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History of the hairless pug The hairless pug is a relatively new breed, having only been around since the early s. However, the history of the hairless pug is shrouded in mystery. Some believe the breed was created by crossing a hairless Chinese crested with a pug , while others claim that the hairless gene is a naturally occurring mutation in pugs. Whatever the case, they are a unique and intriguing breed. Thanks to their bald bodies, they require less grooming than other dogs , and they are also resistant to many common allergies. In addition, hairless pugs tend to be very social and affectionate, making them excellent companions. Why they are unique Hairless pugs have a hairless gene that makes them born without hair. The hairless gene is recessive, meaning both parents must carry the gene for their pup to be bald. Pugs with no hairless gene will have a full coat of hair. Although hairless pugs are primarily hairless, they may have some hair on their tails and ears. They can come in many colors, such as black, fawn, brindle, silver, and white. They can also come in many patterns, such as Merle, Panda, reverse mask Merle, and solid color. Hairless pugs are also unique because they are born with double dewclaws on their hind legs. Double dewclaws are when a dog has an extra toe on each foot behind the regular toes. This is a genetic mutation that happens during fetal development. You can tell if a hairless pug has double dewclaws if they have five toes instead of four on their back legs. These factors make them one of the most unique dog breeds. Health concerns Hairless pugs are a popular dog breed , but they can come with some health concerns. One issue is that they are susceptible to sunburn. Hairless pugs can quickly get sunburned without any fur to protect them, leading to pain, skin cancer, and other skin conditions. Another concern is that hairless pugs often have allergies. Finally, hairless pugs can also suffer from joint pains. Because they lack the protective cushion of fur, their joints can be more easily damaged. Popularity In recent years, hairless pugs have become increasingly popular. These unique dogs boast many of the same standout features as their furry counterparts, including big eyes, flat faces, and curled tails. However, hairless pugs also have a few distinct advantages. This makes them a good choice for people with allergies or who simply prefer a neater dog. In addition, hairless pugs are often less prone to hot spots and other skin problems. And while they require extra care and protection from the sun and cold weather , many people find that the benefits of owning a hairless pug outweigh the challenges. Conclusion The hairless pug is a unique and popular dog breed with many benefits. Their lack of fur requires less grooming, and they are less likely to suffer from allergies or skin problems. In addition, their joint issues are less severe than those of regular pugs. The hairless pug is an excellent choice for people looking for a low-maintenance pet or something different. This is why we are excited to introduce you to Dorothy. Although Dorothy is a pug crossed with a hairless breed, her ancestry is still a complete mystery. She got the full pug personality! When Dorothy is out and about, she gets a lot of attention, which is excellent for her. Please follow Dorothy on Instagram and TikTok. A couple in Huntersville, North Carolina, welcomed the birth of an exceptional litter of pugs. There are six hairless Pug puppies. Panda pugs are among the most unique Pug colors. Also, this is another Pug color that does not occur naturally in the Pug breed, which is why these dogs are classified as a mixed breed. What exactly is this? Panda Pugs are particolored black and white dogs. Pugs are available in four colors: fawn, black, apricot, and silver. Fawn pugs are the most common; they usually wear a black face mask. Because Brindle Pugs are so rare, they are frequently more expensive. Prices are also increased for apricot, silver, and apricot fawn colors. Less common dogs are more expensive. The fur protects the pug from heat and cold; without it, they are more likely to become too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. Pugs should not be shaved, according to Kathy Salzberg, a Certified Master Groomer who has been grooming pets since .Related Posts. Share this article Share While Peggy is not much of a looker, Holly revealed that her unusual appearance doesn't stop her from living life to the fullest. Holly said she was drawn to Peggy when she found her at a shelter's website when the pup was just six-months-old. Five-year-old British Bulldog Winston George, from the West Midlands, is also a contender for the title Blue, a one-year-old French Bulldog from Rochester, was also shortlisted for the final, with the winner announced next month Jazz, a five-year-old Brusston from North Wales, is also hoping to take the Ugliest Dog title home Meanwhile Holly explained that whilst naming Peggy had been a challenge, because no name suited the pet, she and her grandmother eventually settled down on 'Peggy'. They settled on the name in tribute to her great-grandmother. The dog lover is unphased by her pet's unusual features, and admits she sometimes forgets that Peggy doesn't look like a typical canine. She added the pup's has earned herself strange looks, gasps and remarks when they pair go on their walk around the neighbourhood. Share this article Share New dog: Five months on the pug is unrecognizable - and is now covered in a thick coat of fur Family: Dex was adopted by the Legacki family who already owned four pugs they rescued. Pictured left to right is son Noah, 9, Beth Legacki, 46, and Mark Legacki, 31 Friends: The family saw the pug's heartbreaking story online and knew they would have to adopt him. Pictured is Dex left with one of the family's other rescue pugs She added: 'Basically Dex required round the clock care. We had to put medication into his eyes every two hours to try and save them. Beth Legacki, 46, her husband Mark Shockley, 31, and their son Noah, nine, came across Dex's heartbreaking story online and decided to welcome him into their family which already included rescue pugs Walter, Terrence, Alan, and Carl. Cute: 'We adopted Dex at the end of March and he instantly burrowed his way into our hearts,' Beth said Happy home: Beth said she would love to rescue more pugs, but she thinks the family has reached its limit on dogs right now Unrecognizable: Dex has completely changed since he was first rescued. The family is thankful for the rescue team for being able to get the pug healthy again 'We first saw Dex's story on Facebook,' she said. Dex prefers people to dogs though, although he really loves Alan. He never wanted any brothers or sisters but he loves having five dogs. Beth said: 'It's been a complete transformation and looking back at those old pictures of Dex is really heartbreaking, even now. We really respect the wonderful work Pug Rescue Austin do every day.

Blue-Eyed Golden Retrievers Could Suffer From A Medical Problem Golden retrievers are susceptible to several different health issues , some of which could cause them to appear to have blue eyes. Here are a few of them: Cataracts Cataracts are clouding of the lens of the eye that can leave them looking cloudy or blue. They may develop from disease, injury, old age, or genetic disorders. The bigger and denser they become, the more likely they are to lead to blindness, so bring your dog to the vet if you think they may have cataracts. Nuclear Sclerosis Many dog owners get cataracts and nuclear sclerosis mixed up. This is because they both give a cloudy, bluish hue to the eye. Glaucoma Glaucoma is a disease where the pressure in the eye is above normal levels. There are several potential causes, including injury or tumors, and it may lead to blindness. And like nuclear sclerosis and cataracts, glaucoma may cause the eyes to become cloudy or bluish in color. It could be a serious problem that could cause blindness. Good breeders are focused on the health and temperament of the puppies, and everything else is secondary. Conclusion Golden retrievers normally have brown eyes, not blue eyes. Have any questions about blue-eyed golden retrievers? Let me know down in the comments! Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! Related articles:. Boxer Pitbull You can see just how many dog breeds have the blue-eyed gene in their makeup, and some of these breeds even allow this genetic presentation in registered dogs. You will need to make sure that the breeder can provide you with accurate information about the blue-eyed dogs that they are selling so you can look into the possible health concerns that your dog might show later on. Golden Retrievers have their own common breed health issues , but you need to be aware of the risks related to the other parent as well. Remember also that these other breeds have their own specific temperaments that they were bred with for purposes like hunting, protection, and so forth. This can impact the attitude and temperament of the dog that you are getting from this breeder. The differences in your Golden Retriever from breed standard might be more significant than just the blue eyes. If you are looking for a kind, sweet, loyal family dog, you might still get this kind of pet from a breeder making blue-eyed Golden Retrievers, but it is less likely. There can be many changes to the way that your dog acts, the way they feel about kids and cats in your home, and more just related to the other breed that is mixed with the Golden Retriever. These are the considerations that many people forget about when they are attracted to an unusual color or breed characteristic in a litter of puppies. Yes, many puppies have what look like dark blue eyes when they are born. As they get more mature, the blue color will turn to brown in purebred dogs. If you had felt a sense of panic when you went to look at your purebred puppy because its eyes appeared blue, there is no reason to be concerned. This is totally normal in very young puppies. However, if the dog that you have picked out has very blue eyes when it is approaching a few months old, this dog will likely have blue eyes for life. This is one of the things that many people have concerns about when they see pictures of a purebred litter. Rest assured that a breeder who is AKC certified will never breed blue-eyed dogs, and they will be able to prove that none of their animals has ever had blue eyes. The important thing to remember when you are dog shopping is that you should ask as many questions as it takes for you to be comfortable with your purchase. Responsible breeders will be willing to answer all the questions that you have. You should be concerned about a breeder that will not reply to questions or who seems to be cagey about answering questions about their litters. This is often a sign that something is not right, and you should consider looking for another breeder if this is the way that the breeder you are looking into is behaving. There are other reasons that a Golden Retriever might have blue eyes, and these are more concerning than just irresponsible breeding practices. You should be aware of the other reasons that this eye color might be present in a litter so that you can decide if you are interested in carrying on with getting a puppy from the litter in question. Albinism This is not common in the Golden Retriever breed, but there are albino genes in all animal populations. Responsible breeders will not sell puppies with albinism, and they will never breed the parents again that made this defect come to the forefront. These are all albino animals, and they often suffer from significant health issues throughout their life. Albino animals will have pink around their eyes in most cases, but they do not have to appear this way. Some albino dogs will just have blue eyes. Another dead giveaway, however, is the pink nose that often comes along with the albino gene. If the dog that you are looking at has blue eyes but a dark nose, it is just not purebred. If the nose is pink, it is an albino animal. Recessive Genes Brown eyes genes are dominant, so they should be expressed first when two purebred dogs are crossed. There is the chance that a dog that should not have been registered as purebred can land in the gene pool and create a recessive litter, but this is very uncommon. Most dog breeds that have been accepted by the AKC with the standard for brown eyes have been so carefully bred that this is not a concern. Again, just as with albino animals, responsible breeders will never allow these animals with recessive genes to be sold to new homes. It is always a red flag when a breeder is offering a blue-eyed litter of Golden Retrievers for sale because of the health risks associated with animals with recessive genes. Cataracts This was mentioned earlier, but it is worth some more discussion. Golden Retrievers are a breed that is prone to eye issues, and there are some unethical breeders that might offer litters of puppies for sale that have eye defects. These usually become worse over time, and they can lead to a cloudy, bluish eye appearance. Make sure that you do not look at young puppies who are showing signs of an eye defect and think that they are blue-eyed. A good way to check the difference between blue eyes and eyes with health issues is to take the dog over to the light and look at their eyes. Blue eyes will look clear and normal, while eyes with health issues will appear cloudy and dull and without sheen. This is a great way to check this claim by a breeder to make sure that you are not being given an animal that will actually be blind early in life. This can be all right, but you need to be aware that when you support irresponsible breeders, they continue to make more of the same litters with the same potential health concerns. Your dog will also likely have more health problems during its life, and you should be prepared for a pet that might not have a normal lifespan. When you choose not to engage with breeders who are not responsible, you will also be helping to preserve these carefully-bred animals that are created with care by other breeders. While a Golden Retriever puppy from a skilled breeder will never have blue eyes, you will be getting a dog who represents the breed, and that was created with care. Responsible breeders will also take the time to certify their dogs for all kinds of health conditions, and they will stand by their pet animals if something happens that makes your dog a poor fit for your needs. The protections and benefits of shopping with a skilled breeder are numerous, and you will always be better served by paying a little more and avoiding dogs that have blue eyes. If you are really sold on having a dog that has blue eyes, there are so many breeds that can have blue eyes without having questionable breeding. Huskies, Aussies, and Border Collies can have blue eyes and still be purebred. There are many other options as well for this kind of trait if you want to have a blue-eyed dog that you can trust the breeder to have created with care. While a lot of these breeds will not offer you the same sweet, kind, and gentle temperament that a Golden Retriever can offer, you will still have a loving companion in your home that has the blue eyes that you were looking for. There is nothing good to be gained by supporting unethical breeders, and you will find that your puppy might not be very healthy either. While it can be tempting to just get one anyhow because you think that they are cute or because you feel bad for them, be sure that you are prepared for what this purchase might mean. Your dog could enjoy a healthy and full life with you, or they might be very sickly and have lots of problems that a dog that comes from a quality breeder will not. It is usually worth reaching out to some other recognized breeders if you notice that there is someone offering blue-eyed Golden Retrievers for sale. These breeders are very motivated to help regulate their own breeding community, and they can reach out to the breeder. Sometimes local breeders who are not registered with the AKC do not realize that this is a no-no. This is a better method of handling this issue than telling the breeder yourself that they are not providing puppies that will be healthy. Taking on a dog with a genetic defect can be a really tough process, which is why there are rescues that are devoted to this process. If you really want to get a blue-eyed Golden Retriever, you should contact shelters that specialize in these kinds of dogs and get a puppy from a shelter. This will support the effort to end this kind of irresponsible breeding, and you will get the blue-eyed dog that you have been wanting. Golden Retriever Recommendations and Resources. Weimaraner Husky Suppose you mix a Golden Retriever or a Lab with one — or more — of these breeds mixes. In that case, the chances are high that the result could be a blue-eyed mixed breed Golden Retriever. Blue eyes in a Golden Retriever can be linked to health conditions in their eyes. While this might not always be the case, there are a few issues to keep in mind. A few of them are: Cataracts A cataract is an eye illness when the eye lens becomes cloudy, leaving the eyes looking blue or cloudy. This may arise as a result of injury, genetic disorders, disease, or old age. The denser and bigger they become, the more likely it is for them to lead to blindness. Glaucoma Glaucoma is an illness where the eye pressure has levels that are higher than normal. It can be caused by a few potential events, such as tumors or injury, and can also lead to blindness. It could be a serious issue that could cause blindness. Nuclear Sclerosis Nuclear sclerosis and cataracts are often confused by many dog owners. Learn more about Types and Colors of Golden Retrievers. Albino animals have a deficiency of the genes that produce melanin, which is the pigment that gives color to the skin and hair. Albinism is very rare in dogs. In dogs, albinism is more likely to give them blue eyes. Albino dogs also have white fur and pink noses. There is a possibility where two purebred Golden Retriever parents can have an albino puppy. This would be one rare case where a dog with blue eyes could be a non-conforming Golden Retriever. It is extremely rare for Golden Retrievers to have albinism. Therefore, most Golden Retrievers with blue eyes are indeed Golden Retriever mixes. They include only dogs with brown eyes, where dark brown is preferred over light or medium brown. Therefore, if light brown is not considered acceptable, blue eyes have no chance. There are many puppy scams on the internet so be very cautious. They will claim these versions of dogs are rare and worth more. Conclusion To summarize, golden retrievers are not supposed to have blue eyes. The breed standard is brown eyes. There are three things to keep in mind when looking to get a blue eyed Golden Retriever: The eyes of a Golden Retriever puppy will change to the color brown as they grow older. Blue eyed Golden Retrievers could be the result of health issues. Most Golden Retrievers with blue eyes are the result of mixing with another breed of dog. If you wish to have a blue-eyed dog , then a husky or another breed with the tendency for blue eyes is a possible choice. Another choice would be to find a mixed breed dog, we would just advise to avoid paying a premium for those dogs and enjoy them for what they are. If you have concerns about the health of your dogs eyes, be sure to visit your veterinarian. To learn more about Golden Retrievers health issues, be sure to check out our post on Common Health Problems. She is board certified a specialist in canine reproduction. In her day job, she is a leader in a small biotech where she and a team of veterinarians and scientists work to develop new medications for pets. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of this wonderful breed of dogs. She and her husband have 2 children, 3 dogs and one cat. They love camping and hiking and she can often be found with her head in a good book. Recent Posts. Yes, Golden Retrievers can have blue eyes. The truth about golden retrievers with blue eyes is that they are just as friendly and loving as other golden retrievers. Although genes play a part in eye colour, eye color can also vary from dog to dog based on breed and environment. People may incorrectly identify these dogs as Goldens, leading to them ending up in shelters or being euthanized. If you are looking for a Golden Retriever, ensure the dog you are considering has brown eyes. There is a gene that affects eye color in Golden Retrievers, and it is unknown how much of this gene is responsible for blue eyes. Before deciding on a dog, carefully assess its appearance and behaviour and conage, health, and factors size factors. Also, carefully read breed standards and dog breed-specific guidelines before deciding on a dog breed. Blue eyes are simply a variation of gold, and most golden Retrievers will have some blue eyes. Suppose you are interested in breeding a blue-eyed golden retrieving, so doing so is best through a reputable breeder who tests for and accepts this breed variation. This will ensure that you provide your dog with the healthiest possible gene pool and allow it to develop appropriately without being limited by physical characteristics. However, if your dog does have blue eyes, there is no need to worry. All golden retrievers are loving and friendly dogs, regardless of eye color. The eye color of golden retriever mixes can be brown, blue, or mixed brown and blue. Having a golden retriever mixed with blue eyes does not assume health risks. Characteristics of this genetic disorder include blue eyes and pink skin. The eye color becomes dark brown or black as the dog ages. Symptoms of blue-eyed golden dog syndrome include pink skin and blue eyes. Other common signs include eye problems, such as cataracts or glaucoma, and abnormalities in the ears, nose, mouth, or teeth, because of its prevalence in Golden Retrievers and high mortality rate. There are treatments available for blue-eyed golden dog syndrome, but you must consult your veterinarian if you notice any signs of the disorder in your dog. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your Golden Retriever is happy and healthy for years. There is a higher risk of developing blindness in golden retrievers with blue eyes, and you should not breed golden retrievers with blue eyes. However, if you already own a golden retriever with blue eyes. Consider testing them for sight problems if you buy a golden retriever with blue eyes. Be sure to research and know the health issues accompanying eye color. Never buy a golden retriever with blue eyes if you cannot afford to have it fixed or are unprepared to take care of it properly. By following these tips, you can ensure your golden Retriever has bright eyes without sacrificing health or safety. Are blue-eyes Golden Retrievers rare? Golden Retrievers with blue eyes are relatively rare, but they do occur. Blue eyes in Golden Retrievers result from a genetic mutation that affects the pigmentation of the iris. While blue eyes attract some people, it is essential to note that they can also be associated with specific health issues. Some Golden Retrievers with blue eyes may be more prone to vision problems and require additional veterinary Supposere. Suppose you are considering getting a Golden Retriever with blu. In that case, eyes. There is a common misconception that Golden Retrievers with blue eyes are more prone to health issues than those with brown eyes. However, this is not true. Blue eyes in Golden Retrievers are just a result of genetics and do not indicate any underlying health problems. It is important to remember that all dogs, regardless of eye color, require proper care and attention to remain healthy and happy. While some people may believe that golden retrievers with blue eyes are more docile or friendly, this is simply a myth. Treating each dog individually is essential and not making assumptions based on superficial characteristics such as eye color. If you are considering adopting a golden retriever with blue eyes, focusing on their overall temperament and behaviour rather than their physical appearance is essential. Regarding Golden Retrievers with blue eyes, genetics play a crucial role in determining eye color. The gene responsible for eye color in dogs is called the OCA2 gene, and it produces a protein that helps to determine the amount of melanin in the iris. In Golden Retrievers, the presence of the dilution gene can also impact eye color, as it can cause a dilution of the pigment in the coat and eyes. However, breeders should not breed Golden Retrievers with blue eyes as they are considered a fault by breed standards. Blue-eyed Golden Retrievers may also be more prone to certain eye conditions, such as cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy. Breeders and owners need to prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs over physical appearance when it comes to breeding and selecting pets. Tips For Caring For A Golden Retriever With Blue Eyes Golden Retrievers with blue eyes are a relatively rare sight, and there is some debate among breeders and dog lovers about whether they are genuinely purebred Goldens. It is essential to note that genetics can cause blue eyes in Goldens but can also be a sign of health problems such as cataracts or vision impairment. Golden Retrievers with blue eyes may seem like a rare and unique breed. But they require the same care and attention as any other Golden Retriever. Here are some tips for caring for your furry friend: 1. They exercise enough to keep themselves healthy and active. Provide a balanced diet that meets their nutritional requirements. Regular visits to the vet can help prevent health issues and ensure early detection of any problems. Keep an eye on their eyesight, as dogs with blue eyes may be more prone to certain eye conditions. By following these tips, you can ensure that your Golden Retriever with blue eyes stays happy, healthy, and well-cared-for throughout their life. The dogs have sweet and gentle demeanors and are intelligent and well-loved. Their retriever heritage makes them well-suited to aiding hunters in the water, and their golden color makes them highly visible in the wild. These gentle and caring dogs make excellent candidates for families with children. Golden Retrievers come in all sorts of beautiful colors and patterns. We hope now you understand the truth about golden retrievers with blue eyes. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. Yes, a golden retriever can have blue eyes. Some people believe that blue eyes are a sign of good luck. Is Blue Eye Dogs Rare? No, blue eye dogs are not rare. Golden Retrievers with blue eyes are as likely to be born as any other golden retriever. Blue eyes may occur in any color of golden Retriever, but they are more common in the golden retriever breed, predominantly yellow or light gold. The color blue eyes are the rarest among all dog eye colors. Golden retrievers with blue eyes are rare in dog eye color varieties. Some people with a golden retriever with blue eyes may choose to keep it a secret due to the rarity of the coloration. They are also easy to train, making them perfect for puppies or first-time dog owners. Other benefits of owning a Blue-Eyed Golden Retriever include that they are playful and friendly, good with children, and have a lifespan of years. Updated: March 21st, This article contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here. Blue eyes are somewhat rare in the dog world and are beautiful to behold. This unique trait can be found in a variety of dog breeds, like huskies and Australian shepherds. But have you ever seen a golden retriever with blue eyes? There is a lot of misinformation about blue-eyed retriever dogs that can have a lot of people scratching their heads in confusion! Interestingly, while golden retrievers can technically have blue eyes, there is no such thing as a purebred golden retriever with blue eyes. Continue reading to find out the truth about blue-eyed golden retrievers! Golden retrievers can have blue eyes, but not in the same sense that Siberian huskies have blue eyes. You see, golden retriever puppies are born with blue eyes, and older goldens may have blue eyes due to cataracts or other eye problems. Golden retriever mixes, such as the golden Aussie , golden retriever pit bull mix , or Goberian husky may also have blue eyes. As you can see, the blue-eyed golden retriever is a bigger riddle than it seems. A blue retriever can be born in a litter of two purebred, brown-eyed golden retrievers. In any other sense, these blue golden retriever puppies should look and behave like any typical purebred golden. While these rules may seem pointless and even exclude perfectly sound dogs, the main point of breed standards is to preserve distinct breeds from being lost over time. It takes a lot of years of planned and selective breeding to create a dog breed for a particular purpose, such as guarding, hunting, retrieving, herding, and so on. Without strict breeding standards, all of those traits can easily get lost in future generations. There are several explanations for blue eyes in golden retrievers. While any of these scenarios are likely, crossbreeding is the most common reason for blue eyes in golden retrievers. Check out the following most likely causes of blue eyes in golden retrievers: Recessive Genes The genes that are responsible for creating brown-colored eyes in dogs are dominant, which is the main reason why so many dog breeds have brown eyes. According to the breed standard, golden retrievers should have brown eyes, and they were deliberately bred for many generations to exhibit this trait. Consequently, recessive genes that cause blue eyes have become less common than before. There is a very small chance that two golden retrievers that carry recessive genes for blue eyes are bred together. If by any chance this does happen, some of their offspring may inherit blue eyes. Cataracts Blue eyes in golden retrievers can also be caused by several health issues, with cataracts being the most common one. Cataracts are an eye illness that causes clouding of the lens of the eyes, making them appear cloudy or blue. Cataracts can develop very slowly or almost overnight and can be caused by injury, disease, genetic disorders, or old age. The bigger and cloudier cataracts become, the more likely that they will lead to complete blindness. Nuclear Sclerosis Nuclear sclerosis or lenticular sclerosis is a painless condition that creates a bluish or transparent haze in the lens of the eye. This condition is often seen in middle-aged and senior dogs and is considered a normal part of aging. Glaucoma Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that is characterized by increased intraocular pressure within the eye. This condition is the result of inadequate drainage of aqueous fluids, which is caused by tumors, interocular bleeding, uveitis, injury, or damage to the lens. Albino animals lack the genes needed for producing melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin and hair. Due to the lack of melanin, albino dogs have white hair, pink skin, and pink noses. While albinism is rare in dogs, it can still happen and will cause an affected golden retriever to have blue instead of brown eyes. As their eyes start to develop, their sight will improve, and their eyes will gradually change color from blue to brown. If you are looking to purchase a purebred golden retriever and a breeder tries to sell you a blue-eyed golden retriever, turn around and walk away! The two main problems with blue-eyed golden retriever puppies are that they are usually mixed-breed dogs, and their blue eyes will turn brown as they grow up and get older. If you are set on getting a blue-eyed dog, there are many dog breeds with blue eyes you can choose from. Golden retrievers can have blue eyes, but not in the way you would probably imagine. All golden retriever puppies are born with bluish eyes, but they start changing color when the puppies reach around four weeks of age. The only way a purebred golden retriever can have blue eyes is if they have cataracts, glaucoma, nuclear sclerosis, or some other eye disorder that causes their eyes to get a blush hue. Are blue eyes in dogs bad? The blue color can be caused by the lack of pigment or the merle gene, which has been linked with hearing impairments. Conclusion Purebred golden retrievers have friendly and expressive brown eyes, not blue eyes. While all golden retriever puppies are born with blue eyes, they will start changing color to brown once the puppy is around four weeks old. You May Also Like. But every once in a while, you might see a dog that looks like a golden retriever, except for its bright blue eyes. Can a Golden Retriever have blue eyes? A golden retriever with blue eyes does not meet the breed standard for a true golden retriever. Although it is possible in rare cases for a purebred golden to have blue eyes, it is most likely that any dog appearing to be a golden retriever with blue eyes is actually a mixed breed. Read on to find out more about the breed standards of golden retrievers and how it determines which dogs can be considered true golden retrievers. You will also learn about some causes of blue eyes in goldens and discover the surprising links between eye color and illness in dogs. This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! When you register a dog to be in dog shows, you get paperwork that says your dog is officially a purebred member of a particular breed. The GRCA and the AKC together define the breed standard for Golden Retrievers to include only dogs with brown eyes—and dark brown is preferred over medium or light brown. They may very well be the offspring of two purebred golden retrievers, but they have not inherited the particular combination of genetic traits that define the breed. This may sound like a lot of needless rules that exclude some dogs for no good reason. It takes many generations of breeding to create a dog breed with the characteristics suited for a particular purpose—hunting birds, herding sheep, pulling a sled, and so on. Without a fairly strict definition of the breed, it would be easy to lose those characteristics in future generations. Want to see the breed standard in action? The Complete Golden Retriever Handbook Amazon link : This handbook is intended for new and future owners of goldens and includes a thorough introduction to caring for and enjoying your golden retriever. Causes of Blue Eyes in Golden Retrievers There are two explanations for blue eyes in the offspring of purebred golden retrievers. One is albinism , and the other is recessive genes for blue eyes. But blue eyes as a result of crossbreeding are much more common than either of these scenarios. Albino animals lack the genes for producing melanin , the pigment that colors hair and skin. This causes them to have white hair and pink skin. Albinism is rare in dogs. Two copies of the recessive genes for albinism have to be inherited for a dog to display these traits. Dogs with albinism are more likely to have blue eyes. Albino dogs also have pink noses and white fur. Two purebred golden retriever parents can possibly produce an albino puppy; this would be one of the rare cases where a blue-eyed dog can be a non-conforming golden retriever. Recessive Genes The genes that are associated with brown eyes are dominant , and so most dogs have brown eyes. This would be the second circumstance where a blue-eyed dog could be considered a non-conforming golden retriever. Some golden mixes are easy to spot as mixes, while others can look a lot like purebred golden retrievers. Many have the coloring of a golden and the beautiful curls of a poodle. Some have the golden retriever coat color and the blue eyes common to border collies. Want to see an adorable golden boxer pup at play? You can see the huge variety among these crosses, including goberians that look like blue-eyed goldens, here: Goberian is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Siberian Husky and often has blue eyes. Are Blue Eyes Linked to Illness? Because of this, many people mistakenly believe that all blue-eyed dogs are at greater risk of illness. They gradually darken to brown over the first months of life. But can it happen the other way? Can a brown-eyed dog become a blue-eyed dog?

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. I fell in love with not only their beauty, but intense loyalty and happy go-lucky attitude. After loosing my first berner to cancer at the young age of 4 and knowing the short life span of the breed, I started exploring dogs with the beauty of the berner but life span of a mix breed. That's when I came upon the Bernedoodle. Not only do they not shed or very minimally , they come in a range of sizes for those not wanting a giant breed. The are also perfect for people with allergies and have a lifespan of years. Twice the length of the berner! Since bernedoodles are a hybrid, they are only likely to inherit a health problem common to both the poodle and bernese. Genetic testing greatly reduces the risk of many diseases. This is why all of our dogs are health tested and do not join our breeding program if they have not been. We hope you enjoy our website and look forward to providing you with your new family member! We are a small Bernedoodle breeder located in Southwest Ohio. We strive to produce healthy, happy, long-living puppies with fantastic temperaments. Our dogs are health tested and make wonderful family pets. We are more than happy to answer your questions and concerns. Our family has always shared the love of dogs. We have had Yorkies, Labs and many mixed breed rescues and we even have a Chinese Crested that lives alongside our doodle family. Only breeding privately for family and close friends we decided it was time we share our love for high quality Mini Goldendoodles and Mini Bernedoodles with everyone. All of our dogs are our pets and a large part of our family and everyday life. They all live in our home where they are spoiled with so much love and affection. We would not have it any other way. They also have that cute cuddly Teddy Bear look and soft feel everyone loves. We love our puppies so much and we want to make sure the transition from our home to yours is enjoyable and easy. We prefer using the Puppy Culture method to help each puppy get a jump-start on their neurological development and help shape their little personalities all to ensure happy and socially successful behaviors. We pride ourselves in understand canine genetics and pairing our breeding parents accordingly for the best possible outcome in health, structure, personality traits and of course to get that super cute Teddy Bear look and feel. We want to help you find the perfect puppy for your loving arms and heart, the perfectly matched fur baby for your perfect growing family, your new best friend. Come meet our family and all our sweet fur babies too… We would love to meet you!!! Breeding best friends for life…. Answered More info Puppy contracted rare and life threatening Parvo Virus at breeding facility prior to delivery. Arranged with breeder, Buckeye Bernedoodles to purchase a Bernedoodle puppy. Collected the puppy on March 26th from breeder's premises and transported the dog from the breeder premises in Ohio to my home in NJ, in a car that had never carried any animal before. Dog was only allowed out for feeding and to relieve itself in isolated areas along the highway between Ohio and NJ, away from people and animals. Dog was brought to a home that had not had any animals present for at least 3 years. Parvo virus is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object. Parvo has a minimum 3 days incubation before symptoms. Our puppy began presenting Parvo virus symptoms early hours March 29th. We are advised by numerous professionals including multiple independent vets and ASPCA coordinators that it's inconceivable the puppy would have contracted the virus in our home or in isolated areas beside a roadway. Thus, leaving the breeding facility as the only reasonable source of the dog's virus, given that at the facility, our puppy would have been surrounded by other dogs, leashes, bowls and sleeping areas, as well as people constantly in contact with animals and facilities with high exposure to potential carrier animals. The breeder, Buckeye Bernedoodles, supplied us a virus infected puppy but continues to suggest they are not responsible for the puppy's Parvo virus when any reasonable assessment would conclude that they are. View Our Available Puppies! You should not confuse Mini Bernedoodles with Standard Bernedoodles. Our adorable Mini Bernedoodle are of the F1 variety. All the doodle moms are purebred Genetic Tested Bernese Mountain dog females. Our mini Bernedoodle pups usually end up weighing pounds and around inches tall when full grown. Most Mini bernedoodles live to be around years old. Mini Bernedoodles have become really popular because they shed very little after they shed their puppy coat, they are very hypoallergenic. We have specialized in breeding Mini Bernedoodles as well as a few other breeds for many years. They are a big part of our family and farm. We have also partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. We usually have a good selection of very high quality doodle puppies. So if you live near Buckeye Arizona and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Bernedoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are a few of our Mini Bernedoodle Pups!

Are you looking for some handsome boy companionship? Great news, your search is over! In addition to my very dapper good-boy looks, I am also an avid ball player and dignified goofball. You may be thinking how in the world I can posses such conflicting personality traits.I love being outdoors; you could even say that I am easily amused. Whether it be playing fetch to my heart's desire or going for a long trail walk I would probably make a pretty good jogging buddy too. Being a German Shepherd, I am one of the 'brighter crayons in the box'. In my free time I like to work with the staff and volunteers to brush up on my basic command skills. They are always telling me what a smart guy I am! I assume that's what they are saying, judging by the treats they give me, I am doing good! Proper introductions to establish a trusting, positive, first impression is a must with me. I am an old fashioned kind of guy. I know I am irresistibly handsome, but I appreciate getting to know each other before getting all touchy-feely. Because of this, I would be happiest in a home without children or other wondering hands. I do love affection and a good ear rub.I also want to be your only side-kick, I am not a social butterfly with other pets, I would much rather hangout with just my person. I have a pretty strong prey drive to keep the stray cat and pesky squirrels out of our yard too.A job I take very seriously. If you are in the market for a dashing side-kick to rid the yard of vermin, submit your adoption application at the website below to see if we are a match! Please fill out our online adoption survey at www. Pet Classifieds MI Michigan. Puppies for Sale in Michigan. Reach many interested people who want to give your puppies a good home. Regularly socialized with other dogs and children. Michigan Chihuahua Classifieds Hoobly. Michigan Pets and Animals Classifieds Hoobly. Puppies and Dogs near you in Michigan. Five black males are available. Rehoming Beautiful - Shihtzu Puppies!! Visit Craigslist for dog adoption listings Craigslist is an online advertisement website where people from anywhere in the United States can view listings for jobs, services, and even free dog adoptions. Search for dogs for adoption at shelters near Michigan, MI. Here are some from nearby sorted by distance — change search area Dashhound. Centreville, Michigan Dogs and Puppies, Goldendoodle The puppies from this litter have been socialized with regularactivity and biosense exercises, started at day three! However, free. Adopt a puppy or dog in Detroit, Michigan Shelters and rescues in Detroit, Michigan Search for a puppy or dog Learn more about dog breeds Puppies and dogs in nearby cities Adopt a dog in Detroit, Michigan These adorable dogs are available for adoption in Detroit, Michigan. Free 2 beautiful fixed male cats. Puppies for Sale in Detroit, Michigan. Michigan Adoptable Dogs and Puppies. A place to list any pup needing a home They may come from a shelter, rescue or person Another avenue to. They are 8 weeks old now and are ready-to-go beginning. Find and adopt a pet on Petfinder today. While most postings require a fee, you can be lucky enough to find one that requires zero dollars. Dogs and Puppies Classifieds Hoobly. Should be about lbs when full-grown. This map shows how many Mastiff Dogs are posted in other states. However, you should be especially careful when researching free puppies on the internet, on something like. Michigan Dogs and Puppies Classifieds Hoobly. Dogs and Puppies for Sale and Adoption. Craigslist is another potential venue to locate free, cheap or low-cost puppies. Have been checked by the vet and vaccinated - everything looks good. They have their 6 week vaccine and 3 wormings. Michigan If you haven't settled on a particular breed you can find all the breeds of puppies and dogs we have for sale or adoption near Michigan in these listings. Here at Petclassifieds. Dogs and Puppies, Poodle. These Doberman Pinschers are available for adoption close to Monroe, Michigan. Why buy a puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Look at pictures of puppies in Saginaw who need a home. Welcome to our Michigan Miniature Puppies page. Dogs and Puppies, Golden Retriever. Adopt a Sloughi near you Sloughi in cities near Greenville, Michigan Other pups in Greenville, Michigan Search for a Sloughi puppy or dog near you Browse Sloughi puppies and dogs in nearby cities Browse related breeds in Greenville, Michigan Sloughi shelters and rescues in Greenville, Michigan Learn more about adopting a Sloughi puppy or dog. We don't like them and we're pretty sure you don't either. If you are unable to find your puppy in our Puppy for Sale or Dog for Sale sections, please consider looking thru thousands of Dogs for Adoption. Looking for a Doberman Pinscher puppy or dog in Monroe, Michigan? Look at pictures of puppies in Kalamazoo who need a home. Find Puppies and Breeders in MI and helpful information. Irish Wolfhound Puppies for Sale. We can even deliver your puppy right to you door if you aren't able to drive to our location. Puppies for Sale from Michigan Breeders. Most adoption fees are reasonable, but remember the expense of caring for these wonderful animals. Find Maltese puppies for saleNear Michigan. Call Karen Show more ». Search Puppies and Dogs For Sale. Temperance, Michigan. If you are looking for puppies and dogs for sale or adoption in areas other than Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing or Michigan please use the search box! Microchips are a safety net and enable any lost puppy to be traced back to the owner. Puppies For Sale in Michigan .Browse search results for small dog mix Pets and Animals for sale in Michigan. Hi there! Dogs in Kalamazoo Michigan. Small puppies, large puppies, all sorts of puppies… we have a premier selection of cheap puppies for sale, of various breeds. Give us a call or send us a message and we'll arrange the best option for you and your new puppy. Puppies for Sale in Saginaw Michigan. Puppies and Dogs near you in Michigan. Find Maltese puppies for sale. Purebred and designer puppies raised in central Michigan. We microchip all our puppies and have since the day we began in .Check Out Our Adoption Specials! Puppies for Sale near Michigan Your search returned the following puppies for sale. Michigan Dogs and Puppies Classifieds Hoobly. Our family has been raising puppies since and we love what we do! Yorkshire Terrier Puppies for Sale. Find dogs and puppies for adoption at Michigan Humane. For smaller living spaces like you'll find in some Michigan cities like Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids, our small-breed puppies are the perfect fit and will be just the companion you are looking for! Need help with financing? Available in most states and cities 90 Days interest Free! Border Terrier Puppies for Sale. Home; Puppies; Find a Puppy; Share this page. Puppies for Sale in Kalamazoo Michigan. Search for dogs for adoption at shelters near Michigan, MI. Check out our puppies for sale in Michigan! We love raising puppies and every puppy that is adopted gets a starter kit sent with it. Breeders who register their litters must. We raise all our puppies as a family which acclimates our puppies to living with children and adults alike. Here are a few organizations closest to you: Rescue .We have puppies for sale in Michigan! Check out the breeds we currently offer. Maltese, Michigan » Gibson Township. Labradoodle Puppies for Sale. Puppies for Sale in Troy, Michigan. These puppies are ready and well trained, lovely ,come with papers and accessories. Should be about lbs when full-grown. Super sweet personality, love to be held and to play with other pets. Born February 11, first shots and worming. While he may be a bit shy at first, Rameaux is a playful pup who loves to run and play tag. Basset Hound Puppies for Sale. We're a family that raises small breed puppies for sale here in MI. Why buy a Doberman Pinscher puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Look at pictures of Doberman Pinscher puppies who need a home. Basically she is full husky and acts like one. Puppies and Dogs For Sale Classifieds. Mixed, Michigan » Lansing Charter Township. Once in the stores they have a veterinarian visit every week until they find a home. Playful and does well with other small dogs. Available Puppies in Michigan Browse all of our available puppies in Michigan or choose a specific puppy breed! Three precious little cavapoos, born are looking for their forever homes. Adorable Teddy Bear puppies Melanieperez.Browse these Border Terrier rescues and shelters below. We raise all our own puppies right here on our family farm in central Michigan and would love to work with you one-on-one to find the perfect puppy. Mixed Puppies For Sale in Michigan .All puppies found here are from AKC-Registered parents. Doberman Pinscher Location Age Any. Hi we have AKC miniature poodle puppies ready for their forever homes, we have one male left available. The tiny Maltese is famed for its loyalty and ability to grow a luxurious white coat. Small Breed Puppies for Sale. Find and adopt a pet on Petfinder today. Dogs for Sale in Marquette, MI. Dogs in Muskegon Michigan. Puppies For Sale in Michigan. AmericanListed features safe and local classifieds for everything you need! Find your puppy for sale in Michigan. We implant and register the microchip for you in the lifetime LostMyPet system with all the fees are included in our price. Puppies for sale from dog breeders near Northern Michigan, Michigan. I have one boy and two girls purebred french bulldog puppies for sale. Pet Classifieds MI Michigan. Doberman Pinscher Puppies for Sale. He is a chocolate and white, male Pom. Our puppies are given a physical by licensed veterinarians to screen for health issues prior to accepting them from the breeder. Access a community of more than 11, shelter and. If you are unable to find your puppy in our. Parents are on site and health checked. Doberman Pinscher puppies and dogs in Monroe, Michigan.

They are extremely kind, affectionate and intelligent puppies. They are like teddy bears and love their cuddles like their mom Heidi and dad Duke. They are bred to a very high standard and their pedigree is available. This is the first litter from our gorgeous family dog, Heidi, who is an excellent family pet. We have one male and one female cream puppy available, they are in perfect health and displaying a friendly temperament, much like their mother. Our puppies have been raised and played with by my nine grandchildren since they were born, so they are well accustomed to being handled regularly. They were also born the same time our cat had kittens so they are well used to and quite affectionate with our cats and kittens. Each puppy is IKC registered, vaccinated, wormed, and microchipped. We would be more than happy for you to visit and meet the puppies before making any commitments. It is very important to us that the puppies go to suitable homes that will provide love and affection aswell as proper looking after. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. If you would like to have the puppy held for you, make a deposit online. You are certainly welcome to select your puppy this way without a deposit, but please note that availability may change on a daily basis. If you come and see the puppy, make your purchase and take the puppy home if the puppy is 8 weeks old or older. Skip to 6, unless you need to arrange travel for your pup. Connect with us and we will get the right information to deliver the puppy to you and set up the exact date and time. Enjoy the new puppy that you have adopted into your family. If you have any questions, please reach out to the breeder for help! How much is a Golden Retriever puppy, and why do the prices on the website vary? The price depends on the credentials of the parents and the number of puppies available at the time. This allows you to set up an appointment that fits both your schedule and that of our breeders. Our golden retriever puppies are all raised by families in the Northeast Ohio area, conveniently located about an hour and a half from both Cleveland and Columbus. This makes it easy to come visit our puppies and spend time playing with them in a home environment. How can I get puppy travel arranged if I am out of state? A little-known fact about golden retriever puppies is that they actually do very well with travel. Check out our puppy travel page here to find out more about how we go the extra mile. How do you raise your dogs? When buying a golden retriever puppy, the people who bred and raised them can have a big impact on the health and sociability of the dog! Because of this, we are dedicated to choosing caring, dedicated golden retriever breeders in Ohio who will get your pup started on the right track. Our small network of breeders in Ohio all are dedicated to the same principles. This starts by providing carefully-planned breedings to ensure the best pedigree for our pups. They raise healthy, socialized pups that can make a smooth transition to a new home. Most of our breeders actually have young children at home who help raise the puppies and play with them so they can become socially adjusted. How do I leave a review of my Golden Retriever experience? Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Florida Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Florida? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Florida? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article. Showing 1 - 40 of resultsPage 1 - results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Are you ready to welcome a bundle of joy and endless love into your life? Look no further! We're thrilled to introduce our enchanting litter.These charming pups are ready to become cherished members of your.They will be ready to go on September 19 Mom is an F1 goldendoodle half poodle and half golden retriever 45lbs and.Both parents live on site, and are well tempered, affectionate, easy to train dogs. The puppies are socialized with children, cats, Sarge- Sire of the litter. First picture. Imported directly from Romania. Direct son of the famous.She is very active. Stratford Cute and playful golden doodle puppies for rehoming! They are ready to go! These adorable little guys will grow to be pounds. Mother is a golden retriever and father is a poodle. They come with.We have 9 beautiful puppies left 5 girls and 4 males ready for re-homing! Please contact for an in-person or virtual meet and greet! All puppy come with first vaccination and deworming, vet checked Vet certificate looking for their.We have spent the time teaching and introducing to a wide variety of everyday activities. They are doing great with sleeping in their individual.Puppies will be ready to go home September 7th! We have amazing training and care for our pups. We have raised everything.We like to have a fun theme with our litters. Emma and Ch Jengars brave at heart have.Catharines Purebred golden retriever puppies for sale. They have been raised with other dogs around them and a cat! Your more than welcome to come meet them! We are located in welland. Pups have been vet.Ready to go the end of November early December. Puppies will come with First shots Dewormed Microchipped 2 year congenital health guarantee Both.Visit Website Below to Order Now! There are 3 boys and 5 girls Both parents are healthy purebred goldens These puppies will be ready for their new homes on.Catharines This adorable litter of well socialized puppies is ready to be picked for their forever homes. Will be dewormed, vet checked and have their first set of shots at 6 weeks and will.Catharines We have two beautiful male puppies looking for their forever homes! They are currently 7 weeks old, so contact me if you would like to reserve one today! Pups will be dewormed and vet checked. Puppies will come with health record. Mom and Dad are on-site. Well acclimated to children and other animals. They have been vet checked, had their first vaccinations and have.Mother is a purebred Golden Retriever who is very friendly and love swimming. Father is a.Ready to go with 1st shots and.Are you ready to add a bundle of joy to your family? Look no further than our exquisite litter of Golden Retriever puppies! These lovable.Please text is if your interested in meeting them 2 puppies left. They've been raised around.Puppies are 10 weeks old. Got first vaccine shot and dewormed 2 times. Very playful and well.Call or text only. Friendly playful well tempered and seriously good.Mom and Dad are both purebred golden retrievers. Puppies were born august 9th, Thank you for your understanding! Ready to go! Both blonde and white coat available. Damn is English Cream, fully health tested including DNA thyroid, hips and elbows, echo cardiogram and.These pups are F1b and will be roughly lbs full grown. They will be vet checked, dewormed, and have first shots before they are.We have a sweet litter of Pure Tiny Yorkies Born on July 15th, consisting of 4 healthy babies 2 girls and .Mom, Goldy and Dad, Buddy both on site. They are vet checked and 1st shots and dewormed!

They make excellent pets and formidable guard dogs. General Discipline Step 1 Observe your German shepherd's behavior. From the day you bring home your dog, keep a log of how he behaves in various situations. This will help you understand his likely future behavior. A typical German shepherd will be confident, alert and protective. His confidence should never become aggression, and he should be calm and watchful when encountering new stimuli. Pay special attention to how your pet responds to visitors arriving at the home, to other dogs coming to say hello, and to being taken for walks. Step 2 Note his naughty habits. Encouraging good behavior means introducing a reward; discouraging behavior means taking away rewards. Some love toys while others see physical contact as the ultimate prize. Many will do anything for a treat. Step 4 Leash your German shepherd and expose him to stimuli likely to resort in bad behavior. For example, have a friend ring the doorbell. Just before your friend rings the bell, begin to verbally praise your dog. This is a positive stimulus. If he remains passive and calm, increase the praise and let him off leash. If he barks, stop the praise and gently tug the leash to get his attention. This distracts him from barking. Step 2 Move the treat so he moves his head backward to follow it. As you do this, issue the sit command. Step 3 Release the treat as soon as he sits and then give lots of fuss and praise. Step 4 Use what you learned from observing your dog and monitoring his bad habits to anticipate bad behavior. For example, if he slopes off into the living room, discreetly follow him. Step 5 Issue the sit command before he has chance to be naughty. Then issue the down command. These commands will distract the dog from the naughty behavior he was contemplating. More Articles. Knowing what to do to help your dog with misbehavior is half the battle. Are you making any of these disciplining mistakes? Do not use negative reinforcement Negative reinforcement is causing discomfort or worse, pain, to your dog to get them to perform a behavior. Other common negative reinforcers include a choke chain and prong collar. Negative reinforcement is about turning off something negative, or uncomfortable, at the least, and painful at the worst. But take note… Negative reinforcement has been scientifically shown to lead to an increased risk of aggression of 2. Instead, use lure and reward GSD puppy training Do not use physical correction Just as when using negative reinforcement, physical corrections cause your dog anxiety and fear and lead to aggression. When you got your dog you wanted him for life as your best friend and companion. If you find yourself about to engage in physical force for punishment with your German Shepherd, step away from your dog immediately. Ask someone for help. Call a friend or family member and tell them you need help with your dog. Even withholding food, water, or shelter is cruel and must be avoided. And demeaning them by calling them names and speaking to them in a critical tone can cause fear and aggression in German Shepherds. Not to mention, your continued shouting could stress your dog to the point they shut down and withdraw from you. They will no longer be the sweet, lively dog you dreamed about. Instead, learn how to use your voice to communicate effectively with your German Shepherd. Keep your voice calm, clear, and confident. Unfortunately, this type of training only makes his house training take longer since he begins to fear going potty anywhere. So, instead, he begins to sneak off and hide to potty indoors to avoid punishment. Preferably, always have your puppy tethered to you when potty training, never letting them out of your sight. When not tethered to you, place them in a puppy-proof area to prevent potty accidents. Reward your German Shepherd when they potty outdoors in the area you want with praise and treats. Learn more about how to quickly potty train a German Shepherd to start off on the right steps to house training. Or, what about when your tiny puppy sinks his little teeth into your hand in play and you laugh out loud? Why does your German Shepherd misbehave? Take a look. There are a few common factors in dogs that cause them to misbehave. Even if you think your dog is trained and should know better, these are the top reasons they might have bad behaviors. Separation anxiety If you spend a lot of time with your puppy, then begin to leave him alone for long hours he may start to misbehave. This is especially true if you are busy and tend to leave him in a crate for far too many hours. This could mean chewing inappropriate things, digging, or even excessive barking and howling. Under exercised An under-exercised dog is not getting his basic needs met. German Shepherds must have at least 2 hours of physical exercise per day. See — Fun Jobs for German Shepherds at Home for more ideas Before you leave the house give your dog a long walk with plenty of time to sniff. Inconsistent Discipline Another leading cause of needing to discipline a German Shepherd is a lack of consistent training and discipline techniques. Do you make sure your puppy always has 4 paws on the floor to greet guests? While many owners remember to obedience train their dog they overlook the importance of mentally stimulating games to reduce boredom. Decreasing boredom is shown to give your dog a more enjoyable day, which lessens their desire to participate in unwanted behaviors, such as chewing and digging. Start with a few minutes a day using mind games to help keep their mental health in check. Need more help disciplining your German Shepherd the right way? Do you wish there was a German Shepherd monthly guidebook? There is! Disciplining your German Shepherd puppy is most effective when you focus on teaching your German Shepherd what to do, rather than punishing him for unwanted behaviors. The wrong type of punishment can cause irreparable harm to your companion, but discipline when used properly actually reinforces positive behavior. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Imagine you knew how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way so that your bond with your dog grew instead of fell short! Learn how to communicate with your pup and get the behaviors you want using these simple and easy methods for training a German Shepherd puppy. They may become frightened of you or fear your presence, depending on how severe your discipline is. Anxiety may even develop with too much punishment or useless corrections. Training a German Shepherd puppy at 8 to 12 weeks old? Yes, you can! A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be? You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter… Not harder! Start early and remain consistent with your expectations. Training a German Shepherd means knowing what to do when your puppy acts up. Shepherd pups are one of the smartest dogs on the plant and learn quickly what you expect of them. But the best way to learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy at home is to work on your own behavior first. You should show them what behavior is unacceptable in your house. This means that you must stay consistent when responding to their behavior. For example: If your pup jumps on you and you redirect their attention to a toy to chew on instead. But, then your pup jumps on your friend and your friend lets them and you say nothing. This makes it likely that your dog will jump on whoever they feel like in the future. Use reward-based training. Use reward-based German Shepherd training techniques to get the quickest results. Reward-based training helps your puppy recognize when something is a bad choice source. When your pup performs what you ask, offer a tasty treat and words of praise. For example: Have your pup sit when you are by the front door getting ready to go for a walk. This teaches them that when they behave, they are more likely to get what they want. The best way to train your German Shepherd is by following a fun, engaging program that teaches not only the basics but covers problem behaviors, too. Sound difficult? It teaches you how to get your pup to learn positive behaviors. You can also have fun right at home with these games for German Shepherd puppies. Offer your puppy another option when they begin jumping on you for attention. Think about what your puppy is trying to get when engaging in jumping and bad behavior to determine when to ignore them. When your pup jumps on you when you come home, they probably want your attention. Withholding your attention when they are acting out shows them they need to act differently to get your approval source. Instead, offer them pets and praise when they have all 4 paws on the floor. You can also place them behind a puppy gate until they learn not to jump in order to avoid them scratching or nipping house guests when they arrive. After you teach them their basic obedience, ask them for a competing behavior like a sit or down when they begin to jump. Always remember to reward the behavior you want to see again! Ultimately, your puppy learns that good behavior earns your affection and attention more quickly. Your dog soon understands that they get nothing from you when they act badly. Here are some great commands for a German Shepherd that you can work on training. Redirect bad German Shepherd puppy behavior. Does your puppy jump, nip, chew, bite, or dig and you want to know the right discipline? The noise and disapproving tone distract your dog from bad behavior source. Showing them a favorite toy. Offering them another option you would like that is more constructive. You want to remember to watch out for: If your dog chews inappropriately on a pair of expensive shoes, get their attention by making noises or calling them to you and immediately offer the correct approved chew item. If you know your dog tends to bite you during play, have a toy nearby you can show them that you want them to bite instead of your arms. If you know they get wild and crazy in the evenings, have a list of these easy German Shepherd brain games to distract them and funnel their energy. Use time-outs appropriately when training a German Shepherd puppy. When your dog engages in bad behavior, remove them from what is causing the unwanted behavior. Put them in a different environment that is more calming and quiet instead. Respond immediately to the bad behavior and use the same routine every time to maintain correct discipline. Time out should: Not be done with force or yelling. Not be in a closet or other dark, scary area. Work to calm your puppy down, not frighten or stress them. Give your puppy a break from over-excitement. Not be a long punishment. Timeouts are generally recommended for only 1 to 2 minutes for puppies. Also, remember that closed doors can cause anxiety in dogs, so use a reliable pet-safe baby gate so that your puppy knows that you are still nearby. Remember, when training a German Shepherd puppy: Time out should not last over minutes. Watch for when your puppy is calm and quiet for a very brief period seconds long of calm. Then let them out quietly, without scolding them. This can cause anxiety. Remember to use a pet gate to separate them from the excitement that caused the unwanted behavior, while still allowing them to see you and not feel trapped. Ignore the unnecessary barking. German Shepherd puppies bark, but there are positive ways to help train them to bark and whine less. When they finally quiet down, even if only for a few seconds, reward them with a treat or praise. To have success, wait until they are quiet and stop barking, even if only for a few seconds in the beginning source. For example: If your puppy barks at joggers out the window every morning pull the blinds or curtains. If the behavior continues, place your dog in another room for a couple of minutes and repeat the previous time-out procedure every time they bark at the joggers remember to use the pet safe baby gate and to not shut a puppy behind a solid door because it can give them anxiety. If they are whining and crying at night, this could be a warning they need to potty. Make sure you read this post to know how to potty train a German Shepherd before you ignore all whining, barking, and crying. If your puppy barks during play they might be too excited and you can offer them a chew toy instead or cut your playtime short to allow them to calm down. Puppies bark for a number of reasons. But it does get easier to train your GSD over time as they learn what you expect. Keeping your pup from nipping and chewing. Puppies have sharp teeth, especially German Shepherd puppies! Puppies are energetic and must learn their limits for playing too rough source. Puppies view you jerking your hand back quickly as part of a game and could also tear your skin. And physical punishment should never be given! Show them what they can chew, instead, such as their favorite chew toy. Have plenty of safe chew toys to grab nearby to give your pup when they get wild and decide to bite you. Always use toys that your puppy can chew and bite to play with — pick from this list of German Shepherd Chew Toys to Prevent Boredom so you have a safe puppy toy that can take their bites. When they stop biting or nipping reward them with verbal praise and pets. Return later to try playing with your pup again and repeat the procedure. Read this information for more helpful tips to stop your German Shepherd puppy from aggressively biting and nipping you. Catch your dog being good and reward them out of the blue. See your puppy acting the way you want? Reward them out of the blue! Keep small bits of treats in jars around the house out of reach of your pup or in your pocket or a treat bag on your waist and use any opportunity your catch your pup doing good to reward them. If they sit and wait at the door, instead of dashing out ahead of you, reward them! Aim for one of these healthy treats that are the best for German Shepherds and pick carefully to ensure your dog stays athletic and fit. Food-based rewards are very motivating when training and disciplining a puppy. Avoid physical punishment and harm. Your German Shepherd is your companion for life. Research shows that physically punishing your dog for example hitting, kicking, growling, or staring them down increases aggression in your dog study source. Never use physical punishment to correct undesirable behavior. Not only can this punishment injure your puppy, but it also ruins your relationship and causes anxiety. It means setting expectations that they understand and staying consistent. Physically hurting your German shepherd will ruin your relationship with them. They will lose their trust in you and begin to avoid you. In the worst case, your dog could develop anxiety disorders, health issues, or even more problem behaviors. You could even accidentally injure your dog and they need vet care! Use the right tone and body language to communicate. Different commands and body language conveys information for training to your German Shepherd. The different tones of your voice and body movements are better understood by your dog. The actual command words are of less importance to your puppy. Use a direct tone and body language that matches what you want to say to your dog. Even pointing to a missed treat on the ground is body language your dog learns to understand. Still not convinced? Try out your training with this extensive list of helpful German Shepherd commands and watch how much your dog is capable of understanding. Shepherd pups want to please and have order in their home. To do this, stick with your training. Begin with a plan in place and disciplining your GSD will go smoother from the start. Persevere with your training and discipline. Remember that your German Shepherd is highly intelligent and needs your help to get the best from them. If you feel like giving up, take a break from training for a day or two. In order to avoid training frustration, remember that just like you a German Shepherd needs time to learn the rules of the house and new commands. This is true especially of puppies or rescue dogs. If you want to take a break from training and have fun, then include a few days a week of puzzles. German Shepherds are one of the smartest dogs in the world, so training them generally takes a short time. Never discipline a German Shepherd puppy for having accidents during potty training. Whether your German Shepherd is potty trained or not, never push their faces into their potty accidents. Your dog is counting on your leadership to show them the rules in a positive manner. Work on setting a consistent schedule with feeding and walks to avoid potty accidents indoors. German Shepherds are easy to train given the right attention. And they need to understand their schedule by having you teach them using consistent patterns, rather than receiving punishment or discipline. Keep a potty schedule posted nearby so all your family can see it and help prevent your puppy from having an accident. Use your bond with your puppy to your advantage during recall training. Use your positive bond with your German Shepherd puppy to work on early recall training. Especially when there are so many natural pleasures to see and explore outside. When you call your German Shepherd, its obedience simply depends on whether the motivation to obey your commands outweighs what your dog is focused on at the moment. Use this to your advantage! Tips for great German Shepherd puppy recall training: Begin calling your puppy in as many locations inside as you can. Give them a tasty reward or play a game with their favorite toy when they come. Work your way up to a perfect recall by having others try to distract your puppy while indoors. Next, move to your back or front yard with your dog on a long leash like this so they stay safe nearby and do the same. You can disciple them by showing them your tasty treat and walking backward a few steps to encourage them to move toward you. Train the come command in all situations, including the home and outdoors, from the time your puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old to avoid discipline problems later on. Need to train your German Shepherd on their recall? While puppies are adorable, German Shepherds are notoriously difficult due to their high energy and large size. While they can be a challenge, consistent and effective discipline a german shepherd puppy can help them settle down quickly. Start From a Positive Place To Discipline A German Shepherd Puppy The first thing to keep in mind when you bring home a new puppy of any breed is that your puppy is learning a brand new set of rules. The things they did with their litter mates and their mother may not be okay in this new household. In addition, the world is suddenly a very lonely and scary place for a puppy who used to always be protected by his or her mother and siblings. This is especially true for German Shepherds. It takes a little while for a puppy to form that bond with a new owner. Sometimes puppies also simply are not developed enough to control themselves. Much like human children, too-tired puppies are prone to getting wild and misbehaving. They also experience teething pain, which may make them chew on many different surfaces in an attempt to soothe it. Timing is Critical Another thing to remember about puppies is that they have very short attention spans. Whatever discipline you choose must be given immediately for it to be effective. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that any praise or punishment is given within three seconds of the puppy performing the behavior. Instead, look at ways you can prevent it from happening, such as planning for more frequent bathroom breaks or restricting your puppy to a smaller area. Keep It Consistent Consistency is key in training and disciplining any puppy. If you allow a certain behavior sometimes but ignore it or reward it at other times, your puppy will end up confused and frustrated. If you live with other people, make sure everyone is on the same page with your training methods and rules. Utilize Time-Outs One of the best tools for disciplining a puppy is simply taking away the thing that is exciting them. Turning your back on a jumping puppy can have a similar effect. If the puppy is persistent, a small break in a safe spot can also help them calm down and settle enough to behave. A gated-off laundry room or a bathroom can be good choices for this. Just be calm and matter-of-fact about it. You want to make everything as boring as possible so that the puppy learns that being rude means that the fun ends for a little while. Instead of scolding your puppy, simply redirecting to a more appropriate toy is usually the best option. Trade a fun chew toy for the shoe, then put the shoes away somewhere else. One of the big benefits of this approach is that it also lays the foundation for teaching your dog to willingly drop things on command, which is particularly important in German Shepherds since they tend to be a fairly possessive breed. Redirection can also be used for other behaviors. If your puppy tends to jump on people when greeting them, try teaching him to sit or lay down instead. You can even have a little fun with it and teach him to shake hands on cue. Make sure your puppy always has plenty of appropriate toys around, since puppies need to chew. Try to keep a good variety of textures and materials, and offer occasional treats like bully sticks or antlers. Talk to your vet about the best chews for your puppy. Many puppies also thrive when kept on a regular schedule, including frequent nap time. Young German Shepherds may sleep up to 18 hours a day, so make sure your pup has plenty of rest. Over-tired puppies often have trouble settling down and may bite more than usual. German Shepherds are also very clever, high-energy dogs, so your puppy needs plenty of stimulation. Young puppies cannot go for long runs or do other serious physical exercises since it can damage their growing bones and joints, but they still need to be kept occupied. Training, play dates with other puppies, and games such as nose work are all great choices for tiring out your German Shepherd puppy without overdoing things. Although raising a smart, energetic German Shepherd puppy is never exactly easy, it can be very rewarding. Sticking to positive, reward-based methods and working with your puppy can help ensure you form a strong bond and raise a happy, well-adjusted dog. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. So, how do you discipline your German Shepherd without punishment? Find the answer to that in the next section. Give your GSD something interesting instead, such as a toy. Use positive reinforcement training. Ignore demanding behavior, such as barking, pawing, or jumping. Use short effective timeouts. As already indicated, the most efficient way of disciplining your German Shepherd is through positive reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement implies adding some reward to increase the frequency of response. How positive reinforcement happens In positive reinforcement, rewards include: A treat: Should be healthy and given in moderation to avoid health issues. It could be a single kibble from their food or a tiny piece of meat, or you can try healthy fruits or vegetables. Expression of physical attention: A hug, a gentle pat, or a caress on the head or behind the ears. You can find out more about petting a German Shepherd here. Negative reinforcement means taking something away or removing a reward to increase the frequency of the response. A typical example of negative reinforcement is when getting your dog to sit, you gently push his bottom down towards the floor, easing him into the sit position. Once the sit is accomplished, you reward him by releasing the pressure. By repeatedly doing this, the behavior is reinforced. Instead, it means reinforcing good behavior and deterring unbecoming conduct. In other words, you should not punish your German Shepherd when disciplining him. That means you love your dog and want the best for him. Consequently, you do not wish to hurt your dog, and you want your German Shepherd to trust you. If all that is true, it is easy to indicate that you should never apply physical punishment to your pet. Whether that means spanking, kicking, leaving him without food, caging or tying him for days, or other forms of punishment that could bring the dog some form of physical harm. Do you want to learn how to show dominance over your German Shepherd the right way? These forms of punishment do not achieve any good results. First, dogs do not have the reasoning capacity to associate punishment with their action and are, thus, unlikely to change. Instead, they will develop fear and aggression towards you, which could strain the relationship with your GSD. Second, from an animal rights perspective, physical punishment is a form of pet abuse that could make you count among the thousands of people who are perpetrators of animal cruelty in the US, inflicting physical pain. That also means that they can tell the difference in your voice pitch, and they know shouting indicates anger and displeasure. Yelling can cause fear and aggression in German Shepherds, which could make them turn against you with a bite, or they could just run away. With time, dogs may also adopt a form of indifference to your shouting and learn to ignore your yelling. From a well-being approach, continuous shouting as a form of punishment can cause poor quality of life for your German Shepherd. This study found that dogs trained with aversive methods shouting is an aversive method had poorer welfare than those trained with reward-based techniques positive reinforcement. Rather than shout, therefore, you will be more efficient if you use a calm voice and make clear and confident commands. Your dog might change position next time, and that is because your punishment did not teach him that doing it in the house is bad. Dogs like their space clean, especially from their dirt. Instead, if your German Shepherd puppy soils your carpet, clean the mess with a detergent that removes the stain and odor, and then redirect your dog outside. Also, reward him when he relieves himself during a walk and withdraw the reward when the same is done in the house. This will teach your German Shepherd to associate doing his thing outside with a good treat and avoid that which takes it away. Letting it go once creates the expectation that you can let it go another time. Instead, insist on chew toys for play or dog teething toys if your pup is still at the teething stage. Most pet stores have you spoilt for choice when it comes to chewing and teething toys. As a dog owner with lots of love for your German Shepherd, you might be remorseful that you denied your pet a treat for not following your command and decided to give him three in compensation. If, as a dog owner, you realize that you cannot be firm with disciplining your German Shepherd, seek the help of a professional trainer immediately. And even though they learn what they should do through training, they might sometimes make mistakes and need understanding from the loving owner they look up to. Final Thoughts Disciplining your German Shepherd is an essential aspect of training. But it is important to differentiate discipline from punishment. While punishing may cause harm to your dog, disciplining is intended to reinforce positive behavior. Rewarding good behavior through positive reinforcement and rekindling it when your dog faults through negative reinforcement are the two most effective ways of using discipline to train your German Shepherd in good behavior. There are several reasons why your German Shepherd may be involved in unbecoming behavior. Some of them are loneliness, lack of exercise, or poor training as a puppy. If you have to discipline your GSD, avoid rewarding negative behavior, shouting, and physical punishment. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies German Shepherds can be the most well-mannered and obedient dogs. However, much of how they behave depends on how you train them and keep their manners in check. So how do you discipline a German Shepherd puppy? This article will dive into the best and most effective ways of disciplining a GSD puppy when needed. Best Ways to Discipline a German Shepherd Puppy Positive reinforcement training remains to be the best way to discipline any dog, especially a German Shepherd puppy. This method works not only for obedience but also for encouraging good behaviors. For GSDs, this is especially effective because their high level of intelligence enables them to quickly associate rewards with their actions. While some believe that the best training methods involve punishing bad behaviors, research suggests that reward-based training methods are actually the most effective. Additionally, behavioral issues can be addressed through redirection and behavior-specific training. Here are the most critical parts of fostering good manners in a young German Shepherd: Positive Reinforcement Training Positive reinforcement training involves rewarding your dog for good behaviors. This increases the likelihood of them performing the right behavior and can also discourage unwanted behaviors. Instead, they will greet you by sitting in front of you because that gets them the reward they want. On the surface, positive reinforcement training might seem simple enough. However, here are some things you need to get right for effective training: Step 1: Find The Right Reward First, you need to find the right reward. Different dogs have different motivations. Some are driven by food while others are mostly motivated by toys and play. Others find that the best reward is cheerful praise and a good ear scratch. Learning what motivates your dog will help you raise them more successfully. Dogs basically live in the moment, so you need to reward in the moment as well. When rewarding, catch them in the act of doing the right behavior. Step 3: Consistency Third, you need to be consistent. Redirection In most cases, the most difficult part of training dogs is to reverse unwanted behaviors. So, the most effective thing to do is to redirect them to more appropriate behaviors. For example, if your German Shepherd likes to dig holes in your backyard, you can redirect that behavior to something more desirable, like playing with a ball. As soon as you let them out into your yard, toss a ball and encourage them to play. This diverts their energy into something more positive. If you do this consistently, they will associate the yard with playtime rather than digging time. Excessive barking , for example, is very difficult to divert. In the barking example, it helps to teach your dog to bark on command. Make sure you reward them as soon as they stop barking. Practice this until you can make them speak and keep quiet on command. Additionally, certain types of punishment can instill fear in your pup. Not only would that severely hinder their ability to develop a good relationship with you, that might also lead to some fear-based aggression down the road. This might also lead to fear-based aggression where they will growl , lunge, or bite to defend themselves. In fact, most will still experience some frustration. No dog is inherently well-mannered all the time. Here are some things you can do to improve your success while also strengthening your relationship with your canine companion: Start early. Be consistent. Establish verbal cues. Use playtime as an opportunity to reinforce positive behaviors. Tire them out. Excess energy can often be the root cause of bad behaviors. Hone their abilities. GSDs are working dogs. If you give them opportunities to sharpen their mental abilities and also hone their other skills e. Rubbing face in dog pee or poop. The goal of negative or punishment-based discipline is to associate bad behavior with bad things. As Science Alert reports, according to a survey of expert canine trainers, the German Shepherd is ranked third out of 79 purebred dog breeds in terms of overall intelligence and trainability! This means your German Shepherd puppy is very, very intelligent. It also means your puppy is very trainable. Of course, just like there are different types of people intelligence, there are different types of dog intelligence. So your German Shepherd puppy is technically able to learn a new desirable behavior or unlearn an undesirable behavior in as little as five tries and remember what they have learned with 95 percent accuracy. These dogs are just smart, smart, smart! They are highly tuned into their people and eager to please. But this also means that your training method of choice will have a lasting impact on your dog right away. So you want to choose wisely. When a dog is particularly emotionally sensitive, as most people-centric dog breeds are — any kind of punishment or negativity will have a deep and lasting impact on them. You can see this in people as well. While some people just seem to let life roll off their back, more easily letting go of old hurts and mistakes, other people hold onto these memories and can even become traumatized by shame, embarrassment, or hurt. Your German Shepherd is sensitive like this as well. These dogs want to please and have been carefully bred to have a strong desire to please people. So any kind of negativity, whether in words or actions, is likely to leave a lasting impact. This is also why the only training method you want to use for disciplining a German Shepherd puppy is going to be positive reinforcement training. German Shepherds are very strong and powerful dogs. They are used extensively in military and police work, K-9 search and rescue and bomb-sniffing, the Secrete Service and private protection and guard dog work, and similar occupations. German Shepherds that are not trained with positive methods can sometimes become aggressive. This is especially the case if there is no underlying positive bond with a person. A German Shepherd that is subjected to harsh corrections can turn into a dangerous dog. And there is truly no need to use harsh punishments when you have a dog that is so smart and can easily learn the same desirable behaviors using positive reinforcement. How exactly can you use positive training methods to discipline a German Shepherd puppy? The answer to this question starts with establishing reasonable expectations for any puppy, no matter how smart and attuned to you. You want those first six months to be good ones! However, puppies will be puppies even if they are exceptionally smart, very bonded to you, and highly motivated to please you. Overall, there are always two goals when it comes to disciplining and training a German Shepherd puppy: 1. You are pleased with this response and show it with praise, pats, and even a small tasty treat. Your German Shepherd puppy learns that prompt obedience results in good things — praise, pats, and treats. This teaches your German Shepherd puppy that quiet behavior brings the food out more quickly. Because German Shepherds are bred for a specific type of work, these dogs have some innate tendencies that can be especially misunderstood in puppyhood. As the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Sacramento Valley charity explains, German Shepherds were bred to herd and track and guard and work alongside people. These dogs are high energy naturally. They are social and people-focused naturally. They are workers naturally. Combine this with the onset of puppyhood teething, when the puppy teeth are calling out and the adult teeth are growing in, and you now have an energetic, you-centric dog that is uncomfortable and irritable. At the same time, your German Shepherd puppy has a bladder and bowel system that is still developing and so you are trying to potty train your dog to go to the bathroom outside and only outside and in a specific place on cue. But your puppy may have accidents even when they do their best not to, because sometimes their incompletely developed bladder and brain may fail to understand if they need to go right away. So your German Shepherd puppy may have some initial anxiety, especially since they are also adjusting to life without their mom and littermates at the same time. Here are specific tips to minimize frustration for both you and your puppy during training and discipline: Establish easy verbal cues for every need If this is your first time training a German Shepherd puppy , you may want to talk to a more experienced dog owner for guidance here. Make sure the commands you choose are short and percussive and sound sufficiently different from each other so your German Shepherd puppy will not be likely to get confused. Similarly, right when your German Shepherd puppy is doing the behavior you want is the right time to reinforce it. Instead, simply clean up the mess and apply a pet odor neutralizer and begin again. Discourage problem chewing, for example, by offering your pup an icy teething ring to ease the gum pain. With patience, persistence, positivity, and pure kindness, you and your German Shepherd will get through the difficult puppyhood phase and build a closer bond as you do. Watch Expert Trainers With a German Shepherd Dogs In this amazing short video , you can see the results of using a positive dog training program with a smart and sensitive working dog breed like the German Shepherd dog. With the right type of consistent, positive training program, there is nothing a German Shepherd will not attempt for their people! You need to learn how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy early on or you might regret it later. Letting your GSD puppy get away with bad behaviors when they are a puppy will carry on with them into adulthood. It is much better to nip them in the bud now so that you have a well-behaved dog later that knows how to act around other people and pets. You want to discipline your German Shepherd puppy by distracting them when they are doing something wrong, redirecting their bad behavior to something more appealing, and then rewarding them for their good behavior. Sounds easy right? Well, each dog is different and certain ages will be harder to train than others. Whatever the case, you can use these same methods to discipline and train any GSD. Just stay patient and use positive reinforcement for the best results. You always want to reward good behavior and not punish bad behavior. These 3 simple steps outline the process and should get your young German Shepherd to behave appropriately. From barking , to biting, to chewing, your GSD will need consistent discipline to curb these unwanted behaviors. The first thing you want to do when they are behaving badly is distract them with some verbal word cues. The key to this method is using positive words and an encouraging tone to your voice. You also never want to yell at your dog. Studies have shown that is causes long-term psychological damage. It makes them more pessimistic and stressed. Once you have found a good word cue, it is time to move on to the redirection. Redirect Their Behavior To Something More Appealing Once you have successfully learned to grab their attention quickly from the bad behavior, it is time to redirect it to something more positive. To do this you are going to have to give your German Shepherd something to do that they would find more interesting or fun than the bad behavior. This could be tough. Well, there are a couple of obvious go-tos. The first and most obvious choice is a tasty treat. You can have a small bag of healthy lean treats ready for the occasion. You can also grab their attention quickly with the sound of a squeaky toy. Reward Them For Their Good Behavior To reinforce them switching from the bad behavior to the good behavior, you need to reward them. This discipline, when taught consistently, will teach them over time that the reward outweighs the bad conduct. There are several ways to reward your GSD once they redirect their attention towards you. One of the best ways to reward them is with praise or a treat. Let them know they did the correct thing by abandoning their negative conduct and redirecting it towards the new positive behavior. Continue all 3 of these steps on a consistent basis. Always try to stay positive and never scold or yell at your dog. Eventually, you and your dog will build a good strong bond and your GSD will learn its boundaries. Unfortunately, some pups may be more stubborn than others and continue acting inappropriately. Stay calm as this is normal. German Shepherds are smart but discipline and training takes time. If you have tried the above 3 steps a couple of times to no avail, it is time to change up the strategy. Short Timeout: A short timeout is a great way to calm your puppy down and stop the acting out. However, it should be used sparingly and not everyday or as a punishment. Try to keep it to a minimum of times a week for the best results. Before you give them a timeout, you will need a safe space like their crate or an empty room that is partitioned off from the rest of the house. Leave them there for no more than a couple of minutes. Once they have stopped whining, you can let them rejoin the family. If they are still whining after two minutes, wait until they can stop whining for seconds before letting them out. This will teach them that they have to stop wining to get out. Pro Tip: Make sure that everyone else in the household is being consistent with discipline and timeouts. Everyone needs to participate for it to be effective. So, in order to discipline your GSD and prevent certain unwanted conduct, you can ignore them. Self-Reinforcing Behaviors: Demand barking to go outside for example Jumping on you or other people Pawing or nudging you with their nose Before we discuss how to ignore these behaviors, it is important to realize that the best way to avoid this type of conduct is by being proactive and training them the right way to do things. However, ignoring your GSD can be effective if combined with a negative punishment. Here are some good examples of how to respond correctly to your dog by ignoring their unwanted behavior: Example 1: Your German Shepherd demand barks trying to get your attention. You ignore him or her by looking away, turning your back or leaving the area. Example 2: Your German Shepherd is jumping on you for attention. You ignore him or her by turning around and walking away, removing the attention. Example 3: Your German Shepherd is pawing or nudging you with its nose. You get up and walk away leaving the room. Avoid making eye contact or using vocal commands when you ignore their misconduct. This can reinforce the bad behavior. This is when things get tricky and patience comes in. Even then, it will be hard for some owners to wait it out while their puppy barks repeatedly at high decibels. Fun Fact: The loudest bark ever recorded by a German Shepherd was decibels back in by a dog named Daz Lightening. We recommend using ear plugs to protect your ears from the onslaught of barks that you may be exposed to when attempting to ignore them. It can also be very difficult to ignore them when they are jumping up and down on you or your family members. As we mentioned earlier, being proactive is better than being reactive. That is why proactive training is used to prevent the misconduct before it ever happens. There are certain things that will benefit your dog and others that you should avoid completely. How you train your puppy now will determine the adult they become. This list, compiled from experts and owners, should give you some good guidelines for training your GSD puppy properly. Dos of Discipline: Be consistent with your training: Make sure you use the same verbal and hand cues every time you train. Also make sure that the rest of the family is using the same cues. Do something light and fun before and after training: Have some fun play time before and after you train. It should help to lighten up the mood and prepare your GSD for the hard work. It should also increase your chance of success. Give commands only once on most occasions: For the most part, you only want to give the command a single time. Although there can be occasions when you can use the command multiple times. In that case, make sure to pause for seconds between. Train when you are feeling good and positive: Your demeanor and mood can have an effect on the outcome of the training. When you are in a good mood, it will rub off on your dog and make the discipline easier. Use short quick training sessions: Instead of one long 30 minute or hour training session, break them up into smaller minute sessions times a day. A German Shepherd is smart but their brain needs time to absorb and soak up new information. It has negative long-term effects on their personality and stress levels. It will increase their anxiety making them more skittish and harder to train because there will be less trust. It will make your GSD afraid and scared of you. This will also make it harder to train and diminish the amount of trust between you and your dog. But be patient and refrain from sticking his or her nose in it to teach them a lesson. You must discipline your dog during the act to be effective. You can start to discipline using positive reinforcement when a German Shepherd puppy is weeks old. You also want to focus on crate training, house training and socialization at this early stage in their growth. However, you will want to wait until your puppy is 6 months old to start obedience training. You should try to teach your GSD at least two new commands every month. It is going to take a lot of patience and perseverance. However, GSDs are highly intelligent and fast learners which should make life easier on you than some other breeds. Be consistent and train them a little each day. If you get overwhelmed, you can always hire a professional trainer in your area. They can help you with basic obedience and commands. Please leave a comment and let us know what you think! Have you had any success with certain techniques not listed in the article. Let us know! We would love to hear your personal tips and story! Share this:.

Ian discusses how we should learn to see the world from our dogs perspective and in doing so, how we can better earn their love and trust. Armed with this love and trust, we will form a better relationship and as a result, effective training becomes just that much more effective and enjoyable for both you and your dog. But please, first make sure to use the search facility in the footer of this website and browse our other sections as the subject may have already been covered: Labrador health and care , Labrador behavior , Labrador puppies , infobites and Labrador breed information. External Resources On Labrador Training Although referring to all breeds in general and not purely Labradors, for those of you that love to watch and not read, the series of dog training videos on www. If you like reading books then check out one of our favorite Lab books: The Complete Labrador Handbook. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. If this is the case,…. How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed. Take a look at these first few articles. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. But for now, beside your bed is the best place for your puppy to sleep — it will help them feel safe. Puppies like their crates rather cave-like; we suggest covering it with a blanket to block out light, but keep the front open so that they can see outwards. Make sure to make it snug inside with something like a vet bed or a blanket, or why not take it up a notch with a heat pad or hot water bottle to recreate the feeling of their mother. Nothing feels more comforting than that. Before you head to bed, take your puppy out for one last round of loo-going. Set your bedtime at a later time too — midnight sounds about right. Come back calmly, and place your puppy in the crate and turn out the light. Stuff you should know about Sleep Training your Labrador Your puppy will wake up several times in the night and will need the bathroom at least once! Be prepared for not-so-deep sleeps and tired mornings — just for the first few weeks. Having them sleep next to you is only temporary. Consistency is key! As for you, full nights of sleep will start getting closer and closer. Alone Training How can I teach my Labrador puppy to be ok on their own? Start by feeding your puppy in their crate during meal times. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area. Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now. Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly. Socialization Exercises To Do this week Letting your Labrador puppy explore the yard Besides the gnomes and questionable yard furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own yard is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world. Exploring different surfaces exercise Make sure that the surfaces you use are safe — nothing too crazy just yet. Gather surfaces such as An oven tray with a small layer of water A piece of astro turf A carpet tile A large piece of tin foil, cardboard or something crinkly PRO TIP: Set up for this exercise in the room your puppy spends most of their time in — it will help them to feel safe and confident. Pop the surfaces out safely on the floor and allow your puppy to investigate them. Nobody has ever enjoyed walking on those. Remember to be patient! Lucky for you — teaching them their name is easy peasy. Say their name in a happy jolly tone and reward with a treat. Repeat five times, 5 and take a break. Practice this 2 or 3 times a day so they get the hang of it. Teach your puppy to sit Teaching your puppy how to sit is a popular one. The first two are far more common though. Keep using this word when they do the right thing, and then follow it up with a food reward. In puppy logic, stinky means yummy. How to do it Start at home; where there are no distractions. Just make sure to shut off Gogglebox in the background. Recall — How to teach our Labrador puppy to come back when called Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. How to do it Treats and a cheerful voice will be what works here. Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated. Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and yard to get them used to coming to you in all settings. How to do it Show your puppy that you have their favorite toy, and start to get them excited about it. When they show interest, throw it a little bit away from you. They will likely follow it and pick it up. If they do, encourage them back to you with your voice, so remember to sound happy! Swap the toy for a treat or another toy and do the process again. Repeat this about 5 times. Instead create more distance and excitement sounds to get them to come to you — spaniels like to show off, so they will likely want to parade what they have! Always swap the toy for something when they have it, this could be a treat or another toy. Resource guarding occurs when we force puppies to give up items or snatch things out of their mouths. For breeds like Labradors who are designed to want to hold things in their mouths, this is pretty important! Resource guarding is when a dog protects a resource from being taken by someone else — dog or human. For some reason, there is a solid list of things puppies find irresistible: Socks. Gundog expert Jayne Coley summarises the early training routine that she followed with her own young labrador, Trade. Register for our newsletter To continue reading this content please register for our newsletter. You have to adapt your training to suit the type of puppy you have. The steps below summarise the training routine that I have followed with my young dog, Trade, who has an easy-going temperament. I began to train him properly in the New Year when he was 9 — 10 months old, though I usually wait until the shooting season is over when I have time to do a little each day on a regular basis. Step 1: Foundations By the age of 9 — 10 months, Trade had been toilet trained, knew his name and came back when I called him. He had been well socialised and behaved in company on a lead, was used to going out in my vehicle and had learned to swim. Trade has never been chastised for carrying something he should not, e. I then place the item out of reach. Crucially, by this age we had built up a good bond before formal training began. Step 2: Heelwork It was so wet and muddy at home so I started training on the patio and in our yard where the pup is restricted to a certain area and there are no distractions. We began with heelwork on the lead. To keep the exercise interesting, I walked in straight lines, did figures of eight, included the occasional tight turn and altered my pace. This all helped to keep Trade focused on what we were doing. If he didn't sit immediately, I repeated the command whilst pushing his bottom down with my left hand. Once confident with this routine, I put a lightweight collar on him and progressed to walking to heel off the lead, using my hands to encourage him to keep his head up and concentrate on me, when necessary. If he did move, I calmly walked up to him and, holding his collar, took him back to the exact spot he moved from in a quiet but positive manner. I slowly built up the distance until I could walk around him in a huge circle. Once he did this perfectly, I introduced the recall. Instead of always walking back to him, I would call him back to me, encouraging him to come straight to my hands which were cupped gently in front of my hips. Once I was happy with this, I began to mix up heelwork with sit and stay, and recall. When he didn't move, I quietly picked the dummy up myself. Gradually — over several days — I built on this until I could throw a couple of dummies, one at a time, over and around him and he remained steady. It is always important to lift the pup's top lip out of the way when you put a dummy in his mouth. Trade was reluctant to do this at first, but with patience and perseverance over several days, he accepted it. Slowly, I built on this until I could walk away backwards the length of the lead and call him to me, concentrating on perfecting a good delivery, using my hands to encourage him to bring the dummy right to me with his head held nice and high. Step 6: Retrieving Next, we worked on being sent for a retrieve. I then bent down and pointed my right hand towards the dummy whilst looking at the top of his head to make sure he was looking past my hand at it, before saying his name positively and at the same time letting go of one end of the lead so that he instinctively ran forward and picked the dummy. Initially, I sat back on my heels, which encouraged him to run straight back to me. Slowly we built on this until the lead was no longer needed. Sometimes I would send him for the dummy, sometimes I'd pick it up myself, or I'd walk him to heel in the opposite direction before sending him. On other occasions, I would stand well back from Trade and throw a dummy over his head, call him to me and then send him for the dummy from my position. I like to vary things as this keeps him interested and wondering what I am going to do next. He was at first a little unsure, so I repeated it in a lighter tone, to which he responded. In return, I praised him quietly. Always remember, training a dog is like building a house — it is imperative that the foundations are put down properly, otherwise, sooner or later, cracks will appear. Keep it light and encouraging when you praise, and low and gruff when you scold, so your puppy knows the difference. Especially if you have a boisterous puppy. Keep everything calm and relaxed, and do things in your time. Check Price on Amazon 6. Make Commands Only Once When it comes to training, what you give is what you get. This is known as command nagging. Teach your pup to heed a command at its first mention. If an order is not executed the first time, show your Lab what you want them to do and make the command again. Repeat that until they learn to obey the first time the command is made. Discipline at the Precise Moment of the Unwanted Behavior Timing is crucial when disciplining your 8-week-old Labrador pup. Dogs will typically forget an experience in 2 minutes. However, they can recall your training commands through associative memory. Once your pup has corrected his unwanted behavior with the desired behavior, reward him with a tasty treat and lots of praise. To learn more about how to discipline your dog, check out my top article, How to Discipline a Labrador: What Not to Do! It can also cause aggression in dogs , as found in this year-long study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. Using physical punishment such as hitting, kicking, or grabbing the jowls and shaking, is simply animal abuse. Other unacceptable methods are physically forcing the dog down onto its side or back, growling at your dog, withdrawing food, using a shock collar, or tying it for hours. Wean Your Puppy off Training Treats Your Labrador needs to learn that skills and commands are not learned or obeyed for the sole motive of a treat. For this reason, it is important to wean your puppy off treats when he has repeatedly performed the behavior and completely mastered it in different locations and with various distractions. Nonetheless, your Labrador puppy is still a dog in training, and you still need to tell him that he has done the right thing. The rule of thumb is that they are trained young when it comes to dog training. You should train Labrador puppies as soon as you bring them home, typically around 8 weeks of age. The American Kennel Club AKC indicates that the first key milestone when training a Lab pup is 8 weeks, as soon as they have left their mother. It is a crucial time to lay the foundation for your Labrador puppy to integrate into the family. When you bring your Labrador Retriever puppy home at two months, it has most likely interacted with a few situations and is eager enough to learn and follow the rules of a new home. A recent study scientifically proved that 8-week-old puppies are quite capable of learning at this young age as they quickly learned to open a puzzle box baited with food and remembered the skill an hour later. Interestingly, these puppies learned the skill better from a human rather than their mother. Other studies have also proven that it is effective for future behavior to teach puppies socialization and other skills rather than adults. In this study, puppies who attended a command and socialization training class for one hour a day for six months responded better to strangers than adult dogs who attended the same classes. Are Lab Puppies Easy to Train? Lab puppies are easy to train. They are a working breed that enjoys physical and mental stimulation and have many positive traits. They are intelligent, devoted, friendly, highly social, and love to please. They are often used as guide dogs, therapy dogs, or search and rescue due to their easy trainability. Apart from the age factor, other breed-specific reasons make training a Labrador puppy easy. Here are three examples: Labradors are among the most intelligent dog breeds. In his book, The Intelligence of Dogs, canine psychologist Stanley Coren lists Labradors in the top tier of the smartest dogs. So, even at just two months, your puppy has it in his blood to learn and carry out commands. To perform their original working job of retrieving fish that came off the trawl, Labradors had to be watchful and enthusiastic. These are essential learning characteristics. As game and waterfowl retrievers for hunters, Labradors have to be obedient. Another core training requirement makes your Lab puppy easy to train. With these ten principles on exactly how to train an 8-week-old Labrador, you can now apply them to the key areas your young puppy needs to be trained in. Labrador Puppy Training: Key Areas There are five critical areas in which you must appropriately train your 8-week-old Lab puppy. In the next section, I will tell you what the training entails. How to Socialize a Labrador They say humans are social beings, but that is also true about dogs. Socialization begins with the breeder and continues with you. To socialize a Labrador, expose him to many different places and situations. Include sounds, smells, other adults, children, animals, cars, objects, etc. Dogs who are well socialized in the first 12 weeks will be set up for life. Socializing and training your puppy young plays a significant role in the development of adult dogs, as evidenced in this important study. Here are two key findings: Dogs that are well socialized as pups will behave more positively with humans and are less likely to display unwanted behavioral problems such as fear and aggression. Socialized dogs are more likely to engage in positive social behaviors with humans. They also learn better how to play games with humans, helping them establish a true bond with their owners. As a puppy, you can teach your Labrador social skills and confidence through intentional training moments in the family. Once he has completed his vaccinations, take him to public places such as parks or puppy socialization classes. Put him outside hourly and learn to anticipate when he needs to go. Reward and praise him when he does go outside. Usually, puppies will need to relieve themselves early in the morning and after meals. Use their natural rhythm for daily pee or poop walks. Dogs hate messing in the area they sleep in and usually hold it. Nonetheless, very young puppies might be unable to do so. Walk your Labrador after his morning meal and hang around for 15 minutes or so to allow him to do his thing. Repeat the same in the evening. Puppies will need to be allowed to relieve themselves every hour, and for vaccinated dogs, a short walk every hours is an ideal routine to prevent them from peeing around the house. If you crate your puppy because you need to go out, get someone to help you stick to the routine. Repeating this routine for the first few days will give your new furry friend a good idea of his expectations. Check out my guide to Labrador potty training here. To crate train an 8-week-old Labrador puppy, start as soon as you bring him home. Slowly introduce him to the crate by throwing a treat inside and let him explore the crate voluntarily. When you first leave him with the door closed, make sure he is tired as he will sleep and not be afraid. Check out my Best Dog Crates for Labradors and Playpens recommendations, including soft crates, travel crates, and furniture styles. Here are six key things you should practice when crate-training your Labrador: Keep your puppy in the crate at night. Initiate crate training from the very first day you bring your puppy home. It will be harder to succeed in crate training if your puppy gets used to other sleeping arrangements. My puppy cried during the first night, but she was just fine after that. Lab puppies can be left alone in a crate for 1 hour for each month of age for up to 4 hours. Keep your dog in the crate when you are out of the house. This is also for his safety, such as when you are cooking. Do not let your Lab out of the cage when barking or giving you those puppy eyes. Instead, reward good behavior in the crate, i. He will quickly learn that being quiet leads to nice things. He will quickly learn that this special place is just for him. Various toys and bedding will offer some comfort for your Labrador. When purchasing a crate for your puppy, the best ones will give your Lab enough room to stand, sit, turn, and lie down comfortably on his side with paws outstretched. Instead, buy a crate with an adjustable divider that allows him to grow into and choose a standard metal model with either a single or double door. Travel kennels like this Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel , also from Amazon, are also hardy when you are on the move with your dog. This one is even airline adaptable and meets most airline cargo specifications. Older dogs may refrain from biting because they have been trained not to hurt as they have learned their bite inhibition. This simply means that the dog has learned to control the strength of his bite. This sends the message that the bite hurts. Persist by leaving your hand in his mouth until he lets go, then use lots of praise. All puppies need to master this technique that they initially learned from their mother and littermates. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Training your Lab puppy to soft bite must be done in puppyhood as an adolescent dog will not know how to adjust the force of his jaws when he has adult teeth and adult jaw muscles. This can be devastating for you both, should your Labrador go on to bite someone! Have realistic expectations — as it can take your puppy weeks to learn his soft bite. How to Train a Labrador Puppy to Walk on a Leash Walking on a leash is not a natural skill in dogs — they need to learn it! Teach a leash cue, then introduce the pup to very short walks. If the dog pulls, stand fast and wait for him to return to you before continuing. Do this by letting him wear them for short periods inside the house and yard. I find the best no-pull harness to be those that are not rear-attached, such as the Walk Your Dog With Love harness. They give you more control and are ideal for medium-large breeds. Give a treat when the command is obeyed. Introduce your Lab to short walks outside on a leash. When it appears he is about to lunge toward another dog or object, quickly distract him with a treat. Timing is crucial. Reward him every time commands are obeyed and gradually reduce the rewards as the art of leash walking is perfected. You can start steps 1 and 2 when the puppy is young, but you can only commence step 3 once the dog has been vaccinated. Final Thoughts Eight weeks old is the perfect time to train a Labrador puppy in key areas such as socialization, crate training, potty training, not biting, and leash training. To successfully train your Lab puppy in these areas, you must follow good training principles such as using reward-based training, being consistent in your commands, and disciplining at the precise moment of poor behavior. Begin with basic commands before introducing more complex or trick commands. Related Posts You May Like:. Print Early obedience first step to better hunting dog Labrador puppies start out sweet and innocent. All you want to do is cuddle up with your pup and love them! And you should! But rest assured the innocence will not last. As your pup gains confidence and courage, they will begin to test you in many ways. That is why you must obedience train your Labrador puppy. Early obedience training is key to establishing borders and boundaries that will help your puppy grow, learn, and adjust with a good attitude. There is no shortcut to doing this, just use the name often when you talk to your puppy. Over time, the pup will start to respond to the name. Socialization, while not technically obedience training, is the single most important thing you can teach your puppy during the first few months of life. If you are not sure how to do this, refer to this post. Tools needed to obedience train Labrador puppy You will need a few tools to teach your puppy obedience. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Collar — You should purchase a size appropriate collar for your new puppy. You may have to buy new ones as your dog grows, but it is important for your puppy to get used to wearing a collar early on. A simple nylon adjustable collar works great. Chain collar — If your puppy is more than a few months old, a chain or prong collar is extremely helpful in teaching obedience, but they must be used correctly. For more information on how to put a chain collar on your dog correctly refer to this video. A longer lead, called a check cord, is also useful for teaching HERE and retrieving. You can learn more about that here. Heeling stick optional — While optional, a heeling stick can be especially helpful in teaching basic obedience. Treats — Treats are good for teaching very young puppies. I use treats for pups under 12 weeks of age, but treats should be discontinued rather quickly. When to start basic puppy obedience training Obedience training can and should start within the first couple weeks of having your puppy home. Young puppies are ready and willing to learn and teaching obedience to a young puppy is much easier than teaching it to an older dog. How long should obedience sessions be? Most labs do not enjoy obedience training. For this reason, we aim to keep obedience sessions short, especially if your dog is under 4-months of age. Five to ten minutes of obedience a day can work wonders. Especially if you are consistent. Using rewards or praise to teach obedience Many people like to use treats or rewards for obedience training. And this can work, especially with very young dogs. But for hunting dogs, over the long-term treats can become a problem. We do not want our dogs, or the dogs we train to be obedient only because they are getting a food reward. We want them to be obedient because they understand their place in the family and respect the owners. To get these lasting results, we use praise words and petting and a reward that retrievers live for — retrieves! Well-timed praise is a particularly important part of dog training. A message that it is okay to ignore me the first 9 times! This simply means that after a few minutes of formal obedience training, we release the dog with an OKAY command and that means they can run around and be a dog. We then throw a bumper or plug a for the dog to retriever. We do this a few times with a lot of excitement and allow the dog to retrieve the bumper. For retriever breeds, this is often more effective than a food reward. Be careful that you are not letting your puppy get into bad habits with retrieving. For instance, if your puppy often goes out to retrieve the bumper but then runs away with it, or picks it up and drops it, do not continue doing retrieves. While retrieving is a reward for many Labs, it is not an excuse to engage in behaviors that are not going to be acceptable in the field. If you want to learn more about how to properly teach your Lab to retrieve, check out How can I teach my retriever puppy to fetch? Introduction to leash and nylon collar The very first step for any puppy obedience is to introduce your puppy to a regular collar and leash. This should be done in two separate steps, first the collar and then the leash. Introduce the collar by putting a nylon type collar on your puppy. This is normal and you should not react to it. Introducing the leash is a little different. We like to do this outside. After a few sessions of this introduction, you can start holding the leash by the end and walking with the puppy. When the puppy tries to run or walk away, hold tight to the leash, and just let the puppy get used to the resistance. Some puppies have a hard time with this and will growl or whine and whip themselves around at the pressure, but most will not. Remain calm and after a few sessions the puppy should get used to the resistance of the leash. Do not allow the puppy to pull you around. That will make for some bad behaviors that you will need to correct later. If you cannot control your puppy with just a regular collar and leash, you may need to move to a chain or prong collar to keep control. What commands to teach Lab puppy There are only four basic obedience commands that you need to teach your young puppy. Remember when it comes to commands, less is more. OKAY — this is a release command, basically tells your dog were done training, go be a dog. As your puppy grows and learns more, there are some other commands that may be needed, but for puppies I like to start with just the four above. Dog training requires consistency Before you start with obedience training, I want to make a note about the importance of consistency. Obedience training only works if you are consistent. This means that when you say a command, you expect the puppy to perform the command, and are willing to take steps to make the puppy perform the command. If you do not remain consistent in this expectation, you will confuse your dog and get poor results from your training. You and your family must be consistent! How to start obedience training Lab puppy The first command you want to start teaching your puppy is SIT. This is quite easy to teach with a small puppy but gets a little tougher as they get bigger. Then release the puppy with the OKAY command. Repeat this process several times, then stop. If your puppy is weeks old, you can repeat this training several times a day for only a couple minutes at a time. This will be a two-person job for a little while. The other person will put the food down a few feet from the puppy. Then release the puppy to eat saying OKAY. As the pup learns and understands the command better, you will no longer need a second person to hold the puppy. You must be a little careful here because young puppies do not have great bladder control and making them wait, even a few seconds, can mean the difference between an accident and them doing their business outside. But this is a great way to teach impulse control and manners to your puppy. I do not want to have to fight for a position by the door. You can usually start working on this within a week or two of teaching SIT. A great way to teach this command to young puppies is to use two people and sit in a long hallway, one at each end. Take turns calling your puppy with a HERE command. A toy or treat can often help the process. Let your puppy run around a bit but hold onto the end of the cord. Occasionally, call you puppy with a HERE command. It can be helpful at first to crouch down to encourage the puppy to run towards you. Then release the puppy with an OKAY command. Do this a few more times and repeat daily until the puppy is coming to you without you needing to pull the cord. It is also the command most of our clients struggle with the most. Mostly because they are using the wrong tool for the job. For heeling work, it is important that you work with a chain or prong collar. This will give you more control and stop the pulling and surging that many people struggle with. Using a chain or prong collar and a six-foot leash, start walking your puppy at your side. If your puppy is young, be sure to use a puppy chain collar which is smaller than chain collars for adult dogs. And make sure that you are putting it on correctly! An alternate tool to a chain collar and leash is the Wonder or Command Lead. These work great for teaching HEEL. As you start walking use gently tugs on the chain collar with the command HERE to keep your puppy at your side. If your puppy surges or pulls ahead, simply make a degree turn and start walking the other direction giving a sharp, upward tug on the chain collar and saying HEEL several times until the dog is back in a heeling position. Many of our clients have told us they never left their driveway the first few days! But if you are patient and consistent, your dog will quickly learn that if they want to go for a walk, they need to stay at your side. If you want to learn and progress in more obedience work, check out these obedience drills for retrievers. Final thoughts on how to teach your lab puppy obedience Teaching your puppy obedience may take a lot of patience, time and work, but it is such an important thing to do. You will never regret the time! A well-mannered dog is such a joy to be around both in the home and in the field. How to obedience train Labrador puppy. Labrador Retriever pups are working dogs. This means they live to please you for a treat. The more you engage them with different puppy training behaviors the happier they will be. Of course, Labs will be Labs, and this means that dogs do dog things unless they are trained to follow your expectations. Potty training your puppy is just the beginning of you making clear expectations for your Lab. Puppy training from long leash training to potty training, to not nipping is discussed in greater detail along with clear, easy to follow videos at www. But we will give you an expert training tip summary below. For this reason, you need to become an expert on puppy training. Contact us for a discount on the Puppy Trained Right positive reinforcement training program. Expose your puppy to as many different people and situations possible. Teach dog to dog manners when required. Use Positive Reinforcement. Allow for Play with Other Puppies. Play with other Lab Puppies not only allows your pup to get some exercise it is a form of puppy socialization. Bond with your Puppy. Once a strong bond is formed your Lab Puppy will want to please you even more. Potty Train Right Away. Learn how Dogs Learn. Training a Lab puppy is easy if you understand how to go about it. Give your Lab Puppy Play time to Explore. Labs need this as part of their natural development. Spend more time with your puppy when young. This is the time when your expectations should be clearly outlined and can decrease as she gets older. Begin Training day 1. This happens weather or not you intend it to. Every action and reaction is something your puppy uses to form new habits. So ignoring them jumping up as an 8 week old puppy is training them to jump up and will be much more difficult to un-train once they are 70 lbs. Relax and make learning fun. Your pup needs you happy and enjoying yourself! Use Positive Training Methods because they work. This means reward what you desire. Ensure most Experiences are Positive. Imagine a training session of No, No, No, No! Expose them to as Many Human Situations possible. One cause is that there was not adequate socialization with different men. Be Patient. You are building an amazing K9 personality. The window is between 8 and 20 weeks old. Make the most of it. The better your Lab is socialized the happier they will be. Anxiety in dogs comes from many things. The more things your dog is comfortable with the less chance for anxiety and therefore the happier they are. Prepare yourself, your family and your home before your puppy comes home. It is too late once you meet your puppy as simply interacting with her is training. Allow for Safe Experiences both in the home and outside. Seek professional trainers to help guide you when faced with a problem. Be consistent. Clear expectations are easiest to learn. Focus on Guiding not controlling. Best Start Training or Training Classes are beneficial for both you and your puppy. Expect Success. We tend to move in the direction we believe we will travel. Reward the Behaviors you want to see even something as simple as 4 paws on the ground if you are trying to train your Lab not to jump up on you. Become Well informed. You are teaching a skill like reading that takes clear expectations and builds upon last session. Lab Puppies need constant supervision either human, a crate, a fenced area or a baby gate across a doorway. Encourage a soft mouth. Keep your training up or it will be forgotten. Begin Walking on a Loose Leash Right away. This is always easier for your Lab when they are 12 lbs not 70lbs. Change direction before the leash tightens so they are followers not leaders. This is much easier to train before it happens than correct. Allow alone time for your Lab. Know when to end a training session. End training before your puppy quits. Make time for a few shorter training Sessions. Three fifteen minute sessions are better than one 45 min one. Teach your Lab to respond to their name. Teach your Labrador basic obedience before tricks-come, sit, stay, down, leave it. Have all humans learn the commands and be consistent. Ignore undesirable behaviors. Ignoring includes not saying no, bad dog, touching your dog or making eye contact. Find rewards that your Retriever loves and use them when you have breakthrough training moments. Adjust your expectations as your Lab puppy matures, the older more experienced the higher the expectation. Set Realistic Expectations. Minimize distractions when you begin training. Be aware of your Body Language, Labradors pick up cues from you. Be aware of your leash tension. A tight leash says anxiety from the handler. Know when to get Help .Have fun! Understand that Labs do Lab things. Make them work for food and treats. Exercise your Retriever properly for both intensity and duration. Learn some exercise games Labs love. Give lots of repetition. Stop before they get bored. Establish a Pattern by Praising. Redirect undesired behavior. Accept partial actions at first and gradually increase your expectations. When treats end Verbal treats and chin scratches rule. They will know. Enjoy your well balanced purebred Lab puppy for many years. Purebred Lab Retrievers, are they easier to train? The answer to that is definitely maybe! Not all purebreds are bred for intelligence. For example, if a Labrador Retriever breeder chooses to breed their dogs for a certain look then they may overlook intelligence as one of the important characteristics in order to get a specific Lab look. We however breed for intelligence, health and temperament. So in our case, yes, our Purebred Lab Puppies are easier to train than many because we choose the parents and their puppies specifically for their smarts!

Rest assured when purchasing a dog from us that years of breeding and training experience have gone into the development and selection of your German shepherd dog or puppy. Black, Dark Sables, as well as Red and Black German shepherd male and female puppies are available by reservation. Martin Z. Riverside is over an hour drive from me in the valley, but; the puppies that come from the breeder are worth the drive and more! My all black German Shepard "Sirius" is an absolute dream! The breeder and his family truly care for the dogs and their upbringing. Arsalaan constantly checks in to see how me and Sirius are doing and is there to answer any questions you may have. Whether it's your first dog or not give him a call! He'll walk you through the steps and be there with you for guidance. Gavin U. Arsalaan and his family are very kind, caring breeders! When I first reached out to him, he was very quick with a response and easy to communicate with. He truly takes great pride in his pups and is very helpful to answer any questions that may arise. I brought Bear home with me on Dec 16 and he was nice, clean, and healthy upon pick up. Arsalaan provided Bear's list of shots as well as his pedigree and some other additional documents. You will not be disappointed working with him, highly recommend him and his family to help you bring home your newest family member! Mitchell K. Very responsible breeder, I came from Arizona and couldn't be happier. Very helpful before and after receiving my puppy. I highly recommended. Jimmy M. I call Arsalaan whenever I have questions and he is always very helpful with training tips and advice. I get a lot compliments on her looks. Elvia B. I am so grateful for all of the help I got from Arsalaan, and we also appreciate him following up on our puppy "Rexie". He's given us great advice even before we decided to get Rexie. Although he's up north about a 90 minute drive from us, it was definitely worth it. He kept our puppy even after her 8 weeks we couldn't bring her home because it was a Christmas gift. When I took Rexie to her first vet visit the vet said " this breeder definitely knows what he's doing ". Rexie came with up to date vaccinations and AKC forms paid for just have to finish writing them up. Our new family member is a happy and healthy puppy! Plus she sleeps through the night quietly from day one. Amazing Thank you Arsalaan. Located in beautiful Southern California, we strive to breed superior quality family dogs that will not only make great companions and protectors for your family but that also represent the German Shepherd breed well with the exceptional temperament the breed is known and loved for worldwide. We breed only top German V and VA bloodlines that possess superior health and temperament through generations of hip and elbow certified and temperament tested dogs. Additionally all of our dogs are tested for Degenerative Myelopathy to be sure we are producing puppies safe from this disease. Additionally all of our dogs are DNA tested Clear for the MDR1 gene that can cause mild to severe reactions to a variety of medications. Please visit our testimonials page to read review from many of our clients through the years. Also be sure to visit our Dogs For Sale page to see retired females and males we currently have available to the right homes. Check back often as we are always updating photos of our available puppies. With keeping a small number of dogs we have time to give plenty of love and individual attention to them and the puppies when we have them. Our dogs are not kept in kennels, they live with us as part of our family, with room to roam outside on our one acre property and a warm spot inside to sleep. All puppies are raised inside our home in a clean and healthy environment. All whelpings are supervised by us and assisted as needed to ensure the best start and to protect the health of the mother and her puppies. All puppies are well socialized with small children, cats and our other dogs. Temperament is very important to us, our breeding dogs have wonderful temperaments that they pass on to their puppies. Puppies are temperament tested so that we can help you to find the perfect fit for your family and your needs. We actively show our dogs on the local, national and international level thereby striving to breed dogs of quality bloodlines and structure that adhere to the German SV standard for the German Shepherd dog. We make every effort to continue to learn and to improve our bloodlines by importing dogs of superior quality with top German VA bloodlines to bring you the highest and best quality puppy for you and your family to enjoy. Our hope as breeders is that we can provide the best quality German Shepherd puppy with an outstanding temperament that will in turn make a lasting impression on you and your family like they have in ours. I have so many customers that have been lifelong fans of the German Shepherd, that have grown up with German Shepherds and long for that companionship again with the dog of their childhood. I look forward to providing the dog of your dreams to you and your family! Call today to begin your future with a great German Shepherd Dog of your own. Call or email for an appointment to visit us and to meet our dogs and puppies. Join and learn directly from Nadelhaus founder Traci Needles, who has over 25 years of experience breeding and training German Shepherds. Over 50 videos on the following topics covering German Shepherd puppies, housebreaking, crate training, obedience, feeding, grooming, wellness, and much more. New videos to be added every month. Our customers come from all over including Sacramento, the Central Valley, the Bay Area, Southern California, and even from out of state. Not only do we breed German Shepherd puppies, we offer puppy and dog training , dog boarding , and can import fully-trained German Shepherds. What makes Nadelhaus German Shepherds different from other dog breeders? This is the breed club founded in by Max von Stephanitz, who set the standards of the German Shepherd dog breed. The quality of dogs bred to the rules of the SV is second to none. A West German dog is regulated for its sound mind and body. We focus on breeding our dogs for structure, movement, workability, trainability, hips, elbows, pigment, and coat. Our goal is to to produce the best quality German Shepherd again and again, aiming to better the breed every time we breed our dogs. What is the price to buy a Nadelhaus German Shepherd puppy? Our Puppy Application page will provide you with more information on the application, deposit, and matching process. Once you have read through these steps, you can click through to the application form and view the prices for both Nadelhaus German Shepherd puppies as well as import German Shepherd puppies. If I buy a German Shepherd puppy, can you ship it to me? If you are not able to pick your puppy up from our facility in Northern California, we can ship a puppy to you. Shipping rates vary by location and include a health certificate vet visit, transportation costs, and an airline approved crate. Contact us for shipping details. Do you sell long-haired German Shepherd puppies? Nadelhaus breeds German Shepherds puppies all year round and while the majority of puppies we sell are short coat aka short hair , we do have occasionally have long coat long hair puppies. Learn more about long-haired German Shepherds. Can I have a German Shepherd puppy or dog imported from Europe? Puppies bred at Nadelhaus sell quick and even with a deposit, there is generally a wait list for our puppies. If you are interested in skipping the wait list, consider having a puppy imported from Germany. Importing a German Shepherd puppy is a special opportunity to acquire a very beautiful dog with special bloodlines. Both the female mother and male stud are often top V and VA dogs in Germany and come from very popular and highly sought after bloodlines. If you are interested in importing a puppy, simply fill out the same puppy application and click the checkbox that you would like to import a puppy. Will my German Shepherd puppy have its shots and vaccines? All of our puppies receive their vaccinations and are de-wormed to date. They are vet checked at six weeks old. Visit akcreunite. Owners must complete their portion of the paperwork and mail in the registration to the AKC along with the proper fee. We have some puppies born to German imports, so we must mail the paperwork to owners post-purchase. How much should I feed my 8 week old German Shepherd puppy? Our article covers care from the moment you pick up your puppy at the Nadelhaus kennels, to feeding, common issues, introduction to other dogs in the home and more. Our trained driver can transport your German Shepherd to our kennels for puppy purchases, dog training or dog boarding. Trust that your German Shepherd will be transported with care: our driver is knowledgeable about the breed, trained in dog handling and transport, and our transporting service is bonded and insured. This service is exclusive to Nadelhaus purchased German Shepherds. We do not transport dogs that were not purchased or imported through Nadelhaus. Pricing below are estimates only. Our transportation services are generally limited to Northern California, but we encourage you to contact us with any inquiries for your location or for a price quote. Male deposit 1- ES Female deposit 1-CM Male deposit 2- Female deposit 2-VP Male deposit 3- Female deposit 3- Male deposit 4- Female deposit 4- If you would like to know litters coming later than this please give us a call Before you place a deposit, Please download or print our guarantee and contract. Fill it out and return to us either by texting it, scanning and emailing or through regular mail. Remember that regular mail is slower and cause you to not get the spot you want if I get other deposits and contracts before yours. Once I receive your signed contract and your deposit, I will sign one and send one back. New-contract-June 15 We distribute the best dry food available for dogs and cats! Most people want to feed the best and LA is just that! Or if you will be taking home a puppy soon, make sure you buy a puppy start pack. The start up pack is on the same page as the food. Performance shows what the dog IS. If you wanted to ship your puppy, you would need to first come to our kennels and then ship the puppy out yourself. Or you can use a ground transportation company. By placing a deposit on a litter not yet born, please keep this in mind and be willing to move your deposit onto another litter at a later date. This allows us to offer puppies to pet homes at a more affordable price. You will still get AKC papers except they will say limited. If you bred a dog that was registered limited, then you would not be able to register the offspring. This limit however, can be lifted by the breeder. That said, while it can be done, I strongly urge anyone who lives in an apartment to think carefully about how much time and work it can be to keep a large, working dog in an apartment. I will not sell a puppy to anyone who lives in an apartment and leaves the dog home alone all day. At least one person needs to be home during the day. The dog needs to be taken outside to play at least once a day and taken for potty breaks many times EVERY day. Also, please check with your apartments rules on German Shepherds; some complexes do not allow them. New strains of the Parvo Virus are abundant and it is my job to keep puppies safe. I use a high titer Parvo Vaccine at 4 weeks but this may not protect all puppies. So please understand as much as you would like to visit with your puppies as they grow I can no longer allow this until they are 7 weeks. I will send out emails with pictures or videos weekly. No outside dogs are allowed at anytime. Thank you for understanding how important it is for me to keep the puppies safe. If you do visit other breeders, please do so on a different day that you visit. Von Ward Kennels will take back any puppy at any time in their lives if their owners can no longer care for them. Please never take a Von Wards dog to a shelter if you can no longer keep them. While most of our dogs are larger than the standard, we do have a couple of breeding females that are within standard.

It gives them a much-needed boost early on — with regard to healthy growth, weight and general health. It contains lots of protein and the ingredients make it easy to digest for your pup. Perfect for breeds that love to chow down and move around a lot, this wet food will support your loyal Labrador pup. Plus, there's a variation with a multipack. FAQs How much food does a Labrador puppy need? Thankfully, many of our picks above keep things easy for us by having a feeding guide, which can be found at the back of the packet or online. Which health problems are common in Labradors? For prevention, acquire your pups from a reputable breeder that cares about the welfare of your pups. With this, ask about necessary screenings and tests. Hip dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a condition resulting from abnormal formation of the hip socket which causes the hip to deteriorate, says Purina. So, how do we spot this? Unfortunately, this condition can lead to arthritis in the future — so, we suggest screening your Labrador for this. Elbow dysplasia Elbow dysplasia is similar to the former - but with the elbow. Surgery may be necessary if the condition worsens to restore range of motion. Again, we recommend screening this on potential Labrador pups with an elbow scoring scheme. Arthritis Arthritis is a common health problem in Labradors. This is a result of their size, and it puts a strain on their joints. It can be caused by trauma to the neck or throat — or even hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, your Lab puppy is more at risk of this disease, and they may gain weight as a result. As well as this, your Labrador may lose their fur, experience lethargy and stay away from the cold. We recommend a slow feeder dog bowl to help them eat calmly. After all, obesity is a serious health issue with this breed and can lead to other issues. Common in larger breed dogs, this condition can cause sight loss over time. Specifically, Purina claims that Labradors are prone to an inherited variation, known as rod-cone degeneration, which can be fatal. Though an endearing element of their appearance, Purina claims that this breed is more susceptible to ear infections. For example, Tricuspid valve dysplasia TVD is a common issue in Labradors, which mainly affects male dogs from birth. In severe cases, this can lead to heart failure. But, most dogs with mild TVD can live happily. Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us. This thoughtfully crafted dog food is formulated to meet the unique nutritional requirements of Labrador Retriever puppies up to 15 months old. It contains premium proteins and prebiotics for optimal digestion and energy. With vitamin E and minerals, it supports the immune system and overall health. The kibble size and texture promote dental health. This puppy food provides a tasty and balanced diet to support healthy growth and development, making it an excellent choice for Labrador Retriever puppy owners. This nutritious dog food is made with real chicken and eggs and provides essential vitamins and minerals for healthy digestion, immune function, and overall well-being. It also supports strong bones and healthy skin and coat. Its balanced nutrition and delicious taste make it a satisfying choice for adult Labrador dogs. This high-quality dog food offers a complete nutritional profile at a reasonable price, making it an excellent value-for-money option for pet parents seeking to provide their dogs with a nutritious diet. How to find the best Labrador dog food? Selecting the optimal dog food for your Labrador necessitates the meticulous evaluation of various factors. Look for high-quality ingredients: Choose dog foods that contain high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, and fats and are free from artificial preservatives and fillers. Choose a formula for Labrador Retrievers: Some dog food brands offer recipes designed explicitly for Labrador Retrievers, considering their unique nutritional needs. Suitability with age: Age factors matter a lot when choosing Labrador dog food. Puppies, adult dogs, and seniors have different dietary requirements, so select a formula appropriate for your dog's age. Read the online reviews to get an idea of how other dog owners feel about a particular dog food brand. You may be interested in Product. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Once they reach eight weeks, changing to dry kibble food is best. We recommend feeding a Labrador puppy dry kibble for the first months before changing to an adult food type. But to remain healthy, owners should know what to feed them. Dog owners should feed a Labrador puppy dry food kibble , wet food, or fresh human food, depending on their budget and lifestyle. There are many options for food for dogs, and it can become challenging to determine which one is the best option for the dog. We have found the best options and listed them below. They help us with our daily tasks, are always there when we need them, and bring great joy to our lives. But, it is essential to ensure that our dog gets the best nutrition possible. They have a lot of energy and need to be fed accordingly. This includes the number of calories, food type, and the number of meals per day. We will explain all of these factors to help understand what to feed these precious animals. A Labrador puppy needs high-quality protein in their diet, so they should not be fed just any type of food. This is why we recommend three food options: dry food or kibble, fresh food or human food, or wet food. We prefer using dry food or kibble in most cases, but it is beneficial to start with wet food for young puppies and transition to dry food after a few weeks. Feeding a puppy human food is possible, but it can be more expensive and requires extra work to stick to a cleaner diet at this age. We have found it to be a healthier and more convenient option for our pets. It is also a good alternative to wet food which can be difficult to store and prepare. The benefits of dry dog food are that it offers the pup a balanced diet that doesn't need refrigeration. It also offers convenience because we can buy it in bulk and store it in the pantry or freezer until needed. Dry dog food is also less expensive than wet food, which is another benefit for pet owners. Fresh Food Human Food Feeding a Labrador puppy a diet of fresh, real human food is one of the best things to do for their health and well-being. It will not only make them happy and content, but it will also keep them healthy. This eliminates the guessing game; they are only fed real, natural foods with no unknown ingredients. However, it will become expensive and require regular cooking and preparation. Wet Food Wet food is recommended for Labrador puppies when they are first born and for the first weeks while they grow. It can be either raw or cooked. Wet food is a good source of water and minerals, which are important in the early days of their life to help them grow strong bones and teeth. It should be given to a puppy as soon as it comes out of its mother's womb, but it must not be given before it starts eating solid foods because it will cause diarrhea. Once they get more mature, moving to kibbles is best. It is known for its low level of grain and carbohydrate content and high protein content. Once they reach the week mark, there are better options to help the puppy continue to develop and grow. This food also helps with digestion and weight management. It also promotes proper bone growth with antioxidants and necessary nutrients like vitamin E. The kibble is also shaped strategically to help puppies who chew fast while helping with jaw growth. Overall, this is the best food option for a Labrador puppy. It is designed for all life stages, from puppies to seniors, and we love the benefits it provides to younger labs. The product features a blend of highly digestible proteins, omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, taurine, and glucosamine. This ensures the dog gets the nutrition they need while also reducing the risk of digestive tract problems such as bloat or pancreatitis. It also has a low glycemic index and no corn, wheat, or soy in the recipe. Dog owners can also expect an excellent protein ratio when using this food. Both veterinarians and nutritionists have recognized it for its high-quality ingredients for young puppies. The Acana High Protein formula is made with a blend of chicken, turkey, and fish meals, whole eggs, and natural beef or lamb meal. The product has a limited ingredient list with no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It also has no added sugar and a low glycemic index. This food also contains probiotics and prebiotics to help the pet maintain a healthy immune system. This is the perfect dry dog food for puppies after eight weeks old. This brand is also very affordable for those who want to feed their dog a healthy diet without breaking the bank. It features a patented recipe that helps to promote healthy digestion, strong teeth and gums, healthy skin and shiny coat, a strong immune system, healthy joints and muscles, and a healthy heart. This is a high-protein food option for Labradors too. It promotes lean muscle growth and improved body health with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics 5. It is made with high-quality ingredients and has a great taste and texture for labs to enjoy. This food is to help with puppy development and is suitable for all Labradors under one-year-old. This wet food provides the perfect balance of healthy proteins to support a dog's growth while providing the energy they need to maintain its fitness levels. This can be fed as a meal or as an occasional snack between meals. It has no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or added sugar. It also contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are important for healthy skin and the dog's coat. They are large, strong, intelligent dogs that need a lot of attention, exercise, and food. These dogs can be picky eaters and usually need a lot of calories because of their size. This is especially true for puppies so they can grow properly and remain healthy due to their increased risk of health issues. Food Type Labrador puppies' most popular dog foods are kibbles and canned wet food. Kibbles are the best option for a puppy because they are easy to chew and digest. Canned food is a good option for pups who have difficulty chewing or digesting dry food and would benefit from a little moisture in their diet. The food type also depends on the owner. Dry food or kibbles are faster to prepare, while serving human food to a lab puppy requires extensive prep time. Nutritional Value When it comes to nutritional value, we want dog food that has high-quality protein and carbohydrates. This will help the puppy grow strong and healthy. This is why we need to take into account the nutritional value, quality of ingredients, and taste. It should be made with all-natural ingredients that are sourced from human-grade materials such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. A brand should have all the essential nutrients for a pup but still, be low in toxic elements and preservatives too. Dietary Restrictions Lastly, consider the dietary restrictions of the Labrador puppy before choosing a dog food option. This includes any allergies or health concerns for the dog and shopping for something that suits them best. For example, lab puppies must reach a certain carbohydrate and protein number daily. Labradors are also known to have allergies, especially young ones, so planning around this is crucial. A puppy should be fed at least three times a day, with a meal size that is appropriate for its body weight. They should also be given small daily snacks to keep them satisfied and happy, including treats to help with training. We feed our puppies the best that we can. We want to give them all the nutrients and vitamins they need. We also want to make sure that they are getting a balanced diet. The most important thing when feeding a Labrador puppy is that they get enough calories from their food every day. In the first weeks, the puppy should eat four smaller daily meals. Once the lab reaches three months, this can be changed to three meals per day. And after months, we recommend two meals per day. The key is not to change the calories much when the meals change but to simply modify the size of each meal to fit the total daily food amount. Feeding a Labrador puppy is not rocket science, but there are some things everybody should know about what to feed them and when to feed them. We have covered this basis, but changes need to be made as they age. This leads to a common question about changing food to fit the needs of a grown adult Labrador. The dog's age will determine how quickly they grow and how much energy they need. Lab puppies can stick with kibbles for up to 12 months. Diamond Naturals Dog Food Review An additional reason for there being specific food for puppies is the pieces are smaller which not only prevents them from choking, it also makes the food easier to digest. The pieces are richer, denser and the ideal size for smaller mouths. These ingredients are where your pup gets the nutrients they need to grow and live, nutrients that are sadly lacking in the cheaper dog foods. With foods that are a bit more expensive, your pooch can eat a more well-balanced meal and enjoy it. They eat more, they poop more, and this means house training becomes much harder for you. What you feed your puppy is a major factor in the success of your house training process. Firstly, dry food tends to be more complete and balanced with the correct amount of vital nutrients in it. The ingredients tend to be of better quality as long as you pick the right brand. Plus, dry food helps to keep teeth strong due to being a solid food, and the slightly abrasive nature of the solid food has a natural teeth cleaning effect. It also lasts far longer than cans as you need to feed less of it. Recommended Best Puppy Food For Labs And Large Breeds In this next section we give you 4 of the best foods on the market made from high quality ingredients but still available at a reasonable price. These foods will provide your puppy with all the nutrients they need in just the right mix and quantities, not just so they survive, but so they can truly thrive. Deboned chicken is high quality chicken protein, whereas the chicken and turkey meal is a concentrate. It is nutrient rich with vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin A as well as containing minerals like zinc, iron and calcium. It even has some fruit content like apples and blueberries. The Lactobacillus acidophilus, green tea extract and rosemary extract are all known to help prevent infections. This is a very high-quality food your puppy will truly thrive on and is our top recommendation as the best puppy food for labs. However, if price is no object, K9 is certainly one of the best foods available! K9 Natural Grain-Free Puppy Freeze-Dried Dog Food gives your puppy all the benefits of raw food, aiming for optimum levels of growth and development — not too fast nor stunted — and for lean muscle mass and peak conditioning. Its main ingredient is grass-fed New Zealand beef. And this is rounded out by whole food ingredients like flaxseed, kelp, New Zealand mussel, fruits and veggies, and hoki oil which provides DHA for EPA for healthy brain and eye development. It gets a big thumbs up from us. The first ingredient is bison and is a high quality meat product. The next ingredient is lamb meal, which has a large amount of protein in it being a meat concentrate, percent more than fresh lamb meat. The third highest ingredient is sweet potatoes, which are an excellent source of complex carbs. They contain fiber and beta carotene. In fact, this food consists of approx. This provides your puppy with a source of energy ideal for his busy puppy lifestyle. Overall, this food is highly recommended and your puppy should thrive on it. They also allow regular independent inspections of their manufacturing process and source ingredients the US, EU and NZ. So quality control is well taken care of. The large breed puppy formula contains a scientifically formulated balance of proteins, fats, phosphorous and calcium in just the right amounts and proportions to promote a healthy rate of bone and muscle development, highly important for large breed puppies where excessive nutrients can be just as harmful as malnutrition. The food also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for the health of connective soft tissues which is reassuring for large breeds, and especially Labradors, who can suffer from many joint problems in life. It also contains omega oils for healthy brain development, as well as other fatty acids known to promote healthy skin and coat. So Eukanuba large breed puppy food comes recommended. The fiber in it will help with digestion while it has antioxidants that are known to help keep your dog healthy for many years to come. Royal Canin Breed Specific Labrador Puppy Royal Canin is a very well-known brand with lots of positive reviews from past and present dog owners on Amazon. It has an above average protein content than the minimum recommended for your dog, coming in at 31 percent protein at dry weight. The protein it has comes mostly from chicken by-product meal which is considered somewhat low quality and consists of whatever is left after chickens are slaughtered. However, it does NOT — as you might read elsewhere — consist of anything from feet to beaks. According to dogfoodadvisor. After chicken by-product meal, the second ingredient in this food is brewers rice. The fourth ingredient is corn gluten meal which is a residue left over once most of the useful, starchy carbohydrates have been washed out of it. With such popularity, high ratings and reviews with so many people saying their dogs thrive on this, there must be some truth to it. The third to 5th ingredients are wholesome whole grains that provide high energy from complex carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These are far better than corn and most other sources of carbs found in cheaper foods that are hard for a puppy to get any nutrition from. Out of everything in this product, 40 percent of it is protein, which is higher than average. About 14 percent of it is fat, and of the remainder, 38 percent is carbs. And the omega oils may help reduce risk of developing arthritis. Not only this, but Labradors are a large breed and are more sensitive to nutritional imbalances than smaller breeds. You really do need to get their diet right to do the best for them. Luckily, many brands of food specifically aimed at large breeds and Labradors have been created that provide everything they need in just the right amounts, that are easy for an owner to feed by simply following instructions on the packet. I know there is a lot of conflicting advice out there when it comes to dog food and it can be a nightmare to wade through if trying to find the best puppy food for Labs. So hopefully this article has been of some use to you. A very good resource that does good work for dog food quality awareness. Check them out! Please be aware this page contains affiliate links and Labrador Training HQ receives a small commission if you make a purchase through any such links. This has no effect on the eventual price you pay and we are very grateful for your support. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Increase portions as your puppy grows. Be sure to follow the rule of dog treats. This is about changes over time. Nutritional deficiency or excess can lead to disease and ultimately death. You may have noticed that your dog has dandruff after changing food, but the food is really good — try adding levels of zinc and vitamin A. Your main task as a pet owner is to monitor the health of a small family member and be responsible for this life. Image credit: canva. The first one is a protein that can be found in meat, poultry, fish, yogurt, and cooked eggs. Protein is responsible for the structure of muscles and tissues, as well as the formation and growth of new cells. In the diet for a Labrador puppy, it is imperative to include carbohydrates that are found in brown rice, potatoes, and wheat. Carbohydrates supply the body with glucose, which is responsible for the functioning of the brain and nervous system. An obligatory component of dog food is fats. It is a source of energy, development, and functioning of the cells and muscles of the body. Fats are included in oil and even fish oil. Puppy food for Labs or any other dog includes a certain amount of minerals such as calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and others. Minerals in dog food form bones and cartilage and balance the nerves. It promotes the production of hormones in the Lab puppies, regulates the balance of fluids in the body, and transports oxygen into the blood. Like people, dog and puppy foods should include plenty of water. Water is life! Once in the body, they strengthen bones, and teeth and fill the Labrador puppy with energy. Cost point Every time you buy pet food, you think about the issue of price. Of course, cost is important when making a purchasing decision. You should be aware that higher-quality puppy food can cost more than the average price. Your dog is an irreplaceable member of your family, which must be protected and loved with all your heart. Risks and diseases Lab owners should know well about all risks and diseases that their dogs may face. Numerous studies confirm that the Labrador Retriever breed is prone to digestive sensitivities and skin allergies due to irritating foods. This leads to pruritic diseases. Skin allergies and problems with the gastrointestinal tract are severe. Labs are prone to obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight and body is considered an important point of caring for a dog. In general, Labrador Retrievers should have a taut, hourglass-shaped figure. Obesity puts additional stress on bones and joints and makes it difficult to stay healthy. To combat weight gain, you need to exercise your dog with certain physical exercises, follow a proper diet, control portion sizes, and receive treats. Another disease caused by malnutrition is Gastric dilatation-volvulus. In short, this is boating. Indigestion is a severe problem that should not be ignored. The worst risk is death from the musculoskeletal disorder of muscles, nerves, joints, arthritis, and spinal discs. Also, you should be aware that feed processing of dog foods affects the occurrence and development of cancer. Dry food is cooked at a very high temperature, which leads to the formation of harmful chemical elements in the body of the dog. Such food also contains carbohydrates, which break down into cancer-causing glucose. You can combine dog food with homemade recipe food for your pet yourself. Moreover, it is a good way of feeding your dog if the dog food at home is over or there is very little left, but you need to extend the time until the next purchase. Dogs fed solely on home-cooked or combined diets lived for about 13 years, while those fed only processed food lived for about 10 years. Like human food, it can be chewed easily. Food is broken down in the body so that key nutrients are absorbed more quickly. Such food facilitates digestion and relaxes the stomach. Reducing stress on the digestive system reduces the likelihood of bloating. If you still decide to cook homemade food, follow the rules. Study each ingredient. Cook all animal products for the exact finish to kill harmful bacteria. Risks of homemade dog food Most of the problems are caused by a misunderstanding of the nutritional needs of the Labrador. If you do not understand the effect of food on the body of your pet, which reaction is correct and which can lead to negative consequences and different stages of life, contact a professional veterinarian who can tell you in detail about the effect of food on the body of a dog and how to properly form a pet diet. What food is best for a Labrador puppy? We made for you the list of the best puppy food for Labrador puppies. We can highlight the most noteworthy products from this list. Should I feed my Lab puppy dry or wet food? Mix dry and wet food. What is better to choose — opinions are different. But if you are in doubt about which puppy food to choose, consult your veterinarian. What is the recommended amount of water for a puppy? Older pups that have been nursed require one-half ounce to one ounce of water per pound of body weight. What do you feed an 8-week-old Lab puppy? An 8-week-old puppy should be fed several small meals a day. After 14 weeks, the Lab puppy can switch to two meals a day. Food for a Labrador puppy should be full of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals for healthy development. Giving treats is fine, but remember that Labradors are prone to overeating and gaining weight quickly. Also, try to give treats for obedience. You can choose canned food and dry food for your dog as you wish but you should always think about the effect of this dog food on your dog. Hope this article was helpful for you and that your pet will grow healthy and strong. Active, eager to please and easy to train — with the waggiest of tails and smiliest of doggy faces — when it comes to being a good-natured family pet, Labrador Retrievers tick all the boxes. How trendy is your dog? The breed has certainly come a long way from its hard-working Canadian roots — in 16th century Newfoundland, the ancestors of the Labrador Retrievers we know and love today were used to help fishermen retrieve nets and lost lines and pull carts loaded with fish. Labs will try their hardest to beg, steal or borrow just about any kind of food , even if it will do them absolutely no good at all. Sensitive puppy food is suitable for feeding Labrador puppies from 6 weeks to 12 months old. Shop sensitive puppy food. A recent scientific study has shown that a gene alteration specifically found in Labs indicates greater food-motivated behaviour than in other breeds. Researchers discovered that this variation occurs more frequently in Labradors chosen as assistance dogs and might explain why these canines seem more trainable with food rewards. When searching for the best diet for Labradors, look for recipes that are made from premium ingredients such as lamb , turkey and salmon to ensure excellent quality and superior taste. Shop high-quality Burgess dog food. Dogs need a balance of vitamins and minerals, and their food must contain zinc and copper supplements. They also need a little bit of fibre in their diet to help maintain a healthy gut. Burgess Sensitive dog food range caters for your dog at every stage of their life — all the way through from puppy to senior. Sensitive puppy food is suitable for Labrador puppies from 6 weeks to 12 months old and nursing mothers. Sensitive adult dog food is designed for dogs over the age of 12 months. For dogs over the age of 7, sensitive senior dog food is the perfect food for your Labrador dog. Our Labrador has a sensitive stomach and took to this change of food well. Healthy and balanced! We tried various diets, and this was the only one that settled him. She produces smaller poos! Dry kibble dog food is widely acknowledged to be a great way to deliver a nutritious, balanced, complete diet. The best dry food for adult and puppy Labradors is carefully crafted to provide exactly the right balance of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fats that your dog needs, in an easy-to-feed form. When introducing a new food to your dog, you should do it gradually to avoid upsetting their digestion. Mix in the new food with the old over a period of 7 to 10 days until the new food completely replaces the old diet. How often should you feed a Labrador Retriever and how much? Puppies, with their small stomachs need three or four small meals a day, while adult dogs generally have two meals a day. Sometimes, elderly dogs benefit from three or four smaller meals. If you feed treats for training or when out on walks, this should also be taken into account. Remember that treats should be just that — something special, fed occasionally, in small amounts. Feeding frenzy? While some dogs like to savour every mouthful of their food, you might find that when feeding your Labrador puppy or adult dog, that they scoff down their dinner in seconds, which is really not good for them. Eating food too fast can cause digestive upsets, some of which can be very serious, requiring immediate veterinary attention. By switching the food you are feeding them to something more nutritionally beneficial you may be able to change your Lab's eating behaviour and allow them to slow down. What foods are dangerous to Labrador Retrievers? Here are some of the main foods that are dangerous for dogs and should be avoided in a Labrador diet. If you suspect your Lab has eaten any of the following, consult your vet immediately. Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. Chocolate, coffee, tea Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system. Fat trimmings Pits from peaches and plums Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract. Grapes and raisins Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. Gravy If made from meat juices, it can contain high levels of fat, which can cause pancreatitis. Large amounts of liver Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle. Milk and other dairy products Some adult dogs do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhoea. Mouldy or spoiled food Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhoea and can also affect other organs. Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. Onions and garlic raw, cooked, or powder Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia. Garlic is less toxic than onions. Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock. Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin a B vitamin. This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain salmonella. Raw fish Can result in a thiamine a B vitamin deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly. Excessive salt If eaten in large quantities, it may lead to electrolyte imbalances. Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus. Table scraps in large amounts Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced and if excessively fed can lead to obesity. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed. Xylitol This artificial sweetener sneaks its way into all sorts of foods — from peanut butter to jellies and jams and is highly toxic to canines. After a dog consumes a significant amount of xylitol, there is a massive release of insulin from the pancreas. This, in turn, results in a dangerously low blood sugar level and symptoms such as weakness, trembling, seizures, collapse, and even death. Is a Labrador Retriever the right breed for you? These easy-going, rewarding dogs have high energy levels, and will thrive on lots of attention, positive reward-based training , plenty of exercise as well as the right nutrition to keep them happy and healthy throughout their lives. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies. Your Lab puppy is going to require a different balance of nutrients than an adult Lab. Different dog breeds are susceptible to different genetic health conditions. Larger breeds, like Labrador Retrievers, are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. Nutrition plays a vital role in preventing certain health issues. In recent years concern has been raised about a possible link between grain-free and non-grain-free diets that list legumes high on their ingredient list causing heart disease. This may be of consequence to Labradors as the breed is more prone to heart conditions than others. This does not just include Labs, but owners of any large or giant dog breed should be aware of this important information so they can make the most well-informed decision. Image Credit: Didkovska Ilona, Shutterstock Choosing the Best Food While having a list of the best puppy foods is a great start, you still must narrow it down to one. So, how does one choose from a list of great choices? Below we will cover some of the most important things to consider before making your final choice. What Does Your Veterinarian Recommend? Chances are that your veterinarian has dealt with purebred Labrador Retrievers many times before. Dog Food Brand You want to ensure you are choosing a dog food brand that is reputable. Finding a brand that is made with veterinary nutritionists and is backed by scientific research is ideal. If a brand advertises that they participate in AAFCO feeding trials, this means they have invested in research to ensure there are no nutritional deficiencies in the food. The ingredients in any pet food will help you determine the quality of the food. Look for foods that contain real meat as the number one ingredient. Below is a list of ingredients that are best avoided: Ingredients to Avoid.