when do labrador puppies become adults

Low calorie but be careful not to overfeed Verdict If you want to train your Labradoodle puppy , go with Bixbi Pocket Trainers. These small treats are specially made for training young pups. It is grain-free, gluten-free, and made from natural ingredients. These treats are low in calories, so you can easily use them for training your puppy. These grain-free dog treats are made in the USA with premium natural ingredients. They contain no wheat, corn, or wheat gluten. There are also no artificial colors or flavors, which is great for sensitive digestive systems. The beef jerky bits in Wellness Core Marrow Roasts are delicious and healthy. They are a healthy option for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. These biscuits are packed with protein and vitamins. They are completely grain-free and made in the USA. Unlike other puppy treats, these ones are crunchy. Your puppy will love munching on them. Natural and Protein-Rich: In these treats, the meat is cooked in the marrow, which is infused with antioxidants to keep your dog healthy and supple. The flavor is enticing, and the ingredients are premium and wholesome. It is a natural and protein-rich treat. Grain-Free: It is one of the best grain-free treats for puppies. Besides being grain-free, these treats contain beef and chicken fat. They are made in the USA. These treats are also great for sensitive digestive systems. These treats are grain-free and contain premium natural ingredients without artificial colors or flavors. The recipe is based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs thrive on meat-based diets and is created by top nutritionists. Pros Perfect for puppies who prefer crunchy treats All-natural grain-free recipe Perfect for all breeds of dogs Best for puppies with a sensitive stomach Comes with The Wellness guarantee Cons Ingredients are sourced from around the world Verdict If your Labradoodle puppy is allergic to grain and has a sensitive stomach, you can buy The Wellness CORE Marrow Roasts Treats. These are grain-free treats made from natural ingredients. The recipe is created by nutritionists to offer better nutrition to puppies. It is rich in protein and good for your puppy. Puppies love to try new things, so make sure to give them a variety of different types. Your pup will love to eat these delicious morsels. Puppies love tasty snacks, and treats are no exception. Some of the best brands are available online, so you can save a lot of money. Most of the treats are made of natural ingredients and provide added nutrition to your puppy. Puppies need plenty of protein, and they need these nutrients. A high-quality chew will not only keep your pup satisfied but will make him feel happy and healthy. Some brands also contain other beneficial ingredients, including vitamins and antioxidants. These products will help your pup get the nutrients it needs and help him develop a healthy body. Another you should buy puppy treats for your Labradoodle puppy is because it works as positive reinforcement. You can use these treats to train your puppy from a young age. It will help you to easily teach them commands and make them obey you. It will help you in socialization as well as potty training. Treats work as a reward and naturally make the puppy do good things to impress you. When it comes to feeding your puppy, you must be aware of how many calories your dog needs on a daily basis. Generally, dogs need about to calories per day. The number of calories that your puppy consumes in one day should not exceed ten percent of their daily calorie requirement. It is important to note that these treats do not constitute a meal and do not replace it. When determining how many treats your puppy should eat, always remember that the amount of calories is dependent on several factors, including the size of your puppy and the level of activity your dog is engaged in. As a rule of thumb, the number of treats your puppy should consume should not exceed 10 percent of the total calorie intake. A ten-pound puppy, for example, needs calories per day and should only receive 40 calories from treats per day. You can also opt for low-calorie treats. When you are choosing puppy treats for your Labradoodle, make sure you consider these important factors to help you make the right buying decision. Ingredients: Before buying any treats, it is important to research the ingredients. Avoid candies with sugar because they can be harmful to a Labradoodle. Also, stay away from products with caffeine or other stimulants. Look for meat- or fish-based first ingredient. A byproduct or filler ingredient is not recommended. Make sure the treat contains natural and nutritional ingredients. Instead, look for a healthy treat with ingredients that your pup can digest and benefit from. The caloric content of the treatment is one of the most important factors to consider. Check the ingredient label to see how much protein is contained in each piece. Size: When you are choosing puppy treats for your Labradoodle, be sure to use bite-sized treats for training purposes. The smaller the treat, the more easily it will focus on your commands, and the less likely it is to tear it into pieces. For this reason, you should choose treats that your dog can easily swallow. Texture: When buying dog treats, you should pay special attention to the ingredients and texture. If your puppy is really small, you need to choose soft and chewy treats as they are easier to eat. Once the puppy develops proper teeth , you can go for crunchy treats. Taste: You also need to consider the taste of the treatment because if it is not tasty, your puppy will not eat. Puppies love tasty treats, so make sure it contains ingredients that your puppy-like. You can go for chicken, beef, or fish flavour treats. This is important because many types of dog treats are perishable. They should be bought as soon as they are on sale to ensure a long shelf-life. Frequently Asked Questions What kind of treat do Labradoodles like? There are many different types of dog treats to choose from, but the key is finding one that works for your Labradoodle puppy. Your dog is an individual, so you should try a wide variety to see which ones they enjoy. Before buying your dog any kind of treat, consider the ingredients in it. A little bit of chicken may not be bad, but it is best to avoid it if you have sensitive dogs. For optimal health and taste, try choosing a treat that contains natural meat. Labradoodles love treats that are made from duck, turkey, salmon, or chicken. Make sure the treat is low in calories and made from natural products. Can too many treats hurt my puppy? Too many treats can result in stomach upset, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea. Overfeeding can lead to further health problems. Also, too many treats can lead to obesity, which will make them more likely to suffer from other diseases. As with humans, too much treatment every day can cause a large impact. Some treats can be high in calories and can lead to obesity. Too much of a sweet treat can even cause your dog to have abdominal problems. Are all treats good for puppies? Look for artificial sweeteners and potential allergens. You need to avoid treats that are high in calories. Some treats can be too hard for your puppy to eat, so you need to consider various factors when buying treats for them. Bottom Line Treats are important for Labradoodle puppies as it speeds up their training and helps you to form a bond with them. However, you need to give them the right type of treatment in adequate quantity. It should be beneficial for them and help them grow. To help you make the right buying decision, we have reviewed the four best treats for Labradoodle puppies. Our team has taken important factors into consideration like size, ingredients, taste, nutritional value, and texture to select the best treats. We plan to update this page regularly as better products are launched. 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. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. Many of the snacks that claim they are healthy are not. Additives and preservatives can be found in almost all dog and puppy snacks available. Texas Australian Labradoodles have tried hundreds of commercially available snacks and treats. Some of the snacks our dogs had refused to eat, and others did not look or smell naturally. Our journey took us to SugarBay Creations and we found that we shared their frustration of providing wholesome, healthy and natural products for our four-legged babies. What makes SugarBay Creations different? Lets start with their motto. Simple ingredients for healthy and happy pups. We found that our dogs and puppies loved their snacks and training treats and that they contain no preservatives or artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. We find that these two categories are sufficient for any Australian Labradoodles owner. Training Treats: Oatmeal Liver Bites is a bite sized snack that is perfect for training. These little morsels are packed with natural flavors and elicits great motivation even from stubborn pets. These training treats do not contain unnecessary growth hormones, antibiotics, or vaccines. This wholesome snack contains only three simple ingredients, including liver, organic oats and a touch of organically grown pitted green olives, these provide the optimum nutritional value to your pets. Snack Treats: Tuna Wafers are great and nutritious. These snack treats are made with organic oats and eggs from free range chickens. This treat is made from Non GMO wild caught Albacore Tuna packed in water with no added salt, which provides a healthy, protein packed choice with all the taste and none of the smell of regular canned tuna. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bones offer not only great taste but also many health benefits that pumpkin offer. These Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bones are simply made of just that! Organically grown pumpkins, all-natural peanut butter with no artificial flavors or sweeteners, free range eggs, organic coconut oil, and organic oats. Texas Australian Labradoodles have personally met and spoken with the devoted Weimaraner owner and creator of SugarBay Creations. She informed me that she was very frustrated with the expensive treats she was buying for her dogs only to have them refuse to eat them a couple of weeks after they were opened. Also, she was done spending money on snacks that smelled of chemicals after opening a sealed bag. She therefore was forced to look to other sources for natural snacks that contained no preservatives and no artificial flavorings. After a long journey researching health-benefits of common ingredients for pets, she created these training tidbits and snacks that are highly desired by all kinds of pets. May not be ideal for pups who like crunchy treats Why We Like It This treat is made with meat as the first ingredient in all of their meat recipes, they have cheddar. They are sourced and manufactured in the USA. Click here if your pup is in need of a chewy and tricky training treat! Think small. You should consider something bite-sized when you are looking for a training treat for a Labradoodle puppy. Smaller treats are usually safer for small puppies because the dog will be able to trap them in their mouth without needing to struggle to break the treat into pieces. You should make sure your pup can easily consume the treat and keep giving you their attention and focusing on the training commands you are saying. Another thing to consider is treats that you can easily tear into smaller pieces. Avoid treats high in fat, preservatives, or salt. If you are able, search for all-natural dog food. Fat can contribute to weight gain and a variety of diseases, including pancreatitis. Also, an excess of salt is not ideal for dogs. Look for nutritional balance. You will want to ensure that your dog has a healthy diet, their treats are included in this as well. Letting them try a variety of treats with different ingredients can help. What does your puppy like? This is meant to be a perfect treat, after all! These are a few tips that you may want to follow when finding the best treats for Labradoodle puppies, but you should still ask for a qualified veterinarian opinion as well. What Not To Feed Labradoodles? These apply to all dogs and the list might surprise you: grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, nutmeg, alcohol, almonds, avocado, cinnamon, coffee, macadamia nuts, green tomatoes, and chocolate are no-goes for all dog regardless of allergies or breed. The reaction your dog can have from these foods can range from an upset stomach and vomiting to death. Even food that is considered safe can be contaminated by things on this list that can go unnoticed like the spices. It is important to read ingredients and be careful about what human-food you allow your dog to eat. We recommend this product above the others because it is made and sourced in the USA. It is also low in sodium which is important for growing pups. These little guys are perfectly bite-sized and chewy for your labradoodle puppy in training. The best part for you? No greasy residue on your fingers. Just kidding, the best part for you is that your puppy is likely to respond well during training with these in your palm. Conclusion We hope you enjoyed reading this post about the best treats for Labradoodle puppies. If you loved this post, then we are sure you would love these amazing posts about labradoodles:. They contain no by-products, corn, soy, or wheat. Just chicken, vegetable glycerin, and salt go into these delicious, high-protein treats. The portions are large and can be cut in half or enjoyed whole to give your dog a healthy reward. Check the price now! Your vet can help you determine this. Once you have that number, consider what your dog eats in a day. We have to be careful not to let them overindulge though, because too many treats can cause weight gain. If you have a very active Labradoodle, they will burn more calories than couch potatoes. Your vet can help you determine the right amount of calories for your dog based on their age, weight , and activity level. Just remember to keep track of them! If your dog is going through training and needs a high number of treats each session, you can choose low-calorie treats or small pieces of carrots and apples instead. Choosing the Right Treats When browsing dog treats, choose ones that are specially formulated for dogs without a lot of ingredients. These could potentially cause allergic reactions or upset stomachs. Treats should be an after-meal snack, not before. If your dog is allergic to a certain protein, there are plenty of options available with protein of all kinds. You can easily find one that will work for them. If your dog is missing teeth or has trouble chewing, soft treats are a good solution for them. Puppies should always be introduced to new treats gradually. Their stomachs can get upset if they eat too much of a new food at once. If you have any doubt about a certain type of treat, always ask your vet before introducing anything new to your dog. They are high-quality treats with natural ingredients and have only five calories each. Adjusting their food intake to give them the proper number of calories will keep them healthy and happy. There are so many treats to choose from and some may not be a hit with your Labradoodle. After all, they have their own opinions and preferences. It may take some trial and error, but you can find a delicious treat that your dog will love. Fortunately, Labradoodles are not generally picky eaters and pretty low-maintenance when it comes to what treats they enjoy. We hope this list has given you some good options to try and that your Labradoodle is enjoying their new healthy, delicious snacks soon! She has lived with dogs for over 30 years and spends her days writing, caring for various animals, and enjoying her backyard that has become an oasis for wild creatures. Her passion for animals began at a young age when she would bring home the lost dog or cat. As she got older, she went on to bring home an injured bird or raccoon. This love and desire to help all creatures led to her work as an adult with various animal rescues, where she saved the lives of many domestic and wild animals while learning the necessary skills to care for them. Owning and operating a professional pet care service in Chicago for the past twelve years, Jessica cares for dogs in her home while writing full-time. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Active individuals, families History of Boxer Border Collie Mix There is not a lot of evidence that accurately explains where the Boxollie breed originates from. It is speculated that this crossbreed was designed to eliminate the likelihood of health issues that were commonly present in its parent breeds. Border Collie: Brief History Border Collies are acknowledged to be among the most capable and diligent breeds. Their intelligence, and enthusiasm to fulfill your wishes will make you love them even more. This specific type of dog originated in Scotland. Eventually, it became popular along the English-Scottish border. These canines were often employed to guard and herd flocks of sheep. Their capability in this job was outstanding as they were robust, intelligent and had a strong sense of dedication. C when their predecessors, the Assyrian war dogs, existed. But the modern-day Boxer was developed in Germany during the latter part of the 19th century. Through the years, Boxers have shown amazing capabilities when it comes to a variety of tasks, such as being used as a herding dog, a guard dog, an alarm dog, and even as a guide dog. The Boxollie takes after the Boxer in terms of its overall look. Generally, it has a dense coat that can be either short or medium-length, and it is water-resistant. Its size will depend on which dominant genes it has obtained and can range from medium to large. This breed of dog is exceptionally athletic and intelligent and has an air of cleverness in its bearing. It has a muscular figure that is symmetrically proportionate, and its tail is usually left natural. It has an estimated height of 18 to 22 inches, and a weight of 30 to 45 pounds. This type of canine is of medium size and generally has a solid build. The Boxer on the other hand is a medium-sized breed with a muscular build, measuring between 21 to 25 inches tall, and weighing between 55 and 75 pounds. Based from this information, a Boxollie will typically have a size of medium to big build. This can be accompanied, with a height of around 18 to 25 inches and a weight between 45 and 80 pounds. These may include white, black, black and white, and even gold. If they are properly trained, they can live peacefully with other pets and children in the same household. They are incredibly intelligent. This makes training relatively easily. Intelligence Likewise its Border Collie parent, the Boxollie is an intelligent breed too. They easily understand new commands and even memorize it after 15 to 25 repetitions. This makes a Boxollie as one of the smartest dogs you could have. Energy of Border Collie And Boxer Mix Boxollie canines are a great fit for households that have older kids because of their tendencies to herd and their high energy. These canines have a friendly and gentle nature and rarely display signs of aggressiveness. They are great with children, although they can be a bit too energetic for younger ones and may accidentally knock them over. Thus, constant supervision is still a must from parents. Other Animals The Border Collie Boxer Mix is usually not an aggressive breed and typically gets along well with cats and other animals. Because Boxollies are not originally intended for hunting and generally does not possess a strong drive to chase prey. The heritage of a Border Collie may cause them to display some hunting traits, meaning Boxollies that are not socialized might view smaller pets as animals to herd. This can be avoided by teaching and familiarizing them with socializing from the very start. Strangers These animals take great pleasure in being around their owners and are incredibly steadfast companions. They also have strong sense of protection for their family and abode when it comes to outsiders. Do They Bark A Lot? It is not common for Boxers to bark a lot; if they do, then it is likely due to a legitimate reason. Even though some are not very vocal, they usually have a type of low grumbling sound that is just their way of communicating. Border Collies are a breed that have a tendency to make a lot of noise with their barking. They can be quickly roused by visual stimuli, which is why they bark a lot when they see something that moves rapidly, such as bicycles or skateboards. This particular trait of their parents can be transferred to a Boxollie. Dogs barking can be their way of communication. These particular dogs have a tendency to be extremely devoted to their families and children, making them ideal companions. In addition, they usually get along with other animals well. They can be independent from time to time when the house is loud or there are a lot of people around. Socializing them from a young age can help prevent any unwanted behaviors from forming. They react positively to encouragement and reward, just like all canines. They are usually quite loving and enjoy spending quality time with their owners. It is essential to initiate training of your dog immediately to obey commands such as sit, stay, come, go to their kennel, and to eliminate outdoors. Surprisingly, it is something that you can do yourself even if you are a novice. Initiate a dog obedience routine — find out how you can establish basic foundation before beginning the training. Use games for training — training must be fun for the two of you. Thus, make an effort to integrate games into your training. Learn the value of positive reinforcement — there are countless methods of dog training. But experienced dog trainers would agree that positive reinforcement is the best approach. Compared to other breeds, its shedding is moderate. It is recommended to brush their coat daily using rubber curry brush if the fur is short. If the coat is of medium length, then use a firm bristle brush and a comb. These two work perfectly in removing tangled fur. This helps in maintaining appearance too. If the legs of the dog are feathered, it is best to get them trimmed by a professional groomer. This type of animal is not known for drooling or having any offensive smells. However, their ears, nails, and teeth should still receive proper care. The ears should be examined every week for dirt and wax accumulation. Brushing their teeth daily is recommended and their nails should be trimmed every other week. Unless, they grind down on their own, in which case trimming them monthly should be sufficient. Feeding them a balanced diet, exercising them, and getting them groomed regularly along with regular vet check-ups are all necessary for them to be in optimal condition. All these things are how you can ensure that your Border Collie Boxer mix is healthy and far from any illness. Particularly, the ones that are high in calories and protein. On the safe side, add chondroitin and glucosamine supplements. These are perfect for their joint health which serves as great support for their activeness. However, this figure could be more or less, depending on how you would treat your dog. Of course, attending to their needs and giving their daily requirements add to their vitality. Do the opposite and your dog may not be able to meet their life expectancy. Health Issues Sadly, dogs are not immune to genetic health problems. This includes the Boxer Collie. In fact, these breeds are typically affected by health issues common to its parents. Some of these are elbow and hip dysplasia, eye disorders, hypothyroidism, as well as cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, you can help your dog to avoid from any suffering by taking them to your vet on regular intervals. A pet groomer has the equipment and know-how that you probably lack. Short-haired breeds rarely need a professional groomer as often as long-haired breeds, but it is a great chance to have your dog checked out thoroughly. They can provide you with advice on how to groom your pup in your own home. Professional groomers can provide information on which products work best, how to keep your pooch relaxed, and which tools are ideal for their kind of fur. Does It Shed A Lot? In comparison with other types of canines, Boxers have a tendency to shed moderately. You will be able to observe the amount of shedding based on the season. To help their fur come off quickly, you can brush them more often. Getting them spayed or neutered will eliminate any distinctions and prevent potential pregnancies, as well as avoid males from straying. When picking either a male or a female pup, you may want to take into account other pets that you already have. Even amongst the congenial and easy-going Boxollie breed, two animals of the same gender might become competitive with one another. Nevertheless, with training and proper socialization, this should not be a major problem. Puppies of Border Collie And Boxer Mix A lot of new dog owners would have thought that the price of buying a new puppy is the only thing that they would have to spend their money on. Truth is, there are underlying costs the moment you brought a new puppy to your home. For instance, you would have to buy them toys, dog accessories like collars and leashes, doing frequent visit to the vet, sourcing quality foods and treats, bringing to a professional groomer to keep them in immaculate shape and so forth. If you are not ready for these expenses, then you may want to reserve the idea of getting a Border Collie Boxer mix for the meantime. Do not work with someone who breeds multiple types of dogs. Someone who claim to be specializing in extraordinary colors, sizes, etc. Take out of your selection any breeders who only allows for cash or credit cards. Also, if they are interviewing interested fur parents regarding their capability to care and raise the dog. On the other hand, if you are someone who has an active lifestyle and loves to have a companion that you can take with your outdoor trips, the Boxollie can make the most of your trip. These dogs are highly energetic and smart. They require time from their owner to give them their daily needs from exercising them, training and socialization. These are all essential elements in ensuring that you can raise a well-mannered dog. Lawrence Lawrence is a genuine dog enthusiast. His personal favorite is the Border Collie. He has vast knowledge about these dogs. Throughout his lifetime, he spent raising and training countless dogs. Eventually, he has come to a unique and deeper understanding of human-dog connection that puts him in a position where he is today. Lifespan Sociability While hybrid breeds can inherit various traits from their parent breeds, one thing you can be sure of when bringing home a Border Collie Boxer Mix is energy, a ton of it. Both the Boxer and Border Collie are infamous for their almost endless energy reserves, and your Boxollie is unlikely to be much different. This means you need to prepare for daily walks and exercise sessions of at least a couple of hours, and this will take a large chunk of time, commitment, and dedication. They are ideally suited to a home with a large fenced yard where they have a large amount of space to run and play. These dogs are not suited for apartments or small homes without large yards unless they can be taken for vigorous exercise for several hours a day, and even then, they will present a challenge. They are incredibly intelligent. Border Collies are widely agreed upon to be the most intelligent dog on the planet, capable of learning hundreds of unique words and commands. Chaser, a Border Collie belonging to classical musician John Pilley, knows upward of 1, words and can remember the names of thousands of different objects, even years after learning them. Boxers were used in both World Wars. During the First World War, Boxers were one of seven breeds chosen to aid German soldiers as messengers and to carry heavy packs. Boxers are late bloomers. Boxers retain their puppyhood for quite some time, and this can cause difficulty in training them. They only fully mature at around 3 or 4 years old, making them one of the breeds with the longest puppyhood. These dogs need to be kept busy; otherwise, they are prone to a host of misbehavior, including excessive barking, chewing, and attempting to herd whatever they can, including your children! They are quick learners and will excel in training and agility sports, as well as be affectionate and gentle with children. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They are kind and gentle dogs that are rarely aggressive and are great with children. While they are generally well-behaved pooches, they may be a bit boisterous for younger children and can easily accidentally knock them over. They are incredibly loyal and make great guard dogs too. That being said, the Border Collie heritage may result in some herding characteristics, and any small pets may be seen as animals to be rounded up. Of course, with early socialization and proper training, this can be avoided. Life Span Did You Know? The Border Collie is a very athletic, medium-sized dog that is part of the Herding Group. They were developed for herding sheep along the border between England and Scotland. Their ancestry can be traced back to crosses between the larger, heavier Roman herding dogs and the lighter, smaller, and spitz-type Viking herding dogs. It is from these agile and compact herding dogs that the modern Border Collie was developed. Border Collies are still used as herding and working dogs on farms and ranches today. They are even considered one of the best dog breeds for farms. In addition to making a great companion for an active family, they excel at dog sports like agility, tracking, obedience, and more. They are highly intelligent, loyal, affectionate, and responsive. However, they are not cuddly couch potatoes. They get along well with children and other dogs, and are considered one of the great dog breeds for large families. Although they are a friendly dog breed when well-socialized, they can still be reserved or slightly suspicious of strangers at first. Early socialization is key with any dog breed. It can go a long way in directing the seemingly endless energy and herding tendencies of the Border Collie into more positive activities. Border Collies are sensitive, but also relatively adaptable. As one of the most active dog breeds , they thrive in homes with fenced yards where they can run freely. Although they are high energy, they can adapt to apartment living provided plenty of time is dedicated to getting them the daily exercise and mental stimulation they need. Although they can handle some chill, they are not fans of very cold or hot climates. They will be happiest in a moderate climate and in a space where they get to run. They can be okay with some alone time, but they thrive on affection from their families and get bored easily, so they should not be left alone for long periods of time. If left to their own devices, a Border Collie will start to invent their own games. All of these are health issues for which the parents can be tested and cleared. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to prevent passing avoidable issues to puppies. Make sure you talk to the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. The National Breed Club recommends a hip evaluation and an ophthalmologist evaluation at a minimum. Border Collies are one of the smartest dog breeds. They pick up on things quickly, can learn complicated commands, and are highly trainable dogs. Although they are quick and eager to learn, they tend to be very difficult for the average person to train, so may not be a good fit for novice dog owners. Even an experienced dog owner may benefit from some puppy training classes. The classic Border Collie coat comes in two variations — rough and smooth. A rough coat is medium length and is flat or slightly wavy or feathered while a smooth coat is coarser and smoother. Common coat colors can vary from bicolor and tricolor to solid, merle, or sable. Since Border Collies have a weather-resistant double coat that will shed a little year-round and heavier as seasons change, brushing a few times a week with a pin brush is recommended to remove tangles and prevent mats. During seasonal shedding, daily brushing is recommended. Bathing is on an occasional, as-needed basis. Nail trims once or twice a month keep nails from growing too long. Weekly ear checks along with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. Daily dental care in addition to cleanings at the vet when needed can help prevent dental diseases. One of the well-known facts about Border Collies is that they are high-energy dogs. They are known for their seemingly endless energy. These dogs need daily walks, playtime, time to run, and more, plus a job to do, to be happy and healthy. And, you will probably run out of energy before they do. The good news is that they are athletic and versatile dogs, so once puppies finish growing and can do higher-impact activities, you can try a lot of different things with your Border Collie. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners and are likely to enjoy plenty of other activities. Your Border will be more than happy to have something active to do, especially if they get to spend time with you while doing it. Fully-grown Border Collies usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Border Collies generally live for years on average. This dog breed also shows up in several dog movies and held a feature role in the movie Babe. Featured Border Collie Article.

Dermatitis It is a generalized skin irritation that is often seen in dogs. It can induce skin redness and itching, as well as irritation and itchy in dogs. In such a case, get your French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix examined. Nutritional Needs The optimum Bullmatian diet should be designed for a medium-sized, high-energy breed. The nutritional requirements of the Bullmatian will alter from puppyhood to adulthood and will continue to change into their senior years, as they do with other dogs. Fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin supplements should be started as soon as possible in a mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. Overfeeding any dog is a bad idea since it can worsen health issues like elbow and hip dysplasia. When the seasons change, you may notice your dogs shedding a lot. When it comes to grooming, you must be gentle with your dog. In a week, you must brush their coat at least twice and assist them with their bath at least once. Additionally, owing to the floppy ears they have acquired from the Dalmatians, additional ear washing is necessary to protect them from infection. The coat of the French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix is mostly white with many black patches. Exercise Needs Bullmatians are energetic dogs who demand lengthy walks or perhaps jogging on a regular basis. At least hours of movement each hour is necessary for optimal physical and mental growth. Training a French Bulldog and Dalmatian Mix may be a difficult process. They may be obstinate during training, which necessitates a lot of patience and perseverance on the part of the owner. They will become well-behaved dogs if properly trained with a combination of tolerant and severe attitudes. Training This is a highly clever dog that will be simple to train, although it may be quite obstinate. Positive reinforcement works well for all dogs. As a result, make sure to compliment them when they succeed. All dogs and pups need to be socialized properly. As Family Dogs Bullmatians are excellent family dogs in a variety of situations, but they, like other dog breeds, have their own set of strengths and drawbacks. The clever, lively, active, protective, kind, sociable, and relatively non-aggressive temperament of a Dalmatian is combined with the adorable, loving personality of a Frenchie to create a fantastic pet for all sorts of households. Because of their tiny size, they can fit into fewer spaces, yet they are more durable than the ordinary little dog. This breed is devoted and clever, and it gets along well with youngsters and other pets. Their remarkable intellect can lead to digging, clawing, and gnawing when they are left alone too much or poorly socialized. As Guard Dogs Although French Bulldogs are not terrific guard dogs, they can be excellent watch dogs. While they may bark to let you know that someone is at the door, they may also be territorial. Dalmatians are taught to protect and watch over their owners when they are required, and they will intercede if a trespasser is present. The mixed breed inherits this combination from their parent breed, yet they are not as effective guard dogs as purebred dalmatians due to their share of a more watch dog personality that comes from their french bulldog side. Where to find them? Other than that, you can look for reputable breeders that have this mixed breed, remember that puppies should always come with a health guarantee from the breeder. All About the French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix in a nutshell Bullmatians are excellent companion dogs, affectionate, sociable, and get along with kids and pets. Although they will require a lot of daily exercise and a variety of play sessions. The French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix is a good family dog that is very people-oriented; taking after their parent breeds, the bullmatians are affectionate, loving, and sociable with kids and other pets. They are friendly and gentle and love to play too. Is the French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix easy to train? The French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix is easy to train; This is a highly clever dog that is simple to teach, although may be quite obstinate. They require a strong, forceful handler. Positive reinforcement works well for all dogs, but they are smart dogs that enjoy a good physical challenge. Is the French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix good with kids? The French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix is good with kids; they are a breed that is lively, playful, and sensitive. They also have a lively personality that is compatible with children, they are devoted to their families and good with kids. These dogs are bright, trainable, and make excellent watchdogs. How much is the French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix? Is the French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix smart? The French Bulldog Dalmatian Mix smart; These dogs are bright and trainable: teaching them is simple as long as it appears to be a game and is kept enjoyable. They are free thinkers and are not the best breed for obedience or agility competitions, however few have risen to the occasion. Helpful Resources Did you like the post? If so, please share it! Post navigation. Picture Credit: marieannawild on Instagram Bullmatian The Bullmatian is a mixed breed dog — a cross between the Bulldog and Dalmatian dog breeds. Loving, energetic, and friendly, these pups inherited some of the best qualities from both of their parents. You may find these mixed breed dogs in shelters and breed specific rescues, so remember to always adopt! Advertisement Bullmatians are top-notch companion dogs. This mixed breed is known to be loving and friendly and also does very well around children. However, this energetic dog will need a high amount of regular exercise and a variety of play sessions. See below for all Bullmatian facts and mixed dog breed characteristics! Contrary to popular belief, the suitability of dogs who adapt well to apartment living goes beyond its size. Apartment dwellers have a myriad of dog breeds to choose from as potential companions, with various factors to consider. Some large breeds can adapt well to apartment living and have lower activity levels. Others may require more space and possess higher energy levels. On the other hand, certain small dog breeds with abundant energy can still find contentment with indoor playtime or brisk walks. However, when selecting a dog that adapts well apartments, it is essential to prioritize your neighbors. This makes them less suitable for apartment living. Therefore, desirable qualities in an apartment dog encompass being quiet, low-energy, and displaying polite behavior towards other residents. Apartment dwellers have a wealth of dog breeds to choose from as potential furry companions. While some larger breeds can adapt well to apartment living, with lower, others may require more space and have higher energy levels, making them less suitable for smaller apartments. Conversely, certain small dog breeds with higher energy levels can still thrive in apartments, finding contentment through indoor playtime or brisk walks. By considering these factors, you can find a dog that will adapt well to apartment living and create a harmonious living environment for everyone involved. Lifespan Sociability Possibly one of the cutest puppies around, the Bullmatian will be tiny and spotty, which can make you fall in love at first sight. His sociability also means that he will follow his owners everywhere, be aloof towards strangers until he trusts them, and will love to be the center of attention all the time. He is an intense dog, for sure. Bullmatians love to walk, run and play. So, if you enjoy any kind of exercise, the Bullmatian will be a willing and loyal training partner. Unfortunately, if you do not exercise, a box of assorted toys and a fenced-in area will be enough to compensate. This guy needs exercise and adventure, and lots of it. A side of the Bullmation that is often underestimated is his stubbornness. Although he is a very loyal dog, he may inherit the Bulldog stubbornness. This makes him very difficult to train, which is why we would advise that this guy needs an experienced dog owner. He is a snoring monster, so if you find canine snuffling irritating, you might want to skip on the Bullmatian. Because of his flatter face that he will inherit from his Bulldog parent, he might snuffle throughout the day too. Bullmatians are not just black and white. The Bullmatian has an instantly recognizable coat like the Dalmatian, with a slight difference. The spots will not always be black. They can materialize in various colors inherited from the Bulldog genes such as brown, orange, fawn, red, and brindle. The Bullmatian does not like temperature extremes. He will feel the cold in sub-zero temperatures, so if you live somewhere with real winters, an investment in a few fashionable doggy coats will go a long way. In sunnier climates, sunscreen and air-con will be necessary to keep your pup happy. Bullmatians can be stubborn to train. The Bullmatian has plenty of positive qualities. Loyal, loving, and entertaining — he appears to be a fantastic choice of doggo. That is until he decides that he is done with listening to you and decides to do his own thing. Formal training is where his stubbornness will shine through, so always try to keep training fun. Bulldogs are curious and fun, and the Dalmatian is intelligent, loyal, and protective. Both are friendly are loving, and all of the above applies to the Bullmatian. Bulllmations are very affectionate and loving with his owners. He loves a cuddle and a fuss from both his owner and family friends. He will seek out company and cuddles, which makes him a devoted companion. He is also perfect for the active owner who loves to walk, run, and cycle thanks to his high energy levels. The Bullmatian will always tag along for the ride. As a hybrid taken from two fun-loving breeds, the Bullmatian is also friendly, resilient, and sweet-natured, making him a good choice for families with children. The Bulldog and Dalmatian are both intelligent breeds but in very different ways. The Bulldog is a thinker, which means he can make up his own mind about whether he obeys or does his own thing. On the other hand, the Dalmatian is eager to please, and he picks up new tricks remarkably quickly. The Bullmatian, therefore, is an intelligent dog that can be both. Either eager to please or stubborn as heck. Are These Dogs Good for Families? If he gets bored, he can become super stubborn and destructive. So, be sure to give him plenty of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. As a family companion, he will create strong attachments with the kids and be eager to please the adults as pack leaders. An easy way to keep him stimulated is to teach your children how to interact with your Bullmation through structured play and interactive games. Because of his larger size, be sure to keep an eye on them just in case of an accidental bump. Curious by nature and with little to no prey drive, he will interact positively with most dogs and other animals he encounters. With that being said, it is always heavily dependent on how he is raised and socialized from an early age. As with all dogs, early training, discipline, and socialization will pay dividends in the long run. Make everything a positive experience for him as a pup, and he should enjoy it as an adult. A post shared by neffknee neff. This way, you will be ready for his expectations from you and the rest of the family. Best in two portions, equally sized, he will do well on a good-quality dry kibble that will provide all of the nutrients he requires. To avoid him piling on the pounds and becoming a porky pooch, monitor his food intake carefully. If you find that he is becoming too porky, switch him to a weight management kibble. And he needs up to 90 minutes of energy-burning and brain-teasing activity every day. An enclosed backyard where he can run around chasing toys is an easy way to keep him entertained between exercise sessions. Taking him with you when you run or cycle is also a great idea. Whatever you can do to let him burn off energy and stay entertained will benefit you both. He will stay healthy, and you will have a happy pooch that loves you to bits. Dog parks are another fantastic and easy way to exercise him and keep him entertained. Running around making new doggy buddies will keep him happy for hours on end. So, find your nearest one or join a dog walking group that will allow him to run free with a pack and be a proper dog. It will keep his manners fresh too. Previous experience of training and owning dogs will definitely be an advantage with the Bullmation. Exposure to new environments, noises, and people as a pup will weather him to all eventualities. This results in a dog with good manners as he will learn that most things in life are non-threatening. In turn, he will be relaxed and a joy to spend time with wherever you go. This is known as the socialization process. The key with the Bullmatian is the use of firm but positive verbal correction. It cements your position as pack leader and reduces the amount of rebellion you will receive. Use treats, reward toys, and lots of praise , and above all, be patient and consistent. If you struggle early on with any of the training, you must seek professional obedience training. The instructor will show you exactly where you fall short before it is too late and hopefully train out his bad habits. He will only require a quick 5 to minute brush down just a couple of times a week. His shedding will also be low to moderate throughout the year. With regular brushing , you will minimize the amount of hair that settles in your house and on your clothes. Brushing his hair is a great way to keep his hair and skin healthy by removing dirt, dead skin, and hair. It promotes better blood flow to hair follicles and his skin surface to keep him looking smart and shiny like a healthy dog is supposed to. If he has skin folds just like his Bulldog parent, you will have to clean these regularly with a specially designed skin fold cleanser and cotton buds. This will help to keep bacterial skin infections at bay and reduce doggy odor. Plus, it is a great way to spend quality time with your pup and cement the friendship bond you have. As they say, those who groom together stay together. As a responsible Bullmation owner, it is wise to be aware of these health concerns so that you know what to look for to catch them early should they occur. Minor Conditions. Height: 22 - 24 inches at the shoulder Weight: 35 - 70 lb. They are also very loving dogs. This dog will require a very strong and firm owner who makes sure to assert that they are the alpha and not the dog. Labs are very friendly, amicable dogs that will help offset some of the aggression from the bulldog. They are friendly and gentle and love to play too. He will need to be watched with strangers to see if he is kind and amicable towards them before he can be fully trusted. Early socialization helps take care of any bad habits that could develop. She responds well to positive reinforcement, like all dogs. She should be rather affectionate and enjoy spending lots of time with you. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition. The Dalmatian mixed with the English Bulldog might be prone to Eye problems, patellar luxation, Hereditary deafness, Eye problems, Urolithiasis, Reverse sneezing, brachycephalic syndrome, head shakes, hip dysplasia, skin problems, tail problems, Note that these are just common problems in both breeds. They will be a pretty easy keeper in this department. However, it could go the opposite way as the Bulldog can actually be a heavy shedder. Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin. What are the exercise requirements? This is a moderate energy dog that will need that from an owner. Both parent breeds are hunting dogs that are bred to run and retrieve all day. The English Bulldog is much calmer than the Lab, but anything with the Lab is going to have a higher energy level. Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. If it has a short nose like the Bulldog you will need to be very careful with it overheating too much. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him. What are the training requirements? This is an extremely intelligent dog that will be easy to train, however, it might be extremely stubborn. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia. I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background. Links to other breeds you might be interested in. Temperament Friendly, affectionate, social It usually weighs around 50 pounds and stands close to 2 feet at the shoulder. Its ears usually flop over, and the tail is short. Keep reading while we learn more facts about this new designer breed. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. Bullmatian Puppies A post shared by Magoodle McPoodle yanutchya You may be surprised to find out that new designer breeds often cost less than many other breeds. You can have your puppy microchipped, spayed, and dewormed in many cases and still remain within a fair price range. However, there are many other costs to consider, like food, treats, and toys, that can get quite expensive over the years. This breed is affectionate and likes to stay by your feet and in your lap when you are not playing games. It has plenty of energy and will continuously bring you the ball to coax you into playing. Plus, it will always leap at the chance to get involved in a family activity. It can be a bit stubborn once it makes up its mind to do or not do something but it usually can be coaxed with some extra treats or pats on the head. This stubborn attitude can make it a little more difficult to train, but patience and persistence usually pay off. Are These Dogs Good for Families? This breed is affectionate and will form strong bonds with your family members. As we said earlier, it can be wary around strangers, but it likes to make new friends and will enjoy meeting everyone that comes to your home, with the possible exception of the mail carrier. Yes, your Bullmatian will get along with other dogs very well, and its desire to make new friends will also have it playing with your cats. Early socialization will help your dog adjust to other pets faster, but it is usually not necessary.

We wish you could visit us in our store to pick up your order in person. But we know that's not always possible, so we rely on planes, trains and automobiles to bring you your order. When you place your order, you will get a confirmation email. Once the order is received it will be packed and ready for shipment within business days, and at that point you will receive an email with tracking information. We are in a remote location and so the carrier-estimated delivery times are not always accurate. We can only ship Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Items will be shipped as soon as possible after the order is received. Some larger items may be overweight and will have higher shipping fees. Click N' Pick If you are in the Kootenays, or if you are buying a gift for someone near our stores in Nelson and Rossland, BC, we offer an in-store pickup option free of charge. Choose "Pick Up In Store" for the appropriate location in the shipping options, indicate the recipient in the order notes and we will hold the item until they can pick it up. We do our best to minimize these fees through our shipping methods, and by sourcing Canadian-made products, but are unable to estimate if any fees will be applied by the recipient country, or what the final fees will be. Recipients are responsible for paying these additional fees. Shipping rates will depend on the size and weight of the items you purchase, and how far away you are from where we are. You will be able to see the shipping options and charges before you complete your order. Shipping times can be delayed due to destination customs but we do everything we can to expedite these processes and get your items to you as quickly as possible. General things to keep in mind: Turn-around times can be incredibly quick the elves in the back room are very efficient , so if you need to make any changes please do not delay in contacting us! We will strive to get your order to you as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are, as you might have guessed from the name! We are a green, eco-conscious company, so we re-use our boxes. Do not fear if you receive a box that has the name of something you did not order. At Mountain Baby, we take pride in only selling high-quality, well-made products to help you and your family achieve the goals of being active, being in nature, and being together. If you have an item for return, please contact us to receive a Return Authorization Number. The following policies apply to all returns: Regular priced items must be returned within 21 days of receiving. All products must have all original tags still attached and original packaging as well as any warranty cards. The item must be unused, unworn, and in mint condition. No exceptions. They are non-refundable. Your sense of humor and imagination are just what this plush golden retriever puppy puppet needs to fulfill its destiny. Look in a mirror, you are the man behind the curtain. Pulling the strings, ringing the bells, making the funny - that's what you do while the Folkmanis golden retriever puppy puppet wows your audience with its realistic coloring and downright amazing appearance. This puppet is a real looker. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder then this plush golden retriever puppy puppet is the apple of the beholder's eye. If looks could kill, this golden retriever puppy puppet would be lethal. If pancakes were square, they'd still need syrup. That doesn't really have anything to do with you and your puppet but it's still an interesting fact. Do you know what else is interesting? Puppet shows. Do you know what you need to put on a great puppet show? A golden retriever puppy puppet. It needs you and you need it. This is what we've been trying to tell you. It has nothing to do with pancakes. It's about a golden retriever puppy puppet and a person coming together to complete each other. As with the entire line of plush puppets by Folkmanis, the Full Body Golden Retriever Puppy Puppet is durably constructed to withstand numerous puppet shows, story times, and the expected demands of quality playtime. These fantastic puppets are made with all new materials and meet or exceed all U. Recommended for ages three and up, surface washing is suggested for this plush golden retriever puppy puppet.

Teach them to walk nicely on a leash for exploration and pack walks. Train them to basic and advanced obedience commands for a better relationship. Offer fair and consistent discipline to develop rules. Training your German Shepherd puppy involves teaching them how to be successful in your world and life. This means they need to understand what you expect of them and how you communicate your expectations. Use the Right Tools for the Job Use the right tools for your puppy or adult and follow the training steps below to begin basic training with your German Shepherd. Teaching obedience without these supplies makes the work harder on you. Buy the right tools. Here are some of the best examples of great tools for your training. Having the right tools makes all the difference. You also need some tasty treats. Use pea-sized pieces of cheese, small bits of cooked chicken, or one of these yummy German Shepherd healthy treats of your choosing. Follow this German Shepherd training guide to teach your dog the basics of obedience at home. How to Train a German Shepherd to Sit Teaching your dog sit is one of the easiest German Shepherd training commands for your puppy or dog. Your pup sits hundreds of times in a day. Now all you need to do is connect the motion to the command. Teach Sit Step-by-Step Start with your dog in a standing position. Have your reward treat in your hand. Show your pup the treat is in your hand. Move your hand over their head as you keep the treat near their nose. As their head raises to look at the treat, their bottom begins lowering to the ground. We want your dog to associate the correct motion with the reward first. After a few sessions, say sit when their entire bottom is on the floor. Remember to reward them only when their bottom is on the floor. Once you are sure they know the command, increase your distance from them when you give the sit command. Your goal is to say sit from a long distance and your puppy performs. Practice in different rooms inside your home and use a variety of distances while training indoors. Move to the outdoors with a secure long leash when your pup is ready for more distractions and distance. Start with the last success. Stay keeps your dog in one spot until you release them and is essential training. For advanced training, use stay to transition from one command to the next. Begin indoors in a quiet area free from distractions. Hold the leash in your left hand. Use the right hand to signal to stay while standing directly in front of your dog. Raise your hand and turn your palm toward your dog. When he stays with success, walk toward him and give him the treat. Now add in the word stay when your dog performs the stay behavior correctly. Increase the stay time your dog is in the stay position beginning with 5 seconds and working up to one minute or more. Next, work on extending the distance between you and your dog while in the stay. Take a few steps back each time you train. Your goal is to reach the end of your leash while your pup stays in place. This could take many sessions over weeks or months. Guide to Advanced Stay Techniques Once you are at the full distance of your leash, drop the leash and work on having your dog stay while you move into different rooms. Add in distractions, such as friends walking around while you train your GSD. For the final steps, have your dog on the long leash and train in your backyard. Extend the leash as far as it will reach and have your dog stay in place for 30 seconds or longer. Move to outdoor training at a quiet park and repeat the steps for increasing distractions. You can use this time to plan for the next command or simply to have them wait on you. Teach Down Step-by-Step Start with your dog or puppy in a sitting position. Have a tasty treat in your closed hand. Let them see you put that treat in your hand. Move your hand toward the floor in front of them. Your pup will follow the treat into a down position. Offer them the tasty treat and praise them immediately when they are in the down position. You want to make sure they know the motions first. Continue practicing this technique throughout the day. After a few sessions with your pup performing the correct motion, add in the word down. Give him his tasty reward when he is in the down position. Practice in different rooms to ensure your dog knows the command. Move to areas where there are distractions, such as a busy room in your house, and even outside while on a leash. Use the long leash for outdoor sessions and safety. Increase the time your dog is in the down position by taking a long time to offer the treat. A reliable recall come is part of your basic obedience training. When they come to you, reward them with a happy voice and a good boy. You may want to step a few feet backward while calling him. This lures him to follow you. Once your dog reliably moves toward you when you call them, add in the word come. Reward them and repeat the exercise using different distances and the word come now. Increase the distance you are away when you call him inside the house. If your German Shepherd performs the command reliably, add in farther distances. Reward them when they respond correctly. Practice many times with the word come while you are in the same room. Now, call him from farther and farther away in different rooms. Use distractions in the home while practicing. Call him while other people are in the room. Next, use both different rooms and a variety of distractions together. But only if he ignores multiple distractions. If he responds correctly during multiple training sessions, leash him with the long leash mentioned earlier as an essential tool and train him outside to work on concentrating with outdoor distractions. Repeat the process you used indoors practicing with varying distances and distractions outside. Use this guide for a fast recall and to save yourself some stress on this command. They familiarize your dog with the many ways in which they might get asked to perform their commands. These extra steps are invaluable to the quality of your German Shepherd obedience home training program. See how long you can have your dog stay while you move into different practice areas and work on increasing the time. Try to keep his attention on you during his training despite other distractions in your room, inside your house, or outdoors. If your GSD seems to have forgotten their command, take them back to the last place they were successful and begin training from there. Not all of your days are perfect, right? Adjust your training as needed. Instead, make sure you have a well-rounded training program apart from this German Shepherd training guide : Through exciting mental stimulation and boredom-busting activities. By regularly brushing their coats to give them healthy skin and decrease shedding. Offering them the right chew toys that are safe , non-toxic, and withstand heavy chewing while being fun. Use brief training sessions and practice frequently. End training with a command you know your pup will perform and reward them at the end. Keep up your training daily for quicker learning. And… Always look for ways to bond with your German Shepherd through everyday training opportunities. If you want to achieve the quickest results for training your GSD then use games and have fun with your dog! You can easily learn breakthrough techniques to help you feel confident training your German Shepherd at home by enrolling in this scientifically-based brain training program that guides you through advanced tricks and obedience. Great work! Visit ShepherdSense. Then, share it! Catherine Krasavin, BS Hons. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Pricing for doggy boot camp depends on if you pay for daily lessons or a weekly package. At boot camps, pricing is higher and costs more, but your GSD gets personalized training based specifically on his disobedience problems. Petsmart offers group lessons for various levels of training. There are three stages of dog training classes at Petsmart: beginner puppy intermediate skills advanced training The puppy class teaches basic commands, such as sit, down, stay, shake, and walking on a loose leash. You must have passed both puppy and intermediate before enrolling in advanced training. These classes meet weekly in a group setting inside the store. Petco offers group lessons that meet weekly for basic puppy training. Service Dog Training Cost German Shepherd service dog training costs depend upon the nonprofit and the type of training involved. German Shepherds have been giving their talents for many years to support people with medical issues by alerting them to possible seizures or calming someone with anxiety or PTSD during an episode. According to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America , training your dog at home is essential to a life of success and happiness with a German Shepherd. Professional experts recommend slowly introducing puppies to other dogs that are well-mannered and different people at that age, too. Your dog needs to have its first dose of vaccinations before attending socialization classes, and of course, a deworming treatment to avoid infecting other dogs. Have their 6-, , and week vaccinations against distemper, measles, parainfluenza, parvovirus, adenovirus, and rabies before beginning obedience training. Consider the following optional vaccines: kennel cough, coronavirus, Lyme disease, and leptospirosis. Most trainers work with aggressive behavior in dogs at a higher price. Punishment-Based Dog Training? Be careful where you choose to train your German Shepherd since not all training schools use modern dog training practices, and some even use force to train your intelligent breed. Make sure you are comfortable with the handling of your dog and stay away from punishment-based dog training. Punishment based — Choke, shock, or otherwise cause pain to the dog when bad behavior is chosen. Rewards-based — Reward with food, praise, or sounds. The program I use and support is the Brain Training for Dogs Academy, which is entirely positive and rewards-based training. You can also use games to help train your German Shepherd and keep costs lower. Group classes and obedience courses generally are taught at a facility that will give everyone and their dogs enough room to maneuver and have space. But a private session may take place at your home if requested and the dog trainer will charge travel fees. So, train your puppy or adult dog right from the start. The lowest cost to train a German Shepherd Dog is by training them at home with an online training program. Training helps you to build the dog of your dreams and prevents future issues from ruining your relationship. Enjoy it all… Especially living and loving a German Shepherd Dog. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Select Location.Training Concerns When booking an appointment online, you are agreeing to receive text messages from us. Message rates may apply. You can reply STOP to any text messages to opt-out. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and loyal. With proper training and socialization, they are also obedient and great with other dogs and children. Dog Training Elite has years of experience with German Shepherd training and has developed obedience and personal protection training programs suitable for this breed. Because of their intelligence and natural herding instincts, German Shepherds can also be trained as service dogs. Like any intelligent dog, however, a German Shepherd without proper training can become a handful. Their intelligence can lead to stubbornness. Extensive training and socialization are key to harnessing the unique abilities of this breed and diminishing any potential destructive behaviors. Thankfully, the high intelligence of German Shepherds enables them to learn commands quickly. The professional training of Dog Training Elite will help any German Shepherd become an incredible companion to individuals and families. Adults Dog Training Elite recommends starting dog training as early as possible, soon after a puppy is ready to leave its mother. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands, and smart German Shepherd puppies do great with early training. Dog Training Elite has adult dog training programs as well. A complete puppy training typically takes a few months. Adult dog training can take longer or shorter, depending on whether a dog needs to unlearn bad habits in addition to being trained. Working with a German Shepherd and the owner directly in the home allows dog trainers to create personalized training plans for individual dogs, as well as address any unique needs or issues. Once a dog has completed in-home training, they can take group classes for more in-depth training - Dog Training Elite offers both puppy and adult dog group classes. Beginning training in the home also helps owners bond with their dogs so when the dog trainer leaves, no progress is lost. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form after proper conditioning , when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter. Empowering Owners We empower owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times. Personalized We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis. Environment Specific We train wherever issues tend to arise i. Supportive We support owners in the off-hours when training is "not in session". Involved We work with all members of the household. Satisfaction Ratings Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors. Also, be consistent about rules - establish at the beginning, for example, whether or not your dog is allowed on the couch. An energetic dog with little to no exercise can become a destructive, disobedient dog. Training is a great way to give German Shepherds the mental and physical stimulation they need. Dog Training Elite has developed training programs for puppies and adult dogs alike based on positive reinforcement. German Shepherd training with our in-home option is entirely possible. Read on to learn more about the Dog Training Elite training method. The Dog Training Elite Difference Dog Training Elite uses modern training methods focused on positive reinforcement and bonding between dog and dog owner. Dog Training Elite never resorts to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out. The Dog Training Elite training theory is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. In its simplest form after proper conditioning , when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Ready to turn your dog into a loyal and loving companion? Find a German Shepherd trainer near you today! Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call! Got the Whole Den package and am very satisfied with the level of professionalism that everyone had. They gave wonderful suggestions and presented things I a way I could understand. Will use them going forward for all trainings on our little one. This place is amazing. I did the two-week training camp for my 8 month old puppy and I couldn't be happier with the results. The entire experience was perfect from start to finish. The training staff is incredible. They answered all my questions and took extra time and care in helping my dog be successful. Special thanks to Jake and McCall, who worked with my dog every day. You can tell they love their jobs! Thanks again DTE!!! Brock has made the most amazing changes in just a week! Jake is incredible and patient with my pup. I am so impressed with everything at DTE! Gosia is amazing and was very thorough about training our baby Leia. We seriously recommended their services. Training goes a long way when it comes to ordinary circumstances and we are glad that we decided to get Leia on board with their Gold program. We are so grateful about having all the support from Dog Elite to get Leia where she is now. Jessica was also very quick to communicate throughout the whole program. Kudos to their excellent customer service. My wife and I were sort of nervous to spend this much money on dog training we spent almost all of the money we have saved but after seeing the results, we are so happy that we did. My daughter's "Service Dog in Training" couldn't ask for a better Trainer. Terrance answers all my questions but also takes the time to show my daughter how to implement at home what the dog has learned. The trainers are excellent as well as friendly and communicative to pet parents. They are available for parents ant time you need them So glad we entered our dog in their training program. Try them. Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack. Do dog trainers offer remote or virtual services? Although dog training is traditionally performed in person, the COVID pandemic may have caused some professional dog trainers to move to remote training and virtual services. You can contact dog trainers near you to ask about the possibility of remote or virtual services. Also, ask whether all aspects of the process can be digital, including payment. How old should a puppy be for training? If you get a new puppy, start from the beginning with professional training to give both you and your puppy the tools you need for a healthy relationship. Dog training is as much about teaching the owner how to interact with their new dog as it is about the dog learning to behave. Puppy training can start as early as eight weeks old. Trainers who offer puppy training programs may works specifically with dogs between the ages of 8 and 18 weeks old. Trainers can teach owners about potty training and how to deal with accidents, working with separation anxiety, and training your pooch out of destructive behaviors like chewing, biting and demand barking. Puppies will start to learn to walk on-leash and other basic skills. In addition to behavior training, socializing your puppy is an important part of dog training. Socializing your dog means they become comfortable and confident in a variety of settings and have a great foundation for becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. After your puppy has had the proper vaccinations, you can start to introduce it to a variety of different dogs and people in safe settings. What is a dog boot camp? A dog boot camp is basically a board and train program that focuses on training your dog or puppy. The trainers will work with your dog to curb unwanted behavior, teach them basic skills and show them how to walk on a leash. How long does it take to train a puppy? Dog training depends on the dog and how much homework the dog owner is willing to put in. Puppy training is similar to dog training in that the onus of the work depends on the owner learning new ways to interact with their dog. For a quick crash course, you can opt for a single, two hour smart-start puppy training consultation to teach you the ins and outs of being a new dog parent. You can learn how to manage potty training and what to do if the puppy experiences separation anxiety. Puppies usually need to be at least three months old for group training classes. If you want more intensive one-on-one work, you can opt for private lessons. Some behavior problems can be resolved in one session if the dog owner learns and can implement new skills. In the case of more serious issues, 3 to 10 private sessions can typically correct challenges. Which dog training method is best? The best type of dog training for both you and your dog depends on the outcomes you hope to achieve. If you want your dog to learn agility training, go to someone who specializes in those techniques. Regardless of whether you want your dog to learn basic behavior or competitive-level tricks, the majority of dog training is actually about training the owner how to communicate with their dog. Most professional dog trainers agree that a model of training based on positive reinforcement breeds a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog. The alternative to positive reinforcement training is using force or aggression techniques like physical punishment or shock-collar training to get the dog to do or not do a behavior. While the dog may learn how to behave as you direct, it is also learning to communicate with force and aggression, and will in turn use those behaviors on other dogs or people that are smaller or weaker than it is. Before signing up with a dog trainer, meet with the trainer and ask for references. Watch the trainer interact with your dog, and make sure they treat your dog with patience and firm kindness. Ask them questions about their training methods: What type of training methods do you use? What is your background and training, and how did you become a dog trainer? Why hire professionals on Thumbtack? Free to use You never pay to use Thumbtack: Get cost estimates, contact pros, and even book the job—all for no cost. Get started. We offer training to previously purchased Kraftwerk K9 puppies only. The training skills we teach are the basic fundamentals every puppy should know. All commands are taught in German unless otherwise specified. This is the perfect age to lay down a solid foundation on which future training can be built. We introduce the puppies to a reward system using food to reinforce the correct behavior. Week 1: a. Learn how to respond to collar and leash b. Follow handler on leash c. Name Association a. Come and sit in the front position b. Sit on command d. Teaching the meaning of no Week 3: a. Introduced to house-training with indoor environment b. Crate Trained d. Drive Building — Encourage chasing and biting of approved toys Week 4: b. Exposure to slippery stairs c. We transition them from food rewards to play objects, such as tugs or balls, to build drive. Drive is a term describing the emotional and physical energy that motivates the dogs to act. Introduction of training collar as positive experience b. Stop mouthing, inappropriate biting, and biting with stronger corrections c. Fetch Promoting retrieving instincts b. Drive building — proofing behavior under different distractions and strange environments c. Obedience from the Beginning Part 3 — Boost Performance Levels 30 Days Minimum Age: 16 weeks Once we develop optimum drive in the puppies, we can take their training to the next level. This is a vital step in their training development. We help them begin to transition from puppies into confident and capable young adults. Once they have a solid foundation in their home-field, they have to learn how to perform everywhere. Fuss — Heel Walk on loose lead in the heel position without pulling b. Automatically sits when handler stops c. Finished Fuss — Get into heel position from the here front sit Week 2: a. Formal German obedience commands as well as informal English house commands b. Introduction to obedience hand signals c. Obedience commands at a distance Week 3: a. Increased duration of sit and down stays b. Extending the area of influence of the handler has from six feet to thirty with long line c. Introduction to off-leash obedience Week 4: a. Promotion of off-leash response to commands b. Create a positive expectationbased on quickness of performance of behaviors c. German Shepherd Protection Training Kraftwerkk9 is dedicated to offering superior dogs to combat would-be assailants. A security guard may only be on shift for 12 hours with the ability to stay prime for only 8 of those hours. A German Shepherd is vigilant even when their owners are resting. The first goal of a trained dog is to provide a deterrent. This obstacle alone will combat a large percentage of burglaries and home invasions. Our Practical Protection Program was created to aggressively engage these criminals and take the fight to them if necessary. Everything we wanted!! They truly breed the best German Shepherds.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Queen City Doodles is a professional family breeder with a passion to provide home raised and home loved puppies for companionship and pets. We are located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Our dogs live in our home or in their carefully selected Guardian homes nearby and are part of our families. Our puppies are well socialized and have a strong foundation to become a well adjusted family companion. We feel you can not do better than one of our Queen City Doodles puppies! I am grateful for the opportunity to provide the perfect puppy for you. This was Belle as a puppy. As you can see, Cleo makes beautiful puppies who have gentle dispositions, are extremely intelligent and are able to adapt well in all situations. We have a very active lifestyle and Belle enjoys all of our adventures with us. We also have a special needs child and the loyalty and companionship Belle provides for our child is beyond anything we could have hoped and prayed for. Amy G. I did a lot of research before purchasing our pup and I am so pleased we went with Queen City Doodles. He is the sweetest and goofiest fluff ball ever! Not to mention he is so smart and picks up everything very quickly. Amanda was great to work with. She answered all my questions and kept us in the loop the whole time. I would not hesitate to purchase another pup from Queen City Doodles or to recommend them to anyone! Heather N. We added a lovely and sweet Queen City Goldendoodle to our family this summer. Amanda was great to work with! She answered questions quickly and sent pictures often. I would highly recommend using Queen City Doodles. Grooming is still highly recommended every weeks to keep their fur tangle-free and stylish! In order to gain this level of recognition, our dogs are undergoing extensive health and genetic testing to ensure the highest and healthiest dogs are available to you and your family. Hillsview Farm also is required by GANA to adhere to the Associations strict Code of Ethics and Breeder Policies further ensuring that when you purchase one of our Goldendoodle puppies, you and your family are assured of a healthy, happy dog. Why a Goldendoodle? Goldendoodles are extremely social, outgoing, non-aggressive dogs that thrive on human companionship. They have a great desire to please and to learn. Each individual breed the Poodle and the Golden Retriever score in the top 4 of the smartest dog breeds. They are incredibly intelligent and always eager to please. Coupled with the low to non-shedding coats, this temperament has proven to make Goldendoodles perfect candidates for service work as well as family pets. Hybrid vigor the increased health benefits of crossing two completely unrelated breeds gives the Goldendoodle the health and vitality that makes them, on average, outlive either one of their parent breeds. It should be stressed, however, that the general health and vitality is enhanced dramatically when parents have been genetically tested for the inherited diseases that both parent breeds share in common. Having owned and bred dachshunds, bassets and bulldogs, we could not have imaged that a dog could be so intelligent, so loving and so obedient until we met Maggie. We fell in love and decided to share our experience and love of Goldendoodles with others. We anticipate that Nacho will have a life-long love affair with our girl Maggie and quite frankly, if Sabrina Nacho's owner would let us adopt him as our own, we would! Take Home a Goldendoodle! Our typical litters have between Goldendoodle puppies and our most recent litter arrived July 23rd! Puppies are now available and will be ready to take home on September 10th! Check out our process by clicking the button below for more information how you can take home a Goldendoodle from Hillsview Farm. We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near Tea South Dakota and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted!

What kind of diet do we give our pooches for a healthy weight? What you should never overfeed a dog? You should never ever overfeed your dogs too much carbs as they get stored as fat in the body if they are not used. Unfortunately, carbohydrates are much cheaper an ingredient as compared to the other nutrients like protein. Hence, they are often used by major large dog food manufacturers to make up the weight of dog food whilst keeping the prices of the dog food low. This is the main reason why pets all over the United States are getting obese. And, ironically, this became the driving forces behind the rise of these healthy pet food startups , as their founders seek to provide their own proper and much healthier alternatives. The high fiber content will make your dogs feel content faster and thus eat less. And since fiber does not get stored in the body like carbs do, it can be promising measure to keep your pooch's weight under control. Mathematically, eating less will reduce weight gain. However, it can easily lead to malnourishment if your dog is not given the proper nutrition. We are talking about nutrients beyond the common proteins and carbohydrates. They include omega fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and many more! The key here is not to eat less. The key here is to maintain a balanced diet. And what constitutes a balanced diet? That requires a deep understanding and a wide study in the field of pet nutrition to truly determine it; so much that it warrants a university degree. To get the most balanced, holistic and healthiest dog foods , it is often better to leave it to the experts. Have you been scheduling your dog's meal time wrongly? And does it really matter? Scheduling your dog's meal time will tune their stomach to become hungry only at their meal times. Combining this with the right amount of dog food given to them, it will keep your dogs from becoming hungry out of meal hours. In turn, this will maintain their metabolism rate and utilize all the food they consume fully and appropriately. As a bonus, regular meal time will also discourage them from scavenging around the house like little vacuum cleaners as they grow accustomed to the amount of food they are given and to be used for the intervals between meal times. These food brands are not your typical corporate pet food manufacturers. These are pet food startups fueled by the passion from their pet enthusiasts founders who only want the best for all dogs under the sky. Each of them have came up with their own unique formula that will surely satisfy your dogs' taste buds without compromising their health. Click here or the button below to learn more about these bespoke food brands. Underweight and undernourishment is as real an issue as obesity among dogs. Underweight dogs appear thin and frail. And before you know it, they will start to lose all the hair on their coat and look like anything but a dog. These cases created a market of specialized dog food that help your dog to gain weight healthily. Here are 7 of the best dog foods for weight gain that can help your underweight dog get back its glory. Read more by clicking the button below. This is the point between their shoulder blades. Labs reach size maturity relatively early compared to other large breeds. They will likely attain their adult height somewhere around the 9-month mark, although realistically this could occur anywhere between 6 months and a year. After that, they will likely continue to fill out, so you could see their weight continue to increase anywhere up until their second birthday. Are There Different Sizes of Labrador? There is only one official size of Labrador. The differences between the two are because of decades of specialized breeding. English Labs were bred for showing and tend to be shorter, stockier, and on the heavy side. In contrast, American Labs were working dogs, bred for enhanced speed and agility, and for this reason can be somewhat taller, slimmer, and more athletic than their British counterparts not to mention more energetic and highly-strung. Beyond that, the sex of your dog can have an impact. Female Labs tend to be slightly shorter at .They may also weigh slightly less, between pounds compared to pounds. Not a significant difference granted, but a difference, nonetheless. Photo by Janelle Everhart on Unsplash As mentioned above, when Labs get to their adult size at around 9 months , they will likely continue to grow outwards as their muscles develop. This means their weight will keep going up for a while. Our interactive puppy growth chart and calculator has more information on that. Check out these guides on best dog food for puppies here. How Big is a Full-Grown Labrador? As can be seen in the table above, a full-grown Labrador Retriever is somewhere between .Labradors usually get to half their full weight between 4. You can calculate their potential adult weight at 23 weeks by taking what they weigh at that age and multiplying it by two. By six months old, your Labrador has likely achieved around two-thirds of their adult weight. At this time, usually weighing at least double what they did four months ago, they will be reaching the end of their rapid growth period. The remainder of the growing that they do will be at a steadier pace and will likely stretch across the next six months, if not longer. While your Lab may seem big and adult in appearance at this age, keep in mind that they are still a puppy in many ways. Photo by Ryan Phillips on Unsplash Those of you considering a pedigree breed, such as the Labrador Retriever, over hybrid dogs like Doodles will be relieved to hear that making predictions about their adult size is a much simpler business. However, there can still be considerable variations in the adult size and weight of perfectly healthy Labs. Hopefully, the information provided here proves usual in helping you to understand precisely what you are likely to be dealing with in terms of the height and weight of your pup a couple of years down the line. Pin It! All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. The rate that a puppy will grow depends on several factors, just like their adult weight does. Generally though, the breed and size category are good indicators of how fast they will gain weight. Larger breeds may not be fully grown until they are 12 to 18 months old, while extra-large breeds might not reach their adult weight until they are 24 months old. Curious how much you should feed your puppy? Try our calorie calculator to estimate how much food they need. Puppy Growth Chart The chart below shows the difference in growth progression for different breed sizes and when you might expect to see the most growth in your puppy. Knowing how much your dog weighs is important, especially when determining how much water they should drink or how dangerous chocolate is for them. If you do not have a scale at home that you can use to weigh your dog, most vets will allow you to drop by for a quick weight check. When do Dogs Stop Growing? As we mentioned above, the size of the dog impacts when they might reach their adult weight. Smaller breeds generally stop growing completely at months, while larger dogs stop growing at months. If you have children, we also have a height prediction calculator that you might find interesting. Recommended Pet Resources. Your Labrador Retriever will grow very fast in its first 45 weeks. At 45 weeks, your Labrador Retriever will have reached 95 percent of its adult weight. Then your Labrador Retriever will slowly stop adding more weight. The above discussion is general, and it applies to both male and female Labrador Retrievers. However, male dogs usually grow at a different rate compared to female dogs A male Labrador Retriever will grow very fast in its first 47 weeks. At 47 weeks, a male Labrador Retriever will have reached 95 percent of its adult weight at 47 weeks. A male Labrador Retriever will then slowly stop adding more weight. Similarly, a female Labrador Retriever will grow very fast in its first 44 weeks. At 44 weeks, a female Labrador Retriever will have reached 95 percent of its adult weight at 44 weeks. A female Labrador Retriever will then slowly stop adding more weight. See the growth graph of a Labrador Retriever below. As you can see in the Labrador Retriever growth curve below, the Labrador Retriever grows really fast in its early weeks, and then its growth levels off till it reaches percent of the adult weight. This Labrador Retriever growth calculator is based on the typical weight curve of a Labrador Retriever shown above. The calculator assumes that your Labrador Retriever is growing normally, and not on its way to become overweight or underweight. Weight of the Labrador Retriever. Weight in the dark green region is typical, though weight in the light green region is also possible Adult Labrador Retrievers typically weigh between 55 to 80 pounds. Above is a graph that shows how much a Labrador Retriever should weigh at different ages. Check where the weight of your Labrador Retriever falls in the graph for its age. It is totally fine if the weight of your Labrador Retriever falls in either the dark green or light green region of the graph. However, weight in the dark green region is more typical for Labrador Retrievers. If the weight of your Labrador Retriever falls outside both the dark and light green region for its age, then you should consult a vet. Also, you can use the Labrador Retriever weight calculator below to find the typical weight and the normal weight range of Labrador Retrievers, male or female, of any age between 12 weeks and weeks. The calculator will also tell you if your Labrador Retriever is within the normal weight range for the Labrador Retriever. This Labrador Retriever weight calculator uses information from belpatt. What is the Height of the Labrador Retriever? The adult Labrador Retriever is 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder. This is the average adult height of the Labrador Retriever. This is How to Tell Puppy growth predictors, growth charts, and growth calculators like the ones above are approximate methods for predicting growth in dogs. However, these tools have limited capabilities. Doing this with your Labrador Retriever will give you a clearer picture of how your Labrador Retriever is growing. Our tool will also let you know if your Labrador Retriever is growing normally. You can use this growth trajectory to accurately predict how big your Labrador Retriever will get. The growth trajectory will also let you know very early if your Labrador Retriever will become overweight or underweight. And these days, pets gain weight very easily because their owners spoil them with lots of treats and food. Below is what a normal growth pattern and what abnormal growth patterns look like in Labrador Retrievers. You can compare your Labrador Retriever growth trajectory against these references to see if your Labrador Retriever is growing normally or you can use our automatic tool. The first method, which is the better and more accurate method to weigh your Labrador Retriever, is to use a dog weighing scale. Having a scale for weighing your Labrador Retriever will make it easy for you to weigh your Labrador Retriever regularly without any trouble. The scale that we recommend for weighing the Labrador Retriever is this high durability and affordable W. Click here to check out this scale on Amazon. Then use the same scale to weigh yourself without your Labrador Retriever. Then calculate your weight when holding your dog minus your weight when not holding your Labrador Retriever. This method is illustrated in the picture below. However, note that this method of holding your dog on a scale is not very accurate, and it may be difficult for you to use this method to weigh your Labrador Retriever if your Labrador Retriever is very heavy or if your Labrador Retriever is the type that would not stay still while being held. Starting at 4 months, your Labrador Retriever will gain 1. At 5 months of age, your Labrador Retriever will grow at a rate of 1. Then at 6 months, your Labrador Retriever will gain 1. See the growth rate chart of the Labrador Retriever below Age Months. Can you tell how big a puppy will get? Your puppy will be growing very fast when you first bring them home. But that growth rate slows down quite quickly. So when do dogs stop growing for good? And how will you know when your puppy has reached their adult size? Labrador Puppy Growth Chart We have a fascinating and long running thread on our forum, where members enter the weights of their puppies at different ages. The Labrador growth chart below shows the data we have collected, in a Labrador weight chart by age. Labrador dog weight chart by age and breed Each dot represents a snapshot in time of an individual puppy. You can find his or her age in weeks along the bottom of the chart and his weight in pounds up the left hand side. You can see how all the dots taken together follow a pattern, but there is still a considerable range of puppy weights at each age. When Do Dogs Stop Growing? But what about a two year old Lab, or a one year old? Well, in broad terms, dogs stop growing sometime between one and two years old. But it varies between breeds. Most dogs are fully grown by their first birthday. In general small breeds reach their adult height several months before large breeds do. Yet dog size varies greatly among individuals, even within the same breed. Larger dogs are often slower to mature than little dogs, and carry on growing for longer. Small dogs are sometimes fully grown by the time they are 9 months old. Whereas giant breeds can take up to three years to reach full size. Adult size, temperament, and coat type are all likely to affect energy requirements, and affect the rate a puppy grows. In fact even breeds which end up similar in size can grow at very different rates. There is very little scientific research — but a lot of anecdotal evidence — about when Lab puppies stop growing. In , a UK study following 37 Lab puppies through to adulthood revealed that all of them had reached their adult weight by their first birthday. But more recently, a much larger lifestyle study of over 4, UK Labradors found that their weight continued to increase between one and four years old. When Do Labs Stop Growing? The Labrador puppy growth chart finishes when the dog reaches adulthood. General wisdom from breeders, vets, and experiences Labrador owners is that Labs stop growing during their second year. In fact, he will be quite close to his final adult Labrador height at around nine months of age. Does color change the Labrador puppy growth chart? When is a chocolate Lab full grown? Is it the same time that a full grown black Labrador or yellow Lab? So your average chocolate Lab will be adult sizes at the same time as the average yellow or black Lab. How Quickly Do Labradors Grow? Our Labrador puppy growth chart shows that all Labrador puppies follow the same breed specific pattern of growth spurts and slower growth, even though the actual numbers on the scale will vary from individual to individual. The most rapid period of growth will take place in the first month or so after you bring him home. In , a study of Labrador puppies in Norway found that Labrador weight gain is most rapid at 89 days old in females, and 95 days old in males. So around the week mark. And Labradors usually reach half of their adult weight by the time they are 18 or 19 weeks old. How much do Labs grow after 6 months? Another trend you can see in our Labrador puppy growth chart is that Lab puppies gain weight much less rapidly after their 6 month birthday. Once your Lab has hit this milestone you can expect them to gain a little height, and probably continue to fill out for up to a year or so. In other words, the point when you Lab stops getting any taller. It is estimated that in the UK the average height at the shoulders of a male Lab is cm taller than the breed standard. Will my dog still grow after being neutered? Whether or not dogs should be routinely spayed or neutered is a subject which divides opinion. Labrador owners deciding whether and when to neuter usually end up with a lot of questions, few of which have straightforward answers. Many veterinary care providers and shelters advocate neutering at a young age, or even make it a requirement of the adoption contract. A study found that neutering before 37 weeks old is linked to very slightly more rapid growth, and neutering after 37 weeks leads to very slightly slower growth. How big do Labrador Retrievers get? As we all know, very few dogs fit the mathematical average — they are much more likely to occupy a range of normal sizes. But most of us like a more precise answer than that before we commit to sharing our home with a puppy. So, how big do Labs get? Labradors are remarkably variable in height and weight. The biggest male Labs can be almost twice the size of the smallest female ones. But you want me to give you some numbers, so here are some averages. Many adult female Labradors reach a weight of lbs and stand inches high at the shoulder. This will be the same whether they are a female chocolate Lab or a female black Labrador. Many adult male Labradors reach a weight of lbs and stand inches at the shoulder. But remember, your dog is probably not an average dog! Can you always predict size with a Labrador puppy growth chart? These Labrador height and weight numbers are very broad guidelines, and they may give you a rough idea of how big a pup will grow. How big your Labrador will get depends partly on his parents. Assuming that your puppy had healthy not overweight parents, their own weights will give you an idea of how big your Lab is likely to grow. But there are always surprises in any group or family of dogs! Has your puppy stalled on the Labrador puppy growth chart? It is possible that your puppy will weigh less than the average examples. Labrador puppy weight and size can vary widely depending on a number of different factors, many of which are normal and harmless. American Labrador puppy growth Labrador puppies from working stock are often less heavy than those bred for the show ring or pet homes. Dogs bred for hunting and field trials tend to be faster and lighter in build because they are expected to be agile and quick when working in the field. Small parents Size is also partly genetic. In other words, if your puppy had small parents he might well be on the small size for his age, throughout his life. Again, this is only a general guide. Even puppies from the same litter can vary quite considerably in size when plotted on a Labrador puppy growth chart. How much should my Labrador puppy weigh? But this kind of rule of thumb is of limited use, and there are problems with judging whether or not a puppy is thriving by his weight alone. Because it is so difficult to know exactly what size your puppy will be as an adult, no-one can really say what he should weigh today, or any other day. It may however give you an indication if your puppy is seriously under or overweight. It is rare for puppies to have any kind of growth disorder. Or for their families to starve them by mistake! But it is also normal to worry a little if your puppy seems on the small side. Is my puppy is too fat or too thin? The very best guide to whether a puppy is the right weight for him, is how he looks and feels. Not where he falls on an average Labrador puppy growth chart. Physically examining and observing your puppy will help you decide if they are doing ok in this respect. Just like older Labradors, puppies should not be too heavy. Most experts nowadays like to see a waist on even quite young puppies. Does it matter if my puppy is a bit plump? We all used to think that puppy fat was a good thing. When I was a child fat puppies were the norm. Perhaps this extra layer of fat was helpful in sustaining the puppy during illness before vaccinations were widely available for dogs? Nowadays, the thinking is that puppies should be slim. With a defined waist, just like an older dog. It causes their bones to grow too rapidly as well. And this may result in painful skeletal abnormalities in later life. Chubby Lab puppies might be plotted higher than average on the Labrador puppy growth chart, but if they are a shorter stature they could be following the line. You need to assess your pup by how they look and feel. Weighing your puppy If your puppy has been ill and is very thin, or if he has become rather overweight , you might consider weighing him in order to monitor his progress on a Labrador puppy growth chart of your own. If you can see his ribs, or feel them very easily just beneath his skin, your Labrador puppy is too thin. If in doubt, check with your veterinarian. You can show them your Labrador puppy growth chart too, so they have a good idea of how they are progressing. My dog weighs 35lbs at six months old. Is that OK? I mentioned above that an average Labrador might weigh around 50lbs at six months old. But there is huge variation around this figure. To illustrate how much very healthy puppies may vary, there are 6 month old Labs on our forum weighing 30lbs, and others weighing 60lbs! These are very different points on the same Labrador puppy growth chart, but could both be healthy animals. And the truth is, no-one can tell you exactly what your six month old pup should weigh, or indeed your Labrador of any age. What age does a puppy turn into a dog? When does a puppy no longer belong on a Labrador puppy growth chart but instead have reached their adult size? And when will your puppy be a fully grown up dog? There are three aspects to changing from puppy to dog: physical maturity and mental maturity. Sexual maturity in puppies People are often surprised to discover that puppies become sexually mature before they are full grown. These sexually mature pups still belong on the Labrador puppy growth chart, and will gain weight and height. Most Labradors are physically capable of breeding while still puppies. Though of course they should not be allowed to do so. Many female Labradors come into season for the first time between at between six and nine months old. Though some will be over a year old. And most male Labradors are ready and willing to mate well before their first birthday! Mental maturity in puppies Not only is your Labrador physically still a puppy when he or she reaches sexual maturity. He is also very much a puppy mentally and emotionally. In fact, many experts do not consider a Labrador to be fully grown up and mature until they are around two years old. In practice, there is no exact age at which you can definitely say your puppy is a grown up. Some puppies mature mentally and physically quicker than others. As a broad guide, you will often hear people use 18 months as the divide between Labrador puppy and adult dog. When do dogs stop growing? Most Labradors will have completed much of their growth by their first birthday and will stop growing completely before their second. Beyond this point there is no need to plot their weight on a Labrador puppy growth chart, but instead they should just be monitored physically. Weights vary greatly among individuals of this breed and puppy weight unless very extreme, is not a great guide to health. Enjoy your puppy for what he is, large Labrador or small. Just remember to check with your vet if you think he is unwell or not growing as he should. Is your Labrador puppy still growing? Do you think the runt of the litter is going to surprise you by reaching the upper end of the scale? Were your predictions at X months completely confounded? Share your anecdotes in the comments box down below! The Lab puppy weight chart shows you the average weight for male and female Labs every month from 2 months old, up until 12 months if you have a puppy Lab, check out our New Puppy Checklist to learn more about what to bring home for your first 24 hours and beyond. Doing so helps you and your veterinarian keep your puppy healthy. Are There Different Sizes of Labradors? Among the retriever breeds, the Labrador is one of the largest, where an adult male can top the scales at 80 pounds. Labrador Retrievers may differ in size due to individual variation and outside influences, such as the amount or type of food they eat, the amount or frequency of exercise they get, or underlying health conditions that may affect appetite or growth. But overall, a retriever should ideally hit a 5 out of 9 on the body condition score, regardless of the actual weight number on a scale. A healthy size Labrador has an evident abdominal tuck and observable waist, viewed from both the side and top of the dog. The AKC considers Lab puppies to be in adulthood when they reach 12 to 18 months of age, though there are outliers — those who grow faster or slower, reaching maturity either before 1 year old or not until 2 years old. Like other large dog breeds, Labs go through multiple stages of puppyhood until they reach adulthood. The average height for Labrador puppies is largely unknown due to insufficient data, but the average adult Labrador Retriever gets to be about inches tall at the shoulder. These numbers are contingent on the puppy receiving top-notch care, good nutrition, and appropriate levels of exercise. Different factors, such as health, breeding practices, and nutrition, may alter these estimated numbers. The below Labrador weight calculator can help you determine approximately how big your Labrador will be. But there are dogs who will fall outside of these parameters. The Waltham Petcare Science Institute offers puppy growth charts for veterinarians to use with their clients. You can also learn more about the ideal size and weight at different ages for different breeds with our Goldendoodle growth chart , a Golden Retriever size chart , Great Dane growth chart , or Chihuahua size chart. For that advice, consult your veterinarian. However, their weight can vary quite a bit. Male and female Labrador Retrievers vary slightly in size. According to the official breed standards of the AKC , males weigh about pounds, while females weigh pounds. Almost all dogs fall within this guideline, though there may be a few rarer dogs just on the outside of the weight guidelines. Because of how carefully bred these dogs often are, this is extremely rare, though. Male Labrador Retrievers stand between .Females stand at .As you can see, males Labrador Retrievers can be a bit larger than females, though they may not necessarily be. This is particularly true for American Labs. In other countries, the weight and height minimum for males is often higher than it is in America. What does a 4-month Labrador Retriever weigh? From their birth to about six months, Labrador Retriever puppies grow very rapidly. Right after birth, they often gain about two pounds a week or more. This rapid weight continues as the puppy ages. By four months, most Labrador Retrievers weigh about 25 pounds. Smaller dogs will often stay smaller at this point, while larger dogs often stay bigger. How big is a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever? Labrador Retrievers should continue to gain at least two pounds a week until they reach six months old. Most of them will gain even more than this, putting the average weight of a 6-month-old Lab at 50 pounds. That is double what they weighed at four months. However, six months does mark the end of this rapid period of growth. The average Labrador will typically start growing slower at this point, though they will still grow for quite a while. When is a Labrador Retriever fully grown? Most Labrador Retrievers reach their full height at around six to 12 months. Typically, they grow very quickly in the first six months of their life, but this growth slows down considerably after the sixth month. After that, they may still continue to gain a little bit of height, but their full adult height has basically been reached. Many dogs are often lanky during this period for this reason. However, once they reach their full height, the calories can be put towards muscle gain and fat storage. Too many calories can make the dog grow too quickly, which can cause hip dysplasia and other problems. Your dog will have plenty of time to bulk up. Because all Retrievers such as also Flat-Coated and Golden Retrievers are very food-motivated, you need to be careful to not overfeed your dog. Is a Labrador a medium or large dog? Technically, a Labrador Retriever can fall into either the medium or large category. They straddle the line as a breed. Individual dogs will either fall at the upper end of the medium category or rest just inside the large category. For this reason, they are often described as medium-to-large-sized dogs. What is a healthy weight for a Labrador? This depends on the dog. The health range for a Labrador is pounds if they are a male and pounds if they are a female. That is a large range. A dog that is naturally 55 pounds would be terribly overweight at 80 pounds. They will be able to accurately weigh your dog and determine if they are a healthy weight or not. Why is my Labrador so skinny? Many Labradors will appear skinny as puppies. It takes them until about the age of two to bulk up to their adult weight. They will bulk up naturally as they age. Gaining weight too fast can put unnecessary strain on their joints, which can cause health problems further down the road. It may seem that your Lab practically stops growing after about six months. However, they do have growth spurts after this, and they are all focused on muscle and fat gain. This especially applies if your Labrador is a senior dog that has stopped eating. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. This article will help you to get to grips with what to expect of a new Labrador puppy, during those first few days and weeks after you bring him home. It goes without saying that new puppies are completely adorable! Nature has the design of baby animals down to perfection. They smell delicious, are irresistible and on holding a Labrador puppy in our arms we are overwhelmed with the need to protect him. So why is it, that so many dogs, bought as puppies, end up being handed in to rescue centres? What goes wrong in some families, between the arrival of this tiny creature, and his ejection from the family, less than a year later. The answer I suspect, lies in the gap between our expectations, and reality. I hope and believe, that if we can close this gap a little, more puppies will have a loving home for life. Your expectations of a new Labrador puppy We expect an awful lot from our puppies. Both when they are still very small, and especially as they grow bigger. We expect that puppies will enjoy being cuddled. We expect that our children will be able to play with them, that the efforts we put in to housetraining will be rewarded, that the puppy will listen to what we say. We expect that our puppies will be happy to be stroked, and to join us for walks and games. As he grows, we expect our puppy to return our love and affection, to respect us, be loyal, and obedient. The reality of a new Labrador puppy The reality of life with your first puppy, can be a bit of a shock. Nor had we anticipated just how depressing it would be to clear up urine and faeces every time we get up in the morning, or return home from a quick shopping trip. Or to have to wait two hours for our new friend to come home when he is done chasing rabbits. But they are common reasons for people to become disenchanted with their furry companion. Working towards your perfect puppy expectations One of our aims here on The Labrador Site is to help close this gap between expectations and reality. So that puppies go into their new homes, and stay there for the rest of their lives. There are two way to close this gap. The first is to move the expectations of the new puppy owner closer to reality, and we do this by providing information. By letting people know what to expect from life with a new puppy. The second way is to improve on the reality of life with a new puppy by preparing puppy owners in advance. This helps them to make decisions, and to provide for their puppy in a way that avoids problems arising in the future. What to expect from a new puppy This is important knowledge. If you know someone who is planning a new arrival, do pass it on. There are a number of areas where puppies and owners may come into conflict, right from day one. Forearmed is forewarned, and if you are aware of these, there are steps you can take to avoid them. Puppies at night — sleeping and crying Most new puppies have never slept alone. If asked to sleep alone on the first night in their new home, they usually cry. And a small puppy can make a surprisingly loud noise. Unless you live in a mansion, you will be able to hear him. One way around this, is to have the puppy sleep next to you for the first few nights. Check out this article for information on coping with crying. It is important to be aware that new puppies learn very quickly. Whilst initial crying may be the result of fear or loneliness, puppies they soon discover that crying gets them attention. If you have already got into a cycle of crying for attention with your new puppy, find out here, how to teach your puppy to be quiet. Cleanliness and night waking. A few new puppies can last six or seven hours at night without a wee. But many cannot do this until they are around ten weeks old. If you crate your puppy at night, expect to get up in the middle night and take your puppy outside for a wee, for up to two weeks. During the day, some new puppies can last an hour or so between wees, but again, many cannot. If you are going back to work, or want to leave your puppy for three to four hours before he is five or six months old, you need to arrange for someone else to take care of him during the day. Even for this short period of time. Much of housetraining success lies in getting good habits established from the start. And this means getting that puppy outside to his toilet area, whenever his little bladder is getting full. But too much isolation is a common cause of noisy or destructive behaviour. Puppies need company. Older puppies may cope happily with being left for up to four hours, but even an adult Labrador may become distressed or destructive if left alone for a full working day on a regular basis. Labradors are very sociable dogs and they need to have people around them. No matter how many walks he gets at the weekend. Puppies biting Most people know that puppies nip when teething. Most new puppy owners are shocked by biting, and by the noise which accompanies it. But fierce growling during play biting, is completely normal for small puppies! You can find out a lot more about biting in this article: How to cope with a biting puppy and this one Is my puppy aggressive? Destructive puppy behaviour Again, most people know that small puppies chew things. However, it can be quite a shock to discover just how destructive a Labrador can be, both indoors and out, especially if left unsupervised for long periods of time. Expect your puppy to destroy anything he can get in his mouth. Indoors and out. Expect this to continue well past his first birthday. In fact many young Labradors become particularly destructive towards the end of the first year. Some even chew the skirting boards, rip plaster from the walls, and tear up carpets in their homes. There is no need to get into this kind of conflict with any dog, and as it is so common in Labradors, I recommend that young Labs are crated when left alone in the house, until well past their first birthday. I did not de-crate my youngest lab Rachael, until she was 18 months old. You can read more in this article: Destructive behaviour Boisterous puppy behaviour Between 8 and 18 months of age, many young Labradors are extremely boisterous. Expect that he may even pull you off your feet and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The solution is to teach your new friend to walk alongside you, on and off the lead. Preferably from a very early age. See Walking your Labrador on a loose lead Puppies running off Tiny puppies have an automatic response with means that they follow people around. This response disappears by the time the puppy is around four or five months old. Labradors are gun dogs. They love to hunt and follow scent trails. Expect that an older puppy will want to explore away from you and get that off lead recall established well before he is six months old. Expect that an older puppy will stray further and further away on walks if you are too predictable and just traipse along behind him. Teach him to follow you and not the other way around. What can be done? The answer is, he is not naughty, he is completely normal. He is also completely untrained. Puppies bite, steal, jump, lick, whine, dig, and much more. All this is normal. Check out The Three Rs of Labrador Puppy Education to get yourself off to a good start with avoiding a real naughtiness problem Training is a long process. A dog that will do this in your kitchen is not trained. He has just learned to respond to a cue in your kitchen. Nothing more. Proofing that cue against all the distraction in our daily lives is what comprises the bulk of dog training , and you desperately need the right information in order to do this effectively. You can find this information in our training section and on our sister site Totally Dog Training Are puppies worth the hassle? Raising a puppy can be a challenge, but if you are ready for the challenge, it is also tremendously enjoyable and satisfying. And most of the problems described above can be avoided with the right information! You can do this if you are ready. Much puppy naughtiness is linked to over-excitement. Focus on being calm around your puppy, and read up on how to train your puppy effectively. The considered and appropriate use of a crate and baby gates, is a great way to prevent conflict between puppies and their families. Confinement is not a substitute for companionship and training though, and it is very important to be sure you have enough time in your life for a Labrador, before going ahead and getting that lovely puppy. Do check out our article: are you ready for a Labrador , before you take the plunge. The Happy Puppy Handbook covers every aspect of life with a small puppy. The book will help you prepare your home for the new arrival, and get your puppy off to a great start with potty training, socialisation and early obedience. The Happy Puppy Handbook is available worldwide. Print We recently brought home Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to train her and raise her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. That means Bubba will be with for almost a year and a half. We train one or two of these puppies each year, and over the years we have gotten pretty good at it. We also train adult dogs for hunting and competition, so we see a lot of dogs come into our program. Dogs that have each been raised differently. There are some definite training tips that can help you help your lab grow up to be the best version of himself. Training and socialization for very young Labrador puppies — week one The first week of a puppy being away from its litter is very stressful for the puppy. Most often, the first two days, the puppy will sleep a lot! The pup is adjusting to all the changes, and they need time to do that. After the first couple days you may notice a spike of energy. This is your sign that the puppy is adjusting well and is ready to be exposed to a few more things. Labrador puppy training that first week home Here are the things we work on during week one. A nylon adjustable one is usually best since puppies grow quickly. It often takes the puppy a few days to adjust to having a collar on. Intro crate We introduce our puppies to a crate on day one. Literally the day we bring them home. Most puppies will cry, bark or howl while in the crate the first few or many times. Ignore it, it does not hurt the puppy at all. Always wait until the puppy settles down and is quiet, even if that quiet only lasts for just a minute or two. Learn more about crate training. Intro to housebreaking Another day one lesson and one that will last for a few weeks or months. We introduce housebreaking day one by allowing the puppy to run around an enclosed area under close supervision. If your puppy then goes potty outside, great! The thing to remember about housebreaking, is that your puppy should never be allowed to roam the house or a room without supervision. The only way to housebreak a dog is for them to get caught in the middle of an accident. That is how they learn that what they are doing is not right. Learn more about housebreaking. Intro leash We introduce a leash to our puppies around day three of being home. But once they start getting more energy and get more inquisitive, we use a Flexi-lead attached to the nylon collar to take the puppy outside. This accomplishes two goals. The gentle tugs on the leash and pressure when the puppy strains against the leash are great training for handling pressure as they get older. Intro to pressure and correction The last thing we introduce to our new puppy during the first week home is pressure and correction. This is an often-missing element to training that can severely handicap a dog that you want to be a hunting companion or competition dog. The kind of pressure I am talking about is very mild such as saying NO to the puppy when they are chewing up your shoes or scratching through the carpet. This is the way mama dogs carry their puppies and it does not hurt them at all. This does not hurt the puppy; it is exactly what a mama dog does to teach her puppies. Learn more about introducing pressure and correction. Commands to start using that first week home The first week there are some commands we start using so that the puppy will associate the words we use with actions. Puppies play and explore with their mouths, and often they will think it is great fun to bite your hands and feet. If this does not curb the behavior, I grab her lower jaw, wrapping her gums around her teeth and squeeze. I have found this to be very effective, especially if you start this the first week you have the puppy home. The longer you wait to start, the harder it becomes to stop this behavior. It takes very little pressure to stop a 7-week-old puppy from biting. Learn more about how to stop your Lab puppy from biting you. Off command The OFF command is also started day one. The OFF command is used to stop a puppy or dog from jumping on you. It can also be used to keep a dog off a sofa or other furniture. Starting day one, I gently use my knee to push down the puppy each time they jump on me. I say OFF when I do this. Usually, a gentle push with the knee is all it takes with a very small puppy. They learn this command very quickly. If your puppy is a bit more energetic or stubborn and tries to jump on you despite your gentle pushes, then you may need to use a little more force. Even if you were to knock your puppy backwards onto her back, that is not going to hurt her seriously. But it will likely make a good impression and cause her to think twice before jumping on you again. With jumping, consistency is important. You must knock your puppy off every time she jumps on you. Learn more about how to stop your Lab from jumping on you. We use this as a que when we are taking the puppy outside to go potty. We use this while the puppy is on a leash, and we are pulling them toward us. I only use this command for very young dogs. Your goal is to get the puppy to rest in your arms and not move. But if you keep at it, you will see your dog settle for longer and longer periods of time. Introduction to retrieving Lastly, since all our puppies are retrievers, we start introducing the puppy to retrieving. The first few times are simply throwing a toy a few feet and if the puppy runs out and gets it and comes back to you, great. Then take the item and throw it again. If the puppy does not come back or does not even run out to get the item, then stop for the day. Just let the retrieving develop naturally. Next week we will start more formal retrieving training. Final thoughts on what you should do that first week with your new Labrador puppy As you can see, there is a lot of training that you can do with your seven- or eight-week-old puppy. And while you can wait for training, your puppy is ready and able to learn quickly right now. I will be posting weekly on the training we are doing with Bubba, so you can get a week-by-week snapshot of how we raise and train a puppy up to be a excellent, responsive hunting or competition dog as well as a well-mannered family dog. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving.

What is a Miniature German Shepherd? Purebred or crossbreed? The other side claims it is a mixed breed. The truth is that the Miniature German Shepherd is indeed a crossbreed. Small-sized standard German Shepherds do not exist unless the dog happens to have dwarfism. To get a Miniature German Shepherd, the standard is bred with another purebred, most commonly the Collie or Poodle. Instead, take a look at the parents to get an idea of how a puppy could possibly turn out as an adult. The Intelligent Border Collie This breed is world-renowned for its smarts. A lovable family doggo with talents for competition and herding, it contributes desirable personality traits to make a German Shepherd Collie mix. It can weigh up to 44 lbs 20 kg with a height of 22 in 56 cm and has a lifespan of up to 17 years. Some health concerns to be aware of with this breed include bloating and an eye anomaly that causes partial or complete blindness. This dog makes an elegant and friendly family dog that is a fast learner. The Poodle excels as a competition dog and is also widely used for therapy. The Poodle can weigh up to 70 lbs 31 kg with a height of 22 in 56 cm and has a lifespan of up to 15 years. There are health concerns associated with this breed, such as epilepsy, canine hypothyroidism, and progressive retinal atrophy. The Loyal German Shepherd The German Shepherd is sharp as a tack and completely dedicated and in love with its family. Ranking as the 3rd most intelligent, you get a well-rounded dog that is not only stunningly beautiful with its thick coat, confident stance, and communicative features, but an excellent guard dog that will protect at any cost. It can weigh up to 88 lbs 40 kg with a height of 25 in 65 cm and has a lifespan of up to 13 years. For further insight into German Shepherd growth, take a look at this guide and chart. With the Shepherd breed, hip dysplasia is a common health issue that is seen in the Miniature variety as well. Shepherds are also known to suffer from a neural disease called degenerative myelopathy and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which is a digestive disorder. This is a rare inherited genetic disorder that results from breeding two purebred German Shepherds. A German Shepherd with dwarfism, though significantly smaller weighing up to 30 lbs , will exhibit the token characteristics and mannerisms the breed is known for. It will also look like a typical Shepherd, except with shortened limbs. This is one way to procure a smaller than normal Shepherd, but there will be extra health issues to deal with, such as allergies and thyroid issues. It is common for these dogs to bald as they age as well. Here is a cute video that gives a glimpse into what life is like for a German Shepherd with dwarfism. The Mini German Shepherd is undoubtedly smaller than the standard one, weighing up to 50 lbs 22 kg. Any combination of these colors can be inherited by the Mini. This Dog is a Devoted Protector maria. They make excellent guard dogs but are good-natured. If you have kids, the Mini will take full responsibility for their safety, with a healthy dose of playtime and cuddling thrown in. Hardworking and intelligent, they make phenomenal search, rescue and therapy dogs. Training is a breeze, as this breed is a fast learner remember, all of three possible parents rank TOP-3 in the smartest dog breeds list? The earlier you introduce behavior commands and socialization methods such as walks in the park where other dogs can be encountered safely, the sooner you will see the intelligence blossom. Hip dysplasia is the most common inherited disease from the German Shepherd parent. This painful condition occurs when an abnormality in the hip socket causes the dog to become crippled or experience agonizing arthritis. To keep your small German Shepherd in good health, plenty of exercises is key. This breed is also prone to canine hypothyroidism, which can cause obesity. No one can guarantee how a mix will turn out. The breeder should be able to present health clearances for hip dysplasia and other common diseases. Check out these Miniature German Shepherd breeders for available litters. The result is a Mini German Shepherd that is a versatile and playful, smaller breed that would make a good family pet or a mini guard dog. Designer dogs come in a variety of coat colors and types, depending on the parent mix, but this hybrid is likely to inherit much of the classic German Shepherd look, its working dog ethic, and intelligence. This petite mixed breed dog is energetic and family-friendly and will prove itself to be both affectionate and protective. A Mini German Shepherd puppy makes an adorable family pet for any dog lover. It is possible to find a very small purebred German Shepherd dog but that would only occur due to dwarfism in the breed. Fact: Pituitary dwarfism is a condition caused as a result of a rare genetic mutation in this purebred dog. Dwarfism in German Shepherd dogs is rare, and if it occurs the puppy may unkindly be referred to as the runt of the litter. A Miniature German Shepherd is the result of cross-breeding. It is a cross between two different dog breeds — a purebred German Shepherd dog and another smaller purebred such as a Collie, Border Collie, Poodle, or occasionally a Golden retriever, or even a tiny Yorkshire Terrier or a Corgi mix! This highly desirable and much loved purebred dog has a strong and impressive bloodline dating back to , in Germany. The German Shepherd was originally bred to be a skilled, powerful and obedient herding dog that was also used as a fearsome guard dog. History of the other possible parent s — crossed to produce this mixed breed dog The Collie When cross-bred with a Collie, it adds another herding and highly disciplined purebred dog into the mix. A Collie is also an intelligent dog and it too is easily trainable with a strong work ethic. Their mini GSG puppies would be a Black and Tan color, sometimes with white bits on their coat, and shed a lot! The Poodle A Poodle is a small dog that is increasing in popularity as the ideal partner for any designer dog combination. They have an easy-going and relaxed approach. They are good-natured and love nothing more than to curl up with their family member and go to sleep. The Golden Retriever and The Yorkshire Terrier are also very popular and much loved family dogs that are smart, family-friendly and easily trainable. Whatever the mix of breed of the Miniature GSD it is going to be a loveable and much desired family dog. However, the majority of the individual breeds used to create this mixed breed dog are. Considering the other parent breeds, mainly Collie and Poodle dog breeds, there are a range of possible coat colors for this dog breed, including Black and Tan, White or even fawn. What are the main characteristics of a Miniature German Shepherd? Like any other crossbred dog, Miniature German Shepherds can inherit the characteristics of either parent or both. It is sometimes thought that crossbred dogs are more likely to inherit health problems than purebred dogs; however, a puppy mixed dog can inherit all, some, or none of the health problems its parent breeds have. It can be heavily weighted towards the characteristics of one parent more than the other. The Miniature German Shepherd puppy tends to have more of the classic appearance of the standard German Shepherd parent, but it is a smaller breed of dog. The characteristics of Miniature GSDs are a combination of nature and nurture: genetics of the parents, the environment and the quality, type and amount of training and socialization. Loyalty and companionship Any mix of German Shepherd is likely to be extremely loyal and have a very loving temperament when trained and socialized properly. They will make a very caring and protective companion, for any dog lover. They can be very loving and affectionate dogs and enjoy company, and the more active their lifestyle the better. Reputation: The German Shepherd is a confident breed that looks fiercer than its actual behavior. The Miniature German Shepherd is a very cute mix and because of its smaller size it could be forgotten that this breed has a reputation for being a fierce guard dog and possibly one of the listed dangerous dogs when not trained and socialized properly. When handled correctly and properly trained the mini GSD can be an affectionate and reliable dog for a family or individual dog lover, who wants a companion. And a mini mix that tends to have the GSD look will be highly popular and desirable too. Although smaller it will still be an agile and alert dog that will need lots of mental and physical activity. The trainability of this intelligent shepherd breed dog should be fairly easy. Positive reinforcement and small treats will work well with this dog but not harsh control, any form of negative punishment or physical restraint as it may rebel. The mini GSD puppy is very energetic and easily bored, so to prevent mischief it will need at least one hour a day minimum exercise, building up hours a day in adulthood. That means they are clever, alert and used to working hard when trained. This dog is fairly easy to train and will love to have challenges and a working purpose. They will be strong, resilient and love a challenge with both mental and physical stimulation involved, otherwise, they may misbehave. Socialization: Early socialization and learning discipline are strongly recommended for any German Shepherd crossbred dog. Any type of hybrid dog with two intelligent parents will be strong-willed and want to be kept active and useful. They will not want a sedentary lifestyle and will enjoy as much exercise and action as the owner can provide. When trained and socialized this mixed breed dog will be approachable and friendly around children and other animals. Purpose: This breed will be loyal and true to their owner and protect them to the end. If the other parent is a collie then both were bred as fearless working dogs for herding and protection. This means they will want to work for their master and keep busy. Even is the other parent is a poodle or a smaller dog, they will still be clever and want to serve and obey their owner well. Behaviour: This breed can be strong-willed and needs to be trained early as it can easily and will become destructive, or bark if under-stimulated. Physical Characteristics of the Miniature German Shepherd Apart from being athletic, attractive and family and stranger friendly, the miniature German Shepherd will be loyal and protective, playful and guard its family and home with precision. Life Span Did You Know? A Miniature German Shepherd is a cross between a German Shepherd and a smaller dog breed that is meant to result in a smaller version of a German Shepherd. Although these Mini Shepherds can inherit any combination of traits from their parent breeds, they tend to be energetic, intelligent dogs that bond closely with their families and are affectionate with them. Miniature German Shepherds make great family dogs. They may be hardworking while on a job, but they have a playful spirit while relaxing with their family. They also tend to get along well with children and other dogs in the family. Although they tend to do well with smaller pets they have been raised with, they do have a high prey drive. Mini German Shepherds are also protective and alert. They will bark to alert you and will be naturally suspicious of strangers. Proper socialization and training early on can help make sure barking does not become a nuisance and will help them open up to strangers once introduced. Miniature German Shepherds are highly adaptable dogs. They tend to be a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. But, they can adapt just as well to apartments as long as they get the exercise, mental stimulation, and attention they need. They do well in most climates, but are sensitive to heat. Because they bond so closely with their families and want to be near them, they do not do well with long periods of alone time. Mixed-breed dogs can sometimes be healthier than purebred dogs because of genetic diversity. However, this is not a guarantee. They could inherit no conditions common to the parent breeds, but they could also inherit some or all of them. So, make sure you are asking them 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. For the Miniature German Shepherd, potential health conditions to be aware of include progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and hip dysplasia. Because of their body shape, they are also at risk for bloat. Although Miniature German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please, they can be difficult for first-time dog owners to handle on their own. Their high energy, working dog instincts, thirst for learning, and need for structured training can be overwhelming for first-time dog owners. Because of this, puppy training classes are recommended if you are not an experienced dog owner. They help reinforce training, strengthen the bond you have with your dog, and also offer opportunities to socialize a puppy. In general, a Miniature German Shepherd will have a coat that sheds moderately year-round and heavier seasonally. Brushing a few times a week, daily brushing during seasonal shedding, and the occasional bath is usually sufficient for this coat type. If a Miniature German Shepherd has a Mini Poodle parent, there is a chance they could inherit the low-shedding Poodle coat. Weekly ear checks with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. Although good dental care for dogs is essential, it is often overlooked. This is one of the reasons why gum disease is one of the most common health issues in older dogs. You can help protect your pup from painful dental diseases later in life by brushing their teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day and keeping up with regular vet visits. Although a Miniature German Shepherd may be smaller than a German Shepherd, they are still a high-energy dog with working dog instincts. In addition to having a job to do, these dogs also need daily walks plus playtime and time to run to be happy and healthy. If they like it, swimming can be a good low-impact activity while they are still growing. Once puppies finish growing , you can try higher-impact activities like hiking, running, training for dog sports, and more to see what they like. A fully-grown Miniature German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs about 50 pounds. There can be some variation depending on the other parent breed in the cross, but meeting the mother dog in-person can give you a better idea of what size to expect in a Mini GSD. A Miniature German Shepherd generally lives for years. If the other parent crossed with a German Shepherd is a Standard Poodle, the result is a Shepadoodle. Featured Miniature German Shepherd Article.