, accidents will become less frequent. With age, your Golden Retriever puppy can hold its bladder longer and will learn to wait until it can go outside. Adjust Your Schedule If possible, you should take a week off work when bringing home an eight-week-old puppy. This time is not for formal training, such as teaching your Golden puppy to walk on a leash, sit, or lay down. It is for establishing a trust bond and for potty and crate training only. Taking a week off now will make the return to work much easier. Once you go back to work, if you have the flexibility to come home during lunch or at other times during the day, that would be ideal. Depending on how far your commute is and how well your relationship is with your boss, this can work very well. Not only is this option inexpensive, but you can spend time with your puppy, which helps alleviate the guilt of leaving him alone. In addition to allowing your puppy to relieve itself, you should take your Golden puppy out for some exercise and play. And you never know, some workplaces allow employees to bring dogs to work. Introducing your Golden Retriever puppy gradually to being left alone for increasing amounts of time will help the puppy adapt more quickly. Just understand that it may take some time. When teaching a Golden Retriever puppy to be alone, an excellent way to begin is to place a high-value chew toy in the crate or confined area with your puppy. Then leave the room for 30 seconds to a minute or less and return. Reward your puppy and give him praise. Gradually increase the time you are away. In a few days to a week, you can build up to a fair amount of time. Fawning over your puppy and giving hugs and kisses goodbye may benefit you. However, it teaches your puppy to become anxious every time you leave. Leave the hugs and kisses for when you come home. When possible, look for opportunities to put your puppy in the crate or the confined area while doing other things. For example, while tidying up the kitchen or cooking a meal. Although your puppy may still see or hear you, it reinforces the concept of being away from you for extended periods. Most will do it at their home and have multiple dogs, but some will offer to come to your home privately at a higher cost. Some dog walkers will also provide dog sitting as an added service. A dog sitter is an excellent option when your Golden puppy is very young. As mentioned previously, a puppy under 4 months of age should not be crated for more than an hour or two, and they require more attention. A dog sitter will not only give your puppy ample attention but oversee potty and possibly crate training. Puppies are usually not fully vaccinated until 16 weeks. Once your Golden puppy is fully vaccinated and 4 months of age or older, you can then explore the option of a dog walker or doggie daycare. Dog Walkers Dog walkers can be a great option depending on your budget. They provide potty relief for the pup, exercise, and much-needed socialization if the service includes walking with more than one dog. There are many good dog walkers in most areas that are reputable and do good work. Your job is to screen them to ensure they are respected, good at what they do, and utilize positive training methods only. You do not want a dog walker that punishes your puppy for misbehaving. You should also be very clear with a dog walker on any expectations you have. Doggie Daycare Doggie daycare is also a great option but can be more expensive than dog walkers. But not always, so if there are a few in your area, check out prices. The doggie daycare will have multiple dogs and areas for playing. They will also feed your dog if necessary provided you bring the food. Like dog walkers, you want to ensure the business is reputable. Inquire about how they select their dogs and what they do when there are disagreements. They should not allow aggressive dogs in their facility. As for references, if you want an extra level of confidence. A well-run doggie daycare will also require your dog to be spayed or neutered. The advantage of the right doggie daycare is your Golden puppy is in a controlled environment and has socialization all day. A reputable doggie daycare provides supervision and structured play. The disadvantage could be if your puppy has a bad experience with other dogs, it may cause him to be fearful. Family, Friends, and Neighbors Most people love puppies. Often family members or friends will jump at the opportunity to pop in and play with your puppy. Alternately, if the puppy is less than 4 months of age, a family or friend may enjoy the opportunity to be a full-time dog sitter. This could be a good option until your Golden puppy is old enough to be alone for a much longer time. If you opt for these solutions, make sure any family member or friend you choose has the right temperament for watching your puppy. You may need to give them some instruction on how you want them to handle your Golden puppy. And that should be positive-reward-based training, not punishment, based. Neighbors can be a great resource if you have a good relationship and trust them. Like friends and family, make sure your neighbor is onboard with your training methods. Your neighbor should also have a personable temperament. Additional Tips Exercising your Golden puppy before you leave the house is a good idea. A walk before getting ready for work can be beneficial. Exhausting pent-up physical and mental energy will help reduce anxiety. Golden Retrievers are smart and can quickly learn and recognize your routines. If possible, get dressed and do your morning ritual where you are not seen. If your puppy learns the signs that you are getting ready to leave the house, it may increase anxiety levels. Leave plenty of chew toys and bones with your puppy. Puppies usually have a few high-value toys they cherish or a toy that comforts them. Communicate your expectations clearly to anyone watching your puppy. It can be awkward firing someone you have a relationship with or often see. Leave a radio or television on while you are away. Ensure the volume is not too loud, and the content is relaxing. It provides background noise for your puppy and can drown out other outside distractions that could cause anxiety. Final Thoughts Leaving your Golden Retriever puppy alone while working can be difficult. Understanding the challenges and issues involved is an excellent first step. Implementing the right plan that addresses these issues will help ease any separation anxiety for both you and your Golden puppy. Take comfort knowing that your puppy will be fine, and so will you. Many puppy parents have full time jobs and we will also be looking at raising a golden retriever puppy while you work. Socialising your Golden Retriever Puppy Every new puppy owner will hear about the importance of puppy socialization. But not all puppy owners carry out this important process effectively. Socialization means introducing your puppy to many new experiences before they reach the age when they become shy of strangers and strange objects. That age is surprisingly young and most dogs need to be socialized fully before they are 13 weeks old. That means you need to get going right away with your new Goldie pup! Your puppy needs to meet lots of different men and women, in different situations, children, other dogs, trains and lorries, and much much more. All from the safety of your arms. And all before he or she is four months old Puppy socialization is vital because it helps to prevent dogs becoming aggressive and increases the retention rate of puppies in their homes. No matter where they happen to be. TIP: Baby gates help keep small puppies in areas with washable floors By eight months things will be very different. Your puppy will be able to last several hours without emptying their bladder, and will have learn to use the appropriate areas for bathroom purposes The tricky part is getting there, and you may need a little help and support. The aim in the first couple of weeks is to make sure you take your puppy outside at frequent intervals and wait outside with them until they empty their bladder. Make sure you take them out after meals and when they wake up from a nap, and whenever they are getting excited — playing with another dog for example. When your puppy is indoors you need to supervise closely. If you need to leave the puppy for a few minutes, pop them into a small crate as puppies will try hard not to wet in their own bed. Stopping your puppy from biting All puppies bite. Even Golden Retrievers! But biting on skin really hurts and puppies have to learn not to do this. Play biting is commonly mistaken for aggression because puppies snap and growl when they are playing. For this reason, biting is by far and away the most common reason for new puppy parents to seek help. Vaccines are not completely without risk, but the risk of serious disease for unvaccinated puppies is usually considered by experts to be much greater. Most puppy parents want to know which vaccinations their puppies need, when their puppies can go outside safely, a few want to know what happens if they decide not to vaccinate their puppies When Can Puppies Go Outside — The Medical Point of View Puppies are typically ready to go to their new home at 8 weeks of age. Just like human babies, young puppies need a lot of sleep. As important as socialization is, ensuring your puppy sleeps enough is necessary to ensure proper growth and brain development and will also make sure your puppy is in a good mood. A common rule of thumb is five minutes of exercise per month of age. At two months old, this means only ten minutes. So over-exercising your puppy can be harmful to the development of their skeletal structure. However, the main reason to be cautious when taking a young puppy outside is exposure to diseases your pup may not be vaccinated against yet. Risking exposure to diseases your dog is not protected against is dangerous. Many diseases, such as the parvovirus, can be spread just through contact with inanimate objects. This means that even sniffing something an infected dog had been in contact with hours previous can potentially infect an unvaccinated puppy. Even seemingly healthy dogs may carry viruses. This means they may look and act healthy but still have the disease and can spread it to other dogs. Thankfully, no! Places such as private gardens and backyards offer safe places for young puppies to explore on their own without running the risk of exposure to dangerous viruses. A puppy can begin exploring your garden the day you bring them home. Becoming familiar with your backyard or garden will be a necessary part of potty training. Taking your puppy out for a walk should be delayed until they are fully covered by all their vaccines. This seemingly small action can result in your puppy coming into contact with a dangerous virus. Most veterinarians agree, puppies are fully vaccinated by 16 weeks of age, which is when they can exercise for about 20 minutes at a time. Up to this point, the exercise needs of your puppy can be met with within the safety of your home or backyard. Pet-friendly stores offer excellent opportunities for your puppy to meet more people. As your puppy builds up immunity through vaccines and natural exposure, talk to your vet about safe places you can start letting your puppy explore as they age. So this can be a great place to sniff around and meet people who love dogs! Always double check with your vet, though. The chance of contracting a virus preventable by a vaccine is low at a veterinary clinic, but your veterinarian will be able to tell you for sure if the area is safe or not. When I worked at a veterinary clinic, the best part of my day was always meeting a new puppy. Dog-friendly hardware stores make an excellent destination for a young puppy. This saves you from carrying a growing puppy the whole trip and means they get used to the motion of the trolly. Just remember to sanitize the trolly before and after use! Places a young puppy can safely explore on the ground are fairly limited for the first 16 weeks. One option is to arrange puppy play dates with dogs you may know. This will help teach behavioral cues for future experiences with other dogs and also helps burn some of that puppy energy. Socialising puppies with humans and other dogs is imperative for every dog, but especially breeds that are prone to aggression. Making sure your puppy not only has a lot of new experiences but positive experiences are ultra important. Finding safe playgroups with other vaccinated dogs is a great way for your puppy to learn how to play. These playgroups can take place in the safety of a backyard or garden where all the dogs are kept safe from potential environmental exposures and can be monitored closely. Playgroups are safer than meeting other dogs on walks for another reason. Leashed dogs are more likely to exhibit fear or anxiety-based aggression, so skipping the park and opting for backyard fun keeps all parties safer. This means your puppy is set up for success since the experience is more likely to be a positive one. Remembering to take new experiences slow with a new puppy can ensure new experiences are positive. But ensuring early experiences are positive and safe is the most important part of socialization. For several weeks, this may mean limiting their exposure to other dogs. Provided the experiences your puppy does have with other dogs are all primarily positive, though, they should begin to develop social skills at a young age. Though the critical period for socialization is often quoted as being the first four months, this is simply a foundation. Continuing to build on these experiences will make for a happy, well-adjusted adult dog. When can puppies go out in a backyard? Right away, provided no unvaccinated dogs have come in contact with the environment beforehand. However, puppies should wait to explore environments outside the home where other dogs frequent. For most puppies, this will be around 16 weeks. Carrying your puppy or placing them in a sanitized shopping trolly are two great ways of keeping your puppy safe while outside. From the safety of your arms or another elevated environment, a puppy can still meet a number of new people and experience the world outside your home. Raising a Golden puppy while working We all lead busy lives. Many new puppy parents take time off work when they bring their puppy home. This is rarely successful. Young dogs left alone for long periods tend to get up to mischief and some become extremely distressed, extremely destructive, or both. And you cannot successfully house train a puppy if there is no-one there to let the puppy outside Raising a puppy while you work full time is possible, but it takes planning and thought. This helps to avoid lack of health test certificates, poorly puppies, and other disappointments. Home bred puppies can be very nice if the owners have taken the trouble to health test and raise their puppies responsibly. Whatever you do, avoid puppy mills and pet stores. Your biggest expense is likely to be annual pet health insurance. There are a few differences in their needs and care, but not as many as you might think In some breeds there are greater tendencies to aggression in males compared with females. And people do worry that a male dog might be more likely to fight or bite. However, Golden Retrievers are among the breeds least likely to show aggression to other people or dogs. We have not seen any evidence that male Goldens are any less likely to be good tempered than females. Female Golden Retriever puppies Female Golden Retrievers need a little more care than males unless and until they are spayed. Neutering was once thought to be the easy solution but has now been linked with a number of different types of cancer and with joint problems, in this breed. Are Golden Retriever puppies good family pets? At times, when your puppy is small, you may question whether or not you have made a mistake in bringing a Golden Retriever into your home. Rest assured that Golden Retriever puppies do grow up into great family dogs. They have one of the best temperaments of any dog breed and are ideally suited to a young and active family There are situations where it might be better to wait before buying a Golden puppy. If you have very tiny kids — remember that Goldens are fairly large dogs and are very boisterous when young. Picking up a toddler and drying their tears for the tenth time before breakfast can become wearing. Think about the exercise needs of an active dog. If you have a very small home, or live in an apartment, think carefully before adding a big and potentially muddy dog to the mix. My husband and I are bringing home our first puppy in September a goldendoodle and this was super helpful! Emily June 29, , am Thank you so much for this, Jen! I look forward to the post on favorite dog toys! We just got a puppy and, while its only been a week, we are definitely having some issues getting puppy to embrace his crate. He is doing really well with potty training, and has yet to have an accident in his crate, but soon after he enters his crate the howling begins. This way he associates it with a positive place. Also, leave treats in there. Some dogs do better with their crates covered so like drape a blanket over the sides so it feels more like a cave. You might also try placing a t-shirt or something that smells like you in there. Also, leave the door open all the time and praise him if he goes in on his own. Good luck! OH, what a difference! Long after they no longer needed their crates, we kept them and always left the door opened. They would go into them when they were tired, knowing they were in a safe place; their place. Friends always said to us that they would have a dog if it behaved like our dogs. Be consistent. Fun for all of you. I can definitely see how teaching while a puppy can make a huge difference. Looking forward to your next dog related posts :. Reply Link Megan June 29, , pm Ahh thank you for this post! My husband and I are looking into getting a pug puppy soon and these tips are so helpful. Looking forward to reading more posts on this, especially the crate training. Love the tips, we are still trying to stay the course with the UD group classes! Golden are the best! It has been such an eye-opening month with our new puppy. Our other dog is 8 so everything feels brand new. I actually wrote about it in my post for tomorrow, but a puppy is like a baby. My boyfriend and I are getting a golden pup in the fall and while I grew up with the breed I have never trained a pup on my own. We made the choice to get a puppy mostly to instil good habits and behaviour long term. So long story short, I would never put a puppy or young dog or any age in airplane cargo! Reply Link Megan June 30, , pm Good tips! Socializing him right away and crate training him were so key to having an awesome, well-adjusted dog! Reply Link Josi August 20, , pm Hello! Just wondering where you got your goldens? This really helped me figure out what to do when she gets here. Jen May 3, , pm YAY! Our 3rd Golden in about 33 years and know he has some big paws to fill Taegan was wonderful for 14 years. We are so excited!! I have a new English Cream Golden. I feel like I need to work for his affection. Great otherwise! Not super energetic. Bursts of energy followed up by lots of naps but never really interested in walks. First timer here. Your pup could really benefit from basic positive obedience! I would recommend seeking out an experienced trainer in your area to help you as your pup grows! Having a puppy in the home can be fantastic, but you also need to make sure that you can offer it the best as well. She has been really easy to house break. We are excited to bring her home. Thank you for the helpful tips. That is a good idea to make sure that we are committed to doing the work to train this dog. We do really want him to be well trained. Thanks for the tips! Thank you so much for this super informative post! Reply Link Jen January 22, , pm I always made sure she went before we got to the gym and walked her frequently. Meghan January 29, , am Thank you so much for the reply!! We kept each of our puppies on a leash in the house, never out of our sight except when they were in the crate for 4 months before we gradually gave them independence. We always messed with them and held them. They had accidents as you would expect until fully house trained at about 4 months, but never any destructive or aggressive behavior. We gave them plenty of tough chew toys. Also training classes. They were never nervous or skittish. They love to lay on us and never have had any trouble with grooming, food guarding, loud noises, children or other animals. Goldens are great dogs but like any dog, they can only know what you teach them. Great article!! Kathrinne May 5, , am Hi Jen, how old are your puppies when you let them go out? Jen May 5, , am What do you mean? Reply Link Carly September 8, , pm Thank you so much for your article! What would your input be? Do you think they would focus on each other more than their humans? Would 2 puppies be so much more difficult than 1? Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Love the name Zoey!! Any tips to Prevent that?? Reply Link Christine November 1, , am About to get golden 3. Learning all over about everything. Reply Link Jen November 1, , pm It is like starting over again but you will figure it out! Every pup is different but be patient and consistent! This is my first large dog breed so a little nervous. I read your post and you give wonderful tips that I will follow. Please let me know if it is safe to put a flea collar on the puppy. Thank you. Reply Link Jen January 29, , pm I would consult with your vet to see what they recommend for flea prevention and treatment. Also, about the scratching. It could be due to something else like an allergen outside. I have not had a dog in 3 years because I lost my last one in a painful way for me and I am afraid to get another one. I am now ready to get one and this page has helped me prepare for my new puppy. I am a 74 yr old male in pretty good shape no health issues, and retired so I should be around a while to look after a dog. My wife passed about four months ago so I guess I am looking to fill a void. I live in a single family home and have plenty of time to spare. Thanks Reply Link marion duffield April 14, , am I am picking my pup up in 2 weeks! This is the best AND most realistic article I have read about training…. My pup Tank will be 4 months when we get him. He is absolutely adorable. Have only seen photos. He lives with his breeder in Missouri and we live in Canada…. I am so excited for you!!!! Puppies are intense but so much fun. And wow, that is going to be an adventure! Reply Link Theresa April 30, , am Do you have suggestions about golden retriever puppy biting? We got ours at 7 weeks. She is now .How do we stop her from snapping and biting? She is smart and loving. The biting has been rough though. Can you help? But I love dogs soooo much. This info is everything to me. I love this post Soo much. Thanks a ton. You left puppy in car? Or what? Reply Link Madeline October 31, , pm I am picking up my 7 week old golden in 2 days! I am so excited! How did you go out taking him places before he had his full shots? I want to socialize him, and of course potty train him immediately, but obviously there are risks. Whats your take on this? So the whole crate training thing is not going so well. She hates it. Emily Camalo April 2, , pm Hi! Really appreciate you sharing all of this advice! It was super valuable. Reply Link Julie April 11, , am Loved your comments. I have a 9 week double doodle. I have crate trained since day 1 and she has been really good, day 1 upset for a couple of minutes. Day 2 no problem at all. Now just the occasional cry when I leave her but that is over with in a very short space of time. I also leave a low radio on for her. She uses the garden most of the time for toileting, but occasionally she will come into the house and do another wee. The problem I have at the moment is trying to stop her biting. I have tried the gentle command which she listens to some of the time. And I have tried standing and turning my back on her so she realises I am not playing when she bites, but she will then go for trousers or feet, which I try my best to ignore, or she will just go off and do something else like chew a mat or something which is a no no. Any ideas? Regards Reply Link Stephanie January 25, , am Really great info, thank you for your article. Our puppy arrives in 5 days and we have been preparing for months. Your advice is. Very helpful. Blessings to you. Updated: July 10th, Unfortunately, most of us have to go out and work full-time, which proves a dilemma for dog owners — or potential dog owners. Should you get a golden if you work full-time? Not only is this distressing for your precious pup, which nobody wants but this kind of boredom and anxiety can manifest itself in all kinds of undesirable ways. How Long is Too Long? So, how long is too long? Is Age a Factor? The age of your dog is definitely a factor when it comes to how long they can comfortably be left home alone. While you might be tempted by a cute, fluffy little puppy, the fact of the matter is puppies need to be let out to use the bathroom many times a day, perhaps even every two hours or so. Plus, they need lots of time spent on training, and plenty of attention to help them feel secure and confident. As such, bringing an older dog into your life instead of a puppy can be a better idea if you work full-time. Besides, there are many abandoned and unwanted dogs out there who need to be adopted! Most rescue centers will assess the needs of the dogs in their care, so they should be able to tell you if a dog will be okay regularly left home for stretches of four or five hours at a time. What About Crating Your Dog? Crating is a good tool for dogs who feel insecure or who are destructive when left alone in the home. It gives them a sense of safety and security, while also protecting them from getting into any dangerous chewing situations, while at the same time protecting your belongings Please click here for advice on how to crate train your puppy. Imagine being confined to an area the size of a single bed for four or five hours, let out for an hour or so, then put back in for another four or five hours. Well, here are several options for you to consider. This can work well, but it really depends on you and your dog. The feasibility of this plan may depend on finances. One option might be to hire a dog walker in the morning or afternoon and also come home on your lunch break, so your pup has two things to look forward to during the day. Go To Doggy Daycare If you have a dog daycare near you, this is possibly the best option available. Enlist Help From Friends And Family Think about whether you have any friends or family members who would be willing to take care of your four-legged friend either in your home or their own. When this option works, it can work exceptionally well, but it depends on what type of support system you have near you and how accommodating your friends and family are. For instance, do you live close to your mom who happens to be home most of the day and would enjoy the company of a dog? Drop your pup off on the way to work, pick them up on the way home, and voila! Free childcare… uh… dog care. Or, perhaps you have a retired neighbor who would happily stop in on your dog for an hour a couple of times a day in return for the privilege of being able to snoop around your house haha. It may also mean changing your expectations of what owning a dog might be like. The key is making sure you can commit to the responsibility of keeping your dog entertained during the day. Further Reading. This is the schedule I stuck to for months after we got George. We use the Rover App to make sure George has all of the potty breaks he needs through out the day while we are at work. Now that George is older, we only do a Rover visit once over lunch time and he still gets his long walk in the morning and a park visit after work every day. This is the schedule that worked best for us, and he never had an accident in the crate. One of the best tips I can give you, other than keeping a schedule, make sure your puppy is tired. If your puppy is bored, they will get into mischief. Keeping your puppy tired is exhausting but it will keep them well behaved, happy, they will sleep through the night, and training will be easier. Be Prepared: Have the essentials ready when you pick the puppy up. I will link anything that I have loved. These biodegradable ones are great. Training: Any dog can be a good dog with the proper training. We started with Petco to help us teach the basics but as George got older, we invested in a better trainer. Petco is perfectly fine, we were having issues with him jumping and leash training. George sleeps next to our bed at night and we baby gate him in the kitchen during the day if we are gone for a long time. In the beginning, crate training was a must! We always gave him a treat when he entered and made it a positive experience. These tips and tricks have helped me survive raising a puppy while working full-time. I hope this post helps you navigate the craziness that is raising a puppy. If you are still deciding whether you want to get a puppy or not, know that getting George was the best decision Joel and I have made, but it is a big undertaking. I am confident that if you do your research, set a schedule, and prepare yourself for the next few months, you will handle the puppy stage with ease! Good Luck! Let me know if this post helped you! Share this:.

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