german shepherd puppies indianapolis indiana

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Deer Creek Comfort Dogs Shaping future companions for families and those in need of comfort Our family has been raising puppies for over 20 years. Our children have always had a passion for dogs which began our journey and now our grandchildren enjoy growing up with our wonderful dogs by their side. Deer Creek provides emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, service and therapy prospects, canine good citizen dogs as well as family pets. Deer Creek assists our families with puppy selection to help ensure the families get the puppy that will work well with their needs. Someone once said, "Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative" and we hope you choose one of ours. If you are interested in finding your new family member, fill out our puppy application and we will be thrilled to work with you. We recognize that our dogs have the capability of changing peoples' lives on a therapeutic level. Many of our Doodles have become therapy dogs at funeral homes, children's advocacy centers, hospitals and nursing homes, and others have found homes as anxiety, PTSD and emotional support dogs. Learn more about our nonprofit organization Deer Creek Paw Prints at www. Learn More Molly, Rhys, and Beau! Life Span Did You Know? A Labradoodle is a popular designer dog breed. It is a cross between a Standard Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. This designer dog breed originated in Australia around .The main goal of the Labradoodle was to create a hypoallergenic guide dog for people living with disabilities who were also allergic to dog fur and dander. Now, they are still a popular choice for service, guide, and therapy dogs and are also a popular companion dog. Labrador Retrievers and Poodles are both friendly, gentle, intelligent, and affectionate dog breeds. The Labradoodle tends to be similar. They are open and friendly and crave human attention and affection. They are happiest when they are with people. Labradoodles also tend to have an energetic and playful personality. They get along well with children, other dogs, other pets, and strangers. They are alert enough to bark or let you know when someone is at the door, but they are not generally good watchdogs or guard dogs as they are more interested in making friends. A Labradoodle is a highly adaptable dog breed. They do very well in homes with space to run and they can adapt well to apartment living as long as they are given plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. They also do well in most climates. As with any dog breed, they are sensitive to extreme heat and cold. Because they enjoy being around people, they do not generally like to be left alone for long periods of time. They can also become bored if not given enough attention, exercise, or mental stimulation, which can result in destructive behavior. This dog breed is generally healthy, but they do have the chance of inheriting common health conditions from both of the parent breeds. Some health conditions to be aware of include elbow and hip dysplasia, ear infections, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and epilepsy. Good breeding practices can reduce the likelihood of passing on many of these health issues. Be sure to talk with the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and ask to see any health clearances; this can help allay potential health concerns. A Labradoodle tends to be eager to please and highly intelligent, which makes them highly trainable. They are a good fit for dog owners of any experience level. As with most dog breeds, Labradoodles respond best to training that is consistent and uses positive reinforcement. There are some grooming tasks that are common to every dog breed. When it comes to coat care, it can vary with a Labradoodle. Poodles have a low-shedding coat that is also high maintenance in terms of brushing, trimming, and professional grooming. Labs tend to have a higher shedding coat that needs minimal brushing and grooming. For the most part, a Labradoodle will have a low or non-shedding coat that will need to be brushed a few times a week. But, they can have a higher shedding coat should they take after their Labrador parent. You may also need a few professional grooming sessions throughout the year. Nail trimming once a month is usually enough to keep movement comfortable and prevent longer nails from snagging on things. Proper dental care for your dog will help prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Drop-down ears are more prone to infection because floppy ears are more likely to trap moisture, dirt, and debris. This will make grooming throughout their life a much more enjoyable process for both you and your dog. It can even become a bonding time for you both as well. Labradoodles tend to be high-energy dogs. They require a few daily walks plus some time to run and play in order to stay happy and healthy. They certainly love to play and you may tire out before they do sometimes. They may calm down a little as they get to be a couple of years old, but they tend to be quite energetic as puppies. Going swimming with your dog , taking a hike with them, going on a trip to the dog park, playing a game of fetch, and more are all great supplemental activities to ensure your Labradoodle gets plenty of exercise. You can even train them to compete in dog sports like dock diving, flyball, agility, obedience, and more. A fully-grown Labradoodle will usually stand between 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. Labradoodles generally live 12 — 14 years. However, it did not become popular until when the mix was specifically bred to create hypoallergenic guide dogs. Featured Labradoodle Article. Questions about Labradoodle puppies for sale? We have answers. What is an Australian Labradoodle, exactly? Each of these parent breeds was specifically chosen to pass down certain traits with the end goal of building the ultimate dog. What affects Labradoodle prices? How much is a Labradoodle? Labradoodle price will vary between breeders based on breeder experience, coat color and type, gender, size, and other factors. For example, parti Labradoodle puppies for sale, mini Labradoodle puppies for sale, teacup Labradoodle puppies for sale, and miniature Labradoodle puppies for sale may all be priced differently. Breeders in the Uptown network price their dogs highly competitively, and part of our MatchMaker process means helping families find the right pooch for their budget. Do Labradoodle breeders ship puppies out of state? Are there Australian Labradoodle puppies for sale near me? How do you screen Labradoodle breeders near me? We have strict standards covering puppy health and care, breeding practices, facility cleanliness and much more—head to our Breeder Pledge page for additional info. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other places? Uptown is on a mission to bring together the best, most loving, most honest breeders in the country—and make it simple for you and your family to find the best dog possible. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are like factories that produce dogs on an industrial scale by sacrificing the health and wellbeing of those dogs. Dogs born in mills are far more likely to display antisocial behavior, develop crippling illnesses and cost you thousands in vet bills , and to die at a young age. Are there any Labradoodle puppies available now? Looking for Australian Labradoodle puppies near me? What is the MatchMaker process? The MatchMaker process helps you save time now, and also save your sanity in the future. MatchMaker is the key to building a fulfilling, happy relationship with your new Labradoodle. Breeder Locations. These puppies are very dark chocolate. They have been raised with small children and other dogs. These puppies will be medium in size, lbs. They will be UTD on Vaccines, de wormings, bordatella, and will be microchipped. Our puppies are socialized daily with small children and other dogs in our home. They will also be crate trained. Contact me for more information. Their puppies will be small mediums lbs. The lowest generation we are now breeding are F3 Labradoodles. We breed American and Australian Multigenerational Labradoodle puppies. In order to keep our lines clean no back breeding or line breeding when breeding the higher generation Labradoodle puppies, ie; 4th, 5th and higher, it is our choice to go back to the original infusion of the 2nd generation or higher Cock-a-Poo as well as The poodle. Our minature Labradoodles are bred down naturally starting with the Standard Poodle and English Stature Labrador Retriever within our own program…. Our Labradoodle puppies are raised in our home with lots of daily TLC. T-Touch stimulation socialization. Many of our puppies placed go on to train as therapy dogs. We also have quite a few Certified Service Dogs. We travel back and forth between Sunny South Florida and South Carolina with all our Labradoodle puppy litters once vaccinated. As well as any other states necessary. No destination is too far to insure the safety of our Labradoodle puppies. Hopefully you will find our website informative and if you have further questions do not hesitate in contacting us any time. My cell phone is the easiest way to reach me. Marlene Sapp.

We work hard to maintain the highest standards of health and pedigrees to ensure that our puppies grow into healthy and happy adults. That is how we match french bulldog puppies with their families forever. We are dedicated to providing you with the best service and support throughout the entire process, from selecting your frenchton to bringing them home We certainly know how exciting it is to bring a new french bulldog puppie into the family. For this reason we bring to you the most frequently asked doubts: asked by our frenchies lovers before taking a new puppy home. Are french bulldog easy to train? French bulldog puppies are not the easiest to train, but not the most difficult either. It is important to stick to a routine patiently for 6 to 8 months to let your furry understand it. Please take into account that it is a puppy, from month 8 onwards you can do more strong activities such as jumping or running as it will be appropriately grown to do so. Is french bulldog smart? Tenderly called Frenchies, this breed is considered active, well-behaved and intelligent according to the American Kennel Club AKC , their owners and soon you will too! They are considered the most intelligent breed among bulldogs. French bulldogs puppies like to be the center of attention but are also eager to please their family members. Are french bulldog lazy? This is one of the most common myths about french bulldogs. Are they lazy? Having a proper exercise routine is important to control their weight. Playing with other dogs or with their parents is one of their favorite activities as well, They will be just as happy with you in the car or lying on the couch, but it will be up to you to create healthy and active habits for them. If you are in search of a high quality, superior, champion bred AKC registered blue French bulldog puppy from a trusted and highly reputable breeder, then you've landed on the right webpage. Please feel free to explore our website thoroughly to find out more about this amazing and majestic breed of dog we have come to love and admire. We have very useful information scattered about our website to give you a better understanding of what it is to own a french bulldog and how to care for a brand new puppy in training, like an exotic lilac and tan merle frenchie. We even have the very exotic big rope french bulldog puppies available. Our dogs are very well cared for as part of our canine family. We offer them the best quality health care that's available to us. They are fed quality premium dog food that is age specific and custom blended for their specific diets. They process very good health and are free of any genetic or hereditary diseases to prevent these genes from getting passed along to their offspring. As one of the top leading fluffy french bulldog breeders in the industry, we pride ourselves in the quality of our dogs and customer satisfaction we offer our customers. Our dogs and pups come from the finest bloodlines and have outstanding pedigrees from quality lines from around the world. The dogs we use are very high quality and thus produce puppies with excellent conformation , temperaments and always meet the breed standard. All of our puppies we produce here at Silverblood Frenchies come along with a state of Florida veterinary health certificate, all required vaccinations and a one full year health guarantee. We breed the finest french bulldog puppies of exotic colors and patterns such as merle french bulldogs. Our frenchies produced are blue, isabella, lilac, lilac and tan, chocolate, blue and tan and fluffy french bulldog puppies. For the finest frenchies for sale in the US feel free to contact us at or email us. To Apply or For more info Click Here! The blues looks gray to dark grayish in color and are the first and most popular of the rare colors. Their DNA apears as dd. Blue and Tan Frenchies: This is a blue dog with tan points in specific areas. Eyebrows, cheeks, legs and chest are the main area where these "points" appear. Merle French bulldog : This spotted look is a very fancy, unique and desirable currently. The merle gene is dominant and can come in any of the many colors in the french bulldog breed. Depending on their base color, they can come in many varieties such as lilac merle, blue merle, chocolate merle, blue fawn merle and isabella merle. Merle frenchies for sale. Chocolate French bulldog: Chocolate French bulldogs are also considered exotic. They are now more widely known as coco since the previously unidentified recessive gene has been identified. This coat will appear brownish and usually gives puppies beautiful golden to greenish eyes. Cream French bulldogs: Cream colored dogs are a light cream shade and eventually develop darker coloring around their lips, eyes, nose and paw pads as they mature. Platinum French bulldog: A platinum frenchie is any rare colored french bulldog covered in cream. These dogs will display an apparent dilution in their lips, eyes, nose and paw pads while still cream covered. These dogs are highly desirable for their exotic appearance and for their ability to produce many other rare and exotic colors. Lilac French bulldog : This lilac color is so unique and very attractive. This color occurs when a dog that either is or carrier both blue and chocolate coco is bred with a dog with similar DNA. This puppy will carry two copies of the blue dd dilute gene and two copies of chocolate coco. Lilac frenchies for sale. Isabella French bulldog: Isabella frenchies are stunning and extremely beautiful. This is arguably the most rare of all the french bulldog exotic colors and thus the most valuable. Currently we have isabella french bulldogs for sale. These frenchies will carry 2 copies of the exclusive "testable chocolate" gene better known as "isabella". Not only that but they will also carry two copies of the dd as the diluting agent to turn this "rojo" chocolate into the lighter "Isabella" color. The Rojo variety, which is an isabella dog that has bb but not dd or diluted will be a dark rich chocolate color. The most recognized Isabella variety is an isabella dog that has both bb and dd making it the typical, most recognized light champagne Isabella color. Finally the last is called the New Shade Isabella french bulldog or true lilac isabella. This dog looks very much like a typical isabella but carries all the diluted genes including testable chocolate bb , cocoa coco and blue or dilute dd. Fluffy French bulldogs: Fluffy french bulldog puppies are the most expensive and most amazing frenchies in the world. They are all the rage currently due to their highly exotic appearance and fancy, luxurious, fluffy coats. These long haired frenchies are identical to a standard short hair frenchie with one very obvious difference. These babies will get fluffier as they mature and will be head turners for sure! As far as the french bulldog breed is concerned, the most prevalent genes that offer this exotic look are the L1 and L4 long-haired genes. The dog must possess 2 copies of each or mixed and will produce the same results. Pied French bulldogs: Pied french bulldogs are not exactly a color but rather a color pattern. These dogs may be of any color and hair type. These dogs are typically mostly white with another base color such as blue, chocolate, lilac, isabella, merle or fluffy. Many dislike the pied look while others request them specifically. The pied look can sometimes give french bulldogs a flashy look and is a matter of preference. Big Rope French bulldogs: Big Rope french bulldogs or "Big-Rope Frenchies" are very unique looking french bulldogs with a distinct physical difference. The overall body and appearance between a standard french bulldog and a real Big-Rope french bulldog are practically identical. The only difference is that the Big-Rope frenchie has a beautiful thick, heavy "rope" over its nose. This gives them a very bold and impressive appearance that makes them very attractive and desirable. Since the "big-rope" trait is not specific to any color, then come in every french bulldog imaginable including big rope isabella frenchies. In fact, there are several fluffy big rope frenchies out there now. Their beautiful facial big rope in no way impedes their ability to breathe. We'll have big-rope french bulldog puppies available very soon! Isabella Fluffy French bulldogs: If you are lucky enough to own one of these extremely rare and exotic frenchies, then you must know how fortunate you are. By basically combining the best of both worlds in coat color isabella and coat type fluffy you will get the absolute most gorgeous, valuable and exotic dog in the world! A long haired visual fluffy Isabella frenchie is worth its weight in gold! The first thing you'll need to do is find a reputable and knowledgeable french bulldog breeder. Silverblood Frenchies is not new to "the game". We have been breeding and raising these gorgeous creatures for over 10 years now. We have acquired the experience and knowledge over the years that many new puppy parents wished their breeder had. Every single one of our puppies we sell come with lifetime 24 hour support for their Silverblood Frenchies Puppy for life! Feel free to check out our testimonials page to hear from just a handful of our previous happy customers. June 29, If you are looking to find the perfect French Bulldog puppy to buy and bring to your home this list of the best French Bulldog breeders in Florida will help you. Finding a quality French Bulldog breeder can be a challenge especially with all the scams out there. I personally researched this list to help you get started on your search for a Frenchie puppy of your very own. Even though I did some initial research for you, I highly encourage you still following my tips here on how to find a reputable French Bulldog breeder near you. Be sure to check out their websites, check out their social media, and be sure to have a phone conversation with the breeder to ensure you are getting a healthy and happy Frenchie puppy. Their goal is simple: to give their clients the most preferred, fit, brilliant puppies possible. The French Bulldog being the most popular dog in the world, they want to ensure that every Frenchie has the best life possible. They have specialized in breeding standard and non-standard breeding of Frenchies. Their dogs are AKC registered and fully health tested before leaving their facility. They have 16 years of experience breeding bulldogs and producing quality french bulldog puppies. They breed them in a way that ensures perfect health and a great disposition, so you can expect your puppy to grow into a beautiful adult with no health problems or behavioral issues. In poetic french bulldogs, you will find puppies with unique colors such as blue, chocolate, and lilac. They also offer one-year health assurance for the puppy. From their birth, they were astonished by their love, beauty, and character. Their passion led them to start Pure Devotion Frenchies, where they offer finite, great-bred litters. They are genuinely the best Frenchie you could ever find. They aim to create the best Frenchies possible by breeding them with the best quality dogs they can find. They take time with every puppy they produce and are committed to raising healthy pets with excellent temperaments. Their adults are healthy and have lovely character as well. They raise their puppies with lots of love and care—they feed them a balanced diet and provide proper socialization, exercise and stimulation to maintain their health. As a way of showing care to their dogs, these breeders make sure that the new families offer the same care and respect to the dogs. They breed one type of dog to focus on their needs and health. They aim to produce healthy, beautiful puppies that their new families will love. They select their dogs carefully, choosing only the healthiest dogs with excellent pedigrees to breed their puppies. All of their dogs and puppies are AKC registered. Their puppies go to their new homes with de-worming treatments and are vet-inspected. They are raised in a loving environment and adopted to approved homes only. They love their dogs, and they treat them like members of their own family. They only sell their puppies to pet homes, not kennels, where puppies will not be raised with the love and care they grew with. Phone: Location: Contact the breeder for their location in Florida. Best Friend Frenchies was founded by Brenda and Eric Schaller, who have been breeding dogs for the longest time. That means loving them from birth. Their goal is to provide exceptional service to their clients and French Bulldogs. They are the best French bulldog breeders Florida. They specialize in the rarest colors of the French Bulldog and offer AKC registration so that you can be certain that your puppy comes with both health and structure. Their dog comes with either full or limited registration. They are also able to provide stud services for their clients. Telephone: Website: South Florida Frenchies Bentley Bullies Bentley Bullies have over 20 years of experience breeding french bulldogs and know what it takes to produce healthy puppies with the right temperament. They only sell puppies from their breeding program, meaning every puppy is accompanied by a health certificate from a board-certified veterinarian and a one-year health guarantee. These breeders also provide their clients with references upon request. With their premier French Bulldog breeding program, they have made it their mission to produce quality, healthy, and gorgeous puppies. They do this by keeping in line with high standards for health and structure. They also use DNA testing to ensure each puppy is free from genetic disorders. To make sure that these standards are met, they hand select every dog for breeding. Their puppies are all AKC registered and show quality. They have health guarantees on all their puppies, and their lifetime support will ensure that your pup is taken care of even after it leaves you. Their puppies are given room to roam to be happy and healthy, not caged. Also, they do not breed them in captivity—they breed them with other dogs who are also happy and healthy. Their focus is on quality over quantity. This breeder takes their dogs on vacations, to the beach, bike riding, and every other place they visit. They want their Frenchie to be happy and healthy, so they take them wherever they go. They are very cautious about who wants to adopt their Frenchie. To receive the puppy, you must accept a background check before selling the Frenchie to you. One of the main reasons why they are referred to as the best french bulldog breeders in Florida is the fact that they offer face time calls for you to see how they raise their dogs. They even potty train their dogs. Their main aim is to give the best Frenchie Bulldog Pups possible. They want them to be healthy, happy dogs with the emotional and physical qualities that make the French Bulldog one of the most preferred dogs in America. They are committed to providing the highest quality Frenchie Bulldog Pups, so they only breed with AKC-approved color models and only use high-quality puppy food. They are always cute and love to play. An immaculately cuddly bulldog might just be the perfect family pet. I hope this list of French Bulldog Breeders in Florida gets you started on finding the perfect four-legged companion for your family. If you are looking for French Bulldog breeders in other states this list may be helpful for you:.

Labradoodles come in many colors! We specifically select our parents to your puppies based on specific criteria including health, temperament, size and color. To meet all the possible color and size needs of our families we try and ensure a color mix every year along with a range of sizes even in our small program. Again, temperament and family personality fit should come first when selecting a dog. We suggest you stay open, meet all the puppies and select based on multiple criteria. Parti Labradoodle What is a parti labradoodle? Parti labradoodles are two color dogs. Genetically the dog is the color, so a black and white parti labradoodle is technically a black labradoodle that expresses parti. The parti portion is the white coloring over the other color much like a swiss cheese pattern allowing the other color to come thru. Please remember there is no accommodation at Rainmaker Ranch Labradoodles for a specific parti pattern you may want based on their photos over the first 8 weeks. We will continue to place all parti puppies based on color and gender and not on where that color pattern is located. Our mission to provide the best puppy based on temperament and health to each family. We understand that families may have a preference in pattern as the puppies grow, but we want you to understand each puppy has a unique personality based on the temperament testing we run weekly. In turn, that temperament testing matches one family profile better than another. We only accept families to our wait list that also have the same goal of obtaining the best puppy based on temperament over pattern placement. At this point our puppies have a generally consistent middle of the road personality which is what we have spent the last 15 years breeding towards. However, even within that middle of the road personality not too shy and not too rambunctious we note difference which leads one puppy to be better with kids, or other dogs, or cats or the retired couple over the family with kids or traveling often. We will not alter this plan based on your position on the wait list or any other reasons other than personality match to a family profile. This is a series of alleles within genes that may or may not be transferred to your puppy from his or her parents and may or may not be masked by other genes. In a nut shell, it is impossible to determine reliably at weeks of age. We only accept families to our wait list that also have our goal of obtaining the best puppy based on temperament over the coat lightening possibility. Please understand we think health and temperament is the most important criteria in selecting a puppy. When you have the perfect fleece coat, not too curly like a poodle and you have removed the harsher texture, you finally achieve Black Silk. Black Silk is super shiny. Think of it like paint sheen, you have gloss paint and flat paint, well Black Silk is like gloss paint. The color maintains this shine unlike some of the other colors, it is really quite beautiful and although black is genetically common, Black Silk is rare. Sable or Brindle Labradoodle This link will take you to more photos of Sable and Brindle puppies and dogs. Labradoodles and Australian Labradoodle dogs and puppies. One of the unique features of Australian Labradoodles is the wide variety of coat colors and patterns. While Labradoodle colours are interesting, we maintain that you are buying a living creature and not a coat colour. It is essential to retain the appearance of an Australian Labradoodle within the breed standard, but we feel charging for colour is not a fair practice. Van Isle Doodles looks for families whose focus is on adding a labradoodle puppy as a family member to their home. Depending on the intensity of the pigment, a red dog may appear to be a deep red color all the way to a light brown color. Cream Cream labradoodles range from almost white through to latte depending on the intensity of the pigment. This is our Bruno Mars who is a light cream color with black leathers. Black Black Labradoodles range from jet black to silver. This is Cinder Ella an example of a jet black Labradoodle. Chocolate Chocolate Australian Labradoodles range from a milk chocolate color when pigment is diluted to deep, dark chocolate when pigment is intensified. Oceana middle is a dark chocolate Labradoodle with brown leathers. Caramel Caramel ranges from a creamy color to a darker red. The brown leathers make the dog caramel rather than red. Here are some examples of our caramel dogs. Parti Labradoodless can come in any color. This is our caramel and white parti girl, Bernadette. Phantom A phantom is a solid color with tan points. The markings are similar to those found on Yorkies, Rottweilers and Dobermans. Tan points for the phantom pattern are pips above the eyes, along the side of the jaw, a band across the chest, run halfway up all four legs, on the vent and sometimes on the underside of the tail. Phantoms may be either black Labradoodles or Chocolate Labradoodles. Dexter is a chocolate phantom Labradoodle. Tri A tri colored Labradoodle is a phantom plus white. A tri Labradoodle may be black or chocolate. This is Tawnee who is a black tri. Sable A sable Labradoodle has each single hair in their coat banded by color. Each strand of hair has two colors. The tip of the strand will be either black or brown and the color at the root may be red, tan or apricot. Because the top inch or so of the strands of hair are either black or chocolate, at birth a sable Labradoodle will appear to be a black or chocolate dog. Once the strands start to grow out, the change color becomes visible. The amount of time it takes to see the second color varies from birth through to about six weeks of age. Since Labradoodles do not shed, at least as little as any dog is capable of not shedding, they do not generally grow new strands of hair. Once a sable Labradoodle has been groomed, the dark chocolate or black tips are lost and the dog then becomes red or tan in color. This is Ripple our chocolate sable parti girl. Brindle Labradoodles are not common. This puppy is a brindle Labradoodle. If you look at his feet, you will notice the stiped pattern of his color. Van Isle Labradoodles. Contact Us Labradoodle Colors Australian Labradoodle coat colors colours come in a wide variety of options. Below is a listing of the different coat colors, coloring descriptions and what to expect with their coats throughout their lifetime. Caramel Caramel colored dogs have liver noses brown. Their range of coat color can vary between light yellow to almost red in hue. The difference in a caramel dog and a chalk, cream, apricot and red dog is their nose color. Chocolate True chocolates are brown in color. Many chocolates do fade over time. Cream This color comes in a wide variety of shades but it should be creamy in appearance. The nose pigment is black. The pigment for the nose is black. Parchment This color is a creamy beige chocolate color. It has been described as a cup of coffee with a generous addition of milk. These dogs are born milk chocolate and will develop their parchment coloring over time. The nose pigment is rose. Red True reds should be rich and dark in color and the roots should be no lighter. Sadly, this coat color tends to fade over time. The nose color is to be black. This color develops over the first years. Nose pigment should be rose. Chalk This color is a white looking color. However, if you were to compare it to a true white, it would appear to be more chalk-white in color. Nose pigment is black. Black Black Labradoodles should be solid in color with no sprinklings of other colors throughout the coat. Their pigment color should be black. Silver These pups would start out black and their silver coloring develops over the first few years of their lives. The color range can be anywhere from a light pewter to a dark charcoal. Silver dogs need to have black pigmentation. The blue coat will develop over the first few years. The color should be solid once they are full grown. It should be a dark-medium smoky blue. Lavender This color has a smoky lavender chocolate coloring that almost gives off a pink to lilac appearance. These pups are born chocolate and will come into their beautiful lavender coats over the first few years. Their pigmentation should be rose in color. Parti These dogs need to be at least fifty percent white, with spots or patches of any other above solid color. Full or partial saddles are acceptable, but are not preferred. Ticking in the white of the coat is acceptable but not preferred. The nose pigment needs to match the solid color. Any combination of acceptable colors is allowed. Nose pigment should follow requirements listed above based on the solid base color. Information and photos republished with permission from Australian Labradoodle Association Save Ready for your puppy? Due to their genetic makeup, their coat color may change once the adult coat comes up. The most common Labradoodle coat shades are chocolate, caramel, red, cream, and parti. Coat Shades of the Labradoodle Chocolate: Born in a black shade, these Labradoodles turn a chocolate brown color when they grow up. The nose pigment is a rose shade with amber or brown eyes. Sometimes, the color of their skin may also be blue. Cafe: Born a chocolate brown color, these Labradoodle coats lightens over time. Nose pigment is a rose or chocolate color with a tint of hazel. The eyes are generally a brown shade. Parchment: Born a milky chocolate color and turning a smoky cream color when grown up. The nose pigment color is rose or brown. Caramel: Slightly darker than a cream Labradoodle, close to the color of caramel candy. These pups have rose colored nose pigment with a hint of honey along with hazel or amber eyes. Apricot: Born with a lighter color coat, similar to the caramel colored Labradoodle, that darkens over time. Their nose pigment color is typically black. Apricot Cream: With apricot colored ears, these Labradoodles have a lightly shaded coat. The color is usually warm cream with black nose pigment. Red: The rarest color of Labradoodle coat shades, these pups have a black nose pigment. They are also the hardest to breed. Cream: When born, these Labradoodles are slightly darker. Later they turn to a warm cream color. The nose pigment is black or rose colored. Raven Black: Born in a black coat, these Labradoodles have black nose pigment with shiny eyes. Sometimes their coat color can turn more of a silvery color over time. Light Blue: These Labradoodles are like black. When these pups mature, their fur color lightens and turns to a light blue or grey color. Parti Color: Often known as Parti Labradoodles, these pups have large swatches of white color. Red, black, or chocolate spots on a white coat are the most common. Phantom: These pups have secondary color markings near their eyes, chest, and chin. The Phantom Labradoodle has a combination of two colors, ideally black with a gold phantom. Puppies Cafe Noir are 6 weeks old These puppies are getting ready to head to their forever families, we have been busy taking notes on their personalities and temperaments. Allocation day is coming soon! Puppy Update Brown This little guy is a beautiful chocolate parti. He is very outgoing, enthusiastic, inquisitive and not afraid of anything. He is really affectionate and loves children. He will make a great addition to a young active family. Orange A solid chocolate puppy. He is quiet and laid back. Not as enthusiastic as Brown, but very affectionate, loves to give and receive lots of hugs and kisses for his people. He lives for human affection and adores children. He will thrive in a calm, relaxed environment. Purple A fun little puppy. He is quiet and a bit timid and tentative. He is calm and quiet as well as pretty independent. He can often be found separate from the other dogs. He loves children. He will do well in a home with older children and somebody who can really focus on him. Red This little guy is a very well-balanced puppy. He enjoys people, dogs, kids, new situations and playing with toys. He is inquisitive and extremely affectionate. He will fit in well almost anywhere and with anyone. He is a really a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. Light Blue The smallest of the litter with the biggest personality. He is outgoing, curious, playful, lively and always happy. He loves kids and is going to be great for an adventurous, energetic young family. He is always fun. Dark Blue He is very loving, outgoing, curious and affectionate. He is an all-around great little guy. He loves toys and is going to do well in virtually any situation. He is very versatile and gets along well with everyone. Pink She is a very affectionate and curious girl. She is quite outgoing, very confident and really enjoys playing with people. She is really fond of kids as well. She will do really well in a situation where she is the focus of the home, as she likes to be the centre of attention. Peach A bit more independent than Pink, she is often off on her own. She likes new adventures, is quite curious and really enjoys toys and chews. She gets along well with other dogs. She will do well in almost any setting. Very nice, calm and relaxed girl. Green Chocolate brown with a bit of white on his chest. He is a well-balanced puppy with great social skills. He loves kids, adults, other dogs, toys and pretty much every new thing. He will fit in anywhere. Van Isle Labradoodles.

We are accepting deposits on this and future litters due to the high demand for puppies from our gorgeous and health boxers. Please contact me with any questions or to reserve your puppy! We are breeders of Champion bloodline boxers with European lineage. We are a small breeding facility and all our puppies are raised inside our home. We offer a health guarantee, vet exam, puppy kit and gift bag with essentials. Our puppies tails are docked and dewclaws removed by a licensed veterinarian. We start house training at 5 weeks of age and socializing from birth. Our pups are socialized with children, cats, other dogs and tons of people. We welcome visitors to our facility and enjoy introducing them to our dogs and puppies. Our puppies are always up to date on shots and get frequent worming to keep them happy and healthy. We offer delivery to select areas for a fee. We would actually drive the puppy to you for the same fee in areas that driving is a feasible option. Our puppies come with full unlimited AKC registration so if you decided to breed or show your puppy you would have that option. Most breeders do not give unlimited registration with their puppies. They come from well socialized parents with excellent temperaments. Our puppies stay in our puppy house from birth with their Mom until they are placed in their new homes not in an outside kennel and are cared for by our Veterinarian medically. We have references available via phone from former customers for your convenience. Please feel free to ask any other questions or ask for more photos of our puppies. Thank you for your interest. AKC proudly supports dedicated and responsible breeders. We encourage all prospective puppy owners to do their research and be prepared with questions to ask the breeder. Britlyn Boxers. For this reason, we included these online Boxer breeders for you to check as well. Thus, you can also check a Boxer breeder here. The great thing is that it has an online marketplace to search for a Boxer puppy from any of the states. Since they cover all kinds of breeds, you may find an available puppy through this website. Another thing to note is that you also need to prepare for other costs. In short, aside from the actual cost of the puppy from a breeder, you still need to spend money on other items. Like a new baby in the family, your pup needs some items and some changes. A new puppy at home is a concern for all the family members. Thus, they need to prepare for it as well. As you have your meeting, try to make a schedule of tasks and distribution of responsibilities. Prepare your home. Preparing a home for your Boxer puppy means making it a safe place to play and live. Thus, you need to secure every item that can potentially harm your pet. Moreover, you need to secure your items that your pet can damage, such as shoes, carpets, floor mats, and so on. Shop for supplies. Like all other puppies and babies, Boxer pups needs items for its daily life. The essential things it needs would be beddings, food, and food bowls. You also need to buy a leash and collar for identification. Create a schedule. Besides your pet, you also have your responsibilities. Try to schedule how your pup should do for the day and when you need to pay attention. The great thing about creating a schedule is that it will benefit both you and your pet. Choosing a Good Boxer Seller and Breeder The best Boxer puppies only come from those who take an extra mile in caring for them. Below are certain qualities that you should look for in a Boxer puppy breeder. The Boxer breeder should only breed Boxer puppies. A single breed should be the first thing to remember when searching for a reputable Boxer breeder. Every breed has a mating season to which they breed. If the Boxer breeder sells quite a lot of pups but only has a pair of parents, you can think that it forces the parents to mate so they can have puppies to sell. The Boxer breeder should train pups in their first weeks. Every reputable Boxer breeder gives all the pups around eight weeks at least to stay with their parents. In such a time, the breeder should train the pups before it moves to its new home. The Boxer breeder would continuously be in touch. Other states. For the complete list please see our List of Boxer Breeders page. Purchasing a boxer puppy in North Carolina directly from a breeder can be expensive; however, it is also the best way to ensure that you are getting an animal that has been raised with proper care. Some breeders do not have the right facilities needed to raise healthy dogs and oftentimes these animals may be sickly or lack proper socialization skills due to improper care during development. What Are The Extra Costs? There are very few extra costs associated with owning a Boxer in North Carolina outside of routine vet visits, food, and other supplies that your new pet will need in order to live comfortably. A responsible breeder will typically keep all of their breeding dogs inside of their home and raise them with love and attention. They should also be able to tell you about their history; including any titles that either parent might have earned. A good breeder will give you health guarantees for your new pet as well as plenty of information on how to properly take care of your Boxer throughout its life. Responsible Boxer Breeders will typically not sell puppies to people who plan on leaving them outdoors or alone for long periods of time without supervision because it is important for them to receive plenty of attention while they are young in order for them to grow up healthy and happy. This will give you a chance to learn as much as possible about any sire and dam as well as the environment that they were raised in. Visiting your breeder will also give you a chance to see their home and how they keep their dogs. This will give you a better idea of what type of environment your puppy is coming from and if the breeder is someone that has invested time into raising healthy puppies. You should be able to tell if someone is being honest with you or not from how they answer your questions and whether or not they seem knowledgeable about the breed itself. A good breeder should be willing and able to help you decide what puppy would best suit your lifestyle and family needs, which can only be done if they know everything about you. Questions to Ask Ask for References from Your Boxer Breeder in North Carolina It is a good idea to always ask for references from your breeder or anyone who has purchased a puppy from them in the past. If they have any, you should be able to get in contact with at least one person who can tell you about how their experience was with the breeder and whether or not they were satisfied with the way that everything was handled. If you cannot find any references, then this is something that should raise a red flag and may cause you to reevaluate why there are no people willing and able to speak on their behalf. Not having references does not necessarily mean that someone is a bad breeder; however, it does mean that you should take the time to dig a little deeper. A responsible breeder will usually have plenty of satisfied buyers that are willing to share their information about the transaction with future potential owners because it helps ensure that the people they are selling their puppies to will be good homes. Meeting past customers will also give you an idea of how the breeder interacts with their buyers and if they are willing to allow them to ask questions before, during, and after the sale. A good breeder will not only have a veterinarian that they trust and depend on to take care of their dogs, but they will also be willing and able to share the information about them with you. It is extremely important to find out how often your breeder takes their dogs to see a vet because this can also give you an idea as to just how much attention they pay towards making sure that they stay healthy and happy. If someone cannot afford proper veterinary care then breeding these animals should be A Reputable North Carolina Boxer Breeder Will Ask About Your Living Situation Most breeders want to make sure that their puppies are going into a loving home where each one can thrive and receive all of the attention it deserves. You may find yourself at the receiving end of a lot of questions from your breeder which is perfectly normal. You can usually find this information on their website or by calling your local department of agriculture. Look out for red flags when dealing with an unethical breeder in North Carolina; these may include: Claiming that their lineage is rare or includes show-quality dogs without any proof. Lack of Health Certificates Provided. Constantly being asked to pay a higher price after you have already committed. This may also happen if your breeder tries to do business over the phone and refuses to provide any documentation at first. Refusing to provide their contact information, address, or name. Take the time necessary when looking at boxers in NC that will make sure that their lineage is healthy and well taken care of. If your breeder cannot provide you with any information pertaining to potential health problems then this is not someone you should do business with. How to Prepare Your Home for Your Boxer Puppy There are a number of things you will want to consider preparing for before your boxer is set to arrive. First, make sure you stock up on all of the necessary supplies like food and water bowls, toys, treats, bedding, etc. Remember; puppies tend to chew on everything so make sure you keep important documents like remote controls and cell phones out of reach or else they might end up getting destroyed. Puppies also love leather; if given the opportunity they will start chewing away at your furniture corners which will make for a mess to clean up. Potty Training Your New Boxer Puppy Training your boxer to go potty outside will get easier with time; this is one of the most important things you can do when raising your new pup. Remember, patience is key when training any dog; it can be frustrating at times, but you should never hit or otherwise punish your puppy for having an accident. This will only make them more afraid of you and afraid to go near their potty areas in the future. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter.

Training is a constant process for our dogs and when they are not training, they are chasing a variety of wild game from Upland to Waterfowl. Our retrievers are no different with passion, loyalty and intelligence. This means less shedding, a bit more shine yet still soft to the touch. Typically weighing lbs, these Goldens are not the behemoth Goldens you may have seen in the past. Meet Your Perfect Match Family pet. Hunting partner. Loyal companion. Platte River Retrievers has been offering quality field bred Golden Retrievers for over 25 years in Nebraska, just outside of Omaha. We specialize in Golden Retrievers bred to excel in the field. All clearances are done on our dogs before breeding and puppies are guaranteed for 26 months. Litters are raised in a family atmosphere ensuring the best possible upbringing and personality for your future companion. Eyes, Heart, Hips, Elbows as well as DNA recessive gene disorder clearances are done to ensure the health and standard for each litter bred. Microchip Registration Have peace of mind that your pet has permanent identification in the event of being lost or stolen. Socialization Socialization is a crucial component of raising a well mannered dog that is a good citizen. Each puppy is given age appropriate stimulation individually and in group play. Age Appropriate Vaccinations All puppies are given age appropriate vaccinations and deworming to ensure you are bringing home a happy and healthy puppy. Health Guarantee We stand behind our breedings and offer a written health guarantee for each puppy. Range of Personalities Just as every litter produced is different, each puppy is a unique individual in that litter. View the temperament and size of the parents to ensure that this is what you are looking for in your future puppy. He is healthy, highly athletic, wonderful with people and extremely intuitive in all aspects. We live in California and are active individuals; therefore, he goes hiking, running and swimming in the lake on a regular basis. In July of , after weeks of playing with each of the puppies in that years litter, I picked out Maple. I knew that was the breeder I wanted to get a pup from. Theresa and Nick know their dogs in and out.I am blown away with my pup Gretta! She has excellent drive, and loves to train. You truly can't beat the temperament and ability that is stamped on these pups! 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 Omaha 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 Omaha? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Omaha? 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. She gladly answered all of our questions and was quick to respond. It was very obvious she loves her dogs and the puppies, taking such good care of them their first 8 weeks. Our boy Sawyer has just the best personality and disposition. He took to his big brother, our 5 year old Golden Auggie, day one and they've been inseparable since. Couldn't ask for a better pup! I'm very pleased with our experience and purchase from Lori. She was honest and very caring and concerned for our purchase of one of her puppies. Hank the retriever has become a very vital part of our lives as we have four children and two other dogs in our home. The quality of Hank's demeanor and attitude is unlike anything we have experienced with our other dogs. Hank is very smart and healthy 8 month old now. Potty training was relatively easy and fast with minimal accidents. We currently work with obedience training and off leash training for Hank. It is very rewarding to start with a quality and healthy puppy that has endless possibilities for our family. The only regret I have is not buying Hank's brother when I had the opportunity. Like most golden owners we knew that when it comes to a companion dog, there is simply not a better breed. After communicating with a variety of people that had puppies for sale, we linked up with Lori McCoy. From the start we felt that she was the type of breeder we were comfortable working with for such an important life changing decision. We have had our newest family member, Fin, now for about 6 months and couldn't be happier. He is a beautiful mix of the red American and white English variety of golden. He is very confident, very trainable and highly intelligent. Our sincerest appreciation to Lori for helping connect us with Fin. We are dedicated to providing the healthiest and happiest Golden Retrievers possible and are determined to give back to the breed that we love so much!

The link has been copied! Is it possible to tire out a German Shepherd? This is a question many Shepherd owners have found themselves asking on more than one occasion. German Shepherds are naturally high-energy dogs and few families are physically active enough to keep up with them. This begs the question, how much exercise does a German Shepherd need? And the next one, is it possible for them to get enough? While it may not seem like it sometimes, it is definitely possible for German Shepherds to get enough exercise. Overexercising can actually instigate the hip dysplasia problems that the breed is already prone to. Thus, it is important to know how much exercise your German Shepherd should be getting — and what kind. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly how to get your pup some quality, healthy exercise. Originally, they were bred for hard work on the farm, herding and guarding flocks of sheep. They would spend hours each day keeping the flock together, which requires a lot of running. Plus, they were constantly on alert for danger and ready to neutralize threats to their charges. These high-energy dogs need plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy. For most dogs, this translates to at least 90 minutes of exercise each day. This can happen in bursts throughout the day and a wide variety of high-energy activities count. This includes taking them for walks or runs, hiking, playing fetch, agility classes, and so much more. If you're an active person looking for a running or hiking buddy, a German Shepherd is a perfect dog for you! They have the energy and endurance to keep up with you on long walks or runs. German Shepherds also make great agility dogs - they love to jump, run, and play! If you're looking for a fun way to exercise your German Shepherd and yourself! Maybe you have a hard time sitting still or concentrating on a task. You might even feel a little anxious. Whatever it is, the frustration dissipates as soon as you go for a good run. German Shepherds are like that — all the time. However, individual needs vary. These can be based on factors such as age, general health, overall fitness level and habits, and more. They may try to get your attention by barking, whining, or jumping up on you. Perhaps they pace back and forth or otherwise appear anxious. Excessive Chewing or Digging With those feelings of restlessness pushing them, dogs start to look for ways to burn off their excess energy. Unfortunately for us, this usually means they start digging up the yard or chewing on the furniture. Whatever is within a bored German Shepherd's reach has no hope for escape. Excessive Barking Another annoying method they will use to burn off excess energy is to bark at everything that moves. They may be trying to give themselves a job to do, seeking attention out of boredom, or both. Weight Gain Just like people, a lack of exercise puts German Shepherds at risk of gaining weight. This is especially true if they have free access to food. They may eat more out of pure boredom. Unfortunately, these dogs are already susceptible to problems like hip dysplasia, which is greatly exacerbated by being overweight. Thus, they need plenty of exercise too. However, they need it in shorter, more frequent doses. Playful pups get a lot of it themselves as they run around and explore their world. However, you should provide about 5 minutes of formal exercise such as a walk for every month of their age. The best exercises for German Shepherd puppies are short walks or runs, playing fetch games, and swimming. These activities will help them burn off some of their energy while learning commands and socializing with other dogs. Exercise for Senior German Shepherds As dogs age, their muscles get weaker and their joints become more sensitive. Senior German Shepherds should get at least 20 minutes of exercise a day, but no more than 60 minutes. The best type of exercise for senior German Shepherds is walking or slow jogging. Swimming is also a great exercise for a senior German Shepherd as it puts no strain on their joints. Other forms of low-impact exercise for senior German Shepherds include playing fetch and agility training. Just make sure to keep the activity level low and short, and never push them too hard. The Best Type of Exercise for German Shepherds The best type of exercise for German shepherds is a combination of aerobic activity and mental stimulation. Aerobic activity is important for German Shepherds because it helps to keep their heart and lungs healthy. Mental stimulation is also vital for preventing boredom. In addition to daily walks or runs, German shepherds also benefit from other forms of exercise, such as active games like fetch or tug-of-war, swimming, and agility training. If you have the space, it might be helpful to set up an agility course in your yard. Another great option is to enroll your dog in dog sports. If you want to really give your German Shepherd a workout, dog sports such as agility or flyball are excellent. These activities will tire your pup out both physically and mentally. You can also get dog toys that are specifically designed to be mentally stimulating for pups. These are helpful for days when you are short on time, but should not take the place of regular exercise. If you like to be active, include your pup! Take your dog hiking with you and give him a chance to explore different terrain and new areas. The Fi GPS collar is a great tool for tracking how much exercise your dog gets each day. They are equipped with an activity monitor that keeps track of your dog's walks, when they go for walks, how long they exercise, and even when they sleep. Using the app, you can check your dog's activity levels and sleep patterns in real time. German shepherds are versatile dogs that can excel at any type of exercise, so get creative and have fun with it. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Want to know more about TryFi. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! You might also like. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. You need the best exercise for German Shepherd puppies to keep them healthy, fit, and, more importantly… Out of mischief! Quite the opposite is true for your fast-growing breed! German Shepherd puppies should stick to only five minutes of continuous, on-leash leisurely walking at a time, based on their age in months. So, an 8-week-old puppy can walk for 10 minutes at a time on a leash, while a 6-month-old can walk on a leash for 30 minutes at a time. However, your puppy can enjoy low-impact, gentle exercises for longer periods of time. You can play games that work on sustained growth multiple times per day safely. Instead, exercise on soft surfaces, for example: Grass Sand Dirt paths or trails Stretching of soft ligaments at too early an age, strains on young, growing joints, and carrying too much weight on their overall framework can and will harm your young puppy. This leads to problems in adulthood, which you could avoid! Remember to watch for: Panting heavily with rapid breath Lagging on their walks for longer than usual Stopping on walks and standing Lying down on their belly or side If your dog is hyperactive and displays excessive chewing and destructive behavior, they may need engaging brain stimulation to help them use their brains to engage in their environments constructively. Ideally, you also need to teach them basic commands and house manners. Start now with basic obedience training to avoid later behavioral issues. Eventually, your active, adult GSD will need at least 2 walks of 45 minutes each source. Other great ways to exercise your German Shepherd puppy include working on their balance, enjoying mental stimulation, and playing gently with toys they love. Until your vet clears your dog as having their bones fully fused this is around 12 to 18 months of age , activity should be cautious and slow-paced. Up to twelve months of age, natural free running is the best way to exercise German Shepherds. With free running, your dog is off-leash and can stop or slow as they wish. Limit and monitor on-leash walks and activity while your German Shepherd is growing. When walking on a leash, allow them to Walk at their own pace Stop and start as they please Sniff around leisurely to explore the grass, flowers, and trees Lay down, roll around, and dig in approved digging places Use a no-pull harness with a design that allows for natural shoulder movement to avoid unnatural gait development. Try this padded no-pull harness on your German Shepherd to avoid any neck injuries to her while she is young. This design also limits pulling and helps teach nice leash walking manners. The handle on the back of the no-pull harness makes it easy to grab your pup to stop them from running into a hazard or just to catch them! Read more helpful information on the benefits and disadvantages of using a harness or a collar to help you choose the right equipment for walking your new puppy. There are plenty of other ideas to try with your new baby German Shepherd. Even better? You can find so many ways to learn what your new German Shepherd puppy likes to play with for their fun and games! Keep reading for a German Shepherd puppy exercise chart and specific, step-by-step fun games to keep your new pup happy and healthy. Exercising puppies heavily too early in life may lead to joint damage. This is especially likely in large breeds with rapidly growing and heavily loaded joints, such as your GSD. High-Impact Activity to Avoid Jumping, especially from couches, furniture, or cars Twisting such as chasing a toy that wildly moves in many directions Exercising over hard or uneven ground especially sidewalks and asphalt Keep exercise short and frequent, as this is more beneficial than long, infrequent periods of activity. Stick to softer surfaces, like grass and dirt paths, while your pup is young and their bones are not fully fused. Most GSD owners simply want to take train their puppy to walk on a leash in the neighborhood and park without getting pulled down the street. There are three basic ways to communicate how you want your German Shepherd puppy to walk on a leash with you: the stopping method, the turning method, and the luring method. The Stopping Method Open the door, but only open the door if your dog is sitting. This step could take some time and practice. Once you both are out the door, have your dog sit again. You need to lock the door and your dog needs to sit for this. During your walk, have your dog sit for you at various times. When he does offer a tasty, high value, quick-to-eat treat. Now immediately start walking again and give the release cue. Stand still and wait until he sits. This could take a while. This is important, especially because one day your little pup will be large enough to injure you if they pull you along on the walk wildly! This will take lots of time and patience. But setting a strong and obedient walk foundation allows you to enjoy your walks more and maintain control over your large breed dog as they mature and grow stronger. The Turning Method Use the same steps as above to get outside your house and begin your walk, except instead of stopping and waiting on your dog, turn in the opposite direction and begin walking the other way. Quietly turn around and guide them along when they get a few steps ahead of you. You may also tire of turning. But stick with it. Either of these techniques takes plenty of patience and a strong mental character. But your dog loves to learn. Their mind is like a sponge at this young age, but they also lack obedience skills and an attention span. Use treats and toys to get your dog to follow you. The Treat Luring Method: Hold the treat at their eye level in front of them so they can see and smell the treat. Take one or two steps forward, having them follow the treat with their nose and eyes. They will probably keep following the treat. She loves them! Take a couple of steps forward while squeaking the toy. As they follow, keep stepping forward and squeaking the toy. After a few successful steps forward, let them play with the toy as their reward. Keep up this game to motivate them to follow you. Eventually, your dog gains confidence in their new surroundings and with your help and will walk on their own. Never allow your dog to run loose near traffic. Never unleash your dog in a new area. Never allow your dog to eat objects found on the ground. They could be poisonous! Never think a person running or someone on a bicycle sees your little pup. Puppies are quick moving and can dart in front of a moving person causing them to trip and fall. This can also injure your dog as they may fall on top of them or kick or step on them. Pup is distracted Remember that being outside with your dog is equivalent to you going to Disney Land! Give them a chance to develop their attention skills, or use the high value treats to make them pay attention to you. If you are limited in the places you can go, choose different routes so your dog gets to experience new smells and sights. The dog looks stressed or afraid Find quieter areas to walk in or use the lure and reward method to help them overcome their walking fears. Carry them home and end your walk. Next time, go a shorter distance and take less time. Use positive training and rewards to communicate. The best walking setup for a puppy is a no-pull harness that connects at two different points in the front and back. No-pull harnesses are great for introducing your puppy to structured walks while keeping them safe and happy. Need More Manners Training? Your GSD needs to learn more than just walking nicely. He also needs to learn all the basics of obedience. Use this free training guide to get started today! This activity is usually one of the longest and hardest to teach since you are competing with the sights and smells of the great outdoors! Stay patient, positive, and stick to your training. Your doggie will love you for it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Post header Skip post header How much exercise does a German Shepherd need? Making sure your German Shepherd gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation is really important for keeping them healthy and happy. Regular exercise can not only keep them in good shape, but it can also help improve their behaviour and well-being. How much exercise does a German Shepherd need? German Shepherds are highly active dogs , originally bred for working and guarding flocks of sheep, and more recently used by military and police forces. All this means that German Shepherds are among the most high-energy dogs out there. Of course, their exercise needs can vary based on a number of factors including age, fitness level, general health, food intake and more. That said, most German Shepherds usually need at least 90 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing. To get an exercise goal tailored to your dog, simply download the free PitPat app and enter their details. How much exercise does a German Shepherd puppy need? This is especially true for this breed since they are prone to conditions like hip dysplasia. As a rule of thumb, puppies will need five minutes of formal exercise such as walkies for every month of their age. These walks should be opportunities to explore their environment, work on training and good behaviour outdoors, and socialise with other people and dogs in a controlled manner. How much exercise does a senior German Shepherd need? You can also set your own goals manually in case they have higher or lower exercise needs. What types of exercise are best for German Shepherds? German Shepherds excel at all sorts of exercise and canine sports thanks to their working background. In addition to their daily walks, you could try:. Sep 06, Puppies need exercise to develop healthy bones, muscles and hearts. Exercise goes a long way to help curb anxiety and behavior issues related to boredom. But you may have heard that too much exercise can be harmful. How much exercise is necessary, how much is too much, and what kinds of exercise should you be doing? As a general rule, your puppy knows best. Normal puppy play is okay, and you should never feel as though you should stop your puppy from playing on its own accord. Short walks are also okay, as long as your idea of a short walk isn't 3 miles every morning! Short games of fetch and tug are also okay. Fetch is especially hard on the body because most dogs rapidly accelerate to go after the ball and rapidly decelerate once they get to it, so good throws is plenty in conjunction with other acceptable exercises. Tug is also hard on the body, so minutes is plenty in conjunction with other acceptable exercises as well. Swimming is a great, low-impact exercise. Just make sure your puppy doesn't ingest too much water while swimming. It's also recommended that you not play fetch in the water because dogs can accidentally ingest a lot of water when retrieving toys thrown into bodies of water. Examples of exercises that are too rigorous for puppies are long hikes, running steps, long games of fetch, long walks, running, jogging, weight pull and pulling carts of any kind, wearing vests with anything over a few ounces in it for anything other than a short stroll, flyball, and inappropriate amounts of agility training. All of these things are stressful on soft, growing bones and joints and can result in hip and elbow dysplasia and musculoskeletal deformities, diseases and injuries. As a rule of thumb, don't exceed 5 minutes for each month of the puppy's age of acceptable exercise no more than twice a day. For instance, 15 minutes of exercise twice a day is ideal for a 3-month-old puppy, while 20 minutes twice a day is ideal for a 4-month-old puppy. As a general rule, you can start building up puppies to adult levels of exercise once they turn 9 months of age if they're not expected to grow over 25lbs. By a year they can be exercised as an adult as long as you properly build up their stamina. For medium and large breeds, you can begin to build them up to adult levels of exercise by 15 months and it's safe to exercise them as adults once they turn 18 months old. German Shepherd dogs will naturally travel in a cantering-lope rather than a slow walk. That means that it is imperative that you train your puppy early on how to walk on a leash by your side without pulling. German Shepherds are a powerful breed and are capable of dragging handlers who aren't strong enough to hold them back. Eliminate the possibility of a physical tug of war by relying on solid training instead. Remember, exercise is also great for keeping hip and elbow joints stabilized in German Shepherd Dogs. Many large breeds are known to suffer from hip and elbow problems later in life, but dysplasia seems to unfairly target the German Shepherd. Regular exercise can help to build muscle around joints to protect them. The more muscle, the less stress on the joint. Make sure you keep your puppies lean, well hydrated, and wait an hour or two after your puppy eats before exercise. If you stick by these rules, you lessen the chances of hip and elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, strains, sprains, ligament injuries, bloat, obesity, heart disease and arthritis. Also keep the temperature in mind and watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Stop exercise if your puppy no longer wants to play or stops to rest and everything should be fine. Beginners often have a lot of questions: how long should they walk with a German Shepherd, how often should they do it, and what are the rules of feeding and vaccination. Therefore, before the responsible purchase, it is important to get acquainted with the nuances of ownership. At what age can you walk a German Shepherd? Experts have different opinions about the age at which a German Shepherd can go for a walk. There are two polar positions, so owners should consult their breeder or veterinarian. Some experts, when asked how to properly educate the pet, argue that it is categorically not recommended to walk puppies before they reach 3 months old. This is due to the high vulnerability of puppies to infections, which they can catch while playing with other dogs during the period when routine vaccinations have not yet been done. Put napkins or gravel or sand on it. Keep a close eye on your puppy. The negative side of this approach is the increased likelihood of encountering puddles of urine at night even in adulthood. According to the opposite opinion, up to 2 months old puppies still have the immunity received from their mother, so you should start walking outside as early as possible. Increased production of vitamin D due to exposure to sunlight, preventing the development of rachitis. Frequent exposure to nature increases the production of general immunity. If you decide to walk your puppy from an early age, you must choose a small but clean area and prevent him from coming into contact with other animals, especially stray ones. Until the German Shepherd reaches the age of six months , you should carry him in your arms when walking up a flight of stairs. His spine is not yet strong enough, so sprains when going up and down are detrimental. How long should you walk The duration of a walk with a German Shepherd puppy should increase in increments. In the first days, minutes is enough to familiarize the dog with the world and empty the bowels and bladder, but you need to go out times a day. It is better to go out right after feeding. Further, the duration of time outside should be in accordance with age: three months — about half an hour, the puppy should definitely run; four months — from 40 minutes to 1 hour; at six months, the normal mode of walking is established — at least two hours, twice a day. If it is possible to walk longer, you should take advantage of the opportunity. You need to figure out how to walk your German Shepherd correctly. To do this, you need to follow a few tips. It is important to use every walk outside to teach your dog to potty outside the apartment or house. While the dog is still very young but is already used to having to pee outside, spontaneous but short walks at night are likely. Up to 6 months old, it is important to make sure that the dog does not jump over any obstacles. As with ladders, this harms the skeleton and back muscles. You should try to take your German Shepherd outdoors during daylight hours so that he can enjoy the sunlight. After exploring the nearest surroundings, you should decide where to walk for an extended period of time. Great if there is a park or square nearby where it is allowed to walk the dogs. It is also important to go to special doggy playgrounds. You need to give your pet some freedom to get to know other puppies and adult dogs. It allows: Control the movements of the dog and accustom the puppy to the leash. Helps in the initial stages of training. Prevents him from eating unhealthy food picked up off the ground. Provides safety when stray dogs appear. More mature dogs can be leashed to a collar. Answering the question of when you can put the collar on the puppy, many experienced breeders responded with a recommendation to do it as early as possible, so that the puppy got used to the foreign object initially. Before buying a collar or harness, it is important to pay attention to the material: Leather — is the most durable, suitable for walks and training, but it is recommended to replace it in rainy or snowy weather. Leather gets wet, stretches, and loses its durability from moisture; Tarpaulin — holds its shape in all conditions, but is prone to contamination and has a short lifespan; Synthetic — is versatile and does not have the negative qualities of the previous 2. To properly put on the harness or collar during the period of accustomization, you need to create a comfortable atmosphere for the puppy: calmly call by name, and offer a treat. Before buying, it is important to measure the pup. This will allow you to choose the optimal size collar, in which the German shepherd will feel comfortable, and walks will be a pleasure both for the pet and for its loving owner. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Puppies Establishing an efficient exercise routine for a German Shepherd puppy is extremely important for your GSD to live a healthy lifestyle. While there is no exact science to knowing your German Shepherd puppy exercise limits, it is best to slowly ease into a routine and your puppy will gain stamina over time. Dogs are creatures of habit and love a routine. Accordingly, if you normally walk your puppy first thing in the morning, your pup will start to expect and look forward to those morning walks as soon as you roll out of bed. Try and establish an exercise routine that you can maintain long term, so your puppy can grow to learn the routine. The American Kennel Club UK recommends two exercise sessions of 5 minutes per month of age during puppyhood 1. When Allie was a puppy, I found short walks multiple times a day worked well. I started Allie with short minute walks times a day as an 8-week-old puppy. This served two purposes, to get some of her energy out, as well as getting her used to walking on a leash. Finding the Right Length of Walks for Your Puppy Although there are many recommendations as to how long to walk your German Shepherd puppy, it is best to look to your puppy for clues on its limits. Start with 10 minutes, 2 times a day. If you find your puppy is still a ball on energy increase it to 15 minutes, or you can add in a third minute walk. You want to find the walking time that is right for your individual GSD puppy as all puppies are all different and will require different amounts of exercise. Keep in mind, that it can be dangerous to push your German Shepherd puppy beyond his or her limits at a young age. If your German Shepherd puppy show signs of being tired or exhausted, stop the walk immediately and allow your pup to rest. Final Thoughts Establishing a solid exercise routine for your German Shepherd puppy is an important step in establishing the framework for a healthy lifestyle. In addition to walks, I would include short play sessions in the yard with a ball or play with toys in the house as well. The most important thing with walking a German Shepherd puppy is to start with short walks and play sessions and build on that process as your puppy grows. How much exercise does your German Shepherd puppy need? Your puppy does not need nearly the amount of exercise an adult dog does. Adult German Shepherds require two hours or more of exercise every day. And within that time, the duration of exercise depends on intensity. Your dog would not spend an entire two hours performing high-intensity exercises unless in formal training. A typical routine would include 20 to 40 minutes of rigorous exercises such as jogging, vigorous playing, or other activities. Some examples are practicing Shutzhund, preparing for herding or agility trials, or learning search and rescue. The remainder of the time dedicated to exercise, you should spend on training, ongoing socialization, and moderate- and low-intensity activities. You can include warmup and cool down in a moderate or leisurely walk. Keep in mind any puppy who is not full-grown does not need to engage in rigorous exercise for extended periods. What is the five-minute per month rule? However, one rule that makes sense as a loose guideline, is to exercise your pup for five minutes per month of age. You can do an exercise session twice a day. If you bring a GSD puppy home at ten weeks old, your exercise guideline would tell you to work with her for about .A six-month-old puppy , which you may be tempted to treat as a miniature adult, should still only get about half an hour of exercise twice a day. By 10 or 12 months , your Shepherd is up to his quota of nearly two hours split into multiple sessions during a day. However, you should still limit jumping and long-distance running until you are sure your puppy has finished growing. How do you know when your Shepherd puppy has stopped growing? This closure signifies your dog has finished growing and can engage in exercises that may be too strenuous for bones that are softer when lengthening. Once growth plates close and the joints no longer have laxity from extreme youth, you can take exercise to the next level. How can you tell if your Shepherd has stopped growing without a radiograph? According to Animalso. Use particular caution with certain working lines as they may not reach full maturity until the age of three years. Even though Czech and Eastern German lines have lower incidences of hip dysplasia than show dogs, you still need to treat their growing bones with care. Common beliefs notwithstanding, if you neuter a German Shepherd at a young age, the decrease in testosterone generally will delay growth plate closure. You will notice that neutered male German Shepherds are often taller than their unaltered counterparts. Therefore, assume if you neuter your dog, he will physically mature a little later. Mentally he will mature worlds ahead. How does hip dysplasia affect German Shepherd puppies? Hip dysplasia is a growth abnormality that affects most large-breed dogs and many small breeds as well. As you likely know, the hip is a ball and socket joint. The ball is the head of the thigh bone or femur, and the socket is the acetabulum or cup in the pelvis. In dysplasia of the joint, the femoral head grows at a different rate than the socket. Rather quickly, the femoral head no longer fits correctly or congruently within the socket, affecting function and causing scrapes across the protective cartilage, according to ACVS. Inappropriate looseness of the joint exacerbates the condition by allowing too much movement within the joint. Depending on the severity, affected puppies and dogs may show mild to life-altering symptoms. Signs of joint laxity or looseness usually occur first, although they may go unnoticed. Visible space between the head of the femur and the pelvis — Sometimes you can feel the excessive space when you cannot see it. Crying out in pain — Even if it has not progressed yet to degenerative joint disease, joint looseness can be painful. Abnormal gait — Your puppy may appear to bunny hop in the rear legs or exhibit other gait abnormalities that you would not classify as obvious lameness. Lame — Your dog will show lameness if she is in pain. Difficulty getting up or laying down — Your puppy may even show consistent reluctance to get up. Decreased interest in playing, especially if it involves running. Exercise intolerance — Your pup will play, but not for as long as you would expect. Maybe your dog seems to tire easily. Difficulty negotiating stairs — Joint looseness greatly affects the athleticism of your dog. Will not sit square — Many trainers advocate you enforce your dog sitting square as a sign of true obedience. Dogs with hip issues, they are unable to sit comfortably unless their hind legs are to one side or the other. Joint laxity can be difficult to judge in young dogs. Puppies have a greater degree of laxity than adult dogs to accommodate growth. Joint laxity should limit how long you walk a German Shepherd puppy , especially one under six months old. Joint laxity means your puppy will experience significant instability when walking, predisposing her to stumble and fall. Signs of osteoarthritis mostly manifest as pain, dysfunction of the joints, decreased range of motion, and even grinding sounds as the leg moves. Degenerative joint changes, believe it or not, can occur in puppies only several months old. German Shepherds do not typically have a problem with obesity. Although it seems counterintuitive, too much nutrition is not an ideal thing for the GSD. If a large-breed dog grows too quickly as a puppy, he can be more vulnerable to hip dysplasia if he already carries the genes. The dilemma comes with balancing exercise requirements and nutrition, so you have a happy and fit puppy who is not overweight but also does not overexert herself. How does exercise affect hip dysplasia? Although hip dysplasia has a large hereditary basis, over exercising a puppy can exacerbate the problem in a dog who might not otherwise develop any symptoms. It is important not to allow your puppy to run excessively or jump during her growing months. Moreover, if your puppy has excessively lax joints, overstretching during long and strenuous running or launching and landing for jumps can cause direct injury to the hips and surrounding soft tissue. Your puppy can also injure her growth plates. An X-ray at an early age gives you an idea if your puppy is already showing the effects of DJD or degenerative joint disease. Your veterinarian may be able to advise you further if your exercise program is too strenuous for your puppy based on any changes in the joints. How do you know your puppy overexerted himself? You may occasionally find that your puppy overdoes it. Perhaps you took him to a birthday party for his Labrador friend, and you did not have the heart to break up their play session. Most of the time, a play date that gets out of hand or a walk that runs over the anticipated time allotment will not cause any permanent damage. You can assess your pup the following day for signs of overexertion and know to take it exceptionally easy for the next day or two. Listen to your puppy Although you should leash-train your GSD at a young age, starting as soon as you first bring her home, there is much to be said about freeform exercise. The biggest benefit of your puppy exercising a good part of her time in the early month off-leash is she can self-regulate her activity. You will notice when puppies are tired or become sore, they will stop dead in their tracks. Make sure your puppy is in a safe environment, and she can engage in fairly unrestricted exercise on her own. When you are walking your puppy on a leash, under no circumstances should you push her to go beyond the point where you are dragging her, or she sits down and refuses to move on? You may have to carry her the remainder of the journey. As your German Shepherd approaches adolescence at five to seven months old, you will have to monitor his exercise more because what he can do will begin to exceed what he should do. Running over rolling terrain for miles or training strenuously for pursuit work is not ideal for an immature Shepherd and can be potentially harmful. Best length of time to walk a German Shepherd puppy: you know best! When facing the question of how long should you walk your German Shepherd, use the rough guidelines of five minutes per month of age a couple of times a day. Otherwise, allow your pup to dictate her level of tolerance for playing and romping. You can spend additional time with your puppy building a bond through affection and play, while still limiting duration. Your pup will need some time during the day to herself and sleep. This video shows the progression of a puppy and how his exercise abilities change. It perfectly illustrates how the young Shepherd dictates how much exercise he can tolerate. Notice, in the beginning, the interaction with his owner is a large part dependent on easy contact. As the puppy progresses in age, he gradually attempts more. If you watch puppies even three and four months old engaged in self-directed play, their actions are marked by frequent pauses to rest or think about the next move. Rarely will you see a German Shepherd laying still, but as in the video, puppies will take time to rest if left to their own devices. Swimming is a great form of exercise, but not all German Shepherds love water. This video shows that just because your German Shepherd puppy is not on a leash does not mean you are not walking her. Training should take up a good portion of your walks or exercise sessions, whether on- or off-leash. As much of a brilliant pupil as this puppy is, her session should not be longer than 15 minutes. Notice her yawn, which can be a sign of tension or a wandering mind, indicating the exercise should move to something else or stop.

What kind of diet do we give our pooches for a healthy weight? What you should never overfeed a dog? You should never ever overfeed your dogs too much carbs as they get stored as fat in the body if they are not used. Unfortunately, carbohydrates are much cheaper an ingredient as compared to the other nutrients like protein. Hence, they are often used by major large dog food manufacturers to make up the weight of dog food whilst keeping the prices of the dog food low. This is the main reason why pets all over the United States are getting obese. And, ironically, this became the driving forces behind the rise of these healthy pet food startups , as their founders seek to provide their own proper and much healthier alternatives. The high fiber content will make your dogs feel content faster and thus eat less. And since fiber does not get stored in the body like carbs do, it can be promising measure to keep your pooch's weight under control. Mathematically, eating less will reduce weight gain. However, it can easily lead to malnourishment if your dog is not given the proper nutrition. We are talking about nutrients beyond the common proteins and carbohydrates. They include omega fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and many more! The key here is not to eat less. The key here is to maintain a balanced diet. And what constitutes a balanced diet? That requires a deep understanding and a wide study in the field of pet nutrition to truly determine it; so much that it warrants a university degree. To get the most balanced, holistic and healthiest dog foods , it is often better to leave it to the experts. Have you been scheduling your dog's meal time wrongly? And does it really matter? Scheduling your dog's meal time will tune their stomach to become hungry only at their meal times. Combining this with the right amount of dog food given to them, it will keep your dogs from becoming hungry out of meal hours. In turn, this will maintain their metabolism rate and utilize all the food they consume fully and appropriately. As a bonus, regular meal time will also discourage them from scavenging around the house like little vacuum cleaners as they grow accustomed to the amount of food they are given and to be used for the intervals between meal times. These food brands are not your typical corporate pet food manufacturers. These are pet food startups fueled by the passion from their pet enthusiasts founders who only want the best for all dogs under the sky. Each of them have came up with their own unique formula that will surely satisfy your dogs' taste buds without compromising their health. Click here or the button below to learn more about these bespoke food brands. Underweight and undernourishment is as real an issue as obesity among dogs. Underweight dogs appear thin and frail. And before you know it, they will start to lose all the hair on their coat and look like anything but a dog. These cases created a market of specialized dog food that help your dog to gain weight healthily. Here are 7 of the best dog foods for weight gain that can help your underweight dog get back its glory. Read more by clicking the button below. Like most dogs, Mini Goldendoodles achieve most of their growth in the first six months of their life. But you may be wondering how big they will get when they are fully grown. There are ways to predict their size including the following: Look at the parents — this is an obvious way of telling the adult size of your puppy as physical characteristics can be passed on from parents to puppies. Since the Mini Goldendoodle is a mixed breed of a Miniature Poodle and a Golden Retriever, their final size can range between the size of the two parents. If they are small, then your Mini Goldendoodle may still need more time to reach its final size. DNA test — doing a genetic test can also help you predict the final size of your puppy. Your vet can help you find the best company and help you interpret the results. Weight chart — typically, there is a Mini Goldendoodle growth chart that shows the estimated final weight of your puppy that you can use. You also need to keep a weight chart for your specific puppy as they grow so that you can track its growth and predict the final size. Typically, a fully grown Mini Goldendoodle weighs about 20 to 30 pounds and stands at a height of around 16 to 18 inches. At birth, they weigh about one pound and by the end of two weeks, they will double their weight. They spend most of the day sleeping as their eyes and ears are not yet developed. They depend on their mother for warmth and to go to the toilet. Your Mini Goldendoodle will go from barely walking to running around the house in a short amount of time. At this stage, their appetite increases, and they can start eating solid foods only at around the age of 6 weeks. Vaccinations happened during this period before they move to their new homes at the age of 8 weeks. They will show signs of independence, hence training them at this stage is important. It is important that you take them to the park and introduce them to other pets and people so that they can develop their socialization skills. Their diet should be made of quality protein so that they can develop strong and lean muscles. They are fertile at this stage but they should not get pregnant as they are not yet sexually mature. Some dogs will reach their adult height at this age, but they will still need more months to fill out. This is the time to spay or neuter your puppy. At this point, they are very curious and active about their surrounding. More training is required so that they remain obedient and develop good habits. Adult As an adult, your Mini Goldendoodle has achieved mental, sexual, and physical maturity and will begin showing its true personality. This can happen anywhere from 12 months of age. Factors That Affect Mini Goldendoodle Puppy Growth Genetics The genetics of your Mini Goldendoodle can affect their growth because they inherit certain factors from their parents such as final size and health conditions. Since this dog is a mixed breed, they can either look like their Mini Poodle or Golden Retriever parent when they are fully grown. Also, if your puppy inherits a disease from either parent, their growth can be affected, and they may be underweight or have stunted growth. Nutrition Nutrition is a key factor to consider when taking care of a Mini Goldendoodle. Since they are susceptible to bloat easily, ensure that the meals they are eating are well-balanced and contain all the necessary nutrients. A meal should contain high amounts of protein, fewer carbs, and enough fats as well as minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Talk to your vet so that they can recommend the best diet suitable for the growth and development of your dog. If your dog is not involved in physical activity it can easily gain weight and develop destructive behavior. Since Mini Goldendoodles are active and energetic dogs they need between 30 to 60 minutes of exercise. However, be careful to not overdo the activities as they may develop joint problems. Regular visits to the vet will help catch any illness at an early stage so that treatment can be administered before the life of your dog is shortened. Neutering and spaying are procedures done in vet clinics where the ovaries in female dogs and testis in male dogs are removed surgically. The growth of your Mini Goldendoodle can be affected if they are spayed or neutered earlier before the closure of the growth plates because they depend on the reproductive hormones to close. It is recommended that you spay your Mini Goldendoodle at the age of between 6 and 9 months. However, they are beneficial to your dog in many ways. For instance, spaying helps to reduce the risk of pyometra, and mammary cancer and prevents pregnancy while neutering prevents testicular cancer, the development of aggressive behavior, and unnecessary breeding. The Mini Labradoodle is slightly shorter and lighter than the Mini Goldendoodle. As an adult, a Mini Labradoodle weighs between 15 and 25 pounds and stands at a height of about 14 to 16 inches. On the other hand, a Mini Goldendoodle weighs between 20 and 30 pounds with a height of around 16 to 18 inches. The main reason is nutrition as they could be eating less or more calories. If your dog is eating less food than required it will not gain enough weight or maintain a healthy muscle mass. However, if they are eating more food than they should, they will gain excess weight and could be obese. If you are keeping a mini Goldendoodle weight chart and notice that your dog is off the charts either too small or too big, take them to your vet and they can advise you on the best ways to help them reach a normal weight for their age. This can include supplementing, increasing or reducing exercise, and increasing or reducing food portions depending on the goal. The amount of food that your Mini Goldendoodle puppy needs per day depends on their age as the different stages need different nutrients. Between 4 and 5 months, they eat one cup of food distributed three to four times. From one year and above, they eat twice per day and require 2 to 4 cups of food. How To Choose A Goldendoodle Size Since there are different sizes of Goldendoodles, finding the right size for you will enable you to provide them with the best care that they need. There are different factors that you need to consider before choosing a Goldendoodle and they include: Space — ensure that the space you have is enough to satisfy the exercise needs a specific size of Goldendoodle needs. This includes inside the house, the backyard, and having a park nearby. Also, try to keep an eye on the dog when they are playing with the children as they can snap when provoked even if they are good with kids. Health Complications — you need to consider the potential health issues that come with a mixed breed such as a Goldendoodle. Even though they are generally healthy, Goldendoodles have certain genetic diseases that can shorten their lifespan. First, weighing them regularly enables you to track their weight to ensure that it remains healthy throughout their different stages of growth. Secondly, measuring their height enables you to buy the right clothes, and kennel doors, and enter them into competitions. You can use the bathroom scale to weigh your Mini Goldendoodle at home. First, hold the puppy then step on the scale and record the number. Secondly, put the puppy down then weigh yourself. First, ensure that your puppy is standing straight on the floor or table. Then, find the withers which are below the neck in between the shoulder blades. Mini Goldendoodle Genetics And Common Health Problems As with all breeds of dogs, there are certain health issues that you should be aware of before buying a Mini Goldendoodle. Most of these issues can be managed through proper veterinary care but could lead to a shorter lifespan. They include: Patellar Luxation — this is the most common health problem for a Mini Goldendoodle. It is also called dislocated knee injury. Hypothyroidism — it is similar to the disease that affects humans, and it leads to less production of hormones by the thyroid gland. This means that your dog can have excessive bleeding even with small cuts. This condition can be fatal. Progressive Retinol Atrophy — this condition leads to the degeneration of the retina causing blindness in dogs. This is a severe condition that can be fatal if not treated within an hour. Take your puppy to the vet immediately if you notice that they are bloated. Other Issues — you should also be aware of other health issues that this breed is susceptible to. They include joint and bone problems, ear infections, and allergies. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. A newborn Mini Goldendoodle weighs around a pound and measures up to 6 inches. After 2 weeks, their weight doubles up to 2 pounds and their height increases to 9 inches. These dogs grow significantly during 3 to 12 weeks. A 4- to 6-month-old Mini Goldendoodle typically reaches half of its maximum weight. Your pup may also feel less hungry at this age. You can expect your pup to stop growing by 6 to 8 months. Gender Male Mini Goldendoodles are generally bigger and heavier than females. Age A Mini Goldendoodle lives for 13 to 17 years at maximum. Despite being the smallest Goldendoodles, these dogs are believed to have longer lifespans than all the other types. The other Goldendoodle breeds usually live for 10 to 12 years. Remember, every dog is different, so their nutritional needs are also not the same. When a Mini Goldendoodle is in their puppyhood , they have high energy levels and a big appetite. Comparatively, adults or older dogs require fewer daily calories due to reduced activity levels. Generally, dogs love chicken, lamb, whitefish, rabbit meat, salmon, and beef. These are the best protein sources for your pal. Give fresh, raw, canned meals to meet their daily nutritional needs. You should avoid low-budget or low-quality foods with filler ingredients. Next, put your dog on a flat surface and make them stand naturally. Measure their height by placing the tape on their body from the ground to their shoulders, also called withers. Note all the measurements in inches in a notebook. As you know, Mini Goldendoodles typically stand 13 to 20 inches tall. Remember, all dogs are different, and so is their size and growth pattern. However, consult an expert if their growth rate falls below the normal range. The typical size of this breed ranges between 13 to 20 inches. A newborn measures only 6 inches and weighs a pound. After that, their growth rate stops or slows to 0. Not every Mini Goldendoodle has to reach the 20 inches mark. Just provide your dog with a well-balanced diet full of protein, vitamins, and minerals to ensure their healthy development. The size of your mini Goldendoodle is going to depend on their age and even their parents. There are a few different variations that can show up with the Goldendoodle depending on these factors, even within the mini breed. You also may need to wait until they are a little bit older to figure out the size of the puppy or even to figure out which of the pups out of the whole litter is going to be the biggest. By the time they get to eight weeks, they will keep the same weight order. So, if the puppy is the smallest in the litter by the time they go home with you, it is likely that they are going to stay the smallest, and so on. The older the Goldendoodle gets, the easier it is to estimate how big they will be when they get older. Even though it is kind of guesswork to figure out the adult weight when the Goldendoodle is small, you can expect that when you pick up the Goldendoodle at eight weeks, they will be somewhere between 4 to 9 pounds. This is slightly less than the other options. The standard Goldendoodle, for example, will likely be more than 9 pounds at eight weeks, and a medium Goldendoodle is often in the 8 to pound range. This means you will need to take what their weight is at eight weeks and then do a bit of math. If the puppy is an F1b Goldendoodle , just take their weight at 8 weeks and then multiply it by 4. Like many other types of dog breeds, the Goldendoodle is often going to do most of their growing during the first six months. It is not uncommon for the miniature Goldendoodle to reach half of their adult weight by the time they are just four months old. Their weight should start to level off between seven to 10 months of age, depending on their parents. As you are estimating the size of your dog, you may wonder when they are going to be done growing. Most dogs are going to finish growing somewhere between 1 to 2 years of age, but it is not uncommon for them to get to their maximum height by the time they are a year old. The rest of that time will be spent on them filling out. Your dog could hit a growth spurt right around that first birthday. They may not get much taller , though, but they will thicken up more than before. You will find that the Goldendoodle will have a special type of growing. The Golden Retriever parent is going to have a slower rate of growing tall compared to the Poodle parent breed, but they do happen to fill out more quickly. This can change the way that your Goldendoodle is going to grow depending on which parent they tend to get their genes from. Some Golden Doodles are going to grow at a slower rate than others, so do not be surprised if they are getting closer to two years before they hit that growth spurt and fill out. Since it is the mini Goldendoodle, they should still stick around the smaller size compared to the traditional or standard Goldendoodle. What are the Different Sizes for Mini Goldendoodles? If you are looking for a mini Goldendoodle to bring to your home, then you need to make sure that you are choosing the right size for the dog. Most of the time, those who go with the mini Goldendoodle will want the one that is between 20 to 30 pounds. This is a lot of fun to play with and can be a great source of entertainment around the home. It is possible to have the teacup, petite or toy, and mini of the Goldendoodle, and these can vary in size as well. Most breeders are going to consider a full-size mini Goldendoodle to be the type that is under 30 pounds, though there is not really a defined weight or height that comes with they are crossbred hybrid dogs rather than purebred dogs. Since there are so many different sizes that could fit into this, you may see that there are smaller weight classes that bring in the toy or teacup Goldendoodle as well to provide some separation for all the different sizes. While a mini Goldendoodle could potentially get up to 30 pounds, the teacup Goldendoodle is going to be a little bit smaller. This one is any Goldendoodle that weighs less than 13 pounds and is often about 11 inches or so tall. This is a very small version of the mini Goldendoodle, but it does provide some great options for pets for those who live in a small apartment and do not have room for the full Goldendoodle. However, the smaller dog may deal with more birth defects and genetic problems. You can also go with the toy or petite Goldendoodle. These are a little bit bigger, coming in between 14 and 15 inches in height and weighing around 20 pounds or less in most cases. These have fewer birth defects too, which makes them a good option to add to your home. Compared to the mini Goldendoodle, which can get between 20 to 30 pounds and up to 18 inches tall, these will fit into small places better. While the calculations that we did above can do a great job of helping you get an estimate on the size of your Goldendoodle, there are a few DNA tests that you can use to help predict the adult size of the mini Goldendoodle. One of the best tests is Embark , which will help you learn about a lot of different traits that the Goldendoodle may have, including their size. This does work on other breeds as well. This is a scientific method that can be pretty accurate, though you may see that the dog is smaller or bigger than what the test says because it is hard to get an accurate guess on this. However, to do this test, you just order a testing kit, send in the cheek swab, and then wait for the results. It should not take too long and can help you get a good idea about the genetics of the dog. They are friendly, loyal, and intelligent, which helps them become one of the best companions around for the whole family to enjoy, no matter how many people are in the family. Estimating the weight and height of this dog is not always possible, but it does provide you with a good way to figure out if you will have a dog who is bigger or smaller than average. By following some of the simple tips above, you will be able to get a good idea of the size of your new family pet. Related Content You May Find Interesting Here are some more articles that may be of interest to you if you have a Mini Goldendoodle or are looking into getting one. How Big is a 25 lb Mini Goldendoodle? A mini Goldendoodle is a great addition to any family as they have a great personality, are low-shedding, and have all the other characteristics of a standard Goldendoodle without being too big for most homes. The weight of a mini Goldendoodle can be estimated by multiplying their weight at 8 weeks by 4. Most mini Goldendoodles will reach half their adult weight by the time they are four months old. A Mini Goldendoodle weight chart shows the estimated adult weight based on their weight at 8 weeks. The size of a mini Goldendoodle is dependent on their age and their parents. Goldendoodles can continue to grow until they are years old. Also, check out our Goldendoodle puppy weight calculator — a tool that gives you an idea of how big your puppy may get based on a few factors. About the F1 Goldendoodle The Goldendoodle is a crossbreed that only recently captured the hearts of dog lovers. Both the Golden Retriever and the Standard Poodle are a medium- to large-size breed, thereby creating a medium- to large-size breed in the Standard Goldendoodle. In comparison, F2 Goldendoodles have two F1 parents. Either way, this designer breed is active, a good companion, intelligent, social, easily trainable, and can also make a good guide or therapy dog. Our veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Coates, emphasizes the importance of keeping puppies lean. The abdomen and waist should show a noticeable tuck when viewed from the side and top of the dog. Work with your veterinarian to figure out the best size for your Goldendoodle as she grows into adulthood. Using roughly 50, healthy dogs as a reference, the Waltham puppy charts show the target range for a healthy growing puppy. Moving lower on the chart could be associated with unhealthy weight loss. What Age do Goldendoodles Stop Growing? A Goldendoodle puppy goes through a typical puppyhood, consisting of multiple developmental stages. Those stages make up the first to second year of life. For instance, a Standard Goldendoodle puppy will, on average, grow at about the same rate as other medium to large dogs like the German Shepherd and Collie. A Medium Goldendoodle may take a couple of more months to reach most of his adult size. A Standard Goldendoodle is a large-size dog and typically takes just over a year to become fully grown. But this is an average and some dogs can take up to 2 years to become full-grown adult dogs. The AKC estimates a large dog who weighs anywhere from 51 to pounds reaches full size at around 18 months old. How big your puppy gets depends on which type of Goldendoodle you have or are going to get — mini, medium, or standard. Across the three types, adult dogs can weigh anywhere from 15 to 90 pounds. Even then, knowing how big your Goldendoodle will get is not exact. For a guide, check out our Goldendoodle weight chart, which breaks down the weight range for each type of Goldendoodle puppy, from 8 weeks old to fully grown. The Miniature Goldendoodle weighs approximately 15 to 30 pounds in adulthood. He stands about 13 to 15 inches high at the shoulders. The Medium Goldendoodle weighs around 30 to 45 pounds in adulthood and stands roughly 15 to 20 inches at the shoulder. The Standard Goldendoodle weighs approximately 45 to 90 pounds in adulthood, and measures about 20 to 24 inches at the shoulders. Coates, advises the numbers are a general gauge. Goldendoodle Puppy Size and Weight Calculator Goldendoodle puppies sport a variety of coat types and colors, never mind sizes. If you want to keep your furniture dog-hair free, check special pet hair removal tools to keep your home tidy. No matter which Goldendoodle graces your life, or might soon, your new puppy is sure to bring you lots of smiles. Take care of your puppy, monitor her growth, and keep close tabs on her health. Refer to our Goldendoodle puppy growth chart to see the average growth rate for puppies 8 weeks old and up. Beginning with the Mini Goldendoodle growth chart and ending with the Standard Goldendoodle growth chart, we provide you with the average weight ranges per month across the three different-size Goldendoodles, for males and females. For instance, a 3-month-old Miniature Goldendoodle puppy typically weighs between 6 and 12 pounds, while a 3-month-old Medium Goldendoodle puppy weighs between 12 and 18 pounds. Also included in the chart is the average height for the full-size Miniature, Medium, and Standard Goldendoodle. You can also use our puppy size predictor to find out how big your Goldendoodle might get as an adult. Predicting the mature size of a puppy is by no means an exact science, especially with a hybrid breed like the goldendoodle. How big will my goldendoodle puppy be? From birth until the gotchya day, puppies have fluctuated back and forth in terms of who weighs the most. Even though adult weight is a bit of a guess for a young puppy, expect mini goldendoodles to weigh 4lbs-9lbs at 8 weeks of age. A medium puppy and standard puppy may both weigh 9lbs at 8 weeks old, but the standard puppy with gain weight at a quicker rate than the medium. Like most dog breeds, goldendoodles generally do the majority of their growing in the first six months of life. In fact, many mini goldendoodle puppies reach half of their adult weight by four months. Standard goldendoodles may take a month or so longer to reach that halfway mark. The larger the dog, the longer growing takes. For mini goldendoodles, expect the weight to start leveling off between months of age. Standard goldendoodles, like other large dog breeds, will grow for a longer period of time. While this rule may work for many standards, it is not accurate with smaller-sized goldendoodles who finish growing at a younger age. When will my goldendoodle stop growing? Dogs can finish growing anywhere between years of age, but generally reach their maximum height by a year of age and spend the remaining months filling out. This means your dog might hit a growth spurt right after her first birthday — she might not get any taller but she could thicken up. Golden retrievers grow at a slower rate in terms of height than standard poodles, but fill out more quickly. Golden retrievers tend to finish growing and filling out between months while standard poodles can take up to 2 years to accomplish the same. Established breeds generally reproduce naturally, whereas first-generation mini goldendoodles require artificial insemination. Subsequent generations of hybrid breeds i. F1b, F2b, etc. F1b goldendoodles can potentially have a slightly more predictable size range if the parents are similar sizes. Our 19lb F1 goldendoodle and 24lb poodle produce F1b mini goldendoodle puppies ranging in weight from lbs as adults. Embark is a canine genetic testing company that offers a variety of canine disease and trait tests in their panel. Order an Embark testing kit off Amazon , send in that quick cheek swab, and Embark will happily send you the results. Check out our goldendoodle puppy time lapses to watch various goldendoodles grow up right before your eyes! If you would like to submit data, please complete our quick survey or email goldendoodles timberidgefarms. Growth patterns vary from dog to dog but there are some generalities you may find helpful. Remember, this is a guide only, not a guarantee! Thank you for your support! 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 this:.

Close share Copy link Puppy lovers, dog lovers and dog families will be delighted to receive this one of a kind Puppy Fund ceramic piggy bank from Cottage Creek! This Puppy Fund Money Bank is perfect as a dog and puppy savings bank, dog gift for women, dog decor, dog gifts and more. This unique ceramic puppy dog savings bank is hand dipped in lead-free glossy white glaze, twice kiln-fired, and is constructed using only outstanding ceramic stoneware materials. Our money boxes for adults and kids money box, money jar has fade resistant designs on each side, are strong enough for everyday use and make fantastic coin banks and coin holders to hold loose change. One of a kind jars with lids are excellent cash jars to hold loose bills as well. These fun office decor jars will be perfect as a candy jar for office desks, candy bowl for office, funny candy jar and a candy dish for office desk! Use this versatile Puppy Money jar around the home as a makeup jar, pen holder, rubber band holder, cotton ball and qtip holder, hair accessories organizer and more! Our fun piggy bank comes in a designed gift box, making this cute jar the perfect dog lover gifts, dog gifts for women, dog gifts for men, puppy gifts, puppy mom gifts, puppy money bank, puppy mother gifts, dog mom gifts, dog dad gifts and more! View full details Cottage Creek Jars: Cottage Creek ceramic jars are made from outstanding stoneware ceramic materials. Our quality money jars are perfect for holding loose change and storing small items. Designs are printed on both sides with a high gloss glazed finish. Each change jar includes a snugly fit removable black lid. Cottage Creek piggy banks arrive in a uniquely designed printed gift box. Subscribe to our emails Be the first to know about new collections and exclusive offers. Target does not represent or warrant that this information is accurate or complete. On occasion, manufacturers may modify their items and update their labels. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented. If you have a specific question about this item, you may consult the item's label, contact the manufacturer directly or call Target Guest Services at .Description Give a hungry hound a coin! This adorable puppy is happy to save your coins in his savings box! Place a coin onto the tray, and watch as it happily munches away! The consumed coins are stored in the savings box -- what a fun way to save! Powered by 2 x AA batteries -- not included. Report incorrect product info. Estimated ship dimensions: 5 inches length x 7 inches width x 10 inches height Estimated ship weight: 2. Return details This item can be returned to any Target store or Target. This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup. See the return policy for complete information. Ask a question.

Rachael Ray Nutrish is another brand I love for Labrador Retriever puppies as it is packed with DHA for healthy brain and eye development and specially formulated for young, growing dogs. You can also select different sizes and recipes. My favorite is chicken and brown rice. Bedding And Toys Lab puppies need quality bedding and toys for teething. Labrador puppies grow quickly and have sharp claws and teeth. Puppies also go through a teething phase and will need special teething toys to help soothe their sore mouths and help keep your furniture safe. As far as bedding, the best bedding for a Labrador puppy is going to be made of high quality material that is soft and plush while also being sturdy enough to keep them off the floor and support their growing bodies. KONG toys are wonderful tools to use during crate training , but they also help with separation anxiety , boredom, and the teething stage that all puppies go through. Enter the Nylabone Puppy Starter Pack. These flavored chew toys come both textured and regular to help get your pup and your furniture through the teething stage safely. Cuddly toys like the Smart PetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy above can help your new Labrador puppy adjust to sleeping on his own, assist in crate training, and may even help alleviate anxieties including noise phobias and separation anxiety. Puppy blankets are a must and can be used for multiple purposes in your home for your pup. My favorite puppy blankets are blankets that are specially made for dogs, like the Luciphia fleece blankets above. While you can use any blankets on hand, blankets that are specially made for dogs are usually a bit more durable, easier to wash, and have been made with quality and safe material for your pooch. Puppy blankets just make it easy to always a comfy place for your puppy to rest his head no matter where you are. Ultra Squeaker Ball is an absolute favorite in my house and with my clients. I especially love using this toy for puppies who are just getting the hang of playing fetch. For puppies, picking up on how to play fetch can be tough. Balls that squeak or make noise when thrown help to make the game more exciting and help encourage young pups to chase whatever is making that high pitched sound! Leashes, Harnesses, and Collars Collars, leashes, and harnesses are important tools to help socialize your puppy. Getting your puppy used to wearing a leash, harness, and collar is an important step towards socializing them. So even though your Labrador puppy will outgrow his harness and collar quickly, I still suggest investing in these items. Here are five of my favorite leash, harness, and collar products for Labrador Retriever puppies. As I mentioned above, puppies are especially fragile so steer clear of attaching a leash to their collar and try to help them adjust to wearing a harness that is comfortable. What I like about this harness is that it is adjustable so you can use it a bit longer as your puppy grows. Best of all it is the perfect length five feet for puppy training and is a leash your Lab puppy can take with him into adulthood. It is built like a standard leash, but it offers you control over how far away your puppy can get. This is excellent for puppy parents who live in busy neighborhoods or who are working with a puppy who likes to wander. Large breed puppies like Labrador Retrievers require crates that grow with them. This is why I love crates that come with dividers so that they can grow with your Lab puppy. I also recommend playpens, as Labrador puppies are notorious for being very active and energetic. Lab puppies are also incredibly curious and tend to chew a lot in their first few months, which is why indoor dog gates will also be an important part of puppy proofing your home. Take a look at some of my favorite puppy-proofing products below. Nobody likes cleaning up potty accidents. Of course, no one wants a big, bulky pen that takes up half of their home either! I also love that the pen is big enough for puppies to grow into and allows them to learn how to explore a space larger than their crate while keeping them and your home safe from their curiosity. And since crate training is such an important part of puppyhood and actually helps your puppy adjust to being alone and feeling secure, we recommend investing in a good, high quality crate you can use for years. It has two separate doors for entrance and exit and it comes with a divider so it can be adjusted to the size of your dog as he grows. Just remember to leave your pup inside his crate with a KONG and some bedding so he is comfortable, and remember that puppies who are younger than six months old should not stay in their crates for longer than four hours. For those of you who plan to leave your puppy out and about while you are gone and after he is trained, of course , then a crate that folds may be your best bet. The MidWest Foldable Dog Crate posted above is one such crate that is not only made well, but also stores well. Like most crates ideal for Labrador puppies, this crate also comes with a divider so it can grow with your dog. Along with crates and puppy playpens, you also might consider getting a gate to keep your puppy from entering places in your home that may pose a risk to him. Many of my clients keep gates up in their kitchen entryway, or gate their living rooms where puppies are tempted to chew on wood furniture. Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate Sale Buy on Amazon For those of you worried about installing something or accidentally damaging walls or paint, there are always free-standing gate options, like the Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate. I do like the way these gates look and the simplicity of them, however, they are not always the most secure and may not stand up to a strong and curious puppy. These gates are also not ideal for leaving puppies unsupervised as they can sometimes find ways to knock them down. Grooming your Labrador puppy early on not only helps to socialize him and prepare him for a life of vet visits, groomer visits, and physical contact with people, but it also helps to keep him clean and healthy. Like babies, puppies are more sensitive to certain products and require products that are specifically designed to be gentle on their sensitive skin and fur. Be selective of the shampoos, dog brushes , and other grooming products you pick for your Labrador puppy and make sure you always use high-quality products. Some of the products I recommend most for grooming a Labrador puppy are listed below. Pet Care Sciences Puppy Shampoo. Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. Non-slip bottom dog dishes Puppies naturally move their dish around as they are eating, especially if the dish has a flat bottom that easily pushes around the floor. We have found that dishes with a non-slip bottom can help so that your puppy is not chasing around his food dish. Make sure that it is large enough. And since dogs grow fast, that means they will likely grow to that size within a year to a year and a half. Almost all dogs we train eat between 4 -6 cups of dog food a day. So, make sure that your dish is large enough to accommodate this many cups. Water dish It is vitally important that your puppy have access to clean water for drinking. With the puppies we raise, we have found that it can be challenging to keep a small water dish full, so we prefer to use these 2-gallon water dishes. They are easy to fill and allow us to only have to fill them a couple times a week instead of several times a day. We suggest that you introduce a lead to your puppy as they start to grow in confidence and walk further from you when outside. There are two great reasons to do this early on. First it teaches your puppy how to handle the pressure of not being able to go wherever they want whenever they want. And it keeps your puppy from developing a habit of running away from you. A Flexi-lead works especially well if you want to give your puppy a little more freedom to go do his potty business but still keep control. Toys Puppies need toys. If you do not give them toys that they CAN chew and play with, they will chew on your sofa leg, or a book or a blanket or anything else they can find. So, purchase some good durable puppy chew toys. But watch your pup carefully. As they get older and stronger, they will be able to rip apart cloth toys and ingest them. Or they will chew rubber toys into small pieces and eat them. When your pup gets strong enough to destroy toys, it is time to take away the puppy toys and give them only dog toys designed for older , larger dogs or quality rawhides that they can chew that will not cause digestive problems. Stay away from rope toys. Many puppies have managed to ingest strings and ropes requiring surgery to remove them. Puppy-sized bumper If your plan is for your Labrador puppy to become a hunting or competition dog, you should have a puppy sized bumper. Learn more about teaching your puppy to fetch in this post. Barriers I recommend that you section off a small portion of your home and not let your puppy have full run of the entire house. Learn more about housebreaking your Lab puppy in this post. To section off a part, it can be helpful to have some child-gates available or an area of your home that you can close doors. This means that you need to show your puppy where the boundaries are and what is and is not allowed. To do this, you will need a few more tools. This is often when we see dogs that are running away from their owners, playing keep-a-way when retrieving and just basically being naughty. A lot of this could be avoided with the use of a check cord. Yes, a check cord can be cumbersome and often a pain to use, but it only takes one or two times of your puppy running away from you to make it worth it. Put a check cord on your puppy and allow them to drag it around with them. This alone is a great lesson for a dog. Dragging the weight is a type of pressure that they will need to learn to deal with. Occasionally, step on the rope and allow your dog to feel the pressure of being stopped and controlled. These sound like such minor things, but you would be surprised how much more well-adjusted your puppy will be just from learning these minor lessons. Chain or prong collar As your puppy gets stronger, it will get more and more difficult to control your puppy with a lead just hooked up to a nylon collar. As you notice that your puppy is getting harder to control, is pulling you around or dragging you down the street, you need to move to a chain or prong collar. Actually, it would be best if you changed to a chain or prong collar long before this becomes an issue. Remember, it is always easier to fix problems when they are small rather than waiting for them to become huge problems. Larger bumpers for retrieving dogs As your dog gets larger, you will want to move away from the puppy bumper and start using regular sized retrieving bumpers. We prefer to use plastic or rubber bumpers since they do not get as dirty or smelly as the canvas ones. They also last a lot longer and can be used for both water and land retrieves. Learn all about the different bumpers used for training hunting dogs here. Orange is a color that is difficult for retrievers to see, so that color should not be used for young dogs that are just learning about retrieving and hunting. Save the orange ones for advanced dogs working on blind retrieves. Final thoughts on What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? There are many things that you will need for your new puppy both now and in the future. Take some time to prepare before you bring your puppy home so that you will avoid buying things on impulse that you may or may not need. If you are planning on using your puppy as a hunting or competition dog, check out 6 vital tools every gun dog trainer needs. You can email me at ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. Lab Puppy proof the house. Things like dangerous chemicals, solvents, cleaning solutions, paint and other dangerous substances need to be secured. As well you will need to look at cords hanging and things falling on the puppy if they accidentally pull something down. Stairs need to be gated off until your puppy is older and learns how to walk down them without trying to jump off. Purchase a quality dog food. It never ceases to amaze me how some people end up feeding a low quality food to their dog, or something experimental like a vegan food, or even feed them a so called raw diet and not balance their nutrition requirements. The single biggest thing you can do for your dog is feed them a proven diet with nutrients delivered in the proper ratios. A second thing to consider is where your food is made and how you can be notified if there is a recall. At the time of writing this there is a popular food under recall for toxic levels of vitamin D. There have been numerous cases of deaths related to this and yet the company claims they independently test their ingredients. The food we recommend is such because we have years and years of experience over 13 years with it using it ourselves and recommending it to those who adopt our puppies. We have actually had so few health issues with our puppies and aging adults eating this food that we have increased our warranty to 4 years and include all major organs. Bottom line, feed a high quality proven food from the day you bring your puppy home, not necessarily one with the most protein. We will provide you with feeding suggestions once you place your reservation for a puppy and a proven puppy food to feed them. Visit the pet store for the required equipment. You are going to need a large dog crate with a divider so in the beginning your puppy will have just enough room to sleep. Crate training is the best way to protect your puppy while making them safe when unsupervised. As your dog grows you can remove the divider so it has room to lay down and not touch the walls. We stock the most popular toys and cover all the different types you will need so that you can get them when you pick up your puppy. They come with explanations of how the different types are used to both stimulate, calm and play with your puppy, how to cycle them, teething, and more. A stainless steel water and food bowl is also another good choice. I would wait on getting a collar so that you can fit them properly. We have inexpensive training leashes that adjust to any size for you to purchase when you are here. Have a family meeting to establish expectations. Every human in the home will need to follow the same rules consistently so that your puppy understands what is expected of them. Schedule an appointment with a good Veterinarian. Not all Veterinarians are of equal experience. We have heard some pretty crazy stories, so we suggest you get some referrals of some long term relationships of people you trust for a Vet. You should take your puppy to the vet a couple of days after you get home so it has time to get use to its new surroundings before being taken somewhere. Prepare fore the Drive Home 1. Your puppy can last about 2 or 3 hours without a potty break. We normally feed your puppy early in the morning on the day of pick up so that it has time to go potty before the drive home. Our recommendation is to give your puppy some water every 3 hours and then let them have a pee. This could also go along with letting them play or explore outside a bit. When you stop, find an unused grassy space to potty on. Arriving at home with your puppy 1. First quickly bring them to the spot you want them to potty. This is the beginning of your dog being house trained. They will likely have to go right after you get out of the car. So when you stop, give them a drink in the area you want them to relieve themselves in. Wait until they go and then you can take them into the home. Treat your puppy like a puppy. It is breakable and will be a puppy for about a year. Things like playing with larger dogs and such should be carefully supervised. Constant supervision. Your new puppy needs to be constantly supervised until they can be trusted and you know that they understand the rules. Constant supervision means either you or someone watching them, they are in their crate the crate is the supervisor , or that they are in a section of the home baby-gated off or also an outside run with a kennel and a cement floor so they cannot dig under the fence yes they will dig. After a potty bring your puppy to the room with their crate. Introducing them to their crate perhaps with a few pieces of kibble in it will show them where their safe space is. This is also where they need to be comfortable enough to self-calm and fall asleep. If you have another dog, first introduce them outside on neutral territory. Bringing a new puppy and simply coming straight into the home could have one of three effects. The first being that both dogs might be ok with it. Second is that the older dog has an issue with a new strange animal in its territory. This would result in your older dog being defensive, maybe even protective or possibly anxious and scared and once this has happened it is out there. Undoing this type of trauma could take days or weeks. Relax and let them get to know each other and all will be good. After some get familiar time begin training your puppy without distractions using Positive Reinforcement training methods. We suggest that everyone participates in some training classes either in a group format or private. The important thing to understand is that you are training you to train your puppy. Your puppy will also lose any training it has done if it is not reinforced by everyone in the home. Other resources are 80 Puppy Training tips that you can learn as well as an excellent site with video called Puppy Trained Right. We have a discount code available for those who are taking home one of our puppies. This will allow them time to eliminate most of their food and urine and will give a better chance of sleeping the night without having to go potty. Prepare their crate in a quiet, dark spot. Make it a sleepy place, place a blanket over the top and down 3 sides to block draft and to make it den-like. Some mild exercise or training just before bed. Just like a human, you want them to be tired before bed. So for example if you let them sleep from 9 to 11 pm they may not need to go down at 11 to sleep. The last while before bed try to stimulate them mentally and physically so that they are ready to turn in. This can be training sessions, a walk, a play session or even fetch in the house. One final potty around 11 pm. After you prepare them for sleep take them out one more time and give them ample time to relieve themselves. Bring them back in, let them settle in the crate, put an item of clothing in there that smells like you for them to snuggle on. The quicker they learn the new pack and learn to settle in the crate the better and that happens by not reminding them of their old litter. If they smell their old litter they will whine for them to find them. Settling in their crate. Once your puppy goes down you will want to be teaching your puppy that the time in their crate is for sleep, they are safe in there, and that if they bark or whine they cannot summon you to save them. So, what if they really have to go? This is something you will have to figure out. It may be possible that they must go outside to relieve themselves, but, they may also just want you to hold or feed them. If they go, just put them back in their crate to settle and go back to sleep. You will know within reason that next time they are just lonely. This normally stops after about 2 or 3 days. Whoosh them out to their pee spot. Pick them up and carry them quickly to their pee spot. When they go reward them with praise and say the potty word that you use. Feed, and then woosh them out again to their pee spot. Puppies often need to poop right after they eat, or sometimes while they are eating. Some exercise, training and mental stimulation. After waking up and eating they will be ready for a walk and some training. Setting them up for their first full day in the home. Plan their day out so that there is a balance of play, training, napping, eating, and potty. In the beginning your puppy will need about 20 hours or so of sleep a day so be sure it is getting enough. If your puppy gets nippy they may be trying to tell you they are tired and want to be left alone in their crate. Every opportunity that your puppy presents in the form of nipping is a training opportunity to teach bite inhibition. Coming home to your puppy after work. Learning how to greet them. If you work full time it is important to understand that a young puppy cannot hold their bladders for more than 3 or 4 hours. If you work full time you will need someone to watch them or at least visit them once or twice during the shift to let them out, drink and play. When you arrive home this is the time to teach them manners. Most dogs will be excited and will jump on you to greet you. Be sure you teach them how you want them to greet people. We will teach a dog to sit in front of us before it gets any attention. No attention means no talking, no eye contact and no touching. Will they need to relieve themselves? If they have been in a crate you will likely need to let them go potty, a walk or some fetching would also be good at this time because they likely have some energy to expend. Training pre or post feeding? There are also some Labs who are not food motivated. So if your Lab is not responding well to training after they are fed, you may want to train them before eating so the hunger is on your side. Socialization with people other than your family, and animals other than those in the home. While socializing you want to expose them to many people while not overwhelming them. To start we recommend 1 new person each morning and one new place each night. After you can see that your puppy is not overwhelmed you may decide to increase the frequency of exposure to new places, animals and things. Prepare for night time routine. Get your new furball ready for bed time as outlined above. Setting your puppy up for success. Avoiding dog parks and strange dogs. Until your puppy is fully vaccinated around 14 weeks old they are vulnerable to other diseases by unknown dogs. By all means, if you know someone who has a dog and you can verify that their dog is up to date on all shots such as Parvo, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Kennel Cough, Distemper, Hepatitis, Corona and Para Influenza, 2. Get into a reputable training class or private training with a reputable trainer. Training classes are mainly to train you. Ask around in your area for a recommendation of a good trainer at a reasonable price. Gentle, regular exposure to everyone and everything. For example, while you are exposing them to people you will need to expose them to female babies, toddlers, pre teens, teenagers, young adult women, middle aged women and older women. You will need to include women with glasses, hats, soft voices, loud voices, etc…. Adjust their food as they grow and as their activity level increases or decreases. If for example your dog is much more active or much less active then the recommended feeding amount will not be correct. Instead use your eyes. You might have to adjust the food amounts up or down as your Labrador gets more or less activity. Positive Reinforcement training by everyone in the pack. When you get into your car and you to go somewhere, you tell your gps where you want to go. Dogs are the same way. Instead teach your dog what you want it to do. Instead of scolding, simply withdraw your attention. This is enough punishment. Then, get back to showing your dog what you want it to do. If your puppy is not eating or has a loose bowel movement. Not eating much is pretty common when a puppy goes to its new home, however if it stops drinking then that would be cause for an immediate vet visit. In a new home your puppy might not be comfortable for a couple of days and eating might be just grazing. This is ok as long as it is drinking and seems to be playful. Loose bowel movements in the beginning could be due to nerves or your puppy could also have a parasite. At this young age puppies put everything, and I mean everything into their mouths. It is quite common for puppies to get loose stool from a parasite. This can be addressed easily if you take a stool sample into your Vet for analysis. What is a puppy emergency that requires a visit to the vet? Our rules for an emergency trip to the vet are: Uncontrollable bleeding, puppy not breathing properly, broken bone, puppy is not drinking and appears lethargic. If any of these present themselves you may want to consider getting help right away. Other things can normally wait until the next morning to be addressed because they are not critical. Depending on where you live however you may have a vet that is open 24 hours and even on the weekends. So this is a start for you to think about when you take a Labrador Puppy home. Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases franklymedia. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox! Morning Headlines. Vet bedding fleece on a roll is ideal puppy bedding. You can line both his bed and his car crate with this. Buy several pieces so that you can pop one in the washing machine when it gets dirty or if he has an accident. There are lots of lovely beds you can get to go around the house, but in those first days veterinary bedding is an essential alternative to keep his crate cosy and clean. Puppy Toys For Labradors Puppy toys need to be sturdy. Many puppies destroy soft toys quite quickly though they are so adorable, you may not be able to resist buying one or two. Kongs and rope toys are very tough and seem to survive the onslaught of puppy teeth. A Radio If you intend your puppy to sleep alone in the kitchen from the first night, you may find it helpful to leave a radio next to his crate. Just a simple, cheap Portable Radio with the volume turned down low can serve the same role as some human company. It just helps him feel less along during those first few nights when he may be feeling very homesick. Puppy Harness There is no rush for this, but once your puppy is too heavy to carry, and going out and about on the ground, he needs some kind of safety restraint. These days I usually recommend a harness as they avoid pulling on the puppies neck. The kind where the lead attaches at the front and on the back are ideal. You can find an expert review of the big brands of harnesses, from a professional trainer here. When he is older and has learned to walk next to you, you can buy him a collar. To let your puppy know when he has done something you like. It is a really useful tool to help you teach your puppy to be quiet, and to learn simple skills. It will make training your puppy much quicker, easier and a lot more fun. Getting a recall to whistle established at an early age gets your puppy training off to a great start. I recommend the Acme Dog Whistle. There is plenty of information on the use and choice of dog whistles in this article: Should you buy a dog whistle .It will help to get you off to a great start with your new puppy.