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By: David Codr Published Date: November 28, For this Omaha puppy training session we shared some creative ways to exercise a dog to help Ty, a 6 month-old Boxer puppy who has a lot of energy and has nipped a few people who startle or try to pet him. The guardians had come up with a unique way to handle greetings; having Ty and his sibling Finn sitting down about 12 feet from the door while family members sat on the floor petting the dogs. While I liked adding in distance between the puppies and the door, anything a dog is doing when you pet it is what you are rewarding and amplifying. In other words, the guardians were unintentionally communicating they liked the dogs pretesting and being upset when guests arrive. I asked the guardians to put Finn away and let Ty off leash. I stepped outside to let the humans make these adjustments before returning and showing the guardians how to help the puppy develop a positive association with the visitor. After using a few dog behaviorist tricks, Ty calmed down and was displaying displaying affectionate and confident behavior. I call this the perfect storm, and have found this combination to be the cause of many unwanted dog and puppy behavior problems. He went after someone with a law mower which could very easily be attributed to being scared or stressed out by the sound and smells from the mower. As I probed deeper, it seemed like there were valid reasons for the puppy to be reactive. Obviously nipping and biting are not behavior you want from your dog, in the context of how they happened, I think this is more a case of confusion and the dog unwittingly ending up in jackpot situations than being actually an aggressive dog. Many puppy problems stem from an under exercised pup and that was certainly the case here. When its winter in Nebraska, I like to share creative tips to exercising a dog inside. Many people exclusively think of walking as the best way to exercise a dog, but its actually not very efficient. Its good for stimulation and leadership when done with structure, but you have to walk a long way to get the needed results. I pulled out my camera and handed it to one of the family members so I could share tips to exercising dogs in creative ways. The doggy stair master, fetch and any other pursuit games are wonderful ways to exercise a puppy or dog. Not only are they fun, they are convenient, time efficient and remarkably effective. If the family members can exercise Ty every hours throughout the day, they will notice a dramatic improvement in his behavior. Ive played the part of Boxer puppy trainer many times and have always enjoyed the breed. They are often curious and playful and I just love how they use their paws. Ty showed that he is a smart puppy and once we got rid of his excess energy, he was a really fun puppy to have around. To make sure the guardians remembered all the dog behavior suggestions I made in this in home puppy training session, we filmed a roadmap to success video that you can watch for free below. Share this:. The contractual agreement between you and the breeder Agreement made to not breed the dog in the future Agreement made to not enter it into competitions No restrictions on the Boxer puppy Read on to see why these factors affect the price of Boxer puppies. Reputation Of The Breeder Breeders spend a lot of time and money to build up their reputation as trustworthy Boxer breeders. The more renowned a breeder is, the more they are able to charge for their dogs. However, some puppy mills and backyard breeders will shoot up their prices to appear to be reputable breeders. Therefore, you should go through a trusted association to find a reputable breeder. Do not be fooled by good advertising. The individual Boxer puppy you want to purchase must have its own papers that document its registration with the American Kennel Club. These papers cost money and will increase the price of your Boxer puppy slightly. This is important because pedigree changes the price of the Boxer puppy; I will discuss this next! Pedigree is important when it comes to determining what your Boxer puppy will look like, its temperament, and the chance of it developing genetic issues in the future as it grows up. Determining who the dam and sire of your Boxer puppy are is important in determining price. If your Boxer puppy has a champion sire or dam, then the price of the puppy will increase significantly. Champion heritage drives the price of the Boxer puppy up because the buyer is almost guaranteed to get a perfect specimen of what a Boxer should be and has a better chance at winning competitions with their Boxer puppy when it grows up. The breed, unfortunately, suffers from hip dysplasia, cardiovascular myopathy, severe arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, several cancers, and aortic valve disease. The American Kennel Club recommends that all of these tests, including thyroid screening, elbow evaluations, and certain DNA tests are all done to produce a long-term prognosis so effective preventative care can be carried out from day one. If a Boxer puppy has any health concerns, then their price will decrease, and they will often be sold for a couple of hundred dollars or so depending on the specific health issues they have. As medium-sized dogs, Boxers can leave their mothers safely at eight weeks. Many people who want to compete with their boxers will wait until the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old before purchasing them. During this time, the breeder will invest in behavioral training. When the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old, the breeder will also be able to give you a better idea of their temperament and their adult markings and ultimate size. As a result, these puppies will be much more expensive than the younger ones. Boxers will stand at 23 to 25 inches tall if they are male and .They have tall, regal-looking shoulders that slope down gently to a smaller set of hips. Their heads are quite square and are characterized by their wrinkles that make them appear confused but curious! Boxers that meet the breed standard are a fawn or brindle color with white markings on their chests, bellies, inner legs, and faces. However, the white markings may not be more than a third of their entire body. If your Boxer puppy meets the breed standard, then their price will increase because they can be used for competitions. However, if they do not meet the breed standard, then their price will be decreased, as this is seen as undesirable from a competition standpoint. The first agreement will prevent you from further breeding your Boxer puppy. The second agreement will prevent you from entering your Boxer puppy into any competitions. Both contacts will decrease the price of your Boxer puppy, as they place restrictions on what you can and cannot do with your puppy as it grows up. There are many other costs associated with owning a Boxer! One-Time Bring Home Costs There are a number of things you will need to purchase before you even pick up your Boxer puppy to make them feel more comfortable and happy in their new home! Fortunately, a lot of these items only need to be purchased once or twice, like food bowls and crates, for example. Here is a list of some of the vital things you need:.
Baby von Bachfeld is a stunning 5 month old German Shepherd. Since people sometimes forget to notify us, some of these dogs may already be adopted. Thunder is a goofy, fun loving, 2 year old purebred German Shepherd in perfect health. He has had a well-rounded upbringing in a loving home and has great obedience. He is an excellent adventure buddy and has lots of experience camping, swimming, and hiking. He loves to play ball and tug, and show off his tricks. He often joins a bike ride around the neighborhood and runs nicely alongside the bike. He lives to play in any form of water — pool, lake, river, ocean, garden hose, you name it. He has good food drive and is not a big barker. Thunder would do best with an active, outdoorsy family. He is still with his original owner and the only reason for rehoming is that he doesn't get along with the other dogs in the home. Adopters with prior GSD experience preferred. Thunder is neutered and all vaccines are current. Contact Jenny Dennis: jenny wetnosestraining. He is a resilient, loyal boy and LOVES squeaky plushee toys, string cheese, going for walks, and being with people. He will get on your lap and sleep if you let him! He has basic obedience training, is housebroken and is currently going through more training. He is a bit anxious due to lack of socialization before we rescued him and, as a result, does not like other animals. We have a newborn at home and her constant crying is causing him stress that is not subsiding. We are heartbroken to rehome him and know he will thrive where he is the only animal and either no children or older children. We will set up his new home with everything - crate, toys, leash, etc. He is neutered and there is a small rehoming fee. Please contact Janel at janelbyrne gmail. We know his next people are out there and will love him as much as we do! Look no further - Dakota the lovebug and protector is here! While female dogs and cats are not her friends, male dogs, small dogs and people could not be any closer to her heart. She knows sit and stay and has had some obedience training but could always use more who couldn't? Someone with an active lifestyle would be ideal for Dakota, whether it be hikes, runs, walks or even just car rides which she also enjoys. Dakota is up to date on all of her vaccinations and is spayed. If you think Dakota would be a great addition to your home, please contact me jtoddb23 gmail. Willow is a gorgeous year old German Shepherd. Willow is with a wonderful foster family who has shown her how much fun being a dog can be. They have a black lab that she adores and she learned what a ball was and how to go up and down stairs. She spent a month at Canyon View Ranch being trained and knows basic commands very well. She is incredible on leash and hikes off leash daily. She is crate trained and behaves well in the house. She needs to be properly introduced to new people, which is typical for this breed in general. She is spayed, up to date with shots and ready for her forever family. She would love another playful dog in her new home. For more info, please contact Kathryn kathrynreedretzer gmail. He is crate trained and loves to be around people who will give him hugs and belly rubs. His family is full with another two fur children and a toddler with autism. While they love him dearly, they are aware they can't provide the love he needs and the two older dogs in the home don't appreciate his happy puppy energy. Holliday is currently separated from the other two dogs in the home in Yucaipa, CA and deserves to have the full attention of a loving family. Please help us find his forever home. Holliday is neutered and up to date on his shots. Please contact me at chewadore gmail. He is very smart and always up for some fun. He loves people and dogs and doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body. Walter responds very well to training and can jump very high! Agility anyone? Walter is neutered, up to date on shots and ready for his forever home. For more info on him, please click HERE. Because they need to be adopted together. Sweet, affectionate, playful and loving, Daisy and Luna will light up your world with loyalty, laughter and love. She knows several commands such as sit, shake and will roll over for belly rubs. She is good with other dogs and great at the dog park. She is eager to please and very social. Her owner is a student who realized that her living situation does not allow her to give Margot the attention she deserves. She is now being fostered with the parents and is located in Camarillo, CA. Please help us find her a forever home! Margot is spayed and has current vaccinations. There is a rehoming fee. Please contact Christine cwillingham16 yahoo. Tyson is such a gorgeous year old German Shepherd. Not only is he handsome, but he is very friendly, playful and affectionate and does well with other dogs. If you're interested in Tyson, please fill out an application for the Lovejoy Foundation here: application lovejoyfoundation. A super sweet boy, beware, you will get lots of hugs and lots of kisses! He's playful and cheeky and loves walks and playing with other dogs - medium and large. He's house trained and loves to learn new lessons -- he can sit, lay down, heel and is learning to stay. He gets along great with other dogs easily once they take a walk together. Astro was once a puppy who had a forever home where the new owner decided that no dogs would be allowed. His foster family has medical issues and he is being evicted again! Please help us find him another foster or forever home! Astro is neutered and has current vaccinations. Please contact Karen karenmaish yahoo. Gunner is a beautiful 5-year-old purebred German Shepherd. We are only re-homing Gunner due to financial burdens and are very sad at the prospect of losing him. Handsome Gunner loves hiking, going on runs, and playing fetch. Gunner is good with people, male and female, plus good with kids! He can be alpha with other dogs and protective of his pack; thus, he would do best as the only dog in the home. Someone with GSD experience would be ideal. If you are interested in Gunner, please email Rachael Rachmbulld gmail. Adopt a new best friend. By choosing to adopt, you participate in a statewide effort to provide homes for deserving and loyal German Shepherds. We cover all vet expenses and will purchase all needed supplies for your foster dog while they are in your care. Adopt a Dog Help us help future dogs. Donate your time. Campaign for fundraising. Transport dogs to their destinations. Make a difference in the German Shepherd community. Apply to volunteer with us and provide care for German Shepherds that truly need it. Apply to Volunteer We have found homes for hundreds of happy German Shepherds. Below is a list of German Shepherds that have successfully found a new home. German Shepherd adoption has changed our lives, and it can change yours, too. Bodie A friendly German Shepherd with a lovely black coat. Bodie was a lovely, personable German Shepherd that was finally adopted by a loving family after a long battle with homelessness. She also loves engaging in friendly play with cats! Jill Adopted in , Jill became a playful and positive addition to her family. Jill had previously completed behavioral training prior to adoption, making her an asset to any home. Now, she enjoys daily walks to local parks. Mesaba Once abandoned by his previous owner, Mesaba found a loving family in Georgia, who named him Mesaba after their Minnesotan roots. Mesaba now enjoys walks in the park, play time with friends, and a loving family. Giroux After previous domestic issues with cats, Giroux found a home with one of our volunteers. He now enjoys cheering up his new owner, who has previously lost a German Shepherd to age-related difficulties. Abbie After a history of neglect, Abbie was able to recover from her past trauma and find a loving and accepting home in .She now enjoys playing hide-and-find with new toys, playing in the local pond, and being part of her new family. Fletcher After abandonment from his previous owners, Fletcher was finally able to join his new and supportive family. He now enjoys long walks, lots of attention and plenty of space for personal recreation. Matilda Matilda was shy before reaching out shelter - but after some training, she was finally able to come out of her shell! She now spends time with her new family, receiving more love than she could ever imagine! Queen Adopted in , Queen is a playful and positive addition to any family. Queen had previously completed behavioral training prior to adoption, making her an asset to any home. Ike Ike is the life of the party. We are pleased to announced that after years of neglect, Ike was finally able to join a family of his own. Now, Ike enjoys playing with his new owners and enjoying a life of abundant love and affection. She was once abandoned by her previous owners, but with some care and rehabilitation, Lady was able to relocate to a loving family of her own! Schatzi Talk about playful! Schahtzi is a lovely German Shepherd that was able to join a loving family after a past of neglect. Now, she enjoys lots of exercise and good memories with his new family. See More Alumni Give in memoriam. To us, a dog is family. Every pet has a story, how they were rescued and what they meant to us. Tell us your story. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It does not store any personal data. Functional Functional Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Performance Performance Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Analytics Analytics Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Others Others Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The German Shepherd Rescue Trust is a volunteer organisation providing complete care for unwanted, abandoned, neglected and stray German Shepherd dogs and puppies while actively seeking permanent, loving homes for these homeless pets. Any health problems are also addressed while the German Shepherd is in foster care. The Rescue Trust is based in Auckland however there are many Lucky Dogs currently living in wonderful, permanent homes throughout the North and South Island. Homes Needed — we have German Shepherds ranging in age from puppies to senior dogs waiting for the ideal permanent home so if you are seeking a beautiful large breed dog as a companion simply complete our online dog Adoption Application form and we will contact you. Check out our Faces of Rescue for some great photos and rescue stories. How can you help? We are always looking for caring foster homes that are able to sometimes take dogs on short notice. Foster duration time can vary between just a couple of days, through to a couple of weeks. On the odd occasion it has been necessary to have a dog in foster care for a few months. Reasons for extended time in foster care vary, it could be just while they recuperate from being desexed, or time to get some of the abuse victims back to physical health and get them to learn to trust again. All dogs who come into GSD Rescue are vet checked, vaccinated and neutered before placement. There is a lot of travelling to check out potential homes and to transport the dog to that new home. All this costs money, which means some dogs cannot be saved due to lack of funds. If you can help us in a financial way or donate some of your time then please take a look at our Make a Donation area. We would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Our Sponsors , who help make the Rescue Trust a possibility every day. Due to the popularity of our calendars we are now taking pre-orders for next years GSD Rescue Calendar. Please do not hesitate to read our FAQs or Contact us if you have any questions, or email us directly at info gsdrescue. We are strong supporters of networking and encourage like-minded Websites to exchange Links with us. If you believe your Website meets our criteria then Submit your site for review.
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Sarah Scott is a fact checker with more than 16 years of experience in researching, writing, and editing digital and print media. She has verified and edited articles on a variety of subjects for The Spruce Pets, including pet behavior, health, and care as well as the latest trends in products for animals in the home. With proper training, they make excellent family pets because they get along with everyone and everything. Bulldogs have a whole lot of love to give. These moderately active dogs boast a quintessentially stocky build with wrinkled skin, and their coats are super soft. Want more reasons to love bulldogs? These cute faces should tell you all you need to know. Even then, they like to think that they're lapdogs. These soft-coated dogs have big heads and strong jaws that, when combined with their unwavering loyalty, make them top-notch watchdogs. Continue to 2 of 10 below. They weigh less than 30 pounds, but they make up for their small size with unabashedly bold character. One of America's most popular small dog breeds , French Bulldogs are quiet but alert, making them almost as effective as their American and English watchdog cousins. Continue to 3 of 10 below. Today, their tough appearance has earned them mascot status at California State University, Yale, and the University of Georgia. Continue to 4 of 10 below. Regular exercise will help them maintain a healthy weight. Make regular walking, hiking, or running a habit. Exercising your bulldog will keep its muscles and heart strong, increasing its lifespan while preventing problems such as hip dysplasia and heart disease. Continue to 5 of 10 below. Some bulldogs will sleep for 12 to 14 hours in 24 hours and must be encouraged to get up and engage in a bit of daily exercise. Continue to 6 of 10 below. They're ready to do whatever everyone else is doing. French bulldogs have a long history as companion dogs because of their loving, playful, and calm nature—they won't mind spending the day poolside with you. Continue to 7 of 10 below. Your bulldog will likely allow you to dress it up in a Halloween costume and birthday crown every year. Just don't be surprised if your photos capture big, wide puppy-dog eyes asking for a little mercy. Continue to 8 of 10 below. American bulldogs are fiercely loyal and love their owners to no end. They are exceptionally affectionate but can get territorial and suspicious of strangers. They'll socialize easily with everyone once proper training is enforced. Continue to 9 of 10 below. These dynamic dogs are enthusiastic companions and eager to please, offering as much loyalty as their big cousins and the protective instinct to prove it. Continue to 10 of 10 below. Stubbornness may just be a sign of intelligence since bulldogs seem well aware that they can wait out their owners. Once you have a treat in hand, your dog will likely learn and obey your every command. Article Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Pedersen, N. A genetic assessment of the English bulldog. Canine Genet Epidemiol, vol. They have goofy personalities, they crave all the love and attention we like to give, and their pint-sized nature make them the perfect on the go companions. Notorious for taking naps just about anywhere, these lil' comedians will keep you smiling day after day. And it doesn't take much to keep these easygoing pups entertained, too! Just give them a good plush toy —and of course some of their favorite treats—and they're one happy camper. While Frenchies are incredibly popular and lovable companions—owning one of these breeds usually means plenty of visits to the veterinarian. If you're considering adding a French bulldog to your family be warned they are a brachycephalic breed, which means they can have trouble breathing and are susceptible to gagging and regurgitation, exercise intolerance, and obesity. If you're having a bad day or just need a reason to smile, here are 18 pictures of French bulldogs snuggling, smiling, and sporting their best costumes. I need some fashion tips from this doll ASAP. Stop and Smell the Flowers I can't tell which view is more beautiful … harleyishandsome or the garden. Just kidding, Harley is one of the most beautiful Frenchies we've ever seen! If your dog loves sniffing flowers too, brush up on dog-safe plants, shrubs, and trees. Beep Beep! Get in loser, we're going shopping for treats! The Perfect Cuddle Buddies Something about dogs and cats cuddling just makes me tear up every. A little bit of water, some sun, lots of treats, and a bunch of hugs and kisses! This photo is transporting me to Disney World , and I'm totally here for it. Triceratops Frenchie Sorry for the mix-up. This is supposed to be an article about cute French bulldogs. This is clearly a Triceratops. Don't know how this photo snuck in here. Fin-tastic Run for your lives! Joy the shark will smother you with cuteness and kisses! If you love dogs dressed as sharks, you should check out these hilarious aquarium pups. Here are the best treats for training your dog , according to a professional dog trainer. Passion for Fashion Can someone get me the number for these dogs' stylist?! I need to look as fly as they do when I go out for happy hour. Party Animal loganouioui is clearly the life of the party. I mean, that face just screams "Let's dance all night long! Congrats on your epic stick score bulldogbuddha! But Allorathefrenchie is so darn cute in her little bow that we'll let her wear pink all day every day. Sweet Potato Dogs are actually a lot like sweet potatoes if you think about it. Both are squishy, the perfect size, and sweet in the best way! Not saying I'm totally jealous of a dog … but I'm jealous of a dog. You deserve all the bones and sun Dilla! There's so many adventures to be had buddy! Catching Some Rays Do not disturb, too busy tanning and being too adorable for words. Don't forget the doggy sunscreen mr. Was this page helpful?
However, their size and look can vary a lot depending on what kind of disorder they have and how severe it is. It is important to note that Dwarf German Shepherds may have health issues associated with their dwarfism genes, such as joint problems, hormonal issues, and spinal issues. If you do get one, they often make fantastic pets and we do adore them, but it is vital not to support any breeder who intentionally breeds dwarfs. This is not always the case there are several different ways of getting a smaller dog , but it is something to be aware of when breeders advertise unusually small dogs for higher prices. In this article, we will discuss the different causes of dwarfism and how best to care for a GSD if they happen to have it. Is a Miniature German Shepherd a Dwarf? A miniature German Shepherd is really just smaller than a typical German Shepherd. But a dwarf is a dog with genetic issues that stunted normal growth. Causes of Dwarfism in German Shepherds Pituitary Dwarfism Pituitary dwarfism is a genetic condition that affects the production of growth hormones in German Shepherds. Dogs with this condition have a small pituitary gland, which leads to insufficient growth hormone production. This results in stunted growth and other physical abnormalities such as a large head and short limbs. The condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that both parents must carry the gene for the puppy to inherit the condition. Although pituitary dwarfism is rare in German Shepherds, it is important for breeders to test their dogs for the gene to prevent the spread of the condition. If your German Shepherd puppy has pituitary dwarfism you should see the signs within the first 2 to 3 months. Stunted Growth: The dog will grow more slowly than expected and remain smaller in size. Delayed Teething: Teething may occur later than in normal puppies. Thin Coat or Hair Loss: The coat might be sparse and thin, and the puppy may even suffer from bald spots. Skin Problems: There may be various skin issues like flaking or increased pigmentation. Lack of Sexual Development: Affected dogs might not develop sexual characteristics typical of their gender. Protruding Abdomen: This might be seen as the abdomen looking distended or pot-bellied. Delayed Closure of Growth Plates: The growth plates in the bones close later than normal, affecting the overall growth of the dog. Weak Immune System: The dog may be more prone to infections and other illnesses. Behavioral Issues: Some dogs with pituitary dwarfism may display behavioral issues, often becoming lethargic or fearful. They also usually have small, fox-like faces and a shrill bark. If you suspect your German Shepherd puppy may be affected by this condition, consulting with a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment is highly advised. Chondrodysplasia Chondrodysplasia is another genetic condition that affects the development of cartilage in German Shepherds. Dogs with this condition have shorter legs and a larger head, giving them a dwarf-like appearance. The condition is caused by a mutation in the COL10A1 gene, which affects the formation of bone and cartilage. Chondrodysplasia is also inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, and breeders should test their dogs for the gene to prevent the spread of the condition. It is important to note that not all German Shepherds with short legs have chondrodysplasia, as there are other factors that can contribute to this physical characteristic. Enlarged Joints: The joints, especially in the legs, may appear larger and more pronounced. Spinal Deformities: Abnormalities in the spinal column can lead to a range of issues, including difficulty moving and pain. Facial Deformities: The skull may develop abnormally, leading to a changed appearance in the face, including a shorter snout. Difficulty Walking: Due to the shortened limbs and potential joint problems, the dog may have a noticeable limp or difficulty walking. Pain: The dog may experience chronic pain, particularly in the joints, due to the abnormal development of cartilage and bone. Slow Growth: Growth may be stunted, with puppies not growing at the expected rate. Dental Problems: There might be dental issues due to the misalignment of jaws. Respiratory Issues: Some dogs may develop breathing problems due to the abnormal development of the chest and ribcage. There may also be some overlap between the symptoms of chondrodysplasia and other forms of dwarfism, so professional veterinary evaluation is essential. Help Dogs In Need Our blog posts aim to provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information on all types of dogs, helping our readers make informed choices that fit their lifestyle. We don't endorse any specific breeding practices, but advocate for ethical breeding and dog welfare. We encourage exploring adoption first. Countless wonderful dogs, from all breeds, await their forever homes in shelters. Remember, with AdoptDontShop, you can give a deserving rescue a second chance at happiness. Understanding Chondrodysplasia vs. Chondrodystrophy in Dogs with Dwarfism Now to understand dwarfism in GSDs that is not from the pituitary gland, we need to look at something called chondrodysplasia and chondrodystrophy. Think of CDPA and CDDY as two different ways that a dog might end up with short legs and we might call them dwarfs, although it is not always true dwarfism. But once in a while, it can pop up in German Shepherds because of a hidden gene that decides to make an appearance. These discs can start to break down way too early this is called IVDD , and they might even slip out of place herniate. This is a big deal and can be painful. The different causes of Dwarfism in German Shepherds is what massively impacts what these dogs look like. Dogs with chondrodysplasia or chondrodystrophy look like normal German shepherds, but they may just have shorter legs or perhaps a shorter back. Meanwhile, dogs with pituitary dwarfism look stunted and foxlike, with patchy or thin hair. We will use three YouTube videos to get an idea of what the different types of dwarf GSDs may look like. In the video, we see a German Shepherd Puppy called Ranger that has pituitary dwarfism note that Ranger has a much fuller coat than these dogs often have : The German Shepherd Puppy Will Never Grow Up The Dodo Little But Fierce In the next video, we can see a video of a GSD with a different kind of abnormality that gives him a very short back: Finally, in the next video we see the extremely rare Mikeygus, a German Shepherd with Chondrodystrophy or chondroplasia, making him look a bit like a Corgi mix. This condition is caused by the compression of the spinal cord due to the degeneration of the intervertebral discs. Symptoms of IVDD include back pain, difficulty walking, and even paralysis. It is important to keep your dog at a healthy weight and avoid activities that put excessive strain on their back to prevent this condition. They will need hormone treatment from early on. Life Expectancy German Shepherd Dogs with pituitary dwarfism have shorter life expectancies than normal-sized dogs. On average, they live to be around 4 to 5 years old. On the other hand, German Shepherds with chondrodysplasia also have shorter life expectancies due to their susceptibility to IVDD and other health issues. However, with proper care and management of their health, these dogs can live happy and fulfilling lives, often living up to 8 to 10 years. Also, see our article on how long German Shepherds live. It is important for owners of dwarf German Shepherds to be aware of these common health issues and take proactive measures to prevent them. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian and maintaining a healthy weight can go a long way in ensuring the health and longevity of these special dogs. Care and Maintenance Dietary Requirements Dwarf German Shepherds require a well-balanced diet to stay healthy and active. The diet should consist of high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. It is recommended to feed them dry kibble made specifically for small breeds, as it is easier for them to chew and digest. It is important to avoid overfeeding a dwarf German Shepherd, as they are prone to obesity. Feeding them small meals throughout the day instead of one large meal can help prevent overeating. Providing plenty of fresh water is also essential to keep them hydrated and healthy. Exercise Needs Dwarf German Shepherds are an active breed and require regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. They enjoy going for walks, playing fetch, and other outdoor activities. It is recommended to provide them with at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, but they will benefit from more if possible. However, their exercise needs will really depend on how their dwarfism affects their health and physical ability. In addition to physical exercise, mental stimulation is also important for a dwarf German Shepherd. Providing them with puzzle toys, training sessions, and other mentally stimulating activities can help keep them engaged and prevent boredom. Overall, caring for a dwarf German Shepherd requires a commitment to providing them with a healthy diet and regular exercise. With proper care and attention, they can live a long and happy life. Visit their website here to see available dogs and learn more about their mission. Speak for the Unspoken: Based in Ohio, Speak for the Unspoken is all about giving a voice to pets with special needs. They specialize in the rescue of animals with disabilities and genetic differences. They take in medically complicated dogs, including those with dwarfism, and provide them with the care they need before finding them the perfect home. Check out their website here for more information and available adoptions. Adopting a dog with special needs can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. These organizations provide tremendous support to both the animals and their prospective owners, ensuring that each adoption is a great match and that the dogs receive the love and care they deserve. Due to their unique physical characteristics, they are prone to certain health issues that require special attention. Here are some of the common health care needs and treatments for these dogs: Pituitary Dwarfism To manage pituitary dwarfism, regular veterinary check-ups are crucial. The vet may recommend hormone replacement therapy to help the dog grow and develop normally. Chondrodysplasia Chondrodysplasia is a form of dwarfism that affects the bones and cartilage of the dog. It results in shorter legs and a shorter stature. This condition can also cause joint problems, such as hip dysplasia, and respiratory issues. To manage chondrodysplasia, regular veterinary check-ups are necessary. Additionally, surgery may be required to correct joint problems. Make sure they stay on life-long canine joint supplements. Overall, it is important to provide proper healthcare and treatment for Dwarf German Shepherds to ensure they live a healthy and happy life. Positive reinforcement techniques work best with this breed. Consistency is key when training a Dwarf German Shepherd, as hormone issues can lead to other problems, like lethargy or behavioral problems. It is important to establish yourself as the leader early on in the training process. Also see how to potty train German Shepherds. Using treats and praise to reward good behavior is effective. Punishing bad behavior is not recommended, as it can lead to fear and anxiety in the dog. Instead, redirect their attention to a more appropriate behavior. Dwarf German Shepherds are intelligent and eager to please, making them quick learners. Training sessions should be short and frequent to keep the dog engaged and motivated. They need to be exposed to different people, animals, and environments to prevent fear and aggression. Early socialization is recommended, starting from a young age. Introducing the dog to new experiences gradually is important. This can be done through puppy classes, playdates with other dogs, and walks in different environments. Positive interactions with other animals and people will help the dog develop good social skills. It is important to supervise interactions with other dogs and animals, especially during the early stages of socialization. In conclusion, training and socialization are important aspects of owning a Dwarf German Shepherd. Positive reinforcement techniques and early socialization are key to raising a well-behaved and social dog. Is there a Miniature German Shepherd? Many people love the German Shepherd breed for their loyalty, intelligence, and versatility. However, some may prefer a smaller version of this breed, perhaps due to limited living space or a preference for smaller dogs. This has led some to wonder if a miniature German Shepherd exists. Despite some claims by breeders and sellers, there is no such thing as a true miniature German Shepherd. The breed standard for German Shepherds, established by the American Kennel Club AKC , specifies a height range of inches for males and inches for females. Any dog that falls outside of this range cannot be considered a purebred German Shepherd. Some breeders may attempt to create a smaller version of the breed by breeding smaller German Shepherds together or by crossing them with other small dog breeds. However, deliberately breeding smaller dogs can result in significant health problems and is not recognized by the AKC as a legitimate breed. So, it is important to be cautious when considering purchasing a dog that is marketed as a miniature German Shepherd. These dogs may be the result of unethical breeding practices or may be a mix of several breeds, making it difficult to predict their temperament and health issues. Perhaps the best smaller German Shepherds are really mixed breeds. These two dogs may look similar, and a Malinois by look like a miniature German Shepherd, but they are usually far more intense military grade working dogs and they are not good dogs for the average pet parent. In conclusion, while there is no such thing as a true miniature German Shepherd, there are other small dog breeds that may share some physical and personality traits with the German Shepherd. It is important to do thorough research and choose a reputable breeder or rescue organization when looking to add a new furry friend to your family. The average lifespan of a dwarf German Shepherd with pituitary dwarfism is 4 to 5 years. German Shepherds with chondrodysplasia may live as long as 8 to 10 years, unless their lifespan is cut short by a debilitating complication like IVDD. What is the price range for a dwarf German Shepherd? The price range for a dwarf German Shepherd varies depending on the breeder and location. Ethically, these dogs should not cost much as they are dogs with a disability that need special care and may have high vet bills. Try not to support these breeders, but by all means, do adopt a dwarf if you find it, as they are still rewarding and wonderful pets. How big do pocket shepherds typically get? Pocket shepherds, also known as dwarf German Shepherds, typically weigh between 25 to 50 pounds and stand around 12 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. However their size and weight differs drastically depending on the type and severity of dwarfism. What is the difference between a dwarf German Shepherd and a miniature German Shepherd? There is no official breed standard for a miniature German Shepherd. However, it is important to note that a true miniature German Shepherd does not exist, and any dog marketed as such may be a mixed breed or the result of selective breeding. Final Thoughts In conclusion, the Dwarf German Shepherd is a unique dog that offers many benefits to potential owners. While they may be smaller in size, they make up for it with their loyal and sweet nature. They are highly intelligent and trainable, making them an ideal choice for those looking for a companion that can also serve as a working dog. One of the most appealing aspects of the Dwarf German Shepherd is its adaptability. They can thrive in a variety of living situations, from apartments to large homes with yards. They are also well-suited for families with children and can be trained to be gentle and patient with them. However, with proper care and attention, these issues can be minimized. Overall, the Dwarf German Shepherd is an excellent choice for those looking for a loyal and intelligent companion that can also serve as a working dog. They are adaptable, trainable, and make great family pets. Tamsin De La Harpe Author Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions. Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs. Got Questions? I wondered if you could buy a German Shepherd, which stayed as cute as a puppy — forever. German Shepherds can be small. However, they likely suffer from pituitary dwarfism , a rare genetic condition. I can see why it can get confusing. However, this article is solely about the dwarf German Shepherd, and I have to warn you what you will learn may break your heart. It occurs primarily in the German Shepherd breed and its relatives, for example, the Saarloos Wolfdog and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. So what exactly is the pituitary gland? This is a pea-sized endocrine gland found at the base of the brain and plays a significant role in regulating vital body functions and general well-being. Pituitary dwarfism associated with growth hormone deficiency in German Shepherd dogs has been seen for decades, and dwarfs are born worldwide. However, the condition has been reported to have recently spread quite rapidly in Europe, and this is for two reasons: Through the breeding of unsuspected carriers. The problem is that German Shepherds that are carriers of the recessive gene do not have any visible symptoms, so the reputable breeder would be none the wiser. Unscrupulous breeders realized that they could sell a small German Shepherd more expensively if they tried to pass it off as a smaller version of a purebred. This is also the main reason for the confusion between a German Shepherd suffering from dwarfism and the Miniature German Shepherd crossbreed. Other Causes of Pituitary Dwarfism We have learned that pituitary dwarfism in dogs is caused by the lack of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland due to a genetic disorder. But what else can cause dog dwarfism? Tumor Cysts Infection These other causes are also due to the lack of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Is Dwarfism Common in German Shepherds? Dwarfism is common in German Shepherds 2 to 6 months old when symptoms of slow growth will be evident. No studies have confirmed the actual percentage of dwarf German Shepherds. Other susceptible breeds are Border Collies, Labradors, and Weimaraners. Pituitary dwarfism in German Shepherds must be taken very seriously when breeding as this is an incurable incapacitating disease that we could easily prevent. As long as mating between two mutated gene carriers is stopped, no dwarf German Shepherds will be born. It is one of the few tests available for genetic conditions. I discovered that in the Netherlands, Dutch law now compels German Shepherd dog breeders to use this genetic testing. If this DNA test were mandatory for all German Shepherd breeding and the implementation of a correct breeding policy, then pituitary dwarfism would be completely eradicated. Unfortunately, screening all potential German Shepherd breeding is impracticable and seldom happens. You could also argue that screening is unnecessary due to the low prevalence of the disease, even though we have the statistics for the number of carriers. Some of the ones that survive are often sold, sometimes before the condition is recognized. There is also the cruel breeding practice whereby unscrupulous breeders operating puppy farms often called puppy mills care more about profits than puppies. I found this sad little story of a rescued puppy from a commercial breeding facility in Indiana, whereby a German Shepherd puppy was suffering from dwarfism. Signs of a German Shepherd suffering from dwarfism are their slow growth rate, which usually becomes evident in puppies between weeks old. They will keep their puppy coat for longer in their first year until they eventually go bald. The head and lower legs usually remain with fur. Dwarf puppies will retain their puppy coat for much longer than healthier littermates. However, they will lose the coat in their first year as the dog suffers from alopecia and will become bald, except for the head and lower legs. Pituitary dwarfism in German Shepherds is a severe illness, and clinical signs are not limited to physical appearance. There are also many other hidden problems that a dwarf German Shepherd may suffer. These are some of the severe symptoms: Bacterial skin infections due to alopecia. Renal failure due to underdeveloped liver and kidneys. Cardiovascular problems. Slow and dull intelligence to an underactive thyroid gland. Undescended testes in male dogs. Small testes and penis in male dogs. Irregular or absent heat cycles in females. Neurological symptoms due to abnormal cervical vertebrae. Secondary Hypothyroidism underactive thyroid gland. Delayed dental eruption. Puppies often have a shrill bark. It may have the appearance of a fox. According to the University of Utrecht, without proper treatment, the long-term survival rate of German Shepherds with dwarfism is poor, and many will not live to more than 3 to 4 years of age. Although your German Shepherd may be displaying obvious visible signs of dwarfism, the diagnosis of pituitary dwarfism in dogs is via endocrine tests blood and urine. Imaging tests may also be conducted to check for cysts. Treatment New methods of treating dwarfs have also become available in the last few years, mostly involving replenishing the missing hormones. There is no canine growth hormone, but these are some other options available: Porcine pig growth hormone. This is expensive, and the results differ. These are steroidal drugs that stimulate the production of growth hormones. Thyroid hormones, e. However, results vary. Sadly there is no treatment to cure them. Note: Be cautious about potential impacts when different breeds are allowed to breed for aesthetic reasons. Final Thoughts Suppose you came here looking for a miniature German Shepherd, and this article has melted your heart. In that case, you can contact The Saartje Foundation in the Netherlands to help adopt and rehome a dwarf German Shepherd. Please be aware that it will involve a potentially very high cost because the dog has particular health needs. You can also contact them confidentially if you have a dwarf dog that you feel you cannot keep, as the foundation has a small number of experienced people in various countries willing to give a dwarf a new home. Related Posts You May Like:. They were initially bred as herding and guard dogs. There are no official records of when pituitary dwarfism first appeared in German Shepherds. Dwarf German Shepherds are linked with faulty breeding techniques employed by puppy mills or backyard breeders. Image Credit: Werner B. They have built a reputation for being loyal, loving, and hard-working. They form strong bonds with their humans and thrive in family life. German Shepherds are versatile working dogs, naturally vigilant and protective, with a strong sense of responsibility. They excel as guard dogs and have been used by the military and police as service, search, and rescue dogs. Most dogs with pituitary dwarfism are euthanized and do not reach their fifth birthdays. The stunted growth of the dwarf German Shepherd is one of the most noticeable traits of this dog. However, their problems go much deeper than just their size. Dwarf German Shepherds suffer from severe growth issues, such as the abnormal development of the joints, spine, and bones. As a result, they risk experiencing pain and instability throughout their lives. Some dogs also go on to experience paralysis in their lifetime. They Suffer From Many Health Problems Dwarf German Shepherds can develop coat and skin problems; their soft puppy coat will shed, but they rarely develop an adult coat, and their skin becomes rough and scaly. They can also suffer from secondary hypothyroidism and renal failure. The hormonal abnormalities might also result in temperamental and behavioral problems such as aggression and extreme separation anxiety. They Can Be Pricey While not many owners go out looking to purchase a dwarf German Shepherd, some breeders might unscrupulously sell you one and advertise it as a miniature German Shepherd. They Have to Receive Treatment Pituitary dwarfism is treated with hormone therapy, and it is necessary if your dog is to live beyond adolescence. Thyroid and growth hormone treatments are also recommended. They Can Lead Fulfilling, Happy Lives Despite everything they go through, these dogs are exactly like any other dog; they love their families and are utterly devoted to their owners. Dwarf German Shepherds are unique dogs that require a special type of care from their owners. They have many health and behavioral problems that can make their care challenging, and their lives are short and sometimes filled with pain. There are treatments available, but they are still in their infancy. They need a very special person to provide the life they deserve, for however long that life may be. Conclusion The dwarf German Shepherd is a beautiful dog that looks like a puppy for their entire life. Behind this adorable exterior lie years of treatment and pain. They can be challenging to own, but dogs with dwarfism can lead full lives as long as their families know exactly what to expect. Related Reads:. Breed Info Dwarf German Shepherds are definitely eye-catching. But what causes dwarfism in these dogs and how does it affect their lives? Just like humans, dogs can have a condition called pituitary dwarfism. This is a genetic issue that affects the pituitary gland, which is a vital organ that balances hormones and regulates critical processes within the body. Among the most obvious effects of this condition is stunted growth. You can easily tell a Dwarf German Shepherd from an average one because it stops growing at about half of its typical adult size. However, dwarfism affects much more than size in dogs. Dwarf GSDs often suffer from a variety of serious health issues, which lead to a short life expectancy. Dwarfism is not a disease that dogs contract. Rather, dogs are born with the condition caused by the genes they inherit from their parents. This may not be apparent until the lack of growth is observed. In humans as well as in dogs, pituitary dwarfism is a genetic disorder caused by a recessive gene. Neither parent needs to be a dwarf to produce a dwarf GSD. However, both parents need to carry this gene to produce offspring with this condition. For clarity, you can use A to represent the dominant gene of a GSD with properly functioning pituitary glands and a to represent the recessive gene associated with dwarfism. Dogs that will develop as dwarves will have the aa combination. So, dwarf German Shepherds are usually produced by mating two dogs that are carriers of this gene. For this reason, they are, thankfully, not very common. Despite the fact that they are not very common, they still do exist and breeders need to take responsible steps to prevent the occurrence of dwarfism in their litters. Doing so can eventually eradicate pituitary dwarfism from the GSD gene pool entirely. The only way to reliably prevent the production of dwarf German Shepherds is to test both potential parents before they are allowed to mate. Two dogs with the recessive gene should not be allowed to mate. However, it is typically unnecessary, as you will notice the effects of the condition at an early age. A dwarf GSD will stop growing while others in the same litter experience a growth spurt. Your veterinarian should also recognize the symptoms. Dwarf German Shepherds stop growing at around months of age. Because of this stunted growth, GSDs with dwarfism grow to about pounds. Without this genetic condition, these dogs generally grow up to 90 pounds, some even over pounds. However, this issue goes much deeper than just its size. They are not merely small but actually suffer from real growth issues like abnormal development of their spine, bones, and joints. Because of this, they are much more likely to experience instability and pain. Many will also develop some form of paralysis in their lifetime. Apart from growth problems, dwarf German Shepherds will experience skin and coat issues. They will shed most of their soft puppy coat but will rarely ever develop into their adult coat. Their skin also becomes scaly. Additionally, the adult teeth of dwarf GSD may grow too late or not at all. Their organs—including reproductive organs—may not form or may form to be abnormal. Dwarfism affects German Shepherds not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. Many dogs that have this condition are extremely temperamental due to the hormonal imbalance it causes. In some cases, they develop aggressive behaviors. Throughout their short lives, they are usually treated with artificial hormones and medication that should help manage the symptoms of their condition. Because it is such an undesirable condition, it would be difficult to find a dwarf German Shepherd to buy. Most are put to sleep as soon as symptoms become apparent. Nevertheless, not all people believe that euthanizing dwarf GSDs is the more humane option. Some will try to save them and give them the necessary support so they may have the best possible quality of life until they pass on naturally. Even in these cases, they are rarely ever put up for sale. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous pet shops that will still sell dwarf GSDs either to unwitting buyers or those who were drawn to the uniqueness of dogs with this condition. Although they might be cheaper to buy, they will cost much more to maintain due to the veterinary expenses they will incur throughout their lifetime. Are Dwarf German Shepherds Purebred? Yes, German Shepherds with dwarfism are purebred. Two purebred parents produce dwarf German Shepherds, although they are both carriers of the dwarf gene. Therefore, all their offspring—dwarf or not—are purebred. However, the dwarf offspring will be undesirable or unsuitable for mating. The American Kennel Club is a registry for purebred dogs. Neither would they be healthy enough to excel at canine sports and title recognition programs. No, puppies typically sold as mini German Shepherds are not dwarves but mixed breeds. These dogs generally live long and healthy lives. In contrast, dwarf German Shepherds are purebred but suffer from the genetic condition that severely affects their health and lifespan. Final Thoughts Caring for a dwarf German Shepherd can certainly be challenging. Not only do they require more medical attention than the average GSD but they also live much shorter lives. Hopefully, over time, this defect will be wiped out from the breeding pool and no dog would have to suffer from it. Dwarf German Shepherds can have a range of health issues. As Antagene explains, pituitary dwarfism is not a benign condition that simply results in a smaller than normal German Shepherd dog. It is a condition that is linked to a problem with the pituitary gland where the gland itself fails to grow and develop properly. It controls the activities of other glands in the endocrine system and that in turn controls growth throughout the body. The pituitary gland and its subordinate glands secrete important hormones that tell the other parts of the body what to do and how much to grow and when to stop growing. And many important functions such as metabolism and reproduction also do not happen as they should. This is basically what is happening when a German Shepherd dog inherits pituitary dwarfism. As Merck Veterinary Manual explains, pituitary dwarfism is considered to be a juvenile-onset canine disease. In other words, it starts in puppyhood. There are two main reasons why the pituitary gland may stop forming properly in puppyhood. The first reason is that the growth is paused because of a tumor forms on the gland itself. The second reason is that the gland itself simply does not form properly. Pituitary dwarfism affects more German Shepherd dogs than any other dog breed, although certain other breeds may occasionally develop the condition as well. Pituitary dwarfism can affect male and female German Shepherd puppies equally. What Happens to a Dwarf German Shepherd? There are a number of concerning health impacts to watch for when a German Shepherd puppy is born with pituitary dwarfism. The condition is visible very early in life — usually by the age of two months old. In most cases, the puppy is not expected to live any longer than five years old and may pass at a younger age. Two to three months old The German Shepherd puppy starts to slow down in their growth. This becomes visible around the age of two months as littermates keep getting bigger and the dwarf German Shepherd puppy stops growing at an equal pace. Three months to one year old The dwarf German Shepherd puppy does not shed out the puppy coat like their littermates but retains the soft puppy coat. The coat may become increasingly sparse and, in time, shed out somewhat, but the adult coat does not grow in. Rather, the skin becomes scaly and blackened. The coat that remains if any is still soft like the puppy coat. In most cases, the puppy will retain a larger amount of fur only on the head and hocks. The puppy teeth may or may not fall out but the adult teeth often fail to grow in. If they do come in, they will be late. For male puppies, the reproductive organs will be smaller than normal and the testes may not form properly or descend. For female puppies, the first heat cycle may be delayed or prevented. One year to four years old Even with a life expectancy that is typically five years or less, a dwarf German Shepherd puppy can easily take up to four years to finish what growing they can do. Significant neurological and spinal issues can be present due to the failure of the spinal column to form normally, especially in the first two vertebras in the upper cervical spine. Another unfortunate side effect of pituitary dwarfism in German Shepherd dogs is anxiety or aggression. Vice tells the true story of a litter of six GSD puppies, of which three were born with the condition. Dwarf GSDs that develop either of these conditions can behave in very aggressive ways towards people and other animals. Pituitary dwarfism is what is called an inherited genetic autosomal recessive disorder. What this means in simple language is that both German Shepherd parent dogs must contribute a copy of the gene in order for a puppy to have a chance of inheriting pituitary dwarfism. The fact that the incidence of pituitary dwarfism in the German Shepherd dog breed today is estimated to be as high as 20 percent is telling. Many German Shepherd dogs are carriers of the disease. However, as the Veterinary Information Network VIN explains, there is a pre-breeding genetic screening test that can take a blood draw and detect whether a potential parent dog is a carrier of the gene. If the dog is verified as a carrier, that dog should not be bred. This is the only reliable way to prevent a puppy from inheriting pituitary dwarfism. These types of breeders are much less likely to take the time and go to the expense of having pre-breeding genetic screening tests performed before permitting their dogs to mate. Even if a breeder is absolutely sure their dog comes from a purebred lineage that does not carry the gene, as this Vice story illustrates, it is still vital to have the pre-screening health test performed. German Shepherd puppies that have pituitary dwarfism are likely to suffer from a wide variety of health issues throughout their short lifespans. However, not every puppy that is a dwarf German Shepherd will necessarily have the exact same set of health symptoms. To that point, a puppy that receives expert veterinary care and appropriate treatment is likely to experience less severe health symptoms along the way. There is no cure for pituitary dwarfism in any dog breed. But there are treatments that can ease symptoms and in some measure supplement the vital hormones that the malformed pituitary gland is not producing naturally. According to GSD Pituitary Dwarfism, there are two ways that pituitary dwarfism can show up in a dog. The dog is a genetic carrier only When a dog is a genetic carrier of pituitary dwarfism only, this means that dog received only one copy of the recessive gene for the condition. But carriers, even though they do not show any signs or symptoms of the disease itself, they can pass it on to their puppies if the other parent dog also is a carrier and also passes the gene on to a puppy. The dog has active pituitary dwarfism When a dog gets two copies of the pituitary dwarfism gene, that is when you will see the health symptoms that we addressed earlier in this article. Not only is it likely that a dwarf German Shepherd puppy will grow up to be sterile not able to breed but these dogs should never be permitted to breed. Because dogs that inherit pituitary dwarfism have malformed and malfunctioning pituitary glands, the primary treatment involves supplementing the missing hormones with artificial sources. By supplementing with artificial synthetic versions of some of the missing hormones, a dog with pituitary dwarfism may have less severe symptoms of the condition. As ResearchGate explains, treating dwarf GSD puppies with synthetic thyroid hormones can help ease symptoms and promote the growth of the coat and adult teeth. However, it is important to note that supplementing with synthetic hormones can also introduce side effects that may cause further discomfort to the dog. Skin conditions, hot spots, and cysts are some of the many side effects associated with these therapies. Another treatment that can somewhat promote more normal growth is to delay the spay or neuter procedure. However, to avoid any risk that the dwarf GSD might inadvertently mate with another dog and pass along the condition, the owner must be willing to be extra-vigilant about keeping the dog away from other intact dogs. As well, by choosing to delay the spay or neuter procedure , an intact dwarf German Shepherd dog that develops severe anxiety or aggression may have even worse bouts of these symptoms, which could present a danger to the owner as well as the community. Daily Life With a Dwarf German Shepherd Dog More than a few dwarf German Shepherd dogs have garnered significant followings on social media for their cute perpetually puppy-like appearance. This has helped to raise awareness of pituitary dwarfism in dogs as well. With careful breeding, pituitary dwarfism in GSD dogs can be prevented. You can watch him running and playing and snuggling and doing all the things German Shepherd dogs do. While his condition, pituitary dwarfism, is rare in most species, it affects up to 20 percent of all German Shepherd dogs according to the Saartje Foundation.
There is 1 males and 1 female available. They have age appropriate shots and deworming come with full AKC registration and are ready to go. Mom and dad are on site as they are our pets. Text or email if interested. He currently weights 27 pounds and has a lot of potential. He Has his booster shot and is a very healthy dog. Vaccines, dewormed, and health certificate available. Mom and dad are both AKC registered. These are very smart dogs, active companions, and natural protectors. Cash in hand, Zelle, Cashapp, and Venmo accepted -- Message me for more information. Puppies are Veterinarian checked vaccinated and dewormed Health clearances habe been complketed on xxxxxxx. Zelle, Cashapp and Venmo accepted. He just turned 6 months old a few days ago. His shots are up to date. He is amazing with kids! He was purchased from a pet store in June. Unfortunately, my family is moving as we are unable to provide him the home he deserves. Price is negotiable. I'm really just looking for the best fit in a home for these puppies because they're going to need the attention in order to be the perfect dog. Very playful, loves to eat, great temperament, microchip, dewormed, registrable with the American Kennel Club. We are located in Davie FL. Only cash or Zelle accepted. More info to xxx-xxx-xxxx. House trained.View Detail Full White german shepherd Im looking for a great home for my all white german shepherd 15mths old, had him since he was 4 mths old. I can no linger take care of him due to my busy schedule so looking for someone that really love dogs to take him. He is a very friendly dog, not aggressive at all but very smart! He is very easy to train and listens. LOVES to play! Up to date with all his vaccines. He can be a breeder. He is a male and not fixed. View Detail 11 month old German shepherd available Male Black and Tan German shepherd, unaltered, up to date on vaccines and microchipped you have to set up the microchip with your info, I have all documents for him. Just bought the dog but working now out of town. Call xxxxxxxxxx for more info. German Shepherd Puppies are lovingly home raised and socialized at our modern 5 acre park like Kennel Facility in Florida Miami. These are just a few words that describe our German shepherds. Life with a German Shepherd is a joy that one must experience to appreciate and understand, and the intelligence of these great dogs must be seen to be believed. AKC Registered Puppies In Fort Lauderdale Our dogs have provided countless individuals and families with a loyal pet that has a high aptitude, as well as the ability to provide protection. Each of the German shepherd puppies we have for sale are AKC registered and come from a superior lineage. Notably, our German Shepherds go through rigorous testing to qualify for breeding, as our dogs are bred with top sires that have at least a V or VA show rating. German Shepherds are well known for their character and temperament. Poised and confident, our pups are faithful and intelligent companions. They are also great protection dogs, as many safeguard homes, property or livestock. Our breeding program has earned the the highest level of accomplishments that a kennel in the United States can achieve. All of our German Shepherds come with a written guarantee and have been vet-checked, socialized, vaccinated to date, temperament-tested by a professional dog trainer, and above all, have been very much loved. Our German Shepherds are gorgeous Black and Red color, big boned, and correct structure. This price is determined by the size of the puppy, and includes the flight ticket, pre-flight vet exam, a crate the perfect size for your puppy, and travel to the airport. Every year we hand select dogs to add to our breeding program to improve the breed. Breeding top producing west German Sieger show Line German Shepherds is number one in producing quality German Shepherd puppies for sale. Being a German Shepherd dog breeder requires breeding high quality German Shepherds from some of the top rated German Shepherds in Germany They are superior in health with parents being x-rayed with clear hips and elbows by the OFA or the SV. These German shepherd litters of puppies for sale will make great companion dogs as well as excellent conformation, show and working dogs. Their inclination towards making their masters happy, their mental soundness and their high degree of intelligence have made this dog a successful working dog and masterpiece companion for their owners. Our breeding male shepherds are from top pedigrees. You can also visit us on our Facebook page to see recent news. Visit our website, at any moment you may feel you need more information than what we supply here feel free to Contact Us. Our main goal is to produce dogs that will become very special to you. Contact Us with any questions you have about our puppies or anything else. NEW Customers, sign up here! Shepherd Help and Rescue Effort, Inc. We work tirelessly to save these regal dogs from high kill shelters throughout the South Florida region. Many of the dogs we rescue are scheduled to be euthanized or have special needs that require medical treatment such as heartworm disease or orthopedic issues from traumatic injuries. Support for S. See all the Dogs! Gia is a very sweet, approx. She may not be a pure-bred GSD, but what she lacks in breed distinction, she makes up for with her winning personality and unwavering l.When the owner was contacted by authorities, they didn't want her and surrendered her to us here at SHARE. She is d.Bear is a working line shepherd and needs an experienced handler. He will do best with a home that understands that he's not super social with s.The organizations charitable tax ID number is .A copy of the official registration CH and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free, within the state, HELP-FLA. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.
This comes at no extra cost to you. At three months of age, Golden Retriever puppies get a little more confident, mischievous, and, of course, bigger! As a puppy parent, you might have lots of questions about your three-month-old Golden. Is this normal? Am I handling this the right way? Should I be doing something differently? At three months old, a puppy is feeling more settled in their new home. They are experts at identifying patterns and routines, and are understanding how things work around the house. You may notice increased confidence and curiosity around the house, as exploration can be fun for sixteen-week-old Golden Retrievers. This confidence boost may also come with more antics, like shredding the toilet paper in the bathroom and pulling down your nice throw pillows to wrestle with. You might observe that your three-month-old puppy has more energy than they did last month, as well. At this age, they also have better control of their bodies and are more coordinated, as opposed to when they were a two-month-old puppy. You may notice that they are running faster, jumping higher, and tackling obstacles like stairs. At three months old, a pup is still in the critical socialization window. What your puppy learns and experiences between three and sixteen weeks of age helps set a precedent for the rest of their life. Providing them with positive educational experiences with the sights, sounds, and experiences they will encounter as an adult dog is extremely important during this time. Avoid scary and stressful experiences with a three-month-old Golden Retriever puppy , as those can leave lasting negative associations resulting in a fearful or anxious dog. Remember that a pup at this age is still so young and needs lots of patient guidance as they grow into their adult self. Three-Month-Old Golden Retriever Puppy Size Most three-month-old Goldens will weigh between 15 and 35 pounds, but each puppy is a unique individual so there could be some that fall outside that range. Female puppies tend to be smaller than males, but there are exceptions to that rule. They will be growing a lot this month, so you may notice those legs getting longer by the day! Their cute little snout may also get a little longer as they develop. Golden Retrievers can have a variety of builds and sizes, so your vet can help you make sure that your puppy is at an appropriate weight if you have any concerns. With all that growing comes the need for a lot of sleep. Sixteen-week-old Golden Retrievers need about 18 hours of sleep a day. As much as possible, let your puppy sleep as much as they choose. At this age, they may not always be the best at settling themselves down for a nap even though they really need rest. Sometimes puppies can get overly tired and become super wild and bitey — puppy tornado mode! This is when your puppy needs you to step in and help them get the sleep they need. Utilizing a crate or pen is super helpful for this as it limits their options and promotes settling in for a nap. Set up the crate or pen so it has a comfy place for them to snooze. You can also offer them something like a bully stick or a stuffed kong to work on while they drift off to sleep. Many three-month-old puppies do well when the crate is covered, which cuts down on visual stimulation. You can also drape an old bed sheet over the panels of a pen to give the same effect. If your puppy struggles to settle, you can sit near their crate or pen, as your presence is a comfort to them. If you notice your pup curling up for a nap, you can pick them up and put them in their pen or crate. Behavior issues like excessive chewing , biting , barking and just general hyperactivity can come from lack of sleep. Ensuring that your puppy gets enough uninterrupted sleep is very important for their physical, mental, and behavioral wellbeing. If you got your puppy when they were two months of age, you may now notice that your three-month-old Golden seems to have more energy. With all that puppy energy, you might think that you need to wear your puppy out with exercise. While puppies certainly do need exercise, be careful not to overdo it. Exercise should be guided by the puppy. That means letting them set the pace and duration of exercise. Three-month-old Golden Retrievers do not yet have the physical and mental stamina for structured exercise like long leashed walks. Instead, short, easygoing walks are great at this stage. Think of walks more as adventures! Instead of trying to walk a certain route or distance, set an amount of time for the walk. Ten to twenty minutes is probably sufficient at this age. Free play is also a great outlet for exercise for three-month-old Golden Retrievers. Indoor playtime with toys is also a fun way for active pups to burn some of that puppy energy. Avoid long games of fetch, as the repetitive nature of the game can be hard on their growing bodies. Finally, getting your puppy out in nature is a great way to get them some exercise while also providing lots of mental stimulation. Historically, Golden Retrievers were bred to spend a lot of time outdoors in the fields with their owners. Our modern-day Goldens still absolutely adore getting outside in nature, and puppies are no exception. I recommend putting your puppy on a well-fitting, non-restrictive harness , and a fifteen or twenty feet biothane long line. This longer leash allows your puppy to explore more freely and makes pulling the leash less likely. Keep these outings short, and let your puppy take breaks as needed. It sounds a bit silly, but it can be easy to forget that a puppy is not a human! Keeping this in mind helps you stay patient as you teach your new best friend the ways of the world. One of the most important things for a puppy to learn is how to be alone. Even if you work from home, you have to run errands, hang out with friends and family, and go to doctor appointments. Using a crate or pen, or gating off a small space, is invaluable, as leaving a three-month-old Golden Retriever loose in your house would likely be a disaster! This e-book walks you through all the steps to teach your puppy how to be comfortable with confinement and being left home alone. Potty training will also be an ongoing process, so keep at it with your puppy this month. Just a few minutes every day is enough to start building some great skills with your puppy. You may also notice that some days your puppy has more energy, and on other days they are more relaxed. With their growing bodies comes a bigger appetite! Most three-month-old Golden Retrievers eat about two cups of food a day, split over three meals. As always, each puppy is a unique individual and so some puppies may eat more or less than that amount each day. Some days your puppy may eat all their food, and some days they may leave a little in the bowl, though Goldens are known to be chowhounds so your puppy might scarf down each and every meal. It can be really fun for both you and your puppy to feed meals in more creative ways. There are lots of toys available that make mealtime more mentally and physically enriching. You have to feed your puppy, so why not burn some puppy energy in the process! Here are some favorites:. Your new furry friend has a lot of growing to do, and you probably have a lot of questions. Your Golden Retriever puppy will go through a number of developmental stages throughout their first twelve weeks. Male Golden Retrievers generally weigh between 65 and 75 pounds and stand from 23 to 24 inches tall. Females are generally smaller weighing between 55 to 65 pounds, and will grow to stand .At 4 months, your Golden Retriever puppy will reach about half their adult height. When it comes to mental development, it can take even longer than that before the Golden Retriever is fully mature. However, every puppy is a unique individual, and these are merely milestone guidelines. Disparities exist between the working and show Goldens, as well as between males and females. Golden Retriever puppy growth can also be quite sporadic. As an overall average, many Golden Retriever puppies will weigh just approximately 1. Golden Retrievers are classified as a gundog breed, and these dogs are often divided into those bred for show and those meant for work. However, the body of the show Golden is typically larger, taller, heavy-boned, and fuller in the chest. Small Parents Like people, puppies inherit physical traits from their parents. And even puppies from the same litter can vary in size. Neither of these scenarios is healthy for a puppy. Larger breeds like the Golden Retriever are more at risk for growth disorders than small breed dogs. This article will give you a lot more information on how much to feed, what to feed, and how often to feed a Golden Retriever puppy. Illness and Puppy Growth If a puppy has been seriously ill for a prolonged period, it may affect their ability to grow normally. However, once the puppy is free of worms, they should continue to grow at a normal rate. The best way to determine if your puppy is too thin or too fat is by how he looks and feels. When looking at your puppy from above, he should have a noticeable waistline. Another way to tell is by putting your hands on either side of his ribcage. You should be able to feel his ribs using a gentle pressure. But if his ribs are visible, he could be underweight. Obesity is a huge problem for many dog breeds. Although there are ways to make your puppy grow bigger, this is not something you should attempt. It could also mean you end up with a fat puppy. One of the best ways to ensure your puppy has a long, healthy life is to ensure he stays at an optimal weight. Hip and elbow dysplasia and other musculoskeletal disorders are associated with excess weight in larger breeds. Having your dog neutered at a young age can also cause them to grow taller. The problem is, this can also cause abnormalities in joint formation. Neutering also makes Golden Retrievers more at risk for certain types of cancers. Typically it will take approximately 18 months for your Golden Retriever to become an adult dog. Even though they can reach their full height at anywhere from 9 to 12 months, it will usually take them longer to fill out to their full weight. Remember that there are wide variations in size within the Golden Retriever breed. If this is the case, you should contact your veterinarian to seek advice. Beginning the puppy development stages before birth Puppy development stages week by week Amazingly, in a way the puppy development stages begin before your dog is even born. Your puppy spends approximately 9 weeks developing inside his Mom. The mother dog has a womb or uterus, that has two long tubes, and the puppies grow in a row along each tube rather like peas in a pod. The puppies are joined to their mother by a placenta which provides all the nourishment they need for those few weeks. To begin with, the puppies have plenty of room to move but they grow fast and as the time for birth draws near they are packed in quite tightly. The one week old puppy Your puppy is born fully furred but with his eyes and ears closed so he cannot hear or see. His front feet are strong and he can pull himself towards his mother with them. He can cry if he is uncomfortable and his mother will respond to his cries by moving him towards her and licking him. Your puppy spends most of his time sleeping or suckling. He cannot regulate his own body temperature and needs his mother for heat, or an artificial heat source. In the first week to ten days of his life your puppy grows rapidly and will double his birth weight. His forelegs are getting much stronger. She licks the puppies bottoms to stimulate a bowel or bladder movement and eats the result. There is no cleaning up for the breeder to do yet. The breeder will begin to handle the puppies more though, and get them used to human contact. She will worm the puppies for the first time at the end of this week. Puppies begin to get their personalities. Your puppy can stand and sit up by the end of the week. Tails can be wagged, ears will be completely open and puppies start play growling and interacting with their littermates. Your puppy can regulate his body temperature more effectively and will start to cut his first teeth in preparation for weaning. The front teeth, canines and incisors are cut first. Toward the end of the week he may have his first tiny taste of puppy food. They also start to move away from the sleeping area to empty their bowels and bladder. They may try to climb out of the whelping box. If she lives indoors, she may rejoin the family for more of each day. Your puppy will cut his back teeth and the breeder will get weaning underway this week and by the end of it, your puppy will be getting quite a bit of his nourishment from puppy food. She will also worm the puppies a second time. If the mother is allowed near the puppies after she has been fed, she may regurgitate her dinner for them. This is completely natural and normal. He is a proper little dog. Rolling around with his brothers and sisters and playing with toys. Teething toys, puppy Kongs, balls and rope toys are big favorites with puppies. He can bark too and some puppies can be quite noisy at this age! He chases after his mother whenever she appears and suckles hungrily, but she is starting to get fed up with it, and may be reluctant to feed her brood for very long. His mother is teaching him not to bite too hard. If he lives in outdoor kennels he should spend part of each day indoors with the family. By the end of the sixth week, most are fully weaned, and eating five or six little meals of puppy food each day. Socialization must begin in earnest. He is now two months old and ready for his new life. It is the time during which they become fearful of anything unfamiliar and need to be thoroughly socialized. This is also the time during which most puppies get to grips with house-training, learning to wait before eliminating and start sleeping through the night without a potty break. It is a busy time for new puppy owners. Your puppy will have his vaccinations during this month. Biting can be a big problem during this stage and you need to be patient and consistent in order to teach the puppy not to hurt people when he plays. Provided you use force free methods, this is a great time to get puppy training under way, and especially to teach a puppy recall, and to get your puppy used to working with food. So, for a 2. You can do the same calculation for medium pups at sixteen weeks and large breed pups at 20 weeks — just divide his weight by his age in weeks before you multiply by .Medium to large pups will reach about half their adult height by the end of the month. If the weather is warm you can get your puppy swimming now. He should be able to come when he is called, in and around your home, provided there are not too many distractions. It all depends on what you have taught him. He may still be chewing a lot and biting too. Use frozen Kongs to help him and give your furniture and fingers a break. Puppies can go for short walks now. By the end of this month your puppy could have a twenty minute walk each day. He may also enjoy fetching a ball and playing with other dogs, but take care to stop before he gets very tired. Less dependence This is the month during which some puppies start to become less dependent on their humans for security. Keep your puppy close to you outdoors by changing direction frequently so that you puppy has to keep coming to find you. And engaging him in games. The foundations of a great recall are often build or spoilt during this month. If your puppy knows how to sit or lie down at home, start some simple proofing exercises with him in public places. A healthy puppy can usually manage on two meals a day from around six months. During this month a Retriever, Spaniel or GSD puppy will reach around two thirds of his adult weight. A Great Dane and other large breeds will have reached about half their final weight and little dogs will have almost completed their growth. Some female dogs will come on heat for the first time during this month, or the next, so keep an eye open now for swelling of her vulva and any discharge. Your dog will become increasingly confident over the next few months so practice, practice and practice that recall! Make it a habit he cannot break. And be generous with your rewards. Small breed pups may now be more or less mature. Your puppy will enjoy half hour off lead walks now, and should be able to walk on a loose lead for short periods with plenty of encouragement and rewards. Keep practicing that recall! These help to slow his growth further and to build his confidence. Make sure you practice good outdoor management on walks to maintain the good recall you have built and work hard on thoroughly proofing all his obedience skills. Read up on neutering before you take this important step, for dogs of either sex. Once your dog is a year old he can participate in more strenuous activities and sports. Now is the time to think about the kinds of activities you would like to do with him — go jogging together for example — and if necessary, to start to get him fit. Puppy development stages — Summary There is huge variation in the way in which dogs develop and mature. The puppy development stages and ages outlined above are a rough guide. We hope you enjoyed them and found the information interesting. When it comes to training, you get out what you put in. Your progress depends as much if not more on you rather than your puppy. If you train your puppy five times a day, six days a week he will learn many, many times faster than a puppy that is trained once a day at the weekend. Enjoy watching your puppy grow and develop. And have fun! At this stage, nipping bad behaviors in the bud is more important than imprinting positive ones. Instead, just redirect them to positive behavior and reward them accordingly. By this point, your puppy should have already been given their distemper and parvovirus vaccinations. By this point, they should be fully housetrained or close to it. Your dog will be likely to gnaw and bite on anything they can get their chompers on—including you. Stay calm and redirect their attention to appropriate objects like chew toys. Your Golden should be fully accustomed to their new kibble at this point, and you should feed them three to four times per day. A 3-month-old dog should also get a DHHP booster, which protects them from parvo, distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus. You can play with your pup as much as you like, but take care not to put too much stress on their joints. Avoid a bunch of running and jumping, especially on hard surfaces. Your dog can transition from four meals per day down to three at this point, but the meals should probably be larger. This can cause digestive issues until your dog gets accustomed to it, so be prepared to clean up a few messes. Training should continue, although your primary focus will likely be convincing your pup to chew on something besides your shoes. Your dog will need another DHPP booster at this point, as well as a rabies vaccination. Other optional vaccines include Bordetella, Lyme disease, coronavirus, and leptospirosis. This could cause a brief burst of intense biting and chewing, so power through it. Make sure your pup has plenty of chew toys available to them. Stairs in particular should be avoided. Your pup is likely to start asserting itself at this stage and may start to mature sexually if not spayed or neutered. There are no vaccinations required at this point. Everyone knows how much fun it is to raise teenagers, right? This can lead to undesirable behaviors like aggressiveness, increased tendency to roam, and destructiveness. As a result, you may think that your dog is too skinny, but resist the urge to increase their rations. While most breeds have a puppy coat that they eventually grow out of, Goldens do not. Instead, their puppy coat becomes their undercoat, so you may notice your dog becoming increasingly fuzzy. The teenage rebelliousness should be wearing off by this point, and your dog is ready to begin training in earnest. You should still be feeding them twice daily, and they should stay on puppy kibble for at least another 6 months. Goldens reach their full height between 9 and 12 months old. Females tend to get there faster, but males will be taller in the end. You may also need to cut back on the amount that you feed them. It depends on the individual dog, but females generally reach maturity first. Spaying or neutering your dog has its pros and cons. The pros are fairly obvious: less marking, reduced misbehavior, and zero chance of getting an unexpected litter of puppies. Spaying and neutering can also protect against certain cancers. You may want to wait until your dog is at least 12 months old before getting them fixed. This also leaves the window open longer in which they can suffer skeletal damage, though, so be careful about how active you allow them to be. However, stunted growth and growing too quickly can cause serious health problems, so you should check with your vet to make sure your dog is growing on schedule. Stunted growth is usually caused by malnourishment or a medical problem. You should have your pup tested for parasites like hookworm or ringworm, and consider switching them to a higher-quality, calorie-dense food. If left untreated, malnourishment can lead to weak bones, muscles, and immune system. As you might expect, growing too quickly is often caused by feeding your dog too much. American and British Goldens are similar. However, American Goldens tend to be less stocky and muscular, instead having a leaner appearance. They may weigh a bit less as well. They tend to be taller as well, often standing an inch or two higher than their counterparts. Conclusion Golden Retrievers make excellent pets, and we understand how hard it is to resist the temptation to bring a puppy home. If you do, though, you should understand what to expect from your new dog. Steady growth is what you want to see, without too many peaks or valleys. This sets your dog up for a long, healthy lifespan. Every dog develops at their own pace, so as long as you feed your pup an appropriate amount of high-quality puppy kibble and get them vaccinated regularly, you should be fine. See also:. By Tom Massey Mar 02, Adopting a golden retriever is one of the best decisions you can make. These loving dogs are constantly praised for their gentle and calm, yet playful nature, making them perfect dogs for all walks of life and types of families. So when you do finally bring your Golden Retriever puppy home, you want to do everything you can to give them a long and healthy life for years to come. This is a wide range, so keep in mind that the weight of your Retriever will vary depending on genetic factors and sex. For example, female Golden Retrievers will weigh closer to 55 pounds while Golden Retriever males are heavier and will weigh closer to 75 pounds. Females also typically reach their full size by their first birthday, while males may continue growing through their second year. You can usually tell the size males and females will be based on what their parents look like, which is why Snowy Pines encourages meeting the parents or browsing through their photos and biographies online. Then, calculate 1. What to Expect: This age is crucial for mother-puppy bonding since he will depend on his mother for food, cleaning, and socialization. Image Source Weeks months Golden Retriever Male Weight: Between 8 to 12 weeks, your male puppy will average between 10 to 22 pounds. Golden Retriever Female Weight: Although females will grow to be smaller than males, they are typically around the same weight at this age group. The puppies become very playful, curious, and discover their voices little by little. Introductory training like house training is essential. Socialization is also important, which is why Snowy Pines ensures that all puppies stay with their littermates until adoption. For female puppies, 6 months is a little over the halfway point to their full-size, and males are essentially smaller versions of their adult bodies. Remember, at this age, you can multiply by two to determine their adult weight! What to Expect: Socialization is still crucial at this age, and more intense training can also begin. The puppy should also be kept in happy and safe environments, as any exposure to something fearful at this age may impact him long-term. This is entirely normal: Think of your puppy as a teenager who is going through adolescence and waiting for the rest of his body to catch up. They may get territorial and challenge you and other pets for dominance. Most Golden Retrievers will be fully grown by 24 months old, although this varies. Golden Retriever Female Weight: In most cases, females are finished growing before 16 to 24 months. Whatever their nature is like at the to month mark is likely what it will be throughout their adult life. They are loyal, friendly, and calm, making them the perfect companion for small and large families alike. However, Goldens are susceptible to certain illnesses and diseases that are common in bigger breeds that are typically caused by overfeeding, stunted or accelerated growth, and genetic issues. One of the most common diseases that goldens experience is Osteochondritis dissecans OCD. OCD is a developmental disease that affects large-breed dogs because of the accelerated growth they experience. It is an inflammatory condition that causes abnormal cartilage development on the end of a bone in the joint. This can lead to joint problems like arthritis and hip dysplasia which commonly appears in the elbow, hip, and knee. Image Source The good news is that, although larger breeds like golden retrievers are prone to joint issues like this, you may be able to help prevent it through proper practice. OCD is a specific disease that is more common in dogs that receive too much energy and calcium in their diets. Other common factors are genetics, rapid growth, and hormonal factors. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, and all that extra weight can leave your puppy with skeletal abnormalities that put too much weight on joints. Another way to avoid accidentally stunted or accelerated growth is to ensure your golden retriever puppy is getting fed appropriately and receiving the right amount of calories. Image Source Months Between 2 and 4 months old, your puppy should eat 4 times per day with 2 ounces per meal. This will add up to 7 to 9 ounces per day, depending on how much he willingly eats. Keep him on puppy food through his first year before switching to young adult food. They must receive regular exercise every day. However, this depends on their age. As previously covered, the more your puppy grows, the more susceptible to common diseases like joint problems. Breeders with years of experience, like the team at Snowy Pines, work hard to keep pure bloodlines so that all of the parents and their litters are as healthy as they can be, which helps guarantee a lifetime full of happiness without any issue. Share on.
They can live on average between 10 and 14 years. How to Train a Labrador Puppy? How to Stop a Labrador From Barking? Just like with any dog, you need patience and strong training. Why Do Labradors Stink? Bred to work in and around water, Labradors have a dense double coat with an oily outer layer which offers almost perfect waterproofing. And they can smell particularly strong when your dog is damp and dry off after a swim. Do Labs smell worse than other dogs? Each dog has its own unique scent signature. Biology plays a role for the stinky smell Labradors can have. Even though all Labradors smell to some extent, no two Labs will smell exactly alike. How do I stop my Labrador from smelling? There are things that you can do to help your dog smell better. When you wash your pup, you need to make sure that you get rid of the rancid oils in the fur. We wrote an article on how to wash your dog. Check it out to help you get started freshening up your dog. What Size of Crate for a Labrador? An especially large Labrador might even need a inch crate. What we did with our puppy was buying the final sized crate with a divider to limit the space when your dog is small. What Is a Labrador vs a Labrador Retriever? Actually, there is no difference between a Labrador retriever and a Labrador. Both words refer to the same dog. The official name of the dog breed is Labrador Retriever. What Size of Collar for a Labrador Puppy? We strongly recommend you go for a Zeedog collar. They are awesome and they have a line that is waterproof. Photo credit Emerson Peters Labradors come in 3 colors; black, yellow and chocolate. Black is the most well-known color. What is the rarest color of lab? Of the nine possible E and B gene combinations, only two produce a chocolate coat. We asked our vet and apparently they are considered officially fully grown during their second year. Labrador might weigh between 55 and 70 lbs. An adult male Lab will weigh 65 — 80 lbs. The more men I meet, the more I love my dog. Less people, more dogs. List of people I like: 1. It was me. I let the dogs out. Not everyone has good taste. I am not single. I have a dog. I'm mutts about my dog. Not all dogs are good boys. Some are good girls! Dog hair is my go-to accessory. Can't escape the pup-arazzi. First he stole my heart, then he stole my bed. Crazy dog lady. He's not fat, he's husky! Dogs are the universe's way of apologizing for your relatives. I love my pup furry much. What the pug? All dogs are good—some are just a little ruff around the edges. What kind of dog doesn't bark? A hush puppy! I shih tzu not. My therapist has four legs and a tail. Home is where the dog hair is stuck to everything. Stop hounding me! Cuteness overload, am I right? I'm all about that pug life. Dog Quotes for Captions Getty "Be the person your dog thinks you are. Frick "My fashion philosophy is, if you're not covered in dog hair, your life is empty. Their only fault, really. Schulz "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all. Puppies for sale newmarket ontario Facilities. A Little About Us. Our Grandkids love socializing the puppies. Catharines Ontario Stainless steel corner protectors for all your applications. Ontario, L3Y 4Z1 Canada. Supported by a legion of volunteers, we foster, treat and find permanent homes for thousands of cats in critical need of help in Toronto, the GTA, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Home - For Sale - Newmarket - Suffolk. Check out our Puppies for Sale page or Request a Puppy today! Puppies for sale st thomas ontario. Jack Russell Puppies Now Available. Award winning textile artist, Heike Blohm of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada is known for her fantasy based figurative sculptures, each with a character and personality of it's own! We are especially proud of our partnership with Autism Dog Services. Dog breeders in newmarket ontario Dog breeders in newmarket ontario Southern Ontario Sheltie Rescue Society is dedicated to taking into foster care abandoned or surrendered shelties and placing them with caring families. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Our puppies are raised in a family environment where they are well socialized and raised to their fullest potential, using Puppy Culture and other mentally enriching protocols. All of our dogs are raised inside in a family environment. Email: doodles ridgeandvalley. They are very soft warm, lovable and affectionate with great personalities and good temperament. Also known as property tax lien sales, tax foreclosure properties or municipal tax sale November .That means entirely new pets can arise as a result ofNewmarket, Ontario Province. We train puppies to use training pads inside. You can view listings in York Region as well. I have been breed quality medium size designer puppies for family pets since .Georgina offers a number of year-round activities in a variety of recreational facilities including our many impressive public parks, beaches, forested areas, conservation areas, the Morning Glory Provincial Nature Reserve, Sibbald Point Provincial Park, Keswick Marsh Fish and Bird Sanctuary, museums, craft and music festivals and the Stephen Leacock Theatre. Give a pet a good home in Newmarket, Suffolk on Gumtree. As a companion, show, breeding or in the field our dogs are bred from championship bloodlines. Our tools give you the flexibility you need to find the right jobs — or to let them come to you. Logan finished his Canadian CH. Comes with everything needed to start grooming! Puppies for Sale from reputable UK BreedersLong-term effects of canine parvovirus infection in dogsPuppies for sale newmarket ontario 12 Feb 19 We left our Jack Russell here for the first time in December for a 23 day stint. Get easy access to groceries and household staples. Our poodle puppies have gone to homes all over the world. Walking on A Cloud is a Canadian family owned and operated business. Enjoy our website and if you have any questions feel free to contact us. This article needs additional citations for verification. Beautiful puppies for sale. Filter Horse Ads Search. Description: Cutest Pomeranian puppies for sale. The German Shepherd needs a handler of strong character and confidence. Most homes for sale in Newmarket stay on the market for 39 days and receive 2 offers. Call us for any inquiries .The average listing price for Newmarket homes on Ovlix. At Cawarra Labradors we strive to provide quality dogs for show, hunt tests, working certificates, obedience work and for wonderful companions. Welcome to Cawarra Labradors. We have 1 puppy of a litter of 5 for sale. Genetically tested and health screened parents. We have 1 son and 2 beautiful grandchildren. Over quality pet products online and ship to anywhere in Canada with free shipping. Pick up Hours: Thursdays 10 am to 6 pm. They of course wanted a pup. We are breeding with integrity for 16 years. If you are a dog breeder in Ontario, Canada trying to sell your puppy, puppyfidner. We are a small home based breeder of English and French Bulldogs. However free Pomeranians are a rarity as rescues usually charge aA new pet store licensing practice would address the sale of pets, ethical sourcing of pets for sale, and how retailers treat the animals they sell. Companion animals available for adoption can be viewed on Petfinder. Explore the world with Booking. Covid Protocols in Place. Mom and her pups are all doung very well. Find your ideal sailboat boat, compare prices and more. Cell: Home: assetkennels bordacollie. See past puppies who have gone to live with new parents! Ontario, Canada .Giving Tuesday. The Cavapoo is the best of both breeds. Pure bred presa canario puppies for sale. 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Animals that go unclaimed by their owner are assessed, then placed up for adoption if deemed adoptable. We love our dogs before we even meet them! We are a passionate group dedicated to helping these wonderful animals find the new loving home they deserve. This new addition to your family will require lots of love, attention and plenty of supplies. In we got our first Wheaten Wheatnbrook's Angel Eyes Cleo and entered the wonderful world of Showing dogs, and never looked back. Looking for Luxury? There are various parks around the city for the whole family to enjoy, includingWalking tour of Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada a few days after re-opening. Earn PetSmart Treats loyalty points with8, used cars listed for sale near Newmarket. Ayton, Ontario, Canada. We raise the Cavapoo and the Brittanydoodle. We are proud to offer the best selection, quality and the best service you cannot get from the big chains. We offer quality pet puppies for the pet oriented family, as well as outstanding show potential pups to Description: Our Cockapoo Puppies are always First Generation F1 Cockapoo pups. Thus, the name of my small in home kennel. If you are looking to buy a pomeranian for sale, there are many types of pomeranian that you can choose from, but one of the best things about owning a Pomeranian Are you looking for "Dameranian Puppies For Sale"? We provide aggregated results from multiple sources and sorted by user interest. Goldador puppies for sale ontario French Bulldog Puppies. Poodle mixed puppies are very social, and intelligent making them easy to train. Enter your email address to receive alerts when we have new listings available for Cane corso puppies for sale Ontario. GlenRoslin is a small operation. French bulldog puppies for adoption 39 for sale adoption from manitoulin ontario. A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale. Darcy is for sale. See pictures of tax sale houses, vacant land, commercial properties, industrial properties, cottages, island properties, farmland, residential, waterfront, water access only and more. Get direction. All of our Maltese p Explore one of 8 easy hiking trails in Newmarket or discover kid-friendly routes for your next family trip. Very friendly and well socialized and like playing with their toys and kids. We provide a cost-effective route to market for business owners and their representatives and a oneView our wide variety of available puppies for sale at Petland St. By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. Browse puppies for sale in and around Newmarket - all from the comfort of your own home. Welcome to Ondulado Perm Reg'd Kennel. We do this with marketing and advertising partners who may have their own information they've collected. Can ship world-wide. New Puppies Arriving Soon! Maltipom for Sale 2 Females. Vet checked and dewormed R each. Horses for Sale in Ontario. See for yourself! Attention landlords. The book is in every kid agent's office. Each year, we get hundreds of phone calls and emails about dogs in desperate need of shelter, care and compassion. Find the best offers for Properties in Newmarket. Intellicast Merges with Weather Underground. We raise beautiful poodle puppies in a variety of colours. Choose Newmarket, Hyundai for purchase, lease, parts, service and accessories. More details and pictures please kindly email me ASAP. Discover the latest employment prospects for your dream job across Canada, or compare different occupations. Jump to navigation Jump to search. All Canine breeders must have a kennel license to have a breeding program in my township. They provide plans on shots, neutering, and pet classes. Nov 24 .Goldador puppies for sale ontario Lasalle Bulldogs. Doogan's Pet Emporium is located in Orangeville, Ontario. Martin 51 Elizabeth Street St. The current median price for all Shih Tzus sold is , Louis, Missouri. Part of our MatchMaker process involves matching you with a breeder and puppy 2 female Yorkie puppies for sale! Mom is a morkie and dad is a yorkie. Internal thermostat heats to your cat's standard body temperature. Please contact me with any questions or if you would like to adopt one of these sweethearts Please WhatsApp!! How to find a job on Job Bank. A contract for puppies with show dog potential. We even said that as we stepped out. Our puppies are born and raised in Canada. City of Barrie Currently selected. Find you best friend within the thousand breeds available on Gumtree: Labradors, Cockers, Golden Retrievers, Boxers and many more. Their adorable personalities will make it easy to find your new best friend and will melt your heart the moment you meet them. View homes for sale in Ontario, CA at a median listing home price of 4, We do not kennel our dogs and will not sell our puppies to a kennel. All our dogs live as part of our family in the house. Ocassionally we have CKC registered puppies available to approved homes. We stepped outside of door to talk. Newmarket Real Estate Listings. We researched breeders for many months before deciding on Lakewood and we are so glad we did. The facilities are clean, well organized and the dogs are happy, friendly and well-cared for. Come join our family. They range between 18 — 25 lbs. Toronto, Ontario Tel: .We are located a 30 minute drive north of toronto, ontario on 11 beautiful acres in tranquil innisfil, ontario. Designed to keep you in the fight. Puppies are well socialized and home-raised. Puppies available-harlequin, black, brindle, merle, fawn, blue. Buy or sell new and used items easily on Facebook Marketplace, locally or from businesses. County: York Regional Municipality. PLEASE take the time to read the biographies fully as we put alot of effort into evaluating and working with the dogs in foster care. Goldador puppies for sale ontario For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Ontario great dane breeder. Price negotiable. Call Now. Our Cattery professionaly breeds silver shaded and silver shaded point British Shorthair cats. Check out some trails with historic sights or adventure through the nature areas surrounding Newmarket that are perfect for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts at any skill level. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Starting January 17, , we began redirecting traffic from Intellicast. Durham Region township Inspected and approved for my breeding program. Our Ragdoll kittens enjoy snuggling up with their favourite human and many have a very laid back and relaxed nature. Finding apartments for rent in Newmarket, Ontario has never been easier! We have the largest selection of Newmarket apartment rentals suitable for all tastes and budgets. Your pup may have received his or her initial vaccines. We actively participate in conformation and performance events, and enjoy competing with our dogs. CALL .Newmarket from Mapcarta, the open map. We are a private, no kill cat adoption facility located in south-central Ontario, Canada. Search popular property types within Newmarket and nearby suburbs, including 90 houses for sale, 3 house and land packages and 84 apartments for sale. Please list the home goods and furniture in the box below. On November 30, if you make a donation, your dollars will go even further to help our rescue animals. Established in , the website is an international marketplace of businesses for sale. All of the cats and kittens that we raise are a part of our family. We believe Rescue has no borders. We do not operate a shelter facility, while in rescue our dogs stay in private foster homes where they can receive all of the TLC they so The following breeders currently have puppies available. About Royal Canin. Royal Canin was founded back in by a vet with a vision - to improve the health of cats and dogs through nutrition. Advice from breed experts to make a safe choice. Shop now. Find by desired breed, age, height, weight, group and more at InfinityPups. Adopt a cat locally from the owner or rescue. Find trustful dogs of puppies breeds such a Teacup Yorkie, Tiny Maltese and more! At Pleasant Meadows all of our puppies receive proper socialization, lots of love, care and attention in a family setting. We are located in Springwater, Ontario with easy highway access to surrounding areas, such as Barrie, Midland, Newmarket, Orillia and beyond. Find your next best friend here : the humane society allows you to see available cats and dogs are adoption. Thanks to the generosity of some matching donors, the first , in donations received on Giving Tuesday will be doubled. The mommy is a chihauhau x dutchhound and the daddy is a Husky x Jackrussel. That mission still drives everything we do. Goldador puppies for sale ontario Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Ontario choose the site nearest to you: barrie; bellevillePuppies for sale newmarket ontarioPuppies for Sale in Newmarket, ON Puppies for Sale in Newmarket, ON is a fantastic place for finding the right pet. About Wyndance. Our puppies are vet checked, dewormed, micro-chipped, have first shots, and are well socialized in a family setting. Newmarket, Ontario. This advert is located in and around Necton, Norfolk. Creme coloured toy poodle roughly years old. Sturgeon County. Please feel free to call or text anytime. Goldador puppies for sale ontario The mission of China Rescue Dogs is to rescue and rehabilitate dogs from the meat trade in China and provide them with loving homes in the U. We have owned a number of other breeds, all from reputable breeders but none of them compare to the approach that Newfhill Kennels takes to ensure the fit for their puppy and its new home. Hello, Guest! The land transfer tax in Ontario is calculated based on the assessed property value and uses the following scale to determine the land transfer tax appliedSee more ideas about newmarket, beautiful sights, ontario. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about sales and new products. Sign up for Vintages Latest emails and be the first to hear about new arrivals, online exclusives, virtual events, special offers and more from Vintages, the LCBO's boutique arm. Find meal solutions for every lifestyle with these tasty options. Pingback: English bulldog for sale. Strong Girl Dog Names Are you having trouble deciding on a name for your new girl dog? Don't worry; we're here to help! We've already done all the research for you and have come up with a huge list of the best girl dog names! We've broken down girl dog names by themes like most popular, unique, cute, pop culture, food, and more! We also have the perfect dog id tags to go with any name. But, as they've moved out of the kennel and onto our sofas, traditionally human names have taken over. The top 10 baby and dog names are pretty much the same. Therefore be aware if you have dogs before you have kids you may have already used up all your best names! You want to come up with a name that delights you, but also fits their personality. Beverly shared her own experience, "Controversially, I named one of my dogs after my lovely and much missed Mum. Betty is such a lovely name and If I'd had a daughter I would have carried on the name that way. Mum loved dogs too, so I am sure she'd have approved. Beverly told us, "My mother had a wicked sense of humour. She used to name pups we bred after my brother's posh girlfriends as they always had unusual names. But he was not very happy when a new one visited for the first time and heard mum shout 'Cordelia get off the sofa your feet are filthy'. That took some explaining. I told Jilly Cooper that story and she wrote it down and said she was going to work it into one of her books! Here are our top boy dog names. Check out these super cute Pet ID Tags! Share this image on your site! Copy the text below and paste it into your text editor. Before you decide on a name, spend a little time getting to know your new puppy. If you want to go for something tried and true, pick from our most popular girl dog names list. If you don't want to always hear "that's my dog's name too," avoid the popular names. Choose from our unique female dog names list. Here are some other factors to keep in mind as you weigh your options. Getting Your Dog's Attention The best names to get your dog's attention have hard consonants and use only one to two syllables. Longer names, with three to four syllables, are harder for dogs to distinguish. They're also less likely to attract their attention. Take this into consideration and it will help you once you start training your dog! Confused Commands Avoid names that sound like standard basic commands. They could not understand if you're calling her name or issuing a command. Once again, this could make it very challenging to train your pup. You may find a name you love in this list or come across a few names that inspire your creative process: Daisy. New dog owners are always highly concerned with making sure that their new furry friend will have everything he or she needs for a happy life, but are also worried that the training process may not go perfectly. One of the most important steps for bringing home and training a new Labrador pup is selecting the right cage for the job, and there are a few ways to help you find it. Types of Dog Crates When most dog owners think of crates, the standard wire ones often come to mind first. In general, there are about three other types of crates other than wire; these include plastic, soft-sided, and the more stylish options such as wood. You will need to choose the type of dog crate based on reasons other than aesthetic appeal, if you have a dog that may be a bit more destructive. Wire dog crates are most common because of their many advantages, such as visibility and ease of cleaning. Wire crates also allow for better air flow than other models, and often can fold for travel as well. Some models of wire crates are adaptable in size, with panel inserts that allow for room to grow. Plastic crates are quite similar to wire crates, with added portability and lighter weight. These typically offer more shelter for the dogs, and both wire and plastic can be covered to provide warmth and to decrease visibility for dogs that need a more secure feeling. Each of these are difficult for escape, and are the two most popular types of indestructible cages. These are great for Labrador puppies, as long as you have the right size! Soft-sided and stylish crates often provide much less security, but can be perfectly fine depending on the pup. Dog Crate Sizes Choosing the size of the crate is just as important as choosing the type. Utilization of a dog crate is most effective when the size is just right for the dog, allowing crate training to take place efficiently. Size is actually the most important factor when choosing a crate. Many new dog owners will make the mistake of buying a crate much larger than needed, in the belief that they are doing their dog a favor. A crate that is too large will only serve to set back the process of crate training. As a pup, crate training is often used to potty train the dog, along with making him or her feel secure. The problem with a too-large crate is that the puppy or dog would then have the additional space to use one end as a bedroom and the opposing side as the bathroom. A crate that is tailored to the size of the dog will keep him or her from soiling anywhere in the crate, based on instinct alone. In the long run, the perfect crate size for a dog is one that allows him or her enough room to sit or stand up straight, turn around easily, and lie down stretched out. To avoid purchasing a second cage for adulthood, many cages come with an option to reduce the interior size for the pup. The option to build up the size as the pup grows allows for more flexibility. While the panels may not be fully indestructible, they are still much easier to replace in comparison to purchasing an entire new cage. Leave a comment Your email address will not be published.
Needs special attention, Story Snuggles has not been tested with children. This guy really lives up to his name. Meet Snuggles. Snuggles is a two-year-old poodle cross that loves to bask in your attention and get all the cuddles. He also loves snuggling his soft toys…after throwing them in the air for a bit! He also will hold his toys between his paws in the air and have a little fun independent play time. And while he loves snuggles, he is not a fan of his ears being touched. He does however forget his size sometimes and wants to play a little rough with smaller dogs or cats too! He would likely do best in a home without children as he can be pretty jumpy and mouthy. He is really into hands and feet and is working on being gentle while he plays. Snuggles is working on his house training after being neutered and is still having some accidents, so he will need to keep re-learning that skill. He is a pretty active guy who loves a good walk. He is good on leash and getting better every day. He loves being with his people and does not have experience in a kennel. Snuggles has epilepsy, a condition he will have for the rest of his life. Currently his seizures are well controlled with 2 kinds of inexpensive oral medication. His veterinarian is hoping to slowly wean him off one of the medications and just have him on the one twice a day. This is a multi-month process and his adopter is welcome to continue working with our vet for an easy transition. Snuggles has not been tested with children. Showing 1 - 40 of 46 resultsPage 1 - 46 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Rare silver pups Chilliwack There are two super cute purebred Toy poodles, looking for their forever homes. Mom is a silver toy poodle weighs close to 8lbs she is healthy and great with children and other pets. Dad is a.They have their vet check up and first shots. The parents have pedigree through Polish Kennel Association. Boy 1 - Black with a white.See all Toy Poodle pups ready for rehoming after Sep 26, Mile House Our well-loved pets decided to have puppies and delivered 5 adorable and healthy pups on August 1, .There are 4 females and 1 male in the litter. Two of the girls are all-black like momma, while.We have two beautiful little girls available. Born on July 4th and ready to go to their forever home August 29th. Mom Layla is a .Dad is a mini poodle. Both puppies have natural bobbed tails. Well socialized with kids and dogs. They are seeing the vet for a health.They are.Mom is a ausidoodlr 18lb dad is a 10lb poodle. They are used to.Located in greater Vancouver, text They will be around lbs as adults. Hypoallergenic, non-shedding family pets. Come with papers and proven stud. He's house-trained and sleeps in a crate. Good with kids and other dogs. For more info. We currently have exotic colours from our Russian import bloodline. Chocolate and tan, wolf sable, cream sable, black and tan.The little cuties thrive and play in the beautiful world to their heart's.I am 16 months old and very playful and friendly. I get.They are ready to go to their new home anytime Both male and female are available.Father is 4 lbs and mother is 5. Poodle puppies are very intelligent, We are a small home breeder in Steinbach MB They were born.Dad is Maltese and mom is small Toy Poodle. Potty trained. Please contact for more info and.She has been vet checked and is up to date on her vaccinations and worming. She would do well.Hypoallergenic Raised Responsibly and prepared for their new homes causing less anxiety and stress. Delivery - Purebred red toy poodles Victoria I'm glad to introduce the high quality litter of purebred red toy poodles. Each parent has a pedigree that confirms only poodles at least 4 generations before. Both parents are healthy and active.These tiny, charming companions are perfect for.Comes when called has been groomed several times and is being taught house manners like no and off. This was a purpose.Did you know that the Poodle is known for its smarts and the sweetest disposition? The Maltipoo.Richmond We have 2 handsome little boys available yet!! They are sweet and friendly pups. Full of kisses and fun. Ready to go to their new homes now! Our pups will come with their first shots, dewormer, Some available now and a couple litters just arrived open for reserving picking order. Our toys come tiny toys lbs and toy lbs CKC champion.Please Contact toy poodle - therapy dog qualities White Rock Archie is a toy poodle. Estimating lb fully grown. Poodle is affectionate and gentle breed. They are known to be excellent family and therapy dogs due to their loving.Pup is up to date on.Peaches has had her puppies. One boy and one girl. We also start with crate training as they get older to help.Already did vet checked and received his 1st vaccinations and deworming. Both parents are Toy poodles. Dad is 9 lbs and Mom is 11 lbs. We have a gorgeous litter born July 15th photos 1 to 3 are the 2 males 4 to 6 are the 2 girls 7 and 8 are a red male.Father is silver poodle. Has a genes of silver and starting turning silver. He is 5. Trained, good.Showing 1 - 40 of resultsPage 1 - results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Our Babies are.Rare silver pups Chilliwack There are two super cute purebred Toy poodles, looking for their forever homes. Mom is a silver toy poodle weighs close to 8lbs she is healthy and great with children and other pets. Dad is a.My name is Bo. My owner my new mommy has to find me new home. My daddy was a Poodle and my mommy was a Maltese-Shih tzu. Stormy and fritz had a litter of nine and only one boy is left left. Chocolate Lab cross with poodle. This pup looks very much like a choco lab. Very smart and friendly pup. Eager to go to her forever home! Update, One left black and tan female Please text.Generations of selective breeding! He loves to run and play and snuggle up on your.Border collies and poodles are the smartest dog breeds in the world - this cross is exceptional. There are 4 females and 1 male in the litter. Two of the girls are all-black like momma, while.We have two beautiful little girls available. Born on July 4th and ready to go to their forever home August 29th. Mom Layla is a .Mama Polkadot is a 35 lb purebred poodle and papa Sunny is a 40 lb very small Golden Retriever. Parents are happy.Dad is a mini poodle. Both puppies have natural bobbed tails. Well socialized with kids and dogs. They are seeing the vet for a health.They are.Mom is a ausidoodlr 18lb dad is a 10lb poodle. They are used to.Please Contact.
Dwayne Johnson is a well-known professional wrestler and actor. Forbes listed him at No. Joe: Retaliation , Hercules , and Skyscraper ; the science-fiction films San Andreas and Rampage , and the animated film Moana .Though the films often come with mixed or negative reviews, they are still both popular and commercially successful. Paul Walker was also a known animal lover prior to his tragic death in .Personal thing, but I prefer to keep our memories and bond private and quiet. But something about today compelled me as a moving reminder of how fragile life is for all of us. And recently, I got a scare when I almost lost another friend on the road. All this stuff got me thinking about how beautiful, yet wildly unpredictable life is. Manuia le aso fanau, my friend. The photos look great and we think his family had a good time, however, animal rights activists were very upset. I thought you were a man of principles whose views would be against such concepts. Dwayne Johnson thanked the staff for taking great care of the animals. Well, he does. The actor bought the farm in and in put it up for sale for 2 million dollars less than he bought it for. Henri' enjoying the park! Tell them "Henri' sent you! Part of that responsibility includes doing everything possible to assure their wellbeing after they go to a new home. While all quality dog foods will provide everything needed to sustain life, virtually all of them are cooked during the manufacturing process. The heat from cooking causes much of the nutrients to be lost during the process. NuVet Plus is cold processed allowing all of the benefits of its rich nutrients to be retained, giving your new puppy an extra layer of protection, especially during the most critical first year of life. When a puppy is moved away from its mother and siblings to live with its new family, the immune system is weakened by the stress of adoption and exposure to bacteria and viruses in its new home. So starting NuVet Plus now is important to helping your puppy grow into a healthy adult. The vaccine series is also started during this time period. Vaccines are only effective if the immune system can respond properly. If the immune system is distracted by combating an actual disease processor and it does not receive the nutrients required to keep it strong during times of stress, the health of the puppy is at risk. The best way to prevent illness during this critical time is to provide the nutritional support required for proper immune system function. About NuVet Plus - NuVet Plus is a synergistic combination of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals known to boost immune system function. FDA registered pharmaceutical laboratory, and cold processed to maximize the potency of the nutrients. NuVet Labs has been in business since and has never had a product recall. Additional information may be found on the NuVet Labs website www. As a quality breeder, my highest priority is the health of the dogs I breed. According to his Instagram he brought two French Bulldog puppies home and took them out to the backyard to do their business when both ran right for the pool. One of the puppies, the one named Hobbs, began to swim. The other, Brutus, sank. The Rock dove in after him, fully clothed and saved the little guy. Then he posed for an Instagram picture that would surely lead to media coverage on the morning following a long holiday weekend. And can I say how much I love it that one of the puppies is named after The Rock's character in the Fast and Furious movies? Also that's the puppy who instinctively knew how to swim. That's so awesome, some might even call it.Anyway, The Rock is a hero, here's the photo and his telling of the story from Instagram. Instagram content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Here's a fun Labor Day weekend story.We just decided to add two new members to our Johnson family. Baby French Bulldogs. Bring them home and immediately take them outside so they can start learning how to "handle their business and potty like big boys". I set them both down and they both take off in a full sprint and fall right into the deep end of our pool. I take off into a full sprint, fully clothed, dive in the pool, swim to the bottom, rescue my brick, I mean BRUTUS and bring him back to the edge of the pool. He was a little delirious. .A few lessons I've learned today. .A Not all puppies have the instinct to doggie paddle. C While spiriting to save your puppies life, before you dive in, try and throw your cell phone to safety. Don't keep it in your pocket
bulldog water puppies - Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Imagine you knew how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way so that your bond with your dog grew instead of fell short! Learn how to communicate with your pup and get the behaviors you want using these simple and easy methods for training a German Shepherd puppy. They may become frightened of you or fear your presence, depending on how severe your discipline is. Anxiety may even develop with too much punishment or useless corrections. Training a German Shepherd puppy at 8 to 12 weeks old? Yes, you can! A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be? You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter… Not harder! Start early and remain consistent with your expectations. Training a German Shepherd means knowing what to do when your puppy acts up. Shepherd pups are one of the smartest dogs on the plant and learn quickly what you expect of them. But the best way to learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy at home is to work on your own behavior first. You should show them what behavior is unacceptable in your house. This means that you must stay consistent when responding to their behavior. For example: If your pup jumps on you and you redirect their attention to a toy to chew on instead. But, then your pup jumps on your friend and your friend lets them and you say nothing. This makes it likely that your dog will jump on whoever they feel like in the future. Use reward-based training. Use reward-based German Shepherd training techniques to get the quickest results. Reward-based training helps your puppy recognize when something is a bad choice source. When your pup performs what you ask, offer a tasty treat and words of praise. For example: Have your pup sit when you are by the front door getting ready to go for a walk. This teaches them that when they behave, they are more likely to get what they want. The best way to train your German Shepherd is by following a fun, engaging program that teaches not only the basics but covers problem behaviors, too. Sound difficult? It teaches you how to get your pup to learn positive behaviors. You can also have fun right at home with these games for German Shepherd puppies. Offer your puppy another option when they begin jumping on you for attention. Think about what your puppy is trying to get when engaging in jumping and bad behavior to determine when to ignore them. When your pup jumps on you when you come home, they probably want your attention. Withholding your attention when they are acting out shows them they need to act differently to get your approval source. Instead, offer them pets and praise when they have all 4 paws on the floor. You can also place them behind a puppy gate until they learn not to jump in order to avoid them scratching or nipping house guests when they arrive. After you teach them their basic obedience, ask them for a competing behavior like a sit or down when they begin to jump. Always remember to reward the behavior you want to see again! Ultimately, your puppy learns that good behavior earns your affection and attention more quickly. Your dog soon understands that they get nothing from you when they act badly. Here are some great commands for a German Shepherd that you can work on training. Redirect bad German Shepherd puppy behavior. Does your puppy jump, nip, chew, bite, or dig and you want to know the right discipline? The noise and disapproving tone distract your dog from bad behavior source. Showing them a favorite toy. Offering them another option you would like that is more constructive. You want to remember to watch out for: If your dog chews inappropriately on a pair of expensive shoes, get their attention by making noises or calling them to you and immediately offer the correct approved chew item. If you know your dog tends to bite you during play, have a toy nearby you can show them that you want them to bite instead of your arms. If you know they get wild and crazy in the evenings, have a list of these easy German Shepherd brain games to distract them and funnel their energy. Use time-outs appropriately when training a German Shepherd puppy. When your dog engages in bad behavior, remove them from what is causing the unwanted behavior. Put them in a different environment that is more calming and quiet instead. Respond immediately to the bad behavior and use the same routine every time to maintain correct discipline. Time out should: Not be done with force or yelling. Not be in a closet or other dark, scary area. Work to calm your puppy down, not frighten or stress them. Give your puppy a break from over-excitement. Not be a long punishment. Timeouts are generally recommended for only 1 to 2 minutes for puppies. Also, remember that closed doors can cause anxiety in dogs, so use a reliable pet-safe baby gate so that your puppy knows that you are still nearby. Remember, when training a German Shepherd puppy: Time out should not last over minutes. Watch for when your puppy is calm and quiet for a very brief period seconds long of calm. Then let them out quietly, without scolding them. This can cause anxiety. Remember to use a pet gate to separate them from the excitement that caused the unwanted behavior, while still allowing them to see you and not feel trapped. Ignore the unnecessary barking. German Shepherd puppies bark, but there are positive ways to help train them to bark and whine less. When they finally quiet down, even if only for a few seconds, reward them with a treat or praise. To have success, wait until they are quiet and stop barking, even if only for a few seconds in the beginning source. For example: If your puppy barks at joggers out the window every morning pull the blinds or curtains. If the behavior continues, place your dog in another room for a couple of minutes and repeat the previous time-out procedure every time they bark at the joggers remember to use the pet safe baby gate and to not shut a puppy behind a solid door because it can give them anxiety. If they are whining and crying at night, this could be a warning they need to potty. Make sure you read this post to know how to potty train a German Shepherd before you ignore all whining, barking, and crying. If your puppy barks during play they might be too excited and you can offer them a chew toy instead or cut your playtime short to allow them to calm down. Puppies bark for a number of reasons. But it does get easier to train your GSD over time as they learn what you expect. Keeping your pup from nipping and chewing. Puppies have sharp teeth, especially German Shepherd puppies! Puppies are energetic and must learn their limits for playing too rough source. Puppies view you jerking your hand back quickly as part of a game and could also tear your skin. And physical punishment should never be given! Show them what they can chew, instead, such as their favorite chew toy. Have plenty of safe chew toys to grab nearby to give your pup when they get wild and decide to bite you. Always use toys that your puppy can chew and bite to play with — pick from this list of German Shepherd Chew Toys to Prevent Boredom so you have a safe puppy toy that can take their bites. When they stop biting or nipping reward them with verbal praise and pets. Return later to try playing with your pup again and repeat the procedure. Read this information for more helpful tips to stop your German Shepherd puppy from aggressively biting and nipping you. Catch your dog being good and reward them out of the blue. See your puppy acting the way you want? Reward them out of the blue! Keep small bits of treats in jars around the house out of reach of your pup or in your pocket or a treat bag on your waist and use any opportunity your catch your pup doing good to reward them. If they sit and wait at the door, instead of dashing out ahead of you, reward them! Aim for one of these healthy treats that are the best for German Shepherds and pick carefully to ensure your dog stays athletic and fit. Food-based rewards are very motivating when training and disciplining a puppy. Avoid physical punishment and harm. Your German Shepherd is your companion for life. Research shows that physically punishing your dog for example hitting, kicking, growling, or staring them down increases aggression in your dog study source. Never use physical punishment to correct undesirable behavior. Not only can this punishment injure your puppy, but it also ruins your relationship and causes anxiety. It means setting expectations that they understand and staying consistent. Physically hurting your German shepherd will ruin your relationship with them. They will lose their trust in you and begin to avoid you. In the worst case, your dog could develop anxiety disorders, health issues, or even more problem behaviors. You could even accidentally injure your dog and they need vet care! Use the right tone and body language to communicate. Different commands and body language conveys information for training to your German Shepherd. The different tones of your voice and body movements are better understood by your dog. The actual command words are of less importance to your puppy. Use a direct tone and body language that matches what you want to say to your dog. Even pointing to a missed treat on the ground is body language your dog learns to understand. Still not convinced? Try out your training with this extensive list of helpful German Shepherd commands and watch how much your dog is capable of understanding. Shepherd pups want to please and have order in their home. To do this, stick with your training. Begin with a plan in place and disciplining your GSD will go smoother from the start. Persevere with your training and discipline. Remember that your German Shepherd is highly intelligent and needs your help to get the best from them. If you feel like giving up, take a break from training for a day or two. In order to avoid training frustration, remember that just like you a German Shepherd needs time to learn the rules of the house and new commands. This is true especially of puppies or rescue dogs. If you want to take a break from training and have fun, then include a few days a week of puzzles. German Shepherds are one of the smartest dogs in the world, so training them generally takes a short time. Never discipline a German Shepherd puppy for having accidents during potty training. Whether your German Shepherd is potty trained or not, never push their faces into their potty accidents. Your dog is counting on your leadership to show them the rules in a positive manner. Work on setting a consistent schedule with feeding and walks to avoid potty accidents indoors. German Shepherds are easy to train given the right attention. And they need to understand their schedule by having you teach them using consistent patterns, rather than receiving punishment or discipline. Keep a potty schedule posted nearby so all your family can see it and help prevent your puppy from having an accident. Use your bond with your puppy to your advantage during recall training. Use your positive bond with your German Shepherd puppy to work on early recall training. Especially when there are so many natural pleasures to see and explore outside. When you call your German Shepherd, its obedience simply depends on whether the motivation to obey your commands outweighs what your dog is focused on at the moment. Use this to your advantage! Tips for great German Shepherd puppy recall training: Begin calling your puppy in as many locations inside as you can. Give them a tasty reward or play a game with their favorite toy when they come. Work your way up to a perfect recall by having others try to distract your puppy while indoors. Next, move to your back or front yard with your dog on a long leash like this so they stay safe nearby and do the same. You can disciple them by showing them your tasty treat and walking backward a few steps to encourage them to move toward you. Train the come command in all situations, including the home and outdoors, from the time your puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old to avoid discipline problems later on. Need to train your German Shepherd on their recall? Because they are so smart and energetic, they require a physical and mental outlet for all their boundless energy. German shepherds also require a loving yet firm owner to help guide them into adulthood and beyond. This is a breed that gives and demands respect. Without training, they can easily develop bad habits that get harder to break as they mature. The best way to prevent problem behavior is to stop it before it starts. Some common problems that can be solved include: 1. Food guarding One easy way to prevent food guarding is to hand feed your puppy. Puppies that are accustomed to having their food handled rarely develop food guarding behavior. Placing your hand into the bowl to deliver food also prevents guarding because the puppy is happy to receive food from you and perceives it as a reward. Benefits of hand feeding also include teaching your dog to be gentle when taking food or treats, learning to be calm at mealtimes, improved impulse control, building trust, and the food can also be used as training treats. Start with once or twice a day and as the dog learns and matures, try a few meals a week. As long as food guarding never begins, you probably will never have the problem. Resource guarding Resource guarding or possession aggression also includes food but here, we have listed them apart. As the name suggests, resource guarding is simply guarding a possession such as a toy, bed, item of clothing, personal space — anything the dog finds valuable. Any lunging, growling, snarling, stiffening, or growling to prevent you from coming near their treasure needs to be nipped in the bud before it escalates. To prevent resource guarding, when the dog is a puppy, offer them and handle their toys, beds, food bowel, and more. Whatever they love, take ownership of it and share it with them, rather the other way around. As far as toys and chews, teach young pups that it is fun to share by trading high value items for a reward. Teach the puppy to drop the item in exchange for a treat and then give the item back so that the dog can enjoy it. The idea is taking items are not to punish and should not be perceived by the dog as such. If a dog begins guarding behavior that gets out of control, call a professional trainer. Play biting Herding dogs tend to play bite or mouth more than other breeds. German shepherds are notorious for play biting with their razor sharp teeth. As young pups, they love to herd and nip hands, feet, shoes, pants, and whatever else that moves. German shepherds need to be taught bite inhibition through redirection. Appropriate chews are also really important for this breed. Durable rubber chew toys for aggressive chewers, bully sticks, food puzzles that can be stuffed with treats and chews that can be frozen for teething pups work well. Destructive chewing German shepherds have amazingly strong jaws and love to chew. Preventing destructive chewing includes trying to determine why the dog is chewing. If the dog is lonely, bored, frustrated, anxious, or teething? Identifying the cause will help you come up with a solution. A basic guideline to prevent this type of chewing in puppies is to not leave temping items out where the dog can find them in the first place. Next, be sure that the dog has plenty of appropriate chew toys, is getting plenty of exercise, and has their emotional and mental needs met. German shepherds need regular exercise, training, play time, nurturing, grooming, healthy food, and lots of fresh water. They are very loyal and bonded dogs who need to be close to their family. When all these needs are met, chew toys, treats, and bones should be adequate for their chewing needs. When they begin to dig, tell them no and redirect them onto something else that is stimulating, such as their toys. The best way to stop the behavior is to prevent it from escalating and making sure the dog is getting plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. If your sheppy just lives to dig, you can create a digging pit or appropriate place to dig, such as a sandbox. Separation anxiety Separation anxiety can happen because German shepherds share such close bonds with their family. The best way to prevent this is establish a routine from the beginning. Start by teaching your puppy that you will come back by returning after a very short time and slowly increasing your time away. Crate training can also be helpful. Also establish a schedule that your puppy gets used to, including meals and potty breaks. A radio or TV being on can be helpful. Jumping German shepherds grow up to be powerful dogs so jumping is something that should not be encouraged in puppies. Fortunately, teaching a puppy not to jump is not difficult. Start by never petting the dog when they jump up. Tell the dog down and turn away. Once four paws are on the floor, lavish the pup with all the love and attention you want. In conclusion The good news about German shepherds is that they want to work alongside you and have a deep desire to please. Despite being strong willed and willing to look for their own job to keep themselves busy, they rather connect with and be near you. When you bond with them and direct their energy into positive things, such as training, exercise and playing games, they make the most remarkable pets in the world. Please share these tips with other German shepherd lovers. Degenerative Myelopathy You will need to take your German Shepherd to the vet twice a year for a checkup even if there are no signs of medical issues. A qualified vet can help prevent or slow down any future problems. Unfortunately, this is one of the cons of German Shepherds. Although I conducted thorough checks such as checking the hip scores of the sire and dam when getting my German Shepherd, sadly, she recently developed spinal osteoarthritis. Key takeaways: Only get a German Shepherd if you can afford to take multiple trips to the vet or invest in a good pet insurance policy. German Shepherds can develop medical conditions and require due diligence before acquisition and patience and care after adoption. GSDs usually have double coats, except for long-haired German Shepherds , and their undercoat hair sheds faster than a middle-aged dad with financial stress. Nonetheless, loose fur takes a lot of cleaning up. When your dog feels cuddly and rubs up against your leg, the loose hair will switch over to your denim. Carpets, sofas, and clothing are other surfaces that catch loose fur via friction. If not, German Shepherds are bad for you. However, you can have a little compromise if you opt for the long-haired variety instead of the short-haired German Shepherd , as they shed less if they have an open coat. Key takeaways: German Shepherds shed a lot. They are not hypoallergenic. You will need to dedicate two hours a week to brushing your dog. Opting for the long coat variety can help reduce the grooming burden. Easier to groom long haired types are usually harder to enroll in a dog show. My German Shepherd being de-shedded. In fact, their perception of the norms is dictated entirely by their early experiences. If sleeping alone is one of those factors, the dog might be pretty suspicious to find someone in your bed. Unsocialized GSDs can jump to the conclusion that any human except the ones that live in the house is a potential threat. Learn more about German Shepherd aggression here. Remember, German Shepherds are universally loved because they can be very friendly when trained right. The only problem is that if you do not have the time to help the puppy assimilate into your social culture, you can damage him for life. You can always keep strangers safe by putting the dog on a leash or in his crate. When humans are on edge and cautious around a German Shepherd, his self-image gets negatively affected by the experience. The more cautious people are around him, the more hesitant he is. This kicks off a vicious circle where caution inspires suspicion, leading to more caution and distance. You just need to expose him to enough people at a young age to have him feel confident in the presence of other humans. Many people unknowingly fail to provide a decent intra-species social experience to their dogs. Doing so can make your pup inherently dangerous to dogs of smaller stature. German Shepherd puppies need to be exposed to a variety of people to keep them open-minded about new faces. It is easy to make a German Shepherd asocial. A GSD that puts people on edge also feels bad about not receiving encouragement and attention. To some, this is a drawback in itself. The fact that you cannot passively own a German Shepherd is seen as a disadvantage by many people. German Shepherds need one to two hours of daily exercise — or their pent-up energy results in torn unscheduled test-driving of their teeth and claws. Still, it helps to keep in mind the kind of hours you work and how often you or a member of your family can be around the German Shepherd every day. Your answers to these questions will determine if a German Shepherd is bad for you. Most importantly, you need to constantly align their routine based on the external temperature. During summer, they can easily get exhausted and you may have to engage them indoors more than usual. This is the kind of active involvement expected from your end as you raise a German Shepherd. Key takeaways: German Shepherds require one to two hours of daily exercise and a few chew toys to help exhaust their pent-up energy. If no one can exercise your dog, German Shepherd behavior problems will occur and the house furniture can be at risk of getting torn apart. German Shepherds Can Develop Separation Anxiety German Shepherds can develop separation anxiety , making them a bad fit for people who need to leave their dog for hours on end. The breed can get so stressed and anxious in the fear that their owner will never return. This causes them to engage in destructive behavior such as chewing, howling, barking, panting, digging, trying to escape, or peeing in the home. This recent study also identified that dogs can relate human emotional expressions to subsequent actions. While your personality might be functional enough with your emotional makeup, you are not a large dog. Ask yourself if your emotional energy transferred to one of the most commonly used police dogs would create a positive environment. If not, you might want to adopt a less emotionally malleable dog. Check out my guilt-free guide on how long German Shepherds can be left alone for greater insight. Most German Shepherds also prefer to be inside dogs, meaning they like to be near their family as much as possible. This is due to their innate protective instincts and loyalty. GSDs can live outside, but you have to train them to stay out as young pups. There are ways to manage separation anxiety, from doggy camera products to utilizing doggy daycare services, dog sitters, and dog walkers. However, if you have a demanding job that keeps you stuck at the office for long hours, you should reconsider your choice of breed. GSDs are also naturally nervous about abandonment and can develop separation anxiety. German Shepherds Need Larger Space While I maintain that German Shepherds can live in smaller spaces and be apartment dogs, the effort required to have one be apartment-friendly is excessive. This fact alone makes them not suitable pets for some people. Generally, they are best suited for larger or medium-sized homes with backyards. GSDs grow up to 26 inches shoulder height and can be bulky, especially if they are show-line German Shepherds instead of the working line variety. Their size itself creates a space burden that a cramped apartment cannot accommodate. Moreover, you cannot crate GSDs all day, which means that the dog will be on the move and consequently put items in the apartment at risk. While this may not be a large difference, it is enough for medium-sized homes. Opting for a working line German Shepherd — Working line German Shepherds are denser in mass which results in a slightly more compact structure. However, they have higher energy levels, which puts a higher exercise burden on the owner. Nonetheless, no discourse about not acquiring one type of dog would be complete without comparing other choices. Any medium-sized dog, including a Gerberian Shepsky , is going to be more apartment-friendly than a big dog. So even though you can technically raise a German Shepherd in an apartment, the question is, are you willing to put in the extra effort? Key takeaways: German Shepherds can be raised in an apartment but require a lot of effort. Male showline German Shepherds are larger than female working lines. If you have your heart set on a GSD, you could always consider a smaller crossbreed such as these 21 German Shepherd mixes. If you do not have the time or patience to communicate your social status and have your doggo obey you, you might want a more passive dog breed. GSDs are single-master dogs and working on your bond with them will enhance the association. Key takeaways: German Shepherds work well with assertive owners. GSDs can challenge your authority and require patient enforcement of rigid boundaries. Only get the breed if you have that kind of capacity. Some organizations are happy to recover just the cost of feeding, vaccinations, and primary care. All of these things added together are not cheap. You can read more in my article Costs of Owning a German Shepherd , where I provide tons of examples to give you a better idea. Final Thoughts German Shepherds are best suited for families or individuals with large homes. Owners need plenty of time and patience to properly train and care for a new pup as an isolated and untrained GSD can become aggressive and dangerous. Related Posts You May Like:. Breed Info German Shepherds can be one of the best breeds of dogs to own. They are exceptionally smart, filled to the brim with personality, and incredibly affectionate to people they love. German Shepherd Behavior Problems German Shepherds tend to develop behavior problems when their needs are being met either mental or physical. Some of the most common German Shepherd behavior problems are jumping, destructiveness, OCD, hyperactivity, separation anxiety, excess barking and whining, mouthiness, dominance, and defensive aggression. This is not because they are inherently problematic dogs but because it takes a compatible lifestyle and handling style to enjoy the best traits of the breed. However, GSDs are instinctively protective of their family and defensive of their home. When not directed properly, this positive trait could easily turn into aggression. Dominance Dominance can emerge as disobedience or assertiveness towards humans or other animals. Being confident and headstrong dogs, German Shepherds might try to assert themselves and see what they can get away with. While GSDs are naturally clingy to their humans, distress from being separated must be address through methodical training. Mouthiness German Shepherds are naturally mouthy. They use their mouths to interact with the world. Additionally, as puppies, German Shepherds are prone to nipping and play biting as that would be how they interact with their littermates. Excessive Barking German Shepherds are generally very vocal. And because they are so large, their bark tends to be quite thunderous. Generally, they will bark because they want to communicate something, like alerting you to the presence of a stranger or because they sense a threat. However, they could also develop the bad behavior of barking excessively due to boredom or getting attention. Nevertheless, you need to be aware of them as well as how to manage them. Here are different ways to address German Shepherd behavior problems that might develop without proper training, handling, and socialization: Whining Like barking, whining is a means for dogs to communicate. Unfortunately, GSDs tend to whine excessively. This is a loud, high-pitched noise that could become aggravating when left unchecked. However, you can keep it at a minimum through proper reinforcement. Hyperactivity German Shepherds are working dogs developed in the fields where they worked long hours and ran great distances. Destructiveness German Shepherd destructiveness is related to hyperactivity. Often, this can include chewing, digging, and destroying things at home. Giving them ample mental and physical stimulation will help address this. Additionally, you can redirect their chewing to things of their own. Jumping Dogs often jump up at you as a means of greeting you excitedly. Try to address this at puppyhood by redirecting the behavior. For example, teach them to sit in front of you. Ignore them and gently push them off when they jump on you, and only fuss over them and give them attention when they sit. OCD Like humans, dogs can develop obsessive-compulsive disorders. Unfortunately, some GSD lines have this genetic predisposition. This can emerge as unwanted behaviors like excessive licking, pacing, or chewing. Often, this can be addressed by deterring behaviors ex. In more extreme cases, medication may be needed to treat OCD in dogs. Urine Marking Urine marking is common among male German Shepherds. It is a means to communicate with other dogs and typically a way to claim their territory. Even properly housetrained dogs will sometimes do this indoors, especially when there are other male dogs at home. They lack the confidence to be out in the world and might act out when presented with unfamiliar experiences. Reaching sexual maturity will make them more prone to mood swings and scent marking males. Additionally, this is the time when your puppy is most likely to develop stronger responses to strangers and might play more roughly with other dogs. Six months up to the time they reach about one year old is a critical time in their puppyhood where they will learn to be bolder and independent. It is a critical time for you to teach them proper manners while also enabling them to develop their own personality and confidence. This includes jumping and play biting. Even so, GSDs might also develop new behavior issues at this stage, and most of them stem from having excessive energy and drive. To mitigate these issues, make sure you give them plenty of opportunities to exercise as well as stimulate their mental faculties. How to Avoid German Shepherds With Behavior Problems Knowing that German Shepherds are consistently among the top 3 most popular breeds to own, they are undeniably incredible companions. But if you can, select a breeder with responsible practices and has a reputation for producing healthy and confident dogs. Socialization Start socialization as early as you can. Expose your pup to all sorts of experiences so that they may build their confidence and interact properly with their environment. Make sure they know how to engage with other people and animals. Leadership Throughout their puppyhood and sometimes even beyond, your GSD will test how you respond to disobedience. Stimulation Too much energy leads to boredom and the development of bad behaviors. Make sure you give your GSD plenty of exercise so that they can expend the excess energy they have in productive ways. Additionally, they need opportunities to use their intelligence and natural canine abilities through mental exercises. Final Thoughts All breeds have dogs with behavioral problems. However, such issues are much more of a concern with large dogs like German Shepherds. Knowing what to do to help your dog with misbehavior is half the battle. Are you making any of these disciplining mistakes? Do not use negative reinforcement Negative reinforcement is causing discomfort or worse, pain, to your dog to get them to perform a behavior. Other common negative reinforcers include a choke chain and prong collar. Negative reinforcement is about turning off something negative, or uncomfortable, at the least, and painful at the worst. But take note… Negative reinforcement has been scientifically shown to lead to an increased risk of aggression of 2. Instead, use lure and reward GSD puppy training Do not use physical correction Just as when using negative reinforcement, physical corrections cause your dog anxiety and fear and lead to aggression. When you got your dog you wanted him for life as your best friend and companion. If you find yourself about to engage in physical force for punishment with your German Shepherd, step away from your dog immediately. Ask someone for help. Call a friend or family member and tell them you need help with your dog. Even withholding food, water, or shelter is cruel and must be avoided. And demeaning them by calling them names and speaking to them in a critical tone can cause fear and aggression in German Shepherds. Not to mention, your continued shouting could stress your dog to the point they shut down and withdraw from you. They will no longer be the sweet, lively dog you dreamed about. Instead, learn how to use your voice to communicate effectively with your German Shepherd. Keep your voice calm, clear, and confident. Unfortunately, this type of training only makes his house training take longer since he begins to fear going potty anywhere. So, instead, he begins to sneak off and hide to potty indoors to avoid punishment. Preferably, always have your puppy tethered to you when potty training, never letting them out of your sight. When not tethered to you, place them in a puppy-proof area to prevent potty accidents. Reward your German Shepherd when they potty outdoors in the area you want with praise and treats. Learn more about how to quickly potty train a German Shepherd to start off on the right steps to house training. Or, what about when your tiny puppy sinks his little teeth into your hand in play and you laugh out loud? Why does your German Shepherd misbehave? Take a look. There are a few common factors in dogs that cause them to misbehave. Even if you think your dog is trained and should know better, these are the top reasons they might have bad behaviors. Separation anxiety If you spend a lot of time with your puppy, then begin to leave him alone for long hours he may start to misbehave. This is especially true if you are busy and tend to leave him in a crate for far too many hours. This could mean chewing inappropriate things, digging, or even excessive barking and howling. Under exercised An under-exercised dog is not getting his basic needs met. German Shepherds must have at least 2 hours of physical exercise per day. See — Fun Jobs for German Shepherds at Home for more ideas Before you leave the house give your dog a long walk with plenty of time to sniff. Inconsistent Discipline Another leading cause of needing to discipline a German Shepherd is a lack of consistent training and discipline techniques. Do you make sure your puppy always has 4 paws on the floor to greet guests? While many owners remember to obedience train their dog they overlook the importance of mentally stimulating games to reduce boredom. Decreasing boredom is shown to give your dog a more enjoyable day, which lessens their desire to participate in unwanted behaviors, such as chewing and digging. Start with a few minutes a day using mind games to help keep their mental health in check. Need more help disciplining your German Shepherd the right way? Do you wish there was a German Shepherd monthly guidebook? There is! Disciplining your German Shepherd puppy is most effective when you focus on teaching your German Shepherd what to do, rather than punishing him for unwanted behaviors. The wrong type of punishment can cause irreparable harm to your companion, but discipline when used properly actually reinforces positive behavior. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Different causes make your furry friend chew destructively on couches, surfaces, and shoes. These include: Poor obedience training from when your dog was a puppy Loneliness from being left alone for too long Lack of exercise and mental stimulation Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior Excessive stress in the home environment How to Stop Destructive Chewing in Adult German Shepherds As with the causes, the remedies for excessive-destructive chewing in an adult GSD can be diverse. These will include: Retrain your dog if you think basic training was poorly done during puppyhood. You may want to consider the services of a professional trainer. Find ways of keeping your dog busy when you are not around. You can consider giving your dog a bone to chew on. If you do, go for natural or synthetic ones that will not break into pieces and risk choking your dog while he is alone. Ensure your GSD has the recommended 2-hour exercise daily, which could be distributed into walks and runs in the morning and evening and play and games at other times. That means he finds a replacement for his wild mates in his human family. Besides, the GSD is also a friendly and affectionate dog that loves cuddling time and spending time with family. As such, leaving your German Shepherd alone can cause excessive loneliness, otherwise referred to as separation anxiety , when it gets to the levels of an undesired psychological condition. The German Shepherd is among the top 10 breeds most predisposed to separation anxiety. This suggests that it could also be a breed thing, and you must take extra precautions. Dogs with this behavior problem find something to relieve their nervousness and stress, so most will turn to destructive behavior. Typical forms of destructive behavior include excessive chewing, house soiling, getting into the trash can, digging, destroying furniture and other items, and increased aggression toward family, strangers, and other pets. I would never leave her in her crate for more than hours. However, I got delayed in traffic for another 30 minutes on this occasion, and she clearly got bored! I only wanted one cushion! Remember that destructive behavior can be caused by factors like lack of exercise or a stressful home environment. Three solutions can be highly effective in stopping separation anxiety in your German Shepherd. Suggestions include finding someone to keep them busy and staying connected with them while you are away. Find a way of keeping your dog occupied while you are away Keeping your dog mentally and physically engaged can be achieved by employing a professional trainer or a dog walker. There are also doggy daycare facilities where you can take your GSD. Find a way of staying connected with your dog while you are away In an ever-changing technology era, staying connected with your GSD using dog cameras is easy. Take, for example, the Furbo Dog Camera from Amazon. Its main features can offer many ways to stay connected with your German Shepherd. You can toss a treat to your dog to reward him for good behavior. You can talk to your GSD to calm him down, especially when the barking alerts come in. Urine-Marking in German Shepherds Urine marking is an instinctive dog behavior that usually starts during sexual maturity. They will urinate on objects to leave a message for other dogs. For example, male German Shepherds will spray on the walls of a building where there is a female GSD in heat to tell fellow males to stay away. Generally, females only spray when they are in heat to attract any male dogs that happen to be in the area. However, urine marking becomes inappropriate inside the house, making it a behavior problem. The original herding and protective roles of German Shepherds make them quite territorial. As pack dogs, GSDs can also be highly dominant. Territory marking you welcome your partner at home, and your dog urinates on their backpack to claim ownership of you. Your dog has noticed a new dog in the neighborhood and wants to mark the house as his territory. How to Stop Urine Marking in German Shepherds To prevent or stop urine marking , consider one of these remedies — depending on the cause. Keep new and unfamiliar items in the house out of reach. Clean places where your GSD has urine marked to remove the smell and prevent your dog from remarking them. I like this one as you can use it on any surface. Help your German Shepherd become friends with new persons or dogs in the house. Eliminate anxiety-causing situations in the home. Confine your dog in his crate for a couple of hours. Consult a canine behaviorist if the behavior is out of hand. German Shepherds with ADHD will portray behavior problems such as hyperactivity, inability to pay attention, being easily distracted, impulsiveness, poor social skills, aggressive responses, fear, and sensitivity to noise. The consensus seems to reign about the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in ADHD. Hyperactive German Shepherds may be uncontrollable during walks, manifest excessive leash-pulling, become overly excited when removing the leash or returning home, and be challenging to engage in obedience training. Experts have used human ADHD questionnaires to detect the condition in dogs since; it seems hyperactivity has similar body chemical markers in dogs as in humans. This explains why testing ADHD in dogs entails observing changes in respiratory and heart rate and behavior. Consequently, solving hyperactivity in German Shepherds entails countering self-stimulation with external stimulation. As often repeated, the test for ADHD is to give your German Shepherd a prescribed stimulant in a controlled clinical situation and then observe the change in its respiratory rate, heart rate, and behavior. The levels for these markers will reduce in dogs with ADHD. Avoid self-diagnosing your dog, especially with self-made remedies. Excessive Barking in German Shepherds Barking is a typical communication behavior in dogs, and German Shepherds are known to be naturally vocal. Nonetheless, when barking becomes excessive, it can become a nuisance for both the owner and the neighborhood. Excessive barking means your dog will start to bark for any little stimulant and go on and on and on. It could be a doorbell, a passing stranger, or even the rustling of leaves in the backyard. If your GSD barks excessively, this may be the first sign of underlying issues and that he is sensitive to specific triggers. Triggers of excessive barking include: Boredom — your German Shepherd is home alone most of the time. Insufficient exercise — both physical and mental. Territorial behavior — your dog is overly protective of you, your home, or your possessions. Attention seeking — your dog has been reinforced to receive your attention when he barks incessantly. Medical issues — your German Shepherd has a medical condition that causes them pain and discomfort. How to Stop Excessive Barking in German Shepherds Sadly, people re-home their dogs every day due to excessive barking. If you have this German Shepherd behavior problem, below are the methods that are incredibly efficient in stopping excessive barking in dogs: Using positive reinforcement. To do this effectively, you must understand your German Shepherd and what makes him bark in the first place. Desensitization and counter-conditionin g : desensitization means exposing your GSD to the stimulus that causes excessive barking at a level lower or similar to the actual trigger. Eliminating the triggers: this might be a bit difficult, especially if they are beyond your control. For example, you cannot stop strangers from using a path near your house or leaves from rustling. Avoid gimmicks such as bark collars and sprays designed to teach your German Shepherd not to bark, as these only address the symptom and not the cause of the behavior problem. You have to lure them to the bathtub and put up with their crazy shaking and splashing unless you have managed to train them out of it! But bathing your dog becomes an extra hassle if covered with awful-smelling dirt! So, why do German Shepherds roll in the mud? Many speculative theories are used to explain why dogs roll in the dirt. Here are some of them: In the wild, wolves disguise their smell with dirt History has it that wolves disguise their scent by rolling in the dirt. Since dogs have their ancestry from wolves, it is speculated that they will roll in the dirt for the same reasons. Dogs love to leave their smell around Dogs have the instinct to leave their smell around to claim dominance or mark their territory. The pungent smell of dirt pushes them to want to claim their dominance with their odor, even when strong smells would overpower it. It gives them a sensational feeling As animals that predominantly use their sense of smell to interact with the environment, dogs enjoy extra sensory stimulation and may look for it excessively, such as lying in a pile of dirt. German Shepherds have innate behavior dispositions unique to the breed, like all other dogs. This can include behaviors like mouthing or destructive chewing. Think of their instinctual protectiveness towards their loved ones and how that can cause them to be aggressive toward strangers via nipping or jumping at strangers. But German Shepherds grow to be the dog you train them to be. And if that is not done correctly, behavior problems like howling will occur. However, that is not the only reason why your GSD may be misbehaving. German Shepherds have behavior problems such as howling, mouthing, jumping, and nipping due to poor or incomplete socialization and training, letting your dog have his way, insufficient exercise, hormones, health reasons, and using aversive training methods. Genetics can also cause poor behavior, which is easily solved by training. Genetic Disposition to Bad Behavior It has been scientifically proven that behavior, including howling and jumping, has both genetic and environmental determinants. This fact is recorded in a study on the genetics of behavior traits in German Shepherds, which confirmed that multiple genetic and non-genetic factors influence canine behavior, such as mouthing and nipping. In simple terms, your German Shepherd may inherit genes predisposing them to aggression from their parents, which does not mean you cannot tame the behavior through training. Poor Puppy Socialization Poorly socialized puppies grow into badly behaved adult German Shepherds exhibiting undesirable behaviors like jumping up and biting. If a German Shepherd is not socialized well at this age, he will become an unapproachable and untrainable adult. Proper socialization training for your German Shepherd means exposing them to different environments where they learn how to interact with other people and pets positively. This makes them more confident and calm than anxiety and aggression in unsocialized and badly trained dogs. Incomplete Obedience Training Obedience training is crucial in helping your German Shepherd understand your expectations. This includes managing behaviors such as play biting and improving the overall trainability of your pet. Many new dog owners think a week of training after bringing their dog home is enough. Not so! This is also key to ensuring your dog feels confident when interacting with visitors. Miscommunication can result in undesired behaviors like play biting, especially when your pet meets visitors. I have two helpful guides to help you with obedience training using positive reinforcement techniques. These guides incorporate strategies to improve trainability and build confidence in your dog. It has been confirmed that positive reinforcement training produces the best behavior in dogs because it boosts their confidence. Alao, you encourage your pet to repeat it by constantly rewarding him. Instead, research suggests that aversive training methods may be less effective in teaching good behavior to your dog. This can also negatively affect their interactions with visitors. Hormonal Effects and Gonadectomy Testosterone is often associated with aggression in male dogs. This research study discovered that other hormones could be the underlying causes of play biting and aggression in dogs. Oxytocin OT , a hormone associated with social bonding and sexual reproduction, and Vasopressin AVP , which regulates the volume of extracellular fluid volume and renal handling of water, can negatively impact dog behavior. Gonadectomy is the generic term for the surgical removal of the male testes or female ovaries. However, research results from a large sample of over 13, dogs show this is not entirely true. Scientists still do not know the reason for this. Would you call that a well-behaved dog? This is especially notable when visitors come to the house and the dog exhibits poor behavior. Not setting boundaries with your dog can be another reason your German Shepherd has behavior issues. Such a dog will show aggression when someone tries to set boundaries, such as at the vet or the dog park. The German Shepherd is a high-energy dog requiring at least two hours of daily exercise. This means more than leash walks! In addition to this, he will need lots of interactive play and mental stimulation to manage his health and build confidence. If you try to make your GSD a couch potato, he will have behavior issues, manifesting primarily in destructive behavior, negatively affecting his play-biting habits and behavior around visitors. Zak George , the well-known dog breeder and trainer, often emphasizes this point in his teachings. For example, a study revealed that dogs involved in physical activity and those who practice agility shows are less likely to show aggressive tendencies than those living a more sedentary life. Medical Conditions A final reason your German Shepherd will show behavior problems is if he has medical issues. These could be both physical and psychological. For example, dogs with Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior are often linked with self-directed aggression and self-mutilation, primarily through biting. A study on clinical features in dogs and cats with OCB indicated self-mutilation as the most recurrent of these features. Such practices are often seen as a sign of distress in dogs. Other medical conditions that may cause behavior issues in dogs include injury and post-operative pain, which can trigger aggressive behavior. In this case, having a breeder or vet advise on handling the dog can be beneficial. The causes of German Shepherd behavior problems are lack of socialization and exercise. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and social dogs and must be exposed to various people, animals, and environments to develop correctly. They are also active and energetic dogs that need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. What other resources can help me deal with German Shepherd behavior problems? Many resources are available to help you deal with German Shepherd behavior problems. The most important is a qualified and experienced dog trainer. A good trainer can help you identify the source of the problem and develop an effective plan to address it. Another great resource is books and online articles written by experts on the subject. Final Thoughts Owning a German Shepherd is both exciting and rewarding for most owners. However, behavior problems associated with the breed can sometimes make owning a GSD a challenge altogether. What is most important is knowing that you can manage these behavior problems. Exercise, training, eliminating cues to behavior problems, and seeking a canine behaviorist are all possible ways to make your German Shepherd overcome his behavior shortcomings. Remember, though, that the job of a dog behaviorist or trainer is to train the dog and the human too! Related Posts You May Like:. German Shepherds were my very first breed. This noble-looking male has a beautiful rugged head, intelligent expression, and rich coloration. My experience with German Shepherd temperament Temperament and behavior stem from what the breed was designed for To understand a breed's temperament and behavior, ask, "What was he developed to do? The German Shepherd was developed from various sheepherding dogs. German Shepherds were also developed as military messenger and sentry dogs, and as personal protection and police dogs. The breed also excels at search and rescue, bomb and drug detection, and guiding the blind. Certainly you would expect high intelligence, high self-confidence, trainability, and an ability to focus. All of those traits are what you get in an ideal German Shepherd. One of the most capable and trainable breeds in all of dogdom, an ideal German Shepherd, when properly raised by a confident owner, can be a magnificent companion. There's a good reason my first dogs were German Shepherds! Unfortunately, it can be difficult today to find a German Shepherd with an ideal temperament. Or at least an ideal temperament to be a good family companion. Different lines have different temperaments Today, the temperament of a German Shepherd often depends largely upon what kind of line he comes from. Some breeders, you see, produce working lines of German Shepherds with high-drive temperaments — vigorous and intense. These dogs are ideal for competitive protection-dog sports. But not so much for the average family companion, unless you were to look carefully for an individual pup in one of those litters who didn't inherit that high-drive temperament. Other breeders produce show lines that match a detailed standard of conformation for the show ring. These dogs are softer-tempered than those from working lines. That sounds nice and yet.I've worked with far too many German Shepherds from show lines who were hyperactive, skittish, spooky, or downright dopey. This happens when breeders focus on appearance more than temperament and trainability. My recommendation for a good family dog If you're looking for an easygoing family companion, I would avoid both strict show lines and strict working lines. Instead, you might look for more of a generalist breeder who focuses on calmness and high trainability. These breeders might prove their dogs' trainability by participating in non-protection dog sports such as obedience, rally, or agility. Or, if you want a truly mellow Shepherd, you might consider a longhaired or perhaps a solid white German Shepherd. These dogs are seldom bred for aggressive dog sports, so they tend to have a milder temperament that fits well into many families. Just be careful with the whites. A good number of them are too soft, which can result in timidity or skittishness. I hope you can see.Because if you don't know what you want, and what you don't want, and if you don't ask the right questions, you're likely to end up with a German Shepherd that isn't at all what you were looking for — and possibly one who is too much for you to handle. Such an intelligent expression — confident and inquiring. Pros and cons of German Shepherds The Good Thrives on challenging activities and exercise Loyal to his own family Looks imposing and has a reputation that bad guys don't want to fool with, so makes an effective deterrent Highly intelligent and versatile — can learn almost anything The Bad Can be hard to find one with a family-oriented temperament and a decent chance of staying healthy Needs plenty of exercise and interesting things to do Needs careful socialization Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough Potential aggression toward other animals Constant shedding — days a year Legal liabilities insurance issues, increased chance of lawsuits High risk of serious health problems Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. Books by Michele Welton "Respect Training for Puppies" or "Respect Training for Adult Dogs" is a step by step guide to help you bring out the best in your pup so you can enjoy a calm and well-behaved dog, no matter what his age. Get your book today. A healthy dog is a happy dog, so buy your copy today. How big are German Shepherds? Males stand about inches at the shoulder and weigh pounds. Females stand about inches and weigh pounds. Some German Shepherds are considerably larger than that, but shouldn't be. This breed is supposed to be athletic and agile, not giant-sized and ponderous. Larger dogs can have more joint problems and a shorter lifespan. Are there different "types" of German Shepherds? Officially there's only the one breed. But I explained in the Temperament section that there are different lines of German Shepherds with different temperaments. Those lines can also LOOK very different from each other. Show lines Those of us who admired the strong, noble look of German Shepherds from decades ago are saddened at what has been done to the appearance of modern show dogs. If you go to a German Shepherd specialty show in the United States or Canada, you'll see tall narrow bodies, long narrow heads, and such excessive curvature of the rear legs that the dog's back slopes downward from shoulders to tail. You could roll a ball down that back. In my opinion, these are misshapen caricatures of a German Shepherd. To make matters worse, show lines produce more than their share of spooky and low-intelligence dogs, which is what happens when you over-focus on appearance rather than temperament and trainability. In contrast, the West German show line has a more normal shape. There are many West German bloodlines in the United States. Just be aware that these dogs aren't couch potatoes: they do have plenty of energy and some working drives that will need to be exercised. Solid black German Shepherds are less common, but when combined with a rugged build, makes for a very handsome dog. It's true that working lines are often too strong-tempered and intense for the average family. But if you're an experienced owner who knows how to be in charge and if you provide firm rules and plenty of physical and mental exercise, working lines can make great companions. Knowledgeable working dog breeders can point you toward the pups in their litters who are calmer and have less working drive. These dogs were used by the military and border patrol, so they're tough, not recommended for the average family. Pet lines? You might be thinking, "Must I choose show line or working line? Isn't there another choice, like a line specifically bred to be a good pet? Some breeders emphasize high trainability, competing with their intelligent dogs in non-protection sports such as obedience or agility. Other breeders emphasize "old style" German Shepherds with a more rugged build. But avoid breeders who boast about their "giant" German Shepherds. Packing more weight onto the frame and joints of a breed that's supposed to be medium to large is a huge pun intended mistake. German Shepherd with long hair. This particular dog has a minimalist long coat — just some ear tufts and a body coat that's slightly longer than normal. Shorthaired or longhaired When you're thinking about the different types of German Shepherds, you should also consider the two types of COAT: The normal coat is short hair. But German Shepherds also come in a longer coat. Both coats are the same breed. Unfortunately, in the United States, long coats are frowned upon by the official clubs and show-dog breeders. Long-coated dogs can be registered, bred, and shown in certain activities such as obedience and agility. But they're not welcome in the conformation ring, where judging is based on appearance. Some long-coated Shepherds have essentially a short body coat with only minor feathering around their ears, on the backs of their legs, and on their bum and tail. Other long-coated German Shepherds have long hair across most of their body. Do long haired German Shepherds have a different build or temperament? Yes, often they do. Because they're not welcome in the conformation ring, their structure hasn't been deformed like that of their shorthaired brothers. And because they're seldom seen in protection dog sports, their temperament tends to be softer and milder, which fits well into many families. German Shepherds are active dogs, but should not be hyperactive. Fetch games are a great way to exercise this breed. How much exercise do German Shepherds need? German Shepherd puppies and adolescents up to 18 months old should have moderate exercise only — multiple walks, fetch games, or if there is a compatible playmate playing with another dog. But the growing bones and ligaments in a young dog can be irreparably damaged by too much exercise or the wrong kind of exercise. At this age, there should be no forced running beside a jogger or bicyclist. Restrict jumping as much as possible. Once the dog is mature, the amount of exercise needed will vary according to the dog's energy level. But all German Shepherds, to maintain fitness, need brisk walking every day and all-out running in a safe, enclosed area as often as possible. Dogs from working lines typically want a lot more exercise. Mental exercise is even more important for German Shepherds. Mental exercise means the dog gets to participate in interesting activities that keep his intelligent mind stimulated. This might be a dog sport such as agility, rally obedience, musical freestyle, tracking, flyball, herding, or schutzhund. It might be interactive dog toys, or a homemade obstacle course, or learning tricks, or playing games such as Hide 'n Seek. Handsome black German Shepherd, attentively awaiting your next words. Are German Shepherds easy to train? Some are easy to train, while others are more moderate. As we've seen, different lines have different temperaments. German Shepherds from working lines are typically more assertive and stronger-willed. A "tougher" German Shepherd will be more challenging to train unless you pay closer attention to building the right Leader-Follower relationship with the dog. That doesn't mean "softer" German Shepherds are automatically easy to train. Some dogs with soft temperaments are skittish or shy, making them just as challenging as a strong-tempered dog. In general, though, a sound-tempered German Shepherd who is a good fit for family life should be easy to train. Just establish the right Leader-Follower relationship and the dog will be happy to work with you. This is taught in my puppy training book, Respect Training For Puppies 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. Are they friendly with strangers? Most German Shepherds are reserved with strangers. As the breed's national club says, a good German Shepherd has: "a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. Without proper guidance from the owner, a German Shepherd's natural aloofness can morph over the line to suspiciousness, distrust, and even aggression or fearfulness. When you own an aloof breed, you need to socialize the dog thoroughly. This means a careful program of teaching him to pay attention to you and mind you in the presence of other people and other dogs. He doesn't have to like them, but he must accept them. One thing I should mention: many German Shepherds who bark and lunge at strangers or other dogs aren't being either protective or aggressive. Rather, this kind of reactivity can be the dog's attempt to hide his own insecurities behind a blustering facade. At the other end of the spectrum are German Shepherds who tuck their tail between their legs, and try to hide behind you or run away whenever a stranger or another dog approaches. Sometimes this is just inexperience with the world, but sometimes it's an inherited form of shyness. German Shepherds who are genetically shy can be helped by socialization — but not "cured. There are also legal liabilities to consider when you acquire a German Shepherd. For example, your homeowner insurance policy might be cancelled or the rates hiked, because people are often quicker to sue if a "guard dog breed" does anything even remotely questionable. Are German Shepherds good with children? If the dog was raised with childen and if the children are well-behaved, most German Shepherds with a normal temperament are fine with them. But if you have young children, you need to be especially careful about bringing an adult German Shepherd with an unknown background into your home. That dog should have a stellar temperament vouched for by experienced rescue personnel. Also I wouldn't be comfortable with some high-drive German Shepherds around toddlers. These vigorous, intense dogs could send a toddler flying without even meaning to. Are German Shepherds good with other pets? Most German Shepherds are fine with other dogs and cats in their own family, if introduced to them when the dog is young. I've had multiple German Shepherds living harmoniously with my Chihuahuas and cats. And some German Shepherds are dominant, or aggressive, toward other dogs of the same sex. My dog Luke, for example, would never dream of harming a female dog — but he would have loved to engage any strange male. Only a firm Respect Training program kept his behavior under control. Long-coated German Shepherd. Keep their feathering combed out to avoid painful mats and tangles. Grooming: Do German Shepherds shed a lot? Are they easy to groom? About shedding.I have good news and bad news. The good news is that German Shepherds have only one shedding period a year. The bad news is.In other words, German Shepherds shed constantly. How is this different from most breeds? Most breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year. But the vast bulk of their shedding occurs only twice a year — for three weeks in the spring as their thicker winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and for three weeks in the fall as the summer coat switches over to a winter coat. Not German Shepherds. They shed a TON during those spring and fall coat-switching seasons. Plus they shed moderately the rest of the year. So year-round, you'll find hair on your clothing, on your carpets, and under your refrigerator. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life. You might be wondering, "How can a shorthaired dog shed so much? They have a short outer coat harsh to the touch , plus a woolly undercoat for insulation. Breeds with a double coat always shed more than breeds who simply have an outer coat but no undercoat. German Shepherds come in a long coat, as well as a short coat. Both coats shed heavily. Now, about grooming.How much grooming is required depends on whether a German Shepherd is shorthaired or longhaired. We've already talked about the temperament usually good of longhaired German Shepherds. As far as grooming goes, they obviously need regular brushing and combing to prevent mats and tangles. The longer the coat, the more work it will be. But even if your Shepherd has a short coat, you're not off the hook when it comes to brushing. With a constant shedder, you should brush as often as possible to pull out the shed hairs before they end up on your floor and furnishings. Ironically, longhaired German Shepherds often seem to shed less than the shorthaired. That's because some shed hair gets caught in the long coat instead of falling out. The trade-off is that you need to brush out that accumulated hair regularly or it will tangle and fuse into a matted mess. Longhaired dogs need trimming Along with brushing and combing, longhaired German Shepherds need trimming every few months. Focus on the longish hair around the dog's private parts. Otherwise whenever he goes to the bathroom, the result is going to be unsanitary, both for the dog and for your house. Remember, anything that sticks to long hair eventually ends up on your floor or furnishings. So keep your dog's private parts trimmed short. Gray sable pattern How long do German Shepherds live? Are they a healthy breed? German Shepherds typically live years. Some do live to 13 or 14, but usually with chronic health issues such as arthritis. And sadly, many don't even make it to age .As a long-time German Shepherd owner, I know first-hand how many health problems this breed suffers from. Crippling joint diseases, autoimmune diseases, digestive diseases, skin diseases, heart and eye diseases.It's a good idea to have pet insurance when you own a German Shepherd. Here is a complete list of health problems in German Shepherds. The most common color in German Shepherds — black and tan, in the saddleback pattern What colors do German Shepherds come in? The most common colors are black and tan, black and red, black and cream, or black and silver. These colors cover the dog in one of these three patterns: Saddleback — the black overlays the dog's back and sides like a saddle. The rest of the dog is tan, red, cream, or silver. Usually there's some black on the face, as well. Blanketback — the black extends further down the shoulders and hips. Honestly I don't know why this pattern is called bicolor, which simply means two colors. As we've just seen, the other two patterns also have just two colors. Another common color is sable, which is an overall shade of gray, golden, or red, with black-tipped hairs that create a "dusted with black" effect. A less common, but perfectly acceptable, color is solid black. Many blue dogs look as though they've been dusted with flour. Liver German Shepherds have inherited a color-modifying gene that changes their black pigment to brown any shade from light to dark. For example, if a German Shepherd would have been a black and tan saddleback — except that he inherited a modifying gene — he becomes a blue and tan saddleback, or a liver and tan saddleback. Blue and liver are considered serious faults by the official German Shepherd clubs and breeders who show their dogs in the conformation ring. But you can still register these dogs and compete with them in activities such as obedience and agility. Controversial color: solid white As with blue and liver, you can register a white German Shepherd and show him in competitive activities such as obedience and agility. But you can't show him in the conformation ring. Well, the Powers-That-Be say white is an unacceptable color because German Shepherds were developed to be herding and guard dogs. White dogs, they say, are too visible to make effective guard dogs. On the other hand, white dogs blend in too much with the sheep or snow instead of being clearly visible to the human shepherd. If you love the white color, you might be pleased to hear that White Shepherd enthusiasts have formed their own club, which holds its own conformation shows. Do German Shepherd ears stand up on their own, or do they have to be cut or taped to make them stand up? Ah, you're thinking about cropping, a surgical procedure to make the ears stand up. That's done with Doberman Pinschers, but not with German Shepherds. A Shepherd puppy's ears prick up naturally — they're never cropped. German Shepherd puppy with perfectly normal ears at this age. If the pup inherited normal genes, the other ear should come up shortly. But German Shepherd puppies aren't born with pricked ears. In some pups, the ears start to prick up at 6 or 8 weeks old, while others don't start until 12 or 14 weeks old. Often the ears don't go up smoothly. In other words, they don't suddenly pop straight up. Typically one ear will go up halfway, and stay like that for a few days. Then the other ear may start to prick while the first ear straightens all the way up. A few days later, just as the second ear straightens up, the first one suddenly flops back down. This can be a trying time for new owners who worry that their pup's ears will never stand properly. Rest assured, it's normal for German Shepherd puppy ears to go up and down for a month or two, especially during the teething period. Unfortunately, some puppies do inherit poor genes for ear strength and often those ears will never come all the way up. They're called "soft ears. I had a German Shepherd with one soft ear. It flopped sideways on top of his head, while the other ear stood up beautifully. Of course I loved him dearly anyway! Most German Shepherd puppies start out with floppy ears and dark coloration. I'll be happy to show you how to raise and train your new family member. Or check out my training tips to teach your German Shepherd puppy to be well-behaved. Also see my advice on German Shepherd health care , including feeding and vaccinations If you don't have a German Shepherd puppy, but you want one.I can help you with that, too. German Shepherds are extremely common in the United States, the 2nd most common of all breeds. So they're very easy to find. The problem is finding one with the best chances of developing a stable temperament and the best chances of staying healthy through the years. THAT is harder to do. First, you need to think about the different types of German Shepherds we talked about earlier. The different temperament types and the different build and coat types. You'll remember.Or you can just hop onto Craigslist and buy a puppy from someone who "just breeds pets" or "just had one litter. Not unless the seller has done the proper health certifications on the puppy's parents. One huge difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible "puppy producer" is — health certifications. One parent should have a certificate showing them to be clear of degenerative myelopathy. This is the fastest way to rule out all the bad breeders. No certificates equals irresponsible breeding. Many years ago, I had a dear German Shepherd with this devastating disease. Believe me, you do not want to go through that. If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing and able to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your German Shepherd ends up crippled, paralyzed, or stricken with heart disease. Because of their popularity, and because so many owners acquire one without doing diligent research, German Shepherds are often available from dog rescue groups. German Shepherd crosses and mixes are frequently found in animal shelters. However, shelter personnel can be over-zealous in labeling every medium- to large dog with a vaguely shepherd-ish look as a "German Shepherd cross. Did you know there's a quick and simple DNA test that can tell you definitively which breeds make up any given dog? What breeds are similar to German Shepherds? The Shiloh Shepherd looks like a large German Shepherd, which is not surprising since the Shiloh was developed 50 years ago by crossing German Shepherds with larger breeds. Compared to German Shepherds, Shiloh Shepherds tend to have a calmer, more easygoing personality. Compared to German Shepherds, most White Shepherds have a softer, more sensitive personality. White Shepherds are fine watchdogs, but seldom aggressive. In fact, if a White Shepherd is going to have any temperament fault, it's more likely to be timidity or skittishness. The Belgian Shepherd is recommended only for experienced owners. Compared to the German Shepherd, a Belgian is more agile, graceful, and elegant. Belgian Shepherds are highly intelligent, but also easily bored and prone to obsessive behaviors. This is a demanding breed that needs ongoing supervision and structured activities. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. To help you train and care for your dog Dog training videos. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy or adult dog when you can see the correct training techniques in action. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. For puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. If your dog is over 18 months, you'll want Respect Training For Adult Dogs: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved dog. Again your dog will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Teach Your Dog English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Related posts you might enjoy. German Shepherds are smart, loyal, naturally protective, and friendly. Without proper training and socialization, German Shepherds can develop nervous habits and overly-protective behaviors, just like most breeds. You might be wondering: What traits should I be watching for in my German Shepherd puppy? This intelligence, when left to its own devices, can lead to problematic behaviors. With early training and socialization though, you can help to prevent some of these common issues from coming up. A few of the most common include: Over-Protectiveness — German Shepherds are naturally protective. They want to protect the family unit. This protectiveness can become problematic if it manifests as aggression towards strangers or other animals. Examples include lunging at the mailman, or aggressive barking at passers-by. Introduce them to new people, new situations, and new noises. Socialization helps your puppy develop confidence and to learn what types of people and situations are non-threatening. Unfortunately, when they become over-territorial, this can be unsafe for visitors. Often, too, Shepherds can become territorial over food, growling, barking or lunging at anyone or other animals that come into their space. Exercise, obedience training, and rewarding calm behavior can all help to alleviate territorial aggression. Digging or Destructiveness — German Shepherds, require rigorous mental and physical exercise. They get bored very quickly, and often, this boredom manifests itself in destructive behavior. When bored, your pup might try to seek attention too, another common reason for the destructive behavior, like digging excessively or chewing up a shoe. Providing daily physical exercise, as well as training mental activity can help prevent boredom. Nipping — Many young dog breeds nip starting at around 6 to 9 months old. This is fairly typical behavior, but with Shepherds, it can be a bit scarier as get bigger. Separation Anxiety — German Shepherds, love you and want to always be by your side! Unfortunately, work and vacation make that impossible. You might also start with shorter trips when you first bring your pup home. Obedience training is imperative, and you should include your whole family in the training process. This will help your dog learn that he is not the alpha. Ultimately, the best way to weed out problematic behaviors is to start a training regime very early. German Shepherd puppies want to learn and put their intelligence to good use. Owners must be consistent in their training. Using the right cues, rewarding the right behaviors, and communicating with your dog properly is very important. The best way is to learn the right way to train a pup is to seek the help of a German Shepherd trainer. Taking a course teach you how to properly communicate with your dog and provide you with techniques to redirect negative behaviors. It starts with the breeder. Find a breeder that breeds for temperament and health. The best breeders take great care to produce animals that are calm, confident and loving. It requires careful pedigree planning and selecting the right sire dad and dam mom who show well-adjusted temperaments. Similarly, the best breeders will also be happy to provide a pedigree for the animal and are glad to answer the phone when you have any training concerns. For more information or if you may have questions, please contact us here.
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bulldog water puppies - Jan 20, Share Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. They are known for their loyal and friendly personalities, and many people choose them as their first dogs. Such a popular breed is always in demand, and more Golden Retriever puppies are born every day. However, there is some uncertainty about how many puppies Golden Retrievers typically have. Due to their size, larger dogs tend to have larger litters, while smaller dogs tend to have smaller litters. As a bigger dog breed, Goldens can have anywhere from one to twelve puppies per litter, but six to eight puppies are about average. Some litters may have as few as four. Read on below to find out more. Why the Size of the Dog Breed Affects Litter Size The different sizes of litter between breeds are due to the fact that larger breeds have more room in their uterus to grow puppies, while smaller breeds have less room. This is likely due, in part, to the fact that smaller dogs have a shorter gestational period and thus less time to mature a large number of offspring at a more rapid rate than larger dogs. This difference in litter size can be important for breeders, as they need to consider the size of the breed when planning how many puppies to produce. However, it is also worth noting that different breeds of dogs will exhibit different average litter sizes, even within the same size class. For example, the German Shorthaired Pointer is around the same size as a Golden Retriever, but has an average of nine pups per litter. The first litter of puppies for a female Golden Retriever is typically smaller in size than later litters. Additionally, since the first litter is typically born earlier than later litters, the puppies may not have as much time to grow and develop before being born. She should, however, have regular checkups with a veterinarian to ensure everything is going well. Despite Golden Retriever mothers being able to deliver many puppies, not every pup will survive birth. A dam may give birth to four puppies, but only two or three will survive. Pregnant dogs require high-quality vitamins, minerals, and premium proteins in addition to a healthy and balanced diet. Additives and fillers in dog food can lead to poor nutrition and ultimately affect litter size. In addition, diet plays an important role in the health and survival rate of puppies after birth. The chances of a Golden Retriever producing a small litter are higher if they are unhealthy. It is also possible that the puppies are born weak and have a lower chance of surviving. Age of Parents Female Golden Retrievers should not be bred too young or too old. Ideally, a female should be between the ages of 2 and 5 when she is first bred. It is also important to consider the age of the male. Once a male reaches the age of 5, their sperm count will decrease. Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock Lineage Overly inbred dogs are less likely to have large litters than dogs with a diverse gene pool. Ask your breeder about their parents and whether they have been tested for defects if you are looking for a puppy. Conception Method and Timing It may surprise you to learn that the way your Golden becomes impregnated may determine how many puppies she will have. Having a larger litter is more likely for Golden Retrievers that become pregnant naturally while conceiving artificially is more likely to lead to a smaller litter. This is because the freezing process kills many sperm cells in preserved semen, resulting in fewer pups. Dogs that conceive within 48 hours of ovulation have a higher chance of having a larger litter. These larger litters usually occur in the third, fourth, and fifth pregnancy. Puppy Mills Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for sale to the public. In a puppy mill, the mother dog is often bred repeatedly until she no longer can bear puppies. There are many reasons why one should avoid buying a dog from a puppy mill. First and foremost, puppy mills are notorious for breeding unhealthy dogs. Dogs from puppy mills typically have a variety of genetic health problems, ranging from joint problems to heart disease. In addition, puppy mills often keep dogs in horrible conditions, with little or no veterinary care. Dogs in puppy mills may also be malnourished and abused. Conclusion In conclusion, Golden Retrievers have an average of eight puppies. However, a breeder or owner can mate their Goldie at the right time, exercise them, keep them healthy, and feed them high-quality food all year long, but ultimately they cannot control the litter size. Thanks for reading! The average female dog can probably have around 10 litters in their lifetime, depending on factors like health, breed, and size. They can usually have two litters a year. However, the answer to how many litters the vast majority of dogs should have is none. Most female dogs called dams when they are mothers can generally produce two litters yearly, although some can go into heat thrice, having three litters. The number of litter a dam gets per year depends on the natural body cycle, body condition, and breeder. Most breeders skip cycles leading to fewer litters per year. The larger the dog breed is, the less often she will go on heat. So giant dogs like St. Bernards, English Mastiffs, or Great Danes may only go into heat once per year. The number of litters a dam has a year and the age she starts and stops breeding determine the number of times she gives birth whelps in her lifetime. Therefore, breeders must determine how often their dams will reproduce per year to get the recommended lifetime number of a maximum of four to six litters. But how many litters should a dog have? When it comes to breeding, the main question is if a dog should breed at all. The answer is no. With the overflowing shelters and the problems that arise from unethical breeding practices, breeding is a tricky business. Then there is the question of why you want to breed a dog at all. The founder of Shield K9, Haz Othman, in Ontario, breeds dogs for protection, police, and military work. Many excellent dogs come through their doors, but very few are ever bred. In this video, he shows how he tests a female German Shepherd to determine if she might be fit for breeding. While testing this promising young German Shepherd, Haz notices that she is excellent in all areas but one. She hesitates a moment when he pretends to attack her. Of course, not everyone is breeding dogs for this purpose. It takes a very experienced breeder to identify the top dogs in their field that are worth the risks of breeding. Golden Retrievers can usually have two litters every year. Golden Retrievers experience a heat cycle every six months and remain in heat for about 3 to 4 weeks from about nine months old. A span of 9 days marks the period of fertility for Goldies. Litters get smaller in number and even size if you breed a Goldie into their old age past seven years. They should also not be bred before they are two years old. Breeding a dog too young and too old puts both the dog and her puppies at risk. See our article on how big your puppy might get if you are wondering, and be especially careful if your pregnant or lactating dog is vomiting. Help Dogs In Need Our blog posts aim to provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information on all types of dogs, helping our readers make informed choices that fit their lifestyle. We don't endorse any specific breeding practices, but advocate for ethical breeding and dog welfare. We encourage exploring adoption first. Countless wonderful dogs, from all breeds, await their forever homes in shelters. Remember, with AdoptDontShop, you can give a deserving rescue a second chance at happiness. Legally, in the United States, dogs can have as many litters as the owner allows them to breed, and most states even allow dogs to live in terrible conditions. The United Kennel Club limits the number of litter per dam to 4 to 5. Remember that even if a breeder is registered, be wary. Sacred Heart University outlines exactly how common unethical breeding practices are. When breeding becomes a business, some breeders have no problem being deceptive about how often they breed, or the health and temperament of their dogs. This can end badly when somebody invests a great deal of money in a top-quality show dog who ends up with debilitating health problems or behavior problems such as extreme anxiety. While dogs can ideally have more than 10 litters in their lifetimes, old-age breeding is detrimental to both the dam and the puppies. The best way to determine how many times to breed a dog is to factor in the starting age 2 years for large dogs and the age to stop breeding 6 to 7 years. This caps the number of times a dam can safely have puppies to about 5 times within the recommended breeding ages. Should you breed a dog every time she comes into heat? Breed a dog every time she comes into heat is a controversial matter. Some argue that skipping cycles between pregnancies leads to phantom pregnancies, which increase the risk of mammary cancer. Critics also say that restricting birth in intact females increases the risk of cystic endometrial hyperplasia linked to life-threatening diseases like pyometra. Canine reproduction specialist Dr. If you skip an estrus cycle, you expose the uterus to two more months of the hormone. This causes the thickening of the uterus leading to endometrial hyperplasia and, eventually, pyometra. Pyometra is a potentially deadly infection in the uterus. On the other hand, supporters of skipping one or two estrus cycles after pregnancy argue that failing to do so exhausts the dog due to overbreeding. They also point to smaller and brachycephalic breeds that are more prone to difficulties in birth dystocia and need more time to rest and recover between pregnancies. A dog having too many litters can affect the health of the puppies and herself. A dog has too many litters when she continues to whelp past the age where her body can handle the strain, endangering her life. Older dams are more susceptible to deadly complications like eclampsia. Puppies from old dams are small, have health issues, and some are stillborn. Even when a dog is within the prime years of reproduction, too many puppies without a waitlist contribute to dog overpopulation. Breeders that allow their dams to conceive too many litters typically fail to perform necessary genetic tests. This leads to puppies with genetic conditions that will perpetuate these health problems, such as: Hip dysplasia. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Golden Retriever puppies are fluffy balls of joy, and you must be thrilled to welcome them into your home. But how many puppies should you be expecting from this upcoming litter? On average, Golden Retrievers can have around eight puppies. Litter sizes can vary depending on the breed of dog, so there are a few factors that can determine the litter size of your Golden Retriever. This article goes over what kind of litter you could be expecting based on your Golden Retriever mother. Litter Size: First-Time vs. This is the national average for first-time mothers, so it is normal for your dog to give birth to a few less or a few more. However, it is always important for her to have check-ups with a vet to ensure everything is going well with her puppies. It is very rare that your Goldie will have a single puppy birth. Litter sizes of over a dozen puppies are also possible with Golden Retrievers, but not as common. If your Golden Retriever is pregnant, it is safe to assume that she will give birth to four to nine puppies. While it is always important to feed your dog a healthy and balanced diet, pregnant dogs need high-quality vitamins and minerals and premium protein. Dog food that is filled with additives and fillers can affect the litter size. Diet will also be a factor in how healthy the puppies will be after birth and what their survival rate will be. Health: If your Golden Retriever is obese or not given enough exercise, this can affect the litter. An unhealthy Goldie will more than likely produce a small litter. The puppies might also be born weak and have a smaller chance of survival. Age of both parents. You do not want to breed your female Golden Retriever too young or too old. The age range for the female to be bred is 2 to 5 years old. However, if you wait to breed your Goldie for the first time after they are five years old, their litters will always be smaller in number. The age of the male is also a factor. The sperm count in males will decrease once they reach 5 years old. Genetics: Dogs that have a more diverse gene pool are more likely to have larger litters than dogs that have been overly inbred. This is why if you go to a breeder, ask them about the parents and if they have been tested for defects. Image Credit: PorChonlawit, Shutterstock Final Considerations If you are a dog owner, you already know how important health, diet, and exercise are for raising a strong and happy dog. These factors must also be considered when deciding if you want to breed your Golden Retriever. Have her checked with the vet before she gets pregnant to make sure she is healthy and able to carry a litter safely. Ensure the potential mate is also healthy and the right age. However, no matter the litter size, each puppy will be a bundle of pure joy! A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.Read more Advertisement. Its exterior coat is a little bit coarser than its fluffy, velvety undercoat and both of the layers are crucial for protecting the skin from moisture, heat, and cold. Despite their name, Goldens come in a variety of colors. While others are a much duller and muted yellow cream tone, some are a much darker, richer gold color that is almost orange. If you want a serious watchdog, Golden Retrievers are not the best option. In fact, a research that examined more than 30 dog breeds discovered that Goldies were among the six kinds least prone to display aggression. A Golden Retriever will have on average 8 puppies in a litter, and the range is usually between 6 and 10 puppies. Litter sizes do go outside of this range from time to time, but should be considered quite uncommon. That said, a Golden named Giselle gave birth to a record-breaking 17 puppies in one litter in ! The size of a litter can be influenced by the breeding lines; some lines tend to have larger litters than others. Golden owners who are considering breeding their dogs should talk to a veterinarian or breeder about the size of the anticipated litter. Many other variables, which I go into more detail about in the sections below, will also affect how many puppies there are in a litter. At birth, a Golden Retriever puppy weighs around 1 pound only, a far cry from the adults we always see! The breed standard for Golden Retrievers is between 65 to 75 pounds females tend to be smaller and the weight can vary slightly depending on genetics, diet, and activity level. All dogs, including Goldens, do not experience menopause and are capable of reproducing up until their death. Their heat cycle lasts between six and eight months on average, or roughly twice a year. Overbreeding will put a lot of strain on your dog, which may lead to a number of health problems like heart disease, arthritis, and infertility. Also, stopping early is necessary in order for it to be spayed and to enjoy a happy life even after retirement. Add to the fact that there are nations where it is illegal to breed a dog more than four to six times in its lifespan, and you should understand the importance of not overbreeding. In the US, the American Kennel Club AKC does not accept registrations for dams that are bred over the age of 12 and under 8 months, and sires that are over the age of 12 and under 7 months. Age of the dam Typically, as the dam ages, the size of the litter decreases. Oddly enough, the first 2 litters are often smaller than the following ones, so once your Golden breeds again after the first two litters, you should likely see your dam having one or two extra puppies. Have your dog spayed long before then to improve its overall health. Breeders often need to use artificial insemination to help with breeding older males, thus it is preferable to only breed when they are younger. In addition, the amount of puppies in a litter is significantly influenced by nutrition. All year long, a high-quality, protein-rich food should be fed to maximize the chance of having a larger litter. Smaller litters are more common in dams with bad diets, especially those who are overweight. Size of dog Bigger body sizes in terms of build, not weight are often associated with larger litter sizes within a particular breed. With Goldens, their size can vary quite a fair bit even though they are the same breeds, and this can have an effect on how many puppies it can give birth to. In general, dams that are bigger has a higher chance of having a larger litter. Litter in which mom was born The level of fertility of your Golden Retriever has a thing or two to do with the litter it was born in. If she was born into a large litter herself, she will likely have a larger first litter. On the other side, you may generally anticipate that your girl will have a small first litter if she was born in a small litter herself. Type of breeding Actually, considering how easily it could get complicated, it might be best to reserve this topic for a subsequent essay. Just be aware that the method of reproduction can have a big impact on both the quantity and quality of puppies for the time being. As the bonds between the dogs get closer, these issues are more likely to arise. Linebreeding , on the other hand, aims to maintain sufficient genetic diversity while preserving the best genes from a bloodline, making it frequently a safer method of dog breeding. Time of breeding It is said that a dam is more likely to have a larger litter size the closer she is to ovulation. This is defined as the period after the estrogen period when the Luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any studies supporting this theory, so at this point, I would say this factor is probably not that significant. Although Golden Retrievers can begin reproducing once they reach their first heat cycle, it is not a good idea at all and must be avoided. Wait until your dog is at least in her second or third heat cycle to give her enough time to develop sexually and gain weight and size. Most ethical and responsible breeders will wait till a Golden Retriever is at least 2 years old before breeding them as they would have completed all the necessary medical checks by then. Most female Golden Retrievers go through their first heat cycle between the ages of 9 and 12 months. A useful rule of thumb is that it will go into heat at about the same age that its mother did. Numerous symptoms, including bloody discharge, receptivity to male dogs, restless behavior, and others, can indicate that a dog is in heat. Speak to a member of our team to learn more A dog is capable of having over ten litters in her lifetime, however, most dogs will not be able to produce this number of healthy litters and remain healthy herself. One obvious sign that a female should be retired is that her litter size drops drastically. Small litters or litters that for one reason or another have some health complications can happen even among young, fit mothers, but they can also be a sign a mother is older and needs to retire from breeding. A best practice is litters per dog Most reputable breeders will cap even their fittest, best mothers at around litters so that she can be spayed while she is still young and at her healthiest. Reasons that a reputable breeder may have to retire a dog sooner would be difficult deliveries that may require C-sections or other common reproductive related difficulties such as recurrent mastitis or uterine infections. However, most well-bred dogs are able to have a good handful of litters with no health concerns. Remaining active during pregnancy and whelping and being able to maintain a healthy weight during nursing are signs that your dam is feeling good and able to continue producing litters. A breeder should always be in touch with their dogs and show a high degree of concern for their wellbeing. Other times, a dog may not seem to jive with motherhood. A breeder should be willing to retire a dog early if they simply do not seem to enjoy being a mom. This can look like a dog not wanting to spend time with her puppies, seeming particularly anxious during the whelping process, etc. A breeder who is in tune with her parent dogs will likely retire some earlier than expected for reasons such as these. Besides actual number of litters, there are other questions to consider when it comes to the ethics of breeding your dam. When and how often your dog should be bred are also questions that every breeder must grapple with. And similar to the topic of number of litters, the answers to these questions do vary based on size and breed of dog as well as other factors. Even reproductive vets tend to disagree when it comes to the answers to these questions. As an example, previously, skipping heats between pregnancies was strongly encouraged in the breeding community. However, newer research has suggested that the more heats a dog has in her lifetime, the greater the risk of pyometra and other health concerns. Research shared by Dr. Claudia Orlandi PhD, suggested that a breeding female should not skip any heat cycles until she is retired. The study involved dissecting the uteri of retired females. So some breeders feel strongly about breeding their females back to back, while others insist that skipping heats allows their females to completely recover physically between pregnancies. Regardless of their answer, your breeder should be able to tell you why they breed their female as often as they do in a way that shows concern for their dog. Aside from the legally allowed number of litters, age at which a dog starts breeding is also important When it comes to what age to start breeding your dog, most breeders aim to begin on the second or third heat. Recent Posts:.