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Boxer German shepherd mix temperament Both parent breeds are versatile working dogs and are known for their intelligence. Petfinder recommends that you should always take reasonable security steps before making online payments. Catahoula Leopard Dog German Shepherd mix 12 .The crossbreed can take after one parent, the other, or become an equal mixture of both. These two German breeds are known for being loyal and active to their owners. Both are known to be excellent guard dogs, ensuring the Shepweilers are too. They are among the biggest cross breeds and can weigh between 65 and pounds. To own one, you should be both active and an experienced pet parent. German Shepherd Boxer mix is the most handsome dog you will ever get to see in your lifetime, who will come to life as a result of breeding a Boxer and German Shepherd together. He's wearing a blue collar but in the process lost his tag. Boxer German shepherd mix; an essential guide. The designer Boxer Shepherd breed is a bundle of energy. Top 32 German Shepherd Mixes 1. He is a mellower version of the German Shepherd, but a more obedient version of the Boxer. Based on the size of both parent breeds, there is a very good chance that your Boxer Shepherd will grow up to be a fairly large dog, on average between 65 and 95 pounds. It is important to start training a German Shepherd Boxer cross at an early age. Good in a home with Cats, children, other animals. Although the personality and appearance of mixed dogs can never be guaranteed, he usually takes the best of both worlds. Select up to 5 breeds to see a side-by-side comparison VS. These dogs are going to require a good amount of training in order to ensure that they are properly raised. The Boxane is one of the more active Great Dane mixes on this list, with their Boxer parent being known for its playful and lively personality. Coyote German Shepherd mix 15 .The German Shepherd Boxer mix is usually energetic, intelligent, and playful. Coloring is another shared feature of Boxers and German Shepherds. Besides taking your dog on long walks everyday, make sure that you give him plenty of exercise in the. The Boxer German Shepherd Mix is an intelligent, loyal, and protective dog. Be prepared for a lot of brushing if your dog will get the coat from the. Lola is a puppy that needs a lot of attention and work so please no seniors should apply for her. Compare dog breeds below to see how different breed characteristics and attributes stack up against each other. The Boxer Shepherd is the mix of two of the most famous German dogs. Buddy Holly beat out 34 other hounds en route to being named the group winner. Mixed breeds make. In general, the German Shepherd Boxer mix is an energetic, happy-go-lucky, loyal and loving guardian of the household. In terms of size, the Boxer German Shepherd Mix typically ranges between inches tall, and weighs between pounds depending on its parents' size. Jul 4, .The Boxer- German Shepherd mix will be very intelligent and active, which calls for an equally active lifestyle as well. The mix of Boxer and German Shepherd means that you will be taking on a large, May 16, .If left unsatisfied, a Bulloxer can become destructive. The coat type can vary as well — some dogs have a single coat while others have a double coat, which can be either short or long. Confident German Shepherds also learn commands faster than other breeds. Similarly, they also inherit the fierceness and gentle touch from the Golden Shepherd. Who won the Westminster Dog Show in ? Breed results. The boxer German shepherd mix is about in .Boxers are brachycephalic, like Bulldogs, Pugs, and a few other breeds. It was bred by combining the genes of two renowned dog breeds in the world: a. These are large dogs and are almost three times bigger than a Pomeranian, which is about 5. These two large breed dogs can combine into a truly incredible hybrid. The German Shepherd Boxer mix is a popular crossbreed that is known for being loyal, protective, and friendly. Australian Boxherd Boxer x Australian Shepherd Mix The Australian Boxherd is an intelligent and energetic pooch, and with their Australian Shepherd heritage, this is a devoted dog that bonds strongly with their owners. Boxer: Saint Bernard, Boxer Mix. Beagle mix puppies are good-natured, loving and gentle. German Shepherd Dog. The German Shepherd breed had roots dating all the way back to the 7th century in Germany. The Boxer Shepherd is the mix of two of the most well-known German dogs. The German Shepherd Boxer Mix height ranges from medium height to tall and their weight ranges from pounds. German Shepherd mixed with Great Dane produces a pretty tall hybrid that can reach about 28 to 30 inches in height. This mixed breed puppy will usually be a shade of brown, and may have black markings. The Boxer was created in the s with the purpose of bull baiting and dog fighting. German Shepherd Boxer Mix. The German Shepherd and Boxer puppy will likely inherit that trait and weighs from 65 to 95 pounds fully grown. They are also relatively easy to train and make great family pets. Due to the loyal and protective nature from the German Shepherd parent, these dogs make great guard dogs. German Shepherd Rescue Connecticut. The mix of Boxer and German Shepherd means that you will be taking on a large, powerful dog that needs a lot of both mental and physical exercise. German Shepherd Boxer Mix History. King Shepherds are very similar in appearance to a German Shepherd but are much larger. The Boxer German Shepherd Mix is a unique and beautiful combination of two of the most beloved dog breeds in the world. The German Shepherd Boxer inherited a high energy level from its Boxer parent and a loyal hard-working personality from the German Shepherd. The price may vary depending on the. Boxer German Shepherd Mix. A unique mixed breed that dog lovers might encounter is the Boxer German Shepherd mix. Lean meat, fresh fruits, vegetables, and commercial dog foods with real ingredients should make up these calories. The Boxer German shepherd mix is a unique breed with incredible potential. The 20 Popular Boxer Mixes 1. A mixed-breed dog can inherit a coat similar to one of their parent breeds or a coat that is truly a mix of both. You have walked, then driven your. The Boxing provides a dog that is high energy and protective, while the German Shepard provides an intelligent and loyal companion. These dogs quickly became companion dogs after these original activities were outlawed. Defining characteristics of this hybrid include a muscular build, well-defined legs, pendant or floppy ears and a dense but short coat. Thank you! They'll need one long walk a day lasting at least an hour, although two walks a day is ideal. While not aggressive, it can be standoffish to strangers, though is friendly with them and other dogs once it has warmed up to them! They are great family pets and will do anything to keep their loved ones safe. You can expect German Shepherd Boxer puppies to be: tawny brown with a black face; light brown; dark brown; or grey. The German Shepherd boxer mix is an energetic breed that will need lots of exercises and mental stimulation if they live in an apartment or other smaller space. Basenji Mixes: 21 Different Basenji Crossbreeds. A working dog at heart, this mix can double as a guard dog and an affectionate and devoted family companion. But how long do these dogs typically live? The average lifespan for a German Shepherd Boxer mix is 10 to 12 years. The German Shepherd Boxer is a mixed breed dog. The Golden Shepherd combines the playful attitude of a Golden Retriever with the devotion and the athleticism of a German Shepherd. They are among the most lovable, loyal, and beautiful breeds. Should a Doberman Mix end up with a Doberman coat, it will be short and will shed a little year-round. These dogs are powerful and intelligent, as you would expect from the parent breeds. Vaccinations up to date and she has been spade as well. These parent breeds are active, loyal, fun-loving and smart dogs which love to be around people. German shepherds and Siberian huskies are two of the most popular dog. How fast can a German Shepherd Boxer Mix run? These mixed boxer shepherd dogs are energetic and can run at a top speed of 27 mph .LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like German Rojas discover inside connections to recommended job candidates, industry experts, and business partners. The mix of these two breeds produces a dog that has the best qualities from both parents. It is a cross between the Boxer and the German Shepherd. The Shug is a cute mix of the German Shepherd and the Pug. These pups are highly intelligent and trainable, but they do need quite a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. While the appearance and personality of mixed dogs cannot be assured, the Boxer Shepherd usually gets the most desirable of both. This mix is not only a stunning sight to behold, but also has a personality and temperament that make it an ideal family pet. Most of these dogs have a body like a Great Dane, with robust and long muscular legs. Boxer Mix Puppies for Sale. They love running and playing with their owner, so they need someone who can keep up with their high energy levels. You can call Pam Danford at with questions and to request an application or go to www. Below is a list of mix breed dogs. German Shepherd Boxer mix dogs need up to 1, calories per day. View German Rojas' professional profile on LinkedIn. It was bred by combining the genes of two renowned dog breeds in the world: a purebred German Shepherd and a purebred Boxer. German Shepherd Corgi. Kids over 8 years old please and fenced in yard would be highly recommended. The Bulloxer is a cross between an English Bulldog and a Boxer. This hybrid is better suited for pet owners with experience. German Shepherd Collie. The Boxer Shepherd mix is a crossbreed of two immensely popular breeds - the German. Gentle pets and strong watch dogs, GSDs are noble, large, muscular dogs bred for their intelligence and working ability. The Boxer Shepherd is a mix of these two, which means its coat can go either way. Golden Shepherd. This hybrid can stand as tall as 2. By the early s, the lovable German Shepherd that we know today was created. Boxer Shepherd Boxer German Shepherd mix 11 9. Belgian Malinois are intelligent, protective, playful, and energetic. The German Shepherd is found to the breed of dog most associated in mixed breed dogs. They are medium-sized dogs with a life expectancy of years. Best and Popular Boxer Mix Breeds .The highly intelligent dog is becoming increasingly sought-after as a dog that can be dressed up, and also as a mix taken in from shelters. This Boxer Mix can be found in both short and long hair varieties, depending on the German Shepherd parent breed. History: The German Shepherd was developed in Germany during the 19th century, primarily by one man: Captain Max von Stephanitz, whose goal was to create an. Be prepared for a lot of brushing if your dog will get the coat from the German Shepherd parent. Jan 15, .The Boxer Shepherd is a reasonably new mix, but we. The best way to determine the traits of a mixed breed is to look up all. German Shepherd mix Hemi is super sweet, good with other dogs and good with kids. They are also relatively easy to train and make great. They will have a short thick coat that needs plenty of regular grooming. The mix of these two breeds produces a dog that has the best qualities from. This dog loves to run and does not sit around for long periods. By the time you are reading this article, most likely you have been looking for your lost pet for 24 hours or more. This crossbreed often inherits the best characteristics from both parents. They are all ready to go to th January 30, View more. This breed has an average lifespan of years. Unsurprisingly it was able to stave off the six. They are easy to train but the excess energy can cause them to lose focus during the training session. Besides taking your dog on long walks everyday, make sure that you give him plenty of exercise in the form of running and playing. Because of their lineage, Boxer German Shepherd Mixes often have a strong natural instinct to guard and protect their families. Doberman Mix Puppies For Sale. These dogs have an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years. German Shepherds are dogkind's finest herding and guardian dogs. They are large, enthusiastic dogs with plenty of energy. These dogs quickly became companion dogs after these original activities were. The Boxer Catahoula mix can be high between 20 and 25 inches cm and weigh between 40 and 80 pounds kg. First, it tends to have a strong loyalty and protective nature, taking after their German Shepherd parent breed. The Boxer Shepherd is a very high-energy dog, and they'll need plenty of exercise. Hybrid dogs, or designer dogs as some call them, are becoming quite popular. Boxer Mixed with Pit Bull Poorly raised Pit Bulls are sometimes implicated in attacks on children but properly raised individuals can be some of the best playmates for older kids pit bulls can be too rambunctious and playful for their size to be trusted around young children among all breeds. The Australian Boxherd is a combination of Australian Shepherd and Boxer, and as such it has inherited physical traits from both. However, you will also be getting a dog that is loyal, playful, and patient. Dachshund Shepherd Dachshund German Shepherd mix 16 .The Boxer German Shepherd mix is smart and energetic. Find boxer puppies in wisconsin from local breeders near you or advertise your boxer puppies for free at DogsNow. Boxer breeders in wisconsincom. Boxer puppies for Sale in the UK Puppies. Find Boxer puppies for sale Near Pennsylvania Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. A Chicago Boxer for sale will mature to be a sizable dog. The only main difference in the higher price point puppies is they often are also purebreds or pedigrees. Snoopy was surrendered by his Oklahoma owner as they had too many dogs. Boxer puppies for sale in Michigan from trusted breeders. She is up to date on all of her vaccinations, has been dewormed, and is socialized well with … more. We offer beautiful European Boxer puppies from health-tested parents. Staffy cross boxer puppies for sale. Find 6 listing of Properties for sale in Chumphon, Nakhon Nayok. Boxers for Sale in Cleveland. Find Boxer puppies for sale Near Washington Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. Boxer Puppies for Sale in Iowa. Parents on premises,Dew claws and tails docked. Find your Boxer puppy for sale in Minnesota, MN. Boxer puppies for sale from trusted breeders. He appears to be a boxer mix and he weighs around 55 lbs right now. J Camulos, he is one of our males. Boxers for Sale in Appleton, WI. Find your Boxer puppy for sale. All our puppies come with a health certificate and are AKC registered unless stated otherwise. There is no set price for Texas Boxer puppies for sale because there are so many factors involved. Boxer Puppies in North Carolina. The best thing to do is start your search and get an overall idea of the type of price you can expect to pay. He even likes to play tug of war with a small rope. Find Boxer puppies for sale Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. Find your Boxer puppy for sale Puppies. Puppy Tip Invest time, effort and patience into training your puppy early. Full litter in breeder price Boxer puppies for sale in low price My Smart World K subscribers Subscribe 0 No views 1 minute ago boxerdog boxerpuppy boxerdoginlowprice Full litter. Boxers for Sale in Riverside, CA. Find Puppies and Breeders in your area and helpful information. Free Puppy Listings - list or get puppies for free. Property for Sale in Chumphon, Nakhon Nayok. Boxer puppies for sale in Washington from trusted breeders. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. Full litter in breeder price. Great Pyrenees Puppies For Sale. We have brindle males and females and also one white male. Their enthusiastic and bouncy nature also means you need to provide them with plenty of space! Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. Boxer puppy for sale in Ohio. Find your new companion at NextDayPets. Boxer Dogs and Puppies For Sale. Boxer puppies for sale. It's usual for a male boxer to be around 25 inches and to weigh between 65 to 80 pounds. Females tend to be between 21 to 25 inches, and generally weigh from 50 to 65 pounds. Boxer Puppies for Sale in Wisconsin. Boxer breeders in wisconsin. You can visit them … more 23 hours ago on PuppyFinder. Females will be slightly smaller, at .Number of puppies available at time of publication: 0. All puppies found here are from AKC-Registered parents. Hablo Espaol, you can text me .This former momma dog is a Foster to Adopt. The difference is more than just cosmetic, though that is part of it. He is trained to sit, fetch, housebroken, lays down, walks on a leash, and well-mannered. Find Boxer puppies for sale. Join millions of people using Oodle to find puppies for adoption, dog and puppy listings, and other pets adoption. They are fawn, white, and black masked, but have very unique. Now, as part of the working group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports, like agility, obedience, and herding. Reach many interested people who want to give your puppies a. Property for Sale in Hua Hin. Boxer Puppies for Sale in PA. A non refundable deposit is required to reserve your pup and full … Age: 8 weeks Ready to leave: in. He has anxiety when kenneled alone. Call or Jenny at -- Photos and contact info on Advertigo website. They are very affectionate and difficult to provoke to anger, making them great with children. European Boxers have a different look to them than. Dot Property makes finding a property easy by providing wide range of properties for sale in Chumphon, He is family raised with children and socialized, plus his parents are The Riehls family pets. White girl, purple girl, red girl, blue boy and green boy. In contrast, buying Boxers from breeders can be prohibitively expensive. Find Boxer puppies for sale Near Tennessee Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. The cheap boxer puppies for sale, as we know it today, was originally developed in the late s by crossing the Bullenbeisser and English-bred Bulldogs to chase wild game. Big Mac Boxers — For work, play, or show! Invest in Real Estate With Confidence! Find Boxer puppies for sale and dogs for adoption. White Paw is the puppy that gets the puppy party started. They are all Playful, friendly, eating well, and have great loving temperaments. Where can I adopt a Boxer? They also still come with a day health guarantee. Once mature, a male Boxer Chicago can stand up to 25 inches tall and weigh up to 80 pounds. Boxers for Sale in Indianapolis. If you are unable to find your Boxer puppy in our Puppy for Sale or Dog for Sale sections, please consider looking thru. Austin can be registered with the AKC, and he comes home with a 6-month genetic health guarantee provided by the breeder. Puppies for Sale. Michigan Boxer Classifieds Hoobly. Puppies will be KC registered microchipped wormed. This will allow you to have more freedom, budget, and fun shopping for other new puppy necessities like bowls, leashes, beds and toys. You are not looking for puppies for adoption, but would like to give away puppies yourself? Here at Petclassifieds. Boxers for Sale in Minneapolis. Will be wormed, flea treated and microchipped before they leave. This Townhouse has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with shower, toilet, If you have to stretch the budget to buy a more expensive puppy, then everything after will feel like a big daunting decision. Boxer puppies for sale in Pennsylvania from trusted breeders. Find your Boxer puppy for sale in Ohio. Longsdale's boxers have for sale a beautiful litter of boxers. Boxer puppies for Sale in the UK. Find your Boxer puppy for sale in Tangier, VA. Boxer breeders in wisconsinBy , we had a website, our c 3 standing, and volunteers ready to serve. Boxer Puppies for sale Posted .Boxer breeders in wisconsinBy , we had a website, our …. Find Boxer puppies for sale Near Michigan Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. Please be cautious of these websites as there are breeding facilities called puppy mills that sell cheap dogs that come from poor living conditions. Their enthusiastic and bouncy nature also means you need to provide them with plenty of space! Are Boxers ebay to train? For Sale "puppies" in Atlanta, GA. In contrast, buying Boxers from breeders can be prohibitively. This is the price you can expect to pay for the Boxer breed without breeding rights. Different breeders charge different prices for their Boxers, which can be influenced by factors including color, size, gender, and more. How much are Boxer puppies for sale in Texas?
It is located in Chicopee, MA. The adult dogs and puppies are raised indoors in a family environment. The owner is very much dedicated to taking care of her lovely fur babies. The canines will be vet checked and micro-chipped as well. Visit their website to have a look at the lovely doggies. Information and pedigree of three of their Pugs are given there. Although according to their website they do not have any available Pugs at this moment, you can still send them an email directly from their website. The cost of Pugs varies depending on a lot of factors. However, you have to spend more if you want to adopt a Chinese Pug from a reputable Massachusetts breeder. Your Pug may cost much more if it comes from a champion line and is show quality. When it comes to selecting canines for a family, puppy mills and backyard breeders should never be chosen. Puppy mills are professional breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for sale in pet shops, advertisements, or on the web. Animals die of malnutrition or hunger due to insufficient or unclean food and water. Besides, kittens and pups are taken from their moms at such a young age, and many of them have major behavioral issues as a result. Further, there is little or no veterinary attention to the sick or dying animals. Profit is also an incentive for breeders of the backyard. Backyard breeders might appear to be your friendly neighbor next door. In Massachusetts, finding a reputable Pug breeder may be challenging. You will need to be patient in order to find the perfect Pug breeder. Here are some tips to help you through the process. Reach Out to Friends If you have a friend who has a Chinese Pug, talk to them about how they found their pet. Another option is to immediately contact an obedience or training school. Find other Pug owners and approach them too. Use Social Media Is there any particular Facebook or Instagram page that you follow to keep in touch with this dog breed? If the answer is yes, make an effort to learn more about them and their breeders. Pug lovers can benefit much from social media, particularly Facebook. For many potential purchasers, this method yields outstanding results. You can also follow sites that are dedicated to assisting you in finding the perfect Pug breeder. Attend Dog Shows Wherever there is a dog show, breeders can be found. To explore more about Pugs, go to one of these events. Consult Your Local Veterinarian Speaking with your local veterinarian is a great way to be sure your information is coming from a trustworthy and knowledgeable source. Consult your veterinarian for information on what to look for in a breeder. You will need to budget for a variety of expenses in addition to the puppy purchase. So, it is a good idea to plan ahead of time so you are not caught off guard when the bills arrive after you have bought all the necessities. Pugs are affectionate, have a cute appearance, are faithful, and have a laid-back attitude. They are a fantastic option for first-time dog owners. They adore being hugged and patted, and if your affections are concentrated on someone else, they may grow envious or offended. Their main downside is the significant clinical issues that result from that beautiful small snout, so make sure you have enough money to handle any future medical expenses. Pugs, which were bred to be lap dogs in the first place, thrive in human companionship. There are a few things to think about if you are thinking about adopting a Pug. The following are some important details about this dog breed. Pugs Shed a Lot Despite their attractive appearance and friendly attitude, Pugs shed a lot. Fawn Pugs have been found to shed substantially more than black Pugs. The reason for this is because fawn Pugs have two coats whereas black Pugs only have one. They Suffer From Many Health Issues Pugs have a variety of health issues that might have a detrimental effect on their well-being. The Pug is a brachycephalic breed, which means it has a small and compressed face and nose. This can lead to breathing difficulties, which is why Pugs snore a lot even while they are awake. Besides, Pugs are prone to skin disorders, respiration problems, vision problems, tail problems, and other health issues as well. They Crave a lot of Attention Pugs adore their owners and want to be with them as often as possible. They were bred for companionship and would be completely content to spend their days curled up on the couch with you. They Are Very Stubborn While each dog is different, it is safe to say that Pugs are stubborn and strong-willed. A Pug will go to tremendous lengths to achieve what they genuinely desire, whether it is meals or affection from their owner. Temperatures that are neither too hot nor too chilly are preferred by them. Ensure that your Pug has a comfy place to sleep and that she does not spend too much time outside during inclement weather. Pugs are excellent pets for families with children since they are usually kind and like playing games with them. They are pleasant to be around and enjoy being cuddled. Because of the shape of their mouth, which prohibits them from biting successfully, they are basically harmless. How Long Do Pugs Live? Knowing how long your fur baby may live is important to a dog owner. This is significant because it will help you estimate the number of years your pet will be there by your side. The average lifespan of a Chinese Pug is between 12 and 15 years. As a result, they are one of the longest-living dog breeds. Male Pugs have a life expectancy of .You can help your Pug live longer by making her happier and healthier. Which part of Massachusetts State are you from? Have I mentioned the area you are from? If not, who was the nearest breeder to you? Pugs of which color do you like the most? I like the black ones. If you know any Pug breeders in Massachusetts that I have not listed, please let me know. I am always open to new suggestions. Please share your valuable ideas with me in the comment section. Wishing you luck in your search for the ideal Pug breeder. Related Topics:. For the complete list please see our Pug Breeders List page. A few other factors that might influence the price are: whether the pup is male or female, whether it is a show-quality dog or not, and whether it has been spayed or neutered. Purebred bloodlines will often command a higher price than those without. There are also a few rescue organizations that specialize in pugs, so you may be able to find a puppy through one of these groups. The best way to find a free pug is to network with other pug owners in your area. Chances are, someone will know of a breeder who has puppies available for adoption. There are many reasons why someone might want to breed pugs. Some people believe that breeding provides an opportunity to improve the health and temperament of the breed as a whole. Others may simply enjoy owning pugs and want to share their joy by providing puppies to other families. How to Find A Responsible Pug Breeder in Massachusetts When looking for a Pug breeder in Massachusetts, it is important to find one who is responsible and cares about the puppies they produce. You should ask the breeder lots of questions, including: How long have you been breeding Pugs? Do you have any health guarantees for your puppies? What tests have your dogs been screened for? How many litters do you have per year? Do you keep in touch with your puppy buyers after the sale? Are your puppies raised in a healthy environment? Responsible breeders will be happy to answer all of your questions and will be able to provide documentation of health screenings for their dogs. They should also be willing to provide references from previous buyers. Visit Your Massachusetts Pug Breeder in Person It is also important to visit the breeder in person before you buy a puppy. You can see their temperament and how they interact with their parents. Responsible breeders will want you to visit and will be happy to answer any questions you have. If you are looking for a Pug breeder in Massachusetts, be sure to do your research and ask plenty of questions. Responsible breeders will be more than happy to answer all of your questions and provide documentation of health screenings for their dogs. If for some reason the breeder refuses to let you visit, it is best to move on. There are plenty of other breeders that will gladly help you. A good Pug breeder will have happy, healthy dogs and plenty of happy customers. Ask to see pictures of the puppies and their parents as well. References can also tell you if the breeder is reputable and responsible. This will help you to get a good idea of what to expect from your Pug puppy and whether or not the breeder is taking good care of their dogs. They can also tell you if the breeder is always available to help with questions or problems and if they have ever had any problems with their puppy. Buying a Pug from a reputable breeder in Massachusetts is important for many reasons. A good Pug breeder will have a good veterinarian they use and they will be happy to give you the name of their veterinarian. Good veterinarians are important for two reasons. First, they will help keep your Pug healthy. Second, if something goes wrong with your Pug, your breeder will want to work with the veterinarian to get your dog the best possible care. Make sure that you visit the veterinarian before you buy a puppy from a breeder. This will help you to make sure that the breeder is using a good veterinarian and that you are comfortable with the veterinary care your Pug will receive. Some unethical breeders may seem like they are reputable and may even have websites or kennels. However, there are some telltale signs that can help you spot an unethical Pug breeder. There are many good breeders out there, and by being aware of the signs of an unethical one, you can avoid getting scammed. Be Wary of Scammers When Buying A Pug As with any breed of dog, there are scammers out there who are trying to make a quick buck by selling sick, malnourished puppies. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do your research and only buy a Pug from a reputable breeder. Some common health problems that can occur in pugs include hip dysplasia, eye problems, and allergies. Health problems are common in most breeds of dogs, and the pug is no exception. By doing so, you can be sure that you are aware of any potential health issues that may occur in the future. Here is a checklist of things to do before your Pug arrives: Get a crate and puppy bed. Your Pug will need a place to sleep and feel safe. Buy food and water dishes and a food bowl stand. Pugs like to eat, so make sure you have enough food for them. Set up a potty area. You can also use puppy pads or training mats in your home until your Pug is house-trained. Choose a name for your Pug and start teaching them commands. Pugs are smart dogs and they will learn commands quickly if you start training them early. Pugs love playing with toys and eating snacks, so make sure you have plenty on hand. Toys can keep your Pug entertained and help them burn off energy, while treats can be used as rewards for good behavior. Schedule a visit to the vet. Your Pug will need to get a check-up and some vaccinations when they first arrive, so make sure you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Prepare yourself for lots of love. Pugs are adorable dogs that love spending time with their families. They will quickly become a part of your family and will bring you lots of happiness. Welcome to the world of pugs. Potty Training Your New Pug Puppy One of the most important things you will need to do when you get a new Pug puppy is train them to go to the bathroom outside. Here are a few tips on how to potty train your Pug: Start off by taking your puppy outside every time they eat, drink, or play. This will help them associate going outside with doing their business. Make sure you praise your puppy when they go to the bathroom outside. Positive reinforcement is key in training your dog. This will only make it harder for them to learn where they are supposed to go to the bathroom. Clean up the mess and move on. Be patient and consistent with training your Pug. It may take a little time, but they will eventually learn where to go. By following these tips, you can successfully potty train your new Pug puppy. The breeder will have screened the puppies for genetic health problems and will only sell those that are healthy. The breeder will have given the puppies socialization and training, which will help them adjust better to their new home. The breeder will offer support after you take your puppy home. By choosing a reputable breeder, you can be sure that you are getting a healthy, well-socialized Pug puppy. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter. Why Is My Dog Shaking? Dogs are known for their loyalty and companionship, but when they start shaking, it can be a cause for concern for pet owners. Shaking in dogs can be a sign of various issues, from dog anxiety and dog fear to dog medical conditions. In this blog post, we will explore the common causes of a dog shaking and what pet owners can do to identify and treat the problem. We will also offer tips for preventing dog shaking and ensuring.By doing regular grooming at home, you can help your dog look its best between visits to the groomer. You also get to bond more closely and build stronger trust with your dog. Routine grooming sessions will keep your dog clean and feeling fresh, but it will also.Their personality is lively, their nature fun-loving, and their disposition affectionate. As even-tempered, sweet, and playful dogs, Pugs make wonderful playmates for kids of all ages and lovely companion pets for couples, singles, and seniors. These little joy bringers love to cuddle and are generous with their Pug love. When it comes to their family, Pugs attach like magnets. They are known to happily shadow their humans in every activity and are just as happy lazing on the couch all day as they are going for a long evening stroll around the neighborhood. Website: pug-puppy. At pug-puppy. This is a family of Pug lovers who are about the advancement of the Pug breed as well as the health and wellbeing of each and every one of their pups. The family lives and raises their Pugs on a one-acre plot with plenty of room for running and playing. They even teach their Pugs to swim! All of their Pugs are fed a healthy diet of quality food and vitamins and have the freedom to play with lots of toys. When you purchase a pup from pug-puppy. They love their dogs and show commitment to the betterment of the breed in everything they do. But how can you spot reputable breeders when you start searching for a Pug puppy? Here are some tips to help you out. A good breeder will… 1. Issue a health guarantee Make sure that your breeder of choice offers a health guarantee. A reputable Pug breeder will write up a binding health guarantee for all of their puppies. The guarantee protects you against any genetic defects or diseases. It shows that the breeder is confident that their puppies are bred according to best practices. This means if you can no longer look after your pup for some reason, you will be expected to return the puppy to the breeder rather than taking them to a shelter. Provide standard health clearances Your breeder should have full health clearances for both parent Pugs. Good breeders often provide some early health-check clearances for their pups too, although some health clearances simply cannot be carried on such young pups. Issue a written bill of sale Reputable breeders offer written bills of sale to all of their new Pug parents. This bill of sale should be signed and will outline all the roles and responsibilities to be taken on by the buyer and seller as part of the transaction. Vaccinate their puppies All puppies should be up to date on their vaccinations before being homed with new families. Your breeder of choice should be able to provide evidence of these vaccinations. Reputable breeders welcome prospective parents into their homes to see the puppies. Follow age guidelines Puppies should never leave the litter before 8 weeks of age. Any breeder offering pups for adoption before this time is not following best practices. In fact, this could be quite damaging for the puppy developmentally. A reputable breeder will keep their pups at home until eight to twelve weeks so that they can be properly socialized and spend that crucial time with their mother and litter-mates. Answer your questions Last, but not least, a reputable breeder will be knowledgeable. In most cases, they will also want to ask you plenty of questions to ensure that their precious pups are going to good homes. We have a strict selection process that takes a variety of factors into account. That way we can ensure that only the best breeders end up on our lists. This way we know that our chosen breeders offer genetically sound and healthy puppies. Health testing shows a commitment to the health and wellbeing of each Pug. Contact information Any breeder that does not offer up their contact information is a big red flag. A reputable breeder will make it easy for you to get in contact with them by providing telephone numbers, email addresses, and they will usually have a well-established website as well. It shows a commitment to breeding best practices. Event participation Breeders who also compete in doggie events are often some of the best. Because these people tend to be dog lovers par excellence. They live and breathe for their Pugs and are proud to show them off in public. They are also more likely to have a high level of breed knowledge — an excellent sign for a breeder. Breed club membership There are lots of breed clubs out there that breeders can register with. These clubs have rules, regulations, and membership fees. If your breeder is registered with the Pug Dog Club of America, this is a great sign showing commitment to the Pug breed. Recognition awards Lastly, we look out for awards! Institutions like the AKC recognize the efforts and achievements of top breeders. The very best will be awarded the AKC recognition of merit award. During this time we recommend getting everything ready before your new arrival rattles through the front door. Your puppy will need: a crate for sleeping and training during the early days quality puppy-grade food a leash and harness plenty of toys You may also wish to purchase a puppy gate if there are areas of your home that you want to keep your Pug away from. This is all about making your home as safe as possible for your new arrival. Make sure anything that could potentially cause harm to your pup is removed. Clear your schedule Having a Pug puppy is a bit like having a human baby. So make sure to clear your schedule and get all of those errands done ahead of time! Once they arrive… 4. Avoid crowds Hold your excitement. That means no crowds. Try to keep the home environment as stress-free as possible so that your puppy can settle in and start to feel part of the family. Crate training is the first step. Lay down a regular routine from the get to and your Pug will be good as gold in no time.
Put that on a tiny, stout body and throw in a spunky personality—how can you go wrong with having this dog for a pet? With the breed becoming so sought after, many breeders have been experimenting with color variations to see just how far they can push the envelope. It seems the more exotic the colors become, the more people love them. But which colors are truly acceptable for the breed? Are there any negatives associated with these variations? This breed is known for its stunning appearance overall. However, these colors are standard and accepted in French Bulldogs. The AKC requirements recognize all colors except mouse, solid black, liver, black and tan, black and white, and white with black. The 14 Types of French Bulldogs: 1. Classic fawn coloring on Frenchies varies from cream to nearly yellow. There may also be a reddish cast in some cases. Generally, the fawn-colored Frenchie is accompanied by a black mask, but not always. The pattern exists with a dark coat of hair mixed with light strands. It is among the most popular Bulldog colors of all. Many Bull and Mastiff breeds can display this coat. It is caused by the Agouti gene, which controls black pigment distribution. However, the tiger brindle pattern shows much more defined stripes. Regular brindle is more of a muddled mixture. They are considered off-white and are frequently confused with piebald. A true white Frenchie has dark pigment around the lips, nose, and eyes. The white coloring can also be the result of albinism but is less likely. White can also be linked to deafness, especially if they show pink around the lips, nose, and eyes. Pied French Bulldog The pied pattern is when a dog is predominantly white or eggshell accompanied by darker spots. These areas can occur on any part of the body and are generally larger. This pattern is responsible for patches around the eyes or ears, giving them a unique look. However, with rarer colors comes questionable health issues that may plague the already lackluster health of the breed itself—they are naturally prone to skin allergies, food sensitivities, and brachycephalic syndrome. Rare-colored Frenchies come with a high price tag. They are also prone to color dilution alopecia and shorter lifespans. Making sure you purchase from a reputable breeder with a solid history can eliminate some worries, but be aware of all risks when considering a rare color. If you do find one, they will likely come with an even higher price than an average Frenchie. To achieve a lilac coat, both parents must carry blue and chocolate genes, which are also rare colors. However, it makes it no less beautiful to see this stunning coat on a Frenchie. The color is caused by a recessive black gene. To be considered pure black, there can be no trace of brindle found in the coat. They often have sapphire or dark brown eyes. Cream French Bulldogs Credit: Marina Kadyrova, Shutterstock The cream coat appears due to a recessive dilution gene in the fawn coloring. When cream Frenchies are born, they have pure cream all over their bodies. However, as they age, they develop black shades around their eyes, noses, and mouths. When you have a true chocolate Frenchie, their eyes are typically light and penetrating, coming in shades of gold, green, or yellow. These dogs are light tan to dark mahogany with black hairs at the tips, giving a lovely dark hue over a light-colored coat. Most sables are solid colored with black or dark masks. Instead of their hair tips being dark or black, however, they are blue. So, it gives the overall coat a bluish cast over the top of their fawn coats. It is a charming and rare color. Both parents must carry the blue recessive gene to achieve this coat. This is likely because Frenchies do not carry this gene, which means that a dog who does was mixed into the breeding at some point. The coloring is said to be a condition called alopecia. Since alopecia is considered a discoloration flaw in the breed, these dogs are considered undesirable in terms of standards. Because of the link to alopecia , dogs with this coloring are—like most rare colors—deemed unhealthier than average Frenchies. The Isabella color comes from breeding dogs that are black DD gene carriers. It adds a lovely pale purplish hue to the already chocolate or blue coat. The Wrap Up We all can agree that each of these unique colors looks stunning on the Frenchie. Even though experimenting with color genetics may come with health risks, it is quite amazing to see how drastically you can manipulate and combine genes. With how desired this breed is, there is nothing stopping breeders when it comes to exploring its potential. If you have an interest in a Frenchie yourself , be sure to carefully examine the potential costs associated with the breed. Not only is the initial cost expensive, but the upkeep can also run up vet bills throughout their lifespan. Health aside, these are remarkable dogs deserving recognition. Our Studs Rhett Rhett is a stout and handsome blue brindle that has sired many beautiful litters of healthy pups. He is a transplant from the east coast and currently lives in Warrenton, Oregon. Both his sire and dam were AKC champions, and their amazing genetics can be seen in him and his puppies. For stud service inquiries contact Charlie Louie If a rock had a brindle coat of fur, it would be Louie. He is on the smaller side for a frenchie stud. He has a great compact body and beautiful color and comes from great breeding lines. Combined with his classic frenchie personality he is just too cute to believe. He resides in Utah at City Creek Puppies. He is a very small, compact, short, and cobby boy. Perfect conformation, muscular, blocky head, great temperament, and perfectly healthy. He is available to stud in the Denver Colorado area, but does not breed within our related female line. He carries a variety of lilac, cream, pied, red, blue and fawn with mask, black, and blue. For stud service inquiries contact Jo .She has unique tiger brindle spots and a great frenchie body and face. This girl is athletic, spunky and playful. She comes from a Breeder in the Colorado Springs area. Her grandpa is a Great Grand Champ. She resides in Denver. Eclipse Eclipse is a beautiful black brindle Frenchie with a white chest and a couple Irish spots. She is the daughter of Storm and Yogi who comes from a Great Grand champ. She has the sweetest, most mellow personality and loves affection. Nova Nova is a Lilac blue through and through. She has an amazing coat with a little brindle sprinkled through her coat. She has amazing light eyes and is crazy athletic. She is a grand daughter of Moe and comes from very healthy parents on both sides. She has a very sweet, loveable personality and is very playful. She has an amazing color panel and could produce just about anything. Zelda is gorgeous red fawn pied with dark mask. She has a beautiful short and stocky frenchie body with a perfect head. She has the sweetest playful personality and loves everyone. She resides in Denver, Co. Andi Andi has a gorgeous Black almost tiger Brindle coat with a white chest. She has a great blocky compact body and a wonderful personality. She will have a great variety of color in her litters, Creams, fawns with blue and black masks, black brindle, blue, pied and blue brindle puppies. She resides in Warrenton, OR. Nebula Nebula is a beautiful Blue cover in Cream female. The blue can be seen around her eyes, nose, pads on her feet and her skin. She has the perfect frenchie body, is a great size, and beautiful head. She is a very easy going frenchie and gets along with anything and eveyrthing. She loves to be right beside you and follows you around everywhere. She comes from very healthy lines. We could get a variety of colors from her such as, Cream, fawn, blue, variety of fawn, variety of pied, and black brindle. Retired And Well Loved Gibson Gibson is a gorgeous blue fawn, solid as a rock, and on the smaller end of frenchie sizes. He is not owned by our family, but he sired several of our females. He is a champion living in Herriman Utah. He is a fine example of the high quality lines we breed. He is now living his best life in the Denver Colorado area. Storm Storm is a beautiful all blue brindle Frenchie. When people see her they always comment on her unique coat and how sweet her personality is. She loves to play soccer with the kids and is quite athletic. She came from a very reputable breeder in Nebraska with great bloodlines. Moonie Moonie is a lovable blue brindle Frenchie with a white chest. She comes from 2 great champion bloodlines and has a beautiful coat and personality to go with it. She has a very stoic look and color. She currently resides in Denver. Normandy Retired: Normandy is a majestic Blue Brindle with no white. She has a great build and wonderful temperament. She currently resides in Utah and is happily retired. Pearl Retired: If you can look at Pearl without instantly falling in love, you might not love frenchies! She was sired by Gibson. She resides in Oregon and is happily retired. Luna Retired: Luna is a Black Frenchie with a little brindle. She has a very sweet personality and loves people. Everyone is her best friend the second she meets them. Cici Retired: Cici has a very light cream coat, and such a perfect little frenchie look. She has a great disposition and sweet personality. Moe Retired: Moe has a very unique black brindle coat with a white chest. She comes from a champion bloodline and very reputable breeder in Utah. She has a very loving and loyal personality and wants to be the center of attention. She resides in Denver and is happily retired. Siya Retired: Siya has a gorgeous Blue fawn coat with blue mask, and such a perfect little frenchie body. She also comes from champion bloodlines and has had a great variety of color in her litters. Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address. Black Frenchies Pure black Frenchies are quite easy to recognize as they possess no traces of other colors. What we mean by that is that they have a solid black coat color with no brindle pattern more about that later! Pure black French Bulldogs are actually not as common as one would think, which makes them rather special. Red Frenchies Like the name suggests, red French Bulldogs have a light brown coat with a reddish shade. These puppies usually have black markings around their muzzle and eyes called a mask, and they also tend to have a white patch on their chest. Red fawn Frenchies Red fawn French Bulldogs are essentially the same as red Frenchies with a reddish shade of fawn color, but their coat has a sort of ashy shine. These puppies also tend to have a black mask and dark markings around their eyes and ears. Subscribe to our weekly blog newsletter: Subscribe to our blog newsletter! First name Beige Frenchies The color beige in Frenchies is also very similar to red, but it is a lighter shade of fawn. Beige French Bulldogs usually have a black mask but can also be maskless. Cream Frenchies Cream Frenchies have a unique eggshell color. Their coat is distinctively different from even the lightest fawn colors, being almost white with a bit of yellow in it. Cream Frenchies have no markings on any part of their bodies, so it is considered a solid color. Their nose, lips and paw pads may be pink or a somewhat darker almost black color, and in rare cases they may have forever blue eyes. Blue Frenchies Blue French Bulldogs are essentially grey whose color may vary from light grey to almost black. What makes them stand out is the bluish shine in their coat that is most visible when the light touches them. They often have a white chest which gives them an even more appealing look. These beauties definitely attract a lot of attention: blue has arguably become one of the most wanted Frenchie colors in the world. Blue fawn Frenchies Blue fawn in French Bulldogs is a combination of a light fawn color and blue. More specifically, these puppies have blue parts around their muzzle and eyes instead of black, and their light coat has a beautiful bluish shine. Similarly to blue, this rare French bulldog color has become one of the most popular among our adopters in recent years. Lilac Frenchies Lilac French Bulldogs are often mistaken for blue Frenchies, but they are much more unique and harder to come by. Lilac Frenchies have a very light, almost ashy or silver color which gets lighter and lighter as they age. To produce this rare and beautiful color, the parents have to be blue and chocolate or at least a chocolate carrier. Lilac French Bulldogs usually have light-colored eyes such as yellow, light brown and blue which are glowing red. Lilac fawn Frenchies Lilac fawn Frenchies look very similar to blue fawn Frenchies, but they are much rarer! Lilac fawn French Bulldogs have a light fawn coat color with an ashy or silver shine rather than blue, and their mask is also of a lighter, ashier grey. They have light eyes that are glowing red, and similarly to lilac Frenchies, both of the parents need to carry blue or chocolate to produce this unique color. Lilac sable Frenchies Lilac sable French Bulldogs are almost the same as lilac fawn Frenchies, but these puppies have black fur growing evenly all over their bodies, especially on their back. This gives their coat a bit of a darker shade rather than being ashy. Platinum Frenchies The platinum color in Frenchies is optically similar to albino but retains some luster in their coat as opposed to the pure white seen in albino. It is also similar to a light cream color but it is off-white or sort of silver-looking. What makes them special and highly valuable for breeding purposes is that they carry the most colors in French bulldogs: whichever color a platinum Frenchie is mixed with, the puppies will be of that color. They are certainly very rare and unique dogs. Similarly to lilac Frenchies, they are the combination of blue and chocolate but they have a much more unique greyish liver coat color. Isabella Frenchies are extremely hard to come by, which makes them incredibly valuable for breeding purposes. White French Bulldog Even though white is considered a standard French Bulldog color, an all-white Frenchie is still very rare. They are not to be confused with cream Frenchies who have a more yellowish shade of white. Sometimes pied Frenchies more about that below! Chocolate Frenchies You have probably guessed already that chocolate French Bulldogs have a chocolate brown base coat, which may vary from a light to a really dark brown. The chocolate gene is considered rare in the Frenchie world so these puppies are quite unique. Check out our. But they do live the longest among the bulldog breeds, approximately years according to the AKC English Bulldogs live for years. But you have to be aware of some health risks that the breed is prone to. French Bulldogs are a sensitive breed when it comes to some allergens in their food, the most common being chicken and grains. As a result their skin can become itchy and irritated, and they may also have diarrhea. Read our article about the best food for French Bulldogs. Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome The French Bulldog is a brachycephalic breed, which means flat-faced, short-headed, the reason for looking so cute. This causes them to snort and snore, and in some cases can lead to breathing problems. How to avoid it: as a Frenchie parent, make sure your pup avoids excessive heat or over-exercising. That adorable, cute flat face again! This shape causes the eyes of French Bulldogs to protrude, making them more prone to infections and injuries. If you spot cherry eye or anything unusual in the eyes, contact your vet. Odie, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies How to avoid genetic problems in your French Bulldog By adopting your French Bulldog from a reputable breeder, you massively reduce the likelihood of them having or developing genetic disorders. Such breeders sell pups coming from a premium bloodline and carry out all the necessary testing to make sure you get a healthy and happy boy or girl. Male vs female French Bulldog — which one is the best for you? French Bulldogs are friendly, playful dogs regardless of gender. In terms of height and weight, there are no real differences. Their temperament can be different but remember that each dog has their own personality within the genders. Below is a general description about boy and girl Frenchies. They also want to show their dominance more when being around other dogs, or pets. They have a tendency to mark everything. Males may go crazy around female dogs who are in heat. All male dogs not only Frenchies have a yellowish-greenish discharge, coming from the sheath. They come into season twice a year for 10 days each unless they are spayed , when they have to wear special hygiene pants. Girls can be timid around other dogs. Girls are often recommended for first-time pet owners, and also cost more as they can be bred. Boys are the preferred choice when the pet parent wants a more energetic little rascal. You might fall in love with a baby regardless of the color, but if you want to choose based on the colors, in this section, you can read about The standard and rare colors Fluffy French Bulldogs Misbelieves and the truth about them Standard French Bulldog Colors Brindle French Bulldog The most common French Bulldog color is brindle, which is in fact a pattern and a color. There are many variations of brindle depending on how prominent it is seal brindle when the pattern is very light, and tiger brindle when stronger. Beige Frenchies often have black masks. It can be combined with fawn or brindle. Their nose, lips and paw pads may be pink or a somewhat darker almost black color. Cream French bulldog — TomKings Puppies Non-standard or rare French Bulldog colors Rare and unique colors and patterns have gained more popularity in recent years. Bear in mind that unique colors are rare and are in high demand, which results in higher prices. Blue Frenchies have a coat color ranging from light to dark grey, with a bluish shine. They have blue parts around their muzzle and eyes, and their coat has a bluish shine. Blue fawn french bulldog — TomKings Puppies This pattern is made up of blue and fawn hair. Depending on the mixture of blue and fawn hair, their color can range from very dark to very light. Blue brindle French Bulldog — TomKings Puppies Their coat color is predominantly white, with patches of blue covering their head and body the proportion of white and blue can vary. Blue merle Frenchies have gray coat with bluish spots. Blue merle French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies They have a solid blue base color with beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows. Blue and tan French Bulldog — TomKings Puppies A very rare pattern, a lighter coat color with darker patches scattered over their bodies. Black French bulldog — TomKings Puppies They are often mistaken for blue French Bulldogs, but they have a lighter, silverish coat, which gets lighter as they age. They also have light-colored eyes. Their eyes are available in various colors, like emerald, brown, gold, yellow. Chocolate French Bulldog A chocolate base color with red or beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows. Choco and tan French bulldog — TomKings Puppies This color is similar to albino but retains some luster in the coat, and not pure white seen in albino. Similarly to lilac Frenchies, they are the combination of blue and chocolate but they have a much more unique greyish liver coat color. The only difference from their short-haired cousins is that they have furry, fluffy hair, which makes them extra adorable. They get their fluffiness from a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor 5 FGF5 gene. Fluffy Frenchies are rare and expensive. Compared to other dog breeds you might see higher prices for Frenchies: they are actually considered one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world! You might also experience a wide range of prices that breeders charge for a French Bulldog baby. French Bulldogs are expensive to breed: due to the narrow hip of the moms, they have to be artificially inseminated. Because of the big head of the baby and again, the narrow hip of the mom , Frenchie babies are born by a C-section. Puppy parents coming from a premium, award-winning bloodline are more expensive, and not all the breeders have access to them. There is a high demand for French Bulldogs, as they are the most popular dog breed of America according to the American Kennel Club. The actual price of the puppy depends on: Gender females cost more because of the breeding ability Age younger puppies cost more Coat color unique colors cost more You might find that there are price differences among breeders, even if the puppies they sell are similarly cute. If a breeder spends money on raising a physically and mentally healthy dog, it will have to be reflected in the price. If the price is very low, or you are offered a sale, be cautious, as it could be a scam. You might be dealing with a hobby breeder, or, even worse, a puppy mill , where they breed hundreds of puppies in very poor conditions. Q: Is TomKings Puppies expensive? GK: We have over 17 years of experience breeding only French Bulldogs, with an expert team of vets, trainers, nannies, professionally supervised by our co-founder who has a degree in animal breeding. We invest a lot of money into raising happy and healthy French Bulldogs, and finding loving families for them. Our prices are comparable to those of similar reputable breeders. See below our price list and what the price includes. Q: How to buy good quality French Bulldogs cheaper? Find below the TomKings prices and what the price includes as a reference. What our families have to say Testimonials Stephanie B. We have never loved a dog as much as we love our girl, Ruby Joy! She is sweet and funny and oh so smart! We are so grateful for the blessing she is to us. Alex, at Classic Frenchies, is always quick to answer any questions or concerns we have. We look forward to someday getting another family member from Classic Frenchies to add to our tribe! Lynette G. We bought a puppy in September and she is amazing. Healthy and well socialized. She settled in immediately and has been an absolute joy. We felt so good about her that we contacted them again two months later to purchase a second pup so Ronni would have a friend to play and grow up with. Alex and his family helped us pick out the perfect puppy with the personality we were looking for. She was also healthy and well socialized. We would definitely recommend Classic Frenchies. We love our girls so much and they are the best of friends. I would for sure contact them again to purchase another puppy. Geoffrey G. Great family. I typically do not write recommendations, but Alex went above and beyond to make sure that we were happy with our selection. We were recommended Classic Frenchies and could not have been more satisfied. Alex was transparent, clear about what to expect and helped us navigate the entire process. Puppy is happy and healthy, playful and a perfect fit for our family. Gail M. They are the best well rounded, socialed pups. We absolutely adore our little Lola. What a treasure she has been to our family. John B. Very happy with our puppy! The family is trustworthy and their pups are great. Our little girl makes our lives so much fun every day. We could not recommend them enough. Ask all the questions you have. Alex is great at answering them and letting you know what's up. Jessica P. Our family recently acquired one of their pups. Classic Frenchies is very professional with every step of the process. Our puppy Fancy is happy and healthy! I would definitely recommend! Feel free to use the form on the right or send us a message directly via email or on social media.
One of the men is said to have sprayed a woman with a substance in the face before the men made off with the puppies reported to be three to four weeks old. The incident occurred at .In a statement, Essex Police said: "We are investigating following a break-in in Basildon where three English Bulldog puppies were stolen. It was reported three men forced their way into an address in Deneway at around .One of the suspects has been described to us as being of Asian on Mediterranean descent and wearing tracksuit trousers. One of the other men is described as being around 6ft tall, in his 30s or 40s, large build, wearing a navy top with the hood up, and had dark hair. The three puppies were stolen on Friday night Essex Police "It is believed at least one of the men was wearing a balaclava or beanie-style hat. Our inquiries are ongoing. We are particularly looking for anyone who saw a dark-colored estate car, a dark-colored hatchback, or a white transit-type van in the area at the time or the days before. English bulldogs are one of the U. This year has been described as the worst ever for dog theft, with DogLost, a charity that reunites missing dogs with their owners claiming that there had been a 65 percent rise in pet burglaries on homes and dog kennels. Read more. Share this article via email Share this article via sms Share this article via flipboard Copy link Shares Two English bulldog puppies were forcibly stolen from their owners after they were offered for sale on Craigslist Pictures: Facebook A pair of English bulldog puppies were forcibly snatched from their owners after they were offered for sale on Craigslist. Osvaldo Vasquez and his wife listed the pedigree pups for sale on the website last week, with a woman contacting them to say she wished to buy them. The two men tried to steal the puppies, and struggled with their owners, before managing to break free and run off with the dogs. They fled the scene in a gray Dodge Charger. Osvaldo and his wife managed to grab hold of the woman, and detain her until police arrived. She was arrested, but the hunt for the two men and missing English bulldog puppies continues. The two suspected dog thieves were caught on camera. They have also warned animal lovers off the site, saying it is impossible to know whether pets offered for sale are healthy and from a reputable breeder. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews metro.
To ensure the safety of our readers and the right fit for a new pet, we work hard to make sure only the most trusted breeders are featured on the site. We have a dedicated team that works hard and has done extensive research that involves checking both the breeder and their dogs, to verify that the breeders featured on our site are highly reputable and trustworthy. Feedback on Google and Facebook is also taken into consideration before they are listed as a breeder to have the highest standards possible. We hope that this gives you a little more information about how we list breeders on our site. After extensive research, we came to the conclusion that there are lots of Golden Retriever breeders available in various localities in Canada. We want to make sure that only the best of the best Golden Retriever breeders are included on our list, so we went ahead and did our own research. We talked to a lot of Golden Retriever owners to get their thoughts. You can be confident that no backyard breeders or puppy mills not included on our list. Sandra pink is the owner of this breeding business and she is a member Canadian Kennel Club. All their puppies are raised in a loving home environment where they get plenty of early neurological stimulation and socialization with other animals and humans. This means that your new puppy will be well-adjusted to loud noises and new environments. The main aim of this breeder is to provide a puppy that will be a well-socialized, energetic and healthy addition to your family. At In the pink Golden Retrievers, they take great pride in their breeding program. All of the dogs in their breeding program have been carefully chosen for their ability to produce healthy offspring. They health test all of their breeding dogs and puppies for hereditary health issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia, post retinal atrophy, and subaortic stenosis. This allows us to ensure that every puppy they produce is healthy and has the best chance for long and happy life. Golden Retriever Breeder Info:. Grant, NE About Our kennel is home to several different breeds of dogs, we raise just a few of several breeds because we are fairly remote and that is what seems to work best for us. We started our kennel in and got our first state license in .Since, we have became licensed with the USDA so we can ship our puppies and sell out of state. Our dogs and puppies receive the very best health care possible from our vet, Dr. Shannon Jensen, Dr. Jensen knows all our dogs well and sees them at least one a year for a yearly check up and routine shots. We raise our puppies around cats and kids, lots of other dogs, a few goats and a variety of different people. The puppies are exposed to radio, washing machines, dryers and lots of different homey type noises going on in the whelping kennel so the pups are used to these sounds. The puppies are raised in large pens with plenty of room to play in on the inside and doggie doors that go outside to big pens for them to play in. Our backyard used to be our pride and joy but it has quite literally gone to the dogs! It is a playground on most any given day at any given time to several dogs and puppies! The adult dogs are housed either in big kennels with large indoor pens with doggie doors leading to big outside runs, or huge outside pens with warm dog houses. All of our pens have access to big play yards so they can run all they want! Contact Pankonin Farm Kennel. Goldadors are very social, intelligent, easy to train and are an excellent family companion. Our Goldadors can be anywhere from lbs. Country Retrievers With the many requests for Country Retrievers also known as Comfort Retrievers or Golden Cockers , we spent time researching the cross over the past 2 years. This year, in , we are excited to introduce our first Country Retriever puppies! Country Retrievers are a smaller version of the Golden Retriever, with the combined friendliness, loyalty, and sweet temperaments of both breeds. Throw in a dash of the comical, playful spirit of the Cocker Spaniel, and the Comfort Retriever is lovingly referred to as the Forever Puppy. Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular family pets. They are playful but gentle with children. They get along well with other pets, and are friendly to family and strangers alike. The intelligent Golden Retriever is very versatile. They excel in obedience training. Our Golden Retrievers can weigh between 55 — 75 pounds. Cocker Spaniel The Cocker Spaniel is a very gentle, easy-going, yet lively companion. Cocker Spaniels love their people families, love to snuggle, play together, and give a good laugh with their antics. They repay the loving they receive in multiples of loyalty and affection. Our Cocker Spaniels come in a variety of colours and can weigh from pounds. Genetics play an important role in the health and longevity of your puppy, but environmental factors play a greater role. Things like over and under stimulation, exercise, quality of food, home environment, etc… greatly affect the health and lifespan of your puppy. The quality of the nutrition your puppy receives directly affects his health, so we strongly recommend that your pup is fed top quality dog food. To protect each dog from negative breeding experiences and puppy mill conditions, the signing of a non-breeding contract is required. Our entire business is made to ensure that no dog is kept in unethical, inhumane conditions, and we are careful in screening potential puppy families to ensure each puppy goes to the best possible home. Follow Us. Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. Reesie came into the care due to being discarded from a local puppy mill. Reesie is very active, happy, and a loveable puppy. She will bring much love into the household. Reesie is exactly what you would expect from a Goldendoodle puppy, she is adorably goofy, friendly, super playful, and so sweet. Reesie has three modes: asleep, awake but cute and cuddly, and pure playful puppy! Doodles are mixed breed dogs and therefore exhibit a spectrum of behaviours that are present in the breeds of their parents, however there are some behavioural characteristics that are very common that people should make note of. First, Doodles have a tendency to be very social dogs that do much better with their people around and engaged with them more than not. A Doodle that is left alone for long periods of time regularly can develop depression, anxiety, become obsessive about certain activities and these can result in other destructive behaviours. Doodles also have a tendency to be high energy dogs that need an abundance of mental and physical exercise, especially as they are growing into adulthood. These are not couch potato dogs that are content with a few short walks a day. If you have a more laid back lifestyle and are a homebody, a Doodle will NOT likely be a great match for you. They are very intelligent dogs who like to work, so taking them beyond basic training is highly recommended to help them live their best life. They like to push boundaries and challenge you and many Doodle owners have claimed their dogs are always two to three steps ahead of them! I would like to make very clear here that Reesie is NOT hypoallergenic. If you are allergic to dogs and expecting to do this without sneezing you are out of luck! She will not be a suitable dog for allergy sufferers, sorry! Reesie also requires regular brushing as his fur will easily mat up if not kept up. Regular trips to the groomer to keep her nicely trimmed will also be required. There is quite a bit of upkeep with this coat type and it can become a huge mess quickly so the time and energy to keep up this type of coat will have to be taken into consideration as well. This is quite the undertaking and not something everyone wants to take on or has the time or desire to do. If you have the time and will to take on a big commitment, then Reesie just might be the right girl for you. Reesie is a very smart dog and a quick learner, she is doing a fantastic job with house training, sleeping in her crate at night and has the basic commands under her. Though she is very young she has caught on to going to the door when she needs to go potty. She loves knowing she will get a treat after. Her new humans will need to stay on top of her housetraining so she can continue with her progress. She is not very happy with her crate time during the daytime, we work on this daily and are finding that a routine is the way to go with her. Her picking up on training is going very well, she knows the commands, come, sit, down, paw. Consistent work is need on commands, so her new humans will need to dedicate time for this many times throughout the day. She can be left alone for short periods, as she does have separation anxiety. We are working with her on this daily so that when she is ready to leave to go to her forever home she will be better. She does have, and likes her night routine, getting some quite cuddle time before hand. She can sleep 6 hours through the night, as long as she does her duty right before bed. You will need to be patience with her not wanting to be in a crate especially during the day. She just wants to be with her people so much and with her energy level for her to have to hold that in for long is just not fair to her. With the energy Reesie has and the amounts she runs around now as a pup, a large yard would be important. I can see playing fetch will be a big part of her life and she would love to be able to do this in her own yard. As well will be a great helper with any yard work, or just lazing around with a toy or bone. If she does not get outside enough she will be like a toddler in the house and grab anything just to keep busy, will definitely keep you on your toes. If you try to be stern with her she looks at you with those big loving eyes that melt your heart, so you will need to be a strong leader. You will realize very quickly why the proper exercise will be a must. Reesie will require her people to be very active and athletic as she is going to need a good amount of fast paced exercise as she matures into an adult dog. She is not a dog that will be content with simple walks, this is a dog that requires running, hiking, dog sports etc in order to be sated. She needs this daily outlet of physical activity in order to be a happy, well-adjusted dog. Reesie could happily go to a home with children age 8 or older. That being said Reesie would make a fantastic companion for a family with older children as she is lots of fun and has a wonderful playful energy. Reesie is in a home with two foster siblings, that she is smitten with. She would do well in a home that has another playful dog that is male. She is a very confident female pup and will not enjoy sharing her home space with another female dog; there can only be one queen in the palace!! She is still learning her boundaries and is growing fast so a dog that will be a larger dog like her when she is fully grown is best, one that can handle a spunky pup bothering them. Her forever family will need to be confident with a large adult goofball of a dog. Reesie LOVES making her humans happy and loves being praised, will sit in front of you with a hug smile. She has conquered the come, sit, lay down commands. While working on her commands daily, we will also introduce a new command every second day, she is now working on shake and pretty sit. Out of all the puppies we have fostered I have not seen one react so fast and be so proud as Reesie when she is called. Even though she learns fast we want to remind potential adopters that she is very new to the world and so she needs guidance and support. She is a good puppy, but a puppy none the less and puppies are tiring and need constant support while they grow and navigate the world. Having previous puppy experience, or experience with a high energy dog would be a great asset for a potential adopter. Reesie likes going on walks with her foster siblings by her side and alone, but she is not fond of the leash attached to any of them. Periodically she will jump up and try to pull it. Her zig zagging is still going strong. We love taking out our puppy fosters on big adventures, so they are introduced to many things in the environment, like noises and objects. Once Reesie is older she will need a few long walks a day. She is fantastic on fetch, brings it right back to you for her next throw. If she gets the needed amount of exercise physical and mental she will be an outstanding girl. If she plays hard she will crash hard, which will be one of your favourite times with her as she loves to snuggle and cuddle. She will lay right on your lap, belly up and rubs will put her right to sleep. She is loving, goofy, and super sweet. She is clingy and curious and a companion animal through and through. We cannot wait to see Reesie in her forever home so that she can continue to give her whole heart to her people.
Breeds The link has been copied! The German Shepherd breed has always been popular in America. In fact, they have been ranked as number 1 in popularity throughout most of U. If a female German Shepherd dog GSD has joined your family, and you are thinking about breeding from her, you may be curious about how many puppies you should expect in one litter — as well as how many she might have over her years with you. On average, a German Shepherd can have puppies per litter. Some have as many as 15 or as few as one puppy per litter. On record, the biggest German Shepherd litter was 17 puppies by a dog named Mosha. The gestation period is approximately 63 days about two months after conceiving. However, this number may vary by several days. A German Shepherd dog can have two litters per year until around the age of 8. This means that a German Shepherd Dog can have approximately 14 litters in her entire lifetime. Well, the answer to this may help you understand the quantity of puppies they produce in a litter. The German Shepherd is native to Germany and is a cross breed between working sheep dogs and a dog believed to be a quarter wolf. They were originally bred to protect families and to herd livestock. Are there factors that affect the number of puppies a female German Shepherd can have? How many times in a year can they give birth? Knowing how many puppies to expect may help you plan resources to accommodate them if you are planning on becoming a breeder. A female German Shepherd with a small body will have a smaller litter size compared to a GSD with a bigger body. If you want a larger litter size, therefore, you should breed your German Shepherd before they are seven years or older. The best breeding years are between 2- 5 years of age. As the male dog ages, their sperm count decreases, and this affects the number of puppies in the litter. If you are a breeder, it is best to practice breeding when the male dog is in its prime years, between 2- 5 years. This way, you are likely to get a bigger litter size. The female should also have a healthy diet before breeding. Diet and health go hand in hand. A diet that consists of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates will help your GSD to have a larger litter size. Your vet will help you determine the perfect diet before, during, and after your dog's pregnancy. Although it may be nerve-wracking, you need to be there to help your German Shepherd give birth. A whelping box with a heating pad or a heating lamp will help keep the new-born puppies warm. New-born puppies are unable to regulate their body temperature, hence why the heating pad or lamp will come in handy. Heating pads: place them under the blankets or towels where the puppies lie. Make sure the setting is comfortable for them. At birth, they weigh about 0. German Shepherd dog puppies have four developmental life stages after they are born. You will notice the mother licking her puppies to clean them. Milk from their mother is very crucial at this age. They can begin eating some main foods but still nurse and feed on soft foods. By eight weeks, a puppy has all its teeth, and the teething process begins. At this time, you should ensure each puppy starts to wear a properly-fitted dog collar. For added security, choose a collar that allows you to track their location via GPS. Final Thoughts Owning a dog is a joyous experience, and when you own a German Shepherd, you have a loyal, smart, fierce, and protective dog for life. To add to that, German Shepherd dogs make good mothers and they know what to do during and after giving birth. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Fi smart dog collars make it easier than ever. German Shepherds are a large breed, so larger litters are often expected. Though most dog breeds give birth to 5 to 6 puppies, the average litter size of a German Shepherd is 8. The largest known German Shepherd litter was 17, birthed in by a white long-haired German Shephard named Mosha in Indiana. Several years later, in , another German Shepherd birthed a whopping 16 puppies —the largest litter the Leamington Spa Charity has ever seen in its 60 years of breeding dogs. If you have a healthy pregnant German Shepherd, expect her to give birth to at least 5 puppies. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog. In a year, a healthy German Shepherd can get pregnant twice a year. Unlike smaller breeds, German Shepherds can go into heat once every six or so months. It's during this time that they can get pregnant. A normal heat cycle lasts between two to four weeks long on average. So, if you don't want your beloved German Shepherd to return home pregnant, make sure she's kept away from other dogs during this period. You can take her outside to play, as long as it's in a secure enclosure like your backyard. Apart from the breed itself, there are a ton of factors that affect a German Shepherd's litter size. You can use these factors to predict approximately how many puppies your German Shepherd will give birth to when the time comes. Size It goes without saying that the larger your German Shepherd, the larger her potential litter. This is because biologically, larger dogs can safely carry more babies. Puppies can either stop growing during the developmental stage or be reabsorbed by the mother's body. Some of the puppies may also be miscarried. The same is said with German Shepherds with underlying health conditions like diabetes or obesity. Both parents need to be in excellent health to maximize the litter count. Age The age of both parents also affects the size of the litter, with the female's age more important than the male's age. German Shepherds under the age of 7 produce larger litters than German Shepherds over the same age. Additionally, German Shepherds bred after the age of 5 may have smaller litters in the future, as opposed to those bred earlier than 5. No matter the age, the first litter will be smaller than the upcoming litter. As for the stud, the older the male gets, the fewer his sperm count. Larger litters will likely occur if the male is under the age of 5 when bred with a female. Heritability Dogs tend to inherit their mother's litter size potential, so long as they're healthy. If you've purchased your German Shepherd from a reputable breeder, you can contact the breeder and ask them how many litters your pup's mother would produce on average. Nutrition Nutrition is a major factor in determining a dog's litter size and health. This is why numerous nutritional guidelines for pregnant dogs exist. Poorly fed pregnant dogs don't have the required nutritional support to produce a large litter. Therefore, providing high-quality food throughout the pregnancy is crucial. Pregnant dogs have different nutritional requirements than non-pregnant dogs. They also need high amounts of soluble carbohydrates, as well as calcium and phosphorous for puppy bone formation and nursing. Pregnant dogs that are fed a balanced diet without supplements produce the largest litter. High doses of supplements may kill developing puppies, reducing the litter size. It should be no different for your dog. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely dog from vigor and life. Like humans, the most reliable way to tell how many puppies a German Shepherd is having is through ultrasound examination. The veterinarian can scan your pregnant dog's belly and generate images of her uterus. Through this, you can count how many puppies your German Shepherd will likely have. That said, the images aren't usually of the highest quality. The ultrasound might fool you into thinking there's only one puppy when there's actually two or even three. And since puppies tend to huddle up together, you might also mistake two puppies with one big puppy. As such, take the images with a grain of salt. Ultrasound examinations are usually done at around 45 days of gestation. It's during this time that puppies' bones have developed and calcified, allowing you to see their shapes on screen. Different dog breeds have different gestation periods. Some give birth after only 60 days, while others give birth after 80 days. Some even surpass the day threshold, like Dalmatians. German Shepherds fall in the day category. On average, German Shepherds give birth after approximately nine weeks or roughly 58 to 68 days. Veterinarians can predict your dog's due date with an ultrasound scan, so you can prepare weeks beforehand. If your German Shepherd's gestation period lasts longer than the predicted due date, contact your veterinarian immediately to avoid future complications. Paul S. Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament. Aug 3, Share German Shepherds tend to have between five and nine puppies in a litter. Eight is the average. According to the AKC , the largest litter registered was 17 puppies. This litter size is significantly larger than some other breeds. German Shepherds are larger dogs, so they are going to have more puppies than smaller breeds. For instance, Dachshunds only have one to six puppies on average. The largest litter ever came from a Neapolitan Mastiff, a breed that can reach pounds. When it comes to litter sizes, size does matter. It is impossible to tell how many puppies that a particular dog might have until she gets further into her pregnancy. These factors may help you make a good guess, however. This is most obvious when comparing different dog breeds. In turn, small breeds have small litters. However, the exact size of the dog also matters. Smaller German Shepherds will have smaller litters on average than larger German Shepherds. If your dog is larger, she may end up having a larger litter, or she might not. This will reduce the overall size of the litter. Even if you feed her excellent food and take care of her, underlying health problems can cause puppies to perish before they are fully developed. Diabetes is an excellent example of this. However, improperly fluctuating blood sugar can have a massive impact on growing puppies. Without the proper blood sugar levels, many puppies will not develop properly. Short-term conditions can also cause some puppies to develop improperly and be reabsorbed. For instance, infections can cause one or more puppies to stop developing altogether. Most miscarriages go unnoticed without any clinical signs, especially if only a few puppies are lost. Only late-term miscarriages usually get noticed. This seems to happen most commonly in purebred dogs, according to the vets at High Street Steeping Vet Clinic. Purebred dogs may have more genetic abnormalities than mixed breed dogs because they inherit traits from a smaller genetic pool. The odds of them inheriting something harmful is higher, simply because there are fewer genes for them to inherit. Many purebred dogs are also inbred, including the German Shepherd. Middle-aged German Shepherds tend to have larger litters than younger and older dogs. German Shepherds typically have the largest litters around age 5. After that, they may decline in size. However, this decline is more rapid and apparent in some dogs than others. Many older dogs have health problems, which likely affects their litter size too. Some of these health impacts may go unnoticed and therefore, be wrongly attributed to age. Season There is evidence that the season that the dog gives birth affects the litter size. However, other studies found no correlation between when the litter was born and the overall litter size. There may be a regional component to this, though. In areas with more significant seasonal changes, the season may make more of a difference. In the tropics, it may not. However, more studies are needed to determine this possibility. Heritability Studies have found that dogs may inherit their litter size potential. Dogs that are born to bigger litters tend to have bigger litters themselves. If there is another factor at play, it will likely take precedent. Plus, much of this heritability may be linked to the size of the dog. Many dogs are going to be a similar size as their parents. Nutrition Image Credit: Monika Wisniewska, Shutterstock There are a few nutritional components that can affect litter size and the overall health of the mother and her puppies. When a mother dog becomes pregnant, her nutritional needs change. Protein is essential for pregnant dogs. This is similar to what puppies need, so many pregnant dogs are often fed puppy-intended dog food. Fatty acids may also play a role. Dogs with lower levels of serum glucose in their amniotic fluid tend to have smaller litter sizes. Therefore, feeding them a diet higher in omega fatty acids may be helpful. Image Credit: J. Feeding your canine a better diet may result in a bigger litter, for instance. If your dog is sick, it is paramount that you treat them before attempting to create a litter. However, these factors have to be adjusted before the dog gets pregnant. Once the dog has conceived, it is impossible to increase their litter size, though you can prevent losses. There are also many factors out of your control. While there are a few things that you can do to reduce the risk of these issues, you can never prevent them entirely. Even if your dog lives in a clean environment and is healthy, infections can still occur. You should be feeding her food suitable for puppies as soon as you plan on breeding her or at least as soon as you find out that she is pregnant. Choosing which dogs to breed also impacts litter size and can be controlled to a certain extent. However, some dogs may have small litter sizes but may otherwise be great breeding candidates. In general, to increase your dog's litter size, we recommend doing the following: Regular testing for infections Regular vet checks for reproductive tract disease Final Thoughts The average German Shepherd litter size is about eight puppies. However, there are many factors that can go into this. Keeping your dog healthy is essential to maximizing litter sizes. But many factors are outside of your control. If a puppy inherits specific genes, they are less likely to develop correctly and make it to birth, lowering the overall litter size. Related Reads:. Health A healthy German shepherd will produce many healthy puppies compared to an unhealthy one. Always take your GSD to a vet clinic to confirm that she is in a healthy state. This is because the larger ones have a bigger carrying capacity. Diet Diet plays a crucial role in influencing the size of the litter of a GSD. Feed her a balanced diet rather than only kibble throughout. Age German shepherds are more fertile between the ages of two to three years. If she gets older than that age, she is less likely to deliver a large litter. Individual Genetic Factors If a German shepherd delivers a large first litter the chances are that she will do the same in the second and the third litter. Gestation period for a GSD Their pregnancies take around 64 days which is a little more than other dogs. This is influenced by their bigger size. What to Expect of a Pregnant German Shepherd Change in Appetite The appetite might increase or decrease depending on the stage of pregnancy. She can show signs of morning sickness like vomiting. In case of a reduced appetite, you should try to feed her her favorite meal. Decrease in Activity If your GSD feels exhausted most of the time, she will be taking a nap more than usual. If your dog likes sleeping a lot, this sign might go unnoticed. Unless you have confirmed that she is pregnant, sleeping a lot should be seen as a red flag especially for active dogs. Behavior Change Behavior change will depend on an individual dog. Some German shepherds will seek extra attention and will be around you most of the time, while others will like isolation and will be hostile whenever you get closer to them. Her abdomen will enlarge, though this is among the last signs of pregnancy. This should not worry you as she will be back to her normal size once she delivers. The nipples might get dark red in color. Other times the milk might leak in the late stage of pregnancy. Frequent Urination A female German shepherd can increase the no of times she urinates during pregnancy. Sometimes it can be territory marking. She can pee anywhere, in the living room, the seat, or in the corner of a room. Nesting Behavior During the last stage of pregnancy, she will start preparing a place for the expected puppies. She will shred anything from blankets, newspapers, or clothes and keep them in her nest. Proper Feeding Feed your expectant German shepherd a balanced diet. Buy her the best dog food you can afford. It is advisable to increase the quantity of food you feed her. Instead of giving her a lot of food at once, divide the food into smaller portions and give it to her many times. This is to ensure that that the mother and the unborn puppies are healthy. Give Her space Due to hormonal changes, your dog will have mood swings. If she is not willing to eat or play do not compel her. Just give her space to be herself. Whelping Box A whelping box is set on the last stage of German shepherd pregnancy. It is a safe and comfortable place equipped with all the necessities needed for safe delivery. The place should be noise-free. Bottom Line German shepherds are caring parents. In rare cases, German shepherds eat their newborns. Be watchful to avoid such instances. Related Posts:. Puppies If your German Shepherd is pregnant or you are planning on breeding you may be wondering how many puppies can a German Shepherd have. The amount of puppies each German Shepherd has will vary on many different factors. This article will answer dive into the factors to help you better predict the number of puppies your GSD will have. Generally, you can expect a German Shepherd to have between 5 and 8 puppies per litter. However, German Shepherds have had litters as large as 14 and as small as only 1. There are many factors that contribute to the size of the litter. A German Shepherd can have puppies twice a year. Large dogs like German Shepherds go into heat around every 6 months. During their heat is when they are capable of becoming pregnant. A normal heat cycle lasts between two and four weeks long. Thus, if you breeders or individuals who are looking to breed their GSD track their heat timing and plan to have them mate during their heat. German Shepherds are pregnant for nine weeks on average. Factors That Affect German Shepherd Littler Size Although it is normal for a German Shepherd to have between five and eight puppies a litter, there are many factors that can increase or decrease the litter size. The most common factors are below: The size of the female dog The size of the dog has a big impact of how many puppies they can carry. Although German Shepherds are considered to be a large dog breed some female German Shepherds are larger than others. A female GSD that is larger will be able to carry more pups than a smaller one. Inbreeding Another factor that can contribute to litter size is inbreeding. A pregnancy that is the result of inbreeding will generally produce less puppies than one that is not. Accordingly, if you want to increase your GSD litter size make sure not to bred a female with a male that is related. The age of female The age of the female German Shepherds also plays a role in their potential litter size. Older German Shepherds will generally have smaller litters. The prime age to breed a GSD is between 2 and 5 years of age. You should not breed an elderly GSD. Just like with human males, the sperm count of male German Shepherds will decrease as they age. This decrease can make it harder for them to get a female pregnant and can also impact the litter size if they do get a female GSD pregnant. Health of the female Another factor that is important is the overall health of the female German Shepherd. In order for any dog to produce a healthy plentiful litter of puppies the dog carrying the pups has to be in prime health. Leading up to pregnancy your dog should be fed a high-quality diet, and during pregnancy a GSD will require a diet in that a certain amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates to ensure a health pregnancy. Additionally, pregnant German Shepherds can sometimes need dietary supplements if they are not getting the appropriate nutrients through their diet. Conclusion There are many factors that impact how many puppies German Shepherds can have. Most commonly German Shepherds will have between five and eight puppies, but age, health, and inbreeding can cause a GSD to bear a smaller litter. Breeders who are looking to increase litter size will need to make sure that all those controllable factors are in line and let nature do the rest. A junior is the canine version of a teenager, and this is usually the time period between six and twelve months old. Adult dogs have completely finished growing and range between one and seven years old, while mature dog is at least seven years old. After this age, the dog will then be considered middle-aged. The ages of the last two categories will depend on the breed. A senior dog is an older dog that has reached the final quarter of its life expectancy. Since a German Shepherd has a life expectancy between 12 and 14 years, it will enter its senior years when it is between nine and .A geriatric dog is one that has reached the end of its stated life expectancy — and is still going strong. If Gunther the German Shepherd makes it to 15, he is considered geriatric. Is it true that dogs age seven years for every human year? She says it may have stemmed from an observation that dogs lived to be 10 years old, while humans lived to be 70 on average. It is true that dogs age much faster than humans, but the extent and speed of this process depends on many factors. Larger dogs tend to age faster and have shorter life expectancies than smaller dogs. The AKC divides dogs into four size categories: Small 20 pounds or under Medium 21 to 50 pounds Large 51 to pounds Giant Over pounds An adult male German Shepherd usually weighs between 66 and 88 pounds, and an adult female generally weighs between 49 and 73 pounds. Then, until they reach the age of five, they age four years every year. Large dogs that are over five years old then generally age five or six years every year, and a German Shepherd that lives to be 14 is comparable to a human of .How many puppies can German Shepherds have? It is born completely helpless and depends on its mother for everything; it even needs her help to go to the bathroom. The puppy will typically start to crawl when it is a week old, and its eyes will open a few days later. The first baby teeth emerge when the puppy is two weeks old, and it will start going to the bathroom on its own around the same time. The socialization period lasts from the third to the twelfth week. Then, when the puppy can move, see, and hear, it needs to learn the social skills that will enable it to successfully interact with humans and other dogs. However, it still needs to stay with its mother during this time, so she can teach it proper dog behavior and other vital life skills. German Shepherds this age should also be introduced to humans to begin getting used to their presence. They will generally begin playing with their littermates and their humans when they are about four weeks old. Puppies that are at least seven weeks old can then be housebroken. The following video covers the growth and development of a German Shepherd puppy from when it is seven weeks old to six months old. The owner noted such physical changes as increasingly erect ears and darkening fur. The juvenile period lasts from three to six months and ends when the dog reaches sexual maturity. By this age, the puppy has all of its baby teeth. The puppy will be old enough for obedience school towards the end of the juvenile period. By the time a German Shepherd is six months old , it will look mostly like an adult dog, but it has not yet finished growing. It will have reached about 70 percent of its adult height and weight, and it will also have all of its adult teeth. German Shepherds, at this age should be spayed or neutered unless their owner plans to breed them. How many puppies do German shepherds have in their first litter? April 27, We all know that German shepherd is an intelligent dog and quite active in all his areas. But apart from his intelligence, he is the most fun-loving dog. And I also found that this is the only breed of dog which is so versatile, he can be your family dog, a guard dog, a military dog, a police dog, a search and rescue dog and a herding dog as well. I can say that this is the most versatile dog. Pregnancy and litters of German shepherd dog The bodyweight of a female German shepherd is around 30kgs and height are between 20 to 24 inches and this is a bodyweight for the healthy pregnancy of a German shepherd dog. German shepherd dog becomes a wonderful mother and she has a huge number of litters in her pregnancy. This is no fixed numbers of puppies in the German shepherd litter and it can vary from 1 to 15 puppies. Usually, a female German shepherd dog has 8 puppies in her first litters. A Female German shepherd has two litters in a year and this started from an early age and continues up to the age of 8 which means that she can have 14 litters in her entire lifetime. Factors affecting the size of litters.
We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near North Portland Oregon and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. Questions about Labradoodle puppies for sale in Portland OR? We have answers. What is a Labradoodle, exactly? Questions about Labradoodle puppies in Portland? A Labradoodle is an example of a hybrid or designer dog. They're created by crossing over Labradors and Poodles, producing pups that have the qualities of both breeds. A typical Portland Labradoodle for sale will have the intelligence and hypoallergenic nature of a Poodle, complete with the friendly, playful qualities of a Labrador. How much will I need to pay for a Labradoodle? The price tag of Portland Labradoodle puppies for sale can vary depending on who you're buying from and what your chosen puppy actually looks like, and there's a huge range of prices to be found to suit almost any budget. At Uptown, you'll find a great range of fair, competitive prices from vetted Labradoodle breeders in Portland. What if there are no breeders or businesses in my area? We want to help your search for a Portland Labradoodle puppy for sale go as smoothly and simply as possible. So if you can't find the right dog from local Labradoodle breeders Portland, there's no need to worry! We can connect you to other breeders all across America who will be happy to arrange flights for your pup to an airport near you. How do you vet Labradoodle businesses and breeders? Each and every day, we receive many applications from businesses and breeders with Labradoodle puppies for sale Portland, and we put each and every one of them to the test! Only the most honest, ethical, and professional breeders are approved to join the Uptown family, and you can read our Breeder Pledge to learn more. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other places? With so many sites out there offering Labradoodle puppies for sale in Portland, it's so easy for scammers and bad breeders to take advantage of unsuspecting customers online. We want to stop that. At Uptown, we only work with the best businesses and most ethical breeders, creating a kind of haven or sanctuary where dog lovers can buy and sell puppies the right way. What is a puppy mill? Ever noticed any really cheap Labradoodle puppies Portland? There's a good chance those pups were born in puppy mills, with unsanitary conditions and a total lack of care. Puppy mills are widely unregulated, and many dogs born in these places can develop physical and behavioral issues due to their mistreatment. That's why we recommend avoiding puppy mills when looking for any dog like a Labradoodle for sale Portland. Do you have any Labradoodles pups right now? A whole lot of people are looking for a Labradoodle for sale in Portland, and this breed is growing more popular by the day, so there's a good chance you'll find lots of Labradoodle pups for sale at any one time, right here on Uptown. Start your journey for a Labradoodle Portland today and check out all of our currently available litters. How does Uptown Puppies work? Ready to start your search for Portland Labradoodles for sale? To start off, browse through the available and upcoming litters from our trusted, vetted breeders and businesses. When you find pups that pique your interest, reach out to the breeders to learn more. Then, when it's time to bring your dog home, simply arrange pick-up or delivery of your dog with the breeder. How much do Labradoodles shed? One of the best advantages of Labradoodles for sale Portland is that these are non-shedding dogs. Thanks to their Poodle genes, most Labradoodle pups won't shed at all, so you won't need to worry about finding hairs all over your couch, and any allergy sufferers in the home will have a much easier time too. What is a designer dog? A designer dog, as the name implies, is one that has been specially designed with certain qualities in mind. These kinds of dogs are created by crossing over two existing breeds — like Poodles and Labradors for Labradoodles for sale in Portland — in order to obtain pups with the advantages of both parents, such as hypoallergenic coats and friendly personalities.
With their pointy bat ears, Frenchies are adorable miniature bulldogs with extremely flat muzzles. They can benefit from the right growth formula to provide immune system support and skin health, and aid with digestion to help cut down on their not-so-adorable gas during puppyhood. Royal Canin French Bulldog dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed French Bulldog puppy. This exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated for your French Bulldog puppy, with the specific nutrients to help them thrive. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system to keep their bodies growing strong. Exclusive nutrients reinforce the skin barrier for healthy skin. And a combination of highly digestible proteins, precise fiber content, and high-quality carbohydrate sources supports healthy digestion to help decrease flatulence and unpleasant stool odors. Once your French Bulldog puppy is over 12 months old, transition them to Royal Canin French Bulldog Adult dry dog food for precise nutrition into their adult years. Read more Promoting pet health and wellbeing Creating value for our entire ecosystem Committed to become certified carbon neutral by Cookie Settings.
So Many Options! Where To Get a Labrador? We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Except, you remember hearing you should only buy from professional breeders?! But that puppy in the pet store was so achingly cute! This article discusses the things you should consider before making that life changing decision. From dedicated experts who breed pedigree dogs to work or for show, to those who breed too many puppies, litter after litter purely for sale without love nor care for the health of the mother or quality of the litter. For how to recognize who the good breeders are, read our article: Labrador breeders — How to find the good ones! Buying from a good, responsible breeder is without doubt the best source for a quality, healthy Labrador puppy. They care about the overall welfare of the breed, as well as the health of the mother, quality of the litter and giving the puppies the best start in life. Responsible breeders: Guarantee a purebred and pedigree Labrador. Screen the parents for health problems before breeding , so puppies will be as free as possible from inherited diseases. Selectively breed aiming for conformance to the breed standard, so your lab has the most chance of looking like the perfect lab. Carefully socialize puppies from birth so they are well-adjusted and confident before sending them to a new home. Help buyers to select the right puppy from the litter to suit their personality, hopes and expectations. Helping you to get the puppy of your dreams. Provide expert help and advice on caring for the dog from puppyhood right through to adulthood. When you go to a good breeder you should expect lots of questions. They will also help to match you to the perfect puppy that suits your personality, preventing you from getting the wrong dog on impulse. You know the cute but feisty one that got your attention by barging through his litter mates to run up to you and be the first to say hello? Well, he may very likely become a dominant and strong-willed dog! You May Need Patience You should note that many breeders will have a long waiting list for their Labrador puppies. Then this may not be the right way for you. But this is a good thing! And nobody should buy a puppy on impulse, it must be a well thought out and reasoned decision. Maybe you would like to give a lucky Labrador a second chance at life and happiness? Adopting an Older Labrador From a Rescue Kennel Can Have Many Benefits: They will have been house trained already — No getting up in the middle of the night to relieve your puppy…or cleaning your floor after the inevitable mishaps. An adult Labrador will already show signs of any underlying problems so you can avoid this. Many will have received a decent amount of training already — Saving you lots of time and work. Having said all that… There are Some Obvious Risks! Or perhaps due to health problems that developed. Some may have faced abuse and neglect leaving them with psychological scars. Behavioral problems are sometimes well hidden, and aggression may only surface in very particular situations only. But if you are patient, understanding and can inject some routine and love into one of these dogs lives, they can become absolutely wonderful pets. There are also different types of rescue center and animal shelters. You will be able to get a feel for the level of the center when you visit and how professional they are and the staff to dog ratios. The Process When rescuing a lab, a good, well staffed shelter will ask you to visit and spend time with your potential pet. They will have assessed the dog and will tell you all they know about the dogs history and temperament. They will ask you lots of questions to find out whether you and your lifestyle are a good fit for a Labrador. They will want to meet you and your whole family. They will want to see how the people the Labrador is to live with interact with it and how the lab interacts with them. And that your choice of dog is well suited to you and interacts well with you on visits will they eventually allow you to adopt. Rescuing a Labrador can be a very good choice as long as due care is taken to pick the right one. And you will earn many karma points for doing a very good deed. It is a massive risk to take a puppy from a litter like this. These dogs have more than the average number of inherited diseases and behavioral problems. So although you will be saving a bit of money compared to paying out to a professional Labrador breeder. Or you might even be saving a dog from being given to a rescue center and possibly eventually being put down. You just might be letting yourself in for some expensive surprises in the way of vets bills or behavioral specialists later. But having said that, of course many of these puppies do become very good pets indeed. In fact a few places in the world have now banned the sale of puppies from pet stores. In these places, dogs are often bred in poor conditions, sometimes kept in small wire cages and given very little chance to socialize and little if any personal contact with humans. Have you had any good or bad experiences of getting a Labrador from any of the places listed above? Is there anything you would like to add about the pros and cons of the various places you can get yourself a Lab? Please let us know in the comments section below and you just might help people reading this article to make the right decision! Related Article:. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase from the merchant we will earn a small commission. That commission is paid by the merchant and not the customer. This does not affect the price of the products you buy. You can read our full affiliate disclosure by clicking here. Want to know how to buy a labrador puppy? We have a deep dive for you today with all the details you need to know before you move ahead. Labs are typically very friendly, loyal, and trainable. Labs have been a popular choice for years among families with kids and singles alike. Although just about any Lab will be a fantastic go-with companion, selecting a puppy is always a tough thing to do…they are all so cute and they all want a loving, forever home. You have some options. There are options and you should check them all out: Reputable dog breeders Local rescues These three are usually good Lab purchase and adoption sources. Also, classified newspaper or magazine ads and local organizations sometimes prove to be good sources. But, be careful! Not all pet ads are placed by honest or knowledgeable sellers. How To Buy a Labrador Puppy Buying from Breeders Buying from a reputable breeder is very important—there are some bad apples out there so get references and do a background check. The breeder should only sell dogs he knows to have clean pedigrees and zero health issues. Finding a Reputable Breeder Do your research. Check with local dog breed clubs or breed organizations. These organizations may offer a breeder referral service that can give you good breeder leads in your area. Also, ask for good breeder recommendations from other Labrador owners or local veterinarians. Discount those with any obvious red flags like negative reviews or no clear explanation about their services. Ask the Breeder After refining your list of potential breeders then ask the following friendly questions: Can I visit your facility and see the puppies and their parents? Do you have health and pedigree papers? What are your dog breeding business core policies? What kind of socialization and training do you give the puppies? What are your health guarantees, if any? What is your refund policy? An honest breeder will answer these questions. And, they will give you all the documents, including health certificates, at or before the time of sale. Walk away if the breeder has no papers or makes excuses for not having them. Buying any puppy is a big deal—only buy a healthy and well-adjusted puppy from a reputable breeder. Preparing for Your Puppy Preparing for a new Labrador puppy is an exciting time—it can also be overwhelming. Following are some things to prepare for your new Lab pup. Puppy-Proofing Your Home Before you bring the Lab puppy home, first make sure your home is puppy-safe. Think about it carefully—puppy-proof your home like you would for any baby. Excited puppies will pee so protect your valuables and be ready to clean up accidents. Puppies, like little kids, are curious and excited when they come to a new home. For a handy guide on pet-proofing your home. Do not buy a retractable leash, they are dangerous. Food and water bowls Choose non-tip pet bowls that are the appropriate size for your puppy. As the puppy grows get bigger bowls. Never give your puppy table scraps, left-overs, alcoholic drinks, sugar, salt, spices, or chocolate. Crate or carrier Buy a pet crate or carrier that is the appropriate size for your puppy. Use it for training, traveling, and napping only. It is not a dog house! Avoid cheap, foreign made pet toys. Do not buy artificially flavored or salty treats. Here are some important things to keep in mind: Puppy Temperament The temperament or disposition of your newly acquired Labrador puppy needs to be watched closely for any unwanted behavior. Things like nervous barking, growling, biting, or fidgeting are indicators that something bothers or frightens the puppy. In fact, before you even bring the puppy home, first observe his or her demeanor around littermates and when being handled by people. Then, think about the temperament you really want in a dog. Some Lab puppies are more forceful, playful, and energetic, while others are quieter, laid back and less active. Look for a puppy with clear eyes and a shiny coat. These are obvious signs that the pup is well-fed and not sick. Then, check for any outward signs of injury, infection or parasites. Check the other littermates to be sure the whole litter looks healthy and well-fed. You should notice things like normal size, eyes and nose, body temp, coat type, and coat color. If there are one or more fur white spots, then the pup is not a purebred. Be mindful that some coat colors may be temporary due to diet factors, skin allergies, or other temporary health issues. But, ask questions and do your research before buying. Buying the right Labrador puppy for you takes your careful consideration of several factors. Take your time and do your research to ensure you find the perfect furry companion for you and your family. Bringing Your Puppy Home After picking out your beautiful Labrador puppy—the time has come to introduce the excited pup to its new home. Here are some tips to help make this as smooth as possible. No by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. The First Few Days Your new puppy may feel tense or even pensive about their new surroundings. After all, it is a big change from what the puppy knows. Expect the pup to mess on the floor once or more—oops accidents will happen, so be prepared for this—lots of towels, no anger. You have to give your Lab pup time to adjust and feel right in his or her new digs. Here are some things you can do: Make a quiet space for your puppy to rest and sleep. A crate is perfect for this. Have lots of toys and teething chews to keep your pup busy. Establish a routine for feeding, potty breaks, and playtime. Introduce your puppy to family members and other pets slowly and carefully. Be patient and understanding as your puppy gets used to their new home. Training Your Puppy Training your puppy is key to being a responsible pet owner. Here are some tips to help you train your pup: Start with basic obedience commands like sit, stay, come, and down. Use positive reinforcement like treats and praise, never use punishment. Always be consistent with your commands, praise, and discipline. Establish a potty training routine for you and the pup—stick to it. Socialize your puppy in a puppy training class and a safe dog park. Bringing your new Labrador puppy home is a very exciting time. But, you need to be prepared and patient. Good preparation and training will help your puppy quickly become used to his or her new home. As the founder of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, he has transformed the lives of over , dogs and their families. Final Thoughts So today we have walked through the answer to the question, how to buy a labrador puppy? Always check out prospective sellers or breeders carefully. Make sure your puppy is from a reputable source, not a puppy farm. Be prepared for the time, effort, and expense that comes with raising a puppy. Lab puppies are a pure joy, but they need a lot of attention and care. You need to think about your lifestyle and living situation to be sure that you are a good fit for a Lab. Puppies grow into adult dogs—be prepared for that. The shelters are full of Labs that were abandoned because of owner ignorance. However, If you really want a great dog and raise your pup right he or she will mature into a happy, healthy, and well-behaved companion for many years to come. Instant Download Add your name and email below and the planner will be sent direct to your inbox. Send me the Planner! Print Looking for a new gun dog or duck dog? Many people start their search with good intentions. They want to find a good quality pup that will serve as a hunting companion as well as a family dog. However, somewhere along the way they end up just picking up a cute puppy that the family could not resist. Maybe, but it is a needle-in-the-haystack approach. While there is no guarantee that any puppy you bring home is going to grow into a well-mannered hunting partner, there are ways to stack the odds in your favor. Today, we are going to discuss the process I go through when looking for a new puppy. These are my opinions, so take it for what it is worth, but I do have extensive experience buying Labrador puppies. I have been doing this for over 30 years and I rarely have a puppy that does not work out. Research puppy litters I buy my puppies based on pedigree. I want proven working parents. This means that I want to see that either the mom or dad, preferably both, have AKC retriever field trial titles , AKC retriever hunting test titles or UKC retriever hunting test titles behind their names on an official pedigree. Be sure you see field trial or hunt test titles. Sometimes you will see AKC show titles or other titles like agility. These are NOT the same as field trial or hunt test titles and are generally not something you want to see on the pedigree of a hunting or competition dog. There are many places to search for litters on the internet. And many sites offer the ability to limit your search by state. However, do not be afraid to look for puppies further away from you. If the litter has a great pedigree and is exactly what you are looking for, you can always have the puppy flown or shipped to you. Some of the sites that are good for looking for litters are: retrievertraining. Again, I am not saying that great dogs cannot come out of these places but rather that the odds are not in your favor. Why are hunting titles important? Hunting titles tell you that the dog has proven its ability to perform at a certain level. It also tells you that the genetics are there. If the parents can perform at a Field Champion or Master Hunter level, there is a good chance the puppies will also have that ability. Do all your research prior to going to look at the puppies Everybody loves puppies. They are cute, cuddly and so lovable. That is why I recommend that you do not ever go look at a litter that does not already meet your standards regarding pedigree. It is just too easy to end up bringing one home. And if you have kids or a spouse involved, I guarantee that any litter you go look at you are most certainly going to end up bringing home a puppy. Does color make a difference? Well-bred puppies are available in each of these colors, and we have trained excellent hunting dogs in each color. However, you may now see litters advertised as fox red or white. These colors are not recognized by the AKC and you should beware of purchasing a dog based solely on color. In addition, there are now Labs being sold as silver, charcoal and champaign. These litters are technically not pure Labrador Retrievers. They are often referred to as dilutes because the genetics have been diluted to produce these colors. Many trainers will not train dilutes because of the many health problems and genetic issues that go along with these breeds. There are, unfortunately, people breeding pups specifically to produce a specific color without regard for temperament and the betterment of the breed. We prefer to stay away from litters that do not have a proven pedigree and have been breed specifically for color. In addition, our experience training dogs from these types of litters has proven to be a struggle. How much does a good puppy cost? For many people this is a defining question. So, a new hunting partner can be a significant investment. But for us it is worth it to stack the odds in our favor. Find a great retriever breeder Unfortunately, not all breeders are equal. Over the years, some breeders have stood out to us as exceptional. They go over and beyond just taking good care of the puppies. You can tell they really want their puppies to turn out great and they take steps, while the pups are very young, to help ensure their puppies have a good strong foundation that will help them succeed in the future. Beyond the breeding of quality dogs, the difference is in the socialization of the puppies. As I talk extensively about in Raising a Lab puppy to be a duck or gun dog , socialization is an essential key component in training a retriever puppy. Breeders that go out of their way to socialize young pups are worth their weight in gold. The truth is that raising puppies, done the right way, takes a lot of time and commitment. We specialize in training and prefer to let others specialize in doing a great job raising litters. Ask prospective breeder the right questions When you call and talk to a breeder about an upcoming litter, it is important to get answers to some important questions. If the pedigrees are not available online, be sure and request one from the breeder. How often do you breed? How often has this mother been bred? When looking for a great hunting dog puppy, you want to avoid puppy mills. Puppy mills are breeders that are just pumping out puppies for money and without concern to the overall health and betterment of the breed. Responsible breeders have a plan for the litters they are producing and will be able to talk to you about why the litter is worth the money they are asking. What breeds do you breed? Look for a breeder that specializes in Labrador Retrievers or whatever breed you are looking to purchase. What does your health guarantee cover? Responsible breeders will offer you a health guarantee for the puppy. While what this guarantee covers may vary, with Labrador Retrievers some of the things you want to make sure the health guarantee covers includes: Hip dysplasia Eye issues In addition, you may want to make sure that the parents have been genetically tested for other genetic diseases such as Exercise Induced Collapse EIC and Centronuclear Myopathy CNM. What do you do to socialize the puppies? Asking this open-ended question can give breeders a chance to tell you about the work they do socializing the young pups before they are ready to go home. Or, you may want to follow up with more specific questions such as: Are the pups exposed to children at all? Do you take the pups to different locations during the day? Do the puppies get outside time, what does that look like? The goal is to find out if the puppies are getting socialization and exposure to new and different things on a regular basis. Pups that get this exposure tend to adjust more quickly to their new homes and new situations later in life. Have you done this specific breeding before? How did those puppies turn out? Breeders that are working for the betterment of the breed, may breed a set of parents more than once. If this is a repeat breeding, it is likely that the breeder will know how previous litters performed in the field or in competition. Serious Labrador Retriever breeders often keep track of how their puppies perform as they age. Alternatively, you could ask for references and talk to previous buyers to find out what they think of the breeder and the puppy they bought. Should I meet the prospective dog parents? While some people might tell you that you should meet the prospective parents of the puppies, I do not see a lot of value in this. Some good breeders do not own both the parents. Often, they work with other breeders so both the Dam and Sire may not be onsite. And if you are basing your pup purchase off pedigree first, as I would recommend, you already know the most important things about the parents. If looks are important to you, then photos of the parents will show you what you need to know. Choose a retriever puppy from the litter Once you decide on a litter, the waiting begins. Ask the breeder to provide videos and photos of puppies as the grow. This is a great way to see the puppies progress and you can see some personality traits in the different pups. If you did all the work in researching pedigree and breeders, you already have stacked the odds in your favor. You know that the litter is a good one and that the puppies have a good chance of turning out to be great hunting partners. This is important because it takes a lot of pressure off when it is time to pick the puppy from the litter. When you do go to the breeder to pick your puppy, take a few minutes to observe the puppies. This will allow you to see some personality traits. Understand though that this is only one snapshot in time. The puppy that is active at this time, might have been sleeping right before you showed up. Or, the one that is sleepy may have been running around like crazy just minutes before. At Otter Tail Kennels, we often look for a puppy that likes people. A puppy that chases a child around the yard or runs to the owner when they walk away is attractive to us because we want a people-centered dog instead of a dog that prefers to spend its time with litter mates. But this is not an exact science by any means. That is why we rely on the fact that we have done our homework and know the entire litter has promise. Final thoughts on how to find a good Labrador puppy Any time you set out to buy a puppy, you do not know how the journey will end. There are a lot of unknowns. You cannot tell for sure what the puppy will look like as an adult, and you cannot tell if they will be a great hunter or a great family dog. What you can do is stack the odds in your favor. Find a great litter from a great breeder and select a puppy from that litter. Once you do that, you are on your way to having a great duck or gun dog. Then the next important step is to socialize, expose and train the puppy. Read how to do that here. Have questions about finding a great retriever for your hunting and family needs? I am here to help! You can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs and services I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. How to find a good Labrador puppy. They are also very high energy. Labs are intelligent and well-tempered for becoming service dogs. You may have seen a Lab working as a guide dog or alongside a police officer. Labradors come in three distinct colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. There is no real difference between these sub-breeds aside from color. However, chocolate Labs and yellow Labs do tend to be favored as show dogs, while a black Lab is more likely to be raised as a hunting dog than a chocolate or yellow one. Labrador Retrievers are famous for being friendly and companionable to both humans and other dogs. This makes the Labrador an ideal breed to keep as a family dog. There are factors, however, which need to be considered before choosing a Labrador puppy. Bringing home a beautiful black Lab puppy? Check out hundreds of great black dog names here! The amount of maternal care a pup receives prior to adoption influences the adult temperament of your Labrador. A responsible breeder will not remove your puppy from its mother before it is ready. In the study, Labs belonging to extroverted owners had better social skills than those belonging to introverted owners. You may also look through your local classifieds for unregistered litters, although we do not recommend it. Even though Labradors are a generally healthy breed, it is important that both parents get screened for any health issues prior to breeding. Adopting from unregistered litters will also significantly increase your chances of encountering a puppy mill. No matter where you adopt from, it is essential that you meet both parents and access a history of good health for each parent before adopting a puppy from the facility. In other parts of the world, use the puppy search tool on the website of your regional kennel club or equivalent authority. You may also ask a local veterinarian for a reference to a quality breeder. Another option is to keep an eye out for someone with a purebred Labrador and request information on where they adopted from. Registered breeders use only top-of-the-line animals as parents. Puppies from responsible and registered breeders are given the appropriate amount of maternal care and not released to a new home until they are physically and mentally mature enough to do so. This lays the foundation for an affectionate and even temperament in adulthood. The cons of adopting from a breeder are higher costs and often longer wait times. Responsible breeders require a pre-adoption home check to ensure that their puppies are appropriately homed. You may also need to travel some distance to find the right breeder. Registered breeders usually breed a maximum of only twice per year. This maintains parental health and allows sufficient time for the puppies to progress. These breeders often have waitlists for upcoming litters before they are born, sometimes before the parents are even bred. While these practices maintain value, they also mean the puppies will cost a little more and take longer to bring home. Private Ads Private ads for puppies can be found in online classifieds or in your local newspaper. You may also spot them on the bulletin boards of various local businesses. The benefits of sourcing a puppy from a private ad is that the breeder is likely be located nearby, and the puppies will be available relatively quickly, if not immediately. The cons of taking this route is that you do not have pedigree parents to your puppy, and the risk of health complications down the road is much higher. Puppy farms will often advertise through private ads. For these reasons, we do not recommend sourcing a puppy through a private ad. Pet Shops We do not endorse purchasing puppies from pet shops, because the credentials of both parents and breeder cannot be provided. Parents of pet shop puppies may have been overbred, mistreated, or in less than optimal health. It is impossible to know without verified records. The puppies themselves could have experienced conditions and trauma that will negatively impact their behavior in adulthood, such as being separated from their mothers too soon or physical abuse. Avoiding Puppy Farms Puppy farms are unregistered breeding establishments that mass produce puppies in order to generate the highest amount of revenue. These farms, or mills, severely mistreat their animals and often produce puppies with little socialization skills and significantly increased health risks. To steer clear of these facilities, avoid pet stores, which often source stock from puppy farms because of the low cost. Also avoid any online advertisements for puppies at a low cost. If you do source a puppy from an online ad, call the breeder in advance and ask questions about the puppies, parents, and establishment to screen for any inconsistencies with industry standards. When you visit the breeder, if it comes to that, ask to have a look around and meet both parents in person. Is the space open? Do the parents look healthy? How many other dogs and puppies are there on the premises? Health Tests While Labs are generally healthy overall, it is important to confirm the parental health prior to breeding. If the breeder cannot show you certificates of health for both parents, adopting a puppy from those parents poses a risk for complications later on. The American Kennel Club recommends Labrador Retrievers get screened for: any hip and elbow defects that could indicate dysplasia heart disorders out of ordinary muscle weakness degenerative eye conditions. Make sure that the breeder can demonstrate certified health in each of these areas for each parent. The initial cost of requiring this level of screening for your puppy may be higher, but it will save you on veterinary bills down the road. Choosing Your Puppy Labrador Retrievers are friendly by nature and tend to get along well with other dogs. This breed very rarely shows aggression and must be provoked to do so. When it comes to children and other pets, a Labrador puppy would be a valuable family addition. Labs are companionable and socialize well. The Labrador Retriever is a high-energy breed and will need enough time and space each day to receive sufficient exercise. These exercise needs will continue to grow as your puppy matures. A Labrador is not designed to be an inside-only dog. This breed needs lots of activity to stay mentally and physically fit. Consider that your fully grown Lab will be between .We recommend that you take your Lab out for daily outdoor activities such as swimming and fetch. A Labrador that does not receive enough exercise time may rebel by engaging in destructive behaviors within the household. However, remember that the best-quality Labradors come from responsible breeders that produce only one or two litters per year. These breeders often have waiting lists due to high quality puppies and infrequent production. If you want the best which you should! Labradors are wonderful family dogs with lots of love for humans and other dogs. They are one of the lowest risk for health complications when properly screened, making them ideal as a long-term energy-filled companion. Considerations before jumping into the adoption of a Labrador puppy are how big your puppy will be when it reaches adulthood and the daily rigorous outdoor exercise it will require to keep it in peak physical and mental condition. Read more about Labradors here in our guide to Labrador lifespan! References and Resources Bray, E. University of Pennsylvania .Graham, L. Temperament and Personality in Working Dogs. CRC Press .Kuroshima, H. Kyoto University .Are they good family dogs? Labrador Dog Price — The Costs Involved Buying a Labrador is not just a question of the purchase price of a Lab puppy, though of course that is important. There are other costs involved, both financial, emotional and in terms of time and effort. So we need to look at those too. You may be wondering whether you will have the time for a dog, and if you have the space and energy for a large and lively breed? But this page will take you back to the fundamental considerations, to help you to make the right choice for you and your family. Do you have time for a dog? Can you afford a dog? What about your lifestyle? Will a dog fit in with your family? Is a Labrador the right dog for you? These questions all apply regardless of the type of Labrador you are looking for. The needs of a black Lab, yellow Lab or chocolate Lab are all the same in these respects. The same goes for an English or American Labrador too. Dogs need space, both indoors and outside. Even small breeds need room to stretch their legs and run about. And Labradors as fairly large and lively dogs need quite a lot of space. This means you need a decent sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Somewhere that your Lab dog can run around, play and enjoy training sessions with you. Labradors can be quite silly during adolescence, bouncing and cavorting in the home. Their tails are long and thick, easily knocking any fragile decorations you might have from shelves. If you have lots of ornaments then you will need to move them to higher shelves to avoid them getting damaged. You will also need to move anything that could be easily damaged by chewing. With small puppies this will be very often indeed. Perhaps every 15 to 20 minutes during their first few days with you. If you live in a flat, or do not have a garden, this will be difficult for you. These are helpful but do take up a lot of space. Although this will take up a lot of space indoors, it can work very well for larger apartments with no easy outside access. Ideally however you do need to have a garden, and a part of the garden which your dog can use as a bathroom, along with a good system for clearing up after him hygienically. Space is key for a Lab dog! The right space for a Labrador includes large clear rooms in the house, with no breakable or fragile objects within his grasp. And ideally access to a garden where they can easily be let out to the bathroom and have room to play. Keeping a single Labrador permanently outside however is not usually a good idea, even with adequate shelter and security. Labs are very sociable dogs and prone to separation anxiety if they lack company. This means your dog may be both sad and noisy. It is always sad to hear from new puppy owners that are struggling to juggle the needs of a puppy with their need to work. These articles will help you to deal with this common issue. Even with a visit at lunch time. An older dog may cope with being left for up to four hours in row on a regular basis, but puppies need more attention than this. Contented Labradors are fairly quiet dogs and unlikely to disturb your neighbors. Nor are they very good guard dogs. However, lonely dogs bark and wreck things. If you work all day, can you afford to pay someone to come in and let him out to stretch his legs and empty himself? Or do you have a relative or friend that would be prepared to do this on a regular basis. Bear in mind that this is quite a lot to ask of anyone in the long term. The biggest long term time commitment in owning a dog is in the form of training and exercise. Training Takes Time All dogs need training in order that they can rub along in human society without being a complete nuisance. This means a regular daily commitment of ten to twenty minutes from you, in addition to your regular interaction with the dog. Training cannot be saved up for the weekend, your dog will have forgotten most of what he learnt the weekend before, and he does not have the attention span to concentrate on you for an hour and a half. You can find out more about training your Labrador puppy here. Staying Fit Exercise is required on a regular basis, for some breeds of dog this means at least an hour a day of walking or jogging to keep your dog fit and healthy. You can find out more about the exercise requirements of a Labrador puppy here. Whilst your dog will not come to any harm if you miss a day occasionally, a daily routine is often the best way to ensure that you build this important habit. Can You Afford A Dog? Dogs can be quite expensive to run. You need to consider not only how much a Labrador will cost you to buy, but also how much it will cost you to keep. How much do Labradors cost from breeders? The price of a Labrador puppy will vary from breeder to breeder, and from place to place. Perhaps you know a friend that has a litter of puppies and they are going to let you have one for free. However, the purchase price of a dog is almost irrelevant. It is such a small part of the final cost. The cost of keeping a Labrador The reality is, you are also going to need to fork out a chunk of your wages each week on keeping your pooch happy and healthy. Obviously you will have taken the cost of a good brand of Labrador puppy food into consideration. It is a good idea to budget for veterinary insurance too. Not because it is unreasonably priced, but simply because it is now so advanced. You can fix a lot of problems these days. We can do open heart surgery, mend complex fractures, treat cancer with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Pretty much anything you can treat in a human, you can now treat in a dog. And the catch? It costs. The more comprehensive your insurance package the more it will cost. Watch out for very cheap deals, as they may not provide continuing cover for long term ailments. You will also need to vaccinate your dog against common canine illness , and this will probably need to be done each year too. Especially if you are wanting to occasionally leave them in boarding kennels when you go away, as they require up to date vaccination certificates. Labrador Puppy Costs There will be a few other one-off costs such as a puppy crate and puppy play pen for your home for when your dog is young, another for your car if you have one. Then there are bowls, bedding, collar, leash etc. But you may be able to borrow a crate or get one second hand. Here are some of the items you will need for your new Labrador puppy, and reviews on the best options for Labradors:. Life Span Did You Know? Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds. The Chocolate Labrador Retriever is not a distinct dog breed from other Labs, but it is a separate coat color variation that is specifically bred for. Similar to the other standard coat colors of Labrador Retrievers, Chocolate Labs are energetic dogs that get along well in a family setting. As a Retriever, they also make great hunting dogs and have also been known to fill other working dog roles including service dogs, guide dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and more. They are even one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units. A point of interest is that all modern Chocolate Labrador Retrievers can be traced to three specific Black Labradors that lived during the s. Chocolate Labs are industrious little pups. They were bred for retrieval and will often sniff about for something to get into. They are also one of the most affectionate dog breeds and absolutely love being with their favorite humans. Properly socialized and well-trained, Labs are one of the kid-friendly dog breeds. They get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. They are famously even-tempered and playful. This makes them fantastic dogs for a growing family, as they tend to be gentle and patient with little ones. They can have a high prey drive. They usually do well with small pets within the family that they have been raised with or socialized around, but likely will still have the urge to chase other animals while out and about. They also tend to be open and friendly with strangers. After all, strangers are just more people to give them attention and play with them. Chocolate Labrador Retrievers may be high-energy dogs, but they are also highly adaptable. They will thrive in homes with fenced yards where they can run freely. They can adapt well to apartment living as well as long as they get plenty of daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation. Their natural urge to dig and bark when they are bored or agitated can be quelled with a little training and exercise. Although they can handle some alone time, Labs love to be with their families and thrive on attention from them, so they do not like to spend long periods of time alone. Chocolate Labs also have a water-resistant double coat that makes them well-suited for most habitable climates. As with most dogs, they are sensitive to heat. Although they can handle some cold and will likely love to play in the snow, they are not a snow dog breed and may need to bundle up while out on walks in areas with harsher winters. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Chocolate Labrador Retriever can include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, hereditary myopathy, and heart disease. There is also a condition with a genetic link called exercise-induced collapse EIC , which can occur in young adult Labradors. Carriers of this can be identified by DNA tests and it is advised that breeders test for this and avoid practices that would produce the disease. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents and about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a large, deep-chested dog breed, Labrador Retrievers are at a higher risk for bloat. Bloat in dogs can be dangerous and can quickly become fatal if the stomach flips gastric torsion. Chocolate Labrador Retrievers are incredible companions and are also one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. Their energy can make them a handful at times, but their intelligence, adaptability, patience with people, and eagerness to please make them easy to train. Labs are one of the smartest dog breeds , so they pick up on things easily. As long as training is consistent and focused on positive reward and praise, a Chocolate Lab will do their best to respond as expected and will often exceed expectations. Chocolate Labs have a short, water-resistant coat that will shed year-round. Brushing a few times a week, daily brushing during seasonal shedding, and the occasional bath are all that are needed to keep a Lab coat healthy and looking great. They may need baths more often if they are avid swimmers, go on a lot of outdoor adventures, and get dirty a lot. Floppy ears tend to trap dirt, moisture, and debris. Proper dental care for dogs is imperative to help prevent painful dental diseases like gum disease or tooth decay later in life. You can also supplement your dental care efforts with vet-approved dental hygiene chews. Labrador Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds and need a lot of daily activity to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough, but your Chocolate Labrador will likely be up for more activity if you are. One of the facts about Labrador Retrievers is that they have an extended puppyhood and tend to maintain that puppy-like energy and maturity until they are years old. Swimming can be a great lower-impact activity and Labrador Retrievers are one of the dog breeds that tend to love water. Between that, their water-resistant coat, and webbed toes, you may have trouble getting your Chocolate Lab out of the water. Fully-grown Chocolate Labrador Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Chocolate Labs generally live for years on average. Fourteen years later, the American Kennel Club did the same in .Featured Chocolate Labrador Retriever Article. Life Span Did You Know? There is a reason that year after year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States. The history of the Labrador Retriever dates back to the early s in Newfoundland, just off the Atlantic coast of Canada. Had these families not played a vital part in the continuation of the breed, the loving and affectionate Labs we have all grown to love may not exist today. The first recognized Yellow Labrador Retriever was born in .One of the friendliest breeds out there, Yellow Labs are great companions and love to be a part of the family. While the color yellow is part of their namesake, their coats range from fawn or cream to butterscotch or a deep golden hue. Coming into popularity during the midth century, the Yellow Labrador Retriever has been a staple for hunters and family homes alike ever since. These dogs are patient and kind when faced with energetic young ones. Yellow Labs delight in big spaces, opting to run and play wildly. However, they will happily lounge on the couch after having a long, hard run outside. When given a little training, they can easily learn to control barking habits and restrain themselves from digging. Their double coat also makes them a good fit for just about any climate. As with most dogs, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. Generally speaking, Labradors are healthy. They can develop certain inherent conditions, along with cataracts and kneecap displacement, but will remain healthy overall. As long as they are taken to their vet appointments with regularity, Labs will usually feel just fine. Yellow Labs are loyal companions with few drawbacks. Treats never hurt, of course. This, paired with their eagerness to please, makes them a highly trainable dog breed that is a good fit for owners of any experience level. With minimal training, these dogs can control their barking and digging without much trouble. Labs have very short, double-layered, and water-resistant fur. Its density protects them from the cold, so they will often try to swim any time of year. They experience heavier seasonal shedding twice a year and slight shedding throughout the year. Giving them a good brush once a week or a few times a week should keep their coats shiny and healthy. Other grooming tasks include nail trimming, ear care, and dental care. Proper dental care for dogs includes brushing their teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day. This helps prevent the tartar buildup that causes dental diseases like gum disease and tooth decay. You can also supplement your dental care efforts with dental hygiene chews, a special dental care diet, and more. This breed tends to be very active. They were bred to be working dogs and need exercise. A few daily walks and some time to run should help assuage their energy levels. Yellow Labs also need a fair amount of mental activity as well; they like to stay sharp. Yellow Labs are classified as medium to large dogs. They reach an average height of 23 inches and an average healthy weight of 75 pounds. A Yellow Labrador Retriever generally lives years. It was traditional in Newfoundland for every fishing boat to have a Labrador Retriever that would help retrieve the fish as they came in off the trawl. Featured Yellow Labrador Retriever Article.
labradoodle puppy care - Bite Inhibition Young puppies also need to stay with their mom and siblings to learn proper bite inhibition. If they bite their mom or sibling too hard, they will act in a way that communicates to the puppy that the bite was too hard and not acceptable. Mom might get up and walk away or gently correct the pup with a subtle growl. Their littermate will usually let out a high pitch yelp with stops the play and tells the bitey puppy that their chomp was too much. Without waiting until at least eight weeks to bring home your puppy, they are more likely to be very bitey and not know how to soften their bites. You give your puppy and yourself the best chance at a happy, healthy life together by waiting until they are at least eight weeks old. Bringing home a Golden Retriever puppy soon? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! The absolute best thing you can do is to talk to the breeder and return the puppy until they are a bit older. Then, when your puppy is at least eight weeks old, you can pick them up again from the breeder and start your life together. Find a Surrogate Canine Family If getting your Golden Retriever puppy back to their mother and littermates is impossible, the next best thing is to at least let them spend those last couple critical weeks with other dogs and puppies. Puppies need to be learning lessons from other dogs at this age, ideally their own mother and siblings, but unrelated dogs and puppies can help. Do you know someone else with a puppy? Do you know someone who has a dog who is good with puppies? Maybe there is a friend of a friend who is fostering a litter of puppies? Ask around and see if friends and family might have some puppies and dogs that you can get your puppy around. Social media can be really helpful for networking with other dog lovers who could help you out with the situation you are in. They can help you understand what to feed them and come up with an appropriate feeding schedule. Your vet might also have some tips to ensure your puppy stays healthy and to prevent behavior issues from developing. Here is what is typical for a puppy of this age: Sleep If you were to spend a day with a litter of six-week-old Golden Retriever puppies, you might be surprised by just how much they sleep. At this stage, puppies are undergoing a lot of physical and mental growth so they need plenty of rest to make sure that they develop properly. Pottying You might also be surprised by just how much a six-week-old puppy poops and pees. A good breeder will be working diligently on potty training a litter of six-week-old puppies so that they start to learn good potty habits before they go home to their forever families. Puppies this age love romping around, playing chase, tug and wrestling with their siblings. They also can start to show off their retrieval instincts with little games of fetch. Some puppies might still nurse from their mom, but by six weeks, they are able to be on solid food exclusively. Breeders usually feed many small meals throughout the day, so a six-week-old puppy might be eating between four and six meals a day. Responsible breeders will also be very mindful that six-week-old puppies are in the prime window for puppy socialization. Early socialization is very important in preventing potential behavior issues from arising as the puppy matures, and it helps bring out the absolute best in the puppy. Many breeders will even start some basic training with young puppies, such as sitting for their meals and acclimating them to spending time in a crate. In short, you can expect six-week-old Goldens to be eating, pooping, playing, napping machines with brains that are little sponges ready to learn and explore over the next couple of weeks before they go home to their new families. Puppy Patience When it comes to adding a puppy to your family, patience truly is a virtue. Resist the temptation of a cute six-week-old puppy and give them just a couple more weeks to be ready to come home. A little extra waiting will go a long way to setting you and your puppy up for a long, happy, healthy life together. Have any questions about 6-week-old Golden Retriever puppies? Let us know down in the comments! Read the rest of our Golden Retriever puppy series here:. Share 0 Shares A six-week-old golden retriever puppy is a wonder to behold. Golden Retrievers are so cute around this age, and of course, people will impatiently want to take one home at only 6 weeks old. The extra time is quite necessary because it gives them enough time with their mother and siblings, and allows for additional development. But you have to resist that urge. Waiting for the extra two weeks allows the puppy to have enough time with its family to foster healthy development. Another important reason to not remove golden retriever puppies too soon is that it affects their health. Pups who are prematurely rehomed often have weakened immune systems and a lack of appetite. Being with their litter allows them to develop confidence and learn about how they should act with each new thing they encounter in their world. Puppies need to play. It helps them to learn to get used to touching and being picked up or moved around. Bite Inhibition One of the things that golden retriever puppies learn from their moms is proper bite inhibition. However, their teeth are really sharp. When they bite their mom or their siblings and they react to the bite, the puppy learns that biting hurts. The mom might either walk away from the pup or growl at them and put the fear of God in them. A littermate will usually let out a startling yelp, which is enough to put a stop to whatever sort of play had been previously happening and let the puppy know that they bit too hard. These things just happen sometimes. The best thing you can do is to call up the breeder and return the puppy to its mother for the next two weeks. It may seem like an extra expense, but you would have paid to buy the puppy food and such, anyway. And it really is worth it just to make sure the puppy develops properly. When the puppy is 8 weeks old, you can go pick up your pup from the breeder and take it home. Ask your friends and family about finding a surrogate canine family for your puppy. Most responsible dog owners will understand the situation and be willing to help if they can. Your vet can give you important information, like what to feed your puppy and when to feed them. Of course, you may be advised about other ways you can keep your puppy healthy and avoid behavioral issues. Puppies grow a lot during this time both mentally and physically , so they need loads of sleep to ensure they properly develop. Pottying Just as with sleep, puppies poop and pee a surprising amount. Some of the games that six-week-old puppies play are chase, wrestling, and tug, as well as running around, and something similar to tag. When playing with your six-week-old puppy, watch out for their super-sharp teeth. Teeth Six-week-old golden retriever puppies are very mouthy. They use their mouths to explore their world, so just about everything winds up in their mouths at some point. You can expect your six-week-old golden to have developed a full set of razor-sharp puppy teeth. Eating Puppies need their teeth because, by six weeks old, puppies are typically fully weaned. This is typically just habit and bonding because the puppy no longer needs the milk at this point. Most breeders start feeding six-week-old puppies several times throughout the day. You can expect your golden puppy to average between 4 and 6 meals every day. Personality A six-week-old golden retriever puppy starts displaying its personality. This is quite important when it comes to choosing which puppies are suited to be service dogs, and which ones would be better suited as house pets. Breeders typically start running pre-tests with puppies this age to see which of the puppies are cut out to be service dogs. Most breeders recognize this as the ideal time to start socializing puppies. This makes puppies more adaptable. Socialization is an important part of puppy development because it can prevent behavioral issues from developing as the puppy grows. It can also help your puppy be the best version of itself. If your puppy starts showing a little fear or trepidation when it encounters new places or things, you need to remember that this is perfectly normal. Sometimes humans are afraid of new things, too, right? Six-week-old Golden Retrievers should be experiencing positive interactions with humans. This means that you should be inviting other people around your puppies to get them used to people. However, if your puppy has been fully vaccinated, then it should be allowed outside and should be gradually introduced to other animals. Six weeks is a good time to start training puppies , as well. And their intelligent little brains will be eager to learn anything you teach them, so you should definitely start teaching them as much as you can before you send them to live with their new family in a couple of weeks. Growth Up until this point, your puppy has likely experienced a lot of growth. But how much does a six-week-old Golden Retriever puppy grow? From the sixth week on, you can expect your puppy to gain 5 ounces per week. But which type of food should you feed your puppy? When you start feeding your puppy solid dry kibble, you need to moisten it to soften it a bit. You can do this with either water or broth. Personally, I put the water or broth in with the kibble for about minutes, or long enough for it to soak up the liquid. Give your puppy small meals around 4- 6 times a day so that it gets all of the nutrients and energy it needs. In some places, certain vaccinations are required, like rabies vaccinations. Patience with Your Puppy Patience is key when it comes to bringing home a new puppy. Even if you want to immediately bring home a six-week-old ball of adorable fluff, you need to resist that urge so that the puppy can receive all the experiences it needs to develop properly. This will give you fewer chances that the puppy will develop behavioral disorders later down the road. Check out our other posts about the development of Golden Retriever puppies:. Your new furry friend has a lot of growing to do, and you probably have a lot of questions. Your Golden Retriever puppy will go through a number of developmental stages throughout their first twelve weeks. Male Golden Retrievers generally weigh between 65 and 75 pounds and stand from 23 to 24 inches tall. Females are generally smaller weighing between 55 to 65 pounds, and will grow to stand .At 4 months, your Golden Retriever puppy will reach about half their adult height. When it comes to mental development, it can take even longer than that before the Golden Retriever is fully mature. However, every puppy is a unique individual, and these are merely milestone guidelines. Disparities exist between the working and show Goldens, as well as between males and females. Golden Retriever puppy growth can also be quite sporadic. As an overall average, many Golden Retriever puppies will weigh just approximately 1. Golden Retrievers are classified as a gundog breed, and these dogs are often divided into those bred for show and those meant for work. However, the body of the show Golden is typically larger, taller, heavy-boned, and fuller in the chest. Small Parents Like people, puppies inherit physical traits from their parents. And even puppies from the same litter can vary in size. Neither of these scenarios is healthy for a puppy. Larger breeds like the Golden Retriever are more at risk for growth disorders than small breed dogs. This article will give you a lot more information on how much to feed, what to feed, and how often to feed a Golden Retriever puppy. Illness and Puppy Growth If a puppy has been seriously ill for a prolonged period, it may affect their ability to grow normally. However, once the puppy is free of worms, they should continue to grow at a normal rate. The best way to determine if your puppy is too thin or too fat is by how he looks and feels. When looking at your puppy from above, he should have a noticeable waistline. Another way to tell is by putting your hands on either side of his ribcage. You should be able to feel his ribs using a gentle pressure. But if his ribs are visible, he could be underweight. Obesity is a huge problem for many dog breeds. Although there are ways to make your puppy grow bigger, this is not something you should attempt. It could also mean you end up with a fat puppy. One of the best ways to ensure your puppy has a long, healthy life is to ensure he stays at an optimal weight. Hip and elbow dysplasia and other musculoskeletal disorders are associated with excess weight in larger breeds. Having your dog neutered at a young age can also cause them to grow taller. The problem is, this can also cause abnormalities in joint formation. Neutering also makes Golden Retrievers more at risk for certain types of cancers. Typically it will take approximately 18 months for your Golden Retriever to become an adult dog. Even though they can reach their full height at anywhere from 9 to 12 months, it will usually take them longer to fill out to their full weight. Remember that there are wide variations in size within the Golden Retriever breed. If this is the case, you should contact your veterinarian to seek advice. Beginning the puppy development stages before birth Puppy development stages week by week Amazingly, in a way the puppy development stages begin before your dog is even born. Your puppy spends approximately 9 weeks developing inside his Mom. The mother dog has a womb or uterus, that has two long tubes, and the puppies grow in a row along each tube rather like peas in a pod. The puppies are joined to their mother by a placenta which provides all the nourishment they need for those few weeks. To begin with, the puppies have plenty of room to move but they grow fast and as the time for birth draws near they are packed in quite tightly. The one week old puppy Your puppy is born fully furred but with his eyes and ears closed so he cannot hear or see. His front feet are strong and he can pull himself towards his mother with them. He can cry if he is uncomfortable and his mother will respond to his cries by moving him towards her and licking him. Your puppy spends most of his time sleeping or suckling. He cannot regulate his own body temperature and needs his mother for heat, or an artificial heat source. In the first week to ten days of his life your puppy grows rapidly and will double his birth weight. His forelegs are getting much stronger. She licks the puppies bottoms to stimulate a bowel or bladder movement and eats the result. There is no cleaning up for the breeder to do yet. The breeder will begin to handle the puppies more though, and get them used to human contact. She will worm the puppies for the first time at the end of this week. Puppies begin to get their personalities. Your puppy can stand and sit up by the end of the week. Tails can be wagged, ears will be completely open and puppies start play growling and interacting with their littermates. Your puppy can regulate his body temperature more effectively and will start to cut his first teeth in preparation for weaning. The front teeth, canines and incisors are cut first. Toward the end of the week he may have his first tiny taste of puppy food. They also start to move away from the sleeping area to empty their bowels and bladder. They may try to climb out of the whelping box. If she lives indoors, she may rejoin the family for more of each day. Your puppy will cut his back teeth and the breeder will get weaning underway this week and by the end of it, your puppy will be getting quite a bit of his nourishment from puppy food. She will also worm the puppies a second time. If the mother is allowed near the puppies after she has been fed, she may regurgitate her dinner for them. This is completely natural and normal. He is a proper little dog. Rolling around with his brothers and sisters and playing with toys. Teething toys, puppy Kongs, balls and rope toys are big favorites with puppies. He can bark too and some puppies can be quite noisy at this age! He chases after his mother whenever she appears and suckles hungrily, but she is starting to get fed up with it, and may be reluctant to feed her brood for very long. His mother is teaching him not to bite too hard. If he lives in outdoor kennels he should spend part of each day indoors with the family. By the end of the sixth week, most are fully weaned, and eating five or six little meals of puppy food each day. Socialization must begin in earnest. He is now two months old and ready for his new life. It is the time during which they become fearful of anything unfamiliar and need to be thoroughly socialized. This is also the time during which most puppies get to grips with house-training, learning to wait before eliminating and start sleeping through the night without a potty break. It is a busy time for new puppy owners. Your puppy will have his vaccinations during this month. Biting can be a big problem during this stage and you need to be patient and consistent in order to teach the puppy not to hurt people when he plays. Provided you use force free methods, this is a great time to get puppy training under way, and especially to teach a puppy recall, and to get your puppy used to working with food. So, for a 2. You can do the same calculation for medium pups at sixteen weeks and large breed pups at 20 weeks — just divide his weight by his age in weeks before you multiply by .Medium to large pups will reach about half their adult height by the end of the month. If the weather is warm you can get your puppy swimming now. He should be able to come when he is called, in and around your home, provided there are not too many distractions. It all depends on what you have taught him. He may still be chewing a lot and biting too. Use frozen Kongs to help him and give your furniture and fingers a break. Puppies can go for short walks now. By the end of this month your puppy could have a twenty minute walk each day. He may also enjoy fetching a ball and playing with other dogs, but take care to stop before he gets very tired. Less dependence This is the month during which some puppies start to become less dependent on their humans for security. Keep your puppy close to you outdoors by changing direction frequently so that you puppy has to keep coming to find you. And engaging him in games. The foundations of a great recall are often build or spoilt during this month. If your puppy knows how to sit or lie down at home, start some simple proofing exercises with him in public places. A healthy puppy can usually manage on two meals a day from around six months. During this month a Retriever, Spaniel or GSD puppy will reach around two thirds of his adult weight. A Great Dane and other large breeds will have reached about half their final weight and little dogs will have almost completed their growth. Some female dogs will come on heat for the first time during this month, or the next, so keep an eye open now for swelling of her vulva and any discharge. Your dog will become increasingly confident over the next few months so practice, practice and practice that recall! Make it a habit he cannot break. And be generous with your rewards. Small breed pups may now be more or less mature. Your puppy will enjoy half hour off lead walks now, and should be able to walk on a loose lead for short periods with plenty of encouragement and rewards. Keep practicing that recall! These help to slow his growth further and to build his confidence. Make sure you practice good outdoor management on walks to maintain the good recall you have built and work hard on thoroughly proofing all his obedience skills. Read up on neutering before you take this important step, for dogs of either sex. Once your dog is a year old he can participate in more strenuous activities and sports. Now is the time to think about the kinds of activities you would like to do with him — go jogging together for example — and if necessary, to start to get him fit. Puppy development stages — Summary There is huge variation in the way in which dogs develop and mature. The puppy development stages and ages outlined above are a rough guide. We hope you enjoyed them and found the information interesting. When it comes to training, you get out what you put in. Your progress depends as much if not more on you rather than your puppy. If you train your puppy five times a day, six days a week he will learn many, many times faster than a puppy that is trained once a day at the weekend. Enjoy watching your puppy grow and develop. And have fun! Brown 7 lb 1. The size gap between our smallest and largest puppy keeps getting bigger as Patriot is well over a pound heavier than Trooper. Archer was very curious since day 1, but even though he and Raven were best pals she still was protective of her puppies. Since the beginning we allowed supervised interaction and Archer loved the little guys and just wanted to play…albeit sometimes a little too rough… Archer vs Six week old Golden Retriever puppy Day 37 — Kids and Puppies We continued to socialize our Golden pups with people young and old. Some of our favorite puppy raiser friends stopped by and brought over their grandchildren to play with the pups. At this age the puppies like running around and act like hams. Long gone are the days of the docile, sleepy puppies. Welcome to the wonderful world of running wild Golden pups! Day 40 — Our Little Golden Explorers! As time moved on these guys became more and more mobile and less easy to contain in small environments. A few weeks earlier they started climbing out of the short wall in the whelping box. As the below picture illustrates this little one enjoyed climbing onto this shelf making it his own doggy bed. Our little Golden puppy in hiding. In case you missed our other posts about our litter of Golden Retriever pups take a look back at past weeks: Week 1 — Six Golden Retriever puppies are born! Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — The great puppy escape artists! Week 8 — Our golden puppies head to their new homes. Okay, guys and gals. Almost every time I return to the whelping box it looks like a poop war broke out. It sounds funny now, but the sight and stink are not fun. What about you guys? Have any of you ever raised a litter of puppies? If so, tell us your story in the comment section below. This is the first book we bought before bringing home our first puppy, Linus. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.
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labradoodle puppy care - Head Start Program We recommend that you give your Labrador Retriever puppy a head start for the field. New research and development advises it also. Read below for the information on puppy development by Dr Ed Bailey. Our newest kennel built in on 40 acres is the a state of art facility for puppies and dogs that is equipped to expose your new pup to gunfire, birds, children, retrieving, and much more. Click below to read more. We breed two types of labs, both American and British Labradors. We strive to breed the best possible traits to provide you with the best family and hunting companion. With our optional head-start program, you can start your puppy off on the right paw. What is nice for the customer buying a pup from us is we also will train it. We have two full-time dog trainers and they have four assistants. Our training is unique as we do the traditional retriever training as well as the bird dog training. Most trainers do one or the other. Let your dog spend some time with our trainers to get them ready for the field. We look outside of IPL for the best match to pair with our own dog to produce you the ultimate hunting and family companion. Do you want to get your own dog experience hunting with veteran Pointing Labrador Retrievers? Feel free to bring your own dog to hunt alongside our dogs on a hunt. We have another location that sits on 12 acres. The newest kennel built in sits on 40 acres next to our first state of the art facility built for the harshest of winters as it has controlled temperature days a year with ground floor heating and air conditioning during the summer. Visits by appointment only. Our Guarantee Our month guarantee demonstrates the confidence we have in these pups. All of our pups undergo health tests, but if your pup has a hip or eye issue you will keep the pup and we will replace it. We take care of the customer as with any breeder of canines, which are animals, and like humans health issues can happen. Trust that your dog is recommended by the best. I purchased a pup three years ago after a referral from a friend. I wanted a lab but also a great hunting partner. Milo is the first dog I personally purchased and all this was done over the phone with Tim. When Milo arrived my wife house trained him and Milo trained me in upland bird hunting. I cannot say enough good things about IPL. They were always there to answer any questions. He hunts with verbal commands or whistle. I have customers with my bird hunting business that request to hunt with my lab because of his ability and stamina and refuse to hunt what people here in the south refer to traditional bird dogs. When we are done for the day Milo turns the switch off and is my 5yo daughters best friend. I could go on forever but I know a purchase from IPL was the best decision I ever made for field and home. You can tell they truely care about the dogs and the families they go home with. Our little Khloe is a sweet and spunky puppy that loves to learn and has such an amazing temperament! She loves meeting new dogs and kids. She has also been so easy to train! Erin Morrison Hunting Guide Tim was great! Tim was the only Breeder who returned my calls and stayed in constant communication. Makes me feel extremely comfortable sending my dog back for Gun training in the spring! High quality pup, high quality organization! Stefan Bernardi IPL has to be the best breeder of labs in the world in my opinion. Tom Cink IPL has to be the best breeder of labs in the world in my opinion. Tom Cink Iowa pointing labs is a top notch kennel with above and beyond dogs. He is now 4mnths and is on triple blind water retrieves and will honor retrieves with other dogs. I have trained him myself using positive reenforcement methods. Insanely smart and shocks me everyday with his progress. Doug Douglas I have known Tim for a lot of years and every time I call he is always willing to help! All of his dogs are well taken care of and of course the breeding, exceptional! His breeding and training program can speak for itself! Jake Ballard. Look on any website with a dog forum and you will find pages upon pages on this issue. Some folks don't believe Labs can point. Some people think Pointing Labradors are somehow softer or don't have as much drive as other Labrador Retrievers. Here is our take on the questions and issues surrounding Pointing Labs. Do some Labs point? If you hunt upland game in states like Minnesota, South Dakota, or North Dakota you probably have seen, or have heard of, Labs that will lock up on a pheasant, partridge, or grouse. Generally, the more birds a dog is exposed to, the more likely it is to point. Is the Labrador Retriever a pointing breed? No, it is a flushing and retrieving breed. However, some Labs have genetics that cause them to point. Some Labrador breeders have been breeding with the pointing trait in mind for many years, making it more likely that those puppies will point. Do you guarantee your puppies will point? Our attitude is that if you want a Labrador, you are looking for a good retriever and family dog. If your Lab points, that is gravy. That being said, many of our dogs are 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation Pointing Labs as tested by the American Pointing Labrador Association in their hunt tests. Many of our dogs point or throw point in their litters, making the odds much better that your new puppy will carry the pointing gene. Can Labs be trained to point? Some trainers can and do train Labs to point. It generally requires putting a lot of pressure on the dog. We do not offer that type of training at Northern Plains Retrievers. We believe there is nothing wrong with whoa training a Lab that points naturally. Whoa training is a big part of training any pointing dog. Do Pointing Labs work the same as the pointing breeds, such as English Setters? Labrador Retrievers will usually work at a much closer range than big running Pointers. Most well bred Pointers will lock up on a bird or strong scent, and often stay locked up, even if the bird repositions itself or has moved before the dog started pointing. Our experience is that Pointing Labs will usually only lock up on a bird that holds, but if that bird moves, most Pointing Labs will then go ahead and flush it. If the bird doesn't hold, they will flush it like any other Labrador Retriever. Are Pointing Labs lacking in drive? They have just as much drive as any other Lab, they just also happen to carry the pointing gene. Our dog Tiger is a good example. She points and has thrown point in each of her litters. She is extremely intense and lives to retrieve. Two hours after she gave birth to her last litter, she jumped up on a training table to get a bumper out of a bucket, and brought it over to me so I would throw it for her. That is drive! Photo was taken by owner Steve Oehlenschlager. Please call or text us as early as possible to reserve a training spot, or be on a waiting list We are training the 3rd and 4th dog now for several of our past owners. Jane and I agree that is once again a year of reconnecting with our amazing Sauk River Family of owners. We enjoy the chance to interact with our owners, and our training clients over the long term. Thank you for the gift of companionship and fun which you bring to these spectacular working dogs. There are still limited openings available for training in .Please call to book a training spot. People appreciate knowing exactly what will be accomplished in the started program rather than paying for training by the month Clients appreciate knowing that extra time is at no cost. Our passion is pointing labs. David has not only trained pointing labradors from across the nation, but has trained English Pointers, Vizlas, Munsterlanders, Pudelpointers, Brittany spaniels, Golden Retrievers, many Setters, German Shorthairs, Wirehairs, and even one outstanding Pointing Labradoodle! We do try to prioritize our own puppy owners and past clients.Jane and David are here to be of service to you. Please call, text, or e-mail. To our family of owners. Please continue to stay in touch. We value your feedback, your pictures, your videos. This avoids the "trap" of looking just for a highly titled pedigree, or a particular color pattern etc.We are here to help. Jane and I welcome your visit. We look forward to serving you throughout the life of your dog. Being in touch with you is the best part of this business. We also appreciate getting many referrals from hunters who want to join the Sauk River Family because they had the opportunity to hunt with your dog. Thank you for your continued support for what we do here. Sauk River Pointing Labs have worked hard for our owners in a variety of settings from Mexico to Canada. Game bird species are hi-lited to emphasize the diversity of success with Sauk River Dogs. We look forward to hearing from each of you. Our door is open for your scheduled visit. It is worth the wait to take advantage of the years of selection and testing we have been through to arrive at the quality of dogs we breed today. We invite anyone who finds mistakes on our website to notify us. Joined: Fri Aug 20, pm Location: Dixon IL Post by ezzy » Fri Mar 04, pm nikegundog wrote: The Labs were bred as retrievers and the upland hunting has been an add-on but they were never bred to be a flusher or a pointer. I also question the part about the Labs running and hunting all day. I do see a lot of Labs that spend all day in the field but they do not do a lot of running if they do. I tend to disagree, the pointing lab kennels I see are breeding for one thing ONLY and that is pointing with disregard for most other traits. As far as running, no they don't run big like pointers they aren't meant to, however they should be able to RUN all day. Yes I do see some fat out of shape labs that can not do it, but that holds true for most breeds. I may be wrong but prior to thirty years ago I don't believe I'm read many articles on pointing labs so I do believe they've have been bred as flushers. I guess if you want to disprove this all you would have to do is list, say 10 books that are about 40 years old on training pointing labs. You are right about the time frame of the pointing Labs. It has been just in recent years that they have been bred for but we are talking about the original purpose of the breed and what it was bred for and that was as a water retriever. The people who had the started taking them upland hunting and they did a good job but were strictly flushers. But neither pointing or flushing was part of the qualities the dog was bred for. I think that it is evident as to why the Lab isn't an all day runner. First it is not a fault but just not their purpose in life. You don't breed a dog that you plan on hunting upland all day and give them a heavy double waterproof coat, probably wouldn't breed them to be pure black, wouldn't have bred them to have a thick heavy body, and wouldn't breed for heavy bone and short legs. Even the people with the pointers are talking about how their smaller lighter, slimmer dogs do better over the long periods in the field. None of these qualities makes them a bad dog but like all breeds they have been bred to perform a given task in a certain manner and they are best suited for that specific job. An update on the present status and possible future of this sometimes controversial gun dog. Advertisement Nonetheless, I followed my friend up the weed-choked fenceline and arrived in time to see Sugar, his three-year-old yellow Labrador, standing and staring into the dense vegetation. Though her tail was wildly wagging and all four feet were planted on the ground, "She could be pointing," I remember thinking. A half-second later, Sugar charged into a clump of thick foxtail. A rooster pheasant rocketed up against the blue sky, cackled once, took a flight path, then crumpled and fell at the boom of my buddy's gauge. The yellow Lab leaped across the fence into the adjacent corn stubble and quickly retrieved and delivered to hand the stone-dead ringneck. Advertisement "Every once in a while, Sugar will point gamebirds," her owner later said. Since that time, however, pointing Labrador retrievers have become more common, bloodlines of pointing Labradors have been clearly developed, pointing Lab organizations have been created, and thousands of pointing Labrador breeders, owners, trainers, handlers, and hunters have fallen in love with these "specialized" gun dogs. Breed it into them or train it out of them? This is the big question about the pointing instinct in Labradors, a question that certainly touches on several issues having to do with the original purposes and modern day direction taken in the development of this breed of gun dog. None of these developments in the history of the pointing Labrador, however, has taken place without some confusion, some controversy, and some opposition. There are some, in fact, who say that making the Labrador "retriever" into a "pointer" is guaranteed to take the breed in the wrong direction. In the meantime, though, the pointing Labrador's popularity is steadily growing, more breeders are producing pointing pups, more trainers are working with these dogs, and more hunters are using pointing Labradors for waterfowl and for upland gamebirds. The controversy regarding pointing Labrador retrievers centers around a number of questions. What is a "point" in a "pointing" Lab? Is a Lab's point an instinctive or a trained behavior? Will developing the pointing behavior in a Labrador compromise this breed's bird-flushing and retrieving efficiency? Is breeding any type of gun dog for just one trait a good idea? As a full-time trainer of all breeds of gun dogs, Dokken has worked with pointing Labradors for many years. After all, Labradors are usually classified as 'flushing' dogs, bred and trained to find then quickly push up any upland gamebirds with hard-charging and unhesitating enthusiasm. As with all flushing dogs, many owners, handlers and trainers would fault any flushing breed for 'pausing' before pouncing on a bird to put it into flight," Dokken says. For example, when English setters go on point, most can be picked up by hand and re-positioned without coming off point--that's how intense the pointing instinct is that has been bred into these breeds. This is the theory, anyhow. When human hunters noticed this trait in some of their hunting dogs, they started to breed for it. Eventually, the pointing breeds evolved," Dokken explains. And, once it's identified as 'strong' in some lines of Labs, it can be bred for. For anyone judging the quality of the pointing instinct in a pointing Lab, making the distinction between a 'natural' and a 'taught' point is obviously important, especially when making decisions about buying pointing Lab puppies or training adult dogs," Dokken concludes. Can the pointing behavior be reconciled with a hard flushing requirement? Aren't the two traits contradictory? Gerald and Dawn Walker of Peyton, Colorado have raised pointing Labrador retrievers for several years and, along with their three kids, have entered their pointing Labs in AKC obedience and hunt tests. All of the Walker dogs are certified in the various levels of the American Pointing Labrador Association's testing program, as well. Plus, their dogs are used to hunt the full spectrum of upland gamebirds and waterfowl. From left to right are Micah, 12; Nathan, 14; and Hannah, 10; each with their own personal gun dog. Though he asked to remain anonymous to prevent any criticism or ridicule that might be heaped upon him by his fellow NAVHDA trainers and judges, I can say I've seen his NAVHDA Invitational Champion perfect score male "flush" pointed pheasants that we couldn't have otherwise easily kicked out of dense cover ourselves. Instead, I will bring two lines together in order to get a broad spectrum of qualities such as desire to retrieve, great cooperation, good temperament, and strong stamina. If a chocolate or yellow puppy comes out of the litter, so be it, if someone wants one," Luttrell says. Breed for a wide range of generally desired and accepted Labrador characteristics and, if a few pups from the litter want to point, that's okay. But breeding only for pointing potential is possibly going to produce otherwise inferior offspring. This would certainly go against general dog breeding theory and good practice," Luttrell adds. Should all gun dog breeds be restricted to a specific and narrow range of standards? On a Minnesota northwoods ruffed grouse hunt a few years ago, I followed a pointer and her owner through some of the best grouse cover I've ever seen and saw some of the best pointing I've ever witnessed. We shot a limit of ruffs and several woodcock. But that pointer never retrieved a single bird. And, yes, I know, some pointer lines have some 'retrieve' bred into them, and some trainers say that any gun dog can be force-trained to fetch. This pointer owner-breeder-trainer-field trialer-hunter, however, had some dogmatic ideas on this subject. And, while his dog was running off in the far distance looking to point another grouse, we were looking for a dead bird--along with a couple others that we never found. Should a Labrador retriever only retrieve and never be bred, encouraged, or trained to point gamebirds? Last pheasant season, a friend and I hunted ringneck pheasants behind a five-year-old yellow Lab. This question was answered a minute later when we came up behind Buster, who was then told to "Get 'em! Then a rooster cackled into the sky, met a load of No. Buster was on the bird in a second, found it immediately and then brought it to his owner's hand in the classic style of the Labrador retriever. Should Buster have pointed this bird? I know I had no objection. Others, however, feel just as strongly that the "pointing instinct" in Labrador retrievers absolutely should not be perpetuated. He is totally convinced that the main purpose of any Labrador hunting upland game is to quickly flush upland gamebirds and to retrieve dead ones. This attitude is reflected by hundreds of Association members as well as thousands of other pointing Labrador owners across the country. Most agree that the pointing Labrador retriever can hunt, point, flush, and retrieve upland gamebirds with the same degree of efficiency as many other breeds of gun dogs. The final "field test" for any pointing Labrador is whether the dog hunts--that is, finds, points and retrieves upland gamebirds. Though many individual and independent pointing Lab breeders have produced some viable pointing Labs, the most organized and recognized success in breeding the pointing lines has come through the efforts of the American Pointing Labrador Association. Formed in , the APLA is made up of pointing Labrador enthusiasts dedicated to improving this line of gun dog through a formalized testing program and organized breeding procedure. Originally the APLA's main purpose was to merely identify pointing Labs by having two judges observe any Labrador point a gamebird for three seconds. This elementary test has now grown into a much more sophisticated and meaningful series of tests that include a basic certification of pointing Labrador's pointing abilities as well as overall hunting capabilities. These formalized tests begin with a basic certification designed to evaluate a dog's natural ability and basic trained behavior with emphasis on apparent obedience and proficiency in hunting upland gamebirds and performing land and water retrieves. In this test, dogs are scored on point as well as nose, search, cooperation, desire, retrieving ability and water work. Pointing ability, then, is only one of several key components in a dog's overall score. The "Intermediate" level provides an advanced format requiring the Lab being tested to demonstrate proficiency in hunting upland gamebirds quail, chukar, or pheasants placed randomly in a acre field. Two APLA qualified judges evaluate the dog on effective nose, intensity and duration of point a motionless point of 10 seconds without a "steady" command from the handler , a methodical search for game, a high degree of cooperation, an evident desire to please, and efficient land and water retrieves. The "Master" and "Grand Master" tests include all the categories of the previous tests but with a greater emphasis on reliability in pointing, retrieving and searching, nose, stamina, desire, cooperation, and obedience. These two tests "will prove the versatility of the pointing Labrador as an all around working dog bred and developed for both upland and waterfowl hunting. Points must be intense and unmistakable, showing an instinctive response to scent, as opposed to a sight point. In addition, the tested Lab must be steady to wing and shot, perform a productive search by hunting with its nose while maintaining a cooperative contact with the handler. These two highest-level tests also include marked land retrieves, blind land retrieves, and marked water retrieves with blind steadiness. As the APLA Testing Rules indicate, this organization has done much toward creating solid and meaningful ways to measure the strength of these dogs both as pointers and all-around gun dogs. Do your homework. Read about pointing Labradors by looking for articles on the subject in this and other magazines. Check out ads in these same publications and call the breeders with specific questions about their puppies. Are they APLA members? And remember that "good" scores on these tests are only general indicators of quality, not absolute guarantees that the hips and eyes of a pup or an adult dog will be absolutely perfect. Look carefully at the pup's parents to evaluate how the pups might turn out. If you can't actually witness in person how the parents point, quarter in the field, or retrieve from land and water, then ask the breeder for a videotape showing the mom and dad doing all these things. Consider puppies from "repeat breeding"--especially if pups from previous litters have shown exceptional pointing ability along with all the other desirable traits of well-bred Labradors. Ask the puppy's breeder for references from satisfied owners of these pups. And call these dog owners to ask very pointed questions based on information gathered from doing your homework as well as reading this article. Ask any breeder with puppies for sale about the parents' "intensity and duration of point. Twenty years ago, when the formal recognition of the pointing instinct in the Labrador first started to grow, how well and how long a Lab pointed didn't seem to matter all that much. Almost any Labrador that made a "pause" or stopped for a "look" in the presence of gamebirds could be considered a "pointer. Why a pointing Lab? Are there differences between a pointing Lab and a flushing Lab? Because they have guided 13 Labs to the status of "Grand Master Pointing Labrador Retriever," the Knutsons' opinions are worth reading. The book is most of all a training manual that starts with "Finding a Puppy" and "Starting Early Pointing Work" and progresses through all the standard steps of retriever training in general. Included are chapters on basic obedience, introduction to water, whoa and whistle training, the force fetch, and use of the e-collar. In addition to being the only training book on the subject of pointing Labs, The Pointing Labrador is also a solid guide to training any Labrador or other breed of retriever. Today, however, many pointing Lab fans that judge the degree and length of concentration their dogs exhibit when pointing any species of gamebird expect more. This trend toward improving intensity and duration of point will play a big part in the future of these dogs with more breeders striving to put these qualities into their puppies and more hunters expecting harder and longer points from their gun dogs. Gun dogs bred only as pointers, the argument goes, are true specialists and therefore genuine masters at pointing gamebirds because that is the one thing these breeds are bred to do. So if you want a dog that superbly points, you should look for an English pointer or setter. Similarly, if you want an excellent retriever, you should get a Chesapeake, golden or Labrador retriever because this is their main purpose and what they are born to do. Consequently, according to this line of thinking, anyone who seriously hunts upland gamebirds and waterfowl actually needs two gun dogs. In reality, however, considering where most wingshooters spend most of their non-hunting time city or suburbs , one gun dog of any breed is all they can afford, train and care for. In considering a purchase of one of these dogs, the prospective buyer should look for the standard Labrador qualities, and then judge the dog's pointing ability. This is the direction the APLA is moving, and it's a direction that is definitely improving this type of Labrador. And, oh yes, if given the opportunity, this gun dog will also point gamebirds. For information on the APLA call or .More Articles From Breeds.