what to expect with a golden retriever puppy

Breeds The link has been copied! Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. As an admirer of one of these lovely furry companions, you may question how much it costs to buy and own a Labrador Retriever. We'll explore the upfront price of purchasing a puppy and the routine costs associated with pet ownership. We'll also cover various factors that can impact the cost of a Lab and provide tips on how to reduce the cost of owning one. The cost of a Lab can vary depending on several factors such as its age, color, purpose show or field , whether it's a purebred, and more. Routine Care Expenses Owning a Labrador Retriever requires some routine care expenses, which should be taken into account when considering the overall cost of having a pet. One of the essential expenses is veterinary care, which includes routine check-ups, vaccinations, and emergency medical care. Labs are prone to specific health issues, such as hip dysplasia , eye problems, and skin allergies, which may require additional medical attention and expenses. Another routine care expense for Labs is feeding. As they are a somewhat larger breed, they require a substantial amount of food to maintain their weight and energy levels. Additionally, treats, chews, and supplements can also be added to their diet, increasing the overall cost of nutrition. Proper grooming and hygiene are essential to keep a Lab healthy and comfortable. Remember that training and behavioral classes may be necessary to ensure your Lab is well-behaved and socialized, which can also be costly. These expenses should be considered when determining if a Lab is the right breed for you and your budget. How much a Labrador Retriever puppy costs depends on multiple factors, such as the breeder's reputation, the location of the pup, the bloodline, and more. Additionally, the cost may increase if the puppy comes with additional services such as health certificates, microchipping , or first vaccinations. Your pup will also need feeding, grooming, and bathing factored into their expenses, as well as beds, toys, chews, leashes, collars, harnesses, and much more. Consider the following: Buying From a Breeder vs. While adopting a Lab may be less expensive, it is essential to note that some shelters may have restrictions and requirements that need to be met before adoption. Keep in mind that the price of a Labrador based on color may vary by region and how popular that specific color is in that location. However, buyers should be cautious and avoid buying from dishonest breeders who may be selling mixed-breed dogs as purebreds. Breeders Reputation Reputable breeders who prioritize health, temperament, and breed standards usually charge more for their puppies. It's crucial to research the breeder thoroughly and ensure that they follow ethical breeding practices before making a purchase. This includes checking their breeding practices, requesting health certificates and pedigrees, and visiting their facilities in person if possible. Buyers should also be cautious of breeders who offer extremely low prices, as that might be a sign of unethical practices. Estimated Size The estimated size of an adult Labrador retriever is around about .Average Price To Buy A Lab Puppy From A Breeder The average price to buy a Lab puppy from a breeder is different from one person to the next, according to the reputation the breeder has in the community, the dog's bloodline, and their location. Again, the color of the Lab plays a significant factor as well. In addition to the cost of the puppy, there are also other expenses associated with owning a Lab. This includes routine care costs such as food, toys, grooming supplies, and veterinary visits for vaccinations and check-ups. Owners should also budget for unexpected expenses such as emergency veterinary care or unexpected illnesses. Remember that a reputable breeder may charge more for their puppies, but they are more likely to provide you with a healthy, well-socialized puppy from a good bloodline. Average Cost To Adopt A Lab Puppy Adopting a Lab puppy is generally less expensive than buying one from a breeder, but the costs can still vary widely. However, it's crucial to research adoption agencies thoroughly to ensure that they are reputable and the dogs are healthy and well-cared for before making a decision. You don't want to bring a sickly pup into your home, just to end up spending more on medical bills than you had anticipated. However, the costs don't stop there. Once you have your furry friend, ongoing expenses include food, vet bills, grooming, and more. In addition, Labs are known for their love of exploration and adventure, which means they have a penchant for getting lost. You don't want to get a new puppy with the understanding that the breed may be high maintenance, and then you lose track of your dog. The collar uses GPS and cellular technology to track your dog's location in real-time, so you can quickly locate your pet if they ever wander off. The collar also includes additional features such as activity monitoring and geofencing to alert you if your dog leaves a designated area. While the initial cost of the collar may seem high, it can save you money in the long run by preventing the loss or theft of your beloved Lab. Labrador Retriever Breed Guide Labrador Retrievers are outgoing and generally have a friendly disposition toward others. They are loyal, affectionate and make excellent family pets. They are also intelligent and easy to train, which makes them great for first-time dog owners. Due to their friendly nature, they also make excellent therapy dogs and are often used in service roles. Labrador Retrievers generally come in three colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. The coat is short, dense, and water-resistant, which makes them excellent swimmers. Labs can be medium to large dogs that weigh about 55 to 80 pounds on average, with the males usually outweighing the females by ten pounds. Typically, they're around two feet tall inches , and the males will have about a one-inch height advantage over the females. The average lifespan for a Labrador Retriever is around 12 years, although some can live up to 14 years. They are all around healthy, but like all dogs, there are specific ailments that you're more likely to encounter with a Lab, like obesity, ear infections, and hip dysplasia. As for lifetime care costs, they can vary depending on factors such as food, vet bills, and grooming expenses. There are several ways to reduce the cost of owning a Labrador Retriever. One option is to adopt a dog from a local shelter or rescue organization. Adopting a dog from a shelter is usually less expensive than buying a puppy from a breeder. Typically, dog shelters will include initial vaccinations, any spaying or neutering services needed, along with essential veterinary care up front. That helps cut down on some of the initial costs that owners usually spend when they first bring a puppy home. However, it's not uncommon that breeders will also at least include the first vaccinations for the pup upon its release to your family. Another option to reduce the cost of owning a Lab is to consider adopting an older dog instead of a puppy. Older dogs may already be trained and require less attention and socialization than a puppy, which can save on training costs and time. Moreover, older dogs may have lower veterinary bills since they may not require as many check-ups or preventative care as a puppy. Finally, another way to save money on the lifetime costs of owning a Labrador Retriever is to invest in preventative care. This includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary check-ups to catch potential health issues early on. While preventive care may require an upfront investment, it can ultimately save money by avoiding expensive medical bills down the line. Final Thoughts: The Cost of Owning a Labrador Retriever Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds to own, but they can be somewhat high maintenance after you bring them into your home. However, there are ways to reduce costs, such as adopting from a shelter or rescue organization, buying an older dog instead of a puppy, and being mindful of routine care costs. Regardless of the price, it's important to protect your Labrador Retriever with a GPS-tracking dog collar like the one offered by Fi, which can provide peace of mind and ensure the safety of your Lab. Get more expert advice on pet-parenting by visiting the Off Leash blog at TryFi. TryFi's The Fi Dog Collar is a must-have for any pet parent, it's a GPS tracking collar that helps you keep tabs on your dog's location, activity, and sleep patterns, and alerts you if they escape your backyard. The link has been copied! You might also like. Since the Labrador could grow to a hefty size, its yearly upkeep still falls within the expected price range of other big dogs. Always take your puppy to regular vet checkups, even if it looks like the very picture of health. Though these things are not high on the priority list, consider them nice-to-haves once the budget allows. Besides, we all want the best for our four-legged friends, and that alone is reason enough for most of us! Boarding Kennels: This service is a lifesaver for owners who have to travel for days or weeks at a time and cannot bring their dog along with them. Professional Grooming: As we said earlier, Labrador Retrievers shed a lot, so an afternoon at the groomer will help keep your pooch looking clean and tidy. You can put off spending on these things until the budget allows. However, give some serious thought to investing in an emergency fund, as this would take a big worry off your mind in case of any unexpected trips to the vet. Though it is tempting to buy a dog from pet stores or backyard breeders because of their low puppy prices, getting Lab puppies from a reputable source is still a more responsible and ethical choice. Here is a list of responsible breeders where you can find Labrador puppies for sale: Rhumbline Retrievers — This New York-based kennel has been breeding quality Labrador Retriever puppies since , and a good number of their dogs have participated in agility, obedience, and hunting tests at the national level. Due to their commitment to only breed dogs of the highest quality, they have limited puppies for sale at a time; thus, expect a long waitlist. All their puppies are tested for genetic disorders such as elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia. They raise show-quality Labs and have championship bloodline puppies as well. For a more comprehensive list of reputable Labrador Retriever breeders, take a peek at our 10 best Labrador breeders article. All their dogs are fostered and given medical care before being turned over to their new family. Based in Colorado and licensed by the Pet Animal Care Facilities, they foster and provide medical care to Labs until they can get adopted. American Lab Rescue — This organization makes use of foster homes to rehabilitate and care for their rescued dogs. For your adoption application to be approved, they will require a fenced-in yard and will also do a home visit to your place before releasing a dog. Alternatively, you can also check out our top 10 picks of Labrador Retriever Rescues and our dog adoption guide. The Labrador Retriever is popular for its great temperament and personality. Unfortunately, most people fail to expect its high energy level as well, which is why some Labs find themselves in animal shelters. That said, doing your research about the Labrador Retriever before buying or adopting a puppy is necessary to make sure that the Lab is the best dog for you. Money-Saving Tips for Labrador Retriever Owners We all want to give our dog the best life possible, and if we can do that without breaking the bank, then even better! The trick is finding the right balance on which expenses to let go of and which ones to keep. To help you achieve this, here are some money-saving tips for Labrador Retriever owners: DIY dog food and treats. Not only is this a more practical option, but this is also healthier for your dog. Practice your grooming skills. Watch a good tutorial and practice your skills on your pooch. Invest in high-quality supplies. You may want to scrimp on supplies such as food and water bowls, but investing in high-quality and durable essentials will save you more money in the long run. Training Labrador Retrievers is a fairly easy task, even for novice dog owners. A lot of great tutorials can be found on the internet, and being the intelligent dogs that they are, they will learn all their tricks in no time! Like pet insurance, regular vet visits will save you from procedures and medications that could cost thousands of dollars later. Pet quality pups are affordable and budget-friendly to most people who are looking for an intelligent and well-tempered canine companion. However, like most dogs, their lifetime cost would still require you to spend considerable money. As such, think long and hard about the commitment and financial implications of taking in a dog. These canines make great family pets, even for those looking for their first dog. So, if your budget is enough to shoulder the price and long-term costs of the Labrador Retriever, then it might just be the pooch for you! Tell us in the comment box below! My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. The costs will be a bit higher at first while you get your dog the shots it requires and pay for the frequent visits to the vet. We also recommend getting your dog spayed or neutered unless you are a professional breeder, and it might even be required as part of your contract if you purchase from a breeder. Once your dog is an adult, it will not require as many vet visits and will only need booster shots every few years, so the average monthly costs will be much lower. Experts recommend getting all of the shots, but your dog is only legally required to get the rabies shot. We recommend purchasing a high-quality brand with real meat like chicken, turkey, or salmon listed as the first ingredient. The protein in meat will help build muscle and provide the energy your dog needs to stay healthy. High protein diets will also help your dog stay full longer, and it will be less likely to come looking for food. Foods with corn as the top ingredient are mostly empty calories that will leave your pet feeling hungry and looking for more food, potentially causing it to become obese. During the shedding seasons of spring and fall, you will likely need to increase the brushing to several times a week to help keep the fur off your furniture and floor. Professional grooming can also help with teeth brushing and nail clipping. This medication can also help prevent heartworm. Spot Pet Insurance offers customizable plans that you can adapt to your breed's specific needs. Many people forgo pet insurance, but it can be a great way to protect yourself from a huge expense while making sure your Labrador Retriever has the best healthcare possible. Accidents and serious illnesses can occur at any time, and many procedures can cost thousands of dollars which makes the price of insurance more than worth it, especially if you get it while your dog is still a puppy. It can chew up stuffed animals quickly, so they can get expensive, but there are plenty of options for a chewing dog, like the Lab. Another option is to purchase a subscription to a monthly service like the Bark Box that sends your dog new toys and activities for as long as you keep up your subscription. A full-grown dog only requires food and flea and tick medication to stay healthy, a few toys to play with, and treats here and there. Additional Costs to Factor In If you like to go on long vacations, you might need to factor in the additional costs of traveling with a dog. Many rental cars do not allow pets or will charge you extra, and the same is true for hotels. Owning a Labrador Retriever on a Budget Your Labrador Retriever will be relatively inexpensive once you get the medical things out of the way. A high-quality food may seem more expensive, but it will help keep your dog full so that it will eat less. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock Saving Money on Labrador Retriever Care The best way to save money on healthcare when raising your Labrador Retriever is to keep it a healthy weight by following portion recommendations on the food you serve and by helping them get enough exercise. Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues that can shorten the lifespan of your pet. After the initial cost of the puppy , you will need to pay a few hundred dollars to get it spayed or neutered and get the shots it needs. After that, you will only need to provide food and shelter with the occasional booster shot. We hope you have enjoyed reading over this guide, and that it has helped answer your questions. If we have helped you create a budget that allows you to get one of these amazing pets, please share this guide on how much it costs to own a Labrador Retriever on social media. Featured Image Credit: scott, Pixabay Contents. Are they good family dogs? Labrador Dog Price — The Costs Involved Buying a Labrador is not just a question of the purchase price of a Lab puppy, though of course that is important. There are other costs involved, both financial, emotional and in terms of time and effort. So we need to look at those too. You may be wondering whether you will have the time for a dog, and if you have the space and energy for a large and lively breed? But this page will take you back to the fundamental considerations, to help you to make the right choice for you and your family. Do you have time for a dog? Can you afford a dog? What about your lifestyle? Will a dog fit in with your family? Is a Labrador the right dog for you? These questions all apply regardless of the type of Labrador you are looking for. The needs of a black Lab, yellow Lab or chocolate Lab are all the same in these respects. The same goes for an English or American Labrador too. Dogs need space, both indoors and outside. Even small breeds need room to stretch their legs and run about. And Labradors as fairly large and lively dogs need quite a lot of space. This means you need a decent sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Somewhere that your Lab dog can run around, play and enjoy training sessions with you. Labradors can be quite silly during adolescence, bouncing and cavorting in the home. Their tails are long and thick, easily knocking any fragile decorations you might have from shelves. If you have lots of ornaments then you will need to move them to higher shelves to avoid them getting damaged. You will also need to move anything that could be easily damaged by chewing. With small puppies this will be very often indeed. Perhaps every 15 to 20 minutes during their first few days with you. If you live in a flat, or do not have a garden, this will be difficult for you. These are helpful but do take up a lot of space. Although this will take up a lot of space indoors, it can work very well for larger apartments with no easy outside access. Ideally however you do need to have a garden, and a part of the garden which your dog can use as a bathroom, along with a good system for clearing up after him hygienically. Space is key for a Lab dog! The right space for a Labrador includes large clear rooms in the house, with no breakable or fragile objects within his grasp. And ideally access to a garden where they can easily be let out to the bathroom and have room to play. Keeping a single Labrador permanently outside however is not usually a good idea, even with adequate shelter and security. Labs are very sociable dogs and prone to separation anxiety if they lack company. This means your dog may be both sad and noisy. It is always sad to hear from new puppy owners that are struggling to juggle the needs of a puppy with their need to work. These articles will help you to deal with this common issue. Even with a visit at lunch time. An older dog may cope with being left for up to four hours in row on a regular basis, but puppies need more attention than this. Contented Labradors are fairly quiet dogs and unlikely to disturb your neighbors. Nor are they very good guard dogs. However, lonely dogs bark and wreck things. If you work all day, can you afford to pay someone to come in and let him out to stretch his legs and empty himself? Or do you have a relative or friend that would be prepared to do this on a regular basis. Bear in mind that this is quite a lot to ask of anyone in the long term. The biggest long term time commitment in owning a dog is in the form of training and exercise. Training Takes Time All dogs need training in order that they can rub along in human society without being a complete nuisance. This means a regular daily commitment of ten to twenty minutes from you, in addition to your regular interaction with the dog. Training cannot be saved up for the weekend, your dog will have forgotten most of what he learnt the weekend before, and he does not have the attention span to concentrate on you for an hour and a half. You can find out more about training your Labrador puppy here. Staying Fit Exercise is required on a regular basis, for some breeds of dog this means at least an hour a day of walking or jogging to keep your dog fit and healthy. You can find out more about the exercise requirements of a Labrador puppy here. Whilst your dog will not come to any harm if you miss a day occasionally, a daily routine is often the best way to ensure that you build this important habit. Can You Afford A Dog? Dogs can be quite expensive to run. You need to consider not only how much a Labrador will cost you to buy, but also how much it will cost you to keep. How much do Labradors cost from breeders? The price of a Labrador puppy will vary from breeder to breeder, and from place to place. Perhaps you know a friend that has a litter of puppies and they are going to let you have one for free. However, the purchase price of a dog is almost irrelevant. It is such a small part of the final cost. The cost of keeping a Labrador The reality is, you are also going to need to fork out a chunk of your wages each week on keeping your pooch happy and healthy. Obviously you will have taken the cost of a good brand of Labrador puppy food into consideration. It is a good idea to budget for veterinary insurance too. Not because it is unreasonably priced, but simply because it is now so advanced. You can fix a lot of problems these days. We can do open heart surgery, mend complex fractures, treat cancer with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Pretty much anything you can treat in a human, you can now treat in a dog. And the catch? It costs. The more comprehensive your insurance package the more it will cost. Watch out for very cheap deals, as they may not provide continuing cover for long term ailments. You will also need to vaccinate your dog against common canine illness , and this will probably need to be done each year too. Especially if you are wanting to occasionally leave them in boarding kennels when you go away, as they require up to date vaccination certificates. Labrador Puppy Costs There will be a few other one-off costs such as a puppy crate and puppy play pen for your home for when your dog is young, another for your car if you have one. Then there are bowls, bedding, collar, leash etc. But you may be able to borrow a crate or get one second hand. Here are some of the items you will need for your new Labrador puppy, and reviews on the best options for Labradors:. Less - The Labrador Retriever is a medium to large-sized , short-coupled, powerfully-built dog with a short, dense, water-resistant coat; small, drop ears; and a short, thick otter-like tail carried level with the back or with a slight upward curve. The length of body is equal to or only slightly longer than the height at the withers, and the distance from the elbows to the ground is equal to one-half the height at the withers. Balance, outline, intelligence, temperament and movement are of overriding importance. The Labrador Retriever is a breed of moderation, thoroughly sound, and willing and able to do its work. The Labrador Retriever is a dog without exaggeration, so light, weedy dogs; long, low-stationed dogs; and cloddy, lumbering dogs are to be equally penalized. The Labrador Retriever is an enthusiastic hunter with a good nose and a soft mouth. They excel in all performance activities. Another essential characteristic of the Labrador Retriever is the short, dense, double coat that protects the dog when retrieving from water. Labrador Retrievers are noted for their excellent temperaments. This breed is friendly, outgoing and eager to please. They are extremely intelligent and easily trained to perform a variety of complex tasks. These dogs were brought to England, probably on fishing boats. Originally black in color, the first recorded yellow Labrador appeared in a litter born in .Chocolates were also recorded at about the same time, but never achieved the same level of popularity as the blacks and yellows. Originally bred to retrieve from water, the modern Labrador Retriever has proven to be one of the most versatile breeds, excelling in hunt tests and field trials, in obedience and agility events, and also as service dogs.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Why do I want a show lines pug puppy? I'm only looking for a pet. Experience the ultimate joy of owning a pug puppy from Companion Pups! We go beyond the conventional notion of keeping show-quality pugs exclusively for show homes. We believe that everyone deserves the absolute best when it comes to their furry family members. Pugs were bred to be people's companions, and we are passionate about bringing that exceptional companionship to your home. Purebred doesn't always guarantee superior breeding or adherence to pug standards. That's why our show lines ensure that you not only get a pug with the correct look but also the perfect personality, temperament, and size. Our show line puppies possess a special charm that makes them thrive in a multitude of environments which makes for the best family companions ever —happy, playful, and confident, without being hyper or spastic. They are intelligent, attentive learners, embodying the chunky, wrinkly look and adorable nose roll that pug enthusiasts adore. By choosing a show line puppy from us, you're selecting a well-balanced, fun-loving, and fiercely loyal companion that exceeds all expectations. Experience the beauty and trainability wrapped up in the healthiest pug puppies. Our AKC and International lines are health tested and our pugs are pre-spoiled, ensuring a delightful addition to your family. Welcome to Companion Pups, the home of the Kisses' Line of Pug Puppies, where our pugs literally give you kisses and are eager to shower you with love and affection! We'd also like you to know you can always expect a quick response from us as well so you are never left waiting and wondering when you'll hear back. It's our goal to be here when you need us for the life of your pug. Welcome to the Companion Pups family! A dog with the original black body was created using the Black Collie. These dogs have Black colouring as a result, giving them blue to green eyes, pure black paws, and blue to grey skin. The available Black female Pug is incredibly clever and energetic. Because they exert pressure on livestock and deter predators, this has made them well-known on farms. They enjoy playing, but they can be obstinate and need frequent praise. Black Pugs have frequently devoted friends and are helpful with kids. They might not get along with other pets in the house as well unless they were raised together since they occasionally view them as prey. Their double coat is another distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Their entire individuality and appeal are enhanced by the Black colouring, which causes differences in coat lengths and textures across the body. With their owners, they are highly affectionate, yet they can be distant from outsiders. They can live with whom? The Black Pug is a highly well-known breed. They are referred to as the clown of the dog world and like playing with other dogs. Nearby Black Pugs for sale get along well with other dogs and enjoy social interactions with people. However, if you have to leave your house for an extended amount of time, make sure someone is watching them. These Pugs for sale nearby do not enjoy being left alone. Children, other dogs, cats, and even rabbits are all acceptable housemates for our Black Pug for sale! However, due to their high requirement for care and socialisation, they are not recommended for novice dog owners. They may reside in an apartment building or a home with a yard. They thrive in households with a continual presence of people because they require constant company. Where can I find Black Pugs for sale locally? Our selection of Black Pug pups for sale is incredible, and they are all very sweet! Related products. Life Span Did You Know? The Pug, or Pug Dog, is famous for its flat-faced appearance and large, soulful eyes. They are an ancient dog breed that originated in China over 2, years ago. They were originally developed as a refined pet of Chinese royalty along with the Pekingese and the Shih Tzu. During this time, the Pug was considered a national treasure that outsiders could only access if one was gifted to them. Dutch traders from the s can be credited with bringing the Pug onto the world stage when they brought some back to Europe with them. The Pug made its way to the United States in the s. Now, the Pug is a popular dog breed worldwide. They are a popular companion that provides their owners with plenty of love and laughter from their comedic and playful antics. The Pug is a playful and outgoing dog breed with a charming personality. They tend to be very loving towards children and also get along well with other pets and dogs. They are a companion breed at heart known for their gentle nature and sociable personality. They love to give love and receive it in return. Their sensitive nature makes them intuitive as well and Pugs will often sense the moods of their owners and react accordingly. They crave attention and affection from their owners and are big fans of napping. This dog breed is often described as an ideal house dog and they are moderately adaptable. They will do well in homes of any size, including apartments. The Pug also adapts well to city or country life and are a good fit for singles or families of any size. Although they are highly adaptable to various living situations, they are less adaptable to climates. Pugs are very sensitive to the heat and overexertion, so they are best-suited to moderate climates. They also love to be with their families and will not be happy if left alone for a long time. As with any dog breed, the Pug has some health conditions to be aware of. In particular, corneal ulcers and dry eye are some potential eye problems that can occur. Additionally, Pugs can be susceptible to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and encephalitis. Asking the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and to see health clearances can help allay concerns for some of these health issues. Pugs are also big foodies. They love to eat! Their love for food means this dog breed is prone to obesity. As a brachycephalic dog, their large head and short snout often cause respiratory problems, which can limit their exercise at times and contribute to weight gain. This will cause them to quickly gasp and snort, which can sound relatively alarming. These episodes are usually not harmful as your Pug is just clearing their palate and throat. The Pug tends to be easy to train and is a good fit for owners of any experience level. They are eager to please their owners and tend to pick up on commands quickly. They are sensitive souls and their feelings can be hurt easily, so they will not respond well to harsh corrections. This dog breed responds best to consistent training that focuses on positive rewards and will benefit from participation in puppy training classes. Pugs have a smooth, glossy, and short coat. Their fur is fine and soft. Although their coat is generally low-maintenance, it will shed throughout the year. Aside from brushing, Pugs only need occasional baths on an as-needed basis. Because Pugs have ears that drop down, they can be susceptible to moisture, dirt, or debris. Checking their ears regularly and cleaning as needed helps to keep them healthy and comfortable. The same goes for their iconic face wrinkles. Daily brushing is ideal, but if your Pug is not allowing you to do that, a few times a week should be sufficient. Getting your Pug used to these grooming tasks as a puppy will help make it a positive bonding experience and a much easier process throughout their life. This dog breed has a low to moderate energy level. Generally, daily walks and some play sessions are enough exercise for this dog breed. They may have short bursts of energy as they have a very playful nature, but they will tire easily. Some Pugs can handle a little more activity and even compete in some dogs sports like agility, rally, and obedience. Make sure you check with your vet first before jumping into dog sports with your dog. A full-grown Pug will usually stand 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh between 14 and 18 pounds. This dog breed generally lives for years. The Pug was a popular pet of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Featured Pug Article.

Before you start training your Boxer puppy—or, even better, before you get the puppy—read up on what kind of training is ideal for your breed. Check online, local libraries and local organizations. You can also ask your vet for advice. Remember, the more knowledgeable you are, the better you know how to react under different circumstances. Make sure as well that you have what you need to effectively train your dog. If you're planning to clicker train, get a clicker. If you're planning to crate train, get the right-sized crate. Also be sure to pick up an appropriate collar and leash for general training. A leash should be no more than five to six feet in length. The best leashes for training are leather. Always check your equipment to make sure it is in good order and not liable to snap or break. Training works best when you dedicate a couple of short sessions 10 to 15 minutes twice a day to it. Try to train at times when the dog is not tired, but also not bursting with pent-up energy. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Ringpress Books Consider expending your Boxer's energy before training sessions by allowing him 20 to 30 minutes of high-intensity physical activity. This will enable him to better focus on training. Try to train the dog in a place where there are few distractions, so that your Boxer puppy can focus his attention on you. This means avoiding places with other animals or people. Always begin training in your home or yard and build up to environments with more distractions e. Your commands need to be simple, short, clear and consistent. Don't lecture your dog; they're not human so they don't process language in the same way. Phrases like "I've told you not to do that" or "Please stop chewing on the table" will not work as they are too complicated. John Bradshaw. Publisher: Penguin Experts believe that a given dog registers the first part of the word as the most important, so longer commands such as "Sit Fido if you want a treat" are liable to confuse him. Just say the word "Sit" instead. In general, shouting at any dog is ineffective. This is especially true for Boxers who are hyper breed by nature. Use a firm but pleasant and upbeat voice when instructing your dog; don't yell or lose control. Dogs are very intuitive and will be able to sense your frustration and may react in kind. The tone of voice matters, especially since, again, dogs don't process language in the same way that humans do. So how you say something may mean as much if not more than what you say. Publisher: Penguin Boxers are playful by nature, and a light, breezy tone will not suffice; he will think you are just playing with him if you are not firm enough. Try using hand gestures at the same time as you issue verbal commands. For example, raise your hand at the same time as saying "Sit". Dog behaviorists believe that dogs look for multiple clues as to what we want them to do, which includes the command word, tone of voice, and body language. Admonishing a Boxer puppy too long after the incident is ineffective. If you need to admonish or correct your dog, it needs to be done during or within a few seconds of the act. Dogs will have forgotten the event within seconds of its occurrence, so it's key to address the behavior immediately in order to facilitate the retraining process. Boxers are notoriously stubborn and steadfast, so you may have to correct your puppy numerous times. Always be consistent in your commands and desires of the dog. This helps your dog to understand what is expected. Don't forget to enforce training when you are out and about, so that your dog doesn't just thinking that "Sit" and "Stay" are things he has to do in the yard or house. By enforcing commands in public places it helps your Boxers to understand he must obey under all circumstances. Leave no room for doubt about what is acceptable behavior for your Boxer puppy. If he is not allowed on the furniture, be consistent. Boxers won't understand the concept of "sometimes"; they are either permitted to lie on the couch or they are not. If you live with other people, make sure that everyone in the house is on board with the training program. Using different words for the same action will confuse the dog, disrupt the training already done, and ultimately delay progress. But at the moment, they need your guidance. For now, this includes sleeping next to you for the first few weeks, maybe even longer. Just have their crate or bed close to wherever you sleep. Our articles on sleeping through the night and establishing a nighttime routine will give you extra tips on getting through this phase. A puzzle toy or Kong will work great at making them feel like you leaving them is actually something quite fun. Toilet training All new puppy parents expect toilet training to be on the cards. It will help to remember your Boxer pup is a bit of a goofball. For now, we definitely want to let your pup get used to you and settle into their new home. Teach your puppy about surfaces — Different surfaces can feel strange to pups. Use surfaces like grass, moss, paving and sand. Basically, make their tail wag and we bet yours will too. Teach your Boxer their name. Teach your Boxer puppy to sit. Remember what we said about Boxers and their jumping? Recall — Trust us. Preventing resource guarding Resource guarding is where your dog fiercely protects something they have and will do everything they can to keep hold of it. Dogs can resource guard food, a toy, even a person. You can do this by teaching them that hands and touch can be a good thing. As always, back up your soft touches with some treats. Remember that consent is also a thing with dogs! Never force your Boxer to be handled or pick them up against their wishes. Socialisation exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week — Fireworks — Watch the world go by outside your house — Play dress up. Love Boxer Dogs? Boxer Dogs are great family pets. They can often be referred to as the clown of dogs because of their joyful personality and clumsy behaviour, which can be very entertaining! They are a loyal companion and make great guard dogs, alerting their owners of anyone who approaches the property. Also, they tend to love affection from people they meet, including children, and enjoy an energetic run around with other dogs they come across! However, as with all breeds of dogs, Boxer Dog training from a young age is important. Boxer Dogs are a clever breed and can be quite trainable once you find the right reward to motivate them. The pros of this breed could go on forever. They really are amazing dogs. However, one of the main things people need to consider with this breed is their high energy levels! If you do not have a particularly active lifestyle then the Boxer Dog may not be the right breed for you. Boxers are highly energetic and require lots of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. If you are unable to dedicate time to put into exercising your Boxer Dog or finding ways to give mental stimulation, then you will find it exceedingly difficult to train and get along well with your dog. They also hold a reputation for being stubborn. This can cause problems for when you are trying to get them to do something. You need to have a lot of patience and persistence for Boxer puppy training. They are quick learners but you have to get through that stubbornness first in order to train them really well. Boxer Dogs are really energetic! Many people worry that training their new dog is going to be hard. Here are our top 10 tips for training Boxer Dogs to help you along your way… Make sure to exercise before training Boxers are an energetic breed and can become distracted easily. To help focus their attention on to you, exercise them before a training session. Discover what your dog likes When starting your Boxer puppy training, rewards are crucial. Every Boxer Dog is different and, as a result, they will all be motivated by different rewards. For example, some prefer treats and some prefer toys. You need to find out what your dog prefers and use that as a reward. If your dog likes treats, find their favourite treat. If your dog likes toys, find their favourite game. You can use these as rewards for good behaviour, which will make training sessions far easier! Reward Accordingly Depending on the exercise you and your dog are doing, you need to reward accordingly when it comes to Boxer Dog training. For example, if you are training your dog to walk to heel down the road, it may not be a good idea to reward your dog with a game of fetch. Focus on the good stuff Even though your Boxer may exhibit unwanted behaviour sometimes, you still need to focus on the good behaviour. As we said before, Boxer Dogs are stubborn, so reward their good behaviour and you will motivate them to do it more. The more you reward the good behaviour, the more likely it is that it will happen again. Motivation This is a similar point when it comes to Boxer Dog training. Boxers are known to be stubborn, but if we motivate them then they are more likely to do what we ask them to do. Using their favourite treats and other rewards is the best way to do this. So, we need to structure regular play times in for them. Dogs naturally want to play in the evening after their meal. You may notice that at some point in the evening they get a surge of energy and bounce around and want to play. This is a good time to play with them. One, two, three, and go Boxers are a very sociable breed and often get caught up with wanting to play with other dogs. To help with Boxer Dog training and for them to understand that they do not have to stay and play with every dog, you can teach them the 3-second rule. The rule is they can only meet for three seconds and then they are called away. This allows them a brief amount of time to say hello and then come back to you. If you do this enough, you will condition your dog to say hello and then walk on, making your walks a lot less hassle! Change Direction Boxers can be quite excitable when taking them out for walks and they may pull on the lead. To help combat this, you can change direction every time your Boxer Dog walks in front of you. This key point in Boxer dog training will teach them to follow you. And, if you reward them when they are well behaved and next to you, they will learn that they will get treats when they are beside you. Consistency is key It is very important to be consistent with the rules you are setting in place when it comes to Boxer puppy training. If you do not want your dog on the sofa but someone else allows it, then you will confuse your dog. Everyone in the household has to be reading off the same page in order for your dog to understand what it is you want from them. Set clear rules, and make sure everyone sticks to them! Learning to settle Teaching your dog to settle and relax is important for them so that not only can they unwind and relax, but they also understand how they should behave when you have visitors. This is when your dog lays down but rocks their hips over to one side. When your dog is in this position you can reward them and pair it with the word settle. If you wanted to take it a step further you can teach them to do this in their bed. Taking the time to teach them this key skill will really help the harmony in your home! What can good Boxer Dog training look like? Here at Royvon, we absolutely love working with Boxer Dogs to help them reach their full potential and thrive with their owners! Have a look at the video below to find out more! Meet Pippa! Pippa came to Royvon with obedience issues and problems with keeping her focus on her owner. She worked with our trainer Anna to help improve her behaviour! Anna and Pippa made great progress using positive reinforcement to reward her for ignoring possible distractions. Great work Pippa and Anna! Here at Royvon, we love working with dogs of all breeds, not just Boxers! With options to suit everyone from group puppy classes to intensive one-to-one residential training, we can cater for all needs! Whether your pup just needs to learn some basic manners, or they have issues such as aggression and anxiety, our progressive and science-based training methods are here to help! Want to find out more about what we can do to help you and your dog? All of these highly successful competitors make it a practice to begin training their puppies as early as possible to insure success in their chosen field of competition. Before beginning to describe the specific methods they use in training their puppies, it might be helpful to summarize some of the research on puppy development and learning abilities, to show why their methods have been so successful for them. There have been a number of scientific studies done on canine development -- some of which have actually been used as the basis for human Infant and early childhood studies. As early as , Clarence Pfaffenberger presented information on the developmental stages in a puppy's life in his book, The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior. Pfaffenberger was deeply involved in the early research into the genetics of behavior and the development of traits through his work with the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization. In his chapter titled, "Some Critical periods in the Life of a Puppy", he described studies into canine development that were largely based on the research of J. Scott and his associates studied hundreds of puppies from birth until early adulthood - including their interactions with people in training situations. While the main focus of Dr. Scott's work was to discover developmental patterns and learning routines that could be applied to human children, the observations he and his colleagues made of their test puppies have added immeasurably to our understanding of how our dogs learn and how their personalities develop. Scott's research showed that all puppies go through the following stages: Stage One - Neonatal Survival from birth to 21 days old. During this period, the bitch's influence and her care of the litter is critical to its survival, but aside from having their physical needs met, food, warmth, care by the mother, etc. Stage Two - Primary Canine Socialization 21st day through 49th day. Both Dr. Scott and Mr. Pfaffenberger's research showed that starting around the 21st day, when the puppies can see, hear and smell fully, a critical period of socialization takes place with it's mother and litter mates that last at least until the puppy is 7 weeks old. It is during this period that the puppy learns how to be a dog and to interact appropriately with other dogs. A premature end to this critical canine socialization can lead to lifelong maladjustment problems with other dogs. As Mr. Pfaffenberger remarked, "It has been our experience at Guide Dogs for the Blind that the puppy who does not complete his seven weeks of canine socialization is often the same dog that, when grown, picks fights with all the strange dogs he meets. However, he also said, "Socialization with human beings, by taking the puppy from the nest and giving personal affection and some little training as early as five weeks of age my emphasis , was found to be desirable. Pfaffenberger went on to say that because they tested their puppies to determine their aptitude for guide dog work, they could not place them in a foster home until after 12 weeks of age. But they discovered that regular socialization and training, which were part of the evaluation process at least one half hour a week were sufficient to properly socialize their puppies. They routinely taught puppies from 7 to 12 weeks of age to heel, come and fetch. Stage Three - Broad socialization and significant new experiences from day 49 to day .This period from approximately the 49th day through the 84th day of a puppy's life should be devoted to as wide a variety of new experiences as the puppy is capable of absorbing. During this period, puppies are absorbing information at an astonishing rate and furthermore, they appear to be laying the foundation for their later and lifelong learning abilities. As Pfaffenberger goes on to say, "When is the best time to start to teach a puppy? The answer is, of course, as soon as it can learn, which is during the second critical period, 21 to 49 days of age. Like a child, a puppy is going to learn. If it does not learn what you want it to learn from you, it will form habits and learn from its littermates and other associates, things which may be contrary to what you want to teach it. The things which a puppy picks up on its own may be a block to its learning which will make success in training difficult or impossible later. And that if this opportunity is lost, it can never be regained because once a puppy has passed through these critical stages, he will never go through them again. While Pfaffenberger's book was one of the earliest to deal with this subject, many subsequent books on the subject of canine behavior and development have added to this knowledge and to the warning about delaying proper socialization and training. Do not waste this critical time in your puppy's life, but begin gentle "play-training" lessons with your young puppy. And also keep in mind that consistent, regular and brief training sessions with your puppy can make a world of difference in his success in later life. OK, if I've been able to convince you of the importance of training your puppies early and often, let's get to the "How to Train" your little Boxer baby. For this next section, we are going to hear from a number of highly successful competitors in all areas of canine competition. They are going to share with us, their puppy training techniques. Let's see what training methods top competitors advise to make your Boxer as successful as possible in the ring. First we'll hear from Debbie Struff of Raklyn Boxers. In addition to being a successful Connecticut breeder, Debbie is one of the top professional breed-ring handlers in this country. Bookmark Boxers are the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States. Training should be started as soon as possible with Boxer pups. Among the wide range of dog breeds, Boxers are known to be one of the most trustworthy and intelligent. Their suspicion of strangers, alertness, agility, and strength make them formidable guard dogs. Because of their sturdiness and robust personality, they have been employed occasionally on police and military operations. These strong and intelligent animals have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and therapy dogs. These canines have interesting traits, in spite of their menacing appearance, that make them easy to take care of and a wonderful family favorite. It is essential to make yourself aware of the type of dog that you are going to handle, as well as the right time to start training your puppy. Ideally, Boxer training is not initiated until the Boxer pup turns three weeks old. During this period, he is able to learn how to obey simple commands which will make the upcoming training more effective. Furthermore, Boxer owners must know the various characteristics that this type of canine possesses. The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands great attention. Boxers are renowned for their great love and faithfulness to their master and households. They are harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers; bright and friendly at play, but brave and determined when aroused. The Boxer's intelligence and willing tractability, its modesty, and cleanliness make it a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. This breed is extremely loyal, and is never mean or treacherous even in its old age. However, you must keep an eye on the precipitating factors for his anguish when it does appear and find out the reason for his unpleasant behavior right away, so that his frustration does not become part of his personality. TIP 2: Socialization is vital. Boxer dogs need interaction during the entire training process. Boxer puppies, in general, love to fool around, be with other human beings, and need some form of recreation. If integrated into the training environment, your dog will grow up more responsible. Boxers do not like being loners. They need to socialize with others just like humans. If not properly socialized or interacted with on a regular basis, Boxer aggression problems such as biting, chasing and barking loudly might arise unexpectedly and be difficult to correct. TIP 3: Providing regular exercise is absolutely essential. Boxer training should also include having your dog perform exercises. It can be a kind of sport or any outdoor activity. The key is to keep him active and agile, which helps him manage his energy levels when indoors. This exercise can be anything from a nice afternoon walk to playing a sport with him such as tossing a ball or frisbee. Boxers enjoy moving around, frolicking, and playing for hours. More movement means more strength and vigor for your dog. TIP 4: You are the alpha dog! During Boxer training you get to assume the role of a leader. It is imperative that your dog always treat you as his master and have no control over you. Make yourself the Alpha dog, especially during leash training. Leaders should be strict and dominant especially when setting rules. You must have the power over him and not allow him to overtake you. Adhering to this strict regimen until your dog fully learns and understands what behavior is acceptable and required will be worthwhile when taking him for a walk or to a dog park for exercise. Want to learn how to save on veterinary care? Click here TIP 5: Use a reward system. If your Boxer has been conforming well to the rules you have taught him during training, praise him often. Positive reinforcement is also an important element in Boxer leash training. You may give him his favorite bite-sized treat for being a good dog. Foods, toys, and telling him "Good job! Just as important as praise is remembering that if he misbehaves, you should just correct him and not punish. Punishing him violently or excessively may trigger Boxer aggression problems in the form of biting and scratching. The whole idea here is to repay him for his excellence and to reprimand in a firm but friendly manner. TIP 6: Whenever possible, spend extra time with your Boxer, beyond the training sessions. Some owners who do Boxer training might not appreciate the significance of the amount of time shared with their dogs. Insure that you allot time for your pup beyond the training to reassure him you love him and that he is your friend and companion and member of the family. Keeping your dog company is one way to bring your relationship with him to the next level, as well as increasing the success of the training. Avoid letting him feel unwanted or neglected. TIP 7: Teach your Boxer basic tricks. In Boxer training, teaching your dog a new skill is also important. As he learns a trick or two, it will not only impress friends and family, but also helps to increase your dog's mental development and obtain his trust easier. Sit, stand, roll, and kneel are a few examples of basic tricks you can teach your canine. These tricks just need patience and perseverance and he will grow into a very clever dog. TIP 8: Visit your veterinarian for help when needed. Certain problems may come up while training your Boxer. In this case, seek help from your vet for experts in your area familiar with this particular breed. Some of the issues such as proper crate training, ways to prevent Boxer anxiety and how to keep him from jumping on other people might require some extra help. The greatest tip for training your Boxer will be to approach him with patience, persistence and lots of love. Your Boxer will become a remarkably well trained dog, and a wonderful member of your family. Ready to start saving money on pet wellness care? Then take a look at Mint Wellness, the pet wellness plan that provides fast reimbursement on routine pet care. Save on vaccinations, wellness exams, preventatives, dental, and more! WhatsApp If you own a pet dog, one of your key priorities should be training it. It has also been noted that the earlier you start training your dog, the easier it would be to do so. You can train your dog a number of commands when it is quite young. Furthermore, every breed is different and they all have varying personality traits. Today, we will be talking about dog training the popular Boxer dog breed. Boxer Dog A medium-sized guard dog that originally came from Germany, the Boxer is one of the most popular choices as pets today. This breed has a box-shaped face, with a squarish jaw and muscular body which makes it quite good-looking. But they are not only friendly companions. They are also extremely intelligent, intuitive, alert, and patient; all traits making them a very popular breed. In addition to being family dogs, they can be raised as guard dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, and will also help owners in many other activities- if trained to do so. Are Boxer Puppies Easy to Train? They are intelligent dogs, who are extremely willing to learn provided that the training process begins at the right time and in the correct manner. Make sure that you do not neglect training your boxer puppy because this breed has a high-energy level. Without learning the commands, your boxer puppy might develop bad habits or become overly hyper, aggressive, or even fearful. However, there are some tips that will greatly help dog owners in achieving success while training. Training the Boxer Early On When it comes to Boxer puppies, it is best to begin the training sessions within the first 20 weeks of their life. You have to start defining boundaries, setting rules, and assigning them their role in the initial stages of life. So, start with basic commands as soon as you can. This does not mean you can start professional training when the boxer puppy is only a few weeks old. Different obedience training should be started at different stages. While some of them are advised super early, others can be started when the pup is around 6 months old. However, Boxers learn best and quickest when they are taught early in life. This should be started as soon as possible for Boxers. However, remember that the boxer puppy is still young and scared, so you have to be extremely soft and never scold him. Start training by taking it to the potty spot around mins after a meal and stand and wait there till the puppy eliminates. You have to start building a regular potty training schedule and overtime, you will see how your boxer dog follows a consistent routine themselves. You can also teach them voice commands from the start as the dog can easily pick these too. So, potty train your dog as a start and then slowly add more commands. Proper crate training is also important for teaching responsibility and good behavior to them. When the boxer is three to four months old, you can start teaching your dog these commands. Remember to use food treats as a way of rewarding them every time they understand your voice cues. The best training method is giving your dog lots of praise and reinforce good behavior with a reward system. Leash Training Boxer Dogs All dog breeds must be taught how to stay on the leash and get used to it. You will be taking your dog for walks regularly, and using the leash is the only way to control them while they are out. Boxer dog training cannot be complete without this important lesson. Make sure that you have a suitable and comfortable collar and leash for your boxer. Again, keep a tasty treat with you when you are on a walk and offer it whenever the dog stays by your side. Remember, these sessions should be kept short and positive. You should constantly lure it towards yourself so it learns to walk with you. When it starts to act like a devil and keeps pulling away, then ignore it. When your dog comes back to you, reward it. Always troubleshoot related leash behavior problems by sticking to this strategy. Crate Training For Boxers Your dog must know how to stay in a crate happily. You can teach them to do so by providing them a large and comfortable crate. When you start to crate train your Boxer, you can expect some crying and whining initially. Puppies tend to cry a lot in the first few nights. But you must stay strong and pull yourself through no matter how your pup reacts. So the golden rule is, you are not to allow the puppy out of the crate until it stops crying on its own. Keep practicing this and soon, your doggo will be totally fine. When you finally open the crate, keep a treat ready so your dog knows it did a good job. Importance of Proper Socialization In successful boxer dog training, socialization also plays a key role. Boxers need to be given the opportunity to interact and get along with other human beings. Simply spending time with their dog trainer or owner is not adequate for them. This will help to prevent aggression issues like biting or chasing as well as barking loudly. This should be integrated with puppy training early on as it is much harder to correct such problems later on when you have an adult dog. Who is the Alpha dog? Before you begin puppy training, you must know that dogs have a pack mentality. This means that there is only one alpha, who is their leader. And this alpha leader should always be you, the owner! Dominance training is an important approach that is often recommended while training the boxer breed. No matter what you are training, let your puppy know what is acceptable and what is not. You will be the rewarding giver and the commander at all times. Make sure to always exude confidence and control with your demeanor and voice, because dogs can easily pick these cues. This entire approach is very effective in training your dog well. Spend time with your Boxer Dog Although it is important to be the alpha, you also need to take on the role of a loving owner. Boxers love attention and time, so it is important that you also have separate fun, playtime with them-apart from training sessions. This allows your dog to see you in a different light as well. It helps you bond with them better, and as these dogs are so loyal and affectionate, it will also help achieve more training success. After all, boxers are known to be obedient and faithful to their owner, especially when they have developed a deep connection with them. We recommend you to always visit the veterinarian if your Boxer is facing behavioral issues that stand out as odd to you or if you are having too much trouble training it. This is to ensure that your doggo is fine and not facing any other issues you may be unaware of. Boxers are a family favorite and a highly recommended canine companion for everyone. Using our tips, you can train it to be an excellent partner who will be forever obedient and extremely well-behaved. We hope this guide was helpful to you. Enjoy training your Boxer pup!

We have answers. What's the most interesting thing about French Bulldog puppies for sale near Topeka? French Bulldogs are renowned for their delightful and unique personalities. They are generally affectionate, playful, curious, and devoted to their owners. Their easy-going nature and generally friendly attitude towards other people and animals makes them perfect family pets. They are also known for being incredibly alert and courageous yet loving and gentle. French Bulldogs have an impressive athletic ability that allows them to excel in activities like agility, flyball, water sports, and more! They have extremely short faces compared to other breeds which gives them an irresistibly lovable and comical appearance. Are French Bulldog puppies for sale in Topeka hypoallergenic? French Bulldogs are not considered to be hypoallergenic. While the breed may not trigger the same allergies as those caused by some other breeds, French Bulldogs can produce allergens due to their short coats that trap pet dander and shed constantly. People who are sensitive to pet dander may experience allergic reactions such as coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, and itchiness when near or in contact with French Bulldogs. To reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, regular brushing and groomings to remove the dead hair and dander should be done. What's the best dog food for Topeka French Bulldog puppies for sale? The best dog food for French Bulldogs depends on the individual needs of the dog. Generally, a diet crafted to promote healthy muscle mass, aid in digestion, and reduce gas is ideal. A dog food that contains high-quality animal proteins such as chicken, duck, or fish, is recommended. Additionally, natural sources of carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and brown rice are ideal for providing energy and fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed provide important nutrients. Do French Bulldog puppies in Topeka have any kind of special requirements? French Bulldogs do have some specific needs and requirements to be aware of in order to provide them with a good quality of life. Firstly, they are more prone to heat stress than most breeds, so care must be taken to keep them cool in hot weather and never leave them in a hot car. Secondly, they require regular exercise for their physical and mental wellbeing, balanced with sufficient rest, and may become easily over-tired. Thirdly, their short nose and narrow nostrils mean they are prone to snuffling and snoring, so should be monitored for respiratory problems. How big do French Bulldogs for sale in Topeka get? French Bulldogs are considered a small breed of dog, typically reaching anywhere from inches in height and weighing up to 28 pounds. Generally, males will be slightly larger than females. They have stout, powerful bodies and short, muscular legs. They can come in a variety of colors including fawn, cream, brindle, and black. As a loyal and affectionate companion, the French Bulldog is an excellent choice for any home. As with any breed, it is important to ensure adequate exercise and proper socialization. How much exercise do French Bulldog puppies near Topeka need? French Bulldogs are a relatively docile breed and don't need large amounts of exercise. However, it is important to keep them active with short walks, periods of playtime, or trips to the dog park. A change in environment is beneficial for their mental and physical health. Activity levels should be regulated throughout the day as French Bulldogs are prone to heat exhaustion or breathing difficulties due to their short noses. To keep your French Bulldog healthy, aim for 20 minutes of exercise a day including a combination of walking and play. Are French Bulldogs in Topeka good for first-time owners? French Bulldogs can make great companions for first-time owners, as they are known for their sweet and affectionate personality. They are relatively low maintenance and don't require a lot of exercise, making them great for people who lead busy lifestyles. They are also small, making them suitable for those who live in small apartments or houses. However, it is important to provide proper training and socialization for any breed of dog as puppies to ensure they grow into a well-behaved and friendly adult. How many minutes per day do I need to train Topeka French Bulldogs for sale? Training French Bulldogs can vary depending on the dog's age, abilities, and desired behavior. Generally speaking, you should plan to dedicate at least 15 to 20 minutes per day for basic obedience training. If you plan to engage in more advanced activities, such as agility, you should plan to dedicate even more time on a daily basis. Depending on your goals, you should plan to spend up to an hour per day to ensure that your French Bulldog is receiving enough stimulation and learning. Although spaying or neutering is not compulsory, it is highly advisable to spay your French Bulldog. This will help to decrease its chances of getting certain kinds of cancer. It also prevents the risk of unwanted breeding between your French Bulldog and any nearby dog. Are French Bulldogs Aggressive? French Bulldogs have the potential to be aggressive. However, they are not usually aggressive unless they are trained that way. It is important to note that they may show aggression towards other dogs or smaller animals. Owners should watch out for signs of aggression and nip them in the bud. What is the life expectancy of a French Bulldog? With a proper diet and nutrition, French Bulldogs can live for up to eleven or thirteen years. Can French Bulldogs eat raw meat? French Bulldogs can eat raw meat such as chicken, liver or kidney. They could also eat canned, dry food. What is the difference between a French Bulldog and an English Bulldog? French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs are quite similar but different at the same time. English bulldogs are bigger while the French Bulldog is considerably smaller. French Bulldogs also have upright pointy ears whereas the English breed has folded ears. Do I have to worry about fleas with French Bulldogs? Just like all other breeds, French Bulldogs can get fleas. If they do get fleas, this can be solved by getting flea medicine or using a flea comb to get rid of the fleas. How do you deal with separation anxiety in French Bulldogs? French Bulldogs are very prone to separation anxiety. To curb this, owners can crate train their dogs or provide them with chew toys. What is the best way to train your French Bulldog? Crate training is one of the best ways to train your French Bulldog. It helps to create good and positive behavior in your Frenchie and could be a fun place for it to rest. Are French Bulldogs children-friendly? French Bulldogs are not the best option for kids. However, if they grow up surrounded by children, the risk could be lessened. They should not be left unsupervised around kids. How big are French Bulldogs? The French Bulldog is about 11 or 12 inches tall and weighs an average of pounds. Are you interested in purchasing a French Bulldog? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Photo by Shane Guymon on Unsplash Why do puppies eat stones? Puppies eat stones to investigate their taste and texture, to chew on while teething, to strengthen their jaw muscles, due to a lack of calcium, nutritional or dietary deficiencies, boredom, or because they are a breed that likes to have something in their mouth, such as Spaniels and Retrievers. Puppies will often put everything in their mouths , including rolling stones no not Mick Jagger or holding pebbles in their mouth. Most will spit them out, but some will try to swallow them too, which is dangerous! How do I get my puppy to stop eating stones? To stop your puppy from eating stones, ensure that their nutritional needs are met, that they are not bored, that they have ways of expressing breed-specific behaviour, teach them to leave it and drop, and stop any punishment-based techniques that you may have been tempted to use. Check out our puppy nutrition , raw feeding for puppies and home cooking for your dog guides. Prevent boredom by using enrichment toys Brain games and puzzle toys w ill all help to prevent boredom in your dog, and give them something better to do than entertain themselves with stones. Provide Breed Specific Outlets If you have a Gundog or retrieving mixed-breed, such as a Labrador , Cockapoo , Cocker or Springer Spaniel, then they are genetically engineered to find carrying things around in their mouth rewarding. The Zigzag app is specifically written to work with breed differences because retrievers gonna retrieve, German Shepherds want to work and Terriers gonna rag and tear! Teach them to leave it Teaching your dog to leave it if they start to go towards stones can be a really useful way to stop your dog from eating stones. They need to learn this one before you start using it on high-value things like pebbles and stones, so teach them to leave food and toys with the help of our article on leave it or the more detailed leave it lessons in the Zigzag app. Teach your dog to drop Teaching a dog to drop things on cue, is a good idea for lots of reasons, and not only to teach your dog not to eat stones. It will help prevent your dog from swallowing the stone and prevent you from having to go in and fish the stones out, which can lead to resource guarding if not handled correctly. Teach your pup with Zigzag today! Avoiding getting cross! Muzzle if necessary Muzzles can be a good management tool to prevent your dog from picking up and eating stones. Photo by Emy Nguyen on Unsplash What happens if my puppy swallows a stone? Stones can cause intestinal blockages; symptoms of this can include diarrhoea , constipation and lack of appetite. When you take your puppy to the vet , they may suggest an X-ray in order to make an informed decision as to what to do next. In some cases, if the stone is large, your puppy may require surgery to have the stone removed. If you have a puppy who is a gravel grazer or a stone scoffer, there are things you can do to stop your puppy from eating stones. This can range from an increase in enrichment to dietary changes, and positive reinforcement training to teach them to leave the stones alone. Head on over to our leave it guide to stop the stone eating, or how about learning why does my puppy eat everything? It will be fun they said. We go the extra mile for you. If you want a stress free puppy experience, get this downloaded! Worth every single penny! This app is very helpful. It helps you to understand and gives you a path to follow. The coaching support is excellent and super speedy. Download the app now. Rock tasting is not a hobby we want our dogs to try, and eating them can be a sign that something serious is going on. She is passionate about human-animal interactions, having founded the nonprofit Animal Assisted Professionals, which provides animal-assisted interventions, including animal-assisted therapy and activities. She has held roles in the pet industry that have included service and therapy canine training, rescue and shelter management, veterinary care, and animal behavioral consultation. In her free time she is passionate about providing animal-assisted interventions, training and preparing therapy dog teams, and spending time with her wonderful husband, charismatic daughter, two glorious dogs, and two very fluffy cats. Daily Paws' Editorial Guidelines Published on April 8, Our dogs do all sorts of strange things … some are even quite dangerous. Live with an adolescent dog, or any breed that has pent up energy, and you will likely experience serious heart pounding as your dog tries to chase not-so-cuddly critters, jumps off unsecure pieces of furniture, or of course attempts to scarf down weird things that are not considered food. They certainly want to keep us on our toes! Sometimes the things dogs consume even when we don't want them to are not cause for concern. And other times, well, they may require a trip to the emergency vet you didn't want to save that stimulus check, did you? If your dog is eating rocks, that happens to be one of those things that needs immediate attention. We examine four reasons why your dog might decide to sample them and what you can do about it. Canines are connoisseurs of strange things to eat. Whether it's dirt, socks, undergarments, or yes, rocks, our dogs find ways to eat things that at best make us gag and at worst make us call the emergency vet. Puppies may bite , chew, and even swallow random objects accidentally when they are investigating their curious world. Adult dogs may find rocks an appetizing treat or interesting hobby for a variety of reasons—including they just like their taste and texture, boredom, behavioral issues and disorders, or an underlying medical concern. Rocks can quickly do damage to a dog's body and when your dog is constantly trying to eat them, you need to seek immediate help from a veterinary professional. Here are four common reasons your dog might become a rock collector. A hand? Put their mouth on it. A squeaky toy? Lick it. Your new pair of jeans? Bite it. And for some pups, and adult dogs, too, a rock can be just one more thing to test out with their mouth. If this is the case for your dog, using positive reinforcement to teach them a " leave it " cue can be really helpful and extremely useful in many contexts. Avoid just grabbing something from your dog's mouth—-not only does this increase the chances of your dog resource guarding things in the future, it can also increase the chances of eating rocks becoming a fun game. To prevent resource guarding and accidentally reinforcing rock eating, teach your dog helpful cues like " give " and "drop. When they go for that thing instead, you then remove the rock from their line of sight and move your dog to a different area. Your Dog is Bored Boredom is a common culprit for myriad reasons our dogs do things. From chewing on furniture to ingesting odd things in your yard like dirt or plants, a dog that is not mentally and physically enriched will find ways to alleviate boredom. And if a dog is constantly bored, meaning his environment doesn't offer much mental stimulation, he may ingest things that pique his interest more than a dog that is simply bored at random times. This can lead to a significant behavioral and health concern, as dogs that lack consistent opportunities to engage their brain will soon become frustrated and anxious and look for ways to soothe those feelings. To prevent this, make sure you're providing your dog daily chances to use their canine smarts to investigate and learn. You can help prevent boredom in your home and yard by offering up new toys and puzzles , rotating old ones, and adding safe chew toy options. Take your dog for walks and hikes every day and let them sniff. Play games, offer up daily sessions that teach them new skills and tricks , and go out and discover the world together. Your Dog Has a Behavioral Concern When your dog is overly stressed or nervous, and conflicted with how to handle a situation, eating non-food items like rocks can act as a displacement behavior. These are behaviors that appear odd given the context and seem as though they would not do anything to help alleviate the negative feelings your dog is experiencing. Common displacement behaviors include excessive panting , lip licking, shaking off when not wet, excessive self-grooming, and yes, eating unusual things quickly. Some dogs may have a significant behavioral concern that leads to their desire to consume rocks. General anxiety and compulsive disorder like OCD can quickly become serious, causing a dog to engage in obsessive behaviors like spinning, tail chasing, licking , or even consuming lots of odd things like pebbles and rocks. If you think your dog could have severe anxiety or a compulsive disorder, seek help from a veterinary behaviorist. Your Dog Has an Underlying Health Issue It's not uncommon for dogs to consume odd things, even rocks, when they are feeling an upset stomach or having problems with digestion and are looking for relief. Eating things that are not considered food, like dirt or rocks, can also indicate that your dog's diet needs adjusting. When a dog's diet is lacking in the vital nutrients they need, they may seek those vitamins and minerals elsewhere. In severe cases, the nutritional deficiencies come from a serious medical issue like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI or rickets. Pica , a condition where an animal constantly eats non-food items can result from other medical issues or anxiety and OCD. These can all become serious conditions that need treatment. Signs your dog's rock eating is becoming a serious problem can include: Excessive thirst. Your German Shepherd eats rocks due to one or more of the following reasons: boredom, anxiety, stress, they like the smell and taste on rocks, or they may be suffering from a medical issue. Why does my German Shepherd puppy eat rocks? German Shepherd puppies may be eating rocks simply because they are curious. They are natural explorers and may be drawn to many things, including rocks. Some puppies may also be teething and they chew rocks to alleviate the pain, while others just have nothing else to do. Perhaps you have not been paying them too much attention. While other dogs are okay with lounging around the house all day, German Shepherds were bred to work as livestock herders. This means that they require a lot of simulation. Has your dog been spending most of its time indoors? Do you take them out for a walk, exercise or just to play? Bear in mind that your German Shepherd is an intelligent animal and they will need to be stimulated. If left on their own and without enough stimulation, they would definitely look for some form of entertainment. This may include eating rocks or other objects, or even destroying things. Reading tip: Why does my German Shepherd eat poop? The first is fear. There are several things that dogs can be afraid of. It can be their environment or a person. Some are afraid of storms or other loud sounds. The next reason for anxiety is related to their age. Older dogs may have a condition called cognitive dysfunction syndrome which can be the reason for feeling anxious. The University of Lincoln has published research that identified 4 root causes of separation anxiety in dogs. Aside from eating rocks, your German Shepherd may also be doing any of the following: too much barking, aggression, and urinating or defecating all over the house. Perhaps the rocks are under your grill and your dog can smell the grease. They proceed to eat the rocks because the smell reminds them of tasty food. Or they could just be curious. Puppies in particular, love to explore. Smelling and tasting the things around them actually allows them to understand their environment better. Warning: The problem is that rocks pose a choking hazard. They can also cause gastrointestinal obstruction. But dogs are not wired the same. There are even dogs who like to chew and eat grass. It not only tastes good for them, but it can even provide them some nourishment. Also, if your German Shepherds are not getting enough nutrition, they may feel hungry all the time. This may be the reason that they will just start eating whatever is near them including rocks! According to PetMD , it is a condition where dogs crave for something that is not edible. Those who are afflicted with pica may eat anything from rocks, socks , and the like. Pica affects all kinds of breeds, regardless of their age or gender. There is no specific test that can determine whether your German Shepherd has pica. After the diagnosis however, it is still important to find out what exactly caused the pica to manifest. The underlying cause could again be a medical issue. Your German Shepherd might have parasites in his body, or suffering from hormonal imbalance or even diabetes. Other times it can be due to stress and fear. Dogs are social animals and when left for long periods of time, it may make them do things they have never done before. Perhaps the rock-eating is just their way of acting out and getting your attention. Make sure to shower your German Shepherd with lots of love and attention. Go for a walk with them daily. Play with them and talk to them, and make them a part of your family. This could lead to health issues that will not only cost you money but could also put their lives in danger. Some of the possible complications include: Chipped teeth. A perforated stomach. A blockage in their intestines. For more information, follow these tips: 1: Go to your veterinarian Once you see your German Shepherd eating rocks, take them to the veterinarian right away. Your dog may have already swallowed some rocks. In this case your vet can run an X-ray to determine if there is any blockage. Even if there is no blockage, your vet may also help you find the reason why your dog is eating rocks. Aside from getting a medical history, some blood tests and even fecal analysis may also be required. Once a diagnosis has been made, your veterinarian can easily address the issue. That could be the reason why they have started eating rocks in the first place. Make sure that they are getting enough vitamins and minerals in their food. There are nutritional guidelines that you can check out to see if you are feeding your German Shepherd the proper food. Some of the important ingredients that must be present in their food are: Fats. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might be doing it and the signs to look for. You can also read about what you should and should not feed a dog here. Boredom German Shepherds are a breed that was bred to be extremely active where they would work with their owners doing intensive tasks for hours on a daily basis. This means that they need a lot of exercise to be properly stimulated. If they do not get a lot of exercise then they will look to make their own entertainment which could include trying rocks or gravel. Generally, it is recommended that a German Shepherd get at least an hour of exercise daily. It could be that this is a trait that dogs still have today which is why they occasionally choose to eat gravel. This could be why wild dogs are often seen eating small rocks. Illness One proposed reason why German Shepherds eat small rocks is that they do it to ease an upset stomach. One way this happens is where the small rocks can cause it to be sick causing its stomach to feel better. If you think that sickness could be the reason, the rock eating will likely have come on suddenly and it should stop after a few days. It likes the taste It could simply be because it likes the taste of the small rocks or gravel. To reduce this from happening you can make sure that your German Shepherd is getting a lot of exercise and you can give it things to divert its attention away from the rocks such as toys to chew on. It smells food Another cause that your German Shepherd might be eating small rocks could that it smells food there. This could be the case when the gravel is where there has been food such as below a barbeque or where some leftovers might have been thrown. If your German Shepherd recently had something happen that could be causing it to be stressed such as a change of environment, a change of owner or if one of your other dogs died then this could be the reason. Related post: Why is my German Shepherd afraid? Things to consider Before trying to get your German Shepherd to stop eating rocks it would help to have a better understanding of why it is doing it. Below, I will mention a couple of things that you can consider. When it started eating rocks It would help to consider when it first started eating rocks. It would help to consider what happened at around the same time that it started eating rocks. When it eats rocks, stones or pebbles It would also help to consider the timing of when it does it. Whereas, if it does it when it has not eaten for a while then it could be the case that it is hungry. How to get your German Shepherd to stop eating rocks There are a number of things that you can do to reduce how much your German Shepherd eats rocks that I will mention below. Make sure its diet is right Giving your German Shepherd a good diet could help to reduce its rock eating. You can read on nutritional guidelines at petswebmd here. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. Give it exercise Since boredom could be what is causing it to eat rocks it would help to make sure that it is getting enough exercise provided that it is definitely not ill. Generally, it is recommended to give a German Shepherd an hour of exercise daily. You can do so by teaching it to play fetch, letting it swim, walking it for an hour or having a dog walker do it for you. Give it other things to chew on Another option you have is to distract your German Shepherd from eating gravel. You can do this by giving it other things that will keep it occupied such as by giving it lots of toys to play with and by giving it lots of toys that it can chew on instead. Train it to come to you You can also train your German Shepherd to come to you when you call it. That way when you see your German Shepherd eating rocks or when it is about to eat them you can call it to come to you which will help you to reduce the number of rocks that will be able to eat. To do this do as follows: Get some treats that it likes and a long lead if you have one Tell it to sit then reward it with a treat. You then repeat the process each time getting it to keep its attention a little longer. Then you tell it to stay then walk a few steps back then if it stays you walk back and reward it. Continue to do that each time walking back a bit further and, when it gets good, wait for a few seconds before walking back to it. This would be especially important if it has been acting unusually in other ways as well. Reduce its access to rocks It would also help to reduce its access to rocks whenever possible. You can do this by preventing it from being able to access certain areas of the yard or by monitoring it when it is in the yard. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. What is that all about? Why do some dogs like rocks so much? We explore some common reasons why dogs eat rocks, risks associated with eating rocks and finally how to stop your dog from eating rocks. This will help you get to the root of why your dog is engaging in this strange behavior and how to help them stop. Why Do Dogs Eat Rocks? The most common reason your dog might be eating rocks is a medical condition called Pica. The classic signs of pica are eating non-food items. In addition to rocks, dogs with Pica might also eat dirt, trash, plastic, metal or articles of clothing like socks. There is no known cause as to why dogs get Pica, but it is often linked to nutritional deficiencies. Another reason your dog may start eating rocks is that he or she has a behavioral issue. Stress or anxiety in your dog may manifest into your dog eating rocks. Your dog might be seeking your attention when he puts rocks in his mouth or he could be anxious or bored. He or she can do an exam and run diagnostic tests to check for nutritional deficiencies or parasites. They may also ask some lifestyle questions about your pet to determine if the issue is behavioral. Risks associated with dogs eating rocks Eating rocks is not a safe behavior for your dog for many reasons. It can lead to illnesses or injuries that result in the need for costly surgery or medical care. Intestinal blockages If your pet ingests a large enough rock, it can cause a blockage that will require surgery to remove. Intestinal blockages prevent dogs from getting adequate nutrition and can cause your pet to vomit or become lethargic. If you think your dog has swallowed something and it is causing a blockage, see your vet immediately to confirm with an X-ray and have it removed. If your dog is in pain or showing any signs of perforation you will want to take them to the vet for treatment. Chipped or broken teeth If your pet is chewing on hard stones or rocks they can chip or damage their teeth, resulting in the need for dental work or even having an impacted tooth removed. Dog dental work is done under anesthesia and therefore poses some additional risks. Try changing where you walk your dog. You can also look for dog training facilities that allow you to rent space to exercise your dog indoors in extreme instances. Use behavior modification Offer your dog an alternative like a favorite treat or a tug toy for dropping the rock. For some breeds of working dogs, leash walks are not enough mental stimulation. You can add training exercises or even give them puzzle toys to help stimulate their minds. Some dogs even enjoy learning tricks or tasks around your house. You may wish to consult a trainer, especially if your dog is a working or herding breed like a Border Collie or Husky. Give your dog ample amounts of attention Similar to ensuring your dog has enough physical and mental exercise, if eating rocks is a behavioral issue, you will also want to ensure that your dog is getting enough attention. If they are eating rocks to get attention from you, being proactive with your attention may lessen their desire to eat rocks in the first place. It might take some time and patience on your end, as change does not happen overnight, especially with dogs. By ensuring your dog is getting adequate nutrition, providing physical and mental exercise, attention and opportunities for behavior modification you will be helping them live their happiest and healthiest lives. The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.

Some of these you can help prevent, while others are out of your immediate control. If your GSD carries the genes for ears that lie down, instead of standing erect, then more than likely they will have floppy ears. This means they may have ears that never stand up and are floppy for life. Breeding Some breeders choose to pair parents that both have large, erect ears. And some buyers and owners prefer this larger style of ears for show or aesthetic purposes. But, there is some theory that breeding a German Shepherd with larger and larger ears might contribute to ears that stay flopped over. Always see the parents of the puppy you buy from the breeder on the premises to see their appearance. Physical Damage or Accidents Puppies are active and mischievous and can get into plenty of trouble. This includes physical damage or accidents that have the cartilage or muscles in their ears. If this happens their ears may suffer long-term damage and not stand up naturally on their own. So watch out for a rough play that might lead to ear damage. And, if your pup has been in an accident that hurt their ears, take them immediately to the vets. Improper and Poor Nutrition German Shepherds need balanced nutrition during crucial growing stages, including vitamins and minerals that aid in cartilage and muscle development of their ears. You should ensure your dog gets the right nutrition from the start to avoid any issues. Along with Vitamin D, calcium helps strengthen the cartilage to aid in building a strong foundation for the ears to stand up later. Neglecting Ear Cleaning Puppies still need ear cleaning when dirt and build-up are overly present. Dirty ears that become neglected can inhibit proper growth and cause discomfort for your dog, causing them to excessively scratch their ears which can cause damage. This could cause them more harm! Instead, wipe away the dirt from the skin of the ear with a warm, damp washcloth or use special ear cleaning wipes. A dog with one floppy ear and one ear upright is totally normal. Occasionally, your German Shepherd might have one floppy ear and one ear standing upright. If they are a small puppy then they are most likely growing and the one ear down still needs time to go upright naturally. These are some of the best techniques that will help their ears to stand up. They only need to sit inside the ear enough to support cartilage growth. Make sure you check for any creases or folds in their ears before moving on to the next step. Repeat in the other ear. Make a Popsicle Support Now, take the popsicle sticks and place them at the top of the foam rollers both ears should have foam rollers in them at this point. You might need another pair of hands to help with this, so ask your family or friends to help. Take the self-adhering waterproof tape and place a medium-size piece across and around the two foam rollers and popsicle sticks. This ensures even and symmetrical growth. Make a bridge across their ears instead. If your German Shepherd puppy is 9 months old and their ears still flop over, please see your vet for further assistance. When in doubt, get your vet to show you what to do for their ears. Your puppy might become annoyed with the tape on their ears, so they may need close supervision and even some distraction during the taping process. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a German Shepherd that has floppy ears and putting them at risk to have any unnecessary surgery to get their ears to stand up can cause them pain. Speak to your vet about the side effects and pain associated with ear implants. You can help prevent floppy ears in your dog by taking the appropriate steps to keep them healthy. The top ways to help a GSD with floppy ears include: 1. Feed them a high-quality food Giving your dog the proper nutrition for optimum growth is a necessity, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. Choose a puppy food with the correct ratio of nutrients and vitamins to ensure they get the correct building blocks for development. When you choose to give them treats, pick ones from this list of the best healthy dog treats for German Shepherd puppies. Provide them with the proper chew toys Chewing helps to strengthen the muscles that surround the ears. Or worse… Injure them. Learn to play and discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way to avoid accidental ear injuries or damage. German Shepherds with ears that are floppy are a joy to own, no matter their age! Floppy ears are adorable and give your dog even more character. Go on, and find out what makes your companion the happiest dog on the planet! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Fortunately, you will not need many supplies to tape your German shepherd puppy's ears. In fact, you may already have some of the supplies at home. One of the supplies you will need is women's large foam rollers. The large size of rollers is usually pink, but do not rely on color to choose the correct size. Alternatively, you could use small pipe insulation tubing, which is available at home improvement stores. If you choose to use tubing, it should be about the same diameter as a large foam roller. The type of tape to use is very important! The best type of tape to use is white surgical tape two-inch wide 3M Micropore tape , which is available at your local pharmacy. Do not use duct tape or electrical tape. These types of tape are too adhesive and could damage your puppy's ears. You will also need glue Skin Bond adhesive is recommended and one or two unsharpened 2 pencils. A popsicle stick will be needed to serve as a 'bridge' between your puppy's ears after you have taped them. Remove the plastic rod from the middle of the roller. Next, insert the unsharpened pencil about 1 inch into the middle opening of the roller—this will help you stabilize the roller when you position it inside the ear. You will then apply the glue about three-fourths of the way around the circumference of the roller. If you apply too much, the glue could run into your puppy's ear canal and potentially cause irritation. The glue could also drip onto your hands, which would make it difficult for you to easily maneuver your hands. If you prefer to use the tape, you will not need to put the pencil in the roller. Proper positioning of the foam roller is important so that you do not block your puppy's ear canal and impair his ability to hear. Place the roller inside the ear near the bottom half of the ear flap. Make sure there is two fingers' worth of space between the bottom of the roller and your puppy's head. Holding the pencil end of the roller, wrap the ear around the roller. While continuing to hold the pencil end, start taping at the top of the ear in a circular motion and work your way down. Use firm pressure when taping the ear, but be careful not to tape the ear too tightly—not only would this be uncomfortable for your puppy, but it may also cut off circulation to the ear. Place the popsicle stick behind the top of both ears and secure it to each ear with additional tape or glue. The popsicle stick will act like a bridge between the ears to keep them upright and stabilized while they are taped. Your puppy will probably want to start messing with his ears as soon as you finish taping them up. You can distract him with food or a few minutes of playtime. Distracting him with activities that he enjoys will divert his attention from his ears, at least temporarily. Your puppy's ears may need up to two weeks to remain stabilized in the upright position. During this time, your puppy will probably manage to remove the popsicle stick and might even start unraveling the tape from his ears. This is most likely to happen in the first 24 hours after you have taped his ears. If you notice the tape unraveling, or that the popsicle stick has come off, make the fixes where needed. Cover up his ears with a plastic bag if it is raining outside when it's time for your puppy to go out. Consider taking the tape off after seven days to see if the ears will stand up on their own. If not, re-tape the ears. It is recommended to use an adhesive remover to remove the tape from your puppy's ears. Following the instructions on the adhesive remover bottle, gently and slowly remove the tape and foam roller from your puppy's ears. Do not forcefully rip off the tape or rip out the roller. Not only will this be painful for your puppy, but you may also end up damaging the inside of your puppy's ears. Do not be worried if your puppy's ears do not stand exactly upright when you remove the tape and foam roller. His ears may be a little weak after being taped, but will strengthen over time. So, what can you do to help your pup's ears stand? Genetics matter. Just as having puppies from hip-scored parents will lower the chances of your puppy getting hip dysplasia, or just as having puppies from parents who were show champions increases your chances of your puppy becoming a show champion, buying a puppy from parents with in-standard shape, placement, and size that stand strongly increases the chances that your puppy will have similar ears. No matter what you do, you can't cheat DNA. If this is a major concern for you, and it is for some people, cover your bases by starting with a healthy puppy with health-tested parents with in-standard ears. Unfortunately, I'm aware that by the time this question is asked, the most important factor, genetics, is no longer under the questionee's control because they've already chosen a puppy. So on to tips that will help with a current puppy and not the next! I know you want to play with them, don't you? Those cute little satellite dishes! But don't do it. The more you flex and bend them, the harder time they have firming up as the pup gets older. It's okay to pet a puppy. You should pet your puppy but use backward strokes in the way that their ears lie backward naturally. Playing with them isn't going to help. Ears don't have bones in them.The same goes for dogs. Ears are made of cartilage. Supplementing calcium isn't going to strengthen cartilage. Calcium isn't a bad thing for a growing puppy, but if you feed a commercial diet, all of the calcium your dog needs is already in the diet. Giving a bunch of calcium tablets won't help, but it can give your puppy hypercalcemia, which can damage organs such as the kidneys and heart. Find a high-quality diet, and you'll never have to give extra calcium to your puppy or dog. Dogs have 18 muscles in each ear. Each of these muscles controls the possible ways a dog can decide to move their ears. While muscles alone won't help cartilage harden, strong jaw and ear muscles can help with ear set placement. I've seen people worry about the ears of 3-month-old puppies. It's perfectly normal for a pup's ears not to come up until after teething. Teething is usually completed at months. Everything is fine. Use the time before, during, and slightly after teething to make sure your pup is eating the healthiest diet you can provide, is being vaccinated according to your veterinarian's wishes, and make sure your puppy is parasite-free. Little critters sucking blood and nutrients away from your puppy's body will take a toll on its ears.Focus on the things that matter most and hope for the best. Your puppy has finished teething. It's months old. They're still not up. Well, now is the time to be interested in your puppy's ears. At this point, you have four choices. They're just ears. And yes, German Shepherds have really cool ears. It's surprising how few dog breeds have erect ears. Something about the domestication process causes floppy ears in a lot of animals, such as lop-eared rabbits, most dog breeds, some breeds of cattle, some breeds of pigs, etc. One of the first things a person would say to describe a German Shepherd to someone who had never seen one would be to mention their erect ears. But in the end, they're just ears. Your dog will be fine, and it's no big deal if your dog's ears don't stand. Personally, I would contact the breeder and let them know that the pairing they're using is producing weak ears. But if I adopted, I wouldn't have anyone to call to warn. So, I would go on my merry way hoping that whoever bred my dog and let it end up in a shelter never, ever, ever breeds another litter of dogs again. There is a method where you tape up your dog's ears to support them to help them stand. This must be done in the month window. Any sooner is too soon, and 7 months is most likely too late. Your vet likely knows how to do it, but be prepared to get judged by people who have no familiarity with ear taping. A lot of people see tape and think you cropped your pup's ears like it's commonly done on some mastiff breeds and Dobermans. In that procedure, some of the ear is removed during a surgical procedure under anesthesia, and the ear is shaped and taped. You have a very high chance of someone thinking that's what you've done to your German Shepherd puppy, even though no vet in their right mind would do it, even if you asked them, including veterinarians who specialize in doing crop surgeries in show dogs. Again, remember, taping a German Shepherd's ears involves no pain whatsoever. No cutting. No surgery. Nothing more than maybe slight confusion as to why you're taping a structure to their head. The same confusion a puppy would have if they had any bandage or new collar on them for the first time. Even after reading this and it being explained, someone will still say it's abuse to tape a puppy's ears up. It happens every time. And then they'll go put a harness or collar and leash on a puppy, both of which caused very similar confusion before their puppy got used to it. Moral of the story: If this is what you want to do, don't let anyone make you feel like a bad person for using the same skin-safe medical tape we've all had on our skin for one scrape, cut, burn, or another. Same principle as taping, only you're using skin-safe adhesive and gluing foam cutouts to the inside of the ear. It works, but honestly, no one really uses this method anymore. It's harder for the dog to get off, but it's messy. It's still an option, though. In my opinion, if you're winning shows by using surgical enhancements, you're being dishonest with the judges, unfair to the other competitors, and deceitful with your puppy buyers if you ever breed the dog. Of these four options, throwing in the towel is the option with the least amount of hassle. Taping can work and causes no pain, except to you as you re-tape again and again when your puppy removes the tape. The last two options aren't practical in my book, but I said we'd talk about how to get a puppy's ears to stand, not exclude things that work because I personally don't find the ethics behind surgery appealing or find other methods outdated. These are the dos and don'ts, the maybes, and the why-nots of German Shepherd puppy ears standing. Remember to relax. If your puppy is still teething or under months, it's normal for the ears to be down, or to have been up and gone back down during teething, as is having one ear up and the other down or any combination of the aforementioned. Please leave a like, share, and tag everyone you know who has ever asked about the ears of German Shepherd puppies. We have finally condensed everything people want to know into one article! Thank you again. I get a lot of emails about taping German Shepherd puppy ears. The majority of these emails come from people who are jumping the gun and worrying too much. By that, I mean their pups are 3 or 4 months old and they are starting to panic because their puppy's ears are not standing. I tell these people that they need patience, they need to wait until their pup has finished teething. I caution these people not to jump the gun and tape the dog's ears too early or in the wrong way. I know people who have screwed their dog's ears up for life by doing this. I have had puppy customers who go ballistic on me and panic. So I issue a word of caution here. With that said, the other side of the spectrum of taping ears is something that many people do not take seriously until it's too late. When ears are taped at 7 and 8 months, there is very little chance of it working. This is an unfortunate fact of life. German Shepherd puppy ears can come up between 8 weeks and 6 months. If they are not up when the dog is through teething this varies from dog to dog but in general between 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age , I tell my puppy customers to get very interested in their ears. While it's not time to panic, it is time to sit up and take notice. The first thing to do is make sure that your puppy is in good health. This means no intestinal parasites. Take a stool sample to your vet to have it analyzed. It's also important to make sure the pup is getting good quality food. We feed and recommend a raw diet but if you do feed a commercial diet, I strongly recommend researching all the options available and feeding the highest-quality food you can afford. View our list of all-natural kibble alternatives. In fact, a lot of times, a pup will have both ears up and all of a sudden, they will come back down when the pup starts to teeth. Many owners panic when this happens. But not to worry, I have never seen a pup whose ears did not go back up when this happens. If a pup does not have his ears up by 5 months, I strongly recommend that you get involved with taping your dog's ears. Use the thin white surgical tape the kind that's paper-thin and tears easily. The 3M Micropore tape, 2" wide, works well. I like to use women's hair rollers. Take the plastic out of them and just use the foam. Wrap the ear around the foam and tape them into a tight roll. In a vertical position. Take a popsicle stick and attach it to the top part of both ears. In a horizontal position. The pup is going to tear the tape or stick off the ears several times. The key is to continue to re-tape the ears. Sooner or later, the pup will forget the tape and ignore it. About once a week, take the tape off and see if the ears will stand on their own. Continue to re-tape until the ears stand. If the ears are not up by 7 or 8 months, they are not going to come up. The ears should look like this once taped. The same dog with ears now up. I have seen ears that did not stand, which in my opinion would have stood had they been taped. So this process is not something to take lightly. I also need to say that many ears will be a little weak right after taping but with time, they will strengthen. So when an ear does not stand perfectly after taping don't panic. Just have patience and see what happens. You will really not have an idea exactly what you have until the pup is 12 months old. When ears do not stand, there are ear implants that can be surgically added. I have no experience with this and do not know anything about them. If you are unlucky enough to have a dog whose ears will not stand, I would point you toward a vet that has some experience in this area. I don't think it's something that normal small animal vets know how to do well. In my opinion, too young to tape. The material to use to tape German Shepherd Ears The pup with its ears taped I prefer taping German Shepherd Dogs ears after the dog has finished teething. This usually means the dog is older than 4 - 6 months. Maybe waiting another month would have been a better idea for this puppy.

If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Fortunately, Massachusetts has many great breeders that do their job with the purest intentions. However, not all of the breeders strive for the same quality and ethical breeding practices. To achieve this, they conduct extensive health and genetic testing to minimize the risk of the puppies inheriting any serious genetic conditions. That being said, ethical breeders also provide at least a two-year health guarantee that covers any major and life altering genetic conditions that the breeding dogs have been tested for. All of those organizations are focused on ethical breeding practices and require their member breeders to adhere to their highest health testing standards. Additionally, if any of your friends, family members, or neighbors has recently adopted a Labradoodle, reach out and ask about their own experiences with Labradoodle breeders in Massachusetts. They breed both American and Australian Labradoodles in all sizes. Tango Wool Labradoodles is a small breeder and all of their pups are home-raised. Most of their breeding dogs live with loving guardian families so that the breeder has plenty of time to focus on each puppy during their first 8 weeks. What Makes This Breeder Unique? We are raising our family in Mendon, MA in a 's farm house that we have been renovating since .We expose them to all the sights and sounds of busy family life. Our goal is that all of our dogs grow up to be mentally, physically and emotionally healthy so that they can be active members of their families for many years. Health Testing One of the benefits of purchasing an Australian Labradoodle is the required health testing of our Breed Club. The Australian Labradoodle Association of America requires that our breeding dogs are tested for hip dysplasia through an OFA and any eye abnormalities through a CERF test preformed by an eye ophthalmologist. Each breeding Dam and Sire are tested for Patellar Luxation and Cardiovascular Abnormalities by a certified veterinarian. Australian Labradoodles Bloodlines Australian Labradoodles are unique to Labradoodles because of their multigenerational bloodlines. Even when the other types of Labradoodles are bred on for generations, the result is not an Australian Labradoodle, as the attributes of the infused breeds were not included in their ancestry. Many allergy sufferers my son included are living happily with Australian Labradoodles. A Furever Friend Australian Labradoodles are famous for their affectionate, happy go lucky personalities. They bond deeply with their families but are also happy to meet new people! They love to play ball in the yard or go for a hike but they can also spend a day lounging in house with the family! Sign Up For Updates Be the first to hear about new litters, availability, and helpful pet advice. Sign up. High Country Australian Labradoodles is a family-owned breeder of exceptional multi-generational Australian Labradoodles. We breed for temperament, trainability, and affectionate, lovable companions for any family. Our breeding parents are fully tested and we are licensed and inspected by the State of NH and have a supervising veterinarian. We started with this breed after having labs for many years. The Australian Labradoodles we found had the same love and affection as our labradors but with the plus of being low to non-shedding. Yes, they really are low to non-shedding. I did not believe it until I owned my first one and it is absolutely true! The multi-generational Australian Labradoodle is also allergy friendly. We here at High Country Labradoodles breed specifically for temperament so we know that our multi-generational Australian Labradoodles excel in gentleness, trainability, love and sweet demeanor. Our labradoodles have exceptional wool or fleece coats. There is nothing like snuggling up close to your Australian Labradoodle. Tango Wool Labradoodles is located in the hinterlands of Western Massachusetts in the heart of the beautiful Berkshire mountains, close to the borders of New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, where I have lived with my two daughters for over 38 years. Animals have always been one of my greatest loves and I feel blessed to have been part of the dog world for most of my life. My work with dogs eventually led me to become a hobby breeder, raising English Labradors of the highest caliber, all from champion lines and bred for the best possible health and temperament. It was a wonderful venture, and now I am applying all that I have learned to breeding what I believe are some of the healthiest, happiest, and most beautiful Labradoodles anywhere. My interest in the breed was sparked when I heard of their allergy-friendly qualities a few years ago, at a time when my own grandson was having a hard time dealing with his allergies. Thus began my quest to acquire the best Labradoodle I could find. I wanted one that could measure up to the same standards as my Labradors, with thoroughly health-tested parents and grandparents and a gentle, loving, and trainable temperament. After a year of doing my homework I bought a gorgeous Labradoodle from a breeder who I thought had incredible dogs, and introduced her into my home. We were thrilled.I put my labs into guardian homes and only had my Labradoodle at home. .I was sold on Labradoodles! No sneezing! Not only was my grandson not allergic, the dog herself was amazingly smart, kind, gentle and athletic. We could play all day and when it was time to come home and chill out she could switch gears effortlessly. I continued my experiment and had every test done on her required by the Goldendoodle-Labradoodle Premium Breeders List of which we are now a proud member , and found she passed every tests with flying colors, in fact, with some of the best hip scores Tufts University had ever seen. That piece of advice convinced me to follow the path I've been on ever since, and resulted in the birth of Tango Wool Labradoodles. My dogs live in the house with me or outside in our beautiful fenced-in backyard, using the kennel actually a mini-apartment inside the main house only occasionally if I need to be away for the day. Some of my dogs are also placed in Guardian Homes where they get plenty of love and attention, only coming back to Tango Wool to have their puppies. We breed beautiful Australian lines and gorgeous American lines! Please go to our Facebook Tango Wool Labradoodles where you can see our reviews, people's comments, and a lot of the fun stuff we do! Please enjoy! Tango Wool is a small operation, and it's going to stay that way.I intend to continue to hike, swim, kayak, and love my dogs! Please feel free to call or email me with any questions you might have; I can be reached 7 days a week from 9 a. EST or any time via email! Thanks for visiting! We are an in home breeder of the Australian Labradoodles established in .Our goal is to produce, happy, healthy and sound Australian Labradoodle puppies with wonderful temperaments. We do extensive health testing on all of our breeding dogs, and take extra measures to promote the health and well being of our pups. We strive to produce pups that will be the perfect family companions! We have some exciting new litters planned that will be opening up shortly! If you have submitted an application at a time where there was no availability, please submit when you notice new availability. Thank you for your patience. We promise that your new puppy will definitely be worth every bit of the wait! Note: We are in the process of transitioning to this new website! Currently we are behind on responding to emails and applications so please be patient with us as we transition and upgrade our site to make it more user friendly for you! Breeding the finest quality Australian Labradoodles since Learn about our Guardian Program If you live within 30 miles of Northern Rhode Island, have a fenced in yard, and a family member who is home most of the day, we would love to hear from you! Please read about our guardian home program prior to inquiring to be sure you are eligible! Only eligible families that apply will be contacted. Please be sure to read the guardian home information page to see if you are eligible! We specialize in miniature, medium, and large medium size Australian Labradoodle puppies with beautiful allergy friendly coats in all colors with exceptional temperaments. We are blessed to have our puppies reside all over the world. For information on available puppies for sale, please be sure to visit our upcoming litters page! They live pampered lives where they are spoiled to death by their families, and have never been exposed to a kennel environment. A few of our dogs live here with us, and the majority live with their wonderful local guardian families as a forever family pet. .Our breeding dogs are social, happy, healthy, sound, and live the best lives that any dog could dream of living! While in our care, all pups receive proper veterinarian care, are up to date on all of their vaccinations, microchipped for permanent identification, and ESN prior to leaving for their forever homes. We hope you enjoy browsing our website, and look forward to hearing from you! Our two founding females were pure American and over the years we have added lots of Australian and a few more American bloodlines. All of our breeders are family pets that live in our home with us or in their own guardian home. This way they can retire with the family they love and grew up with. I am a proud breeder of Labradoodles and take great pride in the puppies produced here. Our pups are socialized with adults and children of all ages starting at about 4 weeks. They are exposed to lots of sights and sounds and new things each day. We have personally found Labradoodles to be amazing family pets. Labradoodles are loyal, playful, extremely smart and great companions to their human families. You can train them to do just about anything with the right guidance. Labradoodles often have low to no shed coats and usually are allergy friendly. But be aware there are no guarantees that they won't shed a little. Our goal is to do our best to produce non shedding or the lowest shedding pups that we can. In the 20 years I have been doing this we have so far not produced any puppies that shed. My clients become part of my family and they are the reason I do what I do. Their follow ups with me always warm my heart and remind me how lucky I am to be able to do breed these amazing dogs. It is a passion for me that I cannot explain. They are so loved and well cared for and it shows! As a new puppy owner you are also set up for success with all the information and support you are given. We are so happy with out new addition to our family! I would highly recommend Green Mountain Australian Labradoodles! Healthy and perfect size for our family. Pam does it right,returns emails and phone calls the same day. Goes out of her way to accommodate her forever home pet owners. Thank you for Copper! My family did not anticipate having to search for a puppy; we unexpectedly lost our 16 year old Cockapoo in March. Pam, especially, made this process seamless. She answered emails within a few hours and answered ALL questions thoroughly unlike other breeders. She kept us updated when the puppies arrived and as they grew up. The amount of time and love that Green Mountain gives to each litter is incredible. I highly recommend them and their doodles! Bentley is the best puppy I have ever met! The love and caring that Alex and Pam put into the raising of their pups is extraordinary!

You can also attach the leash to the front and train your Pug how to walk properly on a lead from a very young age. With the Health Harness which is already puppy proofed against chewing you don't have to worry about your puppy chewing or ingesting the plastic buckles found commonly in dog harnesses. You can be worry free knowing each of Frenchiestore Health Harness comes with premium materials such as metal buckles. Always look for durable chew toys for your Pug, they have very powerful jaws that will go through toys like water. We recommend getting the Vet Pet Box for a new puppy. Every product in the VetPet Box has been hand-selected by veterinarians for quality and safety. All you have to do is specify what breed of dog you have Pug is on small breed category then click "need more customization" there you can choose your pet is a puppy and chewing style we recommend choosing "Powerful Chewer" and thats it! You'll be able to choose what plan you want and you'll be covered for as long as you. Pug dogs can't rely on a thick coat of fur to keep them warm during the winter. Signs your Pug might be cold: shaking, shivering, seems uncomfortable or anxious. If your Pug is hunched over, or stiff with a tucked tail. If your Pug is exhibiting change in behavior and is more vocal. If on a walk your Pug is seeking a place to hide or reluctance to keep walking or tries to turn around to go back home. Pug puppies are usually very energetic though they also sleep a lot , so after an exhausting day of expending all that energy, a real dog bed, nice and comfy will be just what your Pug needs. To minimize back issues an orthopedic bed would be optimal for your dog's back. Car seat - the first experience your puppy will have is the car ride home. Puppy gates - You will need to section off an areas of your home that could pose a danger for your new Pug puppy such as the kitchen. Pugs are very curious by nature and they get into everything. In order to avoid your Pug pup from getting into the kitchen cabinets or the trash it would be helpful to put some boundaries and use baby gates. Not only is it helpful in minimizing dangers it is also beneficial for potty training your Pug puppy by not allowing full range of your home. Bathrooms - can be a very dangerous place for a Pug puppy. In order to avoid your puppy from going into the bathroom unsupervised you would have to make sure to close your bathroom door every single time. A trick that would be helpful is hanging a sign on your door, wall or above the sink reminding you to close the door when you leave the bathroom. Fireplaces - does your home have a fireplace? Make sure you block it off from your Pug pup. Grooming supplies - dog shampoo should be carefully picked for a Pug pup as they often have sensitive skin. Nail clipper and facial anti bacterial wipes for your Pugs' folds and tear stains. Puppy pee pads - if you are planning on house training with dog wee pads you should consider having them ahead of time prior to the puppy coming home. You should find a vet - preferably one that is knowledgeable in the Pug breed and you are comfortable with that lives close by. In case of an emergency you don't want to start looking for a vet and calling everyone, or traveling very far. You need to have your vet already picked and ready to be dedicated to your Pug. Pet insurance - Prior to bringing your Pug dog home is is a good idea to have pet insurance. In this video we'll cover all the puppy proofing tips, best ways to puppy proof your house or apartment, and tons of puppy safety tips. There are some great puppy hacks in this video too. Raising a puppy shouldn't be stressful, so get the best puppy training tips and grab the puppy checklist so you can be fully prepared for your new puppy's arrival. Pug puppies are known for chewing everything around the house, whatever they find they will chew or try to eat it. If puppy proofing your entire house seems like an insurmountable task, create a dog space. You dedicate an area of your house solely for your Pug, preferably one that you and or your family frequent. You can secure this area by using the puppy fence. This not only keeps your puppy in a safe and protected area, it also helps to not overwhelm them. You should go through your home and look for anything that could be hazardous to your new Pug puppy. Electrical cords, choking risks, shoes or anything of the sort should be cleared out. You also have to be conscious of any dangling cords that your Pug could chew, trip over or worse. As soon as you put all of these in place, you are all set and ready to bring the newest family member home. Bringing home your Pug puppy The most efficient way to raise a well-adjusted, well-mannered Pug is to expose them to everyday scenarios and experiences as soon as possible. The first experience your puppy will have is the car ride home. You should make sure the breeder will not feed your puppy right before the car ride home to avoid stomach upset or vomiting. As mentioned above having your Pug puppy secured in a car seat will be the safest option. This is because consistency goes a long way in training a well-behaved all rounded Pug dog. Now that you have gotten home, resist the urge to spoil and over indulge your Pug. You should start training your puppy early and refrain from excessive scolding, use positive reinforcements, and lots of praises. Potty training your Pug puppy takes patience the easiest way is to take your puppy outside every half hour or so and encourage them to go. Bringing them to the same area will help them quickly understand that this is their pee area. Always give them a treat as soon as they pee outside. Continue to do this, and then gradually drop the treats and use only praise. If you are training your Pug to go indoors on pee pads, just do the same as mentioned above. How long do Pug puppies sleep at night? Pug puppies can sleep anywhere from 12 to 18 hours per day, only waking up occasionally for an hour or so every few hours of rest. It is best to develop a nighttime routine. If you wake up your puppy to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, you will develop this habit with your puppy. In adulthood your Pug might wake you up in the middle of the night and you want to avoid developing this habit if possible. It is best to establish a night time house training routine. Take your Pug puppy to the bathroom right before bedtime and immediately upon waking up. Puppy proof the outside of your home and garage Antifreeze taste sweet to your dog however can be lethal. Remove any rat poison or traps around your home. Fence off areas where there could be toxic plants such as wild mushrooms or any water sources like pools. Pugs are not good swimmers and most will sink. Make sure your backyard is safe and secure without any way for your Pug to get out of the fenced area. If needed fix loose fencing or holes prior to your Pug's arrival. Always watch your Pug puppy when going outside since puppies get bored easily. Once they are bored they will get destructive and exhibit bad behaviors such as digging holes throughout your backyard or chew patio furniture etc. Always keep your trash secure, and away from your Pug. Pugs are prone to obesity, watch their weight, give them lots of exercise. Regular check ups with the vet will help them stay healthy. Keep them under supervision at all times, and spend time with them especially in those first few weeks. Congratulations on getting a new family member, you now know how to house proof for a new Pug puppy. You have all of the information you need here to ensure your canine journey goes as smoothly as possible. We care about you and your Pug. Is it OK if it sleeps in my room? What is something to look out for if we need to train it in a certain way? Also, Boxers are rambunctious little puppies so how can we get their mind on a different track. Leave a comment. They will want to be with you. Have a crate or bed next to your bed for at least the first few weeks while you get them into a Puppy night-time routine. Here is how to get a puppy to sleep through the night. Alone Training Teaching your Pug puppy that they can be totally fine being left alone can be done with stuffed chew toys, time and patience. Remember to do it slowly to avoid any stress! Toilet Training Training Practically every website you read may tell you that Toilet training your Pug puppy can be a challenge. As with alone training, start sooner rather than later. Of course, if they run into any birds, butterflies and hear planes flying over, it will be great for them to get acquainted already. Have fun gathering surfaces with different textures for them to explore, like synthetic grass, tiles, and soil. Use treats! Remember to use lots of treats and praise when training. They love making your tail wag! Repeat their name to them a lot in the first week, so it really starts to click. Recall — How to teach your Pug puppy to come back when called — This is important for safety. Pugs generally stay close, but they can be very friendly and want to run up to people and other dogs for a bit of a cuddle, so a good recall will always help. But they can enjoy fetch games on a smaller scale, get on the floor and interact and play with your Pug puppy to learn what they enjoy. This will help to avoid resource guarding. Husbandry Tasks Pugs love affection but should be handled with care. Be mindful to not treat them like toys. Not going to blame children to think they are toys though — the resemblance is uncanny. To do this we want to teach them that hands will do nice things to them so use plenty of treats when handling your puppy. Week 2 — Training your Pug puppy Week 2 already! But, owning a Pug does come with some challenges. Since Pugs are prone to carrying excess weight, this brings in the care elements of both eating a healthy diet and following an appropriate exercise schedule; though this can be tricky, since Pugs must be exercised with care in regard to both duration and intensity. Pugs have thick coats of fur with heavy shedding, lots of wrinkles that need to stay clean, and are generally prone to skin sensitivities. This all requires proper grooming and upkeep. Aside from this, is the general care that applies to every dog. While many owners do this as part of the excitement and preparation of bringing a new pup into the household, this is something that should be done on a regular basis throughout your Pug's life. This can lead to accidentally swallowing things, toxic poisoning, or choking. Proofing the house involves removing small items from the floor, placing cords out of reach or wrapping them in cord protectors, finding new places for shoes and other objects that may be chewed, and placing child-proof locks on any lower cabinets that a Pug may be able to access. The Pug is prone to skin yeast infections, eye issues, and is a heavy shedder, so this a breed that requires lots of grooming. It is best to stick to a schedule in regard to these care tasks. Baths - Bathe you Pug once every 3 weeks, even if your puppy or dog does not appear to be dirty. This will help prevent bad odors , keep skin properly moisturized, and loosen dead hairs from the coat. Young pups can be given a bath in the kitchen sink and older adults can be placed in the bathtub. Because the Pug has sensitive skin, use a shampoo that has a pH between 6. A terrific shampoo to use on Pugs is Earthbath Shampoo which has plant-based cleansers and no additives. The Oatmeal and Aloe formula is ideal for just about Pug since it works to keep skin in great shape. Don't forget about a wash-out conditioner. Hair cuticles open during the shampooing process and a conditioner smooths them down. Eye maintenance - Pug's eyes are large and slightly bulging which means they are prone to picking up debris that can irritate the eyes or scratch the cornea. Small food particles are a top culprit. Keep the eye area clean by wiping it at least once a day and as often as after each meal. For this, you can use the same type of wipe that you have for your Pug's wrinkles see next tip. Wrinkle maintenance - Pugs have lots of deep wrinkles on their head and face making these areas prone to skin infection, so attention must be given to keep these folds clean and dry. Wipe the wrinkles at least once a day, and up to 3 times a day by opening each fold and wiping it with a grooming wipe. If you are looking for a good grooming wipe, Earthbath All-Natural Grooming Wipes are excellent for cleaning wrinkles, wiping the eye area, and to spot-clean a Pug in between baths. Brushing - Pugs are heavy shedders, a lot of the dead hairs will stay lodged in the coat and some will fall to the floor. So, even if you do not notice much shedding, it's important to brush your Pug on a regular basis. Young puppies can be brushed once a week, but adult Pugs should be brushed at least every other day and as often as once per day. Use a tool that will reach down through this breed's thick coat and pull out all the loose and dead fur. While you may be envisioning using a brush, a grooming glove like the Delomo Pet Grooming Glove works very well on a Pug's dense coat. This has over grooming tips that latch onto dead hairs and debris. Pugs are a brachycephalic breed that is very prone to breathing issues. Using a collar when on leash, which places pressure on the trachea, is near guaranteed to exacerbate this. So, part of caring for a Pug involves using accessories that do not impede breathing. For this reason, a harness should be used any time a Pug is on a leash. Harnesses displace tension over the shoulders, back, and chest, leaving the neck free. This is a step-in design just the front legs are placed through the holes, so nothing has to slip over the head , there is an easy-close adjustable Velcro flap on the back, and it is made with air-mesh to keep a Pug cool and comfortable. What you choose to feed your Pug will have both short and long-term consequences, affecting everything from weight maintenance to allergies to intestinal health. Pugs do best with a dry kibble as opposed to a wet canned food; a dry formula tends to keep stools firm and is better for the teeth. Puppies should be fed 3 times a day and this can transition over to twice per day at the 9-month mark. Several dry snacks should be given in between meals and moist treats can be given to reward good behavior such as house training and obeying commands. This breed generally has a very hearty appetite and this, along with their intolerance for extended exercise, makes it easy to gain excess weight. Pugs also tend to have sensitive stomachs and are prone to skin reactions from food additives. Therefore, aim to provide all-natural foods that have no chemical preservatives, no artificial flavoring or dyes, and no by-products, high grain counts, generic meats or oils, corn, soy, or other cheap fillers. If you are not sure what rating your Pug's current dog food has, a good place to check this is Dog Food Advisor which rates the quality of hundreds of brands. And, if you are looking for a good kibble, one recommended brand is Wellness Complete for Small Breeds. For snacks and training treats, Wellness offers several good choices in their line, and if you have an adult Pug and you are working on helping them keep off excess pounds, a good low-calorie option is Fruitables Skinny Minis Dog Treats. Pugs need to drink 1. The tap water in many regions of the US, the UK, Canada and other countries is either outright unsafe or improperly monitored. A number of studies have found drugs in tap water including contraceptive medications, Prozac, Naproxen, Ibuprofen and even illegal drugs; these contain fine particles that are not caught by municipal filtration systems. Other toxins include Chromium-6 a known carcinogen , fluoride which is toxic to canines , chlorite which can cause central nervous problems and HCB which can cause can cause liver disease and skin lesions. And, heavy metals are also an issue. So, for this care tip you can offer bottled spring water, a filtering device that connects your kitchen tap, or a more portable device like the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher. Pugs are prone to bloat, a dangerous and potentially fatal twisting of the stomach. Raised bowls are a contributing factor, as well as eating or drinking too fast or too close to a bout of exercise. For this reason, place food and water in floor-level bowls. If your Pug tends to gulp down his food or water quickly, use a slow-feeder bowl. After eating a meal, do not take your Pug out for exercise for at least one hour. Another element to consider is that stainless-steel bowls are recommended since plastic bowls can cause allergic reactions to either the material itself or to dyes and tend to more easily harbor bacteria, fits the requirements of both height and material. When saliva and tiny food particles mix into water, this creates a slimy film in the dish, which can lead to a dog avoiding it. With food bowls, caked on food can lead to a buildup of bacteria and even mold. Make it a habit to wash both of your Pug's dishes with hot water and soap every day. Since dogs can be very protective of their bowls, a good time to do this is in the evening, after dinner or once your Pug has gone to sleep. Despite their reputation for being lazy, Pugs can have a good amount of energy. And, you'll want to meet this by keeping your Pug moving along, for several reasons: Exercise plays an important role in a Pug's physical health; it's good for the heart and lungs, regulates metabolism, helps maintain proper muscle composition, boosts the immune system, and can keep certain diseases at bay including canine diabetes and even some forms of cancer. Exercise also plays a vital role in a dog's mental health; it allows a dog to release any restlessness that bottles up and allows for desensitization and socialization to all outside elements. At the same time, too much exertion in either duration or intensity can lead to breathing difficulties or overheating for this brachycephalic breed. So, the goal for this care element is to exercise your Pug on a regular basis while keeping in mind your dog's limitations. Pugs do best with at least two walks per day. Each session should last a minimum of 20 minutes, but can extend to 45 minutes or even longer if your Pug is game. Breaks should be taken at the halfway mark of a short walk, every 15 to 20 minutes for a longer walk, or any time that a Pug is breathing noticeably heavier than normal. Bring your Pug into the shade and offer fresh water, ensuring that breathing is back to normal before starting up again. Light to moderate cardio sessions can also be added in, with a rousing game of fetch being the easiest to play and one that most dogs love. Pugs are sensitive to seasonal changes in temperature and some care elements will need to be adjusted. Summer - Hot humid weather makes summertime care a bit tricky with Pugs. Breathing issues are more pronounced and it's more difficult to keep a Pug active. It can help to take your little guy or gal for walks in the early morning and then later in the evening, avoiding the hottest parts of the day. You can help your Pug stay cool by offering lots of water and refreshing treats like frozen blueberries or raspberries. Stay aware of hot walking surfaces which can cause burns to a dog's paws. Take routes in the shade when possible and use a paw wax to offer a layer of protection. Another helpful care tip is to give your Pug a cooling mat to rest on. The Green Pet Shop Self-Cooling Pet Pad works by drawing excess heat away from the body, is self-activating you don't have to plug it in , and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Winter - Plunging temperatures and slippery weather conditions can make wintertime care a bit challenging as well. Fortunately, Pugs have thick coats which help them stay warm in the winter, but never-the-less, many don't like to go out when it's snowy and cold. And, even with dense fur, dogs that are outside for too long, particularly when it's below freezing, are vulnerable to developing hypothermia. So, continue to take your Pug out for their regular exercise sessions, but limit this on days with heavy winter precipitation or below-freezing temperatures. Another aspect to keep in mind is that arid winter air can lead to issues with dry skin. Be sure you are using a hydrating shampoo see care tip 2: Baths and apply a paw wax every two weeks to offer better traction and keep the paw pads in good shape. The Pug is prone to certain issues related to the joints, bones, and ligaments including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and Legg-Calve-Perthes. In addition to this, all dogs age 8-years and up suffer from some level of osteoarthritis and this is more common with breeds that have the aforementioned issues. For this reason, supplying your Pug with a quality bed to rest and sleep on that provides good cushioning and proper support for the body is vital. This should be an appropriately sized orthopedic memory foam bed with at least a 2-inch base. Either a flat mattress or a bolster bed will work and sometimes dogs do have a preference. Because Pugs tend to snore and may have other sleep-related breathing issues, like sleep apnea, being able to place their head on a bolstered cushion which helps extend the neck can be helpful. This also has a non-slip backing and the cover is machine-washable. There are lots of effective toys that can help your Pug in a number of ways and it's always better to have just a few that do their job than a ton that are ignored. Teething puppies need teething toys that help them scratch their itchy gums and soothe the discomfort of erupting teeth. Pugs of all ages that enjoy chewing should be given durable chew toys that they find pleasant to use, as opposed to looking to non-toy items in the house. Pugs that are home alone and suffer from separation anxiety can be helped with interactive toys that respond to them and a companion toy that helps ease feelings of isolation. Toys breeds and brachycephalic breeds are both prone to tooth decay, so that means that if you have a Pug you need to pay particular attention to keeping your dog's teeth clean and healthy. A build up of plaque, which eats away at tooth enamel and can travel under the gum line, can lead to terribly painful infections, tooth loss and more. Taking care of your Pug's teeth includes brushing the teeth with a quality canine toothbrush and effective canine toothpaste, or using a spray if your Pug is intolerant to brushings, and offering daily dental treats like GREENIES Dental Chews. Note that this applies to puppies as well, since decay on milk teeth can affect adult teeth that are waiting to emerge. Pugs should have their teeth examined by the veterinarian at least once a year during their wellness checks. An x-ray may be taken to look for any decay and if there is plaque or tartar present, this may require a 'full dental' which involves scraping the teeth clean. This is done with a dog under light sedation. Trauma is one of the leading causes of death for all puppies, the Pug breed included, and is a top concern for Pugs of all ages. Many instances of severe injury and death can be prevented by following some simple care tips: If your Pug has trouble navigating stairs most applicable to puppies and seniors , block these off with a gate. When outside, never allow your Pug to be off leash. Never allow your Pug to be in the yard unsupervised. If you have a puppy, do not allow anyone to handle him unless they have been shown proper handling techniques, which includes using both hands, one under the rump and one supporting the chest. Have young children stay on floor level to play with your Pug. Always be aware of where you are walking, especially at night, so that your puppy or dog is not accidentally stepped on or tripped over. If your Pug will be a passenger in your car, use a safe canine car seat or a canine belt restraint. These yearly for dogs age 1 and up or twice-per-year typically starting at age 8 visits are crucial for good health, prevention, and the best possible prognosis, should any issues be detected. The vet will perform a full physical examination to check for issues seen with canines in general and health issues specific to the Pug breed. Vitals will be taken temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and your Pug will be weighed. The head will be checked eyes, ears, nose, mouth. The coat and the skin will be examined to look for any signs of concern. Proper posture will be assessed, knees and hips will be examined, and reflexes will be checked. A stool sample will be tested for possible parasites and a blood test will be run to evaluate overall health, flag any infections, and check organ function and electrolyte and protein levels. Senior dogs may have more advanced testing, including x-rays. During the visit, this is your opportunity to ask any questions; a good owner is an involved owner. The American Humane Association estimates over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the US every year. Here are some tips to prevent this: If your Pug tends to run off, consider spaying or neutering. Intact dogs can have strong urges to take off, looking for a mate. If your Pug darts for the door as soon as its open, have a rule that everyone knocks before entering to allow enough time for someone to hold onto the dog. Consider having your Pug micro-chipped; dogs with chips are returned to owners at a much higher rate than those without. Have current photos of your Pug. If your dog does become lost, create 'lost dog' posters and bring these to all animal services and shelters within a mile area dogs are sometime brought to local shelters but send further away if there is over-crowding. Did you find these care tips to be helpful? This is available in both soft-cover paperback and ebook. Pug Paw Care - The most common issues seen and helpful tips to keep the paws in excellent shape. When a Pug is Super Itchy - Top reasons that cause both acute and chronic itchiness and how to offer fast relief. Housebreaking a Pug - Pugs typically aim to please, but house training can still be a bit challenging. See exact guidelines for fast success. Tips to Keep a Pug Busy and Occupied - Does your Pug stay home alone or seem lost unless you interact with him or her? See super-helpful advice to keep your Pug entertained and happy. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Pugs require attention, but should also have a space of their own in which they feel comfortable when you are not home or are otherwise occupied. Provide your pug with an area of its own including a bed and blankets, some toys, and easy access to food and fresh water. This way, even if you cannot pay attention to your pug for a moment, they do not feel alone. Remember that pugs are sensitive to very hot temperatures and rapid temperature changes. Avoid setting up their space in areas with continued direct sunlight or near heating and cooling vents. Pugs are prone to nervousness and anxiety. You can help them calm down by being consistent in your daily routine. This means scheduling feeding times, walks, play times, and quiet times as close to the same time every day as possible. Because of this, it is important to schedule a vet check as soon as you bring your new pug home. It is important for your pug to be seen by a veterinarian regularly so that it can get preventative veterinary care. A bi-annual check up will ensure that your dog stays up to date on immunizations, preventative medications, and that any emerging health problems can be dealt with quickly. Younger pugs may need to see the vet more often until they are spayed or neutered and have completed their first course of shots. Your vet will help you work out a preventative care schedule for things like annual shots, heartworm treatments, parasite elimination, vaccinations, microchipping, and teeth cleanings, all of which are important parts of keeping your pug healthy. This is especially important if you have children in the house. Teach your children how to recognize when your dog is anxious or fearful, so that they know when to back off. Overview When you have a dog from the age of a young pup, this gives you a wonderful opportunity. It offers you a chance to bond with your dog from the very beginning. This also gives you an advantage because you will be able to train and teach your pup what they need to know before they learn any bad behavior from elsewhere. This section will discuss how to care for a Pug puppy, starting at 8 weeks old and up until he or she is an adult, at the age of 1 year. Transition to a New Home Things will run much smoother if you plan ahead and have most, if not all, of your puppy care items already in your home. Here are the most important items to have: A crate — One with an adjustable size is best to fit the needs of a growing Pug puppy. Crating is a good night time method to use until a pup is housebroken. Gates or a playpen — Choosing an area to gate off or using a canine playpen are good options for when you must leave your Pug puppy home alone or for when you cannot be right at his side. This keeps the pup in a controlled space which helps in regard to bathroom needs and keeping a puppy in one area when he or she has strong chewing urges. Puppy food — This should be obtained before the puppy is brought home. Owners will not always agree with the food that a puppy has been being fed, however any change should be done gradually. Have the food that the Pug has been used to eating on hand, as well as your new choice. Details regarding making this change can be found here: Feeding a Pug. You'll also want them to be sized appropriately and at floor level. Honey — Puppies are prone to the condition of hypoglycemia, which is a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar levels. Stress, among other things, can bring this on and while going to a new home is a happy event, it can also be stressful for a little pup that is leaving all that he knew and no longer has the companionship and friendship of his litter-mates. Treatment can be provided at home as plans are being made to bring the puppy to the closest animal hospital or veterinarian. A small dab of honey is rubbed onto the gums and then the puppy should receive professional treatment, sometimes an IV to restore sugar levels back to normal. Leash, collar and harness — Pugs are prone to conditions that involve breathing problems. The body structure of this breed confines breathing passages into a small space and Pugs can have smaller than normal nasal passages and openings stenotic nares. For this reason, using a harness can help a Pug breathe easier when on leash. A short 6 foot leash works best for both potty training and heeling. Read more : Choosing the Best Collar and Harness for a Pug Grooming supplies — The thick coat of a Pug sheds heavily and brushing it well and offering baths on a regular basis can help control shedding. Starting dental care at a young age can help a puppy become used to this grooming element and set up a foundation for a life time of good dental hygiene practices. Keeping the wrinkles, eyes and ears clean are important part of caring for a Pug puppy. Read more: Shedding - Expect your Pug to shed a lot and be prepared by having the right tools. Dental care - Taking care of your Pug's teeth should be high on your priority list. Ears - Expected shapes and proper care. Wrinkles - Keeping the wrinkles dry and clean. Sleeping supplies - Some owners prefer to have their puppy sleep in the bed with them and while this is not always a bad thing, an owner should think about how that will play out as the pup matures into a much larger adult dog. Having a pup get used to his own canine bed from the beginning, set up in a quiet corner of a room, may work out best. Do keep in mind that Pugs crave human companionship and do not like to feel isolated. Setting up the bed in a quiet corner of a well-used room allows a Pug to have a nice area to retreat to for rest and sleep while allowing him to be close to his human family. It will be normal for a little one to sleep anywhere from 16 to 18 hours a day.This included both night time sleep and naps that will be taken throughout the day. Chew Toys — Teething will begin around the age of 3 or 4 months old and can last up until a Pug puppy is 8 months old. Having a good supply of toys on hand for a puppy to chew on is important. Puppy Proofing Before bringing a puppy home and on a regular basis at least weekly owners are encouraged to go over all floors to remove any small objects that could be accidentally swallowed. All items that could be chewed on such as pocket books and shoes should be placed up high until the Pug has matured. Whining It is normal for very young puppies to cry when first brought to a new home, this usually only lasts for a week or so as the pup becomes used to his new family and environment. This can also be a sign of needing to go to the bathroom, so following house training guidelines, be sure to take your Pug puppy outside on a regular basis. Vaccinations for the Pug Puppy An important part of caring for your puppy will be to make sure he or she is up-to-date for all needed vaccinations. An 8-week-old should already have received his shots, as well as a de-worming. Veterinarians will have varying schedules, however this is a general guideline: 5 weeks Parvovirus: For puppies at high risk of exposure to parvo, some veterinarians recommend vaccinating at 5 weeks. Dogs at high risk are those that live in areas where wild life raccoon, skunk, deer, etc. The inclusion of either canine adenovirus-1 or adenovirus-2 in a vaccine will protect against both adenovirus cough and hepatitis; adenovirus-2 is highly preferred. You will want to talk to your veterinarian about this. Reactions to Vaccines Immunizations are intended to stimulate the immune system to then protect a dog against a specific infectious disease. It is very important to have your Pug receive all needed vaccinations. Your Pug may react to immunizations in ways that range from soreness at the site of injection to mild fever to allergic reactions. The allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. Mild- Mild reactions include fever, sluggishness, and loss of appetite. Mild reactions usually resolve without any treatment needed. This is called Urticaria. This happens when there is a reaction of the skin and shows as hives or bumps. It is usually extremely itchy. Urticaria may progress to anaphylaxis, which is considered life-threatening. However, Urticaria is the most common reaction in dogs if a reaction is to happen. Severe - The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis. This is a very fast, sudden, severe allergic response that causes breathing difficulties, collapse and possible death. This is very rare. Urticaria the moderate and most common reaction, if one is to occur happens soon after vaccination, often even before the puppy is brought home. It can happen in the car while you are driving back to your house. Your veterinarian will recommend immediate return to the hospital for treatment. Urticaria is usually treated successfully with injectable corticosteroids like dexamethasone or prednisone. Antihistamines do little to help with acute allergic reactions but may be given by injection to help prevent recurrence of symptoms after steroids wear off. Mild vaccination reactions usually require no treatment. However, if the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, call your veterinarian. Growth Rate A Pug puppy grows quickly and this can happen gradually or with spurts and stops. Many Pug puppies have a growth spurt near the 3 to 5 month mark. As the pup nears the 1 year mark, growth will slow down. Once a Pug reaches his or her full height, there may still be some growth in the width of the Pug, as the chest widens and fills out. How a Pug ages and his growth is rapid, yet can be staggered during the first year. Getting Your Puppy Comfortable One of the most important parts of bringing a puppy home is allowing him or her to become used to their new surroundings. Allow your pup to roam around and check out his new environment. Be sure to keep a puppy's water in one designed spot so that the pup can know that it can always be found. The drinking and feeding area should be in a quite corner of a room, without much foot traffic or noise, since small puppies can feel vulnerable while eating. The absolute longest that a 2 month old pup can hold their needs is 2 hours. The bladder and bowel muscles are not yet fully developed. As they grow older, this time will increase as they have more control over their body. Usually it will increase by 1 hour for each month that goes by. Therefore, a 3 month old can hold on for about 3 hours, a 4 month old for about 4 hours and so on.With 8 hours being the maximum time for any age. Informational Note: When your 2 month old needs to go outside at least every 2 hours, be sure to not get stuck into that habit.It is important to slowly increase the time intervals. Your 3 month old can wait about 3 hours, but only if you allow the pup to use his bowel and bladder muscles to work and grow stronger. If an owner always brought their Pug outside every 2 hours, the dog would never learn to hold their needs for a longer period of time. Keep reading about the best way to house train a Pug puppy. All puppy vaccinations should be given before you take him or her out to the park, to pet supply stores or any other area in which there may have been or could be other animals. Many new owners already have another dog in the household. As your puppy grows older and is receiving the needed vaccinations, you can slowly begin introducing your new puppy to other dogs and allow normal socialization to begin. The Necessities of Care To have a healthy and happy puppy that will grow into a happy and healthy adult dog, make sure to always provide the essentials: A proper diet. You will need to decide if you want to offer manufacture food, home cooked food or a combination of both. Pugs are very sensitive to their human's emotions. A hug goes a long way! All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Small Pets Taking Care of a Pug Puppy Pugs are some of the most soulful looking animals on the planet, and are very expressive. You can easily recognize a pug as these small breed dogs have a wrinkly face and a curled tail. They first came to international prominence when mobile operator Vodafone used them to endorse their brand —the ad with the pug, named Hutch in the ad, was a stupendous success with the pug soon becoming a household name. But there are certain things that you must be aware of if you also want to adopt this cute pet. Unlike adult pugs, small pug dogs are most likely to suffer from a number of health issues ranging from obesity, overheating and pharyngeal reflex. So, you need to be the doubly careful when dealing with these vulnerable puppies. If you are worried, you can take heart from the fact that taking care of the pups is uncomplicated and easy as they have very few demands. Before bringing home the pug puppy Ensure that you have all the grooming items in place starting from brush, cotton swabs, and petroleum jelly to puppy shampoo and dog treats. Here are some guidelines that you can refer to when taking care of the pug puppy: Training the puppy to follow your commands: There is no substitute for a well-trained dog, so train the puppy from day one. The first six months are the most crucial as during this period, he will learn the most which will mold him. Every time he responds correctly to your commands, like sit, run, jump, and come, give him some treats and words of encouragement. But there is one caveat: keep the sessions short as being such a young dog, his power of concentration is limited. To start with, minute sessions would be ok. Also, when taking him for a walk, better use a harness which will provide protection to his windpipe. Potty training: This is a very important stage of puppy training. When he is young, he has very little control over his bladder, so you need to take him out for potty breaks more frequently than you would do to an adult. He may demand potty breaks every hours at this stage, but as he grows older and his control over the bladder imp roves, the frequency will gradually become normal. However, under no circumstances, you should overlook his tendency to soil corners of the home thinking that it is an isolated incident, because it is not. Deal with such incidents with a firm no, or else he will become a big nuisance and a lazy dog. Grooming routine: The pug has a double coat which keeps shedding continuously, so daily grooming is essential. Brush the pug at least twice every week and vacuum him extensively. In what is unusual, pug dogs are very fond of water, unlike other dogs. You can easily find soaps and other bath related items that are designed for puppies in the local outlet, use them. Try oatmeal based shampoos which not only keeps his skin soft, but protects his sensitive skin. Pugs have narrow ear canals, so chances of getting an ear infection if water gets into its ear are higher in pugs. What you can do is use soft tissues or a cotton ball to wipe the ear clean and dry. If your pug is shaking his head violently, then it may indicate an ear infection —and if there is an infection, get in touch with the vet immediately. Cleaning of Pug Wrinkles Pug wrinkles are called folds, which serve as a great place to accumulate all sorts of unwanted stuff like water, mucous, dirt, tear, food etc. Cleaning of pug wrinkles is an easy task and getting the Pug used to it at an early age is a good idea. Some owners use an Ear Bud or Q-Tip for this purpose, but we would not recommend this as the slightest struggle from your Pug could cause an eye injury. Instead, you can use baby wipes or medicated wipes. You can fill a cup with lukewarm water and dip the baby wipes or cotton swab in it. After that, run the moist tip of baby wipes through the wrinkles so that all dirt and grime particle come out. At the end, you should use a cotton swab to smear petroleum jelly inside the wrinkles to keep the internal skin protected. Tackling overheating issues: Pugs are adversely affected by warm conditions and may get dehydrated. So, ensure that the living condition of the pup is cool- special care needs to be taken during the summers when the pugs feel great discomfort. Regularly check the room temperature where the pug is kept, and if you feel that the room is too hot, you have to either move it to a cool room or else you have to provide him with lots of water. In extreme conditions, there are cold compresses that you can put on his belly till it cools down. Exercise: Pugs are actually overweight for their size, so unless they exercise a lot heath issues are a given. Take him for a daily walk and play different games with it which will help it maintain its health. Be careful not to take him out on a bright sunny day, as it can dehydrate him. Feeding the puppy: There are special diets that are designed for pugs. But you may be unsure which brand to select for your puppy as there are so many different brands in the market. The best thing to do in such a situation is to take the advice of a vet. Pugs would eat almost anything and in the process put on a lot of weight. So, make it a point not to overfeed it. Also, if your dog prefers a particular food and you want to wean it away from that food, do it gradually. Normally, puppies in the age group 3 to 6 months should be fed at least three times a day. And from 6 months to 1 year, change it to two times. To make the feeding process easier for the pet, try using bowls that has an elevated shape off the ground. For more guidance, please refer to this article : Puppy feeding tips for new dog owners Dealing with obesity: Overeating will not only make the pug overweight, but may pave the way for ailments like leg pain, eye disorders, and lung problems. About Rahul From Delhi, Rahul is an animal lover at heart. He is a writer and most of his writing revolves around making people aware of animal issues like health, training and grooming.

Springador Highlights Springadors are mixed breed dogs. They are not purebreds like their Labrador Retriever and Springer Spaniel parents. The main colors that the coat of the Springador comes in are black, brown, and gold. In general, the Springador does not shed much. The Springador is an energetic and active dog who will require around an hour of exercise every day. The Springador can work well with kids, although this is a mixed breed that definitely does better with older adults. If you have children and are considering adding a Springador to your family, make sure that both parties are socialized properly right from the start. In general, Springadors are fine around other household pets, though they can view smaller animals as prey. Set boundaries and supervise play. The Springador is definitely not a dog who does well being left alone all day. In fact, if the mixed breed does not receive enough attention and human contact, negative personality traits and behaviors might arise. The Labrador Retriever hails from Canada, where they were originally employed by fishermen to help bring back fish that might have escaped. These days, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dogs in the United States. When it comes to the Springer Spaniel, this is a breed that comes from Spain and was introduced to other European countries by the Romans. Springer Spaniels have a history of being used as a game dog charged with retrieving tasks. Even though the Springador got their start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the breed for you! Springador Size The Springador is a large dog. As is always the case with newer dog breeds, exact size standards might vary. Most weigh in at 50 to 90 pounds and range in height from 18 to 24 inches. Female Springadors are sometimes smaller than their male counterparts. This mixed breed is super friendly and will happily form loving bonds with the humans in their life. This is a dog who craves companionship and will want to become a focal part of your day-to-day life. The downside to this is that the Springador is definitely not a dog who does well being left alone all day. If you have an active family that also likes to spend a lot of time outside, the Springador will be a great fit for your lifestyle. Consider agility training, especially if you have a safe outdoors space to offer to the dog. Springador Health Springadors are generally considered to be healthy dogs, although the breed can be predisposed to some of the same conditions that the Springer Spaniel and Labrador Retriever face. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Consider adding agility training and fetch-and-retrieve tasks to the daily outdoor routine. The Springador is definitely a mixed breed that loves a visit to the dog park—being around other canines helps add variety to their day. Wash them weekly with a damp cloth and look out for any signs of infection or a build up of dirt. Springador Feeding An ideal Springador diet should be formulated for a large dog with high energy. Springador Coat Color And Grooming The main colors that the coat of the Springador comes in are black, brown, and gold. When it comes to climate, the Springador is an adaptable dog who can live happily in most climates. But remember to dress the mixed breed up in a dog coat if it gets very cold outside, and always make sure adequate shade and fresh water is provided when the temperature spikes. Springador Children And Other Pets The Springador can work well with kids, although this is a mixed breed that definitely does better with older adults. So ensure that the boundaries between the dog and any existing household pets are laid down properly, and supervise interactions. Ultimately, early socialization really pays off with this mixed breed. Make sure to reward your Springador for good behavior and adhere to a proper training regimen when you bring them home to your family. Springador Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Springadors because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Springer Spaniel or Labrador Retriever breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. If an English Springer Spaniel Mix takes after their Spaniel parent, they will grow to be a medium-sized dog with a lot of energy and a lovable personality. These dogs thrive on attention and affection from their favorite humans. English Springer Spaniels are active and loving dogs that are devoted to their families. They bond closely with their humans, tend to be friendly, and also tend to be gentle. This also means they tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and even other pets. The other parent breed will introduce their own set of potential traits and quirks, so you do want to ask the breeder about them. You can also meet the mother to see what her temperament is like and see what behavior she is modeling for her English Springer Spaniel Mix puppies. The breeder should have started some socialization and training, but it is up to you to continue to train and socialize a puppy once you get them home. This will help your English Springer Spaniel Mix puppy grow into a well-rounded, well-mannered dog. English Springer Spaniels tend to be highly adaptable dogs. They do well in larger homes as well as apartments as long as they get enough daily exercise. Because they thrive on attention and bond closely with their families, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If the other parent breed is also highly adaptable, then you can expect the same from an English Springer Spaniel Mix. Because the other parent breed will introduce traits that could affect adaptability, you want to make sure you ask the breeder about them. They could inherit none of the conditions common to their parent breeds, or they could inherit all of them or some combination of them. From the English Springer Spaniel side, potential health conditions to be aware of in an English Springer Spaniel Mix include eye conditions, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. English Springer Spaniels are highly intelligent, eager to please, and pick up on things easily. Although their high energy can sometimes be a challenge and cause them to get bored, they tend to be a good fit for owners of all experience levels. If the other parent breed is also highly trainable, then you can expect the same from an English Springer Spaniel Mix. An English Springer Spaniel Mix can inherit a coat similar to one of their parents or one that is truly a mix of both. If they inherit the Spaniel coat, they will shed a bit year-round, require brushing a few times a week, and a bath as needed. Nail trims once or twice a month keep them from growing too long. Weekly ear checks with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. In addition to regular cleanings at the vet when needed, daily brushing or daily use of an enzyme toothpaste is ideal. An English Springer Spaniel is a high-energy dog that loves being active with you. Daily walks plus playtime and extra activities help keep this dog happy and healthy. They will also likely be up for more activity if you are. If the other parent breed is also a high-energy dog breed, then you can expect an English Springer Spaniel Mix to be high energy as well. Even if the other parent breed has a lower energy level, you will still need to be prepared for the potential of a high-energy dog. Fully-grown English Springer Spaniels tend to stand inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. You can also meet the mother in person. English Springer Spaniels generally live for years. Although the other parent breed may affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar average life span in English Springer Spaniel Mixes. Currently, we do not have any English Springer Spaniel Mix puppies available, but we can alert you when new English Springer Spaniel Mix puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address! Related Breeds. Also called Labradingers or Labradinger Retrievers, Springador pups often take on the colors of a Labrador — yellow, black, and chocolate — and become fairly large. They may also develop the curly hair and white markings that typify Springer Spaniels, though! Sporting Dog Roots Your Springador will definitely live up to their roots as sporting type dogs, being a workhorse Lab combined with a hard headed Springer Spaniel. But purebred dogs are your best bet if you are looking for a working dog to do a specific job. Labs were originally bred to retrieve fish from hooks or traps for their owners. Over the generations they became known for being the best dog to have with you if you were doing any kind of shooting. They are skilled at running, swimming, fighting, and following their sense of smell. Springer Spaniels are an old breed; the Romans are said to be responsible for their original European distribution. Springers are sporting dogs, bred to retrieve and flush out game. They are known for being elegant, active, and friendly — and for causing lots of trouble! Their determination to reach their prey can override their interest in listening to your commands. Sporting dog breeds have been combined for generations by game keepers and farmers. Dog handlers keen to have a dog that can do it all. The classic Lab temperament is sweet, friendly, active, easy to train, and easy to socialize, and tends to shine through in Sprinador mixes. Appearances, Size and Weight Springador dogs have even leg to back ratios, long muzzles and wide happy expressions. Their tails are long and broad, and their ears hang low around their faces. Springer puppies can weigh from lbs. They range from about .Springer spaniels are slightly smaller than Labs, at inches. They weigh around lbs. A Springador full grown, being a mix, can take on the smaller size of Springer Spaniels, or grow to be as big as Labs. You just never know with cross breed dogs! They may have white markings. They tend to have medium-to-long coats that are somewhat dense. This makes their fur more waterproof. The hair can range from straight to wiry and curly. They are high-shed dogs in-season, so if you are allergic these are not the dogs for you! Springador dogs should also be groomed frequently. They will need the long hairs on their legs and ears clipping to keep them free of undergrowth! The Springador Temperament Labradors are friendly and outgoing, and mix well with others. They do bark to sound the alert, but are even tempered on the whole. English Springer Spaniels are friendly and playful. They are also known for being hardworking, steady, and obedient to a point. Springador dogs are incredibly driven when it comes to prey, due to their working roots. Novice handlers find it hard to control them outdoors or under distracting conditions. You should avoid casual walks off leash unless you have taught them to come when called in every scenario. Recall is everything and takes a long time to proof with a dog this driven. Your Springador will have lots of energy, be prone to noise and sadly nervous aggression too in some working lines. Stamina is a key part of their personality. Springador Training All dogs can benefit from basic obedience training and socialization at an early age. They are easy to train, and react well to positive reinforcement. Springer Spaniels especially are very energetic and have a high prey drive, which means they should get recall training from a young age. Springadors can be headstrong! These dogs, because of their Labrador blood, will pull on the leash if possible, so training them not to do that will help save your arm! Also, Labradors stay puppy-like for a long time. This is another good reason to train your Springadors. You may wish to consider advanced training — agility, or therapy, for your Springador. They like to work, and their high activity levels make this good enrichment for them. Springador Exercise A small apartment may not be the best place for your Springador. With so much energy to spare, they really need space to roam. Their minds must also be exercised, so we do recommend agility training or retriever training to keep them stimulated. Springer Spaniels especially are not happy when left alone much, so you should take that into account as well. Springador Parent Health Tests Because Labs and Springer Spaniels are prone to similar inherited diseases, you might not see the health advantages as much in the Labrador x Springer cross as with others. The pups of any mixed breed dog will have similar concerns to their parents, so keep that in mind as you shop for Springadors. But it is impossible to know exactly how those health problems will manifest in a cross-bred puppy. It is important, always, to have a health screening for your dog, and to know its family health history whenever possible. Make sure that both parents have good hip scores, clear eye tests and are PRA clear. The Lab parent should also have good elbow scores. However, in general, both dogs are robust and healthy breeds. Also, purebred dogs may not live as long as mixed breeds. But the longevity of your English Springer Spaniel Lab mix depends on a number of factors, including diet, environment, and quality of life. It also depends on genetics, so when you choose your Springador, consider the health of both parents and their families. Your dog may live anywhere from years. By keeping your Springadors healthy and happy, you can ensure they live as long as possible! As with all interactions with breeders, do your research. If you can, visit the home where your potential pup is growing up. That way, you can meet the parents, see the conditions where she was raised, and view for yourself how the breeder interacts with the dogs. Remember to ask the breeder for health certification for the dogs. A breeder with integrity will have no problems with this. Always meet the mother when buying a puppy. Springador Puppies Remember that if you want to buy cross-bred puppies, they are at risk for the same health problems as their parents of either breed. You could get more Lab, or you could get more Springer Spaniel qualities. This goes for their health issues, their temperament, and their physiology. Springador Rescue If you are willing and able to rescue a Springador, rescues do exist. You may also be able to fix a mix inside a shelter, too. You will also have less choice when it comes to age, gender, and other aspects of your new dog. Training or re-training may be required. If you want to rescue a Springador, you may have to be patient to find the right animal for you and your family. The dog you want might not be waiting in a shelter yet.