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How much is a French Bulldog puppy? Most French Bulldogs are sold or adopted as puppies, so the cost and considerations above apply to puppies and adults. Younger dogs will likely cost more because people prefer to bring puppies into their homes for several reasons. Puppies are cuter and easier to train, and owners get more time with them because they are younger. Most breeders will not sell puppies until they are at least eight weeks old because they need to spend their first two months of life with their mother. So the youngest you can usually get a French Bulldog is eight to ten weeks. An eight-week-old French Bulldog will cost more than a six-month-old French Bulldog simply because there is a higher demand for very young puppies. Learn about the top factors that increase the price of a Frenchie below. Colors and Patterns The color is possibly the most important factor in the cost of a French Bulldog. There are several coat color options, and some are rarer and more sought after than others. Sable: Sable is a light brown, beige-ish color. Sable is one of the most common colors in French Bulldogs, so sable dogs are not typically more expensive or sought after. The color is the same as a fawn, except their snout and sometimes the tip of their tail are black. Blue French Bulldog: Blue dogs are popular among celebrities and the extremely wealthy, boosting. The color is a cool-toned dark gray, almost a soft blue. The gray is comparable to slate gray. They need two dilution genes to create this color, which can lead to some coat-related health problems like alopecia. Despite the potential health problems, people pay high prices for blue Frenchies. Chocolate: Surprisingly, chocolate Frenchies are very rare. The chocolate color requires two recessive chocolate genes but is not associated with health problems. Chocolate Frenchies can be dark, deep brown, or soft brown. Aside from the delicious coat color, chocolate Frenchies are popular because they often have unique eye colors, like green, gold, bright yellow, and even orange. Lilac French Bulldog : Like blue Frenchies, lilac Frenchies are rare and in high demand among famous and wealthy people. The color typically requires two chocolate genes and two blue genes , which are both rare. Other unusual gene combinations can result in the lilac color. They can suffer from the same health problems as blue dogs, but they cost twice as much. Isabella Frenchies are lilac dogs with a proven genetic code for the color. Cream: Cream Frenchies have an eggshell or cream-colored coat. Their coat has a subtle tan tint, and they often have dark-colored snouts. Their features are typically black, unlike white bulldogs with lighter, pinker features. White: White Frenchies are a bit more common than cream Frenchies, and they have a much brighter, lighter white coat. As mentioned above, they often have light features, like pink eye rims, bright pink ears, and sometimes a pink nose. Pure Black: Pure black Frenchies are surprisingly rare. Black genes are not rare, but the lack of genes for any markings can be hard to cultivate. Most Frenchies with black genes are merle or have tan markings, so pure black coats are harder to find. Black and Tan: Black and tan Frenchies are rarer than you may expect, but not nearly as hard to find as blue, cream, white, pure black, or lilac dogs. Many breeders specialize in black and tan dogs, so they can be pretty expensive. They are typically mostly black with tan marketing on their chest, face, and paws, but can also be mostly tan with black markings. Black and White: Black and white Frenchies are just as common as black and tan, but will almost always be primarily black with white chests or necks. There are also Piebald Frenchies, which are technically a different coat color and are primarily white not cream with large black spots on their backsides and rear. Merle: Merle French Bulldogs are different because this coat pattern is unnatural in their genetic code. Merle dogs have spots and patches, usually black and gray. Dogs with this coat often have health issues like eye and ear problems. Merle dogs are rare but not as sought after as other colors. Blue Fawn: Blue fawn Frenchies have the fawn and dilution genes, creating a soft, blueish-brown coat. Sometimes, their snouts have a lilac or blue color, and their eyes are usually a lighter color, like blue or violet. Bloodline and Purity Bloodline and purity are typically the top factors that affect the price after color. Many people who buy Frenchies from breeders expect to get a purebred Frenchie. Purebred Frenchies will cost more than mixed breeds, but the bloodline is important too. People want dogs with strong bloodlines and little to no genetic disorders or diseases. Breeders charge more when they can prove not only the health of the dog for sale, but the health of their siblings, parents, and grandparents. Genetic tests and health records that show that their lineage is healthy will substantially increase the price. Breeder Reputation The breeder's reputation will increase the price too. As breeders become more reputable and highly rated, they will likely increase their prices because they can. Also, the best breeders often only produce a handful of litters a year, so they need to charge more for each puppy to make their investment back. Some breeders may produce only one or two litters, but the best usually produce no more than three in one year. Reputable breeders offer DNA tests, genetic information, lineage history, and other things that guarantee a healthy and genetically pure Frenchie, so they charge more. Frenchies typically weigh between 16 and 28 pounds and stand about 12 inches tall. Most people seek smaller Frenchies because they are likely to live longer, so a Frenchie expected to be 15 pounds will be more expensive than one expected to be 30 pounds. Something as simple as a high-quality GPS tracking collar ensures you can always find your sweet Frenchie, no matter how far they run. Protect your pup with the Fi GPS tracking color, so no matter what happens you can always find them and bring them home. Personality One of the reasons people love Frenchies is their charming personalities. They are typically very good with other dogs, bark sparingly, are easy to train, and have moderate energy levels that are manageable. Frenchies are playful but still protective, and are usually friendly enough with strangers, making them easy and fun dogs to love and care for. Size and Weight As mentioned, French Bulldogs weigh between 16 and 28 pounds and are around 12 inches tall at the shoulder. Average Lifespan The average lifespan of a healthy French Bulldog is between 11 and 15 years , which is standard for smaller breeds. While some coat colors are associated with health problems, none of these problems are fatal eye, ear, skin, fur problems. Unlike light, athletically-built dogs, Frenchies have low endurance and moderate energy. Approximate Lifetime Care Costs The cost of owning a dog can range widely depending on how you take care of them, like the quality of food you give them, how often you take them to the vet, and if you invest in training. How much is a French Bulldog as a lifetime pet? Also expensive. So, how can you lower these costs? The top way to keep the cost of your Frenchie down is to be open to all coat colors and sizes, as choosing a common coat color can save you thousands. Buying a slightly older Frenchie can also save you money. As far as lifetime costs, you can save money by training at home, buying affordable food, using pet insurance, grooming at home, and having friends or family pet sit instead of boarding can all make owning a Frenchie cheaper. When you do get your beloved pup, make sure you protect them with a Fi GPS Tracking Dog Collar , so if they ever get lost, you can find them easily. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Want to know more about TryFi. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. However, that price can increase significantly, even into five figures, depending on the location and reputation of the breeder. Reproducing requires artificial insemination. These factors increase the investment for French bulldog breeders. The more investment a breeder makes into producing healthy high-quality dogs in good environments, the higher the price will be. The rarer the color is, such as blue, lilac or chocolate, the more you can expect to pay. Certain coat patterns, such as pied, merle or brindle, will also be more expensive. Female French bulldogs and those with blue eyes are pricier as well. Adopting through the French Bulldog Rescue Network is a more affordable way to acquire a new puppy or adult Frenchie. The French bulldog breed is exceptional with many rare characteristics that make them popular among dog owners. But there are also some challenges and things to watch out for. French Bulldog Size Fully grown French bulldogs average 12 inches tall. Adult females often weigh between 16 and 24 pounds, and males reach 20 to 24 pounds. Most French bulldogs will continue to gain weight until about 14 months old but stop gaining height between nine and 12 months. There are also mini Frenchies, also known as teacup French bulldogs. These are bred to be miniature versions of standard French bulldogs, weighing between five and 14 pounds. They typically shed in spring and fall, so you should increase coat brushing during that time to help reduce hair in your home. This can help you save on grooming costs. French Bulldog Appearance Along with breeds like English Bulldogs and pugs, French bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, which means they have a shortened snout. Their faces are wrinkly and scrunched, giving them a distinct look, even as puppies. French Bulldog Colors French bulldogs come in many different coat colors. These include neutral colors — such as cream, gray, tan and black — as well as more rare colors like lilac, blue and chocolate. The rarer the color, the more expensive the price of a French bulldog will be. French Bulldog Temperament These pups are affectionate and playful, making them great companions. Training is recommended for French bulldogs since they can march to the beat of their own drum without guidance. Most Frenchies respond well to training, especially when treats are involved. Trainers believe French bulldogs understand commands but are moody and will respond as they feel like it. Frenchies are great family dogs, do well around other pets and prefer companionship. A companion will also allow you to leave them alone for longer periods of time without them getting frustrated. But, of course, another pet will come with its own costs. French Bulldog Activity Level Frenchies are not the best dog if you want a jogging companion. French Bulldog Life Expectancy French bulldogs have an average lifespan of 12 years if well taken care of. If they remain in great health, they can live as long as 15 years. Your veterinarian will periodically examine your Frenchie to ensure he or she is growing properly. Due to their flat faces and short necks, it can be difficult for French bulldogs to use standard feeding bowls. You can instead provide elevated dog food and water bowls to help your pet eat and drink more comfortably. Buying treats, toys or a comfortable dog bed can also help your Frenchie feel welcome in its new home. Check out our French Bulldog Puppies What is included in our prices? We provide nanny service to all major US airports for an extra fee. Shipping to other countries is also possible, contact us for more info! PayPal and Stripe have payment insurance which means that they keep your money pending until you get the puppy. We get your money just after you have confirmed that your puppy has arrived in your arms safe and sound! Shots up-to-date worth USD Our pups receive all the necessary shots while they are with us: 1. Deworming worth 50 USD Our puppies are dewormed every two weeks from the age of 4 weeks old and they also get Simparica Trio against ticks, fleas and heartworms right before they leave. Anti-parasite treatment worth USD We give our puppies anti-parasite treatment against all parasites before they leave except for heart worms. Echocardiogram heart examination, worth 1, USD We do echocardiogram on our Frenchies and when we find the slightest chance of heart murmur in one of them, we rather cancel the adoption and find a loving home for them locally. Valer, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies Membership and right to post in the TomKings Frenchie Family closed Facebook group We created a Facebook group for our adopters where we answer their questions and they share their experiences with each other. We are a Family because we are connected by the love towards Frenchies and we are always there to help and support each other, as well as share valuable experiences and advice! Only TomKings Frenchie parents are allowed to post and ask from us or any other member in the group. Participation in TomKings Frenchie Meetups We organize Frenchie Meetups in major cities throughout the States where you can talk with other TomKings Frenchie owners and exchange advice while your Frenchies are playing with each other. Frenchie Love eBook worth .Lifetime Health Guarantee We give you a lifetime health guarantee on all genetic disorders which cause death, which means that we send you another puppy if your Frenchie dies. We have never had that so far since the parent dogs go through a rigorous selection process before the breeding program and our vet checks the puppies often. We know that Frenchie owners have a bunch of questions about feeding, raising, training, etc. Our goal is to have only happy and healthy puppies so we will always be there to answer your questions! Lifetime vet assistance Frenchie owners have a lot of questions about the health of their puppies and most of the time they run to their vet right away and leave a fortune there for nothing. We even tell you whether you need to visit your vet at all! Health certification TomKings Frenchies are examined strictly before they leave for their new homes and we give you a health certificate which can be used if you want to have insurance for your puppy which we highly recommend. Exceptional care We treat every puppy as a family member from the moment they are born. We believe that the secret of having socialized and healthy Frenchie puppies is spending time with them all day long and letting them run and play in the backyard. Potty training It is crucial how puppies are trained at the beginning of their lives. At TomKings Puppies we are focusing not only on their health but their proper training as well. We start potty training for them so that you have a much easier job! Ultimate Guide. Depending on where you live sorry California, it is expensive where you are! This could indicate the dog is coming from a puppy mill. You can read why you should avoid buying dogs from puppy mills here. But the popularity of the dog means there can be a lot of competition for the Frenchies that do need a home. There are a lot of factors that can influence price, and if you are looking for a show dog or a dog for breeding, you should expect to pay a lot more. Certain colors, which are desirable but genetically quite rare, can also push up the price. A brindle or black puppy will usually be at the lower end of the scale, but a breeder might ask a lot more for a platinum or blue fawn puppy. This is Micro, a perfect body specimen for a Frenchie. He also has a blue coat and orange eyes, which are quite rare in dogs. What About Mini Frenchies? Mini Frenchies, also known as Teacup Frenchies, are the same fantastic dog, but they are quite a bit smaller than usual. You can expect them to weigh just 5 to 14 pounds on average. Due to their smaller size, though, their bodies can be fragile, so it is important not to engage in rough play with them. These dogs are even harder to breed see below than standard French bulldogs, so they are also quite a bit more expensive. Why are they so expensive, then? One factor is high demand since they are a very desirable dog breed. But that is not the whole story, since Labs are also one of the most popular dog breeds. Health Problems One of the biggest factors is these dogs have a lot of health problems. Most of their health issues are related to their flat, brachycephalic faces similar to Pugs and American bulldogs , which makes them particularly prone to breathing issues and allergies. This unique facial structure can also affect the formation of their jaw, and the health of their eyes, and can even affect their healing from certain illnesses and injuries. On top of this, they can also be prone to hip dysplasia, kneecap shifts, and heat stress. Fortunately, breeders try to control these breed-specific issues. It is essential that responsible breeders do their best to control these conditions, which means DNA scanning, genetic testing, multiple trips to the vet, and paying extra close attention to the developing puppies. Of course, all of this comes with a cost. Breeding Problems The other big problem is that Frenchies are extremely hard to breed. As well as the operation itself is expensive, the mother and pups need extra care afterward. Plus, breeders need to give their mother dogs significantly longer to recuperate before they can think about breeding them again. On top of that, French bulldogs have small litters—usually just three puppies. It is very unusual for a Frenchie to have five or more puppies in a single litter. So, if you are looking for a French bulldog puppy, you can expect to be on a waiting list for several months before a puppy is available. As well as being expensive to buy, French bulldogs can be pretty costly to care for, again mostly because of their health problems. They will probably need regular trips to the vet, and insuring them can be expensive because they are known to have health issues. But what are some of the main costs that you can expect to incur when bringing home a new puppy? Supplies It can surprise pet parents just how many things you need to care for a new dog. For starters, your new pup will need a bed, toys, bowls, a collar, and a leash. A crate can also be a big expense if you choose to crate train. However, because crate training is not so common among French bulldogs, first-time owners might also want to consider some professional training classes. Food Food is one of the biggest neverending expenses for any dog. Puppy food is also a bit more expensive than adult food because of its high protein content. Ideally, your dog should be eating puppy food until they are about 9 months old. French bulldogs should be eating around 25 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight each day. You can read more about pet insurance for puppies here. They will usually only bark when there is something wrong, so it is worth paying attention when they do vocalize. This is one of the reasons why they make excellent apartment dogs. While French bulldogs are adorable, they are specifically bred for their appearance, and this has led to a lot of genetic issues that affect their health and can leave them in a lot of pain in their later years. Many people object to putting the health of an animal second to appearance and therefore object to buying French bulldogs and supporting the purebred breeding industry. In theory, if there was no demand for these dogs, this kind of exploitative breeding would stop. In practice, this is difficult to imagine, considering how popular the breed is. Can French bulldogs stay home alone? French bulldogs actually tolerate being left alone relatively well. However, all dogs need a lot of love and companionship, and no dog responds well to being left on their own for 10 hours a day five days a week. Dogs become members of the family, and if they are going to thrive, they need to be treated with that kind of attention. Are Frenchies hard to potty train? However, they are little dogs with small bladders. They also tend to gobble down their food, which means they can be prone to smelly gas expulsions. How much exercise does my Frenchie need? French bulldogs do well on just a 15 to minute vigorous walk each day. They are also quite playful, so they burn off energy just playing around as well. Are French bulldogs aggressive? Despite the reputation of bulldogs, Frenchies are not aggressive. They are friendly and get on well with people and other animals. However, all animals are a combination of nature and nurture, so they can learn aggressive habits if they are not properly cared for. Are Frenchies high maintenance? They can also be left alone without expecting too much trouble. On the other hand, their tendency towards breed-specific health issues does mean they need regular visits to the vet. They may need special medications for things like breathing issues, and in later life, they may need things like a special bed. The Verdict French bulldogs are excellent dogs. They are great little companions who will find it easy to live in your apartment with you, but they are also fun-loving and curious. While they are great dogs, they are also quite expensive. This is due to high demand and some pretty serious difficulties when it comes to breeding them. They have small litters, almost always delivered by c-section, and health screenings and vet visits are a big burden for breeders. If you want something special, such as a rare color, you should expect to pay a lot more. You can also expect them to be relatively expensive dogs to own because they do need regular and close contact with a good vet to maintain their health. At a glance, the French bulldog is: Highly intelligent and trainable Small, meaning it does well in fairly small apartments Expensive due to demand and how difficult they are to breed Prone to breed-specific health issues So, are they worth all this expense and trouble? We think they are. French bulldogs can be the ideal pet for first-time owners with limited space and time but a lot of love to give. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

June 8, Affiliate Disclaimer As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties. This mix is a versatile dog that is known for being loyal, protective, and intelligent. The Akita German Shepherd Mix is also called Akita Shepherds or Shepkitas and has a beautiful coat that makes this mixed breed dog stand out. Akita German Shepherd Mix breed characteristics They can build a strong bond with their owners and make great family pets but may be too much for small children. Akita German Shepherds need plenty of exercise and can be quite active. They are also known to be independent and stubborn at times. Some Akita Shepherd owners believe that male akita shepherds are also more likely to bark and howl than female akita shepherds. General Breed Attributes The breed is a blend of the best qualities of both the German Shepherd and Akita, so they come in an array of colors — from light tan coat color, to pitch black, and everything in between. The Akita Shepherd is a great dog with high energy. Learning more about the breed characteristics will help determine if it is right for you and your family. Background and origin The Akita was originally bred in Japan to hunt bears and other large game. The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the world. They are known for being loyal, intelligent, and protective. Max von Stephanitz is the founder of the German Shepherd breed. He is considered to be the father of the breed. They were used in the German military and were working dogs and were used for herding sheep and guarding property. There are two different types of Akitas — American and Japanese. The Akita Inu is a smaller dog and has a smooth coat. The American Akita is a large sized dog and has a thicker coat. Common traits of both breeds Akita Shepherds are a mix of two very different breeds but they share some common traits. They are loyal, protective, and intelligent. Akita Shepherds or Shepkitas need plenty of exercise and can be quite active. The male Japanese Akita weighs between pounds and stand up to 28 inches. Temperament When given proper training and conditioning, the Akita Shepherd breed can be a great family companion. This mixed breed dog is also very social, loveable, loyal and playful. While they do love to please their owners, Akita Shepherd mixes tend to be headstrong. They can also be very stubborn and intentionally obstinate. Part of it is due to their playful nature and the other part is a behavioral issue. But, with the right care this will be minor. However, behavioral issues will be difficult to quell. Unfortunately, females tend to be worse than males in this regard. The independent nature of Akitas combined with the bold autonomy of German Shepherds equate to an a dog that may need to be reigned in. Family and children Akita Shepherds make great family pets but maybe too much for small children. Akita Shepherds make great guard dogs and are protective pets when it comes to their family. Along with adequate and consistent training, the dog will be more than amenable and affectionate toward the child. Still, never leave an Akita Shepherd alone with other pets or children without supervision. This breed will enjoy everything from playing fetch in the back yard to taking an hour long walk. As with any dog, you want to start training regularly and early socialization are important. Grooming requirements and Shedding Because both Akitas and German Shepherds are dogs with fairly thick coats, your Akita Shepherd probably will too. This means you have to do daily maintenance brushing along with a weekly thorough brushing. Use a slicker brush and pin brush for grooming in between sessions. The dog will also probably need the fur cut down on its coat. This is ideal during summer, to help the dog tolerate heat better. After your precious pooch has been outside, you have to check its ears and coat for pests and fleas. Health The life expectancy of an Akita Shepherd breed is around 10 to 13 years old. While these are robust, strong and healthy dogs, they do experience some health problems. The most important of these health problems will be things like: hip dysplasia. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic Akita Shepherd Highlights The Akita Shepherd is a mixed breed dog. They are not purebreds like their Akita or German Shepherd Dog parents. The main colors of Akita Shepherds are brindle, white, silver, red, gray, brown, sable, and black. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of colors. Regular weekly brushing—and daily brushing when their coat blows—should do the trick. Akita Shepherds have medium energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one good half-hour- to hour-long walk per day with a few good, active play sessions and shorter walks mixed in. With proper introduction, an Akita Shepherd can be an incredible, calm companion for kids. Always supervise play between kids and dogs. If introduced properly, Akita Shepherds can become friendly with other dogs. They may have a prey drive with smaller animals like cats. They are also incredibly eager to please and thrive with consistent training. Breeders wanted to combine the stoic, protective nature of the Akita with the loyalty of the German Shepherd. Both are intelligent breeds, making for a smart, loyal, protective hybrid. They continued to create Akita Shepherds as demand for the breed continued to rise. Akita Shepherds are still most commonly found in the United States. Even though the Akita Shepherd breed got its start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the breed for you. Check your local shelters, look up Akita Shepherd rescues, or check with breed specific German Shepherd or Akita rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed breed dogs and find homes for them. Akita Shepherd Size As the Akita Shepherd is a relatively new mixed breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between Akita and German Shepherd parents, you can expect Shepkitas to be on the larger side. Most weigh in at 75 to pounds and range in height from 24 to 28 inches from the shoulder. The female Akita Shepherd tends to be slightly smaller than the male Akita Shepherd. Some dogs may be smaller or larger than average. Akita Shepherd Personality Many Akita Shepherd enthusiasts describe their Shepkitas as serious with a streak of silly. In order to curb any unwanted habits or guarding behaviors, be sure to start training your Akita Shepherd as early as possible. Akita Shepherds are highly alert dogs, and they may try to protect you from whatever threat they perceive. This mixed breed is incredibly loyal and loving to their humans, and they want to make sure you are safe! While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Some of the more common health problems Akita Shepherds suffer from include : Bloat. They would always look forward to pleasing their owners with expectations of a little attention. These dogs are incredibly daring and alert, with a strong defensive instinct, and thus make good guardian dogs. They are excellent working dogs as their parents, provided they have been trained to be so since puppy-days. However, some experts argue that these dogs might be prone to developing behavioral issues or characteristics of aggressive demeanor due to poor breeding. They are said to be such dogs that would find the weak areas of their owners, and when they decide to leave, they can easily skip away. Hence, it is advisable to build barriers around the boundary where your Akita shepherds would live, as also to keep an eye on its day to day activities. Care Exercise Being the offspring of two large working breeds, the Akita Shepherd needs a lot of activities and exercise every day. They love jumping and running. Take them out for a couple of long walks and jogs every day. You can also take your Shepkita to a dog park where they would be able to mingle comfortably with other dogs, devoid of any territorial aggressions. If you have a yard, take it out of leashes only if your yard is enclosed. This should ensure all-around safety. These activities are especially necessary if your dog lives in an apartment. Your dog enjoys challenges. Enthuse it to take part in vigorous playing sessions, including tug of war, Frisbee, and different other retrieving games that demand physical exertion. Grooming Use a slicker brush and comb them daily. A shedding rake also helps remove loose hair. But you do not need to bath it often. It is enough if you would do so only once or twice a year. Avoid shaving or trimming the coat too often since it serves as insulation against intense heat and cold. During the rainy season, it even helps to repel most of the water that accumulates. Health Problems The Shepkita might be prone to hip dysplasia, which they often inherit from its Akita parent. It primarily happens when breeders would choose a dog for breeding, which is suffering from hip dysplasia. Other health issues that this breed might inherit from their ancestors are epilepsy, elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, tumors on the spleen, keratitis, and chronic eczema. Training The Akita Shepherd needs a firm-handed, robust trainer, who can tactfully control the dog. Leadership quality is a quality that is a must for the trainer. Begin teaching and training them from the time of adoption. Allow them to socialize more and more each day, and help them mix with other pets and guests. Teach them to know you as the leader with an authoritative persona, power of command, and confidence. Always let your dog follow your footsteps, especially when you take it outdoors. Remember, successful and complete training is the key to success in making your Akita Shepherd a homely, well-behaved dog. Otherwise, the quantity of food and the diet chart should be the same as the other large dogs of its type and energy very much like its parents. They are said to be allergic to corn, thus refrain from giving it to them. Interesting Facts Some Shepkitas might develop dry eyes that might be caused by eyelids that do not completely close when asleep. Lifespan Sociability Akita Shepherd puppies are super daring and alert dogs. Bred from two outstanding working breeds, these dogs thrive when they have a job to do. Some experts state that this breed is prone to behavioral issues, such as aggression, due to poor quality breeding. The Akita Shepherd is also known as the Shepkita. Their stout and muscular build only add to their brawny reputation. Despite their aggressive appearance, Akita Shepherds are actually extremely affectionate and loving dogs. While quiet, they are constantly on the alert and always prepared to protect their pack. If properly trained while they are still puppies, Akita Shepherds can be extremely obedient. Very intelligent, this high-strung hybrid needs firm and consistent training or he may overpower you. It is also crucial to socialize these dogs starting at a young age in order for them to be well adjusted. Since they are working dogs, Akita Shepherds are also very active and playful and would do best in an active household. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They can become aggressive if they feel threatened or are unsure about themselves. For this reason, Akita Shepherds do best in families with older children. They are also great for couples and individuals. They can effortlessly spend an hour or more running in cold climates. Since they are an adventurous breed, Akita Shepherds are much more suitable for suburban or rural locations because they get a lot more exposure and stimulation from the large expanses of land to explore and run. For the first four months or so, puppy food should be fed for them along with natural food. Always avoid feeding them foods that contain preservatives. The best source of protein for Akita Shepherds is meat. However, veggies can also be included in their diet to ensure they are getting vital nutrients. An adult Akita Shepherd should be fed five to six cups of high-quality dry dog food that can be broken up into two meals per day. However, they can enjoy a long nap and a cuddle on the couch after playtime is over. Allow your Akita Shepherd to accompany you on long walks or jogs a couple of times a day. You can also keep him happy by tossing a ball in the backyard or challenging him to a game of tugs-of-war inside of the house. A minimum exercise time of 60 minutes per day will do. Additionally, these smart dogs also need mental stimulation. If he already understands basic commands, check out the Internet or books for more advanced tricks. Give him a job to do: Akita Shepherds are herding dogs. Help him fulfill these duties by rounding up your slippers and bringing them to you. They work best with firm yet positive training methods. If your pooch has more German Shepherd genes, the faster they will pick up on new tricks. These dogs can be stubborn at times. As his trainer, you must act strong and take the lead to establish your dominance. You should also bear in mind that Akita Shepherds will shed a lot during the spring and summer months, so grooming during this period is essential. Other grooming necessities include trimming their nails and cleaning their ears once a week. Here are some of the minor and major health conditions your dog could experience over his lifespan: Minor Conditions. Her father was an Akita and her mother a German Shepherd. She has a great temperament! She lives with a 3 pound Yorkie that she loves! She is not small animal aggressive. She is somewhat independent, aloof, and weary of strangers. She needs time to accept strangers and we joke that she acts like a cat! However, she also has some of the German Shepherd traits. She is always obedient, very smart, eager to please, and very trainable. She has those traits from the German Shepherd breed. She also "herds" us around the house sometimes. She is not all a "relentless barker" like some Shepherds are. And she rarely wines or growls. What I like about her is that we seem to have gotten the best of both breeds! She is affectionate when she wants to be and she can also be independent when left alone which gets rid of the " separation anxiety " that Shepherds often have. I am completely happy with her. She protects me with her life when my husband is not home. Almost like she knows that I am alone and needs to be looked after. I love her! The one bad thing about her is that she has a typical dominant personality that Akitas have which means she needs a "Pack Leader" that always is her leader otherwise, she can take over and become very relentless. He was the easiest dog to train in any of my experience, and his temperament is extraordinary. Also I have always admired a brindle coat and this pooch wears it quite well. Pinto is a large proportion of white with splotches of color over a third of the body in an organized pattern. Pinto Akitas usually still have a black facial mask, although sometimes split by white down the middle. White with black spots or freckles — atypical of either Akitas or German Shepherds. Shepkitas, except solid white dogs, will often have facial masks. Just how stubborn or strong-willed your puppy becomes depends on what proportion of genetic factors it inherits from each parent. Keep in mind that your pup has the potential to inherit domineering tendencies from either or both parents. German Shepherds are generally easy to train, although they can have issues with dominance. Akitas are willful, strong-minded, and independent. While clearly very smart, they seem to ponder commands before executing them. Are They Good Watchdogs? Prepare yourself for potential aggression against perceived threats. Early training and socialization are crucial so that your dog can become a reasonable and discerning judge of strangers. Experts recommend focusing more on teaching obedience rather than guard training with a Shepherd or an Akita. German Shepherds have courage, boldness, and fierceness that have placed them among the best guard dogs. Not specifically bred for aggression, their hostility against intruders comes from protective instincts first cultivated through their work with livestock. They extend that protection to all family members and are territorial over the home and property. Akitas, like Shepherds, are loyal and courageous. Their ferocity against intruders is inherent and uncompromising. Their double coat will be thick with the outer guard hairs probably medium in length. Your dog will need a bath if soil build-up becomes severe. Use a mild shampoo to help prevent irritation and keep the skin from becoming too dry. Clip nails at least once every six weeks and check ears regularly. A long-haired German Shepherd will rarely not have an undercoat. Usually, a Shepherd has thick fleece underfur near the skin, with a medium to long outer layer of coarse hair. Neither dog requires clipping of their coats. Your Shepkita will have a thick undercoat that insulates it from the sun and keeps it warm during the winter. Several states have passed laws that prevent you from leaving your dog for prolonged periods outdoors when the temperature dips below freezing. Some dog houses now provide safe means to install a pet heater when it becomes extremely frigid in the winter. The German Shepherd and Akita do, however, both thrive in cold conditions. Their undercoats provide excellent insulation, and their longer outer fur acts as a water repellent to keep them dry. Despite this, a shelter may still be needed. They share several issues in common. Your veterinarian may recommend surgical intervention in some cases. Hypothyroidism — The thyroid gland functions below normal levels, requiring supplementation. Elbow dysplasia Hemangiosarcoma — A cancerous growth on the spleen that can cause chronic bleeding. Autoimmune skin diseases Akita German Shepherd Mix According to Globaldogbreeds , the Shepherd Akita mix has picked up a few unique health problems not commonly cited in the research of German Shepherds or Akitas. Luxating patella — More often associated with small dogs, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons reports that luxating patellas appear to be on the rise in dogs like the Akita and Flat-Coated Retriever. How long will your Akita Shepherd live? Akitas, German Shepherds, and Shepkitas all have similar life spans — the Shepherd lives 10 to 13 years, according to Shepped. The Shepkita is also reported to live 10 to 13 years and the Akita 10 to 15 years. German Shepherds, with their intense single-minded focus and exceptional stamina, need mental stimulation as well as sessions of rigorous activity. Akitas tolerate shorter bursts of exertion, but still need about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise per day, according to Animalwised. You need to incorporate training with both of these breeds, and the earlier you can start, the better. Shepkitas are most likely to be kind and protective of children in their household, if socialized from a young age. They may or may not tolerate other animals. You may not see dog aggression appear in your pup until it approaches adolescence, or around six to eight months of age. Both Akitas and German Shepherds can learn to see children as part of their pack that they need to protect, and around whom they must be gentle. Akitas cannot be trusted to extend that solicitous attitude to children outside of the family. German Shepherds and Akitas have a strong prey drive. Some Akitas befriend cats, but their volatile play energy warrants extreme caution. The Shepherd Akita mix is potentially a great family companion. Like most large dogs, it requires early socialization and firm training. You can enjoy several activities together like flyball, fetch, agility training, obedience exercises, and hiking. If you have plenty of quality time to spend with a large and strong-minded dog, a Shepherd Akita mix may fit your family perfectly. FAQ: 1. What is the Shepkita breed and what are its characteristics? Answer: The Shepkita is a cross between a German Shepherd and an Akita, known for accentuating power, intelligence, loyalty, guarding, and utility. It makes an intriguing working dog and dedicated family companion with intense focus, a strong work ethic, and versatility. What is the history of German Shepherds and Akitas? Answer: German Shepherds originated from sheepherding dogs across Germany and were developed to a perfect working dog by Max von Stephanitz in .Akitas were originally a hunting dog from the Northern mountains of Japan and were bred for its competitive nature. What health issues should I be aware of for my Shepherd Akita mix? Answer: Both purebred Akitas and Shepherds have health problems they can pass along to any offspring. They share hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, hemangiosarcoma, and epilepsy. The breed also has some unique health issues such as Luxating patella and lupus. How do I groom my Shepherd Akita mix? Answer: Your Shepkita will likely require brushing every day and a bath if soil build-up becomes severe. Clip nails at least once every six weeks, and check ears regularly. Is the German Shepherd Akita mix the right dog for me? Answer: If you have plenty of quality time to spend with a large and strong-minded dog, a Shepherd Akita mix may fit your family perfectly. Nonetheless, it may not be the right dog for households with other animals, and early socialization and training are crucial. They were first bred to hunt large and medium-sized game, such as elk, boars and small bears, as well as fowl. They were also used as guard dogs to protect the Japanese royalty. They are seen as a national treasure in Japan, and they symbolize protection, health, happiness, and longevity. They were first brought into the United States by the American author, political activist, and lecturer Helen Keller , who became infatuated with the breed during her visit and was given a puppy as a gift to take home. The population of these dogs steadily began to increase in the US when servicemen brought their own dogs back with them after World War II. They are fairly large dogs, with a distinct and powerful appearance. They have a big head and small triangular eyes and a robust stance. Their coats usually come in black, white, or chocolate, a combination of color and white, or brindle. These dogs also shed quite a bit of their hair, so weekly brushing is advised to keep their plush coat healthy. Akitas usually stand at around inches high cm and weigh in at between lbs kg. They usually live to become 10 to 15 years old. In terms of their personality, Akitas are a bold and willful dog and extremely loyal to their owner s. They are wary of strangers, alert, intelligent, and have a lot of courage. They are also an active breed and require a lot of exercise to keep them from becoming bored, and in turn, destructive. However, they are very playful and affectionate with their owners. They enjoy companionship and, with proper training and socialization, can become amicable around other people and animals. However, they are still best suited to a one-dog home and are stubborn, so they require a little more patience when being trained. Quiet Intelligence Many Akita Shepherd owners say that this breed of dog is a quiet one. These are highly alert dogs who are always on the lookout for any perceivable threat. They always want to make sure you are safe and will let you know if something is up without being yappy about it. They are also not very likely to bark a lot only when they deem it absolutely necessary , which is great because no one likes a neighbor with a noisy dog! Extreme Loyalty These mixed-breed dogs are extremely loyal to their human friends, as both of their parents are also very loyal companions. They are likely to develop a strong bond with their owner and can be overprotective at times. It is advised that you focus on teaching your Akita Shepherd to be obedient rather than doing any sort of guard dog training. They are only trying to protect you because they care about your safety. High-Maintenance Grooming Akita Shepherds have a double-coated fur of medium length hair, and thus they shed quite a lot. Taking proper care of their coats can be high-maintenance and requires a lot of time and energy to keep it looking at its best. This means that they may not be the best dog for someone with allergies. Their coats are quite manageable if you groom them regularly enough. A slicker brush, like this Miracle Coat Slicker , is essential, as well as an undercoat deshedder, like this PetNeat Professional Deshedding Tool , for when they start to blow their coats. Health Concerns Akita Shepherds are an appealing dog for many reasons, but they also have the tendency to inherit several health problems from their parents. While the Akita Inu and German Shepherd are two very different dogs, they do have some health issues in common. Canine Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a skeletal condition in which the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit or develop properly, and it causes them to rub and grind against each other instead of sliding smoothly. This causes the hip joint to deteriorate over time, eventually leading to a complete loss of function. This is relatively common in large dogs and is a health issue when it comes to Akita Shepherds. Bloat Bloat is also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus complex GDV and is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. This makes the blood pool at the back end of the body and will eventually send your dog into shock. It is caused by a deficiency in the amount of a protein in the body needed to make platelets stick together to form a clot when a blood vessel is damaged, or the skin is cut. This clot would seal the opening and prevent the body from losing too much blood. The deficient protein is called the Von Willebrand factor. Degenerative Myelopathy Degenerative Myelopathy is a disease that is more common in older dogs. It is a progressive disease of the spinal cord, which can lead to a loss of coordination, dragging, or knuckled-over feet. Eventually, the limbs become weak, and the dog can no longer walk. It is caused by the degeneration of transmission fibers in the spinal cord demyelination , which strips away the insulation between the nerve fibers, and axonal loss, which is a loss of the actual nerve fibers. This interferes with the communication between the brain and limbs and leads to the eventual loss of use of the limbs. Hypothyroidism is a common manifestation of this disease, but autoimmune thyroiditis can also be a symptom of something else, like lupus erythematosus or pan endocrinopathy. Progressive Retinal Atrophy Progressive retinal atrophy PRA is a group of degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptor cells in the retina. The retina is a layer of cells at the back of the eye that converts light entering the eye into electrical signals, which are then sent to the brain to be processed and interpreted. This disease causes these photoreceptor cells to deteriorate or atrophy over time and will lead the affected dog to become blind eventually. There are some other health issues to watch out for that we have listed below: Elbow Dysplasia.

Things to do with your English Bulldog Massachusetts is a great place to live with an English bulldog. The state has a diverse landscape, plenty of outdoor activities, and dog-friendly businesses. Hike the Trails Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. There are many hiking trails in Massachusetts that are perfect for English bulldogs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog, and take breaks often. Visit a Campground Camping is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many campgrounds in Massachusetts that allow dogs. Be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, and other supplies. There are many places to fish in Massachusetts, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to get a fishing license and follow all the rules and regulations. Go Boating Boating is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many places to boat in Massachusetts, both on rivers and lakes. Be sure to bring a life jacket for your dog and follow all the safety rules. There are many places to swim in Massachusetts, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and follow all the safety rules. Visit a Dog Park Dog parks are a great place for English bulldogs to run and play off-leash. There are many dog parks in Massachusetts, both in urban and rural areas. Visit Dog-Friendly Businesses Massachusetts has a number of pet-friendly businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and stores. These are just a few of the many things you can do with your English bulldog in Massachusetts. With its stunning scenery, endless activities, and friendly people, Massachusetts is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your furry friend. How do you breed for a healthier English Bulldog? Like all things in life, breeding for health is simply a matter of priority. We are blind to many of the breed priorities that distract other breeders from improving the health of the English Bulldog. We focus on health and personality and very little else. We are not interested in winning a blue ribbon in the show ring. Rather, we test for things like elongated soft palates, narrow tracheas, stenotic nares, luxation in the patellar tendons, heart defects, cherry eye, optic cilia, entropion, ect. We focus and prioritize creating healthy bloodlines, therefore our bulldogs are typically much healthier than the breed as a whole. After breeding for health, what other priorities are you focused on? Our true desire is to create the perfect family bulldog. We also believe a bulldog bred for the correct personality is essential to the family unit as well. A Bruiser Bulldog is bred for intelligence and playfulness. We want our bulldogs to be full of personality and some quirk. We believe a full personality along with a little stubbornness is the true North star of the bulldog breed and is what makes the unique among other breeds. We look for these personality traits in our adult bulldogs and continue to create bloodlines that reflect these qualities. What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in Massachusetts? Check out our available English Bulldog Puppies page. At times, we have available puppies but almost always have a waiting list as well. A quick look at our available puppies is the starting point to begin the process. Send us an email or give us call .If approved to adopt one of our puppies you are welcome to place a deposit to hold until your puppy is ready to go home. Greetings from the Wysongs! Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. You can search for the puppy you want on the said website, and you can even filter the search to make a quicker and better search. Moreover, you can find further tips and information that can come in handy on their site. Here is the link to the AKC Marketplace. In it, you can find both Bulldog Pups and adults that are near you. You can also filter the searches with the sex and age of the dog that you want. Here is a link to their website. Provide a suitable bed. Make sure your puppy already has its bed where it can sleep. A crate is ideal for your new puppy. One thing you can do is provide a stress-free sleeping area. Thus, you should maintain the space with a quiet environment. Put the bed somewhere you can see so you can always keep an eye for your pet. Your pet should have his food and water bowls. It would be best to have a customized food and water bowls intended for your pet. Always have it available at a scheduled time. It will also train your pup to eat in a planned manner. Provide toys for your pet to chew. All puppies and dogs like to chew, so be sure to have a toy ready for your pup to chew. It will also prevent your pup from chewing on appliances and furniture. Provide a suitable collar and leash for it. It would save you the effort to purchase or look for one when you want to walk your pup. Try to ask your vet for grooming products you can use for your bulldog puppy. Keep in contact with your veterinarian. Puppies are always playful, so be sure to avoid having access to items that can be dangerous for them. Keep furniture with sharp edges away from your puppy, and remove items that are prone to falling. Always have your yard and fence secured to prevent your pup from running away. Look for small openings and cover it. It will help you prevent your puppy from going out and disappearing. Is not someone who has a puppy mill. It means they should breed only one or two kinds and do not breed only to sell it immediately. Will not have a litter of pups always ready for you. A good breeder knows almost everything about the breed. I started breeding Olde English Bulldogges back in .After a few years, I added English Bulldogs to my program. I have always prided myself on breeding healthy family pets. In I had to take a break due to being diagnosed with breast cancer. I am super excited to be able to begin my breeding program again. Right now, we have two females, Tito and Bailey. Tito is Baileys mom. They live in our home and are a part of our everyday lives. The English Bulldog is an old and unmistakable breed. Their compact, muscular frame and copious wrinkles make them stand out from any group of dogs. They're known to have a gentle disposition, calm demeanor and love human attention. English Bulldogs are well suited for aparment life and more calm lifestyles as they don't require a large yard or a lot of exercise. They suffer in extreme heat and cold and do best in temperate climate. They are loud breathers and are known for their snoring and wheezing. Their coats don't require much attention but you will want to keep their facial folds and wrinkles clean to prevent skin infections. English Bulldogs aren't an easy breed to raise. They require artificial insemination and c-sections and require around the clock care the first few weeks. Bulldog moms can be clumsy and lay on their babies while nursing so they have to be watched closely. By providing proper food, vaccinations and care for 8 weeks, the Bulldog breeder invests a lot of time and money into each litter. If you add up the cost of stud service, progesterone tests, c-section, vaccinations, etc. This is just a quick summary of why English Bulldogs cost what they do. You can certainly find cheaper puppies but this is one of those times when you "get what you pay for". Home: About Us. Questions about Bulldog puppies for sale in Boston MA? We have answers. How much are Bulldog puppies for sale in Boston MA? There is always a range of prices available for Bulldog puppies for sale in Boston. Some Bulldogs are more expensive than others due to coat color, puppy gender, breeder and business experience and location, and whether or not the Bulldog puppy has had its shots or not. What if there are no Bulldog breeders in Boston? You may be searching Uptown Puppies and not be able to find any Bulldog breeders in Boston and businesses, or Boston Bulldog puppies for sale. There are a number of Bulldog puppy breeders and businesses from out-of-state that you can connect with! How are the Bulldog breeders screened? Why is Uptown Puppies so unique from other Bulldog puppy-finder websites? Bulldog puppies for sale Boston are very popular nowadays, and therefore we designed the perfect Bulldog for sale Boston site that creates real connections between families looking for Bulldog puppies, and the best breeders and businesses available. We have done all the hard work to make sure you end up with the best puppies! What is a Boston puppy mill like? This happens because more often than not, these puppies are born in little dirty cages that are stacked up upon one another. Can I get a Bulldog puppy right now? Just start your search journey on Uptown Puppies, and a Boston Bulldog for sale will be yours soon! What type of dog is a Bulldog? Boston Bulldogs for sale are really sweet, kind, and lazy dogs that are affectionate, loyal, goofy, and funny. Their faces are all wrinkled, in fact, because they were bred to look the way they do to keep them safer in fights. Are Bulldogs big? What are their temperaments like? Bulldogs in Boston live 8 to 10 years, and are medium-sized dogs that happen to be very heavy just try pick one up! Are Bulldogs happy in apartments? What is the grooming process for Bulldogs? Important grooming tips for Bulldogs Boston are first to brush their coat every day, as it keeps it smooth and shiny. You also need to brush their teeth every day, clip their nails, and shampoo them every few weeks.

German Shepherds, like other dogs, have a day gestational period. It is approximately nine weeks of total pregnancy, but a female German Shepherd can give birth as soon as 58 days or as late as 68 days. This day difference in the average length of German Shepherd gestation may vary depending on the number of puppies and the size of the mother. To put it simply, the more puppies there are, the longer it takes, and vice versa. In some cases, a pregnant German Shepherd may only have one puppy, while huge litters might produce up to 15 puppies. Generally, in canines, preterm delivery is uncommon, and most pregnant dogs deliver their puppies at full term. However, being a few days earlier or later is normal and is frequently caused by a wrong assessment of the date when a female German Shepherd becomes pregnant. Furthermore, if you know when your German Shepherd has mated, you can use a dog pregnancy calculator to acquire an accurate estimate of its due date. Many breeders or even seasoned owners find it difficult to tell if their German Shepherd is pregnant, especially in the early pregnancy stages. Furthermore, unlike humans, there is no at-home pregnancy test for animals. Veterinarians perform ultrasounds between 25 and 35 days of gestation. They will analyze the levels of relaxin , a pregnancy hormone that is taken throughout the breeding process, using a blood sample from dogs. The veterinarian will determine the exact number of German Shepherd puppies in the womb 55 days or more after breeding. Abdominal Palpation: It is a traditional way to detect pregnancy of German Shepherds. It is done around the 28 to day mark by looking for uterine swellings that indicate the existence of developing puppies. Although German Shepherds are independent during pregnancy, there are still a lot of preparations you must make before the puppies are delivered. Generally, the average age for a German Shepherd to get pregnant is around two years old, but it can be as early as five months old. Additionally, because German Shepherds are a large breed, it takes them a while to fully mature before getting pregnant. So, they must be at least 18 months old if you plan to breed them. Once they reach full maturity, German Shepherds can be pregnant during the fertilization period in the second stage of their heat cycle. The heat cycle of female dogs consists of proestrus , estrus , diestrus , and anestrus. During the proestrus stage, female dogs begin to attract males, which will last for nine days. Meanwhile, during estrus, a female dog is marked as available to a male dog, usually lasting for three to four days. Then, the diestrus is the final day of the reproductive cycle when the female dog will no longer permit mating. However, like other large dog breeds, a German Shepherd Dog has its first heat cycle in the latter months. Thus, there is no precise date at which it can get pregnant. Yet, you can expect your dog to be pregnant when it is six months old because it is when the anestrus phase occurs. It is the time elapsed between one heat cycle and the next. That said, knowing the four stages of the heat cycle is important for estimating how long German Shepherds are pregnant. Week 1 Within a few days after breeding, the sperm reaches the eggs, and fertilization occurs. Week 2 Fertilized egg cells will begin to develop, separate, and descend towards the uterus for implantation between the 12 and day mark during the second week. There will be no physical changes to the German Shepherd, but it will become either more affectionate or irritated. Therefore, getting your female dog groomed is advised to lessen its stress. Week 3 During the third week, the embryos will begin to travel to the uterine horns to embed themselves in the uterine wall. The embryos will continue to develop while receiving essential nutrients within the womb through the uterine lining. Some body parts, including the placenta and nervous system, will develop on the 18th day. The placenta will be fully formed by the end of this week. In addition, your German Shepherd may gain weight, and its abdomen might begin to swell. If you notice these changes, confer with your veterinarian, who will provide veterinary advice about the right food and diet plan for your pet. Week 4 This week is the most critical stage when a fetus develops facial features, limbs, and vital organs. So, your German Shepherd must avoid rough play and serve its food in smaller portions. This is also the optimal time to bring your German Shepherd for an ultrasound after the 25th day to know how many puppies your dog expects. Week 5 The fetuses develop their sex organs and begin to resemble actual puppies during this period. On day 35, all major organs of the puppies should already have developed. Thus, a pregnant GSD might increase her weight by 20 to 50 percent as it has growing puppies in its abdomen. Therefore, it will need more calories and nutrients than usual. Furthermore, it will avoid normal routines like walking and become more sensitive because of discomfort. Week 6 The puppies develop more rapidly and should have their skin colors. Their eyes remain closed but have lids, claws form, and their heads begin to grow hair for the first time. Furthermore, your female dog will be more uncomfortable and may occasionally vomit because of the increased pressure on its stomach. There will also be clear vaginal discharge, which is completely normal. It will also decrease appetite and produce a clear and odorless vaginal discharge. Furthermore, preparing a whelping box for your female dog to nest in and give birth within the next few weeks should be done during this period. Week 8 Puppies have grown fur and are swarmed into the uterus, moving towards the birth canal. Also, your German Shepherd Dog will spend the majority of its time in the whelping box digging in the bedding. It will also feel restless as its body grows, so give your dog the comfort and attention it needs, especially when it is in pain. You can also get an X-ray examination to determine how many puppies your German Shepherd will have. Week 9 During the last week of pregnancy, the puppies are now fully developed and ready to be born, moving toward the birth canal. You will notice that your German Shepherd may appear uncomfortable, restless, or anxious during this stage. Keep an eye on your dog as it seeks a safe place to give birth. To make your dog feel at ease and to avoid stress, keep your house clean and quiet. Afterward, you must start taking its rectal temperature every 12 hours. In this way, you always obtain the best possible outcomes and perhaps get to meet your litter of healthy puppies. German Shepherd Pregnancy Signs Apart from the fact that conception is unpredictable and varies from dog to dog, no noticeable physical changes occur during the early stages of pregnancy. Nevertheless, similar to people, there are some early signs and symptoms that can indicate if a German Shepherd is pregnant: Change in appetite. When your German Shepherd gives birth, it will be the happiest day of your life! But first you should learn about how to help and what to expect. German Shepherds typically deliver between 63 and 70 days after conception, or roughly 10 to 12 weeks from the time of ovulation. During that time, the female dog will often become quieter and less active than usual as she spends more time lying down and resting. You might also notice her nipples growing larger and darker as your German Shepherd prepares to feed her newborn puppies. What will my pregnant German Shepherd weigh? On average, pregnant German Shepherds are likely to gain anywhere from pounds during their pregnancy. Not all of that weight will come at once, but most owners report their dog gaining more weight towards the end of her pregnancy. There is a good chance that your puppy will weigh over pounds by when she is ready to give birth. Because of her larger size, some risks are associated with giving birth to large dogs like German Shepherds. If you notice any signs your pet might be in labor, make sure you take her immediately to a veterinarian. Make sure that both mom and puppies are healthy after she has given birth. Can I tell my dog is pregnant by looking at her belly? Most veterinarians can tell if a dog is pregnant by examining her abdomen. Typically, female dogs will experience some physical changes during pregnancy. For example, the vulva will become larger and more prominent, and she may leak clear or yellowish fluid. If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, such as leaking vaginal fluids or waddling like a penguin, take her to your veterinarian for an examination. What is the maximum number of puppies that a German Shepherd can have? A purebred German Shepherd generally gives birth to fewer puppies owing to its genetic makeup. According to a Norwegian Kennel Club study conducted in , the average litter size for a German Shepherd is 5. A German Shepherd generally only has a couple of fertile days; the mating period during those two days goes a long way in determining the number of puppies that a single litter shall yield. What should you feed your pregnant German Shepherd? Your pregnant German Shepherd will require nutrition that it might not receive through traditional dog foods. Regardless of the kind of food that you feed your German Shepherd during pregnancy, you must not take any chances with the nutrition. Dog owners often think that there is not much difference between canine and human nutrition; the truth is that dog nutrition is a lot more complicated and might not be fulfilled using supplementary pills. If you are unclear about the diet you should feed your dog, it is best to consult professional breeders. Can you play with your gestating German Shepherd? Your German Shepherd can and should be played with throughout pregnancy. By exercising, your dog will maintain their strength and health. In addition, make sure that your dog does not run around too much, as it might impact the birthing region of the body. First, we would like to sign off by stressing the importance of working with a capable veterinarian throughout this phase to minimize the risk of complications. Discover how to create a joyful, healthy home for your pet. Subscribe to your weekly rundown of practice, real life ideas and training tips straight to your inbox. We offer practical, real life ideas and training tips for a joyful experince, with your pet. All rights reserved. Final Thoughts How to Prepare for Your German Shepherd Giving Birth German Shepherds are truly great pets, and preparation for your dog giving birth will be one of the most important things you do for her throughout the birth process. But first, take a look at this incredible 3-minute video of a German Shepherd giving birth. Nature is truly amazing: German Shepherd giving birth incredible video Even though dogs are relatively low-maintenance when it comes to the actual birth, there are still plenty of things you will need to do to get her ready and get the area ready where she will be giving birth. Talk to Your Vet The best way to be proactive in the success of your German Shepherd giving birth will be to have frequent discussions with your vet and maintain an open line of communication with them. In any case, once you suspect your dog is pregnant, you will need to take her to your vet for regular check-ups. Ensuring her overall health is the crucial first step. Your vet will conduct a thorough exam and alert you to anything you need to be aware of. As with pregnant humans, health concerns are elevated during gestation, so be sure to take your mom-to-be to the vet straight away and continue to monitor her throughout the pregnancy. Be sure to ask your vet any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your German Shepherd during the coming months and the birth itself. They will give specifics for your dog and anything else you need to be aware of. The third trimester is when the pups develop rapidly, and your girl will need more calories for energy, depending on how many pups she is carrying. You should gradually transition this, and the feeding schedule should be little and often aid digestion. But if your vet specified anything additional due to an individual circumstance for your GSD, always adhere to their instructions. Having the checklist ready is an essential step to making sure you are ready. And remember, you will want this checklist to include everything you may need before, during, and after the birth. That will also include emergency items that you hopefully will not need but should have ready. Standard Supplies: Clean sheets, towels, and blankets You will want to have some of the blankets around the mom. They will help keep her warm and feeling safe and secure. If she has a favorite blanket or an old shirt of yours that she loves to snuggle up with, use those. But you will also need additional towels and blankets ready for the little pups after birth. Ensuring they are all warm and cozy after the birth will be, first and foremost. A pile of German Shepherd puppies bundled up with mom surrounded by comfort blankets is also just really adorable. Heating Pad or Heat Lamp Newborn puppies are unable to regulate their body temperature. The new mama understands this and will do her best to keep her pups warm using her body temperature and cuddling them close. But having a heating pad or lamp ready to go will help keep the space warm for the newborns. If you opt for a heating pad, you can place it underneath the towels and blankets where the puppies lie. It also has loads of temperature settings and timer settings, giving you plenty of options. If you opt for a lamp, be sure it is far enough away not to be too hot and burn the puppies. Place your hand underneath it to gauge where it gives a subtle warmth without causing your hand to feel hot. I prefer a heating pad as it just seems the safer option. Whelping Box and Mat To prepare for whelping, a whelping box will be required for the German Shepherd puppies to snuggle up in after the birth while the mom is recovering. You can purchase a large basket or make one yourself using a large cardboard box. German Shepherd puppies, on average, weigh around 0. As we know, German Shepherds seem to go from adorable 2-pound pups to majestic pound protectors in the blink of an eye. So, knowing how much they weighed after birth and monitoring their weight gain throughout their infancy is an essential step to proper health. There is no need to take them directly from mom and plop them onto a scale straight away. Give them time. But have it ready to take their weights within the first day or so. According to VCA Hospitals, the area where the puppies are kept should be between degrees for the first four days. Then gradually decrease the temperature to 80 degrees by the 7th — 10th day, and finally, 72 degrees by the end of the fourth week. Emergency Supplies: Baby Nose Suction Bulb Sometimes newborn puppies have built-up mucus around their nose, and the mucus causes breathing troubles. The mom will do her best to lick it away, but if you see one of the German Shepherd puppies still struggling with taking breaths, you need to have a baby nose suction bulb , such as this one from Amazon, ready to go. Gently swaddle the puppy and use the bulb carefully to suction the mucus out and hold him for a while after, massaging his chest very gently. Gloves, Sterilized Scissors, Thread, and Antiseptic Solution Typically, the mom will cut the umbilical cord herself by biting through it. Once tied off, ensure the end of the cord is cleaned with antiseptic. Cleanliness during this is critical, so a pair of medical gloves and a clean workspace are essential. Soft Travel Crate Hopefully, the birth goes smoothly, and there is no need to take your German Shepherd to the vet during it. But if there is an emergency or you have any concerns, always call your vet or nearest animal hospital immediately. Have the crate by the door with plenty of cozy blankets and familiar smells ready to go if you need to transport your GSD. This is never an ideal situation, so it should be avoided whenever possible, but under emergency circumstances, you may need an impromptu trip to the vet. Pro Tip! Use the buddy system. If you need to take your German Shepherd to the vet during birth, it will help to have someone with you. Consider asking a few close friends or relatives. They can drive while you sit in the back with your girl to comfort her. This is going to be a scary moment for your German Shepherd, and she will appreciate being able to have you by her side. Ensure the Environment is Clean and Comforting You will take much of this care during the prep stage. You will be placing clean towels down, ensuring everything is sterilized and ready for the momentous occasion. But during the birth itself, you will want to help maintain that environment. Here are a few things to consider that will help you make this a comfortable environment for your German Shepherd: Have familiar sights and smells around, such as toys, soft clothing, and blankets that she likes. If there are open windows and loud noises, shut the windows and do everything you can to limit the amount of noise and distractions around her. Give words of encouragement occasionally in a soft and soothing voice, letting her know she is doing great. In between puppies, she will need a breather. Make sure she is supported and comfort her during these breaks. Your German Shepherd will begin nesting behavior during the onset of labor, and her temperature will drop. She will become restless and may refuse food, pant, pace, shake, or vomit. But how do you know when the birth is imminent? You will see clear fluid from her vulva before the first birth. The first puppy should be delivered within minutes of hard straining. Giving Your German Shepherd Space During the Birth Oddly enough, one of the best ways to care for your German Shepherd during her birth journey will be to leave her alone. All dogs are instinctual in ways that amaze us mere humans. GSDs are also incredibly smart. So, between their instincts and intelligence, they have a knack for understanding what to do during and after giving birth. They will know what is best for their health, as well as the health of their newborns. Interfering too much during birth can cause frustration and even anger in your German Shepherd. While she will most likely understand you are trying to help — she knows best, and she will need her space. Once you have completed all preparations and have done all that you can from your end, the best thing you can do is sit back and enjoy the incredible experience of watching your German Shepherd Dog give birth. Be Ready When She Needs You Part of sitting back and watching as your German Shepherd gives birth is also knowing that she may need you, and, if so — be ready. If you have done the proper preparations, everything will be ready in case of an emergency or even a small hiccup. Here are some warning signs to be aware of as you watch the process and when you need to intervene: Your GSD has shown signs of going into labor, including a temperature below degrees, and does not end up going into labor within 24 hours. A puppy has only come halfway out, and mom seems to be struggling. She appears to be in pain, and is yelping or crying. One of her breaks in between puppies lasts more than 4 hours, and you know there are more pups to come. Typically, a long break will happen halfway through, which can be up to 4 hours. But past that, there could be something wrong. She is having contractions for more than 45 minutes without another puppy coming. If there is something more complicated, you will need to take your girl to the vet. This is another reason the buddy system is a great step to take. Now what? A big part of the preparation is to ensure that everything is ready for the new mom and pups once she is done. She is going to be exhausted, needing lots of rest and love. And the newborns will be adorable little helpless creatures that need their canine mom and their human mom or dad too! Making sure they all stay home, clean, and healthy is the number one priority after birth. During your discussions with your vet, this should be something that is covered. Your vet will offer specifics if there are particular health concerns for your German Shepherd. But otherwise, they will have general guidelines to keep the new family safe and sound. Once your German Shepherd has had enough time to recuperate and seems to be doing well after the last birth, take her outside to urinate and get some fresh air. She may not want to, as she wants to stay with her newborns, but encourage her to go outside for a quick pee and move around. Next, try to get her to drink some water and see if she has an appetite. At this point, all the puppies should be warm and snuggled in the whelping box. Let Mom join them and begin nursing them. They are going to be hungry, sleepy, and hungry again. Your job is to make sure the pups are getting enough food from Mom, and that mom is getting enough rest to care for them properly. If your German Shepherd stops producing milk for a while, you will need to have supplements and formula on hand so you can feed them yourself from a bottle. Final Thoughts German Shepherds are smart, instinctual, and fiercely protective. They also make amazing moms. And they know exactly what they need to do during the birth of their puppies. We hope this article has given you confidence in knowing what to do when your German Shepherd is giving birth. You will know when you are needed, and you will have everything ready to go from your checklist if she tags you in. You will soon be hugging those little bundles of joy and wondering what to name them. This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute pet medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for your pet. Please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Are you looking to buy something for your dog? Make sure to check out my favorite dog gear below. Puppies If your German Shepherd is pregnant or you are planning on breeding you may be wondering how many puppies can a German Shepherd have. The amount of puppies each German Shepherd has will vary on many different factors. This article will answer dive into the factors to help you better predict the number of puppies your GSD will have. Generally, you can expect a German Shepherd to have between 5 and 8 puppies per litter. However, German Shepherds have had litters as large as 14 and as small as only 1. There are many factors that contribute to the size of the litter. A German Shepherd can have puppies twice a year. Large dogs like German Shepherds go into heat around every 6 months. During their heat is when they are capable of becoming pregnant. A normal heat cycle lasts between two and four weeks long. Thus, if you breeders or individuals who are looking to breed their GSD track their heat timing and plan to have them mate during their heat. German Shepherds are pregnant for nine weeks on average. Factors That Affect German Shepherd Littler Size Although it is normal for a German Shepherd to have between five and eight puppies a litter, there are many factors that can increase or decrease the litter size. The most common factors are below: The size of the female dog The size of the dog has a big impact of how many puppies they can carry. Although German Shepherds are considered to be a large dog breed some female German Shepherds are larger than others. A female GSD that is larger will be able to carry more pups than a smaller one. Inbreeding Another factor that can contribute to litter size is inbreeding. A pregnancy that is the result of inbreeding will generally produce less puppies than one that is not. Accordingly, if you want to increase your GSD litter size make sure not to bred a female with a male that is related. The age of female The age of the female German Shepherds also plays a role in their potential litter size. Older German Shepherds will generally have smaller litters. The prime age to breed a GSD is between 2 and 5 years of age. You should not breed an elderly GSD. Just like with human males, the sperm count of male German Shepherds will decrease as they age. This decrease can make it harder for them to get a female pregnant and can also impact the litter size if they do get a female GSD pregnant. Health of the female Another factor that is important is the overall health of the female German Shepherd. In order for any dog to produce a healthy plentiful litter of puppies the dog carrying the pups has to be in prime health. Leading up to pregnancy your dog should be fed a high-quality diet, and during pregnancy a GSD will require a diet in that a certain amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates to ensure a health pregnancy. Additionally, pregnant German Shepherds can sometimes need dietary supplements if they are not getting the appropriate nutrients through their diet. Conclusion There are many factors that impact how many puppies German Shepherds can have. Most commonly German Shepherds will have between five and eight puppies, but age, health, and inbreeding can cause a GSD to bear a smaller litter. Breeders who are looking to increase litter size will need to make sure that all those controllable factors are in line and let nature do the rest. Gestation length according to accurate hormone measurements in dogs Please note that these values are averages and individual dogs may have slight variations. Getting Ready for Delivery Before giving birth to its babies, a female German shepherd begins exploring private and safe places for her puppies this process is called nesting. For the comfort of the mother and the safety of the puppy, keep some blankets and towels in the whelping box. She begins to spend more time in her nest. This way you will not have to distribute her puppies in hidden places. Taking Care of German shepherd Puppies Newborns cannot see or hear until 5 to 8 days of age. Puppies do not stand until at least 2 to 4 weeks of age. Same for the barking behavior. If left in the litter or orphaned, or if its mother is unable to produce enough milk, or if the suckle reflex for the puppy is poor, ask your vet for the Lactose-Free weaning milk prescribed for German Shepherd Puppies. Check if the temperature is warm enough as the puppies cannot control their temperature at this stage. You do not need to bathe them this time, because the mother GSD cleans her litter by constantly pressing. If the puppies are orphaned, you can wash them gently using a warm and damp cloth. Mothers for German shepherds , depending on her experience and the size of the litter, work an average of 6 to 18 hours, usually to deliver puppies. When new contractions begin, arrange the already-born puppies with a heating pad fitted in a small box and keep them away until the next puppy is born. Immediately after birth, check that each puppy is breathing properly. Observe closely their movements to make sure there are no faded puppies. German shepherd giving birth for the first time Usually, after birth, the mother cuts the umbilical cord and cleans the puppies by gently pressing their bodies. She starts with the genitals, then the legs complete with the rest of the body. She may not do so if she has no experience, or when she is exhausted after childbirth. This colostrum is very nutritious for babies. Hygiene Mother GSD, by licking its genital area, encourages her litter to urinate or defecate, but if left in the litter, you should stimulate them with potty cleaning essentials because new-borns cannot do this on their own till the first 2 weeks of life. Gently massage the anal area using a damp cotton ball or washcloth. Use a suction bulb syringe if something obstructs the nasal passages of the puppy. Also Read: When do German shepherd ears Stand up naturally? Track the growth and condition of each puppy. Using the Baby Scale, weigh each puppy immediately after birth and log its weight. Healthy German Shepherd puppies weight is about 0. Well-fed puppies sleep quietly, while air-swallowing puppies appear to be well-fed, but behave satisfactorily, initially crying and wandering around a lot, then, not moving enough. German Shepherd puppies are completely weaned and completely independent from their mother by 8 weeks of age, so it is best to train them to avoid behavioral problems. If puppies are not trained to be considered completely stupid, train them now. If necessary, bottle feeding with a canine milk replacement formula can be introduced, following veterinarian guidelines. Puppies should be fed every hours, including overnight. Weaning Introduce a small amount of softened puppy food to start the weaning process. Consult with a veterinarian for appropriate food and feeding guidelines. Start offering puppy food mixed with milk replacement formula, gradually reducing the formula over time. Begin to introduce the puppies to lapping from a shallow dish of water. Socialization Continue handling and gentle interactions to build trust and positive associations with humans. Introduce the puppies to new sounds, sights, and experiences in a controlled and safe manner. Allow supervised playtime with littermates to encourage socialization and development of motor skills. Veterinary Check-up Schedule a veterinary visit for a check-up, deworming, and vaccination recommendations. Hygiene and Cleanliness Clean the whelping area regularly, ensuring a warm, dry, and comfortable environment. Puppies may begin to crawl and explore, so provide a safe space with appropriate bedding. Monitor the puppies for any signs of illness or abnormalities and seek veterinary assistance if necessary. Sleep and Rest Puppies spend most of their time sleeping and should have a designated area for uninterrupted rest. Ensure the sleeping area is quiet, warm, and away from drafts or excessive noise. Provide soft bedding or blankets for comfort. Checklist of essential items for the Newborn German Shepherd Puppies and Mother Here is a list of things newborn German Shepherd puppies and their mother need: For Mom Whelping Box : A safe and comfortable place for a mother to give birth and nurse her puppies. Bedding: soft, clean bedding for the whelping box to keep mother and puppies warm and comfortable. Food and water bowls: Provide easily accessible bowls for the mother to have food and water. High-quality dog food: Provide a balanced and nutritious diet that meets the needs of the mother during pregnancy and lactation. Consult a veterinarian for specific recommendations. Freshwater: Ensure a constant supply of clean, fresh water to keep the mother hydrated. Medical Supplies — Keep a first aid kit on hand that includes items such as wound cleansers, gauze pads, and other basic medical supplies in case of emergencies or complications. For newborn puppies Help Box: A safe and warm environment for puppies to grow and develop. Bedding: Soft, clean bedding to keep pups warm and comfortable. Heat source: A heat lamp or heating pad is set to a low temperature to provide adequate warmth for puppies, since they are initially unable to regulate their body temperatures. Milk Replacement Formula — If nursing is not possible or additional supplementation is required, a high-quality canine milk replacement formula is available. Nursing bottles or syringes — can be used to provide supplementary feeding if puppies are unable to nurse from their mother or if necessary. Weight standard: Check the weight of the puppies regularly to ensure proper growth and development. Vet Contact Information — Have the contact details of a veterinarian with experience caring for puppies handy for any emergencies or questions. Identification bands: Use different colored bands or collars to help distinguish between puppies and track their progress. Socialization and nurturing toys: As puppies get older, introduce appropriate toys and objects to stimulate their senses and encourage early socialization. Remember to consult a veterinarian for personalized recommendations and guidance based on your specific situation and the needs of your German Shepherd mother and puppies. The mother should be given small, frequent meals throughout the day to support her energy requirements while feeding the puppy or during nursing. How often should newborn German Shepherd puppies be nursed? Puppies should nurse from their mother every 1 to 2 hours during the first few weeks of life. They have small stomachs and need frequent feedings to meet their nutritional needs. When should I start introducing solid food to the puppies? Solid food introduction typically begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age. Start by offering softened puppy food mixed with milk replacement formula, gradually transitioning them away from exclusive nursing. Consult with a veterinarian for specific recommendations. How do I keep the whelping area clean? Clean the whelping area regularly to maintain hygiene. Remove soiled bedding promptly, wipe down surfaces, and replace it with fresh, clean bedding. Use pet-safe disinfectants as recommended by your veterinarian. When can I start weaning the puppies from their mother? Weaning usually begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age when puppies start showing interest in solid food. Gradually introduce softened puppy food and reduce the amount of milk replacement formula or nursing sessions. Monitor their progress and consult with a veterinarian for guidance. Final Thoughts In conclusion, newborn German Shepherd puppies and their mother require special care and dedication. Here are some key points to keep in mind: Proper nutrition is very important for mother and puppies. Make sure the mother gets a balanced diet that meets her needs during pregnancy and lactation. Consult a veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations. Newborn babies depend on breast milk for nutrition. Make sure they nurse frequently, usually every 1 to 2 hours to meet their nutritional needs. Monitor their weight gain to make sure they are thriving. Provide a clean and comfortable helping area for mother and baby. Keep the area warm, dry and draft-free. Clean and replace bedding regularly to maintain cleanliness. Gradually introduce solid food to puppies at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Start with soft puppy food and gradually transition them away from exclusive nursing. Check with a veterinarian for specific feeding guidelines. Socialize puppies from an early age. Handle them carefully, expose them to different sights and sounds, and introduce positive human interactions. This helps them develop into well-adjusted and sociable dogs. Look for any illness or abnormalities in the mother or puppies. Seek veterinary help immediately if you notice anything concerning. By providing proper nutrition, a safe environment, and early socialization, you can give newborn German Shepherd puppies the best start in life and ensure the well-being of both mother and her precious offspring.

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If adoption isn't possible for you right now, don't worry. You can still be part of our lifesaving work by making a donation. Not sure about adoption yet? Learn why it's a great way to welcome a pet into your home-and how we can help. As my social, occupational and personal identities solidified, Dallas remained a constant denominator across each dimension of my self-identity. As life progressed, Dallas effortlessly provided the unconditional positive regard that so many counselors strive to exude to clients. He was present during graduations, new jobs, loss of family members and personally devastating health diagnoses. Whether I was joyous or tormented, Dallas was there to share in my experience and offer the validation I needed through his droopy brown eyes. She promptly told me that Dallas was overweight and kindly pointed out other ways I could best serve Dallas. As we reached relationship milestones and eventually added another companion animal, Willett, Dallas seemed to become even more joyful and content. Dallas Photo courtesy of Corban Smith Dallas gets diagnosed In the 11 years leading up to August , Dallas had survived dozens of mischievous acts that threatened his well-being. I heard him emit a strange noise and looked down to see him convulsing on the grass. As he continued to seize, I held him as I never had before. Covered in morning dew, grass and dirt, I had never felt so helpless. I screamed for my partner, and once Dallas emerged from his postictal phase, we took him to his veterinarian. The news was grim. Given my financial status, the veterinarian advised against costly diagnostic techniques, reasoning that I likely would be unable to afford the likewise costly treatments for whatever was discovered. He concluded that Dallas likely had a sinister brain tumor lurking in his furry brown head and said we should focus on making his remaining time with us as comfortable as possible. As the first pains of grief and guilt set in, I began experiencing shame that I could not afford to give Dallas the care that might prolong our time together just a little longer. Armed with anti-seizure medication and the terrifying knowledge that Dallas would, in fact, no longer be with me one day, I began one of the most stressful years of my life. He would have an extended period of time with no symptoms, then a breakthrough seizure would emerge in the middle of the night like an evil intruder. Slowly, the periods of well-being shortened, and the breakthrough seizures increased in intensity. This slow end-of-life process was excruciatingly unpredictable and painful as I began to experience a feeling of learned helplessness. Each evening, I crawled into bed terrified that at some point in the night, I would hear the initial gag that signaled an episode. During the day, I walked around the house dreading the discovery of puddles from postictal incontinence. I lamented this emotional roller coaster immensely. Periods of health were bright spots in my life, while breakthrough seizures were increasingly darker reminders of reality. This one felt different though. Previous recurrent seizures had presented eight hours after the first; this next round came in just four. A combination of emotional exhaustion, stress surrounding the impending doom, and the reality of treatment limitations all likely contributed. I was disassociated from what was coming later that day and treated it as simply any other day for Dallas. Eventually, the time came to load up, and I experienced the first sense of loss that snapped me back to reality. I had experienced euthanasia of a pet only once before, when I was a little boy. I was transported back to my younger self on that day, attempting to organize thoughts of death and meaning of life in an intellectual way instead of experiencing the present pain. Even in the euthanasia room, Dallas presented in his usual demeanor. Eventually, we were left alone with him. My partner and I sat there, attempting to say our final goodbyes while Dallas tried to reassure us that everything would be OK. My partner was forced to take on the role of veterinarian in telling me what to expect. She kindly outlined the euthanasia process, as I am sure she had previously with countless other mourning owners, but her voice was shaky, and tears were forming in her eyes. Another veterinarian timidly knocked on the door and asked if we were ready. She knelt next to Dallas and began administering the chemical as I tried to remember every detail of my beloved companion lying on the floor. In true Dallas fashion — being the dog that could handle anything and survive — it took an extra dose of the lethal concoction for him to pass into the next world. The Grief Process Grief truly is a unique and unavoidable part of the human experience. We are all forced into grief through loss at some point in our lives. I had experienced loss before in the form of relationships, failed endeavors and hobbies deemed too dangerous for someone of my growing age. But these things were nothing compared to the way Dallas had deeply embedded himself within my self-identity. The pain of this loss permeated through my core. As a counselor, I have been trained on grief, bereavement and the strategies we use to empower our clients. All of that knowledge and experience seemed to dissipate as soon as Dallas was diagnosed. Suddenly, grief and loss were not topics discussed in a classroom; they had become deeply personal. Soon after Dallas was diagnosed, I had begun preparing for his loss as best I could through that classroom knowledge. As a counselor, I try to promote resilience and empowerment in my clients. As I embarked on the dangerous endeavor of becoming my own counselor, I told myself to focus on the tasks I could accomplish to help myself emerge from this process more resilient than I had been going in. As soon as Dallas was diagnosed — and before I sought out knowledge of grief — I had begun to complete the tasks, and I continue to do so after the loss of Dallas. Sometimes I feel content in my accomplishment of tasks, whereas other times I am caught off guard by signs suggesting a lack of progress. My understanding of the grief process so far is that it ebbs and flows in a nonlinear, somewhat unpredictable manner throughout. Task: Accept the reality of the loss. I began to accept the loss of Dallas conceptually as soon as he was diagnosed with the potential brain tumor. During the year of symptom management, I was able to work through this task on a surface level so that I thought I would be ready for my new reality when Dallas was gone. Once Dallas had passed, I struggled with this task on a much deeper core level. Returning home from the veterinary clinic on the day he was euthanized, I was most struck by the sense of numbness. Technology was both a curse and a blessing as I attempted to gain footing on this task. As I scrolled upward, Dallas became younger and more the companion I idealized. Photos of him jumping as high as houseguests offered a stark comparison with the old man that had required assistance to get on the bed. The Live Photo feature was particularly unsettling. By holding my finger on a photo, Dallas all of a sudden sprang back to life, my phone emitting the daily sounds and visuals that I desperately longed for again in our home. Social media did, however, provide one of the best mediums for memorializing Dallas as I continued through this task. My favorite photos discovered while scrolling were shared with friends and family in a memorial post. As others expressed sadness and condolences, I was astonished to learn how many other lives Dallas had touched. Friends and contacts long forgotten reemerged to share stories and memories of Dallas. Many of them validated my new reality without Dallas as being both painful and uncomfortable. Their support helped me better accept this different world and motivated me to move closer to it instead of resisting and staying in the one that was comfortable. Task: Process the pain of grief. I am very fortunate in that any inhibition to process the pain of my grief was self-inflicted rather than being promoted by those around me. I have heard stories of those who lost pets whose grief was disenfranchised by those around them. Expectations to continue working while compartmentalizing grief plague many people after the loss of a companion animal. I was extremely fortunate that no one in my life placed such expectations on me. I was supported and understood as having just lost a family member that was deeply integrated in my self-identity. My work on this task was predominantly inhibited by self-imposed restrictions. People who do not know me well would consider me a classic stereotype of masculinity by most metrics. I am genetically broad-shouldered and proudly wear a full beard. My previous hobbies have included skydiving, riding motorcycles and owning German sports cars. I drive an SUV to my Olympic weightlifting club, and my bias toward men who are similar to me says that the loss of a dog should not break such men down to tears or inhibit their ability to participate in life roles. As I viewed myself through this lens, I repressed the pain and the experiencing of it longer than I should have. Eventually, I could no longer be the stable and stoic presence in my home and work; I had to succumb to the pain. As I began to reconcile my views on masculinity with what I knew as a counselor, I realized the feeling of pain and the expression of my emotions were among the manliest endeavors I could partake in. Task: Adjust to a world with the deceased missing. I tried to steel myself for what an absence of those noises might be like, but the void upon returning home after his passing was still debilitating. My partner and I did our best to make this task as quick as possible. The tumbleweeds of short brown fur were sucked up from the various surfaces where they always clung. These physical reminders were easy to erase; classic conditioning ingrained over the span of 12 years was much more difficult to ignore. Given the enormity of Dallas, there was little he could do that did not resonate throughout our small home. The clicking of his nails as he walked, the thud of furniture as he forcibly followed his intended path, even the heavy panting echoing through the house from his mere existence were all instantly gone. There was no longer a giant brown speed bump in the kitchen to navigate while we were cooking or a face of pure joy at the bottom of the steps when we returned home. Even watching TV at night without the occasional burst of flatulence from the corner of the sectional seemed a foreign experience. Countless other experiences have become isolating and lonely affairs since Dallas passed. Thankfully, as time passes, this task becomes easier as the frequency of unexpected reminders diminishes. Task: Find an enduring connection with the deceased while embarking on a new life. As I move forward in my life, it is impossible not to consider the impression my relationship with Dallas has left and the residual effects it will have in the future. I think of all the lessons I learned from Dallas and how they will present in the future. I wonder how my capacity for caring for those around me would have changed without first caring for Dallas. Lastly, without experiencing the loss of Dallas, I wonder how much less prepared I would be for loss in the future. I feel that my experience of being a caregiver to Dallas has greatly elevated my ability to show compassion and kindness in other roles. Thanks to Dallas, I am able to be a bit better in my many life roles as a counselor, partner, son and friend. This experience has provided me better insight into a process that I had conceptualized only in a classroom previously. Being forced to confront this inevitable human experience has taught me to give clients who are grieving a lot of room and compassion and to hold minimal expectations about how they grieve. Grief is an individualized experience. While there are models, none perfectly encapsulates what it means, feels and looks like to grieve. Our grieving process culminated last year as we traveled home for Christmas. Dallas lived his life, with the exception of his final five months, in my small home in Alabama. Before we moved into a proper home in Virginia with a fenced-in backyard, his outside time was spent on a picturesque patch of land next to a lake. Closing my eyes, I can still picture my happy and healthy Dallas splashing around and chasing geese, frequently looking back at me for encouragement. This location, where Dallas seemed his happiest, is where we spread his ashes on a cold Alabama day with tears in our eyes but a sense of resolve in our hearts. I hope that one day I do find him there again, splashing and galloping, just over the Rainbow Bridge. He and his wife reside in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where they enjoy being of service to any being they come across. Contact Corban at smitcor icloud. Counseling Today reviews unsolicited articles written by American Counseling Association members. To access writing guidelines and tips for having an article accepted for publication, visit ct.

Early Start Method STEP 1: Take your Golden retriever to group obedience classes The so-called peer-pressure works on dogs, too, and they are thus more likely to remember the useful commands when trained in groups. It will also help socialize your furry friend with other dogs. STEP 2: Play games with your dog Playing fetching games with decoy toys is highly beneficial since it will help familiarize your dog with its future prey. STEP 3: Introduce your Golden retriever to its future hunting environment Grab a leash and take your canine buddy to the future hunting environment. Make sure the dog is not overly excited and never let him or her run wild. Quiet walks will be much more beneficial as you want your pet to get acquainted with all the sounds and sights he or she will experience. STEP 4: Use a reward system Your dog should be rewarded whenever he or she obeys the command, especially when chasing prey. You can opt for words of praise, pet on the back, or a tasty treat- it is up to you! Never punish your dog, or it might become discouraged and give up altogether. Punishment techniques can make your retriever aggressive and even dangerous. Scent Method STEP 1: Play with a decoy toy for at least a few minutes every day Spray the decoy toy with a scent spray and play with your dog. Decoy play will make your dog all worked up at the very sight of a toy so spend at least a few minutes every day playing tug of war and fetching. Take the scented toy out into the yard, wipe it onto the ground over and across, and then hide it. STEP 3: Teach your Golden retriever to follow a trail Grab a leash and take your future hunting buddy to the beginning of the trail he or she should follow. Guide him or her by pointing or whispering; if it gets distracted, pull him or her back gently and encourage him or her to continue in the right direction. STEP 4: Reward your dog When your four-legged friend gets to the end of the trail and sniffs out the decoy, he or she should be adequately rewarded. Praise them, play with them, and give them their favorite treat! Therefore, every time you set up a scent trail, try to make it harder than the one before. Introduce new distractions until your retriever can sniff out the prey on its own no matter where it is. So, if you seem excited every time you are around the prey, your dog will be too. You can point or whisper — it is up to you! You can shout or wave your arms — once again, it is all up to you! STEP 3: Reward your furry friend as soon as he or she joins you in what you are doing As soon as your dog starts charging at the prey too, reward him or her! Do it each and every time. Keep your enthusiasm for as long as it takes! If you lose interest, your golden will lose it too. So, even if you are tired or bored — do not let your dog see that! It would be best if you chase the prey every time you see it until your dog starts doing it as a routine too. When your dog starts chasing the prey even before you do, you can finally relax. Of course, your pet will not be successful every time, but you should reward him or her nonetheless. Conclusion I hope you enjoyed this intro to teaching your golden retriever to hunt! Big thanks to Robert from ArcheryTopic. Golden retrievers have a charm all of their own, as Patrice Fellows reports. Register for our newsletter To continue reading this content please register for our newsletter. Since their foundation in midth century Scotland, these attractive retrievers with a keen desire to work in both cover and water, and famously soft mouths, have contributed massively to shooting. Although not as common as the ubiquitous Labrador, goldens have made up for the disparity in numbers by the quality of their contribution to the field. As a consequence Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Baron Tweedmouth, developed a vision of a specialist retriever to meet these requirements. In he bought a pup named Nous from a cobbler in Brighton, the only yellow dog in an unregistered litter of black wavy-coated retrievers. Three years later he crossed Nous with a Tweed water spaniel named Belle; this mating produced four yellow pups that became the foundation of the breed. Through a combination of line breeding and judicious crosses he attained his ideal companion: a powerful retriever that was also gentle and trainable. His Highland estate and line of Guisachan Retrievers are honoured today as the home and foundation of the breed. For almost 50 years the breed remained little known; as Lord Tweedmouth developed his bloodlines he kept some puppies, gave some to keepers in nearby estates and gave others to friends and relatives. This changed in when a friend of the family, Viscount Harcourt, exhibited the first golden under the affix Culham at a Kennel Club event. He was joined by Mrs Charlesworth the next year, who exhibited the offspring of her bitch Normanby Beauty, a highly intelligent and tireless worker. Eight goldens were exhibited at Crufts in , all registered as yellow flatcoated retrievers. A small group of enthusiasts formed the Golden Retriever Club in , which has grown to over 2, members across the world today. It is joined by 12 regional breed clubs in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as 14 breed rescue organisations scattered throughout England. Many early breeders competed both on the bench and in the field, but today most dogs are divided into show or working strains. There are, however, a handful of dual-purpose breeders that continue to pick up or shoot over their goldens. These dogs may not compete at the highest levels, but they more than prove their worth in the field. From the beginning Golden Retrievers have maintained a strong presence in field trials, winning the annual IGL Retriever Championship four times. Mazurka went on to win three more awards, including second place. There have been more than FTChs in the history of the breed, and many have won any variety as well as single-breed stakes. It is considered intelligent, kind, gentle and confident. One of the most adaptable of the sporting breeds, it can carry out many tasks in addition to its original purpose in the field. With its kind and patient nature it is an ideal choice for families with children, making them better suited to living in the house than in kennels. They are typically friendly with other dogs, pets and livestock, as well as people. A common question is, are Golden Retrievers smart? They are widely used as disability assistance dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf. They excel in obedience training at all levels and can be trained for work in numerous disciplines, including detection, search and rescue, and lifesaving. They are also consistent top performers in agility, obedience and working trials. The size of Golden Retrievers can vary from medium to large, and they are strongly built with a balanced body and powerful gait. They have a broad skull and powerful muzzle, black nose, round dark eyes and moderate sized ears. The dogs stand about 22—24" at the shoulder and females slightly less at 20—22". Their topcoat is medium length and slightly wavy or flat with good feathering and a dense undercoat, which keeps them cool in summer and warm in the winter. Any shade of gold or cream is permitted, with some white on the chest. Working Golden Retrievers are generally lighter in build and more athletic than show varieties, with a shorter coat suited to working in the field. With dark yellow to reddish-gold coats, they look more like their early ancestors. When the first breed standard was written in , cream was not permitted as a coat colour, and throughout the s very dark dogs were favoured. Health And Care Adult goldens need up to two hours a day of exercise as well as mental stimulation. Their coats shed copiously, especially at the change of seasons twice a year. With puppies this will entail just brushing, but with working adults it will be necessary to check for burrs, knots and tangles, and to keep their feet trimmed with scissors. Like other pedigree dogs, goldens are prone to a number of hereditary conditions. There are currently three health schemes offered by the British Veterinary Association in conjunction with the Kennel Club. Although breeding stock is screened under these schemes, there is no guarantee that pups will be clear, although the likelihood is increased. Breeding stock should also be x-rayed for hip and elbow dysplasia. These are multifactorial conditions influenced by genes, nutrition and exercise, so always follow the advice of breeders in the care of a young pup, even if its parents have good results. Cancer is one of the main causes of death. Aside from the hereditary conditions listed above, goldens can also suffer from skin problems and allergies, ear infections, epilepsy and thyroid conditions. Unlike spaniels, a retriever is not required to quarter ahead to quest and flush live game, although some people use retrievers in the beating line or for rough shooting. Early days focus on obedience commands, steadiness and walking to heel, single marked and memory retrieves, as well as hunting in a restricted area. Once basic skills and control are established, more advanced dummy work incorporating multiple or blind retrieves, handling at a distance with whistle and voice commands, water, gunshot and obstacles are introduced. Once these skills are mastered, there is a transition period of working with cold game before the first introduction to the field. A young dog might spend its first season sitting up at drives or walking to heel while other dogs are sent for retrieves, with a reward of a few birds at the end of the day. Throughout the process, the emphasis is on acquiring new skills on a step-by-step basis to encourage success, simplifying and backtracking whenever necessary. Harsh handling is never advised, especially in the case of goldens, who are sensitive and prone to stubbornness when treated with force or coercion. During the off-season, Golden Retriever clubs and gundog societies hold retriever gundog working tests GWTs , which seek to further good gundog work without live game. GWTs are divided into puppy, novice and open categories, and each club publishes its entry rules on its website. Three or four tests simulate varying shooting scenarios requiring single and double retrieves, blind retrieves, hunting in an area, walking-up and retrieves in or near water. Field Trials for Golden Retrievers Retriever field trials have grown immensely in popularity in recent years and are usually oversubscribed. That said, it is still primarily an amateur sport, open to anyone willing to take on the required commitment. Golden Retriever field trials are run as closely as possible to an ordinary shooting day. If feasible, they are conducted on ground where dogs can be tested walking in line to heel in roots or cover and waiting off the lead at drives, but the day may consist of just one or the other. In August a few trials are held on grouse moors in the north, and in September there are some walk-up days on partridge. The majority of trials are held in October and November as walked-up or driven days over partridge and pheasant, leading up to the annual IGL Retriever Championship at the end of November. Most trials are held under a four-judge system, where pairs of judges evaluate the performance of the competitors, working down the line in numerical order. In the first round, dogs are usually sent for two retrieves each, and can be discarded for a variety of misdemeanours such as running-in, chasing, whining or being eye-wiped by the judges or another competitor. Dogs that survive are called up for further rounds until the top few dogs remain, at which point the judges confirm the final placings with a run-off, usually working all together at the centre of the line. Why Not A Golden? One major drawback is the extra care and attention their coat requires. They are large dogs and prone to getting dirty, especially in the field. Burrs and tangles must be dealt with - and not just brushed aside, so grooming your Golden Retriever is an important daily task. Another drawback for some people is they do not make good kennel dogs. Sarah Gadd, a prominent trialler who started out with both goldens and labradors, gave them up for this reason. While show-bred Golden Retrievers are very popular, working kennels are few and far between. Finally, there is the issue of training your Golden Retriever. Although the breed is considered biddable and easy to train, it is sensitive and perhaps not as resilient to handler mistakes or short cuts as the labrador. Captain HFH Hardy, who won the first field trial award for the breed in , favoured them amongst all gundog breeds. In order to achieve success, you have to have a feel for what makes them so distinctive. But if you are definitely up to the challenge, and willing to learn the secrets to their success, gold-dust beckons. Broad skull and powerful muzzle, black nose, dark eyes and moderate sized ears. Medium length coat with feathering in any shade of gold. Character: Intelligent, kind, gentle, playful, biddable and confident. Ideal for families with children. Usually friendly with other dogs and animals and likes people. Easy to train and adaptable to many jobs as well as work in field. Slow to mature, sensitive and at times stubborn if treated harshly. Daily care: Requires up to two hours of daily exercise and mental stimulation. Coat requires daily or frequent grooming. Basic obedience and gundog training recommended. Health: A healthy breed. Average lifespan of 12 years. Prone to cancer and skin ailments. At work: Tireless worker with a good nose and excellent in cover and water. Also a good tracker of wounded game with a soft mouth. Well-suited to field work as a peg dog, picking up or wildfowling. May be used for beating or rough shooting. Trained for many other jobs, such as assistance, detection and search and rescue. Top performer in obedience, agility and working trials. More Information About This Gun Dog Breed We love sharing our trusted resources, the more we learn about each breed the better we are able to take care of our beloved dogs. Below we have listed some of our favourite websites and books used to create this article and to learn more about this fantastic gun dog breed. Take a look at some of these resources: www. Print When to start training your retriever to hunt As a professional retriever trainer, I am often fielding calls from people who need advice regarding dog training. One question that I hear the most is: At what age should I start training my retriever puppy to hunt? My answer is always the same — start now! Everything you do with your puppy from the time you pick him or her up from the breeder is technically training. Who can I jump on or step on? Is it okay to steal food off the table or counter? What things in the house are okay to chew and which are not? Even this most basic training can substantially impact the ability for your retriever puppy to transition into a hunting machine. What age to start training retriever as gun dog or duck dog? There is no specific age that you should start training your dog for bird hunting. These traits will determine how fast or slow you are able to progress through hunting training. But the good news is, you can help shape and develop these traits in your new puppy! During this time, and ongoing through that first year, you can and should do some essential training. And the more socialization you do, the better. How can I socialize my hunting dog? Socialization is simply the process of introducing your puppy or young dog to new things and teaching him or her how to adjust quickly to changing circumstances. As a hunting dog, your retriever is required to adjust quickly to new locations, new terrain, and new hunting situations. You will expect your dog to hunt well and consistently regardless of the day, the weather conditions, or the type of bird you are hunting. To do this, your dog must be very well socialized. Like young people, young dogs are eager and ready to learn new things. So, while you can socialize an older dog, it is much more difficult. Here are some suggestions on how to socialize your hunting dog: Take your dog to new places. Expose your dog to different terrain, weeds, or cover. Expose your dog to water — both dirty weedy and clean. Put your dog in new situations. Walk your dog in the rain and snow. Attend family gatherings where your dog will be exposed to new people, young and old. Walk your dog in the country or on a dirt path, through a weedy field, anywhere there will be many new scents. Introduce your dog to new people, noises, and equipment. Have your dog sit in a boat or hunting blind with you. No shooting! We are just looking for exposure! Expose your dog to noise from cars, trucks, ATVs and other loud noise. These are just some ideas. Every new experience will help your dog learn and adjust. The importance of socialization cannot be understated. Learn more about preparing your dog to be a hunting dog in this post. If you want your dog to be well-adjusted and quick to adapt, socialization is how you do that. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Housebreaking and crate training Even if your dog is going to be an outside dog, I highly recommend house breaking your hunting dog. Because you will never regret having a clean dog! House broken dogs tend to keep their kennels and runs clean because they have learned that there is a right place to empty go to the bathroom and a wrong place. Outdoor dogs do not always learn this lesson. Crate training is also an essential step for preparing your dog for hunting and home life. I know some people think using crates is cruel, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Dogs are den animals. They like small, confined spaces because these spaces make them feel secure and protected. Introduced your dog to a crate when he is brought home from the breeder. Our dogs often go into their crates to sleep on their own. We leave the crate door open during the day and they willingly go into the crate to sleep or just have some time alone. Manners Teaching a dog manners while they are young is critical. By setting up rules and boundaries, you will be teaching your dog to handle pressure, a trait that is vital to teaching a dog to hunt. Some behaviors are cute when a dog is a puppy, but these same behaviors can quickly become problematic as the dog grows. Learn more about these behaviors in this post. Use the OFF command with a correction to keep your dog from jumping on you. Yes, even when they are only months old. In fact, especially then. If your puppy learns at this young age that jumping on you or others is not acceptable, you are less likely to have a jumping problem as the dog ages. A few other ways to teach good manners include making your pup SIT before he is allowed to eat and SIT before you allow him to go through the door to outside. Your corrections do not need to be harsh, but they do need to be firm and consistent. Getting used to a collar will take some time, that is okay. This is also a good time to get your pup used to a leash. Every once in a while, pick up the leash and hold on to it. Each dog will react differently to this type of pressure. Some may throw themselves on the ground in a full-blown temper tantrum, others will think nothing of it. This would be the worst thing you could do. Rather, just remain calm and hold or step on the leash until the dog settles down. Once they settle down, let go of the leash and repeat this exercise often so that your dog learns to handle pressure and not throw a fit. There is a correct process of working on these first retrieves, and it is important that you follow it. For complete details on how to do this properly, check out this post. Lastly, you should remember that your puppy is growing, so do not do too much running or exercise during these first two months or you could damage or injure your pups growing bones and muscles. After socialization, the next most important trait we look for in hunting dogs is high prey drive or desire. High prey drive is not something you can create in your dog. It is something that is handed down genetically through the pedigree. But there are things you can do, to help develop the drive and desire provided the dog already has a genetic inclination in this area. Many high-quality breeders will introduce the pups to a pigeon or bird wing while they are still in the litter. Even if this is the case, you will still want to do a live bird introduction with your pup. We will discuss this more in the next section. Hunting dog training age months You should start obedience training for SIT and HERE when your pup is around 3 months old, but around the 5—6-month age, your dog is ready to learn formal obedience. Obedience is always the first step. All our programs here at Otter Tail Kennels begin with obedience. In my opinion, a dog can never have too much obedience training. It is the foundation on which all other training will rest. Even older dogs can benefit from obedience tune up drills. Teach these commands on-lead, with a chain collar, and in short sessions minutes each day. Taking your dog for a short walk and stopping frequently to make him or her SIT is a great way to get obedience work in each day. Doing obedience work with a flat collar will create more problems than it will help. Your dog needs to learn how to handle the pressure of a chain collar and you will get much better heeling results. Introductions to hunting equipment and situations In addition to obedience, if you have not already, now is the time to start introducing your dog to various hunting equipment and situations. If the weather is appropriate, this is the best age to introduce your dog to water. Make sure that you find a shallow area and allow the dog to enter on his own terms. You can encourage him or her to get into the water using a rubber bumper or other toy. You should also take time to introduce your dog to a hunting boat, a hunting blind, decoys and live and dead birds as we discussed previously. Lastly, you can start working on gun introduction at this time. Gun introduction MUST be done slowly and correctly. The last thing you want is a gun-shy dog. For more information on how to properly introduce your dog to gunfire, check out this post. If your dog is not firm on the HERE command, make sure you do all retrieving on a long check cord. We do not want the pup to get away with not returning to us with the bumper. That is a bad habit that we do not want to start. With a long check cord, you can gently direct the pup back to your side. Do not get carried away throwing retrieves with your young dog. Too many people love to play fetch with their dog so much that they throw a bumper dozens of times — resulting in the dog getting exhausted or bored with the game. This can cause other issues to pop up. Limit the amount of retrieves you do each session to three or four and work instead for quality — a good retrieve and a good delivery. This is where the real hunting training begins. This is also the age, if you are considering having a professional train your dog that you would want to make that decision. What age to send my dog to a professional trainer? If you are considering sending your dog to a professional trainer for retriever training, generally trainers accept the dog any time after the adult teeth have come in. Formal training ideally should begin around the 6—7-month age, but, generally, any time under 2 years is considered acceptable. Preparing your dog for hunting Up until now, the training has been generic — the training focused on making your pup a good citizen and family dog. But at this age it is time to dig into preparing your dog for his future hunting career. It is also at this age that many retriever owners get anxious, or impatient, and decide they can jump right into actual hunting. Training beyond obedience will depend largely on what you plan to use your dog for. Moving to e-collar pressure Hopefully, you have been doing the obedience work with a chain collar as previously recommended. If you have, your dog should be obedient on-lead and now its time to start working with an electronic collar. If you are using an electronic collar, make sure you take time to properly collar condition your dog. Not sure how to do this? We have a series of posts on this topic. If your need help understanding electronic collars and training with them, check out this post. Finish up hunting equipment introductions If you have not completed the introductions suggested in the 5—6-month-old training, now is the time to work on that. Gunshot exposure should be ongoing during these months, but make sure that you are doing this correctly. This is one area that can quickly spell disaster if it is done incorrectly. Learn how to do it correctly here. Do I have to force fetch my retriever? I am constantly getting emails from people who have dogs that recently stopped retrieving. They wonder what they can do to fix this problem, and I will admit it frustrates me. I know that if they were following a proven, reliable training plan for their dog, the dog would never have gotten to this point. Force fetch is a controversial topic, but as a retriever trainer for over 30 years I can attest to the importance of the process. Learn more about force fetch in this post. Lastly, force fetch will clean up mouth and delivery problems you might be having with your dog. If your dog is dropping the bumper on return and not delivering it to hand, force fetch will fix that problem. Retrieving with a 7—month-old dog Around age months, your retriever should be retrieving consistently and bringing the bumper back to you. Now is the time to really put some energy and focus into setting up marking scenarios for your hunting dog. There are limits to how far you can throw a bumper and it is rare that a bird would approach you from your back and fly directly in front of you. By using another thrower, you can set up marking scenarios that more closely represent what your dog might see while hunting. Vary the distance and direction of the marks, and preferably take time to learn about marking drills and how they can help your retriever. Now is also the time to set up simulated hunting scenarios. Think about how you hunt, and then do marks with your dog that mimic that. If you hunt from a boat, incorporate that. Or if you hunt from a blind, or sitting on a bucket, add those elements to your training. Try to make the scenarios as close to reality as you can. Specific training for bird dogs During age months is also the time to start working on field and hunting blind manners. If you are strictly an upland hunter, this may mean working hard on control and keeping the dog quartering close to you while walking through a field. It may also include enforcing a HERE command under exciting and difficult conditions so that your dog does not keep chasing after a bird that you missed shooting. For waterfowl and duck dogs, blind manners could include working on noise issues so that you can hunt without your dog whining or barking. It can also mean just getting your dog to sit still for long periods of time in the boat or blind. When can I take my dog to the field? At this age, I understand if you are anxious to get your dog out in the field or blind hunting. And if you have been following these guidelines, you are getting close. You will notice I call it on-the-job-training and not hunting. Tips for that first hunt No matter how many simulated hunts you do, simulated hunts cannot exactly duplicate the experience of actual hunting. So, you need to make sure that your first hunts will produce quick success for your dog. If you do this, you will be on the right road to helping your dog develop into a super hunting machine. Learn more about how to introduce those first few hunts and why this is so important. Reasons to skip that first season While I understand being anxious to get your pup hunting, I cannot overstate the importance of waiting until your dogs training is at the point that your first hunt will likely be successful. If your dog is not ready, if you have skipped some training steps and are seeing issues like startling at gunshot, or not picking up or delivering birds, your dog is not ready to hunt and you would be wise to back up and hold off until your dog is ready. Here are a couple other reasons to skip that first season if your dog is not ready. Bad habits are often extremely hard to break if they have been allowed to go on for any time. You very well may have to go back to earlier training to fix issues that arose due to hunting a dog that was not ready. Risking bad experiences This one is even more important. You cannot always control the experiences your dog runs into while hunting. What if your inexperienced dog gets bitten by a goose? Or, severely startled by several guns going off all at once? These are only a couple examples of bad experiences that can ruin or severely delay your dogs hunting education. If your dog is not quite ready, you are better to wait. Keep training, keep socializing, keep exposing your dog to new situations, but make sure that the first hunts you go on are controlled and produce easy success and learning for your dog. What if I am not starting with a puppy? Older dogs can be taught hunting too. But the key is to start training an older dog as if they are a week-old puppy. Skipping steps is how you get a dog that is afraid of gunshots or even birds. And those are very difficult problems to address without the help of a professional. For more training tips and education, visit our education section of our website. Final thoughts on what age to start training a puppy to hunt Every day your retriever is learning. Retrievers are smart, resourceful dogs. They bring such joy to our lives. But they are like children, they need direction, rules and boundaries. Take time to train your retriever. Follow a complete training program and you will greatly increase your odds of success. If you are looking for a professional retriever trainer with proven hunting and hunt test programs, check out our training programs or give us a call .We also do one-on-one training to guide owners who want to do the training themselves. Until next time, happy retrieving. What age should you start training a puppy to hunt? Blog Do you want to learn how to train your golden retriever to hunt? Some people may believe that golden retrievers are not good hunting dogs because they are not bred for that purpose. Others may believe that golden retrievers are good hunting dogs because they are versatile and can be used for a variety of hunting activities. Golden retrievers are bred to be versatile and to have a strong hunting instinct. This makes them good hunting dogs for a variety of activities, including waterfowl hunting, upland bird hunting, and small game hunting. Golden retrievers are also good family dogs. They are friendly, social, and easy to train. This makes them a good choice for people who want a hunting dog that they can also enjoy as a member of their family. They have a high level of intelligence and are easy to train. Golden retrievers are versatile dogs that can be used for a variety of hunting activities. They are naturally loyal, eager to please, and have a high level of intelligence. They are also versatile, meaning they can be used for a variety of hunting applications. The first step in training a golden retriever as a hunting dog is to start early. Puppies as young as weeks can be started on basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. As they get older, you can begin to introduce them to the concepts of hunting. This can include things such as carrying a dummy in their mouth, retrieving objects from water, and being steady around gunfire. It is important to be patient and consistent when training a golden retriever as a hunting dog. This breed is known for being one of the most trainable breeds, but they still require a lot of time and patience. As with any training program, it is important to set realistic goals and to keep sessions. A golden retriever is a versatile hunting dog that can be used for bird hunting, waterfowl hunting, and upland game hunting. They are also used as service dogs and family pets. Golden retrievers are bred for their intelligence, obedience, and trainability. They are also known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. When hunting with a golden retriever, you will need a shotgun, a hunting vest, a dog vest, a dog bed, a dog bowl, a hunting license, and a first-aid kit for your dog. The most important piece of equipment for a golden retriever is its hunting vest. The vest will protect him from the cold and wet weather, and it will also have a built-in harness to attach a leash. In addition to the required hunting supplies, you will also need to have a good supply of dog treats and a positive attitude. A golden retriever will respond best to a positive reinforcement training program. It is best to work with your dog every day for at least fifteen minutes. The more often you train, the sooner you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you cannot make that happen, at least make sure that there is enough space. If you do not have a large enough yard, find a suitable local field. Retrievers are fast at short and long-distance running, they love water, they can jump high, and they have a unique sense of smell. Their coat helps them adapt to various conditions. This is quite literally a perfect dog. That is how he is known as probably the best hunting dog in the world. If you have or are just thinking of adopting a Golden Retriever, you should be able to train them to hunt quite easily because this is his innate skill. The key is starting his training early and focusing on generic training first. Hunters looking for an intelligent, shorter-coated retriever that will hunt from dark to dark need to research field-bred goldens. By Tony J. Peterson With a charming, eager-to-please personality and looks to match, the golden retriever has plenty to offer. Yet its skyrocketing popularity is the reason golden retrievers have become victims of their own demand. It's also why those in search of a hard-working golden need to be very careful when choosing a pup for hunting purposes. Advertisement A Rich History Among the many reasons for the golden retriever's popularity is the rich history of the breed, which, according to the American Kennel Club, dates back to the early s. Europe is responsible for a good number of our current sporting breeds including goldens, which came into being in England and Scotland well over years ago. During that time, a medium-sized sporting breed was an asset for obtaining food both in the waterfowl and upland gamebird worlds. Throughout the s the breed became even more desirable, and in it was recognized by the AKC. Goldens soon became one of the go-to breeds for many hunters and folks looking to run a dog in an obedience or field trial. They also started showing up in television shows, as well as print and television advertisements, and one needs only look at a single golden to understand why. Very few breeds are as photogenic or as easy to work with as goldens, which contributed further to their popularity. This also led to division in the breed, with an ever-increasing portion of the litters born each year to less stringent standards. Show dogs with their long flowing coats became much more common and they were bred to field-bred dogs as well as other show dogs. Advertisement It has been a couple of decades since the breed hit its high-water mark and since then we've witnessed a decline in the health and hunting-drive of the breed overall. That's not to say that excellent pedigrees don't exist, because they do. They just aren't as easy to locate as a run-of-the-mill, mystery-bred golden. If there is one person that understands this more than most, it's Jackie Mertens. Mertens has owned and operated Topbrass Retrievers since and is undoubtedly one of the most respected names in the world of golden retrievers. Every once in a while, I get to meet someone who was put on this earth to work with dogs, and Mertens fits that category. From her schoolgirl days, Mertens knew she'd work with animals, and as soon as she could she got her first golden. That dog, Ch. Mertens recalls, however, that she almost lost Torch before it all started. Advertisement "Torch had a lot of desire, she was fearless, and she was a good producer — and she did it all on three legs after getting caught in a fox trap," Mertens recalls. She had survived by eating snow and pawing up any plants she could reach. Since then, Mertens has been at the forefront of field-bred goldens, and when someone wants a great housedog, a great hunter — or both — they go to her. And it's all about the breeding. Hunters looking for a waterfowl and upland dog will often steer toward Labs for obvious reasons, but the right golden will fill the role just fine. A field-bred golden with a proper water introduction will bring ducks to hand all day long. They look a bit different and they will exhibit the right drive and retrieving desire. Now, I hear people say all of the time that their dog was the best ever, but they are comparing it to maybe a few other dogs they've owned. To have the best chance of getting a truly good hunting dog, it's field-bred or nothing. There are so many issues that can come up with poor breeding, that it's a process to ensure a healthy litter these days. For us that means looking at all health clearances like hips and elbows, of course, but other things. We use a canine ophthalmologist for eye clearances, a canine cardiologist for heart clearances, and also conduct a litany of DNA tests to ensure proper breeding. Having gone through the heartbreak of losing a golden to kidney failure when she was only six years old, I am particularly sensitive to proper health clearances. All breeds can suffer unfortunate medical issues, but goldens are exceptionally prone to them given the amount of unchecked breeding. Another golden retriever expert I asked to weigh in on this issue is Theresa Bilava, who operates Platte River Retrievers with her son Nick. She started with goldens as a child and has been raising and breeding them for 22 years. Having over two decades of experience devoted to the breed has given Bilava a unique perspective on the current state of the golden retriever, and she was more than willing to offer advice to anyone looking for a pup. Like Mertens, Bilava makes sure all of her Platte River dogs are health checked in all manners. Now people think they can pick up any golden puppy and it will hunt, but that's not the case. With us, we're breeding for athletes, not models. Our dogs are field-bred, and quite frankly, a lot of the people that contact me about getting a dog don't even know what a field-bred dog is. We want dogs that want to play the game and that will have the right temperament. All of our dogs will be companion dogs, and some will be used for agility or therapy, but many of them end up being upland and waterfowl hunters as well. As long as they are well-bred they'll become people-pleasers that will take to training and look to make you happy. A good sign of a dog that is working for you not for itself is if the dog checks back often and looks you in the eye. Goldens are well known for this trait, especially in the field where it matters most. They aren't wired the same as a Lab that might be able to run the same drill times in a row. They are different, and have to be trained differently. When I asked him why he chose to hunt with goldens he responded by saying, "The golden is a gentleman's dog. He will give you percent if you are fair to him. And he can turn it on and turn it off, which is something other breeds struggle with. When a good golden is asked to hunt, he'll give you his all. When the hunt is over, he'll transition back into that lovable housedog. They need to be introduced to water properly, and if you do it wrong it's like pushing a rope — it doesn't work. Goldens will work for you, but if you lose your cool they'll shut down. It has to be fun for them, and you've got to work with their intelligence by keeping it interesting and positive. They respond to teaching, not pressure. Finding a well-bred golden puppy that has all of its health clearances and is a true hunting dog is a different story. The right pedigree takes time to locate, and it will cost more than a run-of-the-mill dog. The upside? You'll get an amazing hunting and family dog. Nick Bilava has spent plenty of time hunting South Dakota roosters for himself and for clients while he was guiding, but his dogs can do much more than hunt ringnecks. They can hunt anything and handle any new hunting situation provided you've got them prepared. I hunt doves with my dogs, ducks, everything. They can do it all, and will, if you ask them with respect. When my pheasant opportunities disappeared with the loss of habitat, we switched gears to ruffed grouse, doves and eventually ducks. And just for fun, I threw in shed antler hunting to see how she'd do. As long as my golden got to retrieve something for me and earn a little praise, everything was just fine. This willingness to please is without question one of the greatest reasons to own this breed. Nick Bilava got into golden retrievers in no small part because his mother, Theresa, has been breeding field-bred goldens for years. Together they operate Platte River Retrievers, where they focus on producing a few litters each year that are bred to be smart, athletic and will hunt everything they are asked to hunt. For the hunter looking to have a rock star in the field and a good-looking house pet all in one dog, they are the ideal choice provided they come from a breeding program that has focused on health concerns and strong hunting instincts. Picking A Golden Puppy When shopping for that perfect golden pup, here are some things that prospective owners should be mindful of. That's the going rate, and it is worth it for the peace of mind you'll have from getting a truly high-quality, healthy pup. Your job doesn't end with research and writing a check, however. Trust Your Breeder After that, it's a matter of being honest with your breeder and allowing him or her to pick the right dog for you. Jackie Mertens stressed this by saying, "I don't let people pick their puppy. I pick it for them. Some people don't like this, but I've already spent seven weeks with the puppies and have watched how they act, and interact, so I know their personalities well. Too many people want to pick their own puppy, and they often take the first dog to run up to them but that is often a bad deal because that puppy might be the most dominant in the litter. It's better to put your faith in the pedigree and the breeder to match you up with the best bet out of a litter. You won't regret it. More Articles From How-To. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Golden Retrievers were originally bred to be hunting companions to the elite. Are Goldens still as good at hunting as they used to be? Yes, Golden Retrievers are excellent hunting dogs and are still used for this purpose today. However, finding one as skilled as they used to be is a bit more challenging. The 5 Things That Make Golden Retrievers Good Hunting Dogs Even though dogs were bred to retrieve small game, there are certain characteristics about them that make them perfectly suited for the sport. Breeding Golden Retrievers were created to fill a gap in the world of hunting dogs. A lord took some of the best characteristics of many different dogs and gave us the Goldens that we know and love today. Image Credit: Mordasova Elena, Shutterstock 2. Strong Sense of Smell One of the things that set these hunting dogs apart from others is their incredible sense of smell. This breed has one of the strongest senses of smell of all dog breeds that makes it easy for them to track down birds no matter how far away they glide after being shot. Goldens are intelligent and eager to please; the two perfect characteristics that make training easy. They can also figure out shortcuts and solve puzzles that they come across while out hunting. Energy Golden Retrievers seem to never tire. This breed is energetic and easily build up their stamina with the right training. This means they can run and retrieve for hours without getting too winded. Choosing a Dog for Hunting As time has gone on, many Goldens are bred less for hunting and more for companionship. If you are hoping to purchase one of these dogs to hunt with , we recommend finding a reputable breeder that is field bred. Conclusion Golden Retrievers are some of the best hunting dogs you can have. You might also be interested in:. Photo credit: Joop Snijder, Shutterstock Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More Easily one of the most popular dog breeds on the planet, the field-bred golden retriever is also a phenomenal gun dog. Their countenance is often seen in dog parks, hanging out of car windows, accompanying kiddos on a neighborhood walk, working avalanche duty on the ski hill, or in the halls of hospitals in a therapy vest. To say the golden retriever might be the happiest breed of dog could even be an understatement. Their sunny disposition and puppy-like attitude make them entirely irresistible. The good news is that a field-bred golden retriever is also one of the best, most versatile gun dogs you can take into the field. And they have a more-than-interesting origin story. A man by the name of Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks founded the breed singlehandedly in the late s. He bought a brown, wavy-haired dog named Nous, and then bred him to Tweed Water Spaniels now extinct and Irish Water Spaniels, with the first true golden retriever litter born in .Today, the typical golden retriever averages inches in height and typically weighs pounds, with males on the higher end of both. They have a life expectancy of years and throughout their life, their attitude for work and play remains exuberant. Of course, daily exercise and high-quality dog food will keep your golden in good health for the long haul. Golden retrievers take on jobs that range from hunting to search and rescue to seeing-eye dogs to avalanche work and more. But with the popularity of the breed, a split happened between field- and show-bred retrievers. Read on for more. Field-Bred vs. Show-Bred Golden Retrievers A field-bred golden sports a shorter, denser coat than a show-bred golden; photo credit: Jed Packer, Shutterstock As with labrador retrievers, the popularity of golden retrievers brought a dark side to its breeding history. For decades, many lines of golden retrievers were diluted, and new health problems arose through poor breeding practices. According to the American Kennel Club , goldens are at risk for elbow and hip dysplasia, juvenile cataracts, pigmentary uveitis, progressive retinal atrophy, and heart diseases, including subvalvular aortic stenosis. And this is not an exhaustive list. These days, veterinarians and responsible breeders have worked together to test and pair up genetically sound animals that are less prone to health issues through genetic testing and physical certifications. Field-bred golden retrievers take on a more compact, athletic form, and a key feature is their shorter, denser coat. The show-bred lines tend to have luxurious and often very beautiful flat coats, but these longer coats do not serve a golden well in wet or cold working conditions. The needs are simply different. Be sure to interview a few reputable breeders and learn about the lines, genetics, and intent of their kennels before purchasing a field-bred golden retriever. Did their parents hunt? And what genetic testing and health certifications are offered? These are two required questions if you plan on adding a field-bred golden to your family. Think of this as both an investment in a better future for the breed as well as a healthy future for you and your beloved family member. Hunting the Golden Retriever Photo credit: Linn Currie, Shutterstock Hunting a golden is typical of hunting most of your bigger retrievers. They retrieve naturally but will require shaping to perfect their bird retrieve to hand. And their high energy levels keep them engaged in any field of work. The hunting-bred golden does tend to be more intense than other lines within the breed. But, this serves a purpose in the field. Goldens remain fabulous house dogs, family dogs, and best friends once your day in the field is complete. And goldens love you back in spades. A true gem of a breed, this one. It was a somewhat chaotic scene. There were all variety of dogs on the ground and birds in the air, and the constant echo of gunshots. She recalls seeing a Chesapeake retriever pulling around its owner, a big man himself, the pooch overcome by the excitement of the situation. But the dog was listening to me and not overreacting. And they live to please. Golden retrievers resulted from a mix of water spaniel and retriever and was created to be a versatile breed for wildfowl hunters that could retrieve game on land and in the water. The first golden retriever registration with the AKC was in .English goldens tend to be lighter in color, and they have large, muscular bodies. American goldens tend to have darker colors and are lankier and less muscled than the English type. Canadian goldens have a thin, dark coat, and generally are taller than dogs from the American and English subtypes. While golden retrievers have enjoyed some level of popularity in America for decades, they popularity hit a new pinnacle in the s and s, when they could be seen as all-American dogs in a number of television shows and movies. Standards declined and some people gave little thought to the dogs they were breeding. By the late s, the golden retriever world began to turn around, in part, she says, because potential dog buyers themselves began asking tough questions of breeders and demanded to see health clearances. Over the years, the reasons people have been attracted to the golden retriever breed — whether the individual dogs are big or small females generally weigh between 50 and 60 pounds, and male range between about 65 and 80 pounds , or have dark coats or light coats — have remained largely the same: Golden retrievers have good personalities and are versatile dogs. Those traits endear them to a wide variety of people. But they are equally at home and adept in vast fields of grass and among standing stalks of corn, following their noses and working in front of shotgun-toting pheasant hunters. Golden retrievers work in that magic to yard range. We are sort of used to seeing these big, lumbering goldens with flowing coats. But the hunting line goldens are smaller, their coats are shorter, and they are built like little canine athletes. Several years back, I was hunting as part of a several-man group that contained a mix of dog breeds, including both Labrador and golden retrievers. One of the golden retrievers flushed a big rooster from a wooded edge of a plowed field. One of my hunting partners fired at the cackling, long-tailed bird, hitting it and sending on a steep trajectory to the ground. But as one of the dogs approached — they were outside of shotgun range — the bird took to flight again and we watched as it sailed into the grove of trees somewhere up ahead. We marked the location we last saw the bird and hunted toward the spot, figuring one of the dogs would find the rooster upon our arrival. Perhaps forty yards later, one of the golden retrievers started to show signs of excitement, its tail wagging vigorously and an intent look on its face. That dog, a veteran of the pheasant fields, eventually located the dead rooster amid a tangle of brush. That combination of a good nose and never-quit attitude also makes golden retrievers a good choice for those cold, late-season pheasant hunts when the birds are hunkered in heavy cover such as cattails. Add to that the fact that golden retrievers are relatively easy to train to be anything from hunting dogs to therapy dogs. Their intelligence helps in that regard. It just depends on your passion. But all in all, they are very intelligent and highly trainable. While golden retrievers are highly adaptable dogs and can succeed in many situations, a wrong move early in their lives could forever reduce their utility as hunting dogs. The biggest issue in them — and in the vast majority of other dog breeds — is cancer. Sad stories about good dogs succumbing to cancer are just as likely to include Labs as goldens, for example. While they shed year-round, it can be especially pronounced when the seasons change from warm to cold. However, golden retriever owners can largely alleviate the shedding issue with frequent brushing. Using an undercoat rake, albeit less frequently than a regular grooming brush, can further reduce the amount of hair deposited inside the house. One final piece of advice: Golden retrievers are not good guard dogs. While they may bark at an approaching stranger, they quickly revert to the affectionate creatures they naturally are upon contact with humans. Joe Albert is a freelance writer from Bloomington. Read more at www. Follow him on Twitter writerjoealbert.

Gender Differences of the Labradoodle In each litter there are various personalities present. We work with the puppies weeks to identify each individual personality, foster development and place the puppy with the right family. We follow a guide dog assessment test to follow the puppies personalities, build confidence where needed and work with them. Families are always asking about an Alpha that they want one or don't want one. If the breeder is working with the puppies daily and mom is involved there is rarely an alpha in this breed. Well, to be honest, each hour there is one puppy that might think it is control of the others, but shortly that one is knocked down by another and control shifts throughout the entire litter constantly through out the day. Some puppies like to be in control more than others, if that is the case, we recommend that puppy does not go to a house with another adult dog or cat that is an alpha in the house. Alpha's typically develop once home as families do not take control as much as they may need. Two dominant personalities just as humans typically "work" it out, but it is a major stress on the people in the family for a week or so. So, is the dominant labradoodle puppy typically a male or female? This is always breed specific and in this breed the more dominant personalities tend to be the girls. Gender Neutral What is the difference between a male and female labradoodle? I find gender to be almost neutral. Of course, this assumes the dogs are spayed or neutered at an early age 8 to 24 weeks. If I had to make a general statement I would say neutered Australian Labradoodles boys are a bit more easy going natured and up for anything then the spayed females who are, although just as wonderful, a bit more specific in their nature. If the male is not neutered early and its testicles drop, it typically becomes a dog that will have more of a mind of its own. This instinct tends to overpower the family member calling the dog to come; it will come but hesitates or plays that come and get me game. We recommend strongly that males be neutered early, as early as 8 to 16 weeks. Neutering removes the possibility of the male ever entering its time of confrontation, asserting its manliness and results it a great, loving, listening dog. The neutered male dog also seems to have less separation anxiety than a female and be more open to new experiences. Two Males? Two neutered males in the same household in this breed will typically get along famously. We highly recommend two males IF you are looking to add a second Labradoodle to your home. However, some females tend to be the opposite of the alpha.We again identify this trait and work on socializing and building confidence as much as possible with positive new experiences. However, this dog can sometimes become the dog that pees when a new experience occurs, excited urination. This requires some work for the family and tends to have the family do the opposite than what is required, they keep the dog away from new experiences than just bite the bullet and taking them everywhere for a safe fun new experience. Two Females? Two spayed females in the same household in this breed will not do as well as two males or a male and female. We highly recommend two males or a male and female IF you are looking to add a second Labradoodle to your home. Now this does NOT mean that two females will be an issue, just that it might be more difficult. You as the leader will have to make sure that during the first few months the girls know that dominant behavior stealing toys, hording food is NOT acceptable in the home. You can do it and help two girls get along exceptionally, just put in the effort. A girl in this breed tends to enjoy being the one on top of the pecking order, let them know, you are the leader. So, my advice, choose a dog gender that suits your family profile, talk to the breeder as to other pets you have in the house, family activities, what training you will do, and what experience you want the dog to participate. I would make a different recommendation to the retired owner that wants a pet to hang out in the house, versus the agility training, outgoing boating dog. If the gender matches the traits available in the litter great, if it does not have an open mind. Make the decision by asking the breeder what puppies in the litter they recommend for your family needs and selecting from those. If three puppies suit the bill then look at gender preference, color and physical traits. To me, personality fit should be the number one priority. Labradoodles and Australian Labradoodle dogs and puppies. Are there major differences you should be aware of before choosing, or can you just choose based on color and personality preferences? Male Vs Female Labradoodle You might have heard that male Labradoodles or male dogs in general are more aggressive and harder to train. You might also have heard that female dogs get moody or territorial. Dog owners say that personality is different between the two genders and that male dogs are more loving, but female dogs run away less. In reality, none of that is true! The differences between male and female Labradoodles are mostly in their physical makeup and ability to bear or sire children. These cycles will continue until they hit menopause. Because females hit sexual maturity faster than males, they tend to be mellower and more obedient early on. During their hormonal cycles, you will have to monitor them closely for bleeding, disobedience, and running away to mate. Temperament The difference in temperament is due to hormones. However, before a dog is neutered or spayed, there are some differences between the genders. Male dogs tend to be more loving and affectionate, but rowdier. However, female dogs can be more aggressive and territorial when left unfixed. This is due to their mothering instincts. Female Labradoodles like being the mother of the pack, and often are more possessive of other dogs, owners, or children in the house. At that point, their hormones will relax. Two Labradoodles sniff eachother out at a dog park. Size There is a negligible difference in size between male and female Labradoodles. The biggest physical difference between male and female Labradoodles is that females tend to have a slightly slimmer build. However, both males and females are in the same weight range pounds for a regular labradoodle , so the difference is small. Obedience and Ease of Training How obedient your dog depends more on the training regimen you put it through than its gender. Your atmosphere and raising of the dog will mold its temperament into whatever dog you want it to be. However, an unfixed dog will pose different problems for training. Because their bodies mature faster, their brains have an easier time training. Females are generally pretty obedient after proper training. However, it still can be done. A different training technique is necessary for unfixed male Labradoodles, but they can become obedient and loyal dogs. This rich black coat is a fairly common Labradoodle shade. Health Issues Male and female Labradoodles have about the same risk of health issues. The main health problems that Labradoodles face are poor breeding, overbreeding, or bad genetics. Preventing issues with proper screening of the breeder dogs is the best choice. Unfixed dogs, however, are both at a higher risk of illness than fixed dogs. Both male and female dogs have a higher risk of cancer testicular or prostate for male dogs and cervical for females. Factors Other Than Gender The differences between male and female fixed Labradoodles are relatively small. Before you pick out a puppy to take home, check into these factors. Breeders also watch out for calm and obedient temperaments in their breeder dogs. It makes a difference for you as you start to train a new dog. The only way to tell how a dog will mesh with your family is to interact with the puppy! A Red Miniature Labradoodle looks happy in the studio. Fixing There are few noticeable differences between the two genders of fixed dogs. In most circumstances, veterinarians recommend fixing your dog. Many breeders spay or neuter pets before adoption. Labradoodles are great dogs for families with or without children. Whether you have a fixed dog or not, a well-trained labradoodle will make an amazing pet for your family. However, a dog is only as healthy as its family and environment. If your family is going through a lot of stress, a big move, or another adjustment, it might be best to wait until things settle down before getting a new puppy. An Apricot Mini Labradoodle my puppy Max! By training the dog properly and raising it in a disciplined home, you will be able to enjoy a well-behaved dog for years to come. Even with the added hormones of not being fixed, training a dog well will make your life easier and more enjoyable. Final Thoughts In reality, the main difference between male and female Labradoodles is their hormone levels. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. These charming canines have the sweet yet boisterous personality of a Labrador retriever combined with the luxurious curls of a poodle. There are many differences from one labradoodle to the next, depending on factors such as size and gender. Read on to learn more about the differences between genders in labradoodles and make a well-informed decision about your next pet. Size Difference Between Male and Female Labradoodles As in the case in the majority of dog breeds, male labradoodles tend to be larger than females, though the size difference is much less pronounced in mini-labradoodle breeds. The size of your labradoodle puppy will depend on its genetics as well as its age. Labradoodles are the product of breeding a Labrador with a poodle of standard, medium, or teacup size. There are many varieties of both species, from differing colors, fur patterns, tendency to shed, temperament, and size. Smaller labradoodles tend to be around the same size regardless of gender. The males tend to outweigh female labradoodles, with a more dramatic difference in larger breeds. Standard male dogs tend to outweigh their female counterparts by 10 to 15 pounds. Here are the average sizes of different types of labradoodles: Standard labradoodle males weigh around pounds, and females weigh an average of pounds A medium labradoodle can weigh pounds Mini-labradoodles average 15 to 25 pounds, with female dogs being slightly smaller Male vs. Male and female dogs have very similar hair and grooming requirements, with the big differences being based on how old the labradoodles are. Poodles and labradoodles require grooming to keep their coats soft, shiny and free of debris. Because the hair of the male and female labradoodle tends to be coarse and curly, you might notice they easily pick up burrs and small leaves when playing outside. These brushes are perfect if your male or female labradoodle inherited its locks from the Labrador side of the family and has smooth, silky fur, also known as a fleece coat. For example, curlier hair tends to shed far less. This might make life easier for people who have friends or family with dog allergies. However, this fur is much coarser and tangles fast, meaning brushing is more of a chore and needs to be done more often. Wool-coat labradoodles can be combed easier with a metal pick comb or pin brush than with a bristle brush. Male Dogs vs. An unspayed female labradoodle is also at higher risk for diseases like breast cancer. Adequate veterinary care can help you catch potential issues early, ensuring a long, comfortable life for your furry friend. Male vs. Female Dog: Labradoodle Temperament Some breeders say male labradoodles are more affectionate than females tend to be, and others claim the opposite. The truth is that male and female labradoodles are both incredibly sweet and active breeds. Personality differences will become evident as they grow older, but in general there is not much of a difference between female and male dogs. There are, however, certain characteristics that may be more inherently pronounced in male dogs. Some studies show that male dogs tend to score higher in areas such as dominance and aggression. Male vs Female Labradoodle — Aggression Differences Most people assume male labradoodles are more aggressive than females and female labradoodles are gentler and more submissive. Each puppy has its own unique personality that, after much love and learning, complements its family. Trainability is another area where gender plays little role. The labradoodle personality is a hybrid of the Labrador retriever and the poodle, both of which are highly intelligent breeds. Labradors are also very smart — the seventh-smartest breed, in fact, though their qualities of strength and sheer charm are more highlighted. As a hybrid of the two, you can expect your labradoodle puppy to be exceptionally clever and easy and fun! Unspayed female and unneutered male dogs are at risk for health issues such as: Cancer. Do you need to choose between a male vs female Labradoodle? Some dog owners are resolute about only over choosing one sex or the other, in every dog they ever own. How do they know? How do they decide to do that? Our brains love to find patterns and make associations, sometimes without us even realising it. And of course, there are more things that go into making up a dog than just their sex. The temperament of both parents, how well they are socialized as a puppy, and whether their physical and emotional needs are routinely met will all influence Labradoodle temperament. So compared to these things, exactly how important is sex? That is, the males and females look different. Specifically, males are more likely to be bigger. Male f1 Labradoodles usually weigh 60 to 80 pounds, whilst females weigh 40 to 70 pounds. However, this size difference tends to get lost in miniature Labradoodles and multigen Labradoodles where more complicated genetic inheritance is at play. It is also somewhat lost in Australian Labradoodle male vs female size. Australian Labradoodles are a breeding project to turn Labradoodles into a new pedigree dog in their own right. Girl vs Boy Labradoodle Fun Fact! Some studies have indicated that dogs may have a dominant paw for tasks like steadying a chew toy, just like humans have a dominant hand for writing. The studies also suggested that males are more likely to favor their left paw than females. The results from one study to the next tend to be inconsistent, and more research is needed to find out what patterns really exist, and which were coincidence. In general, results from behavior studies indicate that males score more highly for Aggression Boldness Dominance over other dogs, not people! And females score more highly for sociability but also fearfulness. However, neuter status frequently complicates sex differences in temperament too. For example, the absence of sex hormones caused by neutering has been linked to decreased boldness, and more excitable and anxious behaviors in both sexes. In one study, non-neutered male Labrador Retrievers showed more owner-directed aggression, and non-spayed females were reported as being more trainable. The recommendations in this article apply to Australian Labradoodles as well. Both have the same lifespan on average, and the majority of health issues Labradoodles are prone to are not based around their gender. Click here to get an instant, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws! A female vs male Labradoodle will have very similar coats and grooming needs, with the only big difference coming from what Labradoodle generation your dog is. It is however, important to keep in mind that both Labs and Poodles have significant grooming needs, so your Labradoodle will need to be regularly brushed and groomed. Doing this will help prevent matting and keep your dog healthy. If you opt for a smaller version of the breed, like a Toy or Mini Labradoodle, it will be harder to see the size difference between the genders because of their already small size. However, the difference in stature will likely be more noticeable in the Standard Labradoodle size. If you are certain you want a larger dog, it might be best to opt for a male Labradoodle, whereas if you prefer a smaller dog, a female Labradoodle might work better for your needs. Female and Male Labradoodle Behavioral Differences Every Labradoodle is going to end up with its own unique personality. These are humping and the marking of territory. While we typically consider humping to be sexual, it is often used by both male and female Labradoodles during play or to assert dominance. Spaying and neutering can help some of the sexually driven instances of humping, but in general it is simply a behavior that can be trained out of dogs of either gender. Labradoodle Territory Marking When you think of territory marking, it is common to associate males with this behavior. Males will usually lift their leg while females prefer to squat. Male vs Female Labradoodle Personality Differences One of the most common misconceptions about a male Labradoodle vs female Labradoodle is that males are more aggressive where as females are gentler and most submissive. You could easily find a female Labradoodle that has a sassier and more independent side than her male littermates, or a male who is friendly and especially gentle. Each puppy, whether a male vs female Labradoodle, is going have their own innate personality, which, with a lot of love and training can complement any family. So, should you get a female or male Labradoodle? More About Labradoodles….

Although you may not realize how or why your poodle feels threatened, if your dog senses danger, biting is a common response. Somewhere down the line, it figured out that biting does the trick. A chocolate Toy Poodle eating from a ceramic bowl What to do if Your Poodle is Biting The first thing to do if your poodle is biting is to pinpoint the cause of the biting. Refer to the bulleted list above to see if you can figure out the source of the behavior. The Best Ways to Stop a Poodle from Biting In no particular order, here are the six best ways to stop a poodle from biting. Buy Plenty of Chew Toys! One of the best things you can do to stop your poodle from biting is to make sure you have plenty of chew toys for it to choose from! This is especially important if your poodle is in the teething stage. Eventually, your poodle will connect the dots and realize that not biting results in a treat or praise. This will go a long way to stop your poodle from biting! Once your poodle realizes that you make the rules, it will be much easier to get your poodle to obey your wishes. Bring Your Poodle Around Other Dogs Another great way to stop your poodle from biting is by encouraging it to play with other dogs. If they bite too hard, the other dog will act more aggressively, so they quickly learn how to bite and how not to bite when in a play situation. A Tan Poodle sitting on an outdoor lounge. Keep Your Poodle Relaxed Keeping your poodle calm is another excellent way to stop it from biting. You can do this by leaving it alone for a while or putting it in its crate for a short period of time until it calms down. According to Whole Dog Journal, you should never punish your dog for biting. Instead of punishing your poodle, you should reinforce positive behavior and try the subtle training techniques mentioned in the previous section. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Final Thoughts The Causes of Poodle Biting Poodles do not really bite because they just feel like it — there are actually some reasons that prompt them to bite. This biting problem of poodles is more pronounced in their breed compared to others. Toy poodles in particular have a higher propensity for biting than their counterparts. But with proper poodle training, they can actually become some of the most well trained dog breeds in the world. Poodles will not bite if this is something they have learned not to do. So, going back to the high rate of biting that is common in the nature of poodles. Because it is not a breed that is expected to do anything more than just be a cute pet, it can learn to be stubborn and be unresponsive to others. They are actually quite smart, but if you combine that impressive intellect with strong instincts that are left untrained, you can be sure that poodles will not only be turning their noses up to you, but giving you a good bite as well to show that you cannot control them! This video reveals the secret to having well-behaved toy poodles and how to train your new puppy to stop biting! Start them Young Because poodles are smart dogs , they are also highly trainable and are capable of learning that biting is never a part of what is known as acceptable behavior. Training a poodle to avoid biting will begin by giving the poodle many opportunities to socialize while it is still a puppy. It is simpler to teach puppies than it is to train older dogs since they have not yet developed negative habits or poor behaviors of their own. It is possible, however, to teach obedience to a dog that is already an adult. As a poodle dog owner, you also need to know that it is not good to take the poodle away from its mother earlier than eight weeks old. The time it spends in the company of its mother is also a learning opportunity — one in which the poodle grows to have an early understanding that it is not right to bite and should control all of its urges to show that it is more dominant than other dogs or people. Practice your Poodle to Socialize Once the eight weeks it spends with its mother has passed, you can then work on socializing the poodle with other dogs and members of your family. You can also consider signing up your poodle for a number of classes and play opportunities that will help teach it to become bite-averse and friendlier; puppy day care sessions are a good opportunity for that. In order to socialize, they bite each other, and they also attack each other if they feel threatened or if they are just protective of their owners. As a result, starting socialization between the ages of three and twelve weeks is critical. If you wait much longer, it may be more difficult to socialize your dog. As an owner, make it a point to show calmness when dealing with your poodle while at the same time showing it that you are welcoming to it. There are many ways to prevent your poodle from biting. Do not Punish your Poodle It is a no-no to scold poodle puppies for the sole reason that they are too young to actually know better. At the same time, scolding a poodle pup will result in an early exposure to aggression on your part — something that it will eventually mimic as it deals with others, and will become the starting point for many behavioral problems that last in the long term. Regardless of how painful the bite is, resist the urge to smack your pet. Biting becomes more frequent and severe when the dog is subjected to physical punishment. Getting advice from an expert is always preferable than getting it from a layperson. If the poodle bites another dog — whether that dog is a puppy or a much bigger dog — put your foot down and send the message across: this is something that is not allowed. If the poodle is showing signs of wanting to bite, give it a toy that it can bite instead of other dogs. As a result, before you quit biting for good, you need to develop excellent habits for your Poodle. Teaching your dog to control biting force is one technique to keep them from doing so. Puppies and their mothers are at risk of being bitten by the dog when they are playing. It is common for the mother or other dogs to howl if the bite is too strong. The same may be done in the effort to teach biting inhibition. You should be aware, however, that this may agitate some pups and exacerbate the biting. Although toy poodle bite force is not that strong compared to Pitbull and other breeds with lockjaws, you should still train your poodle to be disciplined all the time to avoid possible problems. Reinforce Positive Behavior If it bites you, make a soft but clear whimpering sound so it knows that you were hurt by what it did. This smart dog will take its cue and, given that you are its loving owner, will strive not to bite you again. At the same time, this is how the poodle also shows being hurt when it is on the receiving end of pain. If you do this, your dog will learn that excellent conduct is rewarded with food, which may lead to more frequent displays of positive behavior. Your dog is more likely to persist with this unhealthy behavior as a consequence. When you include repercussions, the dynamic changes. The more often this occurs, the more your poodle will associate biting with items they like being deprived of. Playtime, cookies, or any other reward you take from your poodle when they bite is more likely to cause them to quit their negative behavior. It is important, however, that you do not go beyond in terms of punishment. If this is a recurring problem, try dangling a tasty reward from your feet while walking the poodle. Using this method, your poodle will be more interested in the reward and less likely to jump on you. When using this strategy, you must exercise caution when providing rewards to avoid reinforcing bad conduct. For example, it is advisable not to use the reward shortly after the dog has leaped on your feet. If you do this, your dog is likely to associate the act of pouncing on your feet with a reward and continuing doing it. The ideal strategy is to dangle a reward at the beginning of your stroll in order to teach your dog the proper stance and not to promote any specific activity. Keep your Poodle Relax and Comfortable When a dog is nervous, fatigued, or worried, it may attack. Allowing the dog time to relax and cool down is the greatest remedy. Taking the dog to their box and giving them some alone time is one option. Dogs, on the other hand, must not associate their crates with penalties. You may avoid this by having them cool down in a new location each time. The only way to avoid poodle attacks and biting is to not let them have their way. Structure is essential for a well-behaved dog. Ensure that the dog understands that you will take them for a walk, play with them, or feed them at the appropriate time, rather than whenever they want. Your poodle will be more likely to learn and follow simple instructions if you do so first. A dog that is obedient to its master is more likely to break this negative behavior than a dog that does not respect its master. As a result, from the time your poodles are pups, work on instilling the idea that you are the one in charge of the household. Waiting any longer will just make it more difficult to maintain the new habits in the long run. Poodle Biting When Your Dog is Much Older There are also some older poodle dogs that still demonstrate a desire to bite or just nip other people and dogs. When this happens, you need to address the problem with firmness. Do not let it dictate when it wants to eat or play. Spend time teaching it some basic commands, and persist until it grudgingly shows that it can obey. You also need to avoid playing physical games like tug of war, wrestling, and chasing. This is because these games can result in the poodle biting you in an attempt to establish its dominance. If the poodle is anxious and starts biting as a result, you can probably enroll it in obedience classes so they can socialize with other furry friends and have a way to address their aggression problems in a highly controlled environment. If the biting problem in your poodle persists, more drastic measures in the form of a dog expert may be necessary. You can also think about visiting your vet just to rule out any possible health concerns that may be a cause of its biting. Teaching your poodle not to bite and addressing aggression issues may sometimes be a challenge to a dog owner. But if you persist at it you will revel in how obedient and well-behaved a poodle can actually be. Poodles will not stop biting unless you train them not to bite. That is why it is important to train them from a young age to avoid biting problems, especially at adult age. Do miniature poodles bite? Miniature and toy poodles bite because it is a defensive instinct of a dog. They also bite when they are playing or are just bored for not having any activities. Expect that you would experience seeing your toy poodle growling and biting other dogs or people if you will not train it not to bite. Are miniature poodles aggressive? Fear-based aggressiveness is more common in toy and miniature Poodles. As a result of their tiny size, they are especially vulnerable to abuse from youngsters. It is harder to socialize an adult Poodle with fear issues, but a good dog trainer may assist you in the process. Why do poodles bite? Then why do poodles lash out? Inexperienced dog owners may mistakenly believe their dog is acting hostile for no apparent cause, leading to unwarranted retaliation. Punishment has a high risk of making the problem worse. To keep his bite strength in check, your dog does this. In the absence of chew toys, he may take to biting on whatever is available, even your fingers! In addition, biting is a way for the dog to get to know other dogs and participate in their social circles. If the pup feels threatened in any way, he may bite to defend himself. This may also happen when other pups or adult dogs intrude on his domain. Biting is a way for them to protect their territory in this situation. Are poodles stubborn? Poodles are often used as a fashion item by their owners. Due to their obstinate and unresponsive nature, poodles might be more difficult to train. As a result of their high intelligence, poodles have a tendency to bite people who are in positions of power. Your dog is teething and will seek for anything to chew on to alleviate their discomfort. Stop your poodle from biting by following the advice in this article. Do you have some unique and effective way to train your poodle biting other people or dogs? We would love to hear from you! Share it with us by commenting down below! He is very passionate about training and caring for dogs, that is why he started this website. Want a free 5 part dog training video series? They were bred for hunting so they have an instinctual nature to retrieve and hunt. This makes them high-energy dogs that can easily get bored if not trained properly. The aggressive Poodle is a rare sight because they are very friendly with other people and animals around the home. Poodles are also intelligent, but they are very stubborn, and this stubbornness sometimes brings them trouble. Poodles do have a habit of biting and nibbling from a young age, but this behavior is not aggressive in its nature. If you mess up with their training or influence other negative factors, you might end up with a Poodle that bites. Why Do Poodles Bite? There are a few reasons why a Poodle may bite. Teething Around the 4 — 8 week period, the Poodle puppy will start teething. Just like any dog, the teething period follows a lot of biting and nipping. Protective Instinct If your Poodle feels that it is in danger, it will start biting. This is a protective behavior and usually means that your pup is in danger. It can also happen when someone goes near its food or territory. Attention Seeking Everyone wants a little attention throughout the day. Your dog will jump on you or bark to get some attention. It will start biting if it notices that that grabs your attention. Even if a little cute, this Poodle biting behavior should be stopped with training. Overstimulation Opposite to lack of attention is too much attention. If you play with your Poodle too much and get it overexcited it may start biting. This is why games like tug-of-war are not recommended for puppy aggression. Lack Of Exercise Poodles are high-energy dogs and they need their exercise. Energy build-up can cause anxiety and aggression in a dog. Expressing Emotion If your pup feels threatened or afraid it may react with aggression and biting. Things like thunderstorms, or unknown people entering the house may trigger your dog. You will notice it showing its teeth and excessively barking before going for the bite. Medical Problems Poodles bite when they are faced with health issues. Local or generalized pain will cause aggression and biting in your Poodle. It is important to notice the signs of disease along with the excessive biting and contact the vet as soon as possible. Playing The Poodles will bite each other while growing up as part of their socialization. Play fighting is a big factor in learning how to control their bite force and not hurt anyone incidentally. Just make sure to properly train your puppy during this phase. Early Training And Socialization Poodles are intelligent dogs and this makes them easy to train and teach. You should use this trait to train your dog from an early age. But Poodles are known to be stubborn so you need to be patient and persistent. It is also important to let your Poodle be around its mother for the first 8 weeks. She will help remove the bad habits from your pup and discipline it when needed. You can start socializing around the age of 3 — 12 weeks. Slowly introduce it to new people and animals in your home. Then take it to the dog park when it will meet more of them. This is even higher than the bite force of a Belgian Malinois. Poodle puppies learn bite inhibitions from their mom and siblings from the early days of their life. In time your dog will know how hard to clench its jaw to not hurt them. You can also train your puppy yourself. If you want to keep yourself or your furniture free of dog bite marks, a nice chewy toy will do the job for your pup. The best time to get a chew toy is during the teething period of your Poodle. This is around the age of weeks. Chew toys are great for older dogs as well. They are there when the dog wants to play but they also help with cleaning their teeth. Your furniture will also be very thankful. Reinforce Positive Behavior Training is a great way to stop Poodle biting. It needs discipline and work. But dogs also need love and affection. This is why you should use positive reinforcement when training your dog. Whenever your Poodle does good in the training you need to encourage that positive behavior. In time, your Poodle will associate the right behaviors with the treats and praise and will try to do better every time. Calm Your Poodle If you want to know how to train a Poodle not to bite, you first need to know how to spot the warning signs. Whenever dogs are getting ready to attack, there are a few signs they make. You will notice your Poodle getting stiff with its ears pinned back and hackle raised. It will also be showing its teeth, and start growling and barking. Once you notice these symptoms, you should start diffusing the situation. Be calm and see if you can remove the reason that is making it upset. You may also exit the room slowly and let it cool off by itself. For a dog that is chronically aggressive, consider using calming medication like valerian root. If you want to avoid having an aggressive Poodle at home, you need to make sure that you are the leader of that pack. You do this by establishing your dominance. You need to establish this during the young puppy days when the pup is still learning. Make your Poodle understand that you will let it for a walk or feed it at a set time that you decide, rather than whenever it wants. There are people who can help you with the biting Poodle. You should first visit your vet to see if anything is wrong with your pup healthwise. You should also look for any symptoms and signs of illness in your dog before taking it to the vet. If you think the problem is more behavioral, you can hire a professional dog trainer. They will help with training the dog from an early age, or with an older dog that was not trained properly. But with a bit more work and time, you can train your older Poodle not to bite. If you are dealing with older mean Poodles, the first thing you need to do is to assert dominance. This will make it respect you and follow your lead. If your Poodle has problems with anxiety, you can enroll it in an obedience class. That way the Poodle can socialize and learn from other dogs and people. You can also talk to your vet or hire a professional dog trainer. In time you will teach your new Poodle that biting is not acceptable. Conclusion — Do Poodles Bite? Poodles are a great dog breed to have as a family pet. They are loving, playful, and very intelligent. But they can be a problem because of their biting nature. A Poodle will start biting from an early age as a way of socializing with its siblings and with you. The biting will increase during the teething period and in some specific cases. These include attention seeking, protectiveness, lack of exercise, anxiety, stress, or illness. Your job as a dog owner is to stop this bad behavior. You should start with early training and socialization. Establish dominance and be strict, but also reward good behavior and calm your dog. You can also get a chew toy or talk to a vet or a professional dog trainer for help. Remember that even if Poodles are known to bite more, with a caring owner they can be the perfect pet. It is more common to see a Toy Poodle growling and biting, rather than a standard one. This is because Toy Poodles are small and they are more likely to be mistreated by bigger animals or people. Are Poodles stubborn? Poodles are known for two things: their intelligence, and their stubbornness. Their intelligence makes them easy to train as they pick up on things easier. But their stubbornness can make training a pain sometimes. Consistency and persistence are key. Should you punish your Poodle for biting? Instead, you should know what do Poodles bite for and try to solve that problem together. Train and socialize together and the biting will stop in time. Adult Poodles will chew to help cope with Separation Anxiety and ease boredom. Don't worry; No matter how old your Poodle is , or whether your have a Toy, Miniature or Standard, help is here! Puppies that Chew One of the reasons that Poodle puppy will chew, even before teething has begun, is to explore the world. A puppy will use their mouth as opposed to a hand to figure out…. While this is most vital during the first year, since a dog of any age may mouth an object it is recommended to periodically performed checks of all accessible areas and remove anything that could be a potential chocking hazard. In this way, you can be 1 step ahead, but not even allowing the temptation to chew on these things to manifest. Teething Poodles will experience teething from about 4 months until 8 months. Do keep in mind that some Poodles are late bloomers and teething may last a bit longer. How the Right Toys can Help A puppy must be allowed to chew as much as he wishes, when he is teething. This is a very difficult time for a Poodle puppy, as the urge to relive discomfort is quite overwhelming. It will be your job to supply some of the best possible toys. Take care when you are choosing toys for your pup's collection. Some toys are cheaply put together, the manufacturers splash on some color , give it a cute name and people scoop them up. However, those are the toys that most dogs do not find interesting and you inevitably waste your money and your dog is not being helped. Toys should have 1 or more of the qualities: Is Interactive — Moves or makes noise when chewed. Motivates a puppy - When a puppy receives a reward such as treat release chew toys , he will be more apt to go to it in the future for chewing urges. Has several different types of surfaces — for example rubber knobs on one end to put between teeth when the gums are sore and rope for a different feel that can be manipulated into just the right spot. Is sized correctly so that it is not a struggle to mouth it, but is big enough that's it's safe to chew. Tips to Encourage Approved Chewing Once you have cleared the house of low level items the best that you can and you have a good selection of quality toys, your Poodle may still need a bit of encouragement to chew on them. Here are some tips: 1 Puppies love new objects. Therefore, one trick that works well is to have 2 groups of toys…always keeping 1 available and 1 hidden. Do keep in mind that any toy that your pup has seemed to become very fond of, should not be put away and should always be available. Chew toys should always bring a positive association. However, for chewing issues, this should be followed by a trade. What does this mean? When he accepts the toy, give great praise to teach your pup that chewing on the toy is what makes you proud of him. Sometimes, a puppy can be stubborn, and this is where you must not be shy. Many times this may startle a puppy — this is acceptable. This means that you have captured his attention and can now offer the trade and give him the chew toy. Separation Anxiety Chewing If your Poodle destroys things or chews on objects while you are away, they are most likely expressing their nervousness and anxiety while waiting for you to return. You may also be interested in: Poodle puppy is barking a lot - While some vocalization is normal and expected, read about steps to cut down on barking at night and excessive barking issues. Housebreaking a Poodle puppy - This in one of the biggest hurdles that owners need to deal with. Effective methods for fast learning. Life span of Poodles - Leading causes of death and how long each variety of Poodles live. Poodle Photo Gallery - See beautiful photos of Poodles send in by owners. 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. This article is a comprehensive guide on how to go about it. Bite inhibition refers to the process of teaching your poodle how to control the intensity of their bite. If the bite is too hard, the mother or other dogs will let out a yelp to indicate that the bite was painful. You can do this as well when trying to teach bite inhibition. However, you should know that this may aggravate some puppies and make the biting even worse. A great behavioral training course can really help when teaching bite inhibition to your dog. I found a fantastic training system called Brain Training for Dogs. If you need any behavioral training at all for your dog, I would highly recommend this course! Check it out here 3. Take the same example. When this happens consistently, your poodle will start associating biting with an end to things they like. Your poodle is more likely to stop his bad behavior to get more playtime, treats, or anything else you decide to take from them when they bite. This process is known as negative reinforcement. However, you need to be careful not to go overboard with the punishment. If the dog is constantly biting on your fingers and feet around the house, consider giving them something different to chew on. Without a doubt, my dog Angus enjoys Barkbox more than anything else I purchase for him. BarkBox delivers a customized box of themed toys, treats, and other products to your door each month for any size dog. In addition, I like that a percentage of proceeds are donated to local animal shelters. Check out the Barkbox website here to discover why Barkbox will make your dog as happy as mine. I recently wrote this article on the best toys for poodles. With this approach, your poodle will be more attracted to the treat and is less likely to pounce on you. If you do this, chances are your dog will relate pouncing on your feet with the treat and keep doing it. The best approach is to try dangling the treat at the start of your walks to train them on the correct positioning and not as a way to encourage any behavior. The best solution for this is to give the dog some time to relax and calm down. One way to do this is to take the dog to their crate and give them some alone time. You can prevent this from happening by choosing different spots for their cool-down sessions. Does it happen when the dog has been indoors all day? Does your poodle bite only in the presence of other dogs? Or does it happen all the time? The solution for this is to take the dog outside and allow them to run around for a while. Alternatively, you can walk your poodle to give some much-needed exercise. Dogs that bite in the presence of other dogs may be marking their territory or be threatened by the other dogs. You can gradually stop this habit by socializing your dog so he gets used to other dogs. When you do this, your dog will start to understand which good habits earn them treats and may be motivated to show positive behaviors more often. Again, this will make it more likely for you to achieve success and get your poodle to stop biting. To ensure your dog behaves well, you need to establish structure. When you do so, your poodle will be more likely to pick up basic commands and obey. Waiting longer will only make it harder for the new practices to stick. However, as painful as the bite may be, fight the temptation to hit your furry friend. Physical punishment stresses the dog out and may cause even more aggression, thereby making the biting worse. A professional is in a better position to advise you on the best way forward. Socialize Your Poodle Dogs that rarely get the opportunity to hang out with other dogs may also tend to bite a lot. Waiting longer than this can make it harder to socialize your dog. There are several ways you can socialize your poodle to prevent biting. If this is your first time owning a poodle, this may be among the questions going through your mind. Like most dog breeds, poodles tend to bite a lot in the puppy stage. In fact, poodles are known to have a higher tendency of biting as compared to other dog breeds. Why Do Poodles Bite? So why do poodles bite anyway? Your dog does this to control his bite strength. This type of biting is common when the dog feels ignored. Furthermore, biting is a way for the dog to explore and join the social life of other dogs. Defensive instinct Biting is also a self-defense reflex for dogs. This also happens when his territory is invaded by other puppies or adult dogs. In such a case, biting is their way of defending their territory. Poodles are Naturally Stubborn Another possible cause for biting in poodles is lack of training. Many owners adopt a poodle as an accessory. In Summary Biting is normal for poodles, especially in the puppy stage. During this time, your dog is teething and looking for anything to bite on to soothe their sore gums. Your poodle may also be biting due to aggression, as a way of seeking attention or simply exhibiting normal dog behavior. Utilize the tips mentioned in this article to help stop your poodle from biting. If you try all the DIY steps and nothing works, consider hiring a behavioral specialist or certified trainer. Working with an expert will make the process easier and increase your chances of success. I hope you found it helpful. Here are some products that I personally believe every owner should employ to help ensure the best quality of life for their dogs. But in all honesty, these are the exact products that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Lemonade Pet Insurance : Lemonade Pet Insurance has enabled me to afford a very high level of veterinary care for my dog, Angus. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. This program actually works, and at a small fraction of the cost of hiring a dog trainer! Pet Plate is the dog food subscription service I use to provide extremely healthy, pre-portioned meals for my dog. Pet Plate gives my dog Angus the highest quality nutrition at a very affordable price. BarkBox : Without a doubt, my dog enjoys Barkbox more than anything else I buy him. BarkBox delivers a customized box of themed toys, treats, and other products to your door each month. In addition, I like that a percentage of proceeds is donated to local animal shelters. I Purchase this service for my dog Angus and have saved hundreds of dollars over visiting his local vet with questions or more minor health concerns. Brent Hartman I'm Brent Hartman. I've been a dog lover my entire life and have owned many animals over the years. When my black lab Angus passed away, I was looking for another friend to share my life with. As a result of my research, I've come to love poodles and wanted to share some of what I've learned with you. Whether you're looking to adopt a poodle, or already own one, I created Poodle report to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need. Recent Posts.

Hello Welcome Our mission is simple: To love and care for each and every lab puppy just like we would want someone to take care of ours and to produce healthy lab puppies for sale. We only have healthy and happy lab puppies. If you have been searching for that perfect lab puppy. We would like for your search to be over and welcome home a Mabry Lab for your next puppy. Come to beautiful Southern Illinois and pick out your new best friend. All puppies are raised in a large area, no small cages. They are housed in a large climate controlled home built for them. This is not in a garage or back room of a home. This is made just for them so they can be raised safely. This also keeps our mothers calm and relaxed to help make wonderful calm puppies. We introduce them to other puppies and adults. Highly socialized with people. Someone is always here with them. They have toys and blankets. There is an onsite laundry area so that every thing is cleaned multiple times a time. Introduced to loud noises. Raised with puppy culture to promote happy and well secure babies. We always will be improving to remain the best labrador retriever breeder of yellow, black and chocolate lab puppies. Our labradors are health tested. Please, visit our page on genetic testing to find out more information on what genetically we can prevent in our lab puppies for. About Us Experienced Breeders If you have been searching for that perfect lab puppy. Our adults are provided with an inside area with toys, beds and excellent vet care. A radio plays for them as well. Most prefer to lay up on their Kuranda beds most of the time with their toys or play with a friend. They get their areas cleaned at a minimum of four times a day and disinfectant is used twice a day. Adults get treats, vitamins and are fed daily with a probiotic added for health. We have natural and artificial lighting as well. The dogs even have their own washing machine to clean blankets, toys and towels daily. Dogs are walked, given access to the pond when weather allows for swimming, let out to run in the open yard, play fetching and work on obedience training. Favorite thing of most is to find a human and crawl into their laps. Yes, our labs even come into our home and crawl into our chairs and onto the couch. Adults are treated monthly for worms, and provided vaccines as recommended by the vet. Once you see a dog with EIC or CNM you will understand why we test our labs to make sure our puppies will never be affected by these diseases that can be prevented by selective breeding. A Furever Friend If you want a Labrador retriever with brains and beauty then look no longer as you have found the right place. We breed healthy and happy puppies. A lab puppy can be your best friend and even a hunting buddy. We hope to see you in the future when you pick out your Furever Friend. Thank you for looking at our labrador puppies for sale. We treat all our animals humanely and ethically. Our animals are part of our family, they are treated very well. You won't find another breeder that does what we do here. Some have been trying to replicate how we raise our labs, but none have come close to doing it yet. Someone is always here with the puppies making sure they are doing well. Training and play time is an everyday thing, so when you call you may have to leave a message. We keep up with our puppies in their new homes. We have places on the internet just for our owners to access information and ask questions about our lab puppies for sale. There is over acres with a large lake for the puppies and adults to get out on. We study our genetics very closely and strive to send home excellent puppies. Learn More You won't find another breeder out there that cares more about the puppies then Mabry Labs. We work hard on socialization and health. Raising black, yellow and chocolate lab puppies. Lab puppies available for deposit. Click on photos to learn about the litter. Contact Us. They are good-natured and even-tempered, which makes them a popular choice for families with young children. Labs are known for their enthusiastic tail-wagging and their boundless energy, and they will often approach strangers with a wagging tail and a friendly face. However, they can also be boisterous and excitable, so they may not be the best choice for those looking for a calm and quiet dog. Since the Lab was bred as a hunting dog, this lovable giant will need lots of vigorous, outdoor exercise to keep him calm and centered. Yellow Labs are usually a big fan of fetching and chasing games, and enjoy a good romp in the yard with their family. Yellow Labradors also enjoy walks with their master, and are good swimmers that enjoy lakes, rivers, pools, and the beach. Overall, the Yellow Lab is a friendly, energetic breed that makes an ideal companion for those who are looking for an active lifestyle. Yellow Lab Puppies Health Considerations Though generally very healthy and long-lived — with an average lifespan of around 10 to 12 years — our Yellow Labs for sale are not without their unique health concerns. Like every breed of dog, there are a few conditions you should be aware of before you consider purchasing one of our Yellow Lab puppies for sale. Understanding the risks allows you to know the signs and prevent small health concerns from turning into big ones. If your dog is constantly scratching or seems to have irritated skin, they may be allergic to something in their environment — like pollen or dust mites. Your vet can help you identify the source of the allergy and recommend the best course of treatment. Yellow Labs are also prone to ear infections due to their long, floppy ears. And if you notice your dog shaking their head or scratching their ears more than usual, make an appointment with the vet right away. Finding a Yellow Lab puppy for sale from a reputable breeder can dramatically — although, not eliminate — the risk of your dog developing some of these conditions. The coat is typically yellow, but can also be ranging in color from light cream to fox red. When it comes to coat care, the Yellow Lab is relatively low-maintenance. The coat does not require trimming or special haircuts, although it does need to be brushed regularly to prevent tangles and mats. Labs also enjoy spending time outside, so regular baths are generally not necessary unless the dog gets particularly dirty. Meet Yellow Lab Puppies for Sale. It is their outgoing, affectionate, and eager-to-please demeanor that makes them so qualified to take on all of these jobs and still be the perfect family pet. When it comes to breed standards, the AKC recognizes three official colors for the Labrador: black, chocolate, and yellow. At Hidden Pond Labradors, we understand that everybody has a different preference in mind when they set out to bring one of these incredible dogs into their home. Yellow Labrador Retriever Breeder The yellow Lab is one of the most popular colors, in part due to its photogenic nature. This also makes them excellent show dogs, although any of the three recognized colors can easily achieve Grand Champion status. Coat shades that are classified as yellow range from white to fox red. Like chocolate, the yellow coat is a recessive color that requires both parents to carry and pass on the gene. Yellow Labrador Retrievers, just like every other color, have a stable, amiable temperament. Their trainability and discipline should not be mistaken for lethargy though. Labs are very active dogs that will bring a lot of fun energy to your household. Are you interested in the unconditional love, support, and joy a Lab can bring to your family? Get in touch with Hidden Pond Labradors! Your purchase of one of our yellow Labrador Retriever puppies includes a veterinarian health certificate , first set of vaccinations, one-year written health warranty, and a lifetime placement warranty should you need it. Contact us today to reserve a puppy from our next litter! Life Span Did You Know? There is a reason that year after year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States. The history of the Labrador Retriever dates back to the early s in Newfoundland, just off the Atlantic coast of Canada. Had these families not played a vital part in the continuation of the breed, the loving and affectionate Labs we have all grown to love may not exist today. The first recognized Yellow Labrador Retriever was born in .One of the friendliest breeds out there, Yellow Labs are great companions and love to be a part of the family. While the color yellow is part of their namesake, their coats range from fawn or cream to butterscotch or a deep golden hue. Coming into popularity during the midth century, the Yellow Labrador Retriever has been a staple for hunters and family homes alike ever since. These dogs are patient and kind when faced with energetic young ones. Yellow Labs delight in big spaces, opting to run and play wildly. However, they will happily lounge on the couch after having a long, hard run outside. When given a little training, they can easily learn to control barking habits and restrain themselves from digging. Their double coat also makes them a good fit for just about any climate. As with most dogs, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. Generally speaking, Labradors are healthy. They can develop certain inherent conditions, along with cataracts and kneecap displacement, but will remain healthy overall. As long as they are taken to their vet appointments with regularity, Labs will usually feel just fine. Yellow Labs are loyal companions with few drawbacks. Treats never hurt, of course. This, paired with their eagerness to please, makes them a highly trainable dog breed that is a good fit for owners of any experience level. With minimal training, these dogs can control their barking and digging without much trouble. Labs have very short, double-layered, and water-resistant fur. Its density protects them from the cold, so they will often try to swim any time of year. They experience heavier seasonal shedding twice a year and slight shedding throughout the year. Giving them a good brush once a week or a few times a week should keep their coats shiny and healthy. Other grooming tasks include nail trimming, ear care, and dental care. Proper dental care for dogs includes brushing their teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day. This helps prevent the tartar buildup that causes dental diseases like gum disease and tooth decay. You can also supplement your dental care efforts with dental hygiene chews, a special dental care diet, and more. This breed tends to be very active. They were bred to be working dogs and need exercise. A few daily walks and some time to run should help assuage their energy levels. Yellow Labs also need a fair amount of mental activity as well; they like to stay sharp. Yellow Labs are classified as medium to large dogs. They reach an average height of 23 inches and an average healthy weight of 75 pounds. A Yellow Labrador Retriever generally lives years. It was traditional in Newfoundland for every fishing boat to have a Labrador Retriever that would help retrieve the fish as they came in off the trawl. Featured Yellow Labrador Retriever Article.