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Owners of golden retrievers know that these dogs are prone to ear infections. Cleaning golden retriever ears is important for two main reasons: to prevent infection and to keep the ears clean and free of wax buildup. Ear infections are fairly common in golden retrievers, and they can be quite painful. Wax buildup can also lead to problems, as it can trap dirt and moisture, leading to irritation and inflammation. Infections Golden retrievers are prone to ear infections. This is because their ears are long and droopy, which can trap moisture and dirt. Symptoms of an ear infection include shaking their head, scratching their ears, and holding their head tilted to one side. Discomfort Aside from ear infections, golden retrievers are prone to wax buildup due to the long, droopy shape of their ears. This can cause discomfort and even pain. After all, think about how uncomfortable it is for you to have wax buildup in your ears. If left untreated, the wax can eventually harden, making it difficult for the dog to hear. In severe cases, the wax can block the ear canal completely. Overall Health As any dog owner knows, keeping their furry friend clean and well-groomed is important for their overall health and hygiene. Monthly ear cleaning is probably sufficient for most dogs. Some dogs need their ears cleaned more often, such as those who swim a lot or have lots of hair inside their ears that traps dirt and moisture. You can purchase dog ear cleaning kits online. However, in most cases, simple tools will suffice. Follow these steps carefully to ensure your dog has clean ears in the most stress-free way possible. Typically, this means placing them between your legs. To open their ear, hold the ear flap back and upwards. You should be able to see the canal opening. How much? However, you should ideally use enough to fill the entire ear canal. Do this for about 30 to 60 seconds. If you notice dirt and debris around the tips of their ears, you can use the cotton balls to gently clean the inside of their ear flap. Let Them Shake Now, feel free to let go of their ear flap and let them shake out the solution! Then, repeat with the other ear! Using The Wrong Cleaner There are a variety of different ear cleaning solutions for dogs on the market. Using Q-tips Similar to humans, dogs should never have anything stuck down their ear canals. This includes Q-tips. Cleaning Too Much Ear wax serves a purpose! It helps to keep the ear canal clean and free of debris, and it also has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Not Seeking Veterinary Assistance And finally, most pet owners make the mistake of not seeking veterinary assistance when needed. We have answers! Yes, you absolutely should. Most golden retrievers are fine if they receive regular ear cleaning at least once a month. Yes, they do tend to get ear infections. This is because their long ears tend to trap moisture and dirt, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Doing so could irritate or even damage the delicate tissue inside the ear. Looking For a Golden Retriever? If so then we suggest you take a look at our golden retriever puppies for sale. They are bred healthy by great breeders and ready to take home after eight weeks with all of their shots and documentation. Ready to add a new pup to your family? Click here to view our golden retriever puppies. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Cotton balls or gauze Towel We use this Dechra MalAcetic ear cleaner , but talk to your vet to see what they recommend. Here are two options: Have them sit, then stand over them behind them with their body between your legs. Have them sit in a corner facing you. This is better for dogs who try to escape during this process. Gently pulling it a little bit out away from their head will open up the canal so the cleaner can get in there and do its job. You should hear a swishing sound as you do this. This is where the towel comes in handy! Give them some treats and praise, and do the same process with the other ear. To make things a little easier, here are four tips: Start Early Get your dog used to getting their ears touched and cleaned as early as possible. Get A Partner Having a partner to help control your dog or wield the towel when they start shaking is a game-changer. Make It Fun Use a happy voice, praise your dog for being a good boy or girl, and give them lots of treats to make this potentially miserable experience a little more enjoyable. When people stray from these instructions is usually when they start making mistakes. Cotton balls and gauze are softer and less likely to damage their ears. Have a Golden Retriever puppy? Click here to download the potty training cheat sheet to make potty training faster and easier! Let us know down in the comments! And if you liked this article, check out this post about how to groom your Golden Retriever step by step. Related articles:.

As a medium to large-sized dog breed, Boxers need more time to fill out and reach their full size than smaller dog breeds. As a general rule, expect your Boxer to grow until they are 18 to 24 months old. Keep in mind that this range is an estimate, so there are always exceptions. Image Source: Canva How big should a 6-month-old Boxer be? A 6-month-old male Boxer should weigh around 41 to 48 pounds, while a 6-month-old female Boxer will weigh about 39 to 44 pounds. According to Care. For a male Boxer puppy, this would be around 17 to 19 inches tall. Pro Tip: Check out this downloadable new puppy checklist covering topics like vaccination schedules, setting up the home for a new puppy, teething, veterinary visits, and more! How much bigger will my Boxer get? There are several ways to estimate how much bigger your Boxer will grow. If your Boxer is less than two years old, they are likely still growing. Some Boxers stop growing closer to 18 months, but many Boxers will continue to fill out in weight and body size until they are two years old. A puppy will rarely be larger than either parent, so this can give you a clearer idea of their maximum size. Do their paws look oversized compared to their legs and the rest of their body? This is a strong sign that your Boxer is still growing and filling out! What is the size of a full-grown Boxer? According to the American Kennel Club Official Boxer Standards , a full-grown male Boxer will stand around 23 to 25 inches tall, while a female Boxer will stand about .A fully grown male Boxer will weigh around 60 to 70 pounds, with their female counterpart will weigh about 55 to 65 pounds. As with many things, prevention is always better than treatment. Taking your Boxer to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do for their health, along with consistent love and care at home. One of the best things you can do at home is brush your dog's teeth regularly to help prevent painful periodontal disease and avoid pricey dental treatments in the future. Periodontal disease can cause bad breath and oral pain for your pup and may require your Boxer to have a dental cleaning or tooth extractions under anesthesia at some point in their lives if not attended to at home. Keeping your Boxer at a healthy weight is crucial for their longevity, overall health, and happiness. If your Boxer is overweight, talk to your veterinarian to develop a weight loss strategy so that you can get them back on track. Consult with your veterinarian about the ideal food and exercise for your Boxer. Like all dogs, Boxers have certain conditions that they are prone to. Boxers are a purebred dog breed prone to heart problems, like cardiomyopathy, heart valve narrowing, and congenital heart defects. Brachycephalic syndrome increases their risk of respiratory distress, allergies, heatstroke, and sinus problems. Regular veterinarian appointments are crucial in finding and treating illness early to give your Boxer the healthiest and longest life possible. Unfortunately, veterinary bills can be costly with many treatments for emergencies and illnesses, such as heart problems, being thousands of dollars to treat. When surveyed, .The financial safety net provided by pet insurance is why pet insurance is worth it for many pet parents. Keep in mind that even healthy behaviors, like exercise, can be overdone. Consult with your veterinarian about how much exercise is prudent. Medium to large-sized dogs that are still growing may suffer from joint damage if they are overexercised. Make a plan with your veterinarian today to provide your Boxer with the ideal amount of exercise to keep them lean, healthy, and happy. Boxer puppies grow into strong and sturdy adults that make fun-loving, often silly companions, and fierce protectors. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. This will be the age when Boxer newborn is fully weaned and ready to go to his new home. His world expands at this time. Some have a difficult adjustment leaving littermates and dam and transitioning to their new family. A planned introduction to the home will set a good foundation for introduction to other situations. Housebreaking should begin at this age. With an excellent plan and follow-through, expect it to take 4 to 6 weeks for your Boxer to be doing well in this regard. Command training simple commands can be worked in with housebreaking and other daily activities. For example a 2 month old Boxer puppy can learn to sit while his harness and leash is being put on and then learn that walking over to the designated chosen area equals a trip to the bathroom. Sleep may be erratic at this time and a Boxer puppy can sleep as little as 9 hours per day rare or up to 18 hours. Most will take quite a few naps during the day and then wake up 1 to 2 times per night. We've seen 2 month old little ones sleep right through the night, but it is rare - in these cases, the dog is able to enter deep REM sleep quickly and stay there, keeping the number of nap times to a minimum. This is the minimum age a dog must be in order to enter a dog show event. Many clubs, such as the AKC require a dog to be 6 months old; however if you truly want to show your Boxer, you may do so at 3 months with many other dog clubs. By this age, the pup has a good idea of his home environment and since the rounds of puppy shots are almost done, owners should plan on how they will proceed in regard to introduction to the world. To a dog, his world is as big as the owners choose. For some, it is just the neighborhood, for others it is the entire town! The reason that we say "plan" is because how a pup is introduced to other dogs, people and new environments affect how the dog reacts and responds. A planned transition to new elements is a huge part of Socialization Training. During this stage, some owners become a bit concerned if their Boxer is not barking ; however this is not a super vocal breed he makes lots of noises like groans and even some purrs, but doesn't typically bark at every little thing. A quiet puppy will often outgrown this and find their voice as they mature. It is at that time that a Boxer will bark when someone comes to the house, etc. By 1 year, if owners follow through, the Boxer is well trained, for both commands simple and complex and house training. Still, the dog has learned the basic workings of the world. He has been trained to know where his belongings are, who you consider to be friend or foe and is very used to his daily schedule. This is a great Boxer age, the dog looks young, still has the mentality of a puppy with playfulness, etc. You'll have a 40 to 55 pound 20 to 25 kg size puppy jumping on you and acting silly. Females will be on the lower end, males on the higher end. The body structure is slim, the chest is still relatively narrow. Over the course of this year, from the beginning of year 1 to the beginning of year 2, most will gain an additional 15 to 20 pounds 6. Height will increase. The most noticeable physical change will be the widening of the chest, a sure tell sign of a 2 year old adult. It is not uncommon for a Boxer dog to seem too skinny during a quick, temporary phase around this mark. Generally from 14 to 22 months old, a Boxer may have some visible ribs and appear too slim as he struggles to catch up to a quick growth spurt. For most, this is nothing to be concerned about. This is a huge milestone. At 2 years old, a Boxer is considered to be an adult. The dog will be at his adult weight and height. If you are offering commercial food, now is the time to switch to an adult formula. Temperament will gradually change. That playful puppy temperament will slowly turn more serious, but even older adults can have a sense of humor. That puppy that used to leap after butterflies in the field may change into the adult that stands proud and strong, scanning the yard for trespassers. The Boxer will now begin to age at a more steady rate. Still active, yet fully trained, this is a wonderful stage. By this age, status in the house if full established. Other family members may have come and gone kids off to college, a new roommate moves in, etc. However, if the dog was properly trained, he knew, throughout any changes, that his place was as Beta to his Alpha human leader. A Boxer dog is considered to be a senior at the age of 7 or 8 years old. Since there is no official age, it is the veterinarian who makes this declaration. Though, even if it has not been declared, with this breed typically living to a range of 9 to 12 years, 9 years is about as long as you can extend this before you dub your Boxer a senior. It is important to recognize this transition, so that geriatric care needs can be met. Regular visits will normally increase from 1 time per year to twice a year. Changes will happen once again to the diet, moving over to one that is a bit lower in fat, yet higher in fiber. This helps a less active dog maintain weight and fiber is one element that aids in digestion. A geriatric screening will check for kidney function. A Boxer dog with decreased kidney function should be fed a lower protein diet. The vitamin and mineral supplement will now switch to a senior formula as well. Don't let the senior age label fool you, Boxers at this age should still be taken for a daily walk for exercise , will enjoy outings to the beach, etc. One thing to keep in mind is that an older dog will sometimes have less tolerance for puppies and young children. It is a good idea to have a designated area for your senior Boxer to retreat to, should he desire.Older dogs still like to see the family and be aware of comings and goings, but will often want to retreat when youngsters or puppies are at play. Each dog has his own tolerance for the loud noises and commotion that accompanies younger humans and dogs. The average life span of a Boxer is years old. At this age, a senior dog most likely has lived through some health issues. A dog of this age will most likely have some arthritis. Movement may become difficult, it is suggested to have steps and ramps for the dog if he or she is used to climbing up onto your bed or the couch. The dog bed should be evaluated for comfort and support. An orthopedic bed is highly recommended. Any time after this age that your dog is still with you is a blessing. Some Boxers live late into their teens; however you should prepare yourself that your dog is nearing the end of his life cycle. Related: Oldest Boxer Dogs in the World - Though this breed generally lives 9 to 12 years, some Boxers have reached into their teens. This gives the owner an opportunity to see their dog at such a young age and then watch them quickly grown into strong and large adults. If you are purchasing a Boxer puppy, the dog should be at least 8 weeks old. In many regions it is illegal to have a puppy at a younger age. Up until 8 weeks, the puppy will need to be nourished by its mother. We're Home! That Boxer newborn puppy that you picked out has rapidly matured into an 8 week old and it's time for your new family member to join the household. Bringing a puppy home should be well planned in advance. If you have a large family, other members must be told to keep the environment calm and peaceful until your Boxer puppy has a chance to gain their bearings and become used to its new home. Have everything you need so that you do not need to suddenly run out to the store for a forgotten item. Do not allow the puppy to be rushed at by many people wishing to hug, pat and smother him or her with kisses. That can come a bit later. Your new Boxer must be approached gently and with warm voices. Puppies are a good, robust size but are still fragile. It is very sad when a puppy is stepped on accidentally; this can cause great harm. From birth to the 1 year mark, trauma is the leading cause of fatalities with this breed. Children must understand how to gently treat a pup. Very young children should be watched during interaction. All members of the home must be very aware of what may be underfoot. Your Boxer puppy should be given a tour of the home. Do not expect your new pup to know where everything is! Show him or her where they can find their water, where to expect their meals to be served, their dog bed and their toys. A puppy needs the security of knowing where to find what they need. Puppies will need quite a bit of care from you. This includes: Feeding - A puppy should be fed times per day. More feeding information can be found in our Feeding section. Only high quality puppy food must be given. This will be a time of rapid growth and your Boxer puppy needs the right dog food for optimal health. Vaccinations - All puppies will need the full schedule of vaccinations. This is absolutely vital to the health of the pup. If the budget is tight, your dog's veterinarian should be able to provide a discount or recommended animal clinics which provide shots for a very minimal fee. This includes that absolutely necessary Heart worm prevention medication, as well. Comfort and safety - Boxer puppies are rambunctious. They will jump, bounce and play. They will need loving attention and interaction with their owner or owners. Plenty of room to play, lots of toys and acts of love are crucial to the physical and emotional growth of a pup. A puppy is just learning about its world; yelling or hitting is never called for. Through love, patience and understanding a puppy will learn what is expected. Negative reactions from its owner will simply teach the puppy to be afraid. Housebreaking - This should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home. Read more in our housebreaking section. When started early and with consistency, your Boxer puppy will soon learn where it is appropriate to eliminate. A schedule - Puppies know nothing about the world except for what you show them. It is important to keep a puppy on a schedule that they can depend on. Normal times for baths, exercise , walks, feedings, grooming , play time and sleep time are recommended. Some Things to Expect The first year will be full of changing behaviors and a change in physical appearance. Here's what you can expect: A Boxer puppy will whine if he is hungry, wants attention or once he is learning house training, if he has a bathroom need The time to instill training for barking and other behavior is now - before habits can form Puppies are super hyper , but will also sleep quite a bit - Anywhere from 15 to 18 hours per day including night time and daytime naps The first year is one of rapid growth, but do expect starts and stops. As your Boxer reaches adolescence, there is sometimes a brief period of stalled weight gain at which time a Boxer may appear too skinny. This typically only lasts a few months before that final gain happens that allows him to fill out. Puppyhoood is the time to do socialization training - You'll want to introduce your puppy to as many people, other dogs, events and situations as possible so that he learns control and gains self-confidence. Health Check A Boxer puppy should be checked over every day to check for certain issues. Eyes- The eyes should be clear and bright. Any excessive discharge is a reason to go to the veterinarian Ears and nose - These areas should be cleaned each day with a damp, soft washcloth. Discharge of any color is a reason for a checkup with the vet Breathing - A puppy's breathing should always be clear and easy. Forced breathing, wheezing, coughing or other strange sounds must be taken care of immediately through the dog's veterinarian or closest animal hospital Limping - Puppies may be a bit clumsy or wobbling when very young. However limping is never normal. This must be brought to a vet's attention ASAP Tank - 9 months old Photo courtesy of owner: Jaymie Conner Skin - It is normal for a Boxer puppy to have some loose skin around the neck area and there will be some facial folds. These areas can hold in moisture which can lead to a fungal or bacterial infection. Moisture can accumulate when the pup drinks or when he drools. Keep the area nice and dry to prevent any problems.

Questions about Boxer puppies for sale in Miami FL? We have answers. How much are Boxer puppies for sale in Miami FL? The experience of Miami Boxer breeders will affect the price of each pup, as will their eye color, coat color, and markings. Can I only choose pups from Boxer breeders in Miami? We think that one of the best things about Uptown is that we work with a nationwide network of businesses and companies. You can even arrange to meet your new pup at your nearest major airport! How do you screen breeders with Boxer puppies in Miami? Uptown Puppies uses a rigorous application process to ensure that we only work with the best companies and businesses out there. All companies within our network have to sign our binding Breeder Pledge - a set of guidelines they must agree to adhere to. How is Uptown Puppies different to anywhere else? When searching for Miami Boxers for sale online it can be hard to tell the difference between honest businesses and scams or puppy mills. Many of the top results will be companies with the best marketing. That doesn't mean they have the best Boxer puppies for sale Miami though. What is a puppy mill like? Puppy mills are awful operations where profit is more important than the welfare of pups and parent dogs. Are there any Boxer puppies available right now? The first thing to do is start looking at our listings for Boxer for sale in Miami. We know there are some seriously cute pups on offer from companies in our network - your dream pup is waiting for you! Where are Boxer dogs from? The Boxer breed hails from 19th Century Germany although their roots go back as far as B. Initially a hunting breed, they quickly became prized for their courage, loyalty, and intelligence. First registered in the US in , they have been a fir favorite for hundreds of years since. What are Boxers like personality wise? Loving, playful, and even a little goofy with their families, these dogs quickly turn into fearless guard dogs if they think their loved ones need protecting. As an extremely high-energy breed, Boxers do best when given plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Are Boxers easy to train? A Boxer Miami will also need proper socialization so they become well-rounded and polite adult dogs. How big does a mature Boxer get? As Boxer puppies Miami mature, they grow into impressive dogs… a little imposing too! Male Boxers can mature to stand up to 25 inches high at the shoulder, weighing up to 80 pounds. Female Boxers are a little smaller, maturing to stand up to .Their coat is smooth and tight-fitting; colors are fawn or brindled, with or without white markings, which may cover the entire body. Boxers are brachycephalic they have broad, short skulls , and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism an underbite , very strong jaws, and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large prey. Boxers were first exhibited in a dog show for St. Bernards in Munich in , the first Boxer club being founded the next year. Based on American Kennel Club statistics, Boxers held steady as the seventh most popular breed of dog in the United States for the third consecutive year. Appearance The head is the most distinctive feature of the Boxer. The breed standard dictates that it must be in perfect proportion to the body and above all it must never be too light. The greatest value is to be placed on the muzzle being of correct form and in absolute proportion to the skull. The length of the muzzle to the whole of the head should be a ratio of .Folds are always present from the root of the nose running downwards on both sides of the muzzle, and the tip of the nose should lie somewhat higher than the root of the muzzle. In addition a Boxer should be slightly prognathous, i. Temperament The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age. Wikipedia SW 40 St. Suite 27 Miami, FL gorgeouspuppiesandkittens gmail. All Rights Reserved.

Also called Miniature Labrapoos, Labradoodles, and Labradorpoos, the Miniature Labradoodle is a well-known hybrid breed in a smaller package. They are sweet-natured and smart, and they love to spend time with their people. They are affectionate with their family. They are also tolerant and compassionate, and they tend to be well-behaved around people of all ages and other pets. Labradoodles are generally healthy and should live to be 10 to 14 years old. These qualities make Miniature Labradoodles an ideal family dog that does well with other pets and children. Even the most inexperienced dog parents find this breed to be easy to train and eager to please. They are too gentle and sweet to make a good guard dog, but they can be useful watchdogs. They are small and fluffy, square and athletic. Long, furry ears are set on the top and back of their heads. Their muzzles can be medium to long. The Miniature Labradoodle coat varies a great deal, ranging from straight to loose curls, and usually kept about 4 to 6 inches in length. The coat may be one of three textures. They could have hair similar to fur in shedding dogs, they could have a more dense and non-shedding wool, or they could have more of a silky fleece. They come in a variety of colors: Gold. How long has the Labradoodle been known as a breed? Labradoodles have been intentionally bred in Australia since .Wally Conran, a breeder of guide dogs, was the first breeder, using a standard poodle and Labrador retriever. The main goal was to create a dog that had the laid back nature of the Labrador coupled with the intelligence and allergy friendly coat of the Poodle. As the breed gained popularity, many kennels have bred and cross-bred the Labradoodle. What is an Australian Labradoodle? Over time infusions of some other breeds were added to target smaller sizes and more consistent, lower maintenance coats. The breed then became known as the Australian Labradoodle. Over the years the Labrador and poodle have kept a high degree of function ie agility and freedom of movement within their breeding. Both breeds were originally bred to be gun dogs, were excellent at retrieving waterfowl and due to their intelligence and trainability they are still used for hunting to this day. Labradors have a strong and muscular body, are athletic and playful and well known for their easy going gentle nature, placid and are great around children. However, they do love their food and are at the larger end of the scale, so harder to fit in the car. Poodles are long lived, have good genetic strengths and a well-proportioned muscular frame, which is helpful in preventing joint problems. They love to be close to their human as they can be less self-sufficient than the Labrador. They can also be a little bouncy and excitable. Both breeds are popular as working and family dogs as well as therapy and service dogs. Bred together, the hugely popular Labradoodle, which seems to moderate the extremes of both breeds, is intelligent, easy going and an affectionate companion with a low to non-shedding coat. Proudly created with Wix. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The Labradoodle is a fantastic home dog. They have a super affectionate personality and love to be in the center of the action. They are incredibly smart and enjoy playing but are often not pushy. Their keenness and intuition allows them to judge when it is play time and when it cuddle time. It is important that these dogs are introduced to the world, other people, and canines early on. We choose to socialize our puppies by playing with them throughout the day, going to a Assisted Living facility, and occasionally to daycares and schools. Mini Labradoodles are generally a great choice for a first-time dog owner, a family, a service dog, a school program dog, or a guide dog. At Puppies Up North, we began holding, loving, cuddling, and socializing our puppies from day one. Training a Labradoodle is an easier task than most dogs. Their eager-to-please personalities and intelligence make them both attentive and happy in learning. Their overt friendliness, intuition, and slight sensitivity mean they respond best to positive reinforcement. This means teaching tricks and games. Crate training is exceptionally successful with this breed. Labradoodles are exceptional with all families, young and old. They have a fun-loving personality, eager-to-please attitude, with the adaptability to match your lifestyle, makes them the perfect family companion. View fullsize Both our chocolate Labradoodle and our Poodle are beautiful dogs with excellent temperaments. They are our family pets. Because we begin with a Labradoodle and a Poodle, rather than a Lab and a Poodle, our puppies are much more likely to have the non-shedding Poodle coat. A F1b Labradoodle has been back-crossed to a poodle in an effort to insure a non-shedding coat. Even though most f1b Labradoodles shed very little or not all, it is impossible to guarantee that any dog even doodles or purebred poodles will not shed at all. Hypo- means less hypothermia is having a lower than normal body temperature. No dog can be said to be completely non-allergenic. Studies have shown that doodles are less likely to cause allergies, particularly f1b doodles. The ideal is to keep as much of the Lab head shape and super-friendly personality as possible while getting the non-shedding Poodle coat as well as the dignified, less vocal characteristics of the Poodle. Our Labradoodle methodology is quite simple. First, we get quality dogs. This is why we wanted to have pick of the litter for our Labradoodle and our Poodle and why we only obtained puppies from reputable breeders that we knew we could trust. Second, we try to treat our dogs Labradoodle and Poodle well. We feed our Labradoodle and Poodle high quality food with plenty of protein, and give them wonderful socialization and opportunities for exercise. We have 12 acres along the Enoree River with trails, additional property next to a Greenville state park, and property on Lake Hartwell giving us the opportunity to take the dogs kayaking. We recognize the importance of socializing young Labradoodle puppies so they will not be fearful as they mature. Our Labradoodle puppies have lots of opportunities to play with our children, and water games are definitely on top of the list. Labradoodles love the water and so do my kids, as you can see below. Third, we try to find appropriate families for our Chocolate Labradoodle puppies. To learn more about our process, check out this resource that gives a step-by-step guide between the application to receiving your puppy! A Chocolate Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle is not for everyone, and a puppy is not for everyone. If your family is not prepared for a Labradoodle puppy financially, time investment, etc. When can you get your puppy? Because we have only one Labradoodle mother and a couple guardian homes , puppies are available only occasionally. Contact us nathan crockettdoodles. We have a flexible waiting list and offer your deposit back if we do not have the ideal Labradoodle puppy for you within a certain window of time. Sometimes with mini Labradoodles we prefer to wait until they are a little older than 8 weeks because accidents tend to happen more easily with really small puppies. We will take several pictures of you with your Labradoodle puppy. We will send you the pictures for free place them on a USB thumb drive for you , and you will have full copyright privileges to all of the pictures to use at your discretion. You have the option of whether or not the photos appear here on the ChocolateLabradoodlePuppies. Although we never ship puppies, we will sometimes personally deliver puppies for a reasonable fee. Why should you consider getting a Chocolate Labradoodle from us? If a Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle puppy is right for your family, and if you are within driving distance of Greenville, SC, you may want to consider getting a chocolate Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle from us. If you read our Labradoodle puppy methodology and like what you read, you should consider adopting one of our puppies. We have a three-year health guarantee on each of our puppies if the forever home continues to feed TLC one year health guarantee on all others. How can you get a Chocolate Labradoodle or Labradoodle mini from us? If you think your family would be a good match for one of our Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle puppies, then start the conversation by emailing us at nathan crockettdoodles. You will have full access to all pictures and hold the copyright to make as many pictures as you desire. You keep all the pictures. We give your Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle puppy a quality collar. We give your Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle puppy a quality leash. We give you a bag of high quality dog food. We believe that you should give your new Labradoodle puppy or mini Labradoodle puppy the best food. Instructional materials about crate training and house training. Our goal is to do everything we can to assist in the house training and crate training process. A Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle puppy or any puppy cannot be completely reliable in the house until the puppy is about 6 months old. The simple point is that no matter what some breeders tell you you will be partially involved in the house training process unless you buy an older Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle , but we want to help you with that process. A one-year health guarantee; extended to three years for all who continue to feed TLC. We are concerned with finding really good homes for our Labradoodle and mini Labradoodle puppies. Labradoodle Color To see a list of available colors, check out this page. At ChocolateLabradoodlePuppies. Ultimately we cannot completely control the color of puppies. Even though chocolate is the most desirable color, we sometimes have puppies of other colors even occasional merles. These puppies, will of course, also make excellent pets. These non-chocolate Labradoodle puppies are also available to great families, but we know that Chocolate Labradoodles are the most desirable. The Labrador Retriever has a short coat that sheds. By breeding the F1 Labradoodle back to an unrelated Poodle, the chances of getting the highly desirable non-shedding Poodle coat increase exponentially. Some F1B Labradoodles are bred back another time to a Poodle in an effort to guarantee a Poodle coat. If high quality dogs are chosen to breed that have the head shape of a Labrador Retriever it is possible to get a puppy that is very similar in many ways to a Labrador, but has the beautiful non-shedding Poodle coat. Both Labrador Retrievers and Poodles are highly intelligent dogs, helping Labradoodles excel in smarts, train-ability, and a general desire to always please their owner. If you desire a family-friendly, kid loving, medium energy dog that is comfortable inside or outside, that loves the water and the land, you should definitely consider a Labradoodle or mini Labradoodle. For more info about Labradoodle puppies or mini Labradoodle puppies, please email nathan crockettdoodles. Check out our sister site miniLabradoodlePuppies. We specialize in Chocolate Labradoodles and mini Labradoodles, but often we have other colors as well. Occasionally someone travels from Atlanta, Columbia, Raleigh-Durham or Knoxville, but our proximity to North Carolina and the popularity of Labradoodles in North Carolina make Charlotte and Asheville our most serviced locations. We also have some who are interested from distant states, but we primarily serve the Southeast U. We are happy to refund deposits any time for any reason. We will clearly announce the pricing for each mini Labradoodle litter in a litter announcement. Apply Now If you are interested in a miniature Labradoodle puppy please consider filling out the application. Years ago, we'd announce litters to nearly people on an email waiting list. Within the first minute or two, the entire litter would be spoken for, and families who received a doodle puppy felt like they'd won the lottery. Since then, we've developed a thorough application process, seeking the very best mini Labradoodle forever homes. Please do not place a mini Labradoodle deposit unless your doodle application is accepted. We seek to fairly and thoroughly evaluate each miniature Labradoodle application within business days at which point we let you know the answer for your mini Labradoodle application: "yes," "no," or "wait. Your mini Labradoodle application does NOT obligate you to give a deposit or adopt a mini Labradoodle puppy. The mini Labradoodle application is simply your first step to express a level of interest in getting a mini Labradoodle puppy. After giving a deposit, your family would receive mini Labradoodle litter announcements in an effort to match you with the perfect miniature Labradoodle. Each adopting family has the option to pass on as many Labradoodle litters as they want until finding the perfect doodle puppy. Seeking to be the best mini Labradoodle breeders, we refund doodle deposits any time for any reason. It doesn't make sense to us why nearly every other mini Labradoodle breeder requires non-refundable deposits. We have FAR more demand than supply for our mini Labradoodles. Your application helps us determine if your family would make an excellent forever home to one of our precious mini Labradoodle puppies. We have no desire to keep a family's mini Labradoodle deposit if they've located a mini doodle with another breeder or if they've chosen not to get a mini Labradoodle at all. The Labradoodle is bred by crossing a Poodle with a Labrador Retriever , while the Miniature Labradoodle is created by crossbreeding a Miniature Poodle with a Labrador. Still intelligent, affectionate and great family dogs, you get all the same qualities of the loving Labradoodle in a much smaller form! History Of The Mini Labradoodle The Labradoodle is known for being an excellent service dog, often being used as a therapy dog or service dog due to their sweet and affectionate nature. The Mini Labradoodle, also known as the Toy Labradoodle, was originally bred to be the companion counterpart to the Standard Labradoodle — a smaller version that people could live happily alongside. They were also bred because of their hypoallergenic coat that they could inherit from their Poodle parent, although this is also one of the reasons the Standard Labradoodle was bred! We will go into more detail about their hypoallergenic coat later on. There are different generations of these designer dogs. A F1 hybrid is a Miniature Poodle crossed with a Labrador. A F2 cross is breeding one Mini Labradoodle with another. A F2 Mini Labradoodle is likely to be far more expensive that a F1 or F1B because their temperament and characteristics are more easily predicted. However, it is registered with the Designer Breed Registry. Always find a reputable breeder when you are buying one of these pups or any dog! Breed Origin We can take a look at the parent breeds origins first to understand the beginnings of the Labradoodle. The Poodle originated from the French and German border in the 15th and 16th century and was associated with the upper class. Because they are excellent water dogs, they were used to hunt water-fowl. Later on, because of their adorable look, these pups became a very popular dog. The Toy Poodle was bred from the Standard Poodle by choosing the smallest pup from each litter and breeding with them. They were first seen in America in the 20th century. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog in America. Labradors were originally bred as gun dogs in the s and used to accompany hunters and retrieve animals that had been shot. They were also used in Newfoundland to retrieve fish that came in off the trawl, which is why they love the water. Their loyal and loving nature mean that they quickly became a very popular family dog and are still used today as working dogs, such as guide dogs. The Labradoodle was first bred by Wally Conron in and they have been growing in popularity ever since. The Standard Labradoodle was first bred in Australia with the purpose of being a hypoallergenic guide dog in the s. Not long after, the Miniature Labradoodle was in demand as people wanted a smaller version of this low shedding and friendly pet. At some point between and , Dr Kate Schoeffel first bred the Mini variation of the standard size Labradoodle. Characteristics Of The Mini Labradoodle Because the Mini labradoodle is a crossbreed, it can be difficult to determine the exact characteristics that they are going to inherit from each parent. One litter may take more traits from the Poodle parent, while another litter may take more traits from the Labrador parent. We can, however, say that the characteristics of the Mini Labradoodle are the same as the Standard Labradoodle — they really are the same dog, just in a smaller size! A F2 Mini Labradoodle has a more predictable temperament and appearance. However, based on past Mini Labradoodle litters, we can predict some of the traits of these pups no matter the generation. Appearance The Toy Labradoodle looks almost identical to their Standard cousins, except they are much smaller. These little pups normally stand between 14 to 16 inches tall and usually weigh under 45 lbs, with the average weight being anywhere between 15 to 25 lbs. Much like the Standard Labradoodle, the Mini looks a bit like a teddy bear! Coat These dogs can inherit different coat types from their parents. Some Mini Labradoodles may inherit a long, curly and thick coat from their Poodle parent, or they inherit a short, straight and dense coat from their Labrador parent. This is very difficult to predict and sometimes the coat will even be a perfect hybrid of both parents! However, as the Labradoodle became more popular, careful breeding went out the window. That being said, if your pup inherits their coat from their Poodle parent, it is likely they will be hypoallergenic and great for those with allergies. Normally, the Labradoodle will have a solid colored coat, but this is not always true. The most common coat colors for this breed are black, brown, chocolate, apricot, cream, golden, silver and white. Temperament The Labradoodle is a smart, loving and playful dog that inherits desirable traits from both parent breeds. Bred to be companion dogs, these pups certainly live up to it and love to be around people. They love to please their owners too, which makes them easy to train and fun to learn tricks with! Their intelligence means that they make excellent service dogs, especially guide dogs and therapy dogs, and they are highly intuitive, too. Their friendly nature means they will want to spend time with you and they are extremely sociable. They will love a trip to the store or a walk in the park where they can socialize with other people and dogs. A great family pet, the Labradoodle gets on with everyone and just wants to love you! Their playful and active nature means they love to spend time outside too, having fun and burning off energy. If you need a dog to brighten up your day, the Labradoodle might be for you. Lifespan Mixed breed dogs normally have a longer life expectancy that purebred breeds. You can expect your Miniature Labradoodle to fall into this range. Known Health Issues Unfortunately, the Mini Labradoodle is susceptible to some health problems that their parent breeds are prone to. We have laid out the most common health concerns seen in the Labradoodle below. Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA — this is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. The symptoms of it include excessive drinking and urinating, as well as increased heart rate and panting. Bloat — this affects both parent breeds and is potentially fatal. You need to know the symptoms of it. Feeding your dog smaller more frequent meals instead of one big meal can help to reduce the risk. Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable. Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced. Trusted breeders will do health checks on both parent breeds and will not crossbreed if there is a chance of passing on any issues to offspring. Daily Life Now we know the characteristics and traits of a Mini Labradoodle, it is time to take a look at what looking after and living with one of these pets is like. Read on below to find out about their food and diet, their exercise needs and their grooming needs. You should always check the back of the dog food packet to see how much of a particular food you should feeding them based on their weight. The food you feed your Labradoodle should be high-quality and nutritious. Try to find a food that is formulated specifically for their size. Try to space their meals over at least two meals a day. This will also help with the bloat that this breed is more prone to and can be a life threatening issue. F1b Labradoodle puppies Have you seen an F1b Labradoodle for sale or adoption, and wondered what the extra letters stand for? What is an F1b Labradoodle? What does F1b stand for? The number following the F describes how many generations separate a puppy from their most recent purebred ancestor. F1 means that a puppy has at least one purebred parent. F2 means that they have purebred grandparents, but mixed breed parents, and so on. Back crossing is when you mate a mixed breed dog to a pedigree dog from one of their ancestral breeds. But you can also get F2b Labradoodles and so on. What about an F1bb Labradoodle? They have one purebred parent, three purebred grandparents, and eight purebred great grandparents. Important note F1, F1b, F1bb etc all refer to mixed breed dogs. They are ways of describing the pattern of mixing that took place. But why do breeders pursue such elaborate permutations of mixed breeding? Does it actually produce better puppies? Why breed F1b dogs? Breeders use back crossing to increase the probability of puppies inheriting specific traits. The reason is to increase the probability of the F1b generation having non-shedding coats. F1b Mini Labradoodle litters are more likely to be small, assuming Miniature Poodles were used for each generation. They will inherit genes governing coat length, texture and shedding from both of their parents, and they may or may not shed. Their Labradoodle parent will also provide copies of half of their own genes, selected at random. Importantly, their Labrador inheritance could still result in them having a shedding coat. How big do F1b Labradoodles get? Size is one of the most potentially variable Labradoodle qualities of all. In theory a first generation Labradoodle can weigh anything from 40 to 80 pounds, which is a pretty wide range! Since Poodles are smaller on average than Labradors, creating an F1b Labradoodle generation increases the odds of the puppies falling at the top or bottom of that range, depending on whether a Labrador or Poodle parent is used. What about an F1b Mini Labradoodle? Mini Labradoodles are increasingly popular. They are the result of crossing a Labrador Retriever with a Miniature Poodle. Mini Poodles usually weigh between 10 and 15 pounds, which means the potential weight range for an F1 Miniature Poodle is staggeringly wide. But, crossing a petite F1 Mini Labradoodle with another Miniature Poodle greatly increases the probability of reliably small F1b Mini Labradoodle puppies. This is desirable for breeders and puppy buyers because most people prefer to know in advance how big their puppy is likely to get! What is an F1b Labradoodle like as a pet — temperament and training Creating an F1b generation can also increase the odds of a Labradoodle having a very Labrador-y or Poodle-ish personality. For Standard Labradoodles, this might not actually make much difference. Labradors and Poodles were both originally gundogs, and they are both active, clever, open to meeting new people, and responsive to training, If anything the Poodle may be slightly less keen to socialize with other dogs, and slightly more likely to display watchdog behaviors at home for example barking at visitors and passers by. However, Miniature Poodle temperament is distinctly different from Labrador and Standard Poodle temperament in several ways. They are more likely to display non-social fear for example of vehicles, thunder or fireworks be touch sensitive suffer separation anxiety and behave aggressively or threateningly to other dogs in the same household dog rivalry. So creating an F1b generation of Mini Labradoodle puppies increases the odds of dogs with these traits. Are F1b Labradoodles hypoallergenic? In fact, there is no convincing evidence that any breed of dog is truly hypoallergenic, including pedigree Poodles and other non-shedding breeds. So how do some people with allergies tolerate Labradoodles? Well, the allergenic proteins in their saliva, sweat and urine are actually a family of proteins called Can F 1 proteins. And there is a lot of subtle variation in the exact molecular composition of the Can F 1 proteins individual dogs produce. Likewise, there is lots of subtle variation in the immune systems of dog-allergic people. Unfortunately designer dogs like Labradoodles are very vulnerable to exploitation by puppy farms. Ultimately, the exact size, coat, and temperament of either generation is less consistent than that of a purebred Lab or Poodle. If something like size, a non-shedding coat, or particular character traits is important to you, how do you spot the puppy which has inherited that perfect combination? Unfortunately, puppy behavior is a very poor predictor of adult F1b dog temperament. Lots of factors, like the environment the breeder raises them in, the age they leave mom, how much you socialize them before 12 weeks old , and training will also shape their grown up personality. Puppies are born with a soft puppy coat which is replaced by a coarser adult coat at about 6 months old. How do I find F1b Labradoodle puppies for sale near me? Puppy farmers keep breeding dogs and their puppies in poor conditions, but charge high prices, to achieve maximum profit. Puppies raised on puppy farms often have hereditary diseases which could have been avoided by genetic testing of their parents. They are also more likely to come home with parasitic infections. Behavioral problems resulting from a lack of socialization or being sold too young are commonplace too. Look for breeders who have been recommended by someone you know, or who can provide references from previous puppy buyers. Ask lots of questions about how their puppies are raised. And insist on seeing the results of health tests for both parents. A good breeder will be aware of the dangers facing Labradoodles from puppy farms, and be happy that you care too. This article can help you spot a bad breeder and give them a wide berth. Life Span Did You Know? Second-generation crosses could include a Labradoodle and a Mini Poodle or two Mini Labradoodles as parents. This hybrid dog breed was originally developed to create smaller potential service dogs that might be a good fit for people with allergies to dog fur. With a mixed breed, you can end up with any combination of traits from the parent breeds. Often, Mini Labradoodles are smart, friendly, and sociable dogs that are highly trainable. They are often found working as service dogs and therapy dogs and living as beloved family companions. Although they are not recognized by the AKC, the Mini Labradoodle is recognized by other canine registries. A Mini Labradoodle is a combination of two friendly dog breeds that crave human affection and are always happy to have company. These dogs also tend to have playful, energetic personalities and low prey drives. Well-socialized Mini Labradoodles tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Due to their smaller size, these dogs can be injured by accidental rough play or accidental falls, so any interactions between young kids and puppies should be closely supervised. Miniature Labradoodles will usually bark to alert you when someone is at the door, but generally are not prone to nuisance barking unless they have been trained into it. It may not be a bad idea to train your dog to stop barking early on. Well-socialized Mini Labradoodles may be initially wary of strangers, but tend to warm up quickly and will often be happy to make a new friend. Miniature Labradoodles are highly adaptable. Provided they get enough exercise, attention, and mental stimulation, they can adapt well to apartments as well as larger homes. They tend to do best in moderate climates, but can tolerate warmer or colder climates. As with any dog, they are sensitive to heat. Although they tend to have a fluffier coat, they are also smaller and may need to bundle up in some winter dog products to stay warm while out on walks in the cold. Mini Labradoodles are also very much companion breeds. They bond closely with their families and thrive on being near them, so they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. The health of the parents and good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of Mini Labradoodle puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done to help allay any concerns you may have. Miniature Labradoodles tend to be highly intelligent and eager to please. This generally makes them easy to train and a good fit for owners of all experience levels. In fact, their parent breeds are considered some of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. These dogs respond best to consistent training and positive reinforcement. Puppy training classes can ensure that owners of any experience level learn the latest training techniques and start building a strong bond with their puppy. Grooming requirements with a Mini Labradoodle can vary. On the Poodle side, you have a low-shedding, but high-maintenance, coat that needs daily brushing along with trimming and grooming every weeks. On the Lab side, you have a higher shedding coat that is more low-maintenance, requiring some weekly brushing or brushing a few times a week and intermittent bathing. Overall, Mini Labradoodles range from having a non- to low-shedding coat. They can have one coat type or the other, or a combination of both of them. So, you will want to be prepared for brushing a coat a few times a week and the possibility of more grooming needs. Regardless of coat type, there are some other general grooming tasks you can count on. Regular dental care for your dog will help prevent serious dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay later in life. This is especially important for dog breeds with floppy ears as they are more prone to developing ear infections. Miniature Labradoodles can be high-energy dogs. In general, they require daily walks plus some playtime and extra activity to be happy and healthy. Since they love to be around their family and can have an exuberant and outgoing personality, they will likely be up for more playtime if you are. This little dog may get tired more easily at times and could push themselves too far in their excitement. On the other hand, they may just keep going and going with no signs of slowing down. What is most important is making sure your Miniature Labradoodle gets enough exercise and mental stimulation. Fully-grown Mini Labradoodles usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Miniature Labradoodles generally live for years on average. Featured Mini Labradoodle Article. A Mini Labradoodle is small to a medium-sized hybrid dog that is created by breeding a Labrador Retriever with a Miniature Poodle. Mini Labradoodles are known for being intelligent, social, and affectionate dogs that are well-suited to a variety of lifestyles. They are often good with children and other pets and make great companion dogs. Like other hybrid dogs, Mini Labradoodles can inherit characteristics from both of their purebred parents, so it is difficult to predict exactly how a Mini Labradoodle will look or behave. They may have a coat that is wavy or curly, and that can be a variety of colors, including black, brown, cream, and red. Overall, Mini Labradoodles are generally friendly and outgoing dogs that are happy to be around people and other animals. They can make great pets for individuals or families who are looking for a loyal, affectionate companion. History of the Mini Labradoodle Breed The Mini Labradoodle is a relatively new hybrid breed that was developed in the s. They were created by breeding a Labrador Retriever with a Miniature Poodle in order to produce a dog with the intelligence and trainability of a Poodle and the friendly, outgoing personality of a Labrador Retriever. The Mini Labradoodle was originally developed as a hypoallergenic companion dog for people with allergies, as Poodles are known for producing less dander dead skin cells than many other breeds of dogs. Today, Mini Labradoodles are recognized by a number of hybrid dog registries and are popular pets around the world. The specific generation of a Mini Labradoodle refers to the number of purebred grandparents the dog has. F1B Mini Labradoodles are generally more hypoallergenic than F1 Mini Labradoodles, as they have a higher percentage of Poodle genetics. Coat Colors of Mini Labradoodle Dogs The coat color of a Mini Labradoodle can vary widely, as they can inherit genes for coat color from both of their purebred parents. Mini Labradoodles can have a coat that is wavy or curly, and can be a variety of colors, including black, brown, cream, and red. Some common coat colors for Mini Labradoodles include: Black: Mini Labradoodles with a black coat may have a solid black coat or may have black hair mixed with white or other colors. Brown: Mini Labradoodles with a brown coat may have a solid brown coat or may have brown hair mixed with white or other colors. Cream: Mini Labradoodles with a cream coat may have a solid cream-colored coat or may have cream-colored hair mixed with white or other colors. Red: Mini Labradoodles with a red coat may have a solid red coat or may have red hair mixed with white or other colors. What kind of Coat do Mini Labradoodles have? Mini Labradoodles typically have a soft, wavy, or curly coat that is low- to non-shedding. They may inherit their coat type from either their Labrador Retriever parent or their Miniature Poodle parent, and their coat can vary widely in terms of texture, length, and thickness. Are Mini Labradoodles Hypoallergenic? Mini Labradoodles are generally considered to be a low-shedding breed, which makes them a good choice for people who are looking for a hypoallergenic dog. The Miniature Poodle, which is one of the parent breeds of the Mini Labradoodle, is often considered to be hypoallergenic, as they produce less dander dead skin cells than many other breeds of dogs. However, even Poodles can cause allergic reactions in some people, and Mini Labradoodles may inherit some of the allergens present in their Labrador Retriever parent. Suppose you are allergic to dogs and are considering getting a Mini Labradoodle. You should also be prepared to regularly groom and clean your Mini Labradoodle to help minimize allergens in your home. What kind of Temperaments do Mini Labradoodles have? Mini Labradoodles are generally intelligent, social, and affectionate dogs that are well-suited to various lifestyles. Like all breeds, Mini Labradoodles can vary in temperament, and individual dogs may exhibit different personality traits. However, Mini Labradoodles are generally friendly and outgoing dogs that are happy to be around people and other animals. They are often eager to please and easily trainable, making them a good choice for first-time dog owners. Mini Labradoodles are generally energetic and active dogs that require regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. They may enjoy activities such as walking, jogging, and playing fetch and participate in obedience or agility classes. By providing your Mini Labradoodle with regular exercise, mental stimulation, and training, you can help to ensure that they are well-behaved and well-adjusted pets. Care for your Mini Labradoodle There are several main things that you should consider when caring for your Mini Labradoodle to help ensure that they are healthy and happy. Here are some tips for managing your Mini Labradoodle: Provide regular exercise: Mini Labradoodles are active, energetic dogs that require regular movement to stay healthy and happy. Plan to take your Mini Labradoodle for walks or runs on a daily basis, and consider engaging them in activities such as fetch, obedience training, or agility classes to help them get the exercise they need. Consult with your personal veterinarian or a professional nutritionist to help determine the best diet for your Mini Labradoodle. Brush their teeth regularly: Mini Labradoodles require regular dental care to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Brush their teeth at least twice a week with a toothbrush and toothpaste designed specifically for dogs, and consider using dental treats or chews to help keep their teeth clean. Grooming: Mini Labradoodles require regular grooming to keep their coat looking their best. Brush and comb their coat weekly to prevent tangles, and consider having them trimmed or shaped by a groomer every few months. By following these care guidelines and working closely with your veterinarian, you can help to ensure that your Mini Labradoodle stays healthy and happy. How often do Mini Labradoodles need to be Groomed? The frequency of grooming required for a Mini Labradoodle will depend on their coat type, length, and thickness, as well as on the specific grooming needs of the individual dog. In general, Mini Labradoodles should be brushed and combed at least weekly to prevent tangles and to keep their coat looking their best. If your Mini Labradoodle has a long, thick, or curly coat, it may require more frequent grooming, such as daily brushing and combing, to prevent tangles and mats. They may also need to be trimmed or shaped by a groomer every few months to maintain their desired coat length and shape. If your Mini Labradoodle has a short, wavy coat, it may need less grooming, and weekly brushing and combing may be sufficient. They may only need to be trimmed or shaped by a groomer every few months or as needed. Exercising your Mini Labradoodle! Exercise is an integral part of caring for your Mini Labradoodle and is essential for their physical and mental well-being. Mini Labradoodles are energetic, active dogs that require regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Here are some tips for exercising your Mini Labradoodle: Take them for walks or runs: Mini Labradoodles enjoy outside and walking and running. Plan to take your Mini Labradoodle for walks or runs daily, and vary the route and pace to keep things interesting for them. Play fetch: Mini Labradoodles generally enjoy playing fetch, and this is a great way to get them moving and provide them with mental stimulation. Use a ball, Frisbee, or other appropriate toys, and make sure to praise and reward your Mini Labradoodle when they bring the toy back to you. Engage in obedience or agility training: Mini Labradoodles are intelligent, trainable dogs that enjoy learning new things. Consider enrolling them in obedience or agility training classes to provide mental and physical exercise and help them learn new skills. Provide mental stimulation: In addition to physical exercise, Mini Labradoodles also require mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Provide your Mini Labradoodle with puzzle toys, food-dispensing toys, or other interactive toys to help keep their minds active. By providing your Mini Labradoodle with regular exercise and mental stimulation, you can help to ensure that they are healthy and well-adjusted pets. Mini Labradoodle Training! Mini Labradoodles are intelligent, trainable dogs that are generally easy to train. Miniature Labradoodles are eager to please and respond well to positive reinforcement techniques, such as praising and rewarding good behavior. Use positive reinforcement: Mini Labradoodles respond well to positive reinforcement, so be sure to praise and reward your dog when they do something good. Avoid punishment or negative reinforcement, as this can damage your relationship with your Mini Labradoodle and may make training more difficult. Aim for minute sessions, and stop the session when your Mini Labradoodle starts to lose interest or becomes distracted. This will help your Mini Labradoodle learn more quickly and will make training more effective. By following these tips and working with a professional trainer if needed, you can effectively train your Mini Labradoodle and help them become a well-behaved and well-adjusted pets. Can Mini Labradoodles be Registered? As such, they are not eligible for registration with these organizations. These organizations recognize and register hybrid breeds, including Mini Labradoodles, and may provide pedigrees and other documentation for these dogs. If you are considering getting a Mini Labradoodle, research the available registries and choose one that meets your needs and goals. Remember that registration is not necessary for your Mini Labradoodle to be a beloved and valuable family member. Can Mini Labradoodles be used for therapy dogs? Yes, Mini Labradoodles can potentially be used as therapy dogs. Mini Labradoodles are generally friendly, social, and affectionate dogs that are well-suited to being around people, and their small size and calm demeanor may make them well-suited for therapy work. To be used as a therapy dog, a Mini Labradoodle must have a calm and gentle disposition, be well-behaved and well-trained, and be comfortable around people of all ages and abilities. They will also need to be healthy and up-to-date on their vaccinations. Suppose you are interested in using your Mini Labradoodle as a therapy dog. Do Mini Labradoodles get along with other dogs and pets? Mini Labradoodles are generally social and friendly dogs that usually get along well with other dogs and pets. However, as with any breed, the specific temperament of a Mini Labradoodle dog can vary, and they might or may not get along with other animals in your home. By properly socializing your Mini Labradoodle and teaching them good manners, you can help to ensure that they get along well with other animals and become a well-adjusted member of your household. Is a Mini Labradoodle Puppy a good fit for families with kids? Mini Labradoodle puppies can be a good fit for families with kids, as they are generally friendly, social, and affectionate dogs that are well-suited to various lifestyles. Here are a some important things to consider when deciding whether a Mini Labradoodle puppy is a good fit for your family: Time commitment: Mini Labradoodle puppies require a significant time commitment, as they need regular exercise, training, and socialization to grow into well-adjusted adults. Make sure you devote time and energy to your Mini Labradoodle puppy. Training and socialization: Mini Labradoodle puppies require regular exercise and socialization to become well-behaved and well-adjusted adults. Be prepared to invest your time and effort into training and socializing your Mini Labradoodle puppy to ensure that they grow into a well-mannered and well-adjusted pet. Exercise needs: Mini Labradoodles are energetic, active dogs that require regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Make sure you have the time and resources to provide your Mini Labradoodle puppy with the necessary training. Cost: Owning a dog can be expensive, and Mini Labradoodle puppies are no exception. Be prepared for the ongoing costs of feeding, grooming, and veterinary care, as well as the initial cost of purchasing a Mini Labradoodle puppy. By carefully considering these factors and being prepared for the responsibilities of owning a dog, you can help to ensure that a Mini Labradoodle puppy is a good fit for your family. Do Mini Labradoodle have a tendency to bark a lot? Like all breeds, Mini Labradoodles may or may not tend to bark a lot. The specific barking behavior of a Mini Labradoodle will depend on their individual temperament, as well as on their environment and the stimuli they are exposed to. Some Mini Labradoodles may be prone to barking more than others, particularly if they are not properly trained and socialized or if they are anxious or stressed. However, with proper training and socialization, most Mini Labradoodles can only learn to bark when necessary and be quiet when commanded. By properly training and socializing your Mini Labradoodle and addressing any barking issues early, you can help to ensure that they are well-behaved and well-adjusted pets. The lifespan of a Mini Labradoodle will depend on a variety of factors, including its size, breed health, and lifestyle. Mini Labradoodles can generally live for around years, although some may live longer or shorter lives depending on their circumstances. This includes feeding them a high-quality diet, providing regular exercise and mental stimulation, and ensuring that they receive regular veterinary care and preventive care measures such as vaccinations and parasite prevention. By providing your Mini Labradoodle with the care they need, you can help to ensure that they are happy and healthy throughout their lifetime and that they remain a valued member of your family for many years to come.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Knowing how to discipline a German Shepherd for biting and nipping will not only help save your hands and legs from tiny razor-sharp teeth… But teaching your GSD puppy to stop biting can also help you with valuable training skills! How do you discipline a German Shepherd for biting and nipping? Follow these steps to discipline your German Shepherd for biting or nipping you. If they still continue to bite and nip, calmly get up and walk away to let them calm down. You can also get your puppy to stop biting by working on their impulse control. Never use physical punishment, yell at your dog, or cause them to fear you. Instead, use reward-based training to teach your GSD what behavior you want them to do instead. There is also extra information you need to know about disciplining your German Shepherd for biting, such as: Why your puppy bites and nips you How to avoid biting and nipping in the first place And what not to do! You might find it cute that your fuzzy little German Shepherd puppy biting your hand or ankles is cute but… Think again! Imagine your dog all grown up as a nearly 90 to pound athletic powerhouse — full of large, adult-size teeth. Some people incorrectly assume that discipline means punishment. This is your essential guide to learn how to discipline your German Shepherd for biting and nipping. Why is my German Shepherd puppy biting and nipping? Is your sweet puppy biting and nipping you all of a sudden? Read below to find out why. When my adorable German Shepherd puppy came home to me her antics were so much fun! I loved to move the toys to play her favorite games and keep her entertained. But, my hands looked like I had accidentally adopted a baby tiger after our playtimes! There were scratches, puncture wounds, and she could even draw blood! German Shepherd puppies love to play and do so by barking, play growling, and nipping their little brothers and sisters. But now, you and your family are the littermates! Puppies quickly learn that if they bite too hard their littermates stop the play, and the fun ends. This is a valuable life lesson for living with people and families. And even studies show that removing a German Shepherd puppy before they are 8-weeks-old could negatively affect their behavior as adults source. Your new German Shepherd must continue to learn bite inhibition skills when you first bring them home. Is yours? German Shepherds get their razor-sharp baby teeth around 2-weeks-old. The baby teeth have usually all grown in by 6 to 7 weeks of age. So, when your pup comes home, around 8-weeks of age to live with you, all 28 of their baby teeth are ready for nipping and biting. When the adult teeth grow in they can irritate the gums and cause your dog discomfort. This leads to your pup looking for things to chew to help soothe their teething pains. You might find tiny teeth on your carpet or on the ground, but most of the baby teeth are swallowed by your pup. Chewing is a natural way to help the pain go away and is very normal. During these times a frozen Kong filled with a mix of treats helps to cool the inflamed gums and soothe their aches. Keep a few frozen Kongs on hand during the teething stage to offer your German Shepherd puppy to stop them from chewing and biting everything in sight! Your German Shepherd comes from a long line of working dogs that were originally bred to herd sheep. These instincts still remain with your dog to this day. German Shepherds bite and nip your ankles due to this natural herding ability and powerful prey drive. This need to herd is in their genes and, unfortunately, your ankles will have to do when there are no sheep to round up! Absence or Lack of Mental Stimulation A bored, mentally understimulated German Shepherd might act out and need brain games. German Shepherds, even puppies, are highly intelligent dogs with a never-ending supply of stamina. Mental stimulation exhausts their minds and bodies! A pup that lacks proper mental stimulation finds themselves looking for ways to keep their brains busy, which generally means getting into trouble. Too Tired or Lack of Sleep A wild German Shepherd probably needs a long nap to help them become their sweet self again. Did you know that puppies sleep 18 to 20 hours a day source? A German Shepherd puppy who is nipping and biting a lot might just be cranky from lack of sleep, and not willfully acting out. Begin teaching them by using body language, hand signals, voice commands, and showing them the right behaviors you want from them. If they continue aggressively biting you, place them in a short time out. Always use positive training and avoid harsh punishment and corrections. You can practice these techniques by following the steps below for disciplining your German Shepherd for biting. Teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition during play. You can teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition to help deter their nipping! There might come a time when your dog is in fear, pain, or discomfort and they put their mouth on you. If your German Shepherd has learned bite inhibition during their play, then they understand to not bite down hard and avoid injuring your skin. You can play these fun games with your German Shepherd while teaching them to not bite you. Slowly move your hand or leg away from them. Try to relax your hand and body so that your puppy is less interested in holding on with their teeth. Stop all play and interaction for five seconds. Then resume activity, but remember no interaction means no talking, no eye contact, and no petting. Sometimes, those sharp puppy teeth are too painful or break the skin! Show your puppy that biting or nipping ends the play. If your German Shepherd is aggressively biting you, show them that this behavior ends the play. But hard bites that draw blood or break your skin mean no more playtime. How to show your German Shepherd that biting and nipping ends play If your dog hurts you painfully during play, quietly and calmly turn away and stand up. Walk away from your puppy, preferably into another room of the house. Leaving play when your GSD becomes too rough is a way to calm them by withdrawing your attention from their rough behavior. Place them in a short time out for continued biting. Sometimes, a short time-out is required for hard nipping and biting. There will be times when your puppy is acting out so badly you might need to place them in a short time out. Time outs are not meant to be punishment, but a moment of calm. Do NOT let them become worked up or stressed if your separation is too much for them. Give your German Shepherd the right things to chew. Help your German Shepherd stop biting you by giving them something else to chew on. You already know your German Shepherd is biting you, so anticipate the biting behavior and substitute a toy for your hand or ankles. Even better… Keep a few small toys in your pocket to offer them as they race around the house. What toys do German Shepherds like to bite and chew? The key to using this toy is to roll it away from yourself when your puppy is aggressively nipping and biting you. Read this hand-picked content… just for you! Instead of letting your dog chew on whatever they want, find appropriate toys to reduce their boredom and give them a place to put their teeth. Redirect biting ankles and legs by using a food lure. A tasty treat comes in handy when your GSD bites at your legs and ankles. Your legs and feet are also enticing since they move and change directions frequently. When your German Shepherd bites your ankles or feet, calmly take a treat out of your pocket and hold the treat near the side of your leg. This disciplining technique also has the added benefit of teaching your dog the first steps of walking nicely on a leash with you. Train a gentle mouth when taking food from your hand. Teach your dog that only a gentle mouth gets its reward. Training your German Shepherd to take treats or kibble with a gentle mouth is extremely easy. Teaching your GSD puppy what is acceptable pressure with their mouth helps to avoid their sharp teeth from damaging your skin or tearing your clothes accidentally. Training a soft mouth with your German Shepherd When feeding your dog a treat, keep the treat pinches between your fingers slightly. This is so your puppy has to lick or nibble at the treat to get it. Instead, pull your hand back slowly. Now, offer your puppy the treat again. When he switches to just licking or using a soft mouth to nibble the treat out release the treat. Withdraw your hand. Wait a few seconds before offering your hand with the treat again. Practice teaching a gentle mouth at least 3 to 5 times daily in short sessions only about 2 to 3 minutes long. Pay attention to the types of items your German Shepherd prefers to pick up and chew. Is it something hard? Then, replace it with a hard, tough chew toy. Is the item soft? Try replacing the item with a furry toy instead. If you want a rock-solid leave it, then use this guide to train your German Shepherd the leave it command. Enroll them in a training class. A structured training class helps your German Shepherd learn to listen to you. But, think about this… Using an online program helps give you confidence in your skills as a trainer and will help train your little play biter to offer more polite responses in the future. Tips and tricks to stop the German Shepherd puppy biting 1. Finding out the root cause: Ankle biting is common to almost all German shepherds and in fact, all dog breeds. However, there are multiple reasons why your dog might be engaging in ankle-biting. This rudimentary instinct is sometimes manifested with its human companions itself. The only solution to the problem is to provide proper training to the dog so that it may learn to stop biting its ankle. Your puppy might be facing teething troubles. Other reasons might be that the dog is not getting enough exercise proportionate to its age. It might be a stunt to garner attention, especially if the puppy is already past the teething stage. Let the dog know that biting is unacceptable: The German shepherd, like any newborn, does not have an inherent understanding of what constitutes unacceptable behavior and what does not. However, a German Shepherd is an intelligent creature. It can make sense of our feelings by our verbal and facial expressions as well as our body language. German shepherd pups try to make sense of the world around them with their mouth. They thus often try to explore their surroundings by biting and testing them with their mouth. However, they need to be provided behavioral training to make them understand that this behavior cannot continue. When your GSD pup bites you, you can walk away from the situation to express your displeasure. While doing so, you should yourself be standing still. This will help the dog understand that his playtime with you will be reduced if he continues with similar behavior. Redirect the behavior to a chew toy: Sometimes, a pup bites everything in its sight, not because it is rebelling but because it is facing teething problems. Applying pressure on it provides temporary relief. You should then give him a chew toy that will help him ease some of the teething discomforts. You may also offer them frozen carrots to allay their teething woes. However, it is important to ensure that your dog is indeed suffering from teething problems and not just displaying bad behavior. This is because, if it is the latter case, you will be rewarding his bad behavior with a chew toy. Show your pain: You may also let out a small scream to make an appeal to the empathetic side of your German shepherd pup. It will make him realize that it is hurting you with such action. If the aggressive biting still continues, you can also try a deterrent. These are objects which taste really bad. Sounds nasty? Or it might just be possible that it is a really bad piece of crying- acting from your side, and your dog is too smart a German Shepherd. In that case, we will like to complement you-well chosen!! Reward good behavior: The importance of positive reinforcement while training a puppy cannot be emphasized enough. When your dog displays a good behavior, a small treat can go a long way in helping him understand the benefits of being in your good books. For example, if your dog bites your ankle, display a body posture that shows that you are upset and are ignoring him. Fold your arms and turn around to face away from him. Keep repeating this until he stops biting. Then give him a big smile and a small treat to reward his behavior. This way, he will understand that biting will lead to you ignoring him, while not doing so will get him both attention and snacks. Be a companion to your dog: Sometimes puppies bite at your ankles because they are feeling lonely and want your attention. When you own a German shepherd, you own a responsibility to provide them with love and care for their lifetime. German shepherds who have not had proper training might have biting habits which they take right to their adulthood. It is thus important to focus on providing the right kind of training to your pup to turn into an amiable human companion. If you have some time constraints, you should also crate train your dog, so that it is not emotionally hampered during your periods of separation. You can also arrange for play dates with other trained dogs. Sometimes a dog is able to understand that it is biting rough while engaging in some canine-to-canine play. Give him his daily quota of exercise: German shepherds are highly energetic dogs who need an adequate amount of exercise. Lack of exercise can channelize their energies into destructive tendencies. To know how much exercise your GSD pup needs, the golden rule is to add 5 minutes to each month of his age. For example, a two-month-old pup can manage with 10 minutes of exercise, while a four months old pup may need additional 10 minutes worth of exercise. It is important never to shout or yell at your GSD pup as it will frighten him and make him nervous. It will also lead to him developing a negative perception of you and will damage your bond irreparably. Also, as tempting as it may seem to some, never use aversive collars like, for example, a shock collar on your dog. It will frighten the dog and will have a negative effect on its mental health. With adequate training, your GSD pup should stop ankle-biting as it turns five to six months old. If the aggressive behavior persists, you might need to consult an animal behavioral specialist. However, most of the German shepherd dogs have this issue resolved as they add adequate months to their age and if they have been adequately trained. To know more about training German shepherds, you can consult these 6 Best German shepherd training books. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might bite your feet or ankles and the signs to look for. It wants attention The reason why it bites your feet could be that it wants your attention. This would be more likely to be the reason if it starts biting your feet when you have not been giving it attention for a while. It would also be more likely if it does it when you had just left it alone for a long time perhaps because you were at work. If that is why your German Shepherd bites your feet then it would help to give it more attention in the form of exercise, training and playing games such as tug of war in addition to training it not to bite your feet. Related post: How to tell if your German Shepherd loves you It is teething If your German Shepherd is a puppy then the reason why it bites your feet is likely to be that it is teething. When they are teething their gums will be painful and biting and chewing on things helps to soothe their gums. This is why they tend to bite and chew on things a lot as puppies. Another reason why it might bite on your feet is that German Shepherd puppies explore and interact with the world with their mouths and noses as much as they do with their eyes. As a result, it will bite on your feet a lot because it is interacting with it and your feet likely have strong smells to your German Shepherd. If your German Shepherd is still a puppy then it is very important to take the time now to train it not to bite your feet and to behave the way that you want it to. You can do this using the tips mentioned below. You can do so by following the tips given below. You have inadvertently been reinforcing the behavior It could be the case that you have been inadvertently reinforcing the feet biting. If your method to get it to stop biting your feet is to give it things that it wants such as toys or a treat then it could have learned that biting your feet results in it getting things that it wants. This would be more likely to be the reason if it is older than 6 months old and it is no longer teething. Instead of giving it things that it wants, when it bites your feet, a better option would be to withdraw your attention and to not allow it to bite your feet by leaving the room, for a few minutes, if necessary. Then after waiting for a few moments, you would go back to giving it attention and withdraw your attention again whenever it starts biting. Excitement The reason why your German Shepherd bites your feet could be that it gets excited and it is trying to show its excitement. It would also be more likely if it tends to show other signs of excitement when biting your feet. In this case, something that you could try would be to stop it from biting your feet by leaving the room and not giving it attention. You would then reward it when it shows signs of behaving the way that you want it to. Doing this will teach it that biting your feet does not get it what it wants. It is exploring Dogs interact with the environment using their mouths and their noses as much as they do with their eyes and even more so when they are puppies. This would be more likely if it is a puppy. Even if this is the case it will still be important to get it to stop by training it not to bite your feet. Things to consider Before getting your German Shepherd to stop biting your feet it would help to know exactly why it is doing it. Below, I will mention a few particularly helpful things that you can consider. When it started doing it It would help to consider when it started biting your feet. Whereas, if it started to do it suddenly it would be more likely that there is something else causing it. Some things to consider would be: If you moved home If someone was aggressive towards it If someone moved away How old your German Shepherd is If your German Shepherd is still young then it would make it much more likely that it bites your feet naturally because it is teething. If it is an adult then it would be more likely that it never learned not to do it. How aggressively it bites your feet It would also help to consider how aggressively your German Shepherd bites your feet. If it does it aggressively by showing its teeth, growling and its hair stands up then it would be a more serious problem and you should seek the advice of a vet or a certified dog behaviorist. When and where it bites your feet Considering when and where it bites your feet would likely help a lot in determining why it does it. If it tends to bite your feet when it is time for it to get a walk then it is likely trying to remind you of that. How to get your German Shepherd to stop biting your feet There are a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd biting your feet that I will mention below. Train it not to The first method that you can try is positive reinforcement training. This is where you reward the behaviors that you want to see from your German Shepherd so that it learns to give them a positive association. To use it to get it to stop biting, you would: Stand up and prevent it from biting your feet by leaving the room if necessary. Wait a few moments and then go back to giving it attention and then prevent it from biting them again if it starts biting Repeat the above until it learns that biting causes it to lose your attention Reward it with a treat when it does particularly well You can watch the video below to see more on how to get your German Shepherd to stop biting your feet with positive reinforcement training along with more tips. Avoid reinforcing the behavior If you tend to give it things it wants in order to get it to stop biting your feet, it could be the case that it has learned to do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, of rewarding your German Shepherd with things when it starts biting your feet, you can try the positive reinforcement technique mentioned above. Give it other things to chew on If your German Shepherd feels the need to bite things then it would likely help to give it some things that it is ok for it to chew on. Some things that you could give it would be bones, dog chews or toys. Be consistent It is unlikely that you will be able to completely get it to stop biting your feet in one training session. However, you will be able to make larger improvements if you are consistent with it over the course of weeks and months. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! There are a number of different reasons that your german shepherd puppy is biting ankles. Fortunately, they are perfectly normal, and with the right training, you can get your puppy to stop! As their name suggests German shepherds are herding dogs. They bite at their ankles and nose to get them moving. And of course, the only way they know to take control is to start herding. All puppies go through a teething phase, and when it happens they want to bite everything. If your puppies teething, then the most important thing you can do is be patient. And of course, make sure they have lots of toys they can use to relieve some of the pain. Find out more about german shepherd teething and the best toys you can use for teething. Not Enough Exercise Lastly, rowdy behavior such as your a german shepherd puppy biting ankles could also be caused by not enough exercise. They just have lots of excess energy that they need to expend. Find out how much exercise your german shepherd puppy needs. Luckily, if your pup is biting your ankles there are lots of things you can do to stop them. But just remember, the best way to stop your puppy biting your ankles is proper training! While you may find lots of short term fixes, long term you should make sure your puppy is being trained properly! So, what are some ways you can stop your german shepherd puppy biting ankles? This can also work great if your puppy is barking at you. If possible, you should keep your puppy on a leash. That way when he starts to bite your ankles, you can stand perfectly still and begin gently pulling them away from you. It sounds counter-intuitive, but this can often be an extremely effective way of stopping your puppy from biting your ankles. Let Out A Yelp This is one of my favorite ways to teach a puppy not to bite, and it also teaches them how hard they should bite in the future. It teaches them bite inhibition which is a way to show how hard and soft they can bite things. Find out why your german shepherd puppy is barking. Teach Them No While your pup biting your ankles can be annoying, this is the prime time to teach them what no means. Every time he does it, grab his collar and gently pull him away. One great example is during dinner time. Have you ever wondered whether german shepherds are easy or hard to train? And you can walk him the same amount of time twice a day too! Brain Training For Dogs is one of the best ways I know to do this! Not only will your pup learn the core fundamentals that every dog should know, but you will also get to the root cause of any behavioral problem your dog has! To teach them not to bite your ankles you should offer them the toy every time they try. Check out some of the best chew toys for teething puppies. What Should You Avoid Doing? While there are lots of great things you can do to stop your german shepherd puppy biting ankles, there are also things you should definitely avoid doing. Find out how hard german shepherds can bite. These negative emotions will often come out in different ways and before you know it you have a dog with a whole range of issues that you need to deal with. Find out why your german shepherd could be jumping and biting. Lastly, once again shock collars are only going to cause your puppy pain which will often result in negative emotions that will cause more issues in the long run. While development varies between puppies you should aim to have your puppy stop biting your ankles by around months of age. However, remember some puppies are going to be early learners and others will be late bloomers. Cheaper than replacing everything they might break. And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone. Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to take your pup for a walk without them barking at everyone. And the best part is it also has a day money-back guarantee! You can also check out a full review here , to learn exactly what the course has to offer! Recap After all this information you should have a good idea of how to stop your puppy from biting your ankles. Here are the main things to remember: Your puppy is biting your ankles for a number of reasons. Always avoid hitting your dog, shouting at them and using shock collars. Your puppy should have full bite inhibition and stop biting your ankles by about months of age. If you liked this article make sure you check out the rest of the website. If you have any more questions then you can leave them in the comments below! Some other articles you might find helpful include what to do when your puppy is teething, chewing, crying at night , and crying in their crate. Related Posts:.

A good breeder should have the best interests of their puppies at heart while also being able to provide you with all the information that you need. A dog breeder and a prospect owner talks about dog adoption. Here are some tips for finding a reliable Goldendoodle breeder. These health clearances will tell you if the parents of your pup have been tested for potential genetic diseases. Be wary of any breeders who cannot produce these documents, as this may be an indication that they are not taking proper care of their animals. Experience When looking for a Goldendoodle breeder, it is important to consider their experience. Ask questions about how long they have been breeding dogs, what type of training they provide, and what their overall goals are in breeding Goldendoodles. You want to make sure that the breeder is knowledgeable and passionate about the breed and has a genuine interest in ensuring that each puppy is placed in a loving home. Reputation Reputation is key when it comes to finding a Goldendoodle breeder. If possible, visit the kennel in person so that you can get an idea of the general atmosphere and how well the puppies are taken care of before making your final decision on which one to choose. With their F1B puppies bred from an F1 Goldendoodle and a pure standard Poodle, you will not be disappointed! A Goldendoodle puppy looks up By selecting a Goldendoodle, you gain the benefits of both breeds while avoiding pesky shedding. In addition, these puppies are raised in an environment full of love, playtime, and companionship to ensure proper socialization with their peers as well as your family! Plus, they live in a spacious house with indoor and outdoor areas for unlimited hours of fun. While in-person visits are highly recommended, we also offer Skype and FaceTime sessions so you can get a closer look at our Goldendoodle puppies here in New Jersey. They even provide pickup or delivery options to those within the region and beyond, with an accompanying puppy nanny for safe transport! These puppies have already begun to develop into lovable family members in their current home and are ready for you to bring them into yours! Contact Details:. Goldendoodle Overview Goldendoodle Puppies For Sale Goldendoodles are sweet-tempered and loving animals that love people and other animals. They make excellent family pets and love bouncing around in the yard as much as snuggling up for a cuddle. As a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, these dogs are athletic, loyal and very smart. Colors also vary, with golden and apricot being the most popular. Goldendoodles also come in a range of coat patterns, including brindle, merle and phantom. Labradoodle Overview Labradoodle Puppies For Sale Labradoodles came into prominence in the s as the ideal puppy for an individual who required a hypoallergenic service dog. A savvy breeder decided to cross a low-shedding poodle with a Labrador retriever, and the rest is history. Fully grown labradoodles weigh around 88 pounds and come in a range of different colors, including white, cream, apricot, chocolate and black. Their coat comes in three types: straight, wavy and curly. They require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to stop them from getting bored, and early socialization as pups are essential to healthy, happy adulthood. Their willingness to please and low prey drive make them an excellent choice for first-time dog owners. Cockapoo Overview Cockapoo Puppies For Sale Cockapoos were one of the original designer dogs, with the birth of the dog breed taking place sometime in the s. Fully grown toy cockapoos weigh less than 12 pounds, mini cockapoos weigh between 13 and 18 pounds as adult dogs and maxi cockapoos reach a maximum weight over 19 pounds. They have adorable soulful eyes, a compact, sturdy body and a shaggy, wavy coat. When your pup graduates, the trainer will personally deliver them to your door and walk you through basic obedience commands in person. This helps keep them safe from incidents involving strangers, such as jumping up on adults or children. It makes going out for walks infinitely more fun and enjoyable for you and your pet. On-leash training helps your dog understand how to behave while out for walks with you. Dogs love going for walks, and reconnecting with nature is a major benefit of dog ownership, so it should be a highlight of both your days. Goldendoodle via its. You want to choose one carefully as their breeding practices will have an impact on the temperament and health of your Goldendoodle puppy. Start by looking at online sources such as Google reviews, online forums, discussion groups and social media platforms to see what other people are saying about the breeder. Did they have a good experience buying from them? To take your research a bit further, you can ask Goldendoodle organizations and clubs based in your area about their opinion of the breeder you are considering to purchase from. Many Goldendoodle clubs also have their own lists of responsible breeders so they can give you additional recommendations for good Goldendoodle breeders. You may also consider visiting some dog shows and events as they are a good opportunity to meet breeders in person and see their Goldendoodles. You can also ask other dog owners that are showing their Goldendoodles for breeder recommendations. Finally, ask potential breeders for references and consider contacting these people to ask about their experience with the breeder. Reputable breeders always prioritize the well-being of their dogs and strive for positive reviews. You should inquire about temperament and health of the Goldendoodle these people purchased. Use this information to make an informed decision. All reputable Goldendoodle breeders conduct them on their breeding dogs — whether they are breeding from purebred Golden Retrievers for F1 Goldendoodles and Poodles or from Goldendoodles for later generations like F2 Goldendoodles. A stipulates the health testing requirements for Goldendoodles and if the breeder is registered with G. A, you know that the breeding dogs have undergone full health testing. A heart clearance O. Ask to see documentation of these clearances before purchasing from a Goldendoodle breeder. All responsible breeders should be willing to provide any health documentation. They should also be happy to answer any questions you have about their breeding program. However, if you have the opportunity to check out the facilities you should do it. Check that the kennels are clean, that they dogs and puppies have access to fresh water and also that there is not a build up of feces or urine. Comfortable living conditions: The breeder should keep their Goldendoodles, Golden Retrievers and Poodles in comfortable living conditions. They should have large, comfortable kennels or dog beds and also have a decent amount of space to exercise and socialize with other dogs. Healthy breeding dogs and puppies: If you get the opportunity to meet the parents of the Goldendoodle litter you are interested in, make sure they are well-tempered and also healthy. Sometimes the mother will be quite protective of her puppies so she may show signs of aggression. If you are purchasing a puppy online and getting it delivered, ask if the breeder would be happy to video call you or send videos of their Goldendoodle puppies and breeding dogs to you. Ask About Socialization Goldendoodle breeders should begin the socialization process before their puppies are sold. The puppies should be exposed to a wide variety of sounds, experiences, people and places so they can adjust to their new homes and adult life. Nevertheless, they should start exposing them to sounds like household appliances, provide mental stimulation with toys and games and also encourage playtime and interactions with their littermates and family. The most common ones are: Lack of registration: If a Goldendoodle breeder cannot provide registration papers or other relevant documentation, it may be a sign that they are not operating a reputable breeding program. Overbreeding: Think twice about purchasing from a Goldendoodle breeder who always has puppies available or offers an excessive amount of dog breeds. This may suggest that the breeder is overly focused on profit instead of the health and wellbeing of their puppies. Lack of health checks: A reputable Goldendoodle breeder will conduct health clearances on their breeding dogs to ensure they are free of genetic health issues that could be passed on. If a breeder cannot provide documentation of these health checks, it may be a sign that they are not prioritizing health. Further Reading.

Mini Labradoodle vs Mini Sheepadoodle Comparison Two dog breeds, one purpose: to make your life a joy-filled journey powered by strong bonds, friendship, and unconditional love. Meet the Mini Labradoodle and the Mini Sheepadoodle. Two very adorable and friendly dogs with upbeat personalities, the Mini Labradoodle and Mini Sheepadoodle make the perfect addition to any lucky family. Your way of life, hobbies, and work schedule are all important factors that can help determine which of the two dog breeds is a good fit for your lifestyle.Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with joy, cuddles, and a few inevitable challenges. One of the most common questions new puppy owners ask is, "When can puppies go outside? They are fun, easygoing, and gentle. Mini Labradoodles enjoy canine games like chase, fetch, and Frisbee, and thrive on cuddles and love. Energetic, friendly, and full of life, the Mini Labradoodles make wonderful jogging and hiking companions. They are known to enjoy a good swim, a long stroll, and are very fond of adventures. The Mini Labradoodle puppies are happy, energetic, and bright bundles of joy. They are loving and eager to please, love to play and cuddle, and are excellent training students. A cross between Labrador Retrievers and Mini or Toy Poodles, the Mini Labradoodle may take after one parent breed or the other in appearance or they may have their own unique look with an added bonus of a hypoallergenic coat. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Lubbock Texas and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted.

Reviewed by Monica Tarantino Dr. Monica Tarantino, DVM, is a small animal veterinarian and writer with five years of general practice, emergency medicine, and geriatric pet health experience. She is certified as a Fear Free doctor. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade and has reviewed more than articles for The Spruce Pets for factual accuracy. These pups make a great addition to every home, as they are excellent with kids, love to cuddle, and will do anything to make their owners happy. They are medium-to-large sturdy dogs with excellent balance, obedience through the roof , and an adorable face. Keep scrolling to see the cutest photos yet and discover mind-boggling Labrador retriever trivia. Despite their name, Labrador retrievers originally came from Newfoundland, not Labrador. Continue to 2 of 16 below. Continue to 3 of 16 below. Continue to 4 of 16 below. Continue to 5 of 16 below. Continue to 6 of 16 below. A little training will go a long way. Continue to 7 of 16 below. It may require some training, but their instincts will know how to handle soft items. Labrador retrievers go crazy for plush toys and are often found napping with their favorite ones. Continue to 8 of 16 below. You can use these images for various projects such as website design, social media posts, promotional materials, and print materials. Quality and Authenticity of Our Images We understand the importance of quality images and ensure that all stock photos in our library are of high quality. The lab puppy images in our collection are taken by professional photographers, ensuring that each picture captures the adorable nature of lab puppies. We only select the most authentic images, which means your projects will look natural and organic. Tips on Using Lab Puppy Images When using lab puppy images, you want to ensure they support your message and complement your brand. Here are some tips for using lab puppy images effectively: 1. Consider the tone of your project and choose images that match it. Use images that are high quality and will look good on large or small screens. Be mindful of where and how you use the images. They should enhance the message and not distract from it. If you choose to add text to the images, be sure it is legible and complements the image. In conclusion, using lab puppy images in your project can create a warm, friendly, and irresistible atmosphere. With our high-quality stock photos, you're guaranteed to find the perfect image for your project. The tips provided will help ensure that your lab puppy images are used effectively to support your project's message.

Puppy food is high in protein and basic nutrients and as such will help your dog gain that much needed weight. You might choose to begin feeding your pregnant pooch puppy food when you discover her pregnancy or if you know that your dog is prone to weight fluctuations, you might decide to wait until weeks before its whelping the birth. Moreover, you should choose the puppy chow that you plan on feeding your puppies. This will make it easier for the puppies to transition to puppy food — in terms of their overall health and more specifically their GI balance. Begin when they turn 3 weeks old. Over the next 2 to 3 weeks, you'll feed them puppy food more and more and they'll nurse less and less. Do not rush weaning for any puppies that are slow to eat on their own. This can lead to malnourishment. It's better to let them continue to nurse from their mother and slow the puppy weaning process a bit. Most likely, if you place the puppy in front of its food, it will eat it. Some puppies, on rare occasions, may resist eating the puppy chow. Simply pick up the puppy and place it in front of its food. Do this once or twice. Eventually, your puppy will chow down on the food. Start by separating the puppies from their mother for 1 hour, 2 or 3 times a day. Take the mother to another part of the yard or house. Leave the puppies with their food bowls. During the weaning process, monitor their health. Make sure that they are gaining weight equally. Check for vomit and diarrhea. Consult your veterinarian if any problems or questions arise. As with all the other steps, the key is gradual change. This will help her digestive system cope with the change and it will continue to give her milk the nutrients of the puppy chow. Over the next couple of weeks, switch her entirely back to her normal adult dog food. At around 7 weeks old your puppy should be completely weaned. They should also be eating dry puppy food and drinking water. This natural process allows puppies to become independent feeders and reduces the physical demands on the mother as the puppies grow. The discomfort of nursing teething puppies may cause the mother to pull away before her puppies are completely satisfied. Hungry puppies will naturally seek an alternate source of food. Steps for Weaning Puppies To start weaning, you will remove the mother from the puppies for an hour, two to three times a day, to try eating solid food. Step 1: Make a Gruel Make a gruel of canned or dry puppy food mixed with puppy milk replacer or water. Look for a well-known, name-brand puppy food that is not grain-free. Ideally use the same brand of food that the mother dog eats. If the puppies do not take to the gruel, try blending this ratio: 2 cups of puppy food .Place the puppies in front of it. If the puppies do not seem interested, try dipping your finger in it and then touching their mouths so they can taste it. They may get messy in the process of exploring this new food. Step 3: Reunite the Puppies With Their Mother When the mother dog is reunited with her puppies, allow her to lick the remainder of the food from the dish and to lick the puppies clean. The gruel should be transitioned to less liquid and more solid until the puppies are able to eat the canned or dry food without diluting it. If a puppy is not ready, continue to offer meals in the presence of another puppy, if possible. The example of exploration with solid food will encourage this behavior. How to Feed Puppies After Weaning After the puppies are completely weaned , offer them three to four solid food meals a day until they are 6 months old, then two to three meals a day depending on their breed requirements and growth. Be sure that each puppy is gaining weight and not vomiting or having diarrhea. Seek veterinary care if problems arise. What to Feed the Mother Dog The mother dog should begin to eat puppy food during pregnancy , especially during the final two or three weeks. Consider a puppy food from the same brand that she is already accustomed to eating. She should continue eating the puppy food as she begins to nurse her puppies. Dry puppy food should be available at regular meal times. This will keep the mother dog from excessively eating it and allow the puppies to develop an appetite between meals. The demand for producing milk will decline as the puppies begin to eat solid food. With less time spent nursing, her milk production will decrease. At week four, gradually transition the mother dog back to eating regular dog food, which will also help to reduce her milk supply. By week seven or eight, her milk production will cease without the stimulation of nursing puppies once they are completely weaned. Featured Image: iStock. She completed an internship in small.Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Weaning and Sale Weaning: At 3 to 4 weeks of age, a dish of water and dish of gruel should be introduced to the pups. Feed a high quality dry puppy food, softened with warm goat milk or water to make a gruel. This can be fed in a low heavy dish 4 times daily. Gradually decrease the amount of time the pups spend with their mother at this point. Beginning at 2 weeks of age, they should be wormed with NemexR for the first time, then weekly until 2 negative fecal samples results are obtained, unless the bitch was on the PanacurR protocol during pregnancy. By 5 to 6 weeks of age, they should be weaned and eating only puppy food. From this point on, the pups will become more fun and a lot more work. It can become difficult to keep the pups confined and they can be messy and destructive. An exercise pen or playpen can be helpful. The first 3 weeks with the puppies are relatively neat and clean. Mom will lick them frequently and ingest all of their urine and feces. However, upon starting on solid food, the mom will give up this quest and you will now have to deal with excrement. There are many ways to keep the pups clean. This, with some practice, will give the pups a place to eliminate thereby keeping their bedding clean. In addition to providing bedding to allow for good footing, the shavings tray, and food and water dishes, the pups should have a bed to sleep in and acceptable chew toys. Stuffed Kongs, soft toys, and rawhides should be changed regularly to provide environmental variety and developmental stimulation. By this time, they should have increased human social contact. At 8 weeks, your pups should be examined, vaccinated, checked for worms, and wormed. Boosters should be administered every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. By 6 weeks of age, they can go outdoors with supervision for brief periods, if the weather is acceptable. Leaving The Nest: Eight to ten weeks is an ideal age socially to place pups in their new homes. The pups should have a great deal of human contact. A great challenge comes in selecting which, if any, pups are to be kept. It can be difficult to let them go out into the big world. Potential puppy buyers should be carefully screened to assure they are the right home for your pup. We recommend you sign a contract with puppy buyers. Contracting For Puppy Sales: We recommend all puppies sold be sold with a written agreement defining the details of the the sale. For example, the health guarantee and conditions of sale are topics that need to defined prior to the sale to avoid any misunderstandings. Thanks to Dr.