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By: Richard Cussons A healthy Labrador Retriever will normally defecate firm stools once or twice a day. However, if your Labrador Retriever passes semi-solid or liquid stools more often than usual, then he is probably suffering from canine diarrhea. Diarrhea is common in Labrador Retrievers because of their hearty appetites. They tend to eat anything, digestible and non-food objects alike, especially if their owners are not looking. With immediate attention and proper care, diarrhea caused by ingesting foreign objects can be treated within a day or two. Diarrhea has many other causes aside from eating unsuitable objects. It can be caused by intestinal viruses, stomach viruses or intestinal parasites. Problems within the digestive tract such as ulcers, cancer, food allergies and toxins can trigger diarrhea. Health problems not related to digestive tract can also trigger diarrhea. Some of these health problems are liver disease, kidney disease, Addison's disease and anxiety. Always remember that diarrhea is not a disease, but is a symptom of various diseases. It maybe just a symptom but may become life threatening if not treated immediately. For simple cases of diarrhea in your Labrador Retriever, home treatment is enough. Provide plenty of fresh water or oral rehydration fluids to drink provided he is not vomiting. You can also try giving him an ice cube or two every four hours to help him not drink so much water. It is also advisable to put him on fast for 24 hours to rest his irritated tract and feed him only if he appears better after a day. You can start feeding him with small amounts of bland diet every four hours. If your Labrador Retriever appears better after bland diet and small amounts of food, you can gradually return to his regular diet. Severe cases of diarrhea, if it persists more than 24 hours, if there is any blood and if accompanied with vomiting, immediate veterinary care is needed to prevent your dog from dehydration. If there is blood in his vomitus or stool, if he has fever and if it persists for more than one to two days , it could be sign of infection or other diseases. Visit your vet immediately for medication. He will usually recommend drink with electrolytes and dietary supplements such as probiotics for it has beneficial bacteria helpful in restoring the health of the dog's intestinal tract. Serious cases of diarrhea due to infection or inflammation of the intestine may require antibiotics. It is not something many of us like to talk about, but it can be an important indicator of the health of your dog. The size, texture, color, and shape all tell an important story about the general health of your Labrador. Healthy Labrador poop is moist, dark brown, with a firm play-dough type consistency, and a mild smell. If you want to learn more about how to promote healthy poop from your Labrador and what abnormal poop characteristics really mean, read on. What the Poop! What makes for healthy Labrador poop and why? Why does one Labrador have healthy poop while another does not? If your Labrador is healthy and happy, you will see it in its poop. Here is what to look for in healthy poop characteristics. Normal Consistency A dog that is getting the right amount of nutrients and hydration will have a firm stool that has a play-dough type of consistency. If the poop seems to be moist and has a firm shape, there is nothing to worry about. Do not panic if you see one loose stool happen occasionally. You can glean important health information about your pet just by noting a change in color. If it is a dark brown color, your pet is doing well. It should not have weird shapes and formations — that may be a sign that something is wrong. Each poop should be a longish log-like shape. If it is not, then you need to take note of the appearance. Is the poop small and hard like pellets? Is it gnarled and misshapen? Paying attention is important. Normal Smell Obviously, for Labrador poop to smell is completely normal. Healthy Labrador poop should usually have a mild odor that lingers but is not too strong or difficult to deal with. You should be able to pick it up or clean it away without feeling an overwhelming urge to gag. The Absence of Mucus Most Labrador owners find the topic of mucus confusing. All dogs produce mucus at one time or another throughout their lives. In fact, it happens all the time in their bowels; you just usually do not see it. The supply of mucus that comes from the bowels helps the stool to move along its exit route without any hold-ups. Without the natural production of mucus, passing stool would be fairly difficult and painful process for your Lab. However, there is such a thing as too much mucus, so be on the lookout for that. When collecting a stool sample from the lawn, you should not see a trail or glob of mucus left behind. And if you do, it should only be visible in the very short term. Healthy dog poop does not have mucus and if it does, it should only be a small amount for a day or so. If your dog is producing a lot of mucus for longer than just a day, it is time to see the vet. Abnormal Labrador Poop Poop may also tell a tale of poor health or at least a temporary discomfort that your dog is experiencing. If your Labrador has any of the following signs in its poop, it is time to pay attention and consult with your local vet. Abnormal Consistency Loose stools, runny stools, and diarrhea can be signs that something may not be completely right with your Labrador. Often this type of stool is a sign that your dog is eating something that does not agree with her or is possibly contaminating her system. If your dog recently has gotten into the trash, been fed scraps by someone, or has eaten something that she should not have eaten, it could present itself in the form of loose or runny stool. If this is the only wayward sign that your pet is showing, there is probably no cause to see the veterinarian immediately unless the situation becomes extreme uncontrollable diarrhea, for example. Instead, monitor your pet for a day or two to see if the situation worsens or gets better. It may be a short-term problem, but if it persists, make sure to keep your pet hydrated and see your vet as soon as possible. Loose and runny stools can also be a sign of an allergy. A hard stool is an indicator of too much insoluble fiber in the diet and possible dehydration. Although no conclusive reason has been found for why they do it, dogs with upset stomachs may eat grass in an attempt to soothe it. Related: If you like to learn more about the theories and behavior surrounding why dogs eat grass, be sure to check out our informative article, Why Do Labradors Eat Grass? Finding yellow stools can be alarming for Labrador owners and it means something quite important. Yellow color in her stools may indicate gallbladder, liver, or pancreas problems. If you encounter yellow poop, do not wait to see if the situation improves — call the vet immediately. Streaks of red. Most often this is a sign of bleeding that originates in the lower intestinal tract. When you encounter poops with red streaks, make an appointment with your vet for further investigation. If your Labrador is pooping black stools, it is important to pay attention immediately — a trip to the vet is essential. Black-colored poop is a sign of possible internal bleeding — potentially from the small intestine or the stomach. If your Labrador has dark-maroon stools, it is also a sign of possible stomach and small intestine bleeding. The dark maroon color is the blood that has changed color. It is important to consult with your vet immediately if you see this. Labradors who have a diet that is high in raw foods, bones, or calcium may produce white poop. This can also be a sign of constipation or a diet that lacks enough nutrients. White spots. Deworming your dog may solve the problem in a few days. Otherwise, you will need to make an appointment with your local vet to look into the situation further. As already mentioned, a healthy Labrador poop is log-like in shape. An unhealthy Labrador poop might be stringy, twisted, long and thin, or pellet-like. Often this is a sign of dehydration, lack of essential oils and nutrients, or disease. If your Labrador suddenly has strange poop shapes, consult with your vet about possible causes. If you feed your pooch a type of kibble, this could be the underlying cause of bad-smelling poop. Here are 4 articles to keep you super-informed on some important Labrador food topics:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. It is an inescapable truth that being a pet parent means dealing with pee, poop, and other types of natural messes. There is no space for squeamishness. But what if your dog poops a lot? We are talking about when you find that you need to pull out the pooper scooper more often, or that your dog seems to be producing excessively large piles of the smelly stuff. Read on as we go through how much poop your dog should be producing, and the main warning signs that something might not be right with their stool. We will also look at the main causes of excessive pooping in dogs, and what you can do to correct the problem and get your dog back to normal bathroom habits. How Much Poop? It can be difficult to know whether your dog is pooping too much, because how much is normal for a dog that said, how much is normal for a human? What is normal pooping depends on the individual dog, so the main things to look out for are changes in their bathroom habits. In terms of the number of times your dog should be going each day, every dog should release their bowels at least once a day. And while, for some, once may be enough, it can be normal for others to go up to five times a day. If they are going more than this, speak to your vet. But dogs tend to be consistent in their bathroom habits. As to the quality of poop that your dog should produce, again, this depends on the dog. As a general rule, they should produce poop of about the same mass as the food they eat. Healthy poop should be compact, moist, and hold its shape when picked up in a plastic bag or pooper scooper, of course. Runny and watery poop suggests that something has entered their digestive system and upset it. Dry, hard poop indicates that they might be suffering from dehydration or constipation. Green poop can indicate gallbladder problems, stress, or eating too much grass. Yellow poop usually points to issues in the liver or the pancreas. Any red streaks suggest blood and that they may have a cut around the anus area. Black poop suggests internal bleeding, which is a serious problem. Grey-colored poop suggests that something might be wrong in the pancreas. Overeating If your dog is eating too much, they may also need to poop too much. Many pet parents overfeed their dogs unintentionally, from a place of love. When your pup looks up at you with hungry eyes even though they have just eaten, it can be hard to say no to a treat or to not put a little extra in their bowl. If you feed your dog scraps off your plate, this can be a problem, too. Not only does this introduce more calories into their diet, but it might contain things that upset their stomach. This is why you should never feed your dog food that has not been specially prepared for them. Check out our guide. Also, watch out for your dog stealing scraps. If you can manage what and how much they are eating, you should also be able to manage how much they are pooping. After a maximum of two weeks, they should return to normal, but you can avoid this happening by gradually moving them onto a new diet. Instead of just switching from one food to another, mix the foods together, starting with 80 percent of their old food and 20 percent of their new food on day one. Over a period of about a week, change the ratio of old to new food, until after about seven days when they are fully on the new diet. You do also need to be careful which foods you choose to feed your dog. The wrong kind of food can not only lead to unusual bowel movements, but can be detrimental to their overall health. Choosing a good quality food with lots of proteins from fresh meat, moderate healthy fats, and not too many carbohydrates is a great place to start. You can find our recommendations for the best dog foods for Labrador retrievers here. While it might be a great quality food, it might not have the right balance for your dog, especially if they are sensitive to any foods or have deficiencies. If your dog continues to poop excessively on a good brand of dog food, speak to your vet about what kind of special dietary needs your dog might have. Find the best dog foods for sensitive stomachs here. Changes In Environment Dogs are creatures of habit, and changes in their environment can throw their regular, healthy bathroom cycle off-kilter. Introducing a new member into the household, human or animal, changes in the way the home smells, and the introduction of new noises can all unsettle your dog and lead to changes in their pooping routine. When they become accustomed to the changes, they will fall back into a normal habit. If this takes more than a few weeks, it might be worth considering if there are other underlying causes for the problem. This is the same reason why you will probably notice that your dog poops a bit more often when on holidays than they do at home. But one of the places that they are most likely to pick up that bacteria is dog poop! One gram of dog poop contains about 23 million fecal coliform bacteria. These can cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal upsets, and kidney disorders in both dogs and humans. And well … dogs like to eat dog poop, so it is not unusual for them to pick up this bacteria. The best thing you can do for your dog is limit their exposure to poop and its availability as a snack. Clean up poop as soon as possible after it is deposited so that it is not lying around. The result will be a healthy atmosphere for both you and your dog. This could manifest as fully blown diarrhea or as just more frequent pooping. If stress is the root cause, you will probably notice other symptoms as well. This could include more whining and barking than normal, pacing and shaking, excessive shedding and panting. They may also choose to isolate themselves, and they may show aggression toward people and other animals. If your dog seems like they are suffering from stress, the first thing to do is address their diet and exercise. Just like people, a lack of good nutrition and appropriate exercise can wreak havoc with their emotional health as well as their physical health. The other thing to do is create a safe place for them in the home that is all theirs and that feels percent secure. This means they will always have a place to go when they need to chill out. Product Recommendations If your dog is pooping a lot, you are going to want environmentally friendly bags for scooping and disposing of that poop! We recommend:. Jersey, Channel Islands It is very common for puppies to get the runs around the time they move to their new homes. There is a lot of stress involved in this change for them, which probably affects the immune system - and they are also being exposed to new bacteria in their new homes than at the breeder's. Have you wormed him yet? If not, I'd suggest worming with Panacur because it is a very common and gentle wormer but is also effective against giardia. If you do try some Panacur, use the giardia dosage which is half the regular dose but for 3 days. Other things you can try before heading to the vet, which are all non-prescription and very commonly used by doggie folk I have all this in our dog first aid box at all times! Slippery Elm - look this one up on Amazon, it binds poop and helps cover the intestine with a lining of mucous so it doesn't get irritated Pumpkin Powder - it adds bulk to the stool and fibre, to help bind it - you don't need to buy it specially for dogs, just any pumpkin powder will do. Add 2 tablespoons of it per meal and you can mix with water or stir into wet or raw. Kaolin - you can get this from Amazon or online chemists - helps bind the stool and the clay also helps remove toxins. FortiFlora probiotics - helps add more of the good guys to combat the bad guys You don't say which kibble you are feeding, or whether you have changed from what the breeder was feeding.Many kibbles are poor quality, so you may want to feed something bland and simple until you have the digestive issues sorted, and wet foods are more easily digestible than dry - something like NatureDiet fish and rice or chicken and rice. If you're in the UK. He could also have a food intolerance, but it's probably too soon to think about that at this point. I would be concerned for food motivation purposes if nothing else if a puppy of mine were not eating much or any of their meal. Make sure you are removing the food immediately he refuses it - don't leave it out for him to go back to. It could be a sign he is unwell inappetence is a symptom of many digestive upsets and bugs , but if it doesn't improve once you've fixed the poop, then you've got lots of work to do in developing food motivation so you can train him. If it continues, go to the vet.By Sandra C. At times, it can seem like your new puppy is made of poop! But is this normal? Do puppies really poop more than adult dogs, and why? Here are the answers to everything you wanted to know about how often puppies should be pooping. How Often Should a Puppy Poop? In general, puppies poop a lot. They are small, with an intestinal tract that is still developing. In general, the younger the dog, the faster that the food will move through their digestive tract. It is not uncommon for a puppy to defecate times per day. Some will eliminate even more frequently. The good news is that the pace of pooping will slow down as the dog matures. Although a 2-week-old puppy may defecate at every feeding, by 12 weeks, they may be down to only 4 times per day. By 6 months, it may be 3 times per day. An adult dog usually poops once a day , but they could go up to 3 times a day. Pay attention to the frequency as well as the consistency, color, texture, and any coatings. If you suddenly notice that your puppy is defecating more than usual, look for any changes in color, consistency, or coatings, and pay attention to how your puppy is acting. Look for signs of discomfort and monitor your puppy for 24 hours. Almost all puppies are also born with intestinal parasites. This is one of the reasons veterinarians recommend deworming and testing stool samples frequently while they are young. This is rare in a healthy puppy! If your puppy suddenly starts producing less poop or straining , they may have eaten something that is causing an intestinal blockage. A possible intestinal blockage is an emergency situation. Anything your puppy chews, such as pieces of a chew toy or squeaker, can cause an intestinal blockage. When Should a Puppy Poop? Most puppies need to poop shortly after eating, but this can vary. It takes time for them to understand when their body is signaling they need to go, so training your puppy to go outside may take some time. After you feed your puppy, wait a few minutes, and then take them outside. Look for signs that your puppy needs to go, such as looking around and starting to sniff the floor. They may begin to circle and posture as if they are about to go. As soon as you notice the signs that pup is getting ready to go, get them outside quickly to aid in house-training! Puppy poo can be extremely variable in appearance, which can make it challenging to determine what is normal. As a rule, however, puppy stool should resemble a soft, large Tootsie roll. It should be brown and well-formed not soft or runny or too hard. The size of the stool will vary with the size of the dog, the time of day, and their diet, but pay attention to especially large or small stools. A small amount of mucus covering the stool is normal, but this should not be blood-tinged. Over time, your little pooping machine will go less and start to fall into a consistent pattern. Featured image: iStock. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields.Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? The number of times your pup needs to visit the toilet will vary depending on their age, diet, size, activity level, and how frequently you take them for walks. As this discussion thread indicates, most pet parents report that their labs poop times daily. However, your pup may eliminate more than three times if you feed it more frequently. Have you ever noticed that dogs eventually fall into a routine and start pooping at around the same frequency and number of times daily? That is because they are creatures of habit. It would be better to monitor your dog during meals and at least for one hour after every meal. This is because pups tend to eliminate within 30 minutes after meals. As a rule of thumb, you should take your puppy to its bathroom spot: Just before you go to sleep. The fast thing when you get out of bed in the morning. Immediately the puppy rises after a nap. Within 30 minutes after meals. After playing or episodes of excitement. It would help if you also kept in mind that: More food means more stools. Intake of insufficient or too much fiber can cause diarrhea or constipation. Nonetheless, that should not deter you from housebreaking your pup. Here are the five steps you can follow to housebreak your lab without using a crate: Establish a feeding and elimination schedule. You should establish feeding times for your lab and allocate the first 30 minutes after each meal to alleviation. Additionally, you may take your lab outside every 2 hours as you begin training. Extend the time between breaks by one hour each week until your puppy is conditioned to eliminate during specific times. Identify a suitable spot for your puppy to go potty in. Take your lab to this spot regularly, especially when you spot them circling, squatting, trying to escape to a quiet place, or sniffing the ground. Reward them for eliminating at the chosen spot. You should praise your lab every time they use their bathroom. Give treats or pet them — this creates positive reinforcement. Conversely, you should never punish your pup if they use an undesignated area; it may slow down their learning. Whenever you catch your puppy in the act in an undesignated area, startle them with some noise. However, you should not scare them. Instead, take your puppy to the designated bathroom immediately so that they can finish their business. Teach them to pee or defecate at your command. Housebreaking your lab is a process that requires patience. As this discussion thread indicates, some lab owners have reported that it took up to 5 months to train their puppies. However, it could take up to 8 months. You can begin training your lab once they are 8 weeks old. According to Easy Retriever Training, your puppy has received sufficient foundational training at that age, an aspect that simplifies your work. Therefore, your pup has acquired essential, natural, and intuitive training by the age of 8 weeks. At months, you can begin obedience training by teaching your pup basics, such as stay, sit, down, and off. However, you should watch out if your lab is very active. That means they will need enough regular exercise to enjoy the training sessions. Caveat: Before training your pup, ensure you know how to do it. Alternatively, you may hire a licensed trainer for better results. In most cases, the mother dog usually provides the care. However, you may be forced to step in sometimes, especially if the mother has rejected the little ones, is sick, or cannot produce enough milk. To take care of a 1-month old lab, you must pay attention to the following: Food By the age of four weeks, your pup has developed tiny teeth and can start weaning. You should initially provide supplemental bottle feedings. Prepare a milk replacement formula using warm water. After that, use a puppy bottle to feed your lab. You should feed your pup times per day. Not sure about the replacement formula to use? It is highly digestible and nutritious, making the transition from milk to solid foods easy. However, ensure you check the label instructions to determine the right amount to feed the little pup. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , you should gradually introduce solid food by mixing canned food with the formula or water or soaking kibble until it softens. Socialization Your pup must grow close to their mom and siblings at this young age. If that does not happen, your pup may show strange behavioral problems, such as fearfulness, aggression, and sound sensitivity. Therefore, you should find a female dog that can snuggle and play with your pup, lick, or discipline it. Alternatively, you should introduce your lab to other puppies to enable them to develop socially. Health The health of a month-old puppy can deteriorate quickly if they become sick. You should continuously monitor their health and note down any reductions or stagnations in weight, lethargy , vomiting, or diarrhea. Call your vet immediately if you spot these. The Environment Your home should be clean and free of pests to maintain a healthy pup. You should also provide your lab a comfortable crate with sufficient space for turning and standing. Besides, you should keep your pup clean by gently brushing or wiping them with a warm, damp washcloth. Final Thoughts How often your lab poops will depend on several factors, notably their size, age, health condition, and feeding habits. Nonetheless, you can housebreak your lab by beginning training as soon as they are eight weeks old. You can do that by establishing a feeding and elimination schedule, identifying a suitable spot for your puppy to eliminate, and rewarding them. However, you should be patient since the training may take up to 8 months. Finally, you should take care of your month-old lab by weaning them appropriately, monitoring their health, ensuring they socialize, and keeping their environment clean. Related Articles.

We should feed the dog for the weight they ought to be not necessarily their weight, which could result in an obese dog remaining obese. Toy poodle. Toy Poodles are very small dogs that do best when fed two or three smaller meals a day, rather than one large meal. Owners must understand how few calories an adult toy dog needs and resist overfeeding. A Body Condition Score of 4 or 5 out of 9 should always be the aim. Puppy Toy Poodles need frequent feeding and can be at risk of dehydration and hypoglycemia if not fed often enough. When first home, we will need to feed them four times a day. As they mature, this can be cut down according to their needs. Miniature poodle. As with the Toy Poodle, these smaller dogs should be fed a couple of meals a day. While it is up to the owner to decide if they wish to feed wet or dry, vets generally recommend dry food for both Miniature and Toy Poodles, to prevent dental disease. Standard poodle. Standard Poodles are large dogs that can be fed once or twice a day. To aid joint mobility, it is best to try, and keep your Standard Poodle lean; sticking to their daily calorie requirement and not over-feeding them. These can include probiotics to support the gut and essential fatty acids to promote skin and coat health. High-quality, digestible diets are best to ensure optimal health and prevent the development of gastrointestinal issues such as constipation or flatulence. Some individuals may be sensitive to certain ingredients and should be closely monitored after being transitioned on to a new diet. For all, it is advised that they are swapped onto a new food over the course of 5 — 10 days. Recommended Ingredients With such a variety of commercial diets now available, we really are spoiled for choice. Opt for a recipe that contains protein as the first ingredient; whether it be in the form of poultry, red meat or fish. Some diets will also contain offal such as lung and liver; with owners growing to appreciate their nutritional value more and more than our understanding of nutrition develops. Carbohydrates are an important source of energy and may come in the form of oats, barley, and corn. Dogs can digest these forms of carbohydrates and will use them as an energy source. Foods to avoid include: Spicy foods which may lead to gastrointestinal upset Fatty or fried foods which can cause pancreatitis Chocolate. While any cocoa containing chocolate is toxic, dark chocolate and cocoa powder are the worst offenders. Grapes, raisins, and sultanas are toxic and can cause acute kidney disease. Sweets and cakes offer no real nutritional value and can lead to obesity. Most cannot tolerate dairy well and it can cause an upset stomach. Whether raw or cooked, bones can fracture teeth, get stuck in the mouth, causing an obstruction and even lacerate the intestine. Food-Related Diseases in Poodles Poodles are considered particularly long-lived among dogs, with some individuals living up to 18 years. However, it is essential to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Your poodle needs consistent exercise, mental stimulation, proper nutrition, and a balanced diet. Several diseases can develop due to improper nutrition of the dog: Obesity. This is the result of feeding more calories than are required. Obesity can not only cause diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, it also leads to a reduced quality of life. Those who are obese can find it difficult to exercise and may quickly become out of breath. Poodles are more likely than other dogs to develop diabetes due to their genes. The pancreas ceases to perform its proper function. Symptoms include an increased appetite, weight loss, excessive thirst, increased urination, and lethargy. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that causes acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced appetite. While some cases occur for no known reason, others are linked to high-fat diets. Periodontal disease. The wrong diet can quickly lead to plaque build-up and dental disease. If possible, avoid wet food and feed your poodle kibble. This prevents plaque build-up and reduces the incidence of gingivitis. Below are some of the frequently asked questions by Poodle lovers! What is the recommended amount of food for a Poodle? It depends on how active your Poodle is. A very busy poodle will require more food than a sedentary poodle. For example, puppies need more calories than adult dogs, and elderly dogs need fewer calories than adult dogs. The best way to determine how much food your dog needs is to feed them a diet based on their age, weight, and activity level. Consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions about how much food to feed your Poodle. Can my Poodle be fed dry dog food kibble instead of wet food? There is no definitive answer to this question. Some people believe that dry food is better for dogs because it helps keep their teeth clean, while others believe that wet food is better because it contains more nutrients. Ultimately, the best diet for your Poodle will depend on his individual needs and preferences. There are pros and cons to both dry dog food kibble and wet dog food. Ultimately, the best food for your Poodle depends on his specific dietary needs and preferences. It can also be easier to portion control because the kibble can be weighed or measured. Wet dog food is usually more nutritious than dry dog food since it contains more fresh ingredients, and it can be a good choice if your Poodle has difficulty chewing or swallowing. Can poodle puppies eat dry dog food? Yes, dry dog food is safe for poodle puppies. As long as the food is specifically meant for puppies, it will provide them with all the necessary nutrients to grow and develop properly. Make sure to choose a food high in protein and low in carbohydrates, as puppies are naturally carnivores and need more protein than adult dogs. The majority of puppies have little trouble chewing dry dog food. However, you can soften the kibble by adding a little water or wetting it if they do. Until then, continue providing whatever diet is appropriate for his age and weight. If my Poodle has difficulty chewing, what should I do? You can do a few things if your Poodle seems to have trouble chewing. One option is to feed your dog softer foods, like canned food or boiled chicken. You can also purchase a special diet for dogs with dental problems. Finally, you can ask your veterinarian about giving your dog prescription toothpaste or chew toys designed to help clean their teeth. Can my Poodle eat grains? Grains are a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber, but they also contain gluten which can be hard for some dogs to digest. In addition, dogs that are allergic to grains will often have skin problems, digestive issues, and excessive shedding. Can I feed leftovers to my Poodle? Leftovers can make a nutritious meal for your Poodle if they are not too fatty or high in salt. Be sure to avoid giving them any toxic food to dogs, such as chocolate, grapes, or onions. You can also give them cooked meat, rice, and vegetables. A balanced diet is essential for keeping your Poodle healthy and happy. Feeding your poodle leftovers can also be unhealthy, as they may not be getting the balanced diet they need. Instead, try to give your Poodle specifically-made dog food tailored to their nutritional needs. This will help keep them healthy and prevent any weight problems from developing. Do I have any options if my Poodle is a fussy eater? You can do a few things to get your Poodle to eat. One is to try different types of food. Sometimes, all it takes is a change in diet to get a dog to start eating again. You can also try mixing wet and dry food or warming up the food slightly before serving it. If your Poodle is particularly fussy, you may have to resort to hand-feeding her small meals several times a day until she starts eating on her own again. What foods are toxic to poodles? Yes, there are a few foods that are toxic to poodles. Chocolate, raisins, garlic, and the artificial sweetener xylitol pose a threat to poodles. Cavities and gum disease are common problems in dogs, and they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for your pet. The vet will be able to diagnose the problem and recommend treatment. In many cases, cavities can be treated with antibiotics or surgery, and gum disease can be treated with a special diet or surgery. Your Poodle may be having trouble chewing because its teeth are not clean. You might also want to try giving your poodle rawhide bones or chew toys to help keep its teeth healthy and clean. What other foods should poodles never eat? Yes, there are other foods that poodles should never eat. Other dangerous foods for poodles include grapes, raisins, chocolate, and onions. Why not give my Poodle those treats that look like bacon, hot dogs, and pork chops? Poodles are prone to obesity, and these treats are high in fat and calories. Stick to crunchy treats that are low in fat and calories instead. My dog eats the grass in my yard and other plants. How can I prevent this? However, this has yet to be proven. Is fiber necessary for poodles? Yes, poodles need fiber. A high-fiber diet will help keep their bowels regular and help minimize the risk of constipation. Is a low-fat diet for my Poodle appropriate? Dogs have higher fat, and dietary requirements than humans and do not often suffer from the same obesity-related health issues that humans do. A low-fat diet would be dangerous for your Poodle and could lead to deficiencies in essential fatty acids. Feed your dog a balanced diet appropriate for their breed and age, and make sure they get plenty of exercise. Could I feed my Poodle raw foods? There are pros and cons to a raw foods diet for your Poodle. On the one hand, a raw foods diet can be healthier for your dog because it is more natural and closer to what they eat in the wild. However, on the other hand, it can be more expensive and time-consuming to prepare than a traditional kibble diet. If you consider switching your dog to a raw foods diet, it is important to consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to ensure that your pup is getting all of the nutrients they need. A raw foods diet should always include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and high-quality protein sources like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Is frozen raw food a good option for poodles? Yes, I do recommend frozen raw foods for poodles. I recommend all dogs eat a diet of at least some frozen raw food. Frozen raw food is the healthiest type of diet you can feed your dog. It contains all the nutrients and enzymes your dog needs to stay healthy and strong. Plus, feeding your dog frozen raw food can help protect them against many common health problems, including allergies, skin problems, weight gain, diabetes, and cancer. Is it okay to feed eggs to my Poodle? How about eggshells? You can feed eggs to your Poodle, but you should take care not to give them too many eggshells. Eggshells are a great source of calcium, but if your dog eats too many, they could end up with an eggshell calcium overdose. A safe dose for a healthy poodle is about 5 grams of eggshells per day. Poodles, do they need supplements? Yes, Poodles do need supplements, and there are a few are particularly beneficial for joint and bone growth. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are two of the most popular supplements for joint health, and they can help reduce inflammation and improve joint function. Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for joint health, as they can help reduce stiffness and pain. Vitamin D is another important supplement for Poodles, as it helps to maintain bone health and prevent osteoporosis. What man-made food can Poodles eat? Raw and cooked carrots are safe for your dog, as are cooked eggs, salmon, and blueberries. However, be sure to avoid grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and anything else that might be harmful to your pup. Conclusion — Final Verdict! Now that you know a little more about the best dog food for Poodles, we hope you feel confident in your ability to choose the right food for your pup. We wish you and your pup all the best in finding the perfect diet! Related Links. Raw or cooked homemade meals When you bring home a new puppy, you might want to switch her food to a brand you prefer. Wait until your dog has been with you for at least a few weeks. This is a time of big changes for your puppy, and you should minimize the trauma coming all at once. Plan to make the dog food switch over the course of a week or so, and watch for signs of digestive upset. Poodle Puppy Diets Many diets today are age- or stage of life-specific, even breed-specific. But does this really matter, or is it marketing? The truth is, it actually does. Brands that make dog foods pay attention to research to formulate the best nutrition for different stages of life and for different sizes of dog. A good puppy formula will include extra nutrients, such as calcium, and extra calories per pound of body weight. It will also have the right number of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, carbohydrates, and fats for the right amount of growth. The right amount actually includes the restriction of certain nutrients. Having too much of a good thing can actually be bad for dogs. In large breeds like the Standard Poodle, the ingestion of excessive amounts of energy and calcium as puppies can lead to a higher likelihood of developmental orthopedic diseases such as hip dysplasia. Poodles are genetically prone to joint problems like this, so diet here is very important. For kibble, you can even dish up the daily meals at the start of the day. Personally, I always make one extra bowl to use as training treats. Allowing me to reward my pup for good behavior throughout the day without messing with my ratios. Over the first couple of months, I feed four meals so I make up five bowls first thing in the day. Spread the formal meals evenly throughout the day time, making sure the last one is at least two hours before you want to go to bed. This will save you getting back up again to let your puppy out to open their bowels! An adult dog food should have less protein, calcium, fat, and omega-3 acids than the puppy version. Once your Poodle gets to about 80 percent of his expected adult size, feel free to switch to the adult brand. Every dog is different in terms of metabolism and body type. In that case, it might be time to switch to the adult corollary. Look for meat-based protein sources in the first few ingredients listed on the package. Be sure to start off with apuppy formula if your dog is under 12 months old. Feeding a Poodle Puppy Wet Food Many canned dog food options are digestible and full of balanced nutrition. Not all wet foods offer a balanced diet, so make sure to read labels. If your dog needs better hydration or has problems with her teeth, wet food might be a good option. Canned food often has 75 percent moisture content compared with percent for dry. Canned food has more fat and protein and fewer carbs, along with more animal products. Also, do your research! Learn about safe handling and storage of meats. This works because some foods provide more nutrition and taste better! Others are better raw. So this diet can be more flexible and easier to deal with than the raw diet. And you can avoid some of the pitfalls of uncooked meat, too. However, some of the same nutritional issues must be addressed. Weigh your puppy frequently and use a Poodle growth chart, then adjust food amounts as needed. If you can see them without having to feel for them, your dog may need more food. Look for other symptoms of problematic weight, such as exhaustion and difficulty turning around, or bowel and gas issues. Poodles are prone to obesity, and obesity comes with plenty of health issues you do not want to deal with, such as metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, heart disease, and joint problems. Instead, find ways of helping your pup eat slower, or feel full faster. A slow-feeder bowl can help reduce the rate at which your dog scarfs down his meal, for example. A puzzle feeder or other toys may also help. Play with her to distract her, or take her out! If you really think you need to adjust food amounts, talk to your veterinarian and get professional advice. Poodles tend to be a slower-maturing breed. The different sizes of Poodle mature at different rates. Smaller dogs mature more quickly. Miniature poodles will be fully grown between months but may take a bit longer to fill out. Standard poodles may take up to 2 years to mature. You can start feeding Miniature and Toy Poodles adult foods at around months. Feeding a Poodle Overview Ensuring that your Poodle is on a well-balanced diet is one of the most important elements to keeping your canine family member healthy, both now and into the future. This section will cover all Poodle feeding guidelines including how often to feed a Poodle, serving sizes, dry vs wet, grain vs grain-free, and top recommended kibble. Don't need all of the details and just want to know which brands are recommended? New Puppies - The Importance of Gradually Switching Foods Before you even bring your Poodle home, it is very important to discuss with the breeder or shelter worker if you are adopting a rescue exactly which brand of food they have been feeding to your Poodle. A fast change in food can cause upset stomach and digestive problems. Breeders and shelters are buying food in bulk and have to feed many dogs which is a factor in which brand they choose; so there is a good chance that you will want to offer your Poodle something different. Have both the current food and the new food on hand and make a gradual switch over the course of 3 weeks. Though you will be leaving food out at all times, it is important that the food is fresh. Do not just top it off throughout the day, rinse and clean the bowl as necessary so that old food is not stuck at the bottom of the dish. Puppy: Starting at just about the 3 month mark, Poodles of all varieties should be eating 3 meals per day, plus snacks. Adult: When a pup matures into an adult, this does not necessarily mean that they should suddenly be given only one meal a day. Smaller dogs such as Toy Poodles and Miniatures often do best with 2 or even 3 meals per day. Standards have a bit more tolerance to a single dinnertime feeding, however many can also benefit from having food split up into two servings. Several snacks can be given in between meals and this is particularly helpful is a Poodle is a fast eater. How Much to Feed a Poodle Exact serving size varies quite a bit depending on the type of food. There is a big difference in calories between wet vs dry and low quality vs high quality. And, the amount of food that a Poodle should be eating depends on the dog's age, activity level, individual metabolism, and health status. Even the weather can play a role since dogs tend to eat a bit more in the winter and a bit less in the summer. In regard to calorie requirements, puppies need more calories per pound than their adult counterparts, approximately 40 to 55 calories per pound, daily, compared to adult dogs that need about 35 to 45 calories per pound, daily. S enior Poodles typically have slower metabolisms and reduced mobility and therefore usually require slightly fewer calories, in the 40 calorie per pound range. If you are feeding your Poodle a commercial food, follow the suggested feeding guidelines. These are usually pretty spot-on. Since these are based on both age and weight, do not estimate how much your Poodle weighs but rather know what this is within a pound or two. If you are feeding your Poodle homemade food, a rough guideline for serving size is 1 ounce of food for each 1 pound of body weight, daily. As you can imagine, this can vary quite a bit depending on the exact ingredients. Using the 1 to 1 rule as a starting point, what your Poodle consumes within 15 minutes is usually a good amount for each meal. Wet vs Dry If a Poodle had their way, most would opt for wet food. However, dry food is recommended since this is much better for the gums and teeth. In addition, dry kibble tends to be easier on the stomach and intestines and a diet of all wet canned food can lead to runny stools. Grain vs Grain-free Until relatively recently, there was not much debate on this subject; if a dog tended to have gastrointestinal or allergy issues when on a diet with grains, they were switched to a grain-free recipe. However, this changed when it was discovered that several dogs that were breeds not prone to dilated cardiomyopathy developed that particular heart disease and also happened to be fed grain-free kibble. Lots of pet parents immediately thought that they needed to change their dogs back to grains; however, many more studies need to be done. In fact, the most recent update from the Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University suggests that 'grain-free' alone may not be the issue at play. For now, it is theorized that a certain diet dubbed a BEG diet may be to blame. This stands for boutique small local brands with exotic meats non-traditional meats like alligator, bison, ostrich, venison, and kangaroo and grain-free along with peas, legumes, or potatoes as one of the top 5 ingredients. Currently there are no recalls of grain-free dog food brands and the FDA is still investigating any possible links including the BEG theory. If your Poodle does not do well with any grains at all, you may wish to stick to a brand that has traditional meats like chicken, turkey, or beef or a fish-based recipes. And, if you are not sure about which grains your Poodle may do okay with, you may wish to opt for wholesome non-wheat and non-gluten grains like rice brown or white , oatmeal, quinoa which is technically a seed. Exact recommendations for the best foods include both grain and grain-free options. Elements to Keep in Mind When Choosing Food for Your Poodle What to avoid: It's no wonder that pet parents have a difficult time navigating the many choices of dog foods in their quest to find the best brand to give their Poodle, there are a lot of ingredients to avoid: Artificial flavoring like MSG which can cause terrible allergic reactions. Artificial coloring. Some of the worst are Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 2, and Yellow 6 which are linked to very serious issues including neurological and behavioral issues like insomnia and hyperactivity and serious health issues including some cancers. Chemical preservatives. This can be tricky to avoid since these do not always need to be labeled; if these are added to protect 'protein meals' in low levels, you'll never see it listed as an ingredient. These are meats and animal parts deemed unfit for human consumption. Examples are lungs, spleen, spinal tissue, genitals, hooves, beaks, intestines, and more. Generic meats or oils. This can, by law, be any species of animal whatsoever and are usually 4-D animal parts: Sourced from dead, diseased, dying, or disabled zoo animals, farm animals, or even roadkill. These are very common in cheaper subpar brands and are inexpensive ingredients that are added only to plump up the food but offer little to no nutritional value. Examples of fillers include corn, soy, wheat middlings, peanut hulls, oat husks, and cereal grains. Ingestion of fillers is a contributing factor in coprophagia eating feces and is linked to malnutrition. High grain count. Though some wholesome grains may be desired next section , high levels of wheat or gluten can cause upset stomach issues and allergies. What to look for: Knowing what to avoid can help you identify some of the better brands though exact recommendations are below. This means zero artificial additives. Natural preservatives. Wholesome ingredients. For meats and proteins this includes chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, rabbit, beef, and many types of fish including whitefish, haddock, salmon, and cod. You'll also want your Poodle to have some vegetables and fruits which provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Zero fillers. Every ingredient should serve the purpose of providing nutrients and never added simply to bulk up the recipe. The right balance of healthy grains. Though some Poodles will need to avoid all grains, most do very well with select non-wheat, non-gluten options including oatmeal, quinoa, and rice. Added extras. Next, we'll cover exact recommendations that fit all of the above criteria. Best Food for Poodles: Recommended Brands Please note that if you have not yet read ' Grain vs Grain-free ' section, you may wish to do so before continuing. Top recommend food with grains: 1. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry. For larger miniatures and standards, you'll want to opt for their regular Complete Health. There are also puppy, adult, and senior formulas. All of these have no wheat, corn or other fillers, artificial coloring or flavoring, soy, meat by-products, or chemical preservatives, so you can feel very confident that your filling your Poodle's bowl with truly wholesome, healthy food. These recipes also have excellent levels of omega-3 fatty acids. And, this is made in the USA. Halo Natural Holisitc Dog Food. This top brand has found its niche by offering a purely holistic, organic recipe with non-GMO veggies and fruits and meats with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no factory farming. The protein base is chicken and liver, the two grains in this are oats and barley, and vegetables and fruits include peas, blueberries, cranberries, carrots, and sweet potato. All other ingredients are to naturally preserve the kibble or are vitamins and minerals. This particular recipe is for small breeds, however there is also an original for larger dogs. Halo is made in the USA. Top recommended food without grains: 1. Merrick is a great brand which offers this recipe for small breeds, like toy Poodles and another option for larger dogs which would include miniatures and standards. Protein bases include Texas beef, lamb, chicken, and salmon. There is no corn or other fillers, wheat, gluten, artificial additives, or chemical preservatives. And, there are excellent levels of omega-3 and both pre and probiotics. Merrick is also made in the USA. The CORE formula from Wellness is, by far, one of the very best grain-free foods on the market today. It hits very single checkbox of what you are ideally looking for in a food for your Poodle and it has some superior extras. There are excellent levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. There is both a small breed formula and an original formula for minis and standards as well as puppy recipes and a reduced fat option. Wellness is made in the USA. What to Feed Your Poodle if Home Cooking You will want to have a mix of protein, healthy grains, vegetables and fruits. Proteins can include beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, veal, and fish cod, flounder, salmon, whitefish. Vegetables can include sugar snap peas, green beans, lima beans, spinach, peas, zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, and regular potato. Fruits can include blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apple, and pear. Extras can include eggs, salmon oil, extra virgin olive oil, certain cheese with low levels of lactose Colby, Monterey Jack, Swiss cheese, and cottage cheese and plain whole white yogurt. Note that if you home cook, you will want to include a daily vitamin and mineral since it is near impossible for any combination of foods to offer a dog every nutrient that they need. Snacks Snacks and treats are also an important part of a dog's diet. Dry treats often labeled as baked or crunchy are best to tide over the appetite in between meals. Moist or chewy treats are best when used as training rewards and to reinforce good behavior. Rapid ingestion of food can lead to gas, vomiting, or upset stomach and is linked to killer bloat. Types of Nuts that a Poodle Can Eat - If you are snacking away on some nuts and want to share them with your Poodle, see which ones are safe and which are not. Poodle Begging Behavior - Giving into begging for table scraps or extra snacks contributes to this bad habit. See how to react if your Poodle won't stop begging. Overly Picky Poodles - Read how to address finicky eaters to make mealtime less stressful for both of you. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. Updated March 4, This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links. Poodle puppies are lively and rambunctious creatures who are ready for anything. The breed has a long history that dates back several centuries. While many people know them for strutting their stuff at a dog show or performing tricks at a circus, most Poodles end up being a lovable member of the family. Good nutrition is crucial for proper development. In a hurry? The first is their size classification. There are three main Poodle varieties. These include Toy, Mini, and Standard. Toy Poodles are the smallest of the bunch, maxing out at about nine pounds as an adult. Standard Poodles, on the other hand, can get quite large. They can weigh as much as 70 pounds. However, most stay around the neighborhood of 60 pounds. All dogs start out small. They experience a significant growth spurt during the puppy stage. Before you know it, your young dog will be approaching their adult size. You need to have a good idea of how big your dog will get to supply them with the right amount of food. With a protein content of 31 percent, your puppy will receive all the amino acids they need to grow strong muscles. To support their changing digestive system, plenty of probiotics are added as well. Buy on Chewy 2. Most of it comes from deboned chicken and chicken meal. The dry food also has plenty of healthy fat to support their growing coat and brain. Healthy doses of calcium and phosphorous are included. These ingredients support bone growth and may be able to help your puppy avoid joint and skeletal issues in the future. Buy on Chewy 3. Chicken, lamb, and salmon all contribute to the high protein content. Because so many animal meat sources are used, your puppy can get a complex profile of amino acids to support their muscles. The kibble is also chock-full of fruits and vegetables. Ingredients like apples, spinach, and blueberries give your puppy a dose of vitamins. This particular formula is ideal for Standard Poodles. Buy on Chewy 4. It supports ocular health, improves their digestive system, strengthens their immune system, and provides plenty of energy. It does this with high-quality ingredients. Chicken and turkey are the main protein sources. Buy on Chewy 5. Chicken meal, turkey meal, and lamb meal are the most prevalent ingredients in the recipe. They make up the 24 percent protein content. The food also has a number of beneficial nutrients. Buy on Chewy nutritional requirements While the Poodle size classifications are vastly different, their nutritional requirements remain the same. The only thing that will be different is the amount of food you provide. During the first year, your dog is developing muscles, strong bones, and healthy organs. Poodle puppies are quite active. This constant activity eats up a lot of energy. Not only that, but their bodies are changing. On average, Poodle puppies will need about 55 calories per pound of body weight. More active puppies may need upwards of 60 calories. On the other side of the spectrum, lazier pups will need about .You can use this general guideline to figure out how much food your puppy will need at various stages of development. If not, you may have to soften the kibble a bit to get them to eat or start with wet food. Compared to their birth weight, Poodles will be surprisingly large for only being a few months of age. Toy Poodles The average weight of a Toy Poodle at three months is about two and a half pounds. Miniature Poodles Miniature Poodles typically weigh about five pounds at this age and need approximately calories to stay healthy. Standard Poodles Standard Poodles are well on their weight to reaching adulthood at three months. They should already weight about 20 pounds. This equates to over 1, calories every day. You should continue to monitor their growth and adjust their diets as needed. Toy Poodles Toy Poodles almost double their weight by this age. They typically weigh in at just under five pounds, thus requiring about calories. Miniature Poodles By six months old, most Miniature Poodles tip the scales at about 9 pounds. Standard Poodles At around 35 to 39 pounds, Standard Poodles will do well with just over 2, calories of food. One Year of Age Take out the birthday candles and some dog-friendly cake! This is a great time to look back on your previous weigh-ins to see how much your puppy has changed. Your Poodle should be close to their target adult weight. They will continue to grow a bit longer, especially Standard Poodles. However, the changes will be a bit more difficult to see. Toy Poodles While it may not seem like much growth, Toy Poodles have come a long way since birth. Your tiny canine companion should weigh in at about six pounds and require about calories of food each day. Miniature Poodles Miniature Poodles have an average weight of about 13 pounds when they are one year old. As a result, you should be feeding them just under calories. Standard Poodles At a year old, your Standard Poodle is probably too big to be a lapdog anymore. Most puppies weigh about 50 pounds. They will need between 2, and 2, calories each day. Young Poodles need to eat many times throughout the day. When their suckling off their mothers, puppies typically free feed. Your dog will have the urge to eat a lot as a result. From there, you need to slowly decrease their meal frequency. When you hit the six-month mark, go down to three meals. At one year old, you should try to work your way down to two meals. Your puppy may not like this very much. If they seem to have a problem with hunger throughout the day, you can continue to feed them three meals for another few months. The time to switch your puppy to adult food will depend on a couple of factors. Some dogs take a bit longer to reach their adult weight than others. They need continued support as they make that last push to adulthood. Switching too early can do more harm than good. This is because they are considered adults at about one year old. The other two classifications continue to grow, albeit slowly, until about a year and a half. Their digestive system is still quite sensitive to changes. You can ease the transition by introducing small amounts of adult food to their puppy formula. Dry food and wet food both have their advantages. Starting off with canned food gives your puppy the opportunity to develop stronger muscles before they move onto something tough. It should be noted that wet food is usually less dense than kibble. To avoid weight gain, you should move onto dry kibble when your puppy is about six months old. Here are some great recipes for young Poodle pups. The food comes in a mash form. It can also be mixed in with dry food for an additional kick of flavor. It comes in a convenient tray for mess-free eating. The recipe is comprised of great ingredients like beef and liver. There are also visible vegetables. Over to You Creating an effective diet plan for a growing Poodle puppy is a lot different than doing so for an adult. They need all the fuel they can get. With a bit of extra knowledge and planning, you can provide your dog with a great diet that helps them grow up to a healthy adult. Sure, there are various flavors and formulas, but it goes much deeper than that. Poodles are relatively healthy when it comes to health conditions that may affect which food you choose. Diseases like diabetes or allergies may influence which product you give your pooch. In these cases, you can get a prescription diet to feed your Poodle. You should only feed your pet the food meant for the species. Breed Size Poodles come in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. They vary in size from 4—70 pounds. However, even within the breed, there are differences in what you should feed your dog. The reason rests with metabolism. Smaller pups mature much faster than large ones. Whereas the Toy Poodle is an adult at 12 months, the Standard Poodle may take up to 16 months to develop fully. That fact affects the food you should give your pooch. Products for small breeds have more calories to support this rapid growth. The ones for large dogs, on the other hand, have less since they mature more slowly. Feeding your Standard Poodle a diet meant for a Toy Poodle may cause him to gain weight and become obese. Many commercial diets will have this information on the label to help you choose the right one. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese Grapes and raisins Sweets and desserts Avocados Dogs can have dried cranberries as a treat, as these berries are good for digestive and bladder health. However, raisins and grapes are toxic to dogs and can lead to significant kidney failure. If you fear your dog has eaten raisins or grapes, reach out to your veterinarian as soon as possible. Dry Food Vs. Wet Food Dogs should rely on dry food as opposed to wet food. However, wet food should be a consistent portion of their diet. Although most dogs would eat only wet food if they could, too much wet food can cause digestive problems and make dogs sick. Dry food offers fibrous content that dogs need for a healthy bowel movement. Wet food offers food rife with vitamins and minerals — alongside an appealing taste for most dogs. However, dry food can help with tooth health and fight gum disease. A healthy combination of dry and wet food can lead to a well-balanced meal and a happy dog. The best possible dog food varieties include those that offer your Poodle only the healthiest and high-quality ingredients available. Although some of these dog food choices may be expensive, they also offer lean proteins like duck and sweet potato, so you know your Poodle is getting only the best from their diet. Although the first ingredient is a chicken by-product, this dog food option is rife with protein, vitamins, and minerals that will help your Poodle feel at the top of its game. The kibbles included in this dog food choice are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and contain vitamins that will assist in healthy coat formation and healthy gums. Not only is this brand recommended by vets around the world, but it also includes a flavor that dogs seem to love and ingredients that pet owners can feel good about. While the cost for this dog food option is a touch high, it offers the security of knowing that your dog will have all the nutrients and vitamins needed to live a long and healthy life. Each variety contains the exclusive Nutrivantage, and no filler or meat bi-product. Chicken meal and rice flavor. No Corn, no wheat, no soy, no meat bi-products. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Alongside lean protein and quality sources of fat, this dog food option also offers tons of vitamins and minerals. Although this dog food choice is expensive, it is also ideal for dogs who are currently training or need a boost in their performance. Contains one 1 30 lb. Blue Buffalo is notorious for making only the best dog food with real meat as the first ingredient. This is rife with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that will help your Poodle thrive. Additionally, this dog food is also enhanced with vitamins and minerals specifically for immune system support. ALL NATURAL: Created by nutritionists, veterinarians and animal lovers, our recipes provide an ideal balance of nature's finest ingredients, carefully selected to nourish and sustain your dog's.However, the calorie content of this food is a little high, which can cause weight gain. Additionally, this dog food brand is more expensive than the average, although it does have everything your Poodle will need to keep them healthy and happy. Larger Poodles may not get all the nutrients and vitamins they need from this dog food option, as it is meant for smaller breeds. This choice may be the least expensive choice for dog food while maintaining high-quality ingredients and food rife with minerals and vitamins. There are no artificial ingredients, and there is plenty of protein in this food option. This brand prides itself on not including any animal by-products or fillers. This product is rife with vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy gums and a full coat. Poodles Require Special Nutrients Poodles need more protein than other dogs because of their lean shape, meaning that Poodles may require a unique brand of dog food that can offer enhanced vitamins, minerals, and protein content. Whether you are looking for the best Poodle dog food available on the market or preparing for adoption, these top seven dog food options stand apart from other dog food options because they offer more essential nutrients for your Poodle. Although some options are expensive, these brands can help your Poodle avoid harsh and destructive ingredients like artificial dyes linked with cancer in animals, fillers, and empty calories. Instead, they boast quality and put healthy dog food ahead of profit. Small Poodles may be less than 40 pounds, meaning they may need even more nutrient-dense food to accommodate their small stature — something these dog food brands are passionate about providing. With the best dog food for Poodles on this list, you can be sure that your Poodle is getting everything they need from its diet. Similar Posts.

What is a Chow Chow? The beautiful Chow Chow Chow Chows are mighty, ancient canines with a strong history as herding cattle dogs. And of course, their bluish-black tongue. You may even find a working dog to help you on your ranch or farm! Fair warning, though. Just like these Chow crossbreeds. As a mix between the Chow Chow and Siberian Husky, two canines bred to work, you can expect their hybrid offspring to require the same training, mental stimulation, and care that they do. With a height of up to 26 inches 66 cm , and weighing up to 95 pounds 43 kg , this large-sized mixed breed is an excellent guard dog. Chow Lab mixes still have that independent personality, but because of their Labrador Retriever parent, they have a temperament that makes them suitable for families. Your loyal furry companion is easy to train. Golden Chows can grow to be medium-sized canines or large dogs. They have floppy ears, big eyes, and a black nose that makes them look super cute! Also, the Chow-Golden Retriever mix likes being challenged, so expect a pup that thrives during training. Though they make great family pets, they may not be fond of other pets and dogs. You should also be cautious when it comes to small children. As a cross between an American Pitbull Terrier and Chow Chow, they have a muscular build, a short muzzle with a wide haw, and can weigh up to 70 pounds 32 kg. As a result, Chow Pei needs plenty of exercise, but they can adapt well to life in various environments. An intelligent, dignified breed, the Chow Pei also makes for a very loyal and protective watchdog. They weigh around 60 pounds 27 kg and stand about 20 inches 64 cm tall. They are so protective of their humans that the Akita Chow can dominate for attention and thus be the only pet. Although a loyal breed, the Akita Chow mix is only recommended for expert dog owners. Intelligent and independent, this active breed needs vigorous daily exercise and plenty of training. A smart and friendly companion Chow Hounds are low-slung, the Basset parent, with a long face, floppy ears, and a soft coat. Due to the Basset Hound colors, you can find Chow Hounds in brindle or brown or possibly even a multi-hued coat color. Their curious, bounding nature does mean that you need to keep a close eye on them when out and about. They will do best when part of a pack and in a household where someone is around for most of the day. This dog will have a strong personality with an independent spirit, although they can be loving and affectionate when they want to be. The tiny Pomeranian breed is a popular parent for various mixes, so just be wary when getting a Pom Chow as they could come from a puppy mill rather than a reputable breeder. American Chow Bulldog Source: fentys. They can be a touch aloof and guarded, although the American Bulldog parent does lend a more playful side to their personality. This hybrid dog will mainly resemble the American Bulldog parent with a short, smooth coat, large, square-set head, and stubby legs. Boxer Chow Source: bella. Positive reinforcement is the way to go when training this breed. With consistent training and a stable home structure, this breed is the perfect blend of playful companions and intelligent working dogs. This spritely breed loves to take charge and will quickly establish itself as the leader of your pack. If well-trained and socialized at a young age, they will get along well with all family members, including other pets. You may also want to keep an eye on them around strangers as they tend to be protective; however, once they warm up to new people, they can be loving and easy-going. This hybrid will inherit the snub-nose of the French Bulldog parent as well as its small size and bat ears, but with the luscious fur of the Chow and possibly its long, curled tail as well. This Chow mix will be fearless and alert but also very reserved towards strangers. If not socialized correctly, you could even end up with an aggressive breed on your hands. Like many other Chow mixes, this hybrid is also super protective of its owners and highly suspicious of strangers. As both parent breeds have dense, thick coats built to withstand cold winters, you can expect the Berner Chow to be very fluffy with a good deal of grooming needs. This dog will be a shedder. All this fur will sit on a heavy set, square body with muscular legs and a long tail. They will need lots of space to run around and an owner who knows how to give them the right training to control their boisterous personality. Without this, the Border Collie Chow can develop aggressive tendencies. This cross will have a long coat that sheds heavily, so regular grooming is necessary with this Chow mix. As the puppy of two working crossbreeds, the Australian Shepherd Chow mix will need to be socialized early on, and this stubborn breed will require a consistent owner that is firm and authoritative. As both parent breeds have long fluffy coats, you can expect this Chow Chow mix to be a heavy shedder. As large dogs, they also need a fair amount of space, and their powerful body combined with their headstrong personality needs an experienced dog owner to keep them in check. They need consistent obedience training and lots of grooming. With the right owner, however, this cuddly dog can be a loyal and affectionate companion. A powerful and robust dog, they make excellent guard dogs, with both parent breeds having a history of protecting their owners and their herds. The Mastiff Chow is likely to have the shorter coat of the Mastiff parent. This cross is likely to be very territorial and can tend to bark a lot. However, with an experienced dog owner that will establish themselves as the owner and not their Corgi Chow, this dog can be an affectionate family-loving companion. A bundle of fun in a small package, the Chugapug requires plenty of exercise to stay fit; otherwise, they run the risk of becoming obese. Due to the Pug parent, this cross can be prone to several health issues, including some severe breathing issues affecting their life expectancy. It is difficult to predict precisely how any crossbreed will turn out, but certain Chow Chow mixed breeds can add a playful or friendly side to this beautiful dog. Do you have a Chow Chow mix or one that is a firm favorite? Let us know all about your pup in the comments below. With a background in animal science, dog training, and behavior consulting, her hands-on experience and extensive knowledge make her a trusted source for dog owners. When not writing or leading the K9 Web content team, Cess can be found volunteering at local shelters and participating in dog-related events. The American Chow Bulldog is intelligent, but needs extra work with training due to their stubbornness and confidence. Daily training sessions of around five to ten minutes help this breed keep on track. Additionally, basic obedience classes with a professional trainer can be helpful, especially in puppyhood. It may be helpful for this breed to continue on in adult classes to maintain good manners; Chow Chows in particular are known for having rebellious natures and struggling with redirected aggression. On the plus side, this breed is often engaged and interested in training. They can be strong-willed and need stimulation and routine exercise. Chow Chows and mixed breeds with Chow parentage are known to struggle with reactivity to people, other dogs, and anything else they deem a threat. Without proper stimulation, the American French Bull Terrier will grow bored and frustrated — regardless of how much love there is for them. This breed easily develops separation anxiety. Dog parents who are frequently home or able to bring pups to work are a good match for this breed. This breed should receive walks for at least 45 minutes a day. Ideally, they will also have a fenced in backyard to burn off extra energy. Both parent breeds, however, are well known and loved. The American Bulldog was first developed for the sad sport of bull-baiting. Wild pigs were the primary target of the American Bulldog, as their loyalty and powerful build was perfect for hunting them down. Today, the American Bulldog is sometimes used as a watchdog, but is just as common as a family pet. Experts have long assured the public that the Chow Chow is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, and genetic testing has proven that to be true. The ancient breed is believed to have originated in Mongolia and Northern China, as early as B. Today, the breed is revered as a fierce but endlessly loyal guard dog. They have no breed standard, so their coats may be found in a variation of colors from either parent. However, they will tend to favor variations of tan, fawn, rust, and cream. They often will take on the puffy-coated characteristic of the Chow Chow. American Chow Bulldog Personality The American Chow Bulldog is often good-natured and loving with those they know well, but they also can tend to be overprotective or easily startled. Training them consistently when young will ultimately improve their quality of life and yours as an adult. American Chow Bulldog Health While American Chow Bulldogs originating from responsible breeders are often healthy, there are some genetic predispositions towards health issues to be aware of with this crossbreed. Patellar Luxation. This should ideally come in the form of lean meats and other animal-sourced proteins, but good quality, protein-rich commercial kibble is great too. Like any other dog, the quality of food is far more important than quantity, and nutrient-rich kibble will nourish your pooch rather than fill them with empty calories. Some commercial foods are filled with filler ingredients, like wheat and corn, which only serve to bulk the food up and bulk up your pooch too! These dogs are prone to being overweight, and the better the quality of food they are given, the less chance they have of becoming obese. Of course, their propensity for gaining excess weight means they should never be freely fed or given too many treats and table scraps, no matter how convincing those brown eyes may be. That being said, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog, and giving them regular exercise will go a long way in mitigating any negative behavior. Regular exercise will also help prevent them from putting on extra pounds. While they can be playful dogs, a gentle walk around the neighborhood will do them fine, followed by a fun activity in the backyard. Bear in mind that these dogs have short fur and will not do well in extremely cold temperatures, and their short snout can cause difficulty breathing in hot areas. They can be aloof and hard-headed and prefer to do things on their own schedule, making training a real challenge. Good training is essential with these dogs, as they are large and tough powerhouses. You can effectively begin training the day your puppy comes home by teaching basic commands that are incorporated into their daily life. We highly recommend reward-based training methods, as these dogs can be highly sensitive, despite their outward appearance. This training method relies on rewarding your dog for good behavior with a treat or praise and ignoring bad behavior as opposed to stern reprimands. That being said, a firm hand and confident, pack-leader mentality is still required. The power and stubbornness of these dogs make them not an ideal choice for first-time dog owners, as they can be a challenge to maintain. They are heavy shedders, though, and regular brushing is essential to get rid of any dead hair before it reaches every corner of your home! These dogs also tend to drool, which can result in bad odors and bad breath when they lean in for a kiss! They need to be cleaned regularly around their mouth and jowls with a damp cloth, and regular teeth brushing will help prevent bad breath and dental decay. American Bulldogs can have a host of inherited genetic issues, however, and some of these may trickle down to your American Chow Bulldog. A diet rich in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids is essential. They are also prone to cardiac and respiratory disease and cherry eye, and if they inherit the short snout of Bulldogs, they may have various breathing issues too. This makes them particularly prone to brachycephalic airway syndrome, which will worsen with obesity. This syndrome gives them difficulty breathing and eating and affects their ability for temperature regulation, as they often cannot pant effectively. Skin problems like eczema, hot spots, and bacterial infections are also common, and if your American Chow Bulldog has wrinkled skin, be sure to keep the skin folds clean and dry. Bulldogs have the most allergies of almost any breed due to their genetic abnormalities, and this can manifest as both skin and food allergies. Minor Conditions. Is it more like the Bulldog or the Chow? With the Chow being in the mix, this is obviously going to make for a potentially larger and more aggressive dog. Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Bulldog Mix. While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue , we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Chow Bulldog Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Chow Bulldog Mix puppies for sale. If you are interested in helping animal rescues raise money, please play our quiz. Each correct answer donates to help feed shelter animals. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. Please sign our petition to stop puppy mills. Bulldog History: The original intent of the bulldog was that they were bred to help butchers control livestock. It is a very old breed and by the 15th century, in addition to catching and herding horses, cattle, and boars in legitimate farming use. If you can believe it, this lasted for a few centuries until this activity was banned in .Being that this is such a violent activity, they were bred for aggression. After this ban, the more aggressive tendencies were not necessary and one might wonder why they would even stay a breed. Well, they are very faithful and loyal companions and are the official mascot for nearly 50 schools and five times as many secondary schools. They are also the unofficial mascot for the U. Marine Corps. Chow History: The Chow Chow is thought to be well over years old. It is one of the oldest dog breeds known. Theoretically it originated from a cross of the Tibetan Mastiff and the Samoyed in the northern parts of Siberia. It resembles both the Mastiff and the Samoyed. Due to the black tongue, there is some argument as to the origin. Regardless of ancestry, the Chow Chow hails primarily from China. Where it was used for centuries as a sporting dog. It is said to have been favored by emperors and wealthy sportsmen. It is a diverse dog as it has been used as both scenting dogs and pointers. This speed and stamina made them good at hunting birds. Their working background has shown them being used for herding, pulling and protection. Unfortunately, in the early days in China, it is well known that the Chow was an important source of food and fur. This culture was protein-starved and needed a good food and supply source. Height: 18 - 22 inches at the shoulder Weight: 44 - 70 lb. Lifespan: 9 - 15 years Chow Chow English Bulldog Mix Personality Like all hybrids, you have to look to the parents to get a good read on how they will likely behave. This could have obviously make for a very powerful and strong breed that might be best for an experienced dog owner. They might be an alpha with a strong personality and needs a strong owner with experience who can set themselves as pack leader. They should get along well with other animals if exposed and socialized properly as well. They are somewhat capable of independence, or alone time when the house is noisy or full. She responds well to positive reinforcement, like all dogs. She should be rather affectionate and enjoy spending lots of time with you. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition. The Dalmatian mixed with the Chow Chow might be prone to Eye problems, cherry eye, dry eye, entropion, reverse sneezing Note that these are just common problems in both breeds. This will be a more aggressive shedding dog due to the parent breeds. Be prepared to brush them a few times a week. Either way, get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him. What are the exercise requirements? Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. If it has a short nose like the Bulldog you will need to be very careful with it overheating too much. This is not a mixed breed to push too hard! A tired dog is a good dog though. What are the training requirements? This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background. Links to other breeds you might be interested in. If a Chow Chow Mix takes after their Chow parent, they will be a large, fluffy dog with a protective instinct and an independent nature. Chow Chows tend to be naturally aloof and independent dogs. They do bond with their humans and are affectionate with them, but they also like to do their own thing. Because they have a protective instinct, they are naturally suspicious of strangers. As such, socialization and training are essential. If the other parent breed has similar traits, then you can likely expect the same from a Chow Chow Mix. However, the other parent breed will likely introduce other potential traits in the mix, so you do want to ask the breeder about them. You can also meet the mother dog in-person to see what type of temperament she has and what behavior she is modeling for her puppies. The Chow Chow is a moderately adaptable dog breed. They enjoy their space, but can adapt to apartment living. They are more sensitive to heat and prefer cooler climates because of their thick coat. If they are in a home with a yard, it should be securely fenced as these dogs can become territorial. Mixed-breed dogs can sometimes be healthier than their purebred counterparts. However, there is no guarantee. A mixed-breed dog has a chance to inherit conditions common to one, both, or neither of the parent breeds. From the Chow side, potential health conditions to be aware of in a Chow Chow Mix include hip dysplasia, allergies, elbow dysplasia, and thyroid issues. Reputable breeders will be screening their dogs to avoid passing issues on to puppies. So, you should be talking to the breeder about both of the parent breeds anyway. Make sure you ask about their health and genetic history. You can also ask about any tests that have been done and to see those results or health clearances. Although a Chow Chow is a highly intelligent dog breed, they are also known for their independent nature, which can make them extremely stubborn. Training a Chow requires a lot of patience, skill, and consistency. As such, they do not tend to be a good fit for novice owners, and obedience classes are recommended. The other parent breed could introduce some traits that would make a Chow Chow Mix easier to train. A Chow Chow Mix can inherit a coat that is similar to one fo their parent breeds or a coat that is a combination of both of them. Should they inherit the Chow coat, it will be very thick and very fluffy and need a lot of maintenance. Chow Chows shed heavily as the seasons change and will need daily brushing during this time to prevent tangles and mats. This also helps keep loose fur contained to a brush and will help a Chow feel more comfortable. Outside of seasonal shedding, brushing a couple of times a week is sufficient. Bathing is recommended on a monthly basis. Brushing teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day is ideal dental care for dogs and can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life. Although a Chow Chow has a moderate activity level, they can sometimes be lazy, which is why they are prone to weight gain. Generally, daily walks plus some moderate playtime or activity is sufficient for this dog breed. The other parent breed in the mix could affect the activity level of a Chow Chow Mix, so you want to make sure you ask the breeder about them. This will give you a potential range of exercise requirements to prepare for in a Chow Chow Mix. A fully-grown Chow Chow usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. The other parent breed will have an effect on this, especially if they are the mother. Although it is not a guarantee, you can also meet the mother dog in-person to get an idea of what size to expect in a Chow Chow Mix. A Chow Chow generally lives for years. The other parent breed may affect this slightly, but you should be able to expect a similar life span in a Chow Chow Mix. Currently, we do not have any Chow Chow Mix puppies available, but we can alert you when new Chow Chow Mix puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address! Related Breeds.

Starch They Are Inactive or Obese Frenchies who have extra weight are much more prone to chronic farts, as silly as it sounds. So keep your Frenchie at a healthy weight with constant exercise. Even daily walks will help you with this. When Frenchies roll in their poop, it can be their canine instincts, or they just like doing it. Not surprising since dogs like gross stuff and Frenchies are no exception. If you want to understand this odd behavior more, here are some explanations that may help you. By hiding their scent with poop, their prey cannot detect them and run away. Although your Frenchie does not need to hunt , this instinct is still passed down today. To mark their territory, they may rub their scent on it to override the smell. This can be a warning or a signal that your Frenchie was there. By letting the pack smell them, the others will know where the returning dog was. Your Frenchie considers you as part of their pack. And because of this, they may want to let you know where they went. If your Frenchie has a hard time pooping, there are a couple of ways you can help them. You can try out the tips below. But if your Frenchie does not improve the next day, you should visit your vet. Never give your Frenchie an enema or laxative. You should only do so if your vet recommends you to. So you can add more fiber into their food to make them poop! You can feed them pumpkin, pears, apples, or any food rich in fiber. Add this to their meals, and see if there are any improvements. Make sure not to feed them too many fruits, though. While they may help, fruits are high in sugar. Make Them Drink More Water Sometimes, the solution may be as simple as increasing their water intake. Dehydration can make your Frenchie constipated. This is because their body will suck the moisture from their feces. And that makes it difficult for your Frenchie to poop. Try Giving Them Milk Milk is a great laxative for humans as well as dogs. But remember, some dogs are allergic or intolerant to milk. So you should only do this if you are sure that your Frenchie does not suffer from these. Their bowel movement will also see the benefits of exercise. Even a quick stroll with your Frenchie will help stimulate the movement of their poop. This will also help your Frenchie know what to expect since they like routines! Frenchies are notorious for being a stubborn breed , which is why it is challenging to train them. But they are also an intelligent breed, which makes it easy for them to understand your commands. When their stubbornness kicks in though, they may not want to listen to you. So you have to keep these in mind. Do not worry though, you just have to be consistent with training and do a lot of repetition. Make potty training fun too, as Frenchies learn best with this. Reward them for their good behaviors, but do not punish them when they make mistakes. Making your Frenchie fear you will do more harm than good, especially when potty training. Fear and anxiety can increase the likelihood of them making accidents. It is generally thought that female Frenchies are easier to train than males. The difference is in their personality and temperament. Male Frenchies are independent, mischievous, and energetic. They tend to have an alpha-dog mentality and may try to assert their dominance over you. This is a problem when potty training them. They will try to fight for that alpha spot, even with you. So male Frenchies may need more patience when you train them. Female Frenchies are docile, shy, and calm. This is why many consider them as easier to train. But you must take these with a grain of salt as these are only general observations. Frenchies have varying personalities within the same sex, so use these as a guide. You can start potty training your Frenchie as young as 8 weeks of age. Starting this early will be easier and may give you better results. Training an older Frenchie can be harder since they are set in their ways already. Other than that, you need to consider that it will take a lot of time for them to be completely potty trained. So the earlier you do this, the earlier they can complete this. It may take you 8 to 10 months to fully potty train your Frenchie. But this depends on how consistent you are in training them. Some Frenchies may take longer than this, while others will learn earlier. Some claim that it will take about 1 to 4 months to potty train a Frenchie pup. While others say that it will take up to 8 to 10 months. There is no cut and dry answer to this, so be consistent and patient as your Frenchie learns. Make sure you have a potty pad, treats for rewards, and a dog leash. Now, prepare yourself and gather all your patience. This can be a frustrating journey but you will get there. Below are some steps you can follow to successfully potty train your Frenchie. Step 1: Set a Schedule You need to be consistent in your timing so that your Frenchie learns when they should do their business. Take them out first thing in the morning, after their lunch, and after dinner. It is also a good idea to take them out after playing or drinking water. That way, you give them more opportunities to poop or pee. Step 2: Know Their Body Language Eventually, you will be able to tell if your Frenchie needs to potty with some signs. This can be pacing around, whining, barking , and staring at you in the eye. Knowing these will be helpful so you know when to take them out outside of their schedule. This will help them avoid accidents as well. This can be your garden or a designated potty place for them in your home. Even if they have outdoor access, it is best to train them with potty pads as well. During the nighttime, they cannot go out by themselves. So a potty pad will come in handy when they want to relieve themselves while you are asleep. Step 4: Use a Command Word The moment they start to relieve themselves, say a command. Make sure that it is simple enough for your Frenchie to understand. Saying a command when they go potty will help them associate it with the action. So do not forget to do this, soon, they will understand the meaning. This will help them to associate the command and action with something good. And this makes them more likely to repeat this good deed in the future. Now, repeat all the steps until they learn. Remember, be consistent with the timing, command, and treats. This time though, you may also need a crate to train them. Keep in mind that Frenchie pups do not have full control over their bladders. This happens when they are at least 4 months of age. So expect some accidents here and there. So here is how you should potty train your Frenchie pup: Step 1: Follow a Potty Schedule Whatever their age, your Frenchie needs to go at the same time each day. This should be first thing in the morning, after dinner, and some potty breaks throughout the day. Since Frenchie pups need to pee more, take them to their potty area after they play and drink water too. Step 2: Keep Them in a Crate This is important if your pup still does not have complete control over its bladder. Other than a crate, you can also block off a section in your home and keep them there. Puppies need constant supervision, or they will pee all over your home. By keeping them in one area, you will limit their accidents. Like in the previous section, this includes pacing, circling, barking, and staring. Keep in mind to make them go potty in the same area all the time. In time, they will learn that this is the only area you allow them to relieve themselves. That way they will associate the words with pooping or peeing. This positive association with the training will set you up for success. They will be more inclined to do the good deed again, which can speed up the training process. It can be harder to train them since they are set in their ways. But it can also be easier since they have complete control over their bladder. They are still trainable, though. You can potty train your older Frenchie with these steps below. Place them here when you cannot supervise them or between potty breaks. Step 2: Set Up a Potty Space Your Frenchie must go potty in the same area every time, whether it is indoors or outdoors. Use a potty pad and place it in an area where you allow them to do their business. You should act like nothing is happening so that you do not distract them. Wait for about five minutes and check if they try to relieve themselves. If they do, give them a treat as a reward. Otherwise, take them back to their confinement area. After 10 to 15 minutes, take them to their potty area again. Keep doing this until they potty. Step 4: Give Them Supervised Playtime Once your Frenchie finishes, make them play indoors while you watch for about 15 minutes. After this, you can take them back to their confined space. This is a crucial step. It prevents them from associating potty time with getting confined afterward. They may not like this and your Frenchie may think you are punishing them. Keep repeating steps 1 to 4 throughout the day and be strict in following this routine. The more you do this, the faster they learn. And always remember, give them praise and treats! So keep track of when they are most likely to go potty. This will also help to prevent any accidents since you can expect them when they need to go do their business. How to Potty Train a French Bulldog in the Winter If your Frenchie likes to go outside to potty, this can be tricky during the winter season. But making them go potty outside is still possible. Below is how you can do this. Step 1: Create a Snow-Free Potty Area A balcony or porch will do but if you do not have one, you can still create a space for them. You can shovel a spot where your Frenchie can go potty. This will be the spot where you allow them to do their business. Make sure you are protecting their paws with socks and keep them warm with a coat. Although they are sensitive to the cold, they enjoy frolicking around in the snow too. By playing with them in the snow, you are teaching them that this white stuff is not something to be afraid of. Step 3: Watch Out for the Signs The more you spend time with them, the better you will understand their body language. Whenever you Frenchie paces, whines, barks, or stares at you, they may need to go potty. They may hesitate to do this in the cold, but keep on encouraging them to go out. If they will not budge, it may be too cold for them. With this, you can make them potty indoors instead. Step 5: Give Them Moral Support Frenchies are sensitive to the cold and going out in the winter can make them uncomfortable. Stay with them while they go potty so that they feel more at ease. This will make them feel that it is safe to go potty during the winter as well. This way, they will learn that those words mean that they should relieve themselves. Step 7: Give Them Treats When they are successful in pooping or peeing in the right place, give them a treat as a reward. This will make the experience even more positive for them. With this, you may speed up the training process. January 11, French bulldogs are some of the most beloved dogs in the US and worldwide! In , PBS reported that Frenchies were the fourth most popular breed , topped only by consistent fan-favorites like labs and retrievers. French bulldogs are known for their quirky dispositions, mild temperaments, and low-maintenance playtime needs. Like all dogs, however, some training is always necessary! Puppies, in particular, require lots of attention and rule enforcement to guarantee that they will behave. Fortunately, Frenchies make training easy and rewarding. Read on to find out how to potty train a French bulldog and kiss those indoor accidents goodbye! This is the approximate length of time in hours that they may be able to hold their urine. For example, if you have a three-month-old puppy, she will likely need to pee at least every four hours. How frequently they need to poop will have more to do with their diet than age. Diet Just like with humans, the amount of fiber a dog eats will affect how often they poop. Some Frenchies love to spend their days lazing about while others seem to catch a case of the zoomies a dozen times a day! However, in the beginning, you may not know exactly when or how often your Frenchie needs to go. If your Frenchie begins to exhibit warning signs that she needs to go, take her out right away. She may circle or pace the room or sniff along the floor. This might be directed at you or at the door you usually use to go outside for potty breaks. With younger Frenchies, you may want to limit water intake an hour or two before bedtime. In the beginning, however, use a specific spot in your yard to reduce her confusion. Not only will this allow you to guide her to her specific potty spot but it will also cut down on distractions. Once your Frenchie has completed her business, give her a treat so she knows that she followed the command correctly. After the first day or two, rotate your rewards. You can use a toy or positive vocal tones and affectionate pets. Rotating rewards can help to prevent your Frenchie from expecting a treat every time she goes. If the temperature drops below 32 degrees, you may want to avoid taking your Frenchie outside at all, as they can develop hypothermia and frostbite. For that reason, potty pads are a good thing to have on hand. Training your Frenchie to use them is no different than training them to go outside! However, avoid yelling and physical punishment. You should also avoid rubbing their face or nose in the mess. This kind of behavior will frighten your Frenchie and break the trust that is crucial to any training process. Plus, it may encourage them to behave aggressively in turn. The odor, in particular, needs to be lifted. When Frenchies catch the scent of their own prior potty breaks, they may be inclined to mark that spot again and again. Your best bet to avoid this habit is to find a good cleaner that will hopefully eliminate any sign of an indoor accident. These symptoms may indicate urinary incontinence. Similarly, unusual pooping habits may also be indicative of a bigger problem. Also, if your Frenchie has an accident be sure to read this guide on the best carpet cleaner for old pet urine here. Share on facebook. Monitoring how often your French bulldog or Frenchie poops is not one of the more glamorous aspects of living with Frenchies. However, knowing how often your pup poops and what that poop looks like is a major way to quickly and effectively monitor your dog's health. According to The Whole Dog Journal , all adult dogs move their bowels at least once every 24 hours. Twice a day is also normal. It is normal for puppies to poop many more times a day because they eat more often than adult dogs do. After nursing her pups. The mother Frenchie will lick the bottoms of her youngsters in order to stimulate them to urinate and defecate. She usually does this after every feeding. Determining Your Frenchie's "Normal" As your relationship with your Frenchie develops, you'll get to know a lot about how your dog behaves when he or she is feeling good. This includes how often your Frenchie will poop. Frenchies most often need to poop when: They wake up after a long sleep After they eat a meal because eating more than just a few bites stimulates your dog's entire digestive tract During exercise such as walking or playing in the yard. Over time, you will instinctively know when your Frenchie isn't feeling good. When talking to your vet, one of the first questions asked you is, "Is your Frenchie pooping normally? It's like trying to determine the average times you need to poop. Frenchies may go more or less often due to: How often they are eating What they are eating and if that food can be thoroughly digested If they are getting enough water If they are getting enough or too much fiber If they have started a new medication If there has been a major change in the dog's life, such as the death of an owner or a move to another home If they suffer from a health problem which causes them to suffer from either diarrhea or constipation or why they farting so much If young Frenchie puppies suffer from a malformation of their digestive tract. This can be straight or curled up like a screw. Unfortunately, puppies with screw tails may be born with hemivertebrae, a genetic defect that causes them not to poop very little or not at all. Hemivertebrae can eventually kill a puppy or young Frenchie, according to the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. This malformation causes other problems such as loss of control of the hind limbs, pain, and urinary incontinence. This needs treatment at once. Each dog's normal poop will look slightly different. If you own more than one Frenchie, you may even recognize which dog's poop pile is. Overall, normal dog poop is firm but not runny, a light brown which turns black over time and is usually roundish or tube-like. The color of your Frenchie's poop can reveal how sick or healthy it is. According to the Canine Journal , here are what the most common colors mean: Tar-black: your Frenchie is bleeding internally from an ulcer OR drank blood or ate blood-rich foods like blood pudding. Call the vet and bring a sample. Grey: If it also looks covered in grease, your Frenchie may have a problem digesting fat called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Get a sample and your Frenchie and go to the vet. Yellow: the yellow is usually from mucus. Something your dog ate irritated his intestines. Orange: Your Frenchie has a liver problem. Covered in red stripes: The stripes are fresh blood. Your Frenchie has constipation or a wound under the tail. Dark pink or purple: This often looks like blobs of jam. Get your dog to the vet. It could be a serious digestive tract problem. Green: this could mean your dog has eaten a lot of green foods like spinach or grass OR it could indicate a medical emergency. Call your vet and bring a poop sample. Filled with white specks: Your Frenchie has worms. A dog door is a great convenience for many Frenchie owners. The dog lets itself out to do its business. However, there's a great temptation to ignore going outside to pick up the poop. Not only is this a health hazard to the community, but also a hazard for your dog's health. Like it or not, you need to look at your Frenchie's poop at least once a day to determine how healthy your Frenchie is. If your dog keeps going into the yard and you cannot find any poop, this might not mean that your dog is constipated. Your dog could be eating the poop. Poop apparently tastes good to dogs. According to the American Kennel Club , dogs have many reasons for eating poop — their own and someone else's. These reasons include: Boredom Wants to get attention from the owner. This certainly is an effective way to get a human's attention. Stress, especially if the dog has been punished in the past for pooping in the home. The dog will eat the poop to avoid getting hit or otherwise reprimanded. Bad behavior learned from dogs rescued from hoarding, puppy mills, or that have spent months in a pet shop cage. They eat their poop to keep their cage clean, so they do not have to sleep in poop, which makes the skin incredibly sore over time. Confusion with acceptable food from a mother dog. Since mother dogs have to lick their puppies' bottoms and eat the poop to keep the nest clean, puppies may smell poop on Mom's mouth and breath and think poop is food. Dogs living with other dogs and must compete for food. Getting your Frenchie to stop eating poop can be very difficult. A good way to start is to ask your vet to recommend a trainer to help. You also need to clean up your Frenchie's poop as soon as possible so there is nothing left to eat. One quirk of all dogs, not just Frenchies, is that a poop may suddenly trigger an explosion of joy. It can be alarming at first. Your Frenchie may bark , wagging what little of its tail it has furiously, run around, or jump about, such as this cute Frenchie on YouTube. It is unknown just why dogs do this. It could be that they feel good. If you have made a big fuss for pooping outside the home when they were puppies, they may expect you to continue making a fuss all their lives. It is just one of the mysterious joys of living with dogs. What Your Vet Needs To Know If your Frenchie is not pooping or is pooing more than usual, look to see if your Frenchie is acting in other unusual ways, such as if the coat looks right, if the energy level is normal or if there is vomiting, if the dog is panting heavily when sitting still or whining constantly. When you take your Frenchie to the vet, take a recent stool sample, too. If your Frenchie produces a stool sample in the car or just after arriving at the vet's, bring that, too. All of this information will help your vet come to a diagnosis. The Least You Need to Know Adult French bulldogs should poop at least once every 24 hours if they are eating regularly. Puppies can poop up to five times a day depending on how often they are fed and exercised. Each Frenchie will have their own normal amount that you need to know. Learning how often your Frenchie poops and what color and consistency your dog's poop happens to be is a great way to monitor your dog's health and to stop small health problems from turning into big ones. Shannon Cutts As a freelance pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to this site. The frequency, color, and consistency will all tell you something, as well as how often your Frenchie should poop. How often should a French Bulldog poop? There is no definite rule for how much your Frenchie will poop each day, as there are a number of factors that can influence this, including their age and diet. However, your French Bulldog should be pooping at least once a day, with the average for an adult being between 1 and 5 times daily. If that is the case, my advice is that you try to get them outdoors at least 3 times a day so they can do their business. To put this into perspective, we are lucky enough to have a dog flap that lets our Frenchie Claude go outdoors whenever he needs to poop or pee. That takes him out into a fenced off concrete area in our back garden yard for US readers. Having spoken with other French Bulldog owners, the general consensus is that 3 to 5 poops a day is pretty typical. What should healthy Frenchie poop look like? The ideal stool should be chocolate brown and a little firm in consistency. In the end, if your Frenchie is pooping just once a day, and there are no abnormalities when you inspect the stools, there is likely nothing to worry about. On the flip side, if your Frenchie is pooping more than five times a day, and you notice that the poop is abnormal in any way, then this could indicate a variety of medical issues. Here are some of the most common factors: 1. Age As a general rule of thumb, puppies tend to defecate and urinate more often than adult Frenchies. As they get older and their toilet routine stabilizes, you should see the frequency of their toilet breaks reigning back a little. Eating too much Another strong factor that can determine how often your Frenchie is pooping, is their diet. The more a dog eats, the more it will need to go. If you feel that your Frenchie is pooping a bit too much, it might be worth checking if your dog is at a healthy weight, and if you are feeding your Frenchie the right portions. Try tempting them with treats you know they love to see if this is the case. However, if your Frenchie refuses treats and food for more than forty-eight hours, take them to a vet immediately, as this indicates serious health issues. Fiber Fiber is a vital component for a healthy diet for your Frenchie, as its assists with bowel movement, water absorption, and provides energy, but too much can have a detrimental effect. Excessive fiber may give your Frenchie gas, hard stools, diarrhea, and can also increase the frequency of defecation. This is especially important before making any big changes. Although some small variations from the ideal poop can be expected, you need to keep an eye out for drastic changes. Worms in the poop When inspecting a fresh stool, if you notice anything that looks like small pieces of rice, your Frenchie may have worms. The worms can be quite small, but may also be long and skinny, but always tend to be an off-white or tan colour. The following colours indicate serious health issues: 4. Yellow poop This colour stool indicates a possible infection or that your Frenchie has ingested something that is irritating their digestive system. It can also indicate a parasite, food allergies, or that your Frenchie has developed problems with their gallbladder, liver, or pancreas. Green poop Green stools indicates that your Frenchie has been eating large quantities of grass. Dogs tend to do this when they have an upset stomach, which may indicate an imbalance in their diet. However, green poop can also indicate that your Frenchie has a parasite; that they have consumed rat poison; or that they have other digestive issues. It may be an indication of parasites, ingestion of toxins, inflammation of the bowels or colon, and infection of the anal sac. It can also indicate trauma to the digestive system. A perfectly healthy poop should have no coating at all, and when you clean up after your dog, the stool should not leave any kind of trail or mucus behind. This type of poop often accompanies diarrhea and might be an indicator of large bowel inflammation. Soft or runny poops indicate more serious concerns that may warrant a visit to your veterinarian. The key is to look for drastic changes. If they get softer and softer with each passing day, book your Frenchie in to see your veterinarian, and take a sample with you if you can. However, this can be a sign of a problem if they continue to eat poop into their adult life. French Bulldog Puppies 3. You can also try probiotics or one of the several products which are designed to stop or restrict poop eating and help them digest food easier. Train Your Frenchie Training is key to addressing unwanted behaviors, and poop eating is no exception. In each and every case, it is vital to communicate with your Frenchie that this behavior is unacceptable. These will come in handy when you catch them eyeing that pile of poop. It would catch her off guard and she would move away. I did that every time so she would associate the sound with the eating of the poop. She no longer eats her poop outside, but if she occasionally poops in her crate, she may, but she does not do it all the time. Positive reinforcement is also very effective in reinforcing a desired behavior, so if your Frenchie stays away from their poop, give a reward such as treats and praise. With poop eating this is especially true, as the health of your furry friend is at stake: regular poop eating can lead to diarrhea and other issues. In addition to poop, your Frenchie might also find all sorts of dangerous things outside which could even be fatal when ingested. Wait for the moment they want to eat it and step in! If they leave the food right away, praise them and show how happy you are. So, keeping your Frenchie mentally and physically stimulated can help redirect their energy and prevent them from resorting to poop-eating. Provide your puppy with interactive toys, play with them regularly, and take them for daily walks to keep their minds engaged and their bodies active. Read our article on how much exercise French Bulldogs need to learn everything about the topic! Your vet or a certified dog behaviorist can provide further guidance and develop a tailored plan to address the issue. Consistency and positive reinforcement are key to success. With your love, care, and a proactive approach, you can help your French Bulldog kick the poop-eating habit and lead a healthier, happier life. Frenchie puppies may eat their poop because of natural instincts, nutritional deficiencies, boredom or some kind of underlying health issue. How to get my French Bulldog to stop eating poop? The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies , or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article. Age: As your French Bulldog gets older, he will have a lower digestive capacity. Adult dogs only poop around three tim es a day, while puppies can go up to six or seven times. This is because puppies are growing, and their bodies need extra nourishment from food along with energy from digestion. Puppies usually have smaller bowel movements, especially when they are teething. You may begin to notice larger, looser stools once your Frenchie puppy starts getting teeth. Younger dogs also tend to drink more water than older dogs, so their poop is also more watery. If your French Bulldog is on a high-quality diet with no gravy or anything added to the kibble. In that case, you should notice smaller stools that are brown in color and resemble small pebbles. If your Frenchie is on low-quality food, their stools will be yellow and have a stronger odor that is cruder. However, if your dog has diarrhea or is vomiting, some of the stools may resemble more of a pudding consistency. Other signs such as excess gas and low stool output can indicate that your French Bulldog is not feeling well, and you should contact your veterinarian immediately. How long after a Frenchie eats do they poop? French Bulldogs should have a bowel movement after every meal. Depending on the size of your French Bulldog, they should have a stool at least 30 minutes after each meal. If your Frenchie is taking over an hour to have a bowel movement after eating. Some dogs may take longer to go than others depending on the size and age of the dog. How many times should a French Bulldog puppy poop? As mentioned before, Frenchie puppies will poop more often than an adult French Bulldog. However, there can be other Frenchie poop problems you want to look out for. If their poop is yellow, then their diet probably consists of low-quality food, or they might be eating too much. Blood on Their Poop If your Frenchie poops blood, this could indicate many problems. However, if there is dark brown or red blood, then your French Bulldog might be bleeding from their stomach or intestines, and you should take them to the vet as soon as possible. This could be because of parasites or worms, but in a worst-case scenario, it could also mean your dog has problems with its pancreas or liver. Runny poops in French Bulldogs should be investigated by a vet to figure out the underlying cause. Why does my French Bulldog puppy have loose stools? A puppy French Bulldog with loose stools is actually pretty normal. Puppies are constantly growing and eating, which means their digestive system is working overtime to process all of their meals. This can cause the stool to be soft for a few days until the puppy gets used to having more food in its system. What do you feed a puppy with loose stools?? To help your puppy get back to normal, you should give them rice or oatmeal. Milk should be avoided altogether because it will make the stool softer and could also cause diarrhea. If your French Bulldog still has diarrhea, then you should take him to a vet. How do I make my French Bulldog poop more solid? If your French Bulldog is eating low-quality food, their poop will be softer and have more odor. Why does my French Bulldogs poop smell so bad? If you have been feeding your French Bulldog low-quality food for a long time, then their poop will probably have a very bad odor. Changing them over to wet or dry high-quality food will most likely solve the problem. You should use a stool softener or give them canned pumpkin to help with their digestive system because dehydration can also cause constipation. If the problem continues, then you should take them to the vet. But if your Frenchie seems upset or uncomfortable after pooping, then that might be a sign of constipation or diarrhea. If your French Bulldog is eating his own poop, then this could mean he has a nutritional deficiency. Conclusion Adult and healthy French Bulldogs should poop a maximum of three times per day and in normal consistency. If your Frenchie is struggling to poop and seems uncomfortable, then he probably has some kind of digestive problem that needs to be addressed by a vet. It is important to watch your Frenchie when they are pooping, so you can monitor the color and amount of poop that is being passed. These signs and symptoms should serve as a guide when determining what type of bowel movement is normal for your Frenchie.

Final Thoughts Congratulations on adding a Golden Retriever to your family. These friendly pups make fantastic pets. Just be sure they receive adequate exercise and stimulation to help positively release their energy. A trained Golden Retriever can do amazing things, like serve as a companion dog. Enjoy your new pet, and good luck finding a name! More Dog Name Ideas Another great place for dog names is our online generator. It lets you pick your favorite name styles or themes and then generates a list of ideas tailored to you and your dog. Style options include cute, funny, tough, elegant, and more. The themes span everything from movies, TVs, books and comics, to history, food, music, and so on. Is the name easy to say? Sure, some names look good on paper, but in real life they could be quite tough to say. Before you lock in on a name, say it a few times to ensure it rolls off the tongue. Is it right for your dog? Say it out loud a few times. Was it easy to say out loud? Can you imagine loudly calling for your furry friend with this name? Trust your gut! Share this post:. Unique Tips For Choosing The Best Name For Your Golden Retriever You are probably wondering what are some good names for a golden retriever and is there any way of narrowing the list of several names to a manageable few. Here are some quick tips on how to choose the best name for your golden retriever: Use Personal Names: Naming your dog is important since this is the name you will have to live with for a long time. Hence, it is a good idea to consider names you have heard and already like. Instead, take some time to research different names and meanings; you will know when you find the right one. Ask For Advice: Talk with your family and friends and see what name they would give to your dog. You may get inspired or end up liking the names they have suggested. So, spend more time with your new puppy and get to know them better. Listen To Yourself: The right name will feel the best right from the start. Most golden retriever names are short and sweet, mainly because shorter names are easier to pronounce and for a dog to learn and remember. While not impossible, it can be a bit tricky for dogs to learn long names with a lot of syllables. A good name for a male golden retriever is short and easy to pronounce so your dog can learn quickly. Nevertheless, it is up to you to pick and decide which name is best suited for your dog based on your preferences. There are many cool dog names you can give to your golden retriever, just make sure that both you and your pooch are fans of a particular name. If you have a hard time picking just one of several names, say them one at a time to your pup and see which one gets their attention. There is no shortage of cute golden retriever names that can be a perfect moniker for your adorable pooch. Whichever name you decide to choose, make sure you can pronounce it easily and that you can call it out quickly. There is a wide selection of male and female golden retriever names to choose from, so I broke them up for you into: The top names for this year Brave and loyal golden retriever names Hunting and tracking inspired names Cute names for golden retrievers Take your time to read through all the names; you will know when you find the best one for your golden retriever. You May Also Like.

There are numerous factors affecting the cost of puppies at Petland. These factors include: High demand, low supply Petland is the only primary retail chain with puppies for sale. However, their price is high. This is above what most individuals might be willing to spend when buying a puppy. However, this price is triggered by high demand from clients and a low supply of pets. Therefore, Petland usually charges high price because they are sure people are usually willing to pay to get quality puppy breeds. Pet care You must understand that Petland usually sells puppies, which are living creatures. And to take care of living things, you require capital. This explains why the cost of puppies is high at Petland. They use a lot of cash to keep their puppies healthy and avoid selling sick puppies. Furthermore, if they sell sick puppies, they risk facing the law. They offer the puppy plenty of food, toys, and water, but the food is the most expensive. Remember, specific breeds of puppies consume much food, unlike others. Additionally, dogs are likely to consume much food when they undergo a growth spurt. Petland also ensures that its puppies are kept in an environment with the appropriate climate. Their stores need the right temperature with sufficient light to keep them comfortable and safe. Therefore, there is no doubt that Petland uses a lot of capital to ensure their puppies are healthy. And to keep everything running and make a profit, they have to sell their puppies at a higher cost. Petland sells pure breed puppies Puppies from Petland are costly because they are purebreds. A purebred puppy means that its grandparents and parents belong to the same breed. When it comes to mixed-breed, it is vice versa because the breeds are usually different. Mixed-breeds are known to be less expensive because they lack a lot of features that clients may love their puppies to feature. Likewise, purebreds have fewer health complications because breeders are familiar with their lineage, and they can keep them controlled. Labor costs Petland usually employs many veterinarians, and these medical experts come at a high cost. The company hires multiple staff and caretakers to ensure the pet store runs smoothly. If you budget all these, there is no doubt that this company requires a lot of capital to run and provide everyone who works there can put bread on the table. Other considerations When it comes to buying a puppy, there are a lot of things to consider. And of course, you want to find a good deal. Petland is one of the most popular places to buy puppies. They offer a wide variety of breeds, and their prices are generally very reasonable. But before you head to Petland to pick up your new furry friend, there are a few things you should know. First, Petland is a chain store, so not all locations are created equal. Some stores have better conditions for the animals than others. Be sure to have your new pup checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible, and be prepared for the possibility of unexpected medical bills down the road. Finally, remember that a puppy is a big responsibility. They need plenty of exercise, training, and socialization. If you do your research and go into the process with your eyes open, buying a puppy from Petland can be a great experience. Petland and puppy mills Many people are unaware that Petland is affiliated with puppy mills. Puppy mills are large-scale commercial breeding operations that produce puppies for pet stores like Petland. The conditions in these facilities are often very poor, and the puppies are often sick and malnourished. So before you buy your puppy from Petland, be sure to do your research. Make sure you know where your puppy is coming from, and be prepared for the potential health problems that may come with him or her. There are many great resources online where you can find breed-specific information. This will help you ensure that the puppies are healthy and have been well-cared for. German Shepherd: German Shepherds are another popular breed in America. Golden Retriever: Golden Retrievers are another popular choice for American families. Bulldog: Bulldogs are a popular breed in America thanks to their unique appearance and friendly personalities. They make great family pets and are relatively low-maintenance. Boxer: Boxers are a popular breed in America for their energetic and playful personalities. They make great family pets and are relatively easy to train. Beagle: Beagles are a popular breed in America for their friendly dispositions and hunting abilities. Dalmatian: Dalmatians are a popular breed in America thanks to their unique spotted coats and friendly dispositions. They make great family pets, but require a bit more exercise than some other breeds. Poodle: Poodles are a popular breed in America for their intelligence and elegant appearance. They come in Standard, Miniature, and Toy sizes, making them versatile pets for families of all sizes. Rottweiler: Rottweilers are a popular breed in America for their loyalty and protective instincts. They make great guard dogs and loyal family companions. Yorkshire Terrier: Yorkshire Terriers are a popular breed in America for their small size and feisty personalities. They make great companion animals, but require regular grooming to keep their coats healthy. Conclusion With the guide above, you are now well-familiarized with the price of puppies and the factors affecting the cost. Therefore, as much as puppies might seem expensive at Petland, they are worth it. The Petland company usually ensures your puppy undergoes a quality and professional training. It guarantees you peace of mind whenever you buy the dog because it sells you a healthy and happy puppy. I started this pricing blog as a side project to help people figure out the best prices on common services. Shoot me an email if you have any questions: david mightyprice. Related Posts. Puppy Breeds The Golden Retriever, with its intelligence and eager to please attitude, is one of the most popular breeds in the United States according toAKC registration statistics. The working ability that has made the Golden Retriever such a useful hunting companion also make him an ideal guide, assistance and search and rescue dog. The golden-colored coat is the hallmark of this versatile breed, and can range from light to dark gold. Want to know some interesting facts about the Golden Retriever, click here! History The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands in the late s and was used predominantly for hunting. Temperament This active and energetic Sporting breed can adapt to many different living situations but requires daily exercise. His water-repellant double-coat sheds seasonally and needs regular brushing. With his friendly temperament and striking golden color, this breed is both beautiful to look at and a joy to own. The Golden Retriever is great with children and other pets. They have an average lifespan of years. Sporting Group; AKC recognized in .Average size: from 55 to 75 pounds. Devoted companions, hunting dog. A healthy male Golden Retriever weighs between 65 to 75 pounds while growing up to 23 to 24 inches tall. A female weighs between 55 to 65pounds and can grow up to .How long does it take a Golden Retriever to reach its full size? For Golden Retrievers, full physical maturity takes one to two years. Once this is attained, its bones become fully grown and can perform the same amount of physical exercise as an adult dog. Do Golden Retrievers smell? Golden Retrievers often smell bad because of its thick water-resistant coat. You can, however, maintain its cleanliness to control its bad odor. How can you keep a Golden Retriever healthy? There are several ways to keep this dog healthy few of which are high-quality food, providing it with plenty of clean and freshwater, developing a good feeding schedule, etc. How many times a day should a Golden Retriever be fed? The required food for a Golden Retriever is dependent on its age, activity level, size and built. Vets recommend about 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food per day for two meals. How much exercise does a Golden Retriever need? This dog is a sporting breed and therefore requires a whole lot of exercise when fully grown, high-intensity exercise is very beneficial to it. Is it alright to get a Golden Retriever in a hot climate? The Golden Retriever can thrive well in hot climates; all it requires is a shaded and aerated area with lots of water. However, it should not be allowed to exercise too much in the heat. What age can a Golden Retriever Puppy be brought home? A puppy Retriever should not be taken from its mother earlier than when it is 8 weeks old. This is because up until that age, it gets important socialization and learns important skills from its mother and siblings. Should a Golden Retriever be left indoors or outdoors? A Golden Retriever naturally wants to be with its family, if its family is indoor, you will find it right there with them. Does a Golden Retriever bark a lot? The Golden Retriever is not one to bark a lot except in cases of boredom or mental stimulation. Are you interested in purchasing a Golden Retriever? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. While there are many popular breeds, none are like the Golden Retriever! These beauties are the ultimate family dog. They are the perfect hiking partner. They are an all-around lovable and treasured four-legged family member. Golden puppies are one of our favorite breeds for families, and they fit in well in almost any environment. Check out some interesting facts about the lovable Golden Retriever These are large breed dogs. They have an average weight of 55 to 75 pounds and a lifespan of 10 to 14 years. The Golden Retriever is actually from Scotland. This is where they were retrievers of fowl and small game for hunters. Their short, very dense, and water-resistant coats helped the Golden puppies wade into the cold water. Golden puppies require brushing and de-shedding constantly to keep their undercoats looking nice, healthy, and shiny. Golden puppies are a very active breed. This means they will need daily exercise. Take them on lots of walks. Give them tons of playtime. Allow them to run supervised of course as often as possible. Do anything you can think of to keep them active and burning off all of their energy! This is only a small amount of information about our Golden puppies. However, if you need more information or have specific questions, give our dedicated pet counselors a call today. You may want to actually come into our store and play with one of our Golden puppies for yourself! Are you finding yourself wondering if you bought a cow instead of a dog? Many dog owners find themselves scratching their heads and w.Daily walks are great for you and your dog — you both get some needed exercise and.Are cuddles—or worse conference calls! How about your adult dog and how to make sure that they have the right at-home dental care? Here are 5 interesting facts a.Well, what about popcorn for dogs? Can dog.Just as you protect your skin from nature and sun exposure, you should do the same for your pup. There are actually a lot of possible reasons that your Puppy is being so energetic. Here are a few. It needs more exercise Many different types of dogs are bred to do energy-intens.Here are 5 things that you do tha.Their excitement and cuteness are infectious with their little pa.Well, the great news for you is that you ca

A loving forever home with a secure fence and another dog in the home She wants to be your "All-American Girl! Carrie Underwood is so sweet and adorable. She is a bundle of tender kisses and has energy for days. She has been a great sister to the newest foster puppies that have come and gone, teaching them the art of playing with toys. Carrie's favorite thing to do is play chase with her K9 buddies. She runs fast and does figure 8's around the resident dogs, who don't even try to keep up with her. Her second favorite activity is napping with the resident Labs. She adores the older resident dogs and has learned great napping skills from them. She continues to work on her leash skills. Carrie has been quietly working on coming out of her shell and has undergone a transformation since arriving at her foster. She loves to curl up in the lap of her FM for naps and bedtime snuggles. She still has her moments of shyness around Foster Dad, but will now come voluntarily to the couch to sit beside him for attention. She's definitely gained lots of confidence. Carrie will need a home with another dog, preferably one who enjoys the same activity level. Carrie still has some shy moments but she is ready for her furever home, and she will steal the heart of anyone who wants to add a sweet yet energetic member to their family. Thank you to the following generous donors currently supporting Carrie's care: Amanda S. Fundraising Campaigns Our adoption fees do not cover our expenses, in fact over veterinary costs almost solely covered by donations. We opt to raise money in a variety of ways. Click HERE to see the ways that you can help without spending a dime! Saving Labradors… One life at a time! Sponsorships allow you to purchase specific items and services, We have also developed wishlists for common things we need and love to have on hand. Our DOGS …this is why we do what we do! Alumni Stories Nothing is sweeter than hearing success stories! Take a peek here to see a few! Check out our page on Petfinders to see any dogs we do not have adopters for. Wall of Honor As our furry family members cross the rainbow bridge, we offer this space to honor those dogs that will never be forgotten. If you are interested in fostering, transporting, fundraising, or volunteering in any capacity we would love to hear from you! We provide educational, recreational, and fundraising events. Please check back here often to see our upcoming events. Contact Us Feel free to reach out to us and we will respond as soon as possible. Like angels sent from God, 3rd Coast reached out to me. After one conversation, I knew that my babies would be well cared for and loved… thank you for not only finding them a home but for lovingly helping me get through one of the most difficult times in my life. Bissell It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. K-9 Turbo Training It all begins with an idea. It all begins with an idea. We promise not to fill your inbox but truly appreciate you being a part of the community and family! We're proud to have recently found new homes for the these lovable labs. Loading labs.Labs4rescue is proud to be associated with the following organizations Combined Federal Campaign CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, raising millions of dollars each year. To support Labs4rescue, click here and enter our Charity .Animal Charities of America Animal Charities of America ACA is a federation of America's finest national organizations working to protect and enhance the lives of all animals whether farm, domesticated or wild. America's Best Charities Each charity on their site has been carefully screened to ensure every charity listed is a qualified non-profit, provides ongoing program services, and is financially accountable. Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals Committed to seeing the day when no New York City dog or cat of reasonable health and temperament is killed merely because he or she does not have a home. About Us Labs4Rescue is a volunteer, c 3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing a new life for rescued or displaced Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Mixes. Our goal is to promote and advance responsible pet ownership. Useful Links.

Introduction A very special dog is now becoming part of your life. So many of the people who have undertaken this journey before you have reported that it was the most rewarding thing they have ever done — and the odds are that it will be for you, too. Puppy mill rescue dogs Over the next year or two, you will watch a dog who has been deprived of virtually every known pleasure begin to first explore, then enjoy, a life that offers her these pleasures. But it may not be an easy road for you and for your new canine companion. Puppy mill dogs have had their world turned upside down. This guide provides you with some specific methods for helping your puppy mill survivor. It is meant to supplement our larger report entitled Understanding and Caring for Rescued Puppy Mill Dogs , which is a comprehensive summary of the findings of our study of over 1, breeding dogs who were rescued from lives in puppy mills and adopted into human households. In obtaining full psychological and behavioral profiles of them, we were able to gain a wealth of information about these incredible dogs. Some basic facts: Puppy mills. They are large-scale commercial dog-breeding operations where the happiness of the dogs is all but ignored in order to make a monetary profit from selling the puppies. To maximize profits, the dogs are housed in very small enclosures, live in unsanitary living quarters, are fed inferior-quality food, are denied decent medical care, and, most important, are severely deprived of positive human social contact. Psychological functioning. Because puppy mill dogs are born and raised in an impoverished environment and endure severe stress throughout life, their psychological functioning is not like that of normally raised pet dogs. This shows itself in how they interact with people, their desire to make eye contact, their social skills with other dogs, their desire to play, their ability to focus attention and learn — in short, their ability to function like a typical dog. Fortunately, the dogs have a remarkable capacity to recover from their psychological impairments. Many recover to the point where they appear to be completely rid of their psychological difficulties, others recover partially but not completely, and others are so severely troubled that they continue to struggle emotionally. Every puppy mill dog has a different capacity to adapt and recover, and we almost never know at the outset what this limit will be or when the dog will reach it. What this means is that adopters must accept up-front that the dog they are taking into their home may retain some psychological impairment throughout his or her life and may always be a special-needs companion. Rehabilitation of puppy mill dogs is often difficult and fraught with frustration. It may take weeks, months, or even years for the dogs to be free of their fears and other emotional struggles. But, as our studies have shown, the adopters who open their arms and hearts to these little survivors are all but assured an immensely rewarding experience. Course of recovery. For some it is fast, but for most it is slow. It can be fast, and then slow, and then fast again. Steps forward are often interspersed with steps backward. All puppy mill dogs are affected by their puppy mill experience in their own way, and their needs for healing are very unique when they escape that life. Methods of rehabilitation will also vary in their effectiveness from dog to dog. Methods that are beneficial for one dog may be ineffective and even counterproductive in another. Rehabilitation can involve some trial and error until you see what works best for your dog. Normal dog behavior. We know that there are many aspects of normal dog behavior that dogs who have spent their entire lives in puppy mills cannot be expected to show at first, among them: Showing any control or discrimination over when and where they urinate and defecate Trusting humans Desiring petting or being picked up, held or hugged Playing with humans, other dogs or toys Understanding any cues Walking on a leash Eight words to live by. Write them on a piece of paper and post it on your refrigerator so you will see it every day. For example, while almost no dog straight out of the puppy mill has any concept of or experience with a collar and leash, if a dog has been given enough time to learn about these things in a foster home, it may mean that, upon coming home with you, the dog is very familiar with wearing a collar and being on a leash. Back to top 2. How to prepare for bringing home your rescued puppy mill dog There are some things you will need to do before your new adopted puppy mill dog arrives in your home. Do: Dog-proof your house. In particular, remove or place out of reach small objects that might be ingested and anything you do not want chewed. Buy a dog crate that is the right size for the new dog tall enough for the dog to stand, long enough to accommodate the dog lying down from nose to base of the tail. Wire crates provide more ventilation, but the dogs feel more exposed correctable by draping blankets over the top and sides. The plastic crates are more den-like, thus providing a greater sense of security. The tops also can come off, allowing a fearful dog to be removed without pulling her through a crate door. Finally, be sure that the bottom of the crate is very comfortable to walk on, as many of these dogs have walked on nothing but wire cage flooring and their feet may be injured and painful. A soft blanket or pad works well for this. Have these additional items already at home before the arrival of the dog: Nylon leash, 6 feet in length Sturdy nylon collar of the correct size You should be able to fit two fingers comfortably under the collar when it is on the dog. Harness Again, you may have to wait until the dog arrives for proper sizing. Back to top 3. How to introduce your dog to your home You will almost certainly adjust to your new dog well before he adjusts to you, your family, and your household. Because of this, one of the strongest inclinations for newly adopted puppy mill dogs is to hide — behind, under, farther away — in any way that lessens the fear. The hiding can be for days or weeks, with the dog coming out only at night to get some food and water. When a puppy mill dog enters your home, your most important job is to protect him from things that frighten him. Do: Be patient. For these dogs, use of a crate will likely have to be omitted from any steps during the adjustment phase to the new home. Ideally, give her a quiet room to herself, where she can adjust without threats and disruptions for the first few days. Place a bowl of water and a little dry and canned food in the room not far from the crate. Put newspapers or piddle pads available at pet stores on the other side of the room. Then leave her alone and just peek in on her occasionally for the next few hours. Fully expect to find that your dog has urinated or had a bowel movement in the room. After a few days in his own room, bring the dog in his crate to an area of the house that has some human activity, but not a lot. The crate should either sit backed up into a corner or be shielded with towels or blankets draped over its top, sides and back end to give the dog a sense of safety behind him. The door to the crate should be left partially open. Here, the dog can feel some security in his crate but begin to be exposed to the all-new experiences of a human household. Next, set up the exercise pen in a room so that your dog can safely venture out of her crate but still feel somewhat protected. The pen also prevents the dog from going into parts of the house that you or she are not quite ready for. Always try to move slowly when around your puppy mill dog. Sudden and fast movements can be very frightening. Minimize loud and sudden noises, since they also can be very frightening. In fact, having another friendly and compatible dog in the house is what adopters tell us is the single most effective thing you can do to rehabilitate the adopted puppy mill dog. At night, having your dog sleep next to your bed can help him adjust to you in a non-threatening way. This may not be suitable for all adopters or the dogs themselves, so each adopter must decide which nighttime sleeping arrangement is best. You want him to learn that, in his safe place, nothing bad happens, which then allows him to feel more relaxed at all times because he knows he can always go to his safe place. Introducing puppy mill dogs to other friendly dogs in the house usually goes smoothly, but here are some tips to encourage a successful meeting. If possible, carry out the first contact between your newly adopted puppy mill dog and your current dog s in a neutral location — that is, someplace that none of the dogs have been before. With you supervising, allow them to watch and smell each other for a few hours. Let the dogs stay there for another hour or two. Next comes face-to-face introductions. If you have several dogs, do the following introduction with just one dog at a time. Put a collar and leash on your dog and also on the puppy mill dog if she accepts it. Have someone else bring the other dog into the room where you and your puppy mill dog are waiting. Be ready to use the leashes to separate them promptly if either shows any signs of aggression growling, snarling, baring of teeth, attempting to bite. When they start to show interest in other things in the environment rather than fully focusing on each other, it will tell you that they are generally accepting of each other. If you have to leave the house, confine the dogs separately so that your puppy mill dog and your other dog s cannot physically interact. You can keep them in separate rooms, or use a dependably strong baby gate to separate them, so that they can still see, smell and hear one another. Feed the puppy mill dog in an area at least 10 feet away from where the other dogs are fed, preferably where they cannot see each other while eating. If your puppy mill dog appreciates toys, she should have her own. Sharing things like toys, beds, food, and treats will come later, once your dogs become friends. Praise all the dogs for friendly behavior toward one another. Maintain a soft and soothing that is, not excited tone of voice so as not to startle or worry a noise-sensitive puppy mill dog. If you notice this happening, keep interactive sessions short until the dogs appear more calm during play. Back to top 5. Puppy mill dogs suffer on both counts. And because of this, puppy mill dogs arrive in the human home with very little willingness or ability to trust you or any other human. More importantly, the trust you want to help your dog develop is a trust in the world, of which you are one very valuable part. For puppy mill dogs, fear diminishes and trust grows in small increments over time. Our studies show that the vast majority of puppy mill dogs come to trust humans, but we have also learned that, for some of the dogs, this trust is extended to only one or two people. As long as the dog has at least one person he can trust, the opportunity exists for him to fully enjoy his life. Establish a consistent schedule that the dog will learn she can depend on. This is a critical part of building trust. Make a schedule for feeding times, going outside, play, rest and sleep — and stick to it. You want to teach your puppy mill dog that he can trust the world, that he can depend on the world to function in a reliable and nonthreatening way. Teach your dog that you are the source of good things in life, starting with food. Most puppy mill dogs will not eat from your hand at first, but with patience you can almost always teach this degree of trust. You can also build trust using treats. Sit on the floor with delicious treats placed at varying distances on the floor around you. It could take minutes or it could take months, but over time almost all puppy mill dogs will eventually start coming closer and closer to you to get the treats. Then, gradually shorten the distances between the treats and your body and between the treats and your hand, until you can place a treat in your upturned palm and have the dog take it out of your hand. When this happens, it is a huge sign of acceptance and trust. You will also want to simply teach your dog that you mean her no harm whatsoever — that you are not something to fear. So, sit on the floor, preferably and talk very softly to your dog. Many people read aloud in a soothing tone, which benefits both your dog and you, since you can get some reading done. If your dog is very frightened, you can read to her as she lies in her crate. Back to top 6. How to touch and handle your dog It is human nature to want to comfort frightened creatures by holding and embracing them. Giving hugs, cuddling, and showering them with love seems to be just what rescued puppy mill dogs need. Most puppy mill dogs are uncomfortable with physical contact by humans, and some are outright terrified. And, in light of their life experience, they have every reason to be. They have received very little or no positive human touch their whole lives. Change takes time, so be patient. Occasionally and gradually edge your arm, hand, leg, or body closer to your dog to show that nearness is no cause for alarm. Given enough time, almost all puppy mill dogs will eventually get close enough to sniff you — a huge step for them. Sometime after that, the dog will usually touch you with her nose or a paw. Let your dog have several weeks of developing confidence in her touching you before you try to touch her. If your puppy mill dog accepts your touch, you may try to pick her up, but do it in gradual steps. First, make sure she allows you to touch her sides, then allows you to place a hand under her body. Just back up to the point at which she did accept it and move through the steps more slowly. If at any point she seems distressed, stop and give her a few days before trying again. Dogs who do this also may roll onto their backs and even pass some urine. All of this is a show of submission. Celebrate your dog making her first physical contact with you. Remain absolutely calm and silent. Any sound or movement could erase the big step the dog has just made. Make direct eye contact at first. Point your head a bit off to the side and keep visual contact out of the corner of your eye. Ever startle a puppy mill dog by touching her from behind. Back to top 7. Early exposure to and interaction with humans during puppyhood is essential for the developing canine brain to form the connections that make for positive social relationships with humans throughout life. So, if a puppy is exposed to stairs in a positive way, for example, his comfort level with stairs will be natural throughout life. By contrast, if a puppy grows to adulthood without ever encountering stairs, he may have a persistent fear of stairs. As you can imagine, puppy mill dogs are routinely deprived of exposure to so many things that dogs living in homes experience every day. So, our overall goal in socializing puppy mill dogs is to lessen their fears of the basic, normal things that pet dogs encounter. We are striving to have them feel comfortable with being around humans and other dogs, being outdoors in wide open spaces, walking on solid ground, going through a doorway, playing with toys, riding in a car, hearing a vacuum cleaner, going up and down stairs, getting bathed, and so much more. Our greatest efforts, of course, are directed at helping puppy mill dogs to become comfortable around and bonded with people so they can enjoy living in human society. Because of the uniqueness of each and every rescued puppy mill dog, socialization plans must be tailored to the individual. Every aspect of the plan — what they are socialized to, where they are socialized, what specific steps and pace are required, what supplemental help e. Other dogs serve as a valuable role model for everything from how to play to where to go to the bathroom. Based on extensive reports from adopters, socialization efforts are very beneficial for many puppy mill dogs, but for others it can actually create distress. First, it is crucial for the puppy mill dog adopter to accept that every dog will maximally socialize to a different level. For example, some puppy mill dogs may be initially unwilling to walk on stairs, but over time will become completely comfortable running up and down stairs. Others may become better on stairs but never comfortable, and still others may become comfortable going up stairs but not down, or vice versa. The same is true with regard to socialization to humans. Some dogs may never achieve a comfort level with certain people in their lives. Only time will tell. All but a few of rescued puppy mill dogs will bond to their primary person, however. Have another dog around to help socialize your puppy mill dog. If you do not have one already, consider adopting another dog in need of a home. Misery may love company, but misery also compounds misery when two fearful dogs live together. Use desensitization and counter-conditioning to help socialize your dog. These techniques make the fearful stimulus e. The goal is to get your dog to associate good things with going to the vet. The same technique can be used to get a dog to enjoy the presence of people, other dogs, or a new baby in the house. When using desensitization and counter-conditioning, everything is done in small, gradual increments. Progress may occur rapidly or very slowly, and different dogs have different limits. Have all interactions between your dog and people she is shy around or fearful of e. They should stand sideways to the dog, crouch down if possible, not make direct eye contact, make no sudden movements, and talk to your dog in a calm, quiet tone of voice. If it is safe to do so i. If this goes well and your dog remains comfortable, give some treats to the person to place in the palm of the hand that she extends to your dog. Avoid the avoidable, when possible. Try pheromone therapy, which can ease anxiety and fear in many dogs. Dog-appeasing pheromone DAP comes in a spray bottle, a plug-in wall diffuser, and a collar. It is available through many online websites and at pet supply stores. Consult your veterinarian to see if this option is appropriate for your dog. Provide whatever comforting words and gestures seem to help your dog cope with his emotional challenges. How this absurd notion ever got started is a mystery, but it is scientific nonsense. Use common sense here. If you had a snake phobia and were placed in a box where snakes were poured on top of you, would you come out of the box less or more fearful of snakes? Ignoring the barking is the best response, because it prevents the dog from being rewarded for trying to get people to go away, and hence reinforcing the behavior. Back to top 8. But we must realize that bodily eliminations inside the house are not accidents at all to the puppy mill dog; in fact, to these dogs, this is perfectly normal behavior. To make matters worse, most of these dogs are very fearful, so training them to do anything — even with strictly positive techniques — can make them even more fearful. For puppy mill dogs, the basic rule is this: Reward the good, distract from the bad. Punishment is never a good idea when house-training a dog, but it can be even more harmful for the fragile and sensitive emotional make-up of rescued puppy mill dogs, impeding and even reversing any progress they are gaining in trusting people. House-training may take a week, it may take a month, it may take a year. Try not to get discouraged. As our studies clearly show, some dogs will achieve full mastery of eliminating in the right place. Be very careful when using even the gentlest-sounding house-training methods with puppy mill dogs. Because of the fear these dogs can have, even the most benign things, such as rewarding the dog for urinating in the right place, can scare them. Keep in mind that many puppy mill dogs are very frightened of being outdoors, which is, of course, a major hindrance to training a dog to do her business outside. For these dogs, use piddle pads or newspaper to train the dog to eliminate indoors initially. As an aside, not everyone wants or needs to train their dogs to do their business outside. For them, having the dog eliminate indoors on piddle pads or paper is just fine. It may happen, but do not allow it to be your expectation. Back to top 9. How to deal with marking Marking is when a dog most often a male, but occasionally a female urinates on specific objects or locations because of the influence of sex hormones or some source of stress. Male dogs in puppy mills, all of whom are not neutered obviously , mark in their cages and enclosures as a territorial signal to the other nearby males. The longer they do this before they leave the puppy mill, the more habitual it becomes and the lower the likelihood that it will fully stop even when they are neutered. In addition to the influence of sex hormones, marking can also be triggered by stress, anxiety and fear. And because we know that these emotional states are prominent in rescued puppy mill dogs, it is not surprising to find that marking is common in their new adoptive homes. Competition over human attention, sleeping places, access to certain locations e. Try dog-appeasing pheromone DAP , which comes in a spray bottle, plug-in wall diffuser and a collar, and is available for purchase via many websites. Use belly bands available at pet stores and online if needed. Clean all urine markings very thoroughly with white vinegar and an enzymatic product, which neutralizes urine odors available at pet stores and online. How to leash-train your dog It is extremely rare for dogs in puppy mills to have ever been on a leash. While we take for granted that for a dog or a human , using your neck to pull against something is no big deal, if you have never done that in your life, it would be a very unusual and possibly even scary sensation. This is likely why, in our study of puppy mill dogs, they pull against a leash much less often than typical pet dogs. Similarly, any pulling of the puppy mill dog with a leash is likely very frightening to him because he has never had something pull against this part of his body. Why leash-train? It allows you to gently get your dog out of a tight hiding place, such as out from under furniture, if need be. And it allows you to gently lead the dog to the chosen potty area if the dog is frightened of being picked up and carried. Purchase a sturdy nylon collar and a harness of proper size and fit. This will provide a mild pulling sensation on the collar that should not be upsetting. Be sure to always supervise the dog very closely to prevent the leash from catching on something and endangering your dog. Use the same leash-dragging strategy with the leash attached to the harness. You can alternate this with the sessions of collar attachment. Use only the harness if the collar is upsetting to your dog. Use delicious food treats as enticements and rewards when you first attach the collar, harness or leash, if your dog seems resistant but not distressed. Feed the treats while another person is placing the collar or harness on, or attaching the leash. Doing this in short trials over several hours or days should lead the dog to associate the apparatus with the treats and then be accepting of having them put on and wearing them. When it appears that leash-dragging is well tolerated, pick up the leash and follow your dog as she walks around, occasionally giving a very slight pull on the leash. Slowly increase the amount of resistance so she can feel what a little tension against the collar or harness feels like. Using this method, most dogs become quite comfortable with walking on leash. When she seems relatively confident with the outdoors, you can take her outside on the leash. Almost all of these things are eventually achievable, but you must go very slowly and be guided by what your dog shows he is ready for. Back to top .How to crate-train your dog The first thing to know about crate-training a puppy mill dog is this: Not all puppy mill dogs can be — or should be — crate-trained. Seeing, and especially being in, a cage-like enclosure may arouse memories of the puppy mill. Why crate-train? For this function, the crate door is left open. There are times when you need your dog to be in her crate, such as during the night or when workers are in the house and your door may be inadvertently left open. For this function, the crate door is kept closed. Make being in the crate a positive experience for the dog. Try feeding the dog in her crate and offer treats in the crate. In fact, anytime you lead your dog into the crate for the purpose of confinement, include a favorite treat e. Make sure your dog has first had the opportunity to go to the bathroom anytime she is put in the crate with the door closed. Start with short periods of time in the closed-door crate and slowly work up to longer periods of time. This means first observing how long your dog is comfortable in the crate before showing any indications of anxiety, such as pacing, pawing at the crate door, digging into the corners of the crate, crying, whimpering or barking. If possible, do several of these sessions each day. Then, over the next few weeks, very gradually increase the time she is spending in the crate during each session. In most cases, you will be able to extend the length of time that she can comfortably spend in the crate by several hours. He will very quickly form a mental association between crate and fear, and that may simply escalate the fear level. Use the crate in any way as punishment. Allow anything to make the crate an unpleasant experience. How to teach your dog to respond to basic cues Teaching your dog to respond to basic cues e. Basic training also establishes a leader and follower relationship, which is the most basic foundation for correcting any problem behaviors that may arise later. For the dogs who are negatively affected by training, there are two main factors at work: fear and an impaired ability to focus and concentrate. Actual training methods can be found in many books and online videos, including the Best Friends online pet care library. What you need to know here is how standard methods of basic training must be modified for the special needs of puppy mill dogs. Take your dog to training classes if you prefer having the structure of a class, but only if the other dogs, people and commotion do not cause your dog distress. Make certain that the professional trainer if you use one is knowledgeable about rescued puppy mill dogs and has had experience with them. Learning requires the mind to concentrate and maintain focus, and our studies show that, when compared to typical pet dogs, puppy mill dogs are less able to do this. None of this means that puppy mill dogs cannot learn, but they will have different capacities for how fast and how much they can learn. Try desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques if your dog seems very fearful or distressed by attempts at training. How to deal with poop-eating Dogs coming out of puppy mills do some strange things, but eating poop known as coprophagia is certainly one of the most unappealing to us humans. Puppy mill dogs eat poop for many reasons — ranging from hunger to relief of boredom. There are food additives that can make poop distasteful to a dog. The additives must be added to the food of any dog whose poop your dog is eating. Other things that your dog may prefer over poop include crumbled dog treats or small bits of bread. Punish your dog for eating poop. A social-media video that traces a former 'puppy mill' dog's journey back to health after being rescued has tugged at heartstrings across the internet. It shows the female poodle 'puppy mill mama' growing in confidence after being adopted by a loving family. The video's creator had shared in the post that the frail pup wouldn't even look at her new family while traveling home with them by car, because she was "expecting the worst. We are a c 3 nonprofit that rescues dogs in need. This video is the transformation of a puppy mill mama. She is 2. Mill dogs, especially adults, come petrified of all humans. They expect us to abuse them, and continue to breed them. It takes time to rehabilitate these dogs. It's sad because I've seen super young puppies be scared of humans because of what happened to them in the mills. It is rewarding seeing their progress once they are free," they added. The pup's new owner said the dog had been rescued three weeks prior to the video going live. The footage shows audiences clips both of the poodle looking frightened at the puppy mill and of her playing with other dogs with confidence while wagging her tail in her new environment. The video is captioned: "The best part is seeing the transformation. Puppy mills are commercial breeding grounds or farms where puppies are produced rapidly and by force, often in poor and unethical conditions, for monetary profit. Animal-welfare organization PETA says that puppy mills are a "well-kept secret of the pet-trade industry. The organization says that female dogs like the poodle featured in the TikTok post are typically bred over and over again until they can no longer produce puppies for profit. At that point, the female dog is usually auctioned off or put down. Canines Rescued from Commercial Breeders Get a Fresh Start Despite days of challenging weather, our Rescue Team persevered to reach the more than 50 dogs saved from commercial breeding facilities throughout the Midwest. These precious canines, who were cruelly cast aside and at risk of being euthanized, are now getting a new beginning and the care they deserve. Inside the Journey from Despair to Joy: Commercial Breeder Canines Get a Second Chance Thanks to our ongoing partnership with National Mill Dog Rescue, now 50 dogs and puppies have a second chance at life after being saved from commercial breeding facilities in the Midwest. Lifesaving Mission Rescues 50 Dogs from Commercial Breeding Facilities As the temperatures dipped into single digits for the first time this year, our dedicated volunteers awaited the arrival of 50 small breed dogs — including Yorkies, Maltese, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers and Corgis — who were rescued from commercial breeding facilities throughout the Midwest. The commercial breeding facility that had been their home was being shut down by government authorities. Just weeks from rescuing 40 dogs from commercial breeders in the Midwest, our Rescue Team made another trip westward and returned with more than 50 dogs and puppies from Kansas-area breeding facilities. In all, 48 incredible animals — no longer unwanted — arrived to have their lives transformed. As one-by-one, a variety of dogs — including many Poodles, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, Shih Tzus, and Yorkies — made their way into the gentle hands of our volunteers to be carried inside, you could see a common feature in all their faces. They were ready to accept a tender touch. Whether shy, or confidently seeking attention, it was clear each dog was grateful for the kindness and compassion we were there to give. They were rescued from awful conditions in Missouri and Oklahoma through a large-scale collaborative effort with National Mill Dog Rescue and five local animal welfare organizations. Rather, it is a year-round commitment to every dog, cat, puppy and kitten in need. As temperatures were dropping our Rescue Team met up in Missouri with our partners at National Mill Dog Rescue to help bring 43 dogs and puppies, who were rescued from the horrors and inhumane conditions of commercial breeding facilities, to the love and safety of our Port Washington, NY campus. This time, the collaborative rescue efforts helped to pull 57 dogs and puppies from various commercial breeding facilities in Oklahoma and Missouri.

Some of these you can help prevent, while others are out of your immediate control. If your GSD carries the genes for ears that lie down, instead of standing erect, then more than likely they will have floppy ears. This means they may have ears that never stand up and are floppy for life. Breeding Some breeders choose to pair parents that both have large, erect ears. And some buyers and owners prefer this larger style of ears for show or aesthetic purposes. But, there is some theory that breeding a German Shepherd with larger and larger ears might contribute to ears that stay flopped over. Always see the parents of the puppy you buy from the breeder on the premises to see their appearance. Physical Damage or Accidents Puppies are active and mischievous and can get into plenty of trouble. This includes physical damage or accidents that have the cartilage or muscles in their ears. If this happens their ears may suffer long-term damage and not stand up naturally on their own. So watch out for a rough play that might lead to ear damage. And, if your pup has been in an accident that hurt their ears, take them immediately to the vets. Improper and Poor Nutrition German Shepherds need balanced nutrition during crucial growing stages, including vitamins and minerals that aid in cartilage and muscle development of their ears. You should ensure your dog gets the right nutrition from the start to avoid any issues. Along with Vitamin D, calcium helps strengthen the cartilage to aid in building a strong foundation for the ears to stand up later. Neglecting Ear Cleaning Puppies still need ear cleaning when dirt and build-up are overly present. Dirty ears that become neglected can inhibit proper growth and cause discomfort for your dog, causing them to excessively scratch their ears which can cause damage. This could cause them more harm! Instead, wipe away the dirt from the skin of the ear with a warm, damp washcloth or use special ear cleaning wipes. A dog with one floppy ear and one ear upright is totally normal. Occasionally, your German Shepherd might have one floppy ear and one ear standing upright. If they are a small puppy then they are most likely growing and the one ear down still needs time to go upright naturally. These are some of the best techniques that will help their ears to stand up. They only need to sit inside the ear enough to support cartilage growth. Make sure you check for any creases or folds in their ears before moving on to the next step. Repeat in the other ear. Make a Popsicle Support Now, take the popsicle sticks and place them at the top of the foam rollers both ears should have foam rollers in them at this point. You might need another pair of hands to help with this, so ask your family or friends to help. Take the self-adhering waterproof tape and place a medium-size piece across and around the two foam rollers and popsicle sticks. This ensures even and symmetrical growth. Make a bridge across their ears instead. If your German Shepherd puppy is 9 months old and their ears still flop over, please see your vet for further assistance. When in doubt, get your vet to show you what to do for their ears. Your puppy might become annoyed with the tape on their ears, so they may need close supervision and even some distraction during the taping process. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a German Shepherd that has floppy ears and putting them at risk to have any unnecessary surgery to get their ears to stand up can cause them pain. Speak to your vet about the side effects and pain associated with ear implants. You can help prevent floppy ears in your dog by taking the appropriate steps to keep them healthy. The top ways to help a GSD with floppy ears include: 1. Feed them a high-quality food Giving your dog the proper nutrition for optimum growth is a necessity, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. Choose a puppy food with the correct ratio of nutrients and vitamins to ensure they get the correct building blocks for development. When you choose to give them treats, pick ones from this list of the best healthy dog treats for German Shepherd puppies. Provide them with the proper chew toys Chewing helps to strengthen the muscles that surround the ears. Or worse… Injure them. Learn to play and discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way to avoid accidental ear injuries or damage. German Shepherds with ears that are floppy are a joy to own, no matter their age! Floppy ears are adorable and give your dog even more character. Go on, and find out what makes your companion the happiest dog on the planet! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. It commonly occurs anywhere from eight weeks to six months. So, any German Shepherd parent would know that these adorable dogs have floppy ears when they are just puppies. However, stronger cartilage will be developed as you give them the proper nutrients. It might mostly occur as a response to your call or noise in the surrounding area. It can be a result of poor nutrition or slow development. Your German Shepherd needs abundant vitamin D, calcium, and protein. Lacking these nutrients in their diet will result in weak cartilage. Switch to better food or visit the vet for a checkup. They are still incredibly cute, anyway! If you want to ensure that you have a pooch with perky ears, make sure to look for parents with standing ears. Do all German Shepherd ears stand up? Even if you have already, you can know whether your pooch will have floppy or perky ears when it grows. It can compromise their health and adversely affect their growth, including strengthening the cartilage. Regular checkups and fecal exams can help prevent or abate that problem. Your vet can give your dog deworming medicines to see that your growing furry friend is free from parasites. Any traumatic injury to the ears can cause permanent damage and prevent the ears from growing strong enough to stand. It can be caused by a child pulling its ears and rough play among its littermates. Regularly monitor your pup and keep anyone from playing with its ears when they are in its developmental stage. But there are things you can do to help it get strong and healthy ears. These steps will also protect the ears from possible damage. Get high-quality food for your puppy to boost their development. Cheap foods usually have more fillers that contain negligible nutrients. Keep the puppy away and safe from other puppies that play bite with their ears. Educate your children and everyone else at home on how to handle the puppy carefully and gently. Giving your puppy chew toys will give their head, jaw, and surrounding muscles some exercise. It can lead to better ear development. Make sure to buy durable ones, as German Shepherd pups are stronger than you think! Clean their ears gently if you notice dirt. Keep your dog happy! A happy dog is a healthy dog. It will have fewer or no health problems if you keep the dog fit. Using the tape too early or during its growing stage can harm its natural development. However, the 7th to 8th month might be a little too late. But that may not be true for all, as some German Shepherds are just built differently. Their looks come second when you experience how good of a companion they can make. But the young ones carry cute floppy ears that eventually stand up. Some take longer. Remember that floppy ears do not affect their health negatively. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Aug 18, Share German Shepherds have a distinctive look that includes alert, erect ears. For most pups, the ear cartilage begins to harden around week 20, or when the pup is finished teething. At that point, it can take up to 20 weeks for the ears to stand up fully. This can vary by the individual, however. Like human ears, dog ears are made of cartilage. As they grow and gain nutrition, German Shepherds develop stronger and stronger cartilage to support those ears. Typically, puppies at weeks will have floppy ears that occasionally stand up but quickly fall back down. Around week 20, or 5 months, your pup is done teething and its ears will begin to harden and stand. Your vet may have some suggestions to help the process along. If your pup reaches 8 months and still has floppy ears, the chance of them standing on their own is slim. Some breeders try to breed for larger ears, leading to ears that are too heavy to stand up. If strong, alert ears are important to you, be sure to look for a pup with parents that have erect ears. If the ears sustain trauma during that time, it can cause permanent damage to the cartilage. If your puppy gets parasites, it can impact healthy development, which includes the hardening of its ear cartilage. Be sure to take your puppy to the vet regularly and have routine fecal exams to check for worms and other parasites. Your vet can recommend an appropriate deworming protocol for your growing puppy and treat parasites if they occur. However, if you want your puppy to have strong, alert ears, you can help the process along in a number of ways. In an effort to move ear development along, some owners will add supplements like calcium. Chew toys are also good for teething and keeping your puppy occupied. German Shepherds are strong, even as pups, so be sure to choose solid, durable chew toys that are safe and appropriate for your puppy. It should only be used as a last resort, however. If you use tape too early, it can hinder natural development. That said, if you wait until the seventh or eighth month, it may be too late to help. Glue the ends of the popsicle stick to the tape on both ears, horizontally. Once a week, remove the popsicle stick, foam, and tape. If the ears stand on their own, leave them. Related Reads:. Especially during the first six months, be extra careful not to aggressively clean their ears. They will be more prone to lesions in the ear cartilage at this time. Yet it would be understandable if you are reading this and feel dismay or even horror. How can that possibly be a good thing? But understand we are not talking about doing anything harmful or invasive. The techniques you are about to read about will not harm or hurt your German Shepherd puppy at all. They will simply support the ears to grow into the upright position without having to work so hard to get there — or stay there. You want to give your pup enough time to try to do this naturally. But you also want to intervene before the cartilage in the ears starts to harden usually around seven to eight months old , leaving the ear flaps in the wrong position. You will need the following supplies: Some type of surgical tape NOT duct tape or any super-adhesive tape. Foam roller inserts or foam pipe insulation cut to size. Two plain popsicle sticks or unsharpened pencils. Wrap the surgical tape around the outside of the ear to hold the insert in place. Be prepared for your puppy to find a way to paw off this strange contraption several times before they finally get used to it and forget about it. You want to leave this in place for a week and then remove it to check the ear position. You may notice the ears start to stand a little straighter week by week. But if you see them flop over again, you need to re-tape them until they are strong enough to stand up on their own. Ear gluing Another option you can try is puppy ear gluing. This is actually not nearly as awful as it sounds and is far easier to do than the ear taping method. Another perk of puppy ear gluing over taping is that you are not going to cut off any air circulation to the inner ear canal. The key is to pick some kind of fabric glue do NOT use super glue or super-bonding glue that may not come off. What you need to do for this method is to add a dab of glue to the outside of the inner ear flap about two-thirds of the way down from the ear tip point. Then press the two ear flaps together for 30 seconds to allow the glue to set. Wherever possible, if you have multiple dogs in your household, try to keep your German Shepherd puppy from playing rough games with the other dogs. Rowdy playtime can easily cause the ears to separate. The glue will wear off on its own after a while and you can observe if the ears are able to remain upright and erect when this occurs. If you need to, keep reapplying the glue until the ears are strong and stable to remain in the correct position without glue. It may take a few weeks or longer for this to occur. Do not worry if the ears are not in a perfect position. As long as they stay upright, the inner muscles and tissues will naturally self-correct over time. Surgery Certain situations may even require surgical implants, like when ear cartilage damage occurs. Massage the Ears Massaging the ears helps by increasing blood flow to the ears, helping your form strong ear: Muscles Cartilage Chew Toys Chew toys are not only great for keeping your pup occupied, but they can also be great sources of collagen. This will help build strong ear cartilage capable of holding the ears in the upright position. Chew toys also work the ear muscles. This will strengthen the surrounding tissues. This is especially true for dogs prone to health issues, like German Shepherds. Foods rich in nutrients like calcium and glucosamine will help your dog form strong and healthy ears. These nutrients are vital for developing sturdy ear cartilage. Stimulation Dogs communicate a lot with their ears. Just think of German Shepherds that are alert and focused on something, like an odd noise they heard outside. Chances are, their ears will be standing erectly. Stimulation like this encourages the use of the ear muscles. There are two areas where you will definitely want to pay closer attention. Bath time and during playtime with other dogs. Keeping water out of the ears will reduce infections and head shaking. Using a headband is an easy way to do this, and can also prevent injuries when playing with other dogs. What causes German Shepherds to have floppy ears? The most common ones include breeding issues, teething, cartilage development issues, trauma, and poor nutrition or hygiene. Breeding Pointy German Shepherd ears are among the top distinct features of the breed. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to improper breeding practices. Teething Floppy ears are a common occurrence when the dog is teething. Developing cartilage German Shepherd puppies are born with floppy ears. As their bodies develop, their ear cartilage and muscles also develop up to the point that they are able to support the weight of the ears, keeping them upright. German Shepherd ears typically start to perk up when the dog is about 6 to 10 weeks old. They can also sometimes flop back down while the dog is teething only to stand up again. Trauma Trauma is a common reason for floppy ears in German Shepherds. Physical trauma caused by an accident or injury to the ears can cause one or both of them to drop. If you suspect trauma, visit your vet to address any wounds and prevent infection. However, their ears need to be kept clean in order to prevent infections that could cause their ears to drop. Dogs not getting enough calcium and vitamin D during puppyhood may have trouble keeping their ears up as their skeletal support structure is not developed properly. They should be well-aligned, symmetrical namely just as wide as they are tall , and carried upright. However, not all dogs will have perfectly standard ears and some may have ears that are too large, too small, too high, too low, or just ears that point in the wrong direction. In fact, there are at least 12 different German Shepherd ear shapes , each with their own distinct characteristics. German Shepherd ears will usually stand up at around 4 months of age. But this can happen as early as the 1-month mark, or as late as the 6-month mark when teething finishes. But more than anything, they tell you how the dog is feeling at any given time. The ears really are the window to the soul for not just GSDs, but all dogs. During this time, more calcium is being directed to the growing teeth, and away from the ear cartilage. When teething is over, and more calcium can be directed back to the ears, they will most likely stand back up again. This is especially true if your pup has sustained an ear injury in the past, and broke the ear cartilage as a result. German Shepherd puppies are especially prone to this during the first 6 to 8 months, since their ears are still developing. These injuries can occur during rowdy play with other dogs and people, or from excessive scratching. This will help their ears develop faster and stronger, and will help prevent ear injuries in the future. But in most cases, if you act fast enough, even the floppiest German Shepherd ears are capable of being corrected. Ear development can vary from puppy to puppy. If they stand up when the puppy is scared or excited or when they bark, you can expect to see fully erect years by the time they are six months old. Will my German Shepherd mix ears stand up? Depending on the genes they inherited, your German Shepherd mix may have erect ears or not. You can support their ear development by giving them chew toys, massaging the base of their ears, and giving them calcium and vitamin D supplements. The ear flap is the outermost ear and is often called the pinna plural is pinnae. A dog has two pinna — one for each ear. Each pinna can work independently of the other, which is part of what gives dogs such keen hearing. This is the same reason all German Shepherd puppies are born with their ears down and floppy. It takes time for the cartilage to form, thicken and then harden into the characteristic erect ear position of the German Shepherd. The ears might pop up as early as four weeks old only to flop back down around four months old. Not only is the cartilage in the outer ears still forming and hardening, but the many muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues that help the ears move and function are still getting coordinated as well. This is why it is wise not to get concerned about ear position or stability until after your German Shepherd puppy has finished teething. There is just too much growing going on to expect your little puppy to look like a full-grown adult dog yet. This video gives you some unique tips to help their ears get stronger and stand up without human assistance like some of the tips you read about in this article. I get a lot of emails about taping German Shepherd puppy ears. The majority of these emails come from people who are jumping the gun and worrying too much. By that, I mean their pups are 3 or 4 months old and they are starting to panic because their puppy's ears are not standing. I tell these people that they need patience, they need to wait until their pup has finished teething. I caution these people not to jump the gun and tape the dog's ears too early or in the wrong way. I know people who have screwed their dog's ears up for life by doing this. I have had puppy customers who go ballistic on me and panic. So I issue a word of caution here. With that said, the other side of the spectrum of taping ears is something that many people do not take seriously until it's too late. When ears are taped at 7 and 8 months, there is very little chance of it working. This is an unfortunate fact of life. German Shepherd puppy ears can come up between 8 weeks and 6 months. If they are not up when the dog is through teething this varies from dog to dog but in general between 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age , I tell my puppy customers to get very interested in their ears. While it's not time to panic, it is time to sit up and take notice. The first thing to do is make sure that your puppy is in good health. This means no intestinal parasites. Take a stool sample to your vet to have it analyzed. It's also important to make sure the pup is getting good quality food. We feed and recommend a raw diet but if you do feed a commercial diet, I strongly recommend researching all the options available and feeding the highest-quality food you can afford. View our list of all-natural kibble alternatives. In fact, a lot of times, a pup will have both ears up and all of a sudden, they will come back down when the pup starts to teeth. Many owners panic when this happens. But not to worry, I have never seen a pup whose ears did not go back up when this happens. If a pup does not have his ears up by 5 months, I strongly recommend that you get involved with taping your dog's ears. Use the thin white surgical tape the kind that's paper-thin and tears easily. The 3M Micropore tape, 2" wide, works well. I like to use women's hair rollers. Take the plastic out of them and just use the foam. Wrap the ear around the foam and tape them into a tight roll. In a vertical position. Take a popsicle stick and attach it to the top part of both ears. In a horizontal position. The pup is going to tear the tape or stick off the ears several times. The key is to continue to re-tape the ears. Sooner or later, the pup will forget the tape and ignore it. About once a week, take the tape off and see if the ears will stand on their own. Continue to re-tape until the ears stand. If the ears are not up by 7 or 8 months, they are not going to come up. The ears should look like this once taped. The same dog with ears now up. I have seen ears that did not stand, which in my opinion would have stood had they been taped. So this process is not something to take lightly. I also need to say that many ears will be a little weak right after taping but with time, they will strengthen. So when an ear does not stand perfectly after taping don't panic. Just have patience and see what happens. You will really not have an idea exactly what you have until the pup is 12 months old. When ears do not stand, there are ear implants that can be surgically added. I have no experience with this and do not know anything about them. If you are unlucky enough to have a dog whose ears will not stand, I would point you toward a vet that has some experience in this area. I don't think it's something that normal small animal vets know how to do well. In my opinion, too young to tape. The material to use to tape German Shepherd Ears The pup with its ears taped I prefer taping German Shepherd Dogs ears after the dog has finished teething. This usually means the dog is older than 4 - 6 months. Maybe waiting another month would have been a better idea for this puppy.