when do german shepherd puppies eyes open

Available Thank you for visiting LaMarca's Kennels! I grew up raising horses and barrel racing which is where I developed an appreciation for a fine pedigree and seeing these genetics in action. From my first German Shepherd I found a passion for working dogs. My current adventure is my step into the world of protection sports. I am currently training for PSA which is a protection sport that focuses heavily on secondary obedience and control and strong nerves by creating a variety of scenarios designed to challenge the dog in all aspects. I also am trialing some of my dogs in American Schutzhund, which is very similar to the globally recognized IGP sport. Breeding for a Purpose With a passion for working dogs, each litter is carefully planned to combine the best genes for the pups intended use. Pups are placed in homes not by their looks but rather by evaluating each puppy's drives and key attributes. We will discuss your specific needs and intended use so that we can match you with the perfect dog or puppy. You will have flexibility in choosing your puppy, however I will make the recommendations on which puppy or puppies I believe are the best fit for your needs and lifestyle. I breed to produce excellent representatives of the breed, puppies who are evironmentally stable, structurally correct, dark pigment, good drives, and excellent workability. I aim to produce puppies best suited for sport, protection, working dogs SAR, police, service but also stable enough to be in active family homes. I have placed pups in working venues including Police, SAR, sports, service, and personal protection with high success rate. Preview our sales contract Good Dog Breeder! My kennel has been screened and recognized by Good Dog as a responsible breeding program with Excellent level health testing practices. Click on my Good Dog badge to view my kennel profile on the Good Dog website! What makes our puppies special? Follow the link below to learn what we include with each puppy and how we go above and beyond in raising each litter to give them the best chance at success. For the complete list please see our German Shepherd in Your Area page. In Louisiana, you will have the option of purchasing either a purebred or crossbreed dog. You should avoid purchasing from backyard breeders or pet stores because these dogs may not receive proper care and in many cases are in poor health. An excellent place to find German Shepherd puppies for sale in Louisiana is by contacting local breeders and asking about their available litters. Breeders will often make themselves available for potential buyers to visit the litter and allow them to interact with the puppies before choosing one that best fits into your family structure. Look for people who own the type of dog you are interested in and speak to them about their experiences with their breeder. You can talk with your veterinarian or contact your local kennel club for more information on breeders they recommend. Another way to find a responsible German Shepherd Breeder is to visit online message boards that are dedicated to the breed. You can pose a question about where you can find reputable breeders in your area and ask for personal recommendations. It is important to meet with the breeder before purchasing any type of dog to ensure that they are knowledgeable about their breeding practices, have taken proper steps for genetic testing, and do not keep their dogs in poor conditions. To learn more, contact local kennel clubs or veterinarians who specialize in German Shepherds for more information on finding a reputable breeder. This will allow you to see where the puppies are kept and interact with the dogs before making your final decision on which one is best for you. During your visit, look around at what kind of environment they have for their dogs. Are the dogs looked after properly? Do they receive enough space inside, or do they spend most of their time outside? A good breeder will socialize their puppies with gentle human interaction to help them become well-rounded animals. For more information on finding a reputable breeder, contact local kennel clubs and veterinarians who specialize in German Shepherds for more information. How to Find Puppy Mills And Backyard Breeders in Louisiana Unfortunately, there are all too many unethical breeders looking to make a quick buck that will sell their puppies to anyone with money. Backyard breeders do not care about genetic testing or providing an environment where dogs can grow up healthy and happy; they only care about making a profit at the expense of the animals. Many backyard breeders keep their dogs in cramped conditions without access to proper veterinary care or sanitation options. A responsible breeder will have happy customers who can speak to the quality of their puppies and the care they received from the breeder. References can be extremely valuable when it comes time to choosing a breeder, as they can give you an idea of the kind of experience you can expect when purchasing a puppy from them. Ask your potential breeder for references and then take the time to contact them. If possible, try to visit their home and meet their dogs to get a first-hand account of what life is like with them. References can also be a good place to start if you are looking for a reputable breeder in your area. Contact local kennel clubs or veterinarians who specialize in German Shepherds for more information. If they refuse, this is a major red flag and you should look for a different breeder immediately. By meeting both parents, not only will you learn more about what kind of personality traits they may exhibit, but it will also give you an idea about how large they are likely to become as adults. Be wary of any breeder who does not allow you to interact with their dogs in person. If a breeder refuses, this is a major red flag and you should look for a different breeder immediately. Good breeders will socialize their puppies with gentle human interaction to help them become well-rounded animals. You should always ask your breeder if they have a veterinarian that they work with. This means that, in the event of an emergency, the breeder will be able to contact a professional without any trouble. If you want to bring your German Shepherd puppy home and you know a good veterinarian in your area, it is a good idea to ask for their information so you can start taking him or her in as soon as possible. A responsible breeder will also keep veterinary records on all of their animals and provide them to both you and the new veterinarian upon request. Puppy mills and backyard breeders do not adhere to humane standards when breeding dogs; instead, they view them as livestock that exists solely for profit. These unethical breeders often keep their dogs in cramped and unsanitary conditions, without proper veterinary care or socialization. As a result, the puppies they produce often have temperament and health problems. Some common warning signs include: The breeder does not have any information on the parents of the puppies The breeder does not allow you to meet the parents of the puppies The breeder does not allow you to interact with the puppies in person The breeder keeps their dogs in cramped and unsanitary conditions The breeder does not provide veterinary records to new owners The breeder charges excessive prices for puppies If you encounter a breeder who exhibits any of these signs, please report them to your local animal welfare organization. Puppy mills and backyard breeders should be shut down in order to protect the welfare of the dogs involved. When looking for a German Shepherd breeder in Louisiana, it is important to keep in mind that not all breeders are created equal. Some breeders are more interested in making a profit than in providing quality puppies, while others take great care in the breeding and raising of their dogs. By following these tips, you can help ensure that you find a healthy, happy puppy. Good breeders will screen their dogs for genetic health issues and will not breed animals who are prone to developing certain diseases. If you are considering buying a German Shepherd puppy, it is important to be aware of some common health problems that these dogs can suffer from, such as hip dysplasia, bloat, and elbow dysplasia. Puppy mills and backyard breeders often do not screen their puppies for health problems, which can lead to expensive vet bills down the road. When looking for a Louisiana German Shepherd breeder, always ask about the health of the puppies. A good breeder will be happy to answer any questions you have and give you a clean bill of health for both your puppy and its parents. The following are some common items that new German Shepherd owners usually have around their house: A crate.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase the item. This comes at no extra cost to you. Is there anything cuter than a two-month-old Golden Retriever puppy? At eight weeks old, they are absolutely, impossibly, unbearably adorable! At two months old, a Golden Retriever is ready to leave their mother and littermates to join their new family. Some breeders will keep a puppy for a couple more weeks before sending them home, but eight weeks is very typical. Puppies at this age are usually playful and curious, with brains like little sponges. This usually only lasts a day or two, and then their true personality will shine through! They are in the prime socialization window here, which is the time between three and sixteen weeks when puppies are most open to learning about the world. Proper socialization can help you buffer against potential behavior issues as your pup matures, and teaches them how to feel and act in different situations and environments. It helps them feel confident and self-assured. A two-month-old Golden Retriever puppy is constantly learning! Make sure your puppy is learning that they are safe and that they can trust you both at home and out in the world. A fear period is a temporary span of time where a puppy may be more sensitive to things like strange people, strange dogs, inanimate objects, sounds, etc. It usually lasts about a week and you may notice your puppy showing signs of fear such as cowering, running away, growling, or barking. It can be a little scary as the owner of a puppy to see them acting this way. The good thing is that a fear period is short-lived and will pass. If they are concerned about something or someone, help them get more distance so they can observe the thing while feeling safe. They have a lot of needs and are totally dependent on you to meet those needs. Be patient as you help them learn how to live in our human world, and you can develop a strong, positive bond with your new companion. Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! This is heavily influenced by genetics, but is not always the best indicator of their adult weight. Some lines of Goldens are bigger or smaller than average, so puppy size will reflect that. Your vet can help you make sure that your puppy is at an appropriate weight if you have any concerns. Eight-week-old Golden Retrievers need around 18 hours of sleep each day. Oftentimes, a puppy that is wild and bitey is in fact overly tired and in need of a nap. It may seem like they need more exercise to drain that crazy energy, but they actually need sleep. Using crates and pens can help ensure that your puppy is getting enough sleep at night and throughout the day. Many two-month-old Goldens are not good at putting themselves down for a nap, even when they really need it. So, you may need to step in and help your puppy settle in for some sleep. Make sure that their crate or pen is nice and comfy before you put them in for a nap, so they are more able to relax and fall asleep. Every puppy is different, so yours may prefer a nice cushy bed , or they may actually like laying on the bare floor. You can take note of what kinds of surfaces your puppy lays on around the house and then recreate that in the crate or pen. Covering the crate or pen with a blanket can also help make sleep easier for a two-month-old puppy, as it cuts down on the visual stimulation. Products like Adaptil spray or diffuser , and the Snuggle Puppy toy can also help a puppy settle in for sleep. Chewing and licking are naturally calming behaviors for puppies, so it can also help if you offer something like a stuffed kong , which can assist in transitioning the puppy from awake to asleep. Playing Classical music can also help a puppy feel more calm and able to sleep. At this age, most two-month-old puppies are ready for sleep after about an hour of awake time, so by following these tips, you can help make sure your puppy is getting enough quality rest. Instead, you can give them a break and see if they choose to get up, or simply scoop them up and walk home. Sometimes people get a Golden Retriever to be a running or biking companion, which can be a great thing when the pup is a fully grown adult, but is too much exercise for a young puppy. Playing with toys in the house or in the yard can be a great way for young pups to burn some of that puppy energy. If you have a yard, letting your pup safely explore and run around outside can also be a nice way to get in some exercise. You may also find that your puppy needs more sleep on some days, and on other days, they need more playtime and exercise. Golden Retrievers as a breed can also vary a lot in terms of exercise needs. Some are pretty laid back and chill and others are up for anything and want to go hard. These differences can be reflected in how much energy your puppy has, as well as in what kind and how much exercise your puppy needs. Training is an excellent way to build a positive bond with your puppy and create a way to communicate with each other. Group puppy classes can be a good option for getting started with training, as the trainer will help you learn how to train your pup. You can also hire a certified, professional trainer to come to your home and provide personalized training guidance for you and your puppy. Before you sign up with any trainer, be sure to ask them what kind of training methods and tools they use, to avoid causing any physical or mental distress for your puppy. Potty training is definitely a top priority for two-month-old puppies. They have small bladders and bowels and will need frequent trips outside to help them learn appropriate potty behavior. Crate training can also be started at this age, as learning how to be okay with confinement is an important life skill. Eight-week-old Golden Retriever puppies eat about a half cup of food three times per day. There is no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to feeding your two-month-old Golden. Puppies at this age need more frequent meals than adult Goldens, so three meals a day is recommended. Because two-month-old Goldens are undergoing so much growth at this stage, feed them high-quality food that can support them as they mature. Most Goldens have big appetites and will happily gobble down their meals when you serve them. Using slow feeder bowls like this bowl on Amazon , or other food dispensing toys, such as the Planet Dog Snoop , can help slow down their eating and provide them some mental stimulation while they eat. Puppies like to put things in their mouth as a way to learn and play. Unfortunately, it can be pretty painful for humans, as those puppy teeth are needle-sharp! There are, however, some things you can do to minimize and deal with the biting. First, ensure that your two-month-old Golden is getting enough sleep. Overly tired puppies tend to get super bitey and frenzied, so naps are key to preventing your puppy from turning into a piranha. Your floor might look a little cluttered, but it helps to keep toys within reach for a quick redirection. Third, you can simply give the puppy a break if they are on a biting spree. You could step on the other side of a baby gate or put them in their pen to calm down a bit, and then resume the play. This communicates to the puppy that when they bite, they lose access to you and the fun stops. A common piece of advice when dealing with puppy biting is to yelp in response to their nip, as if you were another dog. This is actually not a good way to handle puppy biting and can actually make it worse. Other puppies will be further excited by the yelp sound and come at you with even more intensity, resulting in harder bites. Good Beginnings Bringing a two-month-old Golden Retriever home is a very exciting thing. It can also feel pretty overwhelming as you figure out how to care for and train them. You might be sleep-deprived and have a couple scratches on your hand from those sharp puppy teeth, but try to keep in mind that this is the beginning of a special relationship with an incredible animal. Focus on bonding with your puppy, teaching them about the world, and creating good habits from the start. Have any questions about raising eight-week-old golden retrievers? Let me know down in the comments! Read the rest of our Golden Retriever puppy series here:. We are overjoyed for you! Golden Retrievers are one of the most friendly and loving breeds…and lucky for you, one of the easiest to train. Golden Retrievers require a great deal of mental stimulation to avoid going about on their own or becoming frustrated. Their love for food is infinite. Prerequisites for training my Golden Retriever puppy? What age can I start to train my Golden Retriever puppy? Sounds like a good deal! We can only hope. What do I need to train my Golden Retriever? Say bye to that sticky, meaty feeling in your fingertips. A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat: For a cozy bed, warm nights, and good dreams. Treats: The more smelly, the better. Two identical toys : Great for swaps! The name says it all…your Golden Retriever puppy will love retrieving, so identical toys will be great for all the games we have in store for you in the Zigzag Puppy training app. Of course, Golden Retrievers grow to be big dogs. How much exercise does a Golden Retriever need? A golden retriever needs 2 hours of exercise a day. What age is a Golden Retriever fully grown? Golden Retrievers reach adulthood at 3 years of age and are seniors by 8 years old. Though their height has been reached, their weight will still fill out and they will continue to mentally mature. What are Golden Retrievers bred for? Distinctly British, the 1st Baron of Tweedmouth developed the breed crossing his golden colored retrieving dog Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel — these look similar to Irish Water Spaniels. The cross resulted in a dog that was comfortable being on land and water kind of like crocodiles , and robust enough to hunt goose, partridge and even deer. Do Golden Retrievers make good family pets? In fact, Golden Retrievers are one of the most loved dog breeds in the UK. The Kennel Club has a lot more good information and info about them. What does this have to do with how I train my Golden Retriever puppy? But there is a logic as to why knowing the context might help you train your Golden Retriever better: Golden Retrievers love to work. Commonly employed as Guide Dogs, they love having a job to do, which means they will adore training. Anyhow, they will be a breeze to train. They will also do almost anything for your soft words and approval — your praise will work just as well as treats. Because they are so gentle, they are a great fit for families with a variety of lifestyles and ages. They need a good amount of exercise; mental as well as physical. Let us rephrase — a hefty amount of exercise. Besides you and food, being in water is what they love the most! They have a very strong sense of smell, so retrieving or scent work games tend to be the biggest treat for most. Golden Retrievers are the social butterflies of dogs. They love most people, and are not discreet in showing it. You know how us Brits can be about politeness. That being said, make sure you also teach them the wonders of giving things up. It can lead to great things! But it can also be less helpful when they give you a love bite on your arm — give them a toy to carry instead. Shift to some play, and revisit training later — we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread. How much does an 8-week-old Golden Retriever sleep? How much exercise does your 2-month-old Golden Retriever need? Eight weeks is typically when breeders allow puppies to be taken to their new homes, but some breeders keep them for a couple of extra weeks. This shy, sleepy puppy will eventually get more comfortable with its new environment and come out of its shell in a couple of days. Socialization is important for eight-week-old golden pups. Getting your pup used to these things is a good way to avoid potential behavioral issues as the puppy matures because it allows them to learn how to feel and react to various stimuli and leaves you with a confident, well-adjusted pup. You need to reinforce the idea that your puppy is safe and gain their trust during this time period. During this time, pups will be a little more fearful of things like strangers, sounds, and certain objects. It will pass, and usually only lasts a week or so. It can be a little scary or discouraging for the owner of a golden puppy to see them go through this fear period, especially if they start exhibiting fear towards people. Goldens are known to be such friendly and social dogs, so watching them exhibit such antisocial traits can be off-putting. You can still get them outside and introduce them to new things, just remain mindful of their feelings. You need to be patient with an eight-week-old puppy. These adorable balls of energy and fluff are completely dependent on you to meet their needs and there are a LOT of needs! Check out our article on the Best Shampoo for Golden Retrievers so you can meet their hygiene needs! You need to be patient with them so that you can not only bond with your new pup, but also help him grow and learn about the world around him. Sometimes the puppy that was the smallest puppy in the litter can grow and quickly become the largest. And the largest puppy of the litter may not always remain the largest. As a breed, Golden Retrievers vary in size and weight. So you should enjoy that before they grow too big to pick up and cuddle! You may be surprised to learn that 8-week-old Golden puppies require about 18 hours of sleep a day. This may seem counter-intuitive because most people would assume that if a puppy is full of energy it needs to run it off, but in all actuality what they really need is sleep. You should use either pens or crates to make sure that your pup gets the optimal amount of sleep both through the night and during the day. Here are some things you can do to help your puppy nap: Adorn their crate or pen with comfortable blankets or pillows. Learn whether your pup likes to sleep on a bed or on the floor, then set their crate or pen up accordingly. Cover the crate or pen using a blanket or towel so that their visual stimulation is limited. You can use aromatherapy products for dogs to lull your pup to sleep. Get your puppy something like a stuffed Kong toy because licking and chewing are relaxing to pups. Classical or calming music can help your puppy get to sleep. You can expect that your pup should be ready for a nap after being awake for around an hour. So, you can get him to sleep easier using these tips. An 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppy is largely able to know how much exercise it needs all on its own. What you should do instead is either pick them up and take them home or give them a break and see if they get a second wind. Golden Retrievers excel at playing fetch, but you need to keep games short. The running and then suddenly stopping to pick the ball or toy up and bring it back is hard on their tiny bones. People often adopt Golden Retrievers with the intent of getting a companion to exercise with running, hiking, biking, etc. Allowing your puppy to play with toys in your yard or house can be a good, safe way for your puppy to exercise. Having a yard is ideal because you can let your pup run around the yard and explore, while also burning off some excess energy. Just make sure you choose a short, easy walk that your puppy can handle. However, some days they have more energy than others, which is normal. Every Golden Retriever has varying exercise needs. Some are pretty chill and would rather lay around, while others are really hyper and active. You need to know that positive reinforcement works best for Golden Retrievers. You should avoid any sort of training that is based on punishment. There are also other training methods that can be beneficial to your pup. Group training is a good way to get your pup acquainted with other dogs and learn alongside them, while the trainer provides you with ways to better train your pup. You also have the option to hire a professional dog trainer, who will come to your house and give you customized tips to train your puppy. Before hiring any sort of trainer, ask them about the methods they use to avoid distress for puppies. They need to learn about confinement early on. Another important thing to teach your pup is their name, and to come to you when you call them. The bond with your pup is vital to any other training you do with them. For more about the training process, check out our article about Golden Retriever Puppy Training. Hey, food is good, okay? Most 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppies should be eating around half a cup of food three times a day. So, talk to your vet for a specific amount. They need high-quality puppy food. For more about what to feed your pup, check out our article about the Best Puppy Food for Golden Retrievers. Your golden puppy will probably quickly devour any food you place in front of them. It can be a good idea to buy a slow feeder bowl or toys that dispense food to slow them down a bit while also giving them some mental stimulation and making mealtime fun. Just as infants put things in their mouths, puppies do too. They do this to both plays and learn about their world. This can really suck for humans because puppies have sharp little teeth that feel like needles. The good news is that you can do some things to cut back on the biting and learn to deal with it. The first thing right off the bat you should do is to make sure your puppy is getting enough sleep. Secondly, scatter chew toys all over your house. Third, give your puppy a break if they start biting. This is as easy as going on the other side of their gate or putting them in their crate. This lets your pup know that when they start biting, the play stops, and access to you is denied. Many people suggest yelping and making loud noises when your puppy bites. But this is actually pretty counter-productive because it can make the situation worse by scaring the puppy. Other puppies can get more excited by the noise and bite harder. Biting is just something that puppies at this age do. However, remember that getting through this trying time is going to help you establish a lifelong bond with your new family member. Golden Retriever puppies are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They enjoy physical activity and have many favorable traits as a gundog bred to retrieve downed game birds. They are friendly and gentle and often train as assistance or detection dogs due to their easy trainability. Apart from starting training while young, other breed-specific reasons make training a Golden Retriever puppy easy. Here are three examples: Golden Retrievers are among the smartest dog breeds. In his book, The Intelligence of Dogs , canine psychologist Stanley Coren ranks Goldens fourth of the brightest working dogs. So, even at just two months old, your puppy has it in his genes to learn and execute commands. To perform their original hunting job of retrieving felled ducks and other game birds in the Scottish marshland, Golden Retrievers had to be watchful, eager, and energetic. These are primary learning attributes. Golden Retrievers also have advanced skills as gundogs. They also have to excel at obedience. These are core training requirements that make your Golden Retriever easy to train. To succeed in your training mission, however, there are specific principles you need to follow. Read about these key training standards in the next section. Key Principles of Golden Retriever Puppy Training The purpose of any dog training is to have behavioral skills mastered. I explain these training requirements in my 10 key principles of successful Golden Retriever puppy training. However, they also have to handle grooming, making them feel uncomfortable. Your Golden Retriever can learn to manage this uneasiness if exposed to handling when young. In one study, puppies subjected to early gentling behaved more calmly at 8 weeks old than puppies not experiencing early handling. You can continue to hold your pup gently as soon as you arrive home. Teach Name Recognition How does your Golden Retriever puppy know you are talking to him if you only make commands? It would be best to teach him his name as this is the foundation for his future training. Say his name first, then give the command. That way, your pup knows to answer when you call. Assert Yourself as the Alpha Leader In dog training, your Golden Retriever must know that you are the boss from the start. Set rules and boundaries, and be consistent and fair. He will respect you as being top of the hierarchy. Never mistake being the alpha with punishment. It will only cause resentment. An alpha leader is calm and assertive, teaches his dog to be happily submissive, and approves of the behavior. Rewards reinforce the behavior, and you can use treats, a favorite toy, or activity, in conjunction with lots of verbal praise. Only Give a Command Once When it comes to training, you reap what you sow! Teach your pup to heed a command the first time you say it. Then make lots of eye contact. Repeat until he learns to obey the first time you give the cue. Dogs have poor short-term memory and will typically forget an experience in 2 minutes, as discovered in this experiment. However, dogs can recall your training commands through associative memory, which means they remember based on associations and not memories. For example, if you put your shoes on and grab your car keys, your Golden Retriever knows you are going out. Once your puppy has corrected his undesirable behavior with the required behavior, reward him with a high-value treat and heaps of praise. Other unacceptable confrontational methods include growling at your dog, forcefully removing an object from the mouth, withdrawing food, staring, using a shock collar, or tying your dog for hours. Your dog needs to have consistency, which means everyone else in the household. Dogs need simple training instructions, and everyone should also use the same verbal and non-verbal cues. Perform the same basic commands every day. At this young age, ten minute sessions are far better than a ten-minute session. For this reason, it is important to wean your puppy off treats when he has repeatedly performed the desired behavior and mastered it, including in different locations and with various distractions. With these ten principles, you can now apply them to the essential areas that you need to train your 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppy in first. How to Socialize a Golden Retriever Puppy Dogs are social creatures, especially the Golden Retriever, who is super friendly, good-natured, and loves to be around you. To socialize a Golden Retriever, expose him to many different experiences, places, and situations. Include noises, smells, other people, children, babies, animals, cars, bicycles, objects, the weather, etc. Early socializing and training your Golden Retriever plays a significant role in developing adult dogs, as found in this exciting study. Check out these two important findings: Dogs socialized well as puppies are less likely to display unwanted behavioral problems such as fear and aggression. Socialized dogs are more likely to engage in positive social behaviors with humans. They also learn better how to play games, helping them establish a real bond with their owners. Socialization will make your puppy feel confident around people and teach him to engage in his new world happily. You can teach your Golden Retriever social skills and confidence through intentional training moments in the family. My best tips: Take one step at a time. Use positive reinforcement. I often get asked whether you can socialize your puppy before his final vaccinations. Take him to non-doggy places or carry him where necessary. To potty train an 8-week-old Golden Retriever, create a separate area where you want your puppy to go, establish a routine, and start with hourly potty breaks. Supervise your puppy at all times, learn to spot the signs, and never punish him after an accident. Give lots of rewards and praise when he goes. Many new dog owners fall for this — your puppy has to learn to tell you he needs the toilet. Make sure you take your puppy outside often enough. Stick to your schedule! It is a gradual process for him to grasp this. It may take a few weeks to master potty training, not days! Usually, puppies will need to go early in the morning, after a meal, and after a play session. Use their natural rhythm for daily poop walks. Dogs hate messing in their sleeping area, and most will usually hold it. Walk your Golden after his morning meal and hang around for 15 minutes or so to allow him to poop. Do the same in the evening. Puppies need to be allowed to relieve themselves every hour, and a short walk every hours is an ideal routine. If you crate your puppy when going out, get friends or family to help you stick to your routine. Repeating this routine for the first few days will give your new pup a pretty good idea of your expectations. To crate train a Golden Retriever puppy, get him used to the crate by letting him explore it. When he is happy to go in and out freely, introduce treats or feed inside, and close the door; that way, he associates nice things with his crate. Gradually increase the time he spends inside with the door closed. Here are seven fundamental principles when crate-training your Golden Retriever: Let your puppy sleep in the crate at night. Initiate crate training on the very first day. It will be harder to succeed if he gets accustomed to other sleeping arrangements! My puppy cried during the early hours of the first night, but then, she was just fine. A rough guideline for puppies to be left alone in a crate is one hour for each month of age, up to four hours. Keep your puppy in the crate when unsupervised. It only sends a message that he can get his way. Instead, reward good behavior in the crate, i. He will quickly associate that being quiet leads to positive things. He will quickly learn that this is his particular spot. Interesting toys and comfy bedding will offer some solace for your Golden Retriever. Dogs are denning animals, so they often go underneath tables or desks. Instead, buy a crate with an adjustable divider that allows him to grow into it. My favorite is the MidWest Homes for Pets Dog iCrate from Amazon, as it has everything you need, including a divider and a handy removable wipe-clean plastic pan. Travel kennels like this Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel check price on Amazon are also hardy when you are on the move with your dog. This one is also airline adaptable and meets most airline cargo specifications. This sends a message that the bite hurts. Persist by leaving your hand in his mouth to prevent chase drive until he releases. Then, give praise and redirect the biting with a chew toy. When your puppy gets the hang of repeatedly letting go, and his bite becomes softer, this is a good sign that he is beginning to learn his bite inhibition. Helping a dog learn to curb the force of his bite is necessary to living with humans. All puppies need to master this technique that they initially began learning from their mother and siblings. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Training your Golden Retriever puppy soft bite must be done in puppyhood as an adolescent dog will not be able to adjust the force of his jaws when he has adult teeth and jaw muscles. Remember to have realistic expectations, as it can take your puppy weeks to learn his bite inhibition. Teach a leash cue, and start very short walks. Reward with a treat and praise. You can do this by letting him wear them inside the house or yard for a few minutes. I use this one as it gives you more control, is inexpensive, and comes in various colors and styles. Give a treat when your dog obeys the command. Introduce your Golden Retriever to short outside walks on his leash. Anticipate the behavior and quickly distract him with a treat. Timing is the crucial part. Reward him every time commands are obeyed and gradually reduce the rewards as the art of leash walking is perfected. Follow the excellent training principles above and use reward-based training to train your puppy in these areas successfully. Be consistent in your commands, and always discipline at the precise moment of unwanted behavior. Are you looking for a puppy training schedule? Related Posts You May Like:. We took each puppy individually and did a rigorous eh, not really test to find out which puppies would be best suited to do service dog work. However, there were two tests that stood out: The Retrieve Test — We crumpled up a piece of paper next to our puppy to get his attention. I mentioned we performed 10 tests, but the results of the above two ended up determining which puppies would be our next service dog puppies in training. Puppy temperament testing is tiring! Liberty Berlin — While she performed about the same as all the other pups on every other test, Liberty stood out during the Umbrella Stability Test. She was the only puppy to enthusiastically approach the Umbrella. We knew from day 1 that Liberty was a confident puppy and had a good feeling that she would have no problem with the Umbrella. She lived up to our expectations boldly and playfully engaging the umbrella. Tank Bear — One of the larger puppies in the litter, Bear was our little cuddly buddy. He did not do well on the Umbrella Stability Test and neither did three of his siblings. However, Bear was a standout when it came to the Retrieve Test. Bear was the only puppy to run out, pick up, and bring back the crumpled-up piece of paper. Not only was he the only one to do it once he did it several times! Trooper Buster — Our smallest puppy by over 3 lbs. Trooper was our mini-mite. Even though he was the smallest he may have been the mightiest as he was the first of only 2 puppies Liberty was the other to climb out of the whelping box. While not exhibiting the enthusiasm of Liberty during the Umbrella Stability test Trooper had a more curious attitude towards the opened Umbrella as he approached, sniffed, and explored showing a more calm demeanor than Liberty. The response of the other puppies on the Umbrella Stability Test ranged from slowly moving away from the umbrella to cowering and running away from the umbrella. The Golden Bear Puppy — Checking out different surfaces. Day 56 — Puppy Names Since the beginning of this series, you may have noticed I listed 2 names for some of these puppies. After 8 weeks with these adorable puppies, they finally got to meet their puppy raisers. Bear stayed with us while Buster and Berlin went to new homes. Awww…Cuddly Golden Retriever puppies! Berlin — Our former first lady she was first born , Liberty first went to a puppy raiser home until she was 16 weeks old. Unfortunately, I did not have a puppy raiser to work with her for the full 18 months. As luck would have it the breeder we partnered with for this Golden litter was looking for a female puppy as a potential breeding dog. Again, we did not have a puppy raiser to train him and we looked to a service dog organization we volunteered with in the past. We contacted Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs and set up a meeting to have Buster tested, and he passed with flying colors. They fell in love with Buster on the spot and adopted him into their POOCH program where he is being trained at a prison to be a service dog. We kept our Lil Bear to train as a service dog. From the beginning, we knew he was a little softy, but he passed the retrieval test with flying colors so we had high hopes for him. We started taking him on outings to the book store, grocery stores, and shopping malls. He never showed the confidence we hoped and while he would eventually adapt to places after several visits he was always hesitant in new situations. He continued to progress and we were hopeful his confidence would grow as we exposed him to new environments and worked on his training. At the same time, an opportunity arose and we had to make a decision with Bear. Our friends had recently lost their long-time Golden Retriever, Sugar, and also tragically lost a puppy they had adopted. After discussing with my wife we decided to see if our friends were interested in adopting Bear. They said YES! And the rest is history. Heck, he has a huge following cheering for him every step of the way! Puppy Crate Training ? Once again, Happy Birthday to our Golden Litter! That concludes our 8-week journey with our Golden puppies! Just in case you missed any of the other blog posts in the series: Week 1 — Six Golden Retriever puppies are born! Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — The great puppy escape artists! Week 8 — This is Week 8! I hope you enjoyed our pics and insights into raising a Golden Retriever litter. Raising a litter of puppies is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. Definitely not for the faint at heart. If you have any questions or comments please leave us a note in the comment section below. Are you about to bring home an 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppy? If so, Puppies for Dummies is a good starting point for learning the basics of how to raise and train a puppy. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. When considering bringing a new dog into your life, it is always important to consider how long that dog is likely to live. In this article, we will go through exactly how long you should expect your Labradoodle to live, which is largely determined by whether their poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy poodle. We will also go through all the different life stages of a Labradoodle and what to expect in each. What Is A Labradoodle? Labradoodles are crossbreed dogs that you get when you mix a Labrador retriever with a poodle. They are varieties that are a mix between a Lab and all the different poodle sizes including standard, miniature, and toy. They were bred because, while the temperament, intelligence, and trainability of Labrador retrievers make them excellent service dogs, they shed—a lot. This can be a huge problem when it comes to taking them into hospitals, public places such as restaurants, and even cleaning up after them at home. Poodles were chosen to crossbreed because they have a low-shedding coat. Their tight, curly coats mean that instead of leaving hair wherever they go, it gets caught up in their coat. Poodles are also highly intelligent dogs, even more intelligent than Labradors, and also very friendly, having been bred as companion animals. They are less outgoing than Labradors, but overall it was thought that they would add to, rather than subtract from, the characteristics that make Labradors excellent service dogs. You can read more about the Labradoodle coat and shedding in this article. How Long Do Labradoodles Live? All Labradoodles have a lifespan of roughly 12 to 14 years. Various factors influence where each dog is likely to fall within this scale. Labrador retrievers and standard poodles both tend to live around 12 years. So if you have a standard Labradoodle, you should probably expect them to have a slightly shorter lifespan at around the year mark. Miniature and toy poodles often live longer, as small dogs tend to live longer in general. So if you have a Lab that is mixed with one of these smaller breeds, you might expect them to live for an additional year or so. While these expectations are based on the average lifespan of their parent pups, some research suggests that crossbreed dogs live longer than their parents, by about a year or two. There are plenty of examples of Labradoodles living well into their late teens. Labradoodle Life Stages Throughout their lives, you can expect your Labradoodle to pass through five main life stages: puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and senior. Exactly when they will pass through each of these stages again depends on whether the Labradoodle is a standard, miniature, or toy cross. Smaller dogs tend to grow to maturity more quickly but then live longer. Conversely, larger dogs stay puppies longer but have shorter overall life expectancies. Puppyhood Labradoodles tend to be classified as puppies for the first five months of their lives. But just like with human babies, because they are growing so quickly at this time, they will pass through a number of different puppy stages. It is during this stage that you will find that littermates love to cuddle up and spend the day sleeping one on top of one another. During this stage, they are more interested in their mother and siblings than there are in people, but they do begin to learn that there is a bigger world and might start to explore a little in the later weeks. It is around this stage that they can also start to move onto dog food. This is often a necessity, as the mother will refuse to suckle them as their growing teeth cause her pain. This is a very important time, as they are also very impressionable. So they need plenty of attention, praise, and love. Training them at this stage will also teach them about action and reward, which will make them easier to train to do other things as adults. They will already understand that correct behavior can result in good things. At this stage, you can also start to expose the puppy to new people and new experiences. This is essential to the socialization process, so that they learn what to do when confronted by the unknown. This is a great time to try to take the puppy with you most everywhere you go. Essential training should continue throughout this stage. Adolescence Much like humans, during this stage Labradoodle puppies seem like they are either eating or sleeping all the time to manage big growth spurts, or getting into trouble. This period tends to last from around five or six months until about two years of age. But they also become more unpredictable as hormones start to play a role. Expect them to want to play all the time, to jump up a lot, and to do things that test your limits. Nevertheless, at this stage your Labradoodle should be fully housebroken, should have passed through that biting phase, and should be better at paying attention to you. They also lose their awkwardness around this age and seem more coordinated. Labradoodles in particular will start to show quite a bit of strength and agility at this stage. They should have all their adult teeth, but they still love to chew! This is something they inherit from the Labrador parent. Make sure to have an abundance of chew toys available to focus their otherwise destructive chewing. It is also during adolescence that territorial behavior tends to kick in. Your pup may become protective of their possessions, territorial of their home, and could start to bark at strangers. Also be aware that at some stage during adolescence—it can vary quite a bit—your dog will become sexually mature. Adulthood Depending on the particular type of Labradoodle that you have, you can expect them to settle down into adulthood at between two and three years of age. They should be about fully grown at this stage. So instead of getting bigger, you need to worry about them getting fatter! While it is natural for them to fill out a bit in the early stages of adulthood, it is important to keep an eye on their weight and their diet at this time. They will enter their physical and mental prime during this period, as they are much calmer and more tranquil. If they are being trained as a service dog, they can start working once they reach adulthood. None of this is to say that Labradoodles cannot continue to develop and learn new things at this time. Labradors and Labradoodles are very easy to train and can be taught new skills and behaviors at almost any age. Middle Age Your dog will start to enter the later stages of their life at about the ripe old age of seven years. At this point, Labradoodles still tend to be active and healthy dogs, but they do start to slow down a bit. It is also at this time that their joints might start to become stiff, and they can begin to develop more serious joint problems. You can try and alleviate this by feeding them supplements to support their joints. You can read more about joint supplements here. Senior When your Labradoodle hits nine or 10 years, they are truly senior and they will probably start to need a bit of extra care and attention. Joint pain is a common problem for Labradoodles, so you may need to make some adjustments to your home to accommodate them. Labradoodles also have a tendency to lose their eyesight in later years, and to feel the cold more intensely. Their appetite is also likely to change as this time, as is their metabolism. So again, watch their weight and what they are eating to maintain them at a healthy weight. This is especially important if they are suffering with joint issues, as excess weight will just make mobility even more challenging. Labradoodles are inclined toward a variety of health conditions, inherited from both their Labrador and poodle parents. The main Labradoodle health conditions to be aware of are: Allergies Labradoodles often develop food allergies, usually in their early years before they reach two years of age. This can often be caused by eating too much of certain foods in these formative months. But Labradoodles can also develop allergies in later life, and you might find that at age eight they are suddenly reacting to something that they have eaten their entire life. Labradoodles usually show an allergic reaction with skin itchiness and an upset stomach. If you notice these signs, visit your vet to try to identify what might be causing the problem. Ear Infections Labradoodles have floppy ears that cover the ear tracts. This means they are generally moist, dark spaces, which means breeding grounds for infections. This is also a common problem for Labradors but can be worse for Labradoodles because the curly hair in their ears can also trap moisture and foreign bodies. If they seem to have itchy ears, or if you notice smells coming from their ears, this is a sign that something is not quite right. This will mean a trip to the vet to determine the type of ear infection and the best treatment. Regular ear cleaning, especially after sleeping or bathing, is the best way to reduce the prevalence of ear infections in Labradoodles. Epilepsy Epilepsy is a neurological condition, of which one of the main symptoms is seizures. Labradoodles are quite prone to this condition. There is no cure, and treatment depends on the severity of the seizures and how often they occur. If your dog rarely has seizures, your vet will probably avoid medication, as it is not worth the risk. You may need to do some things to make your home safer for your dog, making it less likely that they will accidentally hurt themselves in the event of a seizure. Joint Issues Another issue inherited from their Labrador parents, Labradoodles often develop joint issues, especially in the hips, but it can be anywhere. Over time, what was an uncomfortable twinge can develop into serious pain, arthritis, and even lameness. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Sometimes joint supplements can be enough to keep your dog comfortable, while in other cases they might need serious pain medication. Progressive Retinal Atrophy This is a condition where a portion of the eye degenerates, eventually leading to blindness. This is quite common in Labradoodles and will usually affect both eyes, resulting in complete blindness. However, it is known to occasionally occur in puppies as well. There is no known treatment, though it is thought that a diet high in antioxidants may be able to help slow the progression of the condition. Signs of the disease include excessive bleeding and bruising where the dog is injured, but also spontaneos bleeds, for example nosebleeds, or blood in their urine or stool. This poses a risk to your Labradoodle throughout their lives, as they may need to avoid certain medications that can further thin the blood, as well as activities where they are at risk of getting injured. If they need surgery for some reason, such as when they are neutered, they will probably also require a platelet transfusion before the surgery. The Verdict When you decide to bring a Labradoodle puppy in your life, you are committing to love and care for that dog for about 12 to 14 years, which is the average lifespan of this crossbreed. During that time, they will pass through a number of different life stages, from being adorable puppies, naughty adolescents appropriately called the terrible twos , intelligent adults, and vulnerable seniors. But throughout all these life stages, a Labradoodle should give you a great deal of love and fulfilment. Do you have a Labradoodle? What is your experience living with these wonderful dogs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or via our social media. Related Article. One big difference between humans and dogs is that dogs have to sleep in shorter bursts rather than one long stretch as humans tend to. This is also why Labradoodles are more likely to take a lot of shorter power naps instead of one long period of sleep that is usually associated with humans. The reason for this is perhaps due to their ancestral nature as predators. Labradoodles are by nature hunting dogs. They descend from wolves as every dog breed does , which are hunting-based predators and they are mostly active at night when hunting is easier for them and the temperatures get cooler. Instead, they pant, and this is also why they are much better suited for short periods of intense activity followed by rest than long trips going hunting. When any living thing goes to sleep, there are multiple stages they go through, and the most important of those stages is called REM. So while dogs seem to require less REM sleep than humans, they still have to sleep more to get the required amount of the important deep rest they need. Your Labradoodle will most likely spend more time sleeping the more active and large it is. A very active dog could need from 18 to 20 hours of sleep. Despite the fact that dogs take more frequent naps, they will often sit down for long periods of time. I time, Labradoodles will generally grow bored by themselves and will want to spend time with you, not really caring if you are awake or not. They will often lie awake beside their owners, just to be able to spend some time with you. But sometimes you can suddenly hear the scuffing of paws on the floor as your Labradoodle decides to rush across the floor, enjoying itself and being noisy. What can you do about that? Create a Routine The best possible way to establish a sleeping routine for anyone, including dogs, is to have a set schedule you can follow. You are already the one who decides when your dog will get a bowl full of delicious food, so the only thing you have to do each day is making sure that you are feeding him at the same time every day. It would also be wise to control how fast your dog is eating his food. If you think he is eating way too fast, I would recommend that you look at buying something like the Outward Hound Puzzle Toy that will slow the mealtime process, which will allow your Labradoodle to properly digest their meal. Exercise This is also some to be very aware of and consistent with. Take your furry friend out on a walk, go play fetch or anything you can do that allows your buddy to work those strong legs of his. This is exceptionally important for Labradoodles. They are from nature highly energetic hunting dogs. Just create a program for them and ensure that the schedule also works for you. This fear may lead them to not being able to sleep at all. Something simple like a small hello in the morning can hopefully moderate this fear as they will find out that even if you are all going to sleep, your dog will still see you the following morning. Sleeping Problems Found in Labradoodles Unfortunately, Labradoodles can get sleeping disorders just like humans. Similar to not getting enough sleep in humans, a lack of sleep for dogs can lead to several health problems and can often result in inactivity or generally just feeling sad. The list of sleep disorders possible in a dog including Labradoodles includes narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, and REM behavior disorder. And sadly not all of these conditions are treatable. Narcolepsy can be very dangerous for Labradoodles, as it can result in not only a loss of control but also paralysis of certain body parts. The situations where this can be extra dangerous is that when the dog is near a body of water, their body can freeze up, which can lead to them falling in and drown. So if you have a narcoleptic Labradoodle, you will want to avoid water as much as possible. For insomnia, a likely improvement to their sleep may come from a therapeutic bed , which is a product my dog has used for many years, just as a preemptive measure. Sleep apnea is most commonly seen in breeds like the English bulldog and Pugs and the reason is typical that the dog is overweight. The solution is usually a simple weight loss diet of some kind for your pet. REM behavior disorder is when your dog is being way too active while sleeping. This can end up with your Labradoodle suddenly running into walls at night or scratching at things while sleeping. This will often require a safe bed of some kind, to help prevent any harm that might happen to your dog while it is sleeping. Related Questions Why do dogs dream with their eyes open? Dogs developed the habit of having their eyes open just a bit when they are sleeping and dreaming to prevent any harm from happening to them. They keep their eyes open to help them be able to quickly react if anything dangerous is about to happen. Can Labradoodles sleepwalk? They could easily end up in a very dangerous situation if they have a habit of sleepwalking. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. They are undoubtedly one of the friendliest, most intelligent, and caring breeds you will ever come across. They are known to be extremely active, easy to train , and get along with just about anyone, or anything. It is for these reasons that Labradoodles have emerged as immensely popular pets for families, as well as people in search of a companion. Another renowned quality of a Labradoodle, is their love for sleep. However, it can be tough to tell if your dog is getting the right amount of sleep, or if their sleeping behavior is normal. Labradoodle Puppy Sleep vs Labradoodle Adult Sleep One major difference to point out is that as with any other breed, there will be a big difference in how much they sleep depending on how old they are. For example, during the puppy stage, Labradoodles can sleep for up to 20 hours in a single day! When it comes to a Labradoodle puppy, many owners are under the impression that that excited new pup you just brought into the house is going to run circles around the house. And while this is a very realistic possibility, expect them to tire out quick. When you first get any new puppy, you can expect them to sleep throughout most of the day. THis is true no matter the dog breed. This sleep pattern is called polyphasic, and is very common amongst dogs of all breeds. This is likely due to their wolf ancestors that were on alert all day and night from potential predators. So, if you ever notice your dog sleeping , only to randomly wake up in an instant with a crazy burst of energy, this is likely due to their ancestors. Though there are other reasons a dog might be hyper When do Labradoodle puppies sleep less? A cute Labradoodle takes a sleep on the couch Even though puppies sleep for 20 hours a day, this will likely decrease once they reach about 4 months of age, at which point more factors such as routine, personality, exercise, and environment will play a role. Adult Labradoodles on the other hand can vary a little more depending on the amount of playtime, and exercise the dog is getting. Once your dog matures, they will be more inclined to find new ways to have fun, and new things to explore. All of these new discoveries, and exploration can leave your dog sleeping for hours of the day. Though an adult dog will be more affected by their environment, and exercise than a puppy would. Also adult Labradoodles sleep patterns will depend more so on their personality, and exercise routine. Every dog is different, and so there is a chance that one dog will be more energetic than another. If you give your dog daily walks, and spend about minutes playing with them, they should get hours of sleep a night without a problem. All of the following tips are designed to be made into routines to ensure your dog is receiving an adequate amount of sleep. Labradoodle puppies will sleep up to 20 hours a day. Labradoodle Diet Impacts Sleep One of the first things you should consider if you ever run into sleep problems with your pooch, is to take a look at what they are eating. Mealtime is the easiest thing to regulate, as you have full control over when, and how the dog receives their meals. Exercise more, Sleep more Exercise is potentially the most vital way to ensure that your dog is getting the proper amount of sleep. Consistency is key once again when it comes to exercise, especially with an active breed like Labradoodles. The good news is that this step is fairly easy, as they typically need no more than 1 hour a day of exercise, all of which can be accomplished by playing fetch, and taking them for a walk. Teach your Labradoodle a SLEEP command Believe it or not but Labradoodles are so intelligent that they can learn to rely severely on the vocal interaction you have with them. Labradoodles are used to being around people all day, which makes them more likely to develop separation anxiety which can lead to a lack of sleep. Even simple greetings like hello in the morning, and good night in the evening can go a long way in moderating this fear. However, adult Labradoodles can be more prone to certain health conditions if they do not receive enough sleep. Be sure to keep an eye out for potential symptoms of any of these conditions, and be aware of how many hours of sleep your dog is getting. Ensuring they have a healthy, and safe sleep environment at all times. Is it bad that my adult Labradoodles sleeps all day? Can dogs then get too much sleep? Adult Labradoodles however are more affected by their environment, and other external factors, and so there is more to consider. In most cases, Labradoodles are more than fine sleeping on the ground, couch, or bed during random times of the day. And some days they may be more active than others, meaning that they will sleep more often. Do old Labradoodles sleep more? Typically, an older Labradoodle dog will sleep for longer periods the older they get. Aside from the fact that older dogs have far less energy pent up, requiring far less exercise. Senior dogs also sometimes have joint pain, and stiffness which leads to less mobility. Keep an eye out for this with older dogs, as their increased sleep is mostly normal, but at the same time may be a sign for something more serious if it persists or worsens. Because of the fact that Labradoodles are active breeds, there is a greater chance that your doodle will spend more time sleeping when compared to other breeds. Parti Caring for Labradoodles Labradoodles are lively, energetic dogs that need lots of attention and care. Exercise and Walks To stay happy and calm, Labradoodles require hours of walking or other exercises daily. They also love games and training, so frequent playtime is a must with this breed. Throwing a ball or involving them in runs l can help them burn energy — which they have a lot of! Due to their size, Labradoodles can reach up to 35 mph when sprinting. They can be curious and sometimes mischievous, so — as with any dog — you must be careful when you let them off the leash. Labradoodles have thick double coats. This means they can withstand somewhat colder temperatures. They may feel especially uncomfortable in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping them outside for too long in temperatures this low will even put them at risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Meanwhile, their thick fur can make walking and exercising in hot climates like Texas and California unbearable. In temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, Labradoodles will face a heightened risk of heat stroke, especially during vigorous exercise. Their outdoor activity should be briefer and less energetic on hot days. You should also keep your Labrador well-groomed especially during hot weather , as a thinner coat can help keep them cooler. Feeding The amount of food a Labradoodle needs will depend on size, age, and activity level. Feeding them smaller, more frequent meals — instead of one or even two per day — can prevent your Labradoodle from eating too much, too quickly, which may help their digestion. Larger dog breeds like Labradoodles also need a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients they need — more so than smaller dogs. Sleep Labradoodle Puppies need around 20 hours of sleep per day to promote healthy growth and development, while adult Labradoodles require hours. These are just general guidelines, of course; their sleep needs will also depend on how much exercise they get during the day. The more active they are, the longer they'll sleep. Not sleeping enough can cause obesity or a weak immune system in dogs, so it's essential to make sure they get enough shut-eye. If you notice your Labradoodle isn't sleeping enough, it may help to build a more structured routine and give them more exercise. Labradoodles are known for being wonderful family dogs: They love being around people, including kids. Their playful and gentle personalities make them excellent friends for children. They can even help kids de-stress and improve their communication skills. However, you should keep an eye on Labradoodles around young children during the teething stage, as they can occasionally nip. How Affectionate Are Labradoodles? They enjoy being with their owners, often choosing to sleep near or cuddle up next to them. Labradoodles will make eye contact, lick your face, or lean against your legs as a sign of love. How Territorial Are Labradoodles? Labradoodles are always ready to make friends, so they tend to get along well with other dogs. Will Labradoodles Tolerate Other Pets? Although it depends on the temperament of both animals, Labradoodles can usually tolerate living with other pets in your home. They may even become close friends with them if they receive the proper training and socialization. Labradoodles are highly social and active dogs who require lots of care and attention. Shedding Levels Unlike hair coats, Labradoodles with wool or fleece coats do not shed. Although there are three different coat types, all Labradoodles can grow long, thick hair, so regular brushing two to three times per week is necessary to prevent matting and tangles. Taking them to a professional groomer every weeks is advisable. Keeping their coat thin can keep them cool during warmer months. And trimming the hair around their ears can help ward off infections. Labradoodles also need to be bathed once a month to remove dirt from their coat. Remember to brush before you wash them to remove any matted fur, as matting will be difficult to eliminate once wet. Are Labradoodles Hypoallergenic? Although no dog is entirely hypoallergenic, Labradoodles were originally bred to cause minimal reactions, so they're better for allergy sufferers than other breeds. Wool or fleece-coated Labradoodles shed very little, so dander — dead skin cells present in the fur — won't spread around the house as much. Although this can still cause problems for people with allergies, it may cause less of a reaction than the higher levels of dander produced by many other breeds. Labradoodles with hair coats, on the other hand, will shed moderately, so they may not be a good choice for allergy sufferers. Labradoodle Barking Habits Labradoodles are fairly quiet dogs who only tend to bark when they need something. They may also whine or whimper when they want attention. Labradoodles are intelligent dogs, and they do sometimes use barking to communicate. Labradoodles usually reach their full growth potential within months. They can sometimes continue growing up to 2 years, especially if their parents are both large dogs. Are Labradoodles High-Maintenance Dogs? Labradoodles require lots of attention, exercise, and grooming to keep them happy and healthy. Therefore, they are considered a high-maintenance breed. Some people are more than happy to let their dogs into their own bed. But, not everyone agrees that allowing your dog into your bed is a good idea. Your Labradoodle sleeping in bed with you can help you to sleep better. But, it can also introduce nasty germs into your sleeping area. But, of course, not everyone is a fan of letting their dog into their bed. Most dog owners consider dogs members of the family. Many even see their Labradoodles as their children! This is one of the reasons more and more people are scooting over in bed to make room for their pup. As natural pack animals, dogs enjoy sleeping with their family members, too. Co-sleeping can help your dog feel safe, and provide them with a sense of warmth and comfort. Labradoodles are family oriented dogs. They bond well with their family members and will love spending as much time with you as possible. This includes at bedtime, if you let them! Pros of a Labradoodle Sleeping in Bed with You Some of the benefits of letting a Labradoodle sleep in bed with you are related to the breed themselves. Others are more general. Sleeping with your Labradoodle is a great way to improve your bond. Studies suggest that sleeping with your dog can help you sleep better, and even aid sleeping disorders. In reality, no dog breed is hypoallergenic. But, Labradoodles with Poodle-like coats may shed less. Their tight curls will also catch any shedding hair and allergy-inducing dander. This makes Labradoodle dogs the ideal companion for co-sleeping, because you are less likely to wake up with an abundance of dog fur in your bed and on your bedding. Improving Your Bond As we mentioned earlier, Labradoodles are very social dogs. They love spending all of their time with their close family. So, your Labradoodle will love sleeping in bed with you. This is a great way to improve the bond between you. Labradoodles are also highly intelligent. So, as long as you keep your Labradoodle on a good exercise, mealtime, and sleep schedule, they will be able to flow with your bedtime routine seamlessly. Helping You Sleep Better Studies have shown that sleeping with your dog can actually aid sleep. Rose showed that sleeping with your dog may actually aid in specific sleeping disorders like PTSD, recurring nightmares, insomnia, and more. This is especially true for dogs who are trained service animals or support animals. Labradoodles were originally created to be a hypoallergenic service dog. So, you may find that you sleep more soundly and comfortably alongside your Labradoodle. As long as they are sleeping soundly too! Cons of a Labradoodle Sleeping in Bed With You Despite the benefits, there are also downsides to letting your dog in your bed with you. Primarily: Higher chance of germs or parasites in your bed. Your Labradoodle may keep you awake. They can take up a lot of room. Some Labradoodles will shed. Germs in the Bed Having your Labradoodle sleeping in bed with you may be comforting, but there are associated risks. This puts you at higher risk of potential illnesses, or at least of coming into contact with those germs. It may also mean you end up having to clean your sheets a lot more! You Can Combat This Issue There are a few ways to reduce your chances of dealing with potentially dangerous germs if you want to share your bed with your Labradoodle. But, of course, make sure you only use products that are specifically designed for dogs and that are safe to use daily. Stay away from alcohol-based products. Plus, some Labradoodles snore, bark, and move in their sleep. Sleeping with an active Labradoodle can be just as disruptive as sleeping next to a human that snores or talks in their sleep at night! No Time for Privacy If your Labradoodle is used to sleeping in your bed, you may have trouble getting them to sleep elsewhere on nights where you might not want a dog around. Or nights where you just want some privacy. And, trying to get them to sleep alone in their own bed on random nights could lead to some pretty vocal objections. Taking Up Space Labradoodles are large dogs. And, this means they can also be bed hogs. Some Labradoodles Shed A final point to bear in mind is that Labradoodles are mixed breed dogs. The risk of this coat type is higher when your Labradoodle puppy is a first generation mix one Lab parent and one Poodle parent. But, the risk is lower if you have a third or lower generation mix. Prevention is the best way to stop bad habits from forming. So, keep the door to your bedroom closed. Or, use a baby gate in your doorway. This may seem a little frustrating, but it will be the best way to stop your Labradoodle from using your bed. You can also make sure that you have somewhere safe and comfy for your Labradoodle to sleep instead. Like a bed in the kitchen, or a crate as their own little den. Tips of Staying Healthy With Your Labradoodle Sleeping in Bed Transmittable parasites and diseases are some of the biggest concerns for people when it comes to a Labradoodle sleeping in bed with their owners. But, as we mentioned above, there are ways around these issues. Wipe his feet clean after walks and backyard play time each day. Check your Labradoodle regularly for parasites like fleas and ticks. You might also want to invest in a special blanket for your dog. Labradoodles are intelligent dogs that take well to training. Implement a schedule first, so your Labradoodle understands what bedtime means. References and Resources. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Creating a space that resembles his environment here at Juniper Ridge will also help your puppy be successful in going potty in the right place and sleeping well. Ideally if you can set up a puppy area in your kitchen or main living area it is best. Use baby gates or an X pen links on our supply list to create a space 4X6 or larger with a bed, or an open crate with a bed inside. If you use a crate, leave the crate open when you are around, so puppy can go in and out freely and have access to his bed. Have fresh water in puppy's space, a few feet from his bed, and feed him there too. Also place a potty station a few feet away. Puppies do not want to potty on their bed or by their food and will use their station if they know where it is : There are a variety of potty stations that work well. Puppy pee pads are convenient but unless they are anchored in some fashion or covered by a grate they will be shredded! So for most families the grass mat in a tray supply list or a large shallow litter pan with wood pellets work well. Puppy does not need to stay in this area of course, but does need access to it; to retreat to when he is tired and needs a nap, or to retreat to when he simply needs to feel safe and secure. Remember that puppies are little, they can get lost in your home just like a young child in a grocery store. Remember that feeling? Therefore introduce puppy to larger spaces and different rooms gradually, over a period of several days. Puppy needs to know how to find his way back to his potty station and bed, and he may need to get there quickly : But I want my puppy to sleep by my bed.That is totally up to you! Of course puppy will love that too! But sleep lightly because puppy may still wake and need to go potty some time in the middle of the night for a few weeks: Just set up a potty station close by and direct him there if needed, no fuss and back to sleep! If your bedroom is upstairs be sure puppy is set up with a nap time retreat bed, potty station and water downstairs where he spends most of the day. It will help your puppy's little digestive system and help you to anticipate when he will need to go potty. A puppy on a consistent schedule is a relaxed and confident puppy; and a puppy that makes very few potty "mistakes". They generally sleep about 2 hours. Some may crash for a short nap from pm - Lunch and potty then play pm wake, potty and play; again some may snooze from pm pm Dinner, play and potty pm Puppies have sought out their bed and are fast asleep. Depending on activity level some puppies are asleep by .As puppies get older the play time lasts longer and the naps shorten. After 6 months puppy can eat twice a day, just breakfast and dinner. Take puppy's collar off for safety in a crate, and give a treat inside the crate when you leave. Be calm and do not fuss over puppy or treat when you return as this encourages anticipation for your return and associated unwanted behaviors. Believe us, puppy will always be happy to see you! See our puppy schedule! Take him to the place you want him to learn to go potty when you think he may need to go. Praise him when he does! We say "go potty, go potty" every time we see puppy going potty in his potty station. Puppy associates this with going potty, so pretty soon just by saying the phrase puppy will "try" to go. Say this same thing when taking puppy outside; and after a few weeks of consistently going outside you can eliminate the indoor potty station. Never, ever, ever scold puppy for going potty- even if its on your best rug. What were you thinking leaving your best rug or shoes out when you have a puppy anyway? Control your emotion and realize you have made the mistake, not your puppy. Your puppy will not associate the scolding with "where", he only will associate the scolding with his "going potty" action. He will then hide and be afraid when he has to go potty and then you have a mess - a sad and confused puppy, and poop piles behind the sofa. Set up for a Win-Win situation with praise and consistency, and be prepared for a few "oops"; don't worry, you'll get there! Obviously you did not bring your puppy home to keep him in a pen! Your puppy needs to do life with you! Take your puppy with you, share life with, play with and socialize your puppy! We recommend keeping your puppy home and just with your immediate family members for the first days after bringing your puppy home, so your puppy can begin to bond with you. Talk to your puppy, look at him in his cute little puppy eyes and have a conversation. This breed is born for this! They love to engage and will become your devoted follower for the rest of their life when they know they can count on you! After a few days have passed invite your friends over to visit and begin taking your puppy with you places; keeping in mind his eating, potting, playing and snoozing schedule. They have a very limited window of time to learn social skills, to gain confidence around all sorts of people, animals, sites, sounds activities etc. This window is often referred to as a "fear period", we like to call it an "imprinting period". This period usually lasts from 8 weeks old to 12 weeks old, but can be much shorter. During this time you may notice your puppy suddenly acting fearful towards something that he was fine with the day before, do not worry, just ignore it and move on. If your puppy was a wild dog he would be learning what is safe and what is not in order to survive. Wild dogs need to avoid people, run away from cars, loud noises, bicycles, skateboards, etc. Our domestic puppies need to learn that these things are good and a part of a happy life. So let puppy experience them - in a manner that is easy, non-confrontational and in a setting that he can obviously handle. If puppy is upset back away from the situation but keep it in the background at a further distance. DO NOT reinforce fear behavior by sheltering puppy or sympathizing "ohhh.Puppies will mimic behavior so if you are happy and okay, puppy generally will be as well, within reason. True, your puppy is susceptible to catching diseases until he is fully immunized - two weeks after his last vaccination until about weeks old so be smart about where you take him and who he touches noses with! Do not go to dog parks, do not let him walk thru pet supply stores, do not stop at dog rest stops when traveling. But still get him out and about! Try to meet " people in days", take along organic dehydrated beef liver puppy supply list and have strangers offer your puppy a piece when he engages with them : BEAUTIFUL. When you first get your new pup, you can expect them to sleep, a LOT. Puppies can sleep up to 20 hours a day which is pretty amazing when you think about it. Have you ever noticed how quickly a dog wakes and leaps into action? There is no desire to hit the snooze button in the doggy world. Although they sleep for up to 20 hours a day, much of this is light sleep and not a deep sleep. Their sleep pattern is called polyphasic which means scattered periods of sleep. Dogs sleep much lighter and in shorter bursts which can perhaps date back to their wolf ancestors where they were on alert all day and all night. Puppies may sleep for up to 20 hours a day until they are around 4 months old. After this time the amount of sleep they have will depend on many factors including routine, personality, how active they are, and how quiet their days are. The world is an exciting place and your dog will likely find more ways to keep themselves entertained chasing that pesky fly on the window for instance! They may still sleep for around 12 to 14 hours a day which can still seem a lot but remember a lot of this is light and scattered over the day. Dog sleeping arrangements — Where your dog prefers to sleep will be a contributing factor to how well and often they sleep. What their personality is like — Some dogs generally have more energy than others. Anxiety — Whether you have an anxious dog or a laid-back dog can affect their sleeping patterns. Daily Exercise — How much exercise and playtime your pooch gets will help to determine how much sleep they have. Age of your dog — Puppies and senior dogs tend to sleep a lot during the day whereas younger dogs will be more active. How big — The size of your dog will factor into their sleep requirements. You are what you eat — Diet can also affect sleeping patterns, a poor diet can lead to issues including sleep. Those thick balmy days may mean your pooch is too tired to do much. Labradoodles, like all dogs, can have a very flexible approach to sleeping. Some days they will seem more active than others and this is completely normal. After all, we are much the same, and some days we just feel more tired than others. Sleeping Issues in Dogs Like humans, dogs can also suffer from sleep problems and anything like this needs to be investigated further. Pain — It could be that your dog is feeling uncomfortable or in pain which is causing them to feel agitated. Anxiety in dogs can be worse at night and overnight, and sometimes they may not sleep much at all. This can lead to more daytime napping when they feel more relaxed again. Narcolepsy — This is a rare condition in dogs but it can happen. Dogs who suffer from this find their REM cycle disturbed and it can cause momentary muscle weakness and paralysis when awake. REM Behavior Disorder — This condition can cause dogs to move around while asleep, they can even walk into furniture or walls. However, the good news is that there are some practical steps you can take to create a good sleeping environment for your Labradoodle. Make sure your dog has its own safe, comfortable sleeping place that is there consistently. You may notice when you first bring your dog home where they are most comfortable and if practical, this may be a good place to put their bed. A crate with a blanket, bed, and a few toys can make a dog feel safe and secure and they will come to see this as their own sleeping space. Be sure your dog is getting the exercise they need. An under-exercised dog can become depressed and may therefore sleep for much of the day. A well-exercised dog means a happy and healthy dog who will have a great balance between rest and activity. On top of exercise ensure your dog is being fed good quality food and they are having the required amount for their weight. Creating a calm atmosphere at home can help your dog feel relaxed too, especially if they are nervous or anxious. Simply having the radio on low can help a dog feel more at ease and keeping noise levels down when possible. Every dog has a different environment, personality, and sleeping preferences. If other symptoms are accompanying the sleeping issues, then it may be something to explore further. We have learned that dogs have much fewer periods of deep sleep than we do so although they nap a lot, most of this is very light.

Sign up for BoxerBriefs to get news delivered right to your mailbox! Get them early for holiday gifts! We are an organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of Boxers in the metropolitan-Atlanta area, and to provide support and education for Boxer owners. We are operated and managed by a group of dedicated volunteers, and we are funded by adoption fees, fundraisers, and gifts from generous donors like you! Atlanta Boxer Rescue, Inc. If you are interested in adopting a Boxer in Atlanta, you've come to the right place. Take a moment to learn about the Boxer breed, including some of its history. When you are ready to move forward, familiarize yourself with everything you need to know before you adopt. Some Frequently Asked Questions are answered on our site as well. We strive to support your adoption to make it a success for you and your new Boxer friend. All of our Boxers have had a check-up with a veterinarian, been spayed or neutered, and brought up-to-date on vaccinations. We have also done our best to evaluate our Boxers for temperament, socialization, and house-breaking. We are always looking for great volunteers to help us. If you are interested in being a foster home for a Boxer in need, thank you! The number of Boxers that we can save depends on the number of willing volunteers like you. Please complete our Foster Application or contact us for more information. We have a lot of resources to help you. Sign up for our newsletter , contact us about any questions or concerns you might have, or seek comfort if you've lost your Boxer friend. We can't do this without you, so please consider a donation or a purchase from the ABR Store! Puppies are current on vaccines appropriate for their age. All of our Boxers are on heartworm prevention and are microchipped. Adopting a dog of any breed is a very big decision and one that should be agreed upon by the entire family. Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue has many wonderful Boxers available for adoption. Some of them have had particularly hard lives thus far, so we ask that you be certain before filling out an application to adopt and that you have the time, energy, and financial means to care for a Boxer long-term please see our Boxer Breed Info Link. They have been through quite a bit and deserve to find that permanent home of their own where they will be cherished as members of a family. If you would like to submit an Adoption Application, you may do so by using the link below. Please allow our volunteers up to two weeks to process your application, though it often takes less time. However, if you have not received a reply within two weeks, feel free to contact us. The adoption fee required to adopt a rescued Boxer is considered a donation. We are a nonprofit organization run solely on donations, and all donations are tax-deductible. Stella found her forever home with the Vertes family in May ! Adoption Standards Thank you for considering adopting a rescued Boxer! Some of them have had particularly hard lives thus far, so we ask that you be certain before filling out an application to adopt, that you have the time, energy, and financial means to care for a Boxer long-term please see our Boxer Breed Info Link. They have been through quite a bit and deserve to find a permanent home of their own, where they will be cherished. All of our Boxers are on heart-worm prevention. Please allow our volunteers up to two weeks to process your application, and we will be in touch with you. However, if you have not received a reply within 2 weeks, feel free to contact us. The adoption fee required to adopt a rescued Boxer is considered a donation, as we are strictly non-profit. All of our rescued Boxers are temperament tested to evaluate how they react to different situations and environments. They are tested with other dogs, cats when possible as well as children. Boxer Breed Information Are you right for a boxer? Well, the boxer might be the right breed of dog for you. Please read all of the information below carefully. Boxers are high-energy dogs and have wonderful personalities. The best way to put it…A boxer is a boxer. You cannot mold them into being any other dog. Take them and love them as they are! Many people are surprised at the number of boxer rescues and the need for our type of organization. Please realize when you rescue a puppy or young boxer they will get bigger! Boxers need daily work and or exercise. Long brisk walks are ideal and playing fetch with a ball or toy is wonderful. Please Note: Boxers really do require a good amount of playtime. If they do not receive proper exercise they can become destructive due to being bored and having pent-up energy. Older boxers silver boxers do not require as much activity but still have a good bit of energy and love to fetch and go on walks. Boxers are also prone to seasonal flank alopecia. Quality foods and regular baths and brushing will help decrease the amount of hair shed by your Boxer. Boxers who are socialized on a regular basis, from puppyhood, generally relate very well with other dogs. Many Boxer breeders and rescuers will agree that placement of Boxers of the opposite sex male with female, spayed and neutered of course! Coffee tables, remote controls, shoes, chair legs, door frames, etc… are all fair game. It is of the utmost importance that you provide your Boxer with stimulating toys or activities to do when you cannot be around. It is your duty to provide a chewing outlet for your Boxer. Many of our volunteers use a KONG filled with treats or peanut butter, a food cube, a treat ball, or a Nylabone-type product. We also recommend crating your Boxer when you are not home. Most of our chewing occurrences have been linked to boxers being left uncrated! Crating your boxer is for his or her safety! This ensures they are kept in a safe place while you are gone. Boxer Health Boxers are predisposed to cancers—namely mast cell tumors and lymphomas. Skin conditions such as Demodex mange , allergies, hot spots, skin tags, etc… are also common. Boxer owners should be prepared to have a little money put aside for unplanned vet visits, besides their annual vaccinations! Most can recognize the need to be more patient and gentle with people however, some are better at understanding when to be gentle than others! Please think about what type of household you have and what age boxer may be best for you and your family before adopting! A great way to save money on your adopted dog, is to get their Heartgard Plus at PetMeds. Be sure the application is filled out in its entirety. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Fights are happening, resulting in injuries to both dogs. Bailey is very sweet, current on vaccines, and spayed. She has been ok with male boxers so we will consider placing her with a sweet boy, who loves to play. Bailey has no history with young children. She is currently taking Prozac and Trazadone at the advice of a trainer who claimed it would help to keep her from panting in her crate. Shame on this vet who willy nilly dished out these drugs to a 13 month old dog, without asking why!! Bailey needs a committed home, with an understanding of the needs of an adolescent boxer. She should attend positive based training with her new humans. Bailey would love a fenced in yard, in addition to lots of walks and continued socialization. If you are interested in this girl, please apply! Where do your boxers come from? Many of our boxers are owner surrenders. Perhaps the owner purchased the dog on impulse, not understanding the needs of a boxer. Sometimes, financial situations change, and families are not able to care for the dog anymore. We also take dogs that have been brought to shelters around New England. If a shelter reaches out for help, we do our best to find placement for the boxer in need. Lastly, we have a wonderful relationship with boxer rescue in Puerto Rico, and we work closely with them to bring boxers in need, from the island, to New England. All of our boxers are temperament tested and evaluated before coming into rescue. It should be noted that ALL dogs require a decompression period when going to a new home. Can I adopt a female dog if I already have a female dog? The short answer is no. Our experience in placing dogs, has shown us that placing two females together is oftentimes not the best long term situation. We receive many calls from owners needing to surrender their female boxers because there is fighting with another female dog in the house. Either way, the fighting is often brutal and bloody. We have adopted a policy to never place two female dogs in the same house. Are your boxers healthy? They are brought up to date on vaccines, tested for heartworm, and spayed or neutered unless too young or not medically able to be. Their vet records are provided upon adoption. Do I need to have a fenced in yard to adopt a boxer? We do not require a fenced in yard for all of our boxers. We look at each dog, individually, and based on the needs of that dog, we may require fencing. Please note that we do not consider an electric fence to be a proper method of containment and are not able place a dog in a home that uses electric fencing. Do you have a shelter where I can come meet the boxers? We are not a shelter and do not have a physical location where you can meet our adoptees. Most boxers will stay with their owners or shelter until we can secure a foster or adoptive home for them. What Are Your Adoption Fees?

Puppies for Sale from Denver, Colorado Breeders. Rehoming 4 mixed pups. Aurora Hello All! Im finally moving out of my moms and getting into my own apartment! Unfortunately they wont accept pets and this place really fits my budget. No apts, needs room to run, no small children. Im looking for a loving person or family that can take her in for a rehoming fee. A great deal of CL users from Colorado visit this section on a daily basis looking for great deals. Minnie is a 12 week spayed female Chihuahua mix. Middleburg 25 week old Frenchie pup. Craigslist Denver Pets is the perfect place to find new pets in the. The female has already been rehomed. Belgian Tervuren Mix 4 years young. She is such a sweetie pie that you won't be able to resist. But would do best in a quieter home. Louisville to swear in pet mayors. Craigslist Denver Pets is the perfect place to find new pets in the Denver area. Pet Lover Extraordinaire! I found a big black and brown dog. The region also includes counties of. We are here for you should the unthinkable happen to a pet you love or find. UTD on shots and will come with that paperwork. The election for the dogs ended in a tie, and both dogs will be appointed to a two-year term. Very extreme litter! Males and females still available. You can post your pet for sale or rent, or find new friends who are interested in getting a pet. Has all his shots, will come with all his records, toys, crate. Louisville to swear in pet mayors — The Denver Post. Related Keywords craigslist denver pets craigslist denver pets dog craigslist denver pets lost and found Add A Comment. Cannot keep because daughter is allergic. We have pug puppies ready for home fawn and white color, these beautiful little babies are 8 weeks old, up-to-date vaccinations, dewormed, pee pad trained, offering a 72 hour health guarantee contract. Kitten wanted! People with shepherd experience is preferred. Pets For Sale Craigslist Denver. My daughter is looking for a good home for her 6 month old male German Shepard. He is trained, well kept, and affectionate. Pet Classifieds CO Colorado. Craigslist Denver, Colorado serves the online classified community in greater Denver metropolitan area. Super sweet and great with kids. This absolutely adorable little girl is looking for her forever home. She does well with other pets. Call or text for more info show contact info. She is a rottweiler mix with boxer. Rescued from breeder situation. Report and Search Lost and Found Pets. Looking for a good home for a 6 month old German Shepard. She enjoys playing fetch more than anything in this world. Young yorkie poo needs new home. Denver has quite the variety! At Uptown Puppies, we make it easy to find your perfect pal. Sunday 11am to 6pm Puppy Every on Sale. They are 6 weeks old and ready to go in less than 2 weeks. Please only local and serious inquiries. Deposit holds your puppy of choice. Up-to-date on shots, dewormed, potty, trained, She does not come with any registration. Any Maltipoos for sale Denver breeders list on our site are subject to thorough, nose-to-tail checkups. Airedale Terrier Puppies For Sale. Little dachshund puppies ready for sale,house trained,shots and dewormed. Wood frame and would enhance any house or gameroom. These adorable dogs are available for adoption in Denver, Colorado. Cute and loveable, need homes. All puppies found here are from AKC-Registered parents. AKC registration shots and dewormed included call or text. I have golden retriever looking for their new and forever home. Pet Classifieds CO Colorado. Up-to-date on shots, dewormed, potty, trained, and eating solid food. Bennett 10 week old German Shepherd puppies for sale! Boxer puppies ready to go home 8 weeks old. Whether you're looking for a rare color or specific sex, we have a wide selection of Denver Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies for sale to choose from. Tags: bull terrier colorado mini bull terrier Denver. The Havanese puppies for sale Denver are wonderful dogs for virtually any stable lifestyle — especially apartment living! These pups need daily social interaction, but are widely known for their ability to thrive in smaller environments like city apartments or condos. Puppie, Please call or text more info; six.And thanks to modern air transportation, it's easier than ever to get your new pup delivered right to your doorstep. Healthy, beautiful and really lovely. Puppies for Sale from Denver, Colorado Breeders. We try to keep our current puppies updated as best as we can, however please understand that availability can change as puppies are sold in our store. Chihuahuas for Sale in Denver. To learn more about each adoptable dog, click on the "i" icon for fast facts, or their photo or name for full details. AKC bernese mountain dog For sale. She is ready to find her family! She has a very fluffy thick coat. Very nice picture and has glitter. Beyond extensive health checks, the pups come from only the top breeders and businesses who make it through our painstakingly thorough vetting process. Text or call- ninesix. So, you know that the pup you take home will be the perfect fit for you and your family. We work with breeders from all over the country to bring you the best selection of dogs anywhere. Add a low-shedding coat and they tick all the boxes for urban living. Please call to confirm availability and with any other questions about our puppies! Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to find your perfect puppy in your area. All the puppies are health checked by a vet and carefully matched with their new owners for size, color, and temperament. Females Available 12 weeks old. Puppies for Sale in Denver, Colorado. Goldendoodle Breeders In Colorado.

How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. Shares German Shepherds are graceful, obedient, and loyal dogs with specific nutritional needs. Following a German Shepherd puppy feeding chart will enable you to track the amount of food your puppy is eating as they grow. There are varieties of foods available in the market and most of them come with guidelines at the back of the packaging showing you how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy. This article will cover different types of diets available and the specific nutritional needs of your German shepherd. It will also help you know what to do to ensure that your GSD gets nutritious and balanced food for every stage of their life. German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart There are three aspects of this German Shepherd puppy feeding chart, namely the German shepherd feeding amount, feeding frequency, and mealtime lengths. It is important to find out the appropriate feeding amount, frequency, and length for your German shepherd without leaving out one of them. That way, you can accurately find out the best way to feed your dog. Overall, there are four ranges that you need to keep in mind. An active dog may require a bit more than the numbers in this list, and an inactive dog will need a slightly less amount. But this guide can act as a solid benchmark. A puppy will need to eat more because they are growing very quickly. Talk to your vet about how much exactly so you keep them healthy and happy. Make sure your German Shepherd has access to fresh, clean water all day. When you take your dog for a walk make sure to bring along some extra water in a collapsible bowl. If they get tired on the way or it gets very hot, this can save their life. So for example, if your dog is 60lbs they should eat between lbs of food in one day. If you notice your dog is losing weight, add more calories to its meal size. However, there are other considerations on how much to feed a German shepherd puppy per day. You might want to consider avoiding meals right before bedtime. Let them digest their food first before they go to sleep. Understanding German Shepherd Puppy Nutritional Needs All dogs require nutritious, satisfying, and healthy food and every breed have their special diet. For maximum energy and health, there are factors to consider when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd: Size considerations- the AKC breed standard says that a German Shepherd can go to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Females can be around 49 to 71 pounds while Males can be around 66 to 88 pounds. This means that they have a big appetite hence it is good to find quality food for them. They grow pretty fast hence they need specific nutrients for specific stages. Activity level- German shepherds are muscular, active, and agile which contributes to higher caloric needs to be complemented by feeding them a high-quality diet. Health consideration- GSDs are prone to many diseases hence a healthy diet will prevent problems. For example, arthritis that is caused by hip and elbow dysplasia can be mitigated through an excellent diet. Ensure that your GSD diet contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. How long does it take for your dog to be full? Is your dog still hungry after eating his portion? German shepherds normally take anywhere from 10 minutes to 15 minutes to finish the meal, given that you followed the proper feeding guidelines properly. If your dog shows signs of slow eating, we recommend sending them to your vet. If you think your dog is already full before finishing his portion, there is no problem. However, if your dog is still hungry after finishing the meal, consider sending him to your vet. This is because this can be a sign of a serious health issue involving their digestive system. They encourage the puppy to chew hence preventing periodontal diseases or tartar. Kibble is less expensive to buy and can stay fresh for longer. See also German Shepherd Gestation Period And Pregnancy Wet food is also essential for puppies because they allow puppies to feel fuller with less food. If your GSD need to shed a few pounds, wet food is a good way to reduce their caloric intake. Wet food is easier to digest, hence they are good for German shepherds with sensitive stomachs. Wet food is appetizing and keeps the puppy hydrated. You need to understand why your puppy cannot eat because it will help you determine the way to deal with the issue. There is no need to worry if the puppy lost appetite shortly and goes back to normal eating without any sign of illness. If the puppy loses appetite and takes a few days without improvement, take your puppy to the vet to find the problem because your dog might be sick. If the vet finds that the puppy is sick, they may suggest a special diet that will boost their immunity and give them extra nutrients to better their recovery. The puppy may have stopped eating because of behavioral issues; therefore, you may need to feed them same time to get a routine. Treats and human food that is given to the puppy may need to be reduced and also you can try different kinds of food. The German shepherd is a medium dog breed according to the AKC. Therefore, free-feeding is not a good idea. For the German shepherds, feeding schedules work better. If the puppies are free-fed the puppy may eat the leftover at any time even when they are not hungry. Sticking to a feeding routine help the puppy to stay healthy and prevent obesity. When you have a schedule, managing their weight and house training will improve. The puppy usually relieves themselves around 15 minutes after eating or drinking, therefore, when they feed at the same time every day and are taken outside after a while, accidents will be minimized. A raw diet is good for German shepherds. A raw diet help improves vitality and energy. The puppy gets healthy white teeth with an increased lifespan and reduced shedding as well as a stronger immune system. Raw meat is a great source of protein and an optimal diet. It is like keto to humans because it allows the puppy to reach their total capacity and good health. Dogs are naturally carnivorous, hence raw diet aligns with their natural needs. However, you should speak to your vet before putting your puppy on a raw food diet. The majority of commercially available kibble food is balanced and complete, and of high quality for your German shepherd puppy. Human supplements often contain harmful substances to animals and are unregulated or minimally effective. Therefore, never give human supplements to your German shepherd puppy. But they can eat small amounts of cooked chicken or turkey, plain cooked sweet potatoes or carrots, plain yogurt, and small amounts of fruits like apples or bananas without getting sick. Talk to a vet for advice on how to feed your German Shepherd puppy a healthy and balanced diet. These include chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, chives, avocado, onions, nuts, grapes and raisins, garlic, raw or undercooked meat, and bones. These foods can cause a wide range of health problems, from stomachaches to more serious problems like pancreatitis or kidney failure. Some foods that people eat may have a lot of sodium or sugar, which can also be bad for dogs. How much food to give an older German Shepherd will depend on their needs and how much they move around. But as dogs get older, they tend to slow down and may need less food to stay at a healthy weight. As a general rule, an older German Shepherd needs about 2 to 3 cups of food per day, which should be divided between two meals. A German Shepherd that is getting older should eat high-quality senior dog food that is made for their age and size. Senior dogs might also benefit from getting smaller meals more often. If your German Shepherd puppy seems to always be hungry, you should look at what they eat and how often they eat. Make sure they eat enough for their age, weight, and level of activity. Puppies grow quickly and need more calories than adult dogs, so it is possible that they are not getting enough food. Also, make sure you feed them high-quality puppy food that is right for their age and size. If you are worried about how hungry they are or how much they weigh, you should talk to a vet to rule out any health problems and make a plan for feeding them. The amount of dry food you should feed your German Shepherd will depend on several factors, including their age, weight, and activity level. Puppies: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Adult dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Active dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Senior dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. If the dog is obviously overweight or underweight, adjust accordingly. If you can feel most of the ribs without squeezing your fingers in between them — try 1 cup per day. This is a decent starting point for a growing large breed puppy that needs the extra calories to grow big and strong. If you can feel most of the ribs AND see its waist — try 3 cups per day. This is perfect for an adult German Shepherd which needs extra calories due to being very active. With this amount, it will be able to maintain its weight, but not gain any extra fat. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 3. This is a good amount for a very active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain a healthy weight. This should be sufficient for an adult German Shepherd which is quite active. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 5 cups per day. This is a good amount for an extremely active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain lean muscle mass. For example, when my dog was a puppy, he would feel all ribs and see his waist when eating 2 cups of food per day. However, as he got older and larger, I had to increase the amount — even though I could still feel most of the ribs! He maintained around .Although there are lots of opinions on how much food your shepherds needs, these guidelines work for me and my German Shepherds. Everyone is different though, so you will have to adjust accordingly if necessary — this guide should help you until you find the ideal amount. If your dog is a very active one it may need more food depending on its activity level. Always be sure to give plenty of water since dry kibble can dehydrate the animal over time. However, this amount will vary depending on the size, age, and activity level of your dog. Puppies and young dogs, for example, generally need more water than adult German Shepherds. And working dogs or those who exercise frequently may require even more. This is because they can easily hydrate themselves if given free access to water. However, you still need to remember some things. For example, take note that your dog will need to drink 6 ounces of water per day for every 3. Depending on the temperature and activeness, this amount can increase. Lastly, make sure you take extra care in providing water access to your German shepherd. The most preferable way is to fill a bowl with a moderate amount of water, not too much. The feeding amount, frequency, length, and water requirements can always be changed. If you have no time to visit your vet, the following topic may help you. How Much Should A 1-year-old German Shepherd Eat A 1-year-old German Shepherd should eat about two and a half to three cups of food each day, broken up into two or three meals. Pointers for Feeding German Shepherds Improper feeding practices can lead to serious health problems for German shepherds. An owner is responsible for taking into consideration the age and weight of a German shepherd before feeding them. When feeding a german shepherd puppy that is four to six months old, you must give them two meals a day that comprises around eight ounces and five ounces. When feeding a German shepherd puppy that is between seven and twelve months old, the meal amounts should be increased to ten ounces for each meal. This amount should be split into three smaller meals. This is regardless of whether they are active or not. Yep, German shepherds can gain weight regardless of whether they exercise or not. If you think your dog is gaining too much weight, you can split their daily calories into four or five smaller meals. Some people prefer using dry dog food, while others would choose canned dog food. Whatever you choose for your German shepherd is usually okay, but canned food tends to contain more moisture than dry food which may lead to bladder stones in certain dogs. However, when it comes to the amount of dog food you feed your German shepherd, canned food leads to more obesity than dry food. If your German shepherds are over five years old, you must give them an extra meal. This additional meal should comprise around four ounces of food so they can easily digest it during their older age. When feeding a German shepherd puppy, you must know how to correctly measure their food amount. Be accurate when following the proper measurements; otherwise, it could lead to your dog gaining too much weight. Use measuring cups that are specifically made for dry food. If you use any other type of measuring device, it might lead to your dog eating too much or too little food. You must not feed your German shepherd until they are full, but allow them to eat until they are slightly satiated. Do not serve unlimited food; give them about two to three cups of food per day. If you are unsure whether or not your German shepherd is obese, check its waistline. If they have a thick waist and their stomach looks like a sphere, then that is a clear sign that your German shepherd is obese. Never let them finish their meal if they are still hungry; otherwise, you will encourage them to gorge on their food. Your German shepherd must always have access to fresh clean water, so you should ensure they can drink it whenever necessary. Feeding Guidelines by Age Before proceeding with the following points, remember that age is not the only determining factor in a German shepherd feeding chart. Make sure to consider all the content in this blog post as well. It is recommended that you slowly let them adapt first. This can be their regular food from now on. This includes fruits, bones, and more. You should also avoid giving them your leftovers. However, they will need time to adapt. You should also consider feeding your German shepherd foods that can be gnawed and chewed. This is so they can develop their jaws, teeth, and gums. This will result in less feeding amount and frequency. Feeding Guidelines by Weight German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. An average weighted German shepherd 35 kilograms will then need calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or are inactive. Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals 55 calories per day. So an average weighted German shepherd will require calories per day to be able to function properly. Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion. German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults Guidelines Our last topic involves the difference between a puppy and an adult. The following are some of the facts that recent studies have proven: Puppies have higher energy levels than adults. This means they need to eat more than adult German shepherds. German shepherds will need higher protein and fat content at an early age. The amount of fat and protein will decrease as they grow older. Puppies cannot tolerate too many nutrients. Ingesting extra minerals and vitamins may lead to serious health disorders. Meanwhile, adults are only risking being overweight when taking in more than intended. German Shepherds usually have a good appetite and can eat a lot, especially when they are young and growing. But their food intake should be balanced and right for their age, weight, and level of activity to keep them from getting too much food and getting fat. As they age, they should usually eat less quickly. Most of the time, bones that have been cooked and ground up completely may be safe to eat. Instead, give them dog-made chew toys or treats. Can German Shepherds Be Vegetarians? Since German Shepherds consume meat, it follows that they must consume a significant amount of animal protein in order to get all of the necessary nutrients. Although while it is feasible to offer a dog a vegetarian or vegan diet, owners of German Shepherds should avoid doing so since it increases the likelihood that their dogs will not get all of the nutrients that they need. After talking about the feeding amount, frequency, and lengths of a German shepherd, you can now easily plan how much, how many times, and how long you feed your dog. You even learned how to hydrate your German shepherd the proper way. Lastly, we talked about the difference between a puppy and an adult in terms of feeding. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. Since puppies have a lot of growing to do, they require plenty of calories. You can reduce the amount of food per pound of body weight until they reach standard adult measurements. The specific amount of food to feed a German Shepherd can vary because different dogs are sized differently and have various needs and levels of athleticism. To learn more about specific foods and ingredients, check out this article on the best diet for German Shepherds. Three to four meals of puppy food a day is ideal for a month-old German Shepherd, as the food will be easily digestible and keep the energy high throughout the day. Feeding a puppy 1—2 large meals might make them feel sick, or they may be unable to finish it all at once. When it comes to how much food to give a 1—4 month-old German Shepherd, the recommended amount is approximately one cup g or a little more, depending on activity levels per meal. Be sure to spread meals evenly throughout the day, and avoid feeding your puppy before bedtime. The West Greenwich Animal Hospital recommends not feeding a dog three hours before bedtime because they may need to go out for a toilet break at night. Since their stomachs and bodies are getting bigger, they can generally handle fewer large meals than more small ones. So, you can reduce the number of puppy food meals to 2 or 3. Since the number of meals is reduced, increase the amount of food per serving to approximately 1. The meals should be spread evenly throughout the day to ensure your German Shepherd has consistent energy levels. My German Shepherd Willow at 4 months old 10 to 12 Months At 10—12 months, a German Shepherd begins to mature as its body continues growing. Split approximately 4—5 cups —1, g of food between two meals. However, this is just a recommendation — as mentioned previously, your dog may require more or less than this depending on their activity levels. Keeping the amount of food at cups , g per day may be sufficient, or it may be best to start feeding your dog more or less than this. For example, many active or working German Shepherds may benefit from 6 cups 1. Again, the specific amount is circumstantial. However, some dog owners make the switch earlier. Honestly, this is the issue with every new pet parent. Below is a German Shepherd feeding chart to help you learn more about giving your pooch the right amount of food at the right time. Remember, the below are simply recommendations, so specific amounts can vary by dog and activity level. Age Amount of food per day Amount of servings per day months 3—4 cups — g spread across multiple servings 3—4 3—4. Always check the packaging of the food you buy for a more detailed analysis. There are endless dog food options, so making the right choice can be challenging and stressful. The main protein source is chicken, and it promotes immune system health and digestive performance. Suitable for puppies up to 15 months, this dog food is the perfect solution for young German Shepherds with lots of growing to do! One of the main benefits of this food is that it comes in different sizes, including a pound 6. This dog food contains all the nutrients a German Shepherd puppy needs to grow and thrive. Blue Buffalo dog food has real chicken, fruits, and vegetables, so your pooch will surely enjoy the delicious taste! It comes in two flavors — a chicken meal with oats and a lamb meal with brown rice. Either contains enough high-quality protein to ensure your pup can grow as healthily as possible. Medium-sized dog breeds can continue eating puppy food until 18 months. Like with puppy food, there are many adult German Shepherd dog food options, so choosing the right one can be challenging. Check out some of my below recommendations to make your search a little easier. Best Breed Dr. Best Breed Dog Food aids digestion as it contains a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber. According to a study, musculoskeletal disorders and the inability to stand are the two most common causes of death in German Shepherds. Since puppies need specific nutrients to grow, their food differs greatly from adult dog food. Puppies especially need protein because it aids with the growth and development of cells. Without adequate protein in the diet , puppies are more susceptible to serious health issues, including: Weight and muscle loss General weakness Chest and abdomen issues German Shepherds can continue eating puppy food for the first year of life and beyond. Usually, 16—18 months is a good time for a dog to start eating adult food. The most important thing to remember is that adult food is never the right choice for a German Shepherd puppy that still has much growing to do. However, there are many other factors to consider when it comes to feeding a German Shepherd, like their general weight and activity levels. Weight and Size The weight of your German Shepherd will determine how much to feed it. The general rule of thumb is that the heavier your dog is, the more food it needs to stay fueled. The average adult German Shepherd is around .Pay attention to the general height and size of your German Shepherd to determine exactly how much food to feed them. For example, an underweight German Shepherd will need extra food to get back to a healthy weight, whereas an overweight one will need less food. As you can imagine, a highly energetic dog will need more food than a German Shepherd that lies around all day. If your German Shepherd is still relatively young, i. Health Health issues can affect the way a dog eats. For example, a dog with stomach issues might avoid food altogether. Other health conditions that affect how much a dog can eat include: Pancreatitis Infections Cancer Consider whether your dog is experiencing health issues when feeding them. For instance, if your dog is shedding too much, you need to change a diet that minimizes shedding. Age The age of a German Shepherd helps determine how much food should be eaten and how often. For example as mentioned earlier , younger dogs must eat smaller meals spread evenly throughout the day, while older dogs can have 2 larger meals. A vet can weigh your German Shepherd, ask questions, and listen to the heartbeat to determine a healthy diet plan. As Willow is now a senior dog, I like to take her for vet checkups every 6 months. In many cases, giving puppies homemade food over long periods can cause health issues down the line. A study by the National Library of Medicine concluded that a homemade diet given by the owner caused a puppy to experience various health issues, including vitamin D deficiency and NSH nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. You can give a small treat here and there, but human food should never make up the entire diet of a puppy. Below are some tasty examples! Eggs Not only are eggs beneficial for humans, but they can also be good for dogs if given in moderation. German Shepherds puppies and adults will receive plenty of nutrients from eggs, including protein and fats. The best and easiest way to give a German Shepherd an egg is to hard boil it. Avoid feeding a German Shepherd or any dog fried eggs too often due to the excessive oil. Hard-boiled eggs are usually the easiest for dogs to eat, but you can also try poached or scrambled eggs. Examples of dog-friendly fruits include: Bananas. The two most obvious goals of feeding your German Shepherd are for health and growth. How fast do German Shepherds grow? German Shepherds are medium-large dogs and therefore grow at a fast rate over the first six to seven months leading up to adolescence. Adult German Shepherds are 22 to 26 inches tall and weigh 50 to 95 pounds. Reputable weight charts suggest your German Shepherd puppy will have attained three-quarters of their final weight over these first six to seven months. This is A LOT of growing to do in a short amount of time — when you brought your puppy home, it was probably only eight inches tall and weighed around 15 pounds. By 12 to 15 months old, a German Shepherd is within an inch or less of their adult height. Therefore, your male German Shepherd will be 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 59 to 93 pounds by his first birthday. How does diet affect the health of growing Shepherds? Recently it has come to light that a proper diet for puppies does more than prevent malnutrition. As part of this proper diet, there are many things that should never be fed to German Shepherds. Orthopedic Problems Many orthopedic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia have a strong hereditary component. However, people often discount the role of diet in bone developmental issues. Merely creating an oversized puppy, as is often the case for show animals and people fixated on large dogs, can lead to several painful disorders: Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Panosteitis — Generalized inflammation of the long bones in puppies; common in German Shepherds. Overnutrition and over-supplementation of certain vitamins and minerals lead to paradoxical malnutrition of the bone, and subsequently improper development. Nutritional experts have modified their recommendations regarding the diets of large-breed dogs. Many nutritionists and veterinarians advocate feeding German Shepherds and other large-breed puppies an adult or professionally-formulated homemade diet to limit the occurrence and severity of developmental problems. Pet food manufacturers have caught onto the concept of overnutrition in puppies, and most carry special diets for large-breed puppies. Also, do not supplement your puppy with vitamins, minerals, or proteins without veterinarian direction — their excessive use will disrupt bone and cartilage growth and harm the growth plates. Many people use the food bag as a starting point to decide how much to feed their dogs. However, a label on commercial food is one of the easiest ways to overfeed your growing puppy. Feeding your puppy involves regularly evaluating and tracking their weight. You should be able to assess how close your pup is to their ideal weight just by looking at them. Silhouette from the side — a slight tuck. Pat the ribcage where the abdomen slightly lifts towards the hips. From above — Clear waist; should see an hourglass shape from rib cage to hips When you palpate — You should feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat without having to prod very hard. Puppies will vary in their body scores and may change rapidly within a few days. Pups often lose their abdominal tuck right after a meal. Puppies under 16 weeks old commonly have a pot-bellied appearance without much abdominal tuck. Thin dogs will show more visibility of ribs, waist, and pelvis without appearing emaciated or unhealthy. If your puppy eats well but fails to grow or gain sufficient weight, consult a medical professional. German Shepherds can be susceptible to rare cases of pituitary gland dwarfism or a deficiency of enzyme production from the pancreas. Volume The easiest way to determine how much food to give your Shepherd pup is to figure out how many cups they need in a day and divide it by the number of feedings. German Shepherds eat about four cups of food daily from 16 weeks of age to nine months or a year regardless of weight. The volume accounts for the relatively high caloric requirements of the young growing animal. German Shepherds over a year old may need as much as five to eight cups of dog food. Other references, however, use weight rather than age. Pups eat one cup of food daily per 15 to 20 pounds. Dogs over pounds receive five cups of kibble plus an additional half a cup for every extra 20 pounds. Like all models, more active dogs need to eat more food — make adjustments up or down based on body scoring. You can estimate the volume to feed your German Shepherd pup once you find the conversion rate. Dry dog food bags and wet food cans usually have the kilocalorie equivalence of each cup of the product. The number of calories you feed your Shepherd depends on how close to the adult weight they are. Once your puppy reaches six weeks old, you may still have to feed it a mash but can decrease meals to four per day. German Shepherd puppies between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks can eat three to four times daily, while most dogs over four months of age decrease to a frequency of two to three times daily. Centering a few potty breaks around meals that stimulate their intestinal tracts helps develop consistent habits. GDV Your German Shepherd puppy will begin to develop a deeper chest combined with significant size by four to six months of age. Both physical characteristics put your puppy at additional risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus compared to smaller breeds. Four months is the age at which most pups will see a significant increase in their meal sizes. Studies have linked large meals with GDV , or bloat, life-threatening distension, and rotation of the stomach. Increasing the number of feedings greatly reduces the incidence of GDV. We recommend at least two meals a day for your dog, even as your Shepherd approaches adulthood. How much to feed a German Shepherd puppy is part of a broader equation that includes avoiding overfeeding, calculating portion sizes, and scheduling appropriate mealtimes. However, a fat or pudgy puppy is not a look anyone should encourage. The puppy may appear to be in good shape, but you need to feel the ribs to be certain. Four Months You can really start to see the amount the pup has grown compared to the eight-week-old puppy! To get a better idea of what to expect with a young GSD, feel free to watch this video! It illustrates the rapid growth rate of the German Shepherd and touches on diets as well. Recommended reading. Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day. Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day. While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula. You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture. Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow. Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food. So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog. Adult dog food will have a different ratio of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and other nutrients than puppy food does. Feeding an adult dog a puppy formula can cause obesity as well as put too much strain on kidneys and other vital organs. Long term use of inappropriate food for an adult dog can have catastrophic consequences. That said, there is no need to panic if your adult GSD eats a bowl of puppy food now and then. Adult German Shepherds should be fed twice a day. Again, bloat is a real problem for large breed dogs, and large meals seem to be a big cause of this. I feed my adult dogs this particular blend for a number of reasons. The blend is designed specifically with German Shepherds in mind, as it uses high-quality, animal-based nutrients to counter the extra stress put on the joints of GSDs and to help the development strong lean muscle to keep your dog in peak physical condition. You really can see the difference. This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet. Large breeds reach the older stage not quite senior, but close around half of their assumed life expectancy. Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD. Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal. For treats, senior dogs should avoid calorie-dense milk bones and high-salt or fatty treats. Opt for healthy, whole-food treats such as apple slices or carrots. Some senior dogs begin to develop health conditions that will require special care. This is often a result of poor nutrition early in life, but can sometimes simply be genetics and old age catching up with them. But for GSDs with health issues such as kidney disease and joint pain, diet can play an even bigger role in the quality of their lives. Getting a personalized recommendation from your veterinarian is worth the time, expense, and effort. These charts can seem pretty straightforward at first glance. Instead, use them as a starting point. Observe your dog, see how he looks and feels, and note any changes in his bathroom habits, weight, or energy level. Adjust his meals accordingly. Generally speaking, they talk about daily intake, not per meal. It means to split that 3 cups total over the entire day. If your dog eats 3 times per day, that would be 1 cup at each meal for a total daily intake of 3 cups. To further confuse dog parents, some manufacturers do list per-meal serving sizes, not the total daily intake! In these cases, if you read it incorrectly, you would end up underfeeding your dog. To help mitigate some of this confusion, it may be helpful to ask your vet how many calories your dog should be consuming each day. Then you can check the calorie content in the dog food and measure things from there. Raw Diets, Cooking for Dogs, and Other Alternative Feeding This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs. However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs. There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too. As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals. Human supplements are often unregulated, minimally effective, and often contain substances harmful to animals. Never use a human supplement for your German Shepherd. Final Thoughts What you feed your German Shepherd is just as important as how much you feed them. Pay special attention to the first 4 or 5 ingredients listed on the back of the packaging. Choose high-quality, safety-tested foods with clear ingredient and nutrition labels. The best food for German Shepherd puppies in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to German Shepherd breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a German Shepherd puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. Before the four month mark, it is advised to include some dry food in their diet. You can do this in a few simple steps: Mix some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy as they get older. With this rapid growth can come some risks. German Shepherds are susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia, that can start in puppyhood. They will be very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen between 12 and 24 months of age. This is because, being a larger breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. Remember that the more active the pup, the more food they require. While following feeding guidelines is important to avoid over and underfeeding, you can adjust the amounts of food you provide to your dog based on level of activity. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask your vet for guidance. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your German Shepherd puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. For puppies, this amount will often be two of three times higher, as they are more active and growing quickly. German Shepherd puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, German Shepherd puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. However, they can also be at risk of gastric dilatation or volvulus, or GDV. Certain dog breeds can be more susceptible to GDV; particularly deep chested breeds including German Shepherds. GDV can occur when a dog bloats a few hours after eating a meal. Though the exact causes of GDV are not known, grains and cereals are suspected to be contributors. The amount of food you give your German Shepherd is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult German Shepherds, between 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female German Shepherds, which tend to be about 8 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, and 1, per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your German Shepherd based on how calorically dense their food is. German Shepherds should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs who are at risk of GDV may benefit from exercise after eating, to aid with digestion. You should also try to give your German Shepherd a high quality food that is specially designed for larger or working breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. German Shepherds can be particularly susceptible to skin disease or allergies, including canine atopic dermatitis, bacterial skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, forms of contact dermatitis, or scabies. If your dog develops a skin issue, it is often a sign that they may be suffering from a form of food sensitivity. If you are unsure about what you should feed your German Shepherd, you should always consult your vet as they will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any allergies or chronic health issues: creating a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come. Part of figuring out what you should feed your German Shepherd includes deciding between wet, dry, or a raw food diet. Wet food for German Shepherds is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. A raw diet can be a good option for your German Shepherd as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your German Shepherd, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. The amount of food you feed your dog should be determined by their activity levels, age, weight, breed, and size. Any meals prepared for your dog need to contain the right balance of nutrients. You should also be extra careful not to introduce your dog to foods that are harmful to their health. While we might enjoy the taste of nuts, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and onions, these can be toxic for dogs and can cause serious illness and even death. German Shepherds in particular need plenty of exercise as they are a large working breed with a lot of energy. No matter how old your German Shepherd is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.

Putting a labradoodle and a cat together is almost a kind of forced marriage. Neither of the animals has chosen the other voluntarily, and probably never will. But how you should go about introducing a labradoodle and a cat depends a bit on the specific situation and age of the animals. Grown Cat and Labradoodle Puppy By nature, a puppy is very curious and attentive to anything that moves. Thankfully a Labradoodle puppy is quite easy to distract from an otherwise interesting cat if you just give it some extra attention. Try petting it or finding some other creative way to play with it. The most important is to avoid the cat becoming hostile to the puppy might end up anxious around it. A grown cat might have trouble accepting the energy level of a young puppy. Therefore a cat should always have the option to go someplace else and be left alone if it feels the new puppy is too annoying. Keeping the dog on a leash at all times, in the beginning, is highly recommended. Try giving the dog some treats, so the dog sees the company of the cat as something nice. If your cat has previously been accustomed to other dogs it will most likely quickly accept the new dog. As it if was a puppy you had brought home, make sure the cat has a place where it can go and be on its own, with being annoyed by the dog. And you should probably stock up on patience, as it can take some time where the cat might whine, hiss or scratch until it feels completely safe. Grown Labradoodle and Kitten Dogs are by nature pack animals with their own species, and this instinct can be translated to other species, like cats. Of course, all animals are different, but by choosing a labradoodle, you have a good basis. Unlike if you have a terrier or pitbull who will usually have a harder time adapting to a cat. Most of the time a week old kitten will be old enough to know to be careful in new and different situations. Labradoodle Puppy and Kitten This is probably the best combination for a life long friendship. Both the labradoodle and the kitten are small, curious and filled with energy. In addition, they are also very trainable, and especially when it comes to understanding the body language of the other part. General Tips The earlier the better As stated earlier in this post, the younger both your pets are, the better. Are you thinking about getting a puppy a few years before getting a kitten, or the other way round? Consider waiting a bit and getting the pets at pretty much the same time. In a study done by Lincoln University, all pet owners pretty much agreed that the earlier the two animals met each other in their lives, the better. This is caused by the fact that both dogs and cats are naturally more curious at that age. If your labradoodle or cat feels that the counterpart has become increasingly annoying, and there is no place to hide from that unwanted attention, it will usually lead to physical interaction. Perhaps a crate for your dog or a climbing tree for your cat can be the solution. Let the relationship grow over time If you are trying to bring together and older dog and cat, it might take a while before the pets fully accept the presence of the other. As long as both animals have their separate areas of the house, they will slowly learn to accept each other. And perhaps with time, even become close friends. If that ends up happening, try finding an expert on dogs and cats in your general area to see if they might be able to help. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. Most Labradoodles should be fine with cats. However, you will have the odd one that bucks that trend. Your Labradoodle may end up loving your cat, but the cat may end up not being a big fan. This is more likely to happen if the cat is older and likes to be more relaxed. Cats and dogs are both predators. In the wild, cats and dogs would be natural enemies. A dog would likely see a cat as food. They both also see each other as potential invaders of territory. While it is a bit easier to deal with in the home cats and dogs can become friends , you have to remember that they are both animals. They still have those raw instincts brimming under the surface. Think about it from the perspective of your older cat. They have spent years in your home. Eating whenever they want. Getting attention from their pack leader. Then, one day, without consulting your cat, a big, feisty predator came into their home. You would be a bit peeved, too, right? It will take weeks to get them to that point, but the following really should help. Give the cat its own space We will discuss this a bit more in the next section. For now, all you need to know is that a cat should have its own space in your home that the dog will not have any access to. Now, there is a good chance that your dog and cat will never be able to mingle properly. Therefore, the space should be quite large and have all the necessities that the cat needs. Different meals times for your puppy and cat Well, at the very minimum, the dog and the cat should not be eating in the same place. As we said before, these are both predators. The dog and the cat will just think that their food is being stolen when they are together. So, try and keep them apart. If your Labradoodle is eating , do not let the cat in there. If the cat is eating, do not let the dog in there. It is something simple, but it works. Of course, they both should have access to their own water bowl. A chocolate medium Labradoodle Supervision is key Until you can trust your dog and cat together not for a few months , then any meeting between the two of them should be fully supervised. You want to ensure that the dog is not doing anything to irritate the cat. If they are, then you need to train them not to do it. During the first few months of Labradoodle ownership, you will be training your dog to show restraint and control. The problem is that many new dog owners end up ignoring their cats. It is natural. You are trying to get your dog comfortable in their new home. They need to be trained. They just think that you are ignoring them. Wherever possible, try to praise your cat and give them treats just as often as you give treats and praise to your dog. Obviously, this is not going to be possible all the time. Some of the praise that the dog gets will be praised because they are being trained. Most of the time is right, though. Do not shout at your Labradoodle Does your cat not seem to be doing too well around your dog? Do they seem a bit aggressive? Does something similar happen with your dog? Well, under no circumstances should you be shouting at either one of them. This just reinforces their behavior. Instead, split them up as quickly as you can. It is much easier working with a dog for diversions than with a cat, after all. You need to get the cat used to the puppy over time. A few weeks before you get your puppy, you will need to give the cat its own dedicated space in your home. Make sure that they have everything in the same room. This includes: A bed. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. But how well do Labradoodles fit into households with other pets? Read on to learn more about raising Labradoodles and cats in the same household. Labradoodles can absolutely get along with cats. Labrador Retrievers and Poodles are laidback and easy-going breeds, so they can learn to live alongside your feline family members under the right circumstances. To increase your chances of successfully raising both Labradoodles and cats is to introduce them in a slow, intentional, and controlled way to make both animals comfortable with one another. Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock The 3 Situations for Introducing Labradoodles and Cats There are different ways to introduce your two pets, depending on the situation at hand. Adding a Labradoodle puppy to a family with an existing cat. Your kitty will be the one struggling with this transition as your new puppy will likely have little to no problem socializing with other animals at a young age. Image Credit: Piqsels 2. Adding an adult Labradoodle to a family with an existing cat. Has it lived with other cats before, or has it had negative experiences with cats in the past? Has it lived with pups in the past or had negative run-ins with them? Have realistic expectations here. If your cat is ten years old and has had the house to itself its entire life, it may have problems learning to share its territory to the point where it may never accept your Labradoodle as part of its family. Adopting both the Labradoodle and cat at the same time. Puppies and cats introduced into a family together from birth can often live harmoniously with each other simply because they view one another as an extension of their own litter. Keep in mind that your Labradoodle will grow much faster than your kitten and can inadvertently inflict harm on your kitty if it gets too rowdy during a case of the zoomies. Keep Them Apart Do not begin the introduction process until your new pet has had a chance to become accustomed to its home. Your Labradoodle should be kept in a room where it cannot see the cat and vice versa. As time goes on, you can begin moving the dishes closer to the door until they can eat calmly right outside of the closed door. Once they can successfully eat that close in proximity, prop the door open with a door stop on both sides so they can see each other but not actively reach one another in case one reacts aggressively. Every time your pet acts curiously towards the new scent, reward it with praise and treats. If there is an aggressive reaction e. Do not punish your pet for reacting in such a way as this is a normal and natural behavior. This introductory period can take several days or weeks, so be patient. Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock 3. Introduce the Space to Your New Pet Several times a day, allow your Labradoodle to explore its new home without the resident cat around. Confine your kitty to a room and let the dog walk around and sniff its new space. This needs to be done carefully and intentionally to keep both pets safe. Use a baby gate to keep them in separate rooms and put your dog on a leash. If the interactions result in fearful or aggressive behaviors, remove the animals from one another at once. You can expect mild forms of such behaviors at first but do not give them a chance to intensify as they can be difficult to change down the line. In this case, your kitty will need a dog-free sanctuary that contains its litter box, scratching post , toys, and water and food bowls. In the same breath, your puppy may be frightened of your cat, especially if your kitty is less than welcoming to its new family member. Your pup will need a space to call its own, with its food and water bowls, bed, and toys, too. Monitor Every Interaction Never leave pets new to one another alone for any length of time as both animals can do significant harm to one another. Labradoodles have a natural hunting instinct from their Labrador Retriever side that can make them instinctively want to chase your cat around. Cats, on the other hand, have sharp claws that can inflict much damage if provoked. Kittens are much smaller than dogs—even puppies—and can be killed by a young and energetic dog. Image Credit: litthouse, Pixabay 7. Use Positive Reinforcement Every time your cat or Labradoodle have positive interactions with one another, reward them immediately. Punishment is never the answer. Final Thoughts A Labradoodle and a cat can learn to live harmoniously with one another, but the introductory period needs to be gradual and intentional. Introducing the dog While dogs and cats have often been portrayed as enemies, it is usually a great deal easier to introduce a new cat to a dog than to another cat. While both animals may be wary of each other initially, they do not see the other as direct competition and can actually get on very well. If your dog is used to cats he may be excited initially at having a new one in the house but he will soon settle down and the novelty will wear off very quickly. He will begin to see the new cat as part of his pack. Many dogs will live happily with their own cats while chasing strange felines out of the garden, so you will need to take care until the cat is seen as one of the household. Likewise if your new cat or kitten has previously lived with a dog then it will be much less likely to be frightened for long and will become confident around the dog more quickly. However, initially safety must come first. You will need to keep everything under control until the dog and cat have got used to each other. Stroke the dog and cat separately but without washing your hands to exchange their scents. Once again the large pen is ideal for first meetings to keep the situation calm and the cat protected. Let the dog sniff the newcomer through the bars and get over its initial excitement. The cat may well hiss and spit but it is well protected. If you have a large pen then you can put the cat in this at night in the room where the dog sleeps and let them get used to each other for a few days or even a week, depending on how used to cats the dog is. Some dogs, especially those not used to cats or of an excitable or aggressive disposition, need extra special care for introductions. They should be kept as calm as possible on the lead and made to sit quietly. The new cat should be given a safe position in the room and allowed to get used to the dog and approach it if it wants. This may take quite some time and requires patience and rewards for the dog if it behaves well. For quieter dogs and those used to cats, introductions can be made by using a strong cat carrier. Keep the dog on a lead initially, place the carrier on a high surface and allow controlled introductions which are short and frequent. Most dogs will soon calm down when they realise the newcomer is not actually very interesting. Progress to meetings with the dog on a lead initially for safety. If your dog is rather excitable then take it for a vigorous walk first to get rid of some of its energy! You may need to work hard to keep things calm and be aware that a sudden dash from the cat will induce a chase. Praise the dog for calm interactions, make it sit quietly and use food treats to reward the dog for good behaviour. Again, associate the presence of the cat with reward for calm behaviour. When you progress to access without the lead make sure there are places where the cat can escape to — high ledges or furniture it can use to feel safe. Never leave the dog and cat together unattended until you are happy they are safe together. Likewise a litter tray can be pretty tempting and should be kept out of reach of the dog if it is likely to snaffle the contents. What happens when you want to bring a dog into a family like that? Rachel Katz learned a lot about this through introducing a dog to her family soul cat, Bodhi. The process was challenging, even with careful preparation. But the pay off of a happy family was BIG. Which is why I asked her to tell us what she learned — tell us everything! Fated for a family Guest post by Rachel Katz The journey began with a humble prayer. So when my significant other, Andy, and I decided to move forward with our long-delayed plan to get a canine, my obsession with finding the perfect fit for our sweet, gentle kitty overrode all else. After much discussion and more than a dollop of self-imposed guilt , Andy and I concluded that despite the fact that we wanted another rescue, we were unwilling to gamble with the tangle of unknowns and would, instead, go with a dog breeder. From then on, it was a dog research marathon. For months we scoured the net for breed information and spoke with friends, colleagues and dog owners in the neighborhood park. Most importantly, we wanted to know which breeds were best suited for a cat. The only breed we were warned to avoid was terrier. One in particular hijacked our hearts- the labradoodle. They were impossibly adorable, possessed exceptionally sweet temperaments, uber smart, easily trainable, and seemed a good fit. Investigations With that in mind, we set up an appointment with our vet to discuss how best to welcome a labradoodle into a cat-owned household. We had many questions. Like, what age is the best fit? We were told there are advantages and disadvantages to getting a puppy. We also wanted to know if they should sleep and eat in separate rooms at first. The answer was yes. Should a cat door to our enclosed urban garden be installed as an escape route? Our vet said that was another good idea — cats need to feel safe by always having a dog-free space they can go to. What behavior changes — if any — should we look out for? Would the stress of a new dog exacerbate his condition? No, but she cautioned us to always feed Bodhi first. We attended several Bay Area Doodle romps to find out which breeders had the best reputations and experience socializing puppies with cats. As luck would have it, we found one who had both. A rough start Although our new puppy, Charlie, seemed to quickly adapt to his forever home, Bodhi was miserable. After a week, he disappeared into the garage where he would hide for hours, no longer snuggled in our bed, and avoided being in the same room as Charlie. And the worst? Finding him in the bathtub soaked in a pool of blood-streaked urine — the result of a stress-related urinary tract infection. Devastated, I called my dear friend Betty sobbing. We also made the mistake common to many parents focused on a newborn — not paying enough attention to the other sibling. It seemed as if there was only one solution to right this wrong. We would have to give Charlie up. Betty listened with her customary compassion. Trust that it will work out. This was my new mantra. Slowly but surely, it all pays off Progress: peacefully in the same room. Even better! We created rituals to further facilitate connection. Treat Time consisted of Andy feeding a customized late-night snack to our furries — Bodhi first. This was followed by Family Time, when he would carry Bodhi upstairs to bed and gently drop him onto my chest. Andy would then settle underneath his sliver of covers and within seconds, Charlie would sprint up the stairs, jump on the bed and plop in-between our feet, completing our group snuggle before drifting off to sleep. However, nature vs. Home sweet home But I do know this: The journey took time. And that my prayer was heard. Share this:. These pups are known for their curly coats and interesting personalities. Although their patient Labrador personality shines through most of the time, you may find flares of stubborn poodle personality rearing up now and then. But what about a Labradoodle and cats? Cats, as we know, are not afraid of expressing their opinions. And your high-energy Labradoodle might not be tolerable at first. But, by understanding cat behavior and getting to know your pets, you might find that your Labradoodle and cat have become best friends. According to their general personalities, Labradoodles and cats should be able to co-exist in your home peacefully. Although, there are a few specifics that may influence their relationship. Introducing Labradoodles and Cats No matter what breed of pooch you have, there is always a proper way to introduce cats and dogs to each other. And you may have a pet who has already established your home as its territory. I have a series of articles on how different dog breeds get along with cats: Can Poodles and Cats Get Along? During this time, you can encourage your Labradoodle to spend time with you on the other side of the door. For new Labradoodles, socialization as a puppy is critical. Exposing them to other animals and many people is vital during their early puppy months. Ideally, your puppy should have some socialization before meeting your cat. This will help them to establish that other animals are not a threat. Dogs, especially energetic breeds like Golden Retrievers and Labradoodles, can be a lot for a cat to handle. During their introduction, ensure your cat has an escape route if they feel overwhelmed. Ensure They Have Their Own Space While you want to encourage them to share your home space, your cat and Labradoodle will also need a space to call their own. Just like any other member of the family, fluffy or not. A separate bed for your dog and your cat is a great first step. A cat tree will also give them a comfy perch to escape from your busy Doodle if need be. Labradoodles are very energetic and social dogs who need a lot of attention and exercise. Daily walks are a great way to help them burn off excess energy that may otherwise be cast onto your cat. While cats also love a bit of play, they spend a lot of time in their favorite sleeping positions. Sharing downtime with your cat will be as good for you as it is for your kitty. Supervise Your Pets One of the most important factors in fostering a good relationship between your Labradoodle and cat is closely monitoring them during the first few weeks. Pay close attention to how they approach and engage with each other and which one of them is most territorial. Remember that Labradoodle puppies are very playful. This is especially useful should you need to break up a fluffy flight. Indoor cameras are a lifesaver when you have to step out of the house. Separate Feeding Times and Locations Food is very important to all animals. After all, Labradoodles have Labrador genes, which are notoriously the greediest breed of dogs. They can and will devour anything in sight. The best way to prevent this is by having separate feeding times and locations for your cat and your Labradoodle. Maybe not. If your pet has displayed territorial or aggressive behavior in the past, it may not be ready for a new housemate. However, some training and socialization can help this. Any information about their parents or the environment they came from will help you determine whether they are a good fit for your home. Final Thoughts on Labradoodles and Cats Labradoodles and cats are fantastic companions alone, but are potentially even better together. Cats and Labradoodles have all the necessary traits to become the best of friends, as long as you take care to foster a good relationship between them. By watching over them for a few weeks and taking note of these helpful tips, you are sure to have a happy cat and Labradoodle. These cat names inspired by food might help you out. This labradoodles and cats post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase I will most likely receive a small commission. Just wanted to make sure you knew.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. You probably already know that learning how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy can be a stressful time. But… once you know these easy steps, great things happen! Knowing how to potty train your German Shepherd is vital to having a happy, comfortable life with them. Use this training consistently to have the most effect. A proactive approach works best. Which means you should… focus on preventing accidents, instead of waiting on them to happen! Follow a strict feeding and bathroom schedule to see the best results. Basically, you teach your German Shepherd puppy the right potty skills… until it becomes a habit humanesociety. The key to quick success is taking your pup out every 2 to 3 hours and never giving the opportunity for them to have an accident inside. This means at least 8 to 10 trips outside every single day! In their welcoming and safe crate either resting, eating their meals, or enjoying a play toy. In an exercise pen or playpen with a strict potty area. Under your direct, undivided attention. This means you are always watching your pup. All it takes is for you to check your phone for a few seconds for your pup to have a toileting accident! You can either use a crate to speed up their potty training or provide them an area indoors to eliminate. I prefer the crate method. Housebreaking with the use of a crate speeds up your success rate incredibly! But you want to use the crate positively so they learn to love their little den. Make their crate an enjoyable and inviting place to go. How to show your pup how to love their crate: Never force your pup into their crate! Take your time with crate introduction and allow them to explore under their own will. Serve your pup at least one meal a day inside their crate. Use a Kong with their meal stuffed inside and mixed with a small spoonful of unsweetened Greek yogurt or peanut butter to entice them to stay and work on the Kong inside the crate. Offer treats when they willingly go inside to rest or explore their crate. Use a verbal cue when you want your pup to go into the crate. You can learn all the benefits of teaching your dog to use their crate in this easy post on crate training your German Shepherd successfully. Check it out to get the complete facts, tips, and step-by-step instructions to perfect crate training today. Use Puppy Pads You can use puppy pads if you need to… or skip to step 4 to learn potty training without pads. Not going to use puppy pads? You can skip to step 4. But… if you prefer to use puppy pads, then you need an area where you always take your dog when they need to go to the bathroom. Preferably place their pads near the door that you eventually want them to use to go outside. Place more pads down than you think you need at first. This is because puppies have poor aim and also may find a spot they prefer other than the one you pick. After a couple of weeks, you may remove the extra pads until there are only two puppy pads on the floor in the primary area they prefer to go. Keep the food and water area away from the puppy pads in another place. Using Puppy Pads Successfully Change your puppy pads as they become soiled. But a lightly soiled pad is attractive to your pup in the beginning stages of training and helps them learn the right area to potty indoors at first. Once they are reliably using the correct spot, you need not continue to use this trick and can throw away the pads as they become too soiled. Training Them to Go Outside After Using Pads Indoors If you set up your pads near the door you use to take them outside to their elimination area, then you can transition them to go outside more easily. So, place or move your puppy pads closer to the door from their original spot to begin the transition to the outdoors. When your pads are close to the door, watch them for their elimination signs and get them to the outside as swiftly as you can. While I generally use a crate to house train my German Shepherd puppy I also totally understand that you might prefer to learn how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy using a puppy pad for any number of reasons. Teach Them a Potty Routine Every day, follow the same routine and schedule to keep your puppy from having accidents inside your house. Teaching your dog to eliminate outside means that you must have a strict schedule. Watch for signs that your pup needs to go potty so you can avoid indoor accidents. Morning Potty Routine First thing in the morning when you let your pup out of their crate or from their sleeping area take them to their potty spot. If in doubt, carry them outside yourself. If you will not leash your pup when you take them out in the morning, then run ahead of them to lead them outside quickly. If you have stairs, carry your pup since rushing downstairs on a full bladder is never a good idea. Outside Potty Routine Stay with your pup until they do their business. You can place your pup in a small confined area to go potty or keep them leashed to you. Stand quietly until they potty. Then, praise them and offer a tasty treat. This can bore you at first, but potty training a German Shepherd puppy becomes easier every day. After 10 to 15 minutes, take them out of their crate and repeat the above process. Learning how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy takes repetition and patience. How do you know when to take your GSD puppy outside to potty? Take them out after a nap. They need to relieve themselves after sleeping or napping in their crates. Take them out after a play session. Take them out after they drink a large amount of water. Take them out first thing in the morning and the last thing before you place them in their crate or go to bed. Take your dog out when their body language says they are searching for a potty spot! You should take out your German Shepherd puppy every 2 hours for an 8-week-old pup. Add an hour for each month your pup is old. So, a week-old dog needs to go out every 3 hours. And a week-old German Shepherd needs to go outside to relieve herself every 4 hours. Puppy Age How often do you take them outside to potty? Most dogs do not have full bladder control until they are six months old. This means that even if your puppy does learn to hold it, accidents may still happen if it is left inside too long. Not potty training early can extend the process and make things harder. As the puppy grows, the mess and smells will increase. It is also harder to break an existing habit than prevent one from starting in the first place. How long on average does it take to potty train a puppy? If everything goes according to plan, your German Shepherd can be potty trained within five days. However, that does not mean your pup will be able to be locked indoors for eight hours while you go to work and not make a mess. Therefore, a two-month-old puppy needs to go out every two hours. A three-month-old can hold for three, and so on. German Shepherds also often have a high play drive and might completely forget that they need to potty when they want to play instead. There are few things more frustrating than playing outside with your puppy for an hour, only to have them calm down enough to relieve themselves the moment they come indoors. Have a complimentary diet An upset stomach is one of the most common setbacks in housetraining. In particular, puppies are vulnerable to garbage gut because they tend to eat anything smelly or exciting. This is another reason to make use of a crate. Excellent digestive health is not only good for your puppy, but it makes it much easier to stick to your routine. Use a specific door By now, you might be noticing a theme of consistency and routine emerging. Taking your puppy out through the same door helps condition and imprint the housetraining process on your dog and will also serve you later when your dog learns to always ask to go outside at the same door. Leash and lead The leash or lead is a further way of conditioning your puppy. The lead ensures that you can keep them close and make sure they always go to the specific spotty to potty. Do some research on the best collar for German Shephards , as there are some breed specific requirements. Then give a treat or some playtime to reward the correct behavior. Guide your dog back inside A potty run needs to be conditioned as a potty run. While praise, playtime, and treats should be used to make it a positive experience, your pup must learn to stay focused on the task at hand. Creating a negative experience for your dog is more likely to cause sneaky behavior such as peeing and pooping secretly out of fear that you will reprimand them if caught. Make sure you check on your puppy at least twice throughout the night Set an alarm clock and check if your puppy is awake and restless at least twice a night. This is your cue to take the pup outside. If the crate is near your bed and you are a light sleeper, you will likely wake when you hear rustling or whimpering. Stick to a routine A rigid routine is the quickest and smoothest route to a house-trained puppy. Be sure to take the puppy outside as soon as it wakes up in the morning, as well as after a nap, after playtime, and after meals. Until they are at least twelve weeks old, they should be taken out a minimum every two hours during the day. Positive Reinforcement As with all dog training, positive reinforcement works best. Make sure to praise and reward within three seconds of your puppy going potty to make a positive association. While your German Shepherd is learning that the entire house is out of bounds for elimination, the crate is a useful tool to avoid accidents. Once this has been achieved, you can gradually allow your puppy more free rein indoors. Pee Pads are not helpful. German shepherd puppies exhibit a range of characteristics, intelligence, and energy levels that are influenced by both genetics and upbringing. Here's an overview of these aspects: Temperament: These puppies are often characterized by their loyalty, courage, and protective nature. They tend to be naturally alert and can make excellent watchdogs. However, proper socialization and training from an early age are essential to ensure they grow up to be well-mannered and friendly around people and other animals. Curiosity: German shepherd puppies are typically curious and eager to explore their environment. This makes them receptive to learning and training. Intelligence: German shepherds are renowned for their high level of intelligence. They consistently rank among the most intelligent dog breeds. This intelligence makes them quick learners and adaptable to various training tasks and commands. They often excel in obedience training, agility, and even tasks like search and rescue, police work, and service dog roles. High Energy: German shepherd puppies are quite energetic, especially during their puppyhood and adolescence. They have a lot of stamina and require regular exercise to keep them physically and mentally engaged. Without proper outlets for their energy, they may become restless or display unwanted behaviors. Playfulness: Their high energy levels are often exhibited through their playful behavior. They enjoy interactive play sessions and activities that challenge their physical and mental abilities. Need for Activity: Daily exercise is crucial to help burn off their excess energy and prevent boredom. Activities like long walks, runs, playtime, and training sessions can help keep them content and well-behaved. It's important to note that while these general characteristics apply to the breed as a whole, individual puppies may vary. Genetics, early socialization, training, and the environment they are raised in all play a significant role in shaping their personalities and behavior as they grow into adults. If you're considering bringing a German shepherd puppy into your home, be prepared to invest time and effort into training, socialization, and providing the necessary mental and physical stimulation they need to thrive. Why are tailored potty training methods essential for German Shepherds? Tailored potty training methods are essential for German shepherds, as well as for any other dog breed. However, German shepherds have specific characteristics that can influence the effectiveness of their potty training. Here's why tailored training is particularly important for German shepherds: Intelligence and Learning Ability: German shepherds are highly intelligent and quick learners. This means that they can grasp training concepts relatively quickly, but it also means that they can become bored with repetitive training methods. Tailoring the training approach to their intelligence level helps keep them engaged and motivated to learn. Strong Work Drive: German shepherds are known for their strong work ethic and drive to perform tasks. This can be harnessed during potty training by providing consistent routines and clear expectations. They respond well to structured training that aligns with their natural desire to please their owners. Observant Nature: German shepherds are naturally observant and alert to their surroundings. This can be an advantage during training, as they can quickly associate specific cues with certain actions or behaviors. Tailored training methods can take advantage of their keen observational skills to reinforce proper potty behavior. Physical and Mental Stimulation: These dogs have high energy levels and require both physical and mental stimulation. Tailored potty training can incorporate activities that engage their minds while teaching them appropriate elimination behaviors. This helps prevent boredom and unwanted behaviors that can arise from a lack of mental engagement. Individual Variability: Just like people, each dog has its own personality, preferences, and needs. What works for one German Shepherd might not work as effectively for another. Tailored training methods take into consideration the specific needs and behaviors of the individual dog, increasing the chances of successful training outcomes. Avoiding Negative Associations: German Shepherds are sensitive dogs, and negative experiences during training can have a lasting impact. Tailoring the training approach helps avoid creating negative associations with potty training, which can lead to anxiety or reluctance to eliminate in appropriate places. Bonding and Trust: Tailored training methods, implemented with patience and consistency, contribute to building a strong bond of trust between the owner and the dog. This bond is crucial for effective training and overall positive behavior. In summary, while the principles of potty training apply to all dog breeds, the unique characteristics of German shepherds, such as their intelligence, work drive, and individual variability, make it essential to tailor the training methods to their specific needs. This approach ensures that they learn effectively, stay engaged, and develop good habits that last a lifetime. A young boy in a yellow tee shirt and khaki pants holds his hand in the air above a German shepherd puppy in a back yard filled with shady trees. Why is it important to establish a routine and consistent schedule for potty breaks? Establishing a routine and consistent schedule for potty breaks is crucial for effective potty training and maintaining good bathroom habits in dogs, including German Shepherds. Here's why: Predictability: Dogs thrive on predictability and routine. When you establish a consistent schedule for potty breaks, your dog learns to anticipate when it's time to go outside. This reduces accidents inside the house and helps them develop a reliable bathroom routine. Reinforcing Good Behavior: Consistency helps reinforce the behavior you want to encourage. When you consistently take your dog outside at specific times, and they successfully eliminate outdoors, you're rewarding and reinforcing the behavior of going in the appropriate place. Preventing Accidents: A consistent schedule minimizes the chances of accidents inside the house. Dogs have limited bladder control, especially puppies, and if they don't get regular opportunities to relieve themselves, accidents are more likely to happen. Training Association: Establishing a routine helps your dog associate specific times and cues with potty breaks. For example, using a consistent command or signal when you take your dog outside to potty helps them understand what's expected of them. Fostering Communication: Dogs can't verbally tell us when they need to go outside. A regular potty schedule encourages them to communicate their needs through behavior, such as standing by the door or whining when they need to relieve themselves. Developing Bladder Control: Puppies, in particular, have developing bladder control. A consistent schedule helps them gradually increase their ability to hold it in between potty breaks. Strengthening Bond: A routine that includes regular walks and potty breaks reinforces your bond with your dog. These activities provide quality time for interaction and mutual trust-building. Reducing Stress and Anxiety: Dogs are creatures of habit, and a predictable routine can reduce stress and anxiety. Knowing when they'll have opportunities to relieve themselves can make them more relaxed and confident. Quicker Learning: With a consistent routine, dogs learn faster. They understand the cause-and-effect relationship between going outside and being rewarded. This speeds up the potty training process. Setting a Foundation: A consistent routine during potty training sets the foundation for other forms of training and discipline. It establishes a structured environment that helps your dog understand expectations and boundaries. In the case of German shepherds, who are intelligent and quick learners, a well-established routine can be especially effective in teaching them proper potty habits. Remember that during the early stages of potty training, close supervision and adherence to the schedule are crucial for success. As your dog becomes more reliable, you can gradually adjust the schedule to align with their changing needs. Crate Training Crate training can be a valuable tool for successful housebreaking, and it is often recommended by dog trainers and veterinarians. Crate training helps create a safe and controlled environment for your dog while aiding in the potty training process. Here's why crate training is beneficial for housebreaking: Instinctive Denning Behavior: Dogs have a natural instinct to seek out small, secure spaces for rest and safety. A crate serves as a den-like space where your dog is less likely to eliminate, which aligns with their natural tendency to keep their sleeping area clean. Bladder and Bowel Control: Crate training helps your dog develop bladder and bowel control. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area, and when confined to a crate, they are more likely to hold their bladder and wait for an appropriate time to eliminate. Preventing Accidents: Using a crate when you cannot directly supervise your dog helps prevent accidents inside the house. Dogs are less likely to pee or poop in their crate, and this can minimize the chances of them developing a habit of going indoors. Establishing Routine: Crate training can be integrated into a consistent routine for potty breaks. You can take your dog out of the crate to the designated potty area at specific intervals, such as after meals, playtime, or waking up. This routine helps reinforce proper elimination behavior. Positive Association: When crate training is done correctly, dogs come to view their crates as a safe and comfortable space. This positive association reduces anxiety and stress associated with confinement. Easier Supervision: Crate training provides a way to manage your dog's behavior when you can't directly supervise them. This is particularly useful during times when you're unable to watch for signs that they need to eliminate. Gradual Transition: Crate training allows for a gradual transition to having more freedom in the house as your dog becomes reliable with their potty habits. It's a step-by-step process that helps prevent setbacks. Faster Learning: Using a crate speeds up the housebreaking process, as it teaches your dog to hold their bladder and wait for appropriate times to eliminate. This can result in quicker success with potty training. Safety and Comfort: When introduced properly, a crate becomes a safe and comfortable space for your dog to rest, especially when you're not home. It reduces the likelihood of destructive behavior that might occur when your dog is left unsupervised. Remember that successful crate training requires patience, positive reinforcement, and proper introduction. The crate should never be used as a form of punishment, and your dog should not be confined for extended periods without breaks. Gradually increasing the time your dog spends in the crate and using it in conjunction with a consistent potty training routine will contribute to a successful housebreaking experience. A German shepherd lays down in a grassy yard while his owner and a child sit in the background. Positive Reinforcement Using positive reinforcement while potty training your German shepherd involves tailoring your approach to their specific needs and characteristics. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use positive reinforcement during potty training: Choose High-Value Rewards: Select treats or rewards that your German shepherd finds particularly enticing. This might be small pieces of soft treats, bits of cooked chicken, or cheese. The more your dog values the reward, the more effective it will be. Immediate Rewards: As soon as your German shepherd finishes eliminating in the designated area, provide immediate praise, petting, and the chosen reward. The timing is important for them to understand the connection between the behavior and the reward. Ignore Accidents: If your German shepherd has an accident indoors, remain calm. Do not punish them, as it can create confusion and anxiety. Instead, clean up the mess calmly and focus on rewarding them for proper behavior outside. Positive Association: Make the outdoor potty area a positive place for your German shepherd. Use a cheerful tone of voice when you go out and encourage them to explore and sniff around. This helps them associate the area with a positive experience. Celebrate Progress: Celebrate every small victory. If your German shepherd signals that they need to go out, responds to the command, or consistently eliminates in the right area, give them extra praise and rewards. This encourages them to continue the behavior. Gradual Transition: As your German shepherd becomes more reliable with their potty habits, gradually reduce the frequency of treats while maintaining verbal praise. This transition helps them understand that they're doing the right thing even without a treat every time. Be Patient and Consistent: Potty training takes time and consistency. Be patient and understand that accidents are a normal part of the process. Maintain a positive and patient attitude throughout the training period. Using positive reinforcement with your German shepherd will help them learn quickly, build a strong bond with you, and develop good potty habits. Adapt the rewards and training methods based on your dog's preferences and responses to ensure a successful and positive potty training experience. Potential Problems and Challenges While the basic principles of potty training apply to all dog breeds, German shepherds may present certain challenges due to their specific characteristics. Here are some potential challenges that can be unique to German shepherds during potty training: High Energy Levels: German shepherds are energetic dogs that require regular exercise and mental stimulation. If they have excess energy, they might become restless and have a harder time focusing on potty training. Ensuring they get enough physical activity can help them stay calmer and more receptive to training. Boredom-Related Accidents: Due to their intelligence, German shepherds can become bored easily. If they're not mentally engaged, they might have accidents indoors out of frustration or lack of stimulation. Providing them with puzzle toys, interactive play, and training sessions can help prevent this. Sensitivity to Environment: German shepherds can be sensitive to changes in their environment, and this can affect their potty training. Moving to a new home, changes in routine, or unfamiliar surroundings might lead to accidents as they adapt. It's important to offer reassurance and consistency during transitions. Separation Anxiety: German shepherds are known for forming strong bonds with their owners. If they experience separation anxiety, they might have accidents when left alone due to stress. Gradually increasing alone time, using positive reinforcement, and creating a secure environment can help alleviate separation anxiety-related issues. Territorial Behavior: German shepherds can be territorial, which might lead to marking behaviors indoors. This is more common in unneutered males but can occur in females as well. Neutering and consistent training can help address this behavior. Stubbornness: While German shepherds are intelligent, they can also be a bit stubborn. Some may challenge your authority during training, which can slow down the potty training process. Consistent, patient, and positive training methods are essential to overcome this challenge. Need for Socialization: Proper socialization is crucial for German shepherds. If they haven't been exposed to different environments, surfaces, and people, they might have trouble adapting to new potty areas or become anxious when trying to eliminate in unfamiliar places. Distractions: German shepherds have a strong prey drive and can be easily distracted by sights, sounds, and scents. This might lead to them losing focus during potty breaks. Training in a calm and less stimulating environment initially can help them focus better. Developing Bladder Control: Puppies of any breed, including German shepherds, have developing bladder control. This can lead to more frequent accidents during the early stages of potty training. Consistent routine, patience, and gradual extension of time between potty breaks are important. Addressing these challenges requires a tailored approach to potty training. Positive reinforcement, consistent routine, early socialization, patience, and a good understanding of your German shepherd's individual personality and needs are key to successfully overcoming these potential challenges. Common Mistakes to Avoid Certainly, there are common mistakes to avoid that could hinder the potty training progress of a German shepherd puppy: Inconsistent Routine: Inconsistency in potty break times and locations can confuse your puppy. Stick to a regular schedule and designate a specific outdoor spot for them to eliminate. Punishment: Punishing your puppy for accidents indoors can create fear and anxiety, making potty training more difficult. Positive reinforcement works best. Lack of Supervision: Not closely supervising your puppy, especially during the initial stages, increases the likelihood of accidents and missed opportunities for proper training. Ignoring Signals: Overlooking signs that your puppy needs to eliminate, such as circling, sniffing, or whining, can lead to accidents. Not Cleaning Accidents Properly: Failing to thoroughly clean indoor accidents with an enzymatic cleaner can leave lingering scents that encourage repeat behavior. Using the Crate Ineffectively: Overusing the crate or leaving your puppy in it for extended periods can lead to discomfort and potentially undermine positive associations. Rushing the Transition: Moving from indoor pads to outdoor potty training too quickly can confuse your puppy. Gradually phase out indoor options as they adapt. Neglecting Socialization: Insufficient socialization can lead to anxiety during outdoor potty breaks. Introduce your puppy to various environments, sounds, and surfaces. Inadequate Positive Reinforcement: Failing to provide immediate rewards and praise for proper outdoor elimination may result in slower progress. Overlooking Medical Issues: Sometimes accidents may be due to medical issues. If accidents persist despite consistent training, consult a veterinarian. Lack of Patience: Potty training takes time and patience. Expecting overnight results can lead to frustration and hinder progress. Avoiding these common mistakes and consistently using positive reinforcement, effective training techniques, and patience will set the foundation for successful potty training with your German Shepherd puppy. Tracking Progress and Making Changes To effectively track your German shepherd puppy's progress and adjust training methods, maintain a detailed record of potty successes and accidents, noting patterns in timing and behavior. Regularly review this log to identify trends and adjust the potty schedule accordingly. If accidents occur, reflect on possible triggers or changes in routine that might have contributed. Be flexible and adapt training techniques to address specific challenges such as boredom-related accidents, separation anxiety, or distraction, utilizing positive reinforcement, consistent routine, and tailored approaches to ensure steady progress and successful potty training. Recognize signs of readiness for longer intervals between potty breaks in your German shepherd puppy by observing consistent successful elimination outdoors, fewer accidents indoors, increased ability to hold it in between breaks, and signs of increased bladder control such as longer periods of play without needing to eliminate. Additionally, if your puppy consistently signals when they need to go out, understands and responds to your potty command, and can stay calm and focused during play without becoming anxious for potty breaks, these are indicators that they may be ready for gradually extended intervals between potty outings. Always monitor your puppy's comfort level and adjust the intervals gradually to avoid setbacks in their potty training progress. FAQs How can German shepherd puppies' intelligence be harnessed during potty training for quicker results? Harness your German shepherd puppy's intelligence during potty training for quicker results by incorporating mental stimulation into the training routine. Utilize their ability to learn quickly by teaching them a specific potty command, such as "go potty," and consistently using it during outdoor breaks. Additionally, employ positive reinforcement by rewarding them immediately with high-value treats and enthusiastic praise when they eliminate in the desired area. Engage their intelligence with short training sessions that include basic obedience cues, which not only keep them mentally engaged but also reinforce your role as the leader. By keeping their minds active and challenged, you enhance their focus and comprehension of potty training expectations, leading to faster and more successful training outcomes. What strategies can help owners manage the breed's high energy levels while focusing on potty training? To manage the high energy levels of a German shepherd puppy while focusing on potty training, incorporate regular, vigorous exercise sessions that help burn off excess energy and reduce restlessness. Designate specific playtimes and walks to align with potty breaks, ensuring they are exercised before these breaks to increase the likelihood of successful outdoor elimination. Utilize mental stimulation through interactive toys, puzzle games, and short training sessions to engage their intelligence and provide mental outlets for their energy. Establish a consistent potty schedule that aligns with their routine, and reward proper elimination with high-value treats and enthusiastic praise. Combining physical exercise, mental engagement, and a structured routine helps manage their energy while effectively training them to develop good potty habits. Are there specific environmental triggers that German shepherds may respond to during potty training? German shepherds, like all dogs, may respond to specific environmental triggers during potty training. These triggers can include scents, sounds, and routines associated with going outside. They may become excited and attentive when they hear the sound of a leash, see you getting ready for a walk, or recognize the specific door you use to go outside for potty breaks. Additionally, the scent of their designated potty area or the presence of other animals' scents outdoors might prompt them to engage in elimination behavior. Utilizing these triggers intentionally and consistently can help your German Shepherd associate them with the appropriate time and place for elimination, contributing to successful potty training. How can owners transition from indoor potty training to successful outdoor training as their German shepherd puppy grows? Transitioning from indoor potty training to successful outdoor training as your German shepherd puppy grows requires a gradual process. Start by moving the indoor potty area closer to the door leading outside. Encourage your puppy to use this area consistently before venturing outside. As your puppy becomes reliable in using the designated indoor area, gradually move it closer to the outdoor potty spot. Once your puppy is comfortable with this transition, consistently take them outside to the designated spot for potty breaks. Use a command or cue to encourage elimination, reward success with positive reinforcement, and maintain a consistent schedule to reinforce outdoor habits. Patience and positive reinforcement will help your puppy smoothly transition from indoor to outdoor potty training while adapting to their growing needs. German shepherds are intelligent, energetic dogs that require tailored training approaches. Positive reinforcement, consistency, and patience are key to successful potty training. Establishing a routine and using a crate effectively can aid in teaching them proper elimination habits. It's important to recognize the unique challenges such as high energy levels, sensitivity, and potential distractions that German shepherds may present during potty training. By harnessing their intelligence, adapting to their needs, and providing mental stimulation, owners can navigate these challenges and achieve quicker results. Transitioning from indoor to outdoor training requires a gradual process, and avoiding common mistakes like inconsistency, punishment, and inadequate supervision is vital for a smooth potty training journey. For more information on potty training, check out these articles:. Puppies Puppy accidents are inevitable and can also be the most frustrating part of welcoming a new dog into your household. However, with a little bit of patience and the commitment to establishing a routine, you should get your GSD puppy potty trained in no time. This article will dive into how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy as well as give you step-by-step instructions and tips for success. German Shepherds become aware of their ability to control their bodily functions at around 3 weeks old. However, it is best to start potty training as soon as you bring your puppy home, usually, this is around 8 weeks of age. So, a 2-month old can hold their pee for about 2 hours. To avoid accidents, take them for potty breaks once every hour. No, not all adult German Shepherds are potty trained. Nevertheless, the general process of training an adult is pretty much the same as potty training a puppy. The key is in setting your rules and establishing a routine from the beginning. Ideally, choose a relatively quiet place. German Shepherds, like many other dog breeds, are creatures of habit. Having a designated potty area and using it consistently is key to making this process work smoothly. When dogs eliminate, their urine and feces leave behind a unique scent. Smelling it will signal to their brains that it is, indeed, time to go potty. Step 2: Establish a schedule Just like having a consistent potty area, sticking to a regular schedule is essential. Take very young puppies to their designated potty area every hour. As they age and as they become familiar with the routine, you can lengthen the time between their potty breaks. Start by choosing a command and sticking with it. When your pup gets to their potty spot, say your chosen command. Then say your command again and praise your pup as soon as your pup has successfully eliminated. You can usually tell this by their body language. Keep doing that until you can just give the command and your pup knows to squat and poop. Step 4: Reinforce positive potty behavior Whenever your GSD pup potties successfully, give them a good time! Reward them especially when they potty on command. Make sure you give them lots of praises and maybe a good head scratch. Depending on what motivates them, reward them with food or play. Step 5: Give it time and patience Following these steps will give you the best chance of success, but expect it to take some time. Top Tips for Potty Training Success German Shepherds are easy to train , so by following the proper potty training steps, you should get your GSD pup housebroken in no time. Nevertheless, here are some tips that will set you up for success and allow you to get over this tedious phase much more quickly: Tip 1: Make crate training a priority Crate training offers plenty of critical benefits, especially to puppies. Apart from providing a private space where they can feel safe, the right crate can be an excellent housebreaking tool. Tip 2: Establish a routine German Shepherds tend to thrive on a daily routine, so try your best to make every day the same for them. It will also help you more accurately predict when they need to go potty. Try to limit feeding times to three times a day for puppies younger than 6 months. German Shepherds that are at least 6 months old can eat once in the morning and then again in the evening. Tip 4: Withhold water at night Dogs should always have access to clean drinking water, but free access to a water bowl will make potty training more difficult. Once housebroken, your dog can have free access to water. When you take your dog out to potty, try to keep yourself relaxed and only talk when giving the potty command. This will also make your post-potty reward extra special. Disciplining your puppy for a potty accident is likely to do more harm. It will lead to negative potty behavior like being afraid to eliminate in your presence as well as feeling anxiety over having to pee or poop. Just clean it up and hope you can both do better next time. If your dog is having accidents too regularly, you likely need to take your dog out more frequently to prevent it. This is also the best way to maintain proper hygiene and good health. Tip 8: Listen and observe Dogs have their own way of communicating and will be especially communicative when they need to go potty. Some dogs might whine while others paw at the door. You just need to establish a routine and give them time to develop full control over their bladder and bowels. As long as you are committed to following your protocol, you should be able to enjoy a fully housebroken dog soon enough.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. What IS a Bernedoodle? These are NOT mutts which implies a breeding between unknown breeds or not carefully planned. These are designer breeds that are bred for a specific purpose. We produce an incredible bernedoodle that displays the qualities of both our champion line Standard Poodles and the Bernese Mountain Dog pedigrees. The advantage of a carefully planned mixed breed is that you get the added advantage of a phenomenon called "hybrid vigor". This process shuffles new combinations of genes that helps to increase longevity and decrease the usual ailments that impact many purebred dogs such as various forms of inherited types of cancer not all cancers have a genetic basis such as small and large cell lymphoma which is usually a result from environmental exposure. The bernedoodles are super healthy and are not as prone to the same issues that Bernese mountain dogs and standard poodles are. As a result, you have a family member for a lot longer and that will live a vibrant and healthy life if properly cared for diet, exercise, and family integration are all important components toward helping the dog to live a long happy life with you.You can see the links above about the qualities of Standard Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs as both are extraordinary breeds in their own right and for many, purebreds of these may be a great option as well. We prefer the Bernedoodle as they get the best of both breeds, incredibly loyal, goofy, smart, playful, intelligent, and has one of the best dog personalities we have seen in a family dog. The Premier F1 Standard Bernedoodle is a low- to mostly nonshedding we use standard poodles that do not carry the improper coat alleles and Bernese mountain dogs that have thick wavy curly coats.If you want a guarantee on non shedding, then you should try to select an F1b or F1bb bernedoodle. Both look amazingly similar to the F1 standard bernedoodles but maybe a little smaller. We will produce about 2 F1b and F1bb standard bernedoodle litters per year for those wanting a more curly coat in their bernedoodles. Premier Bernedoodles love to be with the family and do not do well in enviroments of isolation. Wherever the family is, that's right where they want to be. They are stunning dogs, and you'll likely get alot of attention and people asking you what kind of dog you have. They are beautiful and along with their incredibly gentle personalities, you will have an absolutely stunning dog. They are a perfect companion dog that love to go on walks through the city or hikes in the woods or mountains or a swim at the beach. They love it all and will be at your side the entire time. They don't tend to wander away as they prefer to be with you.They equally love just hanging out with you on the couch watching your favorite movie or watching you reading a book. They really love it all as long as you're a part of it. They are so loyal to the family. Bernedoodle puppies do have energy like most puppies, and this will continue thru about years of age at which time they really mellow out. They are not nervous nor hyper but will need some off leash time where they can really stretch their legs and run. The old motto "a tired puppy is a good puppy" always prevails! Just make sure they have a lot of fresh water and a cool spot to cool off afterward. Due to the the recombination and shuffling of new genetic variations, they do show some variation in their coloration however they also all have a common morphology that tells you it's a bernedoodle. Although we do take deposits on a first come, first pick basis, we will know the puppies well, their personalities, and can help select a puppy that best fits your lifestyle and what you are looking for. We only use Standard Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs to produce our Premier Bernedoodles so that any dog we accept into our Premier Bernedoodle program have passed stringent health tests, display family oriented personalities, and exhibit the best of conformation so that our bernedoodles are absolutely beautiful. Be very cautious when purchasing a purebred or bernedoodle without doing your due diligence as the puppies will always be cute, but will exhibit the personalities of the bloodline used later in life.Therefore, use a reptutable breeder that has invested in the dogs they use for their breeding programs and that raise them as their own family members. They should be able to produce their pedigrees as well, and should have both parents on site so you can see how they react to you. We are very Type A when it comes to the quality of dogs which makes it more difficult to give referrals. We are always going to be biased and believe that the wait for a Premier Bernedoodle is worth it and you'll be very happy you did! Also you can visit your local humane society and help rescue a dog at the shelter.If you have young kids be sure to get a younger dog from the shelter that can adapt to your family. But if you're looking for a unique new family member, a Premier Bernedoodle will be a true delight. Colors and Fur Our Premier Bernedoodles will be traditional tri-color much like a Bernese Mountain Dog , abstract tricolor similar to a traditional tricolor with less white in the face , sable similar to a traditional tri-color but has more reddish-browns due to the poodle genetics we use , phantom, merle, merle tricolor, or bi-colored brown and white, black and white, or shades thereof. Our F1b's will consist of black and whites, traditional tricolors, abstract tricolors, and lots of variable brown and reddish brown and whites. Color never reflects temperament and personality so usually most people don't really care too much what color they are. They are all really beautiful. Although there's variation due to the hybrid vigor present as a result of the recombination of genes in many arrays, there is definitely a bernedoodle appearance that is fairly consistent. If you let the hair grow, they will look like big shaggy dogs that you can't help but to give a big hug to. And they enjoy every minute of it! Our Premier Bernedoodles will tend to have wavy curly coats due to the coat types we require in our bernese mountain dogs which helps to minimize or eliminate shedding.We do make sure that our standard poodles do not carry the genetic marker known as the "Improper Coat" allele or IC for short. Wavy curly coats do require a little more grooming as compared to straight, but many, straight coats shed more.Although they are considered to be large, they don't act like a large dog in the house. They are generally very careful and calm natured as adults however they do have some puppy-fun energy thru the puppyhood stages and thru 3 years of age. They love people and other pets! We do thorough genetic testing of our adults that we use in our breeding program to assure that you are purchasing the healthiest of bernedoodle puppies. Our Bernese mountain dogs come from very long-lived blood lines in Western Europe and these longer lifespans is one of the many reasons we obtain our Berners from several specific populations known for their longevity. Obviously we can't guarantee lifespan as there are many variables outside of our control not to mention, environment, stress, climate, food, etc. But track record seems to show a longer lifespan. What's the Difference? An F1b is an F1 standard Bernedoodle backcrossed to a standard poodle or could be a backcross to a Bernese mountain dog but we generally use the poodle as the backcross. An F1bb is an F1b standard Bernedoodle backcrossed to a standard poodle. Behaviorally they are all very similar with the F1b and F1bb's being slightly smaller than our F1 standards and tend to have slightly curlier coats to a tight wave. If you're looking for a smaller standard Bernedoodle these would be a great option. Pictures are posted below with the other pictures. We continue to get lots of praise from those that have purchased our F1b and F1bb standard bernedoodles. Is the Bernedoodle for Everybody? I would like to think so, but if you do not plan on being with your bernedoodle and keeping it with you, in your home, as part of your home, this is definitely not the dog for you. They thrive on being with the family and not isolated we believe this is the case for all dogs, and especially bernedoodles. Any of our puppies kept in a permanent kennel situation, on a tether, or the like, will violate the terms and conditions of our puppy contract and will have to render the puppy or dog back to Premier Doodles see puppy contract in link above. We definitely support crate training, but these dogs are not meant to live their life in a crate nor kennel! If you want a pet that prefers to be in isolation, you may want to consider a nonsocial pet perhaps a Betta fish! Yes we have done a lot of the hard work the first 8 weeks as we do extensive early neurological stimulation bio-sensor and Puppy Culture program, along with starting crate training and housebreaking, BUT, they are puppies and will need your undivided attention for the next weeks as they work towards being completely housebroken and earning more privileges. They have been communicating with their siblings for the past 8 weeks using their mouth. During their normal daily interactions, you will occasionally hear a loud "yelp" in response to one biting another too hard. This yelp usually ends the mouthing behavior. Now puppies have fur and people generally do not. When you bring your bernedoodle home, they will likely display some degree of mouthing behavior toward their human family. This will usually stop this behavior. We then redirect their desire to mouth to something more appropriate like a chew toy and after a few seconds of cooperating we praise them. The good news.We have a Puppy Guide under our tab "Puppy Central" on how to unpack this process so that you can have success. If you put them time in early, they will have this knocked out in a few days. The rule of thumb is to get them outside ALOT.Be sure to purchase two Midwest XL crates can get from our Puppy Store , one for the back door and one next to your bed. The power of meiosis specialized cell division event that occurs in the reproductive organs, ovaries for females and testes for males and crossing over assures that each offspring will be diverse and different and this difference will be noticeable in color and a little bit in behavior. All will be superior, but some will be more playful and others less so, some will mouth more than others, etc. Available Puppies.Check out our "Available Puppies" tab at the top to find out how to get onto our Master List for a future puppy! Our Bernedoodles are from excellent bloodlines and all Pedigree information traces back to their AKC lineage. Our Dams and Sires have obtained extensive health clearances prior to being bred. These dogs will have a higher success rate for non-shedding, and are recommended for families with allergies. F1 Bernedoodles all have loose wavy coats that are typically minimal to light shedding, while F1B Bernedoodles coats can be loose wavy just like the F1 or curly and there are both coat types within the F1B litter. The F1B Bernedoodle is typically minimal to non-shedding. The coat of a Bernedoodle can vary from straight, loose wavy or curly. An F1 Bernedoodle will have a loose wavy coat, while an F1B Bernedoodle litter has both curly and loose wavy coats within the litter. The coat colors of Bernedoodles can vary based on the color genetics of the parents. We will also have Parti Bernedoodles. Daily walks are a must if you don't have a safely enclosed area for them to run freely. The Bernedoodle can be independent and does great being with family engaging in play, then happily laying on their own with a toy. It is still unknown how long Bernedoodles will live as it is a newer cross. The expected lifespan is hoped to be years. As with any dog, socialization and training should start while the dog is still a puppy and continue throughout its life. Look for a puppy kindergarten class locally or join the AKC S. Puppy Program , training based on positive techniques. You do not have to be an AKC purebred puppy to participate in their S. Puppy Program. Find a class here. This is a great place to start socializing and training. A well-socialized, well-trained Bernedoodle makes a wonderful family companion. Early socialization and training establishes those lifetime bonds between the family and puppy as these programs teach you how to communicate with your new puppy and get started on the right foot. Life Span Did You Know? These large, fluffy dogs are known for their non-shedding coats and lovable personalities. Bernedoodles tend to be a great addition to any family! Although the Bernedoodle is not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by other dog registries. As long as they are properly socialized, they tend to be open and friendly dogs that get along well with just about anyone. These dogs tend to do well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Although they can be initially wary and watchful at first, they even tend to warm up quickly to strangers once introduced. Bernedoodles are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. Despite their size and energy, they can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise and attention. These dogs tend to handle the cold better than the heat; you may even have some trouble getting them to come back inside after some playtime in the snow. Because Bernedoodles bond so closely with their families and enjoy nothing more than being around them, they do not like to spend long periods of time alone. They can also be prone to skin issues like sensitive skin, allergies, and hot spots. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a large dog breed, the Standard Bernedoodle is also at risk for bloat like both parent breeds. The Bernedoodle is a highly intelligent and easily trained dog breed. Some facts about Bernedoodles are that they are a good fit for owners of any experience level and tend to pick up commands easily. Although they tend to grow out of this initial stubbornness with age, puppy training classes will certainly help with training and socialization early on. Bernedoodles tend to have a longer coat that ranges from curly to wavy. Although they tend to be non-shedding, they still need a lot of maintenance to keep their coat looking great. Daily brushing to remove tangles and prevent mats along with grooming every weeks are recommended. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. Brushing daily along and cleanings at the vet as needed are an ideal start to a good dental care routine for your Bernedoodle. Standard Bernedoodles can range from moderate to high energy. They tend to sit in a more moderate activity range and have bursts of higher energy when they play. These dogs are known to play hard and energetically until they are tired, but are not usually considered high-energy dogs. Daily walks plus playtime and some time to run should be enough for a Bernedoodle. But, these dogs will likely be up for more activity if you are. They will love the opportunity to spend more time being active with you. A fully-grown Standard Bernedoodle usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. Standard Bernedoodles generally live for years on average. A Bernedoodle is also sometimes called a Bernese Mountain Poo. Featured Bernedoodle Article. I am so happy that I spent so much time and effort to find the right breeder and the right puppy. Thank you for bringing her into our lives. I personally did months of research, and was very particular on the type of breeder and dog we wanted. First and foremost, I needed our puppy to come from a loving and family oriented home. I wanted to feel a "connection", I wanted to be treated as a family member, rather than just a credit card number. I was turned off from the amount of "money hungry" breeders that I was in contact with, and those that just bred dogs for their final payment.A weight was taken off my shoulders, and speaking to Tyler was like a breath of fresh air. He is everything I wanted in a breeder and more. His answers were honest and to the point. The love he has for her family and dogs was gleaming.I knew deep inside that I finally found the breeder "of our dreams! Our Kash is everything we dreamt for. He has the biggest heart, and gentlest personality. We prayed for a large boy, and he is lbs of pure joy. We can't imagine our lives without him. With our upmost respect we give all the credit to Tyler. He maintains the highest of standards, and we think we got the best dog because of that. People to this day stop us on the street and compliment his coloring, size, and temperament. Bernedoodle's are a stunning breed, and our lives have forever changed by meeting Tyler, and having Kash in our family. Kami Dunn Albuquerque, NM Read More Great experience brought our puppy home she has slept through the night the very first night , I have never had a puppy do that. She hasn't had any accidents in the house she even went to the patio door the second day as if she was saying ok It's time to go out. Smart, mellow, and the sweetest thing ever. His best friends is our orange tabby. He loves snuggles and if he's not sleeping on someone's lap, he's as close to them as he can get. Oso is 38 lbs now and has had two haircuts. He is so chill that he fell asleep during his first blowdry. He is smart and has learned sit, down, off, stay, jump, and up. The kids love laying on him, running in the backyard with him, and fight over who gets to give him treats. He is a fantastic sleeper but has to be where we are to sleep well; in the bathroom during bath time, in the kitchen while I cook, under my desk when I'm on the computer, on the couch while the kids watch movies. He's gotten along well with every dog and cat he's met: french bulldogs, pit mixes, mini daschunds, everyone is his friend! You did an amazing job raising him, we can not thank you enough. He is the light of my life. I take him everywhere. He is a recent puppy school graduate and an all the time good boy. Such a great personality! He loves running on the beach, playing fetch, and cuddling. Thanks for helping me find the sweetest pup! Helen Cuevas Rock, MI Read More My husband said to start looking for a new puppy to become part of our family, I knew I wanted to look for a breeder that was family-owned with a great reputation. We wanted a smaller dog that could travel with us and enjoy the company of our current dog. Tyler is a wonderful communicator - he always answered texts, emails or phone calls quickly and kept us up to date on Paris weekly until she came home. When my daughter and her boyfriend decided they wanted to get a puppy, there was no question they would also get it from Home Trained Bernedoodles, i picked up the puppy at the Chicago airport, and I was all the goodies they added to the puppy package after the necessary documentation. She and multiple others asked where we got him and I gave her the name of Home Trained Bernedoodles. She said she will refer you to some clients who are looking for a doodle as their second dog! He is just beautiful and we already adore him. She has been a total pleasure since she joined us less than 2 weeks ago. She is a wonderful, healthy and playful puppy. She has had minimal accidents and continues to sleep through the night with not one accident in her crate. Today she walked over to the door and sat down to let us know that she needed to go out and then did both businesses in a very timely manner. Our daughter, Millie, is loving on Charlie and has really stepped up with many of the daily care items. Finally, she does enjoy her naps as she goes full throttle and then crashes. You've brought joy to our home and hearts, may God bless you. These are great dogs that are fantastic for a variety of owners and their families. Both breeds can be either the sire father or the dam mother. This occurs when the offspring of a dog that is half Bernese Mountain Dog and half Poodle is bred to a Poodle. And owners get the benefit of the best traits from both breeds, both physically and temperamentally. Since Bernese Mountain Dogs usually have a shorter life span, for example, they live longer when crossed with a Poodle — typically about 12 to 15 years for a Standard Bernedoodle. Standard Bernedoodles are fairly tall, as you would expect from their lineage. Most of our Standard Bernedoodles weigh about 55 to 60 pounds as adults. Their coat colors can vary tremendously and can include mixes of black, white, and brown in various patterns. Standard Bernedoodles have little to no shedding, so they are great for people with allergies. They are intelligent and eager learners, which can make training fun. Well-adjusted Standard Bernedoodles love to cuddle and are known for being goofy and enthusiastic. These are definitely great dogs if you work or stay at home or if you like including your dog on your weekend adventures, such as touring, camping, and hiking. However, a firm but kind hand in early training can help develop the confidence your dog needs, and positive reinforcement will keep any Bernedoodle on track for the training results you want. We recommend supervising your dog around young kids, however, so you can ensure both are safe and develop a loving relationship with each other. Our dogs make fabulous helpers for all kinds of service and therapy work due to their kind, diligent natures. One of the most common questions is: Should I get a male or a female dog? In general, we recommend females for owners who want a more active dog and males for those who prefer a laid-back pup. Also, consider that male puppies often bond better with female owners and vice versa — something to think about if you will be the sole owner of your Standard Bernedoodle or if you have a single-sex household. Make sure any toxic plants have been removed from the environment, including your yard. We recommend a crate and starting crate training right away, so the crate becomes a natural and welcome quiet space for your dog. Think about a veterinarian in advance of bringing your dog home. If you're still deciding on a puppy and would like to receive emails about our upcoming bernedoodle litters, please fill out the form below! This will ensure you to get the most up-to-date communication on bernedoodle puppies at JLDD!