getting my pug puppy

Jeska and Mambo had a successful breeding and she welcomed her puppies on June 22nd. These puppies will be ready to go home around August 19th and they come from remarkable parents! Both have been shown, IPO titled, were born in Germany, and come from some of the best dogs in the world! These puppies would be great prospects for showing, breeding, competition, IPO, or service work. They will be truly remarkable companions if that is all you seek. Please reach out to reserve your new best friend today! To do this we carefully select all of our breeding dogs to make sure they come from World Class Champion Lines with great health and amazing temperaments. In doing this we can carefully select the traits that we want to continue to see throughout this remarkable breed. Many of our clients provide pictures of their puppies as they grow and it is clear that our puppies grow up to be truly exceptional and stunning representations of the breed. The puppies that we produce would be top prospects for show, competition, breeding, or IPO however we find that most of our clients are looking for a truly top-quality companion. To obtain this level of quality you would previously have had to import a puppy from Germany. By carefully selecting our breeding adults we are able to offer the same if not higher quality from right here in the USA. We love what we do and take great pride in raising each and every puppy as one of our own. This starts from day one and goes up until we say goodbye to them as they are heading off to their new home. When the puppies are born, we provide around the clock care and supervision to ensure each puppy has a solid foundation and healthy start to life. As they grow and age, they get more interaction by the day. All the puppies get played and interacted with daily with the help of my son as well as the adult dogs who love to help care for them and show them how to play and behave. By raising the puppies inside they get use to all the sounds and smells of a regular house which I have heard makes the transition to their new home a lot easier. Not only are the puppies raised inside but our adults also live inside with us as well as these dogs are our family. Raising and taking care of the puppies is a truly unique experience and I take great pride and joy in what I do. It is very difficult to say goodbye to the puppies after giving them so much care and time during the 8 weeks I get to help raise them however it always makes things easier when I see the wonderful homes and families that they are going off to. Please reach out today to learn more about acquiring your new best friend and thank you for considering us here at Cleveland German Shepherds. About the German Shepherd The German Shepherd is a breed of medium to large-sized working dog that originated in Germany. As part of the Herding Group, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep. Since that time, however, because of their strength, intelligence, trainability and obedience, German Shepherds around the world are often the preferred breed for many types of work, including disability assistance, search-and-rescue, police and military roles, and even acting. The German Shepherd is the second-most popular breed of dog in the United States and fourth-most popular in the United Kingdom. Average Height: Male in. Bred originally for herding, and later used heavily for police and military work, the German Shepherd dog requires a very special and balanced temperament in order to fulfill its purpose. Temperament, workability, versatility, drives, nerves and all other aspects of the dog can be assessed and verified via training, competition and judgement from officials. Even if you do not want to compete in any sports or work your dog, you still want a dog that is capable of it. Saying you "just want a pet, not a show or working dog" could leave you with an unsound dog who is not capable of doing the things it was bred to do. Just because your German Shepherd will be a family companion, doesn't mean you have to settle for anything less than a sound, healthy and trust worthy dog. We never breed for size, color, or anything superficial. We only breed our highest quality dogs. Call or text .We can connect with our laptops or smartphones and buy things online instantly from the comfort of our own homes. First, the vast majority of adverts selling puppies online are fake. In most cases, the dogs never existed, and buyers are duped out of hundreds or thousands of dollars. Many of the puppies for sale on Craigslist have come from puppy mills. These places are run purely for profit and will cut corners to boost their income. They keep their dogs in basic accommodation usually kennels , which are often filthy. The puppies are often weak and sickly, and many die pretty early on. There have also been hundreds of cases where people have bought purebred pups, but these turn out to be mutts. The answer is clear: Avoid Craigslist when buying animals! If you find a reputable local breeder, they will welcome you to the site to visit with them and meet the parent dogs. Some may allow you to see the pups, but access is sometimes restricted to stop them from getting sick. Check out the breeder thoroughly, and be sure to ask questions. A good breeder will tell you to do this anyway, as they have nothing to hide and will be only too pleased to connect you with happy customers who will provide testimonials. Even so, these beautiful animals can be found in shelters across America, along with thousands of other dogs. Instead of buying from a breeder, why not consider giving one of these dogs a forever home? If you think you could provide a loving home to a dog in need, take a look at the following site: 1. They are simply two devoted dog-lovers who spend much of their time helping homeless dogs. All puppies can be a challenge. Like other dogs, the GSD will go through teething. It will need potty training and obedience training. They are very social animals that need company, especially human company. Without this, they become frustrated and sometimes aggressive. German Shepherds shed a lot! Your GSD pup can come in one of 11 standard colors , not just the classic black and tan you often see. GSDs have a lifespan of between 7 and 10 years, and they have a few health concerns to watch out for, including arthritis and hip dysplasia. All good breeders test for the main health problems, which is another reason to use them. In conclusion, the German Shepherd is a wonderful animal that deserves a home that can match its energy and intelligence. Related articles:. Worth every penny. Josh is amazing I've never thought training my dog could be so easy and effective. We brought Remington into our family at 8 weeks old. A working line German Shepherd full of drive. From the first appointment Josh was able to show us along with Remi the basics of working together. With Josh's background and history with training dogs it's without a question the way to go. Remi is a wonderful addition to our family along with our kids and other pets. It is amazing the way Josh trains you along with your pet. Do not hesitate to work with Josh, if your willing to listen and implement the things Josh teaches you and your pet you will have the dream dog you wanted. Thanks again. We quickly learned how knowledgeable Josh was with the tools of the trade and how dedicated Sean was to helping Grizz with his on-leash dog-aggression. Within minutes, they gave us great advice on collar choice and fit. Grizz responded very fast to the techniques and training tactics used, showing no aggression towards a medium sized dog within about 5 minutes. We were so grateful to meet them. Would definitely recommend giving this trainer a go! They care about helping you learn how to best communicate with your dog and build that bond we all want to have with our pets. We always look forward to and have a blast during our training sessions with Josh. The group classes are interactive and fun and a great place to practice the obedience we work on at home. It takes effort and consistency, but the outcomes are evident. Josh can help you take it to any level of obedience you want to achieve, the sky's the limit! He would jump on my toddler when she would wake up in the morning, steal her socks off her feet or spoons out of her hand while eating. He would pull me so hard on the leash that I was waiting for my arm to dislocate. No exaggeration. I even fell on my face once. He also would greet people by jumping onto their shoulders or steal packages off others front doors. So it had been months since she could lay on the couch to watch a movie. After our first session, Moose no longer pulled me on walks. In fact, my 3 year old could walk him! He stays at my side instead of going after other people or dogs. After our second session, he is going to a designated place. I love that Josh does in home training and trains you on how to train your dog after implementing the behavior to begin with. Last night was a beautiful night. It made for such an enjoyable time with the dog too. Thank you so much, Josh! Dottie was scard and not the evil dog they wanted to make her out to be. I interviewed with a few different trainers and needed to decide on who I want to train my dog. It came down to Josh undeniable professionalism and attention to detail which shows in every training session. I can't be more happy, impressed and proud of how well my dog has responded to Josh n his training.

Depending on the laws where you live, you may need to apply for a license from your local government. To find out if you need a license, inquire with your local law enforcement or animal control office. In many places, breeders of hunting dogs are exempt from licensing. A whelping box is a large box where your female dog will birth and nurse its puppies. Your whelping box should be 2 feet 0. Your female lab and her puppies will spend the first three weeks after birth in the box. Afterwards, the puppies and mother dog will be able to move into a cage or similar enclosure. In addition to a whelping box, you'll need cages to house your grown dogs, juveniles, and any other dogs you plan to keep as breeding stock. Grown dogs will need cages that are 42 inches cm long and 30 inches 76 cm high. Juveniles and younger dogs will fit in smaller cages, but make sure to move them into large cages when they are mature. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source The dogs should be able to easily stand up, turn around, and lay stretched out in their cages. If they can't, the cages are too small. Collect towels and sheets from friends or family. If you can't get enough, you can purchase new towels or sheets to use as bedding. Then, spread them out in your whelping box and cages. This will turn the whelping box and cage into a comfortable place for your dogs. In addition to cages, your dogs -- mature and juvenile -- will need access to open space. As a result, you should create two or three at least 20 by 40 foot 6 by 12 m fenced areas in your yard. This way, you'll be able to have dogs of different sexes and ages outside at one time. When your puppies are weeks old, you need to take them to the vet for an examination and their first set of puppy shots. If you don't take them to the vet for vaccination, you could put them at risk of contracting dangerous illnesses. Ultimately, a responsible breeder will stay in touch with their vet throughout the breeding process. Go to source Advertisement. Male Labradors A male Labrador becomes fertile after six months of age and reaches his full sexual maturity once he's 12 to 15 months old. An adult male Labrador can mate at any time. If the Labrador is healthy, he may be able to keep his fertility and be sexually active until old age. It's pretty straightforward with male dogs. However, several other factors come into play when we try to breed a female Labrador. So let's talk about breeding female Labradors in detail. Female Labradors A female Labrador will have her first heat cycle after she's six months old. This is the phase in which she can get pregnant. It reoccurs around every six months until late in life. We'll talk more about the heat cycles of Labradors in the next section. You should never breed a female Labrador during her first heat cycle. She is quite young at this point, and you don't want to impose the stress of pregnancy and lactation on her as she's still growing. Even though she may be sexually active, she isn't completely mature physically. Mating during the first heat cycle increases the chance of pregnancy and other health-related complications. We shouldn't breed the female Labrador until she's physically mature. Since Labradors fall into the category of large breeds, they mature around the age of 18 to 24 months, so it's best to avoid breeding until the third heat cycle or until she's around two years old. Litter Sizes Explained Understanding Female Heat Cycles Understanding the heat cycles of your female Labrador is essential to avoid failed breeding attempts or unplanned litter of pups. When we say that a female Labrador goes into heat, we mean that her body is preparing itself for possible conception. It's your dog's reproductive cycle. Phrases such as heat cycle, breeding cycle, and periods, all refer to the same thing. A Labrador stays in the heat for around three to four weeks; there's no exact number of days, though. Although your pet may stay in the heat for up to four weeks, the days when she's most fertile begin after days into the heat cycle. This high-fertility period lasts for around five days, so you should mate the Labradors between the 10th and 14th day of the female Labrador's heat cycle. This heat cycle is divided into four stages: proestrus, estrus, diestrus, anestrus. Let's briefly discuss each of them. Proestrus: The female dog is getting ready for pregnancy. Male dogs will start getting attracted to her, but she won't allow breeding as of yet. This stage typically lasts for nine days. You'll see physical signs such as the swollen vulva and bloody vaginal discharge. Estrus: At the beginning of this stage, the ovary releases eggs. The estrogen levels in your dog's body decline, while the progesterone levels go up. The female dog is fertile in this stage, ready to mate, and she will follow her bodily instincts and accept a male. This stage also lasts for around nine days. Diestrus: This stage lasts for two to three months or until the female Labrador gives birth if she's pregnant. She will no longer be accepting males. A bloody discharge may still be present, but it gradually stops. By the end of this stage, the hormonal levels in your dog become normal. Anestrus: This is the final stage of the heat cycle of your female dog. There's no sexual activity during this phase. Most female Labradors go into heat twice a year. The ovarian activity of a female dog starts to decline in the sixth year of her life. Most of them stop conceiving after they're seven years old. We've discussed that we should wait till the third heat cycle of a female Labrador before breeding. But what are the health concerns if a Labrador gets pregnant too early? You need to allow your Labrador's body to grow up. If the female Labrador gets pregnant before maturing physically, it'll put extra strain on her. The physical strain of carrying extra weight is a burden on the growing joints. Apart from that, pregnancy will suck out nutrients from your dog. Since the female Labrador is young, her immune system isn't fully developed. This means that she's more vulnerable to diseases and infections than an adult dog would be. Various bacteria can infect her reproductive tract, causing abortions, stillbirths, miscarriages, and even the death of the newborn puppies. Your dog may even end up dying while giving birth to the puppies. Because she hasn't fully grown, her pelvic canal may not be large enough for the puppies to fit through without endangering their own lives and the life of the mother. Here, she must go through surgery, which increases the chances of health complications for her. Since she is also not mature biologically, she is more likely to abandon her puppies than an adult mother. She may fail to care for them, which lowers their chances of survival. Performing Health Checks Before Breeding Both parent Labradors require long-term care to produce beautiful, strong puppies. They need to be physically and mentally healthy. The female Labrador should have decent muscle tone and a balanced weight before breeding. Apart from physical health, they also need to be in good mental condition. A mentally stable female Labrador will make a better mother than one that's insecure or has an unstable temperament. A month before breeding, the female Labrador should go through pre-breeding physical examinations by a vet. You need to get her checked for common health problems, such as elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, and eye disorders. The vaccinations of both parent Labradors should be current, and the female Labrador should be tested for parasites as well. DNA Testing Another health check that I would highly recommend for any dog owner, but especially for one that is considering breeding, is to have DNA testing done. In recent years human DNA testing has become extremely popular with companies like 23andme emerging. People are interested in understanding their background, health sensitivities, etc. This is no different for dogs! This kit tests for over health conditions and uses over , markers to identify and build a complete genetic profile. It is simple and non-invasive. All you have to do is perform a quick oral swab and mail it in! Conclusion We've just talked about a lot of different things. Here are the important points from this article: Male Labradors reach full sexual maturity after 12 to 15 months of age. Female Labradors have their first heat cycle after six months of age. We should wait until the third heat cycle before breeding, which happens after 18 to 24 months of age. The mating should take place between the 10th and 14th day of the female Labrador's heat cycle, as she's most fertile during this period. Conception before physical maturity can cause health complications. We also need to perform pre-breeding health checks to ensure that the female Labrador is healthy and ready to conceive. What happens if you breed a female Lab at a young age? As a responsible breeder, you should be patient and wait for the natural breeding age of both male and female Labradors. When you plan to breed your dogs to get Labrador puppies, you will need to have a complete understanding of the heating cycles. A brief discussion on breeding age. Male Labradors can mate within 12 months of their age. While on the other hand, you should wait for the third heat cycle of your female lab before putting her into mating. It will be good to wait for two years to let the female lab mature enough to carry a large litter. At what age can a male Labrador mate? Soon after 6 months of age, a male Labrador is mature enough to breed and start the mating phase of its life. There is the recommendation to wait until two years because, in the 12th month, Labradors are sexually mature adult dogs. What is the best age to breed a male labrador? However, several factors play a role when you are about to allow a Labrador to breed. Male dogs of the medium to large breed need to be full size, so breeders should not put them into the stud services before two years. Some heart problems, along with hip and elbow dysplasia, may take place in them. Also, for the owner of the female Labrador, there is advice to confirm the age of the male lab before allowing any breeding. At what age can a female Labrador mate? The heat cycle phase comes after the completion of six months each year until late in life. Now again, here is a tip for you to never allow breeding during the very first heat cycle of the lab; otherwise, she may suffer from complications. At this age, she is quite young, and you should not impose the pressure of lactation and pregnancy because she is still going through her growing age. Even though female Labradors may be sexually active, she is not mature physically enough to carry multiple puppies in the womb. When is a female labrador ready to mate? Since Labradors are a large dog breed they hit their proper maturity level between 18 to 24 months. This is why you need to wait until after the third heat cycle for the female lab for them to have a large and healthy litter. Critically, not all dogs and breeds are similar in their cycle; some go into the cycle once every year. Some dogs may have their cycle multiple times each year. Abrupt changes may prompt a trip to the vet to guarantee that all is going great and in excellent condition. Female labrador heat cycle The cycle itself lasts 3 to 54 weeks. When is it too late to breed Labrador? But, with their growing age, some health issues and a reduction in litter size make it too late for the lab to breed. There is a possibility that female Labradors may suffer from genetic problems. If you are allowing the female to breed later in life, there are chances of getting serious uterus infections. However, there are some different opinions; if your female lab is healthy, you can safely let her breed over her lifetime. According to the research, Labradors usually have six puppies in each litter which reduces to four with her growing age. According to the American Kennel Club, there should be no breeding or mating when the lab is more than 8 years old. Moreover, the professionals never register the older females at the time of mating. In older age, male labs may face some difficulty in mounting, and age arthritis makes the overall mating painful. Therefore, the rule of thumb for the females is to pause breeding soon after noticing a decrease in the litter size. While on the other hand, male Labradors freeze the quality semen rather than allow breeding at the 13th year of age. As discussed above breeders should wait till the third heat cycle of the bitch Labrador before putting her into the mating phase. A 6-month-old Labrador with a healthy body can feed 4 to 12 puppies. Her immune system is not fully developed to tolerate this sudden reduction of minerals and nutrients. Furthermore, your darling lab may end up dying if you are careless to allow her to breed within the first heat cycle. One fine day you have an adorable Labrador puppy in your hand, and then the very next year, you have a fully grown muscular Labra who is nearly ready to fill your living room with more of his cute canines. But when truly is your Labrador prepared to breed? Is waiting for a specific time necessary? Or Breeding before Sexual Maturity can lead the Labrador into trouble? Well, no matter what question you have, we present answers to all of them. A Male Labrador becomes fertile as they reach the age of 1 year 12 months. Whereas a Female Labrador is fertile slightly later, around the age of 2 years 18 to 14 months. For breeding a Labrador pair, dog owners and breeders must wait until the female experiences her third heat cycle. It is when a female Labrador develops fully, especially with her reproductive organs. She, by then, has gained enough physical powers and abilities to mate, conceive and birth her little canines. What to expect as your Labrador dog sexually matures? When your Labrador starts maturing sexually, you may be able to notice several signs. When they reach their sexual maturity, male Labradors will start marking their territory. Some of them even start forgetting the basics of their behavioral training. Even the simplest things, including toilet training, potty training, or walking on a lead, may appear as heavily confusing. Male Labradors even start looking eye to eye with their owner or every human in general. They will stop enjoying the puppy privileges and will begin following female dogs from the same or even different breeds around. Female Labradors reach their sexual maturity slightly later and become reproductive not more than twice a year. It is when she is the most fertile and will probably conceive if mate. She does not bleed precisely like humans but has a red vaginal discharge for a week or 10 days. Following the smell of her vulva, male dogs often approach or even land them upon the female. Yes, even though the maximum work of reproduction is dependent on a female dog, the age ad physical health of a male dog too matters when breeding. Only male dogs who have reached their sexual maturity age and can produce sperm can breed. And unless they suffer from a very major illness, male dogs remain fertile for their entire life. They may have low quality and lower sperm count, but given the right circumstances, the male dog can impregnate a female dog regardless of their age. However, old male dogs may not have the same sexual drive as young male dogs due to their age. Male Labradors become fertile near the age of 8 to 10 months. Female Labradors reach their sexual maturity around the age of 2 years. Some might experience it near 16 to 18 months of age; however, for breeding, wait until the female dog turns at least 24 months. For many dogs, the first heat cycle usually arises at the age of 6 months. However, large dogs like Labradors may experience their first heat between the period of 9 to 12 months. Given their breed size, there have been instances when a female Labrador got her first heat at 18 months or even as late as 24 months. This delay may be a result of several factors, including environmental and, more specifically, dog genetics. Labrador Heat Cycle Chart. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. But why is this? Many studies performed have shown a resulting increase in aggression, over-reactivity, learning problems, fearfulness and anxiety in puppies removed too early. The puppy may throw a tantrum and feel hard done by, but the mother will be stern…although they always follow the discipline with a little nuzzling and some love :- This early and regular dishing out of discipline teaches the puppy about right and wrong, that actions have consequences and bad behavior is punished. If this learning is taken away, the puppy may develop behavioral issues and not accept direction and commands from its owner later in life. This can making training harder and ultimately lead to a less controllable dog. Also, the puppy will itself be the victim of too hard biting, so it gets some first hand experience of how painful it can be. This teaches the puppy that biting too hard hurts and results in bad consequences, so they slowly learn to control their bite. If taken away before these lessons are learnt, the puppy will bite too hard not knowing any better and this can be very dangerous as the puppy matures into a larger and stronger dog. You would have to go through the process of teaching bite inhibition yourself and this can be difficult and even painful work! They learn about hierarchy, canine body language, posturing and vocalizations barking, growling etc. They also learn about things like chasing and how to play correctly with other dogs, also how to interact fairly and safely with other dogs. By removing a puppy too soon, it will miss out on this vital education, will be under-socialized to other dogs and this can easily result in the puppy being fearful of other dogs or just plain not liking other dogs later in life. They Learn Tolerance To Touch A dog needs to be tolerant to touch for health and hygiene reasons and the safety of those around it. And a vet will need to touch a dog all over during a medical examination. So you really need your Labrador to be tolerant of humans touching it all over. A puppy will constantly be bumped, nudged, pawed and climbed all over during its time spent with its litter-mates. This teaches the puppy not to be afraid of touch, to get used to it and be more tolerant. But if a puppy is taken too young it misses out on all this touch and could grow up disliking touch in certain areas of its body. This can result in behavioral issues and even aggression when being touched which for obvious reasons is very undesirable. The things a puppy is socialized to during its first 12 weeks have a profound effect on its level of confidence and levels of fear later in its life. From about 7 weeks onwards, the puppy is very inquisitive and its willingness to approach unknown things and people is at its peak. This period declines at about 12 weeks of age and almost completely ends at 14 weeks where fear begins to creep in as a natural trait essential to survival if it lived in the wild. This is also the time when a Labrador puppy will form their strongest bonds with the humans they spends their time with. Bringing a puppy home at 8 weeks gives you just 4 weeks to do this, bringing one home at 10 weeks gives you only 2! A lack of decent socialization can result in the puppy being fearful of things, places and of human contact. This will put the puppy at greatest ease with the people and places where it will spend its future life. You may wish to bring your puppy home earlier than 8 weeks, but for all the reasons above, you should avoid this entirely. So be very suspicious of the breeder if this is their wish. This is so they themselves can provide a further week of socialization during this critical time and for the puppy to spend more time with their mother and littermates. So for the benefit of you and your Labrador, leave them with their mother and litter-mates until 8 weeks of age. Most dogs will happily bond with and love a new family if given the chance and can be valuable and loving companions. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Healthy female Labradors can have puppies between eight months and eight years old. When a female is around eight months old, she will experience her first heat cycle — a fertility cycle during which a dog can get pregnant. Most vets recommend waiting until your female is at least on her second heat cycle before you start breeding — this is somewhere between 18 to 24 months. Labradors experience heat cycles twice a year, and they last between two to three weeks. You will know your female Lab is entering the heat cycle when she has bloody vaginal discharge and a swollen vulva. A female will ovulate between the 10th and 14th day of the heat cycle. To ensure successful breeding, let your dogs mate after the tenth day every other day, for up to six days. Healthy male Labradors are ready to mate after 12 months of age. Males are fertile after six months old but reach full maturity between 12 to 15 months of age and are ideal for stud between those ages. However, the AKC specifies that dogs must meet certain conditions for optimum pairing and breeding. Labradors must look and behave a certain way. Breeders must strive for health, longevity, even temperament, and breed improvement. A Labrador judge or experienced breeder can help you make such an evaluation if you feel unqualified or uncomfortable. Once you can make this determination, you must take the following steps to meet the right breeding conditions: Step 1 — Whether you own the sire, dam, or both, you must evaluate the compatibility of the two mates. Both dogs could be excellent breed specimens but a terrible pairing if bred together. The objective is to improve and not weaken the bloodline. Keep in mind that genetic diversity has its advantages and disadvantages. Labrador retrievers are usually healthy but are prone to specific health issues. Health problems include elbow and hip dysplasia and retinal atrophy, so genetic testing is necessary. Though the sire and the dam may not display any symptoms of chronic diseases, they may still carry the gene, which could afflict the litter. Both owners must sign the contract to clear up any complications or ambiguity. Step 4 — Mate both dogs in a private location. No more than two people must be present. This is to ensure that the dogs are safe without being overwhelmed. If either dog is uncomfortable or the male is disinterested, wait and try another day. Step 5 — Take the dam to the veterinarian for pregnancy confirmation and develop a nutrition plan for optimal prenatal care. Step 6 — Get a decent whelping box for your female Lab; ensure the box is draft-free, clean, and large enough to accommodate puppies for several weeks of their infancy. You will require supplies such as replacement bedding, water, scissors, and floss to cut the umbilical cord. Step 7 — When the time comes to deliver the puppies, you will know the dam is entering labor because her temperature will drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit. She will also lose her appetite, and she will begin nesting. How Often Should Labradors Breed? Reproductive experts suggest that continual breedings are better for your female dog. Skipping cycles can increase the likelihood of reproductive issues, cancer, and pyometra. With that said, the health and well-being of your dog must be at the forefront, and you must consider when is the best time to stop breeding your female. Legally, female Labs cannot have more than four litters in their lifetime. If she has produced healthy litters in the past, it can be tempting to keep breeding her, but even an incredible Labrador cannot sustain so many pregnancies. Most experts advise against breeding Labradors beyond the age of seven. Complications can arise, such as organ failure, calcified pubic region, and fewer pups. Seven may be the general cut-off point, but some female labs need to retire breeding earlier. Consider the following health problems older dogs experience: Old Age Pains And Aches As humans age, our bodies ache from wear and tear over the years, which can hurt. Pain can make dogs aggressive, and this can happen to the most mild-mannered dogs. Pregnancy is exhausting, and it can push your girl to her limits. If she is too old, one of her major organs could begin failing. Calcified Pubic Girdle The pelvic girdle is designed to help younger dogs give birth by expanding and extracting to make room for puppies. Dementia And Blindness Labradors are at high risk of having eye problems that can limit their eyesight or leave them completely blind. Miscellaneous Health Issues Aside from the issues mentioned above, there are other possible risks for your Labrador as she ages. These include miscarriage and failure to lactate. Labradors from the age of seven are considered seniors — this may seem young for many owners. You must consider that Labrador Retrievers have an average lifespan of around ten to twelve years. You may have retired your female Labrador, but she will need continued care and support to the end of her life. Consider the following ways you can support your female Lab to enjoy her life and be healthy in her senior years: Nutrition For Senior Labradors Dog foods for older dogs are formulated with fewer calories. If your dog enjoys strenuous exercise and work, there is no need to change his current diet. The best way to ensure your Labrador is on a low-calorie diet is by giving him his usual food in smaller portions. Supplements For Senior Dogs Chrondroitin and Glucosamine are supplements that show evidence of delaying joint problems, especially arthritis. You can try breaking up his exercise into two or three shorter walks. Pain Relief Pain relief is something to give your older Lab if he is in chronic pain. Final Thoughts So, what is the oldest age a female Labrador can have puppies? Labradors age quickly and become seniors almost in the blink of an eye; however, aging is unavoidable. Table Of Content. What is the best age gap between dogs? Have you loved raising your Labrador, and now started considering the best age gap between Labradors if you get another? You might be worried that he will be lonely, or that he needs a playmate as he grows. But what is the right age gap between Labradors in the same family? Should I get two dogs close together in age? Last week I received a question from the owner of a four month old puppy. The lady in question was thrilled with her beautiful dog and considering getting a new puppy as a friend. And wanted to hear my thoughts on the subject. Every family is different Before we go any further, I think we need to acknowledge that every family is unique. The dynamics are different and the dogs are different, from those in any other family. I can only tell you about probabilities. And point out that there are certain problems that commonly arise when two puppies are the same age, or quite close in age. Should I get two puppies from the same litter? Some people think it is a great idea to get two puppies at once. After all, they will be company for one another. If you are a very experienced dog owner, or very lucky. This may work out just fine. But, and it is a big but, the probability is, you will struggle. Not especially at the beginning, when two puppies are company for one another, but later, as they need training and guidance. What about staggered puppies? The lady who wrote to me last week is proposing a slightly different approach. Her current puppy has settled in and is progressing nicely. These two puppies would be staggered in age. So one puppy will be half grown, whilst the other is very small. In this situation, there are a number of areas for concern, and the dynamics of this two dog family are potentially even more challenging than with litter brothers. And here is why. Size and strength of puppies Two same age puppies are similar size and weight. They have similar reserves of energy, and like to play in a similar way. A five or six month old puppy plays in different way from a two month old puppy. Size difference alone can be an issue when puppies of the same age but different breeds, play together. But when there is an age gap too, the problems are exacerbated. Emotional maturity of puppies Adult dogs unless poorly socialised are usually very tolerant of puppies. There is an unwritten rule amongst them, that puppies under four months old can do pretty much what they please. He will allow the puppy to bite him and swing on his ears without retaliating A five or six month old puppy does not usually have the maturity to do this. He plays rough, and you can like it or leave it. In short, many pups, are bullies. Of course, there are exceptions. Some pups are quite gentle. In any case, an experienced owner will cope. Largely by supervising and separating to ensure that the smaller pup makes it through the next couple of months without too many bruises or too much damage to his confidence. But coping is not really the aim. This should be a time of pleasure and enjoyment. Bonding with two puppies If the two dogs are the same breed, the size difference will become less of an issue as the weeks go past, and the younger puppy grows. Unfortunately, there are other problems that now arise. In many cases a small puppy will bond fiercely to his bigger, rougher, older brother. So fiercely that he may have little time for his human friend. This is always a risk in a two dog household, but is more so when the older dog is still a pup and so willing to engage the younger dog in long bouts of play. The only way to combat this, is to ensure that the new puppy spends more time interacting with you, than he does with the other puppy. But this is not generally what people have in mind when they bring a second puppy home. House-training two puppies If you get a new puppy before your older puppy is six months old, there is a chance that he will regress in his house training. But it is something to consider, especially if you have just begun to allow your older puppy onto your carpets Two puppies will need two crates Most Labradors have not grown out of the chewing stage until they are well over a year old. This means that your older puppy will probably need crating at night, and when you leave the house. New puppies need small crates. This means you will need two crates in your home. Unless you have plenty of floor space, this could be a problem for you Obedience training two puppies Early training has to be done in a one-to-one situation until the youngest puppy is able to begin coping with distractions. You cannot train a six month old puppy with a two month old hanging onto his ears and biting his tail. You cannot train important behaviours like walking nicely on a lead, with two dogs at once. If you have a great deal of spare time and are happy to spend much of it on separate dog training sessions, then this may not be an issue for you. But in some families, it can mean that neither dog gets properly trained. And being dragged along the street by two unruly Labradors is more than twice as miserable and dangerous, as being dragged along by one. So what is the right age gap between dogs? By the time your dog is two, you should have him pretty well trained. A two year gap also gives the older dog a chance to reach maturity, and to develop the patience and tolerance for young puppies that so many well-socialised adult dogs have. At the other end of the scale, if you aim to get your next dog before your older dog is six, provided he is adequately socialized with puppies the older dog may still be willing to play with your new arrival. Watching an adult dog gently play with and become fond of, a new puppy is a real pleasure. And one that is worth waiting for. Bear in mind that elderly dogs can become irritable with young puppies, so it is best not to wait too long. So the ideal age gap between Labradors strike a balance between too small, and too big. People worry that their only dog will be lonely, or find it difficult to make friends later on. But raising a dog is not like raising kids in this respect. Dogs have to adapt to living with another species, and to crossing the communication barrier between us. This is definitely easier to achieve, when a dog is the only dog, at least for the first year of his life. Try not to worry that he is missing out, or needs a playmate. What he needs, is your attention, which will be halved if you get another puppy. He needs to form a deep and unshakeable bond with his human family. Short periods of play with tolerant friendly older dogs from time to time, will ensure that he grows up knowing how to be a dog. When he is older, and trained, he will be a much better mentor and friend for you next pup. And it will be far easier to manage the two of them. The best breeding age for Labradors, to be short and to the point, is the third heat cycle. I will explain why below. If your female gets pregnant too early, there are some health complications that you may run into. See below for health concerns in an early pregnancy. Lady was just over 2-years-old when she had her first litter. That will be somewhere between 18 and 24 months old. But I think your dog should be at least 2 years old before breeding. So the best breeding age for Labradors might not be until the third heat cycle. Let me explain why. If your Labrador is old enough to start breeding, you should also know how often to breed her and when to stop breeding her. Wait for Health Checks Before Breeding I would suggest, that to be fair to the families where you will be placing your puppies, you should wait until at least two years old. When a Labrador is 2 years old you can have them checked for the common health issues. If you find out that your female or male has bad hips, it is not fair to pass that gene onto another generation of puppies. It is also unfair to the family that will have to go through the trauma associated with a dog experiencing hip or knee dysplasia. Notice the malformed socket and ball in the dysplastic hip. Check out the specific health clearances you should get when your dog is 2-years-old below. Not getting these clearances can bring some pretty serious consequences. The families that buy your puppies will go through unexplainable grief when they have to deal with the reality of putting their best friend down years too early. It was devastating. In some circumstances, you might even leave yourself open to legal action if a family feels you did not do everything possible to ensure that their dog would not get hereditary diseases that can be tested for. It is just not worth the risk. That is why I say the best breeding age for Labradors or Golden Retrievers is after two-years-old. Things you need to consider before breeding your Lab or Golden Retriever There are so many questions that swirl around being ready to have a litter of puppies. I wish I had found this article before I bred my Labrador the first time. Of course, I am writing this largely because of the things I learned. Looking back, I would have still decided to breed her, but I would have done some things differently. Let me share what I learned from that experience. Should I breed my dog? Not all dogs should be bred. Let me say that again. So, the first thing for you to do is consider the following questions honestly. Why am I considering a litter of puppies? Am I aware of what having a litter of puppies entails? Am I willing to pay for the necessary health examinations to see if my dog is healthy enough to have a strong litter of puppies? What would I do if something went wrong while my dog is delivering her puppies? If you love your dog so much, or you are so bent on the fact that you want to have a litter of puppies, or even worse you think this is your way to pay for Christmas in Cancun, then you need to get a third opinion. If you fit one of those descriptions, you will not be able to answer them honestly. Below I will tell you the worst reasons to have a litter of puppies, but for now, just keep your mind open to the possibility that the best age for breeding Labradors in your case may be NEVER. Maybe you should leave that to someone that knows how to handle an emergency. You are turning your dog into a money machine. You are so greedy. That is why we have breeders. They have gone to school and stuff to learn these things. People on those social media sites and other forums are trolls and they can be downright nasty. You may leave one of those sites doubting whether you want to remain a part of the human race. Below are some bad reasons to breed your Lab or Golden Retriever. There is nothing that I can find in veterinary science that suggests any benefit to a female from having a litter of puppies before she is fixed. There are pros and cons to fixing your dog, but there is absolutely no advantage to having a litter of puppies first. As dogs get older, they typically calm down with age. That has certainly been the case with Lady my 5-year-old Labrador. She had a litter of puppies three years ago, and now after the litter she is calmer than before the litter. The problem, however, is attributing the cause of her calming down to the litter of puppies. It is not the litter that calmed her down, but her older age. I Want to Make Some Money There seems to be an idea that breeding dogs will make the breeder an enormous amount of money. This is because you must wait until your dog is 2-years-old before you can get some very important health examinations. You will need to get your Labrador checked for hip and elbow dysplasia as well as eye disorders. There are other tests that you can have done as well such as the Optigen test. These experts will assess the hip from nine different angles such as shape, angles, clearness, etc. If any feature deviates from the ideal, it is given a mark for the degree of deviation. The ideal hip will score a 0 and the worst score possible is 53 Think golf—lower scores are better. Each hip is given a score and the panel of will return the results on a certificate showing a pair of numbers one score for each hip. You should be looking for a score of 10 or lower if you hope to breed your dog. Eye Test for Labrador Retrievers There are five hereditary eye diseases that Labradors can pass onto their puppies. The tests for these diseases are simple. You take your dog to specialized ophthalmologists and they can perform the necessary tests in about 20 minutes. They will administer some eye drops and then check the simple mechanics of the eye. They can almost always tell you the results immediately. This site has an example of the eye certificate that you will need to get following the exam. This is basically arthritis in the joint that keeps the ball joint from rolling smoothly causing your dog mild to serious pain. In serious cases, the joint can actually catch and momentarily stick in place. Elbow Dysplasia in Labradors is almost always a heredity issue. So, if your dog has it, it is likely that she will pass it on to her pups. The same goes for males. Unlike the hip scores, the elbow scores only range from 0 to 3. Like the hip score and golf the lower the score the better. You want to shoot for a perfect score in the elbows because there is not much room to play with. Health Concerns If Your Labrador Gets Pregnant Too Young It is not unheard of for puppies to have puppies, but if your female gets pregnant too early there are some steps you should take to make it go as smoothly as possible. You will probably hear some people talk about young dogs requiring C-sections if they are too young. In other breeds, however, C-sections are more common and may become necessary if the female is too small when she gets pregnant too young. Not just the physical strain of extra weight, which is a concern for growing joints, but also the nutrients that a pregnancy will suck out of your dog. To accommodate for this extra nutritional burden, some vets suggest that you stick with the puppy dog food for an extra 6 months until the dog is two years old. Make sure you are using a high-quality food that will give your dog the nutrients and other building blocks she and her puppies will need. It is also a good idea to include a supplement that will provide extra glucosamine and other nutrients that will fortify the joints. Some people will recommend calcium to make up for any bone density, however, there are vets that believe calcium will cause metabolic issues more serious than any deficiency it might alleviate. As always, check with your vet regarding any specific supplement or brand and get a professional opinion. You do not want to use a vitamin that will help momma, but, at the same time, hurt the baby. It is important that you are familiar with what should happen following the birth of a puppy. And, if you are considering a litter of puppies, just know that when the time comes, you must be there with your dog to help her if necessary. If, for some reason, your female does not respond to her puppies, help her by gently rubbing the puppy with a warm, damp cloth. Then, when the puppy is starting to move around and is cleaned off, place it near mom so it can begin to nurse. Because your dog is so young, however, you will need to watch her and make sure she is taking care of the puppies. It will take several days before your puppies can manage their own body temperatures. They will rely on mom for heat and if she scoots one away in the middle of the night, the puppy could die. I strongly suggest that you sleep in the same room with mom and her pups for the first couple nights. This saved one of my puppies on the second night. Somehow, this little girl got away from mom. Lady was too tired to go get her. I heard the whimpering and got the little one back to momma before she got too cold. That is a fair question, and you should know that answer before you decide to breed. In addition to knowing the best breeding age for Labradors, there are other things to find out. Like: How long will my Labrador be pregnant? How should I feed my Labrador during pregnancy? How will I know my Labrador is about to deliver? What should I have on hand when the delivery day arrives? What should I expect when my Lab has the puppies? How can I best help my Labrador after the puppies are born? Resting in the middle of delivery. The gestation period of a Labrador Retriever is roughly 63 days. This can be a day or two shorter or longer, but that is a good average. You should already be feeding your dog a good quality brand and for the first few weeks, after your dog is bred, you will continue feeding her the normal amounts. After 5 weeks, you should begin increasing the amount of food. She will require at least twice the normal amount. After the puppies come and your girl is nursing, she will need to eat around three times as much food as normal. Get a rectal thermometer and margarine or KY jelly. Insert the lubricated thermometer about one inch and leave it there for three minutes. You may want to have another member of the family help by distracting your dog by petting and talking to her while you do this necessary task. When the temperature drops below F, labor will start within the next 24 hours. It is really important that you pay attention to her temperature every day. You do not want her trying to deliver the puppies on her own. Although many litters have come into the world without supervision, it would be tragic if something happened and you were not there to intervene. There are several things that you need to have before your dog goes into labor. There will not be time to run to the store if you do not already have them on hand. Some of them will already be lying around your house. You may need to make a quick trip to the store to get the others. Warm, Damp Cloth There are some things that you should just have ready. She will eat this and then vigorously lick the puppy. If your female gets too tired she may not have the energy for the later pups to get this job done. In that situation, you will need to be ready to step in and fill that role. Notice how Lady is cleaning her puppy from top to bottom in the video. That is what you will need to replicate. Dental Floss This was an interesting suggestion that I got from a nurse about three weeks before our dog delivered her first litter. The floss will create the seal and the puppy will be fine. I was so grateful for the tip when that exact thing happened to puppy number 7. My son held the puppy while I tied a square knot in the cord and all was well for one of the healthiest pups of the whole litter. Heating Pad Your new litter of puppies will not be able to moderate their temperature for the first couple of days. Momma will provide the necessary heat, but in the case that a puppy gets away from mom in the night, some people like to use a whelping heating pad. A Whelping Heat Pad will help keep your puppies safe and warm in the early days. This is a pad that will go in the whelping box and will provide a safe, direct heat to protect a puppy that might wander in the night. The first stage of delivery is the longest. The contractions will not be as easy to identify as in human, but your dog may appear restless, uncomfortable, and thirsty. She may pace or shiver. It can last six to eighteen hours. Your job is to keep her as calm as possible. When the cervix is completely dilated, the placental water sack will break and you should see fluid pass from the birth canal. This is an important bonding moment for mom and pup. A placental sack will follow each puppy. It is not uncommon for mom to eat that—yeah, gross and I am so glad that is not a trait common among human deliveries. According to my vet, there is no benefit from eating the sac, so feel free to remove it before she gets a chance. You can expect between 30 minutes and an hour between puppies. It is possible, however, for up to 4 hours to pass between puppies. You should have had your dog examined by a vet around day 45 of the pregnancy. With an ultrasound, the vet should have told you how many puppies to expect. If more than 4 hours pass without a puppy and you know there are more to come or if your female pushes for more than an hour you need to get her to a vet immediately. Your Labrador will expel the remaining placental material, blood, and other fluids in the final stage of delivery. Now it is time to praise and let your Lab rest with her little ones. Dogs can pass diseases by sniffing and licking each other. While many of these diseases will not do anything to an adult dog, they can kill puppies. When you puppies start biting and chewing, you can introduce them to solid food. You may need to water it down, soften it to a mush, and then smear a little on their mouths. By 4 or 5 weeks, they should be eating solid food regularly. Normally, mom will clean up the puppies pooping issues. The puppy stool should not be watery. So, watch for diarrhea. It might be loose, but not watery. If you notice that a puppy might be constipated, you can lubricate a clean rectal thermometer and slightly insert it as needed. This will usually get things going. Check out this page to create the perfect whelping area for birth and raising the puppies. Whatever you decide to use, make sure that momma can come and go as she pleases while keeping the puppies contained in a specific area.

Breeds The link has been copied! The Black Poodle is a widely sought after type of Poodle due to its elegant coat and charming personality. It is a coloration that can be present in various sizes of Poodles, including Standard, Miniature, Moyen , and Toy Poodles. Like all other colors of Poodle, black poodles are descended from water-retriever dogs. They have a long history of being both working dogs and companion dogs. There is a dispute about whether the Poodle originated in Germany or France. Either way, Poodles were originally working dogs bred to retrieve shot game and lost arrows. Poodles are a popular dog breed for several reasons. They are intelligent and friendly. They have a beautiful and striking appearance. Also, they have certain hypoallergenic qualities. Black Poodle Appearance and Genetics A black poodle can either have solid black fur over its entire body, or black along with another color. Black Poodles have black eyes, lips, noses, and toes. Entirely black Poodles are one of the most popular Poodle colorations due to their striking appearance. A genuine black Poodle does not have any white or silver tint in its fur. Poodles have both an outer and inner coat. The outer coat is the one that is easily visible. The inner coat is beneath the outer coat and is not so easy to see. All black Poodles have a black outer coat, but some have an inner coat that appears blue or gray. Having a blue or gray inner coat can make the black outer coat appear lighter. Standard Poodles are over 15 inches tall and weigh somewhere between 40 and 70 pounds. Miniature Poodles are classified as being between 10 and 15 inches tall and weighing between 10 and 15 pounds. The smallest size category is the Toy Poodle, which is under 10 inches tall and weighs only 4 to 6 pounds. Moyen Poodles fall between Miniature and Standard Poodles in their size and weight. Usually, Moyen Poodles are 15 to 19 inches and weigh 15 to 25 pounds. The Moyen Poodle is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, but with its growing popularity, it may be recognized soon. Fans of the Moyen Poodle praise their medium size. Their size makes them well suited to being lapdogs but also large enough to keep up with their owners during physical activities and outdoor adventures. You can learn more about the Moyen Poodle here. Regardless of what size category they fall into, all Poodles naturally have a muscular but slim form. Poodles also have long muzzles. Their fur is either corded or curled. Poodle fur is known to require high maintenance. What Causes Black Fur? The black fur color seen in black Poodles is caused by the same process that determines the coat colors of all dogs. These pigments are eumelanin and pheomelanin. To make it simple, if genes connected to eumelanin are dominant within a dog, that dog will have a black coat. The gene that leads to black fur is stronger than the gene for other coat colors. This means that it is easier to breed black Poodles even if they only have a small amount of eumelanin in their genetics. Black Poodle puppies can be born even if neither of the parents have black fur. This can happen if one of their ancestors further back had black fur. The genes that lead to black fur on Poodles do not have an effect on the Poodles' personality or health. Are Silver Poodles Born Black? Some silver or gray Poodles are born silver or gray. But some black Poodles do eventually turn silver or gray. There are two ways a black Poodle can end up turning silver or gray. The fur of true black Poodles does eventually start to turn gray, but this happens gradually when they transition from an adult to a senior dog. In this type of graying, the gray fur will not always spread to the entire body. Often, the graying will start around the muzzle and spread from there. In some cases, a Poodle can be born black and gray prematurely over the first two years of its life. It can be hard or even impossible to tell if a black Poodle puppy will remain truly black. Are Black Poodles Friendly? Black Poodles, when raised with proper training and socialization, are just as friendly as any other coloration of Poodle. Poodles are energetic dogs, so they need exercise every day. They are also intelligent, and thus need mental stimulation as well as physical stimulation. Though well-trained black Poodles are no different from other Poodles in their temperament, they unfortunately face a stigma due to their coat color. Several causes for black dog syndrome have been suggested. Often, large black dogs are portrayed as violent and intimidating in movies and television shows. Black dogs are also known to not photograph as well as lighter colored dogs. The only notable difference is that dirt and tangling can be harder to see on dark coats. Short haircuts are a popular choice for Poodles, since this makes their coils or curly fur easier to manage. Poodles need to be groomed daily. They also need to visit the groomer regularly, unless you feel comfortable trimming their coat at home. Poodles are naturally slim dogs. It is easy for them to become overweight if their diet is not properly monitored. It is important to talk to a vet about the best diet for your black Poodle. One thing that dog owners often forget is that treats used in training can add up in calories over time. Black Poodle Health The genes that cause a black coat in Poodles are not known to be connected to any health issues. As such, monitoring the health of a black Poodle is similar to monitoring the health of any other shade of Poodle. It is important to note that the likelihood of certain health conditions occurring can be affected by the size of the Poodle. Poodles can be affected by a wide variety of health ailments, but there are several that are especially common within the breed. These include: Dental problems All dogs are susceptible to dental problems, including tartar buildup and gingivitis. Heart problems The category of "heart problems" covers a wide array of issues that can affect all dogs. This includes heart murmurs and arrhythmias. Hip and elbow dysplasia Hip and elbow dysplasia refers to painful abnormalities in the hip and elbow bones. Patellar Luxation Patellar Luxation is an abnormality in the kneecap that can cause issues with mobility. Progressive Retinal Atrophy Progressive Retinal Atrophy refers to a group of diseases that cause photoreceptor cells in the eyes to degenerate, resulting in reduced vision. Sebaceous Adenitis Sebaceous Adenitis is a condition that affects the sebaceous glands. These are the glands in the skin that keep skin and fur healthy. When these stop working properly, damage to the skin and fur will result. This is by no means a complete list of health issues that can affect Poodles. Regular checkups at the vet are a must for any dog. Other Poodle Colors Poodles are known for having a wide variety of coat colors. These various coat colors do not lead to any differences in temperament. Possibly the most popular shade of Poodle next to the black Poodle is the white Poodle. Many people feel that white fur makes Poodles appear more soft and cuddly. Brown Poodles come in a variety of shades, from dark brown to a more tan color. Red and apricot are rarer than most other colors of Poodle. Their fur has hues of copper or auburn within it. Apricot is usually considered to be the color most recently introduced to Poodle breeding, so it is more difficult to breed. Not all gray Poodles are senior dogs. Poodles can be born gray. Or, as discussed earlier, they can gray prematurely. Conclusion Even once you have decided to bring a Poodle into your life, you still have many options when it comes to the size and coloration of your new pup. No matter your living situation or personal preferences, between the Toy, Miniature, Moyen, and Standard Poodle, there is sure to be a size that will work for you. And with their multitude of coat colors, you can be certain to find a pup that fits your aesthetic tastes. Many regard the black Poodle as the most beautiful and elegant of all Poodle colorations, and it is easy to see why. Still, with their friendly and energetic personalities, any type of Poodle is sure to bring light into your life. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Want to know more about TryFi. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. Black Poodles Overview With so many Poodle colors, many cannot choose a favorite. However, the stunning solid black and the snowy pure white are the 2 most common Poodle colors. When it comes to a black Poodle, let's take a look at how one may be confused when the puppy is a newborn and begin to look at the genes that are involved with this color dog. Poodles have 2 coats of hair, an outer coat the one that you will see and the inner coat the one which you will usually only see when grooming. A true black Poodle is a deep ink black. The dog's outer coat will have zero blue or silver tinting and not have any white or silver guard hairs Although a black can have graying due to aging .The face skin when shaved will be deep black, as well. A true black will not "clear" or "fade" as the dog turns from puppy to adult. Blacks will have black points and very dark brown eyes. Therefore, if you have or see a black Poodle newborn puppy, one must look at the points of the dog and the pup's pedigree to determine if a change will take place. This means a change of color in the coat of the dog. All blue Poodles are born black and then "clear" within 1 to 2 years. For this reason, many blue Poodles are registered as black. The outer coat of a blue is usually as dark as that of a black, but hairs at the root is a mix of colors. The amount of each color depends on the age of the dog. In middle-aged dogs, medium brown predominates. True blue Poodles will have blue skin pigmentation and most have dark brown eyes. A true black Poodle will have 3 certain enzymes that must all be present to produce black. The first is referred to as the dark eumelanin enzyme.Scarlett, 18 months old Photo courtesy of owner: Dorothy Poodles that do not have this, will have the Pheomelanin enzyme instead, which would create a light colored coat. So, to begin a Poodle may have the eumelanin enzyme and then in order to be a true black, there has to be two accessory enzymes that must be there as well, known as TRP1 and TRP2. Since dogs carry genes from both parents, a Poodle with 2 black color genes has the genotype of BB. If a Poodle has one black and one brown gene factor, the genotype is Bb; however black is dominant over brown and the coat would be black. That Poodle, however - if bred- will pass down the Bb gene, which could produce black or brown puppies, depending one which gene the other parent passes down. Do Black Poodles have Different Behavior? Have you heard of black dog syndrome? It applies to all sized dogs, however tends to be used more with medium to large sized dogs, therefore it would apply to the standard Poodle more than the toy. This is a theory that has not yet been fully proven - though informal studies have been done - that black colored dogs are passed over for adoption in favor of their lighter colored counterparts. Some say that this is most due to media TV shows and movies depicting black dogs to be more aggressive or non-friendly. While it appears that some shelters have reported that dark coated or black dogs take a bit longer to adopt out, this seems to only apply to mixed breeds. There are absolutely no temperament or behavioral differences between black Poodles and those of any other color. The coat color does not dictate a Poodle's personality, ability or socialize any other factors at all that would influence how the dog behaves. Caring for a Black Poodle Care elements are just about the same, there are only two minor differences: 1 Black coats will show light colored debris, just as lighter coats will show darker dirt and debris. For this reason, depending on what activities a black Poodle engages in and such things as the color fabric of carpeting in the house, etc. If a black Poodle is attracting light colored lint, a quick spritz of a finishing spray will help the hairs repel fine particles. Elements such as long term sun exposure may cause a gradual reddening or a fading. To keep the coat as deep and deliciously black as possible, you may want to use color enhancing shampoos that do not dye the hairs but do bring out natural color. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. They can be found under Available Puppies. Just like all the other toy and miniature poodles we specialize in breeding, our black poodle puppies are of a quality unlike any others you will find. Please keep in mind that just as we have high standards for our poodles, we have in many ways even higher standards for the homes and owners we send them to. We want each of our black poodles to go to an owner who we know will appreciate and care for the dog as much as we do. In order to help us make a decision on why you may be the right person for one of our black poodles, we ask that you kindly fill out our Puppy Application form to provide us with some initial information. We look forward to learning more about you and why you hope to bring one of our lovely toy poodles into your home. Before applying, however, we invite you to browse our selection of black poodle puppies for sale to learn more about them. You will be able to view pictures and learn about their temperament, birth date, size, and more! Explore our website today to learn more about our black poodle puppies and our history of toy poodle breeding in general, and please contact us if you have any questions!

Is This A Good Idea? Years ago, eBay made live animal sales available through their main auction site. Customer complaints came furiously. Some of the many concerns were that buyers never met breeders, that there were no guarantees for the care of the dogs, and that shipping a live animal cross-country is potentially fatal, especially by plane. Now with the new site eBay Classifieds, live animal sales are back. They now allow live animal sales through eBay Classifieds with the assumption that all sales will only take place locally, therefore encouraging potential buyers to meet with the sellers, verify that they are breeding responsibly and that the animals are healthy. Our quick research shows over 12, people are already searching for pets on eBay every month. The first ad I saw showed two white German Shepherd puppies, just 5 weeks old. But this alone will not solve the problem. My question for eBay is how long does an investigation take, and will the poster have sold the puppies by then? While promoting adoptable dogs from rescue groups is fantastic, I clicked through 6 pages of ads before finding a rescue dog. The same was true in other cities I searched as well. Rescue dogs were buried 5 or 6 pages deep. They may have their reasons for doing this, but the consequences for pets nationwide are grave. To sum up, here are the problems I have with this eBay service. Dogs can be sold to anyone, anywhere through eBay Classifieds, so dogs are still at risk of dangerous shipping and buyers are at risk of supporting irresponsible breeders. By posting ads for their dogs on eBay Classifieds, puppy mills can be exempted from regulation and have a larger, stronger venue to make their money. If this takes off, it will lead to more mills and worse care for the dogs. But do they really have the staff to manage this? And is it only responding to flagged ads or more proactive? Stick to what you know. If you agree with me, then join the Change. If you want to let eBay know that you support responsible dog breeding and adoption practices, I urge you to click here and sign the petition today. Please pass this along to other animal lovers to sign too. Thank you. And if you are looking to adopt a dog, please consider your local shelter. Search for one on Petfinder. Are you interested in getting more dog news like this? Subscribe to the PawPosse newsletter. Just scroll up to the green box on this page and enter your name and email address. Ready for forever homes October 5th. Puppies will mature to weigh around 25 pounds full grown, they will come with shots and deworming up to date, star.Tails docked, dewclaws removed, 3 shots. Parents onsite. Dewclaws removed, tails docked. Call .Come with full AKC papers, first shots, wormed, and a health guarantee. Born July 25, .Available to go home now and in the beginning of August. Trained pups and young Adult Wheaten and Whoodles avai.Call or Text: 7 weeks old they come from a good home Parents on site 3 males 6 females Shots are scheduled next w.Ready to meet their new families! Health and DNA tested. Have begun: potty, crate, recall training. They need a loving home togo to. These puppies are 6 months old. These hypoallergenic and non shedding sweet pups are raised in our home with our 5 children. They will come with vet check record.Well-loved and hand-raised. Pups available from two litters born Decem.They are currently six weeks old and have received their first shots with deworming. The puppies are very.Will be puppy play yard trained and learning puppy pad training when.They will come with first shots, dewormed, a puppy package and health check by a v.Both parents are our family dogs and our beaut.Ready to go to their new homes on October 28th, Colors.We have 1 male and 2 females left in our F1B litter. Here at Home Grown Puppy we understand that bringing a n.Black, chocolate, and yellow. They are 4 weeks old and can go to their forever homes September 8th at 8 weeks old.

No microchip and never claimed.Jackson lucked out! Look at him in his pics, he is smiling! He has been fully vetted and acclimated to a loving family environment with two other large labs. This fabulous big boy is kennel trained, house trained, and has mastered basic obedience with a lifelong dog loving foster mom. Jackson plays well with other dogs and when not playing, loves to cuddle. He has great loyalty and friendly characteristics that will fit great into any family dynamic. Jackson would love adventures and looks forward to escaping the heat of Houston. Jackson has been examined by our vet, received a series of dhpp, bordetella, canine influenza bivalent, rabies vaccine, and leptospirosis vaccines. He is neutered and microchipped. We provide our rescued puppies and dogs the highest quality veterinary care as our own pets. We use the highest standard transporter in the industry. We are pleased to provide referrals upon request. Our greatest goal is to properly match a rescued pup with the perfect adopter. We have over twenty plus years experience in rescuing pets. It is truly our greatest joy. Shelter pets teach students essential skills for success Our Impact A pioneer of the no-kill movement, North Shore Animal League America continues to lead the way with the development of national and international programs that increase adoptions and raise awareness about the plight of homeless animals. Support our work, donate today! Each month features heroic stories of compassion and some of the special animals we've had the privilege to rescue, nurture and adopt - and we surely couldn't have done it without YOU, and all our loyal supporters. Order yours today! Enjoy delicious food and drinks, live entertainment, a silent auction and plenty of puppy love. Reserve your spot today and join us as we celebrate another year of our lifesaving mission. The Season of New Beginnings I read somewhere that September represents endings and new beginnings, which makes sense. Summer ends, autumn begins, vacation ends, and the school year begins. Speaking of new beginnings, there are currently two young nursing mammas in my program, with a total of nine nuggets. Back to School Tips: Leaving Your Pet at Home The hurried rush of back-to-school and shorter days means families are spending more time focused on school work and active schedules. That may mean leaving your furry friends home alone more often. Now is an important time to incorporate your pet into the family's new routine. This was never more true than for Quartz, who at just weeks old needed all of our resources to survive. Warning, some images may be heartbreaking. Opening your heart to these dogs and cats is a profoundly meaningful and compassionate act; you give them the chance to experience comfort, security and affection in their remaining days. Now fully recovered from his dual hip surgery, Buddy has made quite a mark on the hearts of his caregivers…and even on some of their family members.

Three to four times a day 4 — 5 months 6 months and above Two times a day Pregnant or breastfeeding French Bulldogs may eat up to three times a day within eight hours. Meanwhile, puppies require more frequent feedings than adult dogs due to their rapid metabolism. In general, a French Bulldog puppy should be fed three times daily between two and six months. Once the French Bulldog puppy reaches the age of six months, the feeding frequency can be reduced to two meals each day. As developing puppies, your Frenchie requires a consistent daily feeding plan. The feeding plan should incorporate at least three measured meals per day. Its dinner schedule is vital, as it allows ample time to digest the food and go pee or potty before bedtime. Between 14 and 18 weeks, you can begin accustoming your French Bulldog puppy to two meals each day. If your veterinarian advises you to keep your French Bulldog on a three-meals-a-day diet, this must be properly followed. Senior dogs can be fed on the same schedule when given three meals a day. Since elderly dogs do not move as much, they may develop too much weight. Consequently, you should ensure that the food contains fewer calories, more fiber, and an appropriate balance of fat and protein. Your veterinarian should have a recommended amount of treats you should give your dog. Again, it will vary according to its weight and level of activity. If you must frequently use treats for training, use tiny bits or give them a licking mat. Best Dog Foods for French Bulldog A feeding guide for Frenchie dog lovers would be incomplete without the information on the best dog food for their furry companion. There are numerous food options available for French Bulldogs. The best pet food varies from one Frenchie to another. Perhaps your French Bulldog is a fussy eater or suffers from food allergies. It is feasible to provide a balanced diet for your French Bulldogs if you use the best store-bought or homemade dog food that contains all the nutrition needed by your dog and as prescribed by your veterinarian. The list below shows the best dog food options you can provide your French Bulldog: Dry Food: Dry dog food is commercially available kibble. This can be an excellent alternative for French Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs. French Bulldog puppies require high-quality dry food that is high in animal protein to aid in growth and muscular development. Wet Food: Wet food is contained in a can; it is primarily composed of water and is considered highly mushy food. However, wet food expires more quickly than dry food, making it the least practical alternative. Home-Cooked Diet: A home-cooked, protein-rich diet like a chicken meal is excellent for French Bulldogs. Unlike ordinary kibble, it contains no additives or preservatives. It supports healthy digestion and may help avoid various problems related to a bad diet, including obesity, dry skin and coat, pancreatitis, diabetes, and a low immune system. French Bulldogs are prone to developing a variety of joint and back issues. Along with other joint problems, they may develop luxating patella or hip dysplasia. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are critical components of a high-quality French Bulldog dog diet. These essential vitamins assist your French in developing the connective tissue necessary for healthy joints and spine support. Omega-3 fatty acids can assist your Frenchie to keep muscle mass and strength by reducing inflammation and soreness. Also, this can promote healthy skin by preventing itchy and flaky skin. Whether wet and dry food, raw food, or a homemade diet, each dog food offers several benefits and drawbacks. Consult a veterinarian before deciding to know exactly what food option suits your Frenchie. Any French Bulldog owner will attest that vomiting is far more common in this breed than in other dogs. While it cannot be totally prevented, you should know what human foods are toxic to French Bulldogs. Some of the foods to avoid are not only bad for Frenchie; many of them can be fatal. They may result in poisoning and, in the worst-case scenario, death. This section enumerates some of the most dangerous foods for French Bulldogs. I will discuss why these foods are poisonous and when you should contact a veterinarian. The first and most prevalent is chocolate. It contains a toxin called theobromine , which can cause a variety of health problems when consumed in large amounts. This can cause irregular heartbeats, seizures, and sudden death. Garlic and onions should also never be included in the diet of your Frenchie puppy or adult dog. Even a trace of these vegetables can result in anemia and red blood cell failure in your pup. Poisoning symptoms include lethargy, fatigue, vomiting, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. However, remember that you may not immediately notice poisoning symptoms because the toxic consequences may take a few days to manifest. Additionally, grapes are one of the most toxic foods for your Frenchie. A dog that has consumed grapes may exhibit stomach bloating and diarrhea. They need to be taken to a veterinarian immediately. In severe cases, gastric lavage is the best course of action. Candy, artificial sweeteners, corn on the cob, roasted bones, avocado, raisins, almonds, cherry, peach, plum, coconut oil, mustard seeds, alcohol, coffee, blue cheese, and tomatoes are also regarded to be unsafe for French Bulldogs. Furthermore, there are certain foods that you should avoid giving your Pitbull owing to the negative side effects they may cause. While they are not considered dangerous, they can cause nausea, diarrhea, and weight gain. Numerous dogs wind up at veterinarian clinics due to improper food intake. While prevention is always the best course of action, it is critical to understand emergency care and medication expenses. Read our article on French Bulldog costs to learn more about the medical expenditures associated with a French Bulldog. These adjustments should ideally take place over 5 to 7 days. Consult a veterinarian in this scenario, especially if you intend to switch to a raw or homemade diet. Feeding an Overweight French Bulldog French Bulldogs can quickly gain weight, resulting in various health problems. Thus, dog owners need to notice when their Frenchie gets overweight to assist the dog in maintaining a healthy weight and living a healthy life. Average adult French Bulldogs should have a body weight between 19 and 29 pounds for males, while 18 to 28 pounds for females. The most common indications that your Frenchie is overweight include lack of muscle definition and difficulty breathing during brief exercises. In terms of visual indicators, a Frenchie within their healthy weight will have a thin layer of fat covering their ribs. Meanwhile, those with excess fat have noticeable deposits in the chest and stomach area. Also, you should be able to see and feel their spine as they bend and curl into a sleeping position. Furthermore, Frenchies have an hourglass form, with a visible waistline that is smaller than their chest when they are not overweight. Regardless of these symptoms, it is always advisable to seek confirmation from a professional veterinarian. Feeding an obese Frenchie means maintaining a consistent food plan throughout the day to aid in weight loss. Additionally, this stops your dog from eating more than it requires. Apart from planned feeding times, serving the correct meal proportions is essential. If your Frenchie is overweight, owners should focus on how much food is offered to them. Reducing their daily kibble intake by half a cup can help them significantly reduce weight. Moreover, you should offer them foods with fewer calories, more fiber, and more protein. As a result, your Frenchie will burn more calories and lose weight more quickly. It is preferable to give your dog treats that contain only one ingredient, are low in calories, and contain no added sugar, such as sweet potato and blueberry bites. Alternatively, you can treat your dog with items that are already in your refrigerator, such as tiny portions of sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas. Regularly weigh your dog, monitor how many calories they intake, and establish a target body weight for them. Also, pain can make a Frenchie nervous and unable to eat, so keep an eye out for evident signs of injury. Another common reason for your French Bulldog not to eat is discomfort in the mouth caused by dental issues. Furthermore, gastrointestinal conditions, certain medicines, vaccination, overfeeding, or other serious health problems can cause a French Bulldog not to eat. As a result, you must keep an eye on your Frenchie and contact your veterinarian if the condition persists for weeks. Do French Bulldogs Eat a Lot? French Bulldogs are opportunistic feeders by nature. Thus, they will continue to eat as long as you provide pet food. They may begin to require more than is necessary to fulfill their appetite due to this behavior. Also, when a French Bulldog is agitated, it may begin to overeat. The most effective strategy to combat stress-related overeating is to thrive in a calm environment. At times, your dog may become bored and eat more than usual to keep itself occupied somehow. Thus, you must keep a watch on any of these factors. Can French Bulldogs Eat Bones? Dogs should not consume cooked bones of any kind. The bones may splinter, resulting in deadly shards that might cause injury due to choking hazards. Thus, if you wish to offer your Frenchie a bone, vets recommend raw meat bones, preferably from farm-raised chicken. These are best given after a meal to prevent them from eating too much. Remove it after around ten minutes and store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for tomorrow. To avoid bacterial contamination, it is recommended to discard it after a few days and keep it separate from other raw meat and food. Can French Bulldogs Be Vegetarians? Each Frenchie is one-of-a-kind. Simply because your French Bulldog likes veggies does not mean it can go full-on vegetarian. Also, bear in mind that many veggies are dangerous and toxic to your French Bulldog. Certain vegetables are acceptable to be fed to a French Bulldog, but only in small portions. Final Thoughts French Bulldogs are, without a doubt, playful, intelligent, and compassionate dogs. On the other hand, Frenchies are greedy eaters, and food serves as their primary motivator. Thus, a critical component of owning this breed is understanding how much, how frequently, and what food to feed a French Bulldog. You can supply dry food, wet food, raw food diets, or a homemade diet for your pet. Since Frenchie pups and adults may have food sensitivities, providing or making the best dog food for their age and nutritional requirements is critical. By doing so, you can help your Frenchie prevent undesirable health problems. This can help guarantee that your Frenchie receives the safest and healthiest diet as much as possible. Let us know in the comments below about your experience with feeding your French Bulldog! My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. They are a loving and sensitive breed. One of the most common questions asked by new French Bulldog owners is how much food they require, and how often should they be fed. French Bulldogs typically will eat as much food as you give them. The amount of food required depends on their age, weight, and activity level. Source Feeding French Bulldog puppies When puppies are born they get all of their nutritional needs by drinking milk produced by their mothers. Breeders typically start to wean the puppies off their mother's milk by weeks and by six weeks they are eating kibble 1. When your puppy is home with you at 8 weeks old they will typically require 1. I recommend splitting this up between meals over the day. When our puppy was at a very young age we would mix the kibble with a little bit of water to soften the food for them. As your puppy is at a stage of rapid growth over the following year we recommend feeding your dog the best nutritional food you can afford. Active Frenchbuilldogs based on a weight of 15kg 33lb requires caloiuries a day. This can be split over several meals and would be approximately 3cups of kibble. How much should I feed my elderly French Bulldog? As your French Bulldog ages and activity levels decrease they will require less food. Typically they will require calories per g 1lb of body weight. However, if your dog is showing they are still hungry and underweight feed them. How much should I feed my underweight Frenchie? Increase the amount of food you are feeding your dog up to between calouries per g 1lb of body weight until they are at their ideal weight. What can you feed your dog? Kibble Dry food is very accessible and can be purchased at most supermarkets. Nutritional values provided by kibble differ by product sold. We recommend doing some research to provide good quality kibble to your dog. Some of the benefits listed for kibble are: Increased dental health Reduced risk of bacteria Raw diet Raw food can be homemade, and or store-bought. Meticulous care and planning need to be done to ensure your dog does not get sick. Some studies have found many benefits of raw diets: Healthier coat and fur Increased longevity Fresh diet Cooking for your dog at home allows you to provide nutritionally valuable ingredients of your own choice. The downside is that it does take up time and requires planning to make. If you decide to feed your dog fresh food we highly recommend that you consult an animal nutritionist. Some of the benefits of feeding your dog fresh food are below. Avoids fillers Allows a variety of food Food quality To learn more about your dogs microbiomme and gut health visit our blog post here. If you are after dog shirts, or cooling shirts for your French Bulldog visit our shop here. Pin64 71 Shares When we first brought Claude home, we had no idea on how much food we should be giving him. We spoke to our vet, and this is what he told us about how much you should feed a French bulldog puppy. A French bulldog puppy should be fed 3 times a day whilst there are still 2 to 6 months old. Once the French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the feeding schedule down to 2 meals a day. But now having been a French bulldog owner for 3 years, I can now look back and give you some more detail on exactly what our French bulldog puppy feeding schedule was like and how it worked for us and him. French bulldog puppy feeding chart Below you can see a French bulldog puppy feeding guide I put together. It contains some rough guidance on how you should schedule and plan his feeds, and what other factors you might need to take into account. Please do print it out and put on your fridge. How many cups of food should I feed my French Bulldog? Before you look at the French Bulldog feeding chart below, you might want the quick answer to how many cups of food to feed your French Bulldog. As a general rule of thumb, you should feed a French Bulldog puppy aged 8 to 12 weeks around 1 and a half cups of food a day, in 3 separate meals. As your Frenchie gets older, the number of cups of food you should feed them will change. You can see the cup amounts and frequencies in the French Bulldog feeding chart graphic below. This French bulldog puppy feeding chart tells you how much you should feed them Source: Canin The French bulldog puppy feeding chart shown above is taken from the Royal Canin dog food range. This is exactly what we fed Claude as he was growing up. They range a specific French bulldog puppy food, and on the packaging you will see a version of the chart above, including how best to feed your own puppy. Handy Hint: To stop your Frenchie from bloating and possibly choking you should use a suitable feeding bowl. Here are the best French Bulldog food bowls that vets recommend. When you take your puppy to his new home, he should already be used to eating puppy food. As I mentioned earlier, you should be feeding your French bulldog puppy 3 times a day. They need that regularity as they are growing and burning a lot of calories. You know how energetic they are! How much you feed them at each mealtime will typically be half a cup of their dry puppy food. Across the day, that will equate 1. However, their weight and health will then determine how much you feed them as they get older. Calories matter, but are hard to count As French bulldogs get older, you should try to feed them according to their weight. For every pound, they should be fed between 25 and 30 calories. However, for the rest of this French bulldog puppy feeding guide, I am just going to talk in cups. Puppy weight How can weigh your puppy at the vets or, and this is can be a more interesting and fun way if your puppy already knows how to sit, have them sit on a scale at home. It will not be as accurate as a scale at the vet, but it could be a cheap and fun experience for you and your pet. Because of this, your puppy may be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. Here is where the math gets a little more detailed, but not too complicated. When they are between 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppy should be fed about 1. This food should be high in calories since they need extra nutrients that they are no longer getting from their mother. This kind of follows the main rule when it comes to spreading out the meals to 3 times a day. But for younger pups, many owners will split the 1. Because feeding them 0. Once they are between 6 and 9 months old, they should be used to their eating routine. That is when the main rule is applied because by then, the pup will be maturing into its adult size and should weigh between 20 and 25 pounds. What about older dogs? Also, if you are wondering how much they should be fed once they start hitting their senior years, they should be fed a little less as long only if they are not as active. Make sure you still stretch out the meals to 3 to 4 times like when they were puppies because it is not uncommon for their stomachs to weaken with old age. Overweight or underweight? French bulldog puppies usually weight between 8. Once they reach 6 to 9 months, they are just at or are closer to reaching their adult weight, .If the puppy is underweight, then add very small increments to each meal every day until they are no longer underweight. It is important to not add too much food because of the possibility of them getting a twisted stomach. If the puppy is overweight, you can either slightly reduce the size of their meal until they lose weight, or you can give them more exercise. Many people prefer the later since it helps the pup to get stronger and adds more bonding time. The same methods apply to grown French bulldogs as well. Handy Hint: Read this guide which explains how to check if you have a fat French Bulldog who needs to lose weight, with tips on how to get the pounds down. If the dog does not appear to be gaining weight when they are underweight or vice versa if they are overweight, you might want to take them to the vet since it could be a sign that something is affecting their health. Health conditions Since not every animal is the same, ask your vet the next time your pup has a check-up what a French bulldog of their size and age should weigh. Health factors like diabetes yes, dogs can have diabetes , can make your pup need a more strict diet or feeding routine. Here are some different diets and feeding routines. Raw food vs. Many dog lovers say that there are too many preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and protein in dry and wet food. While the raw food diet can be more natural, especially if it is organic, you also have to make sure your pup would be getting more foods with vitamins and minerals mixed in with the raw food that your pup would need. Raw food diets can be more expensive, require more storage room for the meats and veggies, and take longer to prepare. However, you would be personally ensuring that your little French bulldog pup is getting their full daily nutrition without harmful by-products and additives. Is there a good dry food diet? Possibly the biggest questions out of all of them: is there any good dry dog food out there and how do I find them? The answer is yes, there can be some healthy dry dog food products, but it takes some time to look for. The key is to look for dog food that does not contain any preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and too much protein. Fillers basically do not provide any nutritional value and can even harm your dog since most of the ingredients they use as fillers are common allergies for dogs that can cause skin conditions, bowel issues, and more. Wheat and corn are included since they are also a popular allergen for dogs. Too much protein is even more dangerous for them since it can put more pressure on the organs, throw off nutritional balance, increase the likelihood of diabetes, and can harm dogs that already have diabetes. To see the safe and dangerous fruits list, click here. Another two meat choices would be duck and turkey, but these are a little less common to find, especially if you are looking for a French bulldog specific dog food. Your dog eats his food too quickly Another common problem is how do you control how fast your French bulldog puppy eats. French bulldogs love to eat their food and eat it fast, which is one of the primary causes of GDV. Frenchies will stop eating for a number of reasons, some more serious that others. Conclusion So there you have it, your guide to how much you should feed your French bulldog puppy. Everything in this feeding schedule and the French bulldog feeding chart you see is based on personal experience. Once in the morning, and once in the early evening. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Frenchies will stay as healthy as ours has! How often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy? Home » How often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy? Your puppy has been on unlimited food all of the time. If on the smaller side 5lbs , we recommend four times per day. If a little bit stouter, you can start with three times a day. We recommend giving them as much as they want at each setting while they are growing babies. As they age and grow you can take it down to times per day. Two feedings per day seems to be the amount of times most people end up feeding their Frenchies. When you place your puppy on a feeding schedule it helps with the potty training as well. After eating, take them outside to potty. Make sure to tell your little one how good he is for doing his duty outside. Basically you just fill the water up to the level of the dogfood. If they continue to turn their nose up at the kibble, try adding a bit of canned dogfood to the kibble. Puppies are like humans. Some overeat when stressed and some undereat. Changing to a new home is an environmental stressor even though we are sure your Frenchie is enjoying being the center of your world. Each Frenchie is different and each human family is different. Do your best at scheduling for you and your Frenchie to live your best lives. In this article, I will cover some key information about feeding your French Bulldog puppy, including how much you should feed them and a suggested outline for a feeding schedule that you can adapt as they grow. Keep reading to find out more. Typically speaking, the breeder that you have bought your French Bulldog puppy from should provide you with all of the information that you need on feeding your puppy. This includes what food your new puppy has been eating as well as how often your puppy has been fed throughout the day. French Bulldog puppies have high caloric and nutrient needs. Generally speaking, French Bulldog puppies aged anywhere from weeks of age need a total of 1. That being said, you will need to bear in mind that the quantity your dog eats depends on a number of factors, including their size, metabolism, and activity levels. Spreading out the meals is the key to a healthy, happy puppy, as it minimizes the peaks of energy your French Bulldog will experience due to dramatic rises and decreases in blood sugar levels between meals. Ensuring you feed them in these intervals will allow your puppy to maintain a healthy amount of energy and nutrients throughout their day. Once your French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the number of times that you feed them down to 2 meals a day. Puppies can have sensitive stomachs. You will need to feed a puppy the same type of food, the same amount of food, and feed them at the same times of the day to ensure that their stomach can cope. To come up with a feeding plan for your specific puppy, you should consult with your veterinarian and come up with a suitable feeding schedule in conjunction with their advice. Age You will need to consider when feeding your French Bulldog puppy is their age. As a result, your puppy may initially be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. In this circumstance, you will need to ensure that you remain patient and consistent when it comes to meal times. Alternatively, you could try adding a dash of water to the dry kibble to make a type of gravy. Not only will the meaty aromas tempt them to the bowl and encourage them to eat their food, but it will also soften the dry kibble slightly and make it easier for them to chew. French Bulldog puppies are allowed to be separated from their mothers at 8 weeks, at which point they will weigh somewhere between 7 to 12lbs. How much your French Bulldog puppy weighs will depend on their gender, as male French Bulldogs typically weigh more than their female counterparts. They are considered fully grown around 12 to 14 months old, but may continue to put on muscle until they are two years old. They are a greedy breed by nature, and you need to be wary of overfeeding your French Bulldog as this can lead to a variety of health conditions if they become overweight. When assessing whether your Frenchie puppy is overweight, you should be able to see a little rib and they should have a defined waistline. When it comes to choosing to give your dog treats, fewer high quality treats on special occasions are much better than feeding them many lower quality ones more often to train them. When it comes to training your puppy, positive reinforcement in the form of praise also works. Calories As your French Bulldog puppy gets older, the number of calories they are eating should increase according to their weight. You should feed your puppy 12 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight. However, if you are not sure how much to feed your French Bulldog puppy, consult your vet. Nutrition One of the most important factors to consider when feeding your French Bulldog puppy is nutrition, as a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for their growth and development. This simply comes down to the fact that puppies have higher energy requirements and are actively developing muscle and other tissues. Energy comes from the breakdown of protein fats and carbohydrates. Health Conditions When feeding your French Bulldog puppy, you will also need to bear in mind any health conditions that your Frenchie could be prone to developing. Diarrhea Stomach upsets are very common in Frenchies, so monitoring their diet is absolutely essential. Signs of a digestion problem include wet, runny, and loose stools. If a food allergy is suspected, the only treatment is an elimination diet. As a result, you will need to watch out for any food sensitivities your dog has. Reflux Flat-faced breeds such as Frenchies can suffer from reflux or struggle to swallow their food. You will need to monitor this when it comes to giving them their food. Dental Problems Flat-faced dogs often have crowded teeth which, in turn, can cause dental problems when it comes to chewing. While some French Bulldogs are hyperactive, others are lazy and love nothing more than lying on the couch all day. As your French Bulldog edges closer to adolescence, the amount of exercise they need will increase. Around 60 minutes of daily exercise split into two walks is plenty for your fully grown French Bulldog. As a result, too much exercise can even be bad for French Bulldogs. As a flat-faced breed, French Bulldogs can overheat and struggle to breathe and pant, especially in warmer weather. Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome BOAS is a condition that can cause severe breathing problems and is caused by their shorter faces. As a result, you should make sure that you take precautions to keep your dog cool and make sure that you understand the signs of heatstroke in dogs. Consult With Your Vet Above all else, consulting with your vet should be your first port of call when bringing home your new puppy. Invest In A Slow Feed Dog Bowl A slow feeding bowl is a useful dog bowl to have as they are designed with ridges or grooves which are designed to slow your dog down when they are eating. However, some treats contain high amounts of sugar, colourings, milk products and fat. As a result, you will need to make sure that you choose your treats carefully and use them wisely, as failure to do so can quickly result in your puppy becoming overweight. The moisture in wet food reduces the risk of urinary infections and other related issues while your puppy is still getting used to drinking water. As a result, it costs more to feed your dog, even if you are buying the product in bulk for a cheaper price. Wet dog food cannot be left in a bowl for hours on end, and it can be messier. As a result, people often consider wet dog food less convenient to feed their dog and store. Dry Dog Food Benefits Cheaper Dry dog foods are affordable and are incredibly easy to store for longer periods of time, meaning that they have a longer shelf life than wet foods. Dry kibble is excellent for getting rid of plaque build-up in the process of your dog chewing crunchy, dry kibble. However, despite the lack of hydration this dog food provides. Your French Bulldog puppy requires high-quality dog food that provides everything it needs to meet its requirements and ensure healthy development. In Summary Generally speaking, you should be feeding your French Bulldog puppy 1. Before coming up with a consistent feeding schedule for your French Bulldog puppy, you should consult with your veterinarian. Following their advice, you will be able to make a feeding schedule that suits your dog and you. Good luck and enjoy welcoming your new French Bulldog puppy into your family! Post navigation. We do not claim to be veterinarians. French Bulldogs can easily become overweight or underweight , especially the lazy ones. Some french bulldogs are hyperactive while others are couch potatoes. It is also critical that you maintain a consistent feeding schedule and never slack off on feeding your French Bulldog. Even more important than that is feeding your Frenchie the proper amount of food daily. Young Frenchies have high caloric and nutrient needs. French Bulldogs aged anywhere from weeks of age need a total of 1. Spreading out the meals minimizes the peaks of energy your French Bulldog will experience due to dramatic rises and decreases in blood sugar levels between meals. Feeding only twice daily can sometimes lead to gastric dilatation volvulus. By this stage, your French Bulldog is ready to get into an eating routine that they will continue on for the rest of their happy, little chubby lives, barring no serious medical ailments later on in life. From around 6 months to 1 year of age, you can start feeding your French Bulldog a very high quality adult doggy food. It is important to maintain a strict routine for your French Bulldog. You can always supplement a few treats in between. Wink wink. A half a cup at a time will make sure your Frenchie is pleasantly tubby and happy. Some days, it seems like a French Bulldog can never get enough food. This seemingly natural hunger is relative to the breed and you should be weary of overfeeding your French Bulldog. Monitor your Frenchie as she eats and make sure she only eats her own food, especially if you feed your French Bulldog near other pets. Note that non-neutered males may grow into the low 30lb range. Always consult a vet. Ideally, 2. This sort of consult is always quick and cheap sometimes free and you owe it to your companion to get the opinion of an expert veterinarian. Overweight Frenchies can suffer from some very severe health problems, including heart disease just like humans , labored breathing, and lack of physical exercise. Never take a French Bulldog out to play in sweltering heat, they can die. Generally, older French Bulldogs will require slightly less food than their young counterparts. However, do not restrict food from your French Bulldog if they appear to be underweight or hungry. A reader pointed out in the comments below that these calculations would put french bulldogs in the 40lbs range somewhere around calories per day. This is obviously an outlier situation and no french bulldog needs that many calories. This means feeding your french bulldog less food as they age. If they look thinner than usual, you can move up by 5 calories per pound of weight until you find a magic number. No french bulldog is identical and our suggestions are based on average weights computed to a mean average calorie intake suggestion. Read: I use this calculator and a pad of paper. See this guide in order to determine the appropriate weight for your Frenchie. Subject: How much should I feed my French Bulldog? How often and how much do I feed my Frenchie puppy? Because we feed more than one puppy at the same time the rest of their litter mates , we put a large bowl full of their puppy food in their kennel and let them eat until they are satisfied. Once all of them walk away from the bowl we know they are done, and we take it away. Puppies are changing and growing rapidly, and they need to eat more frequently at least 3 times a day to provide all the proper nourishment and nutrition for their rapidly growing bodies. Make sure your Frenchie always has access to fresh water through out the day. There is a guide on the food bag that tells you how much to feed your puppy at a given weight. This is only a rough guide depending on activity level, etc. We believe PawTree has wonderful products and we recommend that you keep your puppy on one or more of their excellent products for life. These are all-life-stages products so there is no need to start with a puppy chow and then transition over to an adult chow. However, if you would like to use another high-quality chow, the transition should be made gradually so as not to upset your puppies digestive system which could cause loose stool or diarrhea. For an adult chow, you can get by with a percentage or two less on the protein and fat content, but unless you have a weight problem with your dog, generally the higher the protein and fat content the better. However, we love the grain free chows form PawTree which use sweet potato. All of the various meats are good, although if you have a very food sensitive Frenchie, turkey or duck are generally better than chicken, and fish can sometimes cause issues. If you are feeding your Frenchie a high quality chow, you can probably get by without special supplements. Our Frenchies love them like they are treats. NuVet has made a noticeable improvement in our kennel, especially with our pregnant and whelping females. We were told about this supplement by a breeder friend of ours who obtained fantastic results in her kennel by using this supplement every day with each of her dogs. She said she solved several problems from skin rashes to low milk production in mothers, along with several other nagging health issues when she started giving each dog in her kennel one of these supplements daily. When you use the number provided you can purchase these supplements at a significantly discounted rate versus the retail cost. Have More Questions?

Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dog breed in America for 30 years and that popularity holds for the state of Iowa as well. Because bird hunting is also popular in this state, many Iowa Labrador breeders focus on producing strong hunting and retrieving dogs as opposed to show and pet dogs. Until recently, Iowa was one of the worst states in America when it came to animal welfare laws. While stronger protections were passed in , you should continue to screen breeders carefully before you buy a puppy to be certain you are getting a healthy puppy from a clean, safe kennel. Shadowmyst Labradors Visit Their Website Oskaloosa, IA This breeder prioritizes combining both show quality Labs and working dog lines, resulting in puppies who can fill a variety of roles. They are also dedicated to the health of their dogs, with numerous health screenings including genetic testing performed on their Labs before breeding. Only the three original, AKC recognized colors of black, chocolate, and yellow labs are available from this breeder. This breeder makes a point to have their puppies start early training before they go to their new homes with the goal of a smooth transition for the dog and owner. They focus on show quality Labradors, with several champions among their breeding stock. Because they are a small operation, this breeder maintains a waiting list for new litters. The improvement of the Labrador breed as a whole appears to be the main focus of this breeding operation. The family who runs the breeding kennel also created a foundation to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The dogs they breed come from both show and hunting lines but are specially bred to have good, even temperaments. They are more interested in producing high-quality puppies than a large number of dogs. This breeder will ship dogs by air for an additional fee, but only with a courier inside the cabin, never in cargo. Their dogs come from hunting and retrieving bloodlines and are sold as both pets and hunting dogs. The owners of this kennel are veterinarians and the puppies come with a health guarantee. Both the male and female come from a long line of hunting and pointing Labradors. The parents both have certified hips and the kennel offers a health guarantee. This kennel will ship puppies by air or deliver them depending on location. Silver Labradors are not allowed to compete in shows because the color is not accepted by the AKC. However, silver Labs are popular as pets and hunting dogs. The male and females at this breeding kennel are health certified and genetically tested. The puppies are raised with a lot of socialization before they go to their new homes. The parent dogs are health certified and genetically tested before breeding. All litters are hand-raised by the breeders and their children on the farm. These dogs are primarily bred and sold as pets but do have some hunting dogs in their lineage. Their dogs are bred to be talented hunters and loving family pets as well. They also offer adult, fully trained hunting Labradors for sale. In addition, the kennel offers hunting training courses for privately-owned dogs. They are a large operation dedicated to producing excellent hunters who are even better family pets. Their puppies are socialized and mentally stimulated regularly during the weeks before they go to their new homes. This kennel offers a strict health guarantee. Related read:. AKC English Labrador Retrievers Labrador Breeder in Iowa Their beautiful temperaments, good looks, and eagerness to please are just some of the reasons people love the labrador retriever! He carries all colors and has the best of both parents as he matures. Clear by Embark DNA panel as well. Lynus hails from Sterling Creek Labradors and is joining us to further our improvements. We are thrilled to bring this pure white boy into the CaveInn! Lynus is clear of all genetic known diseases as tested by Paw Print Genetics. His sire Elway is a son of Nash and we expect Rueben to carry on the beautiful English style improvement Labrador. He has a lot of growing to do but each day we see the beginning of a handsome black sire. We are hopeful for just about every color Lab puppy from Rueben in .Her pedigree is decorated with Champion bloodline. We are thrilled to also have her clear of all hereditary diseases via Paw Print and Embark panel testing. Her puppies have great coats, excellent temperament, and easy to train. Paired with our Cave they have produced awesome charcoal and champagne puppies. Results show her clear of all genetic diseases common to the breed. The genetic health screen panel was done by Embark. She carries all colors and is clear of all gemetic diseases via Embark. PennHip scored average for the breed.

What is a similar breed to a Pug? Introduction Pugs are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United Kingdom, originally from ancient China with their famed short muzzle and allegedly by owners of pugs! What else can we say to start? As a result, many people may be wondering about the purchase price of a Pug. But often people ask why are pugs so expensive? How much is this breed going to set you back if you want to buy it from a breeder or purchase it from an animal shelter? The answer might surprise you! We will also explore pug insurance and why this type of protection can be smart for your new family member. How much should you pay for a Pug? The cost you will be expected to pay for a pug largely depends on the area and quality of your breeder. What do pugs cost? Pug price will go up if you purchase your dog from a reputable breeder. Puppy farms may be a cheaper option but are never recommended as they are known to breed unhealthy dogs in very poor conditions. If you buy your pug puppy from good pug breeders they will more likely be healthy puppies and cost you less down the line on insurance — as well as having a happier life. Buying pedigree pugs also know as a purebred pug can fluctuate in price to be more or less expensive than a mixed dog however, they are more likely to develop health problems as they have less genetic diversity. How long do Pugs live? Most pugs will have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. This means you should really think about the long term when you are weighing up your puppy price tag. Unfortunately pugs are known for health problems they can run into some breathing problems early on, this can affect average lifetime costs which is why you may want to consider purchasing pet insurance. Health issues can potentially be very expensive for your dog and can make pugs so expensive over their lifetime, even with older retired pugs. And remember, as our insurance is payable monthly, it helps with your household finances. How much is a puppy vaccination? Dog owners should make sure their Pug puppy receives all of its relevant health tests including getting vaccinated early on. If you get your Pug from a reputable breeder it may have already received its relevant vaccinations. Your pug should receive its vaccinations as a puppy , you may want to take it for a vet check to see which vaccinations it will require. Pet insurance for Pug Puppies So how much does a Pug insurance cost? When you try to buy a Pug another cost factor you should consider is pet insurance. Whether you have a pug puppy or an adult pug can change the price due to the increased risk of health issues at a later age. Postcode can also affect pug cost as some areas are safer than others for dogs and some have more or less expensive vets which can affect your premium. Pug insurance can be expensive depending on your area and the risk of illness for the dog. As pugs do have common breed problems such as pug dog encephalitis or brachycephalic dogs then this will have an effect on how much does a pug insurance policy cost. Pug insurance is more expensive if you have an older Pug or one that has health problems. Is my Pug from a puppy farm? Pet quality should be seen as more important than Pug price when buying puppies. A well-bred pug will live a longer and happier life than one from a puppy farm. To spot a Pug from a puppy farm you should look out for signs of illness or the breeder having a large number of dogs at the same time. Always buy a Pug from a reputable breeder as health conditions will get you expensive vet bills in the future which will overshadow potentially getting a cheaper dog. The pug owner should be able to give you a birth certificate and you should have a good idea about health conditions from the family it came from. While it may be harder with reputable breeders because their dogs will have small litters, if you want health and happy pugs from when they are a puppy then as with other pets use a reputable breeder. They are cruel and help to spread disease. Grooming my Pug When you receive your new dog you will need to make sure it is well looked after and groomed well. To groom your puppies you may want to consider buying a Pug brush. Pugs have short hair but they need to still be brushed regularly. A pug dog can have a lot of hairballs so you will want to brush them more often than dogs with smooth hair. You should also use the right type of shampoo for your puppy as some may not suit its sensitive skin or cause an allergic reaction. Exercising my Pug Pugs are not very active dogs, they are fine with a short walk in the morning but do not want you to overdo it. Instead, invest your time into playing games like fetch or tug of war which will get their energy out and help them burn some calories. Pug feeding guide A Pug puppy will require a different amount of food to adult dogs so the amount of food can vary greatly. Many breeders will be able to tell you how much to feed your dog but you can also ask a vet if you want to make sure. Generally, you should feed little dogs at least twice a day with some good quality dog food. Pug monthly cost will largely be determined by how much food your particular dog breed needs. What colours can a Pug be A pug can come in many colours, the most common colours are black or fawn including apricot fawn. You can also get them in silver, apricot and white but this is not very common. How much a pug costs will depend on which colour you choose! Black Pugs are often smaller dogs then a fawn Pug, they also have only one coat where a fawn may have two coats. Living costs of a Pug The living costs of a baby Pug can differentiate from the costs of big dogs. You will be expected to pay for Grooming tools like a brush and washing materials. Some purebred puppies have a higher risk of developing health conditions as pedagree normally has less differentiation in genes. Common Pug health problems Pug puppies can run into difficulty early on in their lives, as they can have difficulties with breathing and this is called Brachycephalic syndrome. Does a reputable breeder generally run health checks? Yes, and they should be willing to share lots of details about the dog breed and its family history. A pedigree breed may be part of the negotiations of how much do pugs cost. Are Pugs good pets? Pugs are a very popular breed in the UK, due to their easygoing nature pug puppies can fit into any home. Pugs are also very loyal and protective of their family, so they are very good with children. Pugs need lots of exercise because they can be lazy but at least once a day What is a similar breed to a Pug? If your not looking to buy a Pug and instead want something similar why not look at French Bulldogs , they are similar in appearance and temperament. French bulldogs also need lots of exercise but can be slightly more stubborn. Frenchies are sometimes compared to bat because of their large ears. If french bulldogs interest you more we also offer insurance cover on them too! Click here for our french bulldog insurance. Click here to learn more about how much french bulldogs cost. When will my Pug become an adult? Baby pugs are cute, but they quickly turn into larger older pugs. Pugs are typically considered as an adult at one year old. Pugs will also grow until three years of age. They need to be taught the basics including how to sit, stay and come. Some reputable breeders will give their Pugs basic training before handing them over. Conclusion While the cost of pet insurance can be expensive, it is worth considering. We are here to help you find a plan that will work for your budget and provide coverage when you need it most! Our blog post has provided some considerations on why purchasing pet insurance may be an asset to your family in the future. If this sounds like something you want more information about, let us know. One of our team members would love to chat with you about how we could partner together to create a customised solution just for your furry friend! If You have a puppy and you want to keep it protected you should definitely consider the purchase of insurance through Emerald Life. If you want a quote for your pug click here. Black, silver, apricot or fawn, with black muzzle and ears Size Height: 25 cm — 30 cm Weight: 6. Originally bred to be a lap dog, these small but sturdy dogs are known for their large round heads, large, protruding eyes, short noses and deep and distinct face wrinkles. These wrinkled brows also result in very humanised facial expressions like happiness, curiosity and surprise. Pugs come in three colours, silver, apricot with a black muzzle and ears or all black. They also have high set, tightly curled tails and fine, smooth, glossy coats. Pugs are known for their stubborn personalities and are often difficult to train. They carry themselves with dignity and play well with others but are also happy being the only pooch in your family. These dogs are also incredibly adaptable and make a great house pet. They can be happy in the city or the countryside and make great companions for both children and older people because of their sturdy bodies and loving nature. Pugs may be playful, but as a typically sedentary dog, they are happy to just sit in your lap or receive a nice cuddle. It is typically easy for pugs to get along with your other pets, making them a great addition to your family. Pugs love their food and will overeat if you let them. The breed is prone to becoming overweight, so it is important to monitor their diet and exercise carefully. Mild climates are best for them, making the UK a perfect home for your new furry friend. Pugs have short fur, but they have what is called a double coat. This also means that pugs shed quite a lot and require a lot of grooming. Brushing their coat as regularly as every three days with a soft bristle comb can help this. Bath time with your pug Pugs should be bathed once every three to four weeks. You should however clean their ears , eyes, and in between their wrinkles multiple times a week. Their wrinkles, as adorable as they may be, are prone to yeast infections. How much exercise does a pug need? However, this is a lively and intelligent breed, so pugs do need both physical and mental stimulation throughout the day. Pugs are a brachycephalic breed and prone to heat sensitivity and should be observed for heatstroke during hot weather. Your pug should not be exercised during the hottest part of the day, so exercising either early morning or late evening time is advisable. How much does a pug cost? The big price range is largely due to differing demands depending on fur colour, size, and age. As puppies are more in demand, they are more expensive. This also applies to teacup pugs; these small dogs are highly sought after for their small frames. The apricot coloured pugs with black muzzles and ears are the most popular coat colour and as a result, breeders will typically charge more for them as well. For Pedigree dogs such as pugs, it is important to find a reputable breeder. This means your dog will have been bred ethically and for good health rather than trendy physical features. What health problems can a pug experience? This causes folds and wrinkles which obstructs the airways. They will breathe heavily and noisily. Pain when swallowing and regurgitating food can also be symptoms. Surgery to remove the excess tissue is the only way to treat BAOS. The problem can be managed by keeping the dog at a healthy weight. Hemivertebrae A hemivertebra is a deformed vertebra backbone , which is caused by the fusing of two or more vertebrae, or it develops unevenly. This causes a wedging effect that twists and compresses the spine. Signs of the condition include weakness of hind limbs, pain and incontinence. Some dogs can live with hemivertebrae and not experience any of these symptoms. Rest and anti-inflammatories can be helpful for mild cases. Severe cases will need surgery to relieve the compression on the spinal cord. Keratoconjunctivitis Dry eye This condition develops when there is a problem with the tear glands. A lack of tears causes dry eyes, which are sore and often become infected or damaged. Treatments vary but they all aim to prevent the eyes from drying out. If left untreated, scarring and pigmentation will occur, which can lead to blindness. Affected dogs will hop rather than use the affected leg and are prone to other knee-related injuries. In some cases, the problem is temporary, but usually surgery is needed to correct the alignment. Looking to buy a new Pug? Explore our Pug insurance policies today. Insurance for dogs Share this with your friends As with all insurances terms and conditions, monetary levels, excesses and exclusions apply. For full details of cover and exclusions please refer to the Policy Document. Calls may be monitored or recorded. Be first to know the latest deals. Caring for your Pug Pugs can be highly entertaining dogs due to their big personalities and clownish nature. They generally do well in family environments where they have lots of company all of the time as they love to spend time with everybody. Pugs and barking As with any dog, your Pug is likely to make noise in one form or another. How much your dog barks will be down to them as an individual. Training and socialisation When it comes to training Pugs, although they are a clever breed they can also be very strong willed. Training needs to be ongoing and firm but fair. You can start positive, reward-based training from day one, whether you get your Pug old or young. Exercise Pugs can be prone to gaining weight that can make breathing problems worse, so it is important to keep them active and avoid any weight gain. Your Pug will need up to an hour of exercise a day. This should include shorter walks, with extra playtime and lots of brain-stimulating activities. Several shorter walks throughout the day can help to stop them from becoming too tired or overheated, which is a great way to keep them active throughout the day. Keep a close eye on your Pug as they can tire easily due to their difficulties getting enough oxygen. As soon as you start to notice them struggling to breathe, stop and make sure they get enough of a rest. You will also need to avoid exercising them in the heat as this can cause even more problems since they can be at higher risk of heatstroke. Grooming Even though their coats are short, Pugs can still shed loads. Luckily, they tend to love being groomed as it means a lot of attention all on them. Pay close attention to the folds in their skin, as these are the perfect breeding ground for bacterial and fungal infections if left damp. You can teach your Pug from an early age to love tooth brushing and nail clipping so you can keep those pearly whites and paws in great condition. Pugs and children Pugs adore company and really love people of all ages. They often get on well with children, especially if the Pug loves to play. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and play with dogs with care and kindness, to prevent any issues. Always supervise children and vulnerable people with your Pug and make sure you can recognise the signs of unhappiness or anxiety in your dog to help avoid any conflicts. Pugs and other pets Pugs are known for getting along well with other pets and dogs. Introductions still need to be done carefully, though, just in case. Good, kind training will also help them become well-rounded dogs that keep calm in new situations. Your vet or vet nurse will be able to tell you how much your dog should be eating. If you give your dog an occasional treat or use treats for training, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily food allowance. You should try to feed your dog at the same time every day to get them into a routine. Remember to leave a gap after eating and before exercising. Beware unusually cheap puppies as they could come from a puppy farm. These breeders must do extra health tests and meet higher standards for breeding. See our advice on what you need to know about flat faced pets and how to choose a healthier pedigree pet. Set-up costs Puppy vaccines — if you rescue a dog, some centres will vaccinate them for you. Remember that ongoing booster vaccinations will be needed to continue their immunity. Neutering — you should usually arrange for your dog to be neutered at around six months old, though your vet will be able to advise you exactly when is best. Check prices at your local practice as these will depend on your vet and where you live. Some rescue centres will have already neutered the dogs they rehome where appropriate. Equipment — including a collar and tags, lead, harness, dog beds, dog bowls, pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrushes, grooming brushes and toys. Keep in mind that all these will need to be replaced with wear or if your dog outgrows them! Ongoing costs Food. Preventive healthcare — budget for routine vet visits to help stop your dog getting ill and catching any problems early. They need annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular flea and worming treatments. Check if your vet offers a health care plan as this can help spread the cost throughout the year. Accessories — including lots of poo bags, replacing worn toys and grooming accessories, buying doggy toothpaste and any other extras they might need. Other costs Training — basic training is very important and dogs can benefit from formal classes. Some dogs may have, or develop, behavioural problems which might need professional management. Boarding — you may also need to budget for boarding or dog sitting costs if you are planning to go away from home on holiday. If you are having difficulty with veterinary costs, you can check if you are eligible for treatment at PDSA here. A group of Pugs is called a grumble! Pugs are an ancient breed, dating back to Ancient China where they were bred for Emperors. Pugs were bred to be companions, which is why they love people so much. Getting a Pug Do plenty of research before you get a Pug. Although they are loveable and friendly, they are sadly likely to get a lot of health issues more so than many other breeds. Rehoming centres There are plenty of rescue centres across the country where you may find a Pug. Breed-specific rescues specialising in Pugs are out there too. Good rescue centres should let you know of any existing health and behaviour problems. Breeders If you buy from a breeder, make sure your puppy will have been well socialised and have all necessary health checks and vaccinations. We recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured breeder as they meet higher standards. Not sure if a Pug is the right pet for you?

Tru-Fit Harness with Seatbelt from Kurgo Yes, you should prefer a harness as it is better than a collar for your Lab puppy. This is because they are safer and offer much more control. A harness can also reduce strains compared to the collar which can cause tension around the delicate neck of your Lab puppy. The following are some of the biggest advantages of using a harness on your Lab puppy. Injuries Can be Prevented Harness always takes pressure away from the neck of your Labrador puppy. So you can pull the leash without hurting the dog. More importantly, this will help Labs to pull the lead without getting any injuries by themselves. Despite this, you should still teach your dog to not pull on the leash. But with harnesses, there is enhanced space for your dog to grow and it will not put any pressure on the neck of your Lab puppy. Provide Control without Cruelty This is the reverse of the final disadvantage of dog collars. It can be used if you are losing control of your pup. In this situation, you can use sheer force to hold back your Lab without causing undue pain and discomfort. In the case of collar, when you try to stop a fleeing Labrador by applying force, it can cause serious pain. Although Labs may respond quicker when you use collar, it is a very unkind act for pups. When can a Labrador Puppy Climb Stairs? Click here to find out. First thing first, it is important to purchase a proper size harness for your Lab puppy. You should start with a small-sized harness, depending upon the age and size of your puppy. The best way to find out whether the dog harness is too small for your Lab puppy is to put the harness properly on your dog. Start with fairly loose so that your dog can easily slip into the harness. Then, tighten it and check whether the harness fits properly by fitting two fingers between your dog and the harness at any point. Harnesses are a great choice for Lab puppies. However, owners need to choose the one in which their dog remains comfortable. You should start with the small one and move to the bigger sizes depending upon the size of your puppy. A harness should be tight enough so that your dog will stop slipping from it, especially if he suddenly reverses on you. However, if there is still gap after the fitting of two fingers, then the harness is too loose or big for your Labrador puppy. Want to make a good homemade meal for your Labrador Puppy? The Lab puppies can wear a harness when they are 8 weeks old. Owners should make sure that the harness is not too heavy or uncomfortable for their dogs. The following table shows the size of Labrador puppies in comparison to their age so that the owners can choose the best size. It has a front and back clip that you can attach to the leash to train your dog. It also comes with four adjustable straps around the neck and chest for perfect fitting, even for large lab puppies. To ensure that your puppy is safe in crowds, the Rabbitgoo harness has an extra handle on the back. However, the handle is a little thin, so if your puppy is a puller, it may break. The entire vest has padding made of breathable, heavy-duty material to promise the comfort of your puppy. The downside here is that it can be tricky to adjust the straps. Pros Available with side buckles to ease the fitting Soft, breathable padding for maximum comfort Comes with an extra handle on the back for better control in crowds Fair price Straps are difficult to adjust Plastic buckles wear off with excess pulling 3. In addition, the Voyager harness has double D-rings to clip onto the leash and keep it secure. It should be no different for your dog. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely dog from vigor and life. Aside from the correct size, you should consider other features, like durability, adjustable straps, and convenience to get the best bang for your buck. Yet, the material still should be soft and breathable so that your puppy is comfortable while walking and exercising. Adjustable Straps This is a crucial feature to look for in a harness. Paul S. Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament. Front and back Long lines are best attached from the back The back-attachment point is ideal for long lines. Attaching it to the front risks the entangling of the front legs. A front and back harness gives maximum flexibility. Double ended Two leash attachment points Using a back-attachment point lets you use a double-ended leash. A single-ended leash can tighten the harness when only attached to the front. Different harnesses have variable tightness degrees. One with front and back attachment reduces gaping by balancing tension. Clipping the leash attachments at two points sounds too much, but it is best. Optimal control comes from a properly fitted dog harness. Handling large pets become effortless. Material Material quality is the first factor. Nylon, polyester, and breathable hybrid materials are a few options. The harness must not put much pressure on the neck and throat. The pull should be evenly distributed throughout the chest and body. Look for a harness guaranteeing sturdiness and comfort. Strength A 6 month old lab can also drag you in public. Labradors are naturally inclined to swim, play and have high energy. Labs are famous military dogs. Dogs without no-pull training can be challenging to maintain in long walks. A harness with extra padding provides the required strength. Look for safety features, reliable buckles, and quality stitching only. Size Labradors are medium-sized dogs that mature at six months. But they grow after maturity too. A harness with an adjustable strap is handy. A labrador retriever continues to grow for two years. Opt for a flexible harness that can be adjusted. Adjustability Adjustability is a vital consideration for young pups. Adjustable harnesses fit any body type or size. Ensure the clips are adjustable and well-built. A strong and popular breed like a labrador can break cheap clips. Comfort Double padding is a must for both young and old dogs. A soft harness is comfortable and prevents injuries. Some are only made for running and keep your dog in great shape. Safety Safety features like reflective material is a must-have. It increases dog visibility during early morning or night walks. Labrador retrievers who are likely to escape are more secure with such features. Some come with attached handles for more security. It is easier to grab your pet if they take off. Harnesses with seat belt features are also becoming popular. Durability Durability becomes vital if you buy a harness for the lab puppy. Always pick harnesses with a higher durability rating. An extremely durable dog harness will last from puppyhood to adulthood. Go for fully adjustable ones for the best results. Cost Budget is essential but comes second to quality. Buying cheaper products will make you spend again. Though cheap pet products are pocket-friendly, they lack quality. Get a good harness instead of going for cheap ones. Soft vests are best for puppies and older labradors. A front, rear, or dual clip harness is great for adult labs. From dual clip to step-in harnesses, there are several. Labrador Vest Harness These are basic walk harnesses. They are simple, lightweight, and inexpensive and made of mesh, plastic, or nylon. Dog owners with well-behaved dogs on leashes can get these. But the front and back clip harness can be attached at all the points. A double-ended leash is required for the front clip attachment. One point is attached at the front and another at the back. It provides more control over your escape artist. A no-pull dog harness minimizes the pup pulls without hurting them. Tactical Dog Harnesses These are popular for training, trekking, and hunting. Besides labs, it is ideal for other dog breeds, like German Shepherds. Military and service dogs wear tactical harnesses often. Tightening and Control Harness These harnesses are more aggressive than standard ones. They will tighten when your dog pulls. Dog chests can be squeezed on tightening. Experienced trainers and dog handlers use them best. Not sure which chest piece is right for your dog? Our list comprises of the 10 best harnesses for labradors. They are made from sturdy material and have the necessary safety features. Now lets look at all the harnesses one by one. A good labrador harness requires time, effort, and patience to buy. Avoid cheap harnesses that can snap, fall apart, or break. Ensure the chest piece fits well and is not tight. The dog must move with ease wearing the harness. The no-pull harness alone is not enough. Train your labrador retriever for adequate results. Measure the neck and the chest for an accurate fit. Add two inches to the chest measurement in case your lab gains weight. Check the tightness after fastening the clips and buckles. Your two fingers must fit to ensure it is comfortable. If not, then it is too tight. But a harness is comfortable and makes training straightforward. Lab puppies may bite the leash too much initially. However, showing patience will go a long way. Here are a few tips to acclimatize dogs:- Positive reinforcement training is best to accustom your lab. Giving them treats or toys when they follow commands is beneficial. Start slow and small. Place the harness on the floor and let them explore. Let the dog get used to the buckles and leash. You can treat them for being brave and sniffing. Put on the harness if you see progress. Let the dog walk around wearing the harness. Even if it is for a few minutes, treat them. Start with small neighborhood strolls if the dog is confident. Increase the walk durations gradually for smoothness. Irrespective of their style, you need the best harnesses for effective energy management. These athletic dogs are up for everything from trekking to hunting. You need a high-quality harness for your lively pooch. The best harnesses for labradors are:- RabbitGoo is best if you want to control your large lab easily. Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart is for labradors having frequent car rides. Eagloo dog harness provides maximum comfort with its breathable material. Each harness offers unique features and benefits. The final call comes down to your requirements. Harnesses are better suited for walking dogs. Collars are more comfortable and hold the ID. Vets suggest using a harness for many dogs with breathing issues. Should a Labrador wear a harness? Labradors are athletic and sturdy. Having a harness makes them easier to manage. Be it walks, hikes, or treks, they are secured. What size harness for lab puppy is best? You will need at least a 9-inch long collar for a lab puppy. Most labrador retrievers fit into the large harness category. For accuracy, take labrador measurements. How do I stop my Labrador from pulling on the leash? Starting leash training with a harness early is suggested. Teach them self-control and practice attention. Treat them when the position is correct. Do not let pulling reinforce. Should I use a collar or harness for my Lab? Dog Harnesses are considered humane for pets. They give more control than collars. Different harness types also make it easier to choose for your lab pup. What size harness for 8 week lab puppy? The size range for a small harness for an 8-week-old Labrador puppy is: Chest: inches. The critical difference is the degree of dressing up required. This is a moment of personal reflection: do you have a tough time getting out of the house to take your Labrador for a walk? Minimizing the effort required to take your dog walking will ensure that you actually take him out. If your Labrador pulls on his lead, the pressure can quickly start producing irreversible damage. Can Trouble Dogs Even the most humane collars can bother some Labradors. Most new puppies might have trouble accepting a heavy collar. Starting with a light collar at an early age can offset this disadvantage. Some dog trainers can lead-train dogs with collars by building on a foundation of familiarity set by owners who get their dogs to accept light collars early on. This means both products need to be able to cater to different sizes. Most harnesses can house a range of body sizes. But when it comes to collars, your Labrador might start choking on the collar without you realizing it. Adjustable collars can offset this problem. In my opinion, even if you have compassionately trained your Labrador to accept his collar and even go on long walks with the lead attached to the said collar, what happens when your dog gets over-excited? It is quite literally impossible to hold him in position without choking him. Verdict on Dog Collars Dog collars are great to indicate ownership and protect your Labrador from being assumed and treated as a stray. Apart from that, I see no advantage in collars, especially when walking on a lead. So a nuanced approach would be to use a light collar and use a harness whenever you use a lead so that you can sidestep the dangers of lead walking a puppy with a collar. More importantly, your Labrador can pull the lead without hurting himself. More Room for Error If your Labrador puppy wears a collar, you need to follow his growth closely lest the collar begins choking him. Above all, it is more noticeable when your puppy outgrows his harness compared to when he outgrows his collar. In the worst-case scenario, you get to hold back your Lab with sheer force without hurting him as much. Tugging on a collar when your Labrador is trying his best to get away is heartless. That said, you should note that dogs give in more easily when their collar is tugged compared to holding back a harness. The ease, however, is mutually exclusive with kindness in this instance as a submission comes through the pain with a collar. In other words, a harness is something you would want on your pup only on walks. Most well-trained Labradors can go without a harness for short walks, and the harness is left for lead walks. Your Dog Will Take Time to Get Used to It This is a size-driven disadvantage that seems like a logical tradeoff when compared to the burden it offsets. I believe removing cruelty from the equation is well worth the relatively long waiting period. Starting with a light harness with a young Lab puppy is a perfect way to normalize it. Both collars and harnesses are uncomfortable initially, and in the long run, your dog can get used to both. While some trainers make arguments for collars, they are almost exclusively positioned as okay for larger dogs with stronger necks. This makes a harness your only option when out walking. Should a Labrador Wear a Harness? We have already established that harnesses are gentler than collars on Labradors. So, this may have you wondering, should Labradors wear a harness? A Labrador should wear a harness so that you can control him when he gets over-excited on a walk. A harness also allows your dog to keeps his neck safe when you have him on a tight leash. Doing the same with a collar could cause choking, damage to the trachea, or nerve damage. Harness vs. Collar For a Labrador Puppy Harness Advantages Prevents injuries to the neck Allows a lost dog to be identified from a tag Allows more control Easier to wear for tracking Allows room for growth. Conclusions Do I need to put a harness on my Lab puppy? They demand the best food and the most attentive care. As a result, many people believe that you should use a harness rather than a collar on your lab because of how much they tend to pull. Using a leash and collar can help reduce the amount of pulling, but it can be not easy to maintain a firm grip on the leash while walking. A dog harness is also an option. This is the better option for safety, comfort, and training for your Labrador. A comfortable Labrador harness is an important consideration when shopping for one. A good rule of thumb is that the harness should be snug but not squeezing the wearer. As a result, choosing a durable option is critical. For your dog, the features of a Lab harness are more important than the aesthetics. However, if you want to give your dog a dash of color, you can go with a bright harness. A harness is preferable to a collar for a Lab puppy because it is more secure and gives the owner greater control. The ability to lead and control your dog is essential no matter what kind of dog you already have at home, whether a new Labrador puppy or an older dog who has been following you around the house waiting for a walk. To avoid hurting your Labrador, use a harness that distributes the pressure across his upper body instead of his neck. More importantly, your Labrador will not injure himself while pulling the lead. To keep walking your dog from becoming a chore, you must still teach your dog not to pull on the leash. Control Without Cruelty The final drawback of dog collars has reversed. If all else fails, you can use brute force to restrain your dog without causing him undue harm. When your Labrador attempts to flee, it is cruel to force him to wear a collar. Note that dogs give in more quickly when their collar is tugged than when they hold back a harness. As a collar forces a submission, ease is incompatible with kindness in this instance. What is the proper Harness size for a Labrador Retriever? It would help if you got your dog used to wearing a harness as soon as possible. What is the recommended harness size for my Lab puppy? A harness with adjustable straps is preferable because it will last longer when your dog goes through a growth spurt. On the other hand, others believe that this is a risky move. There used to be a fear among dog owners that their pet would be an easy mark for thieves if they knew his name. Many dogs are also microchipped, which makes proving ownership much easier, but most dogs are supervised while outside. Even if your dog is amiable, having his name on his collar is unlikely to put him at risk. Conclusions Collars do serve a purpose in the lives of Labradors, but it is a means of identification, not as a fashion statement. When lab puppies get excited, they may pull on their leashes excessively. Your Labrador must be trained to wear the harness before you can use it safely — you must do this as soon as possible when he is a puppy so that you can control him more effectively. Post navigation.