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Is your Labradoodle chewing on the brand new sofa set? Labradoodles are fluffballs of energy and can seem overwhelming to control. They are naturally known to have an optimistic and passionate outlook towards life. In their early stages as a puppy and adolescence, their energies are the most heightened and at their peak. A Labradoodle is not considered fully grown until around there years of age, and this is when you can expect them to calm down. But, when they begin to grow up, mainly between the ages of two and three, and enter adulthood, they tend to calm down and become relatively in control of themselves. However, if their erratic and crazy behavior is not looked into, they might continue being active and overly excited into their mature, senior years. Puppyhood The first five months of your Labradoodle are their puppyhood phase. This is probably the most adorable stage of their life when they are still getting used to all the attention and affection. They begin to form strong associations with people and objects, which is a prime reason why you might often find them active and hopping around in glee. This is also the best time to expose your babies to new experiences, train them through positive reinforcement, and bond with them. Adolescence Do you remember your adolescent years when you were either sleeping on the couch or were caught making mischief? The period of adolescence for a Labradoodle lasts for about two years, usually starting when the dogs are about 5 to 6 months of age. At this stage, your Labradoodle is either bored and sleeping or hyperactive — there is no in-between. And, because this is the time when their hormones kick in, they are always jumping around, chewing everything that comes in their contact, and basically having the time of their lives. A Labradoodle running on the beach 3. Adulthood Your dogs are finally fully grown and mature when they enter adulthood. This stage usually begins when the dog hits three years of age. At this stage, the most crucial aspect to look into is their diet and weight. If not correctly taken care of, your Labradoodle can become fat and unhealthy in no time. If you trained your friend adequately during the first two stages of their life, you would start to observe a noticeable change in their behavior. Because they grow both mentally and physically, they are likely to become more calm and composed. Middle Age You should expect your dog to enter into the middle-age phase when they are about seven years old. Your dog will have both active and inactive days. They have transitioned into a mature stage of their life, so a drop in their excitement level is to be expected. As a pet parent, you must ensure to start taking care of their health and well-being a little more cautiously. They will become prone to developing common ailments and will require extra care and warmth. Senior Age When your dog hits the ripe old age of 10 to 12 years, they will enter the last, most crucial stage of their lives — old age. You will observe that your dog will considerably slow down and will develop habits that will be challenging to take care of. However, this is also the stage when they need your most attention. This is the time for you to return all the years of unconditional love they have given you, and more. Do you have a standard, miniature, or toy cross? The smaller breeds will mature quickly but live longer. And the older breeds will live a relatively shorter period. Puppies of any breed are expected to act crazy and excited. They have a lot of pent-up energy and excitement inside them, and they are always finding ways to release that. Labradoodles are considered more intelligent than most other dog breeds. They are very sharp and have excellent hunting abilities. This is one primary reason why they seek to learn and discover new things right from a very early stage. They are curious creatures that love being out in open spaces. Now, if they are to be suddenly confined within the four walls of your house, they will obviously look for ways to release their energies inside the home. This often tends to make them more hyperactive and agitated than usual. If your labradoodle is a rescue dog, it is likely for them to be coping with past traumas or because they have been conditioned or bred to behave in this manner by their previous owners. Labradoodles tend to jump around in excitement when they are trying to grab your attention. The issue of hyperactivity in Labradoodles can stem from a lack of proper stimulation. If your dog gets bored of their daily routine and has nothing new and exciting to look forward to, they can become hyperactive and often display destructive behaviors. Lack of social interaction with other dogs and people around them can also make Labradoodles hyperactive. They might suffer from hyperkinesis or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Signs Of Hyperactivity In Labradoodles If you want to hit the dog-parent jackpot, it is crucial that you keep your eye open to the following signs of hyper activeness in your furry friend before they turn into more serious implications: Even in familiar situations, you will find your dog overly excited and unable to relax. They will have a short attention span and will be unable to pay attention or concentrate on the smallest of things. They will display bouts of impulsiveness in their behavior. They will lack the ability to socialize with other people and pets around them. They will frantically move or fidget around. This includes running madly in circles, trying to catch their own tail. And an excellent way to display your love for them is by dealing with them with care when they are hyper and a little more excited and naughty than usual. Here are several tips that you can follow to control your dog when they engage in uncontrollable behaviors. This is where exercising comes into play. Walking You cannot keep your dog locked in the house the entire day. One walk per day is the least they require. You can take them to a nearby park or for mountain hikes; they will equally enjoy both. Swimming Labradoodles are water babies. They are bred from Poodles and Labradors, and both these breeds are excellent swimmers. Therefore, Labradoodles leave no chance to enjoy and play around in pools. Play a game of fetch, a nose-work game, or the old and classic hide and seek — outdoor games add the element of fun to exercising, something your dog will be excited for every day. Many of these collars are packed with essential oils that help to calm a dog down when they are anxious. Plush toys The motive of plush toys is to eliminate the risk of separation anxiety that tends to develop in a dog. They are the ultimate cuddling buddies for your pets that provide comfort, aid, and keep them calm. Calming beds Lack of sleep tends to make dogs anxious and hyperactive. If you want to create a soothing environment for your Labradoodle where they can relax and calm themselves down, a calming bed would be a great choice. These beds are specially designed to provide your pet with a sense of security and safety. Training Training a dog is no joke. It is the best way to instill good behavior in your Labradoodle, both physically and mentally. Teach your dog to carry themselves well and be in control of their emotions through reward-based training. Discourage their hyperactive behavior, but never punish them for the same. Understand that being hyperactive is a part of growing up. If you punish them and instill fear in them, they may never bond with you or emote themselves properly. Whenever you feel your dog is calmer than usual, make sure you encourage their behavior. Reinforce calmness in them by showing them affection and love. Reward them with their favorite treat every time they show good behavior. Some Additional Tips: Maintain a set routine for your dog. Having a specific time set aside for eating, walking, or playing will help limit their energy to certain times of the day. Before you try to calm your labradoodle, make sure you manage yourself. Never yell, shout, scream, or show any anger or aggression toward your Labradoodle. This type of negative behavior will only make the situation worse. A rich Apricot coat Labradoodle at the groomer. So Why Choose A Labradoodle? Even though handling a Labradoodle may feel like a lot of work, there are so many reasons why I believe Labradoodles are one of the best dogs to have. The joy of being a Labradoodle parent is unexplainable, and you can only know it by experience. Labradoodles are incredibly friendly and social dogs; they even love swimming, making them great outdoor buddies! Labradoodles are also an excellent choice for those allergic to dogs as they are hypoallergenic and do not shed fur. Not only that, Labradoodles make excellent therapy dogs for people who have autism, depression, or other mental or physical disparities. The sociable, loving, and empathetic traits make them one of the best candidates for therapy dogs. Final Words A calmer pet means a more relaxed you. It is just a phase, and it too shall pass. I hope you now have more clarity on what age Labradoodles calm down. Everything is paw-sibble with a bit of love and warmth. Happy dog-parenting! 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. They are social, energetic, and ready to play with anyone. As the owner of a Labradoodle, I quickly learned they are highly intelligent. They also love water. Get ready for your pet to jump into any puddle. They are excellent swimmers and love to show off their doggy-paddling skills. Along with their exuberant energy, Labradoodles are also an easygoing breed. Underneath their playful energy, they are gentle and loving to their human families. Start with short walks, especially with puppies. Let them get used to the leash and being outside. Walks, and even jogging as the dog gets older, give them an outlet for their energy, helping them stay calmer at home. Exercise can also lessen the amount of time your dog spends tearing through the house. After a while, you can even predict when your pet will start zooming around. Mine usually does it right after a nap. Labradoodle Energy Level — How energetic are Labradoodles? You want to know how energetic a dog breed is before bringing the pup home. If you prefer a laidback lifestyle with plenty of time to relax, the energetic Labradoodle may not be the right option. Labradoodles need plenty of exercise. Be prepared for enthusiastic greetings every time you come home. They are affectionate dogs and crave social interaction and attention. Older dogs can go on jogs and longer walks. Swimming and fetch are other great ways to get rid of excessive energy. Do Labradoodles Calm Down? At what age do Labradoodles calm down? In the beginning, they have an insatiable curiosity about everything. Like toddlers, they grow and mature, only a little faster. You can expect most of the puppy energy to wear off around the time your pet turns two. Crazy Labradoodle Puppy — How to calm down? All puppies are active, but Labradoodles can take it to the extreme. The best way to calm your crazy puppy is with short walks. Let your Labradoodle puppy run wild around the yard. Throwing toys like balls or small sticks for the puppy to chase will also burn off energy. Most have an area away from older dogs devoted to puppies. Labradoodles and Loud Noises Loud noises startle all dogs, including Labradoodles. Petting and snuggling will help calm your pet down. You can also try a blanket, calming collar, or specially made dog jumper. Some dogs outgrow their skittishness, while loud noises bother others throughout their lives. If loud noises send your Labradoodle into a panic, you may want to try exposure therapy. Can a Labradoodle Be Left Alone? A rich Apricot coat Labradoodle at the groomer. These are social and affectionate animals, so separation anxiety is a common problem. When your Labradoodle is a puppy, try to only stay away for a short time. Keep it around two or three hours at a time. It allows your dog to get used to you being gone without instilling a lot of anxiety. Labradoodles are intelligent dogs, even as puppies. Crate Training a Labradoodle There are two reasons you want to think about crate training your Labradoodle. It helps relieve separation anxiety and makes potty training easier. Dogs naturally prefer dens, and a crate is the perfect substitution. Make sure the crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in. Add some toys and a blanket, and pretty soon, your Labradoodle will go inside without any coaxing. Praising your Labradoodle for going into the crate will help to reinforce the positive behavior. Scolding your pup for bad behavior only works in the moment. The minute you leave out the door, your dog may start to misbehave. Some Labradoodle owners block off a room for their dogs. It is an effective solution to a point. Your pet can still chew up the furniture or drapes. Some Labradoodles have been known to even chew on doorknobs. Puzzle toys are the best way to keep these intelligent dogs occupied for hours. You can find a variety of dog-friendly toys at your local pet store. Some will even let you bring your dog in to help pick out the toys. Labradoodles and Other Dogs Labradoodle Max looks at a toilet paper wall obstacle Labradoodles are social animals and get along with other dogs. Other dogs may find it harder to adjust to any furry friend, especially if they are used to being a solo pet. Instead of adopting another pet, give your Labradoodle the opportunity to make friends with other dogs. Giving your Labradoodle plenty of attention when you get home will also lessen separation anxiety. A Labradoodle sits on a couch next to a Pomeranian. It is a high-energy breed, but the dogs also make great pets. Labradoodles are affectionate, intelligent, and love life. Even though they are high-energy dogs, you can manage their hyperactivity with walks, playtime, and lots of toys. Labradoodles can live up to 16 years, making them great additions to almost any family. They make excellent best friends and companions—just give them the attention and time they need to thrive. 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. Also take a deep look on your own behavior around your dog Training Training is really important for every dog. Labradoodles are super smart dogs and you can teach them pretty much everything. If you are consistent and really devoted to training your dog, it can last months. If you have a budget, you can have someone else train your dog or you can pay for training sessions where you can go together with your pet. As soon as you bring a puppy you should start with obedience training then crate, housebreaking, and potty training. There are many training options objects training, voice commands training… and the good thing is that your Labradoodle is a fast learner and you can teach him whatever you want. You just need to have patience and determination. Never give up. Proper training along with other activities and your love and attention should make your Labradoodle happy, well-behaved, and confident dog. Good training will also influence your Labradoodle to calm down. Exercise Note that every healthy Labradoodle requires at least minutes of daily exercise. The exact time depends on several factors such as size, age, temperament, energy level, living conditions, etc. Generally, a miniature Labradoodle needs at least 30 minutes of daily exercise but a larger Labradoodle requires a minimum of 60 minutes. Neither includes the time your dog spent inside the house, no matter how active he was. Pay special attention in case you have a puppy. After that, you can start with short walks on a leash but take this as a ground rule: 5 minutes of exercise x per month of age. So if you have a 4-month old puppy, he should have 20 minutes of daily exercise and not more. Gradually increase the time your puppy spends exercising and that will help him to properly build up the muscle structure and stamina. Avoid exercising your dog on a full stomach. It can cause bloat. Safe rule: no exercise at least one hour before or after the meal. Lack of exercise may result in restless behavior. The same will happen if you keep your Labradoodle locked inside for too many hours. Bottom line is that if you cannot commit to having at least one walk better to have two or even three walks on daily basis with your Labradoodle a day, then maybe you should consider giving your dog to someone else. Again, dogs like routine. That is why it is absolutely necessary to make an exact schedule and not to change it often. Of course, not all days are the same, sometime you just need to change the plans but make sure the change is more the exception than the rule. Try to do all activities including playtime at the same time of the day. That way your Labradoodle will know what is going to happen next. This fact makes him feel secure just like small children which further makes him calmer. When you determine the time when you play with your dog, do really play with him. Make sure your Labradoodle has your full attention during playtime. Provide also a variety of toys and mental stimulation for your Labradoodle. This crossbreed is super curios especially the young ones and needs plenty of mental stimulation to avoid boredom. Also, it is crucial to show to your dog who the boss is. Due to his gentle personality Labradoodles are not responding well to a harsh relationship with the owner but positive reinforcement along with a lot of love and care can do miracles. Talk to him quietly and calmly. Advise other family members to do the same. Skip physical play. This is something that will make your Labradoodle even more excited than he already is. Avoid that. Advise other family members to do the same, especially teens. Never reward bad behavior. You will be surprised by how quickly he will understand your message. If you react only when your dog is barking or whining, he will quickly understand that if he does that, he gets attention. When he is calm, you ignore him. What would you do if you were him? You should be always in control of your dog. Your Labradoodle has to know always what do you want him to do and why bad behavior is not wanted. Show your dog how to relax. Grooming time is the perfect time to slow things down. Sooth brushing or a simple massage will help your Labradoodle to calm down not to mention his happiness for extra one-to-one attention he gets. Final Thought Labradoodles are very sociable dogs. Meeting other people leave them very excited, they like any type of attention. They are very energetic dogs, especially young ones. Like kids, you have to teach Labradoodles how to behave, to give them some guidelines for life. So proper training is a must, as without it your Labradoodle could cultivate bad habits. Other activities such as exercise and playtime will help to drain the vast energy they have. Keeping your Labradoodle mentally stimulated is equally important as keeping him physically active. If your dog is bored or depressed he might feel anxiety which further may lead to destructive behavior. Cocker Spaniels Retrievers As you can see our friends from the Retriever family made the list. And since your labradoodle is at least some part retriever, it just means they have it in the genes to be somewhat hyper. Long walks. A good long walk will leave both you and your dog feeling way more relaxed and clear-minded. Exercise your dog. Go outside and run. Or take it to a park where it can walk freely and interact with other dogs. Play, play, and more play. Play both inside and outside the house. Train it — perhaps agility training. Lots of toys. There are plenty of options here. Buy some on Amazon, make some yourself. Toys are a great way to keep your dog occupied and entertained. Go hunting. If you can afford it, perhaps rent a dogwalker or sign it up in the local school that has programs for dogs. In this day and age, dogs are rarely pulling sleighs or watching sheep. So try and find alternatives, because the energy is still inside the dog. The Often Overlooked Aspect When you have a hyperactive dog, one of the first things we do is more exercise. But more often than not people, are very good at giving their dogs plenty of outside playtime and exercise, but what is often overlooked is the need for mental stimulation. Especially when we are talking about a breed as intelligent as a Labradoodle, it is very important that your dog gets the mental exercises it needs. An easy solution could be to buy a product like the West Paw Zogoflex Toppl affiliate link. But since my dog was still quite hyper at times, I started looking for even more advanced ideas, and after a while, I found this training course affiliate link by dog expert Andrea Faricelli, and it has been godsent! Pretty much day 1 after we started the program, my dog has been a lot calmer and easier to live with, and some of the tricks and games we learned from the program we still use pretty much every day and my doodle Monty still loves it: Hopefully, this has given you some advice on dealing with a hyper labradoodle, it did for me at least! These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. Share this:. Taking care of a Labradoodle is said to be a difficult yet rewarding endeavor. Is there anything I can do to expedite the process? So, are Labradoodles hyper? Labradoodles are not hyper; they are energetic and like playing. Are Labradoodles Hyper? They are intelligent, loving, and easy to teach, and they get along with almost everyone. Labradoodles are lively and active dogs who enjoy a range of activities and workouts including fetch, long walks, running, and participating in outdoor dog sports. One element that contributes to behavioral issues is a lack of exercise. Labradoodles may live in peace and harmony with only a minimal amount of exercise. Keep your labradoodle busy to keep them mentally and physically fit. In exchange, they will have a nice, loving attitude, and their aggression will be much reduced. The labradoodle is a low-maintenance dog that can keep up with an active lifestyle. Due to their enormous amount of energy, most Labradoodles but not all are energetic. Their genes hold the key to their success. A Labradoodle could not be inactive and slow since it is the offspring of a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. The Labrador Retriever is an active working dog with a lot of energy. Poodles, on the other hand, were initially intended to be hunting dogs, despite their appearance as a fancy show dog that does nothing all day. Poodles have a lot of energy as well. Normally, these abilities must be tested from time to time. During puppyhood, Labradoodles are extremely energetic. This is the time when you must be patient, consistent, and persistent in your work with your dog. Do you believe a hyper adult dog is a content dog? It appears to be correct. He is not pleased, he is overexcited, and he does not know where he belongs. Boredom This is the most common cause of hyperactive dog behavior! Dogs are typically laid-back creatures. They spend up to 20 hours a day sleeping or relaxing. But they want to accomplish something with their remaining awake hours! Domestic dogs frequently feel obligated to do a task, but they are unsure of what that task is. That, however, would not be an issue. If the only thing to do is walk for 30 minutes every day, it would be fairly dull for us as well, right? Dogs do, after all, sleep a lot more than humans do. They do, however, require some action in their lives! Regrettably, not every dog receives the amount of exercise that he need. This can lead to dog boredom, which can ultimately contribute to hyperactivity in the dog. Cold Weather This is most likely a witty reason. In colder weather, most dogs have thick fur to keep them warm. This implies that they get quite overheated in the summer, which causes them to become lethargic. As a result, they have no desire to get all worked up. This can easily result in hyperactivity. As I already stated, your dog is extremely unlikely to get it. However, there are a few cases where dogs are diagnosed with this condition. Overstimulation This is a critical consideration for sensitive dogs. Some dogs find it difficult to cope with all of the stimulation in our contemporary environment. Overworked In fact, the opposite of boredom might make your dog hyperactive. While providing your dog with a variety of activities is beneficial, it is also possible to overdo it. How to help your hyperactive Labradoodle calm down Reduce their anxiety Many pet owners suffer from anxiety when it comes to their animals. Anxiety in dogs can lead to greater messes on the floor as well as chewing on personal items. As a consequence of their mental involvement, their anxiety is decreased, and your floors and personal items are given a break. The younger a Goldendoodle is, the more he or she needs to play. You must also consider their intelligence. Due to their intelligence, Labradoodles are prone to boredom. Finally, when your dog is mentally engaged in an activity or toy, their negative behavior is typically reduced, if not eliminated entirely. Rambunctious dogs are most often caused by boredom. Consider it a way for them to express their dissatisfaction with their daily routine. This might lead to self-destructive behavior. Labradoodles may start chewing on furniture, going through the trash, or damaging other items. Exercise is a great way for them to let off steam. They need to play to get rid of their pent-up energy. The greatest way to keep your Goldendoodle calm and comfortable is to play with them. It might be as easy as kicking a ball around outside for a few minutes. Maintain Control Over Their Diet It may seem little to you, but trust me when I say that healthy behavior stems from a healthy lifestyle; make sure your Goldendoodle is eating enough to stay healthy. Feel free to check out my guide to dog foods here. Your dog will gain the greatest when mental stimulation is coupled with physical activity. Physical Exercise After all, has been said and done, you must utilize your Doodle. Because they can burn off their energy together, Labradoodles are an excellent choice for families with little children. To be calmer and healthier, Labradoodles require at least an hour of vigorous activity. How much exercise does your Labradoodle need at every age Labradoodles are high-energy dogs who need to be exercised and played with on a regular basis as puppies. Experts advise that you exercise for 5 minutes per month of age, up to two times each day. Golden doodles are a very popular new breed due to their coat not shedding. However, they come from Labradors who are some of the most energetic and rambunctious puppies around. If properly socialized as a puppy through puppy socialization classes, they usually learn that certain behaviors mouthing, biting, etc are unwanted and stop engaging in them. But because Hank has not participated in puppy socialization classes, he was more ornery than the norm. As you can see from the way Hank greeted me when I arrived for the session, he is sorely in need of more exercise. An average puppy needs 45 minutes of good exercise a day. But higher energy dogs can need much more. It only took a few minutes to understand that Hank and his guardians would benefit from some additional exercise activities. I have found a great way to burn excess energy is through the fetch; something most Labs will do until they drop. The fetch taps into their pursuit mode and they end up releasing a lot of energy with that adrenaline release. I suggested that they practice the fetch before taking Hank for a jog or walk waiting a few minutes after for the dog to recover as well as any time that the dog starts to get ornery. I also suggested that they chart the number of fetches along with the result on the dog and its behavior. Before we started with the fetching regimen, she went through a few couches, remote controls, dog beds, etc. But once I found that if I fetch her 41 times each day Takes about 13 minutes , her energy and behavior are fine, i made that a part of our daily routine. Im guessing for Hank, it will be a few fetching sessions each day. The morning one should be the longest and then the guardians can supplement it with shorter minute fetch sessions after that on a as-needed basis. By charting the number of fetches and resulting behavior for a week or so, they will be able to determine exactly how much exercise Hank needs to deplete his excess energy. Once inside Hank was still hyped up and unruly so I pulled out a leash and used it to give him a doggy time out to disagree with his over excited behavior. While the leash settled down Hank quite a bit, you can see that he is still breathing pretty heavily, something his guardian said was the norm. One of my favorite activities to showing a client how to claim the door from their dog. This over excited, barking and jumping behavior is usually developed when the humans in the home give the dog attention and affection as soon as they get home or on demand. But when we pet a dog or give it attention when its in an excited or unbalanced state, we are actually reinforcing that behavior. By petting the dog upon arrival, the humans were inadvertantly training the dog to jump up or get excited as a way of asking for attention. I suggested that they refrain from giving the dog attention or affection unless he is in a calm frame of mind. If they do this consistently, he will learn he needs to settle down and remain calm in order to get attention from the humans. In reviewing myself in the door answering footage, I identified a few mistakes I made. The primary error was not stopping and waiting for the dog to stop, sit or calm down more before I moved backward towards the door. If a dog is moving forward and we back up, we are inviting the dog to come forward. For this reason, its important that the dog is in a calm and stationary position before we back away to the door. Usually this exercise only needs to be practiced times before a dog adopts a new behavior and sits calmly past the boundary near the door. I was frustrated by how the door claiming exercise had gone as this was the first time I had not been able to achieve the end result I wanted. I showed the guardian how to black Hank from exiting the kennel until he was completely calm, then coached her through the technique until she got the same result. Practicing this kennel release exercise will go a long way towards the dog developing the ability to control himself for longer periods of time. Dogs are reactive creatures who literally leap before they consider all the options. I have had great success in adding in structure to activities the dog is very excited about like going for walks, feeding time, fetch, etc. By stopping and waiting for the dog to return to a completely calm state before starting the walk, getting permission to eat or throwing the ball again — we can help the dog learn that he needs to be calm in order to continue. After going outside to practice some of the fetch, I showed the guardian how to make a simple exercise out of going in or out of the door to the back yard. While asking the dog to wait and calm down seems like a minor deal, when its done in actions and activities the dog engages in often, the cumulative results have a major impact on the dog. These are the little things we can do that help the dog learn the behavior we expect from it. By the end of the session, Hank was calmer and showing more respect for his guardian, but there is still a ways to go. If they increase his daily exercise and go to the fetch when the dog gets into trouble or gets over excited, they should notice an immediate improvement in the quality of life. Its going to take a few days of trying different amounts of fetching to come up with the right cocktail. Dislike of being restrained or crated Ongoing, unexplained gastrointestinal issues Fidgeting and constant movement pacing, circling Poor retention of training commands and skills These symptoms can occur along a spectrum from mild to severe. Untreated canine hyperkinesis typically does not resolve on its own and tends to worsen over time. Causes of Labradoodle Hyperactivity Canine researchers have found a range of potential causes or triggers that may lead to Labradoodle hyperactivity. Here are the most commonly cited causes: Dog breed Too early separation from mom and littermates Too early neutering or spaying Lack of socialization with other dogs early in life Neglect, abuse, or trauma early in life Inadequate daily activity, exercise, and play Poorly trained or untrained Underlying nutritional deficiency often due to poor diet Structure and consistency missing in daily life Another underlying health condition such as endocrine, neurological, or metabolic Exposure to environmental toxins lead-based paint, pesticides, etc. Diagnosing Labradoodle Hyperactivity The list of causes and triggers above shows you what the process is like to diagnose a Labradoodle with a suspected case of canine hyperactivity. Because true canine ADHD is so rare, veterinarians often start the diagnostic process by ruling out other, more likely causes for the hyperactive behaviors. If other treatments do not succeed, the next step is to evaluate the Labradoodle for canine hyperkinesis. This is a multi-stage process, involving physical, behavioral, psychological, and medical tests. You will need to bring your Labradoodle to a qualified canine behavioral veterinarian for evaluation and testing. The actual testing process typically takes two to three hours. If the medication eases the hyperactivity, further testing may be warranted. You will also be asked to complete a questionnaire during the testing period. This questionnaire will help you identify other potential factors contributing to the hyperactive behavior. So much so that dogs are now often used in animal model research to develop better treatments for childhood ADHD. Another similarity is that dogs with true canine hyperkinesis respond equally well to administration of amphetamines stimulant medication. It may seem counterintuitive to give an overly excitable Labradoodle a stimulant medication. Giving a truly hyperkinetic dog a stimulant medication will calm the hyperactivity and help the dog focus. This is also why stimulant-based diagnostic testing is the gold standard for identifying dogs that are suffering from true canine hyperkinesis. They will then look at other potential causes, both medically and environmentally. Is Your Labradoodle Truly Hyperactive? But, the current research has yielded valuable information. Researchers have identified certain mutations in the DRD4 gene that consistently appear in dogs with true canine hyperkinesis. In other words, a Labradoodle that inherits the DRD4 genetic variant may or may not develop true canine hyperkinesis. The risk increases if adverse health, psychological, or environmental conditions are also present. Other Reasons for Labradoodle Hyperactive Behaviors Is true canine hyperkinesis the only reason a Labradoodle might show hyperactive behaviors? This is a great question. In fact, your Labradoodle is much more likely to display hyperactive behavior for reasons that have nothing to do with canine ADHD. Mismatch Between Owner and Labradoodle Energy Levels Labradoodles are a hybrid or crossbred dog breed that take their genetic influence from two high-energy working dog breeds. Both of these purebred dogs are known for being intelligent, active, tireless dogs. Sometimes, all the Labradoodle really needs is more play time, socialization with other dogs and people, or training and activity that will tire them out. Early Neglect, Trauma, Abuse, or Lack of Socialization Just like human children, young dogs need a stable, social, and enriching daily environment. If a puppy experiences chaos, trauma, isolation, or early separation from the mother and littermates, hyperactivity in adulthood is one possible outcome. Here, it will take time, and often assistance from a professional K-9 trainer, to help your Labradoodle heal from old traumas and gain the life skills and confidence needed to remain calm. Normal Labradoodle Energy Needs Both parent breeds of the Labradoodle mix have long histories as energetic working dogs. Even today you can find them working alongside humans in energetic roles. A mix between them will be just as energetic. Labradoodles grow to be large breed dogs and need active exercise and play time every single day. They will enjoy swimming, hiking, running after a ball, and more. This breed will not suit families that lead overly sedentary lifestyles. Labradoodles need time with their owners every day dedicated to physical exercise and mental stimulation. You can combine these in some areas, with doggy sports like canine agility, obedience, rally, and more. Are Labradoodles Hyperactive? Most Labradoodles are active dogs, but they are not hyperactive. With the right amount of exercise and companionship, they can live as calm and happy pets. Hyperactivity or AHDH in dogs is a condition that is rare. Are you navigating the troubled waters of Labradoodle hyperactivity? Or has the Labradoodle breed simply been more energetic than you first expected? We would love to hear your stories in the comments! References and Resources Hoppe et al, .Horwitz, .Ciribassi, .Coren, .Lohi, .Luescher, .Post navigation. Labradoodles, are one of the most popular crossbreeds in America. All young puppies experience a period of hyperactivity. Labradoodles should calm down by around three years old. Table of Contents What age do Labradoodles calm down? Most Labradoodles reach adolescence at months old and grow to their full adult size by 12 months of age, although they can take as long as 18 months to develop fully. They take a little longer to mature mentally, and may not be emotionally mature until 3 years old. At that point they are a lot better at regulating their energy levels. That said, Doodles should remain relatively high-energy dogs as adults, well into their old age. However, being too hyper can cause problems. Signs of hyperactivity in Labradoodles Signs of hyperactivity in Doodles include fidgety movements, a short attention span, impulsiveness, attention-seeking behaviors, unprovoked snapping, aggression, and not being able to socialize well with other dogs. Why is my Labradoodles so hyper? Labradoodles are naturally high-energy, playful dogs. They are part Labrador Retriever, a very energetic breed, and part Poodle, one of the most intelligent breeds on the planet. The more intelligent a dog is, the more mental stimulation they tend to need to avoid getting bored. So, naturally, Labradoodles need a lot of exercise and play. This can result in pent-up energy and hyperactivity. It can also lead to anxious and destructive behaviors, such as pacing, panting, excessive barking, and destroying personal and household items. How much exercise does a Labradoodle need? A healthy adult Labradoodle needs around an hour of exercise every day, preferably split into two walks. Doodles enjoy walking, running, hiking, and swimming, so try to vary the location and do different activities on your walks to keep them stimulated. Labradoodle pups need to build up their exercise routine, with 5 minutes of exercise per month of their life twice a day. What do Labradoodles like to play? Dogs love playing games that exercise their natural instincts. Historically, Labradors and Poodles were both bred to hunt, and primarily in water. So, Labradoodles love games like fetch and chase, and anything involving water. Paddling pools are a good idea! Some other popular games for bright dogs include hide and seek, treasure hunt, and the cup game. To play hide and seek, ask your Labradoodle to sit and stay while you hide somewhere in your home. Then, call them to come and find you. To play the cup game, place two empty cups face down on the floor in front of your Doodle, and put a treat underneath one of them. Switch the cups around and ask your dog to find them. Toys that stimulate the senses are great, too, especially for younger Doodles. The importance of socialization Socialization is very important for dogs of all kinds, but especially super-social breeds like Labradoodles. Not only is it essential for their well-being, but it is also very stimulating and will burn up a lot of their daily energy. Try to involve your dog in your family life as much as possible, and interact with lots of friendly people and dogs on walks. This will also prevent aggressive behavior and snapping during periods of hyperactivity. Ideally your breeder will have already started some socialization and exposure with the puppy such as to different sounds and surfaces before you bring him or her home. Training a hyper Labradoodle Hyperactivity can make training a dog difficult, but not impossible. The key is to harness their energy and playfulness, rather than try to suppress it or punish them for it. Start training your Labradoodle as early on in their life as possible and try to keep your training sessions concise, consistent, regular, and fun to avoid stubbornness. How to calm down a Labradoodle? If your dog behaves badly, ignoring them by crossing your arms and turning away from them is the best response. Once they calm down, you should reward them for their calm behavior, so that they understand that this is what you want. They use naturally soothing ingredients like CBD and lavender to bring down stress levels and relax the body and mind. There are also calming collars and beds that emit calming scents and provide a sense of security. Do Labradoodles make good family dogs? Their high-energy, playful nature makes them ideal for large families, active families, and families that love to have fun and explore. However, because of their training and exercise needs, they are not ideal dogs for first-time dog owners. Is separation anxiety common in Labradoodles? Separation anxiety is fairly common in Labradoodles, especially those that are also experiencing hyperactivity. This is because the most common cause of hyperactivity in dogs also causes separation anxiety. You can do this by leaving your Doodle alone for short periods of time, and gradually building up the time that you are apart. This will create trust and understanding with your dog that you will always come back. This lets them know that there is something to look forward to the next time you leave. You can also relieve some anticipatory anxiety by doing some of the things you commonly do before leaving the house, such as grabbing your keys or turning off the TV, and then not leaving to remove the association. If your dog is destructive at first, try putting them in a crate or confining them to a safe area of the home with a dog gate. Can Labradoodles be low-energy? Labradoodles are generally high-energy dogs. Several health conditions can cause low energy in dogs, including infections, diseases, allergies, and hormonal disorders. As long as you can meet their needs, the lovely Labradoodle makes a wonderful companion and a great family pet! Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way. She is known for her clear, step-by-step training that lets beginners and advanced dog trainers see lasting results very quickly.

Final Thoughts German Shepherds can be of different colors — tan, red, sable, liver, black, white, gray, or a mix of them. This article is devoted to one more very interesting and rare variety of this breed — a blue German Shepherd dog. You will learn about the origins of this color in dogs caused by genetics, their appearance and behavior, popular myth and misconceptions related to them, and the possible differences of these animals from other Shepherd dogs. If you are interested in getting a loyal friend of magnificently unusual color and look, this information will be very helpful for you. The dogs are not really blue. It is a diluted black color that looks quite specific. Despite many myths and wrong beliefs, there are not any sufficient differences in the overall look and behavior of such doggies. Moreover, it is not a separate breed as some people may believe. That is why the history of a blue GSD started simultaneously with the history of a German Shepherd as a breed. Sometime in the middle of the 19th century, a retired German Cavalry officer, Max von Stephanitz by name, decided to breed the most perfect canines for his sheep farms. It took him about forty years to complete the process and obtain a working dog that could deal with herding and guarding. Of course, a blue coat German Shepherd is not navy-blue or sky-blue. It looks like its immediate predecessor — a wolf — but only a bit darker. Such a color is also called diluted black. Though, the latter combination can sometimes result in this if both parents do have it. Geneticists argue that it stands for blue or diluted black. This gene can completely block black, resulting in an ultimate blue. They are medium-to-large canines with a lifespan of years. These animals look beautiful and quite aesthetic. They are not allowed for shows, though, in the USA because the American Kennel Club considers the diluted color a big fault. Apart from such an unusual color, they have a different pigmentation of noses, eye rims, and paw-pads. There are some minor variations of this shading, such as bicolor, sable , saddle, or solid blue. You can also come across dark-steel blue or light-powder blue, and other variants. These colors look magnificent, indeed. So, if you are a German Shepherd enthusiast, this dog is right for you. Not all blue Shepherds have blue eyes. Even if a puppy was born with this eye color, it may change to light brown or amber over time. The coat can be either long or medium. It is doubled with a dense protective upper layer and a soft undercoat that helps withstand weather conditions. The blue GSD can shed a lot , so it needs frequent brushing and grooming all the time. Males grow to inches or cm tall, and their weight varies between pounds or kg. Females are smaller and more gracious. They are inches or cm tall and pounds or kg heavy. The color cannot determine the size of the dog, either. A blue coat German Shepherd does not make a good apartment dog because it is too big and needs a lot of activity and exercise. However, if you can provide your pet with enough room and regular movement, you can enjoy it as your house dog. A lot of energy requires good amounts of exercise. These dogs are intelligent, brave, faithful, and protective. They are quite independent and aloof to strangers if trained properly. That said, private homes and landed properties are the best space if you consider acquiring this animal. These dogs need a lot of socializing and dedicated training. If they do not receive that, they may express aggressiveness and separation anxiety. You cannot even think about chaining them up. Their temperament does not differ much, either. They are incredibly loving and owner-pleasing. That is why you should not leave them alone for a long time. They say that the diluted genes can cause color dilution alopecia. However, this characteristic is true for Dobermans but not Shepherds. They include elbow and hip dysplasia. Dysplasia is a condition when the joints are formed in the wrong way, so they become painful over time. It may even result in lameness. This condition is a characteristic of all big dogs, not only German Shepherds, and it does not relate to their color. Like all other dogs bred from a single bloodline, Shepherds can suffer from specific genetic mutations. They include degradation of the spinal cord which is called degenerative myelopathy. It is a slowly developing and non-painful condition that becomes more obvious when the animal gets older. They are also prone to congenital heart defects, for example, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis, and aortic stenosis. Receiving health certificates from the breeder , including X-ray test certificates, will spare you from the need to spend a lot of money on veterinary care. It is highly appreciated by dog lovers for its stunning color, though breeders are not interested in raising these dogs because such animals cannot participate in shows and competitions. All these factors cause higher prices of such animals. The champion pedigree dogs will cost much more. Those Shepherds who have the show line or protection traits may even cost more. Such dogs do not look intimidating or scary. It goes without saying that their unusual color does not add much to their overall look as an aggressive and dangerous beast. True enthusiasts of this color know well that such animals look very attractive, and their magnificent wolf-like look adds a lot to the overall appreciation and love. Blue Shepherds are not useless just because they are not allowed for shows in America. They can still participate in IPO, nose work, and agility events. Moreover, they can be effective family protectors and companions because they are very loyal and intelligent. This is not a separate breed but just a color variation of a German Shepherd caused by a specific gene combination. The gene affects eumelanin the dark pigment , so no signs of black can be preserved. The diluting gene does not influence the temperament of such dogs. They are not more aggressive or disobedient than any other color of German Shepherds if raised and trained properly. The color of the coat caused by this specific gene combination does not influence health. A blue German Shepherd dog can suffer from the same health issues as other Shepherds of different colors, but there are no additional gene-related health issues. No, it is not. This is just a variation of a GSD caused by a specific combination of genes. The black color is diluted, resulting in a blue-and-gray tint. All the other characteristic features of the breed are the same as for all the rest colors of German Shepherds. Is a blue GSD a rare dog? Yes, it is. Moreover, most breeders are not interested in raising blue-coated dogs because they are not allowed for shows. What color variations can a blue German Shepherd dog have? However, they can have such pattern variations as solid blue, blue and tan, blue bicolor with minor tan spots , and blue sable. Are blue Shepherds purebred? Yes, they are pedigree dogs, but not a mixed breed. They appear in purebred litters among other puppies due to the gene combination but they are as genetically pure as all others. A recessive gene that causes this unusual color has been already recognized by the American Kennel Club as pure, though they are still forbidden or disqualified from shows and appearance competitions. Are there any specific health issues in blue Shepherds? The blue color of the coat does not result in any specific health issues. These dogs are as healthy, strong, and energetic as their counterparts of another color. They may be prone to the same hip and elbow dysplasia and heart and joint problems as other dogs if bred or cared for improperly. Final Thoughts When you want to acquire a blue GSD, you should understand the overall needs and requirements of German Shepherds but not only of those whose coat is blue. You should know how to manage, take care of , and control it. Consider whether you have enough time and patience for everyday reinforcement, training, and exercise. These dogs need a lot of living space because they are full of energy. Keeping them in a small apartment is not the best idea. You should also keep in mind that a blue coat German Shepherd is a heavy shedder, so it has quite specific grooming requirements. Remember that adopting such an animal is not just a fashion statement but a serious responsibility. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. This recessive gene dilutes any black pigment on the dog including coat color, nose leather, foot pads, toe nails, lips, etc. It also affects their eye color. Blue pups have a beautiful light gray coat as babies, as they age however is usually darkens up quite a bit, the ones that darken up are called "steel" blues. To the untrained eye, they can be mistaken for regular blacks. There is also "Powder" blues, they tend to lighten up in color and always stay a very noticeable gray color. Powder blues are not seen very often. A blue pup with sable markings We have a couple blues and a few dogs who carry the blue gene. We choose these dogs first and foremost because their temperament, structure and health aligns with the goals of our breeding program. A beautiful unique color is just icing on the cake of an already exceptional dog. Our non-traditional color lines have some of the highest hip ratings in the US! We have produced non-traditional colored GSDs that compete in obedience, agility, nose work, etc. I personally love the non-traditional colored German Shepherds. These colors are been in the breed since the beginning and our foundation girl Rose just happened to be a blue! Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. It's true - there are German Shepherds that are blue. In fact, German Shepherd Dogs come in various colors and also in a lot of different color patterns too. Others say that the blue colour is simply a gene mutation, and as such the blue German Shepherds should never be bred from, and overtime the gene should be bread out of the species completely. The blue German Shepherd, technically, a diluted Black Shepherd with 2 recessive genes. The Dd dilution gene affects coat colour in the main, but can also change the colour of eyes and noses. All coat colours and patterns are controlled by a set or group of genes that work together. In standard German Shepherds you will see descriptions and breakdowns that speak of the A genes, which control the black and red colouring in the dog through the release of melanin, and this affects the generic base colour and variations. However, the colouring of the blue German Shepherd is controlled by a different gene, the D gene spoken of earlier. All genes come in pairs, and it takes the presence of the big D and little d pair to produce the blue German Shepherd. The big D produces full strength coat colour and is the dominant gene, and the little d produces a dilute colour, which is the recessive gene. For the Blue Shepherd to be created he needs two copies of the diluted recessive gene, one from each parent, in order to have the diluted blue fur. If both parents have blue fur color their offspring will have it also however it is also possible for the color to appear in regular black and tan German Shepherd Dogs if both parents have the recessive genes. In addition to the above, the Blue German Shepherd takes three variations in blue colour, they come in blue and black, blue and sable and blue and tan, and again it is all dependent on the mix of different genes. Additionally, the blue German Shepherd can also be a variety of lighter and darker blues. Steel blue is the darker shade, and powder blue is the lighter of the two. It can be difficult to identify a steel blue on his own, but when you stand him next to a black German Shepherd, you can easily tell the difference in colour. How do they look? If you've never seen one of these dogs just imagine that everywhere there is black on the GSD normally, that you now see kind of a dusty grey colour. In some cases the blue might look kind of dusty, like someone spilled flour on the dog's coat but then in other cases it might be more of a darker gunmetal colour. Although it is rare and frowned upon by the AKC don't let the blue colour scare you away. A healthy blue German Shepherd is a very handsome animal and has all the same loyal and intelligent traits as regular colored German Shepherds. Many owners who have an unfavourably coloured German Shepherd have suggested that their pups face colour discrimination in events even in competitions where color should not be judged. The males will weigh between 65 and 90 pounds, and they will measure 24 to 26 inches in height from paw to shoulder, also known as the withers. The females will weigh between 50 and 70 pounds and will measure 22 to 24 inches at the withers. Additionally, it is common for the blue German Shepherd to have lighter coloured eyes, such as light blue, golden brown or yellow compared to the darker eyes of normal colored German Shepherds. Again, this is controlled by the recessive genes explained above. Because of their appearance, the blue German Shepherd is often mistaken for a blue Malinois, or with yellow eyes can often look similar to a dark grey wolf. They are super affectionate with their immediate family and enjoy a cuddle on the sofa and lounging around home. The blue German Shepherd is known for their confident and courageous personality. If properly trained and socialized their natural guarding tendencies work great in a home environment. Blue German Shepherds can also be aloof with strangers, or outsiders of the pack if improperly socialized but if raised correctly they are lovely, loyal dogs. The blue German Shepherd, like any other German Shepherd, is a medium energy dog and requires up to 60 minutes of exercise a day. High intensity exercise that tests their mental abilities as well as their physical are their favorite. Your dog would also require mental stimulation throughout the day, such as playing interactive games with his you, patrolling the yard, or taking part in training sessions. Because of their guarding tendencies early socialization is key to a happy hound and household! They are working dogs, and they like to pull if they are not trained properly. We also recommend crate training from a young age. Unlike other breeds, such as the French Bulldog, the colour blue is not indicative of health issues or problematic personality traits. The diluted gene is often linked to health issues in other breeds, such as Colour Dilution Alopecia in Weimaraner, but the blue German Shepherd is not known to suffer any diluted colour related health issues. Simply put, the blue German Shepherd is simply a colour variation, and their health is exactly the same as a traditional coloured German Shepherd. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia is an abnormal formation in the elbow and hip joints which is prevalent in larger breeds of dogs. Over time this formation can cause pain in their joints and can often lead to crippling arthritis in older dogs. Because German Shepherds are susceptible to bloat, it is advised to spread food across several sittings during the day. The exact amount of food will vary on the size of your dog and their activity levels throughout the day. Grooming The blue GSD often has a medium length outercoat with a dense undercoat. Due to the thick undercoat, they are heavy shedders. To keep their coat nice throughout the year you will need to brush them 2 or 3 times a week. During shedding season you will need to brush them every day. You should wash your GSD every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat clean and help with shedding. Specialist dog shampoos and shedding products help make managing the coat easier. It is possible for blue German Shepherds to have a long coat but it is very rare. Because their colour is more on the rare side, you may end up paying a slightly higher premium for this colour of the breed. These dogs are rarer than their tan and black saddle siblings i. This can make it difficult to find one to buy. German Shepherds are larger dogs, and can have large litter sizes. With an average of eight puppies in a litter; a blue German Shepherd puppy may show up unexpectantly. If you would prefer to adopt, the German Shepherd Club of America has a list of available rescues and rescue centres all over the country. Adopting A Blue German Shepherd On the other hand, if you are considering rescuing a German Shepherd, then the American German Shepherd Rescue Association has listed rescue centres dedicated to this breed and you may find some blues that need a home. Finishing Up Blue German Shepherds make great family pets. They are fun, intelligent, trainable, affectionate, loyal and protective. If they are socialized from a young age, they are great with children and other pets and will be a lovely member of the family for years. Naturally, all dogs have their own quirks that make them unique, just like all humans, and a blue GSD will be no different. Generally, however, German Shepherds are intelligent and fun to be around and love to spend hours playing in the garden with their family. If you do adopt one of these beautiful pups then it might be wise to let your neighbours know so that they think you have a stray wolf in your yard! For more information about the blue German shepherds, you can consult different social networks of groups responsible for the upbringing and care of the GSD, like the American Blue Bay Shepherd Association. Sign up for promotions, news, discounts, and the chance to win prizes for you and your German Shepherd E-mail Address. Blue German Shepherds are not sky-blue or even navy blue. They are just diluted black German Shepherds with entirely inactive D genes. When this gene is active, it introduces full black color. Geneticists express an active gene with a capital letter and an inactive one with lower case. However, genes exist in pairs, and even a single D in the pair introduces the dominant all-black color. Here are the gene pairs a dark GSD can have. DD — Full black coat. In other words, if we treat blue GSDs as a breed, we must look specifically at all-black German Shepherds , which are often working lines. Technically all GSDs should have been working line dogs. Working line dogs can be born blue, making them look quite important. And they are acquired with the same motivation as a show line dog: to have a dog that the owner finds visually aesthetic. However, one can make the case that blue GSDs are bought with even purer intentions. Watch This NOW! This means such a dog is bought out of pure love and a genuine, deeply personal appreciation of his looks. They can, however, participate in other events such as agility, scent work, and IPO. Blue German Shepherds are even more popular amongst enthusiasts because of their seemingly magical fur with a bluish-grey tinge, making them a sight to behold. Although they are working line dogs in every other aspect, their stunning coloration sets them apart and is the primary reason behind their popularity. But ultimately, they are liked for their exceptional temperament, obedience, and intelligence when trained right. The average GSD and the blue German Shepherd do not exhibit any stark differences except their coat color. They are the same breed with the same characteristics. The most common coat colors for average German Shepherds are black and tan, but black and cream, black and red, black and silver, and bi-color combinations are also present. Blue German Shepherds Are Rare Although the blue German Shepherd carries the same characteristics and temperament as the standard German Shepherd, they are much rarer because of the odds of two recessive dd genes pairing up. Both parents must be carriers of the recessive gene for a blue GSD puppy to be born. Moreover, because blue is not allowed in the show ring and is still considered a fault, even though the AKC has recently recognized this coloration, most breeders do not intentionally breed this color. Although the blue coat appears like a washed-out black or shade of grey, it can have different variations, including solid blue, saddle, bicolor, or sable. Light powder blue or dark steel blue are some other color variations. The color does not seem intimidating or scary but rather quite magnificent. The coat color of a German Shepherd Dog is a variation determined by genetics. There are two types of genes in action; the first indicates the color of the fur, and the other decides the presence or absence of markings and their distribution on the dog. The inheritance of the double recessive gene creates a blue German Shepherd, which also contains a dilution gene working as a modifier at its center. This dilution gene affects eumelanin the very dark pigment in black coats , and thus the blue color can have four pattern variations; Solid blue, blue bicolor with minute tan points , blue and tan, and blue sable. Common misconceptions about this breed include that they can come in a blue and black pattern, which is impossible genetically. The dilution genes that cause blue coloration will affect all-black coloring, not just certain areas. Some blue German Shepherds have blue eyes , but not all of them. Even if a puppy is born with blue eyes, the trait may or may not be permanent. Since the dog possesses a recessive gene that decides his eye color, he may grow to have the usual dark eyes. Many will have light or amber eyes. They have a medium or a long double coat with a dense guard layer and a softer undercoat to keep them warm. They have a dome-shaped head with a long, square muzzle and erect ears with solid necks. Many of their characteristics are often said to resemble their wolf ancestors. A standard-sized male blue German Shepherd grows 24 to 26 inches or 60 to 66 cm tall and weighs around 65 to 90 lbs or 29 to 40 kg. Females grow to be 22 to 24 inches or 55 to 60 cm tall and weigh about 50 to 70 lbs or 22 to 31 kg. Since color is not a factor in determining the size of a German Shepherd, you can expect all breeds to be around this size. German Shepherds are medium to large dogs and hardly ever make good apartment pets as they require considerable space. Blue German Shepherds Are Expensive Although breeders should charge different prices for different colors, they charge higher for blue German Shepherds because of their rarity and unusually striking color. Since tan and black are more common and celebrated in German Shepherds, most breeders opt for this popular variation instead of breeding for the unique blue color. The rarity of this variation adds to its price. One of these is whether they are pedigree or mixed breed. Blue German Shepherds are purebred. They can appear in a litter of purebred pups and are as genetically pure as the others. They are identical to other GSDs except for their blue coats caused by a recessive gene and are recognized by the American Kennel Club but disqualified from the show ring. Still, some breed purists believe they should never be bred because their blue color is merely a gene mutation. Others believe that despite their unusual color, they should still be allowed to enter the show ring. Since their blue color is only a variation of coat color, it does not indicate the inclusion of any other breeds in the line. Although some intentional breeders may be available, they would be pretty rare. The only way to guarantee a blue GSD is to mate two blue parents with two recessive dd genes. Solid black dogs possess DD or Dd genes , which are not suitable for breeding blue puppies. Send a quick sample and determine if your pup is mixed or if his color is a purebred genetic rarity. Some people assume that if a dog has two recessive gene units, he might have undergone severe inbreeding. Some suspect the blue GSD has specific genetic defects, which is untrue. The color holds just one meaning; that the gene that caused it was recessive. This variation possesses characteristics and traits similar to other types of German Shepherds. In all observable settings: blue German Shepherds are no different from standard black GSDs in anything but color. And all black GSDs are no different in temperament from any other type. Among the myths about blue GSDs is that they get angry quite quickly. However, they do not have anger issues and are incredibly loving dogs. However, they have strong, possessive traits, and their owner-pleasing quality can make them anxious and even destructive if left alone for long periods. But these, again, are working-line GSD traits, albeit under biased scrutiny. Since they were the guardian of their flock in their herding days, their possessive nature is not uncalled for. Although this can be an undesirable quality sometimes, you can manage it with socialization and positive reinforcement from a young age. Blue GSDs are very family-oriented dogs and make excellent pets. They are known for being alert and watchful and consider protection their duty. They are also highly trainable and loyal, making them the perfect family dog, good watchdogs, and working dogs. They tend to be aloof with strangers, but you can rectify that with extensive socialization and proper training. They also have separation anxiety , but there are many preventive steps that you can take to ensure their well-being when left alone. Remember, blue German Shepherds are medium to high-energy dogs like other variations of German Shepherds and require at least 90 minutes of exercise a day filled with highly interactive games or high-intensity activities. They also need mental stimulation during the day because of their high intelligence. No substantial evidence indicates any health issues or problematic personality traits that come with this coloration. Although the diluted genes can cause color dilution alopecia in Dobermans and some other breeds, blue German Shepherds do not suffer from this issue. Therefore, their color is a mere overall variation as their health and temperament match other GSD variations. Although it may indicate certain traits in the health of other breeds, it is not the case with blue GSDs. Even though considered a healthy breed, they suffer from specific health problems like all German Shepherds. Elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia are the most common health concerns. Dysplasia is a disease of a malformation of the joints seen in many large dogs and causes joints to become painful and worsen over time, resulting in lameness. Since blue GSDs are bred from a single bloodline, they face other genetic mutations. These concerns include degenerative myelopathy, a slow non-painful degradation of the spinal cord, and congenital heart defects such as aortic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis, and patent ductus arteriosus. Even mini-German Shepherds exhibit the same energy level and need as much activity as a standard GSD. Blue GSDs may live in apartments if you provide them with the required stimulation and space to explore. Still, landed properties and homes with more space are better options. Dedicated training and socializing are unavoidable for these dogs as they are prone to separation anxiety and aggressiveness if chained up. They are significant responsibilities, and you should only take them in if you can be assertive and naturally like large dogs. The rarest color of a German Shepherd is Isabella. They are also known as lilac German Shepherds. Their color is due to the recessive combination of blue and liver from their parents. The liver gene prevents all black pigment giving the dog a diluted coat color. Isabellas typically have hazel or light blue eyes. Can a full-blooded German Shepherd have blue eyes? Full-blooded German Shepherds can have blue eyes, but it is extremely rare. The blue eye color is due to a recessive gene that needs to be inherited from both parents, and it is considered a genetic mutation. While many dog owners find the trait attractive, most breeders consider it a fault. Can you show a blue German Shepherd? A blue German Shepherd cannot participate in conformation shows, as they do not adhere to the German Shepherd breed standard of the AKC. However, blue German Shepherds can still compete in other types of dog shows, such as obedience and agility competitions. You must be able to handle and control them, possess the patience for consistent training and reinforcement, have free time for daily exercise, and own an ample enough living space. Although blue German Shepherds are extremely intelligent, loyal, magnificent-looking, devoted, and protective dogs, they are heavy shedders with extensive training and care requirements. Therefore, you should not take them in for merely aesthetic purposes as they are not just a fashion statement and come with significant responsibilities. Related Posts You May Like:.

The American Boxer Club was established in .However, pet stores will often sell lower-quality puppies for less than this. We breed for health, temperament, intelligence, agility, conformation, color and well socialized pups. Boxers for Sale in Dothan, AL. Ckc boxer puppies for Sale in Cullman, Alabama Classified. Boxer Puppies for Sale in Alabama 1. Great Dane Puppies! He is a handsome guy who has a short red coat with white markings and black around his nose. Boxer puppies in Tuscaloosa, AL. Boxer For Sale in Montgomery .Boxer puppies for sale in Alabama from trusted breeders. The puppies will have their vaccines and dewormings. Boxer puppies for sale can live to be years old, so an owner needs to be prepared to care for a pup for its lifetime. Boxer puppies for sale in Huntsville, AL from trusted breeders. Boxer puppies for sale in Birmingham AL The Boxer dog breed slowly gained popularity throughout Europe in the late s. Pet Classifieds AL Alabama. If you are unable to find your Boxer puppy in our Puppy for Sale or Dog for Sale sections, please consider looking thru thousands of Boxer Dogs for Adoption. Tails docked and dew claws removed. The right Boxer is worth waiting for. Find your Boxer puppy for sale in Alabama. Four female boxer puppies - fawn - AKC registered - seven wks old. Flip through the pages and enjoy your stay at Best Boxers Kennel. Boxer Puppies for sale in AlabamaSelect a Breed. We raise high quality , Prices may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy for sale in Mobile, AL. Boxer puppies in Huntsville, AL. Boxer Puppies for sale .We have been breeding Boxers for 31 years. You can expect that boxer breeders in Alabama are more professional because. Look at pictures of Boxer puppies in Alabama who need a home. We are located in Alabama and have been raising our boxers for almost eight years now, in which, we are starting to sell our puppies from our three AKC registered females. This breeder is located in Cullman, Alabama, and delivers puppies to different parts of the state. AKC Boxer Puppies. Orla is 4 years old, high energy, snuggle loving girl who just happens to not get along with her sister. Boxer puppies for sale in Birmingham, AL from trusted breeders. Boxer For Sale in Alabama .His unusual looks make him a standout. She deserves the absolute best home full of love and exercise and care. They have actually had there shots and been wormed. Why buy a Boxer puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Call us any time at See our available puppies!! Both long tailed and natural bobtail. Ready to go very soon! Boxer Puppies for sale in Alabama Select a Breed. We take pride in providing our buyers with the best Boxer puppies to add to their family. Boxer puppies for sale Near Mobile, AL Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. Mother is akc brindle fighter and father is ckc white boxer. We are not a puppy mill nor are there kennels in the back yard. Vet checked, dewormed , ready with first. We are raising high quality, healthy AKC boxer puppies for family dogs, companions, Search Location: Raleigh, NC change. Our beautiful puppies have great personalities, conformation and colors. Boxer Breeders in Alabama! Prices may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy for sale in Huntsville, AL. It would be wise to go with a breeder if you want to get the best possible dog because the parents will have the highest standards of temperament and health. If you are unable to find your. As she gets older I'll be able t… more. Prices may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy for sale in Tuscaloosa, AL. We take our responsibilities very seriously and strive to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all our pets. We raise high quality , healthy AKC boxer puppies for companions, family dogs and watch dogs. Boxers for Sale in Huntsville, AL. Boxer puppies in Birmingham, AL. AKC boxer puppies available to pet and show homes. The typical life expectancy for Boxer puppies in Mobile, AL is 10 to 12 years. Boxer puppies for sale in Birmingham AL. Boxer Breeders in Alabama with Puppies for Sale. Boxer puppies for sale in Tuscaloosa, AL from trusted. The last image is of the female dark brindle. Boxer puppies for sale in Alabama with Price. If you have any questions feel free to. Boxer puppies in Montgomery, AL. Beautiful AKC Boxer puppies for sale! We offer beautiful European Boxer puppies from health-tested parents. We have Boxer Pups. Boxer, Alabama » Montgomery. If you are unable to find your Boxer puppy. Puppies are currently 4 weeks old and will be ready for forever homes on April 23rd. To see the older available pup. Find Boxer puppies for sale Near Alabama Despite their light and fun-loving nature, the Boxer is a hardworking, versatile, and vigilant breed that is incredibly loyal to their family. This female will either he sealed brindle or a heavy reverse brindle. Boxers for Sale in Anniston, AL. Boxer puppies for sale in Mobile, AL from trusted breeders. Anything LookWeird? For the best experience, we recommend you upgrade to the latest version of Chrome or Safari. Find your Boxer puppy for sale in Alabama Puppies. Petland Montgomery has Boxer puppies for sale! Interested in finding out more about the Boxer? Check out our breed information page! Boxer Breeders in Alabama AL. We recommend speaking directly with your breeder to get a better idea of their price range. Boxer puppy for sale in Alabama. Boxer Puppies For Sale in Alabama. He is a handsome guy who has a. We have beautiful puppies of good colors, conformation and personalities. Boxer puppies for sale in Birmingham, AL from trusted. They are health active and up to date on their shots. Boxer puppies for sale in Gadsden, Alabama. Boxer puppies for sale in Tuscaloosa, AL from trusted breeders. What is the average size range of Boxer puppies in Mobile, AL? The expected weight range for. Parents on premises,Dew claws and tails docked. Boxer puppies in Mobile, AL. Our website is shaversboxerpuppies. Save this search and we'll notify you when they are. Boxer Puppies for Sale in Alabama. They are well-rounded with excellent temperaments! For this reason, we included these online Boxer breeders for you to check as well. Thus, you can also check a Boxer breeder here. The great thing is that it has an online marketplace to search for a Boxer puppy from any of the states. Since they cover all kinds of breeds, you may find an available puppy through this website. Another thing to note is that you also need to prepare for other costs. In short, aside from the actual cost of the puppy from a breeder, you still need to spend money on other items. Like a new baby in the family, your pup needs some items and some changes. A new puppy at home is a concern for all the family members. Thus, they need to prepare for it as well. As you have your meeting, try to make a schedule of tasks and distribution of responsibilities. Prepare your home. Preparing a home for your Boxer puppy means making it a safe place to play and live. Thus, you need to secure every item that can potentially harm your pet. Moreover, you need to secure your items that your pet can damage, such as shoes, carpets, floor mats, and so on. Shop for supplies. Like all other puppies and babies, Boxer pups needs items for its daily life. The essential things it needs would be beddings, food, and food bowls. You also need to buy a leash and collar for identification. Create a schedule. Besides your pet, you also have your responsibilities. Try to schedule how your pup should do for the day and when you need to pay attention. The great thing about creating a schedule is that it will benefit both you and your pet. Choosing a Good Boxer Seller and Breeder The best Boxer puppies only come from those who take an extra mile in caring for them. Below are certain qualities that you should look for in a Boxer puppy breeder. The Boxer breeder should only breed Boxer puppies. A single breed should be the first thing to remember when searching for a reputable Boxer breeder. Every breed has a mating season to which they breed. If the Boxer breeder sells quite a lot of pups but only has a pair of parents, you can think that it forces the parents to mate so they can have puppies to sell. The Boxer breeder should train pups in their first weeks. Every reputable Boxer breeder gives all the pups around eight weeks at least to stay with their parents. In such a time, the breeder should train the pups before it moves to its new home. The Boxer breeder would continuously be in touch. Other states. Exercises Grooming From ancient Germany precisely around the 19th century had the now extinct mastiff breed Bullenbeisser and bulldogs brought in from England. At the time of their arrival, they served as hunting dogs for bears, deer, and other ferocious beasts, it would capture the prey with the help of its awesome teeth and detain it until the hunter arrives. And in the first boxer standard club was launched with a comprehensive document that is still in use today. Shortly after, the breed made its way into other European countries and got into the U. S in the late 19th century with the American Kennel Club taking registration of its first boxer around .During the first world war, boxers played the role of a military dog as a pack-carrier, a guard dog, and an attack dog, later they were taken home by the soldiers and got introduced into the domestic world as a show dog, best companion, and a reliable guard. One with so much life, energetic, curious, attentive, active, smart, sociable and incredible fun with children is the boxer, they are also known to be very patient and highly protective of their family members making them the love and desire of many homes. As active dogs, they need a lot of exercise to keep them mentally fit, apparently having a mind of its own, you will find your boxer entertain itself by digging the ground often, chewing, and licking the mouth to beat boredom. They are also very stubborn in character which makes them a terrible choice for first-timers with dogs, they are generally a bit difficult with adult dogs including dogs of a similar breed but friendly with puppies. They usually do not bark unless there is a genuine reason behind it but they love to growl. If you have occupied home with people around all the time or you want a canine buddy the whole time, then a boxer is just the perfect breed to get. Being a highly active dog, they dread loneliness and they can cope finely in both a house and an apartment as long as you provide it with enough room and spaces for exercises and activities. What you must have is a large yard if you are living in a house for it to dig the ground and run around as it likes. And more so, if you are given to being away from home most of the time, getting a boxer may not be the best for you and the dog, because they usually get aggressive when left alone. Boxers are known as loud snorers and they drool greatly too. Boxers are playful and very energetic dogs as such regular exercises are part of a good canine relationship, especially a breed of this sort. Your boxer should be allowed to play in a fenced area and on-leashed since it is likely to jump and leap around in excitement. This puts a boxer as a bad choice for a frail owner as they may find it a tad impossible and daunting keeping up with its excessive activity demands. Being a breed with a short and thin coat its grooming demands are quite easy and little, all it needs is a light brushing of the hair twice every week to maintain its good and gleeful looks. Bathing should be a once in a while since boxers are generally clean dogs and its nails, be trimmed once every month or as often as they grow worn on surfaces, its teeth should also be brushed daily to avoid tartar formation and other dental crises. Our Boxer puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. Frequently Asked Questions Are Boxers good family pets? Yes, boxers are particularly fond of their family members especially when goodly trained. Are Boxers trainable? Though the boxers can be a little headstrong, they are very intelligent and with a proper training environment, they respond well. Are Boxers friendly with kids? They are very fond of children and they love playing games with them. Are Boxers friendly with other animals? Boxers are naturally patient with puppies, pooches and small animals but a bit unaccommodating of adult dogs and other animals. Are Boxers good apartment dogs? They can live anywhere you make as a home all you need is to provide it with enough space for exercise. How is Boxers shedding? Given the shortness of their coat, they shed minimally and occasionally, you can also regulate the shedding by frequent brushing of their coat. Are Boxers good for first-time owners? Not quite, as their exercise needs are way too high for their inexperienced hands. Are Boxers loud barkers? But growling is a thing they do most. Are Boxers tolerable to heat and cold? All they need is moderate exposure to heat and cold because of their thin fur body. How long can Boxers live? The average life-span of boxers is 10 years Are you interested in purchasing a Boxer? 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Pugs are vetted and some need rehab until placed in forever homes. HELP for a Pug? Support Pug Rescue Efforts! There are plenty of ways to help pug rescue efforts! In addition to our hard work and dedication to Pug rescue it does comes with a never ending financial issue we face. Some pugs can cost hundreds even thousands to vet and rehabilitate depending on each pugs circumstance. We appreciate support for our efforts in order to continue helping pugs that are in need. Online Gift Cards to help our rescue needs are appreciated and can be sent to us online via Chewy. The pug you are interested in may be in the process of adoption by the time your application is approved and may already have applications in "review and pending adoption". Adopting from a rescue can take longer due to many steps we take to ensure a successful adoption. Please NOTE: Submitting an application or a home visit does not mean you are approved to adopt the pet you have applied for. You will be notified if we feel you are a candidate for the pug you have applied for. Our Goal is to match each pugs needs in finding a forever home for every rescued pug. The pug you apply for may not be the best candidate for your lifestyle or living situation. Remember a rescued pug is coming from a home or shelter maybe even multiple times. The last thing we want is to put them into yet another rehoming situation! WE want a successful adoption and ultimately what is best for our rescued pugs therefore, It is the decision of the rescue and that pugs foster parent s to decide. Adopting from a rescue can take longer due to many steps taken to ensure a successful adoption. The internet is another great resource if you are seeking free Pug puppies. Your Pug will get a member of your loved ones and an important portion of your life. Your Pug will receive a member of your relatives and an important part of your life. Even, the English Bulldog has the capability to be good family pets. In reality, there are plenty of folks who are interested to have the English Bulldog. Puppies ought to be picked up from my residence. Therefore a three-month-old Pug puppy should go outside every 3 hours, a four-month-old should go every four hours, and so forth. Where can I find free Pug puppies near me? The internet has opened up a whole new world of information. Take some time to browse around and find out where to find free Pug puppies in your area. Many Pug owners travel quite a distance to get their puppies because they want to keep them close to home for health reasons. When you are in search of Pug puppies, you need to be willing to make some sacrifices and travel. Searching for Pug puppies can take time but it will be worth it. You will be able to interact with other people that have pugs and if you have never owned a Pug before you will get a better feel for the breed. This is something that will keep you busy for many hours and will help you make a decision on which dog to choose. To begin your local internet search, you will need to create a profile that will allow you to search by location. You can look up your results by city or state and this is what you should do when you have a location that you would like to visit. There are hundreds of breeders in the United States that will be happy to sell you a Pug puppy for sale. Once you are done, you can make an appointment to meet the breeder and check out their facility. You will then be ready to begin searching for the puppy of your dreams. You will be able to find out all of the information that you need about where to find free Pug puppies in your area. You will also be able to visit a variety of breeders so that you get to know who to trust. This can be a very helpful way to find a puppy without having to pay a lot of money. If you are looking for a pug puppy for sale you will need to know the exact year that the pug was bred. This is important because it will help you determine the exact age that the pug should be at before being put up for adoption. If you have questions you should ask the breeder. They will not mind answering your questions if you will allow them to do so. There are two different types of pug breeders. You can either buy pug puppies from puppy mills or from breeders that raise their pugs with proper care. Either way, you will be able to find great pug puppies in your area. You will have the opportunity to meet the Pug puppy that you have chosen to adopt. After the meeting, you will be able to look over the Pug pup and make sure that you are comfortable with it. You will also have the opportunity to see all of the pug pups that they are raising and this can be an excellent chance to get to know the breed. When you are looking for pug puppies you should visit a breeder and take a few pug puppies home. This will give you a better idea of how much work a pug puppy takes and you will be able to determine how much care is needed. Taking a few pug puppies home can help you decide if you want to purchase a Pug puppy from a breeder or from someone who is selling their pug puppies. When you visit a breeder, you will be able to learn a lot about pug puppies. The breeder will allow you to look at pug pups and they will show you how to care for them. It will be up to you to decide if you are going to purchase a Pug puppy from a breeder or from someone who is selling his pug puppies. You will have to make your final decision on which pug puppy to buy based on your preference, the price that you can afford, and whether or not you can travel to the location where the pug puppy will be located. Once you decide which pug puppy you want to take home with you will need to decide how much you are willing to spend on a pup. You will also have to decide if you want to purchase a puppy or if you are willing to place an ad on an online classified website. You might have heard of this and wondered if it is true. Is this a myth or is there really such a thing as free Pug puppies? And, more importantly, how much are they going to cost? Yes, free Pug puppies near me are definitely real and can be found by regular people just like you. However, the cost is not nearly as high as you think. Many organizations have dogs to give away, but they would rather pay people to adopt than take in an abandoned dog. They figure that more people will adoption of dogs and thus keep the animals in good health over time. Adopting these dogs is an important thing to do. Not only do you not have to pay the full price, but you will have all of the advantages that come along with adopting a Pug puppy, including medical treatment and sometimes even therapy. All of that being said, the cost factor does add up and is definitely worth it to give a Pug a second life. But, the cost is not the only reason to adopt. These dogs are wonderful companions. Many Pugs have been known to protect children from the elderly. In addition to the cost of the Pug puppy itself, you will have the cost of adoption fees and other expenses for the dog. Most people that adopt these dogs have done so out of love for them and a desire to help a friend or family member. These dogs are not typically the top choice of people looking to adopt. There are plenty of great dogs available that have a better temperament and are much easier to care for. There are other ways that you can help a Pug and it has nothing to do with adoption. If you live in the Washington DC area, you might want to check out the dog walking business that hosts free Pug puppy parties. These parties are held regularly and you can bring a Pug puppy with you. You can even volunteer at the party to serve as a foster parent. Anyone who does this and loves pugs will be perfect for this position. The owner of the dog walks the Pug during the day and you get to see the dog in its natural habitat at night. Several websites allow you to post an ad that will attract people looking for a purebred Pug. A good breeder will be able to match you to a puppy that is the right color and type for your family. You may have to pay a fee for these services, but the cost is minimal compared to the benefits. When you adopt a purebred Pug, you are helping to ensure the breed remains a popular breed and helps to maintain its genetic stock. There are also several organizations that you can donate to that support purebred Pugs. Many of these organizations take care of the dogs and puppies that come to them and help pay for vet bills and other expenses. Share this:.

Ursus De Parayas We are eagerly expecting puppies from Gracie and Drogo the first week of November, with puppies ready to go to their new home in January! Gracie is AKC reg. Drogo is our most recent German import! Please fill out the application on our website or inquire for information. Most of our litters are spoken for before they are born. Families choose their puppies at 6 weeks and choose in the order which we receive deposits. Puppies have gone to police departments, fire departments, and as service dogs across the country. Puppies come with their first round of shots, are de-wormed at 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, and raised with our family. They are accustomed to loud noises, environmental stimuli, water, spend most of their time outdoors and are given weekly baths. We stand behind our puppies-they truly are superb! So kind and sweet. We are blessed to have found Amanda. They are excellent protection, work and family dogs. They are happiest when exercised and given a job daily. Like all dogs, German Shepherds crave physical and mental stimulation. A good home is our utmost priority! Puppy Breeds The German Shepherd Dog is hailed as the worlds leading police, guard and military dog, however, this dependable breed is more than its 9-to-5 job. Consistently one of the United States most popular breeds according toAKC Registration Statistics, the German Shepherd Dog is also a loving family companion, herder and show competitor. The breed is approachable, direct and fearless, with a strong, muscular body. Derived from the old breeds of herding and farm dogs, the first German Shepherd Dog exhibited in America was in .The fame associated with Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart, two members of the breed whose movies played on variations of the boy and his dog theme, shot the popularity of the breed sky-high. Temperament Energetic and fun-loving, the breed is very fond of children once a relationship is established. He is a loyal family pet and a good guard dog, the ideal choice for many families. He requires regular exercise and grooming. The German Shepherd Dog is extremely intelligent. They are very easy to train with a firm hand and keep that training well. Herding Group; AKC recognized in .Ranging in size from 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Herding, police work.

If you would like to have the puppy held for you, make a deposit online. You are certainly welcome to select your puppy this way without a deposit, but please note that availability may change on a daily basis. If you come and see the puppy, make your purchase and take the puppy home if the puppy is 8 weeks old or older. Skip to 6, unless you need to arrange travel for your pup. Connect with us and we will get the right information to deliver the puppy to you and set up the exact date and time. Enjoy the new puppy that you have adopted into your family. If you have any questions, please reach out to the breeder for help! How much is a Golden Retriever puppy, and why do the prices on the website vary? The price depends on the credentials of the parents and the number of puppies available at the time. This allows you to set up an appointment that fits both your schedule and that of our breeders. Our golden retriever puppies are all raised by families in the Northeast Ohio area, conveniently located about an hour and a half from both Cleveland and Columbus. This makes it easy to come visit our puppies and spend time playing with them in a home environment. How can I get puppy travel arranged if I am out of state? A little-known fact about golden retriever puppies is that they actually do very well with travel. Check out our puppy travel page here to find out more about how we go the extra mile. How do you raise your dogs? When buying a golden retriever puppy, the people who bred and raised them can have a big impact on the health and sociability of the dog! Because of this, we are dedicated to choosing caring, dedicated golden retriever breeders in Ohio who will get your pup started on the right track. Our small network of breeders in Ohio all are dedicated to the same principles. This starts by providing carefully-planned breedings to ensure the best pedigree for our pups. They raise healthy, socialized pups that can make a smooth transition to a new home. Most of our breeders actually have young children at home who help raise the puppies and play with them so they can become socially adjusted. How do I leave a review of my Golden Retriever experience? Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article.

By Chris Lab puppies are the definition of cuteness. But they are not always the angels they seem! What can you do when your Labrador puppy develops a biting habit? How to stop a Lab puppy from biting? These adorable little guys possess some not-so-good behaviors, especially during the first few months of their lives, a major one being biting. At first, it may seem cute, but it can be irksome, especially when your pup starts destroying things around your house or even begins biting you. Read on to learn some valuable tips on how to train your Labrador puppy to stop biting. What Causes Puppy Biting? Teething in puppies often starts when they are approximately three weeks old. By the time they are six weeks old, these little guys will have all 28 deciduous teeth. When your pup is around 12 weeks old, it will start shedding these teeth, paving the way for the permanent teeth to grow. You may notice these teeth around your home, but most likely, your furry little friend will swallow these teeth while eating. Your puppy tends to chew on everything because the teething process is quite uncomfortable and painful. That is why it will bite and nip on anything to try and relieve that pain. You may also notice your pet drooling excessively and not eating much during this phase. Even strong swimmers like Labs need a break every now and then Your Puppy Is Exploring Its Surrounding During the socialization stage which is from 4 to 12 weeks of age , puppies tend to bite and nip as a way of exploring their environment. At this stage, your pup will chew anything out of curiosity and to test its social boundaries. Separation Anxiety Puppies and older dogs who suffer from separation anxiety mostly exhibit destructive behaviors such as excessive biting. Separation anxiety is basically when your puppy becomes agitated, anxious, or depressed when you prepare to leave, or you have already left. Typically, puppies require between 16 to 18 hours of sleep every day. When they do not get enough sleep, they may begin exhibiting destructive behaviors such as excessive biting. Puppies who have the zoomies tend to show behaviors such as barking and biting excessively, running and spinning around, and so on. A lack of exercise is the leading cause of dog zoomies. These destructive behaviors are a way for your puppy to release that pent-up energy it has held in for quite some time. Here are a few ways on how to train your puppy to stop biting. Labradors are huge fans of babies as they age. Active families love a Lab! Try Bite Inhibition Bite inhibition is one of the most common methods puppy owners use to train their pups to stop biting. This is simply training it on how to control the force of its bites. Of course, you cannot entirely train a puppy to stop biting because it is part of how they socialize. Usually, puppies nip at each other while playing with their littermates or mothers. When your pup bites another puppy too hard, it will yelp, scaring your puppy enough to let go. You can take advantage of this behavior and teach your dog how much biting is acceptable. When it releases you, try ignoring it for approximately 10 to 20 minutes, then continue petting and playing with it. Another way to train your puppy to stop biting is by using positive punishment. Apart from yelping when it bites, you can also use a calm but firm voice to make it stop that behavior. Unlike humans, yelling at your puppy makes it more hyperactive and excited, making the habit even worse. When your puppy is biting excessively, you can gently place it in its cage for a couple of minutes until it calms down. However, it is essential to use this method sparingly to prevent your dog from developing negative responses. This may lead to your pup acting up when it sees someone walking towards it, which can be dangerous. It is also essential to reward your puppy when it calms down and stops biting, as it will help reinforce that positive behavior. If your pup tries biting your finger or hand, you can pull it away quickly before it does and provide a chewy toy for it to nip on instead. Do Labs like water? However, there are many things to consider when shopping for the ideal chew toy for your puppy. If you notice that your puppy shreds or destroys something it bites on within minutes, you should get a chew toy made of rubber or hard plastic. When choosing a chew toy for your furry little pal, make sure it is a good size for your puppy. Go for a toy that is not too big for your pup to carry and not too small that it can swallow and get lodged in its throat. It is also recommendable to get a treat-toy for your puppy. These toys allow you to stash some treats in them to elicit more interest. Such toys will help keep your puppy engaged enough to stop chewing on things around your home. Allow Your Puppy to Socialize With Other Puppies Arranging a playdate with other puppies is also a great way to train your puppy to stop biting. Like we mentioned earlier, puppies bite and nip at each other when playing. When one pup bites the other one too hard, it yelps, making the puppy stop nipping. This response helps your dog learn how much force of a bite is unacceptable. Is your dog a Prince or Princess? A Hero or a Pauper? Jasmine or Aladdin type? Would you give your puppy a Disney dog name? Conclusion While puppy biting is normal, it can become dangerous and uncomfortable as they grow older. 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. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. You turn your attention back to your computer screen and suddenly feel little teeth grabbing at your sock! You look down. Your once-angelic puppy is now having a full on game of tug-of-war with your pant leg! This cute baby is now more like a furry little monster. You get up and try to walk away, but the fur alligator is still attached, munching away at your trousers and having the best time! If this sounds like your life, read on to learn how to stop a puppy from biting. Why Do Puppies Bite? Believe it or not, this scenario is actually very common! Biting is one of the most natural things in the world to a young pup; and they do it for many reasons. You would be left with your feet and mouth to interact, taste and feel your environment. Now, what if you had puppy paws — incapable of grasping anything? That leaves you with one final way to interact — your mouth. For good measure, add in the incredible curiosity of a child. How many times do you see a baby grab things with their hands and pop them into the mouth? Puppies have that same mindset. Your mouth strength and play bite helped you communicate and determine your rank in society. Your mouthy mojo gave you respect in canine culture. Puppies interact with their surroundings largely through their mouths. Labradors, like most sporting breeds, have the drive to chase after prey, put it in their mouths, and bring it back to you. This translates into a strong need to chew. They will try this same tactic with their human pack members. If ignored, one bite on the toe is often enough to get the focus back on them. Remember, to a puppy even negative attention is still attention. Terrible Teething When you add teething into the mix, you have the recipe for a furry gator. Most pups will have an increased need to chew while teething , which can begin at 6 weeks and last to 8 months of age. Unlike teething, there is no magical age that puppies grow out of a learned mouthing behavior. Thankfully, with positive training, most dogs eventually lose interest in chewing on their owners. Types of Biting: Aggression or Play? Puppies use their teeth in many ways. However, this is actually just very intense play. Play biting can be accompanied with growling and snarling. This is just part of the fun to a young pup. Instead, we will look into how we can prevent playful mouthing. However, it is important to recognize the signs of aggression. Pay attention to the timing of the biting as well. If so, the motive behind the bite may be more aggressive. Could it be Resource Guarding? Some dogs also aggressively bite when they are guarding a toy or food item, commonly called resource guarding. With resource guarding, you will see the same behavior as aggressive biting, but they will also stand over an object and defend it from any perceived threat. If you think your puppy is behaving aggressively, seek professional help to learn how to actively manage this issue. In contrast to this, playing puppies will be relaxed and have a wiggly body. They will be bouncy, easily roll onto their backs and often be panting with open mouths. Even if they are growling, a relaxed face and body mean a happy puppy. What Can Trigger Biting? Do you really want your pound Labrador to target your hands as a toy later? Children Little kids tend to excite puppies more than adults. Children move erratically, run around, make strange sounds and have a lot more energy. Puppies can easily associate them with toys. Ankle Biters Puppies target fast moving objects that excite their prey drive. Your feet moving by at their eye level can be irresistible. After all, what self-respecting puppy would snub shoes with those floppy laces that are perfect for playing tug? How do we do this? Redirection with Hands When training your puppy, always have a toy to offer. Remember, puppies are like babies. Your job is to redirect them to fun toys instead of human skin. You must do everything possible to make toys extremely attractive so the puppy chooses them over your clothing, hands or feet. Redirection with Kids You can also use redirection around children. First, teach your puppy to use interactive toys and then show your child how to play with the puppy correctly. In the event that your dog forgets, teach your kids to be a tree when their puppy begins to bite them or their clothes. This position makes them less interactive to the puppy. They look boring and the puppy will lose interest. Most bites occur because the child is running or moving erratically. Remember, dogs have the same prey triggers as wolves. If something is running away, it looks like prey. Your job, therefore, is to have an even more amazing toy than your feet. You can take a toy, tie it to a rope, and then tie the rope to your belt so that you are dragging the toy whenever your pup is out. If your puppy is coming for your feet, stop moving them and wave the toy around excitedly instead. Once the pup is attached to the toy, you can start walking again. This way, they will pounce on the toy instead of you! Bite inhibition simply means that the puppy learns not to apply too much force behind their teeth. They apply gentle, but firm, pressure to their greeting. Puppies also learn to limit this pressure with their mouths by feedback from pack members. When puppies are little, they learn bite inhibition through play with their siblings. If two pups are tussling, and one bites down too hard, the other puppy yelps loudly. This startling sound usually causes the offending party to let go. The play stops for a few minutes, as the first pup nurses his wounded ego. Play then resumes, but with less brutality. Instead, let the puppy release your hand and then simply get up and and move away from your pup while ignoring them. Your job is to teach them when they bite down on you, the fun stops. Ignore them for about a minute, then return and resume the play and praise them when they focus on the toy. If they bite you too hard again, repeat this process. You can either step over a puppy barrier or go into another room and shut the door. Just make sure they are in a puppy-proof area, as they may take out their frustration on inappropriate household items. You can also keep the puppy on a leash while playing with them. If they bite you, you can calmly tether them to something and then walk out of their reach. Your goal is to correct the puppy only by taking away your fun presence. You should not be threatening or angry. Give them the appropriate time out from the fun interaction to settle down, and then come back with a toy to redirect their energy. Once they understand they have to be gentle, you can then start to ask more of them by ending the game with lighter and lighter pressure on your skin. Finally, you can take the game to the highest standard — no teeth on human skin at all. If you slowly progress to this over weeks, you teach your pup to have a soft mouth. If they do feel the need to put their teeth on a human, they know not to put much pressure into their bite. You need to teach your puppy that human skin is fragile and requires a softer touch than a canine interaction. Your goal for this exercise should be to help your puppy understand that the play and fun things continue as long as they keep their teeth on their toy and not on you! More Ways to Stop Your Puppy Biting While the yelp and time-out method works for most pups, there are additional ways to reinforce good behavior. When your puppy bites your hand, they get a terrible taste. You can use anti-chewing sprays like Bitter Apple to make your hands less appealing. When your puppy bites you, be still and wait for them to react to the bitter taste. When they let go, praise them and redirect them onto a treat or toy. You want the crate to always be associated with only good things. Crates also should be in the middle of the household, with the rest of the pack — not isolated. This is the same way other canine pack members would isolate them. A laundry room or puppy pen works well for this exercise. Make sure the room is comfortable and safe for your puppy. When the puppy is too stimulated, calmly put him in the room with some teething toys and leave. Teaching them interactive games like fetch or bringing you a toy to tug helps show them that they can have even more fun when they play by your rules. Positive play helps develop a bond with your dog. You never want to avoid it, you just want to show them how to play without biting you. Teaching puppies to retrieve objects helps to tire them out, gives them something positive to chase, and focuses their bite on an appropriate item. Plus, most Labradors are pretty good at retrieving! Remember, anytime we ask a puppy to stop a behavior, it should be because they are rewarded in an even more exciting and positive way for doing something else and things our way. The following video shows how. Video: How to Stop a Puppy from Biting This video shows how to use clicker training to stimulate a puppy in situations where they normally would bite; and then reward them when they choose a closed mouth and calm interaction. Dominant Puppies Dogs are individuals. However, as puppies mature, there may be the rare pup that uses biting as a way to take charge. Dominant puppies may bite to show you that they want to be the boss as they mature. This happens naturally among littermates, as all packs have a pecking order. This reinforces to them that you are backing down and that they are the leader in the relationship. Always remain calm and assertive with your puppy, but end the game as soon as they begin vying for leadership instead of playing. Remember, the alternative to not training your dog is a large animal putting his mouth on people. Be patient with your puppy. Remember, mouthing and biting are normal parts of canine culture. If you stay patiently positive, train consistently, and redirect and reward good behavior, you will soon see a puppy that learns to bring you a tug toy instead of shredding your trousers. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Lab puppies are incredibly cute, but their teeth really hurt when they are puncturing your skin every time you try to play. No one likes to be bitten, so how can you get a lab puppy to stop biting? The best way to stop a Lab puppy from biting is through a combination of proper exercise, training, redirection, and the use of positive affirmation. Most owners attempt at least one of these methods, but it is the combination and use of all of them that will effectively curb unwanted biting. Keep in mind that before you can stop it effectively, you should know why Labrador puppies bite so much. Additionally, know when they tend to naturally stop biting. Only then can you effectively begin to work on preventing them from biting. Lab puppies use their mouths to explore their environment and gather important information. When puppies are growing their adult teeth, they will often chew to soothe the ache along their gums. Labs may also bite to play or out of fear and aggression. Biting for Sensory Information When a puppy bites something, they learn how hard they can bite it, what it tastes like, how it feels, and if they can bite it again. All of this information is stored in a mental catalog your dog looks back on when encountering a similar object. This learning process is very important for puppies to become well-socialized dogs. When a puppy bites another puppy too hard they will lose their playmate. Biting too hard can have negative repercussions! Biting for sensory information is a totally normal behavior for puppies and even adult dogs. Since they don't have hands to explore with, their mouths are the only option. However, if you don't want your dog's mouth on you or your belongings, there are ways to stop this biting but we'll get to that later! Biting for Teething As your Lab matures, their mouths will start to change. Once their adult teeth begin to push up through their gums, the teeth they were born with begin to fall out one by one. It is the same process humans go through when their baby teeth come in and are later replaced with adult teeth. Just like with humans, this process is somewhat painful and incredibly uncomfortable. To help quicken the process, puppies will chew on things to wear down the gum between the new tooth and their mouth. This practice is also very soothing for puppies, especially if they chew on something cold. Biting for Play vs Biting for Aggression In the wild, dogs and wolves play by wrestling around and biting one another. Since your dog sees you as a member of its pack, they will try to play with you in a similar way. Of course, this biting still isn't ideal, but it's important to know the difference between play and real aggression. When a dog bites out of aggression, it is because they are scared, or you are asking them to do something they really don't want to do. Biting out of aggression is important to watch and fix at a young age so you don't end up with an aggressive dog. The most significant indicator of aggressive biting is body language. When a puppy is being playful, their body and facial muscles are relaxed. When a puppy is biting out of aggression, their body will be stiff or frozen, their face will have a lot of tension in it, and their lips may be pulled back in a snarl or growl. If you are seeing a lot of aggression in your puppy, you should contact your Veterinarian to make sure they are not in pain. When a dog suddenly becomes aggressive, they may have an unseen condition that is causing them to lash out. If you get a clear bill of health, you should seek the help of a professional trainer to help you. As we said earlier, as your Labrador matures, they will start to develop adult teeth. This change usually occurs around 12 to 16 weeks of age; the process will reach its end at about 7 months. Therefore, if your Lab is biting to soothe its gums, then the biting should end around the same time their teeth have fully grown in. If your puppy is biting for sensory information and play, it will lessen as your Lab matures and begins to slow down. While there is no magic number that says when your Lab will calm down , it usually happens between the ages of 2 and 4. First, don't hit your puppy as punishment. They aren't doing anything wrong in their mind because biting is natural. You also can't decide when it is and isn't okay to bite. Doing so can cause great confusion. When trying to prevent your Lab from biting, a few tips can help you. Exercise, training, redirecting, and positive affirmations are your secret weapons against those adorable, tiny, sharp teeth. Exercise Exercising your Lab daily will cause them to be too exhausted to do anything but sleep, let alone bite you. You can exercise your Lab by playing fetch, going on walks, or using enrichment toys. Training First, I recommend formal fundamental training before attempting anything specialized. Training your Lab not to bite sounds complicated, but it can be as easy as slapping some butter and seasoning on. If your Lab is biting YOU, put some butter on your arms and clothes wear they like to bite you. Show the butter to your Lab, and when they lick at it, say "yes, kisses, yes. This associates the word "kisses" with the act of licking and the yummy taste your dog gets. The next time your Lab tries to bite you, say "kisses," they should start to lick you instead as they try for the yummy taste. If your Lab is biting furniture or shoes, there is another approach. Grab a spicy seasoning, like paprika or taco seasoning, and sprinkle it on the places your Lab chews. Then, the next time they go to chew it, they will get a nasty taste in their mouth and leave the thing alone! Redirecting Redirecting your dog to things they are allowed to chew on when playing is another way to avoid being bitten. Have some good chew toys handy whenever you are playing with your Lab. When your Lab starts to bite you, show them a chew toy and try directing the bite towards it. After a while, your puppy should go after its toys instead of you. This type of training takes time , but is proven to be very effective. Positive Affirmation When your dog does what you want, whether it's licking or going for a proper toy, make sure you give them lots of praise. Tell them how good they are and even provide them with a treat or two! Final Thoughts Biting is a natural part of a Lab's life, but it is crucial to decipher playful nips and aggressive ones. Playful body language is loose and relaxed Aggressive body language is stiff and snarling If you are seeing a lot of aggressive body language in your Lab, make sure they are healthy and contact a trainer A Lab will probably stop biting after they stop teething If your Lab doesn't stop biting after teething, they should stop upon reaching maturity between 2 and 4 years of age Exercise, training, redirecting, and positive affirmation are the best ways to stop biting NEVER hit your dog to stop biting. This awful biting time with puppies seems like it will go on for ever, but actually it only lasts a few weeks - mostly by the time the new teeth have come through, at about four to five months, the biting stops, and soon you will find you have a dog with a gentle mouth. You may not realize it, but your puppy is already being careful to some extent - if you have ever fed a puppy a raw chicken wing, for instance, you will know that he would be completely capable of biting right through your fingers, if he really wanted to. He is already pulling his punches, and now just needs your help to learn that human skin is more delicate than the thick fur of his mother and siblings. Your puppy sounds like he gets wound up and overtired the mad running around the house. This is the time a crate or quiet area can work wonders. Stay calm, keep giving him toys and chews to chomp on instead of your hands, refuse to interact with him when he bites you - even a second or two of no attention will help him to realize you really don't like it. Grabbing his cheeks and pulling him obviously doesn't work, he probably thinks it's some kind of game, and the attention you are inadvertently bestowing on him in that way seems to be making the situation worse.It will help if you teach him what you DO want, which is calm, gentle behaviour. Don't forget to praise him quietly and calmly when he is being good and quiet. I found holding one end of a chew such as a bully stick , so that we were interacting without him actually hurting me, helped. I also found that working out a routine was very helpful, so that we would go outside to play, then he would have his food, go out again to pee, then I would put him in his bed in the crate or behind a gate for a rest. Don't panic, this is very normal puppy behaviour, and I guarantee it will pass. You will get there. In a couple of months you'll be telling us what a delight he is.Calm puppy behavior. Conflicting advice on how to stop your pup biting Many articles will tell you to ignore a puppy when he bites and to offer him a toy instead. Some people will tell you to punish your biting puppy. Others will tell you that you must not stop your puppy biting too suddenly, or punish him for biting, for fear of drastic consequences later. So who is right, and who is wrong? Does ignoring stop your puppy biting? Many new puppy owners try to ignore the biting puppy initially. This failure tends to be for one or more of the following reasons. Does noise stop puppy biting? There is no doubt that a sufficiently loud squeal, followed by immediate withdrawal of attention, will cause many Labrador puppies to break off from biting. Sometimes long enough for a skilled owner to then redirect the puppy into a more appropriate activity. There is also no doubt that for some puppies, this has the reverse effect, and causes them to bite harder and more fiercely. A puppy that has spent sufficient time with his Mum, may be more likely to take heed of this verbal warning, as he will expect it to be followed by a sharp click of her teeth and a fiercer rebuke if he ignores her. But there are no guarantees here. And the fact is, squealing simply does not work as an effective anti-biting strategy, for some puppies. Punishing the puppy to stop biting I have heard, even quite experienced, breeders tell new puppy owners to punish their puppy if he bites. Either by intimidating the puppy with an angry growling voice, or even with physical punishment such as a scruff shake or slap. But there are problems with this approach. This process is called bite inhibition. And the use of punishment may curtail all biting rather than just the hardest, most painful, bites. Nowadays many people like to train dogs without punishment. And there are strong reasons for joining them — check out this article — the downside of punishing dogs. Teaching puppy to stop biting Why would we want to teach dogs to bite humans gently? Why is it not best to teach them not to bite at all, right from the start? The idea of reducing biting gradually was popularised by Ian Dunbar. The theory is that a dog which learns to inhibit his bite i. You can read more about bite inhibition here: Labrador Puppies Biting. The concept is a sound one, and most canine behaviorists agree that teaching gradual bite inhibition is a good thing. The problem for many new puppy owners, is stopping those painful bites in the first place! The first step is not a technique at all, but an adjustment in the expectations that we have of a small puppy How much do Lab puppies bite? New puppy owners tend to have false expectations of puppies. They also anticipate that stopping a puppy from biting will be a fairly quick and simple matter. None of these expectations is true. Most puppies bite hard, frequently and growl fiercely whilst they are doing it. This noise is not a sign of aggression see Help my puppy is aggressive. Stopping a puppy from biting is a process, a journey. And it can be temporarily an uncomfortable one! It is important to accept that there is no guaranteed way of stopping biting immediately. Indeed, as we have seen, bite prevention rather than inhibition may be a bad thing in any case. Supervise your puppy around children Once you have got your head around the fact that this process will take some time, that it will be a gradual thing, you need to think about how you are going to protect any children that might come into contact with the puppy. This is important because small children can, both hurt and, be hurt by small biting puppies. Calm your puppy to stop him biting The next priority is to keep your puppy calm. Overexcited puppies bite harder and more frequently than less excited puppies. This will merely start the biting up all over again. There are lots of ways to interact with puppies without physically playing with them. Check out our article on playing safely with your dog. What to do when a puppy bites When your puppy bites you really hard, take immediate action. Stand up, move away from him and completely withdraw your attention. You can try the squeal thing if you want to. This works well with some puppies. Be ready for it, and repeat your actions. If the puppy chases after you, biting at your legs and feet, step over a baby gate, or pop him in his crate for a few minutes. You can read up on this process in more detail in this article: How to cope with biting. Remember, puppies enjoy chewing , and teething puppies need to chew on something. Whilst you and your clothing are not suitable chew toys, you need to provide your puppy with alternatives, like Kong toys. How to stop your puppy biting Biting is normal Biting should be inhibited in stages Training takes time The key points to take away from this are that biting is normal, and that training a puppy not to bite takes time. Stop the painful bites first, then work on putting a stop to mouthing. If what you are doing is not working, you probably just need to be more patient and persistent. If your children are suffering, you need to separate and supervise. Work hard on keeping your puppy calm — it makes the biggest difference. How to train a puppy not to bite Is it normal for puppies to bite a lot? Yes it is! Almost all puppies bite and some bite much harder than others. How long do puppies teeth and bite? With some exceptions, puppy biting will stop by the time your puppy has his full set of grown up teeth at 7 months. Fortunately, you can stop your puppy from biting long before they have cut all their adult teeth. Do puppies grow out of biting? If you do nothing at all, to teach a puppy not to bite, the biting would likely subside over the next few months. But its very easy to do the wrong thing, and actually encourage a puppy to bite more. And in those cases, play biting can become very rough and the relationship between a young dog and their family can break down. Do All Labradors Bite? Anyone who shares their home with a 10 or 12 week old puppy will tell you that Labradors bite! And I can reassure you that this applies to all Labradors in the first few months of life. Fortunately this is a phase puppies go through and not a permanent character flaw. And most adult Labradors are indeed very good natured dogs. And also at what is normal, and what is not. If your children are in tears at being bitten every time they try to play with and cuddle their new friend, you may be wondering if your puppy is becoming aggressive. You may even worry that your children might be at risk. Fortunately I can reassure you that this is not the case. While your puppy may frighten your children with his sharp teeth and growling. The way he is behaving now does not mean he will be a threat to their safety in the future. Happily, studies have shown that behavior in small puppies is not predictive of the way that they will behave as adults! Why Do Puppies Bite Children? Some breeders will not sell puppies to homes where there are small children. This is because puppies often bite children and teenagers harder and more persistently than they bite grown-ups. It is normal for small puppies to make small children cry, but before you rush your puppy off to the local shelter, bear with me a moment, because I can help with that. Children give off conflicting signals to the puppy. Fortunately there are lots of ways to make it easier on yourself and on your kids. In short, you need to be a little patient at this point, and it helps to know that this phase does pass quite quickly. And that it is completely normal for all puppies to bite a lot, and to bite children with particular enthusiasm! It has to be said, Labradors are even more bitey than some other breeds of dog during this stage in their development. In fact, retrievers generally tend to be very bitey as puppies. As can the pain of being bitten. Puppy bites do hurt. And sometimes they leave marks. Pain, bruising, scratching, little tooth marks on your toddler, these are all part and parcel of raising a puppy. Some very enthusiastic puppies will even draw blood on occasions. All this is normal, but I will explain what you can do about it. Perhaps the most serious concern that new puppy parents have, is the fear that their puppy is becoming aggressive. What really worries people is the snarling. When puppies play, they practice being fierce. They throw themselves into the whole play acting thing with huge enthusiasm. And they are brilliant at it. And the most important part of that game is to make as much noise as possible and to sound as angry as possible. So, all puppies growl or snarl ferociously when they play, while they are biting, and sometimes when they are trying to entice their poor owners into yet another game. His little face will be all scrunched up, his lips drawn back, his teeth showing. So he has no idea that he is frightening your children or that you are wondering if he is turning into a horrible aggressive and dangerous beast. Please do be reassured, that however fierce your ten week old puppy sounds. It is just a game. He is truly just playing. Normal Puppy Play Behavior So, the hard truth is, all puppies bite. And many puppy bites are quite painful. Some Labrador puppies bite more than most, and biting a lot, and growling or snarling at the same time is normal. So is biting so hard that it makes your eyes water, and even occasionally breaks the skin. Puppies bite at hands that go to stroke them, at bare feet, and happily tug away at clothing, all the while trying to sound as fierce as they possibly can. All this is normal. And you, quite naturally, will want to know exactly when it is going to stop! When Do Puppies Stop Biting? It also happens in working dog families where the dogs may be kennelled or at least are not allowed unsupervised interaction with anyone apart from their trainer or main carer. A study carried out on Guide Dog puppies in showed that simply rejecting interaction and refusing to play was enough to stop the puppies biting their adult puppy walkers. But, and it is a big but — in most young families, this is not always what happens. In many families, especially where the puppy is a novelty, everyone plays with the puppy, and often in quite a physical way. This gets puppies very excited and tends to make biting worse. Inexperienced puppy owners also tend to inadvertently prolong the biting phase by rewarding the puppy with attention when he bites. The more excited they get, the harder they bite. Rough physical play gets puppies excited, rubbing puppies tummies, chasing puppies, grabbing at puppies. All these things get puppies bubbling with excitement Noisy behavior can get puppies excited too, so children squealing, or crying, grown ups shouting or getting cross. You might not think you are rewarding your puppy for biting, but you probably are. Labrador puppies are particularly social and love attention more than most puppies do. Any kind of contact with you, or other members of the family, including physical contact, talking, shouting, even eye contact, all reward your puppy. And if you give him these things while he is biting, this will reinforce the biting behavior and he will bite more in the future Poor bite inhibition What makes the bites hurt more, is poor bite inhibition. So the next section explains what bite inhibition is and how you can help your puppy improve his. What Is Bite Inhibition? At just eight or nine weeks old , Labrador puppies are actually capable of crushing bones the thickness of your little finger, with their jaws. Your puppy has been learning to inhibit his bite since he was tiny. His mother and brothers and sisters all helped to teach him how hard he can bite without hurting them. This is where your training will come in. You can read more about bite inhibition and bite inhibition training in this article What About Puppy Teething? We mentioned teething earlier because people tend to associate biting with teething. So, is it true that puppies bite so much because they are teething? And how long will teething go on for? In fact, most problem puppy biting is simply play. Puppies may chew or mouth at fingers to help relieve the discomfort of teething, but this is not the major cause of the biting problems we find in homes with small puppies. Most puppies have their adult teeth by the time they are 7 months old, but biting does not usually last that long. He is growing fast and by 11 or 12 weeks those bites will hurt a lot more. The time to begin taking action is now! But for the time being, you need to put this image aside. Children under five are simply not capable of playing with a puppy under four months without getting bitten. So you need to supervise every interaction between them. Do put baby gates across doorways, even if you no longer need them for your children. Baby gates allow you to separate children and puppies when you are not free to supervise. Do show children how to stroke the puppy gently whilst you hold one end of a rawhide chew and let the puppy gnaw on the other end. It will end in tears. Playful Visitors It is not just children that play inappropriately with puppies. I have known grown men grapple roughly with a tiny puppy, rolling him around the floor, making growling noises, whilst the puppy gnaws on his knuckles. You can find out how to play safely with a Labrador in this article. Saving your sanity and enjoying your puppy If you were not expecting this, it can seem like a big deal, but supervision and some separation is essential if you are to keep your sanity, and your children are to dry their tears and carry on enjoying their puppy. With older children, you need to teach them how to interact with the puppy without getting him overwrought. Labrador puppies, like toddlers, are easily over-excited. And when they are over-excited they start to be silly. Your first job at this stage, is to keep your puppy calm. Your second job is to stop giving your puppy rewards for biting. Make sure the puppy gets no reward at all when he bites someone. Especially no attention. The next stage explains how you can do that. The process whereby the puppy learns to use his mouth gently on your skin — and it takes a little while. Bite inhibition is taught in stages. The puppy learns to reduce the power of his bites gradually. What to do when your puppy bites If your puppy bites and hurts you, remove your attention immediately. This is where baby gates can be really helpful. If you are playing with your puppy and he bites you, you can step over the gate, thus effectively removing all attention from him. All of a sudden his playmate has disappeared. What about squealing You may have heard that a puppy will stop biting if you yelp or squeal. And you can try this, because it does work with some puppies. But many puppies get even more excited by the yelping, and on others it has no effect. The strongest signal you can give your puppy is the loss of your presence and attention. What about punishment? Some people try and stop puppies biting by smacking them or shouting at them. There are several problems with this. Firstly, it tends to only stop the puppy biting the person who did the yelling. Which is of course the very opposite of what you are trying to achieve! You can find out more about the potential impact of punishing your Labrador here. What if you need to move a biting puppy? If you need to move the puppy away rather than stepping away from the puppy you may find he bites at your hands when you go to pick him up or take hold of his collar. Others bite when they are stroked or petted. We are fond of wiggling our fingers at puppies, petting them and rubbing our fingers in their fur, not behaviors that dogs really understand. And many puppies see fingers and toes as something to chase and play with. Hands are a particular target for puppy bites so teach your children to interact with your puppy using toys that he can tug and bite on, rather than playing with him using their bare hands. Distracting your puppy If you want to sit and pet your puppy, or your children do, use treats or hold a rawhide chew with one hand so he can gnaw on the end. Have your puppy wear a harness and houseline so that you can pick up the end of the line and move him to where you want him to go without his grabbing at your hands. Stage Four: Train Your Puppy Not To Bite This is where we teach the puppy to let us stroke and pet him, or handle him in any way we like, without him putting his mouth around our fingers. The best way to do this is with a clicker and some dog treats. But you can also use a word like YES instead of the click. And place a treat on the floor in front of him You see where I am going with this? Build up slowly so that you can touch him anywhere on his head or body, pick up his paws etc. All without him grabbing or mouthing at you. What do I do if he mouths at me? If the puppy grabs at your hand, you got too close. Make smaller hand movements further away from him until he ignores those, then bring the movements gradually closer. Stage Five: Playing Safely As puppies grow older biting can reappear. Puppies between six and nine months of age, are extremely boisterous, and may start nipping with their teeth during play. At this age, your puppy is more than half grown, and his size and weight are a significant problem if rough play is allowed. The secret to avoiding and resolving this issue is to change the way you interact with your puppy. And to ensure that children follow your example. Boisterous and excitable puppies must not be allowed to play rough games with small people. The consequences can be very unpleasant, and it is no coincidence that this is the age at which many young dogs are abandoned or given up to rescue. Here are a few more articles that you might find helpful:. But as your kids approach the puppy, he starts biting and nipping them, causing a few surprised cries. The AKC says Labradors are an affectionate breed, treating adults, children, and other animals like family without causing any trouble. Labradors are easy to train and receptive to learning new commands since their main goal is to please their families. Do All Labrador Puppies Bite? As your new puppy settles into their new home, they are many stimulants, and he needs time to get to know your family, its new surroundings, and that not all slippers are a toy. Just as when people move to a new house, city, or country, your new Labrador puppy is exploring the world. This process will take a few weeks, so be patient. But what happens when he suddenly starts biting you and your kids? Every family that gets lab puppies faces this challenge. Although your puppy is only a few pounds, Labrador puppy biting is still painful. Many owners worry that the behavior will continue into adulthood, especially when biting becomes an ongoing issue. The good news is that there is usually a short time frame that you have to experience this. So in reality, Labrador puppy biting is primarily instinctual. Reason 1: Teething Puppies Sometimes, a Lab puppy biting is simply due to teething. Teething is uncomfortable, so your pup likely just wants to relieve that discomfort in any way possible. If that means biting a chew toy or your fingers, then so be it. Once your Lab puppy has its teeth, it might stop biting and nipping. You can help ease his comfort by offering him teething toys for puppies, like frozen chew toys. Reason 2: Excitement Biting Behavior Your new Lab puppy could get excited by just about anything: Your kids squealing, shouting, or crying, and adults shouting or being angry can set off your Lab puppy biting with its sharp teeth. The solution: Deter your puppy from biting you by redirecting him to what he can bite, like a toy. Reason 3: Biting for Attention Most Labrador puppies are receptive to conditioning and positive reinforcement. Dog lovers know that dogs crave attention from their families, but Lab puppies are extreme attention seekers. They love any form of contact with their families, whether playing, petting, or even just eye contact. So if your pup gets these responses from you while biting, he will interpret them as attention. The solution: Stop giving your puppy the attention he wants when he bites so he learns not to associate the two. When puppies are with their mom and siblings, the mom teaches them how hard they can bite each other without it being too painful through play fighting. Your Lab puppy learns how to calibrate strength based on his own family experience. Do Labrador Puppies Bite Children? One major adjustment is the play-biting: A small Lab puppy has a powerful bite and can cause pain, especially to such sensitive skin. The downside is that Lab puppies are more likely to bite children and teenagers than adults. It all comes down to learning how to interact with the puppy. Children and teenagers are inherently more confusing for a Lab puppy. The great news is that you can stop your Lab puppy from biting your kids through consistent training, but the training should be on both sides. Your kids also need to learn how to play and interact with the puppy, understanding its boundaries and playing just enough to keep them from overexciting. You plan to throw a chew toy into the yard for him to chase — but before you can throw it, he suddenly starts nipping and tugging at your hands while making odd puppy sounds that sound dangerously close to snarling. You might also be worried that you have a puppy displaying aggressive biting behavior. Most of the time, they mean no harm and just need a little training to control it! Without the proper guidance and education, many of these methods might be wrong: Instead of discouraging your puppy from biting, you could unintentionally reinforce it. Puppy Biting Tip 1: Discourage Play Biting Whatever stage of puppy development your adorable pup is in, he will always crave attention. If you encourage and reward play biting, he will associate it with attention, praise, and treats, causing him to do it more. So if your puppy has entered its biting phase and is displaying rough or aggressive behavior, stop yourself from giving any reaction. Simply follow rigid training steps, and it will eventually stop. Although that might be very hard to do because a Lab puppy is so adorable, you will thank yourself in the future for doing this. In fact, it might even make things worse. When you punish your Labrador, he might learn to fear you. This can worsen the biting and lead to your puppy developing more aggressive behavior as an adult. Some people also do a light swat on their puppies when they misbehave. When your pup starts biting, remain calm and follow positive training methods rather than negative ones. This is especially true when it comes to a nipping Labrador puppy. While a biting puppy is normal puppy behavior, without proper training and techniques, your Labrador might bite well into adulthood. Step 1: Teach Small Children Boundaries The first step in your training routine should be teaching your kids how to interact with the puppy. But if they start barking and biting out of excitement, you must stop playing with them immediately. Instead, pick up the toy and step away. Bite inhibition is when you teach your puppy how much is too much. After that time-out, you can return to the room and resume whatever activity you were doing. As your puppy learns to bite with less intensity, you can start training it not to put your hand in its mouth. This training takes time, so be patient, and you will see a positive result. Step 4: Reinforce with Additional Training You can also use other training techniques to reinforce positive behavior. Move your hand closer to the puppy and follow the same technique. If the puppy bites you, walk away from it. As you train the puppy to tolerate your hand getting closer to it without biting, you can finally keep your puppy calm and play safely without causing overstimulated biting. Puppies and dogs might go back to their bad habits if you change how you interact with them, so being consistent is crucial. Remember that children tend to take more time to learn training steps, so always reinforce the boundaries and supervise them during playtime in the early training days. Be patient and give your puppy time to learn. Seek help from professional trainers. Professional dog trainers are experienced in redirection, toy-play, and bite inhibition training to give you helpful tips and tricks. Take your puppy to puppy school. There are hundreds of puppy schools and programs that teach puppies good manners. Remember to never punish your puppy for biting. Invest in some good toys, such as different chew toys or Kong toys, so you always have something to redirect him towards. Conclusion Whether teething, scared or just excited, most Labrador Retriever puppies bite for various reasons. Unfortunately, those sharp little puppy teeth can hurt — so if you notice some unwanted biting from your Lab puppy, you should immediately start training him into different behavior. Learn more about what we do and check out our available Labrador puppies today! Share on. Print How to stop your puppy from biting your hands and feet — fast! Have you ever watched a litter of retriever puppies play with each other? They are all mouths and feet as they growl, bite and paw at each other. Over time, if left to it, each pup will naturally figure out their place in the pack. However, when you bring your Lab puppy home there are no longer littermates with whom to tussle. And the result is often that your Lab puppy will start biting and growling at you! The problem is that puppy teeth are sharp. Very sharp! And when your puppy bites you, even if they are playing, it hurts. So, what can you do to stop this behavior before it gets out of hand and you find yourself or someone in your family injured by your puppy? Before I go any further, I want to be clear about what we are talking about. You should seek professional help and evaluation. Why puppies bite and growl Puppy play is a kind of training for a dog as they grow and mature. It is also a way that dogs determine rank within a group. Remember, dogs are pack animals. In a pack there is only one Alpha lead dog. Every other dog is under the authority and control of that dog. No two dogs share the same rank. So, while biting and growling starts as play, it does not stay that way. All dogs, whether in a group of dogs or a human family, want to understand their place in the family. They need to know their place. It helps they be more mentally balanced and will help solve a multitude of behavioral problems. Once a puppy or dog understands where they rank in the pack, they often assume that place, at least for a while. Remember, they are dogs. They are not robots so occasionally they may challenge their position, but if the boundary remains clear, the challenge is short lived. Biting, nipping and playful growling at a human can become a challenge of dominance. If your puppy is young, you can quickly and easily end this behavior by establishing boundaries and consistently enforcing these boundaries each and every time your puppy shows this type of behavior. If you have let this behavior go on for a while, you may be in for quite a fight to take back your authority. Biting is not the same as chewing A puppy biting your hand or feet is not the same as a puppy chewing on a shoe, toy or other item. All puppies have a need to chew. As their puppy teeth grow and their adult teeth come in, it is common for dogs to chew on things to relieve the pain and help the new teeth to come in. This should not be discouraged, but rather encouraged on an appropriate item like a chew toy, nylabone or rawhide. And if this works, this is an appropriate solution. Instead, it is likely an issue of dominance. How to stop puppy from biting you Biting is just one puppy dominance behavior. There are many others such as jumping on you, putting a paw on your feet, and lifting and placing paws on your arms or legs. The behaviors I have listed are often gateway behaviors that escalate into more aggressive or troublesome behaviors like stealing food off your plate or the counter, pushing you out of the way when going through doors and pulling you around on a lead. Start by establishing firm boundaries The first step to stopping your puppy from biting or mouthing you is to set up firm boundaries for your puppy. You can set these up for not only biting but for all dominance behaviors. So, what is a boundary? Well, here are some examples. Some people we have worked with are okay with their puppy mouthing their hand as long as there is no tooth pressure. If you feel the same way, then make that a boundary. But if there is any tooth pressure, a swift and consistent correction will follow. This boundary is stronger and does not give the dog any room for confusion. In fact, they often will understand what your boundaries are but will test that standard against everyone else in the family. Each person needs to set and enforce boundaries. React with firm consistent corrections After you establish the boundary, you now need to react every time your puppy or dog crosses that boundary. Each and every time! There can be no room for confusion. Your corrections must be swift and consistent. Not all dogs react to the same level of pressure. For some dogs, this squeeze and strong words will be all it takes to stop the behavior. Especially if you are consistent in your correction. But some dogs have a stronger or more challenging personality. This will give your puppy a taste of his own medicine since his puppy teeth are sharp and will pinch into his lips or flews. You must be consistent. How long will it take to stop my puppy from biting me? If you are firm and consistent, the behavior should stop for the most part in a day or two. Some dogs require more pressure, some less. Your puppy should feel some discomfort. That is okay. The point is to show your puppy that biting hurts and that it is not an acceptable behavior. When nothing seems to work If you puppy is a bit older and has been getting away with biting and mouthing you for a while, you may struggle to end this behavior. Often the problem is a strong dominance issue that needs to be addressed. If your puppy continues to snap or bite at you even after a correction, you likely need to exert some dominance over your puppy. This is similar to what a mommy dog does to a puppy that is not behaving. Humans can do the same thing to show dominance over a rebellious puppy. I know, it sound a bit ridiculous but it really does work. Instead, remain calm and patient. Stay in control. Reacting with emotion can lead to strong reactions or punishment that you will later regret. The point is to show your dog that you are the Alpha in the relationship, and you can and will determine what behavior is acceptable. Biting is not love As a professional dog trainer, I am always surprised at what some of clients consider appropriate behavior. Some owners feel that setting boundaries and enforcing those boundaries means that you do not love your dog. That you need to accept all dog behaviors otherwise you do not love your dog. This is a false and faulty mindset. We have seen clients who have been injured by their dog multiple times and they still refuse to take steps to end the behavior. That is not love. What if the next person that dog bites is a child? Would you be able to live with that? A dog that is allowed to continue harming humans is only one bite away from having to be put down. It may sound harsh, but it is the sad truth. Some people may argue that the dog is unable to understand what they are doing is wrong. This is not based on reality. Dogs are very smart. They can learn to do amazing things and become incredible hunting partners and family companions. But they rarely achieve this potential without an owner who cares enough to set boundaries and enforce them. Final thoughts on how to stop my puppy biting me all the time You can stop your puppy from biting you and others if you are willing to take the steps necessary to make your dog understand that biting is not an acceptable behavior. A firm consistent correction each and every time your puppy bites will quickly teach your puppy to stop biting. These corrections will not harm your relationship with your puppy, but will, in fact, enhance it. Your puppy will quickly learn where the boundaries are and how to operate within those boundaries. We see it time and again, once a puppy is taught that there are boundaries, they quickly adjust and become wonderful loving and obedient family members. Help, my Lab puppy keeps biting me!

Top 5 Labradoodle Haircuts Be sure to check out our 2-part series on types of Doodle haircuts, with tons more pictures that cover overall body styles and variations of styles. Different groomers may have different ideas of what the following types of cuts are. If any of these pictures represent what you want your Labradoodle to look like, be sure to bookmark this page for easy access when dropping them off at the groomer! With the hair slightly rounder and longer around the face and legs, the Labradoodle teddy bear cut gives your pup the most adorable puppy-like look. As the name hints, the goal is to give your Labradoodle a puppy-like look with shorter hair on the body, and longer on the head. This look is not for the faint-hearted, but a dog as cute as a Labradoodle will surely pull this off. Labradoodle Long Clip Almost the same as the Labradoodle short clip, but not quite. The Labradoodle long clip is great for emphasizing those beautiful waves and an effortless, shaggy look. However, longer hair can also trap in more dirt, so make sure to set aside enough time for daily brushing. Here you can check out the best brushes for Labradoodles. A comb is also great for brushing hard-to-reach areas like the paws, face, and ears. Dog Clippers — When it comes to grooming, you are going to need a set of clippers to get the job done. Which ones should you choose? These are our favorite grooming scissors for Doodles. Dog Shears — Are you ready to take your grooming to the next level? Detangler Sprays — One of the best hacks for hassle-free brushing is having a detangler spray at hand. Use it before each brushing or just before bathtime, a good detangler spray cuts the time spent on tangles in half. Shampoo — A proper grooming routine includes an occasional bathtime. Whether your Labradoodle struggles with skin sensitivities or tends to shed a lot, there are tons of different options available on the market. Here are the top 6 dog shampoos that Labradoodle owners swear by. Ear Cleaning Products — With those cute floppy ears, Labradoodles are prone to ear infections due to the restricted airflow. Take a look at some of the highest rated dog ear cleaner products that help prevent and treat minor ear infections. Grooming Tables — Every Labradoodle owner knows how difficult it can be to groom a Doodle with one hand, while trying to keep them still with the other. A grooming table will take care of all that you still need to do the grooming though… and save you from back pain. Check out the best dog grooming tables or create a DIY grooming table. Be sure to check out our guide on dealing with matted hair , and another about the line brushing method. Bathing: Before a haircut or after a muddy playtime, your Labradoodle will need a thorough wash. Typically, once a week should be perfectly enough. However, some pups might need a couple of times a week. Once in a while, you might want to use a special dog ear cleaner to prevent any infections. Here you can check our guide on Doodle ear infection symptoms, treatments, and prevention. Eye gunk: Gently remove any eye gunk you notice, as this will prevent discoloration around the eyes and bad smell. If you can do it daily, great! Here is our step-by-step video tutorial guide that includes the entire Doodle grooming process from head to paw. For example, the best Labradoodle haircuts for summer would be short so your pup has an easier time cooling down. The Labradoodle puppy cut is the most popular Labradoodle haircut. However, we recommend you choose high-quality tools, as they will last you a longer time. As a Labradoodle puppy starts to develop an adult coat, you should start with regular grooming. The sooner you introduce your puppy to the whole process of grooming, the easier it will be for them to get used to it. See Also: Click the image To conclude, we hope that you learned some useful Labradoodle grooming tips, and that we managed to inspire you with the Labradoodle haircuts that you can try on your Doodle for your next grooming session. Let us know in the comments! The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional groomer advice. Always seek the advice of your groomer, veterinarian, or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have. You Might Also Like. All those visits can add up quickly. With a short Labradoodle haircut you can go for longer periods of time without seeing the groomer, therefore saving a decent amount of money over the years. Chris Christensen Big G Dog Slicker Brush Even those who groom their Labradoodles at home often opt for a Labradoodle summer cut to save themselves time and a lot of struggle with a more complicated, longer style. Call me crazy, but I think a nice, short haircut on a Labradoodle looks just as cute as a longer teddybear look. This style looks good on any Labradoodle size. What Are Labradoodle Summer Cuts? What is a Labradoodle Kennel Cut? Similar to Labradoodle summer cuts, a Labradoodle kennel cut is often a term used to describe a generic short haircut. Many groomers will interpret this as the same length of hair all over from head to tail. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. If you have a photo of your Labradoodle with a previous haircut you were happy with, use that. As always, be respectful towards your groomer and consider their advice. Want to Do It Yourself? It may sound intimidating, but there are beginner tutorials online such as this one from Udemy that will walk you step-by-step through the process in a video course. The instructor of this course is a former professional groomer and even has a doodle herself she uses as an example! They vary in length as well as style. Some are completely shaved while others are merely a shorter trim. You can then use it as an example to show your groomer. Photo courtesy of Ann Fenton Affolter on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Beverley Roberts on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Cailin Fitzwell on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Courtney Patrick on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Donna Ferguson on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Jamie Korn on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Karen Maranzana on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Kate McKay on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Kate McWhinney on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Madaline Chapman on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Magan Foyles on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Makennah Blevins on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Matthew Jackson on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Michelle Sharpe on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Nicole Steele on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Nikki Thredgold on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Sarah Gaynor on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Tania Xavier on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Tracey Maxfield on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Tyler Kennedy on Facebook. More About Labradoodles…. You should know that, with a Labradoodle, you get two distinct characteristics and genetic histories from two different parent dog breeds. Two Labradoodles are at the park. Labradoodles are considered a winning breed because the Poodle and Labrador are such a great combination. However, you still need to understand the coat of your pet so you can decide the best Labradoodle haircut for it. This means your dog will have wiry and short hair that grows relatively close to its body and forms tight little curls. Labradoodles with a wool coat will require significantly more grooming and a weekly management routine to keep the curls free of dirt and dust. You will also need to brush and groom him at least twice a week to prevent tangles and matting. Short Labradoodle hairstyles work best for this type of coat. Fleece Coat The fleece coat is easily recognized by straight or wavy soft hair. This coat is soft to the touch and, when groomed, can become very fluffy. Surprisingly, the fleece coat is one of the more effortless coats to maintain. While you will still have to maintain a regular grooming routine for your Labradoodle, being able to cuddle up with a soft and cuddly coat is a good compromise for the maintenance involved. Hairy Coat A Labradoodle with a hairy coat takes after its Labrador parent. This coat also gives off that shaggy look that Labradoodles are known for. However, one of the major disadvantages of this coat is that your Labradoodle will need regular grooming because this coat is highly prone to tangles and mats. Different Labradoodle Haircuts 1. The Puppy Cut Ironically enough, this is arguably one of the most popular Labradoodle hairstyles for an adult Labradoodle. Although the puppy cut would have slight variations based on the groomer, the result is very similar. An Australian Labradoodle sits with a ball at the beach. The puppy cut is a short overall body cut in which the coat is kept at a length of half an inch to three-fourth inches. The length of the puppy cut is a throwback to the style your Labradoodle would have naturally had when it was still a pup, thus the name of the cut. This is one of the most sought-after styles because it makes your Labradoodle cute and puppy-like despite its size. Apart from contributing to the adorable features of your dog, this haircut is also more popular as it is more practical and functional. It will also make grooming at home relatively more manageable and more convenient. The Teddy Bear Cut A highly sought-after haircut, the teddy bear cut is second only to the puppy cut when it comes to Labradoodles. A mini F1B Labradoodle wearing a bow tie Although this haircut is basic and quite similar to the puppy cut, it does entail more maintenance as the coat is longer. Around the tail, your Labradoodle will have a clipped and non-feathered cut with the feet and ear trims following a rounder shape. As the name suggests, the goal of this hairstyle is for your Labradoodle to look like a cute teddy bear. Most pet parents opt for this cut as it makes their dog less daunting to younger children and much more approachable and friendly. This haircut is ideal if your Labradoodle enjoys swimming and exploring the outdoors. It will also make it much easier for you to groom our pup at home as it will significantly reduce the grooming time. This cut is an excellent choice to prevent matting and the accumulation of loose undercoats. The Lamb Cut Another popular choice among Labradoodle owners is the lamb cut. This haircut strikes the perfect balance between having some length and still having the coat short enough that it is manageable for dog owners to groom at home. A rich Apricot coat Labradoodle at the groomer. The kennel cut is more of a shave than a trim. Yes, it will involve getting rid of almost all that luxurious coat of your Labradoodle, leaving your dog with only half an inch, maybe even less, hair all around its body, including its head, ears, and legs. Not all dog Labradoodle owners are open to the idea of this haircut because it is rather extreme and a sight to behold. But, it is ideal for hot weather and your dog will have the whole summer to grow back its hair. This Labradoodle haircut is still stylish and is a recommended solution for Labradoodles who have severe tangles and mats. Besides, when you get your Labradoodle this haircut at the beginning of summer, it will still grow enough in time to keep your dog warm during the autumn and winter months. The Lion Cut If you want to add a touch of feline to your canine, then the lion cut is something you can consider. One of the trendiest Labradoodle hairstyles, the lion cut will transform your dog into a mini version of a lion thanks. A recently shaven Labradoodle rests on the floor in a holiday home. The Short Clip Labradoodle Cut Both parents of the Labradoodle are known to be active and energetic dogs who are fond of the outdoors. Labradoodles have inherited these traits and can spend hours swimming, hiking, and getting dirty. The solution? Labradoodle with curly coat sitting on the grass. The short clip Labradoodle cut. This is another practical haircut that will benefit both you and your dog. The short clip Labradoodble cut is a highly suggested hairstyle for summers to help prevent your dog from overheating. It is also a convenient cut if your dog is prone to tangles and matting. One of the best things about this haircut is it is a haircut you can learn and do yourself. It will save you plenty of time and money because you can give your dog this haircut at home with some help from other family members or friends. The Long Clip Labradoodle Cut This is a hairstyle suggested for Labradoodles who live a sedentary and indoor lifestyle as it allows your Labradoodle to keep its long and natural hair. When do Labradoodles stop growing? With this haircut, the fur is given an overall trim but it will be kept about two inches in length all over the body. The result is a shaggy look that maintains the natural curls and waves of the breed. The Mohawk A stylish and unconventional haircut, the mohawk looks good on a Labradoodle. The hair on top of its head, however, is only trimmed. Labradoodle hair regrows fairly quickly, give it 8 weeks and you will be back to fluffy. Your Labradoodle is essentially left with about three to four inches of hair. Some owners also love playing around with this Mohawk haircut by tying the hair together using colorful bands while others will just let it stand or fall. When you go to the salon or a barber to get a particular cut for yourself, you explain in detail the look you want to achieve. You may even take a picture of the hairstyle you want so your stylist knows what you are looking for. You can also inform the groomer of the length you want to retain on your Labradoodle. It is easier to trim again until the desired length is achieved. It is cost-effective to groom your dogs at home with your own grooming tools. Shaving is an effective solution if you want to get rid of matting and ensure that the new coat is healthier. But it is not the only option as you have haircuts like the short clip and kennel cut that can also help with mats and tangles. A shaved Labradoodle named Max having a minor sulk after a grooming session. With treats, he promptly recovered his enthusiasm. Professional groomers understand that most owners are reluctant and even afraid to have their Labradoodles completely shaved. So, most groomers will provide you with other solutions to reduce and prevent severe matting. Conclusion With their fun personality and excellent temperament, there is never a dull moment when you have a Labradoodle at home. But, regardless of the haircut, make sure your Labradoodle is regularly brushed and groomed to maintain his coat and keep him healthy. 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. Sep 8, Share The Labradoodle is a hybrid breed, a cross between the loyal Labrador and the posh Poodle, and has become a popular designer breed in the last few decades. They were first bred in Australia in the late s in an effort to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog and sparked a designer breed revolution. While they are low-shedding dogs, their thick coats still need regular grooming and brushing, plus a haircut every few months. Here are seven of the best haircuts for Labradoodles this year that your pooch will love! The cut is named for its resemblance to the coat that it would have naturally as a puppy. It not only looks great but is also functional, and your pooch can go for a few months without any knotting, matting, or needing another haircut. This cut gives them an adorable Teddy Bear look. It takes a fair bit more maintenance, though, and will need to be done fairly regularly, as the coat is left slightly longer. This cut was originally designed for Poodles and other breeds with curly coats but works great with Labradoodles too. The coat on their legs is left slightly long and fluffy, while the body and head are sheared short. The ears are left long, giving your pooch an adorable lamb-like appearance. This cut requires slightly more skill to perform but is a great low-maintenance style to keep your Labradoodle knot-free. It is also the go-to style if your pooch is covered in matting and knots that cannot be brushed out. It is a head-turning cut for sure and has become a popular choice among Labradoodle owners. It will keep your Labradoodle cool but still allow for an adorable wavy and curly coat to comb through. Similar to a Kennel Cut but slightly longer, the Short Clip is also ideal for warmer weather. Your Labradoodle is shaved all around to about 1 inch long, except the ears, in some cases. This cut is great for summer and minimizes the need for brushing and grooming, and your pooch will be knot-free for several months. Can you groom a Labradoodle on your own? With the correct equipment and time and patience, you can take grooming your Labradoodle into your own hands. Make sure their eyes are free from hair so they can see properly, and keep their ears fairly short to prevent matting. Be sure to take care around these sensitive areas, especially with scissors. Some dogs love to be groomed, while others will run a mile. This has nothing to do with breeds or genetics and everything to do with correct training. For dogs that have long coats that need regular grooming, try and get them accustomed to the process from as young an age as possible. Make the process something to forward to, with treats as rewards and tons of praise! Do Labradoodles Need Haircuts? You might be interested in these products:. By Yvonne Villasenor Yvonne Villasenor is a freelance writer and animal lover who just so happens to be allergic to cats and dogs. That doesn't stop her from cuddling with them! When Yvonne's not working, you can find her lounging with her charming Chihuahuas, weightlifting, or wandering around Halloween stores. A lovable fluff ball we know as the Labradoodle! This hybrid breed has become widely popular over the years, and it's easy to see why. They melt hearts in an instant with their sweet souls, playful personalities, and of course, their "awww"-inducing appearances. Depending on what generation of Labradoodle they are, these dogs can have soft, fleece coats, wool coats like a poodle , or hair coats like a Labrador retriever. Their coats can be various colors, including: black, chocolate, white, silver, cream, golden, red, or a combination of colors. And while they were initially bred to be " hypoallergenic ," their level of shedding and coat care also depend on what generation they are. So, when things inevitably start to literally get hairy, it's time for a haircut done by a professional groomer! Duh, right? But whether you're on the lookout for a haircut that matches your pup's personality or your budget, we've rounded up a few of our favorite Labradoodle haircuts we think you and your dood will love. Teddy Bear Cut OK, who can actually resist turning their precious doodle into a real life teddy bear? We can't help but swoon at the sight of a teddy bear cut. And we're most definitely not the only ones! Along with this longer 'do comes "a really cute round face, round ears, and keeping it nice and full to achieve the 'teddy bear' look. Summer Cut Want to help your Labradoodle beat the heat? Or prefer a low maintenance 'do? Then the summer cut is the cut for your pup! This practical haircut keeps your Labradoodle cool in warmer weather with the body fur length typically cut to half an inch. You can also opt to keep your pup's face and tail fur longer if you prefer. This look totally embodies "short hair, don't care! Puppy Cut Ah, the puppy cut—paws down one of the most popular cuts! In fact, it's Metzger's most requested cut, she says. While there are various definitions of what a "puppy cut" is, she explains what it is and is not. A puppy cut is one length all over, but the length is determined by the pet parent," Metzger explains. This can be anywhere from shaved to a longer, fluffy look all over. Asian Fusion If you're looking for an absolutely adorable and unique! You won't be able to stop taking pictures of your sweet Labradoodle once they're freshly groomed with this look! There is so much creativity and the styles are endless! Mohawk Add some attitude to your Labradoodle's look that'll make them look just as cool as Travis Barker. Lovelia Horn, dog trainer at Every Creature Counts , describes the mohawk as being an "edgy" and "very popular choice" for Labradoodle haircuts. It is a cut that requires regular maintenance to keep it looking good though, she says. Whether your Labradoodle is an F1, F1b, or F2, one thing's for sure: you'll have to get your fluffy friend acquainted with grooming. How often, Metzger says, depends on three factors: The style of the groom The length of the haircut How often you're brushing and combing your Labradoodle "We always recommend every 4—8 weeks," she says. Learning how to maintain your doodle's hair at home will help keep them healthy—and save you some money, too—in the long run. A win-win, really. We may also have different brushing tips depending on your fur baby's coat! Slicker brush, comb, and a de-mat spray is always handy to have with you at home, but the correct ones are crucial.

Check them out on Amazon here. To learn more about what to feed your golden retriever puppy, check out this article here. Brush Golden retrievers are obviously very fluffy and need to be brushed often. Check this brush out on Amazon here. Check it out on Amazon here. Chew Toy Check it out on Chewy here he had the size small. Plush Toy This is a plush, squeaky toy that will keep your puppy busy for hours. Interactive Toy Interactive toys allow you to play and bond with your puppy, and are great for teaching or reinforcing commands like drop it, sit and stay. Bonus Items The above list is for the bare necessities of what your puppy will need to get started. Below are some extra things that, although are not necessary, have come in pretty handy. Food Storage Container This is great for keeping food fresh and in a convenient place. Since we get the pound bag of food, we get this container that holds 42 pounds of food. Note that this container does not come with a scooper, so we recommend one like this that has measurements on it. Check out the storage container on Amazon here. Exercise Pen Exercise pens are great for confining your puppy to a smaller area while giving them more space to run around in than a crate. Using a combination of baby gates, exercise pens, and the crate will help you keep them safe while also keeping them from chewing up the house. Get this baby gate from Amazon here. Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook Getting everything you need will help you physically prepare for your puppy, but you also need to mentally prepare for your puppy. This book will help you know exactly what to do before you bring your puppy home, how to handle the first month which is the toughest month! Get the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook here. That means get their crate set up, have their food and water bowls in their designated places, and have a few welcome home toys set out to help your new pup have a great experience in your home right away. Find a veterinarian. Locate the nearest emergency animal hospital. Find both the nearest hospital, and the nearest 24 hour hospital. Find a puppy kindergarten class. If you ask any trainer, breeder, or veterinarian how to have a well-behaved pup, nearly all of them will recommend joining a puppy kindergarten class. The socialization aspect alone is worth it. Puppy-proof your house and yard. Get down on your hands and knees to see what your puppy will be seeing remember this: whatever can be chewed will be chewed , and make sure there are no puppy-sized holes that they could escape through in your backyard. For more tips on how to raise your new golden retriever puppy, check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook. Life With Your Golden Retriever Puppy Although this might seem like a pretty big list, if you have it all when you bring your puppy home with you, it will make the transition time that much easier. Take lots of pictures and videos! Have a question about any of these items? Let us know in the comments below! And if you know someone who is getting a puppy and needs to see this list, please share this with them! Related articles:. You will receive a pound of food when you pick up your puppy so that you can transition to whatever food you choose. The most important things to keep in mind are choosing a kind labeled "Puppy Food" so that it has the nutrients your puppy needs to grow well. Also check to see if the first ingredient is meat-based or plant-based. Dogs digest meat-based foods more easily than plant-based. We recommend feeding your puppy 3 times per day. This helps the puppy maintain a steady metabolism as he grows rapidly. Smaller, more frequent meals also help with house training, since dogs naturally want to relieve themselves after eating. Once your puppy is about 6 months old, you can cut back to 2 feedings per day. Sometimes a puppy may not eat much the first week because of his new environment. This is normal. Give him time and his appetite will return. Vet Appointment: We recommend scheduling an appointment with your local vet within 1 week after your puppy arrives. We will give you a copy of your puppy's vaccination and deworming schedule to take to your vet. Your vet will be able to tell you which vaccines the puppy needs next and set up a monthly deworming schedule. By Susan B. Barnes Susan B. Barnes is a lifestyle, food and travel journalist who is as comfortable bicycling through Italian olive groves and sampling fermented shark in Iceland as she is taking her dog on miles-long walks and hanging out at the dog park. Daily Paws' Editorial Guidelines Published on January 28, We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Though she's happy to snuggle and cuddle up with you, she's also an active dog who enjoys being outside, be that going on walks or hikes , to the dog park , or playing fetch in a fenced-in backyard. As a good dog parent, you want to be prepared for whatever adventures await the two of you, but taking a look at all of the products out there for dogs can be overwhelming. From the right collar, leash and harness setup to grooming needs, food bowls, road trip necessities, toys to burn off all that energy, plus a few goodies for the humans, this list has everything you need to take care of the most golden part of your life. Featuring a collar, leash, and waste bag dispenser, you'll be prepared for your walks and your golden will love all the compliments on how handsome she looks. This harness, with its padded chest and belly, is fully adjustable for a perfect fit with leash clips in the front and back. It comes in a variety of colors to coordinate with your dog's leash and collar, too. The adjustable height means the serving tray can grow with your golden, and the pads on the bottom prevent slipping while she eats and drinks. Place a mat under the bowls to catch any water droplets. The stainless steel bowls can be removed and popped into the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Not only will she have to slow down to find the food, but she'll essentially work out a puzzle which keeps her mentally stimulated, too. Choose to purchase just the cover and fill it yourself with old pillows, towels, sheets, or clothes, or you can opt to purchase their eco-friendly fill made from plastic bottles or their memory foam insert. The extra-large size is recommended for full-grown goldens. Not only does the shampoo leave your pup fresh and clean, but it moisturizes and conditions so that after-bath brushings are tangle-free. It's terrific for dogs with sensitive skin, too. With a dense outer coat and thick undercoat, it can take some time to brush out all the layers, but this undercoat rake makes quick work of their luscious locks. One Chewy reviewer wrote that the medium-tooth rake was "so wonderful to get my two golden retrievers' undercoat combed out. Also, the gel grip is quite easy to hold on to. The non-slip handle works for both right- and left-handed users, and ensures you maintain control to avoid any mishaps. One reviewer says: "I stumbled across these supplements while trying to find some joint relief for my golden, Sandy. After only a week I already saw some improvement in her movement and she had an easier time getting up into and out of the car, which was becoming a struggle. Her coat is also looking healthier and she seems to be less itchy. Not only does this fleece-lined coat fit snugly for maximum warmth, but it's waterproof and has reflective strips to stay safe during nighttime walks and winter hikes. They can also help older dogs find traction on slippery floors. Tip: use the printable sizing guide to measure your dog's feet before ordering to ensure a perfect fit. And send us videos of your dog trying them for the first time! This seat cover is not only comfortable for your pup, but waterproof, too. When it's time to go, simply lay the cover over the seat, loop straps around the head rests, push the anchors in, and voila—you're ready to hit the road! One way to do that is to use a harness that doubles as a seat belt: simply attach the harness to the seatbelt using a carabiner, and you'll both be on your way safely and comfortably. Fill the bottle, twist on the top that doubles as a bowl, and when your golden's ready for a drink, squeeze the bottle and water will fill the bowl. Release, and the water disappears back into the bottle. Pop some treats in the holes, cover them up, and watch your pup work her magic to figure out the puzzle and find those tasty rewards. Just like a ball you use to play fetch , this one flies through the air but when she retrieves it, she'll spend some time figuring out how to get to her favorite treats inside. When your pup drops the ball into the top of the launcher, it'll throw it 10, 25, or 40 feet; choose the "random" setting to keep her guessing. Buy Now Change up your game of fetch with this fun Frisbee alternative. This flying squirrel is made of a double canvas material that is durable enough to withstand rough play, yet still agile to spin and tumble in the air, keeping your golden guessing and enticed in play. Shop now: Chuckit! The sturdy sole ensures you'll stay on your feet, and the bone-printed liner is a fun and unexpected treat. Embroidered on percent cotton canvas, and if it gets a little dirty, simply pop it into the washing machine, air dry, and it'll be back on your furniture in no time. The rubber backing prevents slipping when your guests wipe their paws before stepping inside. It's hilarious enough to be a favorite gift for any golden lover on your list, too! Perfect for the dog park, running errands, around the house, or really anywhere you please! The design can also be used on totes, hats, and more. Food bowl There are endless options of food and water bowls. In addition, the bowl can prevent gagging, choking, vomiting, indigestion, bloat, GDV, and malabsorption. If you already have a dog bowl, you can simply add a slow feeder insert. Water bowl Ellie has an 8-cup YETI water bow l to keep her water cold for more extended periods and a 4-cup bowl for food. YETI allows you to customize each bowl with a name, initials, or image. Great as a gift! They help prevent your puppy from getting tangled up in the leash and provide better control. Make sure you check out their sizing guide for the appropriate fit. We added a crate pad for noise reduction and comfort. Crate training can be a lifesaver, and most dogs fall in love with having their own space. It is essential that the dog crate is never used as punishment — the crate must always be regarded as a safe and special retreat. Gates Puppies are curious creatures that often need boundaries. Use a gate to limit access to certain areas of your home and reduce unwanted chewing or house soiling. Introduce your dog to small sections of the house at a time. We prefer the walk-through gate for easy mobility through the house. Toys and Chews All dogs have slightly different preferences in toys, so I would start with various items to see what interests your puppy most. However, the last inch of a bully stick can be a choking hazard if swallowed. This safety device allows your pup to enjoy the benefits of long-term chews while reducing the risks of choking. I typically give it to her for 20 minutes, rinse it off, and store it in the refrigerator until the next day, which prevents bacteria growth. Note you probably want to keep it separate from your food. However, avoid retractable leashes whenever possible: Although they seem easier during walks, retractable leashes are actually dangerous, especially for young puppies who are still getting the hang of walking on a leash. Keep your puppy on a regular leash with a maximum of six feet of space between you both. Snowy Pines recommends slip leads: Slip leads are what puppies are taught to walk on from a young age at Snowy Pines, since they give you as the walker more control over the puppy as he gets the hang of normal walks. You can also opt for an embroidered collar if your puppy seems bothered by the noise or extra weight of the dog tags. Many puppy owners choose embroidered collars since dog tags should be removed when the puppy is left alone as they can pose a hazard. You can stick with a small food and water bowl. Puppy Food Your puppy will need high-quality food to grow strong! In most cases, this means his own dog crate. A good dog crate should be large enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably. You can choose a crate that expands as it grows to save money in the long run. Most of our puppies at Snowy Pines will do well in a inch wire kennel with a divider that you can remove once he gets bigger. Be sure to check out our dog bed reviews too! Remember that most toys should not be left alone with your puppy since unsupervised playtime can lead to a choking or blockage incident. Image Source Puzzle Toys Puzzle toys keep your pup mentally stimulated while they also have fun. Additionally, these interactive toys provide help with weight management, satisfy natural hunting instincts, and even relieve feelings of stress or anxiety. These toys can easily become a comfort item and help curb any potential anxiety as well. Chase Toys Golden puppies need to have regular exercise. Chase toys are simple things you can buy at any pet store, like ropes and balls, but some interactive chew toys are designed to add a little zing to your daily play routines. So, for example, if your puppy just woke up from his nap and pottied, but you need to do laundry and load the dishwasher, the exercise pen is a perfect solution. It enables your pup to enjoy safe solo playtime. Training Treats Food is a powerful reinforcer , so treats are incredibly beneficial in the early stages of puppy training. Try offering him a treat when he potties outside or uses a chew toy. Quick Tip: The treat should be small and chewy so that he can eat it fast and keep his attention on you! With the proper carpet cleaner and enzyme spray, you can quickly combat any potty mistakes anywhere in the house. Dog Shampoo and Conditioner The Retriever family has a unique, double-layered coat designed to keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. It also dries quickly after becoming wet. It is such an impressive coat that it is essentially self-cleaning when it comes to dirt and debris. Pooper Scooper and Poop Bags A pooper scooper is a handy tool that many homeowners with yards find essential. Instead of bending down every time your pup goes, you can use a pooper scooper to clutch onto the waste and quickly throw it in your outside garbage bin. They are also expected as a common courtesy to other people outside. So before your English Cream Golden puppy comes home, be sure that your home, backyard, and car are puppy-safe and puppy-proofed. In the Home: Image Source Keep the toilet lid closed. Believe it or not, open toilet lids have the potential to be drowning hazards. Secure medicine and cleaning products. Keep these products high up or use childproof locks and latches on lower cabinets. Garbage should be kept lidded and secure. Lidded, secured bins are the best type of garbage cans you can have with a young puppy. Not only do you want to avoid spilled garbage, but a locked lid will prevent your puppy from getting into any potential hazards. Hide electrical cords and blind cords. Exposed electrical cords and long blind cords can prove to be fatal for curious puppies. Keep electrical cords hidden away, buy cord wraps to keep them safely covered, and be sure that your blind cords are tied high and inaccessible. Invest in a pet or baby gate. Gates can be used for doorways or staircases to keep your puppy away from certain areas of the house. In the Backyard: Be careful of plants and landscaping that may be poisonous or dangerous. Many plants are toxic to dogs , so be sure to triple-check if any are growing in your yard. Secure your yard with fencing and add gates around bodies of water. If you plan to let your puppy roam freely in your backyard, you should have complete fencing with no puppy-sized gaps around the perimeter of the property. If you have any ponds or pools, block them off with appropriate fencing to avoid accidental drowning. Keep your yard landscaped and manicured. Long grass and brushy areas can invite ticks, which can be extremely dangerous if any potential bites are not discovered early on. Generally speaking, your grass should not be higher than a couple of inches and potentially even shorter while your puppy is still young. In the Car: Image Source Move any chewable items and lock loose items in the glovebox. Confine your puppy in one area of the vehicle, like the backseat. Keeping your puppy confined to one area of the car is safe for everyone. Many puppy parents choose harness seat belts and car seats for younger dogs, while older dogs are big enough to safely sit in the back seat or trunk with cargo barriers. As your Golden Retriever gets older, you may find yourself opting for different barrier methods that will better suit his size. Kennel your puppy while in the car. Crating your puppy is the safest mode of transportation while in the car. Deciding on a Daily Routine Like children, puppies thrive on a fixed routine because an orderly one instills structure and confidence. Sticking to a schedule can also help reinforce potty training and prevent behavioral issues , like separation anxiety and barking or whining. Think of a schedule that works best for your puppy, which should include: Feeding: Pick out regular meal times and stick to them as closely as possible. Golden Retriever puppies will need three daily feedings until they are six months old. After that, stick to feeding twice a day at the same time each day. Fixed meal times will help you predict when your puppy needs to potty each day, which better ensures easier potty training. Scheduled potty breaks: Take your puppy out to the yard or on a walk to potty immediately after a meal and after they wake up to enforce a schedule that will help with house training. Playtime and exercise: Playing and mental stimulation are key to a happy puppyhood. Even though they will mellow out in personality as they become adults, Retriever puppies are high energy! Place the dog crate in a quiet part of the house since we kennel train at Snowy Pines, and it helps ensure their safety and comfort. And now is the exciting part: Your puppy is finally home! But now what? Puppy Socialization Socialization is vital for young puppies, especially between 8 to 16 weeks of age: A well-socialized puppy will grow into a happy and confident adult that feels secure in various situations. You can also invite friends and family over to meet the puppy. In this case, more is always merrier! To help your puppy feel comfortable around humans in general, expose him to different types of people when he is still young. We also recommend holding off on public settings like dog parks until your puppy is settled into his new home and routine so as to not overwhelm him. Once your puppy is vaccinated, you can consider signing him up for puppy socialization classes. These classes, alongside training courses, can help prepare your pup for a long walk or a day at doggy day camp. Training Techniques Training is just as essential as early socialization. He may become disruptive and exhibit poor behaviors like jumping on visitors, chewing on furniture, and barking incessantly, among other frustrating challenges. Your puppy may also struggle with separation anxiety. They will comprehend basic commands and learn things such as his name, housebreaking, and early manners. They will be able to take on more advanced training and commands, and they should understand what good dog manners are. This age is essential when it comes to instilling how you want him to behave through adolescence. Puppies will begin teething at this point. Your new puppy might use anything possible to exercise his teeth, so you must start teaching him not to use your hand or furniture as chew toys. Anytime your puppy chews on something undesirable, have a toy nearby to put in his mouth instead. You can also try using bitter apple spray to deter biting and chewing on household items. Be firm but loving with clear, consistent commands and minute training sessions each day. Quick Tip: Keep in mind that at this age, this is when the key socialization period ends for your puppy: From this point forward, everything your puppy has learned will influence the way he behaves around people and other animals. While this is good, this age will also be a challenge because he will try to determine his ranking in the household, which can be frustrating when hormones play a role! Although spaying and neutering are standard for most breeds around six months old, studies have found that doing so for Golden Retrievers can actually increase the risk for joint disorders. Therefore, the standard for this breed has recently changed, and many vets suggest waiting to spay or neuter until 12 to 24 months. Training can be an overwhelming process, which is why many Golden puppy owners opt for working with a dog trainer or enrolling in training classes. Snowy Pines offers three levels of training when adopting one of their golden retrievers, which can save you tons of time and frustration in the long run. At your first checkup, you can also ask about getting your puppy microchipped! Read the full disclosure here. This comprehensive list covers all the essentials, plus some added extras. Food: Every dog needs food! See our puppy food guide for recommendations. Bowls: Your puppy is going to need something to eat that food from. Something to think about. Bedding: Your pup will need a comfortable bed to call their own. You can decide whether to choose a puppy-sized one or one that they can grown into. To avoid buying more than one crate, you can get one big enough to fit your adult golden and make it puppy-sized using dividers. Brushes: Get your puppy some brushes suitable for a longer-coated dog. The sooner you get pup used to being brushed, the easier it will be in the future. Toothbrush and toothpaste: These are daily essentials in your grooming routine. Be sure to choose a dog-specific toothpaste as the human stuff can be dangerous to canines. Treats: Essential for training. Pick high-value treats for when you really want to motivate your pup. Chew toys are essential to help direct chewing away from your belongings. Tug toys, balls to play fetch and treat-dispensing toys are also nice to have. Travel harness or dog guard: To keep your dog safe in the car. These are the main things you need to think about when puppy proofing your home. Put them up high or away in their proper place. Not only will it leave you out of pocket if your pup chews something expensive, many such items are also choking hazards. Be careful of plants: Make sure you remove any plants that are poisonous to dogs , both in your house and your garden. Common offenders include foxglove, wisteria and yew. Secure medicines and cleaning products: Both medicines and cleaning products can be highly toxic to dogs if ingested. Hide electrical cords: If a puppy sinks their teeth into an electrical cord, it can prove fatal. Try not to have electrical cords running across the room or out in the open where your puppy can get to them. If needs be, you can get cord concealers, cord wraps or even pvc pipes to secure them. Planning Appropriate Puppy Socialization Socialization, with both humans and other dogs plus other animals, if your new puppy is going to be around them , is one of the most important things to think about with your new puppy. A well-socialized puppy should turn into an adult dog who interacts well with all dogs and people, which makes your life so much easier as a dog-owner. It might sound a bit over the top, but it will stop your pup from getting confused or overstimulated and it sets some ground rules for the humans involved, too. Pick out regular meal times for your puppy and try to stick to them as closely as possible. Also take your puppy out into the garden on a schedule, as this will really help with toilet training. You can also schedule in training sessions, play sessions and, when your puppy is old enough, their daily walks. Learning How To Train Your Puppy You might think that training your new dog will be intuitive when you get them home, but dog training is a skill you learn, not one you just pick up as you go along. Once your puppy is old enough, group puppy training classes are an excellent idea. Not only will you learn more about training your pup, your dog will also get to socialize with other young canines. The ideal option is to have the puppy in the back seat in a car harness and have a passenger sit next to them, who can hold, pet and comfort them on the journey home. Some people forgo the harness altogether and have a passenger simply hold the puppy, wrapped in a blanket or towel. However, before you even get your puppy into the car, you should try to get them to relieve themself first , to avoid any toilet-based accidents on the journey home. Once you get your precious pup home, all that effort and preparation will have been worth it to give your new four-legged friend the best start in life. You May Also Like. We use the 8mm size for our dogs. Alvalley is a high quality brand for all lengths. For an adult dog, use an 8 mm or larger. For a young puppy, an 8 mm leash works fine, but I prefer the smaller 6 mm Alvalley Snap Lead one for ease of use when working at home. This size fits easily into the outside pocket of a treat bag. If going for a walk, use a more substantial leash such as the 8 mm Alvalley leash. For at-home use, a 6 mm collar is fine. I like to attach a snap lead permanently to a martingale collar for ease of use. The collar and leash can easily be slipped off and on as needed. Puppies and even some dogs like to chew the plastic ones. At 10 weeks of age, we are using very small bowls for ease of use during training. Golden Retrievers tend to act like they are starving and eat too fast, even at their correct weight. These bowls slow them down so that they will come closer to chewing their food than inhaling it. I like to use buckets instead of bowls for water. Puppies love to dig in their water which makes a mess out of it. Hang the bucket on the outside of the crate by the handle that is on the bucket. Then attach the clip for security by using only one side of the clip to attach the handle to the crate. Leave the other end of the clip just hanging. Never put water inside a crate with a dog. I recommend the 2-quart size for one or two big dogs. This size is also a good size for a puppy. I use two snaps to stabilize the bucket. Though wire crates usually have a divider so that you can size the crate down, we recommend that you go ahead and purchase a 24 inch wire crate along with the correct size for your dog when he is grown. Most puppies can use the 24 inch crates for about 2 months after they are weeks of age. It is also helpful to have a smaller crate when traveling. If you want this option with a Summer Brook puppy, you can have a small icrate shipped to our home address for you to pick up when you get here. The best size crate for adult girls is a 36X24X27 inch wire crate. For an adult boy, use either a 42X28X30 or 36X24X27 inch wire crate. We prefer wire crates in most cases because they give more ventilation and Golden Retrievers like it to be cool. Midwest Life Stages : These are heavy duty and come in both double or single door options. I prefer the crate with the double door because you will have the opportunity to use it turned sideways with the entrance on the side as well as the end. The Icrates are also two inches shorter and two inches narrower than the Life Stages crate. They are larger at the bottom than the top so they fit better in the back of an SUV or van. They are crash tested and have excellent safety records. These crates are a bit difficult to set up and take down so we only recommend them for those that want a crate that stays in a vehicle most of the time. They are perfect for families that take their dogs with them a lot and want a somewhat permanent fixture in their vehicle. This crate is very lightweight and sets up and folds down quickly and easily. We love these crates for motels and dog shows. Wood Crate Denhaus Townhaus : I recommend this crate if looks are important to you. This crate looks just like a nice end table. Though it was expensive, mine has held up well for several years. Crate Pad Primo Pads: These are my favorite crate pads. They are made of a heavy-duty vinyl and I have yet to have a dog chew one up. The vinyl is cool so that my dogs like them even in the summer. They come in a big variety of sizes so that they will fit your crate like a glove. These pads are not sold anywhere except from the manufacturer. Order your Primo Pads here. This is a raised cot-like bed that is cool and comfortable. There is a new Kuranda Bed that we have not tried ourselves but it looks amazing. It is a raised cot like the aluminum bed that we have loved for years but it is sized to fit perfectly into a crate! We have purchased both the aluminum as well as the less-expensive PVC Kuranda beds. Our aluminum beds still look brand new but our PVC beds are starting to warp a little after a few years. We like the Ballistic Nylon fabric which has held up for us for several years. The large is the correct size for both boy and girl Goldens. We have two of them and they are as comfortable as many human beds. We have the extra-large size but a large would be plenty big enough for a girl. At first, your puppy will have to be watched almost every minute when they are out of the crate or pen in order to establish good potty habits and also to teach them not to chew. Until you teach them otherwise, some puppies will try to chew everything, including the furniture and even the woodwork on the walls so I have found the pen to be a huge help. If you get a pen, you need to begin training your puppy not to jump on the sides right away. Never pet your puppy or let him out while he is jumping. Reward him for sitting. They open and close easily and in both directions. The Richell Pens look really super nice. They also can be set up as room dividers. We own at least a dozen sets of these pens and have used them in a large number of configurations. However, like most exercise pens, many puppies will eventually learn to climb or jump out of them. Families must be on top of training their puppy not to jump on the sides. Unlike the Richell pen, most, if not all pens have doors that open in only one direction. If you get one of these pens, set your pen up so that the door opens to the outside. If you are getting your puppy from a breeder other than Summer Brook, plastic pens are a good option for a 7 to 10 week old puppy. It is easier to house train if you start off not allowing your puppy in too large of an area. It also has the added convenience of being able to be easily removed by simply pushing a button that locks it in place. However, this gate must be mounted to the wall. Baby Gates that are Mobile Regalo Extra WideSpan Walkthrough Safety Gate : This gate can span a space inches For a pressure-mounted gate, the Regalo gates do very well and are a good simple solution if you only want a gate for a few months until your puppy is house-trained and can be given the full run of the house. However, understand that many puppies cannot be totally trusted in large areas until they are over 6 months of age. It takes some until they are close to a year. Doggy Door Why to Use a Doggy Door If you are able to put a doggy door in, this is by far the easiest way to house-train a puppy. Also, it provides an ideal way to leave a dog when they have to be alone. I teach our puppies to use a doggy door before they go home. In the last days before they go home, I section off a small area inside next to our kitchen with free access to a doggy door that leads to our side yard. When I keep a puppy past 8 weeks, I gradually increase the size area of the indoor area as they show dependability. I reserve the times when they are free in the house to the 30 minutes right after they have pottied. We highly recommend it. If you have a particularly aggressive chewer then I would buy the Extreme Kong but if your dog is average then I would use a Classic Kong. Bob-a-lot : You can fill this toy with a lot of food; the dog has to work at getting the food out by pushing it around. JW Pet has other great toys too. If you have a particularly aggressive chewer then I would buy the Extreme Kong but if your dog is an average chewer then I would use a Classic Kong. Puppies love them and they keep our puppies happy in their crates. Toys for Month Old Puppies.