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Yes Royal Canin is the best, then you have Eukanoba which is a bit cheaper and then of course Pedigree, which I persoanlly do not like. Although there is a new pedigree advanced or active which I am told is better, but dont know if it comes for pups also. At two months of age you can give 4 meals to your dog and at 3 month about 3 meals. Please note that calcium and multi vitamins should also be given to your pup. You can also prepare home made food, the only problem is that after the pup grows up you will have to feed and make a lot of rotis. For home made food you can have veg or non veg. But it should be cooked properly. Do not give sweets to your dog its not good for them. The breeder is the best option to get a proper diet sheet as it will be breed specific. If you see on the long run a food like eukanoba which is cheaper that Royal canin will be better and more convenient for you also and I dont think it would be that expensive, plus follow the feeding instruction as the dog will eat less of it also. On the net there is a golden retreiver club of india and it may be a good idea to contact them too to get a diet sheet etc or speak to breeders listed there regarding care for goldens, grooming, training etc. The picture of the pup looks ok, but remember that they will go through a ugly stage while growing up so dont panic if suddenly your dog does not look like a golden and looks prety weird. You have seen the parents and hopefully your pup will turn out to be like them. All the best. Check Price on Amazon Chicken Chicken is used in a variety of dog foods. This high-protein food will provide plenty of nutrition for your Golden Retriever. Chicken also contains glucosamine and essential amino acids for strong bones. Make sure the chicken is boneless and skinless, as the skin contains a lot of fat. Never feed cooked chicken bones to your Golden Retriever because they are fragile and can crack in his mouth, causing serious injury or choking. Coconut Giving your Golden Retriever coconut is a tasty human treat. Did you know that coconut is technically a fruit, which can be confusing! But, as a result, it lacks the majority of the proteins that cause tree nut allergies or sensitivities, such as those found in almonds and cashews. Coconut is high in antioxidants, which help the immune system, reduce inflammation, and prevent viruses. You can feed a small piece to your Golden Retriever to see if he likes it, but make sure the shell is removed first. Corn Corn is a starchy vegetable that will provide your Golden Retriever with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, I believe it is an excellent option if your Golden requires a fast energy boost during periods of high exercise. So, what about popcorn? You should not serve your dog popcorn that contains butter or salt. Cucumber Although you may find cucumber amongst the vegetable display in the store, it is technically a fruit! Cucumbers, in any event, will provide a lot of nutrients to your Golden Retriever. Calcium, magnesium, copper, and potassium are all present, and vitamins K, C, and B1. Eggs Golden Retrievers can safely eat eggs. Eggs are known for providing a natural nutritional balance. But please note that this risk is minimal, and you can further reduce it by using free-range eggs and storing them in a cool, dry environment. Green Beans Green beans are delicious and nutritious for your Golden Retriever. The majority of dogs seem to like them. They are high in fiber, important vitamins, and minerals and have a low-calorie count. To avoid choking and to aid digestion, break them up into small bits. Milk Milk is quite safe for Golden Retrievers to consume. However, as with all dairy foods, the amount of lactose your dog can handle is something to consider. Once a week, my dog enjoys a small bowl of milk with no negative consequences. Milk is rich in calcium, which is good for strong teeth and bones, and it also contains vitamin D, which is good for bone health. It contains potassium, which is excellent for the heart and all of the essential amino acids, and a variety of vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Noodles For Golden Retrievers, a small treat of plain noodles is a nutritious human food. Iron, folate, manganese, and B vitamins are among the micronutrients contained in them. Soft flour milled from traditional bread wheat is combined with water or eggs to make noodles. So, if your Golden Retriever is allergic to eggs, stay away from egg noodles! You should also avoid them if your dog suffers from a wheat allergy. Japanese ramen noodles are high in sodium or have added soy sauce, and your Retriever should especially avoid them. Oatmeal Oatmeal is safe for Golden Retrievers if fed in sparingly. This staple food is high in fiber and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. If your dog is allergic to grains or wheat, oatmeal is a perfect alternative, but, contrary to popular opinion, food allergies in dogs are uncommon. Mix the oatmeal with the water and give it without butter or syrup. Remember that this is a carbohydrate with a lot of calories. Parsnip Parsnips are an excellent vegetable to feed to your Golden Retriever since they are high in potassium, folic acid, and vitamins C and B6. They support a healthy kidney function as well as the nervous system. They are better cooked, but they can be eaten raw if cut into small pieces. Since parsnips are very starchy, just feed them in moderation like other root vegetables such as beets, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Pasta Pasta is usually made with semolina flour milled from durum hard wheat. After that, water or eggs are added, and the mixture is mixed into a dough and formed into different shapes and sizes before being baked or boiled. Pasta should also not be eaten by Golden Retrievers who have a wheat allergy or a reaction to grains or eggs. Once thought to be fattening and starchy, this staple food is now considered nutritious and high in energy. Pasta sauces are bad for dogs, so go easy on the spaghetti bolognese! This is because garlic and onions, all of which are toxic, are often used. Peanuts are legumes in the sense that they develop in pods that mature underneath the ground, similar to peas and lentils. However, they are classified as a nut for nutritional and culinary purposes. Peanuts are high in fiber and healthy unsaturated fats and contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. One or two plain unsalted peanuts are fine for your Golden Retriever to try. However, keep in mind that they are high in fat and may cause stomach discomfort because fat is more difficult to digest. Peanuts are high in calories, and you should be aware of the potential for choking. Peanut Butter Your Golden Retriever can eat peanut butter, but some brands contain xylitol a sweetener that he should not eat. Be sure to read the label carefully and select an organic brand with no additives. Peanut butter is a high-value treat that is suitable for use during training. This smart toy, with its unpredictable bounce, will keep your Golden occupied for ages. Peas Peas are high in starchy carbohydrates, which help to increase energy levels. They are also gentle on the digestive system of your dog. They are high in vitamins A, K, and many B vitamins, making them beneficial to the eyes, heart, and skin. Iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and fiber are all contained in peas. Fresh or frozen peas are also fine, but your dog should avoid canned peas due to their high salt content. Pineapple Pineapple is a sweet and tangy fruit that is high in vitamins and minerals. In hot weather, frozen pineapple chunks are a refreshing treat that will keep your dog cool and hydrated. However, due to its high sugar content, you should avoid canned pineapple. Pork Pork can be enjoyed by your Golden Retriever as long as it is cooked and free of seasonings and spices. Many vitamins and minerals are abundant in this high-protein food. All fat must be removed because too much fat can cause an upset stomach and possible inflammation of the pancreas. Because of their high salt content, processed pork meats such as bacon, ham, and sausage should also be avoided. They can also cause choking. Potato Cooked Potatoes are a starchy vegetable high in vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium. Since they are a high carbohydrate food, they provide a lot of energy, so feed them in small amounts. You may mash, roast, or boil them, but no butter or salt should be added. As long as the potato is cooked and the skin is removed, you can feed it to your Golden Retriever. Be aware that solanine, a toxic compound, is found in raw or green potatoes. The cooking method, on the other hand, eliminates this risk. Pumpkin Pumpkin is a good human food to feed your Golden Retriever, and the seeds are fine as well. Pumpkin is better served cooked; it will be difficult for your Golden Retriever to digest it raw. A good idea is to replace some kibble with pumpkin. Brown whole grain rice, on the other hand, is a healthier choice, so keep that in mind when selecting a brand. Calcium, fiber, iron, vitamin D, thiamine, and riboflavin are all abundant in rice. Rice is starch, so it should be consumed in moderation. But, as long as your Retriever maintains a healthy weight, a small amount added to his meal now and then will not cause any harm. A dog with diarrhea is given plain white rice not brown that has been cooked. Salmon is an excellent fish for Golden Retrievers to eat. Salmon is a high-protein source used in many top-quality dog foods. Since raw salmon contains parasites that can cause poisoning, you should never feed it to your Golden. Sweet Potato Sweet potatoes are safe for Golden Retrievers to eat, and they are a better choice than cooked white potatoes since they are more nutritious. They are high in beta-carotene, which is beneficial for growth and vision. They also contain vitamins C, B6, E, and A and are a natural source of fiber. Before giving sweet potatoes to your dog, they should be cooked and the skin removed. They can be baked, mashed, or pureed. They are a common source of carbohydrates in high-quality dog foods due to their nutritional value. Vitamin D, B12, B6, iron, potassium, and magnesium are among the vitamins and minerals found in them. Owing to the higher mercury levels in tuna and mackerel, there is some debate over whether dogs should eat them. However, as with most human foods, I believe balance is important when feeding your Golden Retriever. A few chunks of canned tuna scattered over her food are easily devoured by my dog. Turkey Turkey is a high-protein food full of nutrients such as B vitamins, including thiamine and riboflavin. Turkey also contains selenium, which helps in metabolism regulation. Since the legs produce more fat, turkey breast is healthier. Yogurt Your Golden Retriever can eat two different types of yogurt — Greek yogurt and plain, low-fat natural yogurt are his two options. Yogurt is rich in calcium and protein, and it can also serve as a probiotic, which is beneficial for his digestive system. Check for artificial sweeteners like xylitol , added sugar and fat in the yogurt, and just feed a tablespoon or two to avoid a stomach upset. There are a few significant safety guidelines to obey while feeding human foods to your Golden Retriever: You should feed human foods in moderation to your Golden Retriever. Gradually introduce various foods. Any unfavorable side effects should be avoided as a result of this. Cook all meats — unless your Golden Retriever is used to a safely prepared raw diet. Avoid processed meats. Examples are ham, sausage, and bacon, which contain high amounts of salt or seasoning. Dairy products should not be offered to dogs that have lactose intolerance. Since dairy foods contain varying amounts of lactose, your Golden Retriever may be able to handle some — but not all of them. My dog, for example, can eat cheese and yogurt, but even a few licks of heavy whipping cream give her the runs! Cook all fish — due to the risk of bacteria. Longer-lived fish species, such as mackerel and tuna, can contain high levels of mercury, so eat them in moderation. Remove seeds and stones from fruits. Examples are nectarines, peaches, and plums. Cooked vegetables are better for digestion. However, some can be given raw such as carrots and green beans. And 8 Toxic Veg! Dogs can be poisoned by a variety of completely safe foods for humans, and poisoning episodes in dogs are usually due to a lack of knowledge by the owner. Foods that Golden Retrievers can not eat range from the more well-known such as chocolate, grapes, garlic, onion, spices, macadamia nuts, caffeine, and salt. But, dogs can not eat the less evident foodstuffs such as avocado, yeast dough, green potato, and products containing the sweetener xylitol. Some poisonings could result in severe illness or worse — depending on the amount consumed and the potency. The range of amounts is based on the activity of your Golden for the day, either low, moderate, or high level of activity. Golden Retrievers should have scheduled times to eat daily. The scheduled times will help them with their energy levels and keep them healthy. You can schedule their eating times as to what works best for your schedule. For example, feeding them before you leave for work and then when you get home. As a puppy, they will eat three times a day, so you will need to find times in those first few months to feed them more often. When they are an adult or senior, the scheduling of feeding times will be easier because they will only eat twice daily. For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is once in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at am, lunch at noon, then dinner at pm. Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period. After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated. Golden Retrievers can experience food allergies often caused from proteins in dairy or meat products. If your dog experiences symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or itching they may have a food allergy. They warn that feeding dogs any raw animal-source protein could cause illness because it has not gone through a process to remove harmful pathogens. However, a raw diet can be healthy if you are willing to go through the extra cleaning processes of the meat. This is a lot of work and difficult to do correctly and safely. We do not recommend it without expert veterinary help. Before starting a raw diet with your Golden, be sure to consult a veterinarian. Find one that is familiar with raw foods and can help with the proper handling of the foods. If you work hard to make sure your homemade foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that a dog needs, then it might work for your Golden Retriever. It takes a lot more time to find recipes and make sure it has all the nutritional value of a store-bought dog food. If you are willing to research expertly formulated recipes internet is making it easier to do this , and take the time to cook for your golden then go for it! Consulting your veterinarian is a must before starting any homemade diet. A veterinary nutritionist should also review your plan before starting. Feeding your Golden Retriever table food is not the best practice but a small amount of dog healthy table food is fine. Some example table foods that are healthy for them are carrots, blueberries and plain yogurt. Just be aware that feeding them too much table food can throw their entire diet out of whack. They may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals like they do from their dog food. Conclusion Making sure your Golden Retriever is getting the right foods at the right amounts will help them live their best life. There are many choices of foods with all the right ingredients. Be sure to choose one that works best for you and your Golden. Consult with your veterinarian on which food will bring the most nutritional value to the health of your Golden Retriever. If your Golden is experiencing any health issues related to changing foods, visit your veterinarian. If this article was helpful, please consider sharing this post on Facebook with the button below! She is board certified a specialist in canine reproduction. In her day job, she is a leader in a small biotech where she and a team of veterinarians and scientists work to develop new medications for pets. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of this wonderful breed of dogs. She and her husband have 2 children, 3 dogs and one cat. They love camping and hiking and she can often be found with her head in a good book. Recent Posts. Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. Dogs , Parenting February 20, My friend got himself a Golden retriever cute puppy. The next question which was posed is what to give the puppy to eat and what is the best dog food for golden retriever puppy in India? Golden retriever dogs are prone to certain health issues, genetic joint problems, cancer and allergies. Selecting a high quality dog food reduces the chances of such diseases. It is always advisable to maintain the same food which the pup was fed initially to avoid digestion problems. Gradually you should be introducing to new food or home made food. If you are also looking at getting your first pet then you should read how to choose your first pet. Golden retriever food for puppies Starting the puppy off with the right nutrition will help set them up to face whatever health issues they may face as an adult. As golden retriever puppies grow, their appetites also grow along with it. Golden retriever puppies have a tendency to become overweight and this could lead to serious health problems. How many feedings a day? Initial stages of your puppy it is recommended to give 3 feeds a day. But as the puppy gradually grows reduce it to 2 feeds a day. This increases the longevity of your puppy. Anything beyond 2 should be given only if it is recommended by the vet. This feeding schedule should be started when your puppy is 6 months of age. Your puppy initially would have been eating at approximately am, pm and pm. When should I start giving adult golden retriever food? When your puppy is of 1 year old then you can gradually start giving Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult food or any other well known brands. Always remember to keep a bowl of water next to food for your puppy or dog. The Best Dog Food for Golden Retrievers Below are our top picks for golden retriever best food which can be bought in amazon too. Puppies need 4x Protein, 9. Small Pets Indian Homemade Food that can be given to Labradors and Golden Retriever Dog Breeds Pet dogs are so very aligned as first of the kin in most dog loving Indian homes that it is impossible not to share the human food tid bits with them. The pleading gaze of big brown eyes are hard to avoid and it seems almost cruel at that time to not share our food. But there is always an apprehension regarding the suitability of the human food for our dogs and puppies. Premium commercial dog food brands like Royal Canin , Hills Science plan and Solid Gold Dog Food offer complete and balanced nutrition to assure fulfillment of all basic needs of the pet. In respect to the safety and health of the dogs , you would be glad to know that there are plenty of human foods which the dog can eat to acquire protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. So one does need to walk consciously, but anddo understand that most things which are healthy for you may not be as healthy or even fatal for our four-legged companion. Boiled or scrambled egg, chicken, fish, mutton, beef, pork are all commonly eaten at home and are good sources of protein and fats. Chicken is being a popular dish in most non-vegetarian Indian kitchens is often shared with the home grown and stray dogs, pl ensure to avoid any dinner table offering that entails onion, garlic, excess oil and spices. Even cooked chicken bones are not recommended as it is brittle and may cause oral injuries and in some cases even fatal obstructions in the intestines of dogs that will be required to remove surgically. Grains and Pulses Whole grains like brown rice, wheat, oats, barley, millet and quinoa and pulses supply various important nutrients to the dog. A blend of brown rice and mashed boiled vegetables constitutes an easy and good healthy meal for your furry friend. Some of the dogs can be allergic to wheat; for rest of the doggie population it can be safely eaten in the form of chapatti Indian wheat bread and whole wheat pasta without salt, sugar and acidic sauces. Soybeans also go well with dogs, provided your dog is not sensitive to it. Whole wheat or brown breads can be fed in small quantities. Do not feed these 10 foods to your dog. Storehouse of important vitamins, minerals and fibres, fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories. They not only make one healthy and energized but also cut the risks of several diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers. Though low in calories, any fruit or vegetable carry the risk of upsetting the stomach in case of excessive intake. Fruits Fruits are a great power snack to quench in-between meal time hunger. Banana, oranges without rinds , watermelon, muskmelon, berries strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries , mango are great fruits for dogs. Serving a blend of fruits to the dog, cut into chewable pieces, mixing various flavours, will make fruits more interesting for the dogs. While feeding an apple, just take a very good care to remove all the seeds as they are poisonous for the dog. Certain seeds, like apple seeds contain cyanide which may not be harmful for us because of the small dose of toxins. But the same dose can prove poisonous to our dogs. Grapes and raisins are a complete No-No for the dogs; they can cause irreversible kidney damage — just keep the dogs away from them. Vegetables Boiled, cooked, peeled, raw or as scraps — vegetables are good for your dog. The fresh and crunchy vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cucumbers and spinach are good for health and do a lot of good to the teeth of the dog as well. Sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin, bottle guard, peas, tomatoes compulsorily ripe and potatoes boiled or mashed are also much loved veggies. Onions are not be ingested by the dogs in any form raw, cooked, dried, powered as it can damage the red blood cells of the canine. Garlic is also capable of harming the red blood cells of the dog; some people argue that garlic in small quantities act as natural antibiotic. Raw veggies can be eaten by dog but when it comes to relatively greater quantity, the vegetables should be boiled and then mashed or cut into chewable pieces. Treats In small amounts, our canine partners can enjoy cottage cheese, peanut butter, popcorns sans salt and butter , sunflower seeds shelled and plain white yogurt. More natural and plain a treat is — minimum sugar, salts, preservatives — more will they suit the health of your dog. BUT do remember that chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts, raisins are toxic for your pet. Be very careful with them. Certain dogs, just like humans, can be lactose intolerant; apart from them, milk, in moderate quantities, can be safely digested by all dogs. Cottage cheese is loved by most dogs. Curd and buttermilk are also good sources of prebiotics and calcium. It is recommended that before you offer a new food item to your pet you should consult your vet. Allergies and reactions to particular food stuffs would vary from dog to dog, so it is a good habit to observe your dog each time you feed it a new eatable. Care should be taken to avoid artificial sugar and have minimal salts pinch of salt a day would suffice. About Shikha Sharma Shikha Sharma believes that Mother Earth is our mutual abode, where all creatures have an equal right to live with dignity. This belief is clearly reflected in her wonderful writing pieces that revolve around animals and their well-being. She is the blog editor of Pets World. More like this. Best Starter Foods for Golden Retriever Newborn month old : After your Golden Retriever puppy completes 1 month, they should be introduced to a good starter dog food which is an ideal transition from maternal milk to solid foods. These foods meet both the energy and dietary needs of the pups during their weaning phase. The starter foods can also be served to lactating mothers, fulfilling their high energy demands during the nursing period. Here are a few starter food options: 1 Royal Canin Maxi Starter Imperial Royal Canin Maxi Starter is healthfully complete starter nourishment meant exclusively for a large breed dog like Golden Retriever. It has all the significant components for keeping great wellbeing in both the lactating bitch and her little puppies. The benefits of Royal Canin Maxi Starter: The kibble rehydrates rapidly into porridge-like consistency, making it very delicious. Supports excellent digestive health. Strengthens the natural defence of both the mother and pups. Contains essential vitamins and minerals which improve cellular health and immunity. Prebiotics and probiotics in the diet assist gentle and healthy digestion. Contains lean proteins to build strong muscle mass. Consists of natural ingredients that support a higher nutrient absorption and a healthy bowel activity. Consequently, they should be fed at least three times each day. A typical Golden Retriever Puppy consumes around calories a day. Nutritional Requirements of Golden Retriever Puppy 1. Having a good measure of fats in their diet gives them a consolidated energy source for keeping up a functioning way of life. The unsaturated fats too help to brace their skin health. Omega Fatty Acids: Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids are vital elements in their diet for keeping strong bones and joints. It also offers good anti-inflammatory effect, that reduces pain and swelling in the joints. The kibble size and shape perfectly adapts to the jaws of a puppy Golden Retriever. Consists of natural fibres to promote excellent digestion in pups. Anti-oxidants build a strong defence mechanism in the pups. The benefits of Orijen Puppy Large Breed: Biologically appropriate food that maintains supreme health and wellbeing in pups. Infusions of freeze-dried chicken and turkey liver make the food highly palatable. Natural sources of Glucosamine and Chondroitin keep strong muscles and joints. Clinically proven anti-oxidants maintain a strong immunity in puppies. Unlike puppies, most grown up Golden Retrievers are satisfied with 2 meals per day. Taurine keeps good cardiac function and also healthy eyesight in the dogs. Contains dietary fibres that keep healthy gut and excellent digestive functioning. Extensive protein content to enhance muscle mass and strength. High quality meat and rice offering greater taste and nutritional value. The low glycemic index of the food eliminates obesity and diabetes in the dogs. Pumpkin as an ingredient regulates intestinal motility. They become less active and therefore a little vulnerable to obesity. It is critical to nourish them with low-calorie sustenance as it keeps an ideal body weight and consequently puts less pressure on the joints. Also owing to their low exercise requirements, they only consume around Calories daily. Low Carbohydrate Content: A diet that has low carbs keeps a healthy blood sugar level in the dog, thus eliminating diabetes and obesity. High Fibre Content: Nature Fibres are essential for Senior Golden Retrievers for keeping an ideal body weight and excellent digestive health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin: Having traces of Glucosamine and Chondrotin in the diet of a senior Golden Retriever, alleviate pain produced in bones and joints. Best Foods For Senior Golden Retrievers 1 Orijen Senior Food In case you are searching for organically proper sustenance that has a low glycemic record that keeps diabetes and obesity at bay in your senior Golden Retrievers, you can have Orijen Senior Food which is effectively the best eating regimen for senior Golden Retrievers. A low carb content keeps an ideal weight and a healthy blood sugar level. Highly delicious meal having fresh Free Run Chicken and Turkey tempts the fussiest of eaters. It comprises of edible protein supporting pure osmosis of supplements and furthermore has L-Carnitine which consumes the abundance of fat stores in the body. The ideal ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 controls blood clotting and maintains the health and sheen of the coat. Essential vitamins and minerals keep a robust immune system. Below are some of the foods that should not be given to a Golden Retriever: 1. Raw Eggs.

This food is made for Pugs ages 8 weeks to 10 months. On the other hand, the ingredients list for this food leaves something to be desired. It lists brewers rice as the main ingredient with the second ingredient being chicken by-product meal. For such an expensive Pug food, they sure skimped on the quality of the ingredients! Pros Supports healthy skin, digestive health, and natural defenses Specially shaped kibble is easier for brachycephalic dogs to pick up Cons Brewers rice is the main ingredient 4. It might be expensive, but if you can afford it, it could help keep your pug pup healthy and happy for the long haul. Pros Helps support healthy brain and eye development Contains omega fatty acids for improved skin and coat Lists deboned chicken as the main ingredient Cons 5. Their Wilderness Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food formula takes things even further with higher levels of protein than their original formula. The use of high-quality ingredients in high concentrations is what earns this food its rather expensive price tag. More than just healthy whole-food ingredients, this food is also fortified with healthful nutrients and supplements. Furthermore, it contains an optimal blend of essential vitamins including calcium, phosphorus, and more, to help support healthy bone growth. Pros Contains high levels of protein Uses high-quality ingredients Packed with healthful nutrients and supplements Cons More expensive than most puppy foods 6. We loved the large pound quantity you can buy it in and the relatively affordable price. Others ate the food but had difficulty digesting it. Still, dogs with sensitive stomachs, in particular, would do well to avoid this food. And the total number of dogs all breeds in the reports are .So while this is something that should be monitored and many more studies need to be done, it's important to keep in mind that this is a very small number compared to the estimated 77 million dogs in the U. The latest update is that there are no recalls at this moment that are linked to this issue. The Best Food for Pug Puppies and Adults What to Avoid: Quite a few ingredients that are found in a lot of dog food brands can be severely detrimental to a Pug and cause everything from allergic reactions itching, rashes, wheezing, running eyes, etc. Corn which includes as corn germ meal, corn gluten meal, and corn bran High grain counts which includes high levels of wheat, oats, barley, and other cereal grains which may be listed as hominy feed. Rice can be an exception; with rice, the hull, bran layer, and cereal germ is removed and for this reason, rice is often tolerated very well. By-products which are animal body parts deemed unfit for human consumption and can include brain, lungs, undeveloped eggs, and more. Generic meats or oils which can legally include roadkill and deceased zoo animals. What to Look For: All-natural preservatives; there are vitamin blends that work very well to preserve dog food and this often will show as mixed tocopherols. Natural flavoring Protein will come from wholesome animal sources including chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, bison, and beef. There will be no by-products or generic meats. If you offer grains, gluten-free grains are usually best. No other fillers or controversial additives. Helpful extras such as glucosamine and chondroitin beneficial for joint health , omega-3, 6 for healthy skin and coat , probiotics for immune health and antioxidants to help prevent disease. Some of the best food for Pugs includes: Best Formulas with Grains: 1. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. The base of this kibble is turkey and oatmeal which is easy on the stomach for most Pugs. There is also salmon, brown rice, peas, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples. There are excellent levels of a wide-range of vitamins and minerals, good levels of omega-3 and 6, and glucosamine and chondroitin which are extremely beneficial joint supplements for Pugs. This is made in the US. Note that this offers puppy and adult formulas as well as 'healthy weight' for Pugs that need to lose a few pounds, and a senior formula. This line of Halo offers holistic recipes. This one has non-GMO produce and meats that are antibiotic-free and hormone-free with factory-free farming. The grains in this are oatmeal and pearled barley which are generally known for being well-tolerated. This is sized ideally for Pugs, and has no artificial additives, by-products, or corn. And, this is made in the US. Best Grain-free Formulas: 1. This is one of the best grain-free kibbles for Pugs; it's really top-of-the-line. The base is chicken and turkey. There is a wide selection of vegetables and fruits compared to some other brands spinach, broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, apples and blueberries. Levels of omega fatty acids are ideal, via both salmon oil and flaxseed. And, there are good levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which as mentioned earlier are important for joint health. There is no corn, wheat, by-products, fillers, or artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives and this is made in the USA. This is another excellent choice that is formulated for dogs under 70 lbs. There are several great bases including lamb, beef, chicken, and salmon. There are zero chemical preservatives and no artificial ingredients. Added extras are healthy antioxidants, omega-3 and 6, and the very important glucosamine and chondroitin which are very beneficial for breeds like the Pug that are prone to joint and hip issues. This is a holistic kibble that offers non-GMO veggies and fruits and sustainably-sourced wild-caught fish and is ideal for Pugs that are carrying a few extra pounds. The base is salmon and whitefish, so most dogs love the taste. There are no chemical preservatives, corn, by-products, coloring, or fillers. Switching a Pug onto a Different Food If you just got a new Pug puppy, you may want to feed your little guy or gal something different than what was being given. And in many instances, this will be a good idea. The sooner you start your pup on a superior food that you've chosen yourself, the better. If you have an adult Pug, you may decide to switch foods due to an intolerance to certain ingredients some dogs do best with certain proteins like beef as opposed to chicken or vice-versa or maybe you realized that your Pug was not on the brand and you want to make a change. No matter the circumstances, if at all possible, it is best to change to a new brand of dog food in a gradual way because a quick switch can disrupt the digestive system. The goal should be a incremental change over the course of 3 weeks. Home Cooking Owners decide to home cook for their dogs for a variety of reasons: It can be less expensive; though, this depends quite a bit on what you buy and if you can purchase ingredients in bulk. It may be done to fully avoid preservatives, additives, by-products and other subpar ingredients; you know exactly what you are putting in. This can help avoid an intolerance or allergic reaction to an unknown ingredient. It is very flexible and adjustable. It can be a good choice for picky eaters. Other sources include beans such as lima beans, kidney beans, and butter beans must be cooked. Vegetables - This includes peas, carrots, spinach, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, and butternut squash. You can also offer asparagus, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli in moderation since these foods can cause gas, Pumpkin in moderation is fine but typically reserved to help ease upset stomach issues. Fruits - This includes blueberries, raspberries both are low calorie, high in antioxidants, and water-packed , strawberries, huckleberries, banana, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mango, kiwi, pear, peaches no pit , plums no pit , nectarines no pit , fresh pineapple, and apple no core, no seeds. Additional - This includes oatmeal plain , white or brown rice if no intolerance , quinoa, potato, sweet potato, cottage cheese, plain whole white yogurt, and eggs most dogs do best with scrambled eggs vs. Read more about home cooking for a Pug. Snacks and Treats We've covered the frequency of giving snacks and treats, but let's recap. Dry snacks, meant to satiate a dog in between meals should be given 3 to 4 times per day. And moist treats, meant to reward training and reinforce good behavior, should be given as needed. Now, the question remains on what to offer. All snacks and treats should be held to the same high standards that you have in place for your Pug's meals, meaning no synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, soy, corn, by-products, high wheat levels, or generic meats. If your Pug's calorie intake needs to be carefully watched due to issues with weight gain, there will also be a need to opt for some low-calorie treats. And, to see more options, including moist treats for giving reward, continue on to the best snacks and treats for Pugs. After 2 to 3 days, if the problem has resolved, adding in additional ingredients can be done. Any diarrhea lasing longer than 3 days or moderate to severe vomiting lasting more than 12 hours should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian. Water Different elements will dictate just how much water a Pug dog requires , though a general rule of thumb is that each day, dogs need to drink about 1 ounce for each 1 pound. Offer bottled spring water or use a filter device like the. Related Articles: When a Pug is a Picky Eater - If you find yourself constantly scrambling to find foods that your Pug likes and their taste buds seem to change weekly, this will help you get things back on track. When a Pug is Always Hungry - If your Pug's appetite is ferocious and nothing seems to satisfy, these issues may be at the root of the problem. When a Pug Won't Eat - If your Pug puppy or dog refuses to eat or getting them to eat feels like a chore, these tips will help. How to Stop a Pug from Begging - If your Pug wants your food and is relentless about getting it, these guidelines will help stop this sort of behavior. Top 10 Pug Dog Eating Problems - A roundup of the most common eating-related issues seen with this breed and exact steps to resolve them. Do you have your book? All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Introduction Importance of choosing the right food for Pug puppies Feeding your Pug puppies the right food can significantly impact their health, growth, and overall well-being. A balanced diet provides the necessary nutrients and energy to support their growth and development and helps to prevent common health issues such as obesity, digestive problems, and food allergies. Factors to consider when selecting the best food for pug puppies When choosing the best food for your Pug puppy, there are several factors to consider, including their age, activity level, and specific nutritional needs. Reading the ingredient list and checking the nutritional content can help you to make an informed decision about the best food for your Pug puppy. Wet Food for Pug Puppies Benefits of wet food Wet food is an excellent option for Pug puppies as it is highly palatable and provides additional moisture, which is important for their growing bodies. Wet food also contains higher levels of protein and essential nutrients, making it a great option for supporting the growth and development of your Pug puppy. Best-reviewed wet food options Royal Canin Pug Puppy Wet Dog Food — This wet food is specifically formulated for Pug puppies, with a balanced ratio of protein, fats, and carbohydrates to meet their unique nutritional needs. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Wet Dog Food — This wet food is made with real meat as the first ingredient and contains wholesome brown rice, barley, and oats to provide the carbohydrates your Pug puppy needs to grow and develop. Dry Food for Pug Puppies Benefits of dry food Dry food is another great option for Pug puppies as it helps to clean their teeth and promote good oral health. Dry food is also a good source of essential nutrients and energy to support the growth and development of your Pug puppy. It contains a balanced protein, fats, and carbohydrates ratio to meet its unique nutritional needs. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Small Breed Dry Dog Food — This dry food is made with real meat as the first ingredient and contains wholesome brown rice, barley, and oats to provide the carbohydrates your Pug puppy needs to grow and develop. Homemade Meals and Snacks for Pug Puppies Benefits of homemade food Homemade meals and snacks are an excellent option for Pug puppies as they allow you to control the ingredients and ensure that your pup gets a healthy and balanced diet. Simple homemade meal and snack recipes for pug puppies Puppy-Friendly Meatloaf: Mix ground turkey or chicken, brown rice, carrots, and green beans for a tasty and nutritious homemade meal for your Pug puppy. Bake in the oven until fully cooked, and serve in small portions. Homemade Puppy Treats: Mix rolled oats, pumpkin puree, and a beaten egg for a simple and healthy snack for your Pug puppy. Roll out the dough, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and bake in the oven until crispy. Use high-quality, fresh ingredients, and avoid using spices and seasonings that can harm dogs. Store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness. A: Wet food can provide a higher moisture content, which can benefit Pug puppies as they need to stay hydrated. Wet food also has a more appealing taste and smell, making it a great option for picky eaters. Q: What ingredients should I look for in dry food for Pug puppies? A: Look for dry food that contains high-quality proteins like chicken or fish, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Q: Can I feed my Pug puppy homemade meals and snacks? Q: How often should I feed my Pug puppy? A: Pug puppies should be fed 3 to 4 times a day until they reach six months of age. Then, they can be fed two times a day. The food they need will depend on their age, weight, and activity level. Q: What is the best food for Pug puppies with sensitive stomachs? A: Wet food with simple ingredients, like boiled chicken and rice, or dry food specifically formulated for sensitive stomachs can be helpful for Pug puppies with digestive issues. Q: Can I feed my Pug puppy adult dog food? A: No, adult dog food does not provide the appropriate nutrients for Pug puppies as they are still growing and developing. Puppy-specific food is formulated to meet their unique nutritional needs. Gradual changes over a few days to a week are recommended to avoid discomfort. Conclusion Recap of the best food options When choosing the best food for your Pug puppy, several options exist. Dry food is also a good option as it helps to clean teeth and is easy to store. Final thoughts The most important thing is to choose a food specifically formulated for Pug puppies with high-quality ingredients to meet their unique nutritional needs. Choosing the best food for your Pug puppy will give them the foundation for a happy and healthy life. From pet nutrition books to online articles, a wealth of information is available on this topic. These resources will give you a deeper understanding of the nutritional needs of your Pug puppy and help you make informed decisions about the best food options for their growth and development. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. The truth is that you need to understand the differences between both types of food, to determine which is the right one for your pooch. Depending on the brand of food, most wet foods contain between 8 — 11 percent of protein. Wet food is a lot more expensive than feeding your dog dry kibble because it takes a lot more to make the food. Unlike dry food, wet food does not have a long shelf life and tends to spoil faster. Not all Pugs require a wet food diet and can do well eating dry food. However, it can be good for dogs that do not drink enough water, are sick, too young for dry food, pregnant females, nursing females, or older Pugs. Unlike wet food, dry dog food is more economical for any budget. The rough texture of the kibbles has also been known to clean your pooches teeth like a toothbrush to help maintain proper dental and oral care. Not all commercial dog food is the same and is NOT perfect for every dog. Always look for canned food that contains the most whole food ingredients. Protein The main ingredient in all good dog food, whether wet or dry should be protein. Pugs thrive on foods with protein from beef, chicken, and lamb. Vegetables Potatoes and sweet potatoes are commonly used in canned dog foods because they help maintain the thickness. Opt for a wet dog food that contains non-starchy veggies like alfalfa, apples, and carrots. Opt for foods that offer wild rice or brown rice and stay away from foods that are wheat gluten. Ingredients To Avoid Wet dog food can be found anywhere online and in your favorite pet stores. The important thing to remember is that not all foods are created equally. Avoid going for the cheapest foods and always read the labels. Here are some ingredients you want to avoid regardless of what kind of deal you can get. Preservatives Most wet dog foods will not require preservatives, some of the lower quality cheaper foods tend to add food color. Avoid the canned foods that clearly state they add preservatives or coloring. This is known as meat processing scrap and includes waste such as undeveloped eggs, spleen, livers, feet, and etc which have no nutritional value for your Pug. Avoid cheaper low-quality foods that add corn syrup to enhance the flavor. Avoid foods that use corn gluten or wheat gluten as binders. All the foods have great online reviews from pet owners. Be sure to do your due diligence and visit the page to find out the exact ingredients and get the best deals. This low-fat content food is enriched with a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers to support healthy digestion for optimal stool quality. Veterinary Approved: Recommended for dogs with GI Conditions such as; vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or acute and chronic pancreatitis. Allergies: Perfect for Pugs with allergies or sensitive tummies. Cons Expensive: The downside of wet dog food is that it is more expensive than dry food. You can save money on the auto-ship program. Ingredients Water sufficient processing, pork-by-products, calcium carbohydrate, fish oil, vegetable oil, corn, rice flour, dried plain beet pulp, sodium silico aluminate, Vitamins [D1-Alpha Tocopherol acetate source of vitamin E , niacin supplement, riboflavin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride vitamin B6 , trace minerals [ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium iodate, copper sulfate, zine proteinate, sodium selenite] guar gum, gelatin by-products, marigold extract [Tagetes erecta L. Although certain health issues that Pugs may experience are congenital and beyond our control, others can be influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, such as diet. Some of the most common health issues faced by Pugs include the following: Food allergies. Certain ingredients in their food can cause allergies in Pugs. Food allergies in Pugs may present as dry, itchy skin, ears, or paws. However, unlike allergies, food intolerances do not involve the immune system but can lead to vomiting or diarrhea. We highly recommend conducting an at-home dog food allergy test like the 5Strands kit. This particular kit can test for up to ingredients and determine which ones may cause food intolerance in your dog. Once you receive the results, you can use the list to avoid dog food formulas that contain potential allergens. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS. Due to their compressed noses and flat faces, Pugs are prone to breathing difficulties and an inability to cool down easily. Eye problems. Pugs are at risk for various eye health issues, such as distichiasis, cataracts, dry eye, entropion, corneal ulcers, progressive retinal atrophy, and more. Ear infections. Pugs have narrow ear canals and deep skin folds around their face, making it easier for debris and bacteria to accumulate, leading to ear infections. Skin infections. Skin fold dermatitis is common in breeds with wrinkled skin, such as Pugs. Luxating patella. Pugs are susceptible to luxating patella, where the kneecap moves out of its normal position. Mast cell tumors MCTs , a type of skin cancer, are common in middle- to senior-aged Pugs, with cancer being the leading cause of death for the breed. Pugs are prone to obesity, which can exacerbate other health issues. Pugs are also susceptible to diabetes. Pugs are prone to obesity, leading to numerous health issues and decreased activity levels. A proper diet and sufficient exercise are crucial to keeping your Pug at a healthy weight. Overfeeding or providing nutrient-poor food can contribute to weight gain, which may result in a Pug becoming less active and more lethargic. More active Pugs require more calories and nutrients to sustain their energy levels, whereas less active Pugs require fewer calories to prevent weight gain. Pug Puppies. Require a diet that is higher in calories and protein to support their growth and development. They also need a balanced calcium and phosphorus diet for healthy bone growth. Feeding high-quality puppy food formulated explicitly for bulldog puppies can help ensure they receive the necessary nutrients during this crucial stage. Adult Pugs. Require a diet that is lower in calories and protein to maintain their weight and prevent obesity. They also need a balanced diet of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to support their overall health and energy needs. Senior Pugs. Senior dogs may require a diet lower in calories and fat to maintain a healthy weight and higher fiber to support digestive health. Senior dog foods often contain joint supplements to help mobility and joint health. Avoid common allergens. Pug often develops food allergies or intolerances, so it may be helpful if your dog food is free from common allergens, such as corn, wheat, chicken, and beef. Pugs can have sensitive digestive systems. Look for a dog food that adds probiotics to its formula. Dog probiotics support a healthy digestive system and immune system. Pugs can be prone to digestive issues, so look for dog food that is minimally processed, such as fresh dog food or homemade dog food for Pugs. Lower-quality kibble may contain fillers, artificial preservatives, and other ingredients that can be harder to digest and may cause digestive upset in some dogs. Easy-to-eat kibble size and shape. Brachycephalic breeds like Pugs have shortened skulls that can cause breathing and eating difficulties. Opt for dog food with a small, flat, or round kibble shape that is easy for Pugs to pick up and chew. Balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega fatty acids can help support healthy skin and coat, reducing the risk of skin infections around the face and ears. They also help with skin inflammation and support healthy and shiny dog coats. Foods rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamins A, C, and E can help protect the eyes from oxidative damage. These nutrients are found in many fruits and vegetables. Low-glycemic carbohydrates. To help manage obesity and diabetes, choose dog food containing low glycemic carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes or legumes, which release energy slowly and help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Low-calorie content. Joint support supplements. Look for dog foods containing joint support supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, which can help maintain joint health and reduce the risk of a luxating patella. Chapter 2: The Reviews. Customer Reviews and Ratings Customers who have fed their Pugs seniors Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Chicken Dinner appreciate the quality ingredients and the absence of fillers and artificial additives. The inclusion of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support has been positively received, with owners observing increased mobility and comfort in their senior dogs. Overall, customers recommend this wet dog food for Pugs seniors. The real chicken, garden vegetables, and thoughtfully selected ingredients contribute to their overall health and happiness. Give your loyal companion the wholesome goodness of Blue Buffalo and witness their continued vitality and enjoyment at mealtime. Pugs, like any other breed, can experience specific health issues that require special attention. In such cases, choosing the right dog food can make a significant difference in their quality of life. Here are some of the best dog foods tailored to address specific health issues commonly faced by Pugs. It is specially formulated to support joint health. Packed with essential nutrients, glucosamine, and chondroitin, this dry dog food promotes healthy joints and helps alleviate discomfort. It is designed to address these concerns. With carefully selected ingredients and a focus on skin health, this dog food nourishes the skin from within, helping to reduce itching and maintain a healthy, glossy coat for your Pugs 3. The carefully selected ingredients are formulated to promote optimal digestion and reduce stomach upset. It also contains beneficial nutrients to support healthy skin, ensuring your Pugs feel great inside and out. With a precise blend of nutrients and a controlled calorie content, this dog food helps your dogs achieve and maintain a healthy weight, supporting their overall health and vitality. This Dog Food is formulated with hydrolyzed proteins, which are broken down into smaller components to minimize the risk of triggering allergic reactions. Formulated with natural ingredients, these tasty chews work to reduce tear stains, support eye health, and promote clear, bright eyes in Pugs. This specialized dog food contains hydrolyzed proteins, which are broken down into smaller components that are less likely to trigger allergic reactions and ear infections. By providing them with the right nutrition, you can ensure they live a happy and healthy life by your side. As dog owners, we know how important it is to provide our furry friends with the nutrition they need to thrive. Pugs, with their unique characteristics and energetic personalities, require a diet that supports their specific needs. The right dog food can make a world of difference in their overall health, vitality, and happiness. You want to make sure you have all the essentials to keep you both energized and ready for adventure. Just like packing the right snacks and drinks for your journey, choosing the right dog food for your Pug ensures they have the fuel they need to lead an active and fulfilling life. It plays a vital role in supporting their overall health and well-being. Pugs require a sufficient amount of high-quality protein to maintain their muscles, support healthy growth, and repair body tissues. When choosing dog food for Pugs, look for options that list a high-quality animal protein, such as chicken or beef, as the primary ingredient. This ensures they receive the necessary protein to thrive. Fat Requirements Although Pugs are small in size, they have a surprising amount of energy and a lively personality. Fat is a concentrated source of energy that fuels their active lifestyle. Look for options that contain healthy fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which support their skin and coat health. Strike a balance between providing enough energy and avoiding excessive fat intake, as Pugs are prone to weight gain. Opt for dog food that includes complex carbohydrates like whole grains and vegetables, as they provide a steady release of energy and essential nutrients. Avoid dog foods with excessive amounts of simple carbohydrates, such as corn or wheat, as they can contribute to weight gain and potential allergies in Pugs. They play a crucial role in maintaining a strong immune system, promoting healthy eyesight, and supporting the development of healthy bones and teeth. Look for dog food that includes a range of vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C, to meet their daily requirements. They are involved in various processes, including bone development, nerve function, and muscle contraction. Calcium and phosphorus are particularly important for Pugs, as they help maintain strong teeth and bones. Ensure that the dog food you choose contains adequate levels of essential minerals to support their specific needs. Understanding and meeting these nutritional needs will help ensure that our Pugs remain healthy and happy throughout their lives. Remember, every Pug is unique, and consulting with a veterinarian can provide valuable insights into tailoring their diet to their individual needs. By providing a well-balanced and nutritious diet, we can contribute to their overall well-being and cherish many joyful moments together. Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Dog Food for Pugs When it comes to choosing the best dog food for our beloved Pugs, there are several important factors we should consider. These factors will help us tailor their diet to their specific needs, ensuring they receive the nutrition they require to thrive. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind: A. Age and life stages Just like humans, Pugs go through different life stages, each with its own nutritional requirements. Puppies have higher energy and growth needs, while adult Pugs require a balanced diet to maintain their health. Senior Pugs may benefit from special formulations that support joint health and address age-related issues. Understanding the life stage of our Pug helps us select a dog food that caters to their specific needs. Health Issues Pugs, like any other breed, may have certain health issues or sensitivities. Choosing a dog food that is specifically designed to target these health issues can provide our Pugs with the support they need to thrive. Activity level Pugs have their own unique activity levels. Some may be energetic and enjoy outdoor adventures, while others prefer a more relaxed lifestyle. Considering their activity level helps determine the appropriate calorie intake and the balance of nutrients they require. Active Pugs may benefit from dog foods that provide higher energy levels, while less active Pugs may require a diet with controlled calorie content. Size and Weight Pugs are a small breed, and maintaining a healthy weight is essential for their overall well-being. Obesity can lead to a range of health issues, including joint problems and breathing difficulties. Opting for dog food formulated for small breeds can help us manage their weight effectively and ensure they receive the right portion sizes to maintain a healthy body condition. Food Allergies and Intolerances Just like humans, Pugs can develop allergies or intolerances to certain ingredients. Common allergens include grains, poultry, and artificial additives. Choosing dog food that is free from known allergens or selecting limited ingredient diets can provide relief and prevent discomfort. Ingredient Quality and Sourcing The quality of ingredients in dog food greatly impacts its nutritional value. Look for dog food brands that prioritize high-quality ingredients sourced from reputable suppliers. Avoid foods that contain fillers, artificial preservatives, or by-products. Reading the ingredient list and understanding what each component offers ensures that our Pugs receive a wholesome and nutritious diet. By considering these factors when choosing the best dog food for our Pugs, we can provide them with a diet that supports their health, energy levels, and overall well-being. With the right nutrition, our Pugs can enjoy a happy, healthy, and tail-wagging life by our side. Here are some insights on what types of dog food are available and how. Dry Dog Food Dry dog food, also known as kibble, is a popular choice for many Pug owners. It is convenient, easy to store, and has a long shelf life. Dry dog food is typically formulated to provide a complete and balanced diet for our furry friends. The crunchy texture of the kibble can also help promote dental health by reducing tartar buildup. Wet Dog Food Wet dog food, often found in cans or pouches, is a moist and flavorful option for Pugs. It contains a higher moisture content compared to dry food, which can help keep our Pugs hydrated. Wet dog food is often packed with delicious meats, vegetables, and gravy, making it a palatable choice for picky eaters or Pugs with dental issues. Semi-Moist Dog Food Semi-moist dog food falls somewhere between dry and wet dog food in terms of texture and moisture content. It usually comes in small, chewy shapes that Pugs find irresistible. Freeze-Dried Dog Food Freeze-dried dog food is a nutritious and convenient option that retains the natural flavors and nutrients of the ingredients. The food is freeze-dried to remove moisture, making it lightweight and easy to store. To serve, simply rehydrate the freeze-dried food with water. This type of dog food often contains high-quality ingredients and can be a great option for Pugs with specific dietary needs or for those who enjoy a raw food diet. It typically consists of raw meat, bones, organs, and vegetables. Proponents of raw dog food believe that it provides a more natural and species-appropriate diet. Homemade Dog Food Some Pug owners prefer to prepare homemade dog food, as it allows for complete control over the ingredients and preparation process. Homemade dog food can be tailored to address specific dietary needs and preferences. However, it requires thorough research and understanding of canine nutrition to ensure a balanced diet. Some Pugs may thrive on a particular type of food, while others may have sensitivities or health conditions that require a specialized diet. Consulting with a veterinarian will help us make an informed decision and provide our Pugs with the nourishment they need to lead happy, healthy lives. Here are some key ingredients to look for: A. Protein Sources Protein is an essential nutrient for our Pugs , as it supports their muscle development and overall vitality. Look for high-quality protein sources listed at the beginning of the ingredients list, such as chicken, turkey, beef, fish, or lamb. Carbohydrate Sources Carbohydrates provide energy for our active Pugs. Look for wholesome carbohydrate sources like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and whole grains. These complex carbohydrates offer fiber, vitamins, and minerals, promoting healthy digestion and sustained energy levels for our furry friends. Look for ingredients like chicken fat, fish oil, or flaxseed. These sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids support healthy skin, and a shiny coat, and promote brain and joint health. Look for dog food that includes natural sources of vitamins, such as fruits and vegetables. Ingredients like carrots, blueberries, spinach, and pumpkin provide essential vitamins like A, C, and E. Mineral Sources Minerals are necessary for various bodily functions in our Schnauzers , including bone health, muscle contraction, and nerve transmission. Look for dog food that includes minerals like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. These minerals help support strong bones, teeth, and overall metabolic functions. Other Nutritional Supplements Some dog foods include additional nutritional supplements that can benefit our Pugs. These may include glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, probiotics for gut health, or antioxidants for immune support. These supplements can be especially beneficial for Schnauzers with specific health concerns or age-related issues. By carefully examining the ingredients list, we can ensure that the dog food we choose for our Pugs contains high-quality protein sources, wholesome carbohydrates, beneficial fats and oils, essential vitamins and minerals, and potentially helpful nutritional supplements. When we provide our Pugs with a well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet, we can contribute to their overall health, longevity, and happiness. Remember, our Schnauzers rely on us to make the best choices for their well-being, and selecting dog food with high-quality ingredients is an important part of that responsibility. Fillers Fillers are ingredients that have little to no nutritional value and are often used to bulk up the dog food while keeping costs down. These fillers offer little benefit to our Schnauzers and can contribute to unnecessary weight gain or digestive issues. Common fillers include corn, wheat, and soy. Opting for dog food that is free from these fillers ensures that our Schnauzers receive quality nutrition without unnecessary additives. Artificial Preservatives Artificial preservatives are added to dog food to extend its shelf life. While they may serve their purpose, these preservatives can have potential health risks for our Pugs. Instead, look for dog food preserved with natural alternatives like mixed tocopherols a form of vitamin E or rosemary extract. By-Products By-products refer to the parts of an animal that is not typically consumed by humans, such as organs, feet, and beaks. Additives Additives are ingredients added to dog food for various purposes, such as flavor enhancement, texture improvement, or color enhancement. Artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners should be avoided whenever possible. Opt for dog food that uses natural alternatives or relies on the natural flavors and colors of the ingredients themselves. By avoiding fillers, artificial preservatives, by-products, and unnecessary additives, we can prioritize the health and well-being of our Pugs. Opting for dog food with high-quality ingredients and minimal artificial or processed additives ensures that we are providing our furry friends with the nutrition they deserve. Remember, reading and understanding the ingredients list is an essential part of selecting the best dog food for our Pugs. By making informed choices and avoiding ingredients that offer little nutritional value or potential health risks, we can contribute to their overall vitality and happiness. Reading Dog Food Labels for Pugs When it comes to choosing the best dog food for Pugs, one of the most important things to do is to read the labels carefully. One crucial aspect is the guaranteed analysis, which provides valuable information about the nutritional composition of the food. Typically presented as a chart, it lists the percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture in the product. Remember, every Pug is unique, so understanding the guaranteed analysis helps us tailor their diet to their individual requirements. When perusing the ingredients, keep in mind that they are listed in descending order of quantity. Look for dog foods that feature high-quality protein sources as the main ingredients, such as whole meats like chicken or beef. Understanding the Feeding Guidelines Feeding guidelines are an essential part of choosing the right dog food for our Pugs. Every Pug is unique, and factors such as activity level and metabolism can influence their nutritional requirements. This certification indicates that the food meets the minimum nutritional standards established by AAFCO for dogs at specific life stages. By understanding the guaranteed analysis, ingredients list, and feeding guidelines, and looking for AAFCO certification, we equip ourselves with the knowledge to make informed decisions about the food we feed our Pugs. How to Switch Your Pug to a New Dog Food Once we have selected the perfect dog food, there is still one more important thing to do — transitioning them to the new diet. In this section, we will discuss the proper way to switch your Pug to a new dog food. Start by mixing a small amount of the new food with the current food, gradually increasing the proportion over several days. Remember, slow and steady wins the race! Watch for any changes in their stool consistency, energy levels, coat condition, and overall well-being. Every Pug is unique, and their bodies may react differently to new ingredients. By closely monitoring their response, you can ensure that the new food agrees with their system and supports their health. Consult with a Veterinarian Speaking of veterinarians, they are like the superheroes of pet health! Switching your Pug to a new dog food is an adventure that requires a bit of finesse. Happy feeding! Final Thoughts on the Best Dog Foods for Pugs Choosing the right dog food for your Pug is vital for their overall health and well-being. The food they consume plays a significant role in their growth, development, energy levels, and longevity. By providing them with a nutritionally balanced diet, you can support their immune system, maintain a healthy weight, promote strong muscles and bones, and ensure a shiny coat. Remember, a well-nourished Pug is a happy and thriving companion. When selecting dog food for your Pug, there are several factors to consider. Take into account their age, life stage, health issues, activity level, size, and weight. Additionally, please pay attention to any food allergies or intolerances they may have. Look for high-quality ingredients that provide the necessary protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and supplements for optimal nutrition. Avoid fillers, artificial preservatives, by-products, and additives that can be harmful to their health. Read dog food labels carefully, understand the guaranteed analysis, ingredients list, feeding guidelines, and look for AAFCO certification as a mark of quality. The real chicken and essential nutrients give them the building blocks they need for a strong and vibrant start in life. With its breed-specific formulation, it covers all the bases, from heart health to muscle maintenance and joint support, ensuring that our Pugs thrive in their prime years. It caters to their changing needs, supporting joint mobility, brain function, and overall vitality, allowing them to enjoy their golden years to the fullest. Remember, that the best dog food for Pugs is not a one-size-fits-all solution. As a fellow dog lover, I encourage you to embark on this journey with an open mind and a commitment to providing the best nutrition for your loyal companion. Together, we can ensure that our Pugs lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives, fueled by the perfect combination of love, care, and nourishment. Cheers to our dog and their well-being! David Cassiel As a biologist and dog enthusiast, I have gained valuable experience and knowledge through my internship at a veterinary hospital and my personal ownership of multiple breeds. 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What is a Bullmastiff German Shepherd Mix? Their physical appearance can vary. Even puppies from the same litter can have different looks from each other. German Shepherd Bullmastiff mix is not a very common breed. Most people opt for purebred dogs. Getting a mixed breed dog lowers the chances of genetic diseases in the puppy. American Kennel Club does not recognize the Bullmastiff Shepherd just like other mixed breeds. However, it is a perfectly fine breed that is great as a guard dog and also a family dog. Some of the common features of the GSD Bullmastiff mix include large paws and abdomen, folded ears, and a big muzzle. Males are usually larger than females. Their eye color is dark brown. The average life span is years. Coat color can be brown, black, grey, or red. German Shepherd x Bullmastiff is a very powerful and strong dog. They are very high-energy dogs so only get them if you are also in good shape and keep up with them. They need constant exercise so as not to get overweight. Their massive size can easily intimidate intruders and trespassers. It is uncertain when this breed originated. However, we can take a look at the history of its parent breeds. German Shepherd is a very popular dog worldwide. He bred these dogs for military and police use. German Shepherds were used widely in World War I where they were responsible for delivering food and other supplies to German soldiers. They also braved enemy fires and landmines. This tarnished their reputation as Allied forces had a negative view of GSDs. Now, they enjoy a great deal of popularity and are used in various fields. Bullmastiff is a result of breeding English bulldog and English mastiff. Their history goes back a thousand years ago where they may have come from India or Tibet. They were used as battle dogs by Europeans and Greeks in the 16th century. Bullmastiff is a powerful and courageous dog who used to scare away intruders and poachers from the estates. They are perfect hound dogs. Modern mastiffs are traced back to in England when dogfighting was declared illegal. It changed their temperament and personality. Image Source: Julissa Helmuth — pexels. Its masculine frame can easily chase away trespassers. A male Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix could grow up to inches and weigh lbs. Female English Mastiff German Shepherd mix average height is inches and the average female Bullmastiff weight is lbs. Now you know how much do Bullmastiffs weigh. How much should a Bullmastiff weight? A healthy Bullmastiff can weigh lbs. Coat Bullmastiff Shepherd coat color can vary from red, gray, black, or brown. They shed a lot so be prepared for that. Bullmastiff Shepherd mix will have a medium-length coat. The amount of shedding depends on which parent the puppy takes after the most. Life Span How long do Bullmastiffs live? According to various sources, German Shepherd Bullmastiff mix lives for years. It mostly depends on the health and care you give your dog. Feeding German Bullmastiff is a giant dog. They will need a lot of nutrition daily. The Shepherd Bullmastiff needs calories daily. If you are unsure of what to feed your dog, consult a veterinarian. However, do not overfeed them as it will cause them to become lazy and obese. They are prone to many serious diseases so be careful about their diet. If you are looking for a strong and confident canine, then this breed is an ideal choice. It can safeguard you and also play with you. Exercise The Bullmastiff cross German is a very high-energy dog so it will need daily exercise. It is recommended to start their exercise and training when they are in the puppy phase. A German Shepherd Bullmastiff puppy can exercise for minutes daily. An adult Bullmastiff GSD mix needs much more time for exercise. You can get them to exercise for minutes daily. They like swimming, running and jogging. A bored dog will develop destructive behavior. However, if the puppy takes after its German Shepherd parent, then you should brush their coat daily. A nice bristled brush will do the job. You can bathe your Mastiff Shepherd monthly. Use only vet-approved shampoo for dogs. You can also clean their ears and trim their nails regularly. Be careful when you clip their nails. Image Source: Felipe Solis Guzman — pexels. Training your GSD Mastiff mix dog depends on which parent the puppy takes after the most. If your puppy is most like GSD, then you will have an easy time training them. However, if the puppy takes after the Bullmastiff parent, then you may have a hard time training your dog. The Bullmastiff is a stubborn dog who likes to do things its own way. Be patient, confident, and persistent. It is best to start the training when the Mastiff Shepherd puppy is 8 weeks old. Get them to socialize from an early age. A dog who lacks socialization will develop problematic and dangerous behavior. Take your dogs to the park and introduce them to other dogs and people. Please note that the German Shepherd Bullmastiff mix is not an ideal dog for first-time owners. This is not to discourage novice dog owners but be prepared to spend a lot of time on their training. Training your Bullmastiff German Shepherd dog from a young age is the best way to handle your dog. Like other giant dog breeds, both Bullmastiff and GSDs are prone to many diseases and health problems. Symptoms include pain in the hind legs, displaying aggressive behavior, and avoiding exercise. Obesity If you overfeed your dog, it can become obese and lazy. Cherry Eye Cherry eye is an unpleasant health concern in the Mastiff Shepherds. It affects their eyes and the dog can experience inflammation and irritation in the eye. Bloating Bloating is a digestive condition in dogs. The dog can suddenly die from this painful and dangerous condition. Symptoms include lack of energy, coughing, excessive saliva, and fatigue. Progressive retinal atrophy. This hybrid dog is great for most pet owners, even families with young children. This dog is affectionate as much as they are protective. Although, its appearance varies and has physical features from either of the parents. This mix, sometimes also called the German Bullmastiff, is a designer hybrid that is very rare among dog owners. Nevertheless, you can take a look at the history of its parents to know more about this mix. The first German Shepherd is named Horand von Grafrath. It was developed by a German cavalry officer, Von Stephanitz, for military use in .To this day, the German Shepherd is popular for being a police dog. Aside from being a service and war dog, Horand also served extensively as a stud, and it is believed that his genes are present in every German Shepherd today. On the other hand, developed in , the Bullmastiff is a cross between the English Bulldog and the English Mastiff. They were bred to serve as estate guard dogs and proved to be fast and ferocious in tracking thieves. Its physical features may either strongly resemble one of its parents or a good mix of both. In terms of body type, they either have a muscular and large body like their Bullmastiff parent or a slender, lean, and athletic body like the German Shepherd. In terms of their face, they can have large heads and differently-sized muzzles. These can be short, long, or average and are typically black. For this breed, their eyes are commonly brown. The texture and color of their coat also vary. If they inherit the smooth and short Bullmastiff coat, they will likely have fawn or red fur that is either brindle or solid-colored. Still, their final size can still vary due to their genetics, especially if they have a giant or dwarf GSD parent. They reach their full-grown size when they are around 18 to 20 months, similar to their parents. In general, the German Bullmastiff is a stubborn gentle giant. Despite coming from a powerful; lineage, German Bullmastiffs are calm and well-behaved due to the laid-back personality of the Mastiff and the loyalty of the German Shepherd parent. Families with children will have no problem having this dog around. As early as possible, German Bullmastiff owners are encouraged to socialize their pets. This is to ensure that the kind and gentle side of their personality becomes dominant. Bullmastiff German Shepherd Mix Lifespan and Health Issues Hybrids are generally healthier than purebreds, but their exact lifespan can be quite difficult to determine. Based on the average lifespan of its parents , the lifespan of the Bullmastiff Shepherd ranges between 8 and 13 years. Although, like other large dogs, the Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix also experiences some health issues, such as the ones below: Osteochondrosis: This condition causes the development of immature cartilage among German Bullmastiffs when they grow very quickly, causing pain and inflammation. Osteochondrosis can be treated through surgery. Bloat: Bloat occurs when dogs like the Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix eat too fast, causing stomach enlargement. This condition may progress into a more concerning problem called gastric dilatation and volvulus GDV. This becomes problematic for large breeds like Bullmastiff German Shepherd mixes that are predisposed to joint problems. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid these issues. Proper feeding habits, a healthy diet, and regular exercise are the easiest way to maintain a healthy German Bullmastiff. A proper diet, adequate physical activity, and a grooming routine are key to keeping your dog happy and healthy. Here we highlighted the most important tips for taking care of your Bullmastiff Shepherd mix. Food and Diet In general, large breed Bullmastiff cross German Shepherd dogs must be fed a low-fat and high-protein diet. Their food must also be high in energy since they are energetic but just enough to avoid unnecessary weight gain. In terms of their daily food quantity requirement, a puppy between 2 and 3 months may need 1 to 1. Choosing the best dog food from the vast selection of options on store shelves can be challenging. Cleaning and Grooming In terms of grooming, their needs vary depending on their coat and daily activities. So, the best hygiene routine for your German Bullmastiff is the one that is specific to its needs. For short and medium-coated Bullmastiff Shepherds, brushing every 3 to 7 days avoids matting and reduces shedding, which is typical for Shepherd hybrids. A monthly bath is also sufficient to keep them clean. For long-coated Bullmastiff Shepherds, they need daily brushing. Perhaps, you also need to visit the dog salon at least thrice a year to remove their undercoat, depending on how fast it grows. Other dog care routines, such as nail trimming and ear cleaning, should not exceed once every two months, while their teeth need to be brushed three times a week. Once they grow older, they can be really stubborn. While training, expose your dog to sensations like noise, smell, and touch. Also, introduce them to other animals and young children. This trains the territorial German Bullmastiff to be gentle and not see them as threats. For large German Shepherd mixes, a minute exercise is needed daily to reduce their pent-up energy. Some activities you can enjoy together include running, walking, or playing fetch at the dog park. When they get older and start suffering from joint pain, exercise is actually a great way to prevent some discomfort. Aside from this, you also need to prepare for the initial expenses of owning a large-breed puppy. On top of the price of the puppy itself, you also need to consider other expenses. These include food, treats , beds , toys, and vet fees. Here are the initial expenses associated with owning a German Shepherd Bullmastiff mix below: Type of Expense. This leads to shock, and usually, sudden death. While gassing and a painful tummy are normal, this may become something much worse. Adequate care is essential if you want your German Shepherd — Mastiff mix to grow into a healthy, happy dog. Here is how to properly take care of your new large-breed pup. Opposite to that, some German Shepherds do have medium or even long coats. Their fur has several layers, so you need to groom them often. Some German Shepherd features will certainly remain, so be prepared for a bit more care than a purebred Bullmastiff would need. Give him a monthly bath, and this should be enough. Just make sure you brush him before a bath. This is a good trick to prevent shedding. In the case of a medium-length coat, you can expect to brush your pooch every other day. Bathe him when needed, but try to make this happen at least twice a month. If you end up with a dog that has long layers and a thick undercoat, prepare to brush him daily. You may even want to take him to a groomer once or twice a year to keep his fur untangled. Also, it would help if you bathe your dog regularly. If you want to have a good pup, then you need to teach him how to behave. Socialization, care, and proper training are the keys to a well-mannered dog. On no occasion should you leave your Bullmastiff — German Shepherd mix untrained. They are a large, powerful, and highly intelligent mixed breed that will likely be mischievous if left to their own devices like an old puppy. When dealing with such a large breed, you should start with obedience training as soon as you have a somewhat older pup. In fact, the best time to start training is when he is around eight weeks old. This is considered the adequate age when a puppy should join your family. So, why is training so necessary for a Mastiff Shepherd? Bullmastiffs are strong and stubborn dogs. Despite their mild temperament, they can easily overpower a human. German Shepherds, on the other hand, are high-energy dogs, and they can be quite destructive if left unattended. When you mix these two breeds, you get a large dog that will want to cuddle and run around simultaneously. The worst part is that you can hardly control such a big canine. This has to start the moment the dog joins your family. Either Bullmastiffs or German Shepherds would make a great watchdog. They are also considered excellent working dogs. Try to channel their energy into training. It is better to invest some money rather than deal with the destruction this mixed breed can make. These are huge dogs that can be somewhat unpredictable. You need to dedicate a lot of dogtime to them. Just like with any large breed, you have to ensure that you give him proper training and care. Also, have your vet on speed dial. While hybrid species tend to be healthier than their purebred ancestors, some issues still remain. However, with a lot of love — and some tough attitude — a German Shepherd — Mastiff mix will make a beloved and well-behaved member of your family. Read Next:. Lifespan Sociability A Bull Mastiff German Shepherd mix is going to be a very large, powerful dog that can come with a stubborn streak. Both parent breeds need a strong hand in training and so will this hybrid mix. German Shepherds and Bullmastiffs are very headstrong and dominant breeds. They can be territorial and protective over their space and their people. Proper training is an absolute must. With a large size can come large food and vet bills. These dogs will eat a lot and will require high-quality food for proper nutrition. Large breeds tend to have more health issues, especially as they age. They also have a tendency to cost more in terms of preventative medicine and overall veterinary care. Bullmastiffs Were Bred as Guardians Bullmastiffs originated in England in the mids and were used as estate guardians to ward off poachers. They were bred by gamekeepers for their strength, size, speed, and working ability. German Shepherds Are Among the Most Versatile Breeds The German Shepherd has held many jobs other than a movie star—leading the blind, chasing down criminals, sniffing out illegal substances, serving in the military, visiting the sick, and herding stock are just some of the jobs held by this versatile breed. Bullmastiff German Shepherd Mixes Come in a Variety of Appearances This mixed breed is large, not unlike the parents, but can be quite variable in appearance. They can be black and tan, fawn, brindle, or black with short or medium-length coats. They could have the sturdy, muscular build of the Bullmastiff or the leaner, athletic shepherd build. They could have a short muzzle, a long shepherd-like muzzle, or one in between. This mixed breed can take on the appearance of either or both parent breeds. This is where the genetics and history of the purebred parents come into play. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and full of energy, while the Bullmastiff is more docile and affectionate. Bullmastiffs and German Shepherds do share some similar traits. Both are powerful, devoted, headstrong, and courageous. You can expect these dogs to be watchful over their family and territory and make excellent guard dogs. Excellent training from puppyhood can make this mixed breed an excellent, loyal, and protective guardian and companion for many dog owners. You will need to be cautious with this mixed breed around small children due to their large size. You do want to keep in mind that both breeds have strong guardian instincts and you will want to begin training as a puppy. German Shepherds can get along great with other animals and are very adaptable if started young. As for other dogs, German Shepherds can be a hit or a miss if introduced as an adult. Both breeds have very high predatory instincts and can be very territorial. Some individuals may never take well to other animals, especially if brought into the home as an adult. On average, they will be approximately 25 inches tall and weigh around 91 pounds. Coat The coat of the German Shepherd Bullmastiff cross differs between individual dogs. This will depend heavily on which parent it takes after. Crosses that mostly take their coat after the Bullmastiff parent will have a smooth and short coat. They could be brindled or solid-colored and will either be fawn, red, or red fawn. On the other hand, the mix that takes its coat after the GSD parent will have medium to long hair and a double coat. The color will depend on the actual color of the parent as well as the recessive genes it carries. Rarer coat colors include blonde and blue. Grooming Like coat color and appearance, the grooming needs of the Bullmastiff-German Shepherd cross will depend on the type of coat it inherits. Thorough brushing will only be required at least once a month. Brushing will be needed at least once a week. You can expect them to shed throughout the year and blow off their undercoats twice a year. During the shedding seasons, the GSD coat will need daily brushing and specialized tools for undercoat maintenance. As for all other grooming needs, the German Shepherd-Bullmastiff cross is like any other large dog. Their size and build make them suited for physically demanding work. However, the ones that take after the German Shepherd parent often inherit their speed as well. On average, purebred GSDs can reach top speeds of 30 miles per hour. Exercise Requirement Bullmastiff-GSD crosses are high-energy dogs that need both physical and mental stimulation in order to thrive. At a minimum, they will need 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. Ideally, they would get an hour of exercise and access to a fenced-in space where they can play and explore independently. German Shepherd-Bullmastiffs also need plenty of opportunities to sharpen their intellect and natural canine abilities. They will benefit from daily training sessions, puzzle games , and household chores. Trainability Bullmastiffs are not known for their intelligence. It may take them up to 80 repetitions to master a new command. In contrast, German Shepherds belong to the first tier of canine intelligence. No matter which parent the GSD-Bullmastiff cross takes after, however, it is expected to be highly trainable. Temperament The German Shepherd-Bullmastiff mix is a wonderful household companion. They are affectionate with family and can be good with young children and other animals are given proper training and socialization. They are alert to threats and wary of strangers. They will, however, warm up to guests when properly introduced. Possibly among the best outcomes of crossing a Bullmastiff with a German Shepherd is that the offspring are often less vocal than purebred GSDs. Health Like its parents, the Bullmastiff-German Shepherd mix can be prone to bone and joint issues. Additionally, these dogs can suffer from bloat, which is a life-threatening and painful condition of the abdomen. Lifespan The German Shepherd-Bullmastiff can be expected to live about years. If it takes more after the GSD parent, its lifespan could be between 12 and 14 years. But those that take mostly after the Bullmastiff parent could have a shorter life expectancy of 7 to 9 years. Any GSD-Bullmastiff cross can live much longer when given a proper diet and plenty of opportunities to exercise. Of course, having good genes is essential. Among mixed breeds, the German Shepherd — Bullmastiff is actually quite popular. This is probably because they are both popular breeds and their similar size makes them a good physical match. This is because each of these breeds is actually more valuable as purebreds. Their traits will depend heavily on which parent they mostly take after. But no matter the characteristics they inherit, they are definitely strong, large dogs that will require a firm and confident handler. Among them are Newfoundlands , Irish Wolfhounds , and Catahoulas. Overview of Bullmastiff German Shepherd Mix These shepherd mastiff dogs are similar to their parent breeds. They have the-one- and-the-same behavioural patterns and great familiarity. NOTE: The new mixed species of these two most popular breeds can also have a great impact on its temperament, appearances, proneness and genetic susceptibility. Accurately, these large breeds are intelligent and powerful, for they are the best breeds with great personality traits. Bullmastiff german shepherd dogs are very keen on protecting their owners and good at being watchful. Excellent training from the early stage can make the pup intelligent, powerful and a perfect strengthful guarding companion for dog owners. Will this super cool species be the best companion for kids and others? The whole impact is on how you train and bring up your pup beforehand. And this is what matters. Read below, Appearance or Look of the Dog Breed When it comes to the glance of the bullmastiff german shepherd mix, it differs significantly as there are vast variations in mastiff breeds. Bullmastiff dogs can weigh about kg as their height is cm. German shepherds would weigh about 40 kg and a height of 65 cm. So, most probably, your bullmastiff german shepherd mix can weigh about kg lbs and grow to a height of about cm 1. The appearance of this hybrid dog may vary from other breeds. You can expect your german mastiff mix to have either a black or a red coat. There might be a mix of brown and grey like sandy silver as well, and rarely you could find brindle coats. You must have a thorough knowledge of this mixed dogs shedding process as these breeds are regular shedders. This might be a hindrance for the owners of the dogs, often shedding itself. Have a good study on these issues and clear out the facts regarding this matter before making this large breed your canine companion. Is Grooming required For this Mixed Breed? Usually, the coat of this mixed breed is thick and either lengthy or short. Typically this hybrid breed is of two kinds, and their grooming differs. If your dog is more like a german shepherd, it must get on-and-off slicker brushes touching its coat. But bullmastiffs neither need grooming nor shedding. These hounds have short and oily coats but need bathing on-and-off to smell if they skip baths. Yeah, this question is pretty much fair, right! So if that is the case, make sure you brush them often and bathe once a week as well. Significantly, you must also take your pup to groomers to remove the undercoat twice a year. Medium length coat grooming Your dog is not forced to be groomed daily but does it seldom if it has a medium-length coat. You can use a pin brush and comb your tyke and make your doggie bath whenever needed. Twice a month will be sufficient. Short coat grooming An easy coat to be groomed, though. Monthly baths are more than sufficient for short-coated dogs. Better groom your pooch before taking a bath with a quick brush. Personality Of bullmastiff german shepherd mix Generally, the temperament of every dog may vary from one another. To be considered, this shepherd mastiff dog breed is unique. They are powerful, personable and people-pleasing. Look below some of the great personality traits hybrid dogs possess, Loyal The well-known guardians in the universe. Certainly, this dog breed is really very keen on guarding its owners. Loyalty affects temperament as it composes it. They act the vice-versa towards the strangers. They are extraordinarily loyal in protecting their family, and if trained well, they will be the best protective agent for your family. Gentle Mastiff dogs are kind-hearted and possess a sweet personality. No harm, you can leave your kids with this pretty kind canine companion unsupervised. Literally, they are loyal and gentle towards people who are close to them. Is training Important For bullmastiff german shepherd mix? Generally, bullmastiff german shepherd mixes tend to work hard, and if they are given immense love and care with proper efforts, your dogs are going to be the best hound like no other. This dog breed is easy to be trained for it neutralizes energy and has a patient attitude with an intelligent mind. Basically, you are going to find both courageous as well as the strong and pleasant characteristics of the two popular dog breeds onto one breed. So proper and immense training must be carried out. If left unattended, these german shepherd mix-breeds might grow wild and cause a mishap, and you will have to face the chaos. Ineffectual pet parents cannot afford to take this puppy as their pet. You will have to spend plenty of your precious time to train and socialize with your puppy. Go on training your shepherd mastiff puppies from the time you become its parent. Teaching your puppies to socialize and love and care is essential to turn out your hound into a pleasing tyke. Articles you may like: Training Commands for German Shepherd Basic facts about Mastiff Shepherds There is some necessary information to consider if you are planning to make this large dog breed your canine companion. Average Life Span The statistical probability of this shepherd mastiff mix is about 7 plus years or years. Joint problems Joint problems occur due to a lack of exercises. Hip and elbow dysplasia are frequently affecting joint issues of the german shepherd mix. Symptoms could be: aggressive behaviour when touched in a particular painting area joints , avoids workout or daily walks and weakness in front leg areas. This occurs when the third eyelid of your dogs falls out of place. Your shepherd mastiff might go through inflammation, irritation, dryness and swelling in the affected area, which could result in infections. Bloat Bloat is a health issue related to the digestion of your dog. Lack of nutritions may occur, and if not treated, your dog could lose its life. To Finish it Up Conclusion Bullmastiff german shepherds are an amazing breed that a wise pet parent can train. With proper training, exercises and diet, you can own a mysterious canine companion. This can be the best guardian for a big family. Remember all that you have to do to turn your dog into the ultimate hound. Consider the health issues before owning a shepherd mastiff, and make sure you have a thorough knowledge of grooming your pup. And be vigilant on how to train your shepherd mastiff and develop its personality traits. I hope my article gives you a piece of knowledge on this account. No, Bullmastiffs are not typically aggressive or dangerous, however they should not be left unattended with small children as their rock-hard body can cause serious damage with even a small nudge. Are Bullmastiffs Good Family Dogs? Bullmastiffs are excellent family dogs, known for their easy-going attitude and affectionate nature towards their family members. Are Mastiffs Good With Kids? Yes, Mastiffs are known to be good with well-behaved kids. The German Shepherd Mastiff mix is a large breed of dog, typically weighing between lbs and standing at 28 inches tall at the shoulder. This remarkable mix incorporates the immense size, loyalty , and protective instincts of the Bullmastiff with the unmatched trainability, intellectual capacity, and energy of the German Shepherd dog. In appearance, this pooch is large in stature and imposing in build. You can expect a Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix to weigh anywhere from lbs and measure anywhere from 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder. These dogs are protective and eager to please with strong guardian instincts and an innate ability to protect their families. Mastiff breeds have been used as guard dogs for centuries and German Shepherds were bred to be equally protective hard workers. Your unique dog will have a set of unique needs. The uniqueness of a mixed breed can make it fairly difficult to predict the future temperament, appearance, grooming requirements, and mature weight of your dog. This is where background breed history and purebred characteristic knowledge will come in handy. To understand mixed breed dogs properly, you first must understand what owning a purebred dog entails. This makes their temperaments and physical characteristics more predictable. Your mixed-breed dog will be unique in many ways, with unknown traits and brand new characteristics. If you know what breeds have gone into the genetic makeup of your mixed-breed pooch, you can gain a deeper understanding of what benefits you can enjoy or challenges you can expect in the future. According to canismajor. So, for a Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix, you can expect traits like protectiveness and intelligence to appear. Every dog is different, and upbringing overrides everything. The way that you train and raise your dog will have a far greater overall impact on their temperament and behavioral characteristics than their breed makeup will. Dogs are highly-attuned pack animals that learn quickly from a young age. From the second you take home a new puppy, their mind is absorbing everything around them and helping to make them into the dog that they will ultimately become. While it is true that some dogs are naturally more protective than others both German Shepherds and Bullmastiffs fall into this category , training and conditioning trump all. Is training is honestly all that important? Why should obedience training be taken so seriously? Proper training, socialization, and care are essential. You should never leave a large, powerful, and intelligent mixed-breed like this to his own devices. This is a big dog that will likely want to work. German Shepherds can be very high-energy dogs with a desire to do a job and knack for getting into mischief when left unattended. Bullmastiffs can be strong-willed and are physically powerful both in stature and in their physical muscular makeup. Bullmastiff German Shepherd Mixes are not well-suited for novice dog owners. Be prepared to devote plenty of time and energy into training and socializing this mix from the minute it enters your life. For example: Bullmastiffs are classified as working dogs and respond well to most standard training methods. German Shepherds are also a working breed. They should begin their training from the instant you bring them home. According to Cynthia L. Olson from Petlifetoday , without structure and training, they can become difficult to manage as they grow. Since a Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix will contain elements from both the Shepherd and the Mastiff breed, focusing your training efforts toward the well-known mannerisms of these working and guarding breeds is wise. The temperament of every dog will vary, and while training and upbringing must be taken into consideration, in general, this mix will be devoted, eager to please, and competent. This mix has the potential to have balanced energy, a keen mind, and a patient attitude. The spunky and malleable nature of the German Shepherd blends well with the strong-headed and mellow tendencies of the Bullmastiff. This means that your Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix should ultimately be well-rounded, easy to train, and extraordinarily loyal. You can expect a Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix to have a black and tan coat and be fairly large. Everything after that will depend on the background of your specific puppy or dog. According to the AKC , Bullmastiffs are inches tall at the shoulder, weigh anywhere from pounds, and have a life expectancy of years. Their coat has a black mask, can be fawn, brindle, red, and should be short and smooth. Alternatively, the AKC states that German Shepherds stand from inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between .They have medium or long black and tan coats with erect ears when fully mature and a well-defined muzzle. Your mixed dog will most likely have some combination of all of these features and could look more like either the Mastiff or the Shepherd breed. It will all depend on your specific pup. In summary, appearance-wise you can expect your Bullmastiff German Shepherd mix to be a large dog that has a medium-length coat and black and tan coloration in any number of patterns. Bullmastiffs are short-coated dogs with minimal shedding, though their coats can have a good bit of oil and they do get smelly if they skip too many baths. German shepherds can have short, medium, or long coats and require significantly more grooming. If your dog has more Shepherd-like tendencies, they may need a lot more grooming. If your dog has a short coat Short coats are by far the easiest to groom. A simple monthly bath is often enough to keep your dog clean. You should always groom short-haired dogs before a bath with a quick brush down. Weekly brushing a short coat is also a good idea to reduce possible shedding. If your dog has a medium-length coat Medium-coated breeds require a moderate amount of brushing. Matting can sometimes occur in short coats. Brushing every other day with a bristle or pin brush is a good idea. Bathing should be done twice a month as needed. If your dog has a long coat German Shepherds sometimes have long coats with a thick undercoat. If this is the case for your pup, be prepared to brush them daily. They may also need to have their undercoat removed twice a year at the groomers. Bathing should be done as needed, if not weekly. Both Bullmastiffs and German Shepherds often suffer from large breed issues hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, arthritis, and osteochondrosis dissecans. Osteochondrosis dissecans is a condition that develops in fast-growing puppies. This video can help you better understand what health issues large breed dogs often face. German Shepherd Mastiff mix puppies tend to be larger than lots of other breeds as puppies, so you can assume they will grow to be pretty large dogs. Their full-grown height and weight will depend on the gender and what characteristics they get from their parents. For example, a purebred male German Shepherd will grow to around 26 inches and weigh as much as 90 pounds and females will be around 2 inches shorter on average and weigh up to 70 pounds. Mastiff males and females will grow to between 28 and 36 inches, and males can weigh up to pounds and females will weigh up to pounds. A German Shepherd Mastiff mix could end up being as tall as the biggest German Shepherd and pretty heavy like a Mastiff. You should be wary of over feeding your Shepherd Mastiff mix because they can be prone to weight gain. How long do German Shepherd Bullmastiff mixes live? German Shepherd Bullmastiff mixes will typically live anywhere between nine and 13 years. These dogs are relatively large dogs and unfortunately, larger dogs tend to have shorter life spans than smaller breeds. Lifestyle and illness will play a part in this though. A well looked after German Shepherd Mastiff mix that does not suffer from any life-threatening diseases, should live a long and happy life of up to 13 years. Fortunately, mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier on average than pure breeds. That being said, there are some common health issues that both German Shepherds and Bullmastiffs can get during their lifetime that may be passed down to their offspring. These include: Cherry eye. Goliath is the one standing up - 2 months Goliath - 3 months David - 3 months Goliath on the left and David on the other side obviously : - 5 months Hi, I thought it could be fun to share the experience I have with my two puppies. They are now not far from 5 months old. I have not weighed them recently but they seem to be 3 times the size they were when I got them 2 months old. In that time they were 4. They have now lost all their front teeth but still have their puppy canines and wide molars are growing out at the back. Their mum is a black and brindel Bullmastiff very light and agile body type with a broad head. She looked more like a huge boxer with a huge face and snout. Very friendly dog and very energetic. The dad is a Black German Shepherd from what I remember of him. He just dashed in the house like a hurricane, stared at me for a few seconds, licked the tip of my nose and dashed out again. I think that was an outdoor dog that was not happy to stay inside. They were brought up in a farm environment and are not triggered by livestock behaviour: not even tempted by chasing a chick. They are from a litter of 3 : 2 boys and a girl; the girl had already left, so I picked up both of them Only wanted one but couldn't make my mind on which one to choose, so I took both. They have completly different behaviour and looks. It seems that one of them Goliath has picked up more German type, and the other one David has more the Bullmastiff type. They can look very alike, and people can't see any difference in them, but I, seeing them every day, can clearly see it. Goliath, has a blacker face, and his snout is more pointed whereas David has a square snout. Also, they don't behave the same way. When one would trade his life for food Goliath the other one would die without cuddles, affection and attention David. If I would try and cuddle Goliath who enjoys strokes and attention also David would push him out of my reach and take his place He would climb on me if I would ignore him and keep going for this brother. They have this weird behaviour also: absolutly not afraid of fire. Goliath even ate hot ashes, ones that popped out of the fire place, and didn't seem to be bothered. Also eats peat and turf which is used for fire. I keep having to get it out of their reach. What strikes me the most is their colour. Their parents were both black or dark brown and they have this toffee colour. However we, at the moment, live in Irland, so they are being used to the rainy Irish sun, but sleep inside at night time. They have access to a huge garden with no fence, so they are free to roam around field and neighbourg gardens. They have never been far, even if they have lost their way a couple of time when they were tiny puppies it was only three houses away. There is a lot of livestock in the surrounding fields and have not reported any issues yet. Well, this description is long, but it what came out of my head when I thought of a way to describing them. Thanks for reading :.

Goldendoodle Puppies: F1b vs. Both of these strains of the Goldendoodle breed come with slightly different sizes and appearances, but all will be some of the sweetest dogs you could ever meet! What is an F1b Goldendoodle? What is an F1bb Goldendoodle? This makes them .F1bb Goldendoodles are especially popular among families with moderate to severe pet allergies, as they are even less likely to shed or cause allergic irritation. They also have an even curlier, poodle-like coat and smaller body size than an F1b Goldendoodle. How big is a Medium Goldendoodle? Our F1b Goldendoodle puppies typically fall within the medium size category since they have slightly more Golden Retriever blood. Medium Goldendoodles can vary in size depending on which of the parent breed's genes are more prominent, but their size averages between: Weight: pounds These are the perfect size for families interested in a medium-sized but manageable dog! How big is a Mini Goldendoodle? Our F1bb Goldendoodle puppies typically fall within the small, or mini, size category since they have more Poodle blood. Mini Goldendoodles can vary even more in size because of the complicated mix of parent genes, but their size averages between: Weight: pounds Height: inches at the shoulder These are the perfect size for families interested in a smaller-sized dog! Goldendoodle Litters For Sale. F1 Goldendoodle What is an English Goldendoodle? They are very loving and friendly dogs that enjoy spending time with their owners. They are highly intelligent, very easy to train, and thrive on social interaction. As a result, English Goldendoodles make an excellent service or therapy dog. The English Goldendoodle is also considered a low to non-shedding breed, which makes them ideal for owners with allergies. English Goldendoodles come in a variety of colors. Due to the English Golden retriever's light coloring, the signature English cream Goldendoodle and white Goldendoodle tends to be the most common. However, English Goldendoodles can also come in tan, red, apricot, chocolate or even black depending on the color of the Poodle. Most of our Goldendoodle puppies are of the white, cream, tan, or apricot variety. We encourage you to learn more about English Goldendoodles at the link below. First and foremost, the health and happiness of our dams and their puppies is our top priority. Our English Golden Retrievers are our pets first, and live and sleep inside the comforts of our home. We are not a large kennel facility or puppy mill and are strong advocates against such practices. Our dogs give birth in in comfortable, temperature controlled conditions in our home. Each of our parents pass a full vet administered health exam prior to breeding. We interact with each of the Goldendoodle puppies daily. We work on socializing them through human touch, and introduce them to crate training prior to going home with you. All Goldendoodle puppies are given a full vet administered health exam prior to going home. About Goldendoodles About Goldendoodles Goldendoodles are a cross between two of the top five smartest dogs in the world — a golden retriever and a poodle. Goldendoodles are the ideal family dog, combining the clever, yet silly side of the poodle with the placid, loyal, and loving nature of the golden retriever. Goldendoodles are low — to non-shedding, making them a popular choice for people with allergies. Since I began breeding Goldendoodles in , I have seen the breed go from almost non-existent, to one of the most popular family dogs in North America. They are affectionate, playful, fun-loving, and intelligent dogs. Because they are so smart, they are easier to train than most breeds. They follow commands quickly and always want to please their owners. Whether this is your first dog, or you simply want an easygoing, playful dog, a goldendoodle would be an ideal choice. Goldendoodles are not a purebred dog, so they are not a registered breed. The Golden Retriever Golden retrievers are intelligent large-breed dogs, often used as gun dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and detection dogs. They are often trained as disability assistance dogs because of their gentle and loving nature and their desire to be with people. Golden retrievers love the water! Golden retrievers have a beautiful dense coat and are known to shed quite heavily. The Poodle Poodles rank high on the canine intelligence scale and excel in obedience. Most people are aware that this lovely breed has a low — to non-shedding coat, making them a great choice for people with allergies. But the poodle is more than a clever show dog. They originated in Germany as hunting dogs, especially good at water retrieving. Poodles are lively and playful, and have an assertive prance to their walk. They thrive in a busy household where there is plenty of attention to go around. If bored, poodles may find their way into mischief. They are also quick to sound an alert, and have earned a reputation for barking. Poodles can be nervous and sensitive to stress, and are typically affected by eye, skin, and digestive diseases, as well as immune system diseases. Poodles come in three sizes and a wide variety of colours. They have a single layer of dense, curly fur that sheds minimally, but will mat without proper care. Golden Retriever Meets Poodle…The Perfect Canine Companion If a breeder does their due diligence in selecting the right parents, crossing purebred dogs of different breeds results in puppies that are healthier than either of their parents. This is because the two breeds are generally prone to different genetic problems. Hybrids such as goldendoodles are only likely to inherit a health problem that is common to both the poodle and the golden retriever — two breeds that share few common diseases. A hybrid dog combines the traits and characteristics of its purebred parents; with careful, conscientious breeding, the resulting pups may end up with the best attributes of each. In the case of the goldendoodle, the blend of the golden retriever and the poodle produces a smart, friendly, loving, social, playful dog. They tend to have the gentle, loving, and desire-to-please nature of the golden retriever, and the goofy liveliness and intelligence of the poodle. Like the golden retriever, they are gentle around children and the elderly, and because they love to work, they often make excellent therapy dogs. The goldendoodle is the go-to breed of choice when we select a dog to donate to a charitable organization. Most goldendoodles have a moderate activity level. They love toys and are always carrying around something in their mouths. Most of them have little need for personal space and are often described as happy, goofy, smart, charming, curious, friendly, social, enthusiastic, cuddly, willing to please, and loving. Goldendoodles vs. English Goldendoodles English goldendoodles have a lighter coat, stockier build and are more laid-back. The retriever part of the English goldendoodle is an English golden retriever, which originates from Europe. English golden retrievers contain the stockier and more laid-back traits, and have a lighter coat in comparison to their North American counterpart, whom are typically darker in colour and more slender, with a more active personality. We favour English golden retrievers within our breeding program, and have traveled across Europe acquiring some of the finest European breeding stock to incorporate into our lines. Many breeders in the United States use field retrievers to produce their goldendoodles. These retrievers are bred for field work and tend to be very lanky and hyper. As a result they tend to produce hyper, lanky goldendoodles. This is a good example of why research is essential to finding a conscientious breeder. Appearance and Coat Most people think of goldendoodles as being golden in colour, but they can come in a variety of different colours. Their overall appearance combines a beautiful balance of the golden retriever and the poodle. Well-chosen parents tend to blend the traits of the poodle and the golden in a consistent way. In short, goldendoodles tend to look like shaggy teddy bears! Breeders tend to develop their own style and look of dogs. A SwissRidge goldendoodle can easily be picked out of a crowd as there is a very distinct look and temperament to our dogs. The appearance of a SwissRidge goldendoodle is usually stocky with a well-built frame, beautiful head, and silky, soft, wavy coat. Although every goldendoodle has a different coat, the majority have a wavy coat that sheds minimally, if at all. Breeders will evaluate the puppy at a few weeks old and can often tell the type of coat the dog will have, and can help match you to the best coat type for your situation. Most people with allergies to dog dander are fine with a wavy-coated dog. However, the straighter the coat, the more it sheds, making the dog less suitable for people with allergies. Goldendoodles with a curly coat are similar to the poodle and will not shed. Even people with severe allergies to dander typically do well with a curly-coated goldendoodle. Since there are no guarantees with coat type, a responsible breeder will give you time to interact with your puppy and see if you are allergic, allowing you time to return the pup if it is not working out. If you are allergic to dog saliva, and your skin breaks out in hives when licked by a dog, you will most likely be allergic to all goldendoodles regardless of coat type. If you still want a dog, I would suggest a tiny goldendoodle as they produce less saliva. Since most goldendoodles shed very little, if at all, they need to be brushed regularly to prevent matting, and must be clipped every few months. Size Depending on the parents and their genetics, you can find goldendoodles in a wide range of sizes. Females are usually smaller than males. A Standard Goldendoodle results from crossing a standard poodle with a golden retriever. They will generally be 50 lbs. Most standards are in the 70 to 90 lb. A Mini Goldendoodle results from crossing a miniature poodle with a golden retriever. They generally range from 25 to 49 lbs. A Tiny Goldendoodle results from crossing a toy poodle with a mini goldendoodle. They range from 10 to 24 lbs and are about 12 to 17 inches at the shoulder. In terms of temperament, mini and tiny goldendoodles may have a slightly higher energy level than the standard. Since we use calm poodles in our breeding program, we tend to produce docile goldendoodles, regardless of size. Generations F1 is a first generation cross in which the puppy is 50 percent golden retriever and 50 percent poodle. The F1 cross is considered the healthiest, as the parents are unlikely to contribute genes for common inheritable diseases. F1b is a backcross in which a goldendoodle is bred with a poodle. The puppy is 25 percent golden and 75 percent poodle. F1b puppies are the most likely to be non-shedding and allergy-friendly. Some breeders have backcrossed a goldendoodle with a golden, which results in a dog with more of the golden retriever traits. I prefer not to breed this backcross as there is a greater likelihood of shedding. F2 is a second generation cross in which an F1 goldendoodle is crossed with another F1 goldendoodle. If this is done for seven generations, a breeder could apply to register this dog as a purebred. The closer the generations come together, the more consistency there will be in the lines, but the genetic problems of the purebreds are more likely to reappear, and hybrid vigor diminishes. Some F2 puppies may have an improper coat instead of the fleecy softness we love in the doodles. While goldendoodles vary in appearance and coat type, an experienced breeder will be able to give you an idea of what the pup will look like as an adult, based on what the parents have produced in the past and what traits they see in the pup. Health and Lifespan I have been breeding goldendoodles since and have found them to be healthy dogs with few health concerns. My dogs live an average of 10 to 16 years — a standard will typically have a shorter lifespan than a tiny. While goldendoodles tend to be healthier than their parent breeds, they can still be prone to conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia and certain eye problems. Skin conditions, such as hot spots and allergies, are also seen in this mix, and like many other breeds, they may get cancer. Genetic testing can reduce the risk of many diseases. A reputable breeder will perform various tests and provide evidence of the successful results. This investment is usually reflected in the higher cost of the puppy for the buyer. A higher upfront cost will most likely reduce vet bills down the road. Goldendoodle Mismatch I believe the goldendoodle is a suitable dog for most people, with a few caveats: A low- to non-shedding coat means more time, effort, and money spent on grooming. Make sure you have plenty of time in your schedule to raise and train a new puppy. The hard work pays off in the end. Practically anyone could raise a goldendoodle, and they are a very good choice for first-time dog owners and people with small children. Welcome to Sunshine Acres, where our Goldendoodle puppies enjoy interacting with our family throughout each day. As experienced, ethical Goldendoodle Breeders we help match many families to their wonderful Irish Goldendoodle puppy. What are you looking for in your new puppy? A walking buddy, a cheer-giver, a friend of children? In your quest for a healthy, loving Goldendoodle, we can help match you with your ideal puppy. We are available with tips and advice to make the choosing easier since we interact with each puppy daily since birth. Let us know what characteristics you are looking for in your Goldendoodle puppy so we can point you to the puppies or litter that best matches those traits. Our puppies are born here. They are lovingly raised by our family. Because of this, we know not only their individual health history and temperament, but the history of their parents. We are glad to be a source of knowledge for you, not only before your Goldendoodle puppy comes home, but for the many years after, as well. Relationships are important to us and we are interested in watching our puppies integrate into your families and your lives. Featured Puppies. The size range of the female English Golden Retrievers I have owned range from lbs. In my 20 years of breeding English Teddy Bear Goldendoodles I am achieving a very good consistency with creating sizes. I am at the forefront of creating and perfecting the Pocket Size lbs. Micro is then a huge classification of any puppy less than 14 lbs. Whether you call them Micro Goldendoodles, Micro Petite Goldendoodles, Toy Goldendoodles, Teacup Goldendoodles; they all have the same great personality as their larger Goldendoodle ancestors in a cute small little package. Here at Hilltop Pups, we only breed Poodles with English Golden Retrievers for their excellent health record with an average life span of years. Absolutely no other breeds mixed in to rush the downsizing. Downsizing takes several generations by breeding in a smaller size poodle every 2 to 3 generations to retain the English Golden Retriever personality. Our smallest poodle here is 3 lbs. Since Hilltop Pups team is creating and perfecting the smallest Goldendoodles along with the increasingly popular Irish English Goldendoodles; we have our own size range chart of the average sizes we have witnessed in the past 20 years of breeding. Until an organization such as AKC or CKC identifies Goldendoodles as an official breed, no organization can state what the size standards are as they vary so greatly with breeders breeding American or English Golden Retrievers, plus the range of poodle sizes from lbs. Although Goldendoodles are not considered a Purebred dog breed; it is still important to register your puppy with a reputable canine tracking organization. This will allow breeders to have the information necessary to make responsible breeding decisions. I am an official Preferred Breeder by the strict Breeding Standards set forth by CKC which has the best pedigrees for tracking ancestors for breeding purposes. There are many Designer Dog Registries, but I prefer one of the two largest reputable groups. The English lines create the Teddy Bear look. The English Golden Retrievers have short stocky legs and shorter body length, whereas, American Golden Retrievers can have long bodies and are taller. From there we will have a better understanding of your wants and needs, to properly answer your questions. At Hilltop Pups you get the honor of choosing your puppy with our expert assistance of course. We do not assign puppies to you. We allow visitors because we are proud of our establishment. Beware of Breeders not allowing you to visit and hiding behind Parvo to scare you off. Google Earth those Breeders addresses and names. If you cannot find their name and address on their website immediately exit their website, they are hiding something such as arrest record for cruelty to animals. There are as many good Breeders as there are Puppy Mills out there. My two daughters Abby and Brittany are breeding dogs at their houses, and all puppies are raised with the same excellent breeding practices. Our three sons also house dogs for us; all their dogs are listed on my website, so we can link our websites together. I love hearing from my puppy parents how easy going their puppy is and friendly with everyone. This is due to all the loving care givers our dogs and puppies are with every single day. I have my three Granddaughters ages help with puppy Early Stimulation training and play, so puppies meet a wide variety of people and children in a comfortable trusting setting. When a puppy has been trained by only one person, say a lady; then the puppy may be fearful of a man or a child. Thus, we create confident, brave well-adjusted puppies. Luckily, I have the sweetest husband that cannot sit still and is always looking for something to do or something to clean up. Feel free to contact us via email preferred at hilltoppups yahoo. We will make every effort to answer your questions promptly and truthfully! During busy times, such as when there are several litters of puppies to care for or a mom in Labor, email is much easier for us and we can put in writing complex questions, so you have time to digest and study the information. Our FAQ page is an excellent place to start if you are not familiar with Goldendoodles, as I have collected 20 years of most often asked questions. Email is more efficient; when you call, I may be bathing or grooming a dog or puppy and I cannot leave them unsupervised. Emailing gives me time to answer questions thoroughly, attach reading material, pictures of puppies or Goldendoodles for example. For those people that cannot visit in person, we provide a lot of pictures and video to assist with the selection process. On our website you can search pages by size category, so you have less to look through. On the Sire and Dam pages all our dogs are listed and their health tests. Click on any document to view it. If you do not adopt a puppy from me request proof of health documents and pedigrees before submitting that non-refundable deposit. If a Breeder does not present documents up front, some never will. Some of the dogs listed on my website live with my two daughters and three sons. My two daughters work with me, live close by, and will someday take over my business. It all started here with a dog loving family with 5 children. With my background of Human Resource Management, I know how to research and apply my knowledge in respect to Breeding Laws, better breeding practices, and making my business the best it can be from the treatment of my dogs to my customer service. Some Breeders pick your puppy for you. At Hilltop Pups you get to choose your puppy with our expert advice. We post pictures of puppies every 7 to 10 days with videos, so you get to watch them grow. We schedule visits one hour apart at the top of each hour, once the schedule is full, we schedule on the half hour as well. After each visitor we disinfect everything that has been touched. I am aware some of you are coming a great distance. Go to your car in advance and GPS our address, make sure your GPS is set for highways "not scenic route" as we live on the edge of a town and the GPS will take you through winding country roads. Then give yourself an extra half hour, as I prefer you be early than late running into the next appointment. If you are not able to visit, I take many videos of the puppies and if you have narrowed down your selection to two puppies; we can make you videos of just those two puppies. Rarely in the last 18 years has someone changed their mind when they arrived here and picked a different puppy than the puppy they first fell in love with via our website. You are welcome to fly here to get your puppy. Currently American Airlines has resumed puppy shipping, but temperatures at any point in the flight including departure and layover, must be below 85 degrees and above 32 degrees. Which is a challenge here during the Summer and Winter months, plus any stop over destination and arrival destination temperatures. You are welcome to fly here; Louisville Kentucky airport is the closest at only 80 miles away. Many people are choosing Delivery to your door via vehicle delivery service. Here are reputable delivery companies I have been using for years; you contact the companies directly, arrange shipments with them, and pay them their shipping fee when they deliver the puppy to you. Flight Nanny Service contact Mary Venneketter for cost .Early Stimulation Training program is our highest priority which we start at 3 days old and once puppies are walking around, we still hold them every day on their backs, talk to them to create eye contact, rub all over them to make grooming easier in the future. We teach our puppies not to jump on people and to sit at your feet for attention. Puppies are paper trained to go on shredded paper which feels just like grass, so house training is a breeze, or if you need to train on potty pads that is easy as well. See what your puppy learns before you get the puppy home. The first step in your puppy's future. The next step in your puppy's future is your training from the very first day your puppy enters your home. Want to train your puppy from the convenience of your home as early as the day the puppy arrives home? No waiting until your puppy is fully vaccinated to start training. I suggest you start the training program before your puppy arrives; so you will be off to a great start. After completing this course your puppy should qualify. They are very friendly, helpful, easy to understand, and encouraging, which motivates you to continue in your training adventure. They offer video lessons, plus one on one training question and answer sessions via video chat. This is a Lifetime Program with Members Only Access to training methods, materials, and other resources needed for Pet Parenting and beyond. To continue training where we left off, I highly suggest you have the first unit completed before you get your puppy home. We create the best puppy for you, and you create the best Dog Ever! We are proud of our establishment and have a Visitation Room which includes windows for you to view where our Adult Dogs are Housed. We bring the puppies and adults to you to visit with them. For the safety of our dogs and puppies we do not allow you to walk through the facility, because we would need to disinfect everywhere you walked. We have had this practice in place since the beginning of our breeding program and have never contacted any health concerns by doing so, beware of Breeders that do not allow you to visit hiding behind false statements. Breeders walk everywhere in the world, shopping centers, gas station, Veterinarian Offices and then come home and walk around their kennels, just like anyone else. So why shouldn't people visit? I prefer puppies to get all the interactions they can with different people; you are providing valuable puppy training as well. Evansville is a one-hour drive. This is our house, not a public shopping center. We require appointments to visit as you do want to make sure we are home and able to focus our attention on you and have adequate time for you to interact with the puppies. This is not a large place; the visitation area can get crowded quickly if more than one family is visiting at a time. Our visitation Room does have windows on two sides, so you can see where and how all our adult dogs are housed. It is very important to stay as close to your scheduled arrival time as possible, give yourself that extra half hour for traffic concerns. We are at Eastern Time. Jasper is an aesthetically pleasing clean town of 15, and always rated at the top of the best places to live listings. How amazing it would be for AKC to do this; it is up to Breeders to commit to keeping their breed healthy going forward by health testing the parent dogs. Which believe me very few Breeders invest their money back into their dogs; so always demand copies of health testing prior to even submitting a deposit. DO Not trust Breeders that say they will provide the documents when the puppy goes home, demand proof up front. It is a nightmare to try to get paperwork from a Breeder after you have the puppy, because they do not have it. The Breeder is pulling on your emotions knowing you are getting attached to the puppy and then you are stuck with no proof that you have a healthy puppy that will live a long healthy life. Breeders never to rarely give you the correct documents after you have the puppy, learn from heart breaking experiences of having to re-home dogs that couldn't pass health screening. My research, commitment, and due diligence has paid off. Here is the foundation for creating the perfect Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and how to build conformity into the Breed. At Hilltop Pups we DNA test the coat type of all our dogs so we can create the most non-shedding hypoallergenic coat as possible. I follow this DNA rule when breeding to make sure my dogs are non-shedding. No guess work involved here; You can brush them and not even get hair to pull out. Next, we only breed with English Retrievers which produce a softer less shedding less matting coat than the coarser American Golden Retriever coats. The weight range of English Golden Retrievers that I have owned is for female and for males, although they look just and big and fluffier than the American Golden Retrievers. Next, we consider the color genetics behind the poodle: Reds-, browns-, and cream-colored poodles produce soft non-shedding coats. White, Gray, and Black poodles produce shredders even in the curly dogs; thus, they have been removed from Hilltop Pups breeding program. In we started breeding the Irish Goldendoodles. I am very pleased with what I have seen in the Irish Goldendoodles. Therefore, I only breed English Golden Retrievers as their life expectancy is years and very few ever have cancer. It takes a few generations to build the dark red poodle color back into the English Goldendoodles since the English Golden Retrievers are only white to cream. For the Irish we started with breeding a health tested American Golden Retriever to a health tested Irish Setter to get the hybrid vigor and dark red color; then bred that with a health tested male poodle and then back to another health tested poodle creating the F1b Irish Goldendoodles to ensure the hypo allergenic non-shed coats, plus get the dark red color and fabulous coats. Advantages of adopting an English Goldendoodle from Hilltop Pups Size range available 8 - 38 pounds Predictable size ranges for F2b and multi-Generations Hypoallergenic if past the F1 First generation, because we can DNA test the coat types for breeding. Fully Vaccinated for their age Trained with Early Neurological Stimulation Trained not to jump on people, but sit at your feet for attention Paper potty trained Pre-spoiled, loved, and well socialized Puppies go home with: A 2-year health guarantee; 4 years if you provide NuVet Vitamin Supplements Microchipped with pre-paid membership enrollment form CKC Registration Papers. Marley is a curious puppy who loves adventures and seeking out new places to explore. She would love a home with lots of hikes and exploring new things. We are a premier breeder of Golden Retrievers and Golden Doodles, and all of them are raised by our family! Raised With Love Raised on the farm in Western Maryland, all our puppies are raised by our family since .Kid-friendly Your new puppy will be used to having children around. Our children actively help with feeding and socializing the puppies from the day they are born. Trusted Since We started raising puppies in , and have had many happy customers over the years. Including many repeat buyers. We Love Raising Puppies! It gives us a deep sense of satisfaction to see one of our pups grow into a friendly, sociable, and obedient companion. Our pursuit of a complete puppy breeding recipe from socialization to general habitual behavior will probably never end, but our pups are consistently bringing happiness to families abroad! High standards for both health and behavior have always been in the front of our minds, and we have built consistency in meeting those standards. We truly want your new family member to bring you happiness for years to come! Our Reviews Thanks Again! We wanted to update you on Milo formerly Glendon. He will be 2 years old the beginning of March. We moved from Maryland to Idaho this past June. Milo loves the winter and our loads of snow. He is over pounds and nothing but silly and love. He is very well behaved and smart. He loves hiking and swimming. We are blessed to have him. He and our lab Kodiak love each other to pieces. Thanks again! They are such a sweet family and they made the puppy adopting experience run very smooth. They let me sit there for almost 2 hours trying to figure out which pup I wanted and they helped me decide. The Alton family is very good about giving you all the knowledge you need to know about the first few weeks of the puppy life. We drove to Maryland right as quarantine started last March. We picked up Clooney formerly Konner and fell in love immediately! He has been the best boy for the past year and was truly a blessing in disguise during a crazy time. Albark did amazing taking care of him before we picked him up. Thank you Albark! Emma Edmondson.

Loves to chase his tail and pesky flies, he is a soft-at-heart pup who has a Big character. A change in our circumstances unfortunately means we are unable to keep him although we would most dearly love to. A loving home for him is needed. He's had a health check from the vet and comes from healthy and well-tempered parents. Absolutely loves his food so will be able to train fully. He understands pointing to indicate a direction for him. House trained, microchipped and wormed. He is good at being protective over guarding the household and is not in the slightest territorial over food or toys. He will allow you to take a bone or food off him with ease. He loves to play ball more than anything, and loves walks, long grass, new scents, chewing on moon bones and chicken. This lovely pup needs a sizeable garden and ideally, someone who is used to similar breeds and has time to train him fully. He has great potential. He would be ideal for flyball. He can jump up - he is only a puppy so can be trained - and will certainly grow up into a big, handsome dog. He has excellent parentage. He is a stunning boy and whenever we go out always attracts compliments. A good choice if you're looking for a good-natured furry friend that will be your loyal companion and protector for years to come, He is very loveable characterful boy with a great personality and a goofy soul who just wants to play. Replies to msgs after 7pm .This is Denver who is actually a Scottie. His collar had become embedded in his neck, his body so infected that it stunk and pus excluded from all orifices. He was a stud dog from a puppy farm. He was lucky as he was handed over to a rescue - most aren't they are either shot or hit over the head. Daisy was 4. She lived her life as a tool to make money from. She never knew a home, a special family or a fireside. She had litter after litter, but when her weight dropped, her breathing was laboured, she could have no more pups, she was given to a rescue to home. It was decided immediately that she must see the vet. She sat in the waiting room for her turn to come and was cuddled, probably for the first time in her short life. She went into the vets' room, he listened to her heart, it was laboured, her belly swollen with fluid, all too far gone for help. She sat not able to stand any longer, the decision was made, she gave her paw while being cuddled. The vet nurse found the vein and the vet injected the yellow fluid to send her to sleep forever. Her living hell was over, we can only hope that a better place awaits her. For those people who paid hundreds of pounds for her puppies, they will probably have inherited the same heart condition from their mother and will live very short lives!! This one proved useless for breeding so was dispensed with. She would only crawl on her belly to start with, but now waggy and confident and so gentle. Rotty bitch gone past her sell by date so she was thrown out on the street by the breeder - thin, little coat and eyes that wept with pus. She has now had a successful eye operation that was done to restore her vision and stop the constant infection where her eyelashes grew in and rubbed relentlessly on her eyes. Her hair has grown back, and her loving nature is coming though. Worn out useless boxer unable to raise a litter as no desire to keep on living. This Labrador is just 18 months old though he looks .Poor dog didn't make the grade as a stud dog. He is blind in one eye because the breeders left an ulcer in his eye untreated which burst. He is with kind people who are trying to help him forget the last 18 mths but he is still very traumatised. Time may be a great healer but it won't give him his eyesight back. Some of the saddest dogs are the x puppy farm stud dogs. They have never known the kindness of a home or been for a walk, they do not even have the pleasure of the company of other dogs but live a life of isolation -scared of almost everything. This mastiff has had a rotten life and he will not be easy to rehome as he is so large. Breeding bitches, worn out bodies, no muscle tone and many with large mammary tumours. Living in dirty cells with up to 20 others, no human company or kindness, no playtime or long walks. Many have never seen the light of day. Puppies past their cute stage so dealers won't buy them - what will be their fate?!!!! If you buy a puppy from a dealer or a puppy farm, you may be making a very expensive mistake not to mention encouraging these people to breed more sick, unhealthy puppies. Think of the suffering of these poor helpless dogs. Ahh - the cute little puppy that was advertised for sale in the paper. The implications of not buying from a reputable breeder This is Minnie one of the hundreds of german shepherd puppies for sale in the UK who is just 10 months old and since just a few months old has suffered from severe hip dysplasia which has caused her pain, discomfort and disability. Although a little sweetheart, Minnie is not a great example of the German Shepherd breed being very small and underweight as well as having health problems. She has recently undergone surgery to correct problems with her left hip and at some point in the future, she may require total hip replacement on the right side. Puppies for sale! Think very carefully before deciding to buy that puppy. Why not consider taking a rescue dog instead, most rescues in the UK are full and desperate for kind loving homes. Hundreds of dogs are destroyed every week by the dog pounds because enough homes cannot be found for the increasing number of unwanted and unloved dogs. Much kinder for dogs than encouraging or lining the pockets of those who breed dogs for money with no thought to what they are breeding and little regard to the pain and suffering caused as a result of their greed. If there is no demand, the puppy farmers and irresponsible breeders will be put out of business. If you decide that you would prefer to buy a puppy please note that we are not prepared to recommend breeders but we would give the following advice. The kennel Club will give you a list of breeders on request. However this will not be an indication that these are reputable breeders, it will just be a list of breeders that register puppies with the KC. You should at least be able to see the mother of the puppies. Please note that the conditions in these puppy farms are horrendous with dogs kept in appalling conditions, some never seeing the light of day. Please do not encourage this trade. Parents of the puppies should be hip scored. Reputable breeders will breed with consideration not only for looks but also for good health but most importantly good temperament. When you get your puppy, remember that the German Shepherd is a working breed and will require training and socialisation. It will pay dividends later if you find a good training class for your new puppy. Insure your puppy, veterinary treatment is very expensive. German Shepherd Dog Breeders Think very carefully - the horrors of puppy farming!! We have some lovely older german shepherds looking for homes. Please don't be put off taking an older dog, they are more settled need less exercise and will be loyal companions. Many GSD's now live to 14 years. Please help us by making a donation so that we can help re home more unwanted German Shepherd Dogs. We also accept Paypal payments - just click on the Paypal button below. Please help support the rescue Please help us by making a donation so that we can help re home more unwanted German Shepherd Dogs. Thank you. Established in , only usually breeding a couple of litters per year. I trained and schooled the horses until they were fit enough to race. One of our best horses was "Mariner's Lad" who won both over hurdles and fences. I myself competed on the track until a bad fall in .I continued work riding and training until when the trainer gave up his permit and that is when I decided to turn my attentions to my other great love - German Shepherd Dogs. Partly from my name "Anita" and part from my beloved horse's name "Mariner" who unfortunately died from Torsion in - his memory lives on to this day. We aim to breed and rear the very best we can, construction, temperament, colour, show potential, soundness and workability! We consider ourselves a small kennel normally breeding just a couple of litters each year. Due to my serious health issues at the time, I took a break from the showring in .Since then to present date we have had excellent success in the ring with many Championship show wins, numerous SV gradings and also working qualifications. We relocated in to our current home which has nearly two acres of land, our dream for the dogs! They love the constant freedom and are extremely happy. With that comes the added extra of being able to give our puppies a fantastic start to life as they experience fun play, many new smells and love running free. The Marinita kennel name Affix is now jointly joined by myself Anita, and Melissa. We look forward to a successful future together. We hope that you enjoy your visit. Please bookmark and come back again soon.

How Much Sleep Golden Retrievers Actually Need July 26, Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase the item. This comes at no extra cost to you. Do you ever wonder how much sleep your Golden Retriever should be getting? How long Golden Retrievers sleep depends on several factors such as age, health, and lifestyle. Golden Retrievers sleep about 12 to 14 hours each day, with puppies and senior Golden Retrievers sleeping a little bit more. The age of a Golden Retriever is often the most significant factor that influences how much they sleep. Dogs are a crepuscular species. This means they are naturally most active at dawn and dusk. Evening zoomies, anyone?! They tend to sleep for chunks of time throughout the day and night, and can be fairly flexible and adaptable with their sleep patterns. Golden Retriever puppies need about 18 hours of sleep and rest each day. Puppies are baby animals, and babies need a lot of sleep. They are undergoing major physical and mental growth, and sleep is important to ensuring proper development. You might notice that some days your puppy seems to need a lot of sleep, and may even exceed 18 hours. Long naps might indicate that your puppy is having a growth spurt, and needs the extra rest. Other days your Golden Retriever puppy may not be as inclined to rest for quite as long. So the 18 hours is more of a guide, than a strict plan. Proper sleep helps keep your puppy happy, healthy and well-behaved. Want to potty train your puppy fast? Golden Retrievers aged 6 to 18 months need about 14 to 16 hours of sleep per day. This can seem like a lot, but this is because their brains are going through a big reconstruction from puppy brain to adult dog brain. They may not be 8-week-old puppies anymore, but sleep is still extremely important for adolescent Golden Retrievers. Adult Goldens need about 12 to 14 hours of sleep each day. How much your adult Golden sleeps in a day may vary depending on their overall health and activity levels. Just as with younger Golden Retrievers, adults can be negatively affected by lack of sleep. Dogs who are sleep-deprived can experience health and behavioral issues as a result. Senior Golden Retrievers need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep each day. Just like human senior citizens, older Goldens tend to slow down and sleep more. Some senior pups also have health issues that can cause them to sleep more too. Golden Retrievers enter the senior category starting at 8 years old. And in some cases, a lack of sleep can actually cause health problems for your dog. Maybe they have allergies that make them super itchy, causing them to wake up frequently from naps. Some Golden Retrievers can have anxiety issues that make getting enough sleep a challenge. Even digestive issues can create sleep difficulties for Goldens. So when it comes to sleep and health, it goes both ways. Some Golden Retrievers are experts at putting themselves down for a nap when they start to feel tired. Others seemingly never tire and are always ready for the next thing. While taking a nap and sleeping through the night might seem like normal, natural things for a dog to do, some will need more help and support to get sufficient rest. Good sleep for dogs means they are getting the right amount of sleep for their age. But it also means they are getting high-quality sleep, which means uninterrupted stretches of sleep. Dogs will usually nap for 30 minutes to several hours at a time. So quantity and quality are both important when it comes to good sleep for your Golden. Goldens are highly intelligent, and if you only focus on physical exercise, they may struggle with getting enough sleep because of excess mental energy. Some ways to incorporate mental exercise are puzzle toys , training games , and time to sniff in nature. Some Goldens excel in dog sports such as agility, obedience and nose work, and those can be excellent mental enrichment opportunities too. Nutrition Just like in humans, nutrition can also play a role in sleep for dogs. A healthy, balanced diet is an important part of getting proper rest. Essentially, think about what factors make it easier for your dog to fall asleep and stay asleep. If your dog tends to want to involve themselves in all the happenings in your household and, as a result, is sleep deprived, it might help to use a crate , pen , or baby gate to help them settle down. Confinement can be great for puppies and teenage Goldens as well, who may not have the skill of putting themselves down for a nap quite yet. Sometimes covering the crate , or draping a sheet over the pen, can cut down on visual stimulation and help pups fall asleep more easily. Consider what kind of surfaces your dog likes to sleep on. Some love a cool tile floor. Others enjoy a plush dog bed. Think about temperature too. Do they need a fan? Or a blanket? Other things like calming music and lavender can also help soothe dogs and help them fall asleep, whether during the day or at night. Just like humans will put babies and children down for nap time, you can do the same for your dog. Then make sure their sleep zone is set up to their liking. For some Goldens it can help to give them a toy to chew or lick , which can promote relaxation. So you might give them a yummy stuffed kong to work on as they transition from active and awake to relaxed and asleep. If you notice your dog sleeping more than normal, it could be an indication that they are sick. Excessive sleep could also be due to other factors such as warm weather, stress, or a particularly long hike, for example. If their increased sleep is accompanied by lethargy, lack of appetite or other changes in behavior, definitely consult your vet. Sweet Golden Dreams Understanding how much sleep your pup needs at the various stages of their life will help you ensure they are getting the right amount. A well-rested Golden is a healthier, better-behaved dog who can enjoy a happier life with you. And to help your Golden sleep well, read this post about the best bed for your Golden Retriever next. Getting a Golden Retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook. Related articles:. Yes, Golden Retriever puppies do sleep a lot, especially during the first few months of their lives. In fact, they can sleep up to hours a day. This is because puppies need lots of rest to support their rapid growth and development. As they get older and become more active, they will naturally start sleeping less. Golden Retrievers are known for their high energy levels and love of play. Their friendly and outgoing personalities make them considered among the most popular breeds worldwide. Their high energy levels also make them perfect for dog shows and other activities requiring a lot of exercises. Because of this, golden retriever puppies need more sleep than humans. This breed of dog has an inquisitive nature and needs plenty of energy to keep it engaged. Golden retriever puppies are born with an instinct to play, so providing them with plenty of opportunities to play and exercise is important. These include the age, health, and maturity of the puppy, as well as its activity level. Golden Retriever puppies need a lot of sleep in order to grow and develop properly. On average, a Golden Retriever puppy will sleep between 16 and 20 hours per day. However, the amount of sleep they need may vary depending on their age, activity level, and overall health. Puppies that are more active and playful may need more sleep than those who are less active. It is important to create a comfortable sleeping environment for your puppy, such as a cozy bed or crate, to help them feel safe and secure while they rest. When determining how much should a Golden Retriever puppy sleep, consider all of these factors and adjust the amount as necessary. How Much Sleep Your Golden Retriever Puppy Needs Golden retriever puppies require around hours of sleep in 24 hours when they are months old. After this, their sleeping hours reduce to hours a day as they become more experienced and efficient sleepers. This is the amount of sleep golden retriever puppies require for proper physical and mental development. The golden retriever breed is known for its ability to wake up quickly, so puppies need to get the sleep they need to grow and develop properly. During the first six months, puppies require hours of sleep daily. By the age of two months, golden retriever puppies should be sleeping hours daily. Before reaching this sleeping threshold, golden retriever puppies should be taken out for walks or playtime several times each day to keep them active and stimulated. Puppies also need plenty of nutrition and daily exercise to ensure a healthy lifestyle. As a general rule, golden retrievers sleep more as they age. They mature faster than other dog breeds and become less excited by new surroundings and people. A well-balanced diet will ensure the golden retriever has enough nutrients to stay healthy and energized during the day. If your house or yard is too busy or loud for the golden retriever, it might need help falling asleep at night. Establish a regular sleep schedule for your puppy when you bring it home. Keep crate sessions short — no more than 1 hour every 4 weeks of age — as this will help your puppy sleep soundly and avoid being overexcited or tired from too much sleep. You can also feed your puppy before bedtime to encourage good sleeping habits. Avoid erratic and inconsistent schedules during the night, affecting how much your puppy sleeps. Instead, ensure that your pup gets at least 18 hours of sleep daily by setting a consistent sleep schedule and feeding your dog simultaneously each day. Taking your puppy outside for a bathroom break and giving them breakfast daily is a great way to help them adjust to their new sleeping schedule. Additionally, spending some playtime together before bedtime is a good way to ensure they have plenty of energy for the night. Let your puppy out as soon as they stir after waking up from sleep, and feed them an hour before bedtime. Afternoon Routine For Your Golden Pup To help your puppy sleep at night, giving them a healthy lunch and plenty of playtimes during the day is important. You can also take them on a walk or play with them to keep them busy. Try taking your puppy for a potty break about an hour before bedtime and ensure they have enough time to use the bathroom. This will help reduce the risk of accidents in their sleep. Following this routine can help your puppy sleep well at night and enjoy a healthy and happy life. Evening Routine For Your Golden Retriever Puppy Establishing a sleep schedule with your puppy will make it routine to feed and exercise him at certain times of the day. In addition to feeding and exercise, you can also take a walk with your puppy or give him an outdoor bathroom break before bedtime. Additionally, it is important to establish a consistent routine with your puppy and family members. By consistently putting your puppy on a sleep schedule, you will help him learn to sleep when it is time for bed. Establishing a regular sleep schedule with your puppy can help him develop into a well-behaved and healthy dog over time. They generally sleep hours in 24 hours. This includes periods of sleep at bedtime and sleeping time. On average, puppies sleep hours per day from birth until the age of 4 months. This also includes nap times and rest periods between activities. When puppies are given longer sleeping stretches, they learn to sleep through the night by 4 months old. This helps them develop good sleeping habits that last throughout their lives. It is important to provide puppies with plenty of social and playtime opportunities to develop healthy sleep habits and social skills. How To Help Your Golden Retriever Puppy Sleep Providing a calm and comfortable environment is one of the best ways to help your golden retriever puppy sleep. You can do this by ensuring your home is free of distractions, such as other animals or children, and your golden retriever puppy has appropriate and comfortable bedding. In addition, limit the screen time for both you and your puppy, which can lead to excessive sedentary behaviour. These simple steps will help promote a better sleep routine for your golden retriever puppy. To ensure your puppy gets enough rest, the longest time they should be left alone should be at most four hours. This will help prevent your puppy from getting bored or destructive and help them sleep better at night. Puppy naps provide another valuable source of good quality sleep. Even though puppies do not experience Rapid Eye Movement or twitching while sleeping, naps are still a vital part of their sleep cycle and play an important role in their overall health and well-being. You can do a few things to help your puppy sleep through the night and avoid waking up during the night. Feeding your puppy at least an hour before bedtime and withholding water for 30 minutes before bedtime can help ensure your puppy is well-fed and ready to sleep. Avoiding disturbing your puppy when it naps can help ensure it gets enough sleep. Besides, give your puppy a bathroom break before crating for the night. The benefits of ensuring your golden retriever puppy get enough sleep go far beyond just a tired pet. It helps them develop healthy habits, such as sleeping through the night and waking up independently. It also helps their emotional development as they master their internal clocks. Plus, they feel more mentally sharp and less disease-prone if they get enough rest. Make sure your puppy gets at least 8 hours of sleep every night, and it will be just fine. Happy supper time. Conclusion When it comes to puppies, one of the most important things you can do is give them enough sleep. A Golden Retriever puppy should sleep between 12 and 14 hours per day, which will help them develop strong bones and muscles and a healthy immune system. Golden Retriever puppies require a lot of sleep and can sleep for long periods. From the first days of their life, golden retriever puppies sleep for at least 18 hours a day. They usually sleep for about 16 hours per day, with their sleeping cycle lasting about eight hours. Remember that golden retriever puppies are bundles of energy and love to play. We hope our information helped you to know how much should a Golden Retriever puppy sleep, including golden retriever puppy sleep requirements. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. A Golden Retriever puppy needs plenty of sleep, around hours in 24 hours. During the day, a Golden Retriever puppy needs multiple naps to recharge its growing body. Adolescent Golden Retrievers should be supervised for at most four hours. Golden Retriever puppies should be allowed to potty every hour at a young age. Ans: Golden Retriever puppies can sleep up to 20 hours daily and should receive frequent naps throughout the day. Golden Retrievers typically sleep hours per day as adults. Puppies need to sleep extra hours to support their growth and development and should be supervised for at most 5 hours during their first six months. By 4 months old, Golden Retriever puppies can generally sleep through the night. It is normal for puppies not to drink water all night and to sleep anywhere from hours in 24 hours. From weeks old, puppies may sleep hours in 24 hours. With proactive training and crate training, puppies may be able to sleep through the night by 10 weeks old or earlier. Golden retriever puppies may get darker as they age, but this is not a given. Some Golden Retrievers may stay lighter in color throughout their lives. When exercising a Golden Retriever puppy, the limit should never exceed four hours. Golden Retrievers should be supported for long periods as they reach full adulthood. Puppies need hours of sleep in 24 hours to fuel their growing bodies. Some common signs that a Golden Retriever maybe not getting enough sleep include drooping eyelids, excessive yawning, lethargy, decreased activity levels, and increased irritability. If you notice any of these signs in your puppy, it is important to take action to ensure adequate rest. Weather Health All these factors can contribute to how much your Golden Retriever puppy sleeps, either increasing or decreasing the amount of sleep. Knowing which factors affect sleep is important because your Golden Retriever puppy must get enough sleep to grow and develop normally. So, understanding how to create the best sleep environment for your puppy ensures that it gets enough sleep and quality sleep. Age Age is typically the single most significant factor in the amount of sleep. As your puppy grows, it will require little less sleep. The amount of sleep should get down to about 14 — 16 hours a day as the Golden Retriever grows in adulthood. The younger the puppy, the more they sleep Puppies play a lot when not sleeping and often at a furious pace. As well, they grow and develop rapidly. That all requires a lot more sleep. As they slow in growth, their amount of sleep trends down slightly as they age. However, even adult Golden Retrievers spend the majority of their day sleeping. Activity Level Next to age for puppies, activity level is often the most significant contributor to sleep volume. Although puppies spend a good portion of the day and night sleeping, they still require activity, such as physical exercise, and mental stimulation e. How much activity they need is discussed below in the tips section. However, consider that more play and exercise means a more tired puppy and more sleep. Weather When temperatures rise in the summertime, it may be uncomfortable for a young puppy to sleep. Dogs typically have a much harder time dealing with hotter temperatures than we do. So, during hot summer nights, your puppy might find it difficult to cool down and sleep, especially if you lack air conditioning. Ceiling fans work well for circulating heat and keeping the room cooler. You can also sleep on the main floor or in the basement, which is often cooler than sleeping upstairs. For example, I have a mattress topper that I carry to the main floor during hot summer nights. Health Sick puppies or puppies with medical conditions might need more sleep. As well, some medications can impact sleep. If your puppy is sick, the extra rest helps it recuperate. If the puppy has a medical condition or one that requires medication, then make sure to discuss potential sleep impacts with your vet. It is essential to be informed and know what to do. Sleep during the day and night can differ, but both are important. Dogs, including puppies, very much live their lives by their internal clocks or circadian rhythms. While a sleep schedule is often most important through the night, ensuring the puppy has adequate sleep when it needs it during the day is also essential. Just like babies and toddlers need naps for healthy development and growth and to not be cranky or overtired , puppies also need to nap for the same reasons. Consider these tips to ensure your Golden Retriever puppy can sleep through the day. Do Not Disturb the Puppy When Napping Puppies are adorable, and often we are tempted to pick them up or play with them. However, it is essential to not disturb a puppy when napping. They are sleeping because their bodies need it. Consider how you feel when abruptly woken from a deep nap or sleep. For example, teach children to wait for a puppy to wake up before playing or cuddling. Try not to wake a puppy while napping — their growing body and minds need that sleep Schedule Nap Times Earlier, we touched on how important consistent sleep is to a puppy and how they sleep naturally based on a circadian rhythm. Typically, puppies will nap after a bout of exercise and play during the day. A natural routine may look like this; they eat, go potty, play, then nap for 30 minutes to two hours. Understanding that they typically sleep after an activity ensures that you can set aside quality time for napping. It also allows you to schedule some of YOUR activities during this time. For example, cooking and cleaning are much more difficult with an underfoot puppy that is eager to play. Teaching your Golden Retriever to settle to a mat or elevated bed helps in this regard. Scheduling activities can also ensure your puppy tires at the appropriate time. For example, understanding that puppies like to play after a meal, make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise in the evening after supper. This will help expend his energy into the evening, so he sleeps through the night and helps him settle during the time you usually compress in the evening to watch TV. Teach the Puppy to Self-Soothe Like children, puppies can become overstimulated, making it difficult to wind down. While play and exercise are essential, too much can be overwhelming. Disrupting nap times may cause the puppy to be overtired. As noted in the first tip, do not disturb the puppy when napping. This is the first step to teaching a puppy how to self-soothe. In this way, it gets the largest block of quality sleep during the night, which coincides with when we need our best sleep as well. So, how do you ensure that your Golden puppy sleeps through the night? Below are some suggestions to help with that goal. Give It Enough Exercise During the Day While overstimulating a puppy can impact sleep, so can understimulating a puppy. All that pent-up energy from lack of physical and mental activity during the day means you might have a puppy that is energetic well into the evening and gets up frequently during the night. How much activity do puppies need? In addition to playing and mental stimulation, puppies need their month in age x 5 minutes of physical exercise twice per day. So, for example, take a 3-month-old Golden Retriever puppy. It would need 15 minutes of exercise twice per day or 30 minutes total. Lack of physical and mental stimulation can affect both the quantity and quality of sleep. For example, a small puppy that does not get enough physical or mental stimulation will have pent-up energy. As a result, you may find a puppy that not only seeks more attention but will sleep less than a more stimulated and tired puppy. A well-exercised puppy is a tired puppy Keep a Regular Schedule It is crucial to put puppies on a consistent and regular sleep schedule. The goal is to teach the puppy to hold its bladder through the night and get the most extensive single block of its sleep through the night when you are sleeping. An erratic and inconsistent schedule during the night can affect how much your puppy sleeps. For example, if you are constantly up to all hours, and your puppy is often up with you, it may impact your ability to get your puppy on a consistent sleep schedule. Dogs, including puppies, do not live their lives by a clock. So, the last thing you want is a puppy that is up during the night and sleeping all day, because that is what it is accustomed to. And as discussed earlier, puppies need both enough sleep and good quality sleep for healthy brain and body development. Establish a Routine Puppie catches on to routines very quickly. Often they will know when you are getting ready to leave in the morning when you brush your teeth and start getting dressed. Bedtimes can be similar. He then goes out for a potty break, gets a treat, and then immediately runs up and jumps on my bed, and goes to sleep. He knows his routine because it was taught as a puppy. Someplace where you can hear the puppy is beneficial should the puppy need to go potty during the night. Also, make sure the room is dark, cool, and quiet. Night Is Not for Play Your puppy may need a potty break during the night, or it may not be ready to sleep yet. In addition, they often want to play afterward or do not need to go potty but rather want attention. Then, bring the puppy back to its bed or crate and go to sleep. Resist the temptation if it whines or tries to engage you in play. The puppy needs to learn that nighttime is for sleep. The same patient and positive rules apply. Keep putting the puppy in its bed calmly and with lots of praise. Crates work well because they can be closed, which prevents the puppy from escaping and engaging you. Most puppies, once accustomed to crates, will love them! Bailey slept in his crate as a puppy, but now sleeps on my bed Just be prepared to ignore whining, barking, and crying as the puppy tries to get you to give in to your guilt by playing on your heartstrings. Training a puppy, especially during the night, can be challenging. So, if you need training help I reviewed the best online dog training courses to determine the best ones. The link is in the big gold box at the end of this post. Expect your Golden Retriever puppy to sleep upwards of 16 to 20 hours per day. Most of all, enjoy those times of sleep. When the puppy is not sleeping, it can be a whirling tornado of crazy activity. Raising Goldens: Recommendations and Resources. Golden Retrievers, young or old, need a large amount of sleep. Puppies 8 to 10 weeks old or about 2 months old will sleep for 18 to 20 hours a day, so there is no need to be concerned when your puppy is playing ferociously and then promptly falls asleep. In order for your puppy to mature in a healthy time span, sleep is important because it releases vital growth hormones and energy for the body. When your puppy is 8 to 10 weeks old, not only should they be getting proper amounts of sleep, but they should be participating in canine social skills. You can sign up for a puppy kindergarten class, which helps build proper social skills such as bite inhibition and socialization in new environments. This also gives puppies a healthy way to release their bundle of energy so that they can sleep well. Playing with your puppy will also help them use their energy so they can sleep well. If your puppy is teething, keep an eye on how this process affects their sleeping habits. Teething can make a puppy more tired because of the discomfort, but it should not change the puppy's day other than some extra chewing , whining, drooling, and barking. In fact, it's more common for puppies to become more rambunctious while teething to cope with the pain, so they will sleep less rather than more. If your puppy is lethargic while teething, or sleeping more than 20 hours, this can show an underlying health issue that requires a visit to the vet. What are the 3 Stages of Sleep for Golden Retrievers? There are three stages of sleep for all dogs. Naps Naps happen when dogs are bored or have nothing to do during the day. Their minds are still awake and their muscles are not completely relaxed. This means they can wake up at any time. For puppies, naps happen because they are necessary. Sleep Sleep happens at night. A dog's muscles are completely relaxed and they do not wake up for long periods of time. This is when you see your puppy's eyes twitch, run in their sleep, or even bark. This is all completely normal and just means your dog is dreaming. Like babies, Golden Retriever puppies may have a hard time sleeping through the night, especially when they first move into your home and still need to get used to the new environment. By the time they are 16 weeks old or 4 months old , puppies are able to sleep through the night because they have settled into your home, established a routine, and they don't have to go to the bathroom multiple times every night. Dogs are similar to humans. Our brains love routines! Like when puppies know that it's time to eat, sleeping can be the same way. Young puppies may not sleep through the night because they are nervous about their new environment, are teething, or have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. There are many ways to establish a quality sleep routine for your puppy. Go Potty Before Bed Take your puppy to go to the bathroom right before they go to bed. That way, when they go outside to use the bathroom, they will know that it's time to wind down and go to sleep. This creates less stress for your little friend because they will be going somewhere that is familiar and is associated with sleep. Keep the Sleeping Area Dim and Quiet Reducing bright lights and loud noises will encourage your puppy to fall asleep faster. This will indicate that everyone in the home is sleeping and tell them that it's time for them to sleep as well. Go to the Restroom When Needed When your puppy needs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, be gentle. If you react aggressively, your puppy will associate nighttime with stress. Reacting without a big emotion will help to build trust. Go Outside in the Morning Have your puppy wake up at the same time every day and let them run around outside! This will help your Golden Retriever get their energy out and associate waking up with something positive. Sleeping with your puppy can ease anxiety symptoms for both dogs and humans. However, because dogs and humans have different sleep cycles, this can affect the quality of sleep you both get. In many cultures, dogs and their owners have slept in the same space. In the United States, it is more frowned upon and assumed to be the cause of behavioral problems. Research shows that co-sleeping with your dog does not automatically cause behavioral problems. Any problems that come up are most likely due to previous issues. If you are concerned about dealing with behavioral issues while trying to sleep, place your puppy's bed close to yours. This way, you can still create a bond while still having your space. By the time Golden Retrievers are adolescents or 1 year old, their sleep time will decrease. Fully grown Golden Retrievers will sleep 12 to 14 hours a day. Senior Golden Retrievers may sleep 15 to 20 hours a day. Cindy J. Cindy is a prolific writer and online researcher who can't imagine life without dogs. There is scarcely a dog topic she has not researched or written about. Her love for dogs and helping dog parents is evident by the thousands of dogtemperament. Most of all, each topic Cindy writes on helps forge a stronger bond and understanding between her and her happy Catahoula Leopard Dog Jossie. They tend to sleep for long periods, making many people wonder if their Golden retriever puppy is healthy. So, how much sleep does a Golden Retriever puppy need? In general, Golden Retriever puppies need to sleep between 15 and 20 hours each day. A Golden puppy is a ball of energy when awake, and needs several hours of sleep after each play session. A young Golden retriever puppy is growing rapidly, and needs all that sleep to grow and build their muscles. Be sure to keep reading if you have a young Golden retriever pup at home! This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! How Much Sleep Your Golden Retriever Puppy Needs Adult Golden retrievers tend to spend more time asleep up to 12 hours a day than many other dog breeds because they are big dogs and expend a lot of energy. You can expect your Golden retriever puppy to sleep much more than that! It is not uncommon for a new Golden puppy to sleep between 18 and 20 hours each day. When your new puppy is awake, it is burning a lot of energy, as they are always on the move! They are also growing a lot during this time, which requires plenty of sleep. Golden Retriever Puppies: Factors That Impact Sleep In addition to needing sleep to grow, there are several other factors that could cause your Golden retriever puppy to want to take naps more often, such as: The weather: Hot weather can make dogs feel fatigued. You can help keep your puppy cool by taking them on morning walks when the sun is low. Also, you can keep your Golden cool by letting them play in the water. Golden retrievers love water and can even learn to swim if introduced to it at a young age. And Is It Safe? Their diet: Problems with their diet can also cause puppies to feel extra sleepy, a puppy needs a high quality puppy food like Blue Buffalo Natural Puppy Amazon to provide plenty of energy throughout the day. Poor quality foods are full of ingredients that will sap your pups energy as they try to digest it. Sickness: If your puppy is sick, he or she may start to sleep even more. Keep an eye out for other symptoms, such as vomiting. They are bored: An older puppy 6 months to a year might be taking naps if there is nothing else for it to do. Make sure that you play with them often and get them to exercise every day. Try to have plenty of puppy toys around the house to keep them engaged. Overall, it is normal for a golden retriever puppy to sleep a lot as they are growing rapidly, and need sleep to grow and develop. The above factors could also be causing them to take more naps, which is normal. You can try changing their food and getting them onto a better sleep schedule if you are concerned they are sleeping too much. Even if your young puppy is sleeping for 20 hours a day, they are likely healthy. How To Put Your Golden Retriever Puppy on a Sleep Schedule If your Golden retriever puppy is waking up during the night or being disruptive when they should be asleep, you will need to put them on a sleep schedule. Like human babies, puppies have to learn to sleep through the night. Having a consistent routine can help your puppy get more restful sleep, which will keep them healthy and happy! Feel free to make any changes that will fit your lifestyle better. Just remember that consistency is the key. By: Author Jennifer Seegmiller If you are a new proud owner of a Golden Retriever puppy you may think and wonder how can this little puppy be so full of life and energy one minute, and then completely asleep and dead to the world the next. You may wonder what is a normal amount of sleep for your puppy or full-grown Golden Retriever. Adult Golden Retrievers will sleep on average hours a day. Golden Retriever puppies will sleep hours a day in a hour period. How much your Golden Retriever sleeps depends a lot on their personality. Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs so they may sleep a little less than other breeds. If you are fit and active your Golden Retriever will likely be also. If you are relaxed and laid back, your dog may be similar to you. Continue reading to find out. How much sleep does a Golden Retriever need? Puppies, adults, seniors Golden Retriever Newborn Sleep Patterns This stage of life is very short and full of lots of shut-eye! Newborns generally nurse every 2 hours but even while doing so they will have their eyes shut and look as though they are eating in their sleep. As they grow they will slowly start to spend more time awake. Around 3 weeks old they will have around hours of active time a day broken up into small spurts of energy and exploring their world. They need plenty of sleep to fuel and recharge their growing bodies. From months old, Golden Retriever puppies will generally sleep around hours in a hour period. This includes sleeping at night and daytime naps. Your puppy will sleep in longer stretches at night, but will still need to get up to relieve its small bladder and stretch. He may even have a burst of energy and seem like he wants to play. With some patience and guidance, your puppy can learn to sleep through the night by 4 months old, maybe even sooner. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission. Older puppies from around months old will sleep about hours throughout a 24 hour period. At this point, they should be more active and inquisitive during the day and will be better about sleeping through the night in hour stretches. They will also take multiple naps during the day, as well as times of rest when they appear to be just lying around, but somewhat alert as well as high energy awake time when they will want to play and train. When will my Golden Retriever puppy sleep through the night? Golden Retriever puppies will generally sleep through the night by about 4 months old, but it can range from 8 or 9 weeks old all the way through 6 months old. Some puppies may also go through a sleep regression when going through a growth spurt or teething. Towards the end of this article, we will discuss those in the heading sleep problems and solutions. Fun fact: Senior dogs, as well as puppies, tend to twitch more in their sleep! This is due to a part of their brain called the Pons which regulates muscles and keeps them still while they sleep. Golden Retriever Adult Sleep Patterns Your adult Golden Retriever will normally sleep around hours in a 24 hour period, but more as he ages. In this study, researchers found that older and middle-aged dogs slept more during the day than young adult dogs. This was because they took more naps, not because their naps were longer. They tend to run out of energy and need to rest more often than the younger group. Older and middle-aged dogs also slept more at night than younger dogs because they had long stretches of sleep at night waking up later and woke up fewer times during the night. Golden Retrievers are bred to hunt and herd. It is ingrained in them to want to do a job! They tend to be pretty high-energy and love to be kept busy with games and exercise. Because they may have a bit more energy than other breeds, they may sleep a little less than other breeds as well. Some owners I talked to said that if their Golden Retrievers are left home alone all day they tend to just sleep since there is no one there to engage them with play or give them a reason to exercise. So as you can see their sleep schedule greatly depend on the kinds of habits you develop for your dog. At this time you will probably start to see your dog slowly increasing the amount of time it is resting and sleeping. Senior Golden retrievers will sleep hours a day on average as they get to be years old and older they could be sleeping up to 18 hours a day. For older Golden Retrievers, these could be signs of more serious issues such as dementia, arthritis, hypothyroidism, or other conditions associated with older age. Your Golden Retriever may be waking up more at night because its bladder is getting older and they need to use the potty more often. You can try and help with this by taking them out right before bed and limiting their water intake just before bed as well. Can Golden Retrievers sleep outside? Golden Retrievers can sleep outside if they are provided with adequate shelter and brought inside in extreme weather. However, it is not recommended that Golden Retrievers sleep outside. Golden Retrievers thrive on relationships and being close to their owners; sleeping outdoors can be lonely for this social breed. Even though sleeping outside may not be the ideal solution for your Golden Retriever, your dog most likely loves being outdoors! Many Golden Retrievers may have a desire to live outdoors all day long, and some may even ask to be outside at night. If your dog is comfortable with this and you live in a temperate climate, there is really nothing wrong with your dog living and playing outdoors, as long as your dog has adequate shelter and socialization it needs to thrive. After speaking to many Golden Retriever owners I found that the majority of them have their dog sleep inside. Most owners state their hot or humid climate as being the reason their dogs sleep indoors with them as well as their dogs need to be by their side following them around day and night. Some owners who have a dog door allow their Golden Retriever to choose whether to sleep indoors or outdoors. Why does my Golden Retriever sleep so much? Many factors could contribute to your Golden Retriever sleeping a lot. Puppies and senior dogs sleep more than adult Golden Retrievers. Stress, anxiety, boredom, diet, or disease can all be factors for why your dog is sleeping more than usual. In most cases, it is normal for dogs to sleep 12 or more hours a day. Lethargy or a lack of energy and enthusiasm can be a sign that your dog is being affected by something more than just laziness or a bit tired. If this describes your dog then definitely consult with your vet. Many diseases and age-related problems can come with a change in sleeping patterns. Some dogs will sleep more in the wintertime because the days are shorter and colder. You can read this article I wrote to learn more about that. Do Dogs Hibernate? Winter Weather Questions Answered If you think your dog is sleeping a lot because of boredom you can always make an effort to have more playtime and exercise sessions with your dog. You could hire a dog walker we have a neighborhood teen that loves to walk dogs for a very reasonable rate! Or join a fun program you can work on together like this popular brain training for dogs course! Sleep problems and solutions for puppies and adults If you are struggling with getting your Golden Retriever to settle down and sleep at night you are not alone. Things that may be making this challenging can range from crying or whining at night, waking up in the middle of the night, struggling to settle down, or waking up too early in the morning. Some dogs will start to sleep well through the night then a few weeks or months later start to wake up again. This is called a sleep regression and can be normal. Similar to human babies when puppies are teething or going through growth spurts it could cause them to wake up at night or have difficulties sleeping. This routine can include using the restroom, bringing the noise level down, dimming the light, creating a relaxing and calm atmosphere. Give them plenty of exercise: Since Golden Retrievers are bred to herd and work on a farm or ranch. Golden Retrievers need plenty of stimulation and exercise each day. Two hours a day for a high-energy Golden Retriever should be the minimum. The best time for a good exercise session is about 2 hours before bedtime. Try to include high cardio exercise as well and engaging brain activities so that your Golden Retriever will be both physically tired as well as mentally tired. If your dog sleeps in his own bed, or in a crate, having something that smells like you and a small stuffed animal to snuggle with can help him feel more safe and secure. This is especially true for puppies. One Golden Retriever owner said that the only way to get their dog to settle down and sleep is to put him in his crate in a quiet place with a blanket draped over the crate. Try changing meal times or limiting food and water: Take up their water after a certain time of the evening. If your Golden Retriever seems to need a bathroom break in the middle of the night all the time you can try changing his meal time to be a few hours earlier so he will get the poop out before bed or a few hours later so he can hold it until tomorrow. Either way, you may want to slowly adjust the time of his meals to see if that will help with the late-night bathroom breaks. If early morning waking is a problem, try figuring out what it is that may be waking them up: Is the sun coming up? Try adding some darkening curtains. Are there noises such as birds or early morning traffic? Try adding some white noise by using a noise machine like this one from Amazon affiliate link. All it takes is some investigative work to try and figure out what may be causing the problem. If nothing seems to be working, your dog has changed his sleep patterns suddenly, he seems very lethargic and low on energy all the time, or he has other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, blood in his stool, or other concerns then you should take him to the vet immediately to get checked out. Pro Tip: If you are not able to get a hold of a vet near you, or you want to avoid an unnecessary ER trip, there are online resources that you can turn to. Here is our best recommendation:.

Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. You might want to limit them to one or two rooms in the house at first so they can get used to everything slowly in their own time. Calming products: Plug-in diffusers that release calming pheromones can be good for the first few weeks. They can help your puppy feel more relaxed around the home — especially during those first nights! Set boundaries: Make sure your boundaries are clear from the beginning and stick to them. You can begin by socialising your puppy at home and by carrying them out and about with you. If they need to sleep and rest, give them the space to do so and encourage them to play on their own sometimes to help prevent separation problems later in life. Consider training classes: It can be a good idea to go along to training classes with your puppy, so you can let them have positive experiences with vaccinated dogs and people in a safe environment. Make sure you choose classes run by trainers who are certified or accredited and use reward based methods. For more tips, read our guide on the first day with your puppy. It's also a good idea to get your new puppy insured as soon as possible. This will help make sure they have all the cover they need in future if they fall ill or become injured. Feeding your puppy With so much choice available, it can be tricky to know what to feed your new puppy. Puppies need a particular level of nutrients compared to adults to help them grow, so finding an appropriate puppy food is essential. Speak to your vet for advice on the best puppy food for your dog to make sure you pick one that will suit their needs as they grow. You can still keep your puppy happy and entertained in lots of other ways, for example playing games or trying a puzzle feeder. Before you start exercising your puppy in the big wide world, you must make sure that their vaccinations are fully up to date, in order to keep them safe and healthy. Training your puppy Your new puppy will likely need to learn all of their skills from scratch, which means lots of basic training! Start the basics at home, such as teaching your dog recall and sit. It can help the two of you bond, and your pup will see training as a fun thing to do. One thing that most people think about when bringing their puppy home, is toilet training! Always use positive, reward-based training and never punish your puppy for toileting in the wrong place. Toilet training might take time — some pups can learn toilet training in a few months, while others might take a lot longer. Lab Puppy proof the house. Things like dangerous chemicals, solvents, cleaning solutions, paint and other dangerous substances need to be secured. As well you will need to look at cords hanging and things falling on the puppy if they accidentally pull something down. Stairs need to be gated off until your puppy is older and learns how to walk down them without trying to jump off. Purchase a quality dog food. It never ceases to amaze me how some people end up feeding a low quality food to their dog, or something experimental like a vegan food, or even feed them a so called raw diet and not balance their nutrition requirements. The single biggest thing you can do for your dog is feed them a proven diet with nutrients delivered in the proper ratios. A second thing to consider is where your food is made and how you can be notified if there is a recall. At the time of writing this there is a popular food under recall for toxic levels of vitamin D. There have been numerous cases of deaths related to this and yet the company claims they independently test their ingredients. The food we recommend is such because we have years and years of experience over 13 years with it using it ourselves and recommending it to those who adopt our puppies. We have actually had so few health issues with our puppies and aging adults eating this food that we have increased our warranty to 4 years and include all major organs. Bottom line, feed a high quality proven food from the day you bring your puppy home, not necessarily one with the most protein. We will provide you with feeding suggestions once you place your reservation for a puppy and a proven puppy food to feed them. Visit the pet store for the required equipment. You are going to need a large dog crate with a divider so in the beginning your puppy will have just enough room to sleep. Crate training is the best way to protect your puppy while making them safe when unsupervised. As your dog grows you can remove the divider so it has room to lay down and not touch the walls. We stock the most popular toys and cover all the different types you will need so that you can get them when you pick up your puppy. They come with explanations of how the different types are used to both stimulate, calm and play with your puppy, how to cycle them, teething, and more. A stainless steel water and food bowl is also another good choice. I would wait on getting a collar so that you can fit them properly. We have inexpensive training leashes that adjust to any size for you to purchase when you are here. Have a family meeting to establish expectations. Every human in the home will need to follow the same rules consistently so that your puppy understands what is expected of them. Schedule an appointment with a good Veterinarian. Not all Veterinarians are of equal experience. We have heard some pretty crazy stories, so we suggest you get some referrals of some long term relationships of people you trust for a Vet. You should take your puppy to the vet a couple of days after you get home so it has time to get use to its new surroundings before being taken somewhere. Prepare fore the Drive Home 1. Your puppy can last about 2 or 3 hours without a potty break. We normally feed your puppy early in the morning on the day of pick up so that it has time to go potty before the drive home. Our recommendation is to give your puppy some water every 3 hours and then let them have a pee. This could also go along with letting them play or explore outside a bit. When you stop, find an unused grassy space to potty on. Arriving at home with your puppy 1. First quickly bring them to the spot you want them to potty. This is the beginning of your dog being house trained. They will likely have to go right after you get out of the car. So when you stop, give them a drink in the area you want them to relieve themselves in. Wait until they go and then you can take them into the home. Treat your puppy like a puppy. It is breakable and will be a puppy for about a year. Things like playing with larger dogs and such should be carefully supervised. Constant supervision. Your new puppy needs to be constantly supervised until they can be trusted and you know that they understand the rules. Constant supervision means either you or someone watching them, they are in their crate the crate is the supervisor , or that they are in a section of the home baby-gated off or also an outside run with a kennel and a cement floor so they cannot dig under the fence yes they will dig. After a potty bring your puppy to the room with their crate. Introducing them to their crate perhaps with a few pieces of kibble in it will show them where their safe space is. This is also where they need to be comfortable enough to self-calm and fall asleep. If you have another dog, first introduce them outside on neutral territory. Bringing a new puppy and simply coming straight into the home could have one of three effects. The first being that both dogs might be ok with it. Second is that the older dog has an issue with a new strange animal in its territory. This would result in your older dog being defensive, maybe even protective or possibly anxious and scared and once this has happened it is out there. Undoing this type of trauma could take days or weeks. Relax and let them get to know each other and all will be good. After some get familiar time begin training your puppy without distractions using Positive Reinforcement training methods. We suggest that everyone participates in some training classes either in a group format or private. The important thing to understand is that you are training you to train your puppy. Your puppy will also lose any training it has done if it is not reinforced by everyone in the home. Other resources are 80 Puppy Training tips that you can learn as well as an excellent site with video called Puppy Trained Right. We have a discount code available for those who are taking home one of our puppies. This will allow them time to eliminate most of their food and urine and will give a better chance of sleeping the night without having to go potty. Prepare their crate in a quiet, dark spot. Make it a sleepy place, place a blanket over the top and down 3 sides to block draft and to make it den-like. Some mild exercise or training just before bed. Just like a human, you want them to be tired before bed. So for example if you let them sleep from 9 to 11 pm they may not need to go down at 11 to sleep. The last while before bed try to stimulate them mentally and physically so that they are ready to turn in. This can be training sessions, a walk, a play session or even fetch in the house. One final potty around 11 pm. After you prepare them for sleep take them out one more time and give them ample time to relieve themselves. Bring them back in, let them settle in the crate, put an item of clothing in there that smells like you for them to snuggle on. The quicker they learn the new pack and learn to settle in the crate the better and that happens by not reminding them of their old litter. If they smell their old litter they will whine for them to find them. Settling in their crate. Once your puppy goes down you will want to be teaching your puppy that the time in their crate is for sleep, they are safe in there, and that if they bark or whine they cannot summon you to save them. So, what if they really have to go? This is something you will have to figure out. It may be possible that they must go outside to relieve themselves, but, they may also just want you to hold or feed them. If they go, just put them back in their crate to settle and go back to sleep. You will know within reason that next time they are just lonely. This normally stops after about 2 or 3 days. Whoosh them out to their pee spot. Pick them up and carry them quickly to their pee spot. When they go reward them with praise and say the potty word that you use. Feed, and then woosh them out again to their pee spot. Puppies often need to poop right after they eat, or sometimes while they are eating. Some exercise, training and mental stimulation. After waking up and eating they will be ready for a walk and some training. Setting them up for their first full day in the home. Plan their day out so that there is a balance of play, training, napping, eating, and potty. In the beginning your puppy will need about 20 hours or so of sleep a day so be sure it is getting enough. If your puppy gets nippy they may be trying to tell you they are tired and want to be left alone in their crate. Every opportunity that your puppy presents in the form of nipping is a training opportunity to teach bite inhibition. Coming home to your puppy after work. Learning how to greet them. If you work full time it is important to understand that a young puppy cannot hold their bladders for more than 3 or 4 hours. If you work full time you will need someone to watch them or at least visit them once or twice during the shift to let them out, drink and play. When you arrive home this is the time to teach them manners. Most dogs will be excited and will jump on you to greet you. Be sure you teach them how you want them to greet people. We will teach a dog to sit in front of us before it gets any attention. No attention means no talking, no eye contact and no touching. Will they need to relieve themselves? If they have been in a crate you will likely need to let them go potty, a walk or some fetching would also be good at this time because they likely have some energy to expend. Training pre or post feeding? There are also some Labs who are not food motivated. So if your Lab is not responding well to training after they are fed, you may want to train them before eating so the hunger is on your side. Socialization with people other than your family, and animals other than those in the home. While socializing you want to expose them to many people while not overwhelming them. To start we recommend 1 new person each morning and one new place each night. After you can see that your puppy is not overwhelmed you may decide to increase the frequency of exposure to new places, animals and things. Prepare for night time routine. Get your new furball ready for bed time as outlined above. Setting your puppy up for success. Avoiding dog parks and strange dogs. Until your puppy is fully vaccinated around 14 weeks old they are vulnerable to other diseases by unknown dogs. By all means, if you know someone who has a dog and you can verify that their dog is up to date on all shots such as Parvo, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Kennel Cough, Distemper, Hepatitis, Corona and Para Influenza, 2. Get into a reputable training class or private training with a reputable trainer. Training classes are mainly to train you. Ask around in your area for a recommendation of a good trainer at a reasonable price. Gentle, regular exposure to everyone and everything. For example, while you are exposing them to people you will need to expose them to female babies, toddlers, pre teens, teenagers, young adult women, middle aged women and older women. You will need to include women with glasses, hats, soft voices, loud voices, etc…. Adjust their food as they grow and as their activity level increases or decreases. If for example your dog is much more active or much less active then the recommended feeding amount will not be correct. Instead use your eyes. You might have to adjust the food amounts up or down as your Labrador gets more or less activity. Positive Reinforcement training by everyone in the pack. When you get into your car and you to go somewhere, you tell your gps where you want to go. Dogs are the same way. Instead teach your dog what you want it to do. Instead of scolding, simply withdraw your attention. This is enough punishment. Then, get back to showing your dog what you want it to do. If your puppy is not eating or has a loose bowel movement. Not eating much is pretty common when a puppy goes to its new home, however if it stops drinking then that would be cause for an immediate vet visit. In a new home your puppy might not be comfortable for a couple of days and eating might be just grazing. This is ok as long as it is drinking and seems to be playful. Loose bowel movements in the beginning could be due to nerves or your puppy could also have a parasite. At this young age puppies put everything, and I mean everything into their mouths. It is quite common for puppies to get loose stool from a parasite. This can be addressed easily if you take a stool sample into your Vet for analysis. What is a puppy emergency that requires a visit to the vet? Our rules for an emergency trip to the vet are: Uncontrollable bleeding, puppy not breathing properly, broken bone, puppy is not drinking and appears lethargic. If any of these present themselves you may want to consider getting help right away. Other things can normally wait until the next morning to be addressed because they are not critical. Depending on where you live however you may have a vet that is open 24 hours and even on the weekends. So this is a start for you to think about when you take a Labrador Puppy home. Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases franklymedia. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox! Morning Headlines. Rachael Ray Nutrish is another brand I love for Labrador Retriever puppies as it is packed with DHA for healthy brain and eye development and specially formulated for young, growing dogs. You can also select different sizes and recipes. My favorite is chicken and brown rice. Bedding And Toys Lab puppies need quality bedding and toys for teething. Labrador puppies grow quickly and have sharp claws and teeth. Puppies also go through a teething phase and will need special teething toys to help soothe their sore mouths and help keep your furniture safe. As far as bedding, the best bedding for a Labrador puppy is going to be made of high quality material that is soft and plush while also being sturdy enough to keep them off the floor and support their growing bodies. KONG toys are wonderful tools to use during crate training , but they also help with separation anxiety , boredom, and the teething stage that all puppies go through. Enter the Nylabone Puppy Starter Pack. These flavored chew toys come both textured and regular to help get your pup and your furniture through the teething stage safely. Cuddly toys like the Smart PetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy above can help your new Labrador puppy adjust to sleeping on his own, assist in crate training, and may even help alleviate anxieties including noise phobias and separation anxiety. Puppy blankets are a must and can be used for multiple purposes in your home for your pup. My favorite puppy blankets are blankets that are specially made for dogs, like the Luciphia fleece blankets above. While you can use any blankets on hand, blankets that are specially made for dogs are usually a bit more durable, easier to wash, and have been made with quality and safe material for your pooch. Puppy blankets just make it easy to always a comfy place for your puppy to rest his head no matter where you are. Ultra Squeaker Ball is an absolute favorite in my house and with my clients. I especially love using this toy for puppies who are just getting the hang of playing fetch. For puppies, picking up on how to play fetch can be tough. Balls that squeak or make noise when thrown help to make the game more exciting and help encourage young pups to chase whatever is making that high pitched sound! Leashes, Harnesses, and Collars Collars, leashes, and harnesses are important tools to help socialize your puppy. Getting your puppy used to wearing a leash, harness, and collar is an important step towards socializing them. So even though your Labrador puppy will outgrow his harness and collar quickly, I still suggest investing in these items. Here are five of my favorite leash, harness, and collar products for Labrador Retriever puppies. As I mentioned above, puppies are especially fragile so steer clear of attaching a leash to their collar and try to help them adjust to wearing a harness that is comfortable. What I like about this harness is that it is adjustable so you can use it a bit longer as your puppy grows. Best of all it is the perfect length five feet for puppy training and is a leash your Lab puppy can take with him into adulthood. It is built like a standard leash, but it offers you control over how far away your puppy can get. This is excellent for puppy parents who live in busy neighborhoods or who are working with a puppy who likes to wander. Large breed puppies like Labrador Retrievers require crates that grow with them. This is why I love crates that come with dividers so that they can grow with your Lab puppy. I also recommend playpens, as Labrador puppies are notorious for being very active and energetic. Lab puppies are also incredibly curious and tend to chew a lot in their first few months, which is why indoor dog gates will also be an important part of puppy proofing your home. Take a look at some of my favorite puppy-proofing products below. Nobody likes cleaning up potty accidents. Of course, no one wants a big, bulky pen that takes up half of their home either! I also love that the pen is big enough for puppies to grow into and allows them to learn how to explore a space larger than their crate while keeping them and your home safe from their curiosity. And since crate training is such an important part of puppyhood and actually helps your puppy adjust to being alone and feeling secure, we recommend investing in a good, high quality crate you can use for years. It has two separate doors for entrance and exit and it comes with a divider so it can be adjusted to the size of your dog as he grows. Just remember to leave your pup inside his crate with a KONG and some bedding so he is comfortable, and remember that puppies who are younger than six months old should not stay in their crates for longer than four hours. For those of you who plan to leave your puppy out and about while you are gone and after he is trained, of course , then a crate that folds may be your best bet. The MidWest Foldable Dog Crate posted above is one such crate that is not only made well, but also stores well. Like most crates ideal for Labrador puppies, this crate also comes with a divider so it can grow with your dog. Along with crates and puppy playpens, you also might consider getting a gate to keep your puppy from entering places in your home that may pose a risk to him. Many of my clients keep gates up in their kitchen entryway, or gate their living rooms where puppies are tempted to chew on wood furniture. Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate Sale Buy on Amazon For those of you worried about installing something or accidentally damaging walls or paint, there are always free-standing gate options, like the Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate. I do like the way these gates look and the simplicity of them, however, they are not always the most secure and may not stand up to a strong and curious puppy. These gates are also not ideal for leaving puppies unsupervised as they can sometimes find ways to knock them down. Grooming your Labrador puppy early on not only helps to socialize him and prepare him for a life of vet visits, groomer visits, and physical contact with people, but it also helps to keep him clean and healthy. Like babies, puppies are more sensitive to certain products and require products that are specifically designed to be gentle on their sensitive skin and fur. Be selective of the shampoos, dog brushes , and other grooming products you pick for your Labrador puppy and make sure you always use high-quality products. Some of the products I recommend most for grooming a Labrador puppy are listed below. Pet Care Sciences Puppy Shampoo. Non-slip bottom dog dishes Puppies naturally move their dish around as they are eating, especially if the dish has a flat bottom that easily pushes around the floor. We have found that dishes with a non-slip bottom can help so that your puppy is not chasing around his food dish. Make sure that it is large enough. And since dogs grow fast, that means they will likely grow to that size within a year to a year and a half. Almost all dogs we train eat between 4 -6 cups of dog food a day. So, make sure that your dish is large enough to accommodate this many cups. Water dish It is vitally important that your puppy have access to clean water for drinking. With the puppies we raise, we have found that it can be challenging to keep a small water dish full, so we prefer to use these 2-gallon water dishes. They are easy to fill and allow us to only have to fill them a couple times a week instead of several times a day. We suggest that you introduce a lead to your puppy as they start to grow in confidence and walk further from you when outside. There are two great reasons to do this early on. First it teaches your puppy how to handle the pressure of not being able to go wherever they want whenever they want. And it keeps your puppy from developing a habit of running away from you. A Flexi-lead works especially well if you want to give your puppy a little more freedom to go do his potty business but still keep control. Toys Puppies need toys. If you do not give them toys that they CAN chew and play with, they will chew on your sofa leg, or a book or a blanket or anything else they can find. So, purchase some good durable puppy chew toys. But watch your pup carefully. As they get older and stronger, they will be able to rip apart cloth toys and ingest them. Or they will chew rubber toys into small pieces and eat them. When your pup gets strong enough to destroy toys, it is time to take away the puppy toys and give them only dog toys designed for older , larger dogs or quality rawhides that they can chew that will not cause digestive problems. Stay away from rope toys. Many puppies have managed to ingest strings and ropes requiring surgery to remove them. Puppy-sized bumper If your plan is for your Labrador puppy to become a hunting or competition dog, you should have a puppy sized bumper. Learn more about teaching your puppy to fetch in this post. Barriers I recommend that you section off a small portion of your home and not let your puppy have full run of the entire house. Learn more about housebreaking your Lab puppy in this post. To section off a part, it can be helpful to have some child-gates available or an area of your home that you can close doors. This means that you need to show your puppy where the boundaries are and what is and is not allowed. To do this, you will need a few more tools. This is often when we see dogs that are running away from their owners, playing keep-a-way when retrieving and just basically being naughty. A lot of this could be avoided with the use of a check cord. Yes, a check cord can be cumbersome and often a pain to use, but it only takes one or two times of your puppy running away from you to make it worth it. Put a check cord on your puppy and allow them to drag it around with them. This alone is a great lesson for a dog. Dragging the weight is a type of pressure that they will need to learn to deal with. Occasionally, step on the rope and allow your dog to feel the pressure of being stopped and controlled. These sound like such minor things, but you would be surprised how much more well-adjusted your puppy will be just from learning these minor lessons. Chain or prong collar As your puppy gets stronger, it will get more and more difficult to control your puppy with a lead just hooked up to a nylon collar. As you notice that your puppy is getting harder to control, is pulling you around or dragging you down the street, you need to move to a chain or prong collar. Actually, it would be best if you changed to a chain or prong collar long before this becomes an issue. Remember, it is always easier to fix problems when they are small rather than waiting for them to become huge problems. Larger bumpers for retrieving dogs As your dog gets larger, you will want to move away from the puppy bumper and start using regular sized retrieving bumpers. We prefer to use plastic or rubber bumpers since they do not get as dirty or smelly as the canvas ones. They also last a lot longer and can be used for both water and land retrieves. Learn all about the different bumpers used for training hunting dogs here. Orange is a color that is difficult for retrievers to see, so that color should not be used for young dogs that are just learning about retrieving and hunting. Save the orange ones for advanced dogs working on blind retrieves. Final thoughts on What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? There are many things that you will need for your new puppy both now and in the future. Take some time to prepare before you bring your puppy home so that you will avoid buying things on impulse that you may or may not need. If you are planning on using your puppy as a hunting or competition dog, check out 6 vital tools every gun dog trainer needs. You can email me at ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? The crate which we suggest is foldable which makes it extra convenient. Dogs are naturally den animals and a crate provides them with a place where they can relax and feel safe. Crate training and choosing the right size Crate training makes toilet training a million times easier, and keeps your puppy safe at night whilst the family is asleep. The best puppy crate is one which is big enough for them to stand up, stretch out, turn around and lie down in. But no bigger. Or by buying an adult sized crate which comes with a divider, to allow you to provide the correct amount of space for your growing puppy. Bedding You will of course also need bedding to line the crate. This fake fleecy fur bedding comes in a roll and you can either buy a piece to fit your crate or cut to it to size yourself. For puppies, you should avoid any dog bed with a fancy liner and a stuffed or padded interior. Your pup will probably rip it open and eat the contents in no time. Check out our indestructible dog bed article for some great inspiration. Food is obviously the most important item on your new puppy supplies list. Puppy Food To start with, your new pup will need to eat three to four times a day. Having a supply of the new brand ready will allow you to make this changeover from the old food to the new, before the old runs out. The best puppy food is one which is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Puppy Bowls Next up on the new puppy supplies list are their food and water bowls. Most of them are dishwasher safe, and cheap to buy. You can have a couple in the cupboard, making it easy to keep the food bowl shiny and clean between meals. The downside of the usual stainless steel food bowls is that they can tip over, not to mention the horrendous noise as the puppy chases them around the kitchen! To avoid these disadvantages, find a non-slip version with a steadier bottom. Those designed for use by dogs and puppies. Ceramic water bowls help to keep the water cool as well. The best part of getting a new pup is the fun you have playing with them — and for this puppy toys are real Labrador essentials! Between 12 to 24 weeks your pup will be losing their baby teeth and their new teeth will be emerging. This is a very uncomfortable time for you pup — the reason why they chew everything in their path. You can protect your shoes, furniture , and even cables, by making sure that they have plenty of toys to chew instead. Puppy toys are fun to buy, and there are a lot of choices out there. We have a couple of real firm favorites when it comes to puppy toys. Puppy kongs are brilliant. Kongs bounce around and can be played with if your pup feels like it, or picked up and carried around. Just make sure that the rope is thick and not easily shredded. Be sure to avoid small toys, or those with small parts that can be chewed off, that your pup can swallow. They can cause choking or blockages in their bellies. Besides being too small, the toys in your puppy supplies should also not be too big. They should be able to get their mouths around their toys easily. Having to stretch to chew on or pick up toys or bones that are too big can injure their growing jaws. Collar and leash You should introduce your pup to their dog collar and leash as soon as possible. They can get used to wearing their collar in the house from a young age, before going outside for walks. It has a convenient quick release buckle as well as an ID tag. Dog harnesses, instead of collars, are becoming increasingly popular among dog lovers. Always use a harness for a dog that has problems breathing. It also has a thick padded handle to protect your hands. A pup might still squirm and try to get away. Then you can start brushing again. Letting your pup inspect and sniff the brush also helps them to get over any fear. This specialised pet brush has fine bent wires that gets rid of mats without hurting. Amongst the most useful Lab puppy essentials on our new puppy checklist are puppy barriers. There are a few options for creating barriers, to keep your pup safe and give them some space when they need a break. The most popular puppy barriers are actually baby gates. They make fantastic human toddler and puppy barriers — you might even use them to separate the two. They come in a few different sizes, and fit into most doorways or hallway spaces. The human members of the family can easily come and go, whilst keeping the puppy securely contained. You can start using it with your pup from a very young age. Combined with treats, they let the pup know exactly when you approve of their behavior. Their use is rapidly increasing in popularity. Using positive reinforcement training and working with a clicker will help you to both train your puppy, and to form a stronger bond and better relationship together as he grows. Almost last but not least on our new puppy checklist is puppy insurance. There have been astonishing advances in the veterinary treatments that are available for our pets today. Most things you can be treated for, your dog can be treated for too. Open heart surgery, complex hip operations, and advanced cancer treatments are all available to dogs. Read The Small Print And do read the small print before you buy, some of the cheaper policies will dump you at the end of the year if your dog gets a long term condition. I did not read the small print and this happened to me. So take care to choose a policy that keeps on renewing as long as you keep on paying. Many dog owners would recommend the final Labrador puppy accessory on our new puppy checklist as the most essential. Covering everything from the first days at home, through crate training, potty training, dealing with teething and much more. Do you have any tips for our readers? Are there other items that you wish you had bought before your Labrador puppy arrived and would add to our puppy supplies list? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own. Rescue Puppy Checklist Please take a moment to read through and print this page before starting your search for a puppy. Looking For A Lab Puppy? Because we in rescue often receive or must reject the results of irresponsible breeders or irresponsible puppy sales, we have compiled this brochure to help you make the right choice in a puppy. Before you fall in love with the first adorable Labrador face you see, take the time in an initial phone call to ask the following questions. At the end of the list you will find questions to ask yourself. You should be able to answer all of them affirmatively before you begin your search. Remember you are adding a new member to your family for the next years. However, the high number of serious problems seen in the breed today make this event unlikely to reoccur. Chief among these are temperament problems ranging from aggression to shyness to hyperactivity. Hip dysplasia, eye problems causing blindness, heart defects that can severely shorten life span and auto immune disorders and cancer are also becoming prevalent. Responsible breeders will do all they can to avoid these problems by researching pedigrees and screening parents for certain inherited problems before breeding. Puppy Checklist Where did you find out about this breeder? Responsible breeders usually have a waiting list of puppy buyers. Ask to see the certificates. Prelims can be done before two years, but some dogs can fail to get final OFA clearance at two years, even if they passed before. This must be re-done every year. These are some of the other problems Labradors can have and some breeders are checking for. Breeder Awareness These are some questions to ask the breeder: Are both parents at least 2 years old? Final hip clearances cannot be obtained before that age. How often is the dam bred? Do all four grandparents, siblings of the parents and any other puppies that they may have produced have these clearances? A responsible breeder will keep track of these statistics and honestly discuss any problems that have occurred in the lines and what has been done to prevent them from reoccurring. Is the breeder willing to provide you with references and telephone numbers of other people who have purchased puppies from them? A breeder who cares enough about the breed to insist on these is likely to be a responsible breeder. On what basis was the sire chosen? Is there a written guarantee against congenital health or temperament problems that does not require you to return your puppy or euthanize it? Will the breeder be available to answer any question you might have for the life of the dog? Is this someone you would feel comfortable asking any type of question? Is the breeder knowledgeable about the breed? Is he or she involved in competition with their dogs field, obedience, or conformation? The term champion lines means nothing if those titles are back three or more generations or there is only one or two in the whole pedigree. If the sire is unavailable can you call his owners or people who have his puppies to ask about temperament or health problems? You should also be provided with pictures or videos. Have the puppies been raised in the home — not in a kennel, barn or the back yard? Is the breeder knowledgeable about raising puppies, critical neonatal periods, proper socialization techniques? Puppies that are raised without high exposure to gentle handling, human contact and a wide variety of noises and experiences OR are removed from their dam or litter mates before at least 7 weeks, may exhibit a wide variety of behavioral problems! Does the breeder provide you with a generation pedigree, a contract to sign, copies of all clearances and guarantee, health records and material to help you with feeding, training and housebreaking? Have the puppies temperaments been evaluated and can the breeder guide you to the puppy that will best suit your lifestyle? A caring breeder will know the puppies and be able to show you how to test them so that good matches can be made. Do the puppies seem healthy, with no discharge from eyes or nose, no loose stools, no foul smelling ears? Are their coats soft, full and clean? Do they have plenty of energy when awake yet calm down easily when gently stroked? Does the breeder have only 1, or at most 2, breeds of dogs and only 1 or 2 litters at a time? If there are many breeds of dogs there, the chances are the breeder cannot devote the time it takes to become really knowledgeable about the breed and if there is more than one litter at a time it is very difficult to give the puppies the attention they need and may indicate that the primary purpose for breeding is profit, rather than a sincere desire to improve the breed. Do you feel comfortable with this person? After all, ou are entering into a decade long relationship. This is the hallmark of responsible breeding and the quickest way to make rescue obsolete. Are you feeling intimidated or pressured? If so, keep looking! Questions To Ask Yourself Can you — Take full responsibility for this dog and all its needs for the next years? This is NOT a task that can be left to children! Invest the considerable time, money and patience it takes to train the dog to be a good companion? This does not happen by itself. Always keep the dog safe; no running loose, riding in the back of an open pick up truck or being chained outside? Make sure the dog gets enough attention and exercise? Labrador puppies need several hours of both, every day! Live with shedding, retrieving, drooling and high activity for the next years? Spend the money it takes to provide proper veterinary care including, but certainly not limited to, vaccines, heartworm testing and preventative, spaying or neutering and annual check ups? Become educated about the proper care of the breed, correct training methods and how to groom? There are many good books available — invest the time to read a few. Take your questions to the breeder or other appropriate professional before they become problems that are out of hand? Have the patience to accept and enjoy the trials of Labrador puppyhood — which can last for three years — and each stage afterward? Continue to accept responsibility for the dog despite inevitable life changes such as new babies, kids going off to school, moving or returning to work? Resist impulse buying and instead have the patience to make a responsible choice?

We wanted to create a fun and safe environment for the dogs of Aberdeen and Shire. We have created two Parks at our site at Locheye which is located just outside of Dyce, between Parkhill and Bridge of Don. We are a manned site so there is always someone here to open gates, hold leads or just point you in the right direction. Our main passion in life is our dogs- our team is currently made up of our labradors - Betty, Ivy, Skye, Midge and Evie. The Play Park and the Wild Park. To find the current list of meets click on the Events Page or to find out more information click on the Meets page. We cater to all types of dogs- whether your dog is human or dog reactive, in season, wants to socialise, celebrate a birthday or gotcha day, do some training, or just do something different we can help. We also welcome dog walkers, trainers and pet photographers. Bring a picnic, coffee and the kids and have an absolute blast at Zoomies Aberdeen. Just 5 mins from the AWPR. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address. Vacancies Advice On Getting A New Pet Getting a pet can be a hugely rewarding experience, but to ensure you give your new family member the best possible life, please take a moment to read through our recommendations below. What do I need to know before I get a new pet? For many a pet is an important part of the family. While owning a pet can be extremely rewarding, it is important to remember that pet ownership is also a huge responsibility. As a pet owner you will be committed to providing for all the requirements of your pet — food, exercise, housing, grooming and veterinary care. It is essential to thoroughly research the basics of pet care before acquiring any new pet to ensure you have the capacity to meet the physiological, behavioural and social needs of the animal. Purchasing a pet should never be an impulsive decision. Before you make the decision to become a pet owner ask yourself the following questions: Am I prepared to care for a pet for its whole life? Many exotic animals also have long life spans, and you must be prepared to make this long-term commitment. While puppies and kittens are irresistibly adorable, you will need to be prepared to provide for an adult animal too and, in the case of some dogs, a much larger animal with considerable exercise requirements and a sizeable appetite. Can I afford a pet? There are many costs involved with pet ownership. Upfront costs for cats and dogs include vaccination, microchipping and neutering. However, you will need to be prepared to pay for ongoing costs associated with food, worming, annual health checks, vet bills, training, boarding, toys and bedding for the life of the animal. Small mammals will need suitable housing which will need regular maintenance if outdoors. Exotic animals may require special housing and diets which could increase costs. If an emergency or accident occurs, you will also need to ensure you can pay for any emergency veterinary treatment required. The costs of pet ownership will vary depending on the type of animal you choose. Remember that pets can be an expensive addition to the family. Do I understand how to care for a pet? It is your responsibility, as a pet owner, to thoroughly research the basic requirements of your chosen pet. You should do this before considering purchasing your pet and prior to bringing your pet home so that you are well informed about the species-specific needs of your pet and so you are ready to take good care of them. You could look for a comprehensive book about your chosen species and other information about your chosen species. Speak to one of our staff for advice on caring for your pet, we can point you in the direction of suitable further reading if required. Useful links to get you started-. Foodie Experiences Become a master chocolatier or take a butchery class - Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is well served for foodies. Farm Experiences Surrounded by vast countryside, Aberdeenshire is home to a wealth of farming, agricultural and foodie experiences. Foodie Events Get a taste for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with the fantastic foodie events and festivals. Independents Find our best local produce in quaint deli cafes, traditional pubs and stylish Michelin Guide restaurants across the region Michelin Guide No matter where you stay in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire a Michelin worthy establishment is never too far away. From the Surf With our coastal location you can enjoy some of the freshest fish and seafood in the world. Find and book a restaurant in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire. Here you'll find Brewdog's brewery and flagship bar, and many other bars serving up their very own delicious beers. Sunday Roast Celebrate the Sunday Roast tradition with your family and friends at a selection of our cafes, restaurants and bistros. An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. 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However, it is the red Poodle that is so rare, so stunning and so special. Bringing this color into the Poodle genes and being able to produce such a shocking and beautiful dog was not easy. Let's take a look at how this was done and what you should know about his particular dog. Red poodles are rare and are of a faded gene. When they are produced, the pups usually come from dogs with apricot lines, which can be confusing to many since of course red is a much darker and deeper color. This gene may work to darken an apricot or sometimes a brown coat. One thing that is clear is that the red gene has absolutely no affect on blacks. The apricot gene is recessive to all Poodles except for the white. A true red will have black points. Liver points are acceptable but not preferred in the U. It took quite a while to achieve the amazing red Poodles that we see today. It was Ilse Konig of the Shangri-La Kennel who first came up with the idea of developing a red color standard. Experimental breeding was done by mating a small miniature apricot female Poodle to a large standard sized red at Palamares. The very first litter produced four red Poodle puppies. It is said that the color was simply amazing. Due to the rare pairing of two different sized Poodles, this placed the dogs into a category that is between the Miniature and the Standard, called the Klein or Moyan, which is popular and recognized in Europe. The biggest puppy from each litter was then bred…And this is what helped to slowly increase the size of the dog. After quite a few years of breeding and keeping red Poodle puppies, red Standards were then able to be bred relatively easily. Reds can go through many color changes as the dog grows. They occasionally are born a very bright red and then lighten over time. Some will stay lighter, however in some cases the Poodle will then darken up again as he or she ages. When a red does lighten, the color will usually become a sort of cinnamon color. In most cases, they are exceptionally dark and then lighten between 1 year old and 18 months old. Since a color change can occur during puppyhood.Or in the later adult stages, this means that the owner of an Apricot or tan my have a huge surprise if their Poodle's coat develops into this amazing, bright and rare color. So, do be aware that a red Poodle can fade, as fading is common with this breed. The exceptional color that one may see in a young puppy will often change with time; although this is not to say that the adult coat will not be gorgeous in its own right. When one does know that they have a red, here are the most popular names that are given: Amber. Contact Us Red Poodles With all the colors available in Poodles it could be hard to choose your puppy. However, it is the red Poodle that is so very rare, so stunning and so special! It does appear that it is a completely separate gene than the other poodle colors. Red Poodles are the newest color developed, it only became an official color in .A red poodle will have black points, nose, gums, under paws and very dark eyes. Liver points are acceptable, but not preferred in red poodles. Red poodles are a stunningly beautiful color, one that is very close to the color of humans with natural red hair. Poodles come in the light red new copper color to the darkest of any human with dark auburn hair. Ilse Konig was the first person who developed the red color of poodles. It was first developed on the Standard Poodle, then crossed with an Apricot female miniature Poodle. After many years of selective breeding, we now have Red Poodles in all the poodle sizes. While developing the red color, it was imperative to breed for all the qualities of a well-bred poodle, which includes temperament, health, conformation, and beauty. Missing any one of these characteristics the red poodles would not be complete! Typically, red poodle puppies are born quite red, then, when they are about 6 weeks old, their coats will turn less red. Then at about 10 weeks, you can see a definite dark red line next to the skin where the new coat color is coming in. It is thrilling to see this in a red poodle puppy. Their mature red color changes cannot be predicted by the color of the puppy. Some dark apricot poodles will stay a brighter color than the red poodles. The Poodle breed is a breed that does change color, as do some other breeds. Do be aware that red poodles can fade, it is common for these breeds to lighten up as they age. Each dog is an individual and will change. This is not to say that the mature red coat will not be gorgeous in its own right. Red Poodles, and poodles in general, tend to lead lively energetic lives. Red poodles are extremely loyal companions, making them ideal pets. They love to learn tricks and will perform for audiences of enthusiastic onlookers and their red color stands out above the rest! Most designer dogs have one thing in common: they are crossed with a Poodle. There is a very good reason for that, the Poodle cross brings up the intelligence and ability to train. Crosses also get some of the benefits of the hypoallergenic qualities of the Poodle, and less shedding. If you live afar, we can safely ship your red poodle puppy to the closest major jet port. If you would like to move forward with reserving one of our red poodle puppies, or any of our puppies, then please search our available poodles , find one you are interested in and then submit your application!