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Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We as a family find great joy in helping make memories for you as a dog lover. As we are family, our dogs are family. We are devoted to our puppies and socialize with them daily. We ensure each puppy enjoys their newly found life by playing and running in the vast open land surrounding our home. We also daily reward our puppies with treats for their good behavior! We do have a few families in our local area that help to raise some of our breeds as well. We do this to make sure and give the parents and puppies the love and family environment they deserve. When you visit our home and walk up to meet all of the puppies, you will see how friendly and playful all of them are for that very reason. WHy Choose Us? We Are Family We are blessed to call our dogs family. Everyone in our home pitches in to give love and care to our pets. It truly is a family affair with our children coming along and contributing as well. Visits Welcome Trust is a major factor when choosing a breeder. That is why we invite you to our home and welcome any questions you may have before or after your purchase. We take great pride in the temperament and health of our dogs and puppies. Personal Touch We can't wait to hear from you! Travel Experience As much as we love meeting our puppy's new family we are happy to say we have had much success with our puppies traveling to their new home via air and ground pet nanny transport. They will learn everything from potty training to long-distance commands and obedience. Helms family .We are conveniently located about an hour outside of Charlotte, in Norwood, North Carolina, in the small community of Cottonville also just 15 minutes from Albemarle, NC. Our property is sixty acres of fields, grass, woods and a creek for our Goldens to explore and enjoy. We are situated off the main road, so our girls and boys can play to their hearts content every day. So take a look around, and visit with us. We believe in taking as natural approach to their health as possible, so our pups are raised with limited intervention, aside from their vaccinations and regular dewormings, These babies receive lots of socialization from our small children and other visitors we have : We also supplement with NuVet Plus, and send home samples with each pup. We are AKC inspected, and welcome your visit by appointment, can't wait to meet you! See our Reserving a Puppy page for answers to frequently asked questions and to download a copy of our reservation form and health guarantee.We are continually updating these as we receive them. This allows us to carefully select our moms and dads, to ensure you the healthiest pup! We screen for hips, elbows, eyes, and heart, as per the Golden Retriever standard. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. One or both of this puppy's parents have undergone genetic testing. One or both of this puppy's parents are hip certified. One or both of this puppy's parents is OFA Heart certified. This puppy has had early neurological stimulation exercises. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for North Carolina Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in North Carolina? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in North Carolina? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. All open houses are pm — pm weather permitting At Golden Creek Kennels, located in Durham, North Carolina, our goldens have been the passion of our lives for over 20 years. With so many families, so many memories and so many beautiful golden puppies. Golden Creek Kennels began soon after we built our first home. I had asked my husband, Crawford for a golden puppy for Christmas, that was our girl Kelsey back in .Twenty years later we are as happy as our goldens are. Our beautiful goldens will always greet your as a true golden should, with a wagging tail, and that marvelous golden smile that they are so well known for. All of our puppy owners are families that come back time and time again, showing up for Open Houses to let their golden run with the others, and of course to show off their golden. We also do boarding for our customers who would not leave them with just anyone. Many of our families near and far are repeat customers seeking their 2nd and 3rd golden pup. We pride ourselves as breeders, that provide families with goldens that are top quality, healthy, intelligent, and temperament tested. Family members for years to come. All our goldens come from top ranking championship lines, and every puppy goes home with a 26 mo guarantee against such genetic disorders as hip dysplasia, heart murmurs or cataracts. Golden Creek Kennels is here for our families before and after the pup goes home. But the wonderful character is the same for both the American and English goldens. Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. At Golden Creek Kennels, we offer the best of both worlds. The American and the English Golden Retriever. The American Golden.

By Chris Labradoodles are amazing dogs, and Labradoodle colors are just as interesting! Labradoodles come in many different shapes, sizes, and coat shades. Labradoodle Images — our favorite Labradoodle photographs Some Labradoodles have black coats with white spots on their chest or paws. Others have brown coats with golden highlights around their eyes. But no matter what color labradoodle you have, they all make great companions for all! A chocolate medium Labradoodle enjoying a park visit Labradoodles with chocolate coats are such pretty dogs! There is a Labradoodle with a chocolate coat that lives in my neighborhood pictured above on a walk with my Labradoodle Max that I see every day walking all over the place. When he sees me, he actually jumps up on me and starts licking my face! He is a medium-sized Labradoodle dog. There are three sizes of Labradoodles, standard, medium, and miniature. Occasionally you will find a LAbradoodle that does not take to the water — but they are few and far between. The golden-brown coat of a tan Labradoodle enjoying the beach Labradoodles are more than just pets, they become part of our family. Labradoodles are friendly, social animals that love to play and run around with their human friends. Some Labradoodles like to be outdoors, and you will find them rolling in the grass, chasing butterflies, or just plain relaxing. This wavy coat white Labradoodle has very long hair. White coat Labradoodles can get pretty stained and dirty. White Labradoodles are especially prone to this. My labradoodle gets dirt all over his coat after she plays outside! Luckily basic grooming and shampoo do the trick. This rich black coat is a fairly common Labradoodle shade. Black Labradoodle puppies normally have black eyes too see the photo above. This actually makes it quite difficult to capture photographs of them. Labradoodles are loyal and bond closely with their primary family members Labradoodles are amazing friends! Australian Labradoodles are a different breed the Labradoodles although similar! Labradoodles come in all shapes and sizes. Some Labradoodles are thin while others are more stocky. A Red Miniature Labradoodle looks happy in the studio. Friendly, energetic, playful, social, cuddly, smart. AKA — the Labradoodle. Two Labradoodles sniff each other out at a dog park. Labradoodles get on well with other dogs. It is important to introduce your puppy to other dogs as soon as possible. If you live in a city, this will be easy because there will be lots of dogs everywhere. You can find out about off-leash dog parks and dog walking groups in your area and try going along to meet the Labradoodle owners and their Labradoodle friends. This can be done in a professional setting, but many owners prefer to take the job on themselves at home. You will need a Labradoodle-specific brush, labradoodle shampoo, scissors, and nail trimmers. Before you start brushing your Labradoodle put, it in a comfortable position in front of you on the floor or sitting on your lap. Brush their fur from head to tail with a Labradoodle-specific brush picking up any tangles as you go. Labradoodle playing in a water fountain. What a way to cool off on a warm day! Even though they have long coats, Labradoodles can still get sunburn or suffer from sun damage. Give them plenty of opportunities to cool off away from the sun. A Parti Labradoodle in this cause black and white Some Labradoodle will have two shades in their coats. Black and white two-shade Labradoodles are common. A Labradoodle dog running in the snow. Labradoodles love running through the snow, playing with their family, rolling around in the white stuff, barking at the sound of someone nearby, or just relaxing. Labradoodles are also found in many climates. The Labradoodles can be found living on islands such as Hawaii or Australia or on the cold mountainsides of Europe. It will help make bath time easier for life. It can even save money because some Labradoodles shed a lot of hair and need to be groomed more often and DIY grooming saves a bunch. A Labradoodle sits on a couch next to a Pomeranian. Non-shedding small dogs are popular. So are shedding small dogs like Boxers, Bulldogs, Pomeranians, and more A rich Apricot coat Labradoodle at the groomer. Miniature Labradoodles Images This Apricot Mini Labradoodle is looking up at the camera, because he thinks he might get a treat he did. My Labradoodle Max wearing his party hat. POV: You are walking my Labradoodle Max wearing his usual harness Labradoodle Max looks at a toilet paper wall obstacle Labradoodle Max enjoys a cuddle in a towel after a shower and bath Giving a labradoodle puppy a bath can be challenging. Bath time is much easier if Labradoodles are groomed early on. Labradoodles, like other dogs, need to be brushed often. A non-shedding dog coat still needs regular brushing, even when it is cut short like the photo above we shaved our Labradoodle Max before a beach holiday to help prevent coat knotting with daily swims. Before taking a puppy to the beach be sure you have a plan, and safety in mind. My Miniature Labradoodle Max wearing a stylish raincoat Dogs rarely need raincoats. We got one just because it looks great. It does help during walks in cold rain or when there is wind and I am worried that Max will get a chill. An Apricot Mini Labradoodle my puppy Max! Labradoodles will often hang out with their tongues out. A Red Labradoodle enjoying time in the snow. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. He does not have the gene to make a rose-nosed puppy. They display slightly smaller curls than some pups, but it is still not a tight curly fleece. As adults, they will have a coat similar to Tilly, their mom. This coat is easy to care for, does not mat easily, and is easy to brush out regularly. The first two pups pictured have a different dad, they are out of Riley, and the other four are from Sam. Also, note that Riley's pups have a rose nose, and the others have a black nose. These two display tight fleece. Keep short for easy management, or brush regularly to avoid mattes. The first pup had a slightly curlier coat than the others and was fluffier as an adult. You can also see the rose nose on the caramel pup 3 versus the black nose on the apricot pup 6. The black pups range in colors; the first black Australian labradoodle puppy is solid but already showing signs of silver showing through around his nose and will likely silver out as he matures. The other two black pups are phantom or sable, with adorable brown eyebrows—two caramel pups with rose noses and one apricot pup with a black nose. You can see three of each type in this litter. The pups in positions 1, 3, and 6 are tight curls, and the other three are loose. An equal distribution of rose noses, 3 rose and three black. Gypsy makes a wide range of sizes in her litter. In this litter, the Australian labradoodle puppies range in weight, at age 1, from lbs.

The breed was officially known as the Alsatian in Britain until when its name was changed back to German Shepherd. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with their origin dating to .As part of the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep. Intelligence German Shepherds were bred specifically for their intelligence, a trait for which they are now famous. Agression and Biting While an Australian report from provides statistics showing that German Shepherds are the breed third most likely to attack a person in some Australian locales, once their popularity is taken into account, the percentages of GSD attacks drops to 38th. One such common ailment is hip and elbow dysplasia which may cause the dog to experience pain later on in life and may cause arthritis. These dogs all looked very similar at that time, and it was around that the three breeds Belgian Shepherd, German Shepherd and Dutch Shepherd went their separate ways. My German Shepherd is great except when we play ball. But where do you start? He accomplishes this through positive reinforcement, which rewards dogs for good behaviors. This, in turn, builds a trusting relationship in which the dog wants to please its owner. Millan never uses harsh punishments or corrections, as he believes they only serve to damage the relationship and make problems worse. Well, Cesar has a unique way of communicating with dogs that is based on understanding their natural instincts. Dogs respond very well to his calm, assertive energy, and they quickly learn what is expected of them. His training methods are also very humane. Cesar never uses physical dominance or punishment as a way to train dogs. He believes that this type of behavior only creates resentment and makes dogs afraid of their owners. Instead, he focuses on positive reinforcement and providing clear boundaries. Remember, always start with basic obedience commands and work your way up. Once your dog has mastered these commands, you can move on to the following exercises. Sit-Stay: This is one of the most important commands to have in your arsenal. Start by having your dog sit and stay. If he gets up, calmly put him back in position and start over. Down-Stay: The down-stay is similar to the sit-stay, but requires your dog to stay in a down position instead of sitting. Again, start by having your dog sit and stay, then give him a cue to down and stay. Come: This command is essential for keeping your dog safe. From here, give him a cue to come and reward him when he does so. As he masters this skill, you can start having him come when you call him from different areas of the house or yard. He has some valuable tips for successful German Shepherd training. Cesar advises against harsh punishments, as these can confuse and scare your dog. This particular breed is naturally loyal and protective, planing for german shepherd so you need to create a gentle balance between being firm but also trusting of your dog. Cesar often suggests getting your pup involved in activities that show off their natural energy and strength, such as agility or rally obedience classes. This allows them to explore new environments while giving you an opportunity to reinforce obedience by giving them verbal cues. With patience and consistency in training, you can have a great relationship with your German Shepherd! Will I need to attend an obedience class for my German Shepherd? An obedience class can be a great way to get your German Shepherd familiar with commands and behaviors, as well as give you a chance to work on them together with an instructor present. How often should I train my dog? The frequency of training sessions is up to you, but bear in mind that consistency is key. What tools should I use when training my German Shepherd? Positive reinforcement is the best way to go, so look for treats and toys that will reward good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. Conclusion Owners of German Shepherds need to be consistent and provide clear boundaries for their dogs. They also need to be positive reinforcement trainers, using treats and play to reward their dogs for desired behaviors. With patience and proper training, your German Shepherd can become a well-adjusted member of your family.

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Puppy pads Create a Schedule Golden Retriever pups would do well with a schedule. Dogs live with a routine, and they are easy to train by having one. For this reason, make a schedule of the things you need to do regularly. Eventually, your pup will learn the routine events and will make itself adept at them. It will help you prepare for your pet, especially in the first few days of living together. As you allow your pet to adjust, do your best to create a stress-free environment for it. Always supervise it as it familiarizes itself with its new home. It can even grow louder as they age. Moderate Training Golden Retrievers responds well, especially to positive reinforcement. Squeaky Toys Out of all toys, your pet will love the squeaky ones. For this reason, prepare for a lot of loud squeaks every time your pet is active. Thus, in picking your pet, you may want to consider getting it from the best. Tells you any health problems A good breeder will tell you any significant health problems in any of the dogs he or she bred. Asks more questions than you A good breeder would ask for more items from you than you would for him or her. Not in a hurry to send off A good breeder is not in a hurry to send the puppies off and get your money. He or she will even show you other breeders and veterinarians caring for their dogs. Requires expectations on both sides A good breeder will create a contract that offers not only what he or she expects from you. More than that, he or she will also show what you can expect from him or her. Sends puppies properly A good breeder will never send a puppy in a compartment and without any responsible person to go with it. Works only with one or two breeds A good breeder works only with a single or a couple of species. Shows breeding experience A good breeder shows her dogs in recognized confirmation shows. He or she will also join his or her breed in other breed-related performance events. Other states. She has the same loving and smart personality as Sky, but has her dad's darker coloring. She has been such a fun addition to our family. His poodle fur coat is a beautiful deep red color and super soft. Poodles are known for being extremely smart, and Denver is no exception. He potty and kennel trained in just a few days! He is our little cuddle bug. She greets you with a hug and a big smile every time. She will be our future Mom to our English Cream line of retrievers. Her cute red curls and white tipped feet make us melt. She is the Mom to our teacup goldendoodles. He picks up on new commands quickly and loves new challenges. Fetch is his favorite game. He has short, white fur that is silky soft. Morgan has a sweet temperament and likes to play fetch and and go on hikes. Name: MookieBreed: Golden Retriever Weight: 70lbs Mookie has a sweet temperament with high drive and responds quickly to commands. He has a blocky head, short silky fur, and a dark golden coat. We consider this bloodline one of the best, and we will always keep it going. Her gentle temperament, playfulness, and natural born hunting instincts make the perfect combination for either a family dog or a great hunting partner. She is a hypoallergenic, non-shedding ball of fluff and fun. At her size she can go anywhere with you.

There are a variety of reasons to crate train your dog. Use your crate: [25] X Research source To keep your puppy safe when you cannot watch her. To keep your belongings safe when you cannot watch your puppy. When your puppy is home alone. To give your puppy a place to calm down. When traveling. To keep your puppy away from children or other dogs. To aid in house training and other behavioral training. Never use your crate to punish your dog. And once your dog is no longer a puppy and can be trusted not to destroy the house, do not crate your dog when you are away. Save the crate for special times — i. For the most part, your dog should enter her crate voluntarily. The type of crate you use is up to personal preference, though many find that wire crates are the most durable and comfortable long-term solutions for dogs as well as being used at most kennels where you might board your dog. The most important thing is that you get the right size crate. If it is too small, your dog will not be comfortable. If it is too large, it will provide the den-like space dogs crave. Your dog should be able to stand in the crate without hitting her head, to turn around comfortably, and to lie on their side with their paws stretched out. Also buy a divider if purchasing the crate for your puppy. Your dog should enjoy her crate. It should provide a comfortable place for her to relax, so much so that she should choose to spend time there. Make sure to: [28] X Research source Put the crate in a room where you spend lots of time, so your puppy does not feel abandoned. Keep it a comfortable temperature: out of direct sunlight and far from fireplaces and radiators. Place soft bedding inside. Place chew toys inside to give your dog something to do. Cover your wire crate with a towel or crate cover. This will give it more of the den-like feel your dog craves. If you do it well, crate training will be much easier. Throw some new dog toys in, too. Let your dog explore the crate on her own. Let her go at her own speed. Every hour or so put more treats in the crate when your dog is not looking. Be sure to subtract all these treats from their daily food allowance. Also start feeding your dog in the crate. At first, put the bowl just inside so they only have to poke their head in. After 2 or 3 successful feedings, move it to the middle, then all the way back. Show your dog a treat and toss it in the crate. Move away and wait for her to leave the crate. Always use your cue words. Repeat the whole ritual several times a day until your dog is happily entering the crate to fetch treats. After tossing a treat in once or twice to warm your dog up, use your command word without a treat. If she enters, praise profusely and give a treat or two. Also praise her when she leaves. Repeat this training several times a day for two or three days, until your dog is entering and leaving the crate on command. If your golden puppy struggles with this step, go back to the previous one. Ask your puppy to enter the crate and sit. Slowly close the door. If you have to bang it shut before your dog escapes, then she is not ready for this step. When the door is closed, praise and give treats, then open the door and let her leave. Gradually lengthen the time they must sit in the crate before you let them out. Do sessions of training where they wait ten seconds, then 30, 45, and a minute. When your dog can comfortably stay in the crate for a minute, you will want to start moving away while she is in the crate. In the first session, move only a few feet away before you come back. Move to different areas of the room and keep looking at your dog. Next, try training sessions where you move around the room without paying attention to your puppy. Add moments when you step out of the room briefly and return. Finally, leave the room. At first, stay out for only five minutes. Gradually increase the time you are gone to 30 minutes. Go back to the previous step or reduce the time you are leaving her. Always remove your puppies leash and collar before putting her in the crate, as they are choking hazards. For a puppy, these will need to be shorter trips, as a puppy cannot be expected to go more than 3 hours or so without urinating. She needs to be able to get up and stretch her legs. Vary the time you put your dog in the crate. Sometimes do it ten minutes before you go. Sometimes five. Sometimes right before you head out the door. Praise your dog for entering her crate, then go. Now that your puppy is comfortable in her crate, she can sleep there overnight, but be sure you can hear her. Puppies often need to pee in the middle of the night. We are overjoyed for you! Golden Retrievers are one of the most friendly and loving breeds…and lucky for you, one of the easiest to train. Golden Retrievers require a great deal of mental stimulation to avoid going about on their own or becoming frustrated. Their love for food is infinite. Prerequisites for training my Golden Retriever puppy? What age can I start to train my Golden Retriever puppy? Sounds like a good deal! We can only hope. What do I need to train my Golden Retriever? Say bye to that sticky, meaty feeling in your fingertips. A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat: For a cosy bed, warm nights, and good dreams. Treats: The more smelly, the better. Two identical toys : Great for swaps! The name says it all…your Golden Retriever puppy will love retrieving, so identical toys will be great for all the games we have in store for you in the Zigzag Puppy training app. Of course, Golden Retrievers grow to be big dogs. How much exercise does a Golden Retriever need? A golden retriever needs 2 hours of exercise a day. What age is a Golden Retriever fully grown? Golden Retrievers reach adulthood at 3 years of age and are seniors by 8 years old. Though their height has been reached, their weight will still fill out and they will continue to mentally mature. What are Golden Retrievers bred for? Distinctly British, the 1st Baron of Tweedmouth developed the breed crossing his golden coloured retrieving dog Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel — these look similar to Irish Water Spaniels. The cross resulted in a dog that was comfortable being on land and water kind of like crocodiles , and robust enough to hunt goose, partridge and even deer. Do Golden Retrievers make good family pets? In fact, Golden Retrievers are one of the most loved dog breeds in the UK. The Kennel Club has a lot more good information and info about them. What does this have to do with how I train my Golden Retriever puppy? But there is a logic as to why knowing the context might help you train your Golden Retriever better: Golden Retrievers love to work. Commonly employed as Guide Dogs, they love having a job to do, which means they will adore training. Anyhow, they will be a breeze to train. They will also do almost anything for your soft words and approval — your praise will work just as well as treats. Because they are so gentle, they are a great fit for families with a variety of lifestyles and ages. They need a good amount of exercise; mental as well as physical. Let us rephrase — a hefty amount of exercise. Besides you and food, being in water is what they love the most! They have a very strong sense of smell, so retrieving or scent work games tend to be the biggest treat for most. Golden Retrievers are the social butterflies of dogs. They love most people, and are not discreet in showing it. You know how us Brits can be about politeness. That being said, make sure you also teach them the wonders of giving things up. It can lead to great things! But it can also be less helpful when they give you a love bite on your arm — give them a toy to carry instead. Shift to some play, and revisit training later — we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread. Well, besides their beauty, both Golden Retriever puppies and adult doggos typically are very people-oriented dogs who exhibit good behavior, lots of affection and gentle temperaments. Golden Retriever breeders will tell you that these intelligent dogs have lots of energy and usually respond well to training. Here's how it works: When your dog performs a skill or behavior that you like, you give them treats, toys or praise. In time, your dog associates that skill or behavior with good outcomes and becomes more likely to repeat it. There's one catch, though: Positive reinforcement works best when pet parents stay consistent. For example, every time they ask a dog to sit or shake —and it is done correctly—a treat or toy should be given. Use a happy tone of voice rather than a stern one, avoid yelling, and exercise patience. Goldens are highly motivated by food and often by play. When you use highly rewarding training treats or dog toys during your dog training sessions, you reward the specific behaviors you are trying to teach your dog and you build an enthusiastic learner. Teach your dog to love learning. In the same vein, make sure your expectations are reasonable for your dog. For example, puppies need shorter training sessions—around three to five minutes each—because their bodies and brains are not well-developed yet and their attention span is shorter. Regarding age-appropriate training for puppies, Dr. George recommends the following: Potty Training: This should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home. Take your pup out to go potty several times per day and within a few minutes after eating. Socializing: You can begin socialization—aka introducing your puppy to new people, places and experiences—within a week or two of bringing your puppy home. George advises. Obedience Training: Start training your pup around eight weeks of age. Training your dog early will make it easier to take them to visit the vet, go on walks and thrive in other social situations. Even adult dogs who are new to you and your home may not be ready for high-level training because they still are adjusting to the new environment and people in their lives. Feel it out and practice patience. On that note, because Golden Retrievers are often large, strong and energetic dogs, you may want to consider a gentle leader head collar, such as the PetSafe Gentle Leader Dog Head Collar. This gives you additional leverage whenever you are walking your pet in an exciting environment. Clicker training is extremely effective and is used worldwide to train all kinds of species. This method uses a special sound to mark a specific behavior. Speed up the process by including dog training during daily activities. Is it time for dinner? Are you about to take a walk? There are many opportunities to practice commands in everyday situations, so use that to your advantage! Encourage each family member to practice basic skills with the dog, including: Sit. Studies have shown that separating a puppy from mom and siblings before that time may lead to behavior problems later on. The good news is that you can start training your baby golden retriever as soon as he is home with you. Up until your puppy is 6 months old you should focus your attention on 3 main things: Golden Retriever Potty Training This may seem obvious but potty training problems are one of the main reasons dogs are surrendered at shelters. This link will take you to a step-by-step guide on potty training and crate training a golden retriever puppy. Socialization As a dog trainer I get asked many questions about dog behavior and training. In this photo Samsom is being socialized to babies and also to people putting their hands in his food bowl. Always add something yummy! Unfortunately, this period is very short and closes at 3 months of age. This means you have about 4 weeks to socialize your puppy to people of all sizes, genders, colors, ages, with costumes, hats, umbrellas; dogs of all sizes, colors, ages; cars, buses, trucks, loud noises, water, hair trimming, nail trimming, etc. Take your pup to a golden retriever training and socialization class that uses only positive methods. The first four weeks with your new golden retriever pup should be the busiest ones, follow this link for a detailed list and guide on how to socialize your new baby dog. It is natural and completely normal. The good news is that you can teach them to control the pressure they make with their mouth until mouthing turns into soft kisses. Follow this link for a how-to-guide. Playing with a puppy's mouth is a great way to teach him to how control his teeth. Finally, you can also start golden retriever training obedience commands, since puppies can learn very fast many things but you need to concentrate your attention on the three topics above, because they are key factors to help your puppy become a friendly and social dog, one you can trust and trusts you. Teaching your kids to train your Golden Retriever puppy is a grat way for them to bond. Sit and stay! Do not give up. Then repeat 3 more times. This is classic adolescence behavior and may start happening when your golden is between months. Just like humans, dogs also have an adolescence period, and just like humans, they like to test boundaries. During this time it is very important that you continue training basic obedience commands: Take your golden retriever dog to an obedience class that uses positive methods only! Goldens are often very people-oriented dogs, aside from their beauty and cuteness. When considering adding a Golden Retriever to your pack, it is prudent to conduct research by speaking with golden retriever breeders, rescues, and parents. These are huge, lively dogs that are often unaware of their size. The good news is that golden retriever training is super easy as they are eager to please, especially when it comes to high-value puppy treats. It is important to get the best puppy training treats, whether you're teaching your puppy to lie down, sit, or potty train. Keep things interesting and exciting for your Golden throughout each training session. Instead of a severe tone, use a cheerful one. Avoid screaming and practise patience instead. If your pet ignores your cues, you can re-engage him by being playful and making the process a little simpler. You can also use delicious training treats while training your golden retriever. Make it enjoyable Food and play are powerful motivators for goldens. Positive reinforcement is guaranteed to help with golden retriever training. Age and skill-appropriate golden retriever training We don't expect toddlers to perform algebra, so make sure your expectations for your dog are reasonable. Puppies, for example, require shorter training sessions—around minutes each—due to their underdeveloped bodies and brains. Adult dogs who are new to you and your house may not be ready for advanced training because they are still adjusting to their new surroundings and humans. Keep It Secure A well-fit dog collar, such as the Frisco solid martingale dog collar, is one of the best tools for Golden Retriever training. For everyday walking and training, you'll also need a foot flat training leash. Because Golden Retrievers may be huge, strong, and energetic dogs, you might want to consider using a gentle leader headcollar, such as the PetSafe Premier gentle leader rapid-release dog headcollar, to provide you with more control when walking your dog in a stimulating area. Make Golden Retriever Training Easy to Understand When your dog does it right, using the clicker training approach can help you provide very clear feedback. Clicker training is incredibly effective and is used to train different kinds of animals all over the world! A distinctive sound is used to signify a certain behavior in this procedure. Your dog will realize he has earned a reward if you use a dog clicker, such as the Downtown Pet Supply training dog clicker. It doesn't take long for a dog to grasp the concept and then repeat it. Include training in your daily routine We can't perfect skills without frequent practice, and your canine companion is no exception. Start with something basic, like potty training your golden retriever puppy. Is it dinner time yet? Then, before you set the bowl in front of your dog, practice "sit. Just before you pick up the leash, call your dog's name or whatever cue the dog might notice. After your dog's stroll, practice "down" and "stay" when he is more likely to respond to your command. Take advantage of the numerous opportunities to practice commands in everyday circumstances. Make training your golden retriever a family project Make sure your Golden Retriever gets along well with everyone in the family, including other pets. Encourage each family member to work with the dog on fundamental commands such as sit, down, off people, counters, furniture , stay, come, and "all done" to end sessions. Encourage everyone to make default behavior a priority for training your golden retriever. When supervision isn't possible, you can assist other pets to feel comfortable around your golden by using equipment a dog leash, crates, or baby gates to separate them as needed. Maintain Consistency Some "home rules" for your dog must be agreed upon by all family members. While little variances in how people interact with pets are acceptable, the dog will learn and keep his manners best if the rules are followed consistently. Parents may prefer to start with the fundamentals of training their golden retriever. After that, you can assist your children in teaching the dog how to ask for them as well. Train your dog in stages You can increase your training requirements as your Golden Retriever masters fundamental manners and rules. When your dog understands that he must sit and lie down at specific times, you can ask him to stay in that posture until he is freed. Commit for the rest of your life Even if your dog is a beloved family member with excellent manners, there are always new things to learn. Training your golden retriever stimulates the brain, allowing you to better utilize your golden's high activity level. It also deepens the human-animal link, benefiting the whole family. Learn about new sports and activities, including nose work, agility, rallying, and therapeutic visits. Summary These suggestions can assist your new Golden Retriever in understanding the training. Whether you start with an 8-week-old puppy, an adolescent rescue, or a senior dog, these tips will result in success. It also allows you to assist him in burning energy, providing excitement, and developing a deep bond with your dog. Share this on:.

References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Canine atopic dermatitis is a genetically-predisposed inflammatory and pruritic itchy allergic skin disease with characteristic clinical features. Allergic diseases result from an exaggerated immune system response that causes pathological damage. Some of the immune cells which help defend the body produce proteins called antibodies when stimulated to do so. Antibodies help the immune cells get rid of the pathogens invading the body. Anything that stimulates the immune system is called an antigen. Antigens are normally parts of the invading pathogen, but sometimes otherwise harmless substances stimulate an immune response in individuals who are prone to allergies and exaggerated immune responses. Any substance that can stimulate an allergic immune response is called an allergen. Atopy is associated with the immune system over-producing a type of antibodies called IgE. The clinical features of atopy are variable but the permanent cardinal feature, always present, is itchiness, which varies in degree from mild to severe. A dog may be itchy over its whole skin but more usually the itchiness is localised. The commonest areas to be affected are the ears, around the eyes, the muzzle, the underside of the neck and abdomen, the inside of the legs, the feet and under the tail Nuttall et al .In the early stages of the disease there may just be itchiness, however, redness of the skin will soon be seen. This may be general redness or red spots papules. Further problems arise either from long-term itchiness and the self harm that is caused from scratching, rubbing and chewing of the itchy area or from the presence of skin infections with bacteria both abnormally high numbers of normal skin bacteria and infections from bacteria not usually present and with skin yeasts normally present in low numbers. Atopy itself and the secondary skin changes that occur both make these infections more likely. Infected skin tends to itch and the consequential scratching, rubbing and chewing causes further, secondary skin damage and a vicious circle of itching and scratching and worsening skin damage develops. For many atopic dogs this means constant itchiness as it is often impossible to avoid constant exposure to its problematic allergen - house dust mite. Secondary skin changes often seen in atopic dogs include: lichenification thickening of the skin , a coat that is greasy and scaly dandruff and loss of fur alopecia. Pustules and crusts are seen when there is bacterial infection and, when this is deeper in the skin, nodules with pus draining from sinuses may be seen. Otitis externa inflammation of the ear canal is often seen in atopic dogs and sometimes is the main clinical problem. This follows the same pattern as atopic disease elsewhere — the ear canal is lined with skin. Initially there may just be redness but constant irritation, excess secretions and thickening of the skin with secondary bacterial and yeast infections lead to a vicious cycle until the ear canal becomes irreversibly damaged. The clinical signs include scratching at the ears, head shaking, rubbing the ears on the ground, a smelly discharge from the ears. Severe infections can lead to septicaemia bacterial infection in the bloodstream. There are currently two main theories for the pathogenesis of atopy and there is good evidence that both are important. Atopic individuals have an abnormal immune response. Allergens are detected in the skin by the immune system. In atopic individuals there is an imbalance of two types of immune cell ie more T helper 2 lymphocytes and fewer T helper 1 lymphocytes. This imbalance leads to other changes in the immune system, which make it respond excessively to small amounts of allergen in the future, easily generating skin inflammation. Excessive amounts of an antibody type IgE are present in the body. A second fundamental abnormality seen in atopic individuals is that they have a skin barrier defect. Their skin suffers from increased water loss and foreign substances such as allergens, bacteria and yeast can penetrate more easily than normal. This allows more contact of the allergens with the immune system see above. Allergens from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides farina are the most important. Allergies to other mites such as Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Euroglyphus maynei, Acarus siro and Tyrophagus putrescentiae are either less common or may be largely due to cross reaction with D. Cross-reactions occur when a test detects one substance rather than another. Sensitivity to pollens can certainly be important but are usually seasonal in the UK. Many types of tree pollens are involved in canine atopy, and grass pollens are commonly involved. There are also many weeds implicated in canine atopy eg ragweed, plantain and mugwort. The importance of mould allergens in canine atopy is uncertain. Other allergens which have been considered of importance in the past, but which are no longer, include cockroach and other insects, house dust, fabrics such as cotton, wool and linen. An important concept in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis is that of the pruritic threshold. An individual may not be itchy just because it is atopic eg if it is mildly atopic. It may need another factor to combine with the atopy to tip it over the threshold of having clinical signs. So, various factors that can cause itchy skin may combine. In some dogs, just having one or two of these factors may not cause a problem but if a third or fourth occurs then disease will follow. An inherited atopic state is an important predisposing factor in many animals and a leading cause of welfare problems in dogs. They may also include environmental factors such as flea infestation or a dry climate. One important environmental influence may be the degree of early exposure to allergens for genetically predisposed individuals. There is evidence that prolonged and more intensive exposure to allergens in early life makes atopic dermatitis more likely and also that it is more likely to be severe. This is the case both for house dust mite allergens de Weck , de Weck et al and for pollens; pollen allergies may be more common in puppies born during the pollen season Halliwell .Return to top 2. The primary itch due to atopy itself varies from mild to severe between individuals. It may also vary according to the season and environment that the dog is experiencing ie whether it is housed indoors or outside and where it is exercising, for example a dog allergic mostly to grasses may be better at the seaside than walking through meadows. Skin infections worsen the condition and their severity can vary. Atopy can cause great suffering in moderately-severely affected dogs due to the constant skin itching and irritation and the secondary damage that is done by the dog to its skin creating sore inflamed areas that are uncomfortable and possibly painful. Atopy can be difficult to control medically and suffering can be difficult to avoid during the time when a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is being confirmed. This can be a prolonged and involved procedure see below. Treatment of atopic dermatitis usually involves drugs. The most effective treatments are based on corticosteroids or ciclosporin, both of which can have significant side effects with their own welfare issues. Some atopic dogs become seriously ill due to the side effects of treatment. Frequent shampooing is often required which may be unpleasant for some dogs. Dogs are euthanized because of atopic dermatitis. This is often because diagnosis and treatment are time-consuming and expensive for owners and reasonable long-term control is often the best that can be achieved rather than there being any hope of cure. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact Signs of atopy can be seen in some individuals from the age of months. More usually signs start between the ages of months. It is unusual for signs to start after three years. Some dogs have seasonal problems when its pollen allergens that they are allergic to but often dogs that had seasonal problems when younger will develop problems lasting all year round when they are older. Without treatment affected dogs will have the problem for life although the severity will usually wax and wane according to the amount of allergens they are exposed to at any given time, secondary infections, any exacerbating factors such as catching fleas and the weather, and the success of treatments. Treatment of atopic dermatitis is involved and lifelong. Drugs are used in most dogs and these are often required constantly. Return to top 4. A study by Shaw et al investigated the pedigrees of dogs used as guide dogs for the blind that had been diagnosed with clinically significant atopic dermatitis. From data on estimates of total dog population in the UK and on the percentage of all micro-chip registered dogs that are Labrador retrievers Lucy Asher, , personal communication , we estimate that the UK population size of this breed may be around 1 million. Return to top 5. Diagnosis The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is complicated. There is no characteristic clinical sign or laboratory test result that enables the diagnosis to be made. Over the years there have been various attempts to create formal schemes to aid this process Willemse , Prelaud et al .The currently favoured scheme was created and tested by Favrot et al and its use clarified by Olivry .The Favrot diagnostic criteria for canine atopic dermatitis - used alongside the elimination of other possible causes of the signs see below. This means that if dogs were diagnosed, using this scheme alone, then 21 of this would have the wrong diagnosis — they actually have another cause of their disease, not atopy. Furthermore, there would have been another 15 dogs that actually do have atopy but had been excluded because the five criteria needed have not been found. For these reasons the scheme can not be used alone. The difficulties arise because all the clinical signs of atopic dermatitis are also seen in other common skin diseases. In order to make any of these schemes more reliable they have to be combined with tests that seek to excluded these other conditions. Mange mite infestations , and bacterial and yeast infections are ruled out by examinations of skin samples and trial treatments. Contact irritation and allergy is ruled out by avoidance of potential causes. Fleas are ruled out by trial treatment. Some rarer skin diseases may need to be ruled out by skin biopsy. Tests can be performed to identify which allergens are involved for a particular atopic dog. Unfortunately, these tests are not reliable in determining whether a dog is atopic or not and results of these tests are not used in making the diagnosis Favrot et al .Allergy testing can be performed using blood tests or intra-dermal into the skin injections. Return to top 6. The heritability of atopy has been studied by Shaw et al .When considering guide dogs as a whole, a heritability of 0. The majority of these dogs were Labrador retrievers but Golden retrievers and Labrador-Golden retriever crosses were also represented. Given that all these puppies were raised in similar conditions it is reasonable to say that about half of the factors that caused them to have clinical atopic dermatitis were genetic and half were environmental. Canine atopic dermatitis is likely to be one manifestation of canine atopy. There is evidence for an important dominant gene; at least in one line of Beagles de Weck , de Weck et al .A start has been made to investigate specific genes involved in several breeds, including the Labrador retriever but, as yet, there are few publications available Wood et al .Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? This has not been scientifically tested. There are no genetic tests to guide us. In common with other polygenetic disorders with important environmental influences, it may be considered that any affected individual or an individual with an affected close relative parent or sibling should not be considered for breeding. However, this advice has not been tested and other considerations such as narrowing the gene pool and concurrent genetic diseases, such as hip dysplasia must also be considered. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem It may be considered that individuals with atopic dermatitis should not be used for breeding. This would include any affected individual, even if only mildly affected. This is because environmental factors are certainly important in whether an atopic individual has clinical signs and how bad they are. Not breeding from animals with a close relative that has suffered from any degree of atopic dermatitis would also be recommended, based on general information given for reducing disease resulting from polygenetic conditions Bell .But considerations should be given to not overbreed from individuals that are healthy, as far as atopy goes, which could have other problems as this could have unintended and undesirable genetic consequences Oberbauer .In breeds, such as the Labrador retriever, it may be necessary to widen the gene pool by introducing genes from other breeds. Return to top 9. Meat by-products Cheap fillers The elimination diet consists of a trial period in which you expose your pet to foods one at a time to rule out possible allergens. In fact, it will probably be easier if you prepare fresh ingredients from scratch so no artificial preservatives are introduced. A Sample Elimination Diet Using Hypoallergenic Ingredients Note: Just because a source of food is considered hypoallergenic does not rule out the possibility that it will cause an allergy in your dog. Dogs all have their unique immune systems, and hypoallergenic ingredients are just a starting point. Week One: Cooked ground bison mixed with mashed sweet potatoes. Week Two: If itching persists, switch out the bison for cooked ground turkey. Week Three: If itching persists, switch out the turkey for cooked white fish. You can also swap out the sweet potatoes for millet. At this point, you can also add in some cooked greens like kale, broccoli, or spinach. Be sure to note any sensitivities to new foods as you introduce them. High-quality hypoallergenic foods will also have fewer ingredients, making it easier to find potential allergens. When you choose a commercial dog food, be sure to feed your dog ONLY that food for a full week. When Stetson had skin allergies our vet recommended testing different commercial foods and it seemed that we had success switching him to Wellness Core Grain Free Dog Food. However, looking back I think it was an environmental switch that helped his allergies we moved to a new home. Try antihistamines — Antihistamines, like Benadryl, can alleviate allergic reactions in some situations. If you decide to try Benadryl, be aware that there are some mild side effects. Always follow the recommendation of your veterinarian. We covered the pros and cons of giving your dog Benadryl in this article. Always provide fresh drinking water. It must be used in conjunction with intradermal skin testing. Once the allergens have been confirmed, your veterinary dermatologist can desensitize your dog to the allergen by injecting an altered, weekend version into the skin. Shots are usually administered weekly over the course of several months. Cyclosporine — This medication can be used successfully for seasonal allergies or other types of atopy. Steroids — Steroids will help relieve extreme itching and inflammation, but they do have short and long-term side effects. They should be used sparingly and reserved for very serious conditions. Oclacitinib — This is a relatively new treatment that shows promise for treating allergic reactions to fleas, food, and environmental allergies. Cytokines help cells communicate with each other and promote itching and inflammation in dogs who have allergies. Read more about Oclacitinib on Pet MD. Vitamin E — If your dog has small problem spots, you can open up a vitamin E capsule and massage it into the skin. This will moisturize, alleviate some of the itching, and help prevent infection. Aloe Vera — This plant is commonly used to soothe sunburn in humans, but it is just as useful when treating skin conditions in dogs. If you buy commercial aloe vera, be sure that aloe vera is the first ingredient, and stay away from harsh chemicals. Calendula Tea Compresses — Calendula flowers have been used to treat skin conditions for centuries. Steep the dried flowers in hot water to make a strong tea. Apply the cooled tea directly to problem areas using a washcloth. You can also by calendula salves and sprays commercially. Epsom Salt Soak — This is helpful for paws that are red and raw. Fill a tub with warm water and a few tablespoons of Epsom salt. Have your dog stand in the water for soothing relief. Final Thoughts on Dealing with Dog Skin Allergies Diagnosing and treating dog skin allergies is a complex and difficult task, but with patience and perseverance, it will be a life changer for your dog. Your dog will thank you. Do you have an itchy scratchy dog? Have you done anything that helps? Tells us about your dog in the comment section below. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Please visit Prevent the Spread of Dog Flu to learn about how to protect your pets and to get the latest information about dog flu outbreaks. These dogs are so popular for some great reasons: Bouncy, cheerful, loyal, and enthusiastic Good with kids and other pets Above-average intelligence and trainability when positive reinforcement training methods are used Loves to play games, especially fetch People-oriented and eager to please Even temper and gentle disposition However, no dog is perfect! Labs originated in Newfoundland in the s and were bred from St. They were valued by fisherman for their trainability, trustworthiness, and work ethic. Fulfilling their retriever name, they would dive into icy cold waters to help pull in fishing nets and occasionally catch stray fish that had escaped. Today the Labrador comes in two varieties: the American tall and lanky or English short and stocky. Both American and English ancestries present all three color versions—black, blonde, and brown. When given plenty of vigorous exercise and attention, these sweethearts are gentle and well-behaved in the home. All you need is a ball to throw and your Lab will love you for life! The Labrador Retriever is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of years. Your Labrador Retriever's Health We know that because you care so much about your dog , you want to take good care of her. That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Labrador. By knowing about health concerns specific to Labrador Retrievers, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks. That does not mean your dog will have these problems; it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in Labrador Retrievers to give you an idea of what may come up in her future. This guide contains general health information important to all canines as well as the most important genetic predispositions for Labrador Retrievers. At the end of the article, we have also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your Lab looking and feeling her best. Unfortunately, your Lab is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. In fact, your Lab's life span may even be cut short by one to three years! Infections Labrador Retrievers are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections — the same ones that all dogs can get — such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination , which we will recommend based on her age, the diseases we see in our area, and other factors. Obesity Obesity can be a significant health problem in Labrador Retrievers. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. Parasites All kinds of worms and bugs can invade your Lab's body, inside and out. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms , and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. Spay or Neuter One of the best things you can do for your Labrador is to have her spayed neutered for males. In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies. Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop. Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions against common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk. Genetic Predispositions for Labrador Retrievers Bloat Gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as GDV or bloat, usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. This means your Labrador is more at risk than other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes to the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as half an hour. Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes up , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up. Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option. If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! Some of the blood supply that should go to the liver goes around it instead, depriving the liver of the blood flow it needs to grow and function properly. If your friend has PSS, his liver cannot remove toxins from his bloodstream effectively. Surgery may be needed, but in some cases, we can treat with a special diet and medication. Your Labrador Retriever is prone to a chronic liver disease called hepatitis that may develop around middle age. Hepatitis is usually diagnosed through blood testing or liver biopsy, and can be treated with medication and special diets. Signs of liver disease do not usually occur until most of the liver is already damaged or destroyed, so early detection and intervention through routine blood screening is essential for early treatment. Bleeding Disorders Your Labrador Retriever is prone to a bleeding disorder called hemophilia. This is an important test as we may not otherwise know whether your pet has hemophilia until severe bleeding occurs during surgery or after a serious injury. If the immune system destroys red blood cells, your dog quickly becomes anemic, weak, and lethargic. His gums will look whitish or yellow instead of a normal bright pink color. Sometimes an emergency transfusion of red blood cells or platelets is needed. Bone and Joint Problems A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Labrador Retrievers. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend's bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life. Both hips and elbows are at risk for dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly and results in arthritis. Stiffness in your Labrador's elbows or hips may become a problem for him, especially as he matures. You may notice that he begins to show lameness in his legs or has difficulty getting up from lying down. We can treat the arthritis—the sooner the better—to minimize discomfort and pain. Surgery is also sometimes a good option in severe and life-limiting cases. And keep in mind that overweight dogs may develop arthritis years earlier than those of normal weight, causing undue pain and suffering! The cranial cruciate ligament is one of four tough bands of tissue that hold each knee together. A torn cranial cruciate ligament is a common injury in active dogs, including your Lab. Usually, surgical correction can stabilize the knee and help prevent crippling arthritis. Physical therapy and multimodal pain management are necessary for the best outcomes. Keeping him at the right weight, feeding a high-quality diet, and avoiding too much twisting of the knees like when playing Frisbee are key in avoiding these painful injuries. When Labrador puppies are allowed to grow too quickly, the cartilage in their joints may not attach to the bones properly. This problem is known as osteochondritis dissecans, or OCD. If this occurs, surgery may be required to fix the problem. Our recommended growth rate for Labrador Retriever puppies is no more than four pounds per week. Feed a large-breed puppy diet rather than an adult or regular puppy diet. Neurological Disease A genetically linked neurological condition, known as wobbler disease or wobbler syndrome, causes a wobbly, drunken gait in affected pets. Wobbler disease is the result of a narrowing of the vertebrae in the neck that pinches the spinal cord and associated nerves. When pinched, the nerves do not send signals to the brain as they should causing the pet to be unable to feel his feet. The first signs you will often notice with wobbler disease are unstable hind legs, stumbling, and sometimes falling. Treatment options include medications, neck braces, rehabilitation exercise programs, and surgery. Diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disease in dogs. Any breed can be affected, but Labs have an above average incidence. Dogs with diabetes are unable to regulate the metabolism of sugars in their bodies and require daily insulin injections. Diabetes is a serious condition and one that is important to diagnose and treat as early as possible. Symptoms include increased eating, drinking, and urination, along with weight loss. If he shows signs, we will conduct lab tests to determine if he has this condition and discuss treatment options with you. Treatment requires a serious commitment of time and resources. Well-regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines. Allergies In humans, allergies to pollen, mold, or dust make people sneeze. In dogs, rather than sneezing, allergies make their skin itchy. The feet, belly, folds of the skin, and ears are most commonly affected. Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year. Licking the paws, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections are the most common signs of allergies. The good news is that there are many treatment options available for these conditions. Bleeding Tumor Hemangiosarcoma is a type of bleeding tumor that affects Labrador Retrievers at greater than average incidence. These tumors commonly form in the spleen, but can form in other organs as well. Unbeknownst to a pet owner, the tumor breaks open and internal bleeding occurs. Some tumors can be volleyball-sized or larger before signs of sickness show. We often find clues that one of these tumors is present during senior wellness testing, so have his blood tested and an ultrasound performed at least yearly. Lymphoma Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is a type of cancer that afflicts Labrador Retrievers more than other breeds. This disease makes the body form abnormal lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Because white blood cells can be found throughout the body, this cancer can show up almost anywhere. Lymphoma is a very treatable form of cancer with an excellent success rate in dogs receiving chemotherapy. Luckily, lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can often be found with a blood test, so we may recommend a complete blood count twice yearly. Eye Problems Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes. Unfortunately, Labrador Retrievers can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs of concern. Hyperadrenocorticism Cushing's Cushing's Disease is a malfunction of the adrenal glands that causes them to produce too much steroid hormone. This is a common problem in dogs, and your Lab is more likely than other dogs to be affected. The condition usually develops slowly, and the early signs are easily missed. Symptoms include drinking and urinating more than normal, increased appetite, and reduced activity level followed later by a potbelly, thin skin, and hair loss. Treatment usually includes oral medications and requires close coordination with us to ensure correct dosing. Epilepsy There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain's reaction to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar, organ failure, or a toxin. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, and Labrador Retrievers are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy. If your dog has a seizure, carefully prevent him from injuring himself, but don't try to control his mouth or tongue. It won't help him, and he may bite you accidentally! Note the length of the seizure, and call us at or call an emergency hospital. Heart Disease Some breeds like your Labrador can be born with a variety of heart defects. Defects can also cause problems with heart valve function or the electrical signals that control the heartbeat. Special testing will be recommended if we hear a heart murmur or if you notice any unusual symptoms such as tiring easily, coughing, a swollen belly, or fainting. Exercise Induced Collapse Exercise induced collapse, or EIC, is just what it sounds like — a young, apparently healthy Labrador collapses to the ground suddenly while exercising. After a few minutes, the weakness passes and he is able to get up again. Dogs affected with EIC cannot run or exert themselves for long periods of time, especially not in hot weather, so a day of hunting or strenuous hiking is not a good idea for these pets. Heat stroke can also occur in conjunction with EIC. Genetic testing can be done to diagnose this disease and to screen dogs before breeding. Muscle Disease Labrador Retrievers may develop a disease of the muscles called myopathy between three and seven months of age. Physical signs of myopathy include bunny hopping, loss of muscle tone in the limbs, a stiff gait, and carrying the head low. Typically, affected pets are treated through reduced stress and occasionally with medication as well. Most dogs with myopathy are stabilized by twelve months of age and are able to have a normal life span. While they are suitable as house companions, strenuous exercise is not recommended, so no hunting or working! Taking Care of Your Labrador Retriever at Home Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs. Routine Care, Diet, and Exercise Build her routine care into your schedule to help your Lab live longer, stay healthier, and be happier during her lifetime. We cannot overemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine. Supervise your pet as you would a toddler. Keep doors closed, pick up after yourself, and block off rooms as necessary. Brush her coat as needed, at least weekly. Labrador Retrievers generally have good teeth, and you can keep them perfect by brushing them at least twice a week! Clean her ears weekly, even as a puppy. She's a smart dog with lots of energy, so keep her mind and body active, or she'll get bored. That's when the naughty stuff starts. Always walk your Lab on a leash as she has a tendency to run off after interesting smells and people. She has a passion for water, and swimming is a perfect form of exercise for this water retriever. Feed a high-quality diet appropriate for her age. What to Watch For Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Labrador Retriever needs help. In case the scratching persists, you can return to old food as that was not the allergen causing the itch in the first place. Remember, the numbers of food allergies in dogs are extremely low! You should start with the lowest-effort solution and slowly work your way up to the highest-investment solution. The earlier part of this article will help you determine whether the itch is contact-based or due to an inhaled allergen. Simply holding your current stash while getting a different brand is a decent step in the right direction. For some ideas and greater insight into what to feed your dog, check out my comprehensive guide, Best Diet for Labradors: Nutrition, Types, and More! Remove Items your Lab has Recently Come in Contact With Whether your Labrador has a new pillow or the wallpaper near his bed has been recently changed, you need to subtract the things introduced just before he started itching from his environment. An easy way to do this is to note the rough date when your dog started scratching himself. Then note the date a week or two before that and start auditing your living space to observe which new things have been added. If this controls the itching, you may deduce a seasonal problem. Here are some steps you can take to minimize his environmental allergies: Keep Your Doors and Windows Shut at All Times — This will prevent excessive dust and pollen from entering your living space. Use an Air Purifier — By collecting tiny particles like dust, pollen, and mold spores, air purifiers help create a cleaner, healthier atmosphere. Groom Regularly to Get Rid of Pollen and Dust — Labradors have two coats and require a lot of grooming throughout the year. To prevent allergies, I use the FURminator de-shedding tool from Amazon, which works well because it penetrates the undercoat and safely removes loose hair and any nasty allergens! Shower and Change When You Return Home — The urge to hug your best friend as soon as you return from work or even a grocery trip is always quite strong. This includes bedposts, tables, and chairs. Use a Dehumidifier — Dehumidifiers remove moisture from your home. By drying the air, allergy triggers are minimized, and symptoms are alleviated. You can also prevent mold with the use of dehumidifiers. You can use my recommended products, depending on compatibility, alongside the protective measures. That way, you may not need to implement drastic changes if they help eliminate the problem. Remember to check with your vet first before using any of them. Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo Whether your Labrador loves baths or is reluctant to get one, an itch-relief shampoo is his best friend. So expect to give your Labrador frequent baths with this shampoo. When you walk your dog, airborne allergens can often stick to his coat. This spray is excellent for itching caused in a specific spot. Due to fleas, dryness, or contact, simply spraying it on the irritated area will bring immediate relief to your dog. By moisturizing and getting rid of dryness and other irritants in the process, it prevents your Lab from scratching or biting and causing further damage to the itchy area. If your Labrador licks himself to relieve the itch, you may need to use shampoo instead. Allergy Supplements — Chews Speaking of products that are safe for oral consumption, I recommend allergy immunity supplements. Many supplements are available on the market, but their effectiveness varies drastically. Final Thoughts Your Labrador may be itching and scratching because of canine atopic dermatitis or an allergic reaction to airborne, food, or contact-based allergens. Either way, the best solution is to eliminate the cause by reducing his exposure to the allergen. You can also try washing him with anti-allergy shampoo and give him allergy immunity supplements. Related Posts You May Like:. How do you change dog scratching habits? The answer is to find the underlying reason why the dog keeps scratching and treat that. This article will take a look at some possibilities. Why is my dog scratching so much? A dog licking and scratching themselves raw is only a symptom. The trick to stop dog scratching is to pinpoint the driving force. The most common triggers for excessive scratching in dogs are parasites or allergies. A vet is best able to track down the problem. Seek a professional opinion sooner rather than later, before the dog damages their skin and creates complications. Itchy and Scratchy Symptoms Does your dog sleep on the bed? As an owner, take note of where the dog scratches. This gives the vet clues as to the nature of the problem. What Can You Look For? In fact, a dog scratching is not the only clue to itchiness. Some like to scoot their faces across the carpet or commando-crawl on their bellies across concrete as a means of quelling an itch. Then there are the lickers. Licking can also be a sign of itchiness. A tell-tale sign of a secretive licker is brown saliva-staining of the fur. The classic places to check include the paws, butt, and belly. This results in hair loss or skin infections, which require treatment. When to Seek Help Does this sound familiar? To ignore the problem means risking complications such as yeast infections causing greasy skin or bacterial invaders creating weeping sores. Indeed, any change in habits could mean the dog is uncomfortable. Something as simple as a dog scratching their face could be a clue to any number of issues, from a grass awn stuck in the ear canal to sore teeth. A dog scratching and losing hair or making their skin red definitely needs to be checked by a vet. Get your canine companion seen at the earliest hint of discomfort, and dodge unnecessary distress. What Causes Dog Scratching? Just like mosquito or flea bites irritate human skin, the same can happen to dogs. Indeed, some dogs even have an allergy to flea bites, which makes them super-itchy. Fleas are public enemy number one when it comes to dog scratching. But when going on a flea hunt, be aware that fleas hop on to feed, but actually live off-dog in soft furnishings or the yard. A different species to human head lice, but super-itchy regardless Sarcoptic Mange Mites: These highly infectious scavenger mites are common on wildlife Parasites play such a leading role in a dog licking and scratching that the vet will eradicate bugs first, before doing other tests. Allergies and the Urge to Scratch Do you suffer the misery of hay fever? The runny nose and streaming eyes are due to an allergy to pollen. You guessed it! Allergies make dogs itchy. Unfortunately, dogs can be allergic to anything from pollens to grass sap, from perfume to air freshener, from dust mites to mold spores. Unfortunately, scratching and licking damages the skin. This can allow secondary invaders in, such as yeasts and bacteria. Why is My Dog Scratching so Much? Reaching a Diagnosis First off, go on a flea hunt. Look for those tell-tale flecks of dark dust in the coat. Capture some on a piece of damp cotton wool. In this scenario, the first step is to treat the dog against fleas. If the dog scratching has not improved a month later, the vet may suggest further investigation. Typical actions include: Running a blood test to detect sarcoptes mites Bathing the dog with medicated shampoo to strength skin health A course of antibiotics if infection is present Still itchy? The dog is put on a hypoallergenic diet for eight weeks, in case they have a food allergy Oh dear, still itchy! Blood or skin tests for allergies A skin biopsy How to Stop a Dog from Scratching: Treatment You can do a surprising amount at home to make an itchy dog more comfortable. The vet will attempt to identify and treat the cause of the itch. This includes using antibiotics, medicated shampoos, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Options for Treatment If an allergy is diagnosed, there are options for treatment. These include: Immunotherapy vaccines: A bespoke vaccine is developed. The idea is that giving small, but increasing amounts of allergen. This allows the immune system to get used to the allergen and turn off the unwanted exaggerated response. Biological therapies: The latest kid-on-the-block is Cytopoint. It takes out the pathway that triggers the itch, stopping it from developing. Sadly, both of the above are expensive. However, there are a wide range of anti-inflammatory drugs which are also highly beneficial: Steroids: Inexpensive and extremely effective. Cyclosporine Atopica : Originally developed to prevent organ rejection in transplant medicine, these help switch off the unwanted immune response. Effective and relatively side-effect-free, but expensive! Oclacitinib Apoquel : A relatively new anti-itch medication, this works really well for some dogs and is almost side-effect-free. Sadly, this also is expensive. A dog scratching because of parasites can be cured. Getting rid of the bugs stops the itch. This means taking lots of small steps. Making several minor changes adds up to a big increase in comfort. Strategies to reduce the itch include: Limiting exposure to allergens Washing allergens off the skin Controlling secondary infections, such as yeasts or bacteria Use of therapies such as immunotherapy vaccines Drugs to reduce the itch Why is My Dog Scratching so Much? The occasional lazy scratch of the ear is quite normal. Excessive scratching in dogs is not. Common things like fleas are an obvious cause of itchiness. If in doubt see the vet early, to avoid unnecessary complications such as hair loss or infections. Do Fleas Die In Winter? References and Resources Diaz, S. The five most common types of allergies are food allergies, flea allergies, contact allergies, inhalant allergies, and bacterial allergies. Labrador Food Allergies Food allergies in Labrador Retrievers are caused by allergic reactions to common ingredients in dog food such as beef, corn, soy, fish, wheat, chicken, and chicken eggs. Common symptoms include: itchy skin often around the muzzle or face hair loss frequent bowel movements and skin infections. Antihistamines and occasionally antibiotics can be used to help dogs with extreme food allergies. But if your Lab has a food allergy, the symptoms will return when the treatment is stopped. Elimination diets with limited ingredients work well for most dogs with food allergies. Most common dog food brands on the market offer hypoallergenic formulas. These recipes are free of some of the most common allergens we talked about earlier: corn, soy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, fish, and wheat. You can also consider feeding a raw diet consisting of unprocessed meats and veggies. FAD occurs when a flea bites an animal, injecting its saliva into the skin. Your dog will most likely be susceptible to FAD during the summer months. Because fleas thrive best in warm temperatures with humidity. Early warning signs of FAD include itchy, irritated skin. This in turn causes red, inflamed patches of skin called hot spots. Flea bites occur most often on the back and at the base of the tail. In severe cases, you might notice hair loss, oozing, or dark, crusty skin. The easiest way to prevent flea allergies in Labrador Retrievers is to groom your dog regularly , and apply a flea preventative such as Frontline during flea season. If your Lab does develop an allergic reaction to a flea bite, there are several methods of killing fleas instantly. Make sure to remove all traces of fleas both from him and from your home. Sometimes your Lab can develop a yeast infection as a result of a flea bite. In which case you might notice an unpleasant odor. Vets will often prescribe antibiotics and a short course of prednisone to relieve his itchy skin. Taking preventative measures, however, and regularly observing your dog for early warning signs during flea season, can help to mitigate the problem. Canine Contact Allergies Contact allergies occur when your Lab develops an allergic reaction to noxious or irritating substances in the environment. These can include dyes, carpet deodorizers, or antibiotics applied to the skin. Rubber, wool, certain metals like nickel , poison ivy sap, and salt on the road can also cause allergic reactions. The allergic reaction usually develops on areas of the skin with little or no hair. Such as the backs of the paws, the muzzle, and the lower abdomen. These areas of the skin are most likely to come into direct contact with the irritant. In order to treat a contact allergy, your vet needs to use patch or exclusion tests to determine what allergen your Lab is reacting to. Patch tests involve a small amount of the allergen being rubbed on the skin. Inhalant Allergies in Labradors Inhalant allergies also called atopic allergies or atopy are the second most common allergy in Labs after FAD. They are caused by an allergic reaction to airborne or inhaled allergens like mold, dust, or pollen. Simply put, think of atopy as the canine equivalent of hay fever in people. Like FAD, inhalant allergies usually affect dogs during the spring and summer months. Atopic Labradors will develop very itchy skin and will usually bite and scratch themselves, often on the legs, face, ears, groin, and armpit areas. Red, irritated skin and hair loss are the most common warning signs as well as yeast infections in the skin and ears. Your vet will likely perform one of two allergy tests on your dog to determine what is causing the allergic reaction. An intra-dermal or skin allergy test involves injecting a small amount of an allergen into his skin and watching for a reaction. The second test, the IgE allergy test, involves taking a blood sample from your Lab to test for IgE antibodies against specific airborne allergens. If a high number of IgE antibodies exist, this is usually a sign of an inhalant allergy. There are several ways to treat inhalant allergies. Allergy shots involve a serum containing the allergen to which your dog reacts. Over time, the injections can desensitize them to the allergen, reducing the symptoms. Your vet might also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids or antihistamines to relieve symptoms like itching and skin irritation. Since allergies often cause skin irritation and hair loss, your Lab can often develop lesions or inflamed pustules. For these, your vet will likely proscribe topical medications like ointments and sprays as well as a round of antibiotics. The vet will look for evidence that the infection is symptomatic of a more serious medical condition. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.

Articles Until now, we have had dog breeds named separately after Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province. Now, there is a designer dog breed that is actually named after the whole province, namely the Newfoundland Labrador Mix. So, what is exactly this Newfoundland Labrador Mix? Despite their large physique, you will find Newfoundland Labrador Mixes non-aggressive and with a sweet and loving personalities. As the Newfoundland Labrador Mix is still relatively new in the pet market, so many of you may be unaware of the breed facts. You can expect a Newfoundland Lab Mix to grow between 22 to 28 inches, landing somewhere between the medium to large dog category. The same is with its weight, falling somewhere between 70 to lbs. As above, you will notice that the size of the Newfoundland Lab Mix has a wide range and is a little unpredictable due to varying height differences between the two parent breeds. The Labrador parents are ideal-sized pooches and generally range between 22 to 25 inches in height. On the other hand, Newfoundlands are popular for having huge sizes with heights ranging between 26 to 28 inches. Image from Instagram: ben. Combining the traits from both of the parents, the offspring of the Newfoundland Lab Mix tends to inherit stocky bodies with highly energetic souls. Newfie Labs generally come in black colors and are extremely furry from top to bottom. The eyes of these canines are generally brown. Their black-colored nose, however, is a bit huge, just like the way their body is. Ears are floppy and their tail resembles what Labrador parents tend to have a thick and tapered tail. Newfoundlands, however, are seen in brown and black colors only. Being common in both parents, the color black is what the coats of many Newfoundland Lab Mixes will end up in most of the time. Other possible colors include cream, fawn, and brindle. The coats of Newfoundland Lab Mixes are extremely furry with hairs either wavy or straight. The pants and chest hairs, however, are extremely denser. By analyzing lifespan histories of both Labrador and Newfoundland, the lifespan of a Newfoundland Lab Mix is said to be between 8 to 12 years. Here are a few health concerns this mix is commonly prone to. Image from Instagram: wee. Well, aortic stenosis is a blood-flow blockage inside the heart on the way from the left ventricle to the aorta blood vessel. This kind of blockage leads to mild chest pain or severe pain sometimes, depending on how hard the heart needs to pump the blood. Epilepsy Common among the Newfoundland Labrador mixes, epilepsy is a brain disorder , where the abnormality of neurons and electric signals affects the brain from working properly, consequently stopping brain-related body functions. The brain of the pooch, in this condition, faces frequent epileptic seizures, which usually lead to unconsciousness. Gastric Torsion During gastric torsion, the stomach of Newfoundland Lab Mix gets filled with excessive gas, consequently making it twisted or stretched. An uncomfortable posture is the most visible symptom. The severe version of this disease, namely gastric dilatation volvulus, may also occur. In that case, the condition becomes riskier than before. Proper treatments and surgeries, however, help to tackle this all. The disease is known for being common in both the Newfie Lab parents, so make sure you always get your pooch regular checkups. You need to build proper exercise routines since Newfoundland Labrador Mixes are extremely active pooches. Other than this, Newfie Labs are prone to obesity, so make sure you limit their meals properly while keeping the diet of these canines healthy. Exercise Routine Both Newfoundland and Labrador parent breeds are highly active pooches, so you can expect the same from the Newfoundland Lab Mixes. These mixes are extremely active canines and need a sufficient amount of exercise every day to keep fit and stay healthy. A Newfoundland Lab Mix should ideally burn energy for at least 60 to 90 minutes every day. This can include a minute walk, off-leash hangouts, and games like fetch. Have your pooch go on park trips once every week. You can also schedule a few more sessions of agility, hikes, sports activities, teamwork, or swimming once or twice within a week. Oral Care Invest in dental water additives or chews at early ages to get yourself saved from spending tons of money on decayed teeth of your Newfoundland Lab Mix later on. High-Quality Diet The diet of Newfoundland Labrador Mixes is primarily composed of protein fish or meat and carbs beans, peas, or whole grains. Other ingredients of their kibble meal include chicken, sweet potato, fruits, and vegetables. Make sure you get a high quality and grain-free diet with an addition of multivitamin supplements for your pooch. Get a perfect meal plan from your vet according to the age and health condition of your Newfie Lab buddy. You can also give a try to this online Pet Plate to get your pooch a meal plan and a diet made with human-grade ingredients. Are Newfoundland Labrador Mixes Aggressive? Your Newfie Lab will be the sweetest pet ever. Loving Newfoundland Lab Mixes generally tend to look like huge and aggressive pooches, but they are one of the most loving and loyal canines. They are super gentle and kind and make great family pets. In fact, both Newfie Lab parents are known to be children-loving and great family pooches. Barking due to genuine reasons, however, can be noticed occasionally which can be overwhelming sometimes due to their loud voice. This makes these pooches able to learn whatever you train them in a very short time. Make sure you provide proper training and socialization sessions to Newfie Labs at early ages as their grown-up huge size can be harmful later during their senior years. Active And Energetic Since both Labrador and Newfoundland parents are energetic, the resulting Newfie Lab pooches come up with a highly active and hardworking nature. Because of their energetic nature, they often served as rescue dogs, service dogs, and guide dogs. They can also help you while doing chores and other home tasks as they are activities-lovers too. Newfoundland Lab Mixes, however, should not be left at home alone for more than 8 hours as they will end up being destructive. Grooming Tips For Newfoundland Labrador Mixes Newfoundland Lab Mixes undergo heavy shedding and produce a high amount of dander as they have denser and longer coats. Hair Trimming Newfoundland Lab Mix owners will need to vacuum their house regularly as the pooches leave hairs almost everywhere. Using deshedding tools, especially during coat-switching seasons, can help more than a lot. Running this undercoat rake on your pooch helps to remove all the loose hairs that are about to fall and are ready to make your house furry again. Other than this, frequent hair trimming is a must for Newfoundland Lab Mixes. A professional groomer trip for your Newfie Lab should be scheduled once every 2 months. Removes loose hair: reaches through the topcoat to remove loose undercoat hair without cutting skin or damaging the.FURejector button: just push the button to release hair with ease. You can certainly bathe them before the given time period if they tend to get too smelly. Brush their coats well before and after every bath. Brushing You all know Newfoundland Lab Mixes own longer and denser hairy coats. The hairs can be either wavy or straight, but they easily get matted because of being extra-long in size. This can be scheduled even more frequently if the pooch inherits curly coat hairs from her Newfoundland parents. This cost can vary greatly depending on where you get it from. In fact, dogs are named after this Canadian province. Are Newfoundlands Good With Labs? Newfoundlands are indeed good with Labradors. These Newfoundland canines are known for getting along with every other person and pets, such as dogs and cats, due to their amicable and sweet nature. They can be seen hanging out and playing with a lot of dog breeds. Labrador Retrievers, on the other hand, also enjoy having fun with other dogs, so both Newfoundlands and Labradors are likely to build a good relationship with each other. Dogs Newfoundland Pete Decker. They can be a bit clumsy due to their large size, and some might even describe them as rowdy, but with proper training, they can grow into well-behaved adults who will make a great addition to the family. When it comes to finding a Lab Newfie Mix puppy, it may be a bit more challenging than finding a purebred Labrador Retriever or Newfoundland. However, you may be able to find Lab Newfie Mix puppies through rescue organizations or local breeders who specialize in crossbreeds. They are a great choice for families with children or other pets and are intelligent and trainable enough to take on many roles, including working dogs, service dogs, and family pets. They are social dogs that enjoy spending time around people and can suffer from separation anxiety if you leave them alone too long. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They are friendly and affectionate, making them great companions for children and older adults, and their protective nature helps them be fantastic watch dogs. Lab Newfie Mixes generally get along well with other pets, especially if you socialize them with various animals when they are still puppies. They can make great companions for other dogs, cats, and even smaller animals like rabbits or guinea pigs and will even accept new animals that come later. However, they also tend to overeat, which can lead to obesity and other health issues, so monitoring their food intake and providing them with appropriate portion sizes is important. Look for food with real meat as the first ingredient and avoid foods with fillers or artificial preservatives. They can also benefit from mental stimulation and enrichment activities, including games, puzzles, obedience training, and interactive toys. Start with basic obedience commands like sit, stay, come, and heel while using positive reinforcement techniques, such as praise and treats, to encourage good behavior and discourage bad behavior. Socialization is also important when training your Lab Newfie Mix to help them feel comfortable and confident in new situations, which can help prevent behavior issues such as fear or aggression towards unfamiliar people or animals. If you are having trouble, a trainer can help you develop a customized training plan and provide guidance and support as you work to train your dog. A post shared by Brittany Dawn Zschoche-Smith pnw. Brush their coat at least once a week using a slicker or pin brush to help remove loose fur and prevent matting , increasing the frequency during periods of heavy shedding. You will also need to bathe your Lab Newfie Mix every 6 to 8 weeks to keep their coat clean and healthy using a dog-specific shampoo and conditioner. Health and Conditions. It is always sensible to conduct thorough research on the breeder first before you plunge into buying. Never buy and do business online. Always remember that breeders with a good reputation will offer you information about the purebred parents or previous litters. They also provide relevant papers regarding your N puppy. You can start finding a breeder by going through your local AKC club. Here are some breeders and kennels to launch your search: 1. The grooming requirements of a Newfoundland cross Labrador is mostly dependent on the coat it acquired — so you can use your better judgment to decide how often you should groom. Here are the recommended products for grooming: Combs and Brushes 1. Fine tooth comb — The fine-tooth comb offers very little resistance on the coat; it works to remove nits from your Newfoundland Lab cross. Greyhound comb — The greyhound comb is a fit choice for line combing your Newfoundland Lab mix as it gets deep down to the skin. It is also useful in removing debris, like burrs and sticks, from the coat. Pin Brush — The most favored brush for daily use, the pin brush is perfect for everyday grooming. It effectively removes knots and tangles from the longer coats of a Newfoundland Lab Mix. The ends of the brush also work to gather dead hair. You can select one from a wide array of products with unique features, in different shapes, sizes, and varieties. Try not to use pin brushes with small plastic balls on the end as they end up snagging on the coat. The 27mm long tines is a good recommendation. Undercoat Rake — An undercoat rake works to de-entangle double coated hybrids like the Newfoundland Lab Mix. This product is usually used when a dog is blowing coat — this is when the winter coat transition to summer coat or vice versa. The length of the tines makes it go deep into the hair and grab out loose fur skins and matting. They are available in the market with a wide selection, ranging from different styles, different teeth lengths, and for different textures and coats. A single row, single length undercoat rake is best for everyday use and the one with double rows, different lengths are excellent for removing the undercoat. Slicker brush — The slicker brush works flawlessly for de-matting as the wire pins move effortlessly through the coat to untangle hair. It is also a wise choice for removing dead hair from the undercoat with the curved ends working to gather dead, lifeless hair. Available in soft and delicate or firm and sturdy pins, slicker brushes also come in different sizes. Mars Coat King — This tool conveniently gets rid of dead hair and undercoat. The chest and pants are heavily coated areas, so the Mars Coat King works for de-bulking wonders. Mat Splitter — You can use this tool to cut up the mats to allow easier combing. They come in several varieties, with sharp blades that can leave behind holes so use it with caution. The single-blade is widely used in Lab Newfoundland mix. Grooming Scissors Thinning shears — With a regular blade on one side and a comb-like one on the other, this is a perfect choice for your Newfoundland and Lab combination. Available in beauty supply stores, they come in a variety of choices and ranges — in price, shape, and size. It is important to note that the lesser set of teeth you use means a choppier cut you can make. A tooth shear makes an exceptional choice for a Newfoundland and Lab cross. Straight shears — The straight shears are ideal for trimming paws and flyaway hairs. It is somewhat sharp and could easily wound the skin. And worse, it could leave a rough and irregular appearance on the body. You can get this at local supply stores, but it can be pretty expensive, be careful when choosing as inexpensive ones may have blades that dull easily. Curved shears — You can use a pair of curved shears to enhance the shape of the ears, paws, and legs. They work flawlessly on the paws or for a belly trim during the warm months. They come in a variety of styles. The blade size depends on what trim you want to achieve. It is always best to introduce the grooming table while your mix is still a young pup to allow time of getting used to it. The tab will keep him in place while grooming session is ongoing. Get one that is adjustable so you can set it in a comfortable height — this will help you maintain a good posture. High-speed dog dryer — This is essential for a Newfoundland and lab cross that is fond of swimming. Drying out your dog will help reduce hot spots because the high-speed dryer thoroughly dries deep into the skin. It can also work to snuff out loose hair and dandruff on a dry coat. And your Lab Newfoundland combination can amass plenty of dandruff, depending on the severity of the condition. Dryers are usually expensive. For your dog friend, A cool dryer with varying airflow adjustments is highly recommended. Some examples are the K9 high-velocity dog dryers and Metro Air Force dryers. It is important to note that you never attempt to use a regular blow dryer on a Lab and Newfoundland combination as it gets extremely hot and it not at all dry their coat. Grooming spray — A grooming spray allows you to brush and comb the hair without any difficulties. There are so many grooming sprays to choose from, and it can be particularly hard to pick one that would work for your cross between Newfoundland and Lab. You can start by selecting a scent that you like. Tackle Box — What better way to store and organize all your dog-grooming tools than to use a Tacklebox? You can place your combs and scissors on the top compartment and your brushes and grooming spray on the underneath. If you decide to accommodate all grooming care, it can be a great bonding experience for you both. Starting your dog young is a sure-fire hit. Ultimately, grooming tools are dependent on your personal preference. You may follow a certain standard, but it all comes down to what works best for you and what you can afford. It is vital that we can identify the symptoms so we can take action. Here are some of the most common illnesses of a Lab Newfoundland cross: Subvalvular aortic stenosis — a heart disease that affects the valves Gastric dilatation volvulus or gastric torsion — bloat or twisted stomach Hip and elbow dysplasia — the hip and elbow joints do not fit or develop accordingly, causing them to rub and grind instead of gliding smoothly Epilepsy — neurological disorder defined by intermittent seizures Cataracts — the lens loses transparency, may impair vision or even cause blindness Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament — ruptures occur in the mid ligament hind legs and is linked with progressive fatigue Cancer — such as mammary cancers, lymphoma, leukemia, osteosarcomas, mast cell tumors, and skin cancers Chronic allergies — can be food, skin or environmental allergy Remember that even the most appropriate health screening does not guarantee a healthy Newfoundland and Lab combination. Lab and Newfoundland Mix Food Requirements The best food choice for a big dog like your Lab and Newfoundland Cross should be rich in protein like fish or meat and carbohydrates which you can get from whole grains, peas, and beans. They have incredibly high energy, so they need sufficient amount of calories to restore what they have burned, For seniors, it is important to serve them with food rich in glucosamine and chondroitin for joint mobility and repair and DHA found in seaweed oil for proper brain and vision function. For your puppies, food should be hypoallergenic, rich in calcium for strong bones and teeth, and omega 6 and 3 essential for healthy skin and coat. How much you feed them is dependent on their age and activity levels. Here are some examples you can try: 1. It features real, deboned beef, along with sweet potatoes, peas, apples, blueberries and more. With chicken as the main ingredient, it also uses improved botanical oils that are an efficient and effective fuel source. Wild Calling! That is why you should never give them the worst dry dog food, and only choose the best dry dog food for your fuzzy friend. If your furry baby is still just a munchkin, we have a list of the best puppy food brands that they will chow down on in seconds. In case you have a wise, silver-coated senior in your home, give them only the best senior dry dog food to keep them sprightly even past their prime. Never forget that your crossbred charmer carries the genes of their vastly different and unique parents. So, try giving them more variety in their bowls — they may like these best dry dog food for small dogs or have a taste for these best large breed dry dog food instead. The point is that you can never know! Newfoundland and Labrador Cross Exercise Requirements Routinary walks and regular visits to the dog park are great opportunities for your Lab Newfoundland mix to get sufficient exercise. Make sure your dog gets at least sixty to ninety minutes of vigorous activity each day, every day. They are huge and naturally tend to become obese if they do not engage in physical activities often. To make the routines more fun and enjoyable, take a look at these tools: Agility Equipment — This is a superb choice if your dog is fond of running, climbing and jumping. Bar jumps, tire jumps or weave poles are some examples. Lure Coursing — This is a splendid choice if you have a pet with undeniably strong prey nature. This equipment creates a mechanical lure which is then pursued by your dog. An example is the Injoy Lure Coursing. Newfoundland and Lab Mix Training Whether your aim is for socialization or participation in sports, training holds the key to a more confident and comfortable Newfoundland Lab cross. Check out these Sports activities that you can train for: 1. Companion Events — This sport aims to show the deep connection shared between you and your dog. Events like agility, obedience, and tracking, will demonstrate the teamwork between the owner and a well-trained dog. Lab and Newfoundland Mix and Families The Labrador Newfoundland Mix is a fantastic family pet who loves the company of people, especially children. Defining Characteristics To know what our Newfoundland Labrador will look like, we need to discuss the parent breeds, too. These dogs are muscular with thick, medium-length coats made up of an undercoat to keep the dog warm and a water-resistant outer coat. Their fur can be wavy or straight, and feels coarse to the touch. Their coat can be brown or gray, but is most commonly black with white markings. Labradors are also muscular dogs, despite their slightly smaller stature. Purebred Labradors come in three main colours- chocolate, yellow, and black. Purebred Labradors and Newfoundlands look quite different, but their crossbreeds can be a mixture of any of these physical characteristics. Grooming and Shedding This is a high shedding breed. Labradors and Newfoundlands have quite similar coats, but their grooming needs do differ. Because Newfoundlands have a heavier, longer coat than Labradors, they should be groomed much more regularly to keep their fur from knotting. Newfoundland females can reach up to 26 inches in height, and males can grow up to 28 inches. Their weight is just as impressive — on average males weigh between — pounds, while females weigh between and pounds. Male Labrador retrievers can grow to between 22 and 24 inches, whereas females tend to grow 21 to 23 inches. Males generally weigh between 65 and 80 pounds, whereas females reach 55 to 70 pounds. The size of a Newfoundland Lab cross will completely depend on the genes it inherits. It could be anywhere between the sizes above! Both are great companions for humans and love working alongside people. Newfoundlands and Labradors are both very intelligent dogs, which means they respond well to training- another reason why they make such great working dogs. Both breeds are incredibly friendly, devoted, and good with children, so they make great family pets. You should watched both breeds when with other dogs, but they are friendly as a general rule. Typically, Newfoundlands are more patient, whereas Labradors are more active and energetic. Training Requirements Because both Labradors and Newfoundlands are very social, intelligent dogs, it is likely that your Newfoundland Labrador cross will inherit these traits. You should train and socialise your dog with both people and other dogs from a young age. This will ensure that your cross is friendly and happy as it grows up and experiences new situations. Training your Newfoundland Labrador cross is also important because these dogs can grow to be very strong. Training your dog from a young age is a good way to keep it happy and ensure it never gets hurt, or accidentally hurts anyone else. Exercise Both Labradors and Newfoundlands require a lot of exercise. They fare best when they have access to the outdoors, as well as lots of room in their houses. They can exercise on land or in the water, as both of these dogs love supervised swim sessions. This painful condition can be avoided through health testing potential puppy parents, and only breeding from those with very good hip and elbow scores. Both Labradors and Newfoundlands can be prone to obesity if not cared for properly. To combat this, you need to ensure you are monitoring what you feed your dog depending on their developmental stage. Newfoundlands usually live between 9 and 10 years, whereas Labradors can live from 10 to 12 years. As long as you keep your cross as healthy as possible, it could live anywhere between these ages. Newfoundland Lab Mix Puppies Good puppy breeders prioritise the welfare of the dogs they are breeding and breeding from. They have a strong bond with the parent and a reason beyond making money for producing puppies. Good Newfoundland Lab mix puppy breeders will show you evidence of health certificates for both parents. They will also be happy to ask and answer lots of questions, showing a genuine interest in your family. Contents Newfoundland Labrador Mix Newfador is a hybrid dog breed of two very popular dog breeds with extraordinary traits, Newfoundland and Labrador. Both of these dogs are large-built, stocky, and purebred. Newfoundland: Newfoundland dog belongs to the Mastiff family and it was originated on an island of Canada, known as Newfoundland. As the dog has a massive body, hence it was used for tasks such as pulling carts or hauling heavy fishnets. Also, it is a brave and courageous dog who has saved the life of many people as well. It has a water-resistant coat and webbed feet, that show its love for the water. The loving, affectionate, and loyal dog always want to be with the family. If left alone in the house for a long time, then it can suffer from separation anxiety. Labrador: Newfoundland lab mix puppies along with Newfoundland will take some of the good traits of Labrador as well. Just like Newfoundland, the Labrador retriever is also from a Canadian Island. The basic purpose of the dog was hunting but it is also kept as a great companion by most people nowadays. It is an extremely enthusiastic and active dog that requires a certain amount of physical activity. Now based on these parent dog breed traits, let us tell you everything you want to know about Newfoundland lab mix dog in this article. Newfoundland Labs Physical Appearance: Newfoundland Labrador mix is a mix of two large dog breeds, one is strong whereas the other is fluffy. One cannot determine what how exactly the lab Newfoundland mix puppy will look like because it depends on the parent from whom the Newfoundland mix puppies will take the most. The eyes of the Newfoundland and labrador dog are brown whereas the ears are fluffy and floppy. They have leathery and black nose whereas, feet are partially webbed. The tail and muzzle of the Newfoundland lab mix mostly resemble the Labrador. Newfoundland Lab Mix Coat: Newfoundland and labrador dogs, both have a soft and dense coat but being more specific, there are two possibilities of the coat texture of the Newfador dog. Either the coat of the Newfador puppies is short and shiny, or it is long and fluffy. This shows us that the length of the coat varies from medium to long. The texture of the coat is straight. As the Newfie lab has a double coat, the outer one is water-resistant. The highly dense double coat makes it easy for the dog to survive in cold weather also, being water-resistant, the coat helps the dog to swim and stay active. Now, if you are wondering that is there any Newfoundland black lab mix or Newfoundland chocolate lab mix, then you are at the right place. In this breed, the possible coat colors of the dog include chocolate lab Newfoundland mix puppies, also known as chocolate Newfador. Some other coat color possibilities are brown, sable, fawn, brindle, pied, cream, and black lab Newfoundland mix. Newfador size: The Newfoundland is a large dog whereas Labrador is slightly small in comparison but is also considered as a large dog breed. This means that the Newfoundland lab mix size is not small. Hence, if you are wondering that how big will a Newfoundland lab mix get, then the answer to your question is that in most cases, the size is just like that of Newfoundland. It is also a massive dog, that can be used for multiple purposes, or kept as a great companion. The male Newfador weight ranges from lbs whereas the Newfoundland lab mix weight for a female can be anywhere between lbs. Talking about the height of the Newfie lab mix puppies, then a male one can be inches whereas the female dog can be inches in height. Newfador life expectancy: The Newfoundland dog lives 8 to 10 years on average whereas the Labrador can survive but more having a lifespan of 0 to 14 years. Based on the lifespans of these two parent dog breeds, we have concluded that the lifespan of a Newfoundland lab mix is somewhere around 10 to 12 years. Newfoundland lab mix life expectancy can be increased if you take proper care and provide the dog hygienic and quality food. Lab Newfoundland Temperament and personality: The Labrador and Newfoundland mix breed dog, is highly loving and affectionate, just as both of the parents. It loves to spend a lot of quality time with the family members as well as children which means, they are great family pets. Also, they are hardworking dogs and will help you with different chores. Not only this but just like the parent dog breeds, the Newfoundland Labrador dog mix is intelligent and picks the stuff quickly which means they are easy to train. It is good to watch the Newfoundland cross Labrador when it is around the other dog breeds, but it is mostly good with other dogs. So, if you are looking for a dog with a loving, loyal, and energetic personality, then the Newfoundland lab mix puppy is your desired choice. Lab and Newfoundland Mix Price: On seeing the attractive Newfoundland lab mix dog pictures, you might be thinking to have one. Well, if you are finding the Newfoundland labrador mix puppies for sale, then you should find reputable breeders in your area. Newfoundland lab mix breeders with a good reputation will tell you the true features and traits of the dog instead of making false claims. Among all the coat colors, the Newfoundland black lab mix puppies for sale are the most popular and have a high demand. Newfador puppies for sale in different countries: Newfador breeders in different countries of the world ask for variable prices according to the availability and demand of the lab and Newfoundland mix dog in their area. Such as Newfador breeders in the UK will ask different prices for the dog as compared to the breeders of Asian countries as Newfie lab mix dog is popular in the UK. Newfoundland Lab Dog Grooming: The Newfoundland lab dog mix has a dense coat, which means you need to do a lot of effort into grooming this dog. All this stuff will help you remove the nits, tangles, and knots whereas the Newfoundland lab mix shedding will be no more a problem. Also, the dead hair of the Newfoundland dog lab mix will be removed and the de-matting will be done flawlessly. Also, you should be having a toenail clipper at your home for clipping the nails every month. Besides this, you should visit a professional groomer at least 6 times a year. Newfoundland Lab Mix Puppy Training: Training the Newfie mix puppies is not a challenging task, as it is an intelligent dog. Having a good experience in training means that you can train the labrador Newfie mix by yourself. If not, then group training sessions will be enough as the labrador and Newfoundland mix is easy to please. Early socialization is important for the dog also, be patient and dedicated while training the dog to get the best results. Newfoundland Lab Puppy Health concerns: Labrador mix puppy is a healthy breed, but still, it can have some genetic disorders. Some of the common disorders that a Newfoundland and labrador mix dog can have included, chronic allergies such as environmental, food or skin allergy, different cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, mast cell tumors or skin cancer, Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament, cataracts, epilepsy, hip or elbow dysplasia, Gastric dilatation-volvulus or gastric torsion, or subvalvular aortic stenosis. No matter you are having a mini Newfoundland and labrador mix dog or a fully grown Newfoundland and lab mix dog, visit the vet whenever you find any unusual behavior in the dog. Well, it can reach the ideal height if you provide the dog with high-quality food. The Newfoundland and Labrador mix puppies are active and energetic mostly hence, they require a lot of energy or food to overcome the burned calories. So, give your Newfoundland labrador crossbreed dog a protein-rich and carbohydrate-containing diet such as meat, fish, beans, peas, or whole grains. This will fulfill the energy requirements of the dog. Also, do not overfeed the Newfoundland labrador mix dog as it can lead to obesity that can in result cause hip or elbow dysplasia. Give your Newfoundland cross labrador dog hygienic food for a disease-free and healthy life. Lab Newfie Mix Activity Requirement: Labrador Newfoundland mix is an active dog also, it loves to go outdoors and maintain its energy level. Newfoundland labrador puppies require minutes of walk daily. Also, you can fulfill the exercise requirements by different activities such as running, fetching games, or any other task. Besides, the lab Newfoundland mix puppies are good swimmers hence, swimming can meet their exercise needs as well. Physical activity of the Newfoundland mix Labrador will keep the obesity away and your dog will be safe from the most common disorder, hip or elbow dysplasia. Have you found yourself wondering about the Newfoundland Lab Mix? Would one be the right addition to your household? So what exactly is a Newfoundland Lab Mix dog? In the dog world, the Newfoundland Lab Mix is known as a crossbreed. So What is a Crossbreed? Designer Dog Controversy While some support crossbreeding and insist there are benefits to breeding two different purebreds, others disagree. For example, some experts consider crossbreeds and mutts to be one and the same. Others insist that mutts share a lineage of several different breeds. Crossbreeds are the descendants of only two purebred parents. More importantly, many supporters claim crossbreeding can be a solution to the generational health problems that have increasingly overwhelmed purebred dogs during the last few centuries. However, others say that genetic defects can be just as prevalent in crossbred dogs. You can learn more about the controversies of crossbreeding here. Regardless of where you personally stand on the issue of crossbreeding, there is one thing experts seem to agree on… When deciding to add a new dog to your household, always do as much research on the desired breed—or crossbreed—as possible! Origin of the Newfoundland Labrador Mix Because crossbreeding is still a relatively new experience, the origin of the Newfoundland Lab Mix is mostly unknown. However, both of his purebred parents have fascinating histories worth digging into! Origin of the Newfoundland The Newfoundland dog is a part of the Mastiff family. He originated in Newfoundland, a large Canadian island off the east coast of the North American mainland. He is believed to be descended from the St. The Newfoundland is a massive dog, mostly bred for working. Because of his large stature, he was extremely useful in hauling heavy fishnets and pulling carts. In fact, a black Newfoundland named Seaman is said to have accompanied Lewis and Clark on their voyage to America! So what about the Labrador? Is his history as valiant? Origin of the Labrador Much like his Newfoundland counterpart, the Labrador originated from the Canadian island of Newfoundland in the early s. The Labrador is mainly bred for hunting, but is best known to be a devoted companion to his human counterparts. They can often be seen working narcotics detection with K9 officers or even guiding search-and-rescue missions. Labs can also make excellent guide dogs for the blind. Temperament of the Labrador Newfoundland Mix Because the Newfoundland Labrador Mix is a crossbreed, it is difficult to determine what type of temperamental traits he could inherit. By looking into the behavioral traits of the Newfoundland and the Labrador, we will be able to get a general idea of what the Lab and Newfoundland Mix temperament could be. Newfoundland Temperament The Newfoundland is a gentle giant, known for his devotion and sweet nature. He is excellent with children and is eager to please. Still, it is best he is supervised around other dogs and family pets until they have been properly introduced. The Newfoundland is an intelligent dog with a slightly independent streak. Because of his loyalty and keenness to please, he is easily trainable. Labrador Retriever Temperament The Labrador is a famously intelligent dog, who is also eager to please and therefore easy to train. Labs make excellent family dogs and do well with children and other pets. Labs can be prone to chewing, however. They will need a variety of toys and chew bones to help reduce the chance of boredom that could result in material damages. Labradors are also highly energetic. They require consistent exercise and enjoy partaking in all sorts of family activities. The Newfoundland Labrador Mix will most likely do well with children and will have a loyal, sweet disposition just like his two purebred parents! Characteristics of the Newfoundland and Labrador Dogs The outcome regarding things like coat color, size, and weight, can be unpredictable when dealing with crossbreeds. These dogs can inherit physical traits from either purebred parent. However, taking a closer look at the defining characteristics of the Newfoundland and the Labrador can help give us an idea of what your potential Newfoundland cross Labrador puppy could inherit. The Newfoundland is a very large dog with females growing to about 26 inches tall and males growing up to 28 inches. A full-grown female Newfoundland can weigh in at — pounds while a male can weigh between and pounds. The Newfoundland has a long, dense coat built to protect him from icy waters and harsh weather. His coat comes in four standard colors: Black Gray White and Black The Lab, on the other hand, is a medium-sized dog whose coat comes in three standard colors: Black Chocolate The full-grown Labrador will grow to be 22—25 inches and weigh about 55—80 pounds. Generally, we can expect the Newfoundland Labrador Retriever Mix to be a medium to larger dog. We do have to keep in mind that physical traits will vary based on what he inherits from his purebred parents. Grooming Your Newfoundland Lab Mix Dog Generally speaking, the Newfoundland Lab should be easy to care for, as both his purebred parents only require occasional bathing. Still, both the Newfoundland and the Labrador are seasonal shedders with similar weather-resistant coats. The Newfoundland Lab Mix will most likely require weekly grooming and brushing to help keep his coat looking its best. Keep in mind the Newfoundland has a thicker coat with longer fur. If your Newfoundland Lab Mix inherits that coat, he may need more grooming attention, especially during warmer seasons. The Newfoundland Labrador Mix will need his ears cleaned once a week to help avoid infection. He will also need regular trimming of his nails to avoid cracking and splitting. Training their offspring, the Newfoundland Lab Mix, should be a breeze! Both the Newfoundland and the Labrador enjoy having access to the outdoors. Daily walks or frequent visits to the dog park would make for great exercise opportunities for your Newfoundland Labrador Mix. Potential owners should prepare for an independent streak in their Lab Newfoundland Mix when it comes to training. Approach obedience coaching with patience and dedication to ensure a positive experience for both of you. As always, we recommend early socialization and proper training with any new dog. Because he is a crossbreed, it is important to consider the lifespan and health issues that affect his purebred parents. He can be prone to several serious health conditions, including subaortic stenosis, hip and elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, and epilepsy. He has also been known to suffer from cataracts. Some Newfoundlands do not tolerate anesthesia well, and many are sensitive to heat. Labradors can suffer elbow and hip dysplasia, loose knee joints, ruptured ligaments in their hind legs, heart disease, eye disease, epilepsy, cancer, and chronic allergies. Labs are also more prone than average to suffer from the gastrointestinal syndrome, bloat. Another thing to keep in mind is that both the Newfoundland and the Labrador are prone to obesity. Regular vet checkups along with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help extend the Newfoundland Lab Mix life expectancy. Potential owners can expect their Newfoundland Lab Mix to share the same sentiment. An ideal home for the Newfoundland Labrador Mix is going to have plenty of access to the outdoors. This includes trips to the dog park, walking along paths, and swimming in lakes and streams. The Newfoundland breed in particular loves water, so the Newfoundland Lab Cross might just love it too. The Newfoundland Lab Mix is a larger dog, however, so space could be an issue—he will need plenty of it. If you want a dog who loves to be right in the thick of the family fun, then the Newfoundland Labrador Mix will fit right in! Finding Newfoundland Lab Mix Puppies Whether you have your heart set on a rescue or a breeder, the most important thing is to go through a reputable source to ensure the health of your Labrador Newfoundland Mix. Finding a new dog from a responsible source can sometimes be difficult, so give yourself time and do plenty of research before you find your Newfoundland Lab mix for sale. Lab Newfoundland Mix Rescue Shelters carry all types of crossbreeds, but they may not have the one you are looking for there at any given moment. Many shelters offer waiting lists and can call you when and if your desired breed or crossbreed arrives. One of the many advantages of rescuing from a shelter is the price. Although most shelters do incur fees, they are often a fraction of what some breeders will charge. Also, most shelters will cover the initial veterinarian fee. Researching the local shelters in your area can help lock down more specifics on pricing. We recommend doing plenty of research on the breeder before you buy and make sure you research the Newfoundland Labrador Mix. Always make sure to ask about any temperament or health issues with his purebred parents or previous litters. Keep in mind that reputable breeders will have certificates to prove their dogs have been health screened. If you are still wary about getting your Newfoundland Labrador Mix, attend local dog shows. You can meet many breeders in person who could help point you in the right direction. You can also locate a breeder by going through your local AKC club. To find a club in your area, visit www. He is a very large dog who requires lots of space and access to the outdoors. He also needs an owner who is able to offer him plenty of exercise, weekly grooming, and a healthy diet plan. If you enjoy being outside or love to swim, the Newfoundland Lab Mix will make a great companion for you. Newfoundland Mixes are very friendly dogs, known to be affectionate with both its own family as well as other dogs and children. Their gentle nature often makes them friendly towards strangers, which makes them a great pup to take to the local park. While their fur makes them great at handling colder weather, it does give them a hard time in warmer climates. Newfie Mixes can be prone to the same health issues as both parent breeds. On the Newfoundland side, this means that they are typically a moderately healthy breed, but do have their own set of risks involved typical to the large and giant dog breeds. They are known to have issues, especially later in life, concerning their joints and eyes. Talking to the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents is a great way to find out what to expect with your Newfoundland Mix. Considered very easy to train and highly intelligent, a Newfoundland Mix is a great dog for anyone who has had experience training a pup before. Because of their large size and thick coat, a Newfoundland Mix will shed a significant amount. To counteract this, they require regular grooming. Daily brushing also goes a long way in cutting down on shedding, removing tangles to prevent mats, and helping your pup be more comfortable. Their flat, water-resistant double coat tends to mat, but is extremely useful in inclement weather. But, droopy ears are more prone to ear infections because they tend to trap dirt and moisture more often than ears that stick straight up. Dental diseases like gum disease and tooth decay are one of the most common health issues in dogs. Vet-approved dental hygiene chews or treats and a special dental care diet can help supplement your efforts. These Newfie Mixes tend to have moderate energy levels that require regular play or walks, but nothing overly rigorous. They tend to be very playful though, and love to chase when they play. A Newfoundland Mix typically tends to be between 24 and 27 inches at their shoulder. This may shift slightly depending on the other breed involved in the mix. This dog breed typically lives up to 10 years. Featured Newfoundland Mix Article.

Rachael Ray Nutrish is another brand I love for Labrador Retriever puppies as it is packed with DHA for healthy brain and eye development and specially formulated for young, growing dogs. You can also select different sizes and recipes. My favorite is chicken and brown rice. Bedding And Toys Lab puppies need quality bedding and toys for teething. Labrador puppies grow quickly and have sharp claws and teeth. Puppies also go through a teething phase and will need special teething toys to help soothe their sore mouths and help keep your furniture safe. As far as bedding, the best bedding for a Labrador puppy is going to be made of high quality material that is soft and plush while also being sturdy enough to keep them off the floor and support their growing bodies. KONG toys are wonderful tools to use during crate training , but they also help with separation anxiety , boredom, and the teething stage that all puppies go through. Enter the Nylabone Puppy Starter Pack. These flavored chew toys come both textured and regular to help get your pup and your furniture through the teething stage safely. Cuddly toys like the Smart PetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy above can help your new Labrador puppy adjust to sleeping on his own, assist in crate training, and may even help alleviate anxieties including noise phobias and separation anxiety. Puppy blankets are a must and can be used for multiple purposes in your home for your pup. My favorite puppy blankets are blankets that are specially made for dogs, like the Luciphia fleece blankets above. While you can use any blankets on hand, blankets that are specially made for dogs are usually a bit more durable, easier to wash, and have been made with quality and safe material for your pooch. Puppy blankets just make it easy to always a comfy place for your puppy to rest his head no matter where you are. Ultra Squeaker Ball is an absolute favorite in my house and with my clients. I especially love using this toy for puppies who are just getting the hang of playing fetch. For puppies, picking up on how to play fetch can be tough. Balls that squeak or make noise when thrown help to make the game more exciting and help encourage young pups to chase whatever is making that high pitched sound! Leashes, Harnesses, and Collars Collars, leashes, and harnesses are important tools to help socialize your puppy. Getting your puppy used to wearing a leash, harness, and collar is an important step towards socializing them. So even though your Labrador puppy will outgrow his harness and collar quickly, I still suggest investing in these items. Here are five of my favorite leash, harness, and collar products for Labrador Retriever puppies. As I mentioned above, puppies are especially fragile so steer clear of attaching a leash to their collar and try to help them adjust to wearing a harness that is comfortable. What I like about this harness is that it is adjustable so you can use it a bit longer as your puppy grows. Best of all it is the perfect length five feet for puppy training and is a leash your Lab puppy can take with him into adulthood. It is built like a standard leash, but it offers you control over how far away your puppy can get. This is excellent for puppy parents who live in busy neighborhoods or who are working with a puppy who likes to wander. Large breed puppies like Labrador Retrievers require crates that grow with them. This is why I love crates that come with dividers so that they can grow with your Lab puppy. I also recommend playpens, as Labrador puppies are notorious for being very active and energetic. Lab puppies are also incredibly curious and tend to chew a lot in their first few months, which is why indoor dog gates will also be an important part of puppy proofing your home. Take a look at some of my favorite puppy-proofing products below. Nobody likes cleaning up potty accidents. Of course, no one wants a big, bulky pen that takes up half of their home either! I also love that the pen is big enough for puppies to grow into and allows them to learn how to explore a space larger than their crate while keeping them and your home safe from their curiosity. And since crate training is such an important part of puppyhood and actually helps your puppy adjust to being alone and feeling secure, we recommend investing in a good, high quality crate you can use for years. It has two separate doors for entrance and exit and it comes with a divider so it can be adjusted to the size of your dog as he grows. Just remember to leave your pup inside his crate with a KONG and some bedding so he is comfortable, and remember that puppies who are younger than six months old should not stay in their crates for longer than four hours. For those of you who plan to leave your puppy out and about while you are gone and after he is trained, of course , then a crate that folds may be your best bet. The MidWest Foldable Dog Crate posted above is one such crate that is not only made well, but also stores well. Like most crates ideal for Labrador puppies, this crate also comes with a divider so it can grow with your dog. Along with crates and puppy playpens, you also might consider getting a gate to keep your puppy from entering places in your home that may pose a risk to him. Many of my clients keep gates up in their kitchen entryway, or gate their living rooms where puppies are tempted to chew on wood furniture. Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate Sale Buy on Amazon For those of you worried about installing something or accidentally damaging walls or paint, there are always free-standing gate options, like the Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate. I do like the way these gates look and the simplicity of them, however, they are not always the most secure and may not stand up to a strong and curious puppy. These gates are also not ideal for leaving puppies unsupervised as they can sometimes find ways to knock them down. Grooming your Labrador puppy early on not only helps to socialize him and prepare him for a life of vet visits, groomer visits, and physical contact with people, but it also helps to keep him clean and healthy. Like babies, puppies are more sensitive to certain products and require products that are specifically designed to be gentle on their sensitive skin and fur. Be selective of the shampoos, dog brushes , and other grooming products you pick for your Labrador puppy and make sure you always use high-quality products. Some of the products I recommend most for grooming a Labrador puppy are listed below. Pet Care Sciences Puppy Shampoo. Non-slip bottom dog dishes Puppies naturally move their dish around as they are eating, especially if the dish has a flat bottom that easily pushes around the floor. We have found that dishes with a non-slip bottom can help so that your puppy is not chasing around his food dish. Make sure that it is large enough. And since dogs grow fast, that means they will likely grow to that size within a year to a year and a half. Almost all dogs we train eat between 4 -6 cups of dog food a day. So, make sure that your dish is large enough to accommodate this many cups. Water dish It is vitally important that your puppy have access to clean water for drinking. With the puppies we raise, we have found that it can be challenging to keep a small water dish full, so we prefer to use these 2-gallon water dishes. They are easy to fill and allow us to only have to fill them a couple times a week instead of several times a day. We suggest that you introduce a lead to your puppy as they start to grow in confidence and walk further from you when outside. There are two great reasons to do this early on. First it teaches your puppy how to handle the pressure of not being able to go wherever they want whenever they want. And it keeps your puppy from developing a habit of running away from you. A Flexi-lead works especially well if you want to give your puppy a little more freedom to go do his potty business but still keep control. Toys Puppies need toys. If you do not give them toys that they CAN chew and play with, they will chew on your sofa leg, or a book or a blanket or anything else they can find. So, purchase some good durable puppy chew toys. But watch your pup carefully. As they get older and stronger, they will be able to rip apart cloth toys and ingest them. Or they will chew rubber toys into small pieces and eat them. When your pup gets strong enough to destroy toys, it is time to take away the puppy toys and give them only dog toys designed for older , larger dogs or quality rawhides that they can chew that will not cause digestive problems. Stay away from rope toys. Many puppies have managed to ingest strings and ropes requiring surgery to remove them. Puppy-sized bumper If your plan is for your Labrador puppy to become a hunting or competition dog, you should have a puppy sized bumper. Learn more about teaching your puppy to fetch in this post. Barriers I recommend that you section off a small portion of your home and not let your puppy have full run of the entire house. Learn more about housebreaking your Lab puppy in this post. To section off a part, it can be helpful to have some child-gates available or an area of your home that you can close doors. This means that you need to show your puppy where the boundaries are and what is and is not allowed. To do this, you will need a few more tools. This is often when we see dogs that are running away from their owners, playing keep-a-way when retrieving and just basically being naughty. A lot of this could be avoided with the use of a check cord. Yes, a check cord can be cumbersome and often a pain to use, but it only takes one or two times of your puppy running away from you to make it worth it. Put a check cord on your puppy and allow them to drag it around with them. This alone is a great lesson for a dog. Dragging the weight is a type of pressure that they will need to learn to deal with. Occasionally, step on the rope and allow your dog to feel the pressure of being stopped and controlled. These sound like such minor things, but you would be surprised how much more well-adjusted your puppy will be just from learning these minor lessons. Chain or prong collar As your puppy gets stronger, it will get more and more difficult to control your puppy with a lead just hooked up to a nylon collar. As you notice that your puppy is getting harder to control, is pulling you around or dragging you down the street, you need to move to a chain or prong collar. Actually, it would be best if you changed to a chain or prong collar long before this becomes an issue. Remember, it is always easier to fix problems when they are small rather than waiting for them to become huge problems. Larger bumpers for retrieving dogs As your dog gets larger, you will want to move away from the puppy bumper and start using regular sized retrieving bumpers. We prefer to use plastic or rubber bumpers since they do not get as dirty or smelly as the canvas ones. They also last a lot longer and can be used for both water and land retrieves. Learn all about the different bumpers used for training hunting dogs here. Orange is a color that is difficult for retrievers to see, so that color should not be used for young dogs that are just learning about retrieving and hunting. Save the orange ones for advanced dogs working on blind retrieves. Final thoughts on What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? There are many things that you will need for your new puppy both now and in the future. Take some time to prepare before you bring your puppy home so that you will avoid buying things on impulse that you may or may not need. If you are planning on using your puppy as a hunting or competition dog, check out 6 vital tools every gun dog trainer needs. You can email me at ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. Vet bedding fleece on a roll is ideal puppy bedding. You can line both his bed and his car crate with this. Buy several pieces so that you can pop one in the washing machine when it gets dirty or if he has an accident. There are lots of lovely beds you can get to go around the house, but in those first days veterinary bedding is an essential alternative to keep his crate cosy and clean. Puppy Toys For Labradors Puppy toys need to be sturdy. Many puppies destroy soft toys quite quickly though they are so adorable, you may not be able to resist buying one or two. Kongs and rope toys are very tough and seem to survive the onslaught of puppy teeth. A Radio If you intend your puppy to sleep alone in the kitchen from the first night, you may find it helpful to leave a radio next to his crate. Just a simple, cheap Portable Radio with the volume turned down low can serve the same role as some human company. It just helps him feel less along during those first few nights when he may be feeling very homesick. Puppy Harness There is no rush for this, but once your puppy is too heavy to carry, and going out and about on the ground, he needs some kind of safety restraint. These days I usually recommend a harness as they avoid pulling on the puppies neck. The kind where the lead attaches at the front and on the back are ideal. You can find an expert review of the big brands of harnesses, from a professional trainer here. When he is older and has learned to walk next to you, you can buy him a collar. To let your puppy know when he has done something you like. It is a really useful tool to help you teach your puppy to be quiet, and to learn simple skills. It will make training your puppy much quicker, easier and a lot more fun. Getting a recall to whistle established at an early age gets your puppy training off to a great start. I recommend the Acme Dog Whistle. There is plenty of information on the use and choice of dog whistles in this article: Should you buy a dog whistle .It will help to get you off to a great start with your new puppy.