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Rottweiler mixed with Poodle Poodle Poodles come in three size varieties: Standards at the shoulder should be more than 15 inches tall; miniatures should be 15 inches or less; toys should not be more than 10 inches tall. All three types have the same structure and proportions. Origin of the breed is still debated, with a significant controversy whether the puddle comes from Germany as a water dog or from the French Barbet. Ranked second most intelligent dog breed just behind the Border Collie, the poodle is talented in many dog sports and activities, including agility, obedience, herding tracking, circus performers, and support dogs. Poodles took top honours in many shows of conformation. If they are not physically and mentally stimulated, bored poodles can become destructive. But active owners who can meet the needs of the Poodle will find a loving, smart, trainable and loyal companion to the family. The Rottweiler The RottweilerIt is a domestic dog breed, considered to be medium to large or large. In German, the dogs are also called Rottweiler Metzgerhund. It means the dogs of Rottweiler butchers since their primary use was to store livestock and to sell carts laden with butchered food. Now also Rottweilers are used as search and rescue dogs, guard dogs, and police dogs. They have a very intimidating appearance for Rottweilers. They are tall and have an attractive short hair coat. These canines are predominantly black hair in most instances. Brown and white accents, though, are quite popular. These have long floppy ears, big heads, and a wide jaw as well. Such medium-sized dogs are well-built and sturdy with a slightly rounded head, floppy ears, small, oval-shaped eyes, a black nose, and a flat muzzle. The gentle and cheerful breed is known to engage in several activities like protecting, agility and obedience, and is renowned for its diverse talents. Although the breed is often considered to be a guard dog, it originated as a herding breed, bringing cattle to the market. The Rottweiler began to lose popularity when locomotives became the preferred way to move animals. Nevertheless, like police, military, and guard dogs, their protective instincts quickly made them famous again. Features of Rottles Temperament and Personality The Rottle Rottweiler mixed with poodle shows a lot of loyalty and devotion to the members of his family, being very protective of them. This breed requires a lot of outdoor activities with the instincts of a working and hunting dog running in its DNA. The calm, playful and affectionate disposition makes it a perfect companion for both adults and children alike. It displays a cold and cautious nature when encountering strangers, often warning the owners in the presence of the intruder by letting out a bark. Exercise Because the Rottle poodle mixed with Rottweilers is high in energy, enough outdoor activities such as a long walk or running games will be required. Indeed, gaining weight is likely to be quite easy, so adequate physical exercise helps to keep it physically and mentally fit. Grooming Although the Rottweiler mixed with poodle it is a minimum shedder, it is crucial to brush those with a single coat frequently. That is thick and curly like that of a poodle to stop the shed hair from being caught in the curls. Bathe your dog regularly and, from time to time, wash your ears and eyes to prevent infection. Ears will also require regular cleaning to avoid wax accumulation that can lead to a painful disease of the eye. Toenails may need clipping to keep up with their oral health if they overgrow, teeth brushing two or three times a week. Rottle can be groomed appropriately at home or by the family. Health Conditions The Rottweiler Poodle mix aka Rottie poo is a safe breed with no known genetic disorders. It is likely to inherit some of the diseases that their parents have experienced, such as hip dysplasia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, and volvulus gastric dilation. The Rottie Poo has a possible lifetime of 8 to 12 years, but an average of about ten years appears to be close to the middle. Primary health conditions can shorten the lifespan of an individual dog. Although here at Mississippi Rottweilers we try to breed the top German and European bloodlines in the world there is always a slight chance especially if the new owner neglects basic health rules that your puppy could one day get Hip dysplasia. We recommend that you feed your new puppy a balanced healthy puppy food and keep the dog a safe weight. Doing this will help prevent dysplasia in your Rottweiler Occasional tests. Life Span Did You Know? They are also sometimes called a Rottle. Rottie-Poos are intelligent, powerful, and loyal dogs that are devoted to their families and are protective of them. Rottles are also energetic, loving, and playful. Although they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, this mix is recognized by other notable dog organizations. Rottie-Poos make great family companions and tend to have a sweet nature. As long as they have been properly socialized, they are well-mannered and get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Because of their protective nature, they can remain initially wary of strangers. They can also be prone to barking. So, you will want to start to train your dog to stop barking early on to keep it from becoming a nuisance behavior. A Rottle is a moderately adaptable dog breed. They tend to do better in homes with fenced yards where they can run. In some cases, they can adapt to apartment living. But, their large size and exercise needs can make that difficult. They do well in most climates, but are sensitive to the extremes and particularly sensitive to heat. Rottie-Poos also do not like to be left alone for long periods of time as they bond closely with their families and also get bored easily. Are mixed-breed dogs healthier than purebred dogs? They can be at times, but it is definitely not a guarantee. A mixed-breed dog could inherit none of the health conditions common to their parent breeds. At the same time, they could also inherit all of them or any combination of them. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues on to puppies. So, make sure you are asking them about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. As a large, barrel-chested dog breed, the Rottie-Poo, like their parents, are at risk for developing bloat. Bloat in dogs can sometimes just be gas, but it could also end up in gastric torsion where the stomach flips. Rottles are highly trainable dogs. They are intelligent and eager to please, which means they pick up on things quickly. They do require a confident owner who can clearly and consistently communicate boundaries and expectations during training. This can sometimes be a challenge for first-time dog owners, so puppy training classes are recommended. These classes are a good idea anyway because they reinforce training, offer opportunities for socialization, and also strengthen the bond you have with your puppy. They could inherit similar to one of their parents or a combination of both. If they end up with a Rottweiler coat, they will shed a bit year-round, need weekly brushing, and bathed occasionally. Daily brushing is required to remove tangles and prevent mats and grooming is required every weeks. If they end up with a combination coat, you may get some shedding here and there. Depending on the length of their coat and the curl, you may need to brush them every day or you might be able to get away with brushing them a couple of times a week. They may also need grooming every weeks or so. When it comes to dental care for dogs , daily brushing or use of an enzyme toothpaste is ideal for helping to prevent painful dental diseases later in life. Rottie-Poos can range from a moderate to high energy level. This means they require daily walks plus some playtime and extra activity to be happy and healthy. With a working dog background, they also need a job to do. Generally, they will be up for more activity if you are. Also, Rottles are athletic dogs. So, once puppies finish growing and their bones are done developing, you can try a bunch of different activities to see what you and your Rottle like the most. A fully-grown Rottie-Poo usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. A Rottie-Poo generally lives for years. Featured Rottie-Poo Article. Because the Rottweiler parent is big, muscular, and courageous, many people assume that the Rottle is also self-assured, ferocious, aloof, aggressive, and confident. However, the Poodle genes also impart a sweet softness to the Rottle, making it one of the most popular hybrid dog breeds today. Do you want to know more about the Roodle and whether it is a good fit for your household? Then read on, we have all the information you need. What Two Breeds Make a Rottle? The Rottle is a beautiful and wonderful hybrid dog obtained by breeding a Standard or Miniature Poodle with a Rottweiler. Also known as Roodle, Rottiedoodle, or Rottie-Poo, Rottles combine the loyal, affectionate, and calm nature of Rottweilers with the intelligence of a Poodle. Rottweilers date back to the Roman Empire. Today, they are primarily known for their guarding skills but originally, they were bred to be drover dogs to accompany cattle and keep a watch on the livestock. Some experts believe that it is from Germany while others think it might have originated in France. Today, there is little doubt that the breed is one of the smartest and most trainable dog breeds in the world. Origins of The Rotti-Poo No one can pinpoint the exact origins of the Roodle hybrid dog, although, we can safely assume that it is a relatively new designer dog breed. The concept of designer dogs first came into existence during the s. One of the first crossbreeds — a Labradoodle — was developed in the late s and became immensely popular due to its high trainability and hypoallergenic fur. By the mids, people were looking for even more variety in Doodle breeds designer dogs having one Poodle parent. One such mix was the Rottle. Rottles do not have fixed standards as far as their physical attributes are concerned. Naturally, you could have many variations in the breeding programs: crossing a purebred Rottweiler with a purebred Mini or Standard Poodle, crossing a Rottle back to a Poodle, or breeding two Rottles, and so on. As a result, a Rottle puppy could reach a height of anywhere between 10 and 27 inches 25 to .Some Rottiepoos develop the muscular structure of the Rottweiler parent but others might be leaner like the Poodle parent. Just as there are variations in the height and weight of a Rottle, there can be many coat variations in Rottiepoos. Your Roodle puppy could develop a straight and medium-length coat like the Rottweiler parent or a curly, tight, or wavy hypoallergenic coat like the Poodle. Coat colours commonly seen in the Rottle are brown, black, phantom and tan, red, grey, white, and blue. Some Rottiepoos also develop the rust markings seen in Rottweilers known as phantom colouring. For a Roodle to inherit the tan points of the Rottweiler, the poodle parents must also carry to phantom colouring. Is a Rottle Hypoallergenic? Rottles may or may not be hypoallergenic. The best Roodle breeders will DNA test their breeding dogs to determine the coat traits they carry. Through DNA testing it is possible to only breed with poodle parents who carry two furnishing genes, no improper coat or shedding genes. This would make the resulting puppies very low to non-shedding. The chances of getting a hypoallergenic Rottle will increase if a breeder develops puppies by crossing a Rottle back to a Poodle. This is because there will be a larger Poodle gene pool to consider. This is due to the pet dander that causes allergy in the first place. Do Rottles Need Grooming? Every dog needs grooming. If your pet takes after its Poodle parent, it may even need special haircuts every 6 weeks or so and regular combing to prevent matting. Temperament of Rottles Rottles are protective, loyal, sweet, loving, and faithful dogs. They are a bundle of energy, especially when they are young — so do watch out, they tend to be very mischievous! Even if your Roodle is muscular, it should not be aggressive. Sure, you might want your Rottle dog to guard your property, but aggressive behaviour like biting and snarling warrants contacting a dog behaviourist to help train your dog. Well-bred Roodles are generally sweet-natured dogs with exceptional trainability, solid handler focus, and biddable, social temperament. They are perfect for families with slightly older children and anyone who needs a companion guard dog. Therefore, it is very important to buy your Rottle puppy from a reputable breeder. Good breeders will use only dogs with sound temperaments in their breeding programs. You can also ask to meet the dam and sire prior to buying the puppy. That way, you can ensure that the Rottweiler and Poodle parents or Rottle parents in the case of F2 Roodles are of sound and sociable temperaments as well. Rottiepoos need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Without these, your Rottie-Poo could misbehave including displaying destructive tendencies. You can always divide this into two or three shorter walks. Roodles can be good family dogs when they are well trained and socialised with kids from a young age. Standard-size Rottie-poos those from a Standard Poodle parent can be large, strong dogs and could unintentionally knock over small children during play. Are Rottles Good Guard Dogs? Some Rottles inherit the traits of a Rottweiler that make it a good guard dog. A successful guard dog needs to listen well and think fast. It should also be medium to large sized since small Roodles may not seem intimidating to intruders. Ideally, guard Rottles should have a lot of energy. Some dog handlers believe that female Rottles make better guard dogs due to their maternal instincts. Male Rottie-Poos, on the other hand, might be better off watching over the property as it is in their nature to be possessive about their territory. How Much Does a Roodle Cost? Some breeders may even charge more, depending on the efforts they have put into the breeding program. It is very important to know if you can afford a Rottle financially before bringing one home. If you want to save some money, you could consider adopting a Rottle. Contact animal rescue homes to see if they have a Roodle available. What to Feed a Rottle? Feed your Rottle a high-quality dog food containing nutrients that promote musculoskeletal health. This is especially necessary for large-sized Roodles as they are prone to musculoskeletal issues more than smaller dogs. If your Rottle is of a smaller size, then feed it a premium grain-free kibble that is appropriate for its small jaws. Some Roodles are known to have sensitive digestion, in which case, you may want to want to consult with a vet nutritionist about the right dog food to feed. Most dog owners prefer feeding dry dog food or kibble to their dogs. This is because of its convenience and longer shelf life. Wet or canned food is also a good choice owing to its higher moisture content. BARF or raw diet is another good option for Roodles. The raw meaty bone component of raw dog feeding will keep your Rottie-poo stimulated, content and their teeth sparkly clean. However, you must always consult a vet nutritionist before making any drastic dietary changes. Health Issues in Rottles Roodles from the best breeders are generally quite healthy. However, from time to time, health issues like hip and elbow dysplasia are known to crop up in the breed. Dysplasia is a congenital condition and can be prevented through good breeding practices. Larger Roodles could also develop issues like Osteochondritis dissecans OD and heart issues. With proper diet and overall care, Rottles could live for almost years. The Roodle is a fairly rare designer dog breed in Australia. Subscribe for poodle mix breed information and exclusive offers on the best products for your pup! Leave this field empty if you're human: Share this.

Reserve your new puppy now! Experienced Breeders We are a small boxer breeding family from rural Pennsylvania. All of our boxers are house pets who receive attention and love daily. They are vetted regularly and health tested. We do not have kennels or an outdoor facility of any kind. Each and every puppy is raised with our family, in our home. All of our boxers receive daily exercise and training. We begin potty and crate training at 4 weeks of age, so when they go to their forever homes, training has already begun!! Supreme, Respectable Lines We have a wide variety of registrations to suit our needs. We are known for our brand new line of Merle Boxers, as well. With each litter we will clearly state the registration, health and bloodlines. Our dogs are up to date on their vaccinations and our pups will be too! All of our dogs are on a diet of PawTree. We believe a high quality diet is essential for raising healthy dogs and puppies. Click on the link below to get started!! How about an emotional support dog or an athletic dog to run and bike with? A boxer can do it all! They have been used for hunting, tracking, messengers, guarding, pulling, and so much more!! Boxer puppies are best known for being amazing family dogs, super great personalities and very affectionate. They love to cuddle and play and can be gentle, and be protective companions for the whole family. Photo Gallery. Can a boxer be a merle? Can a boxer dog be a merle? Merle is a coat color pattern that results from a dominant gene found in some breeds, such as Australian Shepherds, Collies, and Great Danes. However, Boxers typically have a short and smooth coat that can come in various shades of fawn or brindle, but not merle. A merle also known as dappling pattern is an inherited trait that produces patches of light and dark pigment within the coat. The merle gene can also produce blue eyes or pink noses and paw pads in dogs where those characteristics would typically be dark. Purebred boxer dogs do not have ancestors that have the merle gene, so purebred merle Boxers do not exist. Can you breed a German Boxer Merle? Merle Breeding Merle Boxer breeding is somehow an arguable norm. Breeding was strictly prohibited even though your Merle Boxers are physically fit. On account of increased possibility of health ailments deliberate Merle Boxer breeding was avoided. Can boxer dogs with merle colors be registered with the Kennel Club? Kennel Clubs worldwide do not register merle boxers. Merle boxers are of dubious origin. Are Merle Boxer unhealthy? Marble boxer puppies are born by mating a merle dog with a non-merle dog or from the mating of two merle dogs. Boxer puppies born from two merle parents may be born deaf or with abnormal and possibly nonfunctioning eyes. Heterochromia iridis a difference in color of the iris in the two eyes, or two different colors within one iris has also been associated with merle coloring, and is a disqualification for boxers. Blindness and deafness are most common but many dogs suffer terrible deformities and malfunctions of their whole systems. Our advice to anyone thinking about investing in a rare colored Boxer is to be concerned mainly with the health of the dog rather than the shade and to think about the standing and integrity of the breeder. Average Boxer life expectancy is an average of about 12 years. You can reasonably expect a merle Boxer to also experience a similar range of years, unless it is a double merle, which means that its lifespan will likely be cut in half. Does the merle color appear naturally in the German boxer breed? The question of whether or not merle boxers appear naturally rather than as the result of the introduction of specific genes from other dog breeds that carry the merle markers is one that is the cause of some argument; many merle boxer breeders will argue strongly that the color can and does occur naturally within their breed lines. Whilst genetic mutations such as those that lead to new or unusual colours and other traits can and do occur naturally in purebred breed lines of dogs of all sorts, this is very rare. Even if this has theoretically happened at some point in the past within German boxers and resulted in a merle being born and there is no evidence to suggest that it has this type of spontaneous genetic mutation does not occur often enough to result in the natural development of merle strains within the wider German boxer breed in significant numbers. The Kennel Club and formal German boxer breed organizations that prioritise breeding for health and breed improvement state that merle is not a naturally occurring colour within the breed, and that it cannot be present in true dogs of the breed without being introduced to the bloodline by means of outcrossing. Merle German boxers are produced as a result of selective breeding to achieve this uncommon color, and the merle color is not one that is considered to be a naturally occurring phenomenon within the breed. Merle color is a brindle color in a boxer dog? Does merle look like brindle on Boxers? No, the Merle color is not a brindle color in Boxer dogs. Merle is a distinct coat pattern and coloration found in various breeds, but it is not a recognized or standard color in Boxers. Merle is a coat pattern characterized by a patchwork or marbled effect with lighter and darker spots or patches. Brindle is a coat pattern characterized by streaks or stripes of dark color usually black or dark brown on a lighter background. In Boxers, brindle is a recognized and common color. It creates a unique and attractive appearance, with a base color of fawn and dark stripes overlaying it. Merle is not the same as brindle. A merle boxer is a dog who looks like a boxer, acts like a boxer, but has a cacophony of colors on its coat. We believe the boxers are simply amazing. Related posts:. Life Span Did You Know? The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. The modern Boxer breed we know and love today was originally developed in Germany in the late s. English-bred Bulldogs and the Bullenbesiier were crossed to create an energetic and agile hunting dog to chase wild game. The Boxer is a popular family companion and a versatile working dog. As a member of the Working Group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a happy, friendly disposition. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. As long as they are well-socialized, Boxers are generally upbeat, playful, and friendly. Although they have a natural instinct to protect their family from unwanted visitors, they do tend to warm up once introduced and are happy to make a new friend. They can be prone to barking a lot if you do not work on socialization and training your dog to stop barking early on. Boxers can be highly adaptable dogs. Although they have a lot of energy and are better suited to homes with yards where they can run, they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get the daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they need. As with any non-arctic dog breed, they are sensitive to very cold temperatures. Boxers are also a brachycephalic breed, which means they are even more sensitive to heat than other dogs. A Boxer is also one of the most affectionate dog breeds. Because they bond so closely with their families and get bored easily, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Boxer include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, thyroid issues , and heart conditions like aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Good breeding practices make a big difference and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and about any health tests that have been done. Boxers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Despite their energetic personality, they are one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to excel at almost any task put before them! Because of their open, friendly nature and high energy, they have a tendency to jump up at people in excitement and playfulness. Since they grow into powerful dogs, you will want to make sure you train your dog not to jump up. Boxers have smooth and short coats that will shed a little year-round and require minimal grooming. A brush-down once or twice a week and the occasional bath as needed will keep their short coat healthy and looking great. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Checking ears weekly and carefully cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Checking and wiping their facial wrinkles weekly or a few times a week if your dog is prone to getting into things can help keep their wrinkles clean and free of irritation. Dental diseases, like gum disease, are the most common health issues in older dogs because dental care is often overlooked; and, it can lead to other serious health issues. Brushing daily, plus cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Due to their high prey drive and urge to chase, they should only be let off-leash in secure areas. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition, are excellent problem solvers, and are naturally exuberant. A fully-grown Boxer usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Boxers generally live years on average. In Germany, the Boxer was one of the first dog breeds chosen for police training. Featured Boxer Article.

We love all of our fur family of animals as our own. Each one is a precious life who we raised for the joy of contribution as "YOUR" lifetime family member for you and yours. Here at our unique ranch, we breed Top Show Quality English Style Labradors, American Quarter Horses, Arabian Horses and a menagerie of fairytale like small animals in a certified wildlife habitat and preserve, with 47 years of agriculture and breeding experience. Our life and our home is dedicated to these beings and making life long lasting friends with our community. We don't own our animals, Our animals own us! Our dogs are part of our family, No mass production. They get the best quality feed and natural nursing. They are gently held and cared for as infant babies would be. They are loved and socialized with people and other animals. We will provide you with our recommendations from many years experience. Reserve your labrador puppy with select look, color, gender, temperament and perfect match! A Furever Friend Our lab puppies have been adopted as high quality pets, as contribution for other breeding programs, for service and therapy, for agility, hunting and great companionship! They love to cuddle for a good movie snuggled on the couch and play during the day. They care, they have feelings and they know what you require from them. What would it be like to have one of these puppies? We like yogurt!!! Around the clock for the first 8 weeks of their lives, we assure they are properly eating, exercising, give them lots of love, kisses and begin socialization. Introducing them to unusual sounds, activities, animals, toys, obstacles, etc. At 8 weeks, they are ready to be adopted and go home with their forever families! The fun begins! Or do you prefer black lab puppies? We evaluate our english lab puppies which are best for show, breeding, pet, service and therapy. Investing in a healthy breed quality Labrador puppy ensures a long life of optimal health enjoying every moment of your time together. He's our sweet stocky beautiful block head boy and is available at STUD. Proven as an ultimate producer of show english lab puppies. Breeding for the betterment of the breed is our primary focus. Outstanding Pedigree Rain Forest. Published on Copy link Are you looking for a furry best friend to take home? With their sweet demeanor and energetic personality, chocolate Labradors are perfect companions for any pet parent. Your puppy will go home with AKC registration papers, three generation pedigree, microchip, first puppy shot series, deworming, veterinary health certificate and written and signed guarantees. Erica and Carrie were wonderful to work with and super knowledgeable about their dogs. I highly suggest. You can find their available puppies here. You can find their upcoming litters, here. All of their breeding dogs are free of hip and elbow dysplasia and their eyes are certified through CERF. For more information and to get in touch, you can visit their website here or email jubett bellsouth. Mythic Labradors have been wonderful from the exceptional breeding process to answering questions throughout the puppy phase and to adulthood dietary needs. I love the honest commitment to the breed and the client. Riley is exceptional because of great breeding, training and love. And it all started with great breeding. They are dedicated to breeding for temperament, health and confirmation. Here is their list of available puppies. Before leaving, all puppies will have a veterinarian health certificate, AKC registration, their first shots and will have been wormed four times. All I can say is Buddy was definitely worth the wait. You can find their upcoming litters here. Since Welcome to Tru-Heart Labradors! Tru-Heart Labradors is an established professional dog breeder situated between Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida, that proudly produces the finest dual-purpose chocolate, yellow, and black Labrador Retriever puppies currently available in Florida. Our puppies are sold on a limited-registration basis to pet homes only, and we take pride in the fastidious, loving, and stimulating environment in which they are raised. Because we want every Tru-Heart puppy to find the best possible forever home, we ask that you submit an application before we discuss pricing or accept a deposit from you for one of our outstanding puppies. We do not inbreed. How do wild animal populations manage to remain healthy for thousands of generations without DNA testing? They don't lose important genes from the gene pool. In the wild, animals occasionally move from herd to herd, or flock to flock, which helps to restore genetic diversity to the population. If a particular group becomes isolated, and new individuals are prevented from entering the population, the gene pool is effectively closed. Breeders of other domestic animals understand this. Dogs are no different, and we put this truth into practice. By adhering to our scientifically-proven breeding philosophy, we ensure Tru-Heart puppies are born with sound temperaments, aesthetically-pleasing conformation, good bone, and genetic health and vigor. Please watch the following video on this subject from the Embark Canine Health Summit:. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. They are loyal, outgoing, friendly, and active. Affectionate and good with other dogs and children, they make wonderful additions to your family. There are plenty of reputable breeders in the Sunshine State to choose from. All the breeders mentioned in this list make sure the puppies are well cared for, including receiving all vaccinations, being thoroughly vet examined, and adhering to the Labrador Retriever Official Standard set by the American Kennel Club AKC. The 10 Labrador Retriever Breeders in Florida 1. No Lab has ever been returned for health or temperament issues, and each pup is raised in a home with 5 acres of land, plenty of love, attention, and care. All puppies are dewormed and thoroughly examined by a veterinarian. They also do not remove dewclaws. To get started, fill out the form under the contact link on the website. They focus on breeding pups of superior temperament and health. All puppies are vaccinated, microchipped, AKC registered, and come with a health certificate. They also offer a 1-year health guarantee. The bloodlines have a history of service dogs , companion, show, and hunting dogs. The pups are sold with limited AKC registration. The breeder socializes the pups, and they are raised in a loving environment. They are more focused on breeding for their own breeding stock and show lines but occasionally have pups available. They serve Florida, Georgia, and surrounding states. All puppies are AKC-registered and bred for companionship, show, field, and service work. All pups are examined and tested for top-quality breed assurance. They are happy to assist you with any questions; all you have to do is shoot them an email. Augustine and Jacksonville, Florida, this small hobby breeder raises AKC-limited-registered pups in the home. All puppies are bred according to the Labrador standard health and temperament and are ready to go home at 8 weeks. All parents are genetically tested for any joint issues and any signs of inbreeding. The British Labrador is primarily a sporting and hunting breed that holds the Labrador Retriever standard temperament. Their facility sits on 7, acres of land filled with wildlife and designed by nature experts, creating the perfect hunting-training scenario. They handpick from the finest British Labs in the world to produce the best hunting and sporting Labs. The puppies are sold with an AKC limited registration and are microchipped. You can take your new puppy home at 8 weeks, and the breeders raise them with love and plenty of attention. A unique fact about this breeder is they use an early socializing technique called early neurological stimulation , which improves cardiovascular health and other physical benefits. Duke is a perfect fit in our family. He loves our small children. He is medium in size. He is just like his momma Lacey.I highly recommend Penny Lane Labradors! Jennifer Sample: Duke I constantly get comments not just on how handsome he is but his temperament. My husband has had labs his entire life and I have owned one other lab with him for 10 years. Bosun is hands-down the best dog we've ever had. Thank you for breeding such great animals. He is a gem! She is adjusting well! Thank you for taking care of her for 8 weeks :! Charlotte Kountz: Dannie Thank you for our puppy muffin Juno. She is so sweet. She is definitely getting spoiled. She is a good little girl. We just adore her! Deanna Morrey: Delilah Lexi has the most adorable smile and is a little cuddle bug! Rachel Roberts: Lexi We named our little ball of joy Maisie. Thank you for such a wonderful pup! We love her so much!! He loves to swim at the beach and go on walks. Laura Watson: Sully Brady on his 11 wk birthday. He is very good - after the first night he has slept thru all of the nights. He is the perfect puppy!! Loves to get into the refrigerator- never seen anything like it! Took her to the beach first time Yesterday- she absolutely loves all the other dogs and people she meets, and they love her. She sleeps thru the night now in her kennel next to our bed. Thanks for raising such a fine puppy- she has stolen our hearts and filled our lives with joy! She is adjusting fine. She slept free in her own bed in our room till about then went straight back to sleep. Erika Foster: Olive.

Since a mix can take on any combination of traits from their parents, you want to make sure you ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix. Should an English Bulldog Mix take after their Bulldog parent, they will be sweet-natured, affectionate, and playful dogs that love being with their families. English Bulldogs are companion breeds that are known for being sweethearts. As long as they are socialized properly, they tend to be excellent with children, other dogs, and other pets. Although watchful, they are even agreeable to strangers once they have been introduced. If the other parent breed has a similar temperament, then you should be able to expect the same from an English Bulldog Mix. You still want to talk to the breeder about the other parent as they are likely to introduce their own quirks. Meeting the mother in person can give you an idea of her temperament and the behavior she is modeling for her puppies. Although the breeder should have started some training and socialization, it is your responsibility to continue training and socializing a puppy once you get them home to ensure they grow into a well-rounded, well-behaved dog. Although English Bulldogs adapt to most living situations, they are sensitive to hot and cold, and are particularly sensitive to heat. They also do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. This makes them a moderately adaptable dog breed. The other parent breed could introduce some traits that affect adaptability so you do want to ask the breeder about them. A mix could inherit conditions common to neither of their parent breeds, one of them, or even both of them. From the English Bulldog, potential health concerns to be aware of in an English Bulldog Mix include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Entropion, and Cherry Eye. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to prevent passing issues to puppies, so make sure you are asking about the health history of both of the parents. Although English Bulldogs can be stubborn, they are generally eager to please and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to be a good fit for owners of all experience levels and respond well to consistent training that is focused on positive reward and praise. If the other parent breed is also highly trainable, then you should be able to expect the same from an English Bulldog Mix. The other parent breed could also introduce the potential for an English Bulldog Mix that is more difficult to train. Mixed-breed dogs can inherit a coat that is a carbon copy of one of their parents or they can end up with a coat that is truly a mix of both. Should an English Bulldog Mix end up with a Bulldog coat, they will shed moderately year-round, require brushing a couple of times a week, and the occasional bath. If they have face wrinkles, you will need to make sure they are clean and dry regularly to prevent skin irritation. Cutting nails once or twice a month keeps them from growing too long. Ear checks on a weekly basis with careful ear cleanings as needed helps prevent ear infections. Daily brushing or use of an enzyme toothpaste is ideal dental care for dogs and can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life. English Bulldogs tend to be lower-energy breeds that only require daily walks and some playtime to be happy. But, they will be energetic when they play and might be up for more activity if you are. The other parent breed can affect this. If they are a low-energy breed, then you can expect an English Bulldog Mix to be the same. If the other parent breed requires more daily activity, then you will need to be prepared for that potential range in an English Bulldog Mix puppy. Because they may still be a brachycephalic dog breed, they can overheat, so you want to be careful of overexertion. There are many safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs to help your English Bulldog Mix get the exercise they need. Fully-grown English Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. An English Bulldog generally lives for years. Although the other parent breed could affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar life span in an English Bulldog Mix. Featured English Bulldog Mix Article. Bulladors tend to be friendly, loving, and playful dogs that make great family pets. Although they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by other notable dog organizations. Bulladors tend to be affectionate and loving dogs with a gentle, sweet nature and an energetic, playful personality. They tend to get along fantastically with children as well as other dogs and other pets. They can have a prey drive. So, you will want to socialize them with smaller pets in the household. Although they are open and friendly, they will usually bark to alert you of people or animals nearby. They can be protective, but are generally more interested in making friends. The Bullador is a moderately adaptable dog breed. They do best in homes with fenced yards where they can run. However, if you dedicate the time to giving them the exercise and mental stimulation they need, they can adapt to apartment living. They tend to do well in most climates. As with any dog breed, they are sensitive to heat. If they have more of a flat face like their English Bulldog parent, they will be very sensitive to heat and may have difficulty breathing in cold weather. They are devoted to their families, so they do not like to be left alone for long. Because of their prey drive, they can have an urge to chase. As such, you should only let them off-leash in securely fenced areas. Even if they are trained off-leash, they may decide to ignore your recall commands if they get excited and caught up in chasing something. Potential health conditions to be aware of in the Bullador include skin issues, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing issues on to puppies. So, make sure you ask the breeder about the genetic and health history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests that have been done. If a Bullador inherits the snub-nosed face of the English Bulldog, they can have difficulty breathing and will be extra sensitive to heat. Bulladors are also one of the breeds at risk for bloat. Bloat in dogs can become serious very quickly and can be fatal if the stomach flips gastric torsion. Although a Bullador can pick up on things quickly and can be easy to train, they also tend to be stubborn at times. This can be a challenge for first-time dog owners to handle alone. But, puppy training classes can help. Not only do they reinforce training and strengthen the bond you have with your puppy, but they also often offer opportunities to socialize a puppy. The Bullador has a short coat that will shed moderately year-round. Brushing this coat weekly or a few times a week is usually enough to keep your Bullador comfortable and their coat healthy. Bathing is occasional and on an as-needed basis. When you are checking them, ears should be clean, dry, and free of debris. Because dental care for dogs is often overlooked, gum disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. Brushing teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day is ideal for helping to prevent painful dental diseases later in life. Regular checkups and cleanings at your vet are an essential supplement to your efforts. The Bullador can range from a moderate to high energy level. They generally require a lot of activity to be happy. Daily walks plus some playtime and extra activity are usually enough for this dog. However, they will likely be up for more activity as long as you are. They tend to be athletic dogs, so once Bullador puppies finish growing and developing, you can try a bunch of different activities with them. Hiking, swimming, playing frisbee, and more can all be great activities for a Bullador. They will likely also love taking trips to the dog park. A fully-grown Bullador usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. Bulladors generally live for years. Bullador Puppies for Sale Thanks for visiting our Bullador page! Currently, we do not have any Bullador puppies available, but we can alert you when new Bullador puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address! Related Breeds.

History Where are German Shepherd Dogs from? Perhaps never in the history of any breed has such concerted effort been put into improving a dog, mostly due to the formation in of the Verein fur Deutsche Scharferhunde SV, an organization in Germany devoted to overseeing the breeding of the German Shepherd. Breeders sought to develop not only a herding dog but also one that could excel at jobs requiring courage, athleticism, and intelligence. During World War I, they were the obvious choice for a war sentry. The Wolfdog was later dropped as it caused many people to fear the dogs. How big do German Shepherd Dogs get? The double-coat, with a thick undercoat that sheds twice annually, loses hair continuously but can be maintained with regular brushing one or two times weekly. What are the German Shepherd Dog colors? Black, tan, solid black and solid sable. How long do German Shepherd Dogs live? Lifespan: 10—12 years What are some German Shepherd Dogs facts and information? The German Shepherd held the number one spot in American popularity for many years. Although presently it has dropped from the top spot, the German Shepherd remains as one of the most versatile dogs ever created, serving as a police dog, war dog, guide dog, search-and-rescue dog, narcotics- or explosives-detecting dog, show dog, pet—and even shepherd. Related Content. Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article.

This training process needs to be carried out properly for the safety of you, your dog, and anyone they come into contact with. Always check your town or state rules regarding attack dogs. Many regions ban such dogs. If your dog is caught engaging in a physical attack, you and your German Shepherd can be punished. You also need to be careful about how you train your German Shepherd. They should never attack someone unprovoked and should only ever be trained to do a minimal amount of damage. Failing to get this right can cause lawsuits, criminal charges, and other issues. This dog is a pet and should be treated as such. It is simply a bonus that they can protect you in the event of an assault or crime. It is unwise to teach your dog attack commands if you have children in the house. Children tend to unintentionally antagonize dogs. Serious injuries and fatalities are far more common with little children. What is the Function of an Attack Dog? Many people are unclear about the function of an attack dog. This is because the role has been twisted in the media. The first thing to be aware of is that attack dogs should never be aggressive. The main objective is to get that person to back down and eventually go away. Their function is to appear aggressive and to prove they are capable of being a physical threat. They simply need to be following a command. There is also the increased risk that your dog will go too far during an attack and do serious harm to someone else. Not every German Shepherd is a good choice to be trained for this role. There is some discrepancy in every breed and even within a litter. Proper training can help your dog to gain the appropriate skills, but temperament matters a great deal as well. As previously stated, you should teach an aggressive German Shepherd to attack. They may not be equipped to reign in their emotions during a pivotal moment and may fail to obey your commands. On the contrary, a shy German Shepherd will not be suitable for this role either. Socialization can help a wary dog to come out of its shell, but there is no guarantee. You will also have to cross further obstacles by teaching them the necessary attack skills. When specifically looking for a dog to train to attack, keep an eye out for a dog that is calm, approachable, friendly, and intelligent. These are signs that your dog will be easy to bond with and ensure they are trainable. These are important traits for a guard dog. Here are the top things you need to take into consideration before teaching your dog any attack commands: Why is Bonding a Fundamental Step? German Shepherds have a naturally protective streak, but this is only activated with people they care about and trust. This is why your first step in attack training is to create a good relationship with your German Shepherd. You have to begin to make a connection with your dog from the moment you bring them home. It can take weeks or even months for this bond to create and solidify. How can you bond with your dog? It is easy to bond with your dog — German Shepherds are people-centric and love spending time with people. The first thing to do is to make sure their basic needs are being taken care of. This includes food, water , exercise, and attention. The more time you spend, the closer you will become. Fun activities such as fetch will certainly help to cement this relationship. Positive reinforcement should also be the driving force in your interactions with your German Shepherd. Your dog values it a great deal and will take your reactions to heart. Raising your voice or showing any signs of anger or aggression can cause them to be wary of you. This is why your focus should be on rewarding positive behavior. Avoid using punishment and instead, find gentler ways of letting your dog know they have done something wrong. What is the Importance of Socializing Your Dog? Many individuals assume that a guard or attack dog should be wary of all people. A good guard dog needs to be properly socialized starting at a young age. The last thing you need is for your German Shepherd to consider everyone a threat. This can make it difficult for you to go on walks and will also increase the chances of your dog accidentally attacking an innocent person. From the moment your puppy is brought home, they should be introduced to people of all shapes and sizes, wearing all types of clothes. Once your pup has been fully vaccinated, it can begin to meet other dogs and animals. Attack commands are one of the last things you should teach your dog. To become a competent guard dog, your German Shepherd must first be obedient. It is easy enough to teach your dog to attack. Getting them to stop in the middle of an altercation can be an entirely different matter. You need your dog to be obedient enough to cease the attack the moment you say so. This is why your dog should first undergo extensive obedience training. This is something you can tackle by yourself or hand over to a professional dog trainer. You should start on obedience from the moment you bring your puppy home. This can be about anything — stop while walking, stop before eating food, stop jumping on people, etc. The earlier your puppy recognizes this command, the easier it will be for them to follow. This means you will need to equip yourself with the appropriate gear. Particularly when you begin, your dog may have little control over its bite or attack. You will only be able to teach them about depth and ferocity later on. To avoid getting hurt, you will need to cover important and exposed areas. Professional attack safety gear will have the appropriate level of padding to prevent injury. You will also be able to find attire that can protect every part of your body. Here are the steps to follow for German Shepherd attack training: Step 1: Create Simple Commands Whether attacking or stopping, you need to get your German Shepherd to react to these commands immediately. Choosing simple commands will make it easier for your dog to understand you and respond accordingly. It will also make it less likely for your dog to mistake one command for another. Figure out what works best for you and stick to it. Your dog will require clear and consistent commands or will end up confused. Step 2: Wear the Protective Gear You need to wear protective gear from the first lesson onwards. See also The Noble Life of German Shepherd Service Dogs For the first few lessons, make sure that your entire arm is covered and even most of your torso. Once you teach your dog to only attack certain parts of the body, you can wear less protection. In the beginning, safety is key. Do this long enough and this should antagonize your dog, causing them to bite you on the arm. Praise them for their response with treats or affection. They should receive a reward every time they bite you. Step 4: Test the Attack Command Once you have carried out the above scenario many times for a few days, it is time to see if the command has sunk in. Put on your protective gear. Get your German Shepherd to sit down and stand a short distance away. Your dog should respond by running towards you and biting you on the arm. If you elicit such a response, it means that the first part of your training was a success. Reward your dog for their behavior. You will have to reinforce this reaction so carry out this exercise several more times over the next few days. Some dogs can take longer to pick up on the appropriate response. This can be a mannequin, cardboard cutout, etc. It should roughly be the right shape and size of a human adult. It may take a while for your dog to realize that it should attack the dummy and not you. Until your dog gets this right, make sure to wear your protective gear. Set up the dummy a short distance away from your dog. Get them to sit still while you are setting the dummy up. Point to the dummy again before shouting the command. When your dog gets this right, reward him or her. In case your dog keeps making a beeline for you when you ask it to attack, try standing next to the dummy. This can make it easier for your pup to make the association. Only once your dog has mastered this task should you move on to the next step. While some dogs pick up on training well, they can freeze or be hesitant when faced with an actual threat. This is why they need to learn this skill in a real-world scenario. The volunteer should be comfortable with being attacked. Keep in mind that if the volunteer panics and fights back, this may trigger a more aggressive attack from your dog. It can be better for all parties involved if you hire someone who is experienced in training guard dogs and is used to facing attacks from dogs. Make sure they are wearing the appropriate protective gear. Have this person stand at the door. They should have one hand on the handle and be ready to close the door against your dog if anything goes wrong. In some cases, you may want to have your dog on a leash for this training exercise. Try this a few times with the leash and if your dog appears to be in control, then you can carry it out without the leash. As mentioned earlier, the goal of the attack command is to startle the perpetrator. This is why they must stop their attack the moment you command them to. Your dog should stop and wait for the next command when you do. In case your dog goes ahead and attacks, you will need to repeat this exercise until it stops when you command it to. Reward your dog when he does obey you. It is important to avoid getting angry or upset with your dog during this training period. This will only cause them to retreat or to be afraid of trying a particular task again. Always stick with positive reinforcement and reward your dog for the right behavior. You know your dog best and what motivates them — use this during training. Some dogs respond well to cuddles and affection while others prefer treats. Not every dog will master these commands immediately. Keep in mind, you are asking your dog to go against its nature and attack you. This can be unnerving for them. This is why you should always be patient with your dog — avoid getting frustrated. Take your time and work through the task with them slowly and carefully. If your dog appears hesitant, reward even the smallest sign of appropriate behavior. This may allow them to build up the courage they need to take the next step. What is the Significance of Consistency? It is important to be consistent in your training. Follow the same steps over and over. Only try to change things up if a particular technique is not working. Constantly altering things will only confuse your pup and make them unsure of what they are supposed to respond to. Always use the same commands, same positions, and rewards as well. This will allow your dog to make clearer connections. Your dog can forget their attack training over time. This is particularly likely if your dog has no cause to use their training in real-life situations. To make sure that these connections remain strong, follow up with the training. You can do this every month or at an interval that you feel is appropriate. Some dogs have better retention than others. Should You Get Professional Assistance? Attack training can feel overwhelming and even dangerous. This is why you may want to consider hiring a professional for this particular task. They have a lot of experience in this field and have the necessary skills and protective gear. This drastically reduces the risk of you getting hurt. The main advantage of a professional is that you can guarantee that your dog learns the right skills and how to use them appropriately. This means there is less of a chance that they end up aggressive or accidentally attack someone. They can walk you through the process, show you what to expect, and even offer helpful tips and techniques. This is what you need to know about training a German Shepherd to attack. You can now begin to safely and carefully train your German Shepherd to protect you if you are ever assaulted or threatened. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. They are, by nature, attack dogs and often used by law enforcement for this reason. It will keep both you and your dog safe. Bond with Your Dog Before training your dog to listen to any commands, you must first develop a relationship with them. There needs to be trust and mutual respect and friendship between you and your German Shepherd. Step 2. Preparation Ensure you prepare for attack training by equipping yourself with the necessary gear. Ideally, you should get a bite sleeve, which will protect you from being bitten during training. Start with the Basics Start by training your German Shepherd with basic commands such as stop, sit, stand, etc. The best process is to put on your gloves and tap on the face and nose of your dog. This action will cause annoyance, and eventually, they will respond by biting the gloves. Reward the Action As with basic training, reward your dog each time they obey the command. You can then move on to stepping away from your dog and using the command. Your German Shepherd should come and attack your gloves. Make sure to give them a treat when they do so. Practice with A Doll Now that your dog is familiar with the command, you will need to get them to attack an object other than your gloves. The best place to start is with a doll. Point towards the toy so your dog will understand the action you are trying to get them to perform. It may take some time as your dog will likely be confused and may even attack your arm instead, as was practiced before. Keep at it until they attack the doll and make sure to give them treats when they act correctly. Try places it in different locations each time. Train Them to Attack a Person The hardest part of the training is to transition your dog from attacking a doll to attacking a person. It may be daunting to ask a friend to volunteer for this, and you can always acquire assistance from a dog trainer. They will understand how to react if anything goes wrong during the training. Either way, ensure the other person is wearing protective gear to protect them from the attack. When choosing a protective suit, make sure it is good quality, with durable materials, and that it has excellent reviews. Its French Linen composition is proven to protect against all bites and cover each part of the body for enhanced safety. It includes Velcro straps on the waist and leather hand protectors as well. They should already know this command from basic training. If they do follow instructions, make sure to reward them with a treat. Repetition is key. Keep repeating it over and over until the dog responds immediately to your commands. The goal here is to maintain control over your German Shepherd. Any dog can attack, but the important part is for the dog to obey you and stop attacking when you command it to. Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful and useful as you raise and train your German Shepherd. Here are some of my favorite reviews for German Shepherd supplies that I personally use and recommend. Here is my recommendation for the best dog food for German Shepherds. Leash: A leash is a must-have for any German Shepherd owner. With a good leash, you can give your dog the freedom they need while keeping them safe and under control. Here are my top picks for the best leashes for German Shepherds. A harness that is improperly fitted or used can cause serious injury to your dog. Read my review of the best harnesses for German Shepherds here. Different bowls serve different purposes, and the bowl that you need will depend on a number of factors. See my recommendation for the best dog bowl for German Shepherds here. There are a ton of different factors to consider when choosing a crate. Beds: German Shepherds need a bed that is comfortable, supportive, and durable. This breed is known for being high energy, so you need a bed that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. House: It can be tough to find the best dog house for German Shepherds. Shampoo: You want to find a shampoo that is specifically designed for German Shepherds. This breed has a lot of furs, and you need a shampoo that will be gentle on their skin and coat. Shock Collar: A shock collar is a training tool that can be used on German Shepherds. It delivers an electric shock to the dog when they exhibit certain behaviors. While some people are against the use of shock collars, I believe that they can be helpful in certain situations. Read my review of the best shock collar for German Shepherds here. Vacuum: If you have a German Shepherd, you need a vacuum that is specifically designed to deal with all of the furs they shed. Shedding is a natural process for dogs, but it can be hard to keep up with. The right vacuum will make your life much easier. Related posts:. German Shepherds will usually take to being a guard dog naturally. It's important to train them to be obedient. Learn how here. Many dogs are natural watch dogs; their bark is sufficient to alert their owner to something unusual, and the alarm they set up is a deterrent. In addition, dogs who will fight if their owner is genuinely attacked do not have to be made aggressive to do so. Training a dog specifically to be a guard dog is hazardous and potentially creates a liability for you. Misguided attempts to make a dog aggressive through abuse will only backfire because the dog will not be loyal to someone who treats them harshly, and if the dog wrongly bites someone you will be at fault. Never train dogs who are basically fearful or out of control. Such dogs may not respond appropriately in non-threatening situations. A German shepherd dog should not be selected to receive training as a guard dog unless the dog is basically friendly, stable and clear-headed, and has been well-socialized. Dogs should acquire a clear understanding of what is normal and what is not, so that they are not fearful and they know when there is a genuine threat. To socialize puppies, take them places with you, and allow them to meet and interact with as many other people and animals as possible, always taking care to keep your puppy safe from negative experiences. Dogs of any breed are prone to be shy and fearful in strange or new environments if they haven't been well socialized, and this can create a dog who bites from fear or who runs when confronted with anything unusual. STEP 2 Enroll your German shepherd dog puppy in an obedience class as soon as possible, and train your dog thoroughly in basic obedience. It is essential that your German shepherd dog is obedient at all times, but if you want to undertake guard dog training, the need for control becomes imperative. Even though the purpose behind the training is serious, dogs should enjoy obedience work and look on it as fun. Positive reinforcement, the practice of rewarding dogs when they perform correctly rather than punishing them for mistakes, serves multiple purposes by teaching dogs obedience, bonding them with their owners and letting them have fun. It also fulfills their need to work. Begin by teaching your dog to "Speak" on command, and give a treat and much praise for barking. This training eventually gives you control over the dog's bark. Have your dog sit while barking. German shepherd dogs are intelligent and will normally learn quickly. You can develop this trait by making a show of going to see why the dog is barking, offering praise, then giving the "Quiet" or "Enough" command. React positively when your German shepherd dog alerts you to unfamiliar people or objects at home, but do not allow this behavior to develop away from home. Your dog should be unconcerned about neutral or friendly strangers you meet when you are out walking. When your German shepherd dog barks, the intruder should look at the dog and then flee while you hold and praise your dog. Do not allow your pet to chase the fleeing stranger. Praise your dog highly for letting you know someone was in your territory, and stop the barking as soon as the person flees. This strengthens the dog's confidence. STEP 6 Walk your German shepherd dog on a leash around the perimeter of your property regularly to identify your territorial boundaries. Do not allow your dog to bark at people who are outside your property. Do not allow your dog to chase people under any circumstances. These dogs are tested for sound temperament and must learn to perform at a high level in tracking and obedience as well as protection work. Find a reputable club that is a member of a national or international schutzhund organization. Before joining, spend some time learning about their organization, talking to members, and watching training sessions to determine whether you have the commitment needed to seriously engage in this demanding dog sport. The most important aspect of guard dog training is control, which asserts your role as leader and normally comes from time you spend with your dog in enjoyable activities, including obedience training. A dog who is out of control and tries to be dominant can cause serious injuries and is far more of a liability than an asset. Never try to train your dog to bite or attack people. Doing so may be illegal in some states, and you place yourself at risk because you will be liable for injuries that result from an attack. Because German Shepherd puppy care is just as important as drive development. After the nervous system is set in 21 days there are several weeks where the puppies become slightly independent of their mother. If a puppy is separated from the rest of the litter for up to 24 hours it can have long-lasting effects such as insecurity, reactivity, and separation anxiety. When the shepherd pup is 7 weeks he can begin positive reinforcement and even gentle use of a training collar. The Starmark training collar is an excellent choice. This is also the time the pup can go to his new pet parent. Most people have at least heard of the fear imprint stage of 8 weeks or critical period. But thinking generally, the more sensitive puppy bonding age overall ends at 12 weeks. So if you were looking for signs your dog imprinted on you, just make sure you spent meaningful time with him at this early age. When you think of German shepherds protecting their owners either in class or in videos, consider who is making the decisions, The dog or his owner? A dog protecting his owner can have mixed emotions. And he would perceive it that way because he depends completely on the owner. But in general, he should know his place as a dog. However, look at the body language when you give your dog affection. Generally, the ears should be back and the tail doing somewhat of a lower wag. Another example would be not allowing your dog to bring you a toy. In this case, the dog is initiating interaction. Apart from bones, chew, or small dog toys, interactive toys like tug of war dog ropes should be put away and presented by the owner for play. After the exercise, the tug toy should be put up. Other things you should initiate are outdoor access, where the dog sleeps when it is time to eat, and what direction he goes on the leash. German Shepherd Puppy Obedience Training If you are planning as little training as possible to protect your family, at least consider a strong recall and technical leash handling. That said, here I listed the following obedience commands for reliable German Shepherd defense training. Understand How to teach a dog to Come without treats. You should begin with some food reward but then move up to a prong collar for dogs. Herm Sprenger size 3. And they can already begin with that same size at a few months old. Eventually, you will need your dog off-leash training. Your dog will jump the gun but to be able to turn around instantly and come back to you is important. Learn How to teach a dog to heel. And not because your Shepherd needs to look pretty on a field. But because your shepherd needs to have a point of reference. He needs to stay behind your left ankle so he knows where you are, not next to you as in competitive sports. A couple more benefits to having your dog parallel with you — He will naturally be in more of a defense mode being closer to you, and facing the same direction as he will be able to see the threat. Know-How to teach a dog to sit. This will help the dog be stationary. An example scenario for this would be a very protective shepherd sitting 6 feet behind you. Another scenario would be if your dog likes to bite, put him into a sit to build self-control then release him for the bite. The bite itself is the biggest reward for many protection dogs that enjoy it. The last tip I will give for this command is to have your dog sit from the bite itself. Many dogs do not have a good release command but would sit and let go of someone or a bite suit. Understand How to teach a dog to leave it. It is a great way for a dog to disengage with something while not having to call him back to you. For example, maybe your dog hypothetically went for the wrong guy when there was a guy closer to you he should have gone for. Learn How to teach your dog to drop it. Your dog should not be confused between disengaging with something leave it and letting go of something he already has possession of out. As I mentioned earlier, start his commands gently as early as 7 weeks, and take your time! Do not rush this, lest you sacrifice performance. Is your dog already older? How to train a 2-year-old German shepherd for obedience is the same movement. Meaning that you would have the same range of motions to position your dog for compliance. To be on the safe side with an adult male, make sure you are solid on canine leadership. Knowing how to show your dog you are the pack leader is essential for obedience. How can you command his physical body if you do not have his mind? You are helping develop what is. I will give you a couple of exercises to do. For the first one, get a tug toy with a handle on the end of it. Then connect a Leash to it. From there, move backward in an engaged manner with your dog. You are essentially saying chase me. And your puppy must always come in for the bite. Do not jam the tug toy in his mouth. You have most likely seen this mistake before. However, if the pup attempts to rebite regrip let him. You are working toward the full mouth bite. Once his mouth is on the dog tug, give it to him but continue to hold the leash handle, never giving him full possession. When he moves back, minimize your tension to allow his muscles to contract. When he moves forward, move your arm away from you or toward you so the leash tension stays. That continuous tension maintains the challenge. Once he tries hard to pull to the ground, shake, or move back forcefully, let your leash go limp. This will give him a win and encourage the behavior. This will not teach your dog to be the boss of you, by the way. That would be you allowing him to take the tug toy with him at the end, which you should avoid by putting the jute, nylon, or leather tug up. Another tip about leash tension; if your dog is into the exercise but not pulling very hard, increase your lead tension. Ideally, in a few seconds, you would have pulled the tug away unless he pulled harder, thus earning a win. Usually, you would pull in an upward motion for this. For the 2nd exercise, The owner would not move back with the dog as in the first exercise. Usually if he swings it around, teasing the dog it will create an excited dog. From there he can swing it in front of the dog and get him to bite. The idea is to draw out the bite. Ideally you would not want the tug going at the dog directly. Puppies can also start bite sleeves very early but I do not recommend the owner wear the sleeve. And the same concepts apply. The dog gets wins. The dog flirt pole Is another dog toy to develop your dogs drive. Simply have your puppy or adult GSD Chase it and give it to him as a reward by going limp. Your dog will most likely take his mouth off of it, try to shred it and put his paw on it. This is when you can take it back and begin another chase, leading him back and forth or in circles. When to Introduce the 1st Agitator Some German Shepherd working line puppies Will defend owners or at least themselves at 12 weeks of age. I have personally worked with puppies like this from various breeds that have fiery temperaments, even younger than that. Although for most dogs this is not normal. Different levels of agitation should be introduced to your puppy at various periods of his development. And the bite gets better. That said, the amount of stress you put on a dog should be measured by their level of maturity. Every dog is a little different. And the more insecure the dog is genetically, the longer you should wait to do GDS protection training. Ideally, you might consider waiting until 6 months to a year to bring in a agitator that challenges your dog and you. This is where you will truly find out if your German Shepherd will protect you. Not to defend himself or your house or his back yard or to bite because of prey drive. German Shepherd protection is very powerful. Think about it. If someone was threatening you audibly in public you may have plenty of options to run away. But if someone grabbed your toddler you might try to hurt them, quickly and without hesitation. Consider beginning this exercise in a narrow pathway where the dog cannot ignore the situation. A very narrow alley or even a hallway in a building. Have the dog on a leash and harness or at least a very wide flat collar. Leather Collar is best. The dog can either be tied to something, in the control of a family member or a very good friend. The owner would be acting out as The victim of an attack. The person hitting the owner can use a Styrofoam cylindrical object like a flotation device or even a wiffleball bat. But the attack should look real. The owner should lay on the ground and be completely helpless, squirming and arms flailing. The instant the dog growls or barks at the attacker they should immediately disappear. After the dog is predictable, replicate the scenario and add more pressure to the dog. For example, A little closer to the attack or the dog has to bark more aggressively to make the bad guy go away. Also, after the dog predictably barks for the first time, add a verbal command. Again, the motivation is natural so most dogs will already bark. You do not need to teach When the dog gets close enough he should have a dog muzzle for biting purposes. A good rule of thumbs, if the GSD is making contact, he would bite. To Train your German shepherd to protect to his full potential, get a trainer with a dog bite suit. This will help him break past some of the taboos of putting his mouth on human skin without the muzzle on. Dogs definitely know when the suit is on and off and some make a game out of it. Just a final thought. Do you see the difference from what I described here vs next to his owner while protecting? German Shepherd protection training cost Can quickly turn into the thousands. But if you have your dog under control first personal protection does not have to be expensive at all. German Shepherd Guard Dogs I will differentiate German Shepherd guard dog training from personal protection for the convenience of categorization. Obviously there is some crossover where another expert could disagree. German guard dogs already have it in the breed. And a guard dog is just that. He is not protecting you while holding down the fort. Does your dog already bark at people when they come over? Does he scan your yard? A simple exercise would involve a person acting suspicious at your door. You can also stage it where the person steps into the home or into the yard. But the dog should be on a leash and harness. Otherwise if your dog was off leash he may not pursue the guy. Once the dog begins to bark, the guy should run away. So if personal protection is instinct regarding the owner, and to guard is to be like a junkyard dog, an attack dog would go for anyone on the street also called green dogs. And of course a given dog can meet all that criteria. How to train your German shepherd to attack is called training a dog in defense. This is because he is not actually protecting you or the house. He is defending himself! So you are literally learning How to make your German shepherd aggressive. This comes with a huge responsibility. You should have your dog fully trained in a couple commands first and muzzle trained first. Begin by having your dog on a harness or a wide collar and leash. You would be the one holding the other end of the leash. Have a planned stranger approach him from around 30 feet away. They should walk slowly toward him. Their shoulders should be squared with the dog and staring at him as if they were going to pick a fight. The strange person would refuse to look to the right or left. Once the dog growls or barks the person should run away out of sight. While the dog is snarling you should praise him. Once the guy disappears, give your dog affection. After the guy returns and you add a verbal command, observe. Does your dog bark immediately? Once he starts to get better put more pressure on him. Eventually were the guy would get closer and the dog would need a muzzle. You can work on the physiology of his bite with a suit. Although I would not be the one to wear the suit with my own dog. Otherwise the dog will think he cannot make the threat go away. He will end up with a dog that gives up. So yes, only do few minute sessions for this at the beginning. In that case your dog would already have went for the bite. German shepherd police training German Shepherd police dogs have very high prey drive. There is no fear involved when chasing and are experiencing a predatory state of mind. These lines of shepherds often come out fairly dominant as well. They begin as a Working line German Shepherd puppy. And that is their job they continue doing. To give you a brief idea of dog selection within police and military dogs, look at the this excerpt from the Second World War. During World War II 40, dogs were recruited, 18, were distributed and out of those About where we turn because of temperament or some other physical problem. Ultimately, about 10, were trained for the military Waller, .To simply sum things up, a personal protection dog is taken up with his owner. His master is his world. Obedience All Schutzhund training starts with obedience training for a reason. The reason is that the goal is not to train a dog to attack. It is to train a dog to stay calm under extreme provocation so the dog can see clearly how best to protect their charges, or even if protection is required. The German Shepherd will learn both passive restraint barking and herding and active restraint biting and holding. Most importantly, the dog learns to mind the trainer even if the command that is given means the dog has to retreat from an attack situation. Tracking In Schutzhund training, your German Shepherd will learn a very comprehensive type of tracking that starts with scent nose work and continues with the use of training aids that simulate footprints and different types of terrain. A full competitive tracking course includes all of the elements from easiest to hardest. Short and long trails, straight and divergent trails, articles items to scavenge or identify, close quarters and distance from handler tracking and all types of terrain from wet to dry and grass to soil. Tracking in a variety of conditions teaches your dog to stay focused, manage their stress, and stay the course no matter what obstacles come before them. Protection The protection training portion of Schutzhund training and competition evaluates a German Shepherd on the three basic drives that all GSDs have: defensive drive, prey drive, and social drive. The social drive is perhaps the most important because this is the drive that bonds your dog to you. You have to know that your German Shepherd understands who they are protecting and also who must be obeyed no matter what. This is your number one protection against canine aggression. The prey drive is a deeply instinctive drive that is born of an innate urge to chase, to hunt, to bite, to eat. The prey drive is what can quickly get out of hand if a German Shepherd is not properly trained in the art of protection. The defensive drive is more of a learned drive that is based on the ancient fight-or-flight survival instinct. A dog that is defensive will have all kinds of methods at their disposal, from growling or barking to running towards or running away. Rather, their ultimate goal is to see the threat in active retreat. If barking can accomplish that, then attack will not be needed. As Schutzhund Training explains, dogs in Schutzhund training learn to use all kinds of different grips, holds, and bites to protect their charges from an aggressor. By the time the training program has been completed, the dog should be able to demonstrate mastery both at close quarters with their handler and an attacker, and at a great distance from each. There are many different training programs available today that are designed to teach dogs of any breed how to serve as personal protection and guard dogs to people. As Mountain Canine College highlights, regardless of the training program, the dog must first be evaluated to see if they are a good fit. Some dogs may be less well suited for one versus the other. As we mentioned here earlier, Schutzhund training was specifically designed in Germany for training German Shepherd dogs to serve in protective K-9 roles. In either case, the basic method always starts with obedience training. Now you can see why it is so important to take training your German Shepherd to attack so seriously. You are training an incredibly strong and powerful dog with deep instincts that must be directed appropriately for your safety and the safety of others. Watch a German Shepherd Being Trained To Attack In this impressive YouTube video clip , you can watch a professional protection dog training team putting a month-old German Shepherd dog through his paces. The dog shows incredible drive, obedience, agility, and power. The most important thing to note when watching the video is that the German Shepherd does not display aggression. Aggression is not the same as the instinct to protect, guard, or even attack. Aggression in dogs is typically a symptom of insecurity or fearfulness rather than confidence and clarity.

They are almost square in appearance, with a strong body and sturdy legs. The maximum height for a male is 24 inches, which puts them in the medium-size dog category, but their sturdy build can make them seem much larger. Weights range from 85 pounds for a large male to 55 pounds for a smaller female. Field line bred dogs are often taller and somewhat thinner in build. Labrador retrievers are easily recognized by their broad head, drop ears and large, expressive eyes. Two trademarks of the Lab are the thick but fairly short double coat, which is very water repellent, and the well known "otter tail. The feet are described as "webbed," with longer skin between the toes to aid in swimming. The Labrador retriever is a moderately fast maturing breed, reaching adult height from six to 12 months, but possibly still filling out up to 2 years of age. Many Labs reach 12 to 14 years of age. Personality: In general, Labrador retrievers are excellent family dogs, as long as you keep in mind their need for exercise and training. These are dogs bred to work and work hard and they love to have jobs to do, particularly retrieving. Labs are usually good with other dogs, other pets, and children as long as training has toned down their natural exuberance. They are strong dogs and need some obedience training at an early age or they can be seen dragging their owners down the street at will. Owing to their energetic nature, Labradors who are left alone or not well exercised can become destructive — chewing, digging and barking to excess. The field line dogs are especially high-energy dogs, while some of the show line dogs become perfect couch potatoes at an early age. Chewing can be a problem because the strong retrieve urge gives them an oral fixation. Sturdy chew toys, exercise and training all help with this. Living With: Obviously, Labradors have a number of endearing traits or they would not be so popular. They are intelligent and fairly easy to train, partly from their desire to work with people. They are "easy keepers" and can become overweight if they are not exercised and food portions adjusted as needed. Labs are excellent family dogs because they do want to be with people and many do not do well as kennel dogs. Labradors do tend to be protective of their families and homes but are usually happy to greet company, too. With the strong retrieving instinct, they can develop into destructive chewers if not given appropriate toys and guidance. Labs may tend to "mouth" people and the solution is often simply to give them a toy to carry around, so their mouths are already full! These are very strong dogs and early training is necessary to have a dog that walks nicely on lead. The wonderful double coat that keeps the Labrador warm while retrieving in icy water also gives this breed top billing as shedders. Normally, their coats do fine with a quick weekly grooming, but at shedding time daily grooming is needed. The amount of exercise they need varies with the different lines: field line dogs can run all day, whereas show line dogs only need moderate exercise. History: Early in the s, some of the multipurpose dogs used in North America mostly Canada by hunters were shipped back to England. Many of these "water dogs" were of the Newfoundland type, but the smaller ones were often designated "St John's" dogs. In England, the breed was developed and refined probably with some flat-coated retriever input into the breed we recognize today. As is evidenced by their name, Labrador retrievers were bred and selected for their outstanding retrieving abilities, particularly in water. They have worked as partners with duck hunters in all kinds of weather and conditions. Their intelligence and desire to work as a partner with man has led to many other jobs, and to their current status as popular pets. Today, Labradors excel as service and guide dogs, family pets, scenting dogs for the military, customs and arson task force dogs, search and rescue dogs as well as hunting companions and performance dogs. The breed's good nature has propelled it to the number one ranking in popularity in America, a position it intends to keep. Despite their fame as indoor pets, they are even more at home outdoors. It should always be remembered that Labradors are water retrievers at heart and from early on, puppies show a strong desire to carry things around with them and a strong attraction to water, even puddles! Related Pet Care Articles. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Built for sport, the Lab is muscular and athletic. They have a short, easy-care coat, friendly demeanor, keen intelligence, and plenty of energy. Devotion to this breed runs deep; Labs are loving, people-oriented dogs who live to serve their families, and owners and fans sometimes liken their Labs to angels. The breed originated on the island of Newfoundland, off the northeastern Atlantic coast of Canada. Originally called the St. Today, most Labs skip the hard labor and spend their days being pampered and loved by their people. However, some Labs still serve as indispensable working dogs. They also excel as a search and rescue dog or as a retriever for hunters, thanks to their athletic build, strong nose, and courageous nature. And Labs have also become the breed to beat at dog sports such as agility and obedience competitions, especially obedience. In fact, owners say their sweet, helpful Lab is likely to greet an intruder and happily show them where the goods are stashed. One role has remained constant: wonderful companion and friend. Labrador Retriever Highlights Friendly and outgoing. Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They are good with people of all ages and other animals. Intelligent and trainable. Labrador Retrievers are intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They are often used as working dogs, such as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and therapy dogs. Active and playful. Labrador Retrievers are active dogs that need plenty of exercise. They enjoy playing fetch, swimming, and other activities. Loyal and devoted. Labrador Retrievers are loyal and devoted dogs that make great family pets. They are known for their gentle nature and love of children. Grooming needs are minimal. Labrador Retrievers have a short, thick coat that is easy to groom. They only need to be brushed a few times a week and bathed as needed. Overall, the Labrador Retriever is a versatile and popular dog breed that makes a great family pet. They are friendly, intelligent, and trainable, and they have a low grooming requirement. If you are considering getting a Labrador Retriever, be sure to do your research to find a reputable breeder. Labrador Retrievers are wonderful dogs, but they require a lot of time and attention. They are not a good choice for people who are not active or who do not have a lot of time to spend with their pets. Originally called St. Although their heritage is unknown, many believe the St. The second Earl of Malmesbury was one of the first, and had St. The third Earl of Malmesbury was the first person to refer to the dogs as Labradors. In Newfoundland, the breed disappeared because of government restrictions and tax laws. Families were allowed to keep no more than one dog, and owning a female was highly taxed, so girl puppies were culled from litters. In England, however, the breed survived, and the Kennel Club recognized the Labrador Retriever as a distinct breed in .They also top the list in Canada and England. Today, Labs work in drug and explosive detection, search and rescue, therapy, assistance to those with disabilities, and as retrievers for hunters. They also excel in all forms of dog competitions: show, field, agility, and obedience. Labrador Retriever Size Males stand .Females stand .Aside from a winning personality, they have the intelligence and eagerness to please that make them easy to train. Training is definitely necessary because this breed has a lot of energy and exuberance. The working heritage of the Lab means they are active. This breed needs activity, both physical and mental, to keep them happy. There is some variation in the activity level of Labs: some are rowdy, others are more laid back. All thrive on activity. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Elbow Dysplasia : This is a heritable condition common to large-breed dogs. This can lead to painful lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem or medication to control the pain. Osteochondrosis Dissecans OCD : This orthopedic condition, caused by improper growth of cartilage in the joints, usually occurs in the elbows, but it has been seen in the shoulders, as well. It causes a painful stiffening of the joint, to the point that the dog is unable to bend his elbow. It can be detected in dogs as early as four to nine months of age. Cataracts : As in humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow over time. Cataracts can usually be surgically removed with good results. Early in the disease, dogs become night-blind. As the disease progresses, they lose their daytime vision, as well. Many dogs adapt to limited or complete vision loss very well, as long as their surroundings remain the same. Epilepsy : Labs can suffer from epilepsy, which causes mild or severe seizures. Seizures may be exhibited by unusual behavior, such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or hiding. Seizures are frightening to watch, but the long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is generally very good. Puppies are born with TVD, which is a malformation of the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart. It can be mild or severe; some dogs live with no symptoms, others die. TVD is detected by ultrasound. Research is ongoing to learn how widespread it is in the breed, as well as treatment. Myopathy : Myopathy affects the muscles and nervous system. The first signs are seen early, as young as six weeks and often by seven months of age. A puppy with myopathy is tired, stiff when he walks and trots. He may collapse after exercise. In time, the muscles atrophy and the dog can barely stand or walk. There is no treatment, but rest and keeping the dog warm seems to reduce symptoms. Dogs with myopathy should not be bred because it is considered a heritable disease. Bloat occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists. The dog is unable to belch or vomit to rid themselves of the excess air in their stomach, and blood flow to the heart is impeded. Blood pressure drops and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog can die. Suspect bloat if your dog has a distended abdomen, is drooling excessively, and retching without throwing up. Theyalso may be restless, depressed, lethargic, and weak with a rapid heart rate. If you notice these symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Acute Moist Dermatitis: Acute moist dermatitis is a skin condition in which the skin red and inflamed. It is caused by a bacterial infection. The more common name of this health concern is hot spots. Treatment includes clipping the hair, bathing in medicated shampoo, and antibiotics. Cold Tail : Cold tail is a benign, though painful condition common to Labs and other retrievers. The dog may bite at the tail. It is thought to be a problem with the muscles between the vertebrae in the tail. Weekly checking and cleaning if necessary helps prevent infection. Labrador Retriever Care The lovable Lab needs to be around their family, and is definitely not a backyard dog. Labs show some variation in their activity levels, but all of them need activity, both physical and mental. Daily minute walks, a romp at the dog park, or a game of fetch, are a few ways to help your Lab burn off energy. However, a puppy should not be taken for too long walks and should play for a few minutes at a time. It is up to you to end play and training sessions. Without training, a rambunctious Lab puppy will soon grow to be a very large, rowdy dog. Luckily, Labs take to training well; in fact, they often excel in obedience competitions. Start with puppy kindergarten , which not only teaches your pup good canine manners, but helps them learn how to be comfortable around other dogs and people. Look for a class that uses positive training methods that reward the dog for getting it right, rather than punishing them for getting it wrong. Normal play on grass is fine, as is puppy agility, with its one-inch jumps. Labrador Retriever Feeding Recommended daily amount: 2. They've won the dog personality popularity contest for so many years, as Labs are devoted to their owners—always willing to show you their affection and receive your adoration in return—are highly intelligent, and are happiest doing any and all family activities. Their enthusiasm not only makes them fun to be around, but also makes them a hard-working breed. Labs are companionable, bonding with all family members, and famously friendly to every person and pup they meet. While they have high energy and require lots of activity , they are eager to please and highly trainable. Appearance Thanks to their role as a hunter's companion, the Labrador retriever is a sturdy dog, weighing in at anywhere from 55—80 pounds. Labs come in three colors: chocolate, black, and yellow. While black Labs were an early favorite with breeders, all three types of Labs are common today. Some breeders do offer "rare" Labs, including polar white, fox red, and even silver, but these are simply variations of the three original Lab coloring combinations. Their top coat is short and thick. Their undercoat is softer and helps provide protection from the weather, especially cold temperatures and water, a nod to their original role as retrievers. A Lab's tail serves a purpose in their heritage as well. They are thick and tapered, an "otter tail" that acts as a rudder when Labs swim. But watch out on land—this happy breed gets to wagging their tail often and eagerly, and won't stop if you happen to be in the way. Yellow Labs might be easy to confuse with golden retrievers. Though both are friendly pups and popular with families, they distinctly different breeds. Temperament "The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non aggressive towards man or animal," the breed standard says. They are friendly with new people and animals they meet. Tops in the personality department, Labs are also highly intelligent, making them very trainable. They do have lots of energy, so you'll need to stay active with them, but they are also happy to relax at home for family movie night. What many veterinarians do find, however, is that each Lab is an individual with his own personality. Some Labs are more mellow, while others can be higher energy. Some tend to be more anxious dogs. And you can even have a Lab that is a bit of a goofball. But no matter what personality your Lab puppy grows to develop, one thing is always the same. Living Needs Labs adore their owners. They will want to live indoors and sleep as close as possible to you—or even on you. They like to get outside to play, but don't leave them unattended for too long as they may prove they have a naughty side. Labs have been known to dig and chew, so invest in plenty of sturdy chew toys to keep yours entertained. If properly introduced and trained, Labs can also get along well with other pets in the home including cats , other dogs, and small animals. They are competitors, doing well in agility, field tests, and at dog shows. And they absolutely love to swim. Care When you welcome a Lab to your home, be prepared for lots of shedding. Grooming isn't substantial, but brushing your dog daily will help reduce the tumbleweeds of fur scattered about your house from their thick double coat. They should be bathed every other month to keep them smelling fresh. Brushing their teeth a couple of times a week, keeping their nails trimmed —likely once or twice a month—and checking their ears for redness or odor should also be on your Lab care checklist. A daily minute walk or a lively game of fetch will help your pup burn off some of his energy. Lack of activity could lead to undesirable behavior, but don't overdo it—this "workaholic" breed is apt to exhaust itself. Don't let Lab puppies run and play on hard surfaces for their first two years so they don't damage their joints. Of course their reputation for good behavior precedes them, but that doesn't mean you can skip training sessions with your Lab. Training is important to ensure they don't grow to become too rowdy. Introduce Labrador puppies to other humans and animals early to help socialize them properly. This, coupled with ample positive reinforcement , will allow your pup to grow into the friendly Lab many know and love. Health Labs are a pretty hearty and healthy breed , living 10—12 years. But, as with all breeds, there are some common conditions to be aware of. Elbow and hip dysplasia , heart disorders such as tricuspid valve dysplasia TVD , epilepsy , and hereditary myopathy or muscle weakness can all affect Labs. They can also face eye conditions, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Owners should also be aware of a condition called exercise induced collapse EIC. Labs may also develop hot spots —or acute moist dermatitis—cold tail, and ear infections. History A bit misnamed, Labs actually come from Newfoundland—off the northeastern coast of Canada—not Labrador, according to the Labrador Retriever Club. Descended from St. John's water dogs, Labradors are a traditional waterdog used to retrieve ducks and keep fishermen company. At the end of the work day, Labs were then happy to head home to spend the night with the fishermen's families. They became increasingly popular starting in the early s, when they were brought to England by nobles who appreciated their work ethic and disposition. Public Domain It may be hard to believe, but by the s, Labs were almost extinct because of government restrictions and tax laws—the same laws that led to the St. John's water dogs' extinction, according to the Canadian Broadcast Corporation. Thankfully saved by English breeders, they were introduced to the U. After World War II, the Lab's popularity took over and grew for decades until they ultimately achieved the status of America's—and England and Canada's—most popular pooch. Fun Facts In , for the 29th year in a row, the Lab was voted the number one most popular breed. King Buck was the model Labrador retriever featured on a U. Another famous Lab is Ben of Hyde , born in .Considered the first documented yellow Lab, today most lines of yellow Labs can be traced to his bloodline. The star of the show, Marley, is actually several different Labs who played the role to reflect the various age stages of Marley during the film. His family adopted another chocolate Lab, Seamus , after Clinton's presidency ended. Was this page helpful? However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. History and Origins The Labrador Retriever breed originated not in Labrador, but on the coast of Newfoundland, in the 17th century. They were trained to bring in the fishing-nets through the icy waters for the fishermen and, in the early 19th century, were brought to Poole Harbour in Great Britain. They were so attractive and with such appealing personalities that the fishermen had umpteen offers from Englishmen to buy them. The breed with their working abilities was instantly successful as a gundog. The Earl of Malmesbury became fascinated by these dogs, known at that time as Saint John's Dogs, and he started breeding them, calling them Labrador Dogs. Today, Labradors are still used as working gundogs as well as being beloved family pets. Ideal Owner Ideal Lab owners enjoy long walks, are mud-proof and water-proof, and have the time, patience and skill to teach this breed to be a polite member of society. Although universally thought of as the ultimate, easy-going family dog and they do generally love everyone! Great for active families with children who can take part in training and exercise — and who can walk this active gundog a couple of hours every day in all weathers. Exercise Needs Labradors will adapt to the amount of time you can allocate for their exercise, as long as they are kept active. Ideally, a couple of hours a day being a good amount for a healthy adult. They love long walks with a chance to run and play off the lead. Many Labradors, unfortunately, become overweight because they are bought by families who want them for their reputation as the perfect dog with children, without realising that this is a working dog, who needs a lot of exercise and training to stay happy and healthy. As well as walks, a Labrador will revel in games and play with their owner, as they are highly social, and need to be involved in all family activities. Space Requirements The Labrador is a large, active breed who is at heart a country dog, and so needs a good-sized living space. As the Labrador size is large and their energy is high, they will appreciate a large garden and need access to the great outdoors for long walks. Nutrition and Feeding Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. The Labrador is prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk. Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. Proper nutrition along with care can contribute to a Labrador lifespan reaching 14 years. Grooming Labradors The Labrador grooming process is fairly easy as their coats are simple to maintain. Even though the Labrador size is large, their coat is thick and dense with a weather-resistant undercoat that can easily be kept clean with a simple brush through once a week, and more regular attention when moulting. However, they do love water and mud, and so they may need more regular grooming to keep them clean. Watch out for grass seeds in the summer as they tend to charge around the countryside! Training Labradors Labradors are generally a joy to train as they are both clever and biddable, and love working with their owner. Despite being generally unproblematic, they do still need training as they have a need to work and to keep their busy brains occupied. Plus, they can easily get overly-boisterous, and even destructive, if not given plenty of exercise, and an outlet for their hard-wired breed behaviours. Are Labradors Good Family Dogs? There is a good reason why the Labrador has a reputation as being, almost, the perfect family dog. This is a breed who loves everyone and everything. Their only drawback is that they need a lot of exercise, and so they need an active family who enjoy walking and games. All dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

Connect with us! Welcome to Moss Creek Goldendoodles! We are one of the first to ever breed English Goldendoodles. We love what we do and have lots of experience to share. We are committed to the research, development and improvement of the English Goldendoodle dog breed. We specialize and strive to produce healthy Companion, Therapy and Service Dogs with wonderful temperaments. We breed well-adjusted, properly-socialized, sweet, loving Goldendoodle puppies with low to non-shedding, allergy-friendly coats. We breed Goldendoodles in small, medium and large standard sizes. We are an original member of the Goldendoodles. Here at Moss Creek Goldendoodles, we have very carefully selected our Puppy Parents from the highest quality champion lines with years of good health history behind them. Our puppy parents are the best of the best. Moss Creek Goldendoodle puppy parents are health tested and certified clear before they are bred. We offer a full Two-Year Health Guarantee on all of our puppies and a lifetime of support and re-home if needed. Our puppies are checked by our Veterinarian several times, vaccinated, microchipped and come with a signed Health Certificate and shot record. All of our puppies are loved and socialized from the minute they are born. We expose the puppies to new sounds, smells, surfaces to walk on, people of all sizes, dogs, etc. .We start introducing our puppies to the crate at 3 weeks. By 8 weeks they are all sleeping in individual crates at night. This early head start to Crate Training makes the transition to your home less stressful for the puppy and you! Because your new Goldendoodle Puppy will be a family member for life, our goal is to match you with the right puppy. Our puppies are temperament- tested using the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. This, along with your puppy application, phone interview, emails, pictures and our first hand experience since , helps us match the perfect puppy to your family and lifestyle. Boot Camp for Puppies! For families interested in obtaining a fully-trained Goldendoodle puppy, we offer a one-of-a-kind puppy training program called McDoodles Boot Camp for Puppies. This program was the first of its kind and is specifically tailored for 8-week old Moss Creek Goldendoodle puppies. Depending on the length of stay, Moss Creek Goldendoodles go home from Boot Camp potty trained ringing their bells to be let out to potty. They know all their basic commands and follow them proudly. They are socialized and exposed to kids, cats, adults, car rides, dogs, birds and anything else the trainer feels would help. They are loving, taught manners, and not to nip and jump - to walk on leash by kids and adults. Weather permitting - the puppies are taught to swim and how to find their way out of a pool. Read references and testimonials from families who sent their puppy to McDoodles Boot Camp for Puppies. Sweet Mr. Murphy 1 month shy of his 9th birthday! Thanks again Moss Creek! Mama has leaky eyes cause she says that this past year that me and Abby are the best medicine EVER for her.That's ME teehee! Happy Birthday to Madison, Brady, Darcy and their other eight brothers and sisters. You're simply amazing. Sending doodle hugs to all. Wanted to recreate the pic one year later but it is a rainy day here so the sofa is the best I could do. Winnie was feeling a bit slighted and decided to photobomb the pic. Thanks so much Lauren Nichols and Kelli R. Bailey for our beautiful, lovable girl! He's down here in South Florida, and he has already brought such joy to our family. Some of you probably saw me post that we lost our eight-year-old McPoodle unexpectedly last week - in just a matter of hours when a tumor in his spleen ruptured. One of the worst weeks of our life, and to bring this little guy home today to the girls was absolutely the best medicine ever. Cheerio will be forever missed, but Junior is definitely cheering everyone up and already a member of the family, with everyone fawning over him. I hope to see updates on his siblings soon! Thank you, Lauren and everyone at McDoodles, for another amazing puppy. Luna made it through her first night with me. I think I put her to bed a wrong times during her day. She wanted to stay up late. We did have lots of fun. She wants to sleep with us. My mom had her hand in the crate and Luna slept with her head on it. I put my hand on her back. She loves her bedroom just sleeping on my lap for her little naps. My cats are going up to her. Thank you Miss Kelli for making a beautiful and sweet baby for me to love. Charanun,Miss Heather, Miss Crystal and the rest of you for your help too. I love you all. I will never let her out of my arms. Cean V. We are so thankful we found you! You did an amazing job with our Riley and we will continue what we started. I can't thank you enough for picking him for us. He's perfect. We are all family and would do anything for our doodles. You have picked by far, in my book, the best breeder in the world who loves her animals, and is very careful in placing them in there forever home. She will make sure to find the right fit for you, and your family. I have two from her Shiloh who is a year old and Logan who is 7 months old. I love them to death they are such wonderful dogs to have. They are from the same parents just different litters. The dogs are raised in a beautiful home on 10 acres that is spotless clean every time I've been there. You cannot go wrong with a puppy from Moss Creek. I kept searching for breeders and I found Moss Creek to be the one I liked the best. When I put my name on a list for a doodle I didn't know much about waiting lists or F1 or F1b's. I just wanted a Goldendoodle! When I came from my 2 month vacation in Spain I went to Kelli's to pick up my baby. OMG he was so beautiful!! She picked the perfect dog for me! We are all crazy about him. He is so much fun and so intelligent. He's well behaved and handsome. He is everything I expected and a lot more. A few months later after we heard our friends on the forum saying double doodle was the best, we decided to give Nadal a brother. This time we wanted a red baby from Aden since my husband and I saw his picture and it was love at first sight. Iker came to us 3 months ago. He's 5 mo. He's so well behaved too! I take them everywhere I can. Nadal went to tennis class with me yesterday. He waited tied up, sitting with his bowl of water under a tree next to the court, most of the time being petted and spoiled by my friends. Then to the ice cream shop for his weekly ice-cream and to pet smart to get some treats and a new toy just like a kid. They are never sick. Their skin is very healthy so is their weight. No allergies to anything. After a year, I still check the forum twice at least, daily. And then there is Kelli, she is such an amazing person and she's always there for you. The only problem you'll find with Moss Creek is that is so hard to choose the parents, they are all great! Our puppy Bettis, is everything and more than we expected. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. We can see the comparisons to both breeds. He does some things that remind us so much of our dearly departed Poodle, Wynston. It is amazing. When he gets rowdy, I joke with my wife and tell her that is the Retriever in him, my Poodle would never act that way. Anyway, it has been great. Considering another in a couple of months. Not a peep from the second we got on the plane until we were in the car driving home. He is quite a joy to the entire family. He's eating, sleeping well, doing great with potty training, and becoming very adventuresome in the back yard. The vet and her assistant loved him how could they not! We do hope your nephew isn't missing him too much - we now understand how Levi captured hearts, including ours! He is just too sweet for words. Here are a few pictures of the handsome guy. Haven't attempted to post to the forum yet but will get to it soon. I'm already planning for another one in a few years!! We are going away on vacation for a week and I have been in tears not wanting to leave him: Thank you so much!!! You chose the perfect dog for our family!!! He settled in to our family very quickly and is a real joy to us all. He just finished puppy school and I have attached his graduation photo as well as a few others and a short video of Tyler feeding him. As you can see Blue is the spitting image of Ariel. Thanks to you for a great family pet. She is from Sunny and Simon. Thanks so much Kelli R. Bailey -we could not have chosen a more wonderful dog! She is the sweetest spitfire in the world and has brought nothing but pure happiness to our family!! Magnus has been following me around the house every where since day 1. He has brought me a huge amount of happiness and laughter. We go for walks and he does great on his leash. Training him has been a very simple process and I really think that is due to his incredible intelligence. After only a week of working with him he was able to: sit, lay down and shake. Now he is able to not only shake, but "other", raise his other paw, along with "speak. He received his finally puppy shots so I'm really excited to start taking him to the dog parks around here. I've introduced him to a couple friends' dogs and he did great! He is really playful and loved the other dogs. Everyone that meets him absolutely loves him. The vet I take him to can't get enough of him. I can't thank you enough. I've attached some recent pics. He's about lbs now! I'll try to send more once he starts to get to his adult size. Thanks again! Cart The McDifference At Moss Creek Goldendoodles we understand the excitement and stress of bringing a new puppy into your home and family. We try to relieve some of that burden by providing additional services you won't find elsewhere. The following are examples of the value associated with purchasing a Moss Creek Goldendoodle puppy. Watch our video of a family taking home their new puppy and see the McDifference in action! Our first Goldendoodle who is now 9 was from the very first litter of English F1 Goldendoodles ever bred. Since , Goldendoodles have been our passion. At least once a week someone tells me they can pick a Moss Creek Goldendoodle out in a sea of Goldendoodles or they stop traffic to ask a family where they got their dog. Our Goldendoodles have a very distinct look to them and they have amazing temperaments. This comes from years of hands on experience and having a close relationship with a Veterinarian, Trainer and Animal Behaviorist. Healthy Parents Here at Moss Creek Goldendoodles, we have very carefully selected our puppy Parents from the highest quality lines with years of good health history behind them. Many of our Goldendoodles are from English Golden Retrievers. We love the English Golden Retriever because of the extremely laid-back temperament, blocky heads and short stocky bodies they bring to our Goldendoodles. You can tell how fabulous they are by our English Goldendoodle puppies. Our parent dogs are also tested for von Willebrand's disease, elbows, heart and eye problems. We offer a full two-year health guarantee on all of our puppies and a lifetime of support and re-home if needed. We practice the Early Neurological Stimulation daily on all our puppies. The U. Military in their canine program developed a method that still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the performance of dogs used for military purposes, a program called "Bio Sensor" was developed. Later, it became known to the public as the "Super Dog" Program. Based on years of research, the military learned that early neurological stimulation exercises could have important and lasting effects. Their studies confirmed that there are specific time periods early in life when neurological stimulation has optimum results. We have put together a unique program for our Moss Creek puppies that is like no other. Our focus is to to produce healthy therapy, service and companion dog temperaments that are well adjusted, properly socialized, sweet, loving Goldendoodle puppies with low-non shedding - allergy-friendly coats. Guardian Homes Not all the dogs in our breeding program live here at Moss Creek. We retain full ownership. The Dogs live with the Guardian Families as their pets. After the dog passes all the genetic testing - the dogs come to Moss Creek to be bred and then again 2 weeks before the puppies are due. The Mom's stay here at Moss Creek through the delivery and until the puppies go home. We feel this is a win win situation for us, the dogs, the Guardian Families and our puppies. The dogs are in a home environment and not a kennel. They are also in their forever home. We breed them 4 times over the next 4 years and then they are spayed. Personalized Customer Service We understand that bringing a new puppy into your family is a huge decision. We look forward to working with you to find just the right doodle. Any questions you may have will be answered via email or phone call promptly. Read what our puppy owners have to say about their Moss Creek puppy on our testimonials page. When I started it I didn't know if anyone would want to participate. Little did I know it would turn into what it is today. It has grown into a wonderful community of Goldendoodle lovers. It is here you can ask for training tips, organize doodle romps in your area, and share pictures and stories with other Goldendoodle lovers. Many of our puppies get to romp with their littermates on a regular basis. The forum has also been an amazing resource of information on our puppies after they go home. Having the feedback - since - from our puppy owners has helped our breeding strategies in so many ways. When you purchase a Moss Creek puppy, it's not over after you pick up your puppy. We hope you stay in touch and become a part of the McDoodles community. You're guaranteed to make some wonderful friends and have a lot of fun along the way. Weekly pictures We take hundreds of pictures of each litter. We take pictures of our puppies at birth and every week until they go home. We put collars on our puppies at birth - they all wear different color collars so you can watch them grow from week to week. Our puppies are temperament tested at 6 weeks old using the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. This along with your puppy application, phone interview, emails and pictures, helps us match the perfect puppy with your family and lifestyle. Just like in humans, puppies have different personalities. It is crucial to have this testing and observation of the puppies from the minute they are born helping you pick your next family member. One thing you will hear over and over again from our puppy owners is we picked the perfect puppy for their family. Crate Training Teaching a puppy to sleep in the crate and not soil it, is an intensive and exhaustive task. We do more than just introduce your puppy to a crate. We actually train your puppy to sleep in its own crate through the night. The early days of this process are the most difficult. We have implemented a system that slowly teaches your puppy to enjoy being in the crate without soiling it. This makes for many sleepless nights on our part. We feel this early head start to crate training makes the transition to your home less stressful for the puppy and you! Most of our puppies go home able to sleep comfortably in their crates at night, for a period of six hours without accidents. The AKC Microchip service works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year to facilitate the recovery of lost pets. New puppy owners can enroll their pet's AKC microchip identification number with the Recovery Service online or by mailing back the enrollment form included in your puppy kit - Your pet's ticket home! The puppy goes home with the pre-paid Microchip Application for the owners to register. Vaccinations Our puppies are vaccinated at 6 and 8 weeks old by our Veterinarian. At 8 weeks they also receive their first Kennel Cough Vaccine. The puppies are wormed - as a preventative at 3, 6 and 8 weeks. Our puppies are checked by our Veterinarian several times and go home with a signed Health Certificate and shot record stating they are in excellent health and free of parasites. Puppy kit All Moss Creek Puppies go home with a nice collar, leash, Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice food, NuVet vitamins, toys, blanket that smells like Mom, signed copy of our 2-year Health Guarantee and Contract, Health Certificate signed by our Vet, shot record, detailed instructions to continue what we've started with crate training and feeding schedules. Most importantly, lifetime support and re-home if needed. We are always available to assist you long after your puppy leaves our home. After the Puppy Goes Home We offer many avenues for you to utilize in the training of your new puppy. Our forum is a great place to meet other Moss Creek Goldendoodle owners and ask questions as they arise. Our puppy trainers will potty-train your puppy, socialize it and teach basic commands - sit, down, wait, come, no bite, leave it, and off. McDoodles Boot Camp will get your puppy accustomed to a daily crating routine that matches your schedule and teach basic manners such as waiting patiently for meals, sitting for attention and learning not to jump or bark rudely. If you would like to reserve space for your puppy in our program, please indicate this on the puppy application form or during your phone interview. Learn more about our Boot Camp Training Program! Moss Creek Goldendoodles. Cart Immediately Available Puppies Check this page often to see any available puppies - they go fast! Check the Puppy Adoption page to learn about our adoption process, then fill out our Puppy Application and get on the list! Watch our Puppy Video to see some of our puppies in action with their Moms. Every puppy receives an individual puppy video to assist you with the selection process. Amy is the kind of pup who greets each day with a sunny disposition and a smile that can brighten the cloudiest of days. She's eager to learn new tricks and is always up for a game of "fetch the fun" or "chase your dreams. We can't wait to meet her forever family! Ezra Ezra This F1B English Standard Goldendoodle baby boy isn't just about cruising; he's all about keeping the strawberry Frappuccino safe from spillage and making sure those toddler giggles reach a record high. He's got patience that would make a saint jealous and a knack for adventure that rivals Indiana Jones. So, if you're on the lookout for a ride-or-die and sippin'-and-snackin' companion, this copilot is ready to hit the open road with you. Let's make memories, share smiles, and enjoy the journey — one hilarious pit stop at a time! She's not just looking for a forever home; she's looking to sprinkle love and joy into someone's life. This little snugglebug is as sweet as a scoop of your favorite ice cream on a sunny day. She's an eager learner, a loyal companion, and a natural-born hug therapist. Hope's got a tail that wags like there's no tomorrow, spreading happiness wherever she goes. He is well on his way to being house trained and he knows his basic commands. He's crate trained, walking on a loose leash, and ready to take on the world with his new people. He's the sweetest most beautiful boy to Boot! I can't wait to meet his new family. Moss Creek Goldendoodles. Moss Creek Doodles are known for their distinct look and amazing temperaments, both of which come from years of hands on experience and having a close relationship with a A Trainer, a Veterinarian, and an Animal Behaviorist. Many reviewers have noted that they can spot a Moss Creek Goldendoodle in a sea of Goldendoodles due to their distinct look. Additionally, people often stop Moss Creek Goldendoodle owners to ask where they got their pup from. Behind The Scenes: Parents At Moss Creek, the parents are carefully selected and tested for health, temperament, and conformation. All parents are OFA certified for hips and elbows. They also have genetic testing done to ensure that the pup will not be affected by genetic diseases common in the breed. They import their parent dogs from the top kennels in various countries, like Romania, the Netherlands and Canada. Early Neurological Stimulation Moss Creek also practices Early Neurological Stimulation ENS , which is a series of exercises designed to stimulate the neurological development in puppies. This helps the puppy become more resilient and have the ability to better handle stress throughout its life. This helps them to produce puppies with a strong temperament, making them well rounded and able to be therapy, companion, and service dogs. Guardian Homes Many of goldendoodles from Moss Creek are raised in guardian homes. This means that the dog is placed in a home with an experienced family and they help to raise him or her until it is time for them to join their new families. They understand that getting a new dog is an emotional experience and they seek to provide guidance and support throughout the process. Any questions you have will be answered promptly and they will always provide the best advice to ensure that you get the right pup for your home. The puppies come in three sizes: Mini, Medium, and Standard. The generations they offer include: F1 English Goldendoodles.

Labrador Retriever Puppy Growth Chart and Development with Pictures Large breed dogs, like Labs, gain weight and grow rather rapidly in their first year. They also develop certain skills at approximately the same time. Lab puppies at this age are entirely dependent on their mother. They are born without teeth, vision, or hearing. The mother Lab will also stimulate them to eliminate and eat their waste to keep her nesting area clean. Most Lab puppies will have their eyes opened at 2 weeks of age, and their ears will begin to open around this time too. This period can be called the awakening of senses, as they are growing to be more conscious and inquisitive. Try to spend some time with each puppy daily, so they get used to being handled. They should not be removed from their litter for more than 10 minutes at a time as this could cause them to miss out on important life lessons. Mama dogs will teach her pups some discipline and dogs that are taken from their mom before this age often suffers from behavioral issues. You should handle them often and can begin basic training. Treat your puppy gently, with no harsh discipline. Your 8-week-old Lab puppy will be able to start sleeping through the night and have better control over its bowel movements. Potty training can be introduced at this age, but you should avoid bringing them to crowded places. Most puppies get their first vaccination before heading to their new homes. You should keep your new puppy away from other dogs until they complete their vaccinations to prevent them from contracting infectious diseases like distemper or parvovirus. Lab puppies eating their dog food At 2 months, Lab puppies should be fed 4 small meals a day. Knowing how much to feed them is key. Your Lab puppy will begin to test you in order to figure out what their position is in the family. Labrador Retriever puppies at 3 months might ignore commands they are familiar with. Some dogs might start nipping. To combat this, direct them to chew appropriate toys instead. Be patient with them and keep reinforcing positive behavior because they will grow out of it soon enough. They are still establishing their role in the pack and might assert their dominance over little children or pets. You can start incorporating other activities like obedience or agility to divert their attention and help them understand their role in the family better. Some dogs will go through another fearful stage at this age. You can help them through it by desensitizing them and being kind and understanding. They are still puppies at this age, after all. They should not be forced to face their fears in hopes they will get used to it. Appropriate exposure with lots of praise, attention, and treats will do the trick. They will have grown into the dog they are meant to be and will have a consistent personality. They should also have settled into a routine and know their place in the family. Following a UK study, Labs grow into their adult weight by their 1-year-old birthday. Mentally, Labradors will stay a puppy till they are 2 or 3 years old, but some never really do grow up. When Do Labs Stop Growing? Lab puppies generally gain 2 lbs 1 kg a week from birth until they are 6 months old. After that, their weight gain tapers off slowly. Most people think that dogs mature at the same age, but small dogs like a Terrier or a Pomeranian might reach adulthood at 9 months of age whereas a Great Dane might fully mature at 3 years of age. It has been noted that they reach their full height at 1 year of age, and their adult weight at 2 years of age. How to weigh a Labrador dog? Weighing your dog is a good way to keep track of its growth. A less strenuous and stressful way to weigh your dog would be to buy a weighing scale for dogs and weigh them regularly. You can incorporate this into your dog training and reward them every time they stay still on a scale. There are reasonably priced pet scales on Amazon but if you do not have a budget for a dog weighing machine, you can get your dog weighed at the vet. This is because muscle weighs more than fat. A chubby-looking Labrador might have the same weight as a lean and strong Lab. Testing Physical Appearance There is a system called BCS or Body Condition Scoring that allows owners and health providers to assess whether their dog is at a healthy weight from a glance. There are 9 levels, with the 1st level representing extreme emaciation, level 5 being optimally fit, and level 9 being life-threateningly obese. However, if they are outside of that spectrum, you might want to consider seeing a specialist as your dog might have some underlying health issues. It can also cause lots of health problems such as joint problems, respiratory or heart diseases, and even cancer. The bad news is that Labradors are prone to obesity due to their genetics. A large portion of the Labrador population has a malfunctioning POMC gene that stops them from being full. Even without the condition, Labs are notoriously greedy! Look at Midnight eating in her dreams: Hyperthyroidism and Insulinoma are disorders that can cause unexplainable weight gain. How to help your Labrador achieve a healthy weight? If they are suffering from certain disorders, you will need to treat them first. If they are simply being fed too much, remove any excess calories from their diet by cutting down treats including table scraps! You can also encourage them to move more through exercise, play, or work. Being too thin is also unhealthy, especially if your puppy is still growing. Weight loss or not being able to gain weight can be caused by worms, illness, or a lack of calories. Active dogs will need to be fed more than those that lead sedentary lifestyles. What you can do is increase their intake and monitor their growth rate. Another commonly asked question is when to fix their male or female Labradors. The general consensus is that you should fix your dog around 6 months, but there are new studies to suggest that early neutering might create more problems for your dog. Another specialized study suggests pet owners to neuter or spay after 37 weeks. This prevents excessive growth that can aggravate hip or joint problems. Will my Lab still grow after being neutered? Depending on when your dog is neutered. If it is neutered after sexual maturity, it will most likely have already reached its adult size and will not grow any taller. However, most neutered pets gain weight much more easily due to a decrease in sex hormones. This will cause their metabolic rate to slow down so you should adjust their diet accordingly. Differences between variations of Labrador Retrievers English Labs are show dogs that are bred to be more heavyset. Therefore, they can be slightly on the heavy side. As for American or working dogs, they are generally more athletic and lighter. Gender also plays a role in their weight, with females nearing the lighter end of the spectrum and males being on the heavier side. Chocolate Labs and White Labs are usually bred for the show ring. It is entirely possible to have an English Fox Red and vice versa for all other colors. Leading a healthy lifestyle will keep your pup healthy. Further reading: Additional puppy growth chart guides. When do labs Stop Growing? Labs need to fill out more than smaller breeds as they are medium to large-sized dogs. Usually, an average Lab will be at full height and weight by their first birthday. Is Your Labrador Retriever Healthy? Labrador Retrievers are the perfect family pet. Not only are Labs wonderful companions, but their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and love for life make them ideal members of any household. The best way to guarantee that happiness? Preventative care! This condition can cause pain and make it difficult for your pup to move freely. Due to CHD, they may also develop arthritis in the hip area as they age. Some dogs with CHD have normal hips as puppies, but they can develop joint instability later in life. Unfortunately, CHD affects medium to large dog breeds, with the Lab amongst those dogs with a higher chance of developing this condition. Recognizing the early signs of this progressive disease will help you get treatment for your dog so he has an active life filled with joy instead of pain or discomfort. An old Labrador Retriever is especially prone to developing this disease. Osteoarthritis, or Degenerative Joint Disease DJD , is a progressive inflammation of the joints caused by deterioration and breakdown in cartilage. This action leads to an increase in friction, which causes significant pain for dogs. In cases of osteoarthritis, this cartilage cushion begins to break down because of factors such as age or injury. If a dog has canine atopic dermatitis, the immune system reacts too strongly to common environmental allergens absorbed through the skin, such as mold spores and grass. A dog with atopic dermatitis will typically show signs and symptoms between 3 months to 6 years of age. Labrador Retrievers are amongst the most common dog breeds to develop food and skin allergies. Gastric Distention and Volvulus Bloat Canine bloat , or gastric distention and volvulus GDV , is a condition where the stomach swells abnormally. Bloat is a serious condition that requires immediate emergency care. Dogs of all shapes and sizes can bloat, but some breeds are more susceptible than others. Unfortunately, Labradors are at the top of the list for susceptibility to this condition. The causes of bloat in Labs and other dogs are unknown, but there is likely a genetic element. Dogs who recover from bloating should never be used as breeding stock again. Got a Lab? Get Pet Insurance Coverage You love your dog like a child, but you cannot control what your puppy is dealt with in the genetics department. Health struggles can affect your Labrador Retriever, and his genes will determine what medical conditions or diseases he develops. What if cancer happens? What else might go wrong with your dog in an emergency that will require immediate attention? As a dog owner, you want to make sure that your Lab pup has the best chance possible at living a healthy and happy life. A pet insurance policy will handle any medical issue or expense which may come your way, which is a significant help, especially with how expensive veterinary bills can get. Get insurance quotes today and see for yourself how much better life will be with this coverage. Between 8 weeks and 10 months, your puppy has a ton of growing to do, and they change drastically from month to month. Each stage of growth requires specific attention, exercise, and diet, so there is much to learn and pay attention to these different growth stages. There may be behavioral challenges while your pup adjusts to their new life without their mother and siblings. This period of adjustment can sometimes lead to fearful and timid behavior, and your puppy will need as much attention and affection as possible. They should be eating 3—4 small meals a day at this stage. You can begin basic command, leash, and potty training at this point too. Although the schedule is not complete this is a critical period to begin socialization and making sure they are calm and friendly with other dogs, just make sure they are also vaccinated. We highly recommend making training a part of their daily activities at this age. Biting can be an issue at this stage too, as they will begin teething, and they will start exploring and chewing whatever they can find. Chew toys and consistent command reinforcement are both vital for avoiding this behavior. The good news is that your puppy will grow out of this habit at around 6 months old. Your lab should also be house-trained by this point, but there may still be the occasional accident. Remember to be gentle but firm when this happens, and your pooch will likely move through it swiftly. They will begin losing their baby teeth at this point, and biting and chewing may reach its peak. Firm but gentle commands, chew toys, and loads of patience are essential at this stage. Your puppy will be testing the limits and may start showing dominance, ignoring known commands, and asserting more independence. You can now drop their meals down to two meals per day, but be sure that they are not eating too quickly. Your puppy will start to closely resemble an adult at 6 months, but remember that mentally, they are still puppies and will need loads of direction and training. Females may enter their first heat at 6—7 months, so keep a careful watch for stray males. They will still display puppy tendencies and traits and have a ton of excitable energy, but they should be fairly obedient and well-trained by this stage. Be sure to give your Labrador plenty of exercise at this stage to help keep them from misbehavior. They will have reached their full height by now but may still gain weight and muscle mass in the coming months. Unless you intend on breeding, you should consider neutering and spaying your puppy to avoid wandering and unwanted pregnancies. While some breeders recommend that you wait until a year old, this is a perfectly suitable time to perform the procedure. They may still gain weight and muscle mass but much slower than during the past few months. They will still display puppy characteristics and even test boundaries, but all in all, they should be obedient and well-trained by now. They will have a ton of energy and still enjoy playtimes and loads of exercise. While they are at their full height at this age, some Labs may appear lanky and still have weight to fill out in the coming months. When Do Labradors Stop Growing? All dogs are unique, and the question of when they stop growing is largely dependent on the individual. Anecdotally, your Lab should have reached their full weight by 18 months and full height by 9—12 months. Most breeders agree that your Lab will stop growing at some point during their second year. Even so, any weight gain during their second year will be minimal, and they will have done the majority of their growth by their first birthday. Mentally, they are out of the puppyhood phase of testing boundaries and disobedience by their first year— if correctly trained. If you have been consistent in training thus far, your Lab should be friendly, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday and into adulthood. In males, neutering can sometimes result in a calmer, more relaxed dog, and this, in turn, will slow down his need for exercise and may result in weight gain. A study in showed that dogs neutered before 37 weeks may gain more weight, while dogs that had the procedure after 37 weeks had a slower growth trajectory. The difference was minimal, though, and there is no reason to assume that these procedures have much of an effect on growth rates in dogs. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth While some puppies may grow quicker or slower than the agreed-upon average, this is usually nothing to be concerned about due to the individual and unique nature of dogs. However, if your pooch is gaining weight rapidly or not gaining enough, there may be deeper issues to look into. If your dog is from working or hunting stock, they may be smaller than average Labs and are usually lighter for work in the field. Size may also be genetic, and if your Lab comes from small parents, they will be smaller than average. The same may be true of heavier-than-average Labs—if their parents are large, they will likely be similar in size. However, larger-than-average weights may also be due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise , or a combination of both, so be sure to keep their exercise and feeding habits consistent. Image Credit: rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock Growth Distinctions of Different Labradors Although they are designated under the same breed, there are two different types of common Labradors: English and American. English Labradors tend to be stockier and more muscular than their American counterparts and have a thick, waterproof coat , while American Labs have a slender build with a slightly finer coat. English Labs are slightly shorter, topping out at around 22 inches, but their stocky and muscular build often makes them heavier than American Labs. In fact, English Labs have been known to weigh up to 20 pounds more than American Labs without being considered overweight. American Labs are known to be slightly more active and energetic than English Labs, while English Labs tend to be less excitable and more laid back. English Labs are by no means lazy, though, and they still have plenty of energy and stamina to go around. Conclusion: Monthly Labrador Growth Pictures Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the growth rate of your Labrador puppy and given you a better idea of what to expect during the different stages. See also:. Labrador puppy weight. It can be hard to know what the right weight is for your specific pup. An American Lab is likely to weigh less than an English Lab in general, but not always! How much do Labs weigh in general? Male Labradors weigh between 60lbs and 80lbs, while females weigh in at between 55lbs and 75lbs. But many healthy Labradors fall outside these averages. As you can see, there is quite a range! Labrador Puppy Weight Lots of our readers want to know how much should my Labrador weigh at this age or that age. Labrador puppies are growing fast, and their weight is constantly changing. We used the data from our forum to create the Lab weight chart below. If you want a rough idea of how much your pup should weigh at different stages of their young life, just compare them to this chart and see how they match up. But remember, average Labrador weight is not totally straight forward… Average Labrador Weight Labradors come in a wide variety of sizes. So average Labrador Retriever weight figures can be misleading. As a very rough guide an adult female Labrador might weigh between 55 and 70lbs. An adult male Lab will weigh 65 — 80lbs. Female Lab weight will on average be lower than male Lab weight, but as you can see there is a considerable cross over. But Labradors also come in a couple of different types, and his type will have an impact upon his ideal Labrador weight. English Labs bred from show lines are likely to be at the upper end of the scale. You can expect English Lab weight to be around 60 — 70 lbs for a female and 70 — 80 lbs for a male. Some of our chunkier, show bred Labs can be a good twenty pounds or more heavier than their field bred cousins, without necessarily being overweight. Whereas the American Lab who is field bred is likely to be at the lower end of average. Volume for volume, muscle weighs more. So it is worth bearing in mind, that a very fit dog will have more muscle and may weigh more than an unfit dog of similar dimensions. Black Lab Weight In theory there should be no difference in weight between Labradors of different colors. Black Labrador weight for an English black Lab will probably be at the higher end of the range, for an American black Lab it will likely be lower. Black Labs are frequently found in both these categories, but some Lab colors differ. For example the chocolates. Chocolate Lab Weight Chocolate Labs are more likely to be show bred than field bred. English Labs weigh more than American Labs in general, and may therefore be at the higher end of average when it comes to weight. This is because yellow Labs are commonly found in both categories. White Labs are more likely to be English Labs, and will therefore probably be at the heavier end of the scale. Fox red Labs are normally American Labs, and will often be thinner in build and therefore lighter in weight. The way to effectively judge whether your Lab is at an ideal weight is not through the scales. It is by feel and appearance. You should not be able to see ribs, but if you press firmly along his sides you should just be able to feel your fingers bumping along them. But in most cases it really is not necessary to weigh your puppy every day, or even every week! Any more than you would weigh your three year old child on a daily or even weekly basis. There are however, some exceptions. Very thin puppies Occasionally we have people post up about puppies that are desperately underweight and clearly failing to thrive. Most of these comments come from people that have purchased puppies that are not ready to leave their mothers, and should not have been sold by the breeder. Some of these puppies are as young as three weeks old. If you have inadvertently been sucked into this horrible trade in underage puppies, do contact a vet for help with feeding your puppy, as a matter of urgency. If you are concerned that your puppy might be seriously underweight, again, your vet is the first port of call. As a very rough guide, many Labrador puppies will weigh around a kilo for every week of their lives. So you would expect a ten week puppy to weigh something in the region of ten kilos or around twenty-two pounds. A twenty percent variation around this would be fairly normal. If your puppy falls outside this variation he may still be perfectly healthy, but if you are inexperienced, a check with the vet is a good way to put your mind at rest. Should I Weigh My Dog? You may need to weigh your dog if he needs medical treatment. Determining the appropriate dose of some drugs requires that we know the exact weight of the patient. But in this case your veterinarian will probably do it for you at their check-ups and assessments. The main reasons to weigh a dog are loss or gain. Trying to put weight on a very thin puppy? You may want to check your progress with regular weigh-ins for a while to make sure they are sufficiently gaining weight. Trying to help your adult Labrador weight decrease? Checking their weight each week will help you to know that you are succeeding, along with visual checks. How to weigh a dog If you need to weigh a puppy, and he is small enough to hold in your arms, you can do this at home. Just weigh yourself on the bathroom scales without him, then weigh yourself again whilst holding the dog, and subtract the first weight from the second. This is accurate enough for most purposes. Larger dogs will need to be weighed on purpose built scales. Most vet surgeries have one in the waiting room, and some pet stores have them too. Really tiny dogs can be weighed accurately on a good sized set of kitchen scales. For once, this is a situation where appearances really do count. Try to get into the habit of looking at your dog objectively and of avoiding comparing with other dogs, many of whom will be overweight. You may find that some other dog owners will tell you your nice slim Labrador is actually too thin. This happens a lot, largely because people are simply getting used to so many dogs being overweight, including some of those receiving the highest accolades in our show rings. Again, if you are worried, check with your vet, but the chances are if someone is telling you this that actually your dog is healthy, and it is really their dog who is overweight. The Lab puppy weight chart shows you the average weight for male and female Labs every month from 2 months old, up until 12 months if you have a puppy Lab, check out our New Puppy Checklist to learn more about what to bring home for your first 24 hours and beyond. Doing so helps you and your veterinarian keep your puppy healthy. Are There Different Sizes of Labradors? Among the retriever breeds, the Labrador is one of the largest, where an adult male can top the scales at 80 pounds. Labrador Retrievers may differ in size due to individual variation and outside influences, such as the amount or type of food they eat, the amount or frequency of exercise they get, or underlying health conditions that may affect appetite or growth. But overall, a retriever should ideally hit a 5 out of 9 on the body condition score, regardless of the actual weight number on a scale. A healthy size Labrador has an evident abdominal tuck and observable waist, viewed from both the side and top of the dog. The AKC considers Lab puppies to be in adulthood when they reach 12 to 18 months of age, though there are outliers — those who grow faster or slower, reaching maturity either before 1 year old or not until 2 years old. Like other large dog breeds, Labs go through multiple stages of puppyhood until they reach adulthood. The average height for Labrador puppies is largely unknown due to insufficient data, but the average adult Labrador Retriever gets to be about inches tall at the shoulder. These numbers are contingent on the puppy receiving top-notch care, good nutrition, and appropriate levels of exercise. Different factors, such as health, breeding practices, and nutrition, may alter these estimated numbers. The below Labrador weight calculator can help you determine approximately how big your Labrador will be. But there are dogs who will fall outside of these parameters. The Waltham Petcare Science Institute offers puppy growth charts for veterinarians to use with their clients. You can also learn more about the ideal size and weight at different ages for different breeds with our Goldendoodle growth chart , a Golden Retriever size chart , Great Dane growth chart , or Chihuahua size chart. For that advice, consult your veterinarian.