german shepherd puppy at 4 months
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! Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. US Labradoodles takes great pride in our longevity and tradition of excellence. We are located in the heart of it all, Ohio! Now in Perrysburg, Ohio. Our dogs are not kenneled. They each live with families where they receive undivided love and attention. The litters of Australian Labradoodle puppies are whelped and raised in homes, where mothers and pups receive around-the-clock care. Special measures are taken to ensure that our puppies get as much socialization, attention, and love as you would hope for your newest family member—an important step in their development. We are dog breeders of only multi-generational puppies with health, temperament, and confirmation rankings as the highest priorities in our research and breeding programs. Most of our dogs are either imported from Australia or are the offspring of an Australian import. These high standards ensure that you will receive a genetically superior labradoodle. We have placed our puppies into qualified homes from as far away as New York, California, Colorado, Mexico, and Colombia. Their adorable curly fur and expressive faces make you want to cuddle them — and these little guys love nothing more than a good squish. All this and more makes our labradoodle puppies for sale one the most in-demand in our center. Activity-loving families adore these dogs for their propensity towards sports, and anyone who prefers low-shedding pooch benefits from their wooly or fleecy fur. Labradoodle puppies for sale are so cute and come in such a wide range of colors that it makes choosing your new best friend super-hard! While spearheading the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia breeding program, he conducted the crossbreeding of a standard poodle and Labrador retriever in view of it being a hypoallergenic guide dog for blind people. The first example of this type of dog, called Sultan, went to live with a lady in Hawaii, where other breeders saw him as an inspiration and this is how Australian Labradoodle puppies started. Both the International Australian Labradoodles Association and the Australian Labradoodles Association of America are working hard to incorporate more intergenerational breeding so these dog breeders can register this type of dog as a purebred dog. Its gentle, obedient and intelligent personality combined with a hypoallergenic coat make it ideal for family members with allergies, but it also makes an excellent service or therapy dog. Labradoodle Puppies Lifespan When properly taken care of, healthy dogs tend to live anywhere from 10 to 13 years. The lifespan of our Labradoodle puppies for sale is slightly above average at 12 to 14 years. Here are the life stages of multigenerational Australian Labradoodles: Puppyhood: First five months Adolescence: Between five months and two years Adulthood: Between two and three years Middle age: Between seven years and 10 years Senior: Over 10 years Labradoodles need the most attention and care in the first and last stages of their life. During puppyhood, their minds are highly impressionable, which is ideal for training. During their senior years, Labradoodles are more susceptible to health problems, which means owners need to keep a watchful eye. Labradoodle Size The size of labradoodle puppies for sale directly relates to the size of their parents and which generation of breed Labradoodle breeders chose. The larger the puppies, the larger the adult dog will be, and the faster their growth will be coming out of the puppy stage. A standard labradoodle puppy will weigh from pounds by the time it reaches two months of age. By a year old, it will have grown dramatically to up to 80 pounds, depending on the size of its parents. Medium Labradoodles occupy a spectrum of sizes between standard and mini Labradoodles, with the specifics depending heavily on the details of the breeding pair that birthed them and the breeding program they come from. Labradoodle Puppies Temperament While Labradoodle breeders originally bred the Australian Labradoodles as therapy dogs, their fun, friendly personalities made them popular pets. Now you can find these sociable dogs in homes across the globe. Here are some of the top personality traits of our Labradoodle puppies for sale. They tend to do best in active households where they can work off all that pent-up energy. You can fulfill their needs through the following activities: Walks or jogs: Labradoodles make great walking companions and can even keep up with you during a jog. Playing in the yard: Enjoy a game of fetch with your furry friend in the yard or just let it loose on its own. Dog sports: If you stay active through sports, consider making your labradoodle a part of your routine. Bring it on bike rides, go for a run together or kick a ball around in the yard. Obstacle courses: Set up an obstacle course for your dog using household items. Scavenger hunt: Creating a scavenger hunt for your canine is a great way to exercise its body and brain. In general, Labradoodles need anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. You can also enroll them later at a Labradoodle puppy alumni school for proper training. Friendliness What makes Labradoodles the perfect puppy compare to other dog breeds is their ability to get along with just about anyone. They inherit this trait from their Labrador retriever parent, a breed also known for its outgoing nature. You can trust your labradoodle to form friendships with everyone, from children and older adults to strangers and other puppies. Thanks to their affectionate, sociable personalities, Labradoodles make great pets for first-time owners, families, or anyone looking for a companion. Intelligence Thanks to their poodle parent breeds, Labradoodles are incredibly intelligent dogs. Because Labradoodles are intelligent, they often crave mental stimulation. Labradoodle Puppies Grooming Our Labradoodle puppies for sale have a variety of coat textures that dog owners enjoy, but in general, their low shedding coat needs brushing at least twice a week. Not only does this keep them tangle-free but it also removes excess debris from their coat, keeping them fresh and hygienic. Regularly trim the hair around their eyes and in between their paws to prevent these problem areas from causing irritation. Pooches with fleece coats tend to have longer fur and benefit the most from going to a professional groomer — although every dog loves getting pampered once in a while. At Pride and Prejudoodles, we send a can and a bag of the foods we use for free with your hand-delivered bundle of joy. If you need to change it for any reason, it must be done gradually to avoid stomach upsets. Just bear in mind that a diet is such a crucial aspect of wellness that feeding them good quality food will add years to their lives compared to opting for low-quality feed. Pride and Prejudoodles is here to help. We hope you found our guide informative. Please contact us with any other questions you have about our Labradoodle puppies for adoption. We breed multigenerational Australian Labradoodles and American Labradoodles. Our goal is producing loving Australian Labradoodle puppies and American Labradoodle puppies to add to your family: with hypo allergenic qualities, beautiful wavy fleeces and curles and exceptionally smart. A smart dog is a happy dog, they are easily trained which adds to the enjoyment of your new family member. We have chocolate Australian labradoodle puppies for sale, chocolate parti Australian labradoodle puppies for sale merle Australian labradoodle puppies for sale and many other color Australian labradoodles for sale. Our puppies will be smart like their parents who know both hand signals as well as voice commands. Many of our past puppies have become service dogs for Epileptic Seizure Services, Hospice Services, and other Service related settings. Why do our dogs make such Great Service Dog Candidates, our wonderful Rocky passes his wonderful calm demeanor to all of his puppies. Also, many people love the look of our Merle labradoodles - They are absolutely stunning. We tend to have clients in the Chattanooga, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama areas that have a found interest in our Miniature Australian Labradoodles and clients in Florida are particularly interested in our Merle Australian Labradoodles. Of course clients in Dallas Texas and parts of Illinois have added our Standard size Australian Labradoodles to there households. Whether clients are on vacation or simply enjoying the local park, It's exciting when we hear reports from our owners that they ran into another Australian Labradoodle that turns out to be a Lord and Lady Labradoodle all over the country. And clients never cease to tell stories of how people they meet rant and rave over there Lord and Lady Australian Labradoodle. Australian labradoodles have been created for their temperament, coat, and conformation. This has been shown over and over again by so many who use the Australian Labradoodle for therapy dogs. They just have a special ability to know their owner's emotional needs. They are intuitive, smart, athletic, easy to train love bugs! Australian labradoodles have been very carefully genetically tested to give you the best dog possible. American labradoodles are crosses between poodle and labrador and their backcrosses. Coats and conformation are not stable. First generations are likely to shed. They can have the personality of a poodle, lab or both. When the lines are carefully chosen their temperament can be just as wonderful as an Australian Labradoodle. All Labradoodles are NOT non-shedding or hypoallergenic. It is very important that you do your homework and know what it is you are looking for and what you are getting. Ask about the parent's testing, their pedigree, their temperaments. As a breeder, it takes a great deal of time, patience, and money to raise healthy, happy labradoodles with wonderful temperaments which is then passed down to the puppies that will go on to be your much loved family pet. General Appearance: The Australian Labradoodle will have an athletic and graceful, yet, compact body. They should not appear heavy or overly fine. A distinctive feature of this breed is their coat, which is non-shedding and easy to manage. Movement: Trotting gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and coordinated in mature dogs. Sound free movement and a light gait are vital. The sizes are measured to the withers top of the shoulder blades. Soundness is very important. Weight range tends to be 15 to 25 pounds. Medium 17" TO 20": The "Ideal" size for a medium female is 17 to 19 inches and for a male 19 to 20 inches. Weight range tends to be 30 to 45 pounds. Standard: 21" TO 24": The "Ideal" size for a standard female is 21 to 23 inches and for a male 22 to 24 inches. Weight range tends to be 50 to 65 pounds. The low to non-shedding is a big plus and adds to the allergy-free factor. All the Labradoodles we breed and offer for sale will have beautiful coats. The following are the three kinds of coats all Labradoodles have: COATS: Coat types are also still very sporadic with many dogs showing a combination of multiple types. Both the Fleece and the Wool coat should naturally grow in "staples" and be of a soft texture. Both the "Ideal" Fleece and Wool coats spin successfully. It comes in many styles, straight open fleece, wavy fleece, to spiral fleece. This coat is easy to maintain, but must be brushed in order to remain mat-free. There should be no body odor with this coat and very little to NO shedding. WOOL: These coats are denser to the feel more like a sheep's wool. The sprung wool coat is not preferred. To keep the wool coat long and flowing will require more maintenance. If this coat is kept short, it is very easy to maintain, but also requires regular grooming to avoids matting. There is no body odor with this coat. HAIR: Hair textures shed and are unwanted. There will be some shedding with this coat, although it could be minor shedding. This is not a coat for anyone with allergies or asthma. Black noses will have black lips and dark eyes. They can come in varying shades and may fade as the dog gets older Black: Dark and rich, black, they maintain this color their entire life - black nose Blue: Blue dogs are born black but will have blue skin and undertones at a young age -black nose. Blue also belongs to the Rare Color Group. Silver: Born black but will have more of a gray skin and will develop individual silver fibers at a young age- black nose. Silver dogs can take up to 3 years to color out. Uneven layering of color in the silver is normal. Chocolate: Dark and rich, born almost Black, they maintain a dark chocolate their entire life - brown nose. Chocolate belongs to the Rare Color Group. Cafe': Born Milk Chocolate of varying shades, and have the same dilute gene as the silver dogs, often taking up to 3 years to fully color out to multi shades of chocolate, silvery chocolate and silver throughout - brown nose, they also develop stunning highlights. Parchment: Born Milk Chocolate, will pale to a smoky creamy beige. Paling usually starts from an early age often as early as 6 weeks - brown noses. Parchment belongs to the Rare Color Group. Labradoodles Litters For Sale.
A Staffy has a typical lifespan of between 12 to 14 years, on the other hand, the German Shepherd lives between 10 and 13 years. What does this mean for a Staffy X German Shepherd mix of the two dogs? We have to go on the average of the two-parent dogs. Therefore, the average on the low side will be around 11 years and the top end would be approximately .These figures are purely estimates because, as you will be aware, there are so many factors that can impact the lifespan of any dog, such as genetics, exercise, lifestyle, diet, unexpected circumstances, to mention a few. They prefer large families to be around more people; they are happiest when they have more people to love. Staffy X German Shepherds require a decent-sized home with plenty of space for them to run around. Staffies and German Shepherds are exercise hounds and have a lot of excess energy they will need to burn off, in addition to plenty of mental stimulation. But get these puppies socialised early and for long enough. Staffy X German Shepherds are highly trainable dogs and have a high degree of intelligence. Puppies will learn quickly, providing you use a reward system and positive reinforcement. Staffy X German Shepherds will make an excellent companion for families with kids. Staffy German Shepherd Characteristics Staffy German Shepherds have a lot of energy, and we suggest you exercise for around three hours per day. If you are an allergy sufferer, this breed is not a good choice because they shed pretty much all year round. They can become destructive and exhibit other behavioural issues, such as chewing and howling without the right amount of exercise and if they are left unattended for long periods. Brad Davenport Brad has spent his entire life surrounded by dogs and has owned all sorts of breeds, including Dachshunds, Great Danes, French Bulldogs and he currently has a little Hasanese called Biscuit. Brad is an experienced dog writer who is obsessed by canine health, care and psychology and has completed several courses on dog care and training. Lifespan Sociability In many cases, these dogs are not available from breeders. Some mixed breeds are popular enough to have breeders dedicated to them, but the German Shepherd Terrier is not one of them. Most dogs will come from accidental litters. A German Shepherd will accidentally end up breeding with a terrier, leaving the owner with a bunch of puppies to get rid of. As you might imagine, the puppies will often be extremely inexpensive. You may even be able to get them for free. However, they would not have undergone the genetic testing that breeders put their dogs through. Some backyard breeders produce this mixed breed, and they may be a better option than purchasing a puppy from an accidental litter. However, the quality of these puppies tends to shift a lot. There are few terriers that a German Shepherd can breed with, making accidental litters a bit difficult as well. Jack Russel Terriers are small, energetic dogs bred to hunt small rodents and protect farmland from pests. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a larger dog that was bred to fight other animals. They are largely kept as companion animals today, though they are also one of the few dog breeds that can handle wild boars and similar, dangerous animals. We recommend asking about the specific terrier used to produce the puppy before adopting them. The breed can affect their temperament significantly. In accidental litters, the identity of one parent may not be known. Some terriers are pretty large, which would produce a dog closer to the size of a German Shepherd. They may weigh as little as 20 pounds or as much as 60 pounds. Often, they are at least somewhat protective. Sometimes, they can be extremely protective, while this trait is less pronounced in other instances. Where their protective instincts fall depends on the genetics they inherit from both parents, as well as how they were raised. Dogs that are heavily socialized at a young age can often be friendly or at least not aggressive towards strangers. This canine will likely never be as friendly as a Labrador Retriever. Often, this breed is exceedingly intelligent. This makes them very easy to train. They are often very devoted to their owners and follow commands easily. However, it also means that they need regular mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Otherwise, they can become bored and destructive. With that said, most terriers are not as intelligent or trainable as a German Shepherd. They are still intelligent dogs. They require lots of mental stimulation and exercise. However, as long as you can meet their needs, these dogs are an excellent option for most experienced dog owners. Just be sure you can dedicate the time their temperament calls for before you adopt a puppy. Most are not scared of kids due to their larger size, especially if they have been socialized with children previously. However, sometimes, German Shepherd Terrier mixes can be pretty small. This weight is plenty small enough for some exuberant children to hurt. If a pound child falls on a pound dog, the dog could easily get hurt. Often, these dogs are great with members of their own family, including children. Be sure to keep this in mind if your child regularly has other kids over. The dog might not like them playing together very much, especially if things get a bit rough. In the end, it can be hit-or-miss with this mixed breed and smaller children. However, they are often great for active families with older kids. If you have small children, you may want to look elsewhere for a more appropriate breed. If you adopt these dogs as adults and know that they are on the larger end of the spectrum, they can be good in households with small children. Their protective instincts can be applied to unfamiliar dogs, especially if they come into their home. However, most are completely fine with dogs they have been raised with. However, it takes socialization to make your German Shepherd Terrier mix accept other dogs. We highly recommend puppy classes at an early age. Group classes are great for training and socialization. In fact, we recommend them primarily because they provide a great socialization opportunity that is safe and controlled. They will chase cats and anything else that they interpret as prey animals. Because this is an innate instinct and not fear-driven, socialization will not help you. They will still see it as something to chase. Staffy german shepherd mix is a cross between the American Staffordshire terrier and the german shepherd. This mix is often used as a working dog, as they are intelligent and have a strong work ethic. Staffy german shepherd mixes are also loyal and protective of their family and home, making them excellent guard dogs. They are generally good with children. Although, They may be too energetic for very young kids. Staffy german shepherd mix needs plenty of exercise and training to stay happy and healthy, so they are not the best choice for couch potato owners. These dogs are typically loyal, loving, and obedient, making them great family pets. They are also intelligent and protective, so they make excellent guard dogs. Staffy German Shepherd Mix History: The Staffy german shepherd mix is a relatively new breed of dog, only coming into existence in the last few decades. However, both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the German Shepherd have long and storied histories. These dogs were originally bred for bull-baiting, a cruel bloodsport in which bulls were pitted against dogs. However, when bull-baiting was outlawed in England in , these dogs were repurposed as fighting dogs. They were brought to the United States in the late s and used in dogfights, which were unfortunately quite popular at the time. German Shepherd, on the other hand, was bred in Germany in the late 19th century for herding and guarding sheep. They quickly became popular working dogs, thanks to their intelligence, trainability, and loyalty. They have a short, dense coat that can be black, brown, or tan, with some white markings. They have a strong jaw and a wide head, with pointed ears. Their tails are usually docked, and their legs are long and powerful. However, they can be aggressive toward other animals, so they need to be socialized from a young age. They also require plenty of exercise, as they are a high-energy breed. They are also intelligent and trainable, although they can be stubborn at times. Staffy german shepherd mixes are generally healthy, but they may be prone to some health problems, such as hip dysplasia. These dogs need plenty of exercise, so they are not well suited for apartment living. Staffy german shepherd mixes typically have a lifespan of years. Grooming Requirements: Grooming requirements vary by breed, but it is important to keep in mind that some dogs shed more than others. Make sure they get Bathed as needed so their skin stays moisturized without getting dry from excessive bathing frequency- just try not to overdo things because this can lead to acne on rare skin problems too due to different genetics within breeds when bred together centuries ago. To keep their energy level up, you will need to take long walks with your dog. You should also make sure they are well-hydrated when you go on hikes or even just around town. They might take the alpha position if not handled properly so make sure you offer treats that are big enough! Popular Mixed Breeds:.
The chewing and gnawing behaviours associated with teething often become difficult for owners. No one wants to see their beloved pet in pain, nor do they want that pet to chew on everything in sight. There are several tricks that will help owners treat their English bulldog's teething behaviour. Teething behaviours last until adult teeth fully grow in, which is typically about 1 year of age. This can be dangerous, if they find toxic things, or damaging, if they chew on furniture, unless their owners give their puppies alternatives. They may also try to nip at hands and feet. English bulldogs, like other puppies, experience teething as they grow, and adult teeth begin to come in. During teething, these puppies are likely to gnaw and chew at anything. Sometimes bleeding may occur around the gums, but is not a problem unless bleeding doesn't stop or seems excessive. When it doubt, consult a veterinarian. Homemade frozen treats can include making chicken soup and freezing it into ice cubes, soaking carrots in water and freezing them and soaking a clean rag and freezing it. English bulldogs experience pain, especially in the gums, while they are teething. Giving puppies frozen treats helps direct chewing behaviours to something productive and the ice helps soothes gum pain. Give your English bulldog a Kong toy filled with peanut butter or cheese to allow him to gnaw safely in the crate. Teach puppies to recognise the command "toy" by saying toy every time you present the puppy with a chew toy. When nipping begins, tuck away hands and say, "Toy," which teaches puppies to go to their toys for chewing, nipping and playing. Our bulldog puppy started losing his baby teeth around the four-month mark. He would bite our hands a lot during this time seeking relief. The same signs they exhibited when their baby teeth came in will likely be exhibited now, including drooling, chewing, pawing at their muzzle and so forth. Occasionally yes. For example, the baby tooth could force the adult tooth to grow in out of alignment with the other teeth. A misaligned tooth can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for your bulldog as an adult, especially when eating, and so you should have it extracted as soon as possible by your vet. The easiest way to know this is simply to know exactly when they were born and then count forward week by week to approximate what teething phase they should be in. Also, keep in mind the symptoms and outward signs that we described above. Helpful Tips to Get your Bulldog Puppy Through All their Teething Phases To help bulldog puppies stay as comfortable as possible and help you sleep at night , here are a few tips that you can use to reduce their discomfort during teething. Make chicken or beef broth ice cubes. The flavor will attract them to eat and the cold will soothe their sore mouth Gently rub their gums with your finger while they sit on your lap. This is comforting and soothing at the same time, but beware; those baby teeth can be pretty sharp! A crate might be the answer also. See below. Just the same as with human babies there are plenty of products that you can purchase for your bulldog puppy that can help them get through their teething phases. Some are better than others so ask for recommendations from your veterinarian and read online reviews before purchasing so that you and your bulldog pup get the best, most soothing results. Also keep in mind that there are some things you can make yourself that we already mentioned, like flavored ice cubes, that will work just as well and save you the cost of whichever toy you might buy. The fact is that, during teething, your bulldog pup will want to chew on everything and that can cause problems for both you and your puppy. On the other hand, if you have the luxury of staying home with them through their teething phases then crating them might not be necessary. Some people like to crate their dogs however so the choice to crate or not to crate is strictly up to you and your particular feeling about crating. Within a few weeks, your bulldog will get through both baby teeth teething and adult teeth teething, most likely with only a few days where they are really in pain. If you do that, the memories of all that pain and anxiety will soon be forgotten. We hope you liked this article and that it answered all of your questions about bulldog puppy teething. If you have more questions or would like to leave a comment please do so in the space provided, and best of luck with your new bulldog puppy! Such a loving, beautiful, majestic animal. They are friendly, trainable for various purposes, they keep us company when no one else is around, and they are more than excited to see us when we come back home. Out of the over breeds of dogs, the American Kennel Club acknowledges of them. One of those breeds is the English Bulldog. Do English Bulldog puppies lose their teeth? Yes, absolutely. Like all dogs, English Bulldog puppies will lose their baby teeth faster than they grow in. After five to six weeks, the baby teeth will be present. Only one month later do those same baby teeth fall out and allow for their adult teeth to start growing in. Like humans, teething can be a painful process for a dog as well. The most common sign that a puppy has begun teething is they will start chewing on whatever they can find. So, mind your shoes and socks, or your young pup may find a reason to give them a good gnawing while their teeth come in. This is a great time to teach your puppy about which items are appropriate to chew on and which are not. So, special toys for teething puppies are essential during this phase of their lives. Losing the Baby Teeth: A pup will lose his or her first set of teeth pretty quickly. When they are only three months old, a puppy will lose its first set of teeth. There are ways to correct this as long as your puppy gets their six-month checkup. A dog with crooked teeth can have a tough time eating as they get older, so any issues can be corrected if discovered early. Adult Teeth: When a puppy has finally lost all of his or her baby teeth and all of their adult teeth have grown in, they will have forty-two total teeth. After eight months at most, a puppy will have all of its adult teeth. If the opportunity to work with your pup was used during teething time, so they know what is okay to chew on, they should have no problem staying away from your stuff. After all the adult teeth come in, the painful part is over for your pooch and they can live an enjoy their life as your happy, healthy pal. To learn more about the teething stages, click here. Caring for your English Bulldog During Teething Time Like most puppies, English Bulldogs have the tendency to chew on anything in sight when the teething becomes painful. A bad behavior a young Bulldog can adopt is nipping or biting behavior. So, teach your puppy as young as possible not to bite at any toes or fingers. Another effective treatment to help your puppy deal with their pain is ice cubes. Bulldog puppies love ice cubes, and it will also give them something to occupy themselves with while having to endure the pressure in their gums. Now some people may not agree that crating is a good idea, but historically dogs are cave animals. A crate serves a similar purpose to the caves that dogs would make their homes in. Your dog will appreciate the crate over time if it takes them a little getting used to in the beginning. To help give them something productive that helps with the teething, a Kong with peanut butter or cheese in the center will keep your pup occupied. Four Bulldog Teeth Problems English Bulldogs may also have some dental problems that can be common in their breed. With regular care, these issues can be avoided so your dog can keep that smile healthy. Gingivitis: This is an issue that is caused by improper dental care. The bacteria builds up between the teeth and gums, which will eventually cause the teeth to pull away. This is especially common in bulldogs due to their teeth crowding. Similar to the causes of gingivitis, dental, and periodontal disease is also caused by bacteria in the mouth. Those yearly dental checkups are important because this particular diagnosis can cause your doggo to end up losing teeth. Always be sure to be on top of regular dental cleaning and upkeep for your pup so their mouths will stay in good shape. Loose or Misaligned Teeth: As a puppy, this is completely normal for dogs. Those baby teeth are destined to come out anyway. But as an adult, this can pose a serious problem, and English Bulldogs are not exempt from this possibility. Like humans, dogs can actually have braces affixed to their teeth to fix ones that may be misaligned. Sometimes capping or even removing the teeth having issues can be the solution for your dog. Dental Trauma: This one can be semi-common in English Bulldogs as well. If they get a hold of something that is super hard to chew on, it can cause trauma to their teeth. This can then push the teeth out of place and misalign them, or cause them to be loose. For more on dental issues related to English Bulldogs, click here. It is totally acceptable to want everything to be the best for your dog, and we want that for your dog too! Sometimes the best plan of action is the preventative actions that can be taken to avoid any issues that can potentially befall your puppy. Especially when they grow into a beautiful adult canine, you can be proud to have by your side. Your pooch will thank you for it by giving you all the love in the world. Pin 0 Shares The age most people first get a Frenchie is between 8 and 10 weeks. I remember this exact thing happening with Claude, our own Frenchie puppy. I had no idea at what age French Bulldogs lose their baby teeth. Here are all the questions and answers you will need to know. When do Frenchies get their baby or milk teeth? Frenchie puppies are not born with teeth, instead the baby teeth starting to grow through after 2 or 3 weeks after birth. Their baby teeth are also known as milk teeth. Their baby teeth come in this order: Front teeth incisors. Frenchie puppies will have 28 milk teeth in total at around 8 weeks of age. Do French Bulldogs lose their baby teeth? Just like humans, Frenchies do lose their baby teeth. It is perfectly normal and happens so that their larger adult teeth can grow through as their skull and jaw gets larger. When do Frenchies lose their baby teeth? French Bulldogs lose their baby teeth from the age of 12 weeks old 3 months. They start to drop out, typically when they chew on toys, as they get pushed out by the larger adult teeth that up growing upwards underneath. By the age of 8 months old, your French Bulldog puppy will have lost all of his baby teeth, with a full set of 42 adult teeth now in place. Do Frenchie puppies swallow their baby teeth? Are Frenchie puppies in pain when they lose their baby teeth? To confirm on the previous responses, adult Frenchies have 42 adult teeth, which will replace the 28 milk teeth they have as a puppy. The French Bulldog teeth structure is as follows: 42 teeth in total. Conclusion Now you know what age Frenchies lose their 28 temporary baby teeth I would recommend you read up some more on teething. You can do that in this guide. Their gums will bleed, and they will want to chew everything in sight — so be prepared! You might also like… On the subject of the mouth area, you might also be interested in these other guides recently published:. Pin29 30 Shares Just like human babies do, French Bulldog puppies will also teethe. I have often compared owning a puppy to having a baby. You have the tantrums, poop, pee, separation anxiety, and more… and that includes having to deal with them going through the French Bulldog puppy teething stages. I remember when we got Claude. During his puppy months I was frequently finding little teeth on the carpet. And, we also had the chewing. In this guide I am going to explain why French Bulldogs teethe, what age it happens and starts, what to expect, how you can stop them chewing your prized possessions, how to help them, and when it stops. But when exactly does teething start and stop? French Bulldog baby teeth start to grow through at the same time their eyes begin to open. Canine teeth at which point they can start on solid foods. Pre-molars stop coming through after about 6 weeks. There will be 28 baby teeth in total and they should fully stop growing through at around 8 weeks of age which is the minimum age you can take a puppy home. They will start to fall out, being pushed out by the adult ones. When do French Bulldogs lose their baby teeth? When do French Bulldogs start teething? French Bulldog puppies will start to teeth at around 3 months of age. They then start to lose their baby and milk teeth which will start to fall out, being pushed out by the adult teeth. The 28 milk teeth will eventually be replaced by 42 adult teeth. French Bulldog puppies stop teething — age 7 to 8 months Want to know when do French Bulldog puppies stop teething? French Bulldog puppies will stop teething at about 7 to 8 months of age. It can sometimes be shorter or longer, but by this stage all their milk teeth should be replaced by adult teeth. How long do French Bulldogs teethe for — between 20 and 24 weeks The entire Frenchie teething process from start to finish will take longer than you might expect. In most cases, they will have stopped teething after 24 weeks, but it can end as early as 20 weeks from the start of the process. To conclude, adult teeth do take longer to grow in than milk baby teeth. The molars are particularly prone to taking longer to push through. However, by around 8 months of age, your French Bulldog puppy should have stopped teething completely and will now be the proud owner of 42 strong and health adult teeth. I have heard of some puppies finishing teething at 4 months, but this is very unusual. They chew because it helps them to relieve the pain in their teeth and gums. Small loose milk teeth: you might find cute little baby teeth stuck in toys or on the floor. These have now made way for the adult teeth to grow through. Perhaps you could be the tooth fairy, and leave a treat under their bed? Blood spots on toys: you might also see small spots of blood left on the toys or furniture they have chewed. Excessive drooling: many Frenchie puppies will also drool when they are teething. If your dog continues to drool after the teething age, it could be the sign of a health problem. French Bulldogs teething ears is common. It happens because they are young so need the calcium in other areas of their developing body, including new teeth. This can make their ears behave very erratically, but they should stand up in the end. Red and inflamed gums: the gums can swell and look angry. This is particularly true once the milk teeth have gone, as the adult teeth will be fighting to push through. Once they do, expect the blood spots. Short attention spans: your Frenchie puppy will be distracted and possibly irritable. Try to soothe them, pay them lots of attention, and use toys to keep them active. Mild fever: just like human babies, puppies can also suffer from mild fevers when teething. The adult tooth will grow through next to the baby tooth and can actually cause an abscess. If it does, consult with your vet. Recommended French Bulldog teething toys One of the best ways you can help your French Bulldog puppy when teething is to give him more toys to play with. It needs to be something tough and rugged to cope with those sharp little teeth and sore gums. Frenchie puppies will chew when teething and need plenty of toys! How stop your puppy chewing in the teething stage When the baby teeth of your Frenchie start to fall out, your puppy will go on a chewing frenzy. It was such a problem with Claude that I had to buy a shoe rack to sit up on a work surface, as any shoes on the floor were fair game for him to destroy. The reason French Bulldog puppies chew when teething is because it helps to relieve the pain they are feeling as the new adult teeth grow through. Just like babies, they want to chew on stuff. You can actually buy a range of teething toys which you can see featured elsewhere on my blog. Handy Hint: Read this guide on how to stop a Frenchie from chewing. It contains 8 tips in more detail which we used with Claude. What you need to do is distract them, give them something else to chew on, or make steps to remove stuff from their reach that they can cause the most damage to. Here are my tips on how to stop your French Bulldog puppy chewing the items you value the most. You can be better off… Puppy proofing your home: just like you would place stair gates in your home with a baby, you can take similar methods with a puppy. The simplest way to do this is by taking anything out of their line of sight they are going to be inclined to chew. Give them frozen carrots or ice cubes: weird I know, but some puppies love to chew on cold frozen items as it will relieve the teething pain. There are also some fruits you can freeze and let them chew on. See my list of fruits Frenchies can eat. Keep the puppy well exercised: dogs that have energy will chew more. To reduce the amount of teething chewing, take your puppy for a couple of walks a day so he can spend some of that energy. Keep the puppy entertained: a bored dog is a chewing dog. During the Frenchie teething stage, play with you pup and keep him distracted from your valuables! We soon stopped doing that when we read how dangerous this can be. The rawhide can cause internal blockages and choke them. The bottom line is; puppies can do a huge amount of damage when teething. Our dining room table legs still have the scars to prove it! You can see what I mean in the photo below. This was what Claude did: You can see the damage caused when Claude was teething. He used to love chewing our dining room table! The positive thing is, as soon as French Bulldog puppies stop teething, a lot of this chewing still stop. Warning: If your French Bulldog continues to chew after the teething stage, it could be the sign of a nutritional problem or even stress. Ailments such as worms and upset stomachs can also lead to this behavioural trait. Related questions Here are a few more questions relating to teeth which will help you during the different stages, and once the adult teeth have grown through. The dental health of your Frenchie is important. This breed can be prone to a variety of health problems , with dental issues being quite near the top of the list. They can develop oral diseases, and at the bare minimum I recommend an annual teeth cleaning visit to the vets. In addition to the once a year cleaning, you can also buy dog-friendly toothpaste and tooth brushes, plus use dental chews to help their teeth stay healthy. How many teeth do French Bulldogs have? French Bulldog puppies have 28 milk teeth which will be lost in the teething stage ages. Once the milk teeth have fallen out, Frenchies will grow 42 adult teeth in their place. What other owners say I am the members on a few Frenchie Facebook groups, and the topic of teething comes up a lot! Here are some questions people have asked, with some of the best responses underneath. We have a toy Kong that he has no interest in, and a Nylabone and some soft toys that he enjoys, but he really wants to chew on fingers, hands and toes mostly. What have others used that helped with the biting and teething phase? Another idea is to soak a wash cloth in broth or just plain water and then freeze it for them. With the Kong toy, you should really put some food in the middle of it too — peanut butter xylitol free is great for this. We also bought special teething treats with clove oil in and puppy teething gel. And I believe ice cubes went down well too. He is 7 months old and is teething like mad. They just love to chew anything and everything. My boy teethed until 7 months. He will be a year old in July and has one more back tooth poking through finally. But it could also be secondary teething. The jaw is growing and the teeth are moving into their final place. With my dogs they tend to want to chew on harder things than when the puppy teeth fell out and new ones broke through. But she constantly bites me, but not other people. Any help would be appreciated! They should never be allowed to put their mouth on you. If allowed to do it, after 3 times it is a habit and much harder to break and they are very stubborn but also very smart and so darn cute. Lots of chew toys. They do learn biting from siblings. Give her time. They are stubborn little monsters at time. He did chew though. We found blood spots, loose teeth, and as you can see from the photo had some damage to deal with! At this time of their dental development, your Frenchie puppy will need your love and support, plenty of chewable toys, patience, and understanding. Losing your temper with a puppy that has chewed something to help reduce his pain will lead to a stressed and fearful dog. This includes regular health checks and a good diet. By: Author Jennifer Seegmiller If you have found yourself the proud new owner or a Bulldog puppy or you have had your pup for a while but are wanting to be sure you are caring for it properly you have come to the right place. Dental hygiene is a very important aspect of care for your spunky, energetic Bulldog! Do Bulldog Have Bad Teeth? Bulldogs generally have more dental problems than other breeds. A build-up of tartar and plaque can cause swollen gums gingivitis. If left untreated this will start to cause tooth decay and infection. It is important to employ proper dental care for your Bulldog starting at a young age. What are some common Bulldog Teeth Problems? If your dog has severe enough dental disease it can cause tooth decay, the gums to recede and the teeth to start falling out. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission. You need to take steps right away to fix the problem and get their teeth in healthy working order. Not only is this painful for your Bulldog it can also have an impact on his heart and other organs. We talk more about how to clean your Bulldog teeth below. Bulldog Teeth Falling Out If your Bulldog puppy is losing its teeth there is no need to worry, but if your Bulldog is older than 1 year and losing teeth this can be cause for major concern! If you have a Bulldog rescue that has been poorly taken care of chances are it may have a few missing teeth. That way you only have to put them under general anesthesia once. Another common cause for chattering teeth is periodontal disease. This is a painful condition where the gums become inflamed and bacteria eventually deteriorates the teeth, bones, and tissue. Some dogs may shake, or chatter their teeth when they are feeling anxiety or stress. This might be a coping mechanism for your dog when it is in a new situation or around new people. If your Bulldog is really high energy and gets over-excited whenever he knows there is a treat coming or they see you get out their favorite toy this could induce the teeth chattering or grinding. If your Bulldog is not normally anxious and this is the first time you have noticed chattering teeth then it may be time for a visit with your vet. This could be due to injury or a more serious dental problem. You will want to be very observant of when your dog is doing it. The context could give you some better clues as to why. Bulldog Broken Tooth Broken teeth can be a common occurrence and can be very uncomfortable for your Bulldog. If your Bulldog has had any kind of impact to their mouth, either from being hit by something or from running into something it could cause a broken or chipped tooth. They could also break a tooth by chewing on something too hard. This is why I always tell my student to be careful about what they allow their dogs to chew on. Signs your Bulldog has a chipped or cracked tooth. Eating on one side of his mouth. Not eating hard food. Not chewing on his favorite chew toys. Swelling in his face or gums. Excessive drooling. Pawing or itching as his face or mouth. Not wanting or letting you touch his face. Broken or chipped teeth can cause your Bulldog serious pain and problems with an infection later on. The severity of the broken or chipped tooth will dictate the course of treatment. Your vet will do an assessment and suggest a course of action. If it is a surface chip the tooth should be able to be repaired fairly easily. If the root is exposed then your Bulldog will likely need a root canal. Your vet will need to sedate your dog in order to do this safely. Be sure to watch out for nipping and biting that your Bulldog will surely want to do. Reward your dog with praise and a small treat when it lets you do this process with ease. Provide your Bulldog with lots of chew toys, affiliate link not only will this help you keep them from chewing on undesired things in your house, but it will also help them keep their teeth clean by the scraping motion that they do as they chew. Using a pet toothbrush like this as well as a good dog toothpaste is important. Use a dental powder cleanser like this one on Amazon affiliate link. You just add it to their water and you are done! Make a consistent effort. Taking care of oral hygiene once and a while will not be good enough for your lovable Bulldog companion. If the plaque and tartar have built up to a degree that you are not able to remove it yourself by brushing, you may need to take your dog to the vet for a professional cleaning. If professional cleaning is necessary, your vet will need to give your Bulldog general anesthesia for the procedure so that they can gain easy access to their mouth without the worry of being bitten or having your pup resist. This will also allow them to see if there are any teeth that are loose or rotting and may need to be removed. You will want to be sure to keep a good oral hygiene routine at home afterward to prevent the plaque from returning. If your Bulldog needs a dental cleaning, this article from the Spruce Pets can help you prepare for and understand what that process entails. Do Bulldogs Have Good Teeth? Bulldogs can have good and healthy teeth if they are well taken care of. Brushing them daily is important. Warning: If your Bulldog is prone to biting or is easily startled seek guidance from your vet or a professional dog trainer before following these steps. You will be looking to make sure that their teeth are white and if there is any brown, grey, or black buildup on their teeth how bad it is and where it is. When you look at their gums you are wanting to see light pink. If you see any darker pink coloring or red tint it can be an indication of gum disease and you will want to schedule a visit with your vet. Bulldog puppies are born with no teeth but gain 28 baby teeth deciduous teeth by weeks of age. Adult Bulldog will have a total of 42 teeth including twelve incisors for grasping , four canines for tearing , sixteen premolars, and 8 molars for grinding. Knowing more about their expected development can help ease some worries and concerns we might have. Just like their human counterparts around pre-school age, we start losing our baby teeth, our puppies are going to lose their teeth and grow adult ones as well. So to help you with this here is a detailed timeline of what you can expect while your puppy is teething. Please remember that every dog is different so even though this is a good estimate your dog may not follow it exactly. Newborn: Your puppy will be born with what looks like no teeth at all, but when he reaches 2 to 4 weeks old at the same time his eyes start to open his little baby teeth will start popping through. Around weeks old as you have recently brought your puppy home and are getting to know them better he will start to lose his baby teeth. It usually starts with the incisors and you will probably notice little rice-sized doggy teeth falling out everywhere. By 5 months old your puppy will have lost most of their baby teeth and by 6 months old they will have lost all their baby teeth and grown in all their adult teeth. As your puppy grows you should get your Bulldog used to you gently placing your hand around his mouth and gums. This is the start of socializing your dog and will be helpful to prepare them for getting their teeth brushed and clean. Even though it may be short it can be hard to make it through the puppy teething stage. Helping them focus their teething troubles on chewing and biting appropriate things rather than your furniture or fingers is part of their puppy training. You can tell your puppy might be having teething pain or discomfort if you notice them whining a lot see this article 7 Reasons Why Your Bulldog Whines What to Do to rule out other reasons for their whining , biting and chewing on everything, lots of drooling, and of course, the obvious losing teeth and swollen or tender gums. The best thing you can do is to offer your puppy a variety of puppy teething toys. Toys that offer different textures, different pressures, or different tastes will help your puppy have variety. An easy way to do this is to get a clean cloth a little wet and freeze it. A rope toy could also work well for this. Safety Tip: Puppy teeth are super sharp! Be sure to monitor your puppy when chewing and take away any toys or items that start to become shredded or break apart. It would be dangerous for your puppy to swallow any small pieces. Try putting a mixture of peanut butter and soft puppy food in the middle and freezing it. Your puppy will love it! This toy is great for teething. Puppies love the texture of the little rubber nubs against their gums. He really loves these!
Can a German Shepherd puppy start training at 8 months? How to Potty Train Your 8-week-old German Shepherd Puppy Potty training your 8-week-old German Shepherd can be stressful at first, but with a bit of persistence and patience, your puppy will learn correct behavior in no time. The potty area can be outdoors or indoors. Having a designated potty place will help your dog understand that this is the only place they should go to poop or pee. Watch Out for Signs One of the first signs is usually an increased awareness of their surroundings. You may notice that your puppy starts sniffing around more often or seems particularly interested in certain places of the house. Watch out also for changes in behavior. If your pup suddenly starts having accidents inside or seems antsy and restless, they may be trying to tell you that they need to go outside. Use Cue Words One way to help your new puppy understand what you want him to do is to use cue words. Cue words will help your German Shepherd puppy learn the connection between the words and the action. You can also use cue words when rewarding him for going in the right spot. Give Training Treats When potty training your puppy, use treats as a form of positive reinforcement. Doing this teaches your puppy that good things happen when they go outside to do their business. When choosing treats for potty training, select something small and easy to eat. This way, the puppy can eat the treat quickly and then get back to playing. It would be best if you also chose training treats that your puppy finds irresistible. Otherwise, they may not be motivated to keep trying. Puppy Crate It is an enclosure to confine your new puppy for short periods. It is also helpful in transporting puppies from one place to another. German Shepherd owners use it for crate training as they can also help with separation anxiety and boredom. Puppy crates usually have a removable tray on the bottom for easy cleaning. They also have wire, plastic, or fabric as the primary materials, and they typically come in different sizes to accommodate puppies of different ages and breeds. When buying a crate, it must be big enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down but small enough so that the puppy does not have too much space to eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other. When used correctly, it can provide a safe, comfortable space for your new furry friend. Early Morning: Bring your Puppy Outside When your German Shepherd is a still puppy, he may have trouble holding his bladder throughout the night. If you do not let your puppy out early enough, it might create potty accidents because he cannot control their bladder. Morning: Time for a Nutritious Breakfast Puppies need a lot of nutrients to grow up healthy and strong. A nutritious breakfast helps them get the energy they need to start the day. Even though puppies spend most of their time sleeping and cuddling, puppies require several daily feedings. Place your puppy on your lap and snuggle while sleeping. It would be best if you also let them rest throughout the day. Afternoon: Lunchtime Take your puppy outside after lunch to relieve themselves. Allow your puppy time to exercise and release any built-up energy. Feeding your puppy .Between naps, you can do playtime and training activities to help release energy, encourage physical activity, and develop a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd. Evening: Last meal of the Day During the evening, feed your puppy their fourth and last meal. Afterward, take your puppy for a short stroll. Before returning, have your puppy go potty outside, then snuggle up on the sofa for some quality time. Night: Potty Break Before Bedtime Take your puppy out for one more potty time before putting him to bed. Remember that you should establish a reasonable bedtime for your puppy early on. Moreover, an 8-week-old German Shepherd may develop a better appetite for other solid meals. These include constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. Diarrhea Diarrhea is a common problem that many German Shepherd puppies face. This condition has several possible causes, including dietary indiscretion, viral infections, and intestinal parasites. In most cases, diarrhea is not a serious concern and will resolve itself within a few days. However, seek veterinary care if your puppy displays other symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, or lack of appetite. Constipation A young German Shepherd is particularly susceptible to constipation due to their large, muscular build and fast metabolism. If your puppy is constipated, you may notice that he has difficulty passing stool and seems uncomfortable or restless. If your puppy is constipated, take him to the vet for treatment. The vet may give him a laxative or enema to help relieve constipation. Bloating Bloating occurs when the stomach fills with gas, causing it to swell. German Shepherds are especially prone to bloating because of their deep chests. There are several possible causes of bloating, including eating too fast, drinking too much water, and exercising immediately after eating. Stress can also be a factor. To prevent bloating, feed your German Shepherd several small meals daily instead of one large meal. It is also important to avoid exercising immediately after eating and ensure that your dog has access to fresh water. Yes, a German Shepherd puppy can start training at eight months. But remember that every puppy is different and will learn at its own pace. Consistency is key, and with patience, your puppy will get the hang of obedience training in no time. Training should be a bonding experience for you and your pup! Remember to have fun and keep it light. At eight weeks old, a German Shepherd puppy sleeps for around 18 hours daily. It may seem like a lot, but puppies need a lot of sleep to grow and develop properly. As they get older, German Shepherds will sleep for less time each day. German Shepherd puppies use their mouths to explore their surroundings and socialize with other dogs and people. In addition, puppies typically start teething around eight weeks old, which can cause them to bite more as they try to relieve the discomfort caused by their emerging teeth. Puppies also explore the world with their mouths, and biting is a way for them to learn about their environment. In addition, puppies may bite out of excitement or frustration, especially if they are not getting enough exercise. If your puppy is biting excessively, provide him with plenty of chew toys and opportunities to run and play. Also read:. An 8 week old German Shepherd puppy is a bundle of antics and endless energy! Your 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy An 8 week old your puppy requires a daily routine and training to help them become the dog of your dreams. This article will not only help you understand your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy but will also explain to you why your little puppy has certain behaviors. Raising a German Shepherd puppy can feel like an overwhelming task at first! Just remember, your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy is also adjusting to its new life with you. You should expect your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy to feel stressed and uncertain. They may seem timid and unsure of their surroundings. They might cry, whine, and not want your attention. Having structure and consistency will help create a bond and help you both in getting along more peacefully and calmly. Introducing A Puppy Crate Many dog owners choose to use a crate when it comes to caring for their 8-week-old puppy. While some people consider crates unnecessary, or even cruel, crate training is a useful skill to offer your dog. With the right training your pup will see its crate as their private safe space and will even go there to relax. Leaving your puppy at home unsupervised can get them and you into a heap of trouble. Crate training helps prevent your home from being a destruction zone. This useful guide to crate training a German Shepherd puppy gets you on the right track to success! Crate training your puppy can: help speed up housetraining teach your dog to settle calm down offer your dog privacy But you must introduce the crate slowly and positively so your puppy builds a strong connection to the benefits of the crate. Never just shove or push your young German Shepherd into the crate without using positive training. Your new dog also needs a routine and schedule to help them through the early days with you and set the expectations you have for them. Having a schedule helps your puppy to know what to expect in their daily routines. It keeps you from losing your mind and helps ease a worried puppy. While you might work from home or have other obligations, try to follow a schedule that looks similar to this: Early morning: Take your puppy out for the first potty break of the day! So, they may need to go outside even before the sun rises. Breakfast time: Your puppy may want to go back to sleep after going outside and this is perfectly normal. On the other hand, some puppies are wide awake and ready for their breakfast. Either way, always take your puppy back outside shortly after their breakfast so they can sniff and have another potty break. Mid-morning: Puppies should eat 3 — 4 small meals a day. Mid-morning is a good time for another small meal. Afternoon: This is a good time for their lunch followed by a potty break and plenty of sniffing time to work off some of their energy. Late afternoon: Puppies need another potty break in the afternoon, and some puppies need more breaks outside. Evening: Their dinner meal and their evening potty time. Remember to let them explore outdoors in a safe area to help build their confidence. Scheduling exercise, potty breaks, and play at the same times every day helps ensure that your puppy learns their daily routine more quickly and settles in nicely. And, even young puppies can learn basic training in their first weeks with you. Try training your German Shepherd puppy at home to start with. In the beginning, you may find a few accidents in the house. But, stick with your potty training and remember to always watch your puppy to keep them from having messes in the house. When you stick to a regular potty schedule, the likelihood of potty training mishaps decreases, and you and your puppy are less stressed. Always, always, always… Supervise your puppy indoors when you are potty training. Your toughest time together with your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy might be the first few nights. Your puppy has only known the comfort of his mother and siblings before. Having your puppy sleep away from you will only scare them more. And, although they are little, their cry is loud! Having a place for them near your bed is the best way to avoid a night full of tearful cries and howling. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep in bed with me? Plus, when your puppy is an adult and tries to sleep in bed with you there will be no room for you! A full-grown German Shepherd can weigh up to pounds and will push you right out of your own sheets. Your puppy sleeps most of the day. A new puppy sleeps more often than they are awake. An 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy may sleep as many as 18 hours a day! Sleeping this much allows your puppy to have the energy they need to grow and keeps them ready to explore their new world. Feeding An 8 Week Old German Shepherd Your puppy should stay on the same food they were eating before you brought them home to keep them less stressed. This helps keeps your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy from having an upset stomach and becoming ill. Sometimes, you might want to switch them over to a different food. If you choose this route, do it slowly and in stages over a few weeks. At 8 weeks old, German Shepherd puppies should eat 3 to 4 small meals per day. Although their stomachs are small if you overfeed them they could get sick and have stomach problems. Spreading their meals out throughout the day in regular intervals is best to avoid any upsets. Look for a balanced, complete puppy food for large breed dogs. As a large breed dog, your German Shepherd you should only feed your puppy food that is specially formulated for large breed puppies. Large breed puppies have different nutritional needs that are not found in ordinary puppy food. Feeding a commercially available food that is formulated for large breed puppies helps them to grow at a sustained rate. Steady growth in a large breed puppy helps to avoid stress on their bones and gives them a strong skeletal foundation for their athletic muscles. Limiting food intake in growing German Shepherd puppies has also been associated with fewer signs of hip dysplasia. This is of extreme importance in this breed due to the high incidence of hip problems and the pain associated with this joint disorder. A growing puppy is best fed a proprietary pet food that has been specifically formulated to meet its nutritional needs. Foods that are available as dry kibble are especially suitable to rear even the youngest of puppies. Opt for this specially formulated food for large breed puppies to keep your dog growing at a healthy rate that helps them stay strong. It is a complete balanced diet so nothing is missing. Within the first few days of arriving to their new home with you is a stressful time. Your puppy has just made a drastic life change and left everything they knew to be with you. Diarrhea and other stomach issues are sometimes stress induced. You can help your puppy by keeping to a regular feeding schedule and feeding them the same food they were on before coming to you. Sometimes diarrhea is also a sign of an underlying health issue and, if left untreated, can become life-threatening. If your puppy vomits blood, has bloody stools and diarrhea, becomes lethargic, or refuses to drink, call your vet immediately! To an 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy biting and nipping are all part of playing with their siblings. And, your puppy will most likely bite and nip you at some point too. They may even growl at you and tug at your hands or nip your ankles. This is all part of puppy play. But… It can really hurt you or make you bleed! Understanding bite inhibition means they know how to control the power of their play bites and how hard or soft they nip you. Preventing Nips and Bites If you know the right way to prevent and stop German Shepherd puppy biting, you can train your puppy to understand how to keep their razor-sharp tiny teeth from sinking into you. Instead… Offer them plenty of puppy-safe chew toys appropriate for their size. When they bite or nip you, calmly show them the toy to chew instead. Get their attention by moving the toy in a playful way around them so they begin to chase and bite the toy, instead of you or your furniture. Use these links to help you stay on the right track throughout their life. Keep calm! German Shepherd puppy training is fun and a great time to bond with your new dog! Instead… Follow these puppy training tips to break down your training into manageable steps that are easy to teach and train. German Shepherd puppies are brilliant! And as they grow, they become the most loyal canine friends. Teach Them Handling Skills While your dog may enjoy gentle caresses and hugs from you they will also need to learn other important handling skills. Think about the grooming your dog will need and how the vet might handle your pup in the future. These are all areas where they will be touched in the future. Handling skills involve intentional, purposeful touch that acclimates your dog to uneasy situations in the near future. Ignoring fear and stress signals such as cowering, lip their lips multiple times, turning their head away, even shaking will only teach your dog to fear that object. Fear can cause your dog to become aggressive or suffer from anxiety. Never, ever try to become the alpha! Instead, learn to become their favorite teacher and speak their language. It also prevents undesired behaviors. Think of positive training in terms of showing, teaching, influencing, and trusting. These terms build trust. Focus on the Good Things Some puppy owners all too often think about punishment and discipline as their first steps in training. What you want is to focus on catching your dog behaving well — and reward that! If you see your puppy chewing on the right chew toy, then praise them. When you see them look at you, offer them a treat for paying attention. When you find your dog lying down being quiet and calm, pet them gently and offer them verbal praise. The more you focus on the good things, the less your dog concerns itself with doing bad things. Call them to you or offer them a better option that is what you prefer, then praise them for choosing the right thing. Pick one skill at a time to practice, and build upon their success. Think of the easiest way for your dog to understand the command and stick to the same word. You can begin basic German Shepherd obedience commands from your own home, even! Small bits of training, spread out in multiple sessions throughout the day, is better than an hour-long session. Aim for the 5-minutes worth of training using 4 to 5 sessions daily. This is where brain games and brain training come into play. You can make up your own brain games for their mental exercise or, even better… Signup for an online course that teaches fun Brain Training for Dogs using that positive, reward-based training you read about earlier. Using the unique intelligence of your German Shepherd puppy this brain training program helps your dog to learn not only their basic commands but also to play fun games that work on good behavior. Training games help your dog to learn impulse control, basic commands, and to watch and listen to you. What games do you play with a young dog? Try these great German Shepherd puppy training games to give your 8-week-old puppy a head start! Include different games throughout the day in between your training sessions to give your dog a break and have fun with them! There are 5 critical focus areas in which you must train your 8-week old German Shepherd appropriately. Here is the most important training that you need to teach your new puppy so they enjoy a successful life with you. Keep in mind, your young dog is unable to hold its bladder for more than a couple of hours at 8-weeks-old. They simply lack the muscle control to hold their bladders any longer. Instead, opt to train your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy using positive methods and watching for the natural times that your dog chooses to eliminate. Adjust the times as necessary to avoid any accidents in your house and help keep your puppy to their unique schedule. Early morning: Let your pup outside first thing every morning to let them relieve themselves. After breakfast: After its morning breakfast meal let your dog back outside. Let them walk around and sniff to help encourage them to explore and let them stretch their legs. Before and after lunch: Let your puppy outside before and after their lunchtime meal. Eating stimulates the bowels and your puppy needs to got outside at least every 2 hours. Before and after dinner: Remember that eating stimulates the response for your puppy to eliminate. So, before and after every mealtime your puppy should be let outside for a walk and sniff. Before bedtime: Your puppy needs to relieve themself before they settle down for the nighttime. This is a good time to let them have a long sniffing exploration and to really explore a safe area. During the night: Yes, your puppy will probably need to go potty during the night. You might hear them whine and cry to get your attention. Remember, they cannot hold their bladders for more than 2 hours! After naptime: Take your puppy out for a potty break after naptime, as soon as they wake up. Keep repeating the same routine. Your puppy will soon catch on, but this generally takes weeks or even months. The more diligent you are about preventing accidents the quicker your puppy will learn housetraining. Never, ever punish your puppy or rub their nose in it for punishment. This may stress them out and cause even more accidents. Socializing your 8-week-old German Shepherd means that you must provide your dog with interesting and positive interactions where they feel safe. This helps give your young dog confidence in its environment. German Shepherd Dogs are extremely loyal and have a tendency of apprehensiveness with strangers. Socialization helps ensure that your puppy not only grows a strong bond with you without developing over-protectiveness but also learns to trust that you have their best interest in mind and will keep their experiences as positive as possible. German Shepherd puppy socialization training tips: Without their full set of vaccinations, your puppy is vulnerable to infectious diseases. However, consider taking your young dog to early socialization classes where all other dogs have also been immunized. This reduces the risk of becoming sick and helps your German Shepherd become a confident, well-adjusted, and friendly dog. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior promotes early socialization source , even before your dog receives its full set of vaccines, as lack of socialization is detrimental long-term. Every new interaction or must be followed with a reward — a tasty treat! This ensures your puppy has positive associations with new experiences, people, and other dogs. With the proper socialization training, your puppy should become eager to explore new places and meet new people and animals. Taking your German Shepherd puppy to new places exposes them to different people, dogs, sights, and sounds. As a puppy, you can help teach your German Shepherd important social skills through intentional training moments that are positive and allow your puppy to develop their confidence in social situations. This is where bite inhibition comes in useful. Bite inhibition helps your puppy to not only control what they bite but also how hard or soft they close their jaws. It teaches your dog how to properly apply force with its mouth without hurting you or anyone else. How to Teach Your Puppy to Bite Without Hurting You To teach your puppy not to hurt you with their nipping and biting do your best to not let them get to this energy level. If you know your puppy tends to bite you when you play with them too long, then cut your playtime short. If they tend to bite and nip you when they are tired, then have them go to their nap area sooner to rest. Puppies also tend to bite you when they are cranky from not eating soon enough or when they want attention. You can get up and leave the play area for a few moments. Return once they are calm. Never use only your hands for play. You should have a few puppy-safe chew toys around to grab quickly to offer your puppy during play. If your puppy nips or bites any of these areas, the game is immediately over. Get up slowly and calmly and leave. Only return when they are calm again. Offer your puppy their chew toy when they are too excited to play softly with you. Encourage them to find their toys and bite them instead of you. Never yell or punish your puppy for play-biting and nipping. Doing so can lead to anxiety, aggression, or your puppy fearing you. Even though German Shepherds are one of the smartest dogs, learning and teaching bite inhibition requires a lot of repetition and consistency. You might even walk to walk around with one of their toys in your pocket to help reinforce the right behavior offering them the chew toy when they decide to nip your ankles or bite your legs. Continue with your bite-inhibition training as long as it takes for your dog to learn to use its soft mouth. This could take months, but soon they will master the art of a soft bite. But, crate training your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy can improve the speed of their house training and accustom them to times they may need to be in their crate such as during travel or at the vets and groomers. Crates are also a useful area for your dog to have their own private space when they want alone time or are stressed and need some quiet. Choose a crate that gives your dog enough room to turn completely around, stand comfortably, sit upright, and lie down easily on their side with their legs stretched for rest. The best crates grow with your German Shepherd and allow you to partition the space off to suit their size. Offer them a treat or even their meal in their crate to help them develop positive associations with it. Start closing the door when they are inside for just a few seconds at first. Then, open the door and let them out calmly. Continue to increase the time your puppy stays inside the crate, working up to longer and longer times. This may only encourage them to cry and whine harder and louder when they want out. Instead, wait just a couple of seconds for them to be quiet, and let them out only when they are not crying and whining. If they appear too stressed or panicked, let them out immediately! This also encourages your dog to seek out the crate when they want their private space and time alone, as they will know where to find their crate. Avoid placing a blanket over the crate since puppies chew and are extremely active. Your pup could accidentally pull the blanket inside and hurt themselves by either wrapping it around their neck or choking on it. Place the crate in an area away from drafts and out of the direct sun so they get too cold or too warm. The best way to do this is to practice leash skills at home first. After they are comfortable wearing their leash around the house, you can work on the skill in the backyard, front yard, or on the sidewalk outside. A good time is during their favorite meal. Only leave them on your dog for a short time to gauge their reaction. If they seem fine, place your puppy into the harness and attach the leash. Offer them praise and a reward for letting you leash them. Now, let your puppy drag the leash around the house so they know how it feels to wear it. You can play with them a bit, or even better have them follow you around which simulates an outdoor walk but indoors. Remove the harness and leash if your GSD puppy becomes too upset and agitated! Keep it upbeat and positive! Now, introduce your puppy to a short walk outdoors in the safety of your backyard. Let your puppy wander around while you hold the leash. They may begin to pull. Get their attention by calling their name and showing them a treat to lure them back to you gently. Reward them every time they come to you while on the leash. Should they ignore you then offer them the treat to lure them to you after giving the command. Try kneeling or squatting down to get on their level when you give them the command. It seems to get their attention better. You can even slap your leg or clap your hands to entice them back to you. Always ensure that your puppy is not stressed by their new harness and leash. Some owners prefer to use a collar for leash training. If this is your choice then only choose life-saving break-away collars since your puppy could get hung up and seriously injure themselves if their collar catches on something during their outside walk. Your dog can learn the basic commands with a bit of training. If you have time to train basic commands and are still focusing on the core areas of raising your German Shepherd puppy, then follow these helpful articles that will put your puppy on the right track to obedience training. Your German Shepherd Puppy: 8 Weeks To 1 Year Old Apr 08, If you're interested in what the progression of your puppy from 8 weeks to 1 year should look like, and how to achieve it; you've come to the right place. If you're expecting a timeline of what achievements you should hit at specific times, this isn't it. All puppies and dogs learn at different rates based on everything from the drive level, interests in reward, your level of training skill etc. Instead of focusing on what tricks and obedience positions your puppy learns, focus on building a relationship with your puppy. Millions of people have adult dogs who won't let them cut their nails or bathe them and must go to a professional groomer. There's nothing wrong with using a groomer's services, but if you must because your dog won't allow you to, it's because you didn't bond with the dog and condition it as a puppy. To begin building a foundation takes a lot of treats, time, socialization, conditioning, and focus training to get engagement. Let's start with socialization. Socialization doesn't mean you let your puppy play with random dogs and strangers. It's quite the opposite. Socialization means you desensitize your puppy to the presence of other dogs and people to the point it doesn't acknowledge them. Other dogs and people become background noise that they're uninterested in. If you view socialization as getting a puppy to love everything, everyone, and every dog they see, you won't have their engagement. If you don't have their engagement on you, they aren't going to listen to you. You'll be the owner who gets drug down the street every time your dog wants to say "hi" to a stranger or new dog. Not only that, but not every stranger is friendly, nor is every dog. It's better to train your puppy to completely ignore everything except you on your walks. Since we've brushed up on what socialization should be and why, let's get into engagement. Engagement means that your dog looks to you. When you say their name, you have their undivided attention. They are looking at you, waiting for instruction. If you've ever had a dog, not come when called, 9 times out of 10 it was doing something it deemed more engaging than looking to you. That means to your dog, that other thing they were doing was more important than anything you had to say or wanted them to do. That becomes life threatening if a dog deems that engaging with the dog across the street is more important than coming when called. So how do you build engagement? Well, thankfully, it's easy! Start from day one by saying your pup's name. If they look at you, click your clicker or say "yes" and give them a treat. If they come to you, even better, give them a treat for looking at you, and another for coming. Your job is to court their attention and reward every time you get it. Before long, your puppy will look to you for everything. Once that happens, training can begin. If you skip this step, you will notice that during training your puppy may sit for you, take the treat, then decide to run around or sniff the ground etc. Those things means that training will take longer because you don't have engagement. Now that you've gotten the engagement you need, start training by making everything a learning experience and a game. You should be upbeat and excited. When you teach your dog to sit, mark the behavior with a click or a yes and reward with a treat excitedly. This only serves to increase engagement. You're not only a treat machine, you're also a fun friend. The more fun you are, the less fun distractions are. You can even begin to blend this into socialization. For example, your puppy sees another dog being walked across the street and starts to focus on them. You call their name, they look at you because you give treats for engagement, and you're way more fun than playing with another dog they don't even know across the street. This is the corner stone of having a dog who obeys commands every time, and not just when there's no distractions around or when they feel it's convenient. We've all either said, or have heard people say "Well, he usually does it when it's just us! Remember, while you're building this bond, trust, and engagement, you also need to start conditioning your puppy. Lift all 4 paws. Open the mouth. Check their ears. Touch their undersides. Open their eyes.This is the time to condition your puppy to being examined, medicated, temperature checked, bathed, nails clipped or dremeled etc. Lastly, during this time, you should be trying your hardest to build drive to play tug with a ball on a rope or tug. Food is great, but many dogs have more prey drive than food drive. If you have such a dog, a ball on a rope or tug is a powerful training agent. It also helps build a bond because puppies love food, but puppies also love to play. Later in life, you'll find it easier to stuff a ball in your pocket than a full pouch of treats as well. All of this sounds like an informal amalgamation of building trust, building a bond, training, desensitization, conditioning, building engagement and drive etc. But that's because this is exactly what raising a puppy in the most efficient and most reliable way possible is. Taking your time and blending all these aspects together until they're one and the same. Trying to create a schedule of when a puppy should know this, or that will not nearly be as fun for you or the puppy. It'll only make you both frustrated and feel like you're failing. But if you take your time, by 12 months, your puppy will know everything you would've put on that schedule, have bonded with you, think training and learning new things is fun, and be a pleasure to groom and vet! If you enjoyed this article, please leave a like and share. Thank you. This article is designed to help you along your way. This is completely normal. Every new puppy owner has their moments of frustration and doubt. Remember that your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy is going through a big life change, too. She may be feeling stressed and out of sorts when you first bring her home. Consistency and structure will go a long way toward helping both of you. Introducing The Puppy Crate A crate can be your best friend when it comes to caring for your 8-week-old puppy. While some people think of crates as cruel, the reality is that with the right training, your puppy will think of her crate as a safe, quiet space where she can go to relax. If you leave your puppy unsupervised at home, you may come back to find a whole lot of destruction. Puppies can get into all kinds of trouble on their own, with their natural curiosity and desire to chomp down on just about everything in their path. A crate can help you keep your German Shepherd puppy — and your belongings! While every puppy is different, chances are your daily schedule for the first week will look a little bit like this: Early morning: Time for the first potty break of the day! Breakfast time: You can feed your puppy breakfast right after her first potty break, or wait a little longer and let her go back to sleep first. Mid-morning: Time for another small meal, and another potty break. Afternoon: Lunchtime followed by a potty break. Late afternoon: Another potty break! Evening: Dinner, and then — you guessed it — potty time. Just before bed: One last trip outside before you turn in for the night. In between potty and mealtimes, your puppy will probably be playing or napping. Scheduling play and exercise at the same times every day can help ensure that you get that nice, quiet naptime right on schedule, too. Potty Training an 8 Week Old German Shepherd Potty training can be one of the most daunting tasks of raising a brand new puppy. It may take a bit longer than you expected for your puppy to get the hang of things! Your puppy has never been apart from her siblings and mother before. The best way to avoid a night full of mournful wailing is to let your puppy sleep in your room, at least in the beginning. Safer ways to keep your puppy comfortable and contained at night include keeping her crate beside your bed, setting up a puppy playpen, or even just using a tall cardboard box. In fact, an 8-week-old puppy can spend as many as 18 hours a day sleeping! This helps keep some element of consistency in her routine and her stomach. If you do decide to switch over to a different food after a few weeks, do so in stages. You can then increase that slowly over time. At 8 weeks old, German Shepherd puppies should be fed three to four times per day. Because the German Shepherd is a large breed, you should also feed your puppy a diet formulated specifically for large breed puppies. There are many commercially available diets made to help large breed puppies grow at the right rate. This helps to avoid skeletal abnormalities like hip dysplasia. Want more information on what to feed your 8-week-old German Shepherd, and how to change her diet as she gets older? We have everything you need to know right here in our guide to feeding a German Shepherd puppy. The stress of such a drastic life change can manifest in different ways, and an upset stomach is a pretty common reaction. You can give your pup a better chance of having a settled stomach by keeping her on the food she was eating before you brought her home, and feeding on a consistent schedule. Diarrhea can also be a sign of an underlying issue besides stress, however, and severe diarrhea can be life-threatening if left untreated. Your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy is likely to bite you too, for exactly the same reason. She may even growl. And it really can hurt! Your Growing Dog As your German Shepherd puppy grows, our guides will help you care for her throughout her life. Here are a few links to get you started:.
What is Elbow Dysplasia? The condition eventually causes pain whenever the forelimb is moved and may eventually cause arthritis. Trauma to the elbow joint can also lead to changes within the elbow that mimic elbow dysplasia, but this disease results from genetic factors that cause abnormalities in joint formation, not trauma. Symptoms of Elbow Dysplasia: Dogs who have elbow dysplasia may show signs of the disease by suffering from mild to moderate pain and lameness in their forelimbs as early as four months old or they may not have any symptoms until later in their life. Even though the disease can manifest at any age, it is commonly diagnosed when dogs are around two years old. Dog owners frequently take the dog to the vet complaining of stiffness in the front legs but both elbow joints are usually affected. How soon a dog will show symptoms is related to how severe the abnormality in the joint is. Dogs eventually develop arthritis inflammation in the joint from years of the parts of the joint rubbing against each other. On physical examination the vet may find pain when the elbow is manipulated. There may also be swelling, crepitus a crunching noise and a decrease in the range of motion the dog has. There are different types of elbow dysplasia and the vet may order a CT scan to identify which type of elbow dysplasia the dog has. In addition, arthroscopy surgery or open joint surgery is considered the best way to determine the extent of the damage in the joint. If arthritis has already set in it is more difficult to know how beneficial this surgery will be. Arthroscopic surgery surgically inserting a scope -is considered the best option for cases that are good candidates for surgical intervention. Open joint surgery — may also be the best option for some cases. Board-certified veterinary surgeons are advisable for the surgical diagnosis and treatment of all forms of elbow dysplasia. Elbow replacement surgery — is currently being researched, but still unavailable. Non-Surgical Options: We can manage pain by treating dogs with pain relieving drugs and glucosamine and fatty acid supplements. However, due to the discomfort and debilitation a dog suffers from this disease, some dogs may have increased lameness and even a decreased lifespan. Prevention: The best way to prevent elbow dysplasia is to prevent it from occurring by not breeding dogs can pass it to future generations. Inherited genetic diseases are something that develops when the gene pool becomes small enough to be forced to breed dogs with less than exceptional health. A study has concluded that elbow dysplasia cases had a 0. While this is a low percentage of dogs affected compared to hip dysplasia, German shepherds were found to be a high-risk breed. Canine degenerative myelopathy is another progressive neurological disorder that GSDs are prone to. While thirty-five percent of German shepherds are carriers of the DM gene mutation, the percentage of dogs that are affected by the mutation is much lower. Unwelcome gene mutations can also have serious consequences on the muscle tone of a German shepherd, resulting in front leg problems. The two most common conditions are muscle dystrophy and atrophy. Yet another neurological disease that exhibits symptoms consistent with front leg problems is Cervical spondylomyelopathy, commonly known as Wobbler syndrome. Although German shepherds are not known for being susceptible to it, it can still occur in GSD puppies. Dog limbs can be affected by tumors as well. Progressive leg paralysis due to masses pressing on the peripheral spinal nerves can be asymptomatic for a while, and then suddenly cause complete loss of sensation and ability to walk once the tumor has done serious damage. Other possible causes of German shepherd front leg problems include injury to any part of the foot or leg, or insect bites. Since these are the most common conditions, we can start off with them. Here are some tips on how to treat a limping dog at home in case of mild injury. Trauma And Insect Bites Front legs problems can be caused by something as simple as a toenail injury. Running and slippery surfaces are often behind a broken nail, which can cause your German shepherd to limp or have an irregular gait due to the nail separating from the quick. It is not uncommon for dogs to step on an insect and get stung or bitten on the paw pads. This can be subsumed under the injury category, since the damage caused to soft tissue can become infected, and spread across the many structural parts of the front legs. Car accidents take up a large portion of trauma-caused front legs problems in GSDs. Broken bones, torn tendons or ligaments, and nerve damage can all have clinical signs that manifest themselves through limping, difficulty moving, chronic pain, or arthritis. Although osteoarthritis is usually a secondary condition that occurs due to bone tissue damage, a German shepherd will be in a lot of pain because of it. Muscular Problems Similar clinical signs affecting the front legs can also originate from a muscular problem, such as dystrophy or atrophy. While these are most frequently associated with defective genes on the X chromosome. Male German shepherds are more likely to have this mutation due to a singular copy of the X chromosome from the parents. A faulty version of the dystrophin protein that causes leakage of internal cell content does not allow proper development and function of muscles. Without enough muscle mass, a dog will not be able to move their joints properly. The condition gets progressively worse with a GSDs age, until the muscles become completely atrophic. This essentially means there are no muscle fibers to support normal body function, which makes the GSD look skinny. .Keeping the muscle mass at a good level can be hard with dystrophy, but we might have just the guide for you on how to build muscle on a German shepherd dog. Cervical Spondylomyelopathy Wobbler syndrome is caused by pressure on the nerves in the neck cervical section of the spine caused by spine compression. It generally affects large breeds like German shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, and giant dog breeds, such as Great Danes. The combination of these clinical signs often leads to toenail and feet injuries due to the lack of sensation in the limbs. Broken toenails, knuckling, and callous skin are all common secondary signs of Wobbler syndrome. Canine Degenerative Myelopathy One of the most debilitating diseases in dogs is degenerative myelopathy. The onset of symptoms usually occurs in German shepherds aged eight or older. It carries a bad prognosis, which means there is no treatment for the condition itself. German shepherds are a high risk group for CDM. Though it is mainly a congenital disease, environmental factors can increase the predisposition of a GSD to develop the genetic mutation. Incomplete diets that do not provide all the required nutrients can increase the chance of genetic disorders, so consider putting your German shepherd on a raw diet. If you think raw food diets are controversial, read this article and decide for yourself. Since it targets the spinal cord, the degeneration of the central and peripheral nervous system leads to incoordination of the hind limbs. The symptoms are very similar to hip dysplasia, but the progression of clinical signs onto the front limbs delineates it from HD. Other symptoms are irregular gait, loss of muscle mass, poor balance while standing, limb paralysis, and urinary and bowel incontinence in the later stages of the disease. Physical rehabilitation and a specific diet can slow down the progression, but there is no cure. Elbow Dysplasia Joint diseases, such as dysplasia, are most commonly congenital, but trauma can be the underlying cause, too. The congenital variant is characterized by abnormal anatomy of the elbow joint that causes bone tissue damage, and ultimately arthritis. The long bones of a German shepherds front legs need to perfectly fit into the adjacent structures tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones for full anatomical function. With developmental problems, some of those parts do not fully mature. An imperfect fit between those parts of the front leg will have odd ranges of motion that interfere with adjacent structures, causing tissue damage. Compromised and broken blood vessels lead to the development of arthritis, which can be extremely painful for a dog. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are regularly prescribed for alleviating arthritis pain, but there are some effective home remedies for dog joint pain you can try out. Clinical signs include trouble standing and moving, low exercise tolerance, irregular gait, inability to stand up, etc. Although there are surgical procedures that can treat elbow dysplasia to a degree, they are quite complex and expensive. Keep in mind that obesity increases the risk of elbow dysplasia. Keep your dog fit and healthy with a proper diet and regular exercise. If you are wondering how heavy your dog should be, we have the answer for you. Depending on the location of the tumor, either front or back limbs might become paralyzed. It is not uncommon for dogs to exhibit symptoms consistent with degenerative myelopathy, or elbow dysplasia, making early diagnosis difficult. Symptoms will often come and go, as the mass can shrink and expand. Sudden onset of symptoms typically happens when the tumor is positioned so that it puts the biggest amount of pressure on the nerves, but subside once the dog changes its body position. The most frequent clinical signs are limping, partial or full leg paralysis, irregular gait, feet dragging, etc. Taking immediate action after spotting any of these signs can save your dogs life, so do not delay that visit to the vet. Conclusion German shepherd front legs problems can point to something as simple as a bee sting, or as serious as degenerative myelopathy. While taking a stinger out and calling it a day is a simple fix, the proposition of being unable to help your dog with a debilitating disease can be devastating. Never assume it is nothing serious with such serious symptoms. I hope you and your GSD will never have to worry about any of these conditions. German Shepherds are not only excellent companion dogs, but also very competent working dogs. They excel in being guide dogs, police dogs, tracking dogs, to name just a few. The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the U. Unfortunately, German Shepherds are susceptible to certain health problems, some of these problems are common among large breed dogs. German Shepherd Health Problems Related to the Joints As a large breed dog, the German Shepherd has several health problems that affect their joints, such as: Hip Dysplasia: A dog with hip dysplasia has a deformed hip joint. In many cases, the hip socket is too shallow to fully and firmly hold the ball-shaped thighbone. Sometimes, it also means that the muscles, ligament, and connective tissue surrounding the joint may not be strong enough to hold the "ball and socket" together. Hip dysplasia in dogs can cause a lot of pain and inflammation in the affected hip joint, and the dog will have problem walking and getting up with ease. Visit our article on Hip Dysplasia in Dogs for more information on this joint problem in dogs. Elbow Dysplasia: Osteochondritis of the elbow elbow dysplasia is a hereditary disease but may also be caused by poor nutrition or injury. This problem is characterized by the elbow joints of the front legs being malformed, due probably to different growth rates of the three bones making up the elbow. Dogs with this condition usually display an obvious limp - they may hold the leg out from the body while walking, or even attempt to carry the front leg completely, putting no weight on it at all. Signs may be noted as early as four months of age. Elbow dysplasia is a lifelong problem, although some dogs can be helped with surgery which, in some cases, can eliminate the problem totally. Panosteitis: Panosteitis also known as "long bone disease," or "pano" is a health condition that commonly affects German Shepherd dogs who are still growing. It causes sudden lameness which is a result of excessive bone production on the long bones of the front and hind legs, causing inflammation. It is most commonly seen in dogs between the ages of five to 12 months. Usually a dog affected by this condition will grow out of the problem by 18 months old, but it is painful. Puppies on a high-protein diet are prone to pano, because this kind of diet makes the puppy grow too fast. German Shepherd Health Problems Related to the Nervous System These two German Shepherd health problems are connected with the nervous system, and can cause a lot of hardship to the dog: Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Epilepsy is one of the most common German Shepherd health problems. The age at onset is 5 to 14 years. DM is an autoimmune disease in which the dog's own immune system attacks his central nervous system. As a result, the dog suffers from progressive neural tissue damage. At its early stage, the dog's hind limbs will be affected - the muscles will be weakened and you can notice a loss of coordination in the hind limbs. As the disease progresses, the dog may also display symptoms such as incontinence, has considerable difficulties with both balance and walking, and eventual paralysis. The treatment of DM involves exercise, dietary supplementation, medication, and other supportive measures. Bloating in dogs could be life-threatening and prone veterinary attention is needed. If your GSD is prone to this problem, be sure to read our article on dog bloating for more information. Perianal Fistulas: Perianal fistulas are chronic and progressive lesions that occur around the anus in dogs. Perianal fistulas most commonly occur in middle-aged years old male dogs, but can occur in dogs as young as 1 year and as old as 14 years. The exact cause of this condition is unclear. It is believed that inflammation of the sweat and sebaceous glands in and around the anus causes infection. As a result, abscesses form, open, and then drain. Dogs with tails that set low and carried close to the body e. German Shepherds are prone to these fistulas because air does not circulate under the tail, making it an excellent environment for bacteria to multiply. Symptoms of this condition include constant chewing or licking of the perianal area, and scooting across the floor. Other symptoms may include constipation, diarrhea, or bloodly stool. Ulcers and bleeding may be seen around the anal area, as well as foul-smelling discharge. Therefore, excessive bleeding is a hallmark symptom of this disease, which afflicts German Shepherds quite often. Dogs affected by this disease are more likely to have excessive bleeding episodes upon injury. The dog may also develop nosebleeds or bleeding from the gums. Some dogs may have internal organ bleeding e. FTC Disclosure: If you make a purchase via a link on this page, I may receive a small commission, at no added cost to you. It greatly helps dogs with epilepsy. Furminator De-shedding Tool German Shepherds have dense coats that shed throughout the year, with increased shedding once or twice a year. This excellent tool helps to control shedding by removing not cutting the loose and dead undercoat hair that is the underlying source of shedding. The stainless steel edge grabs and removes the loose undercoat hair without damaging the topcoat. Highly recommended! One thing he does that troubles me, actually gives me a weird feeling is.Because then he will go and try to bite my lower leg, feet. He's never growling or barking, so I'm assuming it's his form of play, but I must say I really don't like it. Especially since he is getting bigger, stronger and I'm a small statured female. It does seem to be worse when it is time for my monthly cycle, so in thinking this, I do plan on having him neutered next month. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Also, how do I get him not go wild and unruly when he's around the kids in the family.Thank you for any assistance. Debbie Total German Shepherd: Hey Debbie, For one thing, your boy mounting your leg is based on hormones - and your 5 month old male is full of them right now. And for another thing is may be a dominance issue. So getting him fixed may help this - at least the hormone level issue - however it may not completely erase this behavior - if it has become a habit. So for this issue and the fact that he gets wound up when the kids are around, well, training is the main thing you both need. For him so he'll learn what to or not to do , and for you so you'll know how to teach him what to do or not. Do yourself a favor, and sign you both up for a puppy class if you absolutely can - it'll be the best money you ever spent. Plus, it's great for socialization too! But if you can't, then check out training videos online or on TV to learn to practice with your boy because now is the perfect time. So do yourself a favor and him too and get the training going asap to save your relationship. Bowed legs in dogs are an abnormality that is noticed when a leg grows curved or bowed instead of appearing straight as it normally should. This type of abnormality is most likely to be seen in young, growing due to problems in their development, but can also be seen as an aftermath to traumatic injuries sometimes even in older dogs. Canine leg deformities come in their shapes and sizes. One of the most common ones is bow legs—a condition that is common among French bulldogs, Corgis, and Dachshunds. In simple terms, bowing out is a leg deformity that causes the legs to appear curved or bowed out rather than straight. It is mostly a puppy problem but adult dogs can also suffer from it. Bow legs present in different ways. In the front legs, one limb can grow faster than the other compromising its shape. Other times, inverted growth of the leg bones leads to bow legs as well. Most bow-legged canines have curved front legs but you can also find some with bowed hind legs as well. Breeders tend to think that bowing of the legs is genetic, but except for the genetics built in these breeds to grow fast, genetics is seldom the cause. Fast-growing puppies, especially the heavy breeds, have considerable pressure on the long bones of the legs while they are growing. The scaffolding of protein and cartilage is laid down at the growth plate and that frame work is soft and will bow to pressure. Behind that frame, calcium and phosphorus with other minor minerals use vitamins to make solid bone. Vitamin D gets calcium and phosphorus from the gut into the body, and Vitamin C gets calcium and phosphorus into the bone. If the diet is short on any of these needed vitamins, minor minerals, calcium or phosphorus, the puppy is slow to calcify while the frame is still being built; soft bones are the result. Often the breeder reports that the legs look okay in the morning, but by the end of the day, they can see bowing on the front legs. The pressure of romping and jumping all day causes the long bone to bow. Early Detection and Prevention is Key The problem with bowed legs is that your baby is growing faster than your diet is allowing. Put on adult diet not puppy food and wean. Some large breeds are still nursing at this five to 12 week stage, and milk is all calcium! A maintenance diet or giant breed diet will not push growth. Limit the protein and slow the scaffolding growth slightly until we catch up. Limit exercise until bone is hardened as you want the bone to heal straight, not crooked. Pressure from romping and running bows the long bone while soft. Usually one week does it. Fast Growth A puppy is meant to grow gradually to give her bones and cartilage enough time to develop. When the process is hurried, the fast-growing body may exert too much pressure on the limbs causing leg deformities. This is especially true for heavy breeds. Essentially, the cartilage and protein of the bone are framed at the growth plate. This happens to be a very soft area that can succumb to pressure easily. As the young dog puts on weight in her body, it may exceed the limit of the growth plate resulting in curved or brandy legs. Nutrition Deficiencies Like in humans, bones rely on certain vitamins and minerals to develop optimally. These include calcium and phosphorous among others. A growing puppy needs a lot of vitamin C and vitamin D to create solid bone and teeth. His diet must have the vitamins and minerals in sufficient quantities. If it is lacking in any of them, soft bones are inevitable. Injury A growing puppy has until around 12 — 18 months before her growth plates close up. Right about this age, the soft cartilage that once formed the bone mineralizes and hardens into solid bone. In the sad event that she gets an injury before the plate matures and becomes hard, some of the cells may stop growing. In the end, the leg will appear uneven and bow-legged. Accidents can occur if the puppy is dropped from a high place or gets knocked by a moving car or bike. Genetics Although rare, genetics can be a cause for bowed legs among dogs. These genes can be passed down from generation to generation. Symptoms of Bow Legs Bow legs in dogs start presenting as early as 5 and as late as 12 weeks of age. This is the period most dogs go through the first growth stage. The symptoms can appear suddenly. The puppy can be okay in the morning just to see her with bowing later on in the day. Some of the symptoms of this condition include the following: Limited movement.
Next up is another thing to do before you bring your puppy home… How To Puppy Proof Your House When puppy-proofing your house, think like a puppy. Crawl around on the floor and take note of what you see. Puppies will chew nearly anything, so make sure that there are no valuables down at puppy-height, or things that could be poisonous to them or be a choking hazard. Make sure there are no open cabinets or pantries where your puppy could get into food. Be careful of small trash cans that could hold some smelly trash that would be enticing to a puppy. And finally, next are a few other random tasks to do before you bring home your new puppy. Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! Not exactly. Find a vet. Find the closest emergency animal hospital. This is not something you want to wait until you need it before looking it up and making a plan. Find a list of local poisonous plants and animals. Talk to your vet and do some research so that you know which plants and animals to avoid. Find a puppy kindergarten class. This will help with training, socialization, and general learning how to be a puppy parent. Check your yard or house for any escape routes. This next section will cover everything from what to expect with a puppy, what to do the first 24 hours of bringing them home, how to train them, and more. A week after bringing Oliver home, it was very obvious to me why she asked me that. Puppies are hard work! Their little bladders can only hold it for a few hours, so this is expected. Chewing Puppies will try to chew any and everything. Like every thirty minutes often. Now, for the most important expectation of them all… You will miss puppyhood! Yes, you will miss the sleepless nights and puppy bites. So make sure to take lots of videos and pictures. How would you like to be treated in this situation? Here are some tips to help your puppy get comfortable in their new home. Let your puppy make decisions When you get to your house, set them at your open front door and let them choose to walk inside. Let them explore their new home on their own terms. Letting them make decisions can give them a sense of confidence, hope, and control, and ease into their new home. Limit visitors Now is the time to build the bond with your puppy and let them get to know you, not overstimulate them with a lot of people. Limit their access to your home Getting used to a new home with two rooms will be a lot easier than getting used to a new home with five rooms. Only let your puppy have access to a few rooms so that they get acclimated to their new area quicker, then as they get more comfortable you can allow them to explore new areas of the house. You can use baby gates to restrict access to sections of the house. Bonus benefit: this will also decrease the chances that they leave you a present in the guest room. In general, just keep things low key when you bring them home and let them get used to their surroundings. Training Your Golden Retriever Puppy Training your golden retriever puppy is one of the best things you can do both for them and with them. They have short attention spans and like to have fun, so short training sessions and training games work best. A lot of people think that training is just obedience training, like sit and stay , but it also includes life skills like crate training , potty training , how to not jump on people or bite them, and how to not pull on the leash. Socialization Socialization is something that is not talked about as much as it should be. It can help mitigate fear and aggression and help them become confident, well-adjusted adult dogs. You can socialize your puppy with other dogs by setting up play dates with gentle dogs that you know are vaccinated and by going to puppy kindergarten. Dog to other living beings includes humans, cats, and other animals. You can socialize them with other people by taking them to a pet-friendly store like home depot, and you can socialize them to other animals by taking a walk by the neighborhood cat with lots of distance between them, so neither animal gets overwhelmed. Dog to stuff is the broadest category, but no less important. When Oliver was very young we were on a walk and a FedEx truck drove by. He had never heard a big truck like that and was terrified. So make sure that your puppy is comfortable with trucks, cars, the garage door, buses, umbrellas, and whatever other objects they may encounter. For instance, if you live in Chicago, get them used to trains, buses and crowded streets. Every day, separate out five special treats for your puppy. For example, you might let your neighbor give your puppy a treat, or maybe you take your puppy to a bus stop and when the bus goes by you give them a treat, or maybe you introduce them to a cow and give them a treat. The treat helps them have a positive experience with these new things and people, plus it helps you easily remember to expose them to lots of these new things. Do this for the first four weeks of their life and before you know it, your puppy will have been exposed to new dogs, people, things, or environments, and will be well on their well to becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. Puppy Raising Mistakes Below are some mistakes that new puppy owners make that could make it harder to train and raise their puppy into a happy, confident adult. Not remembering how young they are Puppies are like little toddlers. Waiting to train your puppy until they have a problem Training your puppy before they have any behavior problems will make life so much easier for you. Forcing things too quickly Things like crate training and potty training take time. Setbacks hurt more than stretching their limits will help, so be patient and take things slowly. Conclusion Golden retriever puppies might just be the best living beings on the planet. However, they are a lot of work and can be quite naughty sometimes. Have any questions about golden retriever puppies? Let me know in the comments below! And if you know someone who is thinking about getting a golden retriever puppy, please share this with them. Related articles:. January 24, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? What does it take to be considered ideal for a family dog? How do you know if the Golden Retriever is the right fit for you and your family? A Brief Background on Golden Retrievers! Bred in the highlands of Scotland by Lord Tweedmouth in the mid to late s, Goldens are a cross between a Yellow Retriever and an extinct dog breed, the Tweed Water Spaniel. Lord Tweedmouth wanted the ideal gundog to accompany him during fowl hunting and be able to withstand the rugged terrain and rainy conditions. Aside from being able to retrieve fowl, Lord Tweedmouth wanted an even-tempered dog to have at home when not hunting. And so, the Golden Retriever was born. Later in the s, they soon became a popular breed amongst American families when President Gerald Ford had a Golden named Liberty as his family dog. Golden Retrievers, like their name states, are golden! Their luxurious coats come in a variety of light to dark shades, ranging from light like the white Golden Retriever or English Cream to dark golden colors, even close to chocolate. Their coats feature feathering down their backs, chest, belly, hindquarters, and tails. Goldens have soft expressions combined with floppy expressive ears that give them a puppy-like appearance even as adults. Another thing to note of the Golden Retriever is that those fluffy coats are actually what are known as double coats. A strong water repellant coat on top coupled with a dense undercoat to regulate their body heat. This all means these pups can be heavy shedders! What are Golden Retrievers Personalities like? There is something to be said about being named a perfect family dog. The Golden Retriever breed is loyal, affectionate, playful, and gentle. If brought into a home with children, your Golden Retriever puppy will be a great addition for help introducing your new Golden Retriever pup to your kids and how to play together, check out our blog! But being a great family dog doesn't mean they are easy! Goldens have lots of energy which can come out in more jumping and being more mouthy, especially as puppies. Check our training tips for raising a well-mannered Golden at the end of this blog! Two to three daily walks are a must, and throw in fun activities like hiking or going for a swim, your pup will stay golden! Golden Retrievers are eager to please type of breed. They generally have happy go lucky demeanors which lends itself to affection and friendliness, including toward strangers. If you wanted a pup that could eventually become a service dog, a Golden Retriever is a great choice and make for excellent working pups! As a high-energy breed, Golden Retrievers do best in a home that will provide them ample access to romp around. Homes with fenced in yards or access to a park or field on a daily basis where they can run and fetch to their hearts content are the best environment for Goldens! These pups, with consistent early socialization, can adapt and thrive to living in a home with other dogs, or pets, and children! They love to play and make great playmates. That being said, their social nature can lead to dependencies on their owners and family. Golden Retrievers may develop separation anxiety if left alone and not properly trained from an early age. Golden Retrievers may also contract heart disease called subvalvular aortic stenosis SAS that with early diagnosis and treatment can allow for a regular life-span. When you are looking to add a Golden Retriever puppy, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder that cares for the health quality of the dogs they breed. Take advantage of that natural drive and eagerness to please by setting foundations at home. Start your puppy a regular daily puppy schedule to create structured routines in the home. Include consistent feeding, nap, play and obedience training times throughout the day to help your Golden pup learn what to expect and build confidence at home. During their puppy training focus on their obedience commands to help your puppy learn to look to you for guidance, build their communication with you, and solidify a trusting relationship! Since Golden Retrievers love to work, positive reinforcement and food rewards will be valuable motivators to get your puppy focused and listening. In-person and online puppy training programs will walk you through how to teach the commands, exercises to help your puppy learn them, and troubleshoot when your puppy needs it! Teach Your Golden Retriever How to Greet New People and Dogs While their open friendly disposition will help your puppy make new friends where ever they go, make sure to teach your puppy the right way to do so! Some overly energetic and friendly pups can get excitable around new people and dogs. That can result in some unwanted whining, lunging, and jumping. When done correctly, socialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to greet people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on those common over-excited behaviors when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, hire a local puppy trainer or join an online puppy training school to help set you up for the best success! Do Calming Obedience Exercises With all their high-energy and high-drive, teaching your Golden how to be calm in everyday scenarios will help tame that wild side! Great calming exercises include having your puppy learn to wait for their food bowl and in thresholds each time you enter or leave a space. This also extends to activities like fetch. Goldens are a natal for this! This can be done simply by having your pup drop the toy when they return and pausing for a few moments giving them a chance to settle before throwing it again for them to retrieve. Teach Them to Walk Nicely on Leash Many high-energy pups have a tendency to lunge toward exciting new things! Couple that with a social nature, and you may encounter that your Golden Retriever puppy will start to pull on leash. Focus on teaching them proper leash manners including how to walk in Heel position and how to pass other people and pups without lunging, jumping and excited whining, barking or nipping at them! That can greatly help possible bad encounters with strangers and other dogs while teaching them great habits! Did you recently bring home a Golden Retriever puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! Aside from forcing you to get more active, having a canine friend can reduce stress for people of all ages. For starters, vaccinations start at weeks old and should be spaced out every two weeks. Golden retrievers have a reputation for being some of the best dog breeds for families. Are you looking to bring home a golden retriever puppy? Read on for an in-depth golden retriever guide to prepare you for your new best friend for life. Are Golden Retrievers Good Dogs? Of course, all dogs are the best boys and girls and deserve all the belly rubs in the world! However, when people ask if a golden retriever is a good dog, they want to know if the breed is a good fit for them. Some dogs also require extensive maintenance and can be too much for a beginner dog handler. For people wanting to make sure a golden is good for their lifestyle, the quick answer is yes. Golden retrievers are an all-around versatile breed for all kinds of people and are the best dogs you could ask for. Golden retrievers are amazing with kids and make for great family dogs. Goldens are a gentle bunch, and their intelligence and patience are often under-appreciated. They can handle household noise and curious toddlers with the patience of a saint. As a breed, they are well known for their loving, patient, gentle, and fun-loving nature. This is largely a result of upbringing and conditioning, as any dog can become aggressive if mistreated. If you want a friendly golden retriever, do your part and give them the love and care they need. Golden Retrievers Are Affectionate Goldens are affectionate and are sure to get along with any dog or person they meet. This is why you often see them excelling as therapy, comfort, and emotional support dogs. Golden Retrievers Have Wonderful Personalities There is nothing to not like about the personalities of this breed. They love to have fun, but they also like going with the flow. Given their history as hunting dogs, golden retrievers are curious and will go often go exploring if you let them. They also have plenty of courage and work ethic, making them great working dogs. Golden retrievers will always want to greet strangers and sneak a chance at some playtime. This makes them a poor choice to defend your home, as they might befriend the intruder instead. If you want a guard dog, a golden retriever may fall short of its responsibilities. They Can Be Mischievous This one should be obvious for anyone scrolling social media. Goldens have a penchant for tomfoolery and mischief, which can often be hilarious. Golden retriever puppies are particularly notorious for this. Part of this stems from their natural curiosity but also their relaxed and loving nature. While temperament is often a genetic arch-type and can differ from dog to dog, most of it is solid. This is a huge factor for families with multiple dogs or a cat. They May Have Trouble Behaving in Public Because goldens are so friendly, they sometimes have trouble behaving in public. Their temperament naturally pulls them toward new potential friends. You can work on these through socialization and by going slow. Take them to less crowded or busy places first, and work your way up until they get the hang of it. Keep an eye out for body language and physical contact. As we said, some of this comes built in, but you also have to work on it. There are two major things you need to do. If you want to ensure your golden has that loveable personality, start socializing them at a young age. Training is a must, and golden retrievers are usually eager to please. It also helps to get a puppy from a reputable breeder, not from any pet store or puppy mill. At My Golden Retriever Puppies , we breed and raise our puppies with the love and attention they deserve. Golden Retriever Traits Aside from personality and temperament, goldens have great traits. These include their trainability, intelligence, and energy levels. It also includes behaviors to watch out for, like chewing. For a quick dive, keep reading. Golden Retrievers Are Smart Golden retrievers are much more intelligent than people give them credit for. A great example is how the police love using them as sniffers and tracking dogs. As long as you put in the work, your golden will be able to flex its stuff. This has a lot to do with their intelligence and obedient and loving personality. Golden Retrievers Need Exercise Despite being pretty flexible with their energy levels, Goldens still need to exercise. Examples of this include frequent zoomies around the house or getting into messes. They Can Be Chewers Goldens can be chewers, and this stems from adolescence. Teething golden puppies will chew anything they can get their hands on. A great way to handle this is training and exercise. Goldens need stimulation. Playing tug of war or fetch is a great way to address that bad chewing habit. They are cute and smart, easy to train and grow up to be fantastic family dogs. Visit us today to bring the newest addition to your family home. A golden retriever is happy, loyal, affectionate, non-aggressive, and almost always friendly. They get along with almost everyone, including kids, strangers, and other animals. Do Golden Retrievers Bark a lot? For example, your puppy may boop things with their nose or use their paws to communicate. Are Golden Retrievers Well Behaved? Golden retrievers are some of the most well-behaved dogs out there. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. However, avoid retractable leashes whenever possible: Although they seem easier during walks, retractable leashes are actually dangerous, especially for young puppies who are still getting the hang of walking on a leash. Keep your puppy on a regular leash with a maximum of six feet of space between you both. Snowy Pines recommends slip leads: Slip leads are what puppies are taught to walk on from a young age at Snowy Pines, since they give you as the walker more control over the puppy as he gets the hang of normal walks. You can also opt for an embroidered collar if your puppy seems bothered by the noise or extra weight of the dog tags. Many puppy owners choose embroidered collars since dog tags should be removed when the puppy is left alone as they can pose a hazard. You can stick with a small food and water bowl. Puppy Food Your puppy will need high-quality food to grow strong! In most cases, this means his own dog crate. A good dog crate should be large enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably. You can choose a crate that expands as it grows to save money in the long run. Most of our puppies at Snowy Pines will do well in a inch wire kennel with a divider that you can remove once he gets bigger. Be sure to check out our dog bed reviews too! Remember that most toys should not be left alone with your puppy since unsupervised playtime can lead to a choking or blockage incident. Image Source Puzzle Toys Puzzle toys keep your pup mentally stimulated while they also have fun. Additionally, these interactive toys provide help with weight management, satisfy natural hunting instincts, and even relieve feelings of stress or anxiety. These toys can easily become a comfort item and help curb any potential anxiety as well. Chase Toys Golden puppies need to have regular exercise. Chase toys are simple things you can buy at any pet store, like ropes and balls, but some interactive chew toys are designed to add a little zing to your daily play routines. So, for example, if your puppy just woke up from his nap and pottied, but you need to do laundry and load the dishwasher, the exercise pen is a perfect solution. It enables your pup to enjoy safe solo playtime. Training Treats Food is a powerful reinforcer , so treats are incredibly beneficial in the early stages of puppy training. Try offering him a treat when he potties outside or uses a chew toy. Quick Tip: The treat should be small and chewy so that he can eat it fast and keep his attention on you! With the proper carpet cleaner and enzyme spray, you can quickly combat any potty mistakes anywhere in the house. Dog Shampoo and Conditioner The Retriever family has a unique, double-layered coat designed to keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. It also dries quickly after becoming wet. It is such an impressive coat that it is essentially self-cleaning when it comes to dirt and debris. Pooper Scooper and Poop Bags A pooper scooper is a handy tool that many homeowners with yards find essential. Instead of bending down every time your pup goes, you can use a pooper scooper to clutch onto the waste and quickly throw it in your outside garbage bin. They are also expected as a common courtesy to other people outside. So before your English Cream Golden puppy comes home, be sure that your home, backyard, and car are puppy-safe and puppy-proofed. In the Home: Image Source Keep the toilet lid closed. Believe it or not, open toilet lids have the potential to be drowning hazards. Secure medicine and cleaning products. Keep these products high up or use childproof locks and latches on lower cabinets. Garbage should be kept lidded and secure. Lidded, secured bins are the best type of garbage cans you can have with a young puppy. Not only do you want to avoid spilled garbage, but a locked lid will prevent your puppy from getting into any potential hazards. Hide electrical cords and blind cords. Exposed electrical cords and long blind cords can prove to be fatal for curious puppies. Keep electrical cords hidden away, buy cord wraps to keep them safely covered, and be sure that your blind cords are tied high and inaccessible. Invest in a pet or baby gate. Gates can be used for doorways or staircases to keep your puppy away from certain areas of the house. In the Backyard: Be careful of plants and landscaping that may be poisonous or dangerous. Many plants are toxic to dogs , so be sure to triple-check if any are growing in your yard. Secure your yard with fencing and add gates around bodies of water. If you plan to let your puppy roam freely in your backyard, you should have complete fencing with no puppy-sized gaps around the perimeter of the property. If you have any ponds or pools, block them off with appropriate fencing to avoid accidental drowning. Keep your yard landscaped and manicured. Long grass and brushy areas can invite ticks, which can be extremely dangerous if any potential bites are not discovered early on. Generally speaking, your grass should not be higher than a couple of inches and potentially even shorter while your puppy is still young. In the Car: Image Source Move any chewable items and lock loose items in the glovebox. Confine your puppy in one area of the vehicle, like the backseat. Keeping your puppy confined to one area of the car is safe for everyone. Many puppy parents choose harness seat belts and car seats for younger dogs, while older dogs are big enough to safely sit in the back seat or trunk with cargo barriers. As your Golden Retriever gets older, you may find yourself opting for different barrier methods that will better suit his size. Kennel your puppy while in the car. Crating your puppy is the safest mode of transportation while in the car. Deciding on a Daily Routine Like children, puppies thrive on a fixed routine because an orderly one instills structure and confidence. Sticking to a schedule can also help reinforce potty training and prevent behavioral issues , like separation anxiety and barking or whining. Think of a schedule that works best for your puppy, which should include: Feeding: Pick out regular meal times and stick to them as closely as possible. Golden Retriever puppies will need three daily feedings until they are six months old. After that, stick to feeding twice a day at the same time each day. Fixed meal times will help you predict when your puppy needs to potty each day, which better ensures easier potty training. Scheduled potty breaks: Take your puppy out to the yard or on a walk to potty immediately after a meal and after they wake up to enforce a schedule that will help with house training. Playtime and exercise: Playing and mental stimulation are key to a happy puppyhood. Even though they will mellow out in personality as they become adults, Retriever puppies are high energy! Place the dog crate in a quiet part of the house since we kennel train at Snowy Pines, and it helps ensure their safety and comfort. And now is the exciting part: Your puppy is finally home! But now what? Puppy Socialization Socialization is vital for young puppies, especially between 8 to 16 weeks of age: A well-socialized puppy will grow into a happy and confident adult that feels secure in various situations. You can also invite friends and family over to meet the puppy. In this case, more is always merrier! To help your puppy feel comfortable around humans in general, expose him to different types of people when he is still young. We also recommend holding off on public settings like dog parks until your puppy is settled into his new home and routine so as to not overwhelm him. Once your puppy is vaccinated, you can consider signing him up for puppy socialization classes. These classes, alongside training courses, can help prepare your pup for a long walk or a day at doggy day camp. Training Techniques Training is just as essential as early socialization. He may become disruptive and exhibit poor behaviors like jumping on visitors, chewing on furniture, and barking incessantly, among other frustrating challenges. Your puppy may also struggle with separation anxiety. They will comprehend basic commands and learn things such as his name, housebreaking, and early manners. They will be able to take on more advanced training and commands, and they should understand what good dog manners are. This age is essential when it comes to instilling how you want him to behave through adolescence. Puppies will begin teething at this point. Your new puppy might use anything possible to exercise his teeth, so you must start teaching him not to use your hand or furniture as chew toys. Anytime your puppy chews on something undesirable, have a toy nearby to put in his mouth instead. You can also try using bitter apple spray to deter biting and chewing on household items. Be firm but loving with clear, consistent commands and minute training sessions each day. Quick Tip: Keep in mind that at this age, this is when the key socialization period ends for your puppy: From this point forward, everything your puppy has learned will influence the way he behaves around people and other animals. While this is good, this age will also be a challenge because he will try to determine his ranking in the household, which can be frustrating when hormones play a role! Although spaying and neutering are standard for most breeds around six months old, studies have found that doing so for Golden Retrievers can actually increase the risk for joint disorders. Therefore, the standard for this breed has recently changed, and many vets suggest waiting to spay or neuter until 12 to 24 months. Training can be an overwhelming process, which is why many Golden puppy owners opt for working with a dog trainer or enrolling in training classes. Snowy Pines offers three levels of training when adopting one of their golden retrievers, which can save you tons of time and frustration in the long run. At your first checkup, you can also ask about getting your puppy microchipped! Golden Retrievers are wonderful, right? Well then, of course everyone should have one. Either way, it is vital that you examine your own lifestyle, needs and wants to see if a golden is right for you. And, conversely, you need to evaluate if you can meet the needs of a golden retriever. If you can, we can attest to the fact that owning a golden is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have! They are addicting and people seldom have just one in their lifetimes. Here are a few things to consider: Size Goldens are medium to large sized animals. The standard size for males range from 23 — 24 inches at the shoulder and weigh proportionally from pounds. Females stand around .They normally possess extremely active tails making clean sweeps of coffee and end tables. Quite simply they need room. Uncluttered houses are a must! A fenced in yard is especially important in providing the dog enough exercise. Another option is a fenced dog park or walking trail. You must have a plan to give your golden enough exercise on a daily basis or both of you will be miserable. The younger the golden, the more exercise they generally need. Velcro Dog Goldens are faithful companions. They are usually always by your side, many will follow you from room to room. They will lie in the kitchen while you cook and at your feet while you watch TV. They must be near their humans to be happy. Be prepared to do a lot of hands on petting with your golden — they love it. Some goldens are downright needy in their desire for attention from their humans. Leashes You may have visions of letting your dog play fetch in an open field or running free on the beach. As a sporting dog they are easily distracted by birds, animals or moving objects; they must be kept leashed when being exercised outside of a fenced yard to keep them from running off. Shedding In Florida, goldens shed moderately all year long. Brushing every other day is to your advantage. If you require a fastidiously kept house, a golden is not the dog for you unless you like to do a lot of cleaning. You will always have dog hair around, especially in rugs, on furniture, and OH YES, occasionally even in your food. With a golden in your house, hair becomes a condiment. Oh — and you will have to vacuum much more often than before — or little fur balls will accumulate along your baseboards! Make sure you have a really good vacuum cleaner that you love using before bringing a golden into your home. Health Goldens are prone to allergies, skin problems, cancer and hypothyroidism and you may have to spend a fair amount on vet care over the life of a golden. Common inherited health issues are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, various eye problems and heart disease. That is relatively cheap compared to if your dog has a health issue and requires veterinary care which today runs as much as human health care. Setting aside a monthly amount for a future emergency is a must. There are also quality pet insurance programs available. Goldens must be fed a high quality premium food to prevent costly skin problems — which means you will not be able to buy your food at the grocery or discount store — and will have to make a special trip to the pet supply store. There are other expenses such as toys, collars and leashes, brushes, shampoos and soft cozy beds. A well cared for dog, like its human counterpart, is happier with regular checkups and daily care. Grooming Goldens can be adequately groomed at home without expensive equipment. Grooming includes brushing, bathing, trimming hair from the pads of the feet, light trimming on ears, tails and back legs when necessary, and trimming nails. Neatness Goldens are easily housebroken and make great housedogs. They tend to be messy drinkers, dripping water on the floor after they take their drink. You might even encounter a little slobber. Training Goldens are usually easy to potty train and make great house dogs. Many owners wish to make their goldens into good canine citizens. Moreover, goldens tend to be sensitive or soft in many training situations. They must be handled carefully with a loving, firm, but gentle approach. The end result is a well-mannered dog that is a joy to be around. Small Children People automatically assume goldens are the perfect dog for a family with children. Golden puppies quickly grow up to be rambunctious, strong bundles of energy that easily can play too rough with young children, especially when they are 6 months to two years of age. Though they may bark and growl defensively, when it comes down to brass tacks — they will gladly hold the flashlight for the burglar and give them a big kiss. Outside Dogs Goldens make poor outside dogs. Especially in Florida, they develop skin problems and flea allergies if kept outside. They frequently develop thunderstorm anxiety. As sporting dogs they are easily able to dig out of a fence or sometimes climb over it when left outside for long periods of unsupervised time because they want to be with people. They also are frequent targets for theft if left outside in a backyard when the owner is away from home. Goldens are very social and are pack oriented. They frequently develop behavior problems when they are kept separated from their families. A happy golden is an inside dog. Male or Female? Many people are fixated on getting a female golden, thinking that females are more laid back and affectionate than males. This is not true. Male goldens are blessed with loving personalities. Many people call them big teddy bears and even prefer male over female goldens. Well, there you have it — the inside scoop on owning a golden. Goldens Rescued Since
The exceptional family companion. Welcome to Shady Creek Labradoodles Love is a four legged word When all else fails, hug the dog When all else fails, hug the dog Shady Creek Australian Labradoodles is dedicated to breeding healthy and well-balanced Australian Labradoodles. We began breeding out of an intense love for these gentle and intelligent animals. These happy dogs make the perfect family pet! When all else fails, hug the dog When all else fails, hug the dog When all else fails, hug the dog We are not a kennel or facility. Our Australian Labradoodles live as our pets and sleep in our bedrooms. For the love of dogs, we are: When all else fails, hug the dog For the love of dogs, we are: Careful to select Australian Labradoodle breeders for temperament, confirmation and health Sure to provide extensive health testing of our breeding dogs to the Gold Paw standard of the ALAA to ensure you receive a healthy and happy puppy Dedicated to providing proper socialization training for all of our Australian Labradoodle dogs and puppies We offer lifetime support to you and your dog ALAA Approved Australian Labradoodle Breeder Approved Breeder What does our being an ALAA approved breeder mean? It means that all the things you should be concerned about when looking for an Australian Labradoodle puppy have already been required and verified by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America. You can be assured that everything is being done to breed the healthiest Australian Labradoodle puppies possible. All litters and puppies must be registered and the appropriate pedigree information provided to families. Being an ALAA registered Australian Labradoodle breeder means you can be assured we are responsible and accountable to an organization that has very strict guidelines and requirements in place that protect you as a buyer. Our Partners "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. We are a small hobby breeder of Labradoodle puppies in Orange County that focuses on temperament and health. We first started raising labradoodles in when were first introduced to the breed by a dear family friend who was raising them as well when we found out our son was allergic to dogs and could no longer raise boxers, which we raised for ten years prior to the labradoodles. This breed has been such a joy and just an amazing difference in behavior, obedience and intelligence. They are just truly an incredible breed. All of our pups are raised solely indoors with our family. We keep in contact with many of the families who have adopted our labradoodles which can be seen on our facebook page at www. If you are not ready for one of our cuties just yet and will be looking in the near future, get on our waiting list now! Still accepting names. If you would like to be added to this list, please feel free to contact us for more information. Most questions can be answered there. Pix posted on there will be the most up to date photos available of the puppies we currently have. As there are videos of the current pups posted there that we are unable to post here. Please refer to our puppies available page for our disease protocol. Adventurous Labradoodles past pups photo gallery Contact Us. Mini Labradoodle vs Mini Sheepadoodle Comparison Two dog breeds, one purpose: to make your life a joy-filled journey powered by strong bonds, friendship, and unconditional love. Meet the Mini Labradoodle and the Mini Sheepadoodle. Two very adorable and friendly dogs with upbeat personalities, the Mini Labradoodle and Mini Sheepadoodle make the perfect addition to any lucky family. Your way of life, hobbies, and work schedule are all important factors that can help determine which of the two dog breeds is a good fit for your lifestyle.Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with joy, cuddles, and a few inevitable challenges. One of the most common questions new puppy owners ask is, "When can puppies go outside? They are fun, easygoing, and gentle. Mini Labradoodles enjoy canine games like chase, fetch, and Frisbee, and thrive on cuddles and love. Energetic, friendly, and full of life, the Mini Labradoodles make wonderful jogging and hiking companions. They are known to enjoy a good swim, a long stroll, and are very fond of adventures. The Mini Labradoodle puppies are happy, energetic, and bright bundles of joy. They are loving and eager to please, love to play and cuddle, and are excellent training students. A cross between Labrador Retrievers and Mini or Toy Poodles, the Mini Labradoodle may take after one parent breed or the other in appearance or they may have their own unique look with an added bonus of a hypoallergenic coat. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Orange California and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted.
Rest assured when purchasing a dog from us that years of breeding and training experience have gone into the development and selection of your German shepherd dog or puppy. Black, Dark Sables, as well as Red and Black German shepherd male and female puppies are available by reservation. Martin Z. Riverside is over an hour drive from me in the valley, but; the puppies that come from the breeder are worth the drive and more! My all black German Shepard "Sirius" is an absolute dream! The breeder and his family truly care for the dogs and their upbringing. Arsalaan constantly checks in to see how me and Sirius are doing and is there to answer any questions you may have. Whether it's your first dog or not give him a call! He'll walk you through the steps and be there with you for guidance. Gavin U. Arsalaan and his family are very kind, caring breeders! When I first reached out to him, he was very quick with a response and easy to communicate with. He truly takes great pride in his pups and is very helpful to answer any questions that may arise. I brought Bear home with me on Dec 16 and he was nice, clean, and healthy upon pick up. Arsalaan provided Bear's list of shots as well as his pedigree and some other additional documents. You will not be disappointed working with him, highly recommend him and his family to help you bring home your newest family member! Mitchell K. Very responsible breeder, I came from Arizona and couldn't be happier. Very helpful before and after receiving my puppy. I highly recommended. Jimmy M. I call Arsalaan whenever I have questions and he is always very helpful with training tips and advice. I get a lot compliments on her looks. Elvia B. I am so grateful for all of the help I got from Arsalaan, and we also appreciate him following up on our puppy "Rexie". He's given us great advice even before we decided to get Rexie. Although he's up north about a 90 minute drive from us, it was definitely worth it. He kept our puppy even after her 8 weeks we couldn't bring her home because it was a Christmas gift. When I took Rexie to her first vet visit the vet said " this breeder definitely knows what he's doing ". Rexie came with up to date vaccinations and AKC forms paid for just have to finish writing them up. Our new family member is a happy and healthy puppy! Plus she sleeps through the night quietly from day one. Amazing Thank you Arsalaan. Located in beautiful Southern California, we strive to breed superior quality family dogs that will not only make great companions and protectors for your family but that also represent the German Shepherd breed well with the exceptional temperament the breed is known and loved for worldwide. We breed only top German V and VA bloodlines that possess superior health and temperament through generations of hip and elbow certified and temperament tested dogs. Additionally all of our dogs are tested for Degenerative Myelopathy to be sure we are producing puppies safe from this disease. Additionally all of our dogs are DNA tested Clear for the MDR1 gene that can cause mild to severe reactions to a variety of medications. Please visit our testimonials page to read review from many of our clients through the years. Also be sure to visit our Dogs For Sale page to see retired females and males we currently have available to the right homes. Check back often as we are always updating photos of our available puppies. With keeping a small number of dogs we have time to give plenty of love and individual attention to them and the puppies when we have them. Our dogs are not kept in kennels, they live with us as part of our family, with room to roam outside on our one acre property and a warm spot inside to sleep. All puppies are raised inside our home in a clean and healthy environment. All whelpings are supervised by us and assisted as needed to ensure the best start and to protect the health of the mother and her puppies. All puppies are well socialized with small children, cats and our other dogs. Temperament is very important to us, our breeding dogs have wonderful temperaments that they pass on to their puppies. Puppies are temperament tested so that we can help you to find the perfect fit for your family and your needs. We actively show our dogs on the local, national and international level thereby striving to breed dogs of quality bloodlines and structure that adhere to the German SV standard for the German Shepherd dog. We make every effort to continue to learn and to improve our bloodlines by importing dogs of superior quality with top German VA bloodlines to bring you the highest and best quality puppy for you and your family to enjoy. Our hope as breeders is that we can provide the best quality German Shepherd puppy with an outstanding temperament that will in turn make a lasting impression on you and your family like they have in ours. I have so many customers that have been lifelong fans of the German Shepherd, that have grown up with German Shepherds and long for that companionship again with the dog of their childhood. I look forward to providing the dog of your dreams to you and your family! Call today to begin your future with a great German Shepherd Dog of your own. Call or email for an appointment to visit us and to meet our dogs and puppies. Join and learn directly from Nadelhaus founder Traci Needles, who has over 25 years of experience breeding and training German Shepherds. Over 50 videos on the following topics covering German Shepherd puppies, housebreaking, crate training, obedience, feeding, grooming, wellness, and much more. New videos to be added every month. Our customers come from all over including Sacramento, the Central Valley, the Bay Area, Southern California, and even from out of state. Not only do we breed German Shepherd puppies, we offer puppy and dog training , dog boarding , and can import fully-trained German Shepherds. What makes Nadelhaus German Shepherds different from other dog breeders? This is the breed club founded in by Max von Stephanitz, who set the standards of the German Shepherd dog breed. The quality of dogs bred to the rules of the SV is second to none. A West German dog is regulated for its sound mind and body. We focus on breeding our dogs for structure, movement, workability, trainability, hips, elbows, pigment, and coat. Our goal is to to produce the best quality German Shepherd again and again, aiming to better the breed every time we breed our dogs. What is the price to buy a Nadelhaus German Shepherd puppy? Our Puppy Application page will provide you with more information on the application, deposit, and matching process. Once you have read through these steps, you can click through to the application form and view the prices for both Nadelhaus German Shepherd puppies as well as import German Shepherd puppies. If I buy a German Shepherd puppy, can you ship it to me? If you are not able to pick your puppy up from our facility in Northern California, we can ship a puppy to you. Shipping rates vary by location and include a health certificate vet visit, transportation costs, and an airline approved crate. Contact us for shipping details. Do you sell long-haired German Shepherd puppies? Nadelhaus breeds German Shepherds puppies all year round and while the majority of puppies we sell are short coat aka short hair , we do have occasionally have long coat long hair puppies. Learn more about long-haired German Shepherds. Can I have a German Shepherd puppy or dog imported from Europe? Puppies bred at Nadelhaus sell quick and even with a deposit, there is generally a wait list for our puppies. If you are interested in skipping the wait list, consider having a puppy imported from Germany. Importing a German Shepherd puppy is a special opportunity to acquire a very beautiful dog with special bloodlines. Both the female mother and male stud are often top V and VA dogs in Germany and come from very popular and highly sought after bloodlines. If you are interested in importing a puppy, simply fill out the same puppy application and click the checkbox that you would like to import a puppy. Will my German Shepherd puppy have its shots and vaccines? All of our puppies receive their vaccinations and are de-wormed to date. They are vet checked at six weeks old. Visit akcreunite. Owners must complete their portion of the paperwork and mail in the registration to the AKC along with the proper fee. We have some puppies born to German imports, so we must mail the paperwork to owners post-purchase. How much should I feed my 8 week old German Shepherd puppy? Our article covers care from the moment you pick up your puppy at the Nadelhaus kennels, to feeding, common issues, introduction to other dogs in the home and more. Our trained driver can transport your German Shepherd to our kennels for puppy purchases, dog training or dog boarding. Trust that your German Shepherd will be transported with care: our driver is knowledgeable about the breed, trained in dog handling and transport, and our transporting service is bonded and insured. This service is exclusive to Nadelhaus purchased German Shepherds. We do not transport dogs that were not purchased or imported through Nadelhaus. Pricing below are estimates only. Our transportation services are generally limited to Northern California, but we encourage you to contact us with any inquiries for your location or for a price quote. Male deposit 1- ES Female deposit 1-CM Male deposit 2- Female deposit 2-VP Male deposit 3- Female deposit 3- Male deposit 4- Female deposit 4- If you would like to know litters coming later than this please give us a call Before you place a deposit, Please download or print our guarantee and contract. Fill it out and return to us either by texting it, scanning and emailing or through regular mail. Remember that regular mail is slower and cause you to not get the spot you want if I get other deposits and contracts before yours. Once I receive your signed contract and your deposit, I will sign one and send one back. New-contract-June 15 We distribute the best dry food available for dogs and cats! Most people want to feed the best and LA is just that! Or if you will be taking home a puppy soon, make sure you buy a puppy start pack. The start up pack is on the same page as the food. Performance shows what the dog IS. If you wanted to ship your puppy, you would need to first come to our kennels and then ship the puppy out yourself. Or you can use a ground transportation company. By placing a deposit on a litter not yet born, please keep this in mind and be willing to move your deposit onto another litter at a later date. This allows us to offer puppies to pet homes at a more affordable price. You will still get AKC papers except they will say limited. If you bred a dog that was registered limited, then you would not be able to register the offspring. This limit however, can be lifted by the breeder. That said, while it can be done, I strongly urge anyone who lives in an apartment to think carefully about how much time and work it can be to keep a large, working dog in an apartment. I will not sell a puppy to anyone who lives in an apartment and leaves the dog home alone all day. At least one person needs to be home during the day. The dog needs to be taken outside to play at least once a day and taken for potty breaks many times EVERY day. Also, please check with your apartments rules on German Shepherds; some complexes do not allow them. New strains of the Parvo Virus are abundant and it is my job to keep puppies safe. I use a high titer Parvo Vaccine at 4 weeks but this may not protect all puppies. So please understand as much as you would like to visit with your puppies as they grow I can no longer allow this until they are 7 weeks. I will send out emails with pictures or videos weekly. No outside dogs are allowed at anytime. Thank you for understanding how important it is for me to keep the puppies safe. If you do visit other breeders, please do so on a different day that you visit. Von Ward Kennels will take back any puppy at any time in their lives if their owners can no longer care for them. Please never take a Von Wards dog to a shelter if you can no longer keep them. While most of our dogs are larger than the standard, we do have a couple of breeding females that are within standard.
How do I get my Golden Retriever to eat? Golden Retriever eating habits Usually, adult Golden Retrievers eat 2 cups of kibble a day, given as two meals about 12 hours apart. What causes a dog not to eat? There are several reasons why your Golden Retriever may not want to eat. Consider a few of them as discussed below: 1. Illness Like all dogs, Golden Retrievers are also susceptible to anorexia. Though not a very serious illness for dogs, it does affect their feeding. Even though your Golden Retriever looks fine and normal, this decline in appetite is an early symptom of an infection such as worm infestation or other digestive problems. Dental Problems Like every other dog, Golden Retrievers do not show they are in pain from their teeth. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see a Golden Retriever with dental issues, which can cause them to not want to eat. This also happens during teething. Vaccination Vaccination also comes with its own side effect, which is a temporary loss of appetite. Change in the type and time of feeding: Golden Retrievers are very routine animals, and a drastic change in their feeding time or type of food can cause some unwanted reactions, such as a decline in their appetite. Fussiness At this point, I would encourage you to find out, if your Golden Retriever not eating, or is it simply not eating what you are feeding it? The age of your Golden Retriever, being choosy about their meals, or even an addition of a new dog in the family, as well as bullying from older dogs can all affect if your dog feels like eating. When should I worry about my dog not eating? After eight to twelve hours of noticing this trend, you should be concerned, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, or a significant physical change. In the absence of these accompanying changes, you should worry 48 hours after this started. An excellent place to begin is your feeding bowl. But first, ensure that the feeding bowl for our Golden Retriever is always clean. This is because a well-bred Golden Retriever would be very reluctant to eat from a messy bowl. Also, if other dogs are in the house , you can reserve a separate bowl for your Gold Retriever. When changing their meal type, bear in mind that dogs cannot read nutritional contents as we do but would instead stick to a familiar taste, especially ones they have come to cherish. When all this is done and no improvement is seen, it is time to see a veterinary doctor. It is important for senior dogs to have a feeding routine, that the food bowl remain in the same area of the house so that they know where to find it, and that they have a rug or yoga mat to stand on while eating to avoid slipping or having trouble standing on hard floors. If your senior dog has gone longer than 24 hours without eating, they should see their veterinarian for a thorough physical examination and possible diagnostics to investigate the cause of their loss of appetite. Is Your Dog a Puppy? Small breed puppies, especially, are at a high risk of hypoglycemia low blood sugar and should be watched closely for signs of lethargy or collapse if they are not eating. If this happens, they should be treated on an emergency basis. Some puppies may not like larger kibble, as it can be hard for their puppy teeth to chew, especially if they are just transitioning to solid food. This can be remedied by mixing in water and letting it soak to create more of a porridge consistency, or the kibble can be mixed with canned food as well. If your puppy still will not eat, they should be seen right away by a veterinarian. If they are also lethargic, vomiting, or having diarrhea, they should be seen on an emergency basis. A newly adopted dog can take days or weeks to settle into their new home. It is important to ensure that they are given a quiet place to eat, away from other pets or children that may interrupt them. However, if they are lethargic, vomiting, or having diarrhea, or go more than 48 hours without eating anything, they should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Did Anything Change in Your Household? Some dogs may be sensitive enough that a change in their environment may cause inappetence. Examples include a new addition to the family whether a new pet or a new baby , construction, having people over, or even a change in the location of the food and water bowls. Some dogs with separation anxiety even expect their loved one to be in the room while they eat, and will stop eating if their human leaves the room. While this is not necessarily a health concern, it is a sign that your dog may have severe anxiety that needs to be addressed. Calming chews such as Composure or Solliquin may be helpful, and calming pheromone collars or diffusers such as Adaptil can be beneficial as well. However, if you are concerned that your dog may have severe separation anxiety, consider consulting with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist for help. Did You Switch Dog Foods? This also allows your dog to get used to the new food over time, rather than making a sudden switch. Is Your Dog Pregnant or in Heat? Early in pregnancy , your dog may have a reduced or absent appetite. If your dog is in the middle or late part of her gestation, she may eat less because her stomach has less room to expand due to the presence of puppies, but she should make up for this by eating a smaller amount more frequently. Regardless of what point of gestation your dog is in, if she has not eaten in over 24 hours, your veterinarian should be called right away to ensure that everything is okay. Dogs in heat may also have a decreased appetite, which is considered normal. However, if she goes longer than 48 hours without eating anything, she should be checked by her veterinarian. If she is lethargic, vomiting, having diarrhea, or drinking and urinating more than usual, she should be seen by her veterinarian right away, as this could indicate an infection in the uterus known as pyometra. Is Your Dog Diabetic? If your dog is diabetic and will not eat, this could be an indication that something is seriously wrong. If your veterinarian advised you to give a half dose of insulin if your dog skips one meal, do so, but alert your veterinarian immediately if your dog skips another meal. If your diabetic dog skips a meal, is lethargic, nonresponsive, or vomiting or having diarrhea, they should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, as this could be an indication of hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis, both of which are life-threatening if not treated right away. It is not unusual for your dog to skip a meal or two after a surgery. You may try tempting your dog to eat with a spoonful of canned food or boneless, skinless, boiled chicken on top of their kibble. Better yet, ask your veterinarian for a few cans of a prescription gastrointestinal diet to feed for the first few days after surgery. These foods are highly palatable, are easily digestible, and can help counteract some of the gastrointestinal upset that can happen after surgery and anesthesia. If your dog had oral or facial surgery, your veterinarian may recommend feeding only canned food for two or more weeks. This also means that your dog should not receive hard treats or chew on hard toys until they are declared healed at their recheck appointment. If your dog is refusing to eat the prescribed canned food, reach out to your veterinarian in case there are any post-operative complications. Heat canned food for a few seconds in the microwave make sure to take it out of the metal can and put it into a microwave-safe bowl. Canned food can become scorching hot quickly, so feel the food first to avoid any burned tongues. Try mixing some plain, boneless, skinless boiled chicken and rice with their kibble to encourage them to eat. Add a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora or Advita on top of the food. Not only can this make the food more palatable, but it can also help any inflamed or irritated intestine heal by rebalancing a healthy gastrointestinal flora. If you have tried these tricks and your dog continues to refuse his food, he should be seen by his veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Unless explicitly prescribed by your veterinarian, your dog should not be given any over-the-counter gastrointestinal medications like Imodium or Pepto Bismol , as these could cause serious side effects or even interact with medications that your veterinarian may want to give. It is best to consult with your veterinarian before attempting to treat symptoms at home. Featured image: iStock. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? A change in your routine, such as working nights Moving his bowl to a different room All these changes may trouble your Golden Retriever and cause him to lose interest in his food. Only make multiple changes one at a time. If your Retriever has an upset stomach, including vomiting and diarrhea, you may need to contact your veterinarian sooner. Other causes could be allergies or parasites. Furthermore, your dog might have eaten something harmful. Golden Retrievers are renowned for eating things you may accidentally leave lying around. Secure the garbage to prevent your pup from snaffling any rotten food! Never leave foods, such as grapes, raisins, or chocolate, lying around or where your Golden can reach them, as just a tiny amount can be poisonous, causing severe harm. Medication If your Golden Retriever has recently started taking some medication and is no longer interested in eating, he may be suffering from side effects, including nausea and loss of appetite. Ensure to inform your vet, as there could be a more suitable alternative to switch to. Occasionally, vaccinations can cause an unpleasant reaction. If your Golden Retriever has had his recent shots, this could be the short-term cause of his reduced appetite. The good news is this should only be temporary. In the meantime, ensure your Golden drinks lots of fresh water and remains hydrated. The constant flow of water tempts your dog to drink and keeps his water fresh. I like this one due to its large size, and it comes with replaceable carbon filters. Dental Pain If your Golden Retriever stops eating his kibble all at once, it could be because his food is causing pain or discomfort in his mouth. Some causes could be an abscess, a damaged tooth, a cut, gum disease, or teething in puppies. In such an event, try adding warm water to his dinner to make it moist or briefly switch over to a wet diet and have his mouth checked at the vet. So you might be wondering: when is it time to call the vet? How long can Golden Retrievers go without eating? Golden Retrievers can go between days without eating as long as they remain hydrated. However, you should call your vet if your dog has refused to eat for more than 48 hours, as he could be sick. In any case, unhealthy, underweight, young, elderly, or pregnant dogs will need medical attention sooner. Sick dogs, like, humans, need to eat sooner than later. Hospitalized dogs had a better chance of leaving the hospital when they ate enough food to fulfill their resting energy requirements. The take-home message is simple for owners: If your Golden Retriever stops eating for a day or so, but is otherwise alert and active, keep a close eye on him. Try feeding him some bland home-cooked food such as plain white rice with cooked chicken. If your dog is reserved, quiet, or showing other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or has not eaten for two days, then you should seek veterinary care. How do you get your dog to start eating again? To get your Golden Retriever to eat, change his diet or feeding behavior. Switch his food to something more aromatic; add warm water, chicken broth, or a topping, such as meat or fish, to his food. Choose a more fragrant food. Change to better quality food with a powerful meaty aroma. Add warm water or unsalted chicken or beef broth. Add a topping. Add wet dog food or other toppings such as plain Greek yogurt, chicken, or tuna. I frequently take this approach as I find it works with my dog. Exercise your Golden before feeding to work up an appetite. However, please wait at least an hour before putting his bowl down to prevent bloat GDV. Remove his bowl after 15 minutes and return it a few hours later. Try hand-feeding for a while to see if your doggo just wants some TLC! Limit treats to training times only. Try keeping his mealtimes separate from yours or keep him in another room at your meals. Give him lots of praise and encouragement when he eats from his bowl. Make feeding time fun — put a lid on his food so he has to remove it first. Make it into a game. If your dog perceives you are stressed and anxious about his loss of appetite, he may become more stressed and refuse to eat! Try an interactive dog feeder to make mealtimes more enjoyable for your Golden Retriever. They are effective, especially if your dog is easily distracted by his surroundings. This crazy bestseller has over 80, positive reviews! However, if your dog is persistently not eating, you must figure out the root of the problem and solve it. Hopefully, these suggestions will resolve the situation and return your beloved doggo to his everyday eating habits. Good luck! Related Posts You May Like:. Some reasons can be quite common such as having a fever, while others can be a bit worrisome like having the flea flu. This is usually a good thing to do if you want to catch a disease in its initial stages. This is all the more important if your dog can eat almost anything and everything within seconds but has stopped altogether. These are some of the most common reasons why dogs tend to not eat food. However, I still recommend that you visit your vet anyway, to be sure. You need to sort this behavioral issue out if you have a spoilt Goldy Travel to new places: This is another common thing that pet owners do not realize. The illness may not necessarily be a serious one, however, loss of appetite is one of the symptoms of diseases such as systemic infections, cancers, kidney failure, liver infections, pain, etc. Senior Dog: Some aging Goldies are known to stop eating because they actually forget to do it! Other than that, your aging pooch may have dental pain and issues so, contacting your vet is the best thing to do Vaccination: One of your biggest responsibilities as a pet owner should be to get your dog vaccinated for life-threatening diseases as they prevent your dog from getting serious diseases. But, in some cases, vaccines have adverse effects that may cause your doggy friend to get a little sick and lose his appetite for a few days. Adding things that your dog likes such as chicken, eggs, etc. So, any changes in their routine results in a domino effect which means that your dog will need to get used to his new routine and adjust his eating habits accordingly. Addition of a new dog in the family: Adding a new member to your family can be exciting and stressful at the same time which is one of the reasons why your Goldy might have lost his appetite. Other issues: In this section, we have only included some of the common ones. Other issues include problems such as being around a dominant or even aggressive dog, the food bowl being at an uncomfortable height for the dog to eat out of it, an unwashed or bad-smelling food bowl, etc. If your dog hasn't been feeling the kibble lately, the first thing you should do is to determine what the cause could be. You must do everything in your power to keep your furry companion happy and healthy. Still, have any unanswered questions or concerns? Leave them in the comments section and we will help you right out! More Health.
german shepherd puppy at 4 months - As you can see in the photos below, both the red Goldendoodles in our pack Chloe and Ruby had red puppy coats. Also, you can see in the photos that the coat color lightened over time. For our Goldendoodles, the coat color change was very gradual and happened into adulthood. From my research and years of connecting with other Doodle moms, this seems typical of many red Goldendoodles. Coat colors may fade or lighten even through adulthood. Left: Chloe, a red F1B Goldendoodle as a puppy. Right: Chloe as a full-grown adult. I like comparing a Goldendoodle to opening a box of Cracker Jacks. Left: Ruby, a red F1 Goldendoodle as a puppy. Right: Ruby as a full-grown adult. Color changes are gradual. When Chloe was a puppy, I noticed that around five months of age, some white hairs started popping up in her red coat. Over time, her coat lightened from a radiant red to a color I describe as cinnamon red. Some call this graying. I like to call it cinnamon and sugar. Ruby, an F1 Goldendoodle puppy. Red Goldendoodles are so much more than their teddy bear good looks. No matter the coat color, type wavy, curly, or fleece or size mini Goldendoodle or pound lap sitter , Goldendoodle dogs are so much more than their teddy bear good looks. Because they tend to be smart, social, and easily trained, many Goldendoodles become working dogs including therapy dogs or service dogs. Or, take a peek into a day in the life of Harley and Jaxson, two Goldendoodle therapy dogs who comfort patients at a hospital. Many Goldendoodles love exercising, energy burns, adventures, and brain games. Red Goldendoodles, like most Goldendoodles are smart. They require daily exercise and plenty of brain games or mental stimulation. Introducing canine enrichment —giving your dog the opportunity to sniff, chew, play, explore, etc. Typically, Goldendoodles are active dogs and love to play. A Goldendoodle can spark joy in your life. Bringing a Goldendoodle into your home is exciting as well as filled with new responsibilities. The most important things you can do? Give your new family member lots of tender loving care, socialization, time with the family, age-appropriate exercise, positive training, ongoing veterinary care, and your time and attention. Autumn leaves. Red delicious apples. So many amazing things are red…including our dear Goldendoodle dogs. These comical crimson Doodles tend to be quick to learn, eager to fit in with the entire family, and ready to adapt to life with you. Finally, there is one Goldendoodle universal that many parents know. Do you have a red Goldendoodle? Please comment below. It has been updated to include more information about red Goldendoodles. Like our previous litters, these puppies should prove to have beauty, intelligence, a gentle nature, and if you are so inclined to develop it, hunting drive! Our dam, AKC registered dark Golden Retriever, Roxie, is 70 lbs of playful, fun-loving, kid snuggling, sweetness with a beautiful wavy auburn colored coat. Not to mention that she can find a single pheasant feather in a 5-acre field! Our dam, AKC registered Golden Retriever, Aspen, is 60 lbs, a gorgeous deep mahogany red and has stunning conformation as well as a sweet, playful temperament. She will begin her breeding career in the fall of .We are so excited to meet her first litter of pups! Our sire, AKC registered red Standard Poodle, Fisher, is 65 lbs and a smart, sweet, affectionate boy with a soft curly red coat and a gentle disposition. Fisher began his breeding career in the spring of and we are so pleased with his sweet, smart, beautiful pups! We continuously strive for the perfect combination of temperament, intelligence, conformation, aesthetics, and utility to ensure that our F1 red Goldendoodle puppies make great family pets and hunting companions! Our puppies come vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and their health is guaranteed. They will be handled frequently by adults and children to ensure optimal socialization and exposed to other dogs and cats to maximize their chances for success in their new family environments. Each pup will also be introduced to game birds and assessed for hunting potential in the interest of helping our hunting families choose the best prospects. John and Christina Norton. In every F1b litter there will be puppies that have loose-wavy coats, super curly coats, and everything in between. These puppies are very desirable for families who have allergies. All of the happy, friendly, playful personality without all the shedding! The normal height for a standard F1B Goldendoodle is about " from the shoulder to the paw. Weight range tends to be pounds. Happy and playful with a beautiful shaggy to wavy coat. The normal height for a standard F1 Goldendoodle is about ". Colors will range from Cream to Apricot to red, some with white markings. Moyen goldendoodles will range from lbs. Colors will range from Cream to Apricot to red. Mini goldendoodles will range from 20 to 30 lbs, depending on the mom. Let us know is you are interested in Mini. Colors will range from Cream to Apricot. Mini goldendoodles will range from lbs. To secure a puppy, an application fee will need to be made here. This non-refundable Application fee will secure your puppy. The balance plus a processing fee will be due at 6 weeks old. Please remember that we do not have control of when our females get pregnant, these are estimated times and may change a little! All lists are filled in order of Application dates. Inquire This Is Our Story When we purchased our standard poodle back in , she absolutely captured our hearts with her love and affection. Ruby grew to be a great listener and an absolute joy to be around. She so generously spread her love around our home that when the opportunity presented itself to potentially see Ruby become a Mama and watch her offspring come into the world to bless others, we jumped at the call. Being a genetically tested, healthy, and life loving poodle, we knew that Ruby would make a great mother. Moreover, Ruby has proven to be an excellent Emotional Support Animal, having been designer bred for an affectionate, yet supportive and intelligent temperament. Through thoughtful in home breeding with round the clock attention, we hope to share her special temperament with the world through each designer bred and carefully raised puppy. Care That You Can Trust We are an in-home boutique breeder that pours genuine love and affection into our Mama and each puppy she bears. Mom and Puppy wellbeing are our top priority. Get Ready for the Next Litter! Our Ruby will begin trying for puppies next Spring! We are so excited to announce that sweet Ruby's newest litter will arrived sometime next spring. We had litters of 10 and 12 puppies! We are so happy that we can provide a loving, safe environment for both Ruby and her puppies, and are excited to see more adorable cuties come into this world to bless many adoption family. Sign up for the waitlist today! Sign up for our news letter for more information. Reserve Now Previous Litter Puppies! Meet Rubies Previous Litter. She loves to play with her toys and littermates! She is the darkest red of this litter and is absolutely adorable.
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german shepherd puppy at 4 months - How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. Why do German Shepherd puppies need the best dog food? German Shepherd puppies need dog food designed for large breed puppies to ensure controlled joint and bone growth. This is because large-breed puppies are prone to certain health risks like hip dysplasia and other Orthopedic conditions. The best dog food for German Shepherds will ensure your puppy grows healthy, strong, energetic, and with lovely skin and coats. Nutritional requirements for German Shepherds puppies German Shepherd puppies require a balanced diet that contains four types of nutrients below. These ingredients will ensure that your pup grows and develops optimally for a longer quality of life. Proteins Proteins help the puppies in building up their body tissues. Proteins can be found in chicken, salmon, beef, lamb, eggs, and dairy. Fats Fats are important for healthy skin, fur, brain, and vision. The recommended fat level per dry matter basis is 8. Fats can be found in fish oil, chicken fat, and beef fat. Digestible carbohydrates Because puppies are incredibly energetic, they need digestible carbs to provide them with energy. Digestible carbohydrates can be found in rice, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and whole oats. Micronutrients In addition to these key nutrients, German Shepherd puppies also need micronutrients like calcium, phosphorus, DHA, and omega-3, and vitamin A. They also need fiber to promote digestion and bowel movement and clean water to help with bodily functions. For large dog breed only: Foods specially formulated for German Shepherd puppies: Veterinarian and pet advisor Dr. Choose a dog food that is specially formulated for German Shepherds puppies or large breed puppies can ensure your pups are getting the nutritional requirements at every stage of their growth. The opposite side is giving your pup the wrong food that may lead to serious growth and digestive problems. Things to consider before choosing dog food for German Shepherds puppies 1. Their growth Puppies may need different nutrients at different stages depending on their growth rate. For instance, a puppy in the weaning stage between three to four weeks will need more antioxidants which are found in foods containing Vitamin C and E. In contrast, a teething puppy will need wet dog food which is easily digestible food on its tummy to minimize intestinal upset. For instance, a younger puppy may have difficulty eating larger food pieces than an older puppy. Teething If your dog is teething, which starts at around three weeks, you may want to consider food that contains calcium like dairy and bone broth for strong and healthy teeth. On the other hand, if the dog has teething problems, wet food may be a better option than dry food until they recover. Alternatively, you add wet canned food to their kibble to make it soft and palatable. The body weight An underweight puppy has different dietary requirements from an overweight puppy. You do not want to underfeed or overfeed your puppy. Activity Level Puppies that are extremely active require foods high in carbohydrates to keep up their energy levels. If your dog is not as active, you want to keep the carbs down to avoid obesity. With all the many dry foods out on the market, it can be hard to choose the healthiest for your pups. Step 1. The Association of American Feed Control Officials developed nutrient profiles to establish minimum and some maximum nutrient concentrations for dogs and cats. These profiles are updated when new findings from research in pet nutrition become available. They provide practical guidance for pet food manufacturers. Adult Maintenance: Dog foods formulated for adult maintenance have the nutrients adult dogs need. Dogs over the age of one are considered adults, except for some large and giant breeds who do not fully mature until age two. You may see variations of these nutrient profiles on dog food packaging. Step 2. Read the food label The label is the most important thing you should check when deciding which puppy food to pick. Here are the 3 things you would like to read on the packaging: a. List of ingredients The list of ingredients should have the main ingredient as the first ingredient then followed by the rest according to their percentage. For instance, in the label below the first five ingredients, are chicken as the main ingredient, ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, corn gluten meal and dried plain beet pulp. Feeding guidelines This will show you how much food and how many times you should feed your puppy. Watch this video if you want to better understand the wording on a dog food packaging means: Step 3. Are there any claims of pups reacting to the food? Do the users recommend or warn against the food? Of course, you want to go with what the majority of the reviewers say. You can also check dogadvisor. Step 4. The vet is in a better place to advise on what type of food to go for or what ingredients to avoid. Best dry foods for German Shepherds Puppies There are hundreds of dog foods out there with fancy names and ingredients, which make it so hard for dog owners to find the right food for their pups. To help you narrow down your search, we asked a couple of vets to suggest the best dog food for German Shepherds puppies. Purina Pro Plan — For sensitive skin and allergies Why do we like it? This dog food is ideal for all large breed puppies weighing over 50 pounds, GSD included. It is specially formulated for puppies with sensitive skin and stomachs. It is made with real chicken, among other high-quality ingredients. This dry food has optimal calcium levels to promote proper joint and bone growth. It helps prevent forms of hip dysplasia. Ideal for German Shepherd puppies of all ages. Delicious dry food for large breed puppies like GSD. It is specially formulated for superior vision and healthy brain development. This is an all-natural dog food specially made for large-breed puppies of all ages. It is made with real, wholesome ingredients. Making the right food choice will ensure that your puppy grows healthier, stronger, and more energetic. Weaning for a GSD puppy should start at around 6 to 8 weeks while still maintaining nursing. Complete weaning should be from 8 weeks when the puppy is fed on puppy food only. How is puppy food different from adult dog food? Puppy food contains more protein and fats, and certain minerals than adult dog food to support their growing brain, vision, nervous system, immune system, bones, and joints. When should German Shepherd puppies transition to adult dog food? German Shepherd puppies should transition to adult dog food from 12 to 24 months. The transition should be gradual, and the puppy should be constantly monitored. More posts on feeding your German Shepherds Must read:. As the name implies, it has been scientifically formulated to provide all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals for puppies. Features Precisely balanced nutrition to help build immunity and mobility High-quality protein to promote ideal body weight Promotes gentle and healthy digestion with balanced and complete nutrition This delicious formula promotes gentle and healthy digestion and has a savory meaty taste your puppy will love Recommended for puppies up to 1-year-old and pregnant or nursing dogs Check price on Amazon. You want to be able to see visible chunks of meat in the food. It contains a large amount of deboned chicken meat and whole grains, making it a balanced option for your GSD puppy. However, larger companies generally have more resources for stringent quality control protocols. They can employ expert nutritionists and food scientists, and are more eager to enrich our collective nutrition knowledge through research. On the contrary, smaller manufacturers may have less control over ingredient quality, perform less laboratory testing, and are less likely to employ veterinary nutritionists. On top of that, there are still some basic rules you can follow. And we will walk you through things you will need to consider in this article. Every pet is unique and the goal is to find the best diet for the individual pet. Is real food good for German Shepherd puppies? Real food contains whole ingredients that are cooked to aid in digestion. Whole real foods are a great option for adult GSDs, it might be best to keep the puppy food dry or wet. The American College of Veterinary Nutrition does not recommend feeding dogs less than one year old a homemade diet as they can be lacking in calcium and phosphorous, which can have serious implications down the line for GSDs. Best homemade food for German Shepherd puppies If you insist on feeding your GSD puppy a homemade diet, the best way to go about it is to get recipes specifically formulated for them by a veterinary nutritionist. This will ensure all of their needs macro — and micronutrient needs are met, particularly their calcium and phosphorous requirements. This is very important to prevent issues like hip dysplasia and other joint and bone issues as an adult GSD. A typical homemade food recipe: Chicken. It also tends to be high in protein. Food that is high in protein and calories will provide your puppy with the energy that they need and help them gain the right amount of weight as they grow up. Most puppy food also includes vitamin and mineral supplements, such as calcium and phosphorus, for healthy and strong bones and teeth. You should speak to your vet to ensure that you have the right food and are feeding your puppy the proper amount. We hope that these reviews have helped you decide on the right food for your German Shepherd puppy. Remember to stick with large-breed food because it usually has the correct ratio of vitamins and minerals to give your GSD puppy all the suitable nutrition that they need so they can grow up strong, healthy, and happy. Featured Image Credit: Victoria Antonova, Shutterstock Written by Kathryn Copeland Author Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a child, she hoped to work in zoos or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her all-consuming love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future — maybe another cat and a dog.Read more Advertisement.