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They will want to be with you. Have a crate or bed next to your bed for at least the first few weeks while you get them into a Puppy night-time routine. Here is how to get a puppy to sleep through the night. Alone Training Teaching your Pug puppy that they can be totally fine being left alone can be done with stuffed chew toys, time and patience. Remember to do it slowly to avoid any stress! Toilet Training Training Practically every website you read may tell you that Toilet training your Pug puppy can be a challenge. As with alone training, start sooner rather than later. Of course, if they run into any birds, butterflies and hear planes flying over, it will be great for them to get acquainted already. Have fun gathering surfaces with different textures for them to explore, like synthetic grass, tiles, and soil. Use treats! Remember to use lots of treats and praise when training. They love making your tail wag! Repeat their name to them a lot in the first week, so it really starts to click. Recall — How to teach your Pug puppy to come back when called — This is important for safety. Pugs generally stay close, but they can be very friendly and want to run up to people and other dogs for a bit of a cuddle, so a good recall will always help. But they can enjoy fetch games on a smaller scale, get on the floor and interact and play with your Pug puppy to learn what they enjoy. This will help to avoid resource guarding. Husbandry Tasks Pugs love affection but should be handled with care. Be mindful to not treat them like toys. Not going to blame children to think they are toys though — the resemblance is uncanny. To do this we want to teach them that hands will do nice things to them so use plenty of treats when handling your puppy. Week 2 — Training your Pug puppy Week 2 already! The bad news? Housebreaking is hard. Getting started early on their training will pay off in the long run, saving you lots of unwanted accidents and surprises throughout the house. If your pug starts to actively sniff, circle the room, or run around excitedly out of the blue, they may need a bathroom break. Whining, sitting near the door, or giving you anxious, nervous stares are other common signs of a full bladder. To do this, hang a bell by the door at pug level, of course and use treats to get them comfortable with it. Establish a routine Pugs are little dogs, and that means they have little bladders, too. Get in the habit of taking them out as soon as you wake up, shortly after they eat a meal, after playtime, before you go to bed, and every hour or so in between. Each time you take your pug outside, return to the same spot. No luck? Bring them back inside and try again in 20 minutes. Your pug wants to please you, so seeing how proud you are when they do their business outside will encourage them to keep up that behavior. The shame may actually encourage them to find hidden spots around the house to pee and poop. Instead, clean up the accident with a pet cleaner so that there are no lingering smells in the house that would encourage them to keep going to the bathroom inside, and focus on taking them outside regularly to prevent repeat accidents. If you do catch your pup starting to pee or poop indoors, firmly say no firm, but not yelling! Reward them if they finish their business outside so that they know that they ultimately did the right thing! Consistency is key in many things, and housebreaking your pup is no different. Related Blog Posts. House Training a Pug Overview One of the most important things that you will ever teach your Pug is house training. And, while it can be a bit challenging and you'll have to devote quite some time to this, if you follow these guidelines you are sure to find success. These tips will be applicable for both young puppies and adults of any age that need to re-learn the rules. The main goal will be to train your Pug that one certain area outside is the bathroom area. And, that when you are not home to take your Pug there, pee pads are used for bathroom needs. While the exact time needed for potty training varies depending on how often you are there to actually teach the lessons, expect for this to take about 3 months for your Pug to be fully trained. Also, plan for there to be little setbacks here and there as your Pug learns these important lessons. Above all else, do not give up. The Pug is a breed that aims to please. With proper prepping and patient guidance, your Pug can be a very well-trained dog. Step 1: Prepping No doubt, you want to get right into housebreaking your Pug; however, prepping is a vitally important step and is needed to ensure your Pug is set up for success. Certainly, while you are setting things up, bring your Pug outside as needed details ahead. And, once you have everything in place, you'll find that house training is easy and accidents are few and far in between. Those that do happen will be nicely contained. Choose a designated bathroom area. Your Pug should not just go to the bathroom somewhere outside. Pick on certain area that will be used. This should be away from family foot traffic like outdoor barbecue areas and easy to reach no matter what the weather. Choose a containment method. If your Pug is allowed to roam the house or even just an entire room like the living room or family room this will inevitably lead to puddles of pee and piles of poo all over the place. So, the goal is to keep your Pug in one spot any time that you cannot closely supervise. This means when you are busy cooking dinner, taking a nap, etc. The goal should also be that the area is very comfortable, with everything a Pug needs to be content: Quality bed, lots of fun toys, and food and water bowls. One of the best methods to create this sort of contained area is via an indoor canine playpen. These are square or circular heavy-duty plastic open-topped pens. Some have doors and these are recommended. This is 24 inches 61 cm high and offers 8 square feet of space perfect for a Pug puppy. It has a nice little door to easily get your Pug in and out, and the door can be left open when you're home and watching your pup and closed when you're away. What's nice about this is that as your Pug grows, you can add on panels to increase its size. And, it comes in 7 different colors, to blend in nicely with your home decor. This is a bit taller at 34 inches 86 cm and it's circular in shape, offering 21 square feet. Though it's roomier, it will still keep housebreaking accidents contained and serve the purpose of keeping your Pug in a comfortable spot while you work on training. No matter which option you choose to create this sort of defined area, it should be lined with pee pads. While a puppy will not automatically know that the pads should be used, they will be used by default. If you find that that your Pug doesn't use the pee pads , urine and feces end up near them instead of on them, or they are moved or chewed on, this can be addressed by using larger ones, using a method to keep them in place, or using alternatives like reusable pads or even real grass patches. Have a supervision method. Since your Pug will be in a contained area see previous point 2 any time that you cannot closely oversee your pup, it's now time to choose a method of effective supervision when you are there to do so. The goal will be to have your Pug close enough that you'll be able to interrupt any attempts to pee or poo in the house. It's important that you don't just assume you'll somehow do this. Puppies dart around quickly and Pugs of any age can move around a corner and leave you a nice little present in the blink of an eye. You'll want to avoid accidents like this since each one is a step in the wrong direction and a missed opportunity to instill house training lessons. One of the best ways to keep your Pug right near your side is the tethering method. Your Pug will be on leash and harness and you will have the other end connected to you. Please note that a harness must be used, not a collar. Brachycephalic breeds like the Pug should never be on leash and collar no matter what; it can constrict the trachea and cause breathing problems. Next, under point 4, you'll see details of what you'll need to tether your Pug while house training. Have two leashes and at least one harness. As mentioned above, you'll want a leash and harness combo for when you are supervising your Pug. You will also need these items for when you take your Pug outside for bathroom needs. There are several types of accessories that will be used for these purposes: 1. A comfortable, properly fitting harness. This is for any time your Pug is on leash indoor tethering to you or being taken outside. Unlike collars that put strain on the neck and trachea and is a big no-no for brachycephalic breeds, a harness distributes pressure over the much stronger back, shoulders, and chest. This is super easy to place on you just slip your Pug's front paws through the leg holes and then there is an adjustable buckle and Velcro on the back to secure it. There is an o-ring right between the shoulder blades to connect the leash. This is padded for comfort and the material is a breathable air-mesh. It also comes in 13 different colors, so your Pug always looks stylish. A short soft-handled leash. This is the type of leash you'll want to use when you are with your Pug indoors and supervising him during house training. You'll want the leash to be short about 6 feet to keep your Pug close. And, the soft handle will allow you to either slip it over your wrist or secure it through a belt loop, which allows both of your hands to be free. A retractable leash. For when you take your Pug out to the designated bathroom area, it can be useful to have a retractable leash. And, these are great for taking walks as well. Being able to adjust the length at any time is a huge plus and helps you stay in control of your Pug. It can extend out to 16 feet and even comes with a lifetime guarantee. Have effective training treats. A big part of housebreaking is being able to let a puppy or dog know that they did something right by going to the bathroom in the designated area. This teaches them what is expected and offers motivation for doing that action again. Praise works to some degree; however, the fastest method is to combine praise with reward in the form of a training treat. There are a few elements to keep in mind: The treat should be something reserved for reward not given as a snack at any rate , small so it doesn't interfere with appetite , moist which is often more appreciated over dry , and packed with flavor. You'll also want it to be up to the standards of any food that your give your Pug, meaning made in the USA, no chemical preservatives, no artificial additives, and no fillers like corn or soy. Choose the cue words. Dogs always learn best when they can connect a word or phrase to an action. So, when you are potty training your Pug puppy, you will want to use one certain phrase each time you head outside for bathroom needs. You'll also use this phrase again to mark the moment that the deed was done and when you give reward details ahead. Common choices are 'do the deed', 'pitty-potty', 'bathroom', 'potty time', and 'get busy'. Choose whichever phase you like, but make sure that it's one you don't mind saying out loud in front of other people. Arm yourself with an enzyme cleanser. It's important to clean any accidents the right way. Urine and stools contain certain enzymes that soap and water do not remove. If these enzymes remain, they will produce a lingering odor. You may not smell anything, but your Pug with exceptional canine senses will indeed pick up the scent. It is a strong motivator to go to the bathroom in that area again. To prevent this from happening, clean any accidents with soap and warm water, blot it dry, and then spray the area with a cleanser like Simple Solution Enzyme Formula , allow it to stay there for 5 minutes, and then blot the area dry one last time. To summarize your housebreaking prep: You have a method of keeping your Pug in one area like a playpen that is lined with pee pads for any time that you are not closely monitoring things, you have a supervision method for when you are watching your pup, a designated bathroom area has been chosen, you have training treats to hand out for reward, you have a leash and harness for your Pug, you've chosen cue words, and you have an enzyme cleanser to deal with any accidents in the house. You're now ready to fully house train your Pug. Step 2: Taking Your Pug Out for Bathroom Needs You will want to take your Pug to the designated area: Right after your puppy or dog wakes up About 20 minutes after a meal Every so-many hours, depending on age. This is typically every 2 hours for a 2-month old, every 3 hours for a 3-month old, etc. Before each walk allowing a dog to pee and poo along the walking route is a missed opportunity to teach house training rules Before bed Any time that you are supervising your Pug and there is a motion to pee or poo Right when you get home if you've been away As you can imagine, you'll be quite busy bringing your puppy outside many times each day. Fortunately, as a puppy matures, the bladder and bowel muscles become stronger and there is a gradual ability to hold bathroom needs for a longer duration. Still, an adult Pug will need to be brought out 4 to 6 times per day. The exact steps are as follows: 1. Quickly bring your Pug to the exit door. If you must, carry him or her. It's okay if some urine dribbles; as long as your pup finishes urinating outside, consider it a 'win'. As you are heading out, grab the training treats. Also be saying the cue words out loud. Example: 'Let's go do the deed, do you have to go do the deed? Bring your Pug to the designated area and stand in the center of it. With your Pug on leash and harness, allow them to sniff around and choose the perfect spot. Plan to be patient. Some dogs can take up to 15 minutes, particularly if there's a need for a bowel movement. If your Pug pees, but you think he may need go number two, remain in the area. As the deed is being done, offer praise, 'Good dog, you're doing the deed! The very moment that your Pug is done, offer both praise and reward, 'Good dog, you did the deed, good dog! Both of you need to work as a team. If you find that things are not going as planned, re-read the rules and see how closely you are following them. Ahead, we'll touch on some commonly seen house training issues and how to deal with them. Going to the bathroom right after coming back in the house: A very common complaint by owners is that their Pug is peeing in the house soon after being brought back into the home. It can seem as if a pup is doing this on purpose, as if the dog is mocking the training system. But the answer is far more logical than that. In most cases this is because the owner did not have the patience to wait outside while the puppy chose the perfect spot and the body relaxed enough for urination or the muscles had time to push out a bowel movement. After the body relaxed or the bowel muscled readied, the pup was brought back in and of course, went to the bathroom where he or she was at the time: in the house. Stay outside for at least 15 minutes while your Pug is learning his or her housebreaking rules. This can seem like a very long time while standing there and waiting for a dog to go to the bathroom. For this reason, it can help to set up an outside chair, bring a book or take the time to check emails and messages. Barking at night - Is it a bathroom need or a call for attention? One of the hardest elements - but one that you will soon conquer - is to learn your Pug's signals that there is a bathroom need. One of the most challenging times to figure this out is at night when you are awakened by barking. If you are unsure, it's always best to bring your dog outside. However, it will be important to make it very clear that this is a serious time. No playing, no talking and right back to bed afterward. If you are quite certain that barking is due to attention seeking behavior and not for housebreaking reasons, as long as you are sure your Pug is safe and comfortable, all yelps and whines should be ignored. Constant bathroom needs: Puppies may need to pee every couple of hours and adult Pugs depending on how much they drink and often often they eat may need to head out 6 or more times per day. If you feel that your Pug needs to urinate much more then normal, this can point to a health issue with bladder infection and UTI being the most common. So, it's always best to check with the veterinarian. Correcting vs punishment: Pugs are very sensitive and do not react well to being yelled at. For housebreaking, that sort of reaction to accidents will not get you anywhere. Pugs tend to have their feelings hurt if not disciplined the right way and therefore rubbing a dog's nose in poop or getting upset will not be beneficial to actually teaching what is expected. It is best to give tons of enthusiastic praise for deeds done right and forgive accidents. Did you find this to be helpful? It's a page massive book that guides you through every aspect of your Pug's life. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Training crate Remember, it could take months for your Pug to reach your potty-training goal. The important thing is to remain calm at all times, observe patience, and be prepared for some slightly messy accidents along the way. This will then help you devise an appropriate potty schedule. Take your pup to the toilet every 30 minutes throughout the day. Helpful hack! Young pups may not be able to hold their bladders through the night. So try to wake them up every hours for a toilet break. Top tip 2 — limit exposure to the home Cordon your puppy off to one area of the home whilst potty training. By doing this you can keep an eye on your pup easily whilst they are still learning about their new environment. Supervise your puppy really closely whilst they are going through the potty training phase. Once you know the cues, you can limit any future accidents. When your pup wants to go outside, walk them directly to the area where you want them to go potty. Once your pup does their business give them a little treat to reinforce the behavior. Top tip 3- use cue words Start using the same cue word every time you take your pup outside to do their business. Keep it simple. Top tip 4- offer rewards A reward-based system is the best way to keep your Pug on the ball and motivated. When you take your Pug outside to relieve themselves, use your new command, and offer a small treat and some praise when they use the bathroom in the correct location. This is positive reinforcement done right and offers your Pug motivation for good behavior in the future. Top-tip: make sure the reward you choose is something that they do not eat every day. Have a special treat reserved for this purpose and this purpose only. Remember, consistency is key. When you want to schedule a potty break, try not to stimulate or engage your pup too much. Playtime and potty time should have a clear distinction. Keep things clear for your Pug! Top tip 4- puppy pad training Many new Pug parents start by introducing their pets to puppy pad training. Eventually, you want your Pug to go outside to do their business, right? If your pup is going to have an accident it will probably be in one of these five situations. Top tip 5- supervise Last but not least, be ready to supervise. A lot. If, at any time, you notice your pup about to poop or pee indoors or any undesirable location for that matter you need to be ready to step in. To start with, it can help to keep your Pug on a harness each time you take them outside for a bathroom break. Focus on quality time with your pup. A pup outside is a distracted pup. Once your Pug starts getting excited about their surroundings they might completely forget that they needed to go to the toilet. Keep your pup on the leash so that you can redirect them and ensure that they do their business before going back inside. But what should you actually be looking out for? Each dog is different but there are some common behaviors that canines may display before they go potty. Knowing these signs can help you avoid accidents and reinforce positive behaviors. When a dog needs to go to the toilet they might display the following behaviors: Becoming restless or anxious Going to their designated toilet area or pad Sniffing around the room Walking in circular motions Be super vigilant and supervise your pup as much as possible. As soon as you notice any of these behaviors, take your puppy outside and supervise them as they go to the bathroom. And remember, supervision is also very important when going outside. This will help avoid unnecessary accidents. Never yell or rub their nose in pee these methods do not work. DO — Use cue words or actions e. Then take your pup outside to do their business and reward them with a treat and some praise. DO — Clean up any accidents with an enzyme based cleaning product to minimize smells. If your pup can smell where they last went to the toilet they will be more likely to do it again in the same place. Stay calm and carry on Are Pugs hard to potty train? Just remember to stay calm and never scold your pug. Consistency is the key to success. How long does it take to potty train a pug? Most pug pups will be should be relatively trained with within weeks. How often do pugs need to pee? In other words, you should be taking your 3-month old puppy out every 3 hours, your 6-month old puppy every 6 hours, etc. As an adult, I took my pug out once in the morning and once at night. Consistency is important when potty training a pug. With a consistent schedule, your pug will quickly learn when and where they should do their business. Potty training a pug can be accomplished in a few short weeks with patience and consistency. Even better if you let your dog out in your backyard as it helps soil just one area instead of the entire backyard. When potty training a pug, it is important to have patience. Pugs are a unique breed of dog and they require a different approach to potty training than other breeds. But you can their to his strong suit… 5 — Use positive reinforcement: Rewarding your pug for going potty outside will help them to understand that this is what you want them. Positive reinforcement can be done with treats, praise, or even a favorite toy. It is important to be consistent with the rewards so that the pug knows that they are being praised for going to the bathroom in the correct spot. Another way to reward a pug is to take them for a walk or playtime immediately after they go to the bathroom. This will show them that good things happen when they use the restroom outside and will help reinforce the behavior. Crate training can be helpful when potty training a pug. I found that it worked, but I phased it out within a few months of use. I had it indoors and eventually moved it the patio… then completely phased it out when I moved from Downtown Portland in about a year. So this saved me a lot of hassle of getting rained on and cleaning Benji on the way back in. At first, I bought the cheap one from Petco and that was a mistake — it ended stinking! These ones were much better and you can buy replacement turfs. More tips for potty training your pug… 11 — Avoiding Accidents and Setbacks One of the best ways to potty train a pug is by avoiding accidents. If you can keep your pug from having accidents, then they will be less likely to have accidents in the future. One way to avoid accidents is to take them out often, following tip 2 accompanied with positive reinforcement is really all you need. This will help them to learn when they need to go and will also give them a chance to relieve themselves before they have an accident. Another way to avoid accidents is to keep their living area clean. This means keeping their crate or designated potty area clean and free of any debris that could cause an accident. Finally, you should avoid giving your pug food or water right before bed. This will help to prevent any accidents that could occur overnight. Instead, clean up the mess calmly and continue working on their training. While there are definitely some benefits to getting professional help, it is important to keep in mind that potty training, and house training a pug in general, is something that you can do on your own if you are willing to put in the time and effort. A chug — ie. How to discipline a pug? There are many different theories with regards to discipline, and many advocates argue that you can train your dog on positive reinforcement alone. Overall, I would find a trainer online that you can learn their methodology and stick with it.
Follow our Weaver Dairy Goldens Facebook group for updates on this and upcoming litters. These dogs are eager to please, and can adapt to many different environments. Goldens have a very pleasant personality. The Golden Retriever's coat ranges in color from light to dark gold, with varying shades of red. Their easy-going temperament makes them one of the most popular breeds in America. Our breeder obtained Goldens from these lines and has been breeding the lines since .Pups from this bloodline have been known to live up to 18 years we sold a pup in April to a family whose male pup from these lines lived to be 18, and several others to families whose pups from these lines lived to be years. We moved to Bessemer City, North Carolina in .As a profession, Ken is a truck driver and I am a Legal Nurse working from home. We have owned dogs and cats for as long as we have been together. She looked like a black Golden Retriever, and had the best personality and temperament ever. He is our pride and joy. School and his fiancee', Hannah, keep him very busy. They have the perfect little family. Mags and Baley are even more spoiled with the kids than when they lived with us, which I never guessed would be possible. After researching both breeds, we chose the Golden because they are a little less energetic, but still have a great personality and are eager to please. Our first Golden, Zoe, was on the higher end of the energy spectrum for a Golden. We didn't realize how laid back the breed could be until we got our next Goldens, Baley and Maggie Mae litter mates. Then Baxter, who came from the same breeder but a different bloodline, showed us just how chill these wonderful dogs can be. The fact that this is the best breed ever has been confirmed with each Golden we have had the pleasure of owning over the years. We will likely never own another breed. Hobbies: Our Goldens are our main hobby and our passion. We are constantly learning better ways to take care of them. We love have puppies once or twice a year.We also enjoy spending time together as a couple and with friends, riding our Harley Davidson motorcycle in the mountains. It is a great stress reliever. Our Location. Helms family .We are conveniently located about an hour outside of Charlotte, in Norwood, North Carolina, in the small community of Cottonville also just 15 minutes from Albemarle, NC. Our property is sixty acres of fields, grass, woods and a creek for our Goldens to explore and enjoy. We are situated off the main road, so our girls and boys can play to their hearts content every day. So take a look around, and visit with us. We believe in taking as natural approach to their health as possible, so our pups are raised with limited intervention, aside from their vaccinations and regular dewormings, These babies receive lots of socialization from our small children and other visitors we have : We also supplement with NuVet Plus, and send home samples with each pup. We are AKC inspected, and welcome your visit by appointment, can't wait to meet you! See our Reserving a Puppy page for answers to frequently asked questions and to download a copy of our reservation form and health guarantee.We are continually updating these as we receive them. This allows us to carefully select our moms and dads, to ensure you the healthiest pup! We screen for hips, elbows, eyes, and heart, as per the Golden Retriever standard. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We as a family find great joy in helping make memories for you as a dog lover. As we are family, our dogs are family. We are devoted to our puppies and socialize with them daily. We ensure each puppy enjoys their newly found life by playing and running in the vast open land surrounding our home. We also daily reward our puppies with treats for their good behavior! We do have a few families in our local area that help to raise some of our breeds as well. We do this to make sure and give the parents and puppies the love and family environment they deserve. When you visit our home and walk up to meet all of the puppies, you will see how friendly and playful all of them are for that very reason. WHy Choose Us? We Are Family We are blessed to call our dogs family. Everyone in our home pitches in to give love and care to our pets. It truly is a family affair with our children coming along and contributing as well. Visits Welcome Trust is a major factor when choosing a breeder. That is why we invite you to our home and welcome any questions you may have before or after your purchase. We take great pride in the temperament and health of our dogs and puppies. Personal Touch We can't wait to hear from you! Travel Experience As much as we love meeting our puppy's new family we are happy to say we have had much success with our puppies traveling to their new home via air and ground pet nanny transport. They will learn everything from potty training to long-distance commands and obedience. All open houses are pm — pm weather permitting At Golden Creek Kennels, located in Durham, North Carolina, our goldens have been the passion of our lives for over 20 years. With so many families, so many memories and so many beautiful golden puppies. Golden Creek Kennels began soon after we built our first home. I had asked my husband, Crawford for a golden puppy for Christmas, that was our girl Kelsey back in .Twenty years later we are as happy as our goldens are. Our beautiful goldens will always greet your as a true golden should, with a wagging tail, and that marvelous golden smile that they are so well known for. All of our puppy owners are families that come back time and time again, showing up for Open Houses to let their golden run with the others, and of course to show off their golden. We also do boarding for our customers who would not leave them with just anyone. Many of our families near and far are repeat customers seeking their 2nd and 3rd golden pup. We pride ourselves as breeders, that provide families with goldens that are top quality, healthy, intelligent, and temperament tested. Family members for years to come. All our goldens come from top ranking championship lines, and every puppy goes home with a 26 mo guarantee against such genetic disorders as hip dysplasia, heart murmurs or cataracts. Golden Creek Kennels is here for our families before and after the pup goes home. But the wonderful character is the same for both the American and English goldens. Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. At Golden Creek Kennels, we offer the best of both worlds. The American and the English Golden Retriever. The American Golden.
Boxer puppies for sale Salem, Oregon Boxer puppies for sale Salem, Oregon Introduction of the Boxer The Boxer dog breed originated in Germany and has been around since the late 19th century. His main purpose is for hunting large game. But this dog breed was also useful in guarding and driving livestock. It is said that he got his name due to using his front paws for just about anything. Boxer dogs look intimidating with their stern-looking faces and powerful bodies. But they are actually very loving family dogs that get along with children and other animals. They love being with their families, and being separated from them can lead them to develop separation anxiety. Since this working dog is highly intelligent but stubborn in nature, he is better suited for experienced owners. The average lifespan of the breed is 9—10 years. Look for a boxer puppies for sale Salem Oregon? Here is a brief background of this protective dog with a good sense of humour. History of the Boxer The Boxer dog breed is a descendant of the now-extinct Bullenbeisser a fighting dog with Mastiff ancestry and the Old English Bulldog. He was developed in Germany in the 19th century as hunters of deer, wild boar, and bear. Later on, he was used to guard and drive cattle. The man responsible for the creation of the Boxer breed was Georg Alt, who was from Munich. He crossed a brindle-coloured female Bullenbeisser named Flora with a local dog of unknown breed. In , the first German Boxer dog named Flocki joined a dog show in Munich. After winning the dog show, he was the first-ever Boxer dog to be listed down in the German Studbook. Modern Boxer dogs were believed to be the descendants of Flocki. He was then imported to the United States in and was accepted by the American Kennel Club the following year. The American Boxer Club was established in .In both world wars, various military tasks were given to Boxer dogs including guard dogs, attack dogs, and messenger dogs. The British Boxer Dog Club was then formed in .The Boxer breed was recognised by the Kennel Club shortly thereafter and classified under the Working Group. Versatile and hard-working, these dogs are capable of carrying out different canine work. Boxers are good choices for protection dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. Temperament and Intelligence of the Boxer puppies Salem for sale Extremely patient and gentle, the Boxer breed is good with children. But he is recommended for families with older children as he may accidentally knock over toddlers. Befriending other pets is possible if the Boxer dog is properly socialised at a young age. It will keep him from viewing small animals as prey and reduce his tendency to dominate same-sex dogs. Is a Boxer a good family dog? Yes, the Boxer breed is a good family dog. He may look noble and intimidating, but he is actually considered the Joker of the Dog World. Boxer dogs are playful and fun-loving. They love to be part of family activities and be the centre of attention. Are Boxer dogs dangerous? Boxer dogs may be tough-looking, but they are not generally aggressive. But they will stand guard and defend their families if necessary. Boxer dogs are initially wary of strangers, but they eventually warm up to them if no danger is detected. Their protective and loyal nature makes them good guard dogs as well as watchdogs. Are Boxers easy to train? Yes, Boxer dogs are easy to train if you are already experienced in handling the breed. They are intelligent but tend to be independent and stubborn. Due to this, they are not suited for first-time owners. Boxer dogs respond better to people that are firm and consistent. However, firm does not mean harsh. Instead of strict training methods, positive reinforcements are more effective in teaching this breed basic dog manners and tricks. Boxer Breed Highlights The Boxer dog breed is a loving, loyal, and protective companion. Boxer dogs are comical companions despite their intimidating appearance. The Boxer breed has low-maintenance grooming needs. As an energetic working dog, he has high exercise needs. Boxer dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone or unable to let off steam. Are there miniature boxers? Yes, but they are rare. Miniature boxers are either a product of mating purebred runts or cross-breeding small dogs that have similar characteristics to boxers, such as Boston terriers, pugs, rat terriers, and fox terriers. While some of these minis may closely resemble their larger counterparts, they may not act similarly. Are boxers hypoallergenic? Unfortunately, boxers are not hypoallergenic. What problems do Boxers have? Boxer dogs are brachycephalic, which means they have flat faces. This trait narrows their airway and causes breathing problems. As a result, Boxers should not be out in the sun for a long time as it can lead to heatstroke. Overexercising them must be avoided too to avoid triggering breathing difficulties. How long do Boxer dogs live? The Boxer dog breed has a short lifespan compared to other dogs. He can only live up to 9—10 years, and this is due to the prevalence of health issues in the breed. When buying a Boxer puppy, look for a reputable breeder whose breeding stock and litters are health-screened. This will help you determine how likely is your chosen Boxer puppy going to develop certain health conditions. Salem OR Salem is the capital of the U. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood of West Salem is in Polk County. Salem was founded in , became the capital of the Oregon Territory in , and was incorporated in .Wiki Salem Drop us a line! We will not send you unnecessary notices in the future. My name is Tetyana and I am glad to welcome you on the site of the breed nursery. My name is Sweetheart, and I have been fortunate enough to cross paths with a couple of wonderful humans who have showered me with endless care and affection. Sometimes, I get excited around other dogs during our first encounters, I tend to get a little hyper. But don't worry, as I quickly settle down and become the gentle and calm companion you would expect from a sweet soul like mine. Despite my mischievous side, I promise I won't cause any destruction. Instead, I have a tendency to collect your belongings and bring them to my cozy bed, finding comfort in their presence. Sometimes, my human discovers their shoes nestled beside me, but it's just my way of snuggling up to something familiar. When I find myself in solitude, inside my special space, I don't bark incessantly. Occasionally, I let out a gentle whine, longing for a little extra love and companionship. If there's a special place in your home and heart for a furry companion like me, I'll fill it with unconditional adoration, using my paws to gently remind you that love is always just a touch away.
Things to do with your English Bulldog New Hampshire is a great place to live with an English bulldog. The state has a diverse landscape, plenty of outdoor activities, and dog-friendly businesses. Hike the Trails Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. There are many hiking trails in New Hampshire that are perfect for English bulldogs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog, and take breaks often. Visit a Campground Camping is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many campgrounds in New Hampshire that allow dogs. Be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, and other supplies. There are many places to fish in New Hampshire, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to get a fishing license and follow all the rules and regulations. Go Boating Boating is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many places to boat in New Hampshire, both on rivers and lakes. Be sure to bring a life jacket for your dog and follow all the safety rules. There are many places to swim in New Hampshire, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and follow all the safety rules. Visit a Dog Park Dog parks are a great place for English bulldogs to run and play off-leash. There are many dog parks in New Hampshire, both in urban and rural areas. Visit Pet-Friendly Businesses New Hampshire has a number of pet-friendly businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and stores. These are just a few of the many things you can do with your English bulldog in New Hampshire. With its stunning scenery, endless activities, and friendly people, New Hampshire is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your furry friend. How do you breed for a healthier English Bulldog? Like all things in life, breeding for health is simply a matter of priority. We are blind to many of the breed priorities that distract other breeders from improving the health of the English Bulldog. We focus on health and personality and very little else. We are not interested in winning a blue ribbon in the show ring. Rather, we test for things like elongated soft palates, narrow tracheas, stenotic nares, luxation in the patellar tendons, heart defects, cherry eye, optic cilia, entropion, ect. We focus and prioritize creating healthy bloodlines, therefore our bulldogs are typically much healthier than the breed as a whole. After breeding for health, what other priorities are you focused on? Our true desire is to create the perfect family bulldog. We also believe a bulldog bred for the correct personality is essential to the family unit as well. A Bruiser Bulldog is bred for intelligence and playfulness. We want our bulldogs to be full of personality and some quirk. We believe a full personality along with a little stubbornness is the true North star of the bulldog breed and is what makes the unique among other breeds. We look for these personality traits in our adult bulldogs and continue to create bloodlines that reflect these qualities. What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in New Hampshire? Check out our available English Bulldog Puppies page. At times, we have available puppies but almost always have a waiting list as well. A quick look at our available puppies is the starting point to begin the process. Send us an email or give us call .If approved to adopt one of our puppies you are welcome to place a deposit to hold until your puppy is ready to go home. Greetings from the Wysongs! Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. Read more about the pups that are currently up for adoption. Read More… Foster Dogs FBRN is being faced with an increasing number of dogs who are ill, handicapped, or need expensive veterinary care before being placed. Meet our Foster Frenchies and please consider sponsoring one of them to ensure that they receive the care that they need. Read More… Surrender a Dog Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog… we are here to help! Read More… Volunteer We welcome you to join us in our efforts to rehabilitate and rehome needy French Bulldogs. We have many options for you to choose from, depending on your circumstances, time and resources. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes. Read More… Contact Us Learn about the many ways that you can get in touch with us. He has a Staffie sister, Lettie, who he adores and who has taught him so much with her gentle patience. He has doggie friends at daycamp he sees once a week. He is the best snuggler ever! He used to be a resource guarder, but will now bring you his toys for a treat! He loves our daily walks and meeting people. Thank you FBRN for picking us to be his family- we love him so much! Despite being mostly blind and deaf, Ham is thriving in his golden years, especially with his folks now working from home. Thank you FBRN for our goodest good boy! We are so grateful for every day with him. She had cherry eye surgery in March right before Covid quarantine and the surgery was a success. A gigantic thank you to FBRN for allowing me to adopt this perfect little nugget. All Rights Reserved. A c 3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: .Powered by Geeks4Rent. Bulldog Spotlight Gordon James I joined rescue because my family became overwhelmed with five kids and life, plain and simply. I decided I was ready to go because we were in an apartment and every day, it was getting smaller and smaller and smaller. My family loved me, but sometimes, love is not enough because I can hardly breathe. We are dedicated to saving and re-homing Bulldogs so they can have the healthy, happy lives they truly deserve. The group has been dedicated to the breed since , as a component of Lone Star Bulldog Club. Lone Star Bulldog Club Rescue accepts Bulldogs from owners who can no longer keep them, as well as retrieves Bulldogs from shelters and other undesirable situations. Each Bulldog in the program is lovingly cared for in a foster home until the perfect forever family for that specific dog is found. Every Bulldog is different: personality, temperament, energy, comfort with kids and other animals, medical needs and more. We take all these factors into consideration when making a forever-home match. Adoption is a coordinated process between the coordinators, fosters and applicant. We work together with our knowledge of the dog to find the best home. When you apply, you might have a particular dog in mind. But please understand, that dog may already be in the process of being adopted by an approved family who has been waiting weeks to be matched with the right dog. But they would prefer to be the only thing with fur in their home. They still make a wonderful companion and deserve a loving home. For your convenience, they have been designated as Forever Single on our website. If you plan on only having one dog, we hope you will consider one of these. Since most of our volunteers live in the North Texas area, it is easier on us and the applying family if they live in this area. Because of this, our out-of-state adoptions are incredibly rare and only in neighboring states. If you are ready to submit your adoption application, please complete the Adopt A Bulldog Application. A volunteer will then review your application. This process can take some time, and not every home is a suitable home for a Bulldog, so please be patient. You are not buying a dog. My name is Monty and I am famous! Yesterday, my photo was all over social media and friends were begging someone to save me. The shelter said I had to be out by ….
Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We have two beautiful girls still looking for their forever home. My husband and I fell in love with Golden Retrievers in .Our first daughter was five years old and after much research we decided to bring home a puppy. What we did not realize at the time was the unconditional, everlasting love and dedication we were going to experience. We had two more children and brought home another Golden puppy. I can't imagine having raised our children and grand children without our Golden Girls playing with, loving and watching over them. Our Golden Retrievers possess a calm, gentle, and very intuitive disposition. They adore children, people in general and truly live to love and be loved. We are not a kennel. Our girls and their puppies share our home with us and are held and loved from birth. We welcome new families to come visit, take pictures, and get ready for their new fur baby. Each of our Golden Girls and the Studs used for breeding are checked for genetic defects just as their grandparents, great grand parents and all previous generations. Our puppies come from extensive generations of Championship Lineage. Pedigree and Health Certifications presented and time of visit. We breed according to the standard of the Golden Retriever Club of America. We provide our puppies with a Comprehensive Health Examination, their first vaccination and de-worming before they go home with their new families at the age of 8 weeks. Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies, you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies, we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. We even have all types of golden retrievers for sale! At My Golden Retriever Puppies, we pride ourselves on our golden retriever price being fair and affordable for high quality puppies. Location Information for Pennsylvania Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies, we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Pennsylvania? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of our golden retriever puppies for sale. How do I know which breeders to trust in Pennsylvania? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article.
Why do German Shepherd puppies need the best dog food? German Shepherd puppies need dog food designed for large breed puppies to ensure controlled joint and bone growth. This is because large-breed puppies are prone to certain health risks like hip dysplasia and other Orthopedic conditions. The best dog food for German Shepherds will ensure your puppy grows healthy, strong, energetic, and with lovely skin and coats. Nutritional requirements for German Shepherds puppies German Shepherd puppies require a balanced diet that contains four types of nutrients below. These ingredients will ensure that your pup grows and develops optimally for a longer quality of life. Proteins Proteins help the puppies in building up their body tissues. Proteins can be found in chicken, salmon, beef, lamb, eggs, and dairy. Fats Fats are important for healthy skin, fur, brain, and vision. The recommended fat level per dry matter basis is 8. Fats can be found in fish oil, chicken fat, and beef fat. Digestible carbohydrates Because puppies are incredibly energetic, they need digestible carbs to provide them with energy. Digestible carbohydrates can be found in rice, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and whole oats. Micronutrients In addition to these key nutrients, German Shepherd puppies also need micronutrients like calcium, phosphorus, DHA, and omega-3, and vitamin A. They also need fiber to promote digestion and bowel movement and clean water to help with bodily functions. For large dog breed only: Foods specially formulated for German Shepherd puppies: Veterinarian and pet advisor Dr. Choose a dog food that is specially formulated for German Shepherds puppies or large breed puppies can ensure your pups are getting the nutritional requirements at every stage of their growth. The opposite side is giving your pup the wrong food that may lead to serious growth and digestive problems. Things to consider before choosing dog food for German Shepherds puppies 1. Their growth Puppies may need different nutrients at different stages depending on their growth rate. For instance, a puppy in the weaning stage between three to four weeks will need more antioxidants which are found in foods containing Vitamin C and E. In contrast, a teething puppy will need wet dog food which is easily digestible food on its tummy to minimize intestinal upset. For instance, a younger puppy may have difficulty eating larger food pieces than an older puppy. Teething If your dog is teething, which starts at around three weeks, you may want to consider food that contains calcium like dairy and bone broth for strong and healthy teeth. On the other hand, if the dog has teething problems, wet food may be a better option than dry food until they recover. Alternatively, you add wet canned food to their kibble to make it soft and palatable. The body weight An underweight puppy has different dietary requirements from an overweight puppy. You do not want to underfeed or overfeed your puppy. Activity Level Puppies that are extremely active require foods high in carbohydrates to keep up their energy levels. If your dog is not as active, you want to keep the carbs down to avoid obesity. With all the many dry foods out on the market, it can be hard to choose the healthiest for your pups. Step 1. The Association of American Feed Control Officials developed nutrient profiles to establish minimum and some maximum nutrient concentrations for dogs and cats. These profiles are updated when new findings from research in pet nutrition become available. They provide practical guidance for pet food manufacturers. Adult Maintenance: Dog foods formulated for adult maintenance have the nutrients adult dogs need. Dogs over the age of one are considered adults, except for some large and giant breeds who do not fully mature until age two. You may see variations of these nutrient profiles on dog food packaging. Step 2. Read the food label The label is the most important thing you should check when deciding which puppy food to pick. Here are the 3 things you would like to read on the packaging: a. List of ingredients The list of ingredients should have the main ingredient as the first ingredient then followed by the rest according to their percentage. For instance, in the label below the first five ingredients, are chicken as the main ingredient, ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, corn gluten meal and dried plain beet pulp. Feeding guidelines This will show you how much food and how many times you should feed your puppy. Watch this video if you want to better understand the wording on a dog food packaging means: Step 3. Are there any claims of pups reacting to the food? Do the users recommend or warn against the food? Of course, you want to go with what the majority of the reviewers say. You can also check dogadvisor. Step 4. The vet is in a better place to advise on what type of food to go for or what ingredients to avoid. Best dry foods for German Shepherds Puppies There are hundreds of dog foods out there with fancy names and ingredients, which make it so hard for dog owners to find the right food for their pups. To help you narrow down your search, we asked a couple of vets to suggest the best dog food for German Shepherds puppies. Purina Pro Plan — For sensitive skin and allergies Why do we like it? This dog food is ideal for all large breed puppies weighing over 50 pounds, GSD included. It is specially formulated for puppies with sensitive skin and stomachs. It is made with real chicken, among other high-quality ingredients. This dry food has optimal calcium levels to promote proper joint and bone growth. It helps prevent forms of hip dysplasia. Ideal for German Shepherd puppies of all ages. Delicious dry food for large breed puppies like GSD. It is specially formulated for superior vision and healthy brain development. This is an all-natural dog food specially made for large-breed puppies of all ages. It is made with real, wholesome ingredients. Making the right food choice will ensure that your puppy grows healthier, stronger, and more energetic. Weaning for a GSD puppy should start at around 6 to 8 weeks while still maintaining nursing. Complete weaning should be from 8 weeks when the puppy is fed on puppy food only. How is puppy food different from adult dog food? Puppy food contains more protein and fats, and certain minerals than adult dog food to support their growing brain, vision, nervous system, immune system, bones, and joints. When should German Shepherd puppies transition to adult dog food? German Shepherd puppies should transition to adult dog food from 12 to 24 months. The transition should be gradual, and the puppy should be constantly monitored. More posts on feeding your German Shepherds Must read:. It also tends to be high in protein. Food that is high in protein and calories will provide your puppy with the energy that they need and help them gain the right amount of weight as they grow up. Most puppy food also includes vitamin and mineral supplements, such as calcium and phosphorus, for healthy and strong bones and teeth. You should speak to your vet to ensure that you have the right food and are feeding your puppy the proper amount. We hope that these reviews have helped you decide on the right food for your German Shepherd puppy. Remember to stick with large-breed food because it usually has the correct ratio of vitamins and minerals to give your GSD puppy all the suitable nutrition that they need so they can grow up strong, healthy, and happy. Featured Image Credit: Victoria Antonova, Shutterstock Written by Kathryn Copeland Author Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a child, she hoped to work in zoos or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her all-consuming love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future — maybe another cat and a dog.Read more Advertisement.
As an authentic Australian Labradoodle hobby breeder, They offer beautiful Labradoodles with the desirable, blocky-style head, stocky, heavy boned frame, and the signature luxurious, soft coats. AS members of the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association, we have made it our focus to protect the health and future of our puppies while maintaining the integrity of the Labradoodle breed. Our carefully planned breeding program is dedicated to quality, not only in the choice of premium pedigree characteristics, but also holding in upmost importance OFA hip, OFA elbow, and ACVO eye health clearances to ensure the healthiest labradoodle puppies possible. Labradoodles are known to have a laid back, easy going temperament and are great family friends. They are intelligent, easy to train, and typically finish at the top of their obedience classes. Our Sycamore Canyon Labradoodles have allergy friendly coats that are non-shedding in stunning textures and colors. Our Sycamore Canyon Labradoodle family is so blessed to be involved in sharing our puppies with other loving, caring families. All of our puppies are raised for proper socialization and handling from birth. We have four children still at home, so our Labradoodles are loved n and played with in a positive and healthy environment, guaranteeing a foundation that will help them reach their full potential. Paying attention to how our puppies grow from the day they are born to their rehoming at eight weeks old, you can be confident that they are constantly exposed to everyday sights and sounds to create a positive experience that will enable them to become life long companions. Testimonials As a veterinarian I work with multiple breeders. Charl and Jerry Beauchat have been clients of mine for several years. Their dogs are always kept in great condition. Every puppy is health checked and micro-chipped prior to going to its new home. Providing healthy family members remains a priority of mine as well as theirs Jonathan CortezDVM We can not say enough about the integrity of your program. Pete and Jiffy …head and shoulders above the pack when it comes to a quality breeder…. Do yourself a favor and visit Charl and Shadow Mountain Labradoodles if you are considering a new puppy. We have made a full time commitment to our program. Three of us work full time with our dogs, puppies and families. Charl and Jerry are in Southern California, our daughter Jena, has branched out and is now carrying on our work in Oklahoma! We are also currently training 10 new Australian Labradoodle Breeders in California, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio to bless families and to protect this wonderful breed! Shadow Mountain Australian Labradoodles are bred with love and care in a home environment. We work hard to place our puppies in an environment where both the families and the puppies are set up for success. Quick Links. He is the size of a Labrador Retriever. He was at the shelter where he came in as a stray. They treated him there for an ear infection and some mild skin inflammation which he has long recovered from. We did notice cloudiness in both eyes and were diagnosed with cataracts. Surgery was done to remove them and has recovered well but will need 2 different eye drops for life. He can be very playful with other playful dogs and loves to play fetch, or, can cuddle up next to you just as well. Walks are his favorite activity. He is also good with calm, friendly smaller dogs. He has not been around cats. With children, he does better with 12 years and older. Leon becomes attached to his human and will follow them like a shadow. He can be a little stubborn and will growl and snap at times when disciplined or if bumped while sleeping. He has been adopted twice and returned for this reason. Once he is comfortable in his new home, he will do it less. He may have separation anxiety at 1st, but with time and patience, he gets over it. He does better with a furry companion. He just needs someone to give him a chance. We believe he would do good in a house with a big yard, another playful dog, or an experienced, active family. If you want to meet Leon and see if he fits you, email us at heartandhomerescueorg gmail.
Keep on reading to learn everything about French Bulldog puppies! French bulldogs All you need to know about Frenchies: a short summary History in a nutshell French Bulldogs were first bred as a smaller version of the English Bulldog in the 19th-century England. They were particularly popular among lacemakers in Nottinghamshire, who initially kept them to chase rats but soon fell in love with their small size and calm, friendly nature. After the Industrial Revolution, they had to move to southern France where lacemaking was still done by hand and took their dogs with them. Frenchies soon got popular in the circles of French artists, actors, writers in Paris as well as rich Americans visiting the city. In fact, they loved Frenchies so much that they took them to the US, where they finally got recognized by the AKC in .Frenchie Characteristics French Bulldogs are one of the most popular dog breeds thanks to their fun, adaptable, friendly nature and distinctive look. You can easily recognize them by their flat, heavily wrinkled faces and large, erect bat ears, which make them absolutely adorable. Despite having the strong, muscular body of a bulldog Frenchies are small in size: adult males usually weigh 20 to 28 pounds while females are 16 to 24 pounds. Frenchie Colors Frenchies come in a wide variety of different colors and patterns. There are standard French Bulldog colors like black, fawn, cream and patterns like pied and brindle, which are considered common for the breed. Rare and unique colors like blue and lilac, as well as patterns like tan and merle have gained more popularity in recent years. Frenchie Personality French Bulldogs probably have the biggest personality among all the dog breeds. They are funny, friendly and insanely affectionate, making them the perfect companions for anyone. They are also highly intelligent and need a fair amount of mental stimulation. Frenchies are like small children: simply irresistible! Giving only high- quality food, ensuring regular training and exercise, finding a good vet and not exposing them to too much heat is also essential to provide a long and happy life for your French Bulldog. They are little clowns who always do something silly to make you laugh! They are amazing companions who get along with everyone in the family from small kids to older people, other dog breeds and even cats. Shall we go on?! The exact amount usually depends on various factors like the color, gender and age of a puppy as well as the breeder you get your puppy from. Breeding Frenchies requires a lot of time, effort, care and money, so those who are dedicated to only having high-quality and healthy French Bulldog puppies will ask a larger sum starting from 4, USD. Colors and patterns considered common for the breed like black brindle and fawn have the lowest prices ranging from 4, to 5, USD, while blue, lilac and merle which are more unique and harder to produce come at a higher price as well ranging from 6, to 8, USD. Isabella and fluffy Frenchies are the rarest, most valuable and most expensive from 8, to 30, USD. When it comes to age and gender, younger female Frenchies usually cost a couple of hundreds more than older male puppies. What's included in the price? Vocality level 3 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. Temperament The French Bulldog is a clown in a lapdog. They enjoy playing and entertaining their family, as well as cuddling and snoozing with their favorite person. They are amiable, sweet, companionable, and willing to please. A short walk on lead is sufficient to meet most of its physical needs. Frenchie snores and may wheeze and drool. Require minimal coat care Facial wrinkles should be regularly cleaned. Brachycephalic syndrome stenotic nares, elongated soft palate Intervertebral disk disease CHD seldom causes symptoms or problems Allergies History Where are French Bulldogs from? In the nineteenth century, the Bulldog was fairly popular in England, especially around Nottingham. The French women, especially, were attracted to these little Bulldogs, especially those with erect ears a common but disliked feature in England. Dog dealers brought more of the clownish little dogs to France, where they soon became the rage of Paris. The dogs were dubbed Bouledogue Francais. How big do French Bulldogs get? Some Bulldogs are quite small weighing less than 25 lbs, however, dogs in this breed on average, weigh 28 lbs. What are some French Bulldog facts and information? Facts French Bulldogs are best known for: Bat ears. Life Span Did You Know? While the name of this breed is the French Bulldog, their origins cannot be credited to only France. One of the facts about French Bulldogs is that the idea and reason for the creation of the breed originated in England. This adorable dog breed, which has always been meant to be a companion, started as a miniature version of the English Bulldog. This mini-version accompanied lace workers across the English Channel and into France during the Industrial Revolution. Once the dog breed became prominent in France, the subsequent successful crossbreeding of the English Bulldog, Pug, and Terrier led to the creation of the modern-day Frenchie. The French Bulldog we know today originally came to the United States with groups of wealthy Americans who came across them and fell in love while touring Europe in the late s. The French Bulldog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in and is a member of the non-sporting group. The French Bulldog is an easygoing, affectionate, and playful dog that loves their family and gets along well with children. They also love to make new friends, which means they get along well with other dogs, animals, and people. Intelligent and affectionate, this small dog breed certainly wins over hearts and earns its status as a popular companion dog. Frenchies are not known to bark much, unless you train them into it, but they are naturally alert and make excellent watchdogs. As long as they are well-socialized and trained, they tend to have an open and friendly nature. The Frenchie is a highly adaptable dog that pretty much adapts to any living situation that includes plenty of love and attention. Being a short-snouted, snub-nosed dog breed, they do not tolerate heat very well and are also sensitive to cold. This tends to make them one of the dog breeds that hate winter and you will want to make sure to bundle them up to stay warm while out on cold winter walks. Because Frenchies bond closely with their families and thrive on attention from them, they do not tolerate long periods of time alone. They can also be prone to developing separation anxiety if they are poorly socialized or you do not work with them on this when they are young. Potential health concerns to be aware of in French Bulldogs can include cataracts, cherry eye, and entropion. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances. Heart and joint certifications are recommended for this breed. Playful and happy, the French Bulldog is a great fit for a novice dog owner. They are sweet-tempered, eager to please, and eager to train. Occasionally, Frenchies can be stubborn and they do tend to have big personalities. Although this can sometimes be a challenge for first-time dog owners, it can usually be overcome with consistent and patient training. Puppy training classes are always an option and offer plenty of benefits aside from training. Standard coat colors for Frenchies are Brindle, Cream, Fawn, and combinations of these. They have a short coat that will shed a little year-round. Nail trims once or twice a month keep nails from growing too long and causing issues. Weekly ear checks, along with careful cleanings as needed, can help prevent ear infections. As a small dog breed, the Frenchie is more prone to developing gum disease. Daily dental care plus cleanings at the vet as needed can help prevent this and other painful dental diseases later in life. You will also need to take care of the wrinkles. Frenchies have hereditary face wrinkles and it is important to keep them clean and dry to prevent skin irritation or possible infection. The French Bulldog is an easygoing companion breed. They can be one of the laziest dog breeds that are couch potatoes. Frenchies will often be energetic when they play and will try to match their activity to yours. So, if you live a more active lifestyle, you need to be careful that your French Bulldog is not overexerting themselves trying to keep up with you. As a Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dog, they cannot cool themselves as easily and are extra sensitive to heat. They can also get winded easily, so be aware of this when playing with your dog or puppy and watch for signs of overexertion. There are safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs and you can work with your vet on specifics for your Frenchie if needed. French Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Frenchies generally live for years on average. With this dog breed being so popular, there are plenty of celebrities who have chosen the French Bulldog as their companion, which also means there are plenty of famous Frenchies out there. Also, French Bulldogs cannot swim, at least without a life vest. They can be taught to swim while wearing one, but they should never be left unattended around bodies of water or swimming pools and require constant supervision while in the water. Featured French Bulldog Article.
The protein will come from readily available sources such as chicken or beef, and not exotic or boutique sources like kangaroo or venison as you saw in second study mentioned above. According to the AKC , quality, regulated animal byproducts can be good for your dog. These byproducts can include organ meats or entrails, which often contain more nutrients than, say, plain chicken breast. Another misconception is that dogs should eat grain-free diets. As you saw in the second study mentioned above, that can actually be very harmful for your dog and cause DCM. But food labels can be a little vague and confusing, so below is an explanation of what some of these terms mean, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual and the AKC. There is one caveat though. For instance, flaked corn, ground corn, and kibbled corn could be sprinkled in an ingredient list and not be listed as the first few ingredients, but in reality, if you were to add them all up they are all corn, after all , you might find that this food is made mostly of corn. The same goes for chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct. Meat vs. Meat Meal vs. The quality of these ingredients can vary widely, so be sure to talk to your vet about this and choose a reputable brand of food. Below are a few examples: Obesity. Golden Retrievers love food and they do have a tendency to become overweight if you let them. This problem can often affect these next two problems… Joint issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to joint issues and growing too fast because they eat too much can often make this problem worse more on this in the next section. Heart issues. Skin issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to hot spots and excess protein in their diets can be a factor that causes them. Many goldens suffer from food allergies. One cup of Brand X food may have calories per cup, while Brand Y has calories per cup. During a vet visit our veterinarian said he looked too small and lethargic for a puppy his age about 8 weeks at the time , and he recommended we feed him a little more. As far as how often to feed your puppy, this same rule applies. For us, we fed Oliver three times per day until he was a little over a year old. Getting a Golden Retriever Puppy? Get the gameplan for raising them right with the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook. Those two statements may sound random, but they are related. According to the Banfield Pet Hospital , overfeeding your Golden Retriever can cause them to grow too fast and increase their risk of hip dysplasia. You probably noticed that a raw diet was the fourth-most popular diet Golden Retriever owners feed their dog. Since puppies are growing and adults are just maintaining their weight, they have different dietary needs. And for fats, puppy food should have at least 8. As far as when to switch from puppy food to adult food, talk to your veterinarian. To see a list of other milestones your puppy will hit like when they lose their first teeth, or when their coat is fully grown check out this timeline of Golden Retriever puppy milestones. Like most of the other questions in this post, this is something to talk to your veterinarian about. Many foods will have the same vitamins that pills have already in them, but on the other hand, some breeders require that you give your puppy vitamins for their health guarantee to be valid. First, we unknowingly started him off on one of the brands listed in the graph above that is correlated with DCM. Then we switched to another brand that he just sort of liked. If we were to have another puppy, we would definitely start with the Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy food. How To Switch Food Brands The other day I was talking to someone who was complaining that her puppy was having lots of stomach issues. Dogs have sensitive stomachs so if you want to switch foods, you need to do it slowly. You should take about a week to transition from the old food to the new brand. Also consider how long the brand of food has been around, whether or not there have been any recalls of that brand, and if there is any research behind it. What do you feed your Golden Retriever puppy? Have any questions about what to feed them? Let me know in the comments below! Related articles:. Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. They are growing quickly, so while they eat smaller quantities of food than adult dogs, they need to extract far more nutrients like protein, minerals, and vitamins, to sustain their growth and development. Different Dogs, Different Diets Nutritional needs vary from breed to breed. One only needs to look at golden retrievers to know they require a different diet than a Chihuahua! For example, joint and bone problems are much more common in big dogs than in little ones, but choosing the right puppy food can reduce the risk. Large-breed puppy food has reduced amounts of calcium and phosphorus, which helps control the rate of skeletal growth. Also, you may find puppy foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and mobility. By consuming too much food, your puppy will have elevated levels of the very nutrients that should be limited. Additionally, overweight puppies may develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Good eating habits developed during puppyhood will lead to a healthy mature dog in the years to come. Nutrition For The Outside One of the most visible components of your dog is its fur. Nutrition plays a vital role in this area. A large percentage of the protein your puppy takes in goes towards maintaining its coat. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for healthy skin and fur. Which Food Do I Choose? There will always be those who buy the cheapest brand on the market. Some will opt for the most expensive, while others will simply go with a brand name they recognize. The key is to find the right food for your particular puppy. One thing you cannot afford to ignore is the nutritional content. Because they are still growing, puppies need more protein than adults. Proteins foster muscle growth and development in puppies and lean muscle maintenance in adults, so the more of it there is in a diet, the better it is for your growing retriever. Fats, too, are important for golden puppies because they provide the energy required for everyday activities. You should be careful, however, not to feed your golden excess calories because this will result in excess weight or obesity. Eventually, your dog will end up battling joint problems. For instance, less expensive dog foods typically have lower-quality ingredients. The contents are often inexpensive, low-grade animal protein sources, like by-products and fillers. Fillers are frequently things like cornmeal, rice flour, or seed hulls. In general, thoroughly review the nutritional content of your chosen diet. Are the ingredients wholesome and natural? Does the diet have controlled calcium and phosphorous levels? Is the calorie and fat content limited to manage growth? Does the label state that the diet is complete and balanced? This can lead to obesity and will certainly cause increased defecation. The latter of these two issues will make house training more difficult than it already is. By contrast, costlier dog foods usually have higher-quality ingredients. The scales will be tipped heavily in favor of high-grade animal protein sources and fillers will be few and far between. Price is not, however, a guarantee of quality. The best dog foods for a golden retriever puppy are made with high-quality natural ingredients and have high levels of protein. Make sure the food is complete and balanced for daily feeding and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large breed puppies. At this point, golden retriever puppies have likely already been switched to dry puppy food and you should continue feeding your pup the same type of food the breeder used. From the day you bring them home until they are six months old, you should feed your golden retriever puppy three times a day. Ideally, your pup should have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. A grain-free diet is the default meal for golden retrievers that are sensitive to grains, but if your dog is healthy, feeding her such a meal boils down to choice. A lot has been said about grain-free diets. Reports and studies have been carried out in recent years trying to establish any connection between it and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM. That all starts with choosing the best puppy food for golden retrievers. Avoid low-cost foods that are more filler than substance, and look for better foods that are packed with nutrients to help your puppy grow. In particular, consider trying a large breed formula to meet the specific needs of your golden retriever puppy. Good nutrition is an essential part of any health regimen, and providing high-quality puppy food will lay the foundation for a long, and enjoyable life. You May Also Like. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We all want our golden retriever puppies to be healthy and happy. We envision them running through a verdant field chasing a ball. Full of energy with the beautiful, lustrous golden coat. But, just like us, eating the proper food in the proper amounts will help your golden properly grow and thrive. After all, what we eat impacts how healthy we are. How much you should feed your golden retriever puppy will vary depending on the quality of food you feed, his age, his weight, his general health, and his activity level. Your golden will be growing for up to two years. And the amount of food during that time will have to be adjusted depending on his needs. Because most people feed kibble to their pup, this article will focus on that. Kibble is convenient and cost effective. Instead, they should be lanky and full of energy. They should love to eat their food with gusto. Instead, you should be able to feel his ribs when you pet him there. There should just be a thin coating of fat under his skin. And he should have a defined waistline. Of course you should check with your veterinarian to make such adjustments. And remember a young puppy should get only so much exercise a day. Their joints and bones are developing and can be damaged if the exercise is too extreme. Assuming you have an eight-week-old puppy, he should receive three to four meals a day. From eight weeks old until about five or six months old, three meals per day are advisable. Of course, feed at the same intervals every day and split the total amount per day in half to be given at each feeding. After about six months of age through adulthood, two feedings per day are the norm. Always check with your vet regarding how much and how often to feed. These are just guidelines. Feed him at the same distraction-free location so that he focuses on eating. As much as goldens love to eat, a young golden puppy is also very easily distracted. This can lead to possible health problems, including joint and bone problems. Goldens can easily become overweight. Free feeding can also lead to a picky eater. Some puppies figure out that if their buffets are always there, and they can just go graze at will. Most foods you purchase will have guidelines on their bag or box. When you first get your puppy, feed him the same food that the breeder or rescue fed him for a few weeks. Then, if you want to change his food, do so over at least 10 days. Add more of the new food and subtract more of the old food each day. After about five days, you should be giving him approximately 50 percent of the new food and 50 percent of the old food. Switching food over such a period of time will help prevent stomach upsets and diarrhea. Overfeeding will result not only in him becoming overweight but it will also make him grow too fast. Periodically—even weekly— test whether you can still feel his ribs without them protruding. You can then increase the amount he eats. You should also feed his last meal of the day at least 90 minutes before his bed time so that he can digest his food and potty before bed. A well-balanced, high-quality food should provide all the nutrients he requires. Golden puppies require a formula made for large-breed dogs. Puppy formulas for large-breed dogs regulate their growth. Eating too quickly can lead to digestive upsets and even bloat, which can be deadly. I rescued my golden retriever Riley when he was about six months old. To say that he ate as if it were his last meal would be an understatement. He had a voracious appetite. I bought one of the maze bowls to slow him down. The kibble is placed between each section of the bowl, and he had to forage for his food. It worked! He ate at a more normal pace. Of course, dogs should be given free access to fresh water. Other Feeding Options Although I concentrated in this article on feeding kibble to your new puppy, there are other options. There are some drawbacks to them because they may not be nutritionally complete, may be cost prohibitive, or may be too time-consuming to make. Wet Food Canned food alone or mixed with kibble is an option. But wet food alone is very expensive. He may become a picky eater. Feeding raw is controversial. Dehydrated raw foods reduce some of the risks. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is crucial to puppy development. Homemade Diet Cooking for your best friend can be very appealing. And many people do. You know what ingredients and their quality are. But it has its drawbacks. Of course, the amount you feed is important for his growth rate and general health and well-being. But there is no one-size-fits-all in determining how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. Any amounts you see are just guidelines. Adjust them as necessary regarding your own special puppy. Do you have a golden retriever puppy? How did you determine what and how much to feed him? Please leave your comments in the section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Debbie has been training dogs for over 24 years and has nationally ranked obedience and rally dogs, agility dogs, trick dogs, and therapy dogs. Post navigation. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.
german shepherd lab puppy - One practical difference between curly and wavy poodle fur involves dog show competition. If your mature poodle's hair tends to waves rather than outright curls, you can't compete in conformation breed classes. Poodle Coat Standard The American Kennel Club, the governing body of canine breed competitions, states that the poodle's coat should be curly. It adds that the curly coat is dense throughout the body and of "naturally harsh texture. The cords are shorter on the tail puff and legs, and longer on the trunk or neck. The standard does not mention a wavy coat. Puppy Coats Poodle puppies have wavy coats, which are also softer than that of the adult dog. While the coat changes over time, how long it takes depends on the size of the poodle. In toy and miniature poodles, the wavy coat starts changing into a curly coat at approximately 9 months of age, and takes about 9 months to completely transition. By the time your smaller poodle reaches the age of a year-and-a-half, his curly coat should be complete. For standard poodles, the change in coat type begins between the ages of 9 to 16 months, but the entire transition takes just about three months to complete. By the age of 19 months -- approximately the same age as his smaller cousins -- the standard poodle sports an entirely curly coat. Poodle Mixes Because they don't shed and are believed to be hypoallergenic, poodles are often crossed with other dog breeds. The results include the cockapoo -- poodle and cocker spaniel; schnoodle -- poodle and schnauzer; Labradoodle poodle and Labrador retriever and many more. Crossing dogs with dissimilar hair coats is always a gamble, because you could end up with a shedding, non-hypoallergenic canine that only faintly resembles a poodle. One of the older crosses, the cockapoo, tends to breed true, although many of these hybrid dogs have wavy rather than curly hair. A good breeder can tell you what type of coat a cockapoo puppy is likely to have when the pup is still quite young. Poodle Grooming All poodles require regular grooming and clipping. Without this basic maintenance, they turn into a matted mess. Poodles whose curly coats haven't yet come in can sport a "puppy" clip, which is also an easy maintenance style for owners of older poodles who don't compete in the show ring. With a puppy clip, the tail base, feet, face and throat are shaved. Show dogs might appear in a continental, English saddle or sporting clip, each of which has strict rules about what areas of the body are shaved. If you have a poodle mix with a wavy coat, or a poodle still in his puppy coat phase, you can opt for a full coat, but that requires extensive grooming. A simpler option is the "teddy bear" clip, which just needs weekly brushing. Share via Email Poodles are widely recognized for their iconic curly coats, which contribute to their unique and elegant appearance. However, not all poodles possess these distinct curls. In this article, we delve into the intriguing world of poodle fur and explore the reasons behind why certain poodles have straight hair instead of the expected curls. The Diversity of Poodle Coats When we think of poodles, we often envision those adorable, curly-haired canines strutting their stuff in the show ring. But did you know that poodle coats can vary significantly? The breed standard classifies poodle coats into three distinct types: curly, corded, and wavy. These straight-haired poodles, though less common, still possess the same lovable traits and intelligence that poodles are known for. Genetic Factors at Play To understand why some poodles have straight hair, we must consider genetics. However, not all poodles inherit two copies of this gene. Puppies that inherit only one copy or lack the curl gene altogether may develop straight hair instead of curls. The inheritance pattern is complex, and various factors can influence the expression of the curl gene, leading to a diverse range of coat textures within the poodle breed. Curly hair is not present in newborn poodle puppies. During this time, the coat transitions from the soft, fluffy puppy fur to the more mature adult coat. The curls gradually form as the new hair grows in, and it may take several months for the curls to fully develop. While straight hair may not be the norm for poodles, it is a natural and valid variation within the breed. Genetic factors, as well as external influences, contribute to the presence of straight hair in certain poodles. So, whether your poodle has straight hair, long straight hair, or the expected curly coat, embrace their unique beauty. FAQ Can poodles have long straight hair? Yes, poodles can have long straight hair. While the breed is commonly known for its curly coats, some poodles exhibit straight hair as a natural variation. These straight-haired poodles may have long flowing locks that differ from the typical curly appearance. Poodles typically start developing their curls when their adult coat grows in, which usually happens around six to eight months of age. As the soft puppy fur is replaced by the mature adult coat, the curls gradually form. Some may have more defined curls earlier, while others may take longer for their curls to fully develop. When does poodle hair transition from straight to curly? The presence of straight or curly hair in poodles is primarily determined by their genetics. What is the best food for my poodle? What is the best food for your dog? The three foods that are super healthy and that almost every dog loves, even the pickiest dogs, are: 1. There are a number of fresh frozen dog foods available on the market and I tested them all. You can see the fresh frozen food test here. Often, this coat will look and feel much different than the future adult coat. Many Poodle puppies have very soft, wavy hair as opposed to the adult's thick and curly coat. This process usually takes about 9 months. Therefore, when a Poodle is approximately 18 months old, they will have their full adult coat. In some cases it will be 24 months until the adult coat comes in. During this time, the coat can become very matted. Large mats tangles can ruin a coat, often needing to be clipped off if they cannot be worked out by hand. For this reason, it is important to brush the coat with a pin brush very often and thoroughly during this stage. Once this change over is complete, the coat will be easier to maintain. The above also happens with Standard Poodles, however this stage does not last quite as long. The Standard Poodle will go through a coat change starting anytime between 9 and 16 months. The changeover will last approximately 3 months. Shedding It is said that a Poodle does not shed. This can be looked at 2 ways. A Poodle does not have the plush double coat that many breeds have. Poodles have a single, dense coat of curled hair. Just like human hair, it grows and some hairs do fall out. When the hairs fall out of a Poodle's coat, they often fall back into the coat. Therefore, a Poodle does not shed in the traditional sense of canine shedding. Because the hair can contain varying amounts of dandruff and some people can have allergies to that. In addition, all dogs have allergens, these are microscopic dander elements. The Poodle, and other dog breeds such as Schnauzers shed from their skin approximately every 21 days, thus greatly reducing the amount of allergens that could trigger an allergic reaction. Note: The coat is one of the most important elements that the Poodle breed is known for.For this reason, an owner should be aware of every hair issue that affects this dog breed. Find out more about the AllPoodleInfo Book. Hair Loss with Female Poodles For the female Poodle, the coat may thin and hair loss may occur when she is in heat and also when she is whelping a litter. For many female Poodles, the coat can be affected by hormonal changes, particularly a surge in estrogen that occurs when she is in a heat cycle and after giving birth and whelping her litter. The female's coat may thin out, sometimes so severely that skin is exposed in many areas. This can happen in random areas of the body. If this does happens, it can take up to 4 months for the Poodle's hair to grow back to normal. Unfortunately, by that time the dog will be almost ready to enter another heat cycle. Therefore, if you are not planning on breeding your Poodle and she suffers from hormonal hair loss, it is best to have her spayed. Among them are: Red Mange when your Poodle has an allergic reaction to microscopic mites that live on all dogs, this causes patches of hair loss Allergies from commercial dog food additives, dog shampoo and everything in between - intense itching can cause a dog to scratch so severely that hair is lost and scabs form Sebaceous Adenitis - This is an inherited medical issue that causes the coat to thin out or completely fall out, that can be stopped if all breeders test for SA before breeding dogs Castration responsive Dermatosis - A hair loss in young male Poodles that begins in the groin area and can spread over the body. Hypothyroidism - This causes the coat to become excessively thick and have an abnormal texture When Hair Does Not Grow Back When a Poodle has health issues which causes the hair to fall out or to thin; there is always a chance that the coat will not grow back as expected. This is called post loss alopecia. Studies are currently being done to understand this further. However, as of now, it is thought that there are certain changes that take place in the dog's skin because of the temperature changes that occur when the fur is gone or very thin. When this happens, it can take up to 24 months for the Poodle's coat to grow back. There have been some promising results in using Melatonin to help stimulate the hair follicles. We have a detailed section regarding the best shampoo for Poodles. Conditioners- The Poodle should have a coat conditioner applied to keep the hair soft, moist and tangle free. High quality brands will have anti-static compounds to keep hairs on the dog from becoming fly-a-ways and will contain mink oil which adds a gloss or luster to deepen and enrich the natural coat color. It is best to choose a brand that also contain PABA ultraviolet sunscreen to protect the Poodle from excessive ultraviolet radiation when your dog is outside. These conditioners contain protein to help rebuild and restructure the coat by bonding to the shaft of each individual hair. They help to add body to thin coats and improve its appearance and manageability. They also help to repel dirt that would otherwise stick to the coat and many do contain the needed ultraviolet sunscreen. With grooming, finishing spray is used during brushing and combing when no oil is desired on the Poodle's coat. You may also wish to see: Apricot Poodles - One of the most beautiful colors of this breed. Phantom Poodles - Photos and explanation regarding this gorgeous type of coat. Black Poodles - Solid black coats are a popular choice for owners when searching for a pup. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. Poodles with their curly hair are the cutest. However, owners do sometimes wish they were easier to brush. So can Poodles have straight hair? Poodles love to be groomed, and when you are running a brush through their hair, it can be very rewarding to see a toothy smile on their face. However, because of their curly hair, Poodles can be a chore to brush. Can Poodles Have Straight Hair? All Poodles have naturally curly hair. A Poodle puppy has straight hair up till it achieves full maturity. However, pureblood Poodles will all attain curly locks in a few years. Some mixed breeds may have straight hair, known as an improper coat. If you are a dog lover and are looking for a Poodle with straight hair, I can tell you that there is no such pure breed. I can help you understand the type of coats a Poodle has and when Poodle puppies start to get curly hair. I can help you understand how to appreciate the curly hair of your Poodle more. Do you know that a Poodle is a water dog breed? This is the reason why they have bouncy curls, unlike the vast majority of dogs that have straight coats. Poodles were bred specifically to have tight curls because they would help protect them from the cold temperature of the water. Originally, Poodles were used as hunting dogs. Over time, people realized these water dogs were highly intelligent and hence Poodles started working in a variety of fields, including sailing, seafaring, and military. Hence, they were used for a variety of purposes like retrieving goose, fowls, and other game birds shot by hunters, retrieving objects that have fallen overboard, and passing messages between ships. Since they are so smart and have curly hair, they are at the top of the list of working dogs. Poodles only have a single layer of coat that keeps them warm, unlike most dogs that have a top coat and an undercoat of fur. The coat of an adult Poodle is thick, curly, and dense and has a cotton candy or fluffy cloud-like appearance. However, it is quite wiry to the touch. This is because this coat was designed to help the pooch repel water and help in its role as a water retriever. The dense, curly hair prevents the water from reaching their skin and keeps them warm in cold waters. The fancy haircut that Poodles are famous for was not originally just for show. Although some of us think that these cuts make the pooch look silly, they actually have a practical application. Since Poodles have thick and curly hair, it can get quite heavy when wet, which can slow down the dog in the water. Today, the Poodle is still used as a working dog by people in many fields so that haircut has stayed on. However, it is more popularly known as the look for a show dog. Types of Poodle Hair Although adult Poodles are supposed to have curly and wiry hair, you will find that many Poodles have different hair. Puppy Coat After Poodles are born, they will have a straight puppy coat. This hair will be thin, wispy, and very soft but will grow thicker and curlier as the puppy ages. Typically, your Poodle will have a puppy coat till it is around 12 months old and sometimes even longer than that. Curly Coat As the Poodle transitions to adulthood, its coat will become dense, wiry, and curly that covers it from top to bottom. This coat is non-shedding and hence considered hypoallergenic. However, a Poodle will shed a few hairs once in a while, so it is important to keep its coat brushed and groomed so that it does not become matted. Improper Coat An improper coat is a Poodle coat that has a straight or somewhat wavy texture. Every Poodle should have two variations of the chromosome that results in a thick and curly coat. However, improper breeding when breeders fail to test their canines that carry only one of these chromosomes can lead to a somewhat straight coat or a patchy coat with wavy patches. This process is genetic and can be passed down to the puppies as well. In this case, the Poodle will have a coat that resembles the coat of a Poodle puppy. Although there could be waves and curls on their coat, the Poodles will lack the denseness and the tightness of the curls that people appreciate in pure Poodles. Good breeders eliminate the non-curling chromosome from the breeding process and ensure that every Poodle inherits and exhibits the perfect characteristics of evenly curled hair as well as check the Poodle for coat patterns or hereditary illnesses. If you have a Poodle, you may be wondering when its hair would grow curly. Typically, Toy and Mini Poodles will start their transition from their smooth coat to a curly coat from the age of 9 months and will achieve a perfectly curly coat by the time they are 18 to 24 months old. Standard Poodles will also start getting curly hair at the age of 9 months but they will get a full coat of curls by the time they are 1 year old. They will also need daily brushing if you want to keep their coat long since the soft puppy coat will tangle with dense and wiry curls if not groomed properly. Once the adult coat has fully developed, your puppy will no longer shed its hair as much as other straight-coat breeds. Not all Poodles you see have curly hair. Since the Poodle is a popular breed, there are several unscrupulous breeders who are reproducing Poodles without checking or understanding the breed standard or performing health tests on the Poodle. I understand that you will love your Poodle, no matter the type of coat it has, but it is just as important to consider that they are healthy and have the right temperament so that they can become a part of your family for a long time. Trying to get the slicker brush through his hair is a chore! So, do all poodles have curly hair? Yes, all adult purebred poodles have curly hair. A poodle puppy is born with straight hair which can take up to three years to fully mature into the curls. Typically, though, unless your poodle is a mixed breed, the poodle will have curly hair. What started off as a quest to answer a simple question has turned into a fun, in-depth research project. And I share it here with you! Not everyone realizes that poodles are water dogs. Poodles were bred to have long, tight curls that protect them from cold or even freezing water temperatures. Poodles were initially used as working dogs for hunters, but after realizing how useful these smart breeds could be, many sailors, seamen, and even military men began using water dogs in their fields. Poodles are at the top of the heap for working dogs due to their intelligence as well as their curly coats. Historically, poodles have been used to: Retrieve ducks and other birds shot by hunters Retrieve objects that had fallen overboard Pass messages between ships The shaggy cut of water dog breeds has been around for quite some time, and I do not imagine that it will be going anywhere soon. The way curly hair protects the skin of poodles and other water dogs , is actually pretty interesting. Unlike most dogs who have both topcoat and undercoat layers of fur, poodles only need to have their single-layer coat to keep them warm. The dense, tight curls keep water from reaching their skin. Many of us probably thought that these cuts were a bit silly, but they have a history as well! So, to prevent the heavy curls from slowing down waterdogs during their many jobs in the seas, owners would shave their hind legs to make them faster and more aerodynamic in the water. Today, this cut is still popular since poodles are still used as working dogs by many people, but it is also seen as the most traditional look for a show dog. Check out this article I recently wrote on 25 haircuts for poodles. Is curly Poodle Hair Hypoallergenic? Like many other poodle owners, I thought that they—and other curly-haired breeds—were hypoallergenic. In most cases, the scientists say that there was virtually no difference between homes with the fabled hypoallergenic dogs and homes with other dogs. In fact, some rooms in the homes even had a considerable amount of more dander and allergens, but the scientist chalked that up to lenient and lax dog owners who were under the impression that their dogs had no allergens. The reason some people tend to believe that poodles and other curly-haired breeds are hypoallergenic is that they are breeds that do not shed very much. Since they do not shed as much, it seems that less of their dander and allergens would be able to be spread around the house. Though this logic may seem sound, it did not hold up to the experiment. Surprisingly enough, having curly hair is also what keeps poodles from shedding. As I said before, most dogs have two coats, an undercoat, and a topcoat, while poodles only have a single layer coat of hair. It is actually the undercoat that sheds most of the hairs that other dog breeds leave all over the furniture. While poodles still technically shed and regrow hairs like any other dog breed, but their curls create an illusion. After a little while, the lost hairs can become tangled with the rest of the coat, causing them to matt, which makes grooming quite hard. If you are thinking of purchasing or adopting a poodle mix, it can be difficult to know if they will shed or not. Read this article to help determine which poodle mix is for you and your family. First, gather the right tools to start this job. A proper tool could either be a comb or a gentle rake. If your pup is having slight to moderate tangling, the comb would be the best option. However, if your pup has severe tangles, a rake would be more appropriate. The typical brush for this breed is a slicker brush, but that will not be needed in this situation. A great product to use would be Petway de-matting solution. I have used this product for years and it does a great job. This can be easily found on Amazon here. These products will have conditioning oils to add to the body and help repair the damage. This tool is essential to painlessly remove the mats. The last thing you want is for your dog to feel pain during this process. Though these products will help you in the process, remember that they are not magic. This process will be tedious and will take time. Here are the steps to de-matting your poodle: Saturate all of the matted hair with the product of your choice. Make sure that all of the mats are completely wet and then massage the hair deeply with your fingers. This is an important step since the conditioning oils are needed to prevent friction. Let the product dry into the hair. Using your fingers, separate the large clump into smaller sections. Then use your tool to comb through the small sections. Continue to break the mats into smaller sections and comb from tip to skin until all tangles are gone. If your dog has larger mats, consider breaking the up the project into multiple days. Some groomers recommend carefully using scissors to split large mats. I hope you found it helpful. Here are some products that I personally believe every owner should employ to help ensure the best quality of life for their dogs. But in all honesty, these are the exact products that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Lemonade Pet Insurance : Lemonade Pet Insurance has enabled me to afford a very high level of veterinary care for my dog, Angus. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. This program actually works, and at a small fraction of the cost of hiring a dog trainer! Pet Plate is the dog food subscription service I use to provide extremely healthy, pre-portioned meals for my dog. Pet Plate gives my dog Angus the highest quality nutrition at a very affordable price. BarkBox : Without a doubt, my dog enjoys Barkbox more than anything else I buy him. BarkBox delivers a customized box of themed toys, treats, and other products to your door each month. In addition, I like that a percentage of proceeds is donated to local animal shelters. I Purchase this service for my dog Angus and have saved hundreds of dollars over visiting his local vet with questions or more minor health concerns. Brent Hartman I'm Brent Hartman. I've been a dog lover my entire life and have owned many animals over the years. When my black lab Angus passed away, I was looking for another friend to share my life with. As a result of my research, I've come to love poodles and wanted to share some of what I've learned with you. Whether you're looking to adopt a poodle, or already own one, I created Poodle report to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need. Recent Posts. English Saddle clip Continental clip A poodle can have any of the above hair types or some combination of them. Read on to find out more about the different types of poodle hair. Types of Poodle Hair Explained There are many types of poodle hair that you can find on poodles, and these different hairstyles are dependent on the grooming practices used as well as the age and breeding stock that the dog comes from. This hair type starts out as super soft, thin, wispy, and straight, but begins to grow curly and denser around the base as the pup grows older. Curly Coat Once a poodle transitions out of its puppy coat, it develops a thick curly hair type that covers the entire dog from head to toe. This coat is non-shedding and hypoallergenic; while poodles are well-known for their lack of shedding, this also means that their curly coat needs constant maintenance to avoid matting. Corded Coat Another hair type seen less commonly in poodles but commonly seen in other water dogs, such as the Portuguese water dog , is the corded coat. Improper Coat Unfortunately, due to a lack of careful selection during breeding, many poodles that are kept as companion animals rather than show dogs exhibit an improper coat, at least with regard to the breed standard. Improper coats are not curly throughout and will often exhibit soft waves in patches or across the entire dog. Improper coats are easier to brush, but a fault in the show. This kind of hairstyle is practical for pet poodles but is also the only cut permissible in a competitive show for any poodle under twelve months of age. English Saddle Clip An English saddle clip on a poodle is what most people think of when they imagine a fancy cartoon poodle—legs, tail, and chest cut into elaborate pom-poms, with shaved sections in between each ball of hair. This hairstyle was much more popular in the mid-twentieth century than it is today when puppy clips are more popular outside of dog shows. The clip has also lost popularity in dog shows, as it is not flattering to many dogs and is said to disguise the lines of the dog, making it a less attractive choice during judging. The English saddle clip is generally considered to be a poor choice for soft-coated dogs. Continental Clip A Continental clip is a similar hairstyle on a poodle to an English saddle clip, with the major difference being how the rear legs and back are cut. In an English saddle clip, the rear legs are cut into a series of pom-poms, whereas in the Continental clip, these sections are shaved. A Continental clip, like an English saddle clip, can be very difficult to maintain. Check out this article I recently wrote on 25 haircuts for poodles. Poodles and Hypoallergenic Hair One of the major advantages of poodles is that their hair is hypoallergenic, which means that it does not tend to cause problems for most people who have dog allergies. This makes poodles a good pet choice for anyone who wants a dog but is susceptible to the sniffles and leaky eyes around them. If you are on a budget, it may be more economical to purchase an allergy kit from Amazon. My favorite is the 5Strands deluxe tester. With this test kit, you can easily test for any pet-related allergies you may have. Check it out here on Amazon for more information and current pricing. While many dogs such as golden retrievers have a double coat, which is comprised of a soft undercoat that is protected by an outer layer of guard hairs, poodles only have a single coat. The biggest difference between the two coat types is that single-coated dogs do not shed and are considered hypoallergenic. Double-coated dogs tend to shed throughout the season and are a bane for those with allergies since their shedding also results in a lot of lost dander that tends to cause allergies to act up. Does Poodle Hair Stop Growing? In most cases, this is a very undesirable outcome. This coat type can be seen in other water dogs, too, such as the Portuguese water dog. But to make sure that the cords are presentable for exhibition, groomers will train them for a uniform appearance. Problems with Poodle Hair Despite the fact that it is hypoallergenic and lovely to look at, poodle hair comes with its own particular set of grooming and health problems. The hair of poodles has a tendency to thin and fall out, especially in female dogs that are going through heat or other hormonal surges. Here are some other common issues with poodle hair: Alopecia X: This is a balding condition caused by growth hormone deficiencies during the transition to adulthood in poodles and can cause loss of hair along both sides of the body. Luckily this is strictly a cosmetic issue for poodles generally caused by poor breeding practices and does not cause any other health problems. Allergies: Like many purebred dogs that have enjoyed an immense amount of popularity, some poodle breeding lines have developed a series of allergies to things like food and shampoos that affect the skin, eyes, and hair. Excessive itchiness can cause a poodle to scratch its own hair out eventually, and even form sores and hot spots. Sebaceous Adenitis: Like alopecia X, this is a hereditary disease of poodles and other breeds that are caused by poor breeding practices. Neutering is the recommended treatment or spaying, as the condition can show up in females too. Lemonade Pet Insurance insurance has enabled me to afford the highest level of veterinary care for my dog, Angus. Especially after he was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. Visit the Lemonade Health Insurance website here to get a free quote and see why Lemonade is a good fit to protect the health of your dog too. It easily gets the tangles out and is a great quality product. You can see more details and the current price here. The main cause of matting on a poodle is not brushing a poodle correctly or often enough. The cure for matting is to work the mat out with a proper grooming tool and brush the dog properly or more often going forward to avoid the formation of new mats. Matting can become severe if not addressed early on, and if matting becomes too serious, the only option is to cut the mass of hair off the poodle entirely or shave it down to the skin in the area where the mat is located. Obviously, for show coats, this can be extremely detrimental. The best preventative to avoid mats is to set up a strict and regular grooming schedule for your poodle. As long as a poodle is brushed regularly, their coats are not that much more difficult to manage than many other breeds of dog. Once a puppy is used to the process of being brushed, it will be much easier to train the poodle to stand still, and the process of brushing becomes a much quicker and more enjoyable process. The easiest way to regularly brush a poodle is to train it to stand and stay on a table. Training dogs to give a paw readily can be helpful for simplifying this process, as many dogs are naturally reluctant to let anyone handle their feet. Teaching the poodle to respond to simple positioning commands can be very useful in accomplishing this. The more careful you are in grooming the dog, the more trust you will build up and the less reluctant the dog will be to get brushed. As you work, spray each section with a conditioning spray to reduce potential tangles. Note: This is especially important on darker-colored poodles, such as black or chocolate poodles, since fleas and ticks will not show up as readily against their hair as in lighter-colored dogs. Be sure to talk calmly to the poodle throughout this process and offer treats when they are behaving correctly, as this will encourage good behavior in the future. Once the coat is brushed out, the poodle can then be bathed. If you own a poodle pup, you may encounter some special challenges when it comes to grooming. I wrote a comprehensive guide all about how to groom your Poodle puppy. Check it out here. Home Grooming vs. Professional Grooming Many people are intimidated by the grooming of poodles and assume that to keep a poodle looking good, they have to be professionally groomed much more often than the average dog. The downside is that it takes a bit of practice grooming a poodle in order to do it well. Since a poodle is years of commitment and professional grooming can cost thousands of dollars over the course of its life, it can be a financial good investment to learn how to groom your poodle early on. Plus, it also acts as a good bonding activity. Bathing Poodle Hair In order to maintain a good coat condition, poodles should ideally be bathed approximately once every three weeks. Too much bathing can also irritate the skin or make existing skin irritations worse. I recently wrote this article on how to properly give your poodle a bath. Poodle Hair: Fussy but Not Complicated While poodle hair can be somewhat fussy to deal with compared to a smooth-haired breed of dog like a hound, these majestic dogs can be easily maintained with just a few tools and some regular brushing. Consistent brushing is the key, not fancy tools or professional grooming. I hope you found it helpful. Here are some products that I personally believe every owner should employ to help ensure the best quality of life for their dogs. But in all honesty, these are the exact products that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Lemonade Pet Insurance : Lemonade Pet Insurance has enabled me to afford a very high level of veterinary care for my dog, Angus. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. This program actually works, and at a small fraction of the cost of hiring a dog trainer! Pet Plate is the dog food subscription service I use to provide extremely healthy, pre-portioned meals for my dog. Pet Plate gives my dog Angus the highest quality nutrition at a very affordable price. BarkBox : Without a doubt, my dog enjoys Barkbox more than anything else I buy him. BarkBox delivers a customized box of themed toys, treats, and other products to your door each month. In addition, I like that a percentage of proceeds is donated to local animal shelters. I Purchase this service for my dog Angus and have saved hundreds of dollars over visiting his local vet with questions or more minor health concerns. Brent Hartman I'm Brent Hartman. I've been a dog lover my entire life and have owned many animals over the years. When my black lab Angus passed away, I was looking for another friend to share my life with. As a result of my research, I've come to love poodles and wanted to share some of what I've learned with you. Whether you're looking to adopt a poodle, or already own one, I created Poodle report to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need. Recent Posts. Toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles get their curls at around 9 months old. There is a slight difference with the amount of time the adult coat takes to grow in, or transition period between standard, miniature, and toy poodles. Poodles going through this transition period can look a bit ragged and patchy and will need to be brushed regularly so their new coat does not matt and tangle. Standard poodles tend to their full curly adult coat within 3 months of the transition from puppy fur to adult fur beginning. Whereas when the transition starts for miniature and toy breeds it can take around 9 months of gradual change. Why do poodle puppies have a different coat to adults? Puppies poodles included have a fluffier, downy, single-layer coat when they are born. This is to help them keep warm as a fluffier coat means more warm air trapped close to the skin and better insulation. Most puppies start to shed their puppy coat when they are around 6 months old and most dog breeds go on to grow a new coat with two layers of fur a fluffy undercoat and a smoother outercoat. However, at this point poodles do something different from other dog breeds, and instead of growing a double coat, they grow one single coat of curly fur… Sometimes toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles will change color slightly at this age, light apricot or cream-colored poodle puppies will sometimes turn white or cream. This is normal and natural, though your poodle may look a little patchy during this transition… Why is poodle hair different? Most other dog breeds have two layers of fur, a short warm undercoat, and a smoother top coat. Poodle fur needs to be trimmed and brushed regularly, as the curls prevent most hair loss and means fur can get matted and very long if not cared for properly. Toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles are thought to be hypo-allergenic- meaning people who are usually allergic to dogs tend to show fewer allergy symptoms around poodles. Having said that, a small number of people are still allergic to poodles so this hypoallergenic label needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. The reason why poodles are thought to be hypoallergenic is because the tightly curled coat tends to trap most hair that has fallen out and dead skin. Most people who are allergic to dogs are actually allergic to the dead skin, otherwise known as dander, shed by dogs. In addition to curly fur trapping the dander, poodles actually have less dander than other dog breeds. For example, a labrador sheds its dander every days, whereas a poodle only sheds its dander around ever 21 days. So as well as their curly coat catching and trapping a lot more dander, they produce less- meaning fewer irritating dander particles making their way to those with allergies. Toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles coats are also different from other dog breeds because they shed less hair. While they do shed, when hair falls out it tends to be caught in the curly hairs, so it does not rub off onto furniture or clothes as much. Another reason poodle fur is different from other dog fur is the way it gets styled by humans. Poodles in the show ring are arguably one of the most heavily styled breeds around- giving poodles their distinct look. Yes, most poodles do develop a curlier coat between 6 and 18 months. If your poodle is less than 18 months it is likely that they simply still have their less-curly puppy coat, so you need to wait for the curls to appear. If your poodle is over 18 months then it is worth knowing that there is some natural variation between poodles and this can make a difference in how curly they end up as adults. Red, cream and apricot poodles tend to end up with looser curls than their black and white brothers and sisters. How do you get poodles to curl? Ensure your poodle is getting all the right nutrients it needs. Like humans, if a poodle is undernourished, it will affect their hair. Wash your poodle with some gentle dog shampoo and allow it to try naturally make sure you have got rid of any mats and tangles first!
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german shepherd lab puppy - Ian discusses how we should learn to see the world from our dogs perspective and in doing so, how we can better earn their love and trust. Armed with this love and trust, we will form a better relationship and as a result, effective training becomes just that much more effective and enjoyable for both you and your dog. But please, first make sure to use the search facility in the footer of this website and browse our other sections as the subject may have already been covered: Labrador health and care , Labrador behavior , Labrador puppies , infobites and Labrador breed information. External Resources On Labrador Training Although referring to all breeds in general and not purely Labradors, for those of you that love to watch and not read, the series of dog training videos on www. If you like reading books then check out one of our favorite Lab books: The Complete Labrador Handbook. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. If this is the case,…. How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed. Take a look at these first few articles. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. But for now, beside your bed is the best place for your puppy to sleep — it will help them feel safe. Puppies like their crates rather cave-like; we suggest covering it with a blanket to block out light, but keep the front open so that they can see outwards. Make sure to make it snug inside with something like a vet bed or a blanket, or why not take it up a notch with a heat pad or hot water bottle to recreate the feeling of their mother. Nothing feels more comforting than that. Before you head to bed, take your puppy out for one last round of loo-going. Set your bedtime at a later time too — midnight sounds about right. Come back calmly, and place your puppy in the crate and turn out the light. Stuff you should know about Sleep Training your Labrador Your puppy will wake up several times in the night and will need the bathroom at least once! Be prepared for not-so-deep sleeps and tired mornings — just for the first few weeks. Having them sleep next to you is only temporary. Consistency is key! As for you, full nights of sleep will start getting closer and closer. Alone Training How can I teach my Labrador puppy to be ok on their own? Start by feeding your puppy in their crate during meal times. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area. Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now. Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly. Socialization Exercises To Do this week Letting your Labrador puppy explore the yard Besides the gnomes and questionable yard furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own yard is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world. Exploring different surfaces exercise Make sure that the surfaces you use are safe — nothing too crazy just yet. Gather surfaces such as An oven tray with a small layer of water A piece of astro turf A carpet tile A large piece of tin foil, cardboard or something crinkly PRO TIP: Set up for this exercise in the room your puppy spends most of their time in — it will help them to feel safe and confident. Pop the surfaces out safely on the floor and allow your puppy to investigate them. Nobody has ever enjoyed walking on those. Remember to be patient! Lucky for you — teaching them their name is easy peasy. Say their name in a happy jolly tone and reward with a treat. Repeat five times, 5 and take a break. Practice this 2 or 3 times a day so they get the hang of it. Teach your puppy to sit Teaching your puppy how to sit is a popular one. The first two are far more common though. Keep using this word when they do the right thing, and then follow it up with a food reward. In puppy logic, stinky means yummy. How to do it Start at home; where there are no distractions. Just make sure to shut off Gogglebox in the background. Recall — How to teach our Labrador puppy to come back when called Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. How to do it Treats and a cheerful voice will be what works here. Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated. Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and yard to get them used to coming to you in all settings. How to do it Show your puppy that you have their favorite toy, and start to get them excited about it. When they show interest, throw it a little bit away from you. They will likely follow it and pick it up. If they do, encourage them back to you with your voice, so remember to sound happy! Swap the toy for a treat or another toy and do the process again. Repeat this about 5 times. Instead create more distance and excitement sounds to get them to come to you — spaniels like to show off, so they will likely want to parade what they have! Always swap the toy for something when they have it, this could be a treat or another toy. Resource guarding occurs when we force puppies to give up items or snatch things out of their mouths. For breeds like Labradors who are designed to want to hold things in their mouths, this is pretty important! Resource guarding is when a dog protects a resource from being taken by someone else — dog or human. For some reason, there is a solid list of things puppies find irresistible: Socks. Check Price on Amazon 6. Make Commands Only Once When it comes to training, what you give is what you get. This is known as command nagging. Teach your pup to heed a command at its first mention. If an order is not executed the first time, show your Lab what you want them to do and make the command again. Repeat that until they learn to obey the first time the command is made. Discipline at the Precise Moment of the Unwanted Behavior Timing is crucial when disciplining your 8-week-old Labrador pup. Dogs will typically forget an experience in 2 minutes. However, they can recall your training commands through associative memory. Once your pup has corrected his unwanted behavior with the desired behavior, reward him with a tasty treat and lots of praise. To learn more about how to discipline your dog, check out my top article, How to Discipline a Labrador: What Not to Do! It can also cause aggression in dogs , as found in this year-long study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. Using physical punishment such as hitting, kicking, or grabbing the jowls and shaking, is simply animal abuse. Other unacceptable methods are physically forcing the dog down onto its side or back, growling at your dog, withdrawing food, using a shock collar, or tying it for hours. Wean Your Puppy off Training Treats Your Labrador needs to learn that skills and commands are not learned or obeyed for the sole motive of a treat. For this reason, it is important to wean your puppy off treats when he has repeatedly performed the behavior and completely mastered it in different locations and with various distractions. Nonetheless, your Labrador puppy is still a dog in training, and you still need to tell him that he has done the right thing. The rule of thumb is that they are trained young when it comes to dog training. You should train Labrador puppies as soon as you bring them home, typically around 8 weeks of age. The American Kennel Club AKC indicates that the first key milestone when training a Lab pup is 8 weeks, as soon as they have left their mother. It is a crucial time to lay the foundation for your Labrador puppy to integrate into the family. When you bring your Labrador Retriever puppy home at two months, it has most likely interacted with a few situations and is eager enough to learn and follow the rules of a new home. A recent study scientifically proved that 8-week-old puppies are quite capable of learning at this young age as they quickly learned to open a puzzle box baited with food and remembered the skill an hour later. Interestingly, these puppies learned the skill better from a human rather than their mother. Other studies have also proven that it is effective for future behavior to teach puppies socialization and other skills rather than adults. In this study, puppies who attended a command and socialization training class for one hour a day for six months responded better to strangers than adult dogs who attended the same classes. Are Lab Puppies Easy to Train? Lab puppies are easy to train. They are a working breed that enjoys physical and mental stimulation and have many positive traits. They are intelligent, devoted, friendly, highly social, and love to please. They are often used as guide dogs, therapy dogs, or search and rescue due to their easy trainability. Apart from the age factor, other breed-specific reasons make training a Labrador puppy easy. Here are three examples: Labradors are among the most intelligent dog breeds. In his book, The Intelligence of Dogs, canine psychologist Stanley Coren lists Labradors in the top tier of the smartest dogs. So, even at just two months, your puppy has it in his blood to learn and carry out commands. To perform their original working job of retrieving fish that came off the trawl, Labradors had to be watchful and enthusiastic. These are essential learning characteristics. As game and waterfowl retrievers for hunters, Labradors have to be obedient. Another core training requirement makes your Lab puppy easy to train. With these ten principles on exactly how to train an 8-week-old Labrador, you can now apply them to the key areas your young puppy needs to be trained in. Labrador Puppy Training: Key Areas There are five critical areas in which you must appropriately train your 8-week-old Lab puppy. In the next section, I will tell you what the training entails. How to Socialize a Labrador They say humans are social beings, but that is also true about dogs. Socialization begins with the breeder and continues with you. To socialize a Labrador, expose him to many different places and situations. Include sounds, smells, other adults, children, animals, cars, objects, etc. Dogs who are well socialized in the first 12 weeks will be set up for life. Socializing and training your puppy young plays a significant role in the development of adult dogs, as evidenced in this important study. Here are two key findings: Dogs that are well socialized as pups will behave more positively with humans and are less likely to display unwanted behavioral problems such as fear and aggression. Socialized dogs are more likely to engage in positive social behaviors with humans. They also learn better how to play games with humans, helping them establish a true bond with their owners. As a puppy, you can teach your Labrador social skills and confidence through intentional training moments in the family. Once he has completed his vaccinations, take him to public places such as parks or puppy socialization classes. Put him outside hourly and learn to anticipate when he needs to go. Reward and praise him when he does go outside. Usually, puppies will need to relieve themselves early in the morning and after meals. Use their natural rhythm for daily pee or poop walks. Dogs hate messing in the area they sleep in and usually hold it. Nonetheless, very young puppies might be unable to do so. Walk your Labrador after his morning meal and hang around for 15 minutes or so to allow him to do his thing. Repeat the same in the evening. Puppies will need to be allowed to relieve themselves every hour, and for vaccinated dogs, a short walk every hours is an ideal routine to prevent them from peeing around the house. If you crate your puppy because you need to go out, get someone to help you stick to the routine. Repeating this routine for the first few days will give your new furry friend a good idea of his expectations. Check out my guide to Labrador potty training here. To crate train an 8-week-old Labrador puppy, start as soon as you bring him home. Slowly introduce him to the crate by throwing a treat inside and let him explore the crate voluntarily. When you first leave him with the door closed, make sure he is tired as he will sleep and not be afraid. Check out my Best Dog Crates for Labradors and Playpens recommendations, including soft crates, travel crates, and furniture styles. Here are six key things you should practice when crate-training your Labrador: Keep your puppy in the crate at night. Initiate crate training from the very first day you bring your puppy home. It will be harder to succeed in crate training if your puppy gets used to other sleeping arrangements. My puppy cried during the first night, but she was just fine after that. Lab puppies can be left alone in a crate for 1 hour for each month of age for up to 4 hours. Keep your dog in the crate when you are out of the house. This is also for his safety, such as when you are cooking. Do not let your Lab out of the cage when barking or giving you those puppy eyes. Instead, reward good behavior in the crate, i. He will quickly learn that being quiet leads to nice things. He will quickly learn that this special place is just for him. Various toys and bedding will offer some comfort for your Labrador. When purchasing a crate for your puppy, the best ones will give your Lab enough room to stand, sit, turn, and lie down comfortably on his side with paws outstretched. Instead, buy a crate with an adjustable divider that allows him to grow into and choose a standard metal model with either a single or double door. Travel kennels like this Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel , also from Amazon, are also hardy when you are on the move with your dog. This one is even airline adaptable and meets most airline cargo specifications. Older dogs may refrain from biting because they have been trained not to hurt as they have learned their bite inhibition. This simply means that the dog has learned to control the strength of his bite. This sends the message that the bite hurts. Persist by leaving your hand in his mouth until he lets go, then use lots of praise. All puppies need to master this technique that they initially learned from their mother and littermates. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Training your Lab puppy to soft bite must be done in puppyhood as an adolescent dog will not know how to adjust the force of his jaws when he has adult teeth and adult jaw muscles. This can be devastating for you both, should your Labrador go on to bite someone! Have realistic expectations — as it can take your puppy weeks to learn his soft bite. How to Train a Labrador Puppy to Walk on a Leash Walking on a leash is not a natural skill in dogs — they need to learn it! Teach a leash cue, then introduce the pup to very short walks. If the dog pulls, stand fast and wait for him to return to you before continuing. Do this by letting him wear them for short periods inside the house and yard. I find the best no-pull harness to be those that are not rear-attached, such as the Walk Your Dog With Love harness. They give you more control and are ideal for medium-large breeds. Give a treat when the command is obeyed. Introduce your Lab to short walks outside on a leash. When it appears he is about to lunge toward another dog or object, quickly distract him with a treat. Timing is crucial. Reward him every time commands are obeyed and gradually reduce the rewards as the art of leash walking is perfected. You can start steps 1 and 2 when the puppy is young, but you can only commence step 3 once the dog has been vaccinated. Final Thoughts Eight weeks old is the perfect time to train a Labrador puppy in key areas such as socialization, crate training, potty training, not biting, and leash training. To successfully train your Lab puppy in these areas, you must follow good training principles such as using reward-based training, being consistent in your commands, and disciplining at the precise moment of poor behavior. Begin with basic commands before introducing more complex or trick commands. Related Posts You May Like:. Labrador house training routines. We want them to learn to wait until they are outdoors before emptying their bladder or bowels. It is about maturity too. We need to understand that tiny puppies have immature bodies and are not physically capable of waiting very long. On your side There are two factors on your side in the potty training process. When it comes to bladder control, fortunately your puppy improves with every day that passes, so this factor does not work against you forever. The same applies to the fact that the puppy has been removed from his nest, he will soon learn to accept his new nest. The principles of puppy potty training The puppy is learning the principle of extending the nest area, which he keeps clean instinctively, to include your entire home. Punishment is counter-productive in this process as it teaches the puppy to avoid emptying himself in your presence. Rewards are helpful, but given the right routine, a puppy will naturally learn to be clean without them. The secret to successful house training lies in selecting targets that the puppy can achieve. If your puppy sometimes needs to wee every 15 minutes whilst he is awake and active, you will have to take him outside every 15 minutes. Restricted access Start small applies here too. Allow your puppy access only to a small part of your home. Increase the area he has access to, only when he is capable of keeping the current area clean. Just because he can. And because the sensation of a filling bladder is a new one. Your job is to teach him to wait a little longer. You do this by confining him for a short time, every time his bladder fills. You can confine him in his nest within a crate , or in your arms. He will be reluctant to wee in either location. If he wets himself, you have waited too long! It takes two You need to go outside with your puppy, and stay out there with him, each time he needs to wee. A tiny puppy is unlikely to empty himself on his own. This especially applies in cold or wet weather. Routines Matter When House Training a Labrador Retriever Based around these practical requirements you can create your own house training routine. For a puppy that needs to wee every half an hour, it will go something like this Take puppy outside to the toilet area and wait with him until he empties himself Bring him indoors and allow him free access to your kitchen for fifteen to twenty minutes Crate or cuddle the puppy until it is thirty minute since his last wee Take the puppy back out to the toilet area If at any time the puppy does not empty himself then confine him for another ten minutes and try again. As soon as he is regularly not needing to wee after thirty minutes you can extend the duration of free access to your kitchen. Provided you stick to these principles and strategies, the house training process, though quite intense for a short while, will pass smoothly. Print Early obedience first step to better hunting dog Labrador puppies start out sweet and innocent. All you want to do is cuddle up with your pup and love them! And you should! But rest assured the innocence will not last. As your pup gains confidence and courage, they will begin to test you in many ways. That is why you must obedience train your Labrador puppy. Early obedience training is key to establishing borders and boundaries that will help your puppy grow, learn, and adjust with a good attitude. There is no shortcut to doing this, just use the name often when you talk to your puppy. Over time, the pup will start to respond to the name. Socialization, while not technically obedience training, is the single most important thing you can teach your puppy during the first few months of life. If you are not sure how to do this, refer to this post. Tools needed to obedience train Labrador puppy You will need a few tools to teach your puppy obedience. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Collar — You should purchase a size appropriate collar for your new puppy. You may have to buy new ones as your dog grows, but it is important for your puppy to get used to wearing a collar early on. A simple nylon adjustable collar works great. Chain collar — If your puppy is more than a few months old, a chain or prong collar is extremely helpful in teaching obedience, but they must be used correctly. For more information on how to put a chain collar on your dog correctly refer to this video. A longer lead, called a check cord, is also useful for teaching HERE and retrieving. You can learn more about that here. Heeling stick optional — While optional, a heeling stick can be especially helpful in teaching basic obedience. Treats — Treats are good for teaching very young puppies. I use treats for pups under 12 weeks of age, but treats should be discontinued rather quickly. When to start basic puppy obedience training Obedience training can and should start within the first couple weeks of having your puppy home. Young puppies are ready and willing to learn and teaching obedience to a young puppy is much easier than teaching it to an older dog. How long should obedience sessions be? Most labs do not enjoy obedience training. For this reason, we aim to keep obedience sessions short, especially if your dog is under 4-months of age. Five to ten minutes of obedience a day can work wonders. Especially if you are consistent. Using rewards or praise to teach obedience Many people like to use treats or rewards for obedience training. And this can work, especially with very young dogs. But for hunting dogs, over the long-term treats can become a problem. We do not want our dogs, or the dogs we train to be obedient only because they are getting a food reward. We want them to be obedient because they understand their place in the family and respect the owners. To get these lasting results, we use praise words and petting and a reward that retrievers live for — retrieves! Well-timed praise is a particularly important part of dog training. A message that it is okay to ignore me the first 9 times! This simply means that after a few minutes of formal obedience training, we release the dog with an OKAY command and that means they can run around and be a dog. We then throw a bumper or plug a for the dog to retriever. We do this a few times with a lot of excitement and allow the dog to retrieve the bumper. For retriever breeds, this is often more effective than a food reward. Be careful that you are not letting your puppy get into bad habits with retrieving. For instance, if your puppy often goes out to retrieve the bumper but then runs away with it, or picks it up and drops it, do not continue doing retrieves. While retrieving is a reward for many Labs, it is not an excuse to engage in behaviors that are not going to be acceptable in the field. If you want to learn more about how to properly teach your Lab to retrieve, check out How can I teach my retriever puppy to fetch? Introduction to leash and nylon collar The very first step for any puppy obedience is to introduce your puppy to a regular collar and leash. This should be done in two separate steps, first the collar and then the leash. Introduce the collar by putting a nylon type collar on your puppy. This is normal and you should not react to it. Introducing the leash is a little different. We like to do this outside. After a few sessions of this introduction, you can start holding the leash by the end and walking with the puppy. When the puppy tries to run or walk away, hold tight to the leash, and just let the puppy get used to the resistance. Some puppies have a hard time with this and will growl or whine and whip themselves around at the pressure, but most will not. Remain calm and after a few sessions the puppy should get used to the resistance of the leash. Do not allow the puppy to pull you around. That will make for some bad behaviors that you will need to correct later. If you cannot control your puppy with just a regular collar and leash, you may need to move to a chain or prong collar to keep control. What commands to teach Lab puppy There are only four basic obedience commands that you need to teach your young puppy. Remember when it comes to commands, less is more. OKAY — this is a release command, basically tells your dog were done training, go be a dog. As your puppy grows and learns more, there are some other commands that may be needed, but for puppies I like to start with just the four above. Dog training requires consistency Before you start with obedience training, I want to make a note about the importance of consistency. Obedience training only works if you are consistent. This means that when you say a command, you expect the puppy to perform the command, and are willing to take steps to make the puppy perform the command. If you do not remain consistent in this expectation, you will confuse your dog and get poor results from your training. You and your family must be consistent! How to start obedience training Lab puppy The first command you want to start teaching your puppy is SIT. This is quite easy to teach with a small puppy but gets a little tougher as they get bigger. Then release the puppy with the OKAY command. Repeat this process several times, then stop. If your puppy is weeks old, you can repeat this training several times a day for only a couple minutes at a time. This will be a two-person job for a little while. The other person will put the food down a few feet from the puppy. Then release the puppy to eat saying OKAY. As the pup learns and understands the command better, you will no longer need a second person to hold the puppy. You must be a little careful here because young puppies do not have great bladder control and making them wait, even a few seconds, can mean the difference between an accident and them doing their business outside. But this is a great way to teach impulse control and manners to your puppy. I do not want to have to fight for a position by the door. You can usually start working on this within a week or two of teaching SIT. A great way to teach this command to young puppies is to use two people and sit in a long hallway, one at each end. Take turns calling your puppy with a HERE command. A toy or treat can often help the process. Let your puppy run around a bit but hold onto the end of the cord. Occasionally, call you puppy with a HERE command. It can be helpful at first to crouch down to encourage the puppy to run towards you. Then release the puppy with an OKAY command. Do this a few more times and repeat daily until the puppy is coming to you without you needing to pull the cord. It is also the command most of our clients struggle with the most. Mostly because they are using the wrong tool for the job. For heeling work, it is important that you work with a chain or prong collar. This will give you more control and stop the pulling and surging that many people struggle with. Using a chain or prong collar and a six-foot leash, start walking your puppy at your side. If your puppy is young, be sure to use a puppy chain collar which is smaller than chain collars for adult dogs. And make sure that you are putting it on correctly! An alternate tool to a chain collar and leash is the Wonder or Command Lead. These work great for teaching HEEL. As you start walking use gently tugs on the chain collar with the command HERE to keep your puppy at your side. If your puppy surges or pulls ahead, simply make a degree turn and start walking the other direction giving a sharp, upward tug on the chain collar and saying HEEL several times until the dog is back in a heeling position. Many of our clients have told us they never left their driveway the first few days! But if you are patient and consistent, your dog will quickly learn that if they want to go for a walk, they need to stay at your side. If you want to learn and progress in more obedience work, check out these obedience drills for retrievers. Final thoughts on how to teach your lab puppy obedience Teaching your puppy obedience may take a lot of patience, time and work, but it is such an important thing to do. You will never regret the time! A well-mannered dog is such a joy to be around both in the home and in the field. How to obedience train Labrador puppy. Labrador Retriever pups are working dogs. This means they live to please you for a treat. The more you engage them with different puppy training behaviors the happier they will be. Of course, Labs will be Labs, and this means that dogs do dog things unless they are trained to follow your expectations. Potty training your puppy is just the beginning of you making clear expectations for your Lab. Puppy training from long leash training to potty training, to not nipping is discussed in greater detail along with clear, easy to follow videos at www. But we will give you an expert training tip summary below. For this reason, you need to become an expert on puppy training. Contact us for a discount on the Puppy Trained Right positive reinforcement training program. Expose your puppy to as many different people and situations possible. Teach dog to dog manners when required. Use Positive Reinforcement. Allow for Play with Other Puppies. Play with other Lab Puppies not only allows your pup to get some exercise it is a form of puppy socialization. Bond with your Puppy. Once a strong bond is formed your Lab Puppy will want to please you even more. Potty Train Right Away. Learn how Dogs Learn. Training a Lab puppy is easy if you understand how to go about it. Give your Lab Puppy Play time to Explore. Labs need this as part of their natural development. Spend more time with your puppy when young. This is the time when your expectations should be clearly outlined and can decrease as she gets older. Begin Training day 1. This happens weather or not you intend it to. Every action and reaction is something your puppy uses to form new habits. So ignoring them jumping up as an 8 week old puppy is training them to jump up and will be much more difficult to un-train once they are 70 lbs. Relax and make learning fun. Your pup needs you happy and enjoying yourself! Use Positive Training Methods because they work. This means reward what you desire. Ensure most Experiences are Positive. Imagine a training session of No, No, No, No! Expose them to as Many Human Situations possible. One cause is that there was not adequate socialization with different men. Be Patient. You are building an amazing K9 personality. The window is between 8 and 20 weeks old. Make the most of it. The better your Lab is socialized the happier they will be. Anxiety in dogs comes from many things. The more things your dog is comfortable with the less chance for anxiety and therefore the happier they are. Prepare yourself, your family and your home before your puppy comes home. It is too late once you meet your puppy as simply interacting with her is training. Allow for Safe Experiences both in the home and outside. Seek professional trainers to help guide you when faced with a problem. Be consistent. Clear expectations are easiest to learn. Focus on Guiding not controlling. Best Start Training or Training Classes are beneficial for both you and your puppy. Expect Success. We tend to move in the direction we believe we will travel. Reward the Behaviors you want to see even something as simple as 4 paws on the ground if you are trying to train your Lab not to jump up on you. Become Well informed. You are teaching a skill like reading that takes clear expectations and builds upon last session. Lab Puppies need constant supervision either human, a crate, a fenced area or a baby gate across a doorway. Encourage a soft mouth. Keep your training up or it will be forgotten. Begin Walking on a Loose Leash Right away. This is always easier for your Lab when they are 12 lbs not 70lbs. Change direction before the leash tightens so they are followers not leaders. This is much easier to train before it happens than correct. Allow alone time for your Lab. Know when to end a training session. End training before your puppy quits. Make time for a few shorter training Sessions. Three fifteen minute sessions are better than one 45 min one. Teach your Lab to respond to their name. Teach your Labrador basic obedience before tricks-come, sit, stay, down, leave it. Have all humans learn the commands and be consistent. Ignore undesirable behaviors. Ignoring includes not saying no, bad dog, touching your dog or making eye contact. Find rewards that your Retriever loves and use them when you have breakthrough training moments. Adjust your expectations as your Lab puppy matures, the older more experienced the higher the expectation. Set Realistic Expectations. Minimize distractions when you begin training. Be aware of your Body Language, Labradors pick up cues from you. Be aware of your leash tension. A tight leash says anxiety from the handler. Know when to get Help .Have fun! Understand that Labs do Lab things. Make them work for food and treats. Exercise your Retriever properly for both intensity and duration. Learn some exercise games Labs love. Give lots of repetition. Stop before they get bored. Establish a Pattern by Praising. Redirect undesired behavior. Accept partial actions at first and gradually increase your expectations. When treats end Verbal treats and chin scratches rule. They will know. Enjoy your well balanced purebred Lab puppy for many years. Purebred Lab Retrievers, are they easier to train? The answer to that is definitely maybe! Not all purebreds are bred for intelligence. For example, if a Labrador Retriever breeder chooses to breed their dogs for a certain look then they may overlook intelligence as one of the important characteristics in order to get a specific Lab look. We however breed for intelligence, health and temperament. So in our case, yes, our Purebred Lab Puppies are easier to train than many because we choose the parents and their puppies specifically for their smarts!