5 month old boxer puppy

Next up is another thing to do before you bring your puppy home… How To Puppy Proof Your House When puppy-proofing your house, think like a puppy. Crawl around on the floor and take note of what you see. Puppies will chew nearly anything, so make sure that there are no valuables down at puppy-height, or things that could be poisonous to them or be a choking hazard. Make sure there are no open cabinets or pantries where your puppy could get into food. Be careful of small trash cans that could hold some smelly trash that would be enticing to a puppy. And finally, next are a few other random tasks to do before you bring home your new puppy. Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! Not exactly. Find a vet. Find the closest emergency animal hospital. This is not something you want to wait until you need it before looking it up and making a plan. Find a list of local poisonous plants and animals. Talk to your vet and do some research so that you know which plants and animals to avoid. Find a puppy kindergarten class. This will help with training, socialization, and general learning how to be a puppy parent. Check your yard or house for any escape routes. This next section will cover everything from what to expect with a puppy, what to do the first 24 hours of bringing them home, how to train them, and more. A week after bringing Oliver home, it was very obvious to me why she asked me that. Puppies are hard work! Their little bladders can only hold it for a few hours, so this is expected. Chewing Puppies will try to chew any and everything. Like every thirty minutes often. Now, for the most important expectation of them all… You will miss puppyhood! Yes, you will miss the sleepless nights and puppy bites. So make sure to take lots of videos and pictures. How would you like to be treated in this situation? Here are some tips to help your puppy get comfortable in their new home. Let your puppy make decisions When you get to your house, set them at your open front door and let them choose to walk inside. Let them explore their new home on their own terms. Letting them make decisions can give them a sense of confidence, hope, and control, and ease into their new home. Limit visitors Now is the time to build the bond with your puppy and let them get to know you, not overstimulate them with a lot of people. Limit their access to your home Getting used to a new home with two rooms will be a lot easier than getting used to a new home with five rooms. Only let your puppy have access to a few rooms so that they get acclimated to their new area quicker, then as they get more comfortable you can allow them to explore new areas of the house. You can use baby gates to restrict access to sections of the house. Bonus benefit: this will also decrease the chances that they leave you a present in the guest room. In general, just keep things low key when you bring them home and let them get used to their surroundings. Training Your Golden Retriever Puppy Training your golden retriever puppy is one of the best things you can do both for them and with them. They have short attention spans and like to have fun, so short training sessions and training games work best. A lot of people think that training is just obedience training, like sit and stay , but it also includes life skills like crate training , potty training , how to not jump on people or bite them, and how to not pull on the leash. Socialization Socialization is something that is not talked about as much as it should be. It can help mitigate fear and aggression and help them become confident, well-adjusted adult dogs. You can socialize your puppy with other dogs by setting up play dates with gentle dogs that you know are vaccinated and by going to puppy kindergarten. Dog to other living beings includes humans, cats, and other animals. You can socialize them with other people by taking them to a pet-friendly store like home depot, and you can socialize them to other animals by taking a walk by the neighborhood cat with lots of distance between them, so neither animal gets overwhelmed. Dog to stuff is the broadest category, but no less important. When Oliver was very young we were on a walk and a FedEx truck drove by. He had never heard a big truck like that and was terrified. So make sure that your puppy is comfortable with trucks, cars, the garage door, buses, umbrellas, and whatever other objects they may encounter. For instance, if you live in Chicago, get them used to trains, buses and crowded streets. Every day, separate out five special treats for your puppy. For example, you might let your neighbor give your puppy a treat, or maybe you take your puppy to a bus stop and when the bus goes by you give them a treat, or maybe you introduce them to a cow and give them a treat. The treat helps them have a positive experience with these new things and people, plus it helps you easily remember to expose them to lots of these new things. Do this for the first four weeks of their life and before you know it, your puppy will have been exposed to new dogs, people, things, or environments, and will be well on their well to becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. Puppy Raising Mistakes Below are some mistakes that new puppy owners make that could make it harder to train and raise their puppy into a happy, confident adult. Not remembering how young they are Puppies are like little toddlers. Waiting to train your puppy until they have a problem Training your puppy before they have any behavior problems will make life so much easier for you. Forcing things too quickly Things like crate training and potty training take time. Setbacks hurt more than stretching their limits will help, so be patient and take things slowly. Conclusion Golden retriever puppies might just be the best living beings on the planet. However, they are a lot of work and can be quite naughty sometimes. Have any questions about golden retriever puppies? Let me know in the comments below! And if you know someone who is thinking about getting a golden retriever puppy, please share this with them. Related articles:. As long as they are socialised well as a puppy, Golden Retrievers can happily fit into family life. They are gentle but need to be treated with respect by all members of the family, including young children, as like any dog their patience will eventually run out. Common health problems in Golden Retrievers Like any purebred dog, Golden Retrievers may encounter some breed-related health problems throughout their lives. Often, Breed Clubs will also be able to provide advice on what tests your breed may need and where to get these done. Make sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening to reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by these upsetting conditions. For Golden Retrievers, this is because they can have short legs in proportion to their body and a tendency to become overweight. Eye problems — screening tests are available and dogs should be screened on a yearly basis, especially if intended for breeding. Multifocal retinal dysplasia - abnormal development and growth of the back of the eye retina which can lead to blindness. Generalised progressive retinal atrophy GPRA — slowly leads to progressive blindness over months or years. Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy RPED, or central progressive retinal atrophy — a genetic problem which causes issues in the back of the eye retina and loss of vision. Glaucoma — high pressure within the eye causing pain and loss of vision. Ichthyosis — a skin disease that causes thickening of the footpads and makes other areas of skin rough and covered with thick, greasy flakes that stick to the hair. Caring for your Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers are usually real big softies and can make a great addition to a home. How much noise they make will be down to the individual dog. Training and socialisation Golden Retrievers thrive off training and are very intelligent dogs. They love nothing more than to be given tasks to do to keep them occupied and have fairly good problem-solving skills — for a dog! As long as your Retriever is properly socialised from a young age , they should be confident around new people and situations. Retrievers also like their chill out time but will be more than happy to show you plenty of affection on their own terms. Exercise Golden Retrievers are very active dogs and need plenty of opportunities to exercise , play and get rid of excess energy. Your Golden Retriever will need a minimum of two hours of good exercise per day. You can find out how much exercise your dog needs , or even find exercises you can do together. Because they are intelligent dogs, Golden Retrievers can get bored easily so make sure you keep their brains active as well as their bodies. As their name suggests, retrieving is what they were bred for, so nearly all Golden Retrievers love a good game of fetch! Grooming Golden Retrievers have medium to long coats and generally do shed a lot. They are not a dog to take on if you hate hoovering! Ideally, they should be brushed or combed three times a week at a minimum. Where necessary you can trim their coat with the right tools, but seek advice from a professional dog groomer or vet first. You may also find that your Retriever loves water including any and all muddy puddles and swimming. Make sure they stay safe around the water and if they get mucky, use a dog safe shampoo. Will you give now to help people and pets in need? As the cost of living continues to rise, vet care could be out of reach for many. Donate to our emergency appeal now to provide vital vet care to pets in need and keep families together during this crisis. Donate Golden Retrievers and children If you have a young family then Golden Retrievers can be fantastic with children. If socialised properly from a young age, Retrievers can be quite calm and tolerant. Always supervise children and vulnerable adults with your Golden Retriever and make sure you can recognise the signs of unhappiness or anxiety in your dog to help avoid any conflicts. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and play with dogs with care and kindness, to prevent any issues. Golden Retrievers and other pets Well-socialised Golden Retrievers are very easy-going, which usually means they can be great around other dogs and pets, too. Any introductions should be done carefully and following the right advice for your other pet, too. Always supervise your dog with other pets, even if they have known them for a long time. Obesity can cause other health problems for your Golden Retriever, so keeping them in shape is extra important. Make sure to monitor their weight and keep an eye out for any sneaky snacking. Your vet will be able to tell you how much your dog should be eating. If you give your dog an occasional treat or use treats for training, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily food allowance. Use healthy treats in moderation instead. You should try to feed your dog at the same time every day to get them into a routine. Remember to leave a gap before exercising and after eating. Beware unusually cheap puppies as they could come from a puppy farm. If you want to buy a pedigree puppy, we recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured breeder as they have to do extra health tests and meet higher standards. Set-up costs Puppy vaccines — if you rescue a dog, reputable centres will often vaccinate them for you. Remember that ongoing booster vaccinations will be needed to continue their immunity. Neutering — you should usually arrange for your dog to be neutered at around months old, though your vet will be able to advise you exactly when is best. Check prices at your local practice as these will depend on your vet and where you live. Some rescue centres will neuter any dogs they rehome, saving you this cost. Equipment — including a collar and tags, lead, harness, dog beds, dog bowls, pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrushes, grooming brushes and toys. Keep in mind that all these will need to be replaced with wear or damage or if your dog outgrows or damages them! Ongoing costs Food. Preventive healthcare — budget for routine vet visits to help stop your dog getting ill and catch any problems early. They need annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular flea and worming treatments. Check if your vet offers a health care plan as this can help spread the cost throughout the year. Accessories — including lots of poo bags, replacing worn toys and grooming accessories, buying doggy toothpaste and any other extras they might need. Other costs Training — basic training is very important and dogs can benefit from formal classes. Some dogs may have, or develop, behavioural problems which might need professional management. Boarding — you may also need to budget for boarding or dog sitting costs if you are planning to go away from home on holiday. If you are having difficulty with veterinary costs, you can check if you are eligible for treatment at PDSA here. PDSA Pet Insurance Fun facts As they were bred to fetch game, they have a naturally gentle grip, called a 'soft mouth', so they don't damage the birds they carry back in their mouths. Golden Retrievers have an amazing sense of smell and are often used as search and rescue dogs in other parts of the world. They absolutely love water well, most of them do. Most Retrievers will take any opportunity to have a swim. Luckily, their coats are thick to keep out water and keep them warm. Golden Retrievers make really good assistance dogs and are often a top choice for training to be Guide Dogs for the Blind. Make sure you have the knowledge and dedication to give to these sweet natured dogs to keep them happy and the time and space to exercise them. While they make great family pets, make sure you are absolutely ready to take on the commitment of getting a dog first. Rehoming centres There are plenty of rescue centres across the country where you may find a Golden Retriever. Breed-specific rescues that specialise in Golden Retrievers are out there too. Good rescue centres should let you know of any health and behaviour problems. Breeders If you buy a Golden Retriever puppy from a breeder, make sure your puppy will be well socialised and have all necessary health checks and vaccinations. We recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured breeder as they meet higher standards. Not sure if the Golden Retriever is the right pet for you? Golden Retrievers were first bred in the early s in Scotland as hunting dogs. Although they are still used for hunting, Goldens also excel at many other activities, including search and rescue jobs and guide work. They require ample exercise—swimming in particular is a great outlet for their endless energy, and most Goldens love it! Their beautiful coats require brushing and in some climates a summer trim may be in order. Goldens are intelligent, understanding, and eager to please their families. The Golden Retriever is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of years. That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Golden. By knowing about health concerns specific to Golden Retrievers, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks. That does not mean your dog will have these problems; it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in Golden Retrievers to give you an idea of what may come up in her future. This guide contains general health information important to all canines as well as the most important genetic predispositions for Golden Retrievers. At the end of the article, we have also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your Golden looking and feeling her best. Unfortunately, your Golden is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. Infections Golden Retrievers are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections — the same ones that all dogs can get — such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination , which we will recommend based on her age, the diseases we see in our area, and other factors. Obesity Obesity can be a significant health problem in Golden Retrievers. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms , and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. Spay or Neuter One of the best things you can do for your Golden is to have her spayed neutered for males. In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies. Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop. Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions against common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk. Genetic Predispositions for Golden Retrievers Cancer Cancer is a leading cause of death in older dogs. Your Golden will likely live longer than many other breeds and therefore is more prone to get cancer in his golden years. Many cancers are curable by surgical removal, and some types are treatable with chemotherapy. Early detection is critical! Hemangiosarcoma is a type of bleeding tumor that affects Golden Retrievers at greater than average incidence. These tumors commonly form in the spleen, but can form in other organs as well. Unbeknownst to a pet owner, the tumor breaks open and internal bleeding occurs. Some tumors can be volleyball-sized or larger before signs of sickness show. We often find clues that one of these tumors is present during senior wellness testing, so have his blood tested and an ultrasound performed at least yearly. Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is a type of cancer that afflicts Golden Retrievers more than other breeds. This disease makes the body form abnormal lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Because white blood cells can be found throughout the body, this cancer can show up almost anywhere. Lymphoma is a very treatable form of cancer with an excellent success rate in dogs receiving chemotherapy. Luckily, lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can often be found with a blood test, so we may recommend a complete blood count twice yearly. Mast cell tumors are a particularly nasty type of skin cancer found more often in Golden Retrievers than other breeds. The sooner these tumors are surgically removed, the better. Unfortunately, mast cell tumors often look very similar to other kinds of skin lumps and lesions, many of which are not harmful. Therefore, all suspicious lumps should be tested and surgically removed as soon as possible. Many cancers are cured by surgical removal , so early detection is critical. Bloat Gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as GDV or bloat, usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. This means your Golden is more at risk than other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes to the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as half an hour. Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes up , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up. Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option. If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! Bone and Joint Problems A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Golden Retrievers. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. Both hips and elbows are at risk for dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly and results in arthritis. You may notice that he begins to show lameness in his legs or has difficulty getting up from lying down. We can treat the arthritis—the sooner the better—to minimize discomfort and pain. Surgery is also sometimes a good option in severe and life-limiting cases. And keep in mind that overweight dogs may develop arthritis years earlier than those of normal weight, causing undue pain and suffering! Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs of concern. Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in older Goldens. Many dogs adjust well to losing their vision and get along just fine. Surgery to remove cataracts and restore sight may also be an option. Glaucoma, an eye condition that affects Golden Retrievers and people too, is an extremely painful disease that rapidly leads to blindness if left untreated. Symptoms include squinting, watery eyes, bluing of the cornea the clear front part of the eye , and redness in the whites of the eyes. Pain is rarely noticed by pet owners though it is frequently there and can be severe. People who have certain types of glaucoma often report it feels like being stabbed in the eye with an ice pick! Glaucoma is a medical emergency. Distichiasis is a condition caused by extra hairs that grow inside of the eyelid and rub on the surface of the eye. This is one of the most commonly inherited diseases in dogs, and your Golden is more likely than other dogs to develop this painful condition. If untreated, these abnormal hairs can cause corneal ulcers and chronic eye pain. Several treatment options are available, and the prognosis is good once the hairs have been permanently removed. Allergies In humans, allergies to pollen, mold, or dust make people sneeze. In dogs, rather than sneezing, allergies make their skin itchy. The feet, belly, folds of the skin, and ears are most commonly affected. Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year. Licking the paws, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections are the most common signs of allergies. The good news is that there are many treatment options available for these conditions. Allergies, swimming, overgrowth of hair in the ear canals, and accumulation of earwax can all predispose your dog to ear infections, which are painful and annoying. Goldens are very often afflicted by allergies, which can cause itching and inflammation in the ears and elsewhere. The earlier we diagnose and treat these ailments, the less discomfort and pain your pet will suffer. Be sure to call us if you notice him scratching or shaking his head, a foul odor from the ears, or if his ears seem painful to the touch. By monitoring for ear infections and treating them early, we also reduce the likelihood of eardrum damage that can lead to deafness. Most ear infections tend to recur until we work together to control the underlying cause. Epilepsy There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, and Golden Retrievers are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy. Note the length of the seizure, and call us at or call an emergency hospital. Heart Disease Some Golden Retrievers inherit a heart condition known as aortic stenosis. This disease causes a partial obstruction to the blood flow leaving the heart, which means the heart must work harder to pump enough blood to the body. If the condition is severe, your dog may faint or seem to run out of energy during exercise. He may also have difficulty breathing, cough frequently, or have stunted growth. Golden Retrievers are also especially prone to a life-threatening heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in which the heart becomes so large, thin, and weak that it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. As this problem advances, your pet may act weak or tired, faint or collapse, breathe in a labored way, or cough. If indicated, treatment includes medication and dietary supplementation. Diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disease in dogs. Any breed can be affected, but Goldens have an above average incidence. Dogs with diabetes are unable to regulate the metabolism of sugars in their bodies and require daily insulin injections. Diabetes is a serious condition and one that is important to diagnose and treat as early as possible. Symptoms include increased eating, drinking, and urination, along with weight loss. If he shows signs, we will conduct lab tests to determine if he has this condition and discuss treatment options with you. Treatment requires a serious commitment of time and resources. Well-regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines. Some of the blood supply that should go to the liver goes around it instead, depriving the liver of the blood flow it needs to grow and function properly. If your friend has PSS, his liver cannot remove toxins from his bloodstream effectively. Surgery may be needed, but in some cases, we can treat with a special diet and medication. Bleeding Disorders Your Golden Retriever is prone to a bleeding disorder called hemophilia. This is an important test as we may not otherwise know whether your pet has hemophilia until severe bleeding occurs during surgery or after a serious injury. Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, and other behavioral changes. Treatment is usually as simple as replacement hormones given in the form of a pill. Taking Care of Your Golden Retriever at Home Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs. Routine Care, Diet, and Exercise Build her routine care into your schedule to help your Golden live longer, stay healthier, and be happier during her lifetime. We cannot overemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine. Supervise your pet as you would a toddler. Keep doors closed, pick up after yourself, and block off rooms as necessary. She needs a thorough brushing at least weekly most of the year. Twice a year she blows her coat and loses crazy amounts of hair; daily brushing is recommended during this time. Golden Retrievers generally have good teeth, and you can keep them perfect by brushing them at least twice a week! Clean her ears weekly, even as a puppy. She excels at dog sports like flyball, agility, dock diving, and obedience events. She has a passion for water, and swimming is a perfect form of exercise for this water retriever. Feed a high-quality diet appropriate for her age. What to Watch For Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Golden Retriever needs help. January 24, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? What does it take to be considered ideal for a family dog? How do you know if the Golden Retriever is the right fit for you and your family? A Brief Background on Golden Retrievers! Bred in the highlands of Scotland by Lord Tweedmouth in the mid to late s, Goldens are a cross between a Yellow Retriever and an extinct dog breed, the Tweed Water Spaniel. Lord Tweedmouth wanted the ideal gundog to accompany him during fowl hunting and be able to withstand the rugged terrain and rainy conditions. Aside from being able to retrieve fowl, Lord Tweedmouth wanted an even-tempered dog to have at home when not hunting. And so, the Golden Retriever was born. Later in the s, they soon became a popular breed amongst American families when President Gerald Ford had a Golden named Liberty as his family dog. Golden Retrievers, like their name states, are golden! Their luxurious coats come in a variety of light to dark shades, ranging from light like the white Golden Retriever or English Cream to dark golden colors, even close to chocolate. Their coats feature feathering down their backs, chest, belly, hindquarters, and tails. Goldens have soft expressions combined with floppy expressive ears that give them a puppy-like appearance even as adults. Another thing to note of the Golden Retriever is that those fluffy coats are actually what are known as double coats. A strong water repellant coat on top coupled with a dense undercoat to regulate their body heat. This all means these pups can be heavy shedders! What are Golden Retrievers Personalities like? There is something to be said about being named a perfect family dog. The Golden Retriever breed is loyal, affectionate, playful, and gentle. If brought into a home with children, your Golden Retriever puppy will be a great addition for help introducing your new Golden Retriever pup to your kids and how to play together, check out our blog! But being a great family dog doesn't mean they are easy! Goldens have lots of energy which can come out in more jumping and being more mouthy, especially as puppies. Check our training tips for raising a well-mannered Golden at the end of this blog! Two to three daily walks are a must, and throw in fun activities like hiking or going for a swim, your pup will stay golden! Golden Retrievers are eager to please type of breed. They generally have happy go lucky demeanors which lends itself to affection and friendliness, including toward strangers. If you wanted a pup that could eventually become a service dog, a Golden Retriever is a great choice and make for excellent working pups! As a high-energy breed, Golden Retrievers do best in a home that will provide them ample access to romp around. Homes with fenced in yards or access to a park or field on a daily basis where they can run and fetch to their hearts content are the best environment for Goldens! These pups, with consistent early socialization, can adapt and thrive to living in a home with other dogs, or pets, and children! They love to play and make great playmates. That being said, their social nature can lead to dependencies on their owners and family. Golden Retrievers may develop separation anxiety if left alone and not properly trained from an early age. Golden Retrievers may also contract heart disease called subvalvular aortic stenosis SAS that with early diagnosis and treatment can allow for a regular life-span. When you are looking to add a Golden Retriever puppy, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder that cares for the health quality of the dogs they breed. Take advantage of that natural drive and eagerness to please by setting foundations at home. Start your puppy a regular daily puppy schedule to create structured routines in the home. Include consistent feeding, nap, play and obedience training times throughout the day to help your Golden pup learn what to expect and build confidence at home. During their puppy training focus on their obedience commands to help your puppy learn to look to you for guidance, build their communication with you, and solidify a trusting relationship! Since Golden Retrievers love to work, positive reinforcement and food rewards will be valuable motivators to get your puppy focused and listening. In-person and online puppy training programs will walk you through how to teach the commands, exercises to help your puppy learn them, and troubleshoot when your puppy needs it! Teach Your Golden Retriever How to Greet New People and Dogs While their open friendly disposition will help your puppy make new friends where ever they go, make sure to teach your puppy the right way to do so! Some overly energetic and friendly pups can get excitable around new people and dogs. That can result in some unwanted whining, lunging, and jumping. When done correctly, socialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to greet people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on those common over-excited behaviors when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, hire a local puppy trainer or join an online puppy training school to help set you up for the best success! Do Calming Obedience Exercises With all their high-energy and high-drive, teaching your Golden how to be calm in everyday scenarios will help tame that wild side! Great calming exercises include having your puppy learn to wait for their food bowl and in thresholds each time you enter or leave a space. This also extends to activities like fetch. Goldens are a natal for this! This can be done simply by having your pup drop the toy when they return and pausing for a few moments giving them a chance to settle before throwing it again for them to retrieve. Teach Them to Walk Nicely on Leash Many high-energy pups have a tendency to lunge toward exciting new things! Couple that with a social nature, and you may encounter that your Golden Retriever puppy will start to pull on leash. Focus on teaching them proper leash manners including how to walk in Heel position and how to pass other people and pups without lunging, jumping and excited whining, barking or nipping at them! That can greatly help possible bad encounters with strangers and other dogs while teaching them great habits! Did you recently bring home a Golden Retriever puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! My husband and I are bringing home our first puppy in September a goldendoodle and this was super helpful! Emily June 29, , am Thank you so much for this, Jen! I look forward to the post on favorite dog toys! We just got a puppy and, while its only been a week, we are definitely having some issues getting puppy to embrace his crate. He is doing really well with potty training, and has yet to have an accident in his crate, but soon after he enters his crate the howling begins. This way he associates it with a positive place. Also, leave treats in there. Some dogs do better with their crates covered so like drape a blanket over the sides so it feels more like a cave. You might also try placing a t-shirt or something that smells like you in there. Also, leave the door open all the time and praise him if he goes in on his own. Good luck! OH, what a difference! Long after they no longer needed their crates, we kept them and always left the door opened. They would go into them when they were tired, knowing they were in a safe place; their place. Friends always said to us that they would have a dog if it behaved like our dogs. Be consistent. Fun for all of you. I can definitely see how teaching while a puppy can make a huge difference. Looking forward to your next dog related posts :. Reply Link Megan June 29, , pm Ahh thank you for this post! My husband and I are looking into getting a pug puppy soon and these tips are so helpful. Looking forward to reading more posts on this, especially the crate training. Love the tips, we are still trying to stay the course with the UD group classes! Golden are the best! It has been such an eye-opening month with our new puppy. Our other dog is 8 so everything feels brand new. I actually wrote about it in my post for tomorrow, but a puppy is like a baby. My boyfriend and I are getting a golden pup in the fall and while I grew up with the breed I have never trained a pup on my own. We made the choice to get a puppy mostly to instil good habits and behaviour long term. So long story short, I would never put a puppy or young dog or any age in airplane cargo! Reply Link Megan June 30, , pm Good tips! Socializing him right away and crate training him were so key to having an awesome, well-adjusted dog! Reply Link Josi August 20, , pm Hello! Just wondering where you got your goldens? This really helped me figure out what to do when she gets here. Jen May 3, , pm YAY! Our 3rd Golden in about 33 years and know he has some big paws to fill Taegan was wonderful for 14 years. We are so excited!! I have a new English Cream Golden. I feel like I need to work for his affection. Great otherwise! Not super energetic. Bursts of energy followed up by lots of naps but never really interested in walks. First timer here. Your pup could really benefit from basic positive obedience! I would recommend seeking out an experienced trainer in your area to help you as your pup grows! Having a puppy in the home can be fantastic, but you also need to make sure that you can offer it the best as well. She has been really easy to house break. We are excited to bring her home. Thank you for the helpful tips. That is a good idea to make sure that we are committed to doing the work to train this dog. We do really want him to be well trained. Thanks for the tips! Thank you so much for this super informative post! Reply Link Jen January 22, , pm I always made sure she went before we got to the gym and walked her frequently. Meghan January 29, , am Thank you so much for the reply!! We kept each of our puppies on a leash in the house, never out of our sight except when they were in the crate for 4 months before we gradually gave them independence. We always messed with them and held them. They had accidents as you would expect until fully house trained at about 4 months, but never any destructive or aggressive behavior. We gave them plenty of tough chew toys. Also training classes. They were never nervous or skittish. They love to lay on us and never have had any trouble with grooming, food guarding, loud noises, children or other animals. Goldens are great dogs but like any dog, they can only know what you teach them. Great article!! Kathrinne May 5, , am Hi Jen, how old are your puppies when you let them go out? Jen May 5, , am What do you mean? Reply Link Carly September 8, , pm Thank you so much for your article! What would your input be? Do you think they would focus on each other more than their humans? Would 2 puppies be so much more difficult than 1? Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Love the name Zoey!! Any tips to Prevent that?? Reply Link Christine November 1, , am About to get golden 3. Learning all over about everything. Reply Link Jen November 1, , pm It is like starting over again but you will figure it out! Every pup is different but be patient and consistent! This is my first large dog breed so a little nervous. I read your post and you give wonderful tips that I will follow. Please let me know if it is safe to put a flea collar on the puppy. Thank you. Reply Link Jen January 29, , pm I would consult with your vet to see what they recommend for flea prevention and treatment. Also, about the scratching. It could be due to something else like an allergen outside. I have not had a dog in 3 years because I lost my last one in a painful way for me and I am afraid to get another one. I am now ready to get one and this page has helped me prepare for my new puppy. I am a 74 yr old male in pretty good shape no health issues, and retired so I should be around a while to look after a dog. My wife passed about four months ago so I guess I am looking to fill a void. I live in a single family home and have plenty of time to spare. Thanks Reply Link marion duffield April 14, , am I am picking my pup up in 2 weeks! This is the best AND most realistic article I have read about training…. My pup Tank will be 4 months when we get him. He is absolutely adorable. Have only seen photos. He lives with his breeder in Missouri and we live in Canada…. I am so excited for you!!!! Puppies are intense but so much fun. And wow, that is going to be an adventure! Reply Link Theresa April 30, , am Do you have suggestions about golden retriever puppy biting? We got ours at 7 weeks. She is now .How do we stop her from snapping and biting? She is smart and loving. The biting has been rough though. Can you help? But I love dogs soooo much. This info is everything to me. I love this post Soo much. Thanks a ton. You left puppy in car? Or what? Reply Link Madeline October 31, , pm I am picking up my 7 week old golden in 2 days! I am so excited! How did you go out taking him places before he had his full shots? I want to socialize him, and of course potty train him immediately, but obviously there are risks. Whats your take on this? So the whole crate training thing is not going so well. She hates it. Emily Camalo April 2, , pm Hi! Really appreciate you sharing all of this advice! It was super valuable. Reply Link Julie April 11, , am Loved your comments. I have a 9 week double doodle. I have crate trained since day 1 and she has been really good, day 1 upset for a couple of minutes. Day 2 no problem at all. Now just the occasional cry when I leave her but that is over with in a very short space of time. I also leave a low radio on for her. She uses the garden most of the time for toileting, but occasionally she will come into the house and do another wee. The problem I have at the moment is trying to stop her biting. I have tried the gentle command which she listens to some of the time. And I have tried standing and turning my back on her so she realises I am not playing when she bites, but she will then go for trousers or feet, which I try my best to ignore, or she will just go off and do something else like chew a mat or something which is a no no. Any ideas? Regards Reply Link Stephanie January 25, , am Really great info, thank you for your article. Our puppy arrives in 5 days and we have been preparing for months. Your advice is. Very helpful. Blessings to you. Read the full disclosure here. They rely on you for everything and their health and well-being is well and truly in your hands. In order for your Golden to live as long and as healthy and fit a life as possible, you need to first educate yourself on how to care for them properly and build this knowledge into actions and routines. A balanced and nutritious diet, regular exercise , grooming and regular veterinary health checks are all essential parts of maintaining good health and quality of life. All of these are under your control. By taking steps to do the best for your Goldens health and monitoring their well-being regularly, you can prevent illnesses happening, avoiding pain and discomfort for your Golden and vets bills and heartache for you. At first, being a caring and responsible owner can seem a daunting and herculean task, but breaking it down into little manageable routines really does make it easy. Health Care Routines For Your Golden Retriever You should keep a diary and set up daily, weekly, quarterly and yearly routines to make sure every need is met and your Golden is well looked after. Example routines would be: Daily: Provision of nutritious food and clean water, regular and sufficient exercise, general health check via bodily inspections. Weekly: Inspection of ears, eyes and oral health and hygiene. Comprehensive grooming and nail care. Quarterly: Bath your Golden. In the past, any more often than this was bad for their coat quality and skin. Scheduled visits to a veterinarian and canine dentist, perhaps alternating every 3 months so two visits to each per year. Yearly: Vaccination top-ups. Following is a brief discussion of areas you need to pay attention to in order to care for your Golden well. Particularly during their puppy years they can get themselves into all sorts of trouble around your home and garden so you have to undertake a certain amount of puppy-proofing your home : Fence off swimming pools or ponds in your yard as they will get in there but being so small they may not be able to swim well and could find it impossible to get out unaided. Research the plants and flowers you have in your home and garden as there are in excess of one hundred plants known to be toxic to dogs and Goldens love a good chew! Remove or make safe any sharp items in your home that your Golden may play with, rub against or walk over in their playing. Hide away any electrical cables because a dogs sharp teeth and electricity are a particularly dangerous combination. Goldens can learn to open simple storage units and household chemicals therein are extremely dangerous to your dog. For now, just pretend you are an inquisitive dog, tour your home and garden and imagine just how they could get themselves into trouble in any of the areas they have access to. Then take steps to make those areas safe. Diet, Nutrition and Water Intake Dogs in the wild would hunt and scavenge, eating a wide variety of different foods, taking care of their own diet and ensuring they get all the nutrients they need. Modern dogs no longer hunt and scavenge and instead rely on their owners to provide them everything they need. You need to research, find and provide a good scientifically formulated diet to match their very particular nutritional requirements. You should note that a puppy has different nutritional requirements to an active adult dog, that is again different to a very senior dog who may have somewhat slowed down. There are dog foods balanced to meet a dogs different needs for each stage of their lives and activity levels. One thing you really need to watch out for with Golden Retrievers is over-feeding. And a Golden will never say no, they just love to eat! So please be mindful of their food intake and monitor their weight. No dog should be overweight. It can lead to joint problems, which leads to mobility problems, as well as diseases of their internal organs which can really shorten their lives. As well as good food, your Golden needs access to a good, clean and fresh supply of water every day. Dehydration is a real problem, as is over-hydrating in some dogs. And any drastic changes in their intake usually signifies an underlying health problem and you should seek the advice of your vet. Exercise Golden Retrievers are a sporting breed, bred for working and hence considered a high energy breed. To keep them fit and healthy and to occupy their minds you will need to provide them with lots of opportunity for structured exercise. Notice I said structured exercise! This means you cannot simply let them out into your yard and hope they take care of exercise themselves. They will walk around a bit and mostly just spend their time begging to be let back in with you. You have to plan structured exercise such as running, playing fetch or swimming. You have to take them out for a minimum of 45 minutes of exercise per day on top of their normal walks, and preferably with a good 2 hour bout of longer exercise at least once per week. The five minute rule is that a puppy needs no more than 5 minutes structured exercise per day for every month they have been alive. So a 4 month old puppy needs just 20 minutes, a 5 month old puppy 25 minutes etc. So take it easy with a puppy. Training Just how important training is for your Goldens quality of life cannot be overstated. A dog that listens to and responds to just a few well-trained commands can be kept infinitely safer than an untrained dog. So you should provide your Golden with a decent firm yet soft bed and a nice comfortable lining for their crate if you use one. If you have a yard and your Golden will be expected to spend any length of time outside you should provide a form of shelter so they can keep off the cold wet floor in winter and get out of the sun in summer. There are many options for suitable kennels and many of them are reasonably priced. If you fail to keep up a regular schedule of brushing, their coats very quickly become knotted and then matted and these are all but impossible to remove without the help of a pair of scissors. Regular brushing also helps to keep your Goldens coat clean and removes dead hair. When it comes to bathing, Golden Retrievers have a double coat and natural oils that help waterproof them so bathing too often is actually bad for their coats…at least it always used to be. Just be sure if you do wish to bathe them often that you research the shampoo used and pick one suited to regular bathing for Goldens. Human shampoo will never do as it will strip their oils and is too acidic for their skin and will irritate them. And cheap dog shampoos will strip the oils too. You kinda get what you pay for. To keep their coat healthy and prevent irritation you need to remove all the soap. Note: Click here for a selection of the best dog brushes suitable for your golden Nail Care Depending on how often your golden walks on hard abrasive surfaces, they will probably need their nails trimmed every 10 or 12 weeks. But if your golden is constantly walking pavements and roads, they may never need a trim due to concrete and tarmacs abrasive, nail-file like effect. Anyway, you should regularly check your dogs paws. This can be very uncomfortable for your dog and if it gets out of control even painful. You can quite easily trim your dogs nails at home , or you can take them to the vet where they will do the procedure for you. If you do wish to do it at home, I recommend taking your dog to the vet first and asking for advice on how to do it, being shown and learning from the pros rather than risking it alone from a book. Better safe than sorry! Look inside to make sure they are a healthy looking color, not bright red and inflamed. Also check for lots of small little grainy looking brown dots. These are the droppings of ear mites and a sign of a parasitic infection which should be treated ASAP. Dental Care Dental hygiene is an often overlooked area of dog care by many people but is very important. Much like us, dogs can suffer with tooth decay, cracked teeth, gum disease and a build up of plaque and tartar. Not only does this detract from the overall good looks of your dog, it can be quiet uncomfortable, sometimes painful and can lead to more severe problems if left untreated. So you should regularly check their teeth and gums yourself, make use of available chews that help to clean their teeth and take your dog to a canine dentist every 6 to 12 months. Try to treat your dogs teeth as good as you would treat your own. Parasitic problems Fleas, ticks and other parasites can be a real problem for dogs, leading to many problems ranging from mild skin irritation, to extreme sores and infections, and in the most extreme cases dramatic weight loss, tape worms and Lyme disease. So you should regularly check for parasites in your Golden which is very easy to do if you are sticking to a regular schedule of brushing their coats. Simply spend an extra minute to inspect closer to their skin looking for ticks, fleas or small dots droppings in their fur which would indicate the presence of parasites. Treatment for fleas and ticks can be administered at home as there are many treatments for this available over the counter. Try to make it every 6 months, but once per year as a minimum. This will allow your vet to become familiar with your dog which makes spotting changes easier for them. And it gives them a chance to spot problems early that you without an untrained eye may not pick up on. As always, prevention is better than cure and if there is ever a problem then catching it as early as possible is vital for more effective treatment and minimal pain and discomfort for your pet. Regular visits to the vet allow this early discovery. You will also need to see your vet to have your puppy vaccinated. There are many diseases, some fatal, that can be prevented easily with a course of vaccinations. Distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis as well as the infamous rabies can all be kept at bay with vaccines. A puppy will require shots starting at 6 weeks with a course of various shots taking them up to 18 weeks or so. The rabies shot is administered at about 6 months of age and after this your Golden will require just a yearly top up to maintain protection. Highly Recommended Training Course For a detailed program to follow in the form of a video library, including a step-by-step roadmap for raising a puppy from 8 weeks old all the way to a confident, well-trained and happy adult dog, you could do a lot worse than checking out The Online Dog Trainer. This program contains over follow along videos of an NZ SPCA endorsed professional dog trainer, covering all aspects of dog training, solving behavior problems in real life scenarios, explaining the theory, giving practical advice and more. You can see him getting real results in real-life consultations with his clients, so if you ever have a behavior problem you need to solve, you can follow along for almost guaranteed results. Of course, we are developing a fantastic training resource here at TotallyGoldens. Click here to learn more at TheOnlineDogTrainer. Caring For Your Golden Retriever Final Thoughts Regular grooming will keep your Golden retriever not only looking at their absolute best, but also with your help and intervention it keeps them healthy and disease free too. You May Also Like. If you also have brought a newborn golden retriever puppy to your home, you need to be extra careful in handling him. It is significant to note that newborn golden retrievers should not be handled like human babies. In this article, I will suggest you 10 tips that will definitely help you to take care of a newborn golden retriever effectively. Before owning golden retriever, it is necessary to know about his temperament— Know everything about golden retriever temperament Ideally, it is better to allow the mother of golden retriever puppy to take its care and responsibility. The puppy must be allowed to stay with his mother and the litter for the first few days. The puppy owner must take care of the puppy as well as its mother and ensure that they are totally comfortable and at ease. Mother as well as the puppy must be fed properly and their nutritional demands must be met properly. A newborn golden retriever puppy may have a lot of needs and its mother can take better care of its growing needs. Since, initially, the puppy is non-explorative, it requires more attention as far its safety is concerned. Mother as well as the dog owner must take care of the highly vulnerable puppy. Proper diet and clean water must be provided to the mother, especially if she is nursing her baby. It is important to ensure that high quality ingredients are available in the food being provided to the mother and the kid so that their nutritional requirements are met in the most effective manner. I have listed some good commercial foods that are must have for the mother of new born puppy:. Grooming Gear like Shampoo, Brush, and Nail Clippers Fun Toys You may hear or read about certain items that people find ever so important to their time with a puppy. However, how you raise your puppy is completely up to you. What are some of the top suggested items you might consider? Car harness Poop bags and sanitary equipment Walking Harness Items such as a walking harness, car harness, and a crate can help you during the training process. These allow you to have better control over your golden retriever puppy during situations such as travel, times away, and even socialization. If you do not have a backyard area for your puppy to play and go potty in, there are many different sanitary objects you might consider picking up. Apartments, parks, and public areas will require you to pick up after your little buddy when they use the restroom, so having these handy will make things easier on you! Puppy Proof Your Home Having a puppy is exactly like having a new baby in your home. Puppies love to chew on things, get into trouble, and all around be mess makers. They baby-proof it! In areas, they are allowed to roam in, try to investigate any unsecured cupboards, trash bins, or cabinets they may be able to get into. You can either clear the space or get baby-proof locks to keep the puppy out. Take the time to also secure any loose wiring they can nibble on! Pick a Vet You Trust The puppy stages are when the most crucial health checkups and vaccinations occur. Take the time to research vets in your area who have good ratings and are available on your schedule. Then, call them! Finding a vet you can trust and who is happy to help can be a huge relief to you and your puppy. Puppies are hard work! There are certain steps you should take to make training and care of your puppy as easy as possible for the early learning stages and future situations. Let Your Puppy Acclimate When you go to a new place, it is all at once exciting, overwhelming, and a little upsetting. People get homesick and need time to acclimate to a new place, so is it any surprise the same is true for your new puppy? This may be their first time away from their mom and siblings. Let them investigate their forever home, find all the new smells, and get their legs. Make a Plan and Stick to It Before your golden retriever puppy arrives, build a routine and make a game plan for how you will handle situations. Puppies need a lot of care as they are learning, and knowing how you expect to handle accidents or missteps, such as accidental potty indoors, can help you remain strict but loving as you train your puppy. On top of that, keeping a routine such as set food times, walk times, and play times can help your puppy get the ropes more quickly. They will learn approximately when it is time to do certain things and allow you to get work done as they make naps fit your schedule. Socializing and Training Golden retrievers are smart, but just like any dog, working on socialization and training early can help you and your puppy build a stronger relationship. Potty training and obedience training are big hits, of course, but also keep in mind distance training and manners. Training your dog to understand when you are away that you are coming back can prevent them from having anxiety issues or dealing with damaged belongings. Manners training and socialization nearly go hand in hand. Having them meet new people and animals ensures they will be able to handle newcomers to your home or in public. Take the time to make every socialization a thorough learning experience where you train them not to jump or pull. Give Them Love Not every session with your dog should be training non-stop. Golden retriever puppies need love and cuddle time too! Be sure to play with your puppy and snuggle him as much as possible. You can even take him or her on adventures to let them have new experiences! Be sure to also offer them some alone time. It may sound silly, but letting them go around on their own allows them to explore the home and learn it is theirs. They can also process lessons they learned during the day! Share this:.

They are known for their friendly and gentle personalities. Proper training and socialization are crucial during this stage of development. Golden Retrievers require regular exercise and a balanced diet for healthy growth. Spaying or neutering can impact their growth, and the timing is essential. This is an exciting stage where they display a charming mix of puppy playfulness and the beginnings of mature behavior. Personality Golden Retrievers are renowned for their affectionate and friendly nature. At 6 months old, your furry friend will showcase their endearing personality, which includes loyalty, intelligence, and an eagerness to please. They are excellent family pets and get along well with children and other animals. Behavior Golden Retrievers are generally not aggressive dogs. However, at 6 months, they might display occasional bursts of excitement, especially during playtime. This is typical puppy behavior, and with proper training, they will learn appropriate manners. Energy Level At this age, Golden Retrievers are brimming with energy. They will enjoy playtime, walks, and engaging in activities that keep them mentally and physically stimulated. Regular exercise is crucial to keep them happy and healthy. Trainability Golden Retrievers are highly trainable and eager to learn. Their intelligence and willingness to please make them ideal candidates for obedience training. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training will yield great results. On average, male Golden Retrievers weigh between pounds, while females weigh around pounds at 6 months. Male Golden Retriever Growth and Weight Chart Remember that these weights are general guidelines and individual dogs may vary. Female Golden Retriever Growth and Weight Chart As with the male Golden Retrievers, these weights are general guidelines and individual dogs may have some variation. On average, adult male Golden Retrievers stand between inches tall at the shoulder and weigh pounds. Adult females are slightly smaller, standing about .To learn more about choosing the right crate size for your Golden Retriever, click here. Coat differences: British Golden Retrievers often have a cream-colored, wavy coat, while American and Canadian Golden Retrievers commonly display a rich golden coat with varying textures, from straight to slightly wavy. Canadian Golden Retrievers: Recognized for their endurance and adaptability, Canadian Golden Retrievers often excel in outdoor activities like hunting and agility. American Golden Retrievers: These dogs have a lighter coat color, more feathering, and are highly energetic and outgoing. Neutering or spaying a Golden Retriever can affect their growth, and the timing of the procedure is crucial. Many veterinarians recommend waiting until your Golden Retriever is fully grown and has reached physical maturity before spaying or neutering, which is usually around 1 year old. Choose a high-quality dog food that is specially formulated for puppies to support their growth and development. For a list of recommended dog foods for Golden Retrievers, check out our blog here. How much water should a 6-month-old Golden Retriever drink? Provide your Golden Retriever with a fresh supply of clean water throughout the day, especially after exercise and play. At 6 months, Golden Retrievers need about hours of sleep per day. Puppies may require even more sleep to support their growth and development. If you notice significant changes in sleep duration or behavior, consult with your veterinarian. Regular exercise helps channel their energy and reduces the likelihood of behavioral problems. Engage in interactive play, walks, and activities that challenge their minds and bodies. Strategies for Addressing Puppy Biting Behavior Puppies can get nippy during their fun exploration of the world around them. The good news is that this is a natural habit for pups, and there are ways to deal with it. Positive reinforcement training: Reward good behavior with treats or praise to encourage non-biting interactions. Socialization: Expose the puppy to different people and animals to help them learn appropriate play and bite inhibition. Time-outs: When the puppy becomes too bitey, temporarily remove attention to discourage the behavior. Consistency and patience: Stay consistent with training and be patient, as addressing biting behavior takes time and persistence. Golden Retriever puppies prefer to bite to initiate play, learn more about their surroundings, and adjust their bite pressure, especially when they are teething. Remember that young puppies have a lot of energy and may be more rambunctious than adult dogs. They are, however, eager to please and learn new things. Adult dogs may be more set in their ways but can still benefit from training. Conclusion At 6 months old, your Golden Retriever is embarking on a critical phase of development. Understanding their unique needs and providing proper care and training will lay the foundation for a happy and healthy adulthood. Golden Retrievers are not fully grown at 6 months. They are still considered puppies and will continue to grow for several more months. How far should I walk my 6-month-old Golden Retriever? A 6-month-old Golden Retriever can handle walks of around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on their energy level and fitness. How do I keep my Golden Retriever happy? Keeping your Golden Retriever happy involves providing regular exercise, mental stimulation, proper nutrition, and lots of love and attention. Why is my 6-month-old Golden Retriever always hungry? Golden Retrievers are known for their hearty appetites, especially during growth stages. Ensure you are feeding them a well-balanced diet and avoid overfeeding. Why do Golden Retrievers eat leaves? Eating leaves might be a sign of boredom or curiosity. Ensure your Golden Retriever is getting enough mental and physical stimulation to prevent undesirable behaviors. Is it better to underfeed or overfeed a dog? Neither is ideal. Feeding your dog the appropriate amount of high-quality food is essential for their health and well-being. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, while underfeeding may result in malnutrition. Consult with your veterinarian for the right feeding plan for your Golden Retriever. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Brown 7 lb 1. The size gap between our smallest and largest puppy keeps getting bigger as Patriot is well over a pound heavier than Trooper. Archer was very curious since day 1, but even though he and Raven were best pals she still was protective of her puppies. Since the beginning we allowed supervised interaction and Archer loved the little guys and just wanted to play…albeit sometimes a little too rough… Archer vs Six week old Golden Retriever puppy Day 37 — Kids and Puppies We continued to socialize our Golden pups with people young and old. Some of our favorite puppy raiser friends stopped by and brought over their grandchildren to play with the pups. At this age the puppies like running around and act like hams. Long gone are the days of the docile, sleepy puppies. Welcome to the wonderful world of running wild Golden pups! Day 40 — Our Little Golden Explorers! As time moved on these guys became more and more mobile and less easy to contain in small environments. A few weeks earlier they started climbing out of the short wall in the whelping box. As the below picture illustrates this little one enjoyed climbing onto this shelf making it his own doggy bed. Our little Golden puppy in hiding. In case you missed our other posts about our litter of Golden Retriever pups take a look back at past weeks: Week 1 — Six Golden Retriever puppies are born! Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — The great puppy escape artists! Week 8 — Our golden puppies head to their new homes. Okay, guys and gals. Almost every time I return to the whelping box it looks like a poop war broke out. It sounds funny now, but the sight and stink are not fun. What about you guys? Have any of you ever raised a litter of puppies? If so, tell us your story in the comment section below. This is the first book we bought before bringing home our first puppy, Linus. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

Also known as the Bull Pug, this medium-sized dog has a stocky and muscular build that is brought about by crossbreeding. Oftentimes, it is referred to as a miniature Bulldog because it is the spitting image of its parent. Note that this is just a nickname. This Pug Bulldog mix is the offspring of two popular dog breeds. You may be familiar with the English Bulldog and Pug because they are unique in terms of their physical appearance. English Bulldog History You probably know the English Bulldog as it is quite remarkable because of its wrinkled face. This medium-sized Mastiff-type dog traces its roots back to England, as its name suggests. Originally bred for bull-baiting in the s, the naturally nice English Bulldog was forced to be aggressive to fit this extreme sport. In bull-baiting, a dog is pitted against a bull inside a ring. After the ban of this sport in , breeders changed their attitude towards this breed and started to care for English Bulldogs so they may be good canine companions. Fast forward to the present, the English Bulldog is now known as a sweet and dependable dog great for families and children. Gone is its former aggressive reputation. Pug History The Pug is just as remarkable as the English Bulldog because of its similarly wrinkled face and sociable and charming temperament. Known as the pampered pets of Chinese rulers, the Pug breed was brought to Europe in the sixteenth century. This breed was equally treasured by nobles throughout the Western continent. It was popularly bred with one goal: to be a companion dog. To date, it is still a popular companion dog as it was centuries before. One thing is for sure, though. Putting together its two parent breeds was intentional, thus making it a designer breed. The English Bulldog and Pug were so popular that breeders wanted to have the characteristics of both breeds in one canine. The result of this crossbreeding is a playful companion dog with a wrinkled face which is known as the Pug English Bulldog mix. Some breeders and dog owners also wanted to have an English Bulldog that is smaller in size. One way for breeders to develop smaller versions of purebred dogs is to mix them with a smaller breed. Other examples of this crossbreeding practice are the miniature Rottweiler and the miniature Collie. Many names have been given to this hybrid like the mini Bulldog and Bull Pug and they are recognized by canine organizations like the American Canine Hybrid Club and Designer Breed Registry. As I mentioned earlier, the English Bulldog Pug mix is sometimes called a mini Bulldog and one look at this pup will tell you why. Most Bull Pugs come with a round head, broad shoulders, and a muscular and stocky body like that of their parents. In terms of its face, it has the signature wrinkles of both parents, a medium muzzle, and eyes that are black and shaped like almonds. It falls under the brachycephalic breed group which means that because of its skull, it will have a flat face and squished nose. This mix may even come with an underbite! The English Bulldog is medium-sized, typically 14 to 15 inches in height, while the Pug is around 10 to 13 inches. Putting these two together will give an offspring smaller than a regular Bulldog but bigger than a Pug. Your English Bulldog Pug mix may grow as tall as 10 to 14 inches and as heavy as 20 to 45 pounds. It does not need much space to move around. For as long as you take it on walks, it is good to go. These are coat color traits they inherit from their parents. A litter of five to seven can have a mix of these coat types. Fawn is light tannish yellow that may manifest in a wide range of shades. Dogs with this coat color may have a light shade like pale tan, dark shade like deep deer-red, or other shades in between. There are crossbreeds with fawn coats that have black areas around their muzzles like that of Pugs. There are also Pug English Bulldog mixes that have black coats. Mixed dogs with black coats typically have a solid black color throughout the body. The usual patches of piebald Bull Pugs are white with a red or fawn backdrop. There are dog owners who use the term piebald to refer to two-toned or bi-colored coats. The crossbreed that inherits this coat from the English Bulldog parent has a colored base with a striped pattern that resembles tiger stripes. Usually, brindle coats come in color groups like black and fawn, white and red, and other combinations. Both parent breeds of the English Bulldog Pug mix are great for families, making their crossbreed offspring a perfect family dog. Playful, affectionate, and sweet best describe the English Bulldog Pug mix as it enjoys being in the company of its loved ones. If you are a dog owner of this crossbreed, expect to have a loyal companion who loves having you around. In fact, it can go on without getting any attention from you for a certain period of time. If you have a laidback and sedentary lifestyle, this pup is for you because it does not move around so much. While it can get playful and energetic especially during playtime, this dog also enjoys chilling on the couch with its fur parents. Take a look at this video of a Bull Pug playing calmly with a bug: English Bull Dog Pug mix playing with Bug When it comes to children, this mix is also a good choice. Its English Bulldog parent has a reputation for being aggressive. However, this is just a misconception due to its bull-baiting history. The truth is that the English Bulldog is sweet-natured and gets along with kids. The Pug breed is also sociable which makes their mixed pup good with the little ones. Aside from kids, the English Bulldog Pug mix also enjoys mingling with other dogs. To ensure that your dog will be as friendly, start introducing other people and dogs even at a young age. Early socialization can help them turn into nice-mannered dogs. This pup may need a little bit of time for adjustment, though, when meeting strangers. Its parent breeds handle stranger dogs and humans differently. The English Bulldog may be wary of strangers and exercises caution when being approached. Quite the contrary, the Pug is friendly, sometimes to an extreme level. How your pup will react will depend on its training and the inherited temperament. Your crossbreed pup may get more temperament traits from either of its parents, but rest assured, you will get a pleasant-tempered pup that is a perfect addition to your family. To give you a peek of what an English Bulldog Pug mix is like, here is a video compilation done by a fur parent. English Bulldog Pug Mix Lifespan and Health Issues As fur parents, we all want our beloved pooches to live healthy lives and spend more years with us so we should be well-aware of the health risks that come with their breed. Several health issues concern the English Bulldog and Pug which their crossbred offspring might inherit. Most conditions are related to the respiratory system, bones and joints, and skin. The result is a pain in the limbs which may cause your dog to start limping. Patellar Luxation: Another orthopedic issue, patellar luxation concerns the patella or kneecap. Dogs with patellar luxation experience discomfort in their knees and in some cases, loss of function. This is because during knee-flexing, the patella rides outside the femoral groove. Brachycephaly Airway Obstructive Syndrome: The Brachycephaly Airway Obstructive Syndrome is a common health problem in brachycephalic or short-nosed dogs. Both parents of this mix have this flattened skull so they are prone to this. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, vomiting, and loud snoring. Pug Dog Encephalitis: The neurological disease called Pug Dog Encephalitis happens when brain tissues are inflamed causing pups to experience seizures, behavioral changes, disorientation, and more. This usually hits Pugs that are two to three years of age but may also occur as early as six months or as late as seven years old. No known cause has been found for this kind of encephalitis. Cherry Eye: Dogs have a third eyelid called the nictitating membrane. Diabetes: Diabetes is a common problem in dogs, but there are more incidents in Pugs. Because diabetic dogs are unable to regulate sugars in their bodies, they need insulin shots to help them do so. Canine Atopy: Getting allergies is common to Pugs and in some cases, they have a hypersensitivity reaction when exposed to allergens called canine atopy. Affected areas are usually the paws, abdomen, face, ears, chest, armpits, and flanks. Basic needs for canines are food, shelter, grooming, and training. However, these needs vary from one breed to another. What the Chihuahua needs may not exactly be the same as what your English Bulldog Pug mix needs. Knowing what your pup needs allows you to give it the best care possible. Feeding and Diet To ensure that you have a healthy pup, only give good quality dry dog food to your Pug Bulldog mix. On a daily basis, this crossbreed needs about calories to be served in two split meals. You may also consider giving homemade food. Cooked vegetables like spinach, carrots, asparagus, and sweet potatoes are good for your crossbreed dog. You may also give fruits like bananas, apples, and mangoes. Always remember to remove pits and seeds before serving. Besides giving your English Bulldog Pug mix the right kind of food, you should also monitor its food intake. Both parents are prone to obesity. While a chubby pup looks very cute, it is not healthy and may lead to many problems and complications. If you are starting to notice that your pup is getting underweight or overweight, consult your vet to get a diet recommendation. Cleaning and Grooming Short coats can be seen in both the English Bulldog and Pug and the same for their crossbreed pup. Use a soft brush to keep the coat beautiful and healthy and to avoid hurting your dog. Aside from its coat, you should also pay attention to the wrinkles on its face and body. Bacteria may start to build up when left unclean so be sure to wipe and bathe when necessary. This is also to avoid infections and allergies which they may be prone to. On top of that, regularly trim the nails and clean the eyes and ears. Brushing is also important and should be added to your grooming routine. Doing all these will help prevent infections and keep your dog healthy and happy. Training and Exercise English Bulldog Pug mixes are laidback and chill. If you do not enjoy too much physical activity, this crossbreed is for you because its exercise needs are not too high. A minute walk is already enough for this mixed breed plus enough playtime and bonding. Early morning and evening are said to be the best time for walks and exercise. Remember that both parent breeds are brachycephalic which means their offspring will be too. They cannot handle heat well and are prone to overheating. When walking, ensure that you have drinking water ready. In terms of trainability, this mix can learn tricks and commands. However, you need to have patience during training as it can get a little too stubborn. This is probably a trait inherited from its parents. Be firm when you train your pup but also not too strict. Have fun and consider training as bonding time. Do you know that the secret to successful training is positive reinforcement? Dogs listen and obey more when they are rewarded for good behavior. Prepare those treats for your training time! There may also be more expensive ones especially when you buy from a reputable breeder. Factors that may affect cost include size, health, breeder reputation, and lineage. There are also mixes from champion bloodlines but prepare to shell more. When choosing a breeder to buy a mixed pup from, consider a lot of things such as the affiliation of your breeder. Puppy mills are everywhere and they have poor practices and little care for their dogs, thus, low prices. Avoid them as much as possible. Caring for a pup entails other expenses aside from the cost of the dog itself. Prepare for one-time costs such as a leash, harness or collar, bed, toys, and the like. You also have regular expenses such as food, treats, and grooming items. For new pups, you have to spend for neutering or spaying, vaccinations, and deworming. However, they are also not highly common so you have to check the availability of this crossbreed: Greenfield Puppies — Fur parents have been trusting Greenfield Puppies since .They connect reputable breeders with interested soon-to-be owners and carry both purebred and mixed puppies. Adoption is also another option for those looking for an English Bulldog Pug mix. There are mixed breeds, puppies and full-grown dogs alike, that need a home. They have been saving Pugs and Pug mixes and helping them find a family that will give them the love they deserve. This group also provides education and guidance to adoptive families. Adoptable breeds include Pugs, English Bulldogs, Frenchies, and their mixes. Petfinder — With their vast database of dogs and cats, Petfinder can link you with animal shelters and adoption organizations so you can find your furry companion. Before buying or adopting a Bull Pug, you must know what you are getting into. Caring for a dog is hard work but more than that, it requires love and attention. Check out these dogs that you may want to consider. Frug: The name may sound funny but the Frug is an actual crossbreed. Both crossbreeds share some physical characteristics and low exercise requirements. Puggle: A mix of the Pug and Beagle, the Puggle is a smart crossbreed that likes playing. It is also good for families because it gets along well with kids. Unlike the Bull Pug, the Puggle does not enjoy staying put and is highly active and energetic. Poxer: The Poxer is the offspring of a Pug and a Boxer. This medium-sized designed breed is charming and lively. Fit for those with active lifestyles, this crossbreed loves physical activities. Both parent breeds of this mix are brachycephalic which also makes this dog one. Since a mix can take on any combination of traits from their parents, you want to make sure you ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix. Should an English Bulldog Mix take after their Bulldog parent, they will be sweet-natured, affectionate, and playful dogs that love being with their families. English Bulldogs are companion breeds that are known for being sweethearts. As long as they are socialized properly, they tend to be excellent with children, other dogs, and other pets. Although watchful, they are even agreeable to strangers once they have been introduced. If the other parent breed has a similar temperament, then you should be able to expect the same from an English Bulldog Mix. You still want to talk to the breeder about the other parent as they are likely to introduce their own quirks. Meeting the mother in person can give you an idea of her temperament and the behavior she is modeling for her puppies. Although the breeder should have started some training and socialization, it is your responsibility to continue training and socializing a puppy once you get them home to ensure they grow into a well-rounded, well-behaved dog. Although English Bulldogs adapt to most living situations, they are sensitive to hot and cold, and are particularly sensitive to heat. They also do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. This makes them a moderately adaptable dog breed. The other parent breed could introduce some traits that affect adaptability so you do want to ask the breeder about them. A mix could inherit conditions common to neither of their parent breeds, one of them, or even both of them. From the English Bulldog, potential health concerns to be aware of in an English Bulldog Mix include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Entropion, and Cherry Eye. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to prevent passing issues to puppies, so make sure you are asking about the health history of both of the parents. Although English Bulldogs can be stubborn, they are generally eager to please and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to be a good fit for owners of all experience levels and respond well to consistent training that is focused on positive reward and praise. If the other parent breed is also highly trainable, then you should be able to expect the same from an English Bulldog Mix. The other parent breed could also introduce the potential for an English Bulldog Mix that is more difficult to train. Mixed-breed dogs can inherit a coat that is a carbon copy of one of their parents or they can end up with a coat that is truly a mix of both. Should an English Bulldog Mix end up with a Bulldog coat, they will shed moderately year-round, require brushing a couple of times a week, and the occasional bath. If they have face wrinkles, you will need to make sure they are clean and dry regularly to prevent skin irritation. Cutting nails once or twice a month keeps them from growing too long. Ear checks on a weekly basis with careful ear cleanings as needed helps prevent ear infections. Daily brushing or use of an enzyme toothpaste is ideal dental care for dogs and can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life. English Bulldogs tend to be lower-energy breeds that only require daily walks and some playtime to be happy. But, they will be energetic when they play and might be up for more activity if you are. The other parent breed can affect this. If they are a low-energy breed, then you can expect an English Bulldog Mix to be the same. If the other parent breed requires more daily activity, then you will need to be prepared for that potential range in an English Bulldog Mix puppy. Because they may still be a brachycephalic dog breed, they can overheat, so you want to be careful of overexertion. There are many safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs to help your English Bulldog Mix get the exercise they need. Fully-grown English Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. An English Bulldog generally lives for years. Although the other parent breed could affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar life span in an English Bulldog Mix. Featured English Bulldog Mix Article. The Bull-Pug is dependable, sensitive and great with children. This dog strongly attaches to people, is very well-mannered, and has a sensitive nature. It is a breed that does not do well when left alone for long periods of time. The Bull-Pug relishes attention from its owner but also has a willful side. Bulldogs are known for being strong-willed, so you need to begin training as a puppy — and the best type of training for this breed is using positive reinforcement. As long as you maintain a firm and gentle hand in training, your Bull-Pug should learn quickly. Discover more about our Bull-Pug puppies for sale below! Temperament Bull-Pugs have a lot of energy as puppies but calm down a lot as they get older. They can be messy eaters: they tend to slobber and even snore, but these are traits that bulldog owners usually find endearing. The Bull-Pug will make a great family pet as they are wonderful with children and do well in apartments since they only have a moderate need for exercise. See store for details on a particular puppy. American Canine Hybrid Club.

Want to share this? Labrador Retrievers are everywhere, and everybody enjoys their company. Ask most dog owners what breed their first dog was and many of them will say their first dog was a black Lab, chocolate Lab, or golden Lab. In celebration of this amazing breed, we've put together a list of 20 fun and interesting statistics about this breed. Newfoundland — the home of original Labrador Retrievers. They were originally called St. They have been bred with many other breeds in order to give other breeds some of Labrador Retrievers' fantastic easygoing temperament and athletic skills. In the s in Newfoundland families had to pay a tax if they owned a dog. And they were only allowed to own one dog. Female dogs were taxed higher, so many breeders got rid of female puppies because the tax on them cost more. Thankfully the Lab was such a popular hunting dog in the United Kingdom that the breed managed to thrive there. They were bred to be water-loving dogs and even have webbed feet to make it easier for them to swim. But their biggest advantage in the water is their coat. Labrador Retrievers have a double coat that insulates them from the water and keeps them from getting cold even in cold water and colder weather. All the water just skims off that double coat making them dry fast too. Labs have been the most popular dog in America for nearly a quarter of a century. Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dogs in America because they are so adaptable as well as many of these Labrador Retriever facts mentioned below. Labs can thrive as farm dogs, working dogs, security dogs, or as family pets. The NPR covered this story , and how the Governor had the dog thrown in jail for murder. The dog was given life without parole for the death of the cat and was sentenced to Eastern State Penitentiary where he lived for 10 years. There are also Silver Labs , which are really gray. And there are Red Labs which are a reddish-brown color. Originally, Labs Were Bred for Fishing One of the more interesting Labrador Retriever facts is that these dogs were bred to assist fishermen when they were catching fish. Labradors are natural athletes and working dogs that became popular family pets. They may not be the fastest dog breed on the planet, but they're relatively fast anyway and can reach a speed of 12 miles per hour in just three seconds. Puppies in the same litter can be Black, Chocolate or Yellow. After the visit by the friendly stray they named the song after this black Labrador Retriever. That simply means they have the right body type to be show dogs. A Black Lab Became a Mayor While one Lab was jailed, on the opposing side of Labrador Retriever's world spectrum, in the state of California, in a small town of Sunol, a black Lab ran for mayor, and won! But the dog was much more popular with the voting public than any of the other candidates. There are several reasons why Labs make the best guard dogs. They have a great easy going personality. They are eager to please. And they like to work. They are also loyal, not aggressive, and can learn quickly. That makes Labs the ideal breed to be trained to help people. One of the most recent discoveries science has made is that Labradors can use their exceptional sniffing skills to detect illness in the human body. Labs can sniff out cancer and other diseases. They can also tell when an epileptic is about to have a seizure. And they can snap into action to calm down a person with PTSD that is having a flashback or panic attack. Labradors are Still Used as Working Dogs Labradors may be the most popular family dog in America but they are also still very popular working dogs. They work on farms herding cattle. Labs also work as service dogs. They are still used for hunting. There are many jobs that Labs can do better than other breeds and they really like to work. They are Outstanding Search-and-Rescue Dogs Labrador Retriever facts list are full of outstanding abilities of this breed, and that still continues. Labs are the absolute best breed of dog to be used for search and rescue operations. They have an amazing sense of smell, and they can work on any type of terrain or in any environment. Their natural abilities combined with their desire to please and their love of people make them the perfect choice for search and rescue dogs. But what makes them the ideal family dog is their temperament. Labs are very social dogs. They love to be around people and be in the thick of things socially. They are good with other dogs and love children. All these traits make them the perfect family dog. The military mourned for the lost dog. But over a year later the dog found an American soldier and went right to him. After figuring out that the dog knew military commands the American military realized the dog was the missing Australian dog and returned the dog to the Australian military. Labs Put Everything in Their Mouths If you have a Lab or have ever had a Lab you probably know already that they will put everything and anything into their mouths. Over the years Labs have been bred to have an usually large mouth precisely because they use it so often in their assigned tasks as hunting dogs and other working dogs. But they are always gentle and rarely put things in their mouths to bite or tear. The Lab is just doing what it was bred to do. Let us know in the comments below so we can continue being proud of this breed walking among us! Related Articles. You can see why Labradors Retrievers are a popular family pet choice. They are just as comfortable on the couch as they are bounding around with their endless energy. There is a lot to love about the Labrador Retriever. Read on to learn more about this breed with these fast facts. They originated from Newfoundland, working with fisherman off the coast of Canada. In some parts of the world, silver is promoted as a colour, but not in Australia. More than one colour of puppy can potentially occur in the same litter and their colours are determined genetically. Did you know that chocolate and black labradors coats match their nose colour? Popular pets Labradors came to Australia in and they are one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia and in many countries around the world, such as Canada, Israel, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States. Smart animals Labradors are highly trainable and fast learners, so get them into puppy school as soon as you can! They love to please their owners, which is one of the main reasons they are selected as therapy and rescue dogs. They are also the most common breed of guide dog in Australia, United States and many other countries. Love eating Labradors have an endless appetite, so keep those snacks out of reach! They will try to eat just about anything that smells like food. It is very important to exercise a Labrador as they are prone to obesity as a result. Built for swimming Labradors are famous for their love of water. They initially helped fisherman by fetching nets and rope and retrieving fish from the sea. They swim with their large webbed feet and use their flattened, otter like tail for balance and to steer while swimming. They also have a thick double layer coat that blocks out water and keeps them warm. Fast runners Have you ever tried to race your Labrador? You might find they can outrun you. The average Labrador can hit a running speed of around 19km per hour in roughly three seconds! Puppies at heart Labradors mature at around three years of age and are known for their puppy like energy and enthusiasm before this time and sometimes beyond too. Whilst they may be constantly stopping to smell everything when you take them for a walk, it can also be used for positive things. They make great detectives, which is why they often work for the navy, military and police forces. They have a reputation for being even tempered and make an excellent family dog. They love to play and could fetch a ball or frisbee for hours. They are often very easy going and trusting with strangers, so are not usually suitable as guard dogs. What a clever dog! If you love dogs then there is no chance that you do not love Labradors. They are lovable, very friendly, you want to hug them and shower them with kisses and well their eyes win you over in no time. But did you know the fun facts attached to their breed, including their name? Scroll down to know more. They in fact have water resistant double coats that help with the insulation and the short fur prevents them from being dragged down when wet. If you notice, their paws are webbed which help with the swimming speed. When they were brought to England in the s, they eventually were bred as game hunting dogs. If you let them be, you will realise that they are naturally very good in waterflow hunting. Initially, Labs had the task of running around, swimming and working. Golden, black and chocolate brown. The golden one is the most common, then comes black and the brown one is difficult to get. However, it has nothing to do with their individual character. There are many myths going around that golden ones are lazy and black ones are the best hunters, but do not believe them. It is all about how they are trained and taken care of. Their ancestors were in fact St. Otherwise, the St. They may look lazy but these bundles of joy have the inborn ability to sprint and can hit 12 miles an hour in just seconds! The band named the track after a black Lab was spotted wandering around the Headley Grange studio where they were recording the album. Post by: Mara B. These dogs had black coats, sometimes white crests on their chests, and white feet. Portraits of them look like a cross between a modern Lab and a Border Collie. Like Labradors, the Newfoundland breed had webbed toes, a two-layered, water-repellent coat, and a strong, broad tail that works like a rudder in the water, making it a superb swimmer. The Labrador Retriever has grown to be the most popular dog breed in America. The fishermen found that these dogs had great endurance and strength, so some used them to tow barges. For a while, these trusty fishing dogs waned in popularity in Canada due to a tax imposed on dog owners. Fortunately, British travelers coming to port decided to bring the dogs to England. The breed was refined by English hunters to be better suited for retrieving game and named the Labrador Retriever. Since the 20th century, the Labrador Retriever has grown to be the most popular dog breed in America. Physical Traits of a Labrador Retriever Labs have thick, sturdy bodies, broad heads, and long, otter-like tails that help them to steer themselves in the water. Their webbed toes make for better paddling and keep snow from clumping up between them. They grow to be between 21 and 24 inches at the highest part of their back and may weigh pounds. Labs have an inner coat that is thick and soft to protect their skin from wetness and cold temperatures. Their special double coat makes them waterproof! Labrador Retrievers may be black, chocolate, or yellow, and all colors can appear in a single litter. The nose of the dog will match its coat. Labs usually have brown eyes. The exception to this is that some Chocolate Labs have hazel eyes. The Labrador Retriever Personality Labradors are known for their gentleness, tolerance, and intelligence. Their easy-going nature is what makes them the top choice as American family dogs. They are generally very good with kids and other canines. Of course, being completely adorable probably contributes to their popularity too! As natural hunters, Labs are also known to be active and love exploring. Regular exercise is a great way to let out some of their energy and help them maintain a healthy weight. With lots of playtime and proper training, even high-energy Labs can be calm and obedient. A coat cleaning every once in a while will help it look shinier and healthier. Labs tend to pack on extra pounds quickly if they are sedentary or overfed. Obesity is one of the most common health issues for Labradors, and hypothyroidism and diabetes are also not uncommon for the breed. When a dog becomes overweight, exercise can be tough on their joints and cause them pain. Moderating their treats and making sure to measure the proper amounts of food at mealtime are other ways to keep their weight in check. You can also opt for dog-safe fruits and veggies as an alternative to higher-calorie, processed treats. Labs are also known to develop cataracts and have troubles with their hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders. Annual and wellness exams for these doggies should include check-ups on their eyes and joints. Important wellness procedures can be covered by a dog insurance plan. Start a quote for your best friend. Great Games for Labs Try doing these activities with your Labrador Retriever for fun and exercise rolled into one! Go Fetch! These natural retrievers love to chase after toys and bring them back — in the yard or the water! Balls, rope toys, ring toys, Frisbees, and dummies will all work well for a game of fetch. Take them to the beach, a lake, a pond, or a backyard pool and let them paddle around. Playing a game of fetch or chase in the shallow waters near shore can also be lots of fun. Just to be safe, you may want to investigate purchasing a dog life jacket. Nose work, or scent work, involves hiding objects marked with various scents for your dog to track. The activity can be especially stimulating for Labrador Retrievers because of their natural drive to hunt, but any breed of dog may enjoy it. How to teach your Lab to do nose work: Get scents. Essential oils like anise, birch, and clover are great choices for nose work. You can douse the object with the oil or inject the scent using a special syringe called a scent injector, which you should be able to find at your local sporting goods store, or online. Choose the mark. Dummies work great for essential oils. Get a few and douse each one with a different smell! You can use plush dog toys, pieces of cloth, or strips of leather for scent marking too. It can also be fun to leave a scent trail to the objects. To do this, drag the scent-marked objects along the ground leading up to their hiding place, or squeeze some drops of essential oil on the way to the chosen hiding spot.

However, if you are a novice at finding German Shepherds then you are going to have your work cut out for you. The breed is not easily found and it can take a lot of searching to find just the right puppy for you. You will need to make sure that you have plenty of time to look for your German Shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta Georgia because they are rare to come by. You have three options to look into when it comes to looking for your German Shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta Georgia. You can either adopt from a breeder or buy a pet from a pet store. Most of the people that choose to adopt German Shepherds end up buying them from the pet store and this is not always the best option. It can take some time and a lot of money to find the right dog for you and if you choose to adopt your German Shepherd from a breeder, you are not going to have the opportunity to meet the right breeder for the perfect puppy for yourself. Most German Shepherd breeders will not allow you to see their dogs unless you are willing to pay a hefty fee for the puppy. This fee will be quite expensive and it might take you months to be able to purchase your own puppy from the breeder. If you choose to buy from a pet store in Augusta Georgia you will not be able to see the puppy until it has been spayed or neutered. When you get your puppy, you are not going to know the true personality of your new pet until it is at least eight weeks old. Once your puppy is eight weeks old and has been neutered or spayed, you will be able to decide if the dog is a really good candidate for adoption or if it is just a cute little cutie. Most reputable breeders are more than happy to show off the traits of their German shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta Georgia. German Shepherd breeders with puppies for sale in Augusta Georgia will offer you the ultimate inconvenience. All the paperwork is completed in one convenient location so that you do not have to do it all by hand. You can also work on getting your German Shepherd puppy licensed, much easier than trying to figure out all the steps for getting a traditional purebred puppy in this day and age. Many purebred rescue organizations will allow you to visit the premises and see the German Shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta Georgia before you make your decision. The advantage to working directly with a breeder rather than going through a pet store is that you will be able to ask any questions that you may have right away and feel comfortable asking them. Another thing you want to keep in mind when searching for German shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta Georgia is that the American Kennel Club only approves of these dogs for breeding purposes and not for show or pets. Once you meet the requirements, you will be approved for a C. If you are not able to find German shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta, you will still be able to find plenty of other great German Shepherds for sale in the cities of North and South Carolina. These cities have many small towns that are home to smaller, private German Shepherd breeders that are family-oriented and want to raise their dogs to be the very best. If you would rather find a larger number of German shepherd puppies for sale in Augusta, you should consider looking into finding a rescue group that offers German Shepherds as adoptions. Many cities have designated certain areas as no-kill zones, meaning that the lives of these dogs are not being cut short for lack of space. The city of Augusta is one of these cities, so look around your area and look for shelters or rescue groups that have German Shepherds available to adopt. Most of these dogs are purebred, but some have been adopted from puppy mills, where they are treated badly and not used to much interaction. They could have problems like behavioral issues or health issues, so it is important to check up on them before adopting a puppy. By going with a professional rescue group, you will know that you are getting a real dog with excellent breeding. Many legitimate breeders have websites, and they do not care about the profit margins of the puppies. Many are willing to spend more money to get your German Shepherd pup because they love the breed and want to give you the best puppy possible. You can be confident that you are getting a well-bred puppy, from a reputable breeder, without the high costs that you might encounter by going locally or trying to find the highest-rated breeder online. Share this:. Adopt a new best friend. By choosing to adopt, you participate in a statewide effort to provide homes for deserving and loyal German Shepherds. We cover all vet expenses and will purchase all needed supplies for your foster dog while they are in your care. Adopt a Dog Help us help future dogs. Donate your time. Campaign for fundraising. Transport dogs to their destinations. Make a difference in the German Shepherd community. Apply to volunteer with us and provide care for German Shepherds that truly need it. Apply to Volunteer We have found homes for hundreds of happy German Shepherds. Below is a list of German Shepherds that have successfully found a new home. German Shepherd adoption has changed our lives, and it can change yours, too. Bodie A friendly German Shepherd with a lovely black coat. Bodie was a lovely, personable German Shepherd that was finally adopted by a loving family after a long battle with homelessness. She also loves engaging in friendly play with cats! Jill Adopted in , Jill became a playful and positive addition to her family. Jill had previously completed behavioral training prior to adoption, making her an asset to any home. Now, she enjoys daily walks to local parks. Mesaba Once abandoned by his previous owner, Mesaba found a loving family in Georgia, who named him Mesaba after their Minnesotan roots. Mesaba now enjoys walks in the park, play time with friends, and a loving family. Giroux After previous domestic issues with cats, Giroux found a home with one of our volunteers. He now enjoys cheering up his new owner, who has previously lost a German Shepherd to age-related difficulties. Abbie After a history of neglect, Abbie was able to recover from her past trauma and find a loving and accepting home in .She now enjoys playing hide-and-find with new toys, playing in the local pond, and being part of her new family. Fletcher After abandonment from his previous owners, Fletcher was finally able to join his new and supportive family. He now enjoys long walks, lots of attention and plenty of space for personal recreation. Matilda Matilda was shy before reaching out shelter - but after some training, she was finally able to come out of her shell! She now spends time with her new family, receiving more love than she could ever imagine! Queen Adopted in , Queen is a playful and positive addition to any family. Queen had previously completed behavioral training prior to adoption, making her an asset to any home. Ike Ike is the life of the party. We are pleased to announced that after years of neglect, Ike was finally able to join a family of his own. Now, Ike enjoys playing with his new owners and enjoying a life of abundant love and affection. She was once abandoned by her previous owners, but with some care and rehabilitation, Lady was able to relocate to a loving family of her own! Schatzi Talk about playful! Schahtzi is a lovely German Shepherd that was able to join a loving family after a past of neglect. Now, she enjoys lots of exercise and good memories with his new family. See More Alumni Give in memoriam. To us, a dog is family. Every pet has a story, how they were rescued and what they meant to us. Tell us your story.

To create this article, 17 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed , times. You're interested in drawing? If you love dogs, this will be great practice. From the flat face and curly tail to the wrinkles throughout his blocky body, you will find this pug irresistible! So, what are you waiting for? Erase the top half. Curve the sides out and put a straight line at the top of the curves. Round the edges. This will be the head, so make it large. Draw two rounded intersecting lines as the top wrinkles. Erase the tops so they don't touch. There should now be two curves facing the top. Do two more curvy lines, facing the opposite direction. You should have a wavy diamond-like shape, but with no lines touching. Put two more curvy lines next to the diamond bottom, above the curves you just drew but a little shorter. None of the curves should touch the sides of the head. Do two curvy lines don't worry, these are your last ones! They should look like two candy canes facing opposite each other, curving up just a little bit. There should be a space in between. Put a short line halfway in between. Put some circles in between. Put a circle inside the circle, taking up most of the space, and a circle inside the circle you just drew. Broaden the mustache lines on the right side of the shoe-shape. Draw an upside down rainbow directly under the rounded mustache and then a curve sticking out. Draw a line where the curve cuts in half. One of the most extraordinary, cheerful and friendly decorative dogs is the pug. The animal is strongly tied to the owner, so do not fall in love with a small pet can not. The ancestors of pugs from ancient China, because in the past such a dog could be found only among the nobility. How to draw a pug, what you need to know? The animal has a large round head without grooves on the skull, while the muzzle is not sharp, but square, dull. A characteristic feature is wrinkled, which should form a perfectly symmetrical pattern. The eyes of the pug are dark, and they are planted on the nose line. Ears should fit the head. Usually, they are soft and thin, set high on the skull. Drawing a pug step by step in a pencil is not so difficult to make the main thing to follow our recommendations! Would you like to draw a pug? This simple, step-by-step drawing lesson is here to assist. All you will require is a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper. You may also wish to color your finished images! Learning to draw a pug for kids 1 option Learn to draw pugs for kids and draw two ground balls for the head and body of the dog. In this step, draw the eyes, then the nose and mouth for the pug. All you need to do here is to draw a large figure with a short neck, then a chest and front legs. Now the rest of the body, which consists of the hind legs and the tail rolled into a ring. Drawing a pug 2 option First, we will make the border of the future head and body. To do this, draw a circle and hook it to the corner of the rectangle. On the circle draw the sides of the triangles — ears. At the center of a round figure at a great distance we have large and round eyes. In the middle of the pupil make a concentric circle and sketching the pupil, leaving a small bright point. This will make the game alive. At the same level with the eyes, we draw a broad nose, on the sides of which we place the cheeks. Outline the design of the curve, delineating the area of wrinkles. Wrinkles above the eyes and on the forehead will help look at grief. We make the back and end up with a small tail up. From it, we go down and draw a little paw. It remains to finish the lower part of the belly and legs. We delimit the plane of the earth. Work with hatching — sketched ears pug. Do the same with the area of the nose and pupil. We give the picture volume with a few strokes on the paws and tail, near the head. Make a shadow under the dog. Drawing a face pug On one line we make 2 points. Then we circle them. We restrict the circles to oblong figures. Fill the remaining space with black. These are the eyes. Circle them with a curve. We draw a nose. Leaving two oblong lines, paint over the nose with black. Circle it and go down. This will be the cheeks, which draw on 3 points. Under the nose, you need to make a tongue, circle the mouth. Now make out the lower part of the head. For the top set 2 points above the eyes. We carry smooth lines to the eye. We connect on the forehead. On the sides, we draw ears. Focus on the shape of the head, the position of the ears, the length of the legs, and the overall body structure. Follow the steps illustrated in the below collage, and soon you will be able to draw a realistic pug. Step 1: Draw the Body of Your Dog Drawing Begin your easy dog drawing by drawing a tilted oval shape to represent the main body of the dog. Step 2: Draw the Head Attached to the main body, draw a circle to represent the head of the pug. Step 3: Add the Ears Attached to either side of the head, draw the overlapping oval shapes to represent the ears. Within the center of the head, draw a narrow oval shape to represent the nostrils. Step 4: Draw the Legs of Your Easy Dog Drawing Again, overlapping the body, draw two narrow vertical oval shapes to represent the front legs. Continue to draw a larger oval shape to represent the rear leg of your dog drawing. Step 5: Add the Paws Beneath the previously drawn leg shapes, draw the construction lines of the paws underneath each leg. These can be represented by small ovals. Continue to draw two horizontal lines across the center line and an additional two shorter horizontal lines at the bottom of the center line. Between the two horizontal center guidelines, draw a circle on each end to represent the eyes of the pug. Use the previously drawn construction lines to aid you in outlining the top and bottom neckline of the pug leading onto the oval shape of the body. Step Outline the Paws of Your Easy Dog Drawing Begin to outline a more realistic paw shape for each leg, using the previously drawn ovals in step five. Step Continue to Outline Your Simple Dog Drawing In this step, you are going to outline more realistic-looking dog ears in your simple dog drawing. Continue the step by drawing the connecting line between both ears which represents the top of the head. Finish this step by drawing the final bottom neckline. Step Outline the Eyes Use the previously drawn circles to aid you in outlining more curved and realistically shaped eyes. Within each eye, draw a half-moon shape to represent the iris. Once you have completed this step, you can erase any construction lines that are still visible. Step Draw the Mouth and Nostrils Within the face, draw the triangular-shaped mouth on the bottom area of the center guideline. Finish the step by drawing the curving nostril shape on the center axis. Make sure these lines curve around the eyes, nostrils, and mouth. Once you have completed this step, you may now erase the visible guidelines. Step Apply the First Color Coat Select a regular brush and light brown paint, and evenly coat the pug, however, leave the ears blank. Step Continue to Color Your Simple Dog Drawing With a fine, sharp brush and dark gray paint, paint the ears, eyes, and the bottom area of each paw. Step Highlight the Body Begin by lightening the first color coat throughout the body and face area of the pug, using a soft brush and white paint. Repeat using a fine, sharp brush for finer and sharper highlight lines. Switch to a blending brush to spread and fade the white paint over the first color coat. Step Contour Your Dog Drawing With a soft brush and dark bronze paint, begin to enhance the first color coat. To do this, simply follow or trace the guidelines added in step .Switch to a blending brush to soften and fade the contouring. Step Shade Your Easy Dog Drawing In this step, add shading around the facial and body contouring lines with a soft brush and black paint. Use a blending brush to soften and spread the shading between the existing color coats. Complete the step with a fine, sharp brush and black paint, and add fine brushstrokes along the bottom neckline area. Step Texture Your Simple Dog Drawing Select a fine, sharp brush and a combination of black, white, and bronze paint, and add fine brushstrokes creating a furry texture along the body of your pug. Step Continue to Texture Your Drawing Continue onto the nostril and mouth area, using a thin brush and a combination of black and white paint, and create a furry texture. Surround the eye patches with fine brushstrokes. Follow this by tracing the structure lines on the face and head with fine brushstrokes and black paint. Finish this off using white paint to enhance the fur coat. Continue onto the ears, and add fine brushstrokes using a thin brush and black paint. Repeat once more using white paint to add a fine highlighted coat within each ear. Step Color the Eyes With a fine, sharp brush and black paint, fill in both eyes. Continue onto the iris and outline it using brown paint. Finish off using white paint, and add fine brushstrokes within each paw. Step Highlight the Eyes Continue with the eyes by adding a subtle highlight within each iris using a thin brush and white paint. Complete the step using white paint to add fine whiskers to your dog drawing. Step Add a Furry Outline In this step, extend the fur coat beyond the solid outline of your dog drawing, using a fine, sharp brush and the corresponding colors. Step Apply a Ground Shadow Add shading underneath each of the paws with a small, soft brush and black paint. Switch to a blending brush to spread and soften the ground shadow. Step Finalize Our How to Draw a Dog Tutorial To achieve a realistic final result of a pug drawing, select a fine, sharp brush and matching colors and trace any harsh outlines. Congratulations on learning how to draw a dog step-by-step! Try drawing dogs in action, like running or jumping, to bring your drawings to life. Experiment with different textures and shading techniques to give your drawings depth and dimension. Remember, each artist has their unique style, and your dog drawings are a reflection of your creativity and imagination. Pinterest Email Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw a dog? Some of you may have abandoned artistic pursuits, assuming them to be a pastime of childhood, while others may protest that you lack the ability or talent. This is all errant nonsense. The only real question is what kind of dog we should draw. I started with these two stock photos for reference. I boiled them down to their most basic components and devised simple step-by-step approaches. Step 1: Start your dog drawing with simple shapes The hardest part of any drawing exercise is putting pencil to paper. Our step-by-step approach to drawing a Pug starts with very simple figures. Try one dog or the other and see which method you like the best! Look below each image for the instructions for the right-hand Pug. Our first dog drawing the Pug on the left begins with a square and a rectangle. Step 1: Drawing starts with simple shapes. Did you select the dog on the right? Start by sketching a fig, tear drop, or foil-wrapped chocolate treat. If someone is, ask them to join you! Step 2: Add and subtract lines from your art The next steps in our quest to draw a Pug are easy as well. Lucky for us, a Pug is a nice and blocky breed of dog. All you have to do is add three diagonal lines. You can erase the corners or leave them. Step 2: Eventually, our drawings will look like Pugs. The next step is just as easy for the second Pug drawing. Step 3: Puppy legs for one Pug, a crown for the other dog Our left-hand Pug needs some little legs. The legs closest to us extend right out of body, and the others come out of the chest and stomach. The legs and feet are just modified triangles. This is accomplished by drawing three lines. This is the most complicated step for our first Pug. Start with the eyes and eyebrow ridges. Draw two lemon shapes on the same level as the spine. One is above the front leg, the other split by the outside of the square. Next is the nose, which is a little oval or rectangle just below and between the eyes. Now for the tongue, an arch leaning right underneath the nose. Draw a under the tongue for a mouth, and the chin is below that. The muzzle is like a little tent wrapped around the nose. Step 4: Drawing the Pug faces. Our other Pug drawing needs cheekbones and jowls. These are nothing more than two sets of curved lines connecting the top of the head with the muzzle. I started next to the eyes on either side of the face. The more squiggly your lines, the more character your Pug drawing will have. I needed to condense both Pug drawing lessons into six steps, so this one ended up being the most complex. I broke it down further for your convenience! For the right cheek, draw a line connecting the eye and muzzle. The right ear is a little triangular shape between the eyebrow ridge and the tongue. Draw the left ear triangle. Finish with the jaw line. I tried to draw triangles for the ears on this Pug sketch. The left ear worked out fairly well, but as you can see, the right ear is more of an awkward quadrilateral. Your ear-triangle quality may vary! Draw a curly line, or the best part of a number six, from the base of the spine to the top of the rear leg. Two tiny circles for irises complete the eyes! If you desire a fawn-coated Pug, color in the muzzle and the ears. Color in the whole thing if you prefer a black-coated Pug! Step 6: Adding the final details to our dog drawings. Little circles in the eyes for the irises. Put them wherever you like! Draw half an oval into the top of the mouth triangle for a tongue! Sketch squiggly lines at the top of the head and at the base of the eyes for a nice wrinkly Pug. Color in the ears and muzzle for a fawn-coated Pug, or the whole thing for a black-coated Pug. See, anyone can draw a dog! There are tons of step-by-step lessons to be found online, and plenty of books to buy or checkout at your local library. These books are marvelous guides for people of all ages and skill levels. I hope you found these to be fun distractions from your normal routine. Let us know if you enjoyed drawing one or both dogs; if you clamor for it, maybe we can try another dog breed in the near future! Which Pug did you try to draw? How did it come out? Share pictures of your dog drawings in the comments. He enjoys making art, hiking, and concert-going, as well as dazzling crowds with operatic karaoke performances. He has a one-year-old female Bluetick Coonhound mix named Idris, and his online life is conveniently encapsulated here. Also, work on a solid surface. An H pencil has hard graphite, and it will keep a sharp point for fine lines and writing. A soft graphite or B pencil will give you nice, dark lines, but the point will wear down or dull easily. The higher the number before the H or B, the lighter or darker the lead. If you do have a budget, Blackwing pencils are what I use. Blackwing pencils have special Japanese graphite that lets you do everything from sharp lines to deep, dark shading, all with one pencil. Whatever you have on hand, pick it up and try a sketch. It is the best way to learn as you go. If you want something a little better quality, Strathmore is a great economical option with lots of different weights and sizes to choose from. For pencil drawing, you want to go with smooth paper as opposed to textured. Any paper will do to get you started. Tortillion Shading techniques. A tortillion is the fancy name for a blending stump. This makes shading so easy and fun! You can even use it to shade other areas, as you will see in the video. So, stay with me! Eraser An eraser is a very versatile tool! There are all kinds of erasers you can try. Kneadable erasers can be molded like playdoh depending on what you need. You can add texture to a kneadable eraser, like this one by Faber Castell , and roll it across your shaded areas to create inverse texture. Try an eraser pen, like the Mono Zero by Tombow , for fine areas like whiskers on a cat or those tiny highlights. This model comes with a couple extra replacements erasers. The stiff rubber nibs are great for clean outlines and sharp highlights. Also, if you have a latex allergy, polymer erasers may give you the same results without the skin reaction! Even if an artist draws from a picture or photo, they will inevitably put their own stamp on any piece of art they produce. Like a fingerprint that is unique to each human being, every artist has their own signature style. Unless they are asleep. For me, the easiest solution is to draw from a reference. That way, I still get creative, and I have good references to capture unique features. So, I say pick a photo or many and go from there. Either way, have fun! And, just as a side note — this is also my first art step-tutorial ever! How to Draw A Pug Step 1 — Outline Video: — For our pug drawing, we are going to start with an outline using very light strokes. I learned drawing pretty much on my own, so I have a method that works for me. You can find every kind of drawing tutorial out there, and learn really cool techniques from different artists, so try as many as possible. The first step is to find the center of your page. You can also draw light guidelines. Now, find the center of your subject. Symmetrical Features Next, I like to begin with the face. If you can visualize a line down the middle of that pug dog face, start there. Since this will be a quick sketch of the details, you can eyeball the distance from this centerline to each…eyeball. Almost too easy. Keep in mind that an eyeball is a sphere and not a flat circle. That means each highlight on the surface of the eye will also be curved. Remember to sketch lightly so you can erase if you have to. From the eyes, you can move down to the nose, folds of the chin, up to the forehead, and out to the ears. Measure the space between each new object or shape as you go. Outline Shade Variations Video: I also find it helpful to outline the differently shaded areas. The video might do a better job of explaining this. The forehead wrinkles, for example, are really just fine lines with a darker background. Outline those areas in preparation for shading them. We are about to turn a simple line drawing into a 3-dimensional fur baby so, stay with me. Time for some details! Begin by darkening the outline of each eye. Remember to keep referring to your photo for details. The eyes are the most important creature feature. If one eye seems a little bigger or smaller, let it be! Those quirky details make each living thing unique and are very important if you want to capture them well. That means the light reflected in them will also not be reflected symmetrically. Capturing that will give you those characteristic pug dog eyes. Do you see a circular dark area? Shade a circle in that spot. If you see two tiny triangles for nostrils, shade those in with the depth of color you see. The filling in and shading is kind of like a foundation color layer that we are adding underneath. This will help make the details pop! If your portrait now looks a little like a cute dog emoji pug, you are doing great! If you decide you need to go darker, shade another layer and blend until you get the tone you want. Natural Shadows Video: A good thing to keep in mind as you shade is where the natural shadows are. They are important! At this point in the video, I started shading in the torso, and the difference in shade between the forelegs and the hind legs helped to place them at the right distance. The darker hind legs look further away. Also, note that each paw is different in terms of the direction the toes are facing. Pay attention to those details as well. It might look weird at first, but it will all come together as you shade and fill. A bit of tissue or regular paper will give you similar results. The only difference is blending stumps can be sharpened to blend tiny areas as well. Work In Sections Video: It helps to work in small sections. Repeat steps in small areas, darkening, shading, and blending until your background is shaded. A Little Free Therapy On a personal note: art is therapy. I actually did this project at a really low point. That worried little face materializing over chipper and upbeat music made me realize that maybe I take life too seriously sometimes. The answer might be much simpler than we think — like focusing on doing what you love. This might be why I prefer pencil drawing. You can erase if you make a mistake! As Norah took shape, there was something a little off about her hind leg. This is why the outlines should be drawn lightly. They are very forgiving and easy to erase and redraw. Erasers also come in handy for adding a highlight here and there. Okay, maybe I enjoy adding detail a little too much, but those tiny, painstaking details are what bring the entire drawing to life! That said, the thousands of little hairs on this velvety pug lady looked daunting at first! BUT, I just started at one spot and went for it. If I did it, you can do this! The end result will be so worth it. Keep in mind the direction the hairs are facing refer to your photos. How long are they, how thick, and how close together are they? As unimportant as it might seem, these little unique and almost invisible details decide the final outcome. Details make something one-dimensional come alive! Yes, I said that again for effect. And there you have it! You drew a pug! If this was your first time drawing something, I am so proud of you! Keep going! Like any other skill, learning to draw will just get better the more you practice. As always, I like sharing something about the process that inspired me. But that painstaking process gave me a new understanding of the God who created all creatures, great and small. He not only designed and created every hair, but He has also numbered every hair on every head! No wonder He is jealous of His creation. I would be pretty jealous if someone tried to claim my artwork as their own after all that work! Every time you look in the mirror, learn to love those unique details He included in your design. You are one of a kind created for a beautiful purpose! I hope you enjoyed my first-ever art tutorial. I loved having you along on the journey! Stay tuned for more art videos and tutorials. Looking for a unique gift or home decor? See below for a few of our favorite picks. It almost looks like a smaller version of a bulldog! They may be mischievous and stubborn, but they can also be affectionate and loving. Because of its adorable and distinct physical features , the pug is not only one of the top choices when choosing a pet dog, it is also an appealing subject to draw. We created a step-by-step process on how to draw a pug, made easier with 9 basic steps and simple illustrations. Have fun drawing a charming and playful pug! Emphasize the chubby cheeks of the pug by making it a bit wider than the rest of the face, as shown in the illustration. Avoid pressing down too hard with your pencil when drawing the outline. It is crucial to draw with a light hand so you can easily erase any lines from the outline that you no longer need later on. Remember, when drawing a rough sketch or outline, draw with light strokes. Simply draw an uneven shape with a tapered top and wide bottom to form the right ear that is fully visible. Then, draw a similar shape halfway through on the opposite side to create the left ear. Step 3 — Then, Outline the Body of the Pug Draw an elongated shape with a round bottom right underneath the head to create the body. As you can see in the illustration, the body of the pug is relatively smaller than its head. This forms both front legs of the pug. This creates the appearance of a folded hind leg. Afterwards, draw the foot with three paws at the bottom of the hind leg. Since the pug is facing sideways, only its left hind leg is visible. In the illustration shown above, the tail is simply raised upwards. However, you can also draw it in a spiral form if you like! Create the snout by drawing a sideways oval shape at the bottom middle inside the face of the pug. This is where you will be drawing the nose and the mouth of the pug later in the following steps. Starting from the top to the bottom, proceed by drawing a curved eyebrow above each eye. Then, draw a sideways oval shape with a slightly pointed bottom paired with a W-shaped curved line inside the snout. It all depends on the glimmer of the eyes. Inside the outline of the eyes, draw a circle shape on either side depending on which direction you want the pug to be looking at. In this case, we drew the pupil on the right side. Afterwards, draw a smaller circle inside the pupil to create the iris. Then, draw two more tiny circles inside the iris. Now, shade the entire iris except for the two tiny circles. In this step, we will now be adding colors on our drawing—so exciting! Pugs come in four primary colors: black, fawn, silver fawn, and apricot. Any other color is a variation of any of these or a combination of two. Have fun playing with colors until the pug ultimately comes to life! For this pug drawing, we created such a cute cartoon version of this famous dog breed. We love the style it is drawn in, but if you want to create your own take then you could change the design a bit. You might want to make the pug look a little more realistic or maybe even simplify the design even more! Everyone knows that pugs are super cute. The only thing cuter than a pug is more pugs! You know how to do it after finishing this guide, so it should be easy enough to do. You could create all kinds of fun and cute scenarios for the pugs to be involved in, too! What kinds of pug adventures would you like to create. Some people like to dress up their cute pups in clothing. This can help keep them warm in cold weather or just make them look even cuter. We think it would look so adorable if you added some clothing to this pug sketch! Maybe it could be wearing a fluffy beanie or even a nice sweater. These are just a few ideas, but you could create any kind of doggy outfit you like! How would you like to dress up a cute pug? Once you have chosen which of these tips you would like to try out, you can finish it all off with a background. If you were to do this, you could create any kind of setting you can imagine! It could be as simple as having the pug sitting in a living room next to a fire. Or you could create a pug party with lots of treats and balloons! What kind of setting would you like for this pug drawing? Your Pug Drawing is Complete! Which dog breed would you like to learn how to draw next? Take a picture of your artwork and flaunt it on various social media channels.

You've come to the right place. Here, at Premier Pups, our Mini Bernedoodles are happy, healthy, and ready to embark on a life-long journey with their new families. These puppies are raised with love and cared for by the best in the business. We align ourselves only with the best breeders that meet our high standards. All our Mini Bernedoodles come with a year health guarantee that backs up our Premier Promise. Nationwide delivery is available for all out-of-state customers looking to adopt a Mini Bernedoodle. The beautiful Mini Bernedoodles are a blend of fluffy looks and darling personalities. They can be small or medium depending on their generation, but regardless of their size, they are simply adorable. Mini Bernedoodles are designed to be loyal and loving companions for equally loving owners. They thrive in a setting where attention and fun are plentiful. We partner with the best dog breeders in the nation to offer you healthy, happy Mini Bernedoodle puppies. Find your dream Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle mix puppy today! A few of our Mini Bernedoodle Pups. View Our Available Puppies! You should not confuse Mini Bernedoodles with Standard Bernedoodles. Our adorable Mini Bernedoodle are of the F1 variety. All the doodle moms are purebred Genetic Tested Bernese Mountain dog females. Our mini Bernedoodle pups usually end up weighing pounds and around inches tall when full grown. Most Mini bernedoodles live to be around years old. Mini Bernedoodles have become really popular because they shed very little after they shed their puppy coat, they are very hypoallergenic. We have specialized in breeding Mini Bernedoodles as well as a few other breeds for many years. They are a big part of our family and farm. We have also partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. We usually have a good selection of very high quality doodle puppies. So if you live near Gardnerville Nevada and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Bernedoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are a few of our Mini Bernedoodle Pups! We have answers. A Bernedoodle is a popular designer dog coveted amongst the breeding community. These dogs are a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle, with different sizes depending on the size of the Poodle parent. What if there are no Bernedoodle puppies near me? Are there any litters available right now? No more settling for local backyard breeders, with Uptown Puppies finding the right Bernedoodle will be no problem! What is the difference between a purebred dog and a mixed breed dog? A purebred dog is a dog that was purposefully bred with specific standards in mind and with a documented pedigree. A mixed breed dog is simply one whose ancestry involves two or more breeds. How does Uptown work? In order to select your new puppy through the Uptown Puppies network, all you have to do is browse our amazing breeders until you find a puppy or litter that stands out to you! You can then take the time to talk to the breeder, let them know you are interested and finally make the purchasing decision. Next, it's time to bring home your perfect puppy match and introduce them to your home and the rest of their new family! How can I avoid backyard breeders? Now that is thorough! Is it enough to walk my dog, or do they need more exercise? While most dogs are more than happy with a walk around the block, some bigger dogs with a bit higher energy levels require some more intense exercise. If you are shopping for Bernedoodles for sale in Las Vegas do some research on their particular exercise requirements! What should I expect from Bernedoodles in general? Bernedoodles are gentle, loving and caring, especially as puppies. As puppies you might accidentally mistake a fluffy Bernedoodle laying on the couch for a high end cushion or pillow, but be careful they are much more feisty! What are some of the easiest breeds to train? In fact, Bernedoodle puppies for sale in Las Vegas are sometimes even marketed as some of the best dogs for someone who has had some difficulties training an unruly breed in the past. End your search for Bernedoodle puppies Las Vegas online and take a look at some of the most experienced Bernedoodle breeders around below. What about Bernedoodle grooming?

They thrive on human interaction and love to be involved in everything their family is doing. Miniature Poodles are quick learners and excel at obedience training. Very eager to please their people, they are a great choice for first-time dog owners. Mini Poodles are usually good with other dogs and children, but they can be a little bit reserved around strangers. With proper socialization from a young age, your Mini Poodle puppy will learn to interact well with people outside of their immediate family. Expect your new for-ever family member to have a lot of energy and need plenty of exercise. They need an outdoor walk every day to keep calm and centered. Check out this best-selling dog leash with a comfortable handle! While walks are a must, the Mini Poodle is not suited to be an outdoor dog. This breed has a long history as a circus dog, so this dog is a favorite choice for owners who want an athletic puppy who is open to learning tricks. Some Mini Poodles are territorial and highly excitable, but patient and consistent training can usually modify this behavior. For all of these reasons, finding homes for our Mini Poodle Puppies for sale is never challenging. Minatare Poodle Health Considerations The average life span of the miniature poodle is 13 — 15 years. Use ear cleaner wipes and eye wipes regularly to remove crust or discharge. All breeds of dogs should be brought in for regular vet checkups. Miniature Poodle Coat The Mini Poodle has a hypoallergenic coat which is excellent for allergy sufferers. Matting eventually causes skin irritation. If your Poodle has a long coat, you should brush out your Poodle every day. Check out this popular dog slicker brush and detangling comb that is perfect for your Mini Poodle. While Miniature Poodles are a fairly low-shedding dog breed, they still need coat care. Many Poodle owners opt for a short cut or trim to minimize grooming needs. When a shorter cut, you can reduce brush outs to a few times a week and get the coat trimmed up every weeks. Mini Poodles Puppies For Sale. Life Span Did You Know? The Poodle is one of the oldest dog breeds and was originally developed in Germany to hunt waterfowl. The Poodle may have originated in Germany, but they are much-loved by the French. So much so that the Poodle is the national dog of France. The Miniature Poodle is slightly more recent. This Mini version likely originated in France. The Mini Poodle has all of the same characteristics as a Standard Poodle; they just come in a smaller package. The Miniature Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds. On top of their intelligence, they are also known to have a cheerful disposition and a sensitive nature. They get along great with children. Due to their small size, they can be easily injured by rough play or accidental falls that can happen with younger children. Because of this, they may be better suited to a home with older children. Younger children should be fine as long as they are taught how to properly interact with a small dog and interactions between young kids and puppies are closely supervised. Although they are considered part of the Non-Sporting Group, some facts about Miniature Poodles are that they are versatile and athletic dogs that are also quite playful. Provided they are well-socialized, they get along well with other dogs and tend to do well with strangers. They do tend to be protective of their home and can be suspicious of strangers coming up on the property. They are known to bark to alert you of strangers coming to the house. This makes them a good watchdog, but overall, they are more interested in making friends. This dog breed is highly adaptable. The Miniature Poodle does well in any type of home, including apartments, and fits in with just about any family type. They do well in most climates, but, as with many dog breeds, they are sensitive to heat and extreme cold. Because Mini Poodles are people-oriented, they do not like being left alone and will not handle being left alone for long periods of time very well. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to make sure they are not passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents and about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Miniature Poodles are highly intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please, which makes them a good fit for owners of any experience level and one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are a people-oriented breed and are sensitive to moods and tones of voice. They do not respond well to harsh training methods or harsh tones as they take it personally, get their feelings hurt, and lose respect for you. A Mini Poodle tends to respond best to consistent training that is fun and focused on positive rewards. A Mini Poodle is one of the fluffiest dog breeds and will have a curly or corded coat that can come in just about any color. Although this dog breed has a low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat, their coat still needs a lot of grooming. They need to be brushed daily to prevent tangles and matting. They should also be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their coat healthy. Miniature Poodles are high-energy dogs that require a good amount of exercise each day. Daily walks plus some playtime and other activities are usually enough for them. When puppies finish growing and developing, they often enjoy games of fetch and other activities like swimming, hiking, or jogging with their favorite human. Mini Poodles also tend to be great candidates for several dog sports, like agility, tracking, obedience, retriever hunt tests, and more. Just make sure to visit the vet and get your dog cleared for these activities before you jump in. Fully-grown Miniature Poodles usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Mini Poodles generally live for years on average. The Miniature Poodle was very popular among the French nobility. Featured Miniature Poodle Article. Thank you so much for my lovely toy poodle puppy. She's so fluffy, energetic and so much beautiful! We call her Annie. She is only the second day with us and already became a family honey! She loves running in the garden with our second dog Jerry. Jerry is quite jealous of her, but I think they will become best of friends in a few days I will send you more photos and videos in the evening With love. I just wanted you to know that they have become an important part of our family. They are very energetic and full of life we just love our new puppies. They are growing in to their dog body. I have included a picture of them. I will send you updates regularly. Take care! She got to hang out with me and my wife for about an hour before bedtime, and then she went to sleep in her new crate with no problems. Not a single peep out of her all night. She was then greeted by the boys at a. This morning, and loved them instantly! They have been talking, petting, and playing toys with her all day. Thanks so much for the wonderful pup, we just adore her. I have enclosed a couple of pics for you, and will send some more again soon. Our puppies are trained within home environment and as a result, all our dogs consistently demonstrate a delightful, intelligent and happy disposition. Money Back Guarantee.

Articles If you have a Labrador that has just had puppies, you are definitely curious about the different stages of growth your pup will go through, as well as what to expect at each stage until your pup is fully grown. So, when do puppy Labs stop growing? Generally, your puppy Lab will stop growing by the time they reach their second birthday. By this time, they would have reached their adult height, but your puppy could still continue gaining weight and filling up. Knowing the key milestones your puppy Lab will go through is key to gauging the health of the pup until they get to adulthood. Labrador puppies go through several growth stages between the moment they are born and when they fully transition into adults. They cannot see, hear, or regulate their body temperature, and their teeth have not grown yet. At this point, they depend on their mother for almost everything. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 Weeks Two weeks after birth, your pup will start seeing and hearing sounds, and their teeth will start growing. The Awakening Period For The Senses 3 to 4 Weeks At this stage, your Lab puppy will start becoming more sensitive to what is happening in their environment. The Socialization Period 4 to 12 Weeks This is the period where the puppy Lab starts learning how to interact with humans, other dogs, and other things in their environment. You can start weaning the puppy and training them basic commands at this stage. You need to be firm with training at this stage and let the puppy know that some behaviors are not acceptable. The Ranking Period 16 to 24 Weeks During this stage, your puppy is going to learn about the dynamics of dominance and submission, and their ranking within a pack. The pup will try to show dominance and become more independent. First Week Labrador puppies undergo rapid growth during their first week of life. By the end of the first week, your Lab puppy will be about twice their birth size. According to the study, this happens around the 89th day for female Labs, and around the 95th day for male Labs. This means that this growth spurt will generally happen when your puppy Lab is between 12 to 14 weeks old. By the 18th or 19th week, however, you can expect your Labrador puppy to have reached half their adult weight. By the time your Lab puppy is about 6 months old, their bones are about to stop growing, which means that after the 6th month, the puppy will not gain much height. Weight gain will also slow down significantly, but your puppy Lab will still continue filling out until they are about 2 years old. Your puppy Lab will stop growing by around their second birthday. From there, weight gain or loss will be affected by things like diet and physical activities. You might also consider to pet-proof your home , especially if you are a 1st-time labrador owner. A good way to tell if your puppy Lab is growing normally is to track how much weight they gain every week. Generally, a healthy Lab puppy should gain about 2 lbs every week on average until they are about six months old. After your pup reaches 6 months, the growth rate will reduce, with the pup gaining between 1 lb. From a birth weight of between 8 to 24 oz, your puppy should be about 50 to 60 lbs by their first birthday. Once they get to 4 weeks, you can then start introducing softened puppy food. By the time your puppy is 8 weeks, they should be fully weaned, and should be fed about 2 cups of food every day. The food should be divided into 3 or 4 meals. At 10 weeks, you can increase the food to 3 cups. Once your Labrador puppy is 12 weeks and older, their appetite will increase, and at this point, you can start giving 4 cups of food every day, divided into 2 or 3 meals. For proper growth and good health, you need to feed your Labrador pup with food that is rich in nutrients and calories. We recommend feeding your Labrador pup with food from Pet Plate. So, what is a good weight for a Labrador? By the time your Lab puppy is 10 weeks, their weight will fall between 10 to 20 lbs. At 4 months, your Labrador puppy will have already experienced their second growth spurt. The ideal weight for a Lab puppy at this point is between 25 to 35 lbs. By the 5th month, your Labrador puppy will weigh 35 to 50 lbs. They will also be approaching their adult height. The average weight for a 1 year old Labrador is 50 to 65 lbs. By this time, your Labrador pup is no longer growing in height, but they are still gaining weight. By the time they are two years old, your Labrador puppy will have completed their growth. Female Labs are usually smaller than males, and this will become apparent as the puppies grow older. At 2 years old, the weight of a female Labrador pup will typically fall between 55 and 70 lbs, while that of a male Lab will fall between 65 to 80 lbs. The best way to tell how big a Lab puppy will get in adulthood is to look at the size of the parents. If the parents are big, then you can expect your Lab puppy to get equally big. Similarly, if the parents are small, it is very unlikely that your Lab puppy will get very big. This can be done by playing tug of war with your Lab, giving them tough toys to chew on, and basically anything else that will encourage them to use and strengthen their jaw muscles. At the same time, you should keep in mind that your Lab puppy is still growing, so it is advisable to get an adjustable harness and the correct harness type for the purpose of the activity. 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:. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Diet and nutrition play a crucial role in the growth and development of Labradors. By providing them with a balanced diet and regular exercise, owners can help ensure that their Labradors grow into strong, healthy adult dogs. Male and female labs will grow differently. Males will grow to be taller and heavier, and it takes a bit more time for them to stop growing. A full-grown Labrador retriever will reach 55 and 75 pounds and stand .With our experience raising Labrador Retrievers in the past, we have seen firsthand how fast they grow and when they finally stop growing and reach their adult size. Below we will explain when this happens, how big they get, and other factors that impact their growth. Labs typically reach their full adult size around 6 to 12 months. However, this can vary depending on the individual dog, and Labrador growth rates will change based on numerous factors. For example, a Labrador quickly grows from a tiny eight-week-old puppy to an adult-sized dog within six months. But they are still developing and have more time to grow fully. Large breeds like Labs may continue to fill out and gain weight until they are roughly two years old, while smaller breeds may reach their adult size earlier. They typically reach their maximum height by the month mark, but it can take more time for their chest and shoulders to fill out. It's important to remember that every dog is different and may grow at a different rate. Most labs will complete their skeletal growth around nine months but need to finish growing for another months. Labradors are tall and lean with a solid body and a full chest area. They have a square appearance, and their legs are strong, but this full size and strength are reached in months. Labradors are a popular breed of dog known for their intelligence, playful personalities, and loyal nature. They are often used as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and companions for families and individuals. As puppies, Labradors are energetic and curious, and they quickly grow into large, athletic dogs. On average, a Labrador will weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and stand .Labradors typically reach their full height by the time they are one year old, but they continue to fill out and gain weight until they are about two years old. During this time, they will undergo significant physical development, including the growth of their muscles, bones, and organs. At six to eight weeks old, a Labrador puppy will weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. From there, they will experience rapid growth and will double their weight by the time they are four months old. At six months, they will weigh between 35 and 55 pounds. During this time, owners must provide their Labradors with a balanced diet that includes all the necessary nutrients for growth and development. This should consist of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. In general, male and female labs grow at similar rates and reach similar sizes. However, there may be slight differences in how they grow, such as the timing of puberty or the rate at which they gain weight. In general, male and female labs grow similarly. But the size they grow can vary quite a bit in some cases, but they tend to stop growing at the same age. This chart explains the growth difference between male and female labs. Lab Age. Labrador Retriever Puppy Growth Chart and Development with Pictures Large breed dogs, like Labs, gain weight and grow rather rapidly in their first year. They also develop certain skills at approximately the same time. Lab puppies at this age are entirely dependent on their mother. They are born without teeth, vision, or hearing. The mother Lab will also stimulate them to eliminate and eat their waste to keep her nesting area clean. Most Lab puppies will have their eyes opened at 2 weeks of age, and their ears will begin to open around this time too. This period can be called the awakening of senses, as they are growing to be more conscious and inquisitive. Try to spend some time with each puppy daily, so they get used to being handled. They should not be removed from their litter for more than 10 minutes at a time as this could cause them to miss out on important life lessons. Mama dogs will teach her pups some discipline and dogs that are taken from their mom before this age often suffers from behavioral issues. You should handle them often and can begin basic training. Treat your puppy gently, with no harsh discipline. Your 8-week-old Lab puppy will be able to start sleeping through the night and have better control over its bowel movements. Potty training can be introduced at this age, but you should avoid bringing them to crowded places. Most puppies get their first vaccination before heading to their new homes. You should keep your new puppy away from other dogs until they complete their vaccinations to prevent them from contracting infectious diseases like distemper or parvovirus. Lab puppies eating their dog food At 2 months, Lab puppies should be fed 4 small meals a day. Knowing how much to feed them is key. Your Lab puppy will begin to test you in order to figure out what their position is in the family. Labrador Retriever puppies at 3 months might ignore commands they are familiar with. Some dogs might start nipping. To combat this, direct them to chew appropriate toys instead. Be patient with them and keep reinforcing positive behavior because they will grow out of it soon enough. They are still establishing their role in the pack and might assert their dominance over little children or pets. You can start incorporating other activities like obedience or agility to divert their attention and help them understand their role in the family better. Some dogs will go through another fearful stage at this age. You can help them through it by desensitizing them and being kind and understanding. They are still puppies at this age, after all. They should not be forced to face their fears in hopes they will get used to it. Appropriate exposure with lots of praise, attention, and treats will do the trick. They will have grown into the dog they are meant to be and will have a consistent personality. They should also have settled into a routine and know their place in the family. Following a UK study, Labs grow into their adult weight by their 1-year-old birthday. Mentally, Labradors will stay a puppy till they are 2 or 3 years old, but some never really do grow up. When Do Labs Stop Growing? Lab puppies generally gain 2 lbs 1 kg a week from birth until they are 6 months old. After that, their weight gain tapers off slowly. Most people think that dogs mature at the same age, but small dogs like a Terrier or a Pomeranian might reach adulthood at 9 months of age whereas a Great Dane might fully mature at 3 years of age. It has been noted that they reach their full height at 1 year of age, and their adult weight at 2 years of age. How to weigh a Labrador dog? Weighing your dog is a good way to keep track of its growth. A less strenuous and stressful way to weigh your dog would be to buy a weighing scale for dogs and weigh them regularly. You can incorporate this into your dog training and reward them every time they stay still on a scale. There are reasonably priced pet scales on Amazon but if you do not have a budget for a dog weighing machine, you can get your dog weighed at the vet. This is because muscle weighs more than fat. A chubby-looking Labrador might have the same weight as a lean and strong Lab. Testing Physical Appearance There is a system called BCS or Body Condition Scoring that allows owners and health providers to assess whether their dog is at a healthy weight from a glance. There are 9 levels, with the 1st level representing extreme emaciation, level 5 being optimally fit, and level 9 being life-threateningly obese. However, if they are outside of that spectrum, you might want to consider seeing a specialist as your dog might have some underlying health issues. It can also cause lots of health problems such as joint problems, respiratory or heart diseases, and even cancer. The bad news is that Labradors are prone to obesity due to their genetics. A large portion of the Labrador population has a malfunctioning POMC gene that stops them from being full. Even without the condition, Labs are notoriously greedy! Look at Midnight eating in her dreams: Hyperthyroidism and Insulinoma are disorders that can cause unexplainable weight gain. How to help your Labrador achieve a healthy weight? If they are suffering from certain disorders, you will need to treat them first. If they are simply being fed too much, remove any excess calories from their diet by cutting down treats including table scraps! You can also encourage them to move more through exercise, play, or work. Being too thin is also unhealthy, especially if your puppy is still growing. Weight loss or not being able to gain weight can be caused by worms, illness, or a lack of calories. Active dogs will need to be fed more than those that lead sedentary lifestyles. What you can do is increase their intake and monitor their growth rate. Another commonly asked question is when to fix their male or female Labradors. The general consensus is that you should fix your dog around 6 months, but there are new studies to suggest that early neutering might create more problems for your dog. Another specialized study suggests pet owners to neuter or spay after 37 weeks. This prevents excessive growth that can aggravate hip or joint problems. Will my Lab still grow after being neutered? Depending on when your dog is neutered. If it is neutered after sexual maturity, it will most likely have already reached its adult size and will not grow any taller. However, most neutered pets gain weight much more easily due to a decrease in sex hormones. This will cause their metabolic rate to slow down so you should adjust their diet accordingly. Differences between variations of Labrador Retrievers English Labs are show dogs that are bred to be more heavyset. Therefore, they can be slightly on the heavy side. As for American or working dogs, they are generally more athletic and lighter. Gender also plays a role in their weight, with females nearing the lighter end of the spectrum and males being on the heavier side. Chocolate Labs and White Labs are usually bred for the show ring. It is entirely possible to have an English Fox Red and vice versa for all other colors. Leading a healthy lifestyle will keep your pup healthy. Further reading: Additional puppy growth chart guides. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Sometimes I look at photos of my dog when she was small enough to sit in the palm of my hand. When did she get so big?! Times like those make me wonder, too: how much bigger will she get? Exactly when is my puppy likely to reach her full size and stop growing? If these sound like questions you have asked yourself, then you are not alone as a pet parent. Puppies change so much in the first months of their lives, but then things slow down. As a result, their changing size can sometimes creep up and surprise you. Exactly how long it will take for your dog to reach their full size depends on their breed, and them as an individual. Read on as we look at when different types of dogs reach full size and signs that indicate whether your pup may still be growing or has finally stopped. Puppies can reach their full adult size anywhere between six and 24 months of age. Smaller dogs tend to reach their full size sooner, and live for longer, while larger dogs tend to take a bit longer to fully mature and have slightly shorter overall lifespans, but these rules do not hold true for all dogs. Below you will find a list of some of the most popular breeds and when you can expect them to reach full size. Labrador Retrievers One of the most popular breeds in the United States often used as working dogs, Labrador retrievers measure between .They tend to reach their full size at around 12 months of age. Golden retrievers are another dog popular as both family pets and working dogs. They measure between 20 and 24 inches and weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. They will reach their full height at around 12 months. German Shepherds Popular as police dogs, affectionate family pets, and guard dogs, German shepherds measure between 22 and 26 inches and weigh 50 to 90 pounds. They are not considered fully grown until they are at least 18 months old. French Bulldogs These adorable compassion dogs usually stand about 12 inches tall and can weigh between 16 and 28 pounds they have a tendency to put on weight when overfed. Unusually for such a small dog, they need months to reach their full size. Bulldogs A little bigger than their French cousins, people love these dogs for their distinctive faces. They are usually 12 to 15 inches tall and weigh about 15 pounds. It takes them about 18 months to reach their full size, skin rolls and all. Poodles Among the most intelligent dogs, poodles are fantastic companions and are often used in mix-breed dogs because of their hypoallergenic coats. While toy and miniature poodles are common, standard poodles are inches tall and weigh 45 to 70 pounds. They do not reach their full size until two years of age. Beagles These little English hunters with their floppy ears measure 13 to 16 inches and weigh between 20 and 25 pounds. They reach their full size at around 18 months. Rottweilers While rottweilers can have a bad reputation because of the ways that they have been used in the past, they are naturally intelligent and non-aggressive. They are big dogs, measuring inches and weighing 80 to pounds. They are slow maturing and will only stop growing somewhere between two and three years old. Daschunds Sausage dogs come in many shapes and sizes, but all have distinctive long bodies with short legs. The standard size is 14 to 19 inches and can weigh between 12 and 30 pounds. They grow up fast and will reach their full size at around eight months. Pembroke Welsh Corgis These little herders from Wales will measure between 10 and 12 inches and weigh between 25 and 30 pounds. Most will be pretty much their full size by one year of age, but they may have additional growth spurts until they are as old as three. Australian Shepherds These intelligent working dogs from California despite the name measure 18 to 23 inches and weigh between 35 and 70 pounds. They will reach their full size at around 16 months of age. Yorkshire Terriers Yorkshire terriers are one of the smallest dog breeds measuring just inches and weighing just pounds. They stick to the height-related growth rules and will stop growing when they are only months old. Great Danes Great Danes are great in terms of both their size and their personality. These German kings and queens grow to between 28 and 35 inches and weigh between and pounds. They will keep growing until at least 18 months, and will probably be full size before two years. Boxers Boxers are another German dog of medium to large size. They grow to between 21 and 24 inches tall and weigh pounds. They will reach their full height somewhere between 18 and 24 months old. Siberian Huskies These dogs were bred to pull sleds in cold places, but their cute wolf look makes them popular household pets. They grow to inches tall and weigh 35 to 60 pounds. They will reach their full size at 15 months of age. Cavalier King James Spaniels These dogs can look a bit bigger than they are thanks to their flowing locks. They will reach between 12 and 13 inches tall and weigh pounds. They will reach their full size at around 18 months. Doberman Pinschers Regular Doberman pinschers are quite large dogs, measuring inches and weighing pounds. They will reach their full height at around one year old but will continue to fill out noticeably until around two years old. Shih Tzu This Asian toy dog breed from Tibet measures between 8 and 11 inches and weighs pounds. They will be their full adult size by the time they are about 10 months old. Pomeranians Fluffy Pomeranians are inches tall and weigh just pounds under all that hair. Most will reach their full size at six or seven months old. English Mastiffs English mastiffs are big dogs , measuring around inches and weighing up to pounds. They will only reach their full size at about three, but growth slows significantly around the one year mark. Chihuahuas Another of the toy breeds, Chihuahuas, hailing from Mexico, measure inches and weigh between 4 and 6 pounds. They will reach their full diminutive height by around 9 months of age. Basset Hounds The short legs of a basset hound mean that they only grow to about inches, but they can weigh as much as 75 pounds. Maltese These white balls of love and fur measure inches tall and weigh pounds under all that hair. They will reach their complete size at months old. Dalmations Dalmations are known for their distinctive spots, but they are also strong and intelligent dogs. They reach between 19 and 23 inches and have an athletic physique of pounds. Greyhounds There is more to these spindly littler racers than it seems. They grow to between 27 and 30 inches and weigh pounds. They will reach their full racing height at months old. Mixed breed dogs are likely to reach full size sometimes between the time period for their two purebred parent breeds. If your dog is not on the list, you can compare them with dogs of a similar size for a general guide. The best thing to look at as a guide is their paws. Look at the size of paws of similar dogs to help you determine whether they are the right proportions for your pup. If you are desperate to know how big your dog will be, you can also do a dog DNA test that can help you narrow down the possibilities. Factors That Influence The Size Of Your Dog While breed and genetic hereditary factors are the most important factors when it comes to the size of your dog, there are a few lifestyle factors that may result in your pup being bigger or smaller as well. Worm Infections If your puppy becomes infected by hookworms or roundworms as a puppy, this can stunt their growth. The worms steal calories and nutrition from your dog, which means that it is unable to grow the way that it should. Worm infestations are more common than many people imagine, as they are easily picked up in the environment. Poor coat quality, potbelly, and regular diarrhea are all signs that they may have worms. Other puppy diseases such as Parvo can also stunt their growth. Most dogs are vaccinated against Parvo, but it can be a problem when they have not yet been vaccinated. Prioritize food that is rich in protein and healthy fats, and keep carbohydrate intake under control to ensure they can reach their full size in top health. Spaying Or Neutering While many dog owners will tell you that spaying or neutering their dog seems to have stunted their growth, the evidence is anecdotal. In studies that have been run, it seems to have a negligible effect. It is often a good idea to delay spaying female dogs until they are fully grown, rather than at around six months, but this is to prevent related cancer risks as opposed to size considerations. Excessive Exercise Exercising your puppy too much can be detrimental to their growth. While it may not stunt their overall growth, it can cause different parts of their body to grow at different speeds. This can lead to malformations such as elbow and hip dysplasia. This is most common in larger dogs since the puppies have lots of energy to burn off, but as a general rule, until your dog is fully grown you should exercise them for five minutes per day for each month of their life. If your dog is six months old, then, they need just half an hour of exercise a day. If they are still growing at one year, they will need just 60 minutes, rather than the 90 minutes they will want when they are a full-grown dog. You can read more about the right way to exercise Labrador puppies here. FAQs Do dogs double in size from six months? No, at six months old most small dogs will be almost fully grown. Larger dogs, on the other hand, are likely to be about two-thirds of their adult weight at six months. Only very large breeds such as Rottweilers and Great Danes are likely to still be half their adult size at six months. Do the back legs of puppies grow faster? It is true that not every part of your dog will grow at the same pace, and it is not unusual for them to be a bit disproportional while they are growing. Puppies often have legs that are too long for their body. It can happen that their hind legs grow faster than their front legs, but this is not an overly common phenomenon. Do dogs have growth spurts? Rather, they have short rapid growth spurts that make it seem like they grew an inch overnight. They also tend to put on a bit of weight and then lean out as their body goes through its quick growth stage. Their appetite will also increase before a big growth period. If you are worried that your puppy is not growing at a normal rate, you should speak to your vet to see if there really is something wrong. Slower growth could be normal for them. If you want to give your dog the best chance to reach their full size, focus on good nutrition. The Verdict As your adorable puppy seems to just keep getting bigger each day, it is normal to ask yourself when exactly they will stop growing. How long it takes dogs to reach their full size depends significantly on their breed, so there is no single rule for all dogs. As a general guideline, vets will tell you that small dogs grow quickly and will reach their full size between six months and one year. Larger dogs grow more slowly and can take up to two years to fully grow, but there are many exceptions to the rule. It is best to research your breed and see what is normal for them. If you have a mixed breed, their age will sit somewhere between the ages of their two parent breeds. In terms of skeletal growth, paws are generally the thing that the rest of the body is catching up with, though they might still fill out. Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Related Article. Between 8 weeks and 10 months, your puppy has a ton of growing to do, and they change drastically from month to month. Each stage of growth requires specific attention, exercise, and diet, so there is much to learn and pay attention to these different growth stages. There may be behavioral challenges while your pup adjusts to their new life without their mother and siblings. This period of adjustment can sometimes lead to fearful and timid behavior, and your puppy will need as much attention and affection as possible. They should be eating 3—4 small meals a day at this stage. You can begin basic command, leash, and potty training at this point too. Although the schedule is not complete this is a critical period to begin socialization and making sure they are calm and friendly with other dogs, just make sure they are also vaccinated. We highly recommend making training a part of their daily activities at this age. Biting can be an issue at this stage too, as they will begin teething, and they will start exploring and chewing whatever they can find. Chew toys and consistent command reinforcement are both vital for avoiding this behavior. The good news is that your puppy will grow out of this habit at around 6 months old. Your lab should also be house-trained by this point, but there may still be the occasional accident. Remember to be gentle but firm when this happens, and your pooch will likely move through it swiftly. They will begin losing their baby teeth at this point, and biting and chewing may reach its peak. Firm but gentle commands, chew toys, and loads of patience are essential at this stage. Your puppy will be testing the limits and may start showing dominance, ignoring known commands, and asserting more independence. You can now drop their meals down to two meals per day, but be sure that they are not eating too quickly. Your puppy will start to closely resemble an adult at 6 months, but remember that mentally, they are still puppies and will need loads of direction and training. Females may enter their first heat at 6—7 months, so keep a careful watch for stray males. They will still display puppy tendencies and traits and have a ton of excitable energy, but they should be fairly obedient and well-trained by this stage. Be sure to give your Labrador plenty of exercise at this stage to help keep them from misbehavior. They will have reached their full height by now but may still gain weight and muscle mass in the coming months. Unless you intend on breeding, you should consider neutering and spaying your puppy to avoid wandering and unwanted pregnancies. While some breeders recommend that you wait until a year old, this is a perfectly suitable time to perform the procedure. They may still gain weight and muscle mass but much slower than during the past few months. They will still display puppy characteristics and even test boundaries, but all in all, they should be obedient and well-trained by now. They will have a ton of energy and still enjoy playtimes and loads of exercise. While they are at their full height at this age, some Labs may appear lanky and still have weight to fill out in the coming months. When Do Labradors Stop Growing? All dogs are unique, and the question of when they stop growing is largely dependent on the individual. Anecdotally, your Lab should have reached their full weight by 18 months and full height by 9—12 months. Most breeders agree that your Lab will stop growing at some point during their second year. Even so, any weight gain during their second year will be minimal, and they will have done the majority of their growth by their first birthday. Mentally, they are out of the puppyhood phase of testing boundaries and disobedience by their first year— if correctly trained. If you have been consistent in training thus far, your Lab should be friendly, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday and into adulthood. In males, neutering can sometimes result in a calmer, more relaxed dog, and this, in turn, will slow down his need for exercise and may result in weight gain. A study in showed that dogs neutered before 37 weeks may gain more weight, while dogs that had the procedure after 37 weeks had a slower growth trajectory. The difference was minimal, though, and there is no reason to assume that these procedures have much of an effect on growth rates in dogs. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth While some puppies may grow quicker or slower than the agreed-upon average, this is usually nothing to be concerned about due to the individual and unique nature of dogs. However, if your pooch is gaining weight rapidly or not gaining enough, there may be deeper issues to look into. If your dog is from working or hunting stock, they may be smaller than average Labs and are usually lighter for work in the field. Size may also be genetic, and if your Lab comes from small parents, they will be smaller than average. The same may be true of heavier-than-average Labs—if their parents are large, they will likely be similar in size. However, larger-than-average weights may also be due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise , or a combination of both, so be sure to keep their exercise and feeding habits consistent. Image Credit: rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock Growth Distinctions of Different Labradors Although they are designated under the same breed, there are two different types of common Labradors: English and American. English Labradors tend to be stockier and more muscular than their American counterparts and have a thick, waterproof coat , while American Labs have a slender build with a slightly finer coat. English Labs are slightly shorter, topping out at around 22 inches, but their stocky and muscular build often makes them heavier than American Labs. In fact, English Labs have been known to weigh up to 20 pounds more than American Labs without being considered overweight. American Labs are known to be slightly more active and energetic than English Labs, while English Labs tend to be less excitable and more laid back. English Labs are by no means lazy, though, and they still have plenty of energy and stamina to go around. Conclusion: Monthly Labrador Growth Pictures Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the growth rate of your Labrador puppy and given you a better idea of what to expect during the different stages. See also:. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This breed of dogs is so cute that we simply cannot resist. The Labrador Retriever is a loyal, intelligent dog, easy to train, energetic and very active, so he needs space to move. The size of the Labrador retriever. According to the standard set for the Labrador breed, the height of an adult male can be anywhere from .A female is usually between .Like the hunting dog they are, the Labrador Retriever needs a strong constitution with good muscle structure. A few common questions about labs are, "When will my Labrador puppy stop growing? However, most Labradors are considered fully grown around the age of eighteen months. According to the various experts, this is the age your dog may engage in more strenuous physical activities. Effects of Spaying and Neutering If you spay or neuter a Labrador Retriever before the puppy reaches puberty, say before seven to eight months, rather than after puberty, the dog will probably grow bigger than the usual standards for the breed. When this process is done at an early stage of development, it leads to a softer bone structure, narrower chest, and cranium. This is because, just like in any other creature, sex hormones; estrogen and testosterone, play an important role in the development of an adult dog. The growth plates of a dog close later when they are neutered or spayed during early development. Other factors that can affect the growth of a Labrador Labradors are a highly active, energetic breed that requires much exercise. In order for a Labrador pup to grow into his full potential, they need daily walks, good training and other opportunities to play and run. On the other hand, if you have time to train and play with your Labrador, then your puppy will mature at a healthy rate of growth. This breed is intelligent and willing to work, which is why they are often chosen to work with the disabled, the blind, for security or for hunting. However, an untrained Labrador Retriever can be a disaster. Remember that he is big, strong, spirited and needs to know his limits. Other factors Although the coat is short, the Labrador shed a lot of hair. If you thought the Labrador Retriever was a low maintenance dog, this is probably not the dog for you. Labradors require a daily regime of exercise, which would not be the best option for people who don't have an outdoor space to allow such exercise or a least a nearby park. If you live in a small apartment and wants to own a Labrador, it might be better to adopt an adult dog instead of an active puppy. In short, most Labradors will be fully grown adults by their first birthday, and by their second birthday, they will stop growing completely. Try to enjoy and love your puppy for what he is, small or large. Post not marked as liked Featured Posts. 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!