golden retriever mix labrador puppy

Why Is My Dog Shaking? Dogs are known for their loyalty and companionship, but when they start shaking, it can be a cause for concern for pet owners. Shaking in dogs can be a sign of various issues, from dog anxiety and dog fear to dog medical conditions. In this blog post, we will explore the common causes of a dog shaking and what pet owners can do to identify and treat the problem. We will also offer tips for preventing dog shaking and ensuring.By doing regular grooming at home, you can help your dog look its best between visits to the groomer. You also get to bond more closely and build stronger trust with your dog. Routine grooming sessions will keep your dog clean and feeling fresh, but it will also.Their personality is lively, their nature fun-loving, and their disposition affectionate. As even-tempered, sweet, and playful dogs, Pugs make wonderful playmates for kids of all ages and lovely companion pets for couples, singles, and seniors. These little joy bringers love to cuddle and are generous with their Pug love. When it comes to their family, Pugs attach like magnets. They are known to happily shadow their humans in every activity and are just as happy lazing on the couch all day as they are going for a long evening stroll around the neighborhood. Susan Bon-Webb has been breeding since .This breeder raises champion line AKC Pugs. Their Pugs are their babies. That means each pup becomes family and each new owner is super important. Susan is always available to help or answer questions at any time and whenever needed. They love their dogs and show commitment to the betterment of the breed in everything they do. But how can you spot reputable breeders when you start searching for a Pug puppy? Here are some tips to help you out. A good breeder will… 1. Issue a health guarantee Make sure that your breeder of choice offers a health guarantee. A reputable Pug breeder will write up a binding health guarantee for all of their puppies. The guarantee protects you against any genetic defects or diseases. It shows that the breeder is confident that their puppies are bred according to best practices. This means if you can no longer look after your pup for some reason, you will be expected to return the puppy to the breeder rather than taking them to a shelter. Provide standard health clearances Your breeder should have full health clearances for both parent Pugs. Good breeders often provide some early health-check clearances for their pups too, although some health clearances simply cannot be carried on such young pups. Issue a written bill of sale Reputable breeders offer written bills of sale to all of their new Pug parents. This bill of sale should be signed and will outline all the roles and responsibilities to be taken on by the buyer and seller as part of the transaction. Vaccinate their puppies All puppies should be up to date on their vaccinations before being homed with new families. Your breeder of choice should be able to provide evidence of these vaccinations. Reputable breeders welcome prospective parents into their homes to see the puppies. Follow age guidelines Puppies should never leave the litter before 8 weeks of age. Any breeder offering pups for adoption before this time is not following best practices. In fact, this could be quite damaging for the puppy developmentally. A reputable breeder will keep their pups at home until eight to twelve weeks so that they can be properly socialized and spend that crucial time with their mother and litter-mates. Answer your questions Last, but not least, a reputable breeder will be knowledgeable. In most cases, they will also want to ask you plenty of questions to ensure that their precious pups are going to good homes. We have a strict selection process that takes a variety of factors into account. That way we can ensure that only the best breeders end up on our lists. This way we know that our chosen breeders offer genetically sound and healthy puppies. Health testing shows a commitment to the health and wellbeing of each Pug. Contact information Any breeder that does not offer up their contact information is a big red flag. A reputable breeder will make it easy for you to get in contact with them by providing telephone numbers, email addresses, and they will usually have a well-established website as well. It shows a commitment to breeding best practices. Event participation Breeders who also compete in doggie events are often some of the best. Because these people tend to be dog lovers par excellence. They live and breathe for their Pugs and are proud to show them off in public. They are also more likely to have a high level of breed knowledge — an excellent sign for a breeder. Breed club membership There are lots of breed clubs out there that breeders can register with. These clubs have rules, regulations, and membership fees. If your breeder is registered with the Pug Dog Club of America, this is a great sign showing commitment to the Pug breed. Recognition awards Lastly, we look out for awards! Institutions like the AKC recognize the efforts and achievements of top breeders. The very best will be awarded the AKC recognition of merit award. During this time we recommend getting everything ready before your new arrival rattles through the front door. Your puppy will need: a crate for sleeping and training during the early days quality puppy-grade food a leash and harness plenty of toys You may also wish to purchase a puppy gate if there are areas of your home that you want to keep your Pug away from. This is all about making your home as safe as possible for your new arrival. Make sure anything that could potentially cause harm to your pup is removed. Clear your schedule Having a Pug puppy is a bit like having a human baby. So make sure to clear your schedule and get all of those errands done ahead of time! Once they arrive… 4. Avoid crowds Hold your excitement. That means no crowds. Try to keep the home environment as stress-free as possible so that your puppy can settle in and start to feel part of the family. Crate training is the first step. Lay down a regular routine from the get to and your Pug will be good as gold in no time. Our waitlist is open with a few spots available to new applicants! Generally, we expect a month wait for puppies. For additional information on our adoption process click here. As breeders we see ourselves as the caretakes. Not only of these sweet, fun, charismatic dogs, but also of your future puppy and of the breed in general. We are also tasked with ensuring optimal health of each puppy born. We also have physical evaluations by our veterinarian done. From there it is our responsibility to review these tests results and match each dog with the best possible mate, resulting in healthy, beautiful, well-tempered puppies. It is also our job to keep up with continuing education on breeding, our breed specifically, and dogs overall. This means we often attend online seminars and classes offered through various resources like the AKC, Revival, Good Dog and some university veterinary reproductive programs. We find that participating in continuing education is very important to our breeding program, it helps us better care for our dogs and your future pups. That being said sometimes meeting someone in person can be difficult. Make sure you have been in direct contact with your chosen breeder. We have no problem talking to our future families on the phone. We actually prefer it and request a phone interview. It helps us better assess the right puppy for your lifestyle. There are also a number of reputable rescue groups who would love to find great homes for the pugs who have been abandoned, abused or surrendered to shelters, from time to time they do get puppies as well. When looking for your puppy online, try to follow these simple tips: Be sure to deal directly with a breeder, not a broker someone who buys puppies and resells them. Never send Western Union or money order payments. If you are told that there will be no refunds for a sick puppy, you are most probably dealing with a puppy mill. A reputable breeder or rescue group will always take the puppy back, regardless of the reason.

I'm a hobby breeder and all our pets are raised inside our home or with our guardians. Experienced Breeders We focus on breeding the best puppies and socializing and culturing their personality as soon as they are born. The parents are our pets and live in our home or placed at a guardian home in a very loving environment. Our puppies are spoiled and well-taken care to facilitate a smooth transition to the puppy's new home. Our Mini Goldendoodle Puppies will get used to hearing the noises that they will encounter in their future life. Introduction to the vacuum cleaner, force blow dryer and clippers. Slamming doors, gates and dropped objects Honking horn and running car engine High fidelity noises such as thunder, fireworks, gunshots, wind storm, alarm clock, lawnmower, power saw, buzzers, bells, children playing, thumps, bumps, and much more. Sound conditioning will continue at each meal until puppies go home to their new families. We welcome your questions. The best way to contact me is by email. Thank you for considering us. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for upcoming litter minigoldendoodlesofgeorgia Christy. Mini lbs or Micro 15 lbs. Our pets are Genetically tested. They range from 13 to 20 inches in height and 15 to 35 pounds in weight. We carefully choose our Mini Bernedoodle to produce soft wavy to curly hair and have a great temperament. Our puppies are perfect for any family who's ready to bring a pet home. Bring a puppy home for a responsible breeder. Sign Up For Updates. This superb doodle breed is known for its beautiful coat which is hypoallergenic in nature , its high intelligence which it inherits from its poodle parent , and its gentle, yet playful disposition which is mostly attributed to the Bernese parent. They are also quite popular, as the doodle breed has seen an increase in popularity when looking at recent times. The state of Georgia in the United States is largely devoted to this wonderful doodle breed, with numerous breeders residing in the Peach State. This should make finding a breeder in the state very easy. But, you should also be careful when it comes to picking the right Bernedoodle breeder to work with or patronize. Not all breeders are reputable enough to care for or properly breed the Bernedoodle. Some are puppy mills or bad breeders that you should certainly avoid. This is where we come in. We have provided you with a list of good Bernedoodle breeders to help guide you in picking the right breeder for you. This is merely a guide, so always do your personal research before choosing to work with or patronize any breeder. With that being said, do read till the end as we reveal our personal pick from the list below. This is a premium doodle breeder service that is located in McCaysville, Georgia. They specialize in three doodle breeds, the Bernedoodle, the Goldendoodle, and The Labradoodle, and are quite focused on first generation doodles. They are family operated and they have been in love with the Bernedoodle for years which is why they breed to improve their line. All their dogs are from good breeding lines. They sometimes partner with other breeders after much research would have been done to ensure only the best puppies are used in their program. They are genetically and orthopedically tested with certifications to show for it. Your new puppy should come with a written health guarantee. Their breeding facility is located in the Blue ridge mountains of Georgia on a 15 acre estate that boasts of multiple staff to help in providing quality attention and care to the puppies. The puppies are socialized early on through human and animal interaction as well as exposure to lots of stimulating experiences like sound and texture. You should be getting a well-vaccinated and dewormed puppy. They should also be microchipped. Mini Sheepadoodle The Club Commitment It is our promise to put your puppies welfare as our top priority. That is why we have 24 hour on-site team members to care for your puppy everyday. We are committed to ensuring your new puppy is healthy and ready to join your family. If there is something that later comes up as a hereditary or congenital concern, you will have the peace of mind in knowing that we will stand behind your puppy. Welcoming a new family member into your home is an exciting journey, and we want to provide you with the utmost confidence in your adoption. Full Terms of Guarantee Dedicated Partner Breeders We value the trusting relationship we have with our partner breeders who share our dedication and commitment to providing clients with healthy and socialized puppies. When we visit their homes, it warms our hearts to see their devotion to the exercise, socialization, and exceptional veterinary care of their dogs. We have a zero-tolerance for substandard breeders. Up to 10 Year Health Guarantee Welcoming a new family member into your home is an exciting journey and we want to provide confidence when you take one of our fur-babies home! View Our Available Bernedoodle Puppies! Standard Bernedoodles are bigger than Mini Bernedoodles reaching weights of pounds. They average inches in height at the shoulders when fully grown. Our Standard Bernedoodle puppies are all 1st generation-F1 variety puppies. They have purebred Bernese Mountain dogs for moms and the dads are Standard poodles. Their Standard Bernedoodles life expectancy is years old. Blue Diamond Bernedoodles have a loving, easy-going, and calm temperament. Bernedoodles are very loyal and social and love to spend time with their parents. Standard Bernedoodles need regular grooming because of their curly and thick coats. Shedding is very minimal after their first haircut and grooming. This breed is known to be a hypoallergenic choice. Here at Blue Diamond Family Kennels, we specialize in breeding Standard Bernedoodles along with a few other great breeds. We have teamed up with a few other reputable Bernedoodle breeders that breed and raise Bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. On our Standard Bernedoodle puppies page you will see all of our available puppies for sale. If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More Anyone planning to adopt a Bernedoodle in Georgia knows that finding a good, reputable breeder is a long and time-consuming process. To make your life a little bit easier, we decided to take the matters into our own hands to find the best breeders in your state. All of these breeders follow responsible breeding guidelines and have a proven track-record of being trustworthy and ethical establishments. These pups are extremely loving companions, even gentle giants as many call them. And thanks to the Poodle genes, these Doods make excellent companions for people who are looking for a low-shedding , hypoallergenic companion. Doodle Mountain is a small in-home breeder that raises all of their pups in a loving family environment. They spoil their puppies every single day and make sure that each of them gets used to the regular sights and sounds of a busy household from an early age. What Makes This Breeder Unique? For this, they implement various forms of enrichment methods, such as crate training, potty training, early socialization, regular grooming, and leash walking.

All breeds of Labrador Retrievers are known for being kind and gentle — and this trait runs especially strong with the chocolate-colored sweeties. While these dogs are very friendly to strangers, they have even more affection to give to their beloved families. Your Chocolate Lab puppy or adult will be happiest spending time with their favorite people. If you have young children, a lab is a great fit, as this breed is usually quite tolerant of the horseplay of small children who are still learning how to interact with pets. Just like many people, Chocolate Labs enjoy both downtime — especially if it involves being pampered by their family — and active high-energy fun. We recommend daily exercise, which can include anything from fetch, to tag, or even frisbee games. The average Chocolate Lab lifespan is between 9 and 11 years. The most common Chocolate Lab health problem is hip dysplasia, which occurs more commonly in older and overweight dogs. This is just one of the reasons to make exercise a common part of your time with a Chocolate Lab puppy or fully grown adult. Another problem that occurs in overweight labs is joint and movement issues. The other most common Chocolate Lab health problems are: Progressive Retinal Atrophy Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia As is the case with any dog, when you bring home a Chocolate Labrador, make sure that you have a good vet to handle routing vaccinations and check-ups as well as emergency health problems. Learn more about the Keystone Puppies Health Guarantee! Chocolate Lab Coat Care In general, Chocolate Lab coat care is easy compared to many other dog breeds which require weekly or daily work. Labrador Retrievers all have double coats, which includes an under layer of short hairs and a slightly longer top layer. This coat is useful for repelling water and keeping them cool in warmer temperatures — and warm in cooler ones. Their coat is also noted to be slightly dry and oily. Chocolate Lab coat care is fairly minimal and considered low maintenance. The coat should be brushed with a firm bristle brush 2 — 3 times per month to minimize shedding. In addition to that, baths are needed fairly infrequently. What is more crucial is ensuring that their toenails are well cared for throughout the year. Meet Chocolate Lab Puppies for Sale. It quickly became clear that this new dog, at the time called the St. Then, in the 19th century, visiting Englishmen took note of these incredible dogs, brought them home to England, and soon perfected and standardized the breed—which had now been dubbed the Labrador Retriever. When they began as the St. While this is still true today, the recessive colors of yellow and chocolate have become more and more coveted by those seeking Labs as pets. Thanks to years of breeding efforts, those recessive colors are not as difficult to find as they once were. Chocolate Labrador Retriever Puppies for Sale Chocolate Labs are a favorite among those looking to add a member of the breed to their family. Coat shades can range from a warm, light brown to a deeper chocolate color. Both parents must carry and pass on the recessive chocolate color gene in order for a puppy to be born with this coat. Just like their black and yellow counterparts, chocolate Labrador Retrievers are known as doting and capable dogs. You can put them to work as hunting or service dogs, but they make excellent cuddle buddies as well. Their beautiful coats and breed stature make them great show dogs too. The chocolate lab puppies we breed for sale at Hidden Pond Labradors come with their first round of shots, one-year written health guarantee, and a veterinarian health certificate. We are dedicated to breeding our puppies for premier health and pedigree, as well as raising them in our home so their personalities and happiness can blossom. Experience the love, joy, and comfort this amazing breed has to offer with a chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy of your own from Hidden Pond Labradors. Give us a call at or message us online to inquire about our available and upcoming Lab puppies! Life Span Did You Know? Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds. The Chocolate Labrador Retriever is not a distinct dog breed from other Labs, but it is a separate coat color variation that is specifically bred for. Similar to the other standard coat colors of Labrador Retrievers, Chocolate Labs are energetic dogs that get along well in a family setting. As a Retriever, they also make great hunting dogs and have also been known to fill other working dog roles including service dogs, guide dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and more. They are even one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units. A point of interest is that all modern Chocolate Labrador Retrievers can be traced to three specific Black Labradors that lived during the s. Chocolate Labs are industrious little pups. They were bred for retrieval and will often sniff about for something to get into. They are also one of the most affectionate dog breeds and absolutely love being with their favorite humans. Properly socialized and well-trained, Labs are one of the kid-friendly dog breeds. They get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. They are famously even-tempered and playful. This makes them fantastic dogs for a growing family, as they tend to be gentle and patient with little ones. They can have a high prey drive. They usually do well with small pets within the family that they have been raised with or socialized around, but likely will still have the urge to chase other animals while out and about. They also tend to be open and friendly with strangers. After all, strangers are just more people to give them attention and play with them. Chocolate Labrador Retrievers may be high-energy dogs, but they are also highly adaptable. They will thrive in homes with fenced yards where they can run freely. They can adapt well to apartment living as well as long as they get plenty of daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation. Their natural urge to dig and bark when they are bored or agitated can be quelled with a little training and exercise. Although they can handle some alone time, Labs love to be with their families and thrive on attention from them, so they do not like to spend long periods of time alone. Chocolate Labs also have a water-resistant double coat that makes them well-suited for most habitable climates. As with most dogs, they are sensitive to heat. Although they can handle some cold and will likely love to play in the snow, they are not a snow dog breed and may need to bundle up while out on walks in areas with harsher winters. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Chocolate Labrador Retriever can include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, hereditary myopathy, and heart disease. There is also a condition with a genetic link called exercise-induced collapse EIC , which can occur in young adult Labradors. Carriers of this can be identified by DNA tests and it is advised that breeders test for this and avoid practices that would produce the disease. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents and about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a large, deep-chested dog breed, Labrador Retrievers are at a higher risk for bloat. Bloat in dogs can be dangerous and can quickly become fatal if the stomach flips gastric torsion. Chocolate Labrador Retrievers are incredible companions and are also one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. Their energy can make them a handful at times, but their intelligence, adaptability, patience with people, and eagerness to please make them easy to train. Labs are one of the smartest dog breeds , so they pick up on things easily. As long as training is consistent and focused on positive reward and praise, a Chocolate Lab will do their best to respond as expected and will often exceed expectations. Chocolate Labs have a short, water-resistant coat that will shed year-round. Brushing a few times a week, daily brushing during seasonal shedding, and the occasional bath are all that are needed to keep a Lab coat healthy and looking great. They may need baths more often if they are avid swimmers, go on a lot of outdoor adventures, and get dirty a lot. Floppy ears tend to trap dirt, moisture, and debris. Proper dental care for dogs is imperative to help prevent painful dental diseases like gum disease or tooth decay later in life. You can also supplement your dental care efforts with vet-approved dental hygiene chews. Labrador Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds and need a lot of daily activity to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough, but your Chocolate Labrador will likely be up for more activity if you are. One of the facts about Labrador Retrievers is that they have an extended puppyhood and tend to maintain that puppy-like energy and maturity until they are years old. Swimming can be a great lower-impact activity and Labrador Retrievers are one of the dog breeds that tend to love water. Between that, their water-resistant coat, and webbed toes, you may have trouble getting your Chocolate Lab out of the water. Fully-grown Chocolate Labrador Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Chocolate Labs generally live for years on average. Fourteen years later, the American Kennel Club did the same in .Featured Chocolate Labrador Retriever Article.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Golden doodles are a great blend of the Poodle, being ranked the second most intelligent breed, and recognized for its agility in sports and obedience. The Golden Retriever is a fantastic family dog and bred for its intelligence and waterfowl hunting abilities. With a blend of these awesome well-rounded breeds, you can not go wrong making a Golden Doodle a new addition to your home. The Poodle combination contributes to their wonderful wavy low to non-shedding coats. Your new Doodle puppy will be ready to go to their forever homes at 8 weeks. Males and Females are available to pet homes only. Reservation fee is valid for 12 months of 3 litters of the size you requested. After that time you are subject to any changes in price or policies. They will have their first shots, de-worming, and a vet report card to go home with. Our parents are genetically, and health tested to give our puppies the best start in life. We are a small family breeder, and our pups are raised in our home. They are well socialized with children as well as adults. The puppies are accustomed to a busy household and are not bothered by loud noise levels. To start your Blackwater Doodles journey please fill out our "Puppy Application". This questionnaire gives us a great insight into matching your puppy with your family's personality and energy level for the best fit. We look forward to hearing from you. If interested in a future puppy please fill out puppy application. We would love to help you out. They are worth the wait! Go home will be September 9th. Coats are minimal to non shedding. Taking Reservations for this litter at this time!!! Parker is a Medium Multigen. Goldendoodle around 40 lbs. We will be pairing her with a beautiful stud named Chase that weighs 19 lbs to produce multigenerational Goldendoodles. Pups will have wavy or straight coats. We anticipate they will produce shades of reds. Reservation list is OPEN. We are a small family breeder that breeds beautiful English Golden Retrievers. Our goal is to raise beautiful, healthy, well adjusted puppies that will bring much joy to the homes to which they go. Their health, happiness, and livelihood are our top priorities. We love our dogs and every puppy holds a special place in our hearts. The sight of an English Golden Retriever is one of awe and beauty that cannot be compared to any other breed. It is mesmerizing, to say the very least. We choose the best possible pairs for breeding. Before we breed any dogs, we ensure the health of both the male and the female dog. We want to share the love of the English Golden Retriever breed, but our top priority is the health, wellness, and safety of the parents. Each breed was created with its own set of physical characteristics, temperament, and aptitude that make it desirable to some people, but less suitable for others. Perhaps most critical is to honestly consider whether there may be any significant drawbacks that could cause distress for either the family or the dog. All prospective puppy buyers want their new puppy to have the best possible chance for a long and healthy life, and regular veterinary care is important toward achieving that goal. But in addition, the risks for many significant health issues can be greatly reduced through careful breeding practices, beginning with certain screening examinations of the parents of a litter. Each breed has its own particular hereditary problems, and English Golden Retrievers are no exception. Please do not hesitate to ask! We are always happy to help with any questions or queries you might have. Due to the high demand, we encourage all interested families to call me as I do not let anyone adopt one of my puppies unless I have spoken to you on the phone first - I only want the very best homes for my puppies.

A dogs do not have too many sounds in their vocabulary. They just know a simple bark, grown, a potential lovable howl, a growl and whine. Nature has set some straight and original functions for all these voices but Golden retrievers and all dogs in general tend to use the voice in more than one manner. Depending on the conditions and circumstances, your Golden retriever dog can use any of these voices to express his emotions and feelings. Young Golden Retriever dog whining might just be trying to communicate with their mother. As the pup whines, it ensures proper care and attention from his mother as the sound is virtually irresistible to the mother, like the crying of human infants. When young, the Golden Retriever puppies whine unintentionally when hungry or feeling cold. Whenever a golden retriever dog or puppy whines, the mother visits him and finds out what he needs. The pup then slowly learns to whine whenever he has a purpose or requires more attention. If however the Golden Retriever dog or puppies has been adopted by a human family, he might not be able to find his mother to care and caress him. He now whines when he feels bored or is full of sorrow. He hopes for the love of their mother, but she never turns up. The owners may decide to leave the pup unattended or may come to him to make sure that he is alright and take necessary actions. If the pup has an uncaring owner, he will automatically know that whining is not a good strategy to get a solution for their problems and this might lead them to change their behavior completely. If you mistreat your pup in the same manner, you might never be able to develop a good bond with your dog. Reasons of a golden retriever dog whining. Whining for gaining attention — some owners pay attention to the golden retriever dog whining every time. So, When the dog or puppy whines they may immediately start paying attention every time. By carrying out this action, the Golden retriever dog may start whining just for gaining the owner's attention. If you wish to break this habit of your dog, stop paying attention to his whining. If you feel uncomfortable doing it and you do not want to do it this way, you can use a stimulus to show him that your attention has been withdrawn. Whining when anxious — Some dogs are unhappy when left alone. They do not like and it when the owner is not around and as a result, they start whining. This whining can be a signal for separation anxiety syndrome. The golden retriever dog whining may also occur and be seen at times when the dog's owner is sleeping to be able to reunite with him. Whining when in pain — When the dog is recovering from some surgery, distress or trauma, he can resort to whining. This is an automatic response of the dog's body and can also take place in a semi-conscious animal. Excitement Whining — some dogs become excited for an event or something like a walk and therefore whine. Whining through Learning — A positive response given to your Golden retriever dog when they whine may teach them to do it too often. This might look like your golden retriever whining for seeing the owner's attention, but is more artificial. The clip was posted by TikTok user Caralyn Corso caralync0 , a year-old registered nurse in Seattle. She told Newsweek that her 3-year-old golden retriever Charles has been howling at fire trucks since he was between 5 and 6 months old. The latest video begins with the pup releasing a couple of "whoofs" before the howling. It was posted with a caption that reads: "When you have to warm up your 'awoooo' first. A video of Charles appearing to "warm up" his vocal cords before howling at fire-truck sirens has gone viral on TikTok. Veterinarian Dr. Hector Joy explained in a July article for animal-advice website PetMD: "Wolves use howling to identify themselves to other wolves, to ward off intruders, and to bond with other pack members. While dogs are different from wolves, they did keep plenty of wolf behaviors, including howling," he added. A dog's howling in response to outside noises, such as sirens, has evolved from wolf behavior. Joy said: "Howling was a form of location-detection for wolves. They would use howling to locate their pack members or tell other wolves to stay out of their territory. Police trucks and ambulances don't inspire him, apparently. He wasn't around any other dogs that did this. So, now every time I hear a fire truck, I pull my phone out when I'm with Charles. He gets into it! The footage shows Charles looking ahead toward something in the distance, before releasing a small "whoof" sound. The faint sound of a fire-truck siren can be heard in the background. As the siren sound appears to grow louder, Charles lets out another "whoof" and barks once before belting out a long, croaky howl. He releases another foghorn-style, drawn-out howl before the clip ends. The latest viral clip has delighted users on TikTok. Nicola Blue wrote, "This was too cute," while user commented: "Awww the warm up is so cute. Send them to life newsweek. Read more. Golden Retrievers are social and affectionate dogs, so when they howl, that is their way of communicating their loneliness and gaining your attention. Other Reasons why your Golden Retriever is howling include — them being bored, in pain, responding to a high pitch noise, responding to a siren, or it may simply be part of their ancestry. Golden Retrievers have earing that surpasses ours significantly, so they can pick up on these sounds more than us and are more sensitive to such sounds. Since Golden Retrievers have such a strong sense of duty, they will howl in response to the siren, which they perceive as another dog howling, to alarm you of the potential encroaching danger. This can be done by exposing them to sirens more often and desensitizing them to it. In this way, you can teach your dog to differentiate between a dog howling and a siren and effectively alter their reaction towards sirens. Loneliness As you may know, Golden Retrievers are an affectionate and social breed who do not particularly enjoy being away from their owners or being in the company of someone whom they are not comfortable with for too long. When your Golden Retriever has been away from you for too long, they will begin to howl. They howl as a way to communicate their loneliness, with the hope that you will hear them and return to them. Just like wolves howl when they are separated from their pack and hope that their pack will hear them and find their way back to them or respond to them, Golden Retrievers do the same. If you have been unusually busy and you hear your Golden Retriever howl, it is likely that they miss you and would like to spend some time with you. You can identify that your Golden Retriever is howling because they are lonely by seeing whether their howling is accompanied by pacing, sense of distress, and destructive behavior. Golden Retrievers typically associate high-pitched noises with other dogs howling. However, in most cases, when they hear a high pitch noise, they will howl in an attempt to warn you of potential dangers. Howling Because Of Pain When Golden Retrievers are in pain because of an illness or injury, they communicate their pain by howling. This is similar to us, humans, crying when we are in pain. You can usually identify whether your Golden Retriever is howling because of pain by taking note of how they are howling. If their howl sounds different from what it usually sounds like, then there is something wrong with your Golden Retriever. You should take your Golden Retriever to the veterinarian so that they can be treated and relieved of their pain as soon as possible. To Catch Your Attention When your Golden Retriever wants to catch your attention or try to persuade you to give them what they want, they will howl at you. This can be pretty adorable when they are puppies because they are like children wanting your attention. However, as your Golden Retriever gets older, this behavior may not be as cute. Your Golden Retriever may grow into the habit of howling at you and getting exactly what they want. In this case, you should simply pretend not to hear your Golden Retriever. This is a much better way of teaching them a lesson without harsh punishments. Harsh punishments are still a form of attention, so ignoring your Golden Retriever would be more effective. You can have a look at these amazing training books for your Golden Retriever. Boredom Golden Retrievers are naturally active and curious. They need something to quench their curiosity and keep them busy otherwise;, they will find other ways to occupy themselves. One of the ways in which Golden Retrievers pass the time when they are bored is by howling. Your Golden Retriever will howl to get your attention and notify you that they are bored and need something to do. The best way to deal with this is by ensuring that your Golden Retriever gets ample exercise every day. Walks are fantastic for Golden Retrievers because they get their daily exercise, and they can see new places and quench their thirst for adventure. Ancestry Back in the day, Golden Retrievers were generally used as hunting dogs by hunters. Golden Retrievers were exceptional retrievers who would catch and return the prey to their hunters without any hassle. As we already know, wolves howl when they need to find their pack. Since Golden Retrievers were used as hunting dogs, they would howl to find their way back to their hunters or vice versa. This is a trait that Golden Retrievers inherited from their ancestors and have in common with wolves. You should generally not worry about your Golden Retriever howling, especially when a trigger is present, such as a siren or a loud noise. In other cases, your Golden Retriever is lonely, so you need to spend more time with them, or they may simply want your attention. This is not something to worry about, but it is a negative trait that needs to be adjusted. If they only howl when they are injured, then it is an issue that can be fixed by taking them to the veterinarian for treatment. If your Golden Retriever is howling in response to sirens and high-pitch noises, then you should teach your Golden Retriever a different way to respond to those sounds. This is especially important if the sounds are frequent and there is no way to stop them. You can desensitize your Golden Retriever to these sounds by exposing them to those sounds and teaching them to become less sensitive and reactive to those sounds. However, it would help to do this systematically by starting with shorter and less alarming versions of the sounds. As your Golden Retriever adjusts to those volumes and intensities, you should gradually increase the volume and intensity. If you simply introduce them to a loud and alarming version of those sounds, you may cause your Golden Retriever to enter a state of distress. However, if this has already become an issue for you, you should teach your Golden Retriever that they will not get what they want by howling. You should completely ignore them when they start howling for attention. When they behave well, you should reward them. This may seem relatively simple, but it teaches your Golden Retriever that they will need to behave well to get treats and attention from you. They will become reluctant to howl because that will not get them anything. When your Golden Retriever howls, barks, or even growls while they are asleep , it is because they have a dream. In their dream, they may be encountering something that would make them howl if they were awake. Your Golden Retriever puppy could be howling because they are ill or injured. Shortly after adopting your Golden Retriever Puppy, they may be howling because they are not yet accustomed to their new home. Other reasons why they could be howling is because they are bored or simply responding to the sound of sirens. Your Golden Retriever associates the high-pitch sound emitted by sirens with the sound of other dogs howling. When dogs howl, it triggers other dogs to howl so that they can warn their owners of the potential danger. Your dog could also be lonely or responding to the sound of sirens from emergency vehicles. Conclusion If your Golden Retriever howls, it is often nothing to worry about. The best way to understand why your Golden Retriever is howling is by considering their environment and their demeanor as they are howling. If there are loud sounds, then those are the triggers. If your Golden Retriever seems to be uncomfortable and in distress, then they are most probably in pain, and this is when you are warranted to worry about your Golden Retriever howling. Recommended Reads:.

Their dogs have earned a good deal of companionship, hunting, and working titles in the past. The priority here has always been temperament, since most of their dogs are purchased as family dogs. They want their dogs to have a well-known energetic and happy nature. All of their dogs are tested and certified against genetic diseases by licensed organizations and veterinary experts. If you are interested in a Masonridge puppy, email them with any kind of inquiry, and you should receive an answer shortly. However, when it comes to a purebred Lab puppy, if you want to make sure that you get a healthy and sound puppy with a health guarantee, then I suggest always choosing a trustworthy, reputable breeder. Conclusion: Labrador Breeders In Ontario The popularity of the Labrador breed has prompted many breeders to start producing Lab puppies, however, that does not exactly mean that all of them are good enough or that they care a lot about their puppies. We have made this list of the 10 trustworthy Labrador breeders in Ontario to help you and provide you with some breeders that you can feel safe and confident buying from. You have the right to ask for the best puppy possible, since that pup will hopefully be a part of your family and your life for many years to come. These breeders truly love their dogs and care for them, which is why you can be assured that you are making the right decision! Related Content:. To ensure the safety of our readers and the right fit for a new pet, we work hard to make sure only the most trusted breeders are featured on the site. We have a dedicated team that works hard and has done extensive research that involves checking both the breeder and their dogs, to verify that the breeders featured on our site are highly reputable and trustworthy. Feedback on Google and Facebook is also taken into consideration before they are listed as a breeder to have the highest standards possible. We hope that this gives you a little more information about how we list breeders on our site. Labrador Retriever For Sale in Ontario Before we get to the best Labrador breeders in Ontario, there are some things you should take into consideration before finding the best Labrador breeder in Ontario for you. Labradors come in three different colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. There are a few things you should look for when choosing a Lab puppy breeder. First and foremost, make sure they are reputable and offer health guarantees. Choosing a reputable Lab breeder is key to getting a healthy, well-behaved puppy. By ensuring that you choose a reputable breeder, you can be sure that you are getting a dog that has been raised in a healthy environment and is less likely to have behavior or health issues. Chocolate Labrador Retriever Ontario Chocolate Labrador is the purebred Labrador Retriever breeder in Ontario who has 50 years of experience in breeding Labrador which shows their worth. It was this dog that showed the breeder the true meaning of companionship. They love Labrador puppies so much that they decided to start a breeding program. Some of what they offer are: 1. Lifetime support for your Lab pup 2. No Inbreeding or Line breeding 3. Lifetime guarantee on tested genetics 5. Clients screened for suitability 7. Super premium food fed to all Labs 9. A passion for excellence inbreeding has been the cornerstone of their business from day one. For over 50 years, they have committed themselves to deliver a superior Labrador Retriever experience by focusing on excellent health, outstanding intelligence, and even temperament within all breeds. As a result of this dedication to detail and quality control, every single puppy is guaranteed healthy as well as intelligent with an easy-going disposition that will make them perfect family pets or hunting retrievers who can easily fit for any situation you put them through! They have a variety of bloodlines, including Search-and-Rescue and Diabetic Alert lines. All puppies come from well-titled working, hunting, conformation bloodlines as well as families with autism companions or search and rescue capabilities. So your future family member will be bred to excel in all aspects! All pups are micro-chipped and dewormed 4 times before going to a new home. All pups are well-socialized with people and other pets. Once they reach 4 weeks of age, They start crate training them so that their first home will be a breeze! Labrador Retriever Breeder Info:. You will then have two weeks to get to know your new furry house guest before committing to adoption. At the end of two weeks, if you choose not to move forward with adoption, we simply ask that you continue to provide a safe and loving home until their new forever family can be found. Each bio was created by our rescue partners based on their interactions with the dogs. Many of these dogs are coming directly from the shelter and so you should expect there to be a transitional period. Be prepared to deal with common issues like potty training, leash walking and socialization. Cat and kid safety assessments are often based on their personality and not necessarily on actual interactions. Where possible, the majority of vetting will be completed prior to coming to Canada, however foster-to-adopt families may be required to travel to our partner vet Mississauga, ON for further vet care. If you choose not to see your dog through to adoption, you will forfeit your deposit. Foster-to-adopt families will be expected to provide their own supplies. Like your awesome childhood memories, this Pogo is a happy-go-lucky pal, who has many canine friends. He has not been cat tested and would recommend a home without cats at this time. He may not jump around on a pogo stick, but he does love playing with his toys! Pogo also loves belly rubs. Toys, belly rubs and endless love is what this boy dreams of. As with all adolescent dogs who have had no formal training, he will need someone committed to helping him learn the basics as well as boundaries. Pogo is excited for you to work with him on walking like a champ on the leash and perfecting his crate and house training. Pogo has shown that he is very intelligent and excited to learn, which will make relationship building a fun task for both of you. Pogo would love a family who is able to implement some structure and boundaries into his daily routine. He still has puppy tendencies and often plays through his mouth. He has been doing well with redirection to toys, and continuing this will be beneficial for him and lead to success. When Pogo was younger, he was hit by an ATV. Because of this accident, the bones in his back hind leg have fused together, giving him a spring in his step. Pogo isn't in any pain, and the leg does not bother him at all, but he may have a bit of trouble in a home with a lot of stairs. Otherwise, nothing holds this guy back. Pogo is ready to go go home with you! Our Lab Family Only 5 minutes outside the small town of Wallaceburg, we are living our dream having raised our 3 children in a big country home. We are both former professionals who decided to leave the world of being trapped behind a desk in an office. Raising Lab puppies has become a dream come true. In the spirit of doing our part to save the planet we grow much of our own food in a garden. We have raised a couple of pigs, turkeys, chickens and have laying chickens for their fresh eggs. Although we are not farmers, we enjoy the satisfaction of biting into an organic tomato or other vegetable fresh from the garden. Clair where we fish for bass, perch and walleye and throw balls into the water for the labs to retrieve until our arms fall off. Our children are now grown and starting families of their own. Our two boys are working with us and we are passing on the knowledge of breeding service quality dogs that we have learned over the years. This will ensure our tradition of breeding genetically sound, super smart and even tempered dogs will continue in the future. They will also continue our donation of dogs to service dog organizations in both Canada and the USA. If you are interested acting as a Guardian please click for info. Click for info. Our chocolate lab puppies and silver lab puppies are a result of a Breeder focus on health, intelligence, and temperament. Click to read more about our level of quality, how we operate and the cost of our Labrador Retriever puppies. Trained Labrador Retrievers for Sale Looking to skip the small puppy stage? The crying, up through the night, jumping on guests…. .One of our Trained Labs may be for you. Click for more info. Labrador Retriever Frequently Asked Questions Some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers about our Labrador Retrievers and the Lab puppy adoption process. We Love our Labs Becoming a Chocolate Labrador Retriever Breeder means raising, playing with, training and grooming our dogs is all we do. Our chocolate lab puppies have been placed all over Ontario, Canada and the US. Meeting all the wonderful people who adopt our dogs and seeing their faces when they arrive to pick up their lab puppy is one of our favorite things! We Truly Care Our belief is that a fur ball is a friend for life not just a cute puppy. This could mean 12, 15 or more years. We make a promise to our extended family of continued support for the life of your Lab. Our goal is 0 of our Labs in shelters and we will take your Lab back until we find a suitable home if necessary. Respect and love for those who dedicate their lives for others is our focus. Click to see them. Click here to visit! Have you just searched for dog breeders near me and are looking for Looking for Chocolate Labrador Retriever Puppies for sale in Ontario? We are committed to strengthening the characteristics of the Labrador Retriever breed. Our focus as a breeder is to breed puppies with excellent health, outstanding intelligence and even temperament. This breeding focus has resulted in top quality family pets and hunting retrievers. It is because of these qualities that the Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the world by registered ownership. These dogs have an excellent memory and can thrive if exercised properly even if they live in an apartment. They are excellent water dogs, service dogs , family dogs and are used for many things including police and customs work, search and rescue dogs, seeing eye dogs and assistant dogs for people with disabilities including Autism, Emotional Support USA and Comfort Dogs , Diabetes, Blindness, Seizure alert dogs and PTSD. Just have a look through our Facebook Page LuckyLabsPuppies and you will be able to view many of the families we have given puppies to over our many years as a Labrador Breeder. When looking for a Labrador puppy, a Lucky Labs puppy is simply the best friend you could ever hope for. A Yellow Labrador Retriever is not to be mistaken for a Golden Retriever as they are a different breed. Golden Retriever puppies are different primarily in the fact that they have a longer coat than a yellow lab. When searching for puppies in Ontario, Lucky Labs can help provide you with a puppy you will enjoy for years to come. Pups come with a four year written guarantee for all major organs. Hip and elbow guarantee is 14 months which gives your dog time to grow and be tested. Genetic testing is also carried out on the bloodline to ensure your dog is bred from lineage free of health problems. Lab puppies normally travel very well, for more on this click this link. If you are looking for a puppy and health, are not too old for a Lab puppy, intelligence and temperament matter to you, we have a Lab puppy for you! Welcome, and please read through our site to get to know us and our amazing dogs. You might want to begin with this article on the 10 most common Labrador Retriever questions. I have 3 male lab puppies looking for their forever homes. Puppies have been dewormed. A few have small white marking on their chins or under their armpits but overall full.My pups come with their CKC Papers, as well they will receive their 1st.Both vet checked as.They are between 56 and 60 cm high and weight between 40 and 45 kg. Both are very friendly with People, Children.She had 11 puppies six girls and five boys on August 25th. Ellie is our super affectionate fox red lab. She is a family pet.Please Contact Germany Shepard and Lab mixture - rehome Toronto Chow chow is a smart dog and likes to play with the a ball and be friendly to human being. She needs a lot of energy. They will be ready to be rehomed on October 9. Handsome, adorable male! This georgeous puppy is ready for his new forever home! These puppies are so adorable, intelligent and.Call or text only. Friendly playful well tempered and seriously good.He was born on June 22nd and is 9 weeks old. He eats solid food and use puppy pads already. Muskoka We have 5 purebred black lab male puppies ready to go to their forever homes. They are fully vaccinated and dewormed and will come with their vet papers and 2nd dose of deworming. They are well cared.Puppies are starting to eat and drink on their own and are.Sault Ste. Mom is amazing at game hunting and dad is awesome at retrieving. Both parents are very mild and children friendly. They have been vet checked and received their first vaccinations , microchipped and dewormed. They have been raised in our home with a lot of interaction.They are both two years old. One male fox-red lab, and one female black labradoodle. The labradoodle doesn't shed at all. They are both very friendly. Ask for.Gorrie One sweet, 7-week-old female puppy ready for a new home next week! Has had vaccinations, vet check and deworming. Mother is on site and very good.Mom is purebread English Bulldog Dad is purebread Lab Puppies have moms wrinkles and face and dads tail. Jacobs Mixed large breed puppies for sale. Call or text us to get a quick reply. All have great personality and love to play! These sweethearts are all ready to go Dad is a short haired border collie Mom is Lab x blue heeler mix 3 sweet goofy boys 2 beautiful.Each comes with first vaccination, dewormed and vet check. Puppies are playful and used to being.Delivery can be arranged. There are 4 of nine pups to choose from, the pics say if the pup is male or.Beautiful and gentle.The litter was born Sept 2, and can be rehomed as early as Oct 29, .Now three males and two females left! They've been vet checked and received their first shots. They have been dewormed three times. Both purebred yellow Labrador Retriever parents on.We have bred Labs for many years but due to health issues I am no longer able to continue. These girls were meant to.Please Contact Red Siberian x lab puppy needs a good home St. Catharines Very loving and energetic husky puppy is in need of a good home. Will be ready to go home.Pups will be ready for their forever homes as of Sept 22nd. They come ckc registered, ENS, socialized in our.I have 3 male lab puppies looking for their forever homes. Puppies have been dewormed. My pups come with their CKC Papers, as well they will receive their 1st.Both vet checked as.They are between 56 and 60 cm high and weight between 40 and 45 kg. Both are very friendly with People, Children.She had 11 puppies six girls and five boys on August 25th. Ellie is our super affectionate fox red lab. She is a family pet.They will be ready to be rehomed on October 9. Visit Website Below to Order Now! Shipping by seller 1 Left!! Handsome, adorable male! This georgeous puppy is ready for his new forever home! These puppies are so adorable, intelligent and.Call or text only. Friendly playful well tempered and seriously good.He was born on June 22nd and is 9 weeks old. He eats solid food and use puppy pads already. Muskoka We have 5 purebred black lab male puppies ready to go to their forever homes. They are fully vaccinated and dewormed and will come with their vet papers and 2nd dose of deworming. They are well cared.Males and Females to choose from. These puppies were born on August 30th and doing well. Before they go to their new homes the vet will.Puppies are starting to eat and drink on their own and are.Sault Ste. Mom is amazing at game hunting and dad is awesome at retrieving. Both parents are very mild and children friendly. They have been vet checked and received their first vaccinations , microchipped and dewormed. They have been raised in our home with a lot of interaction.They are both two years old. One male fox-red lab, and one female black labradoodle. The labradoodle doesn't shed at all. They are both very friendly. Ask for.Gorrie One sweet, 7-week-old female puppy ready for a new home next week! Has had vaccinations, vet check and deworming. Mother is on site and very good.Mom is purebread English Bulldog Dad is purebread Lab Puppies have moms wrinkles and face and dads tail. Jacobs Mixed large breed puppies for sale. Call or text us to get a quick reply. All have great personality and love to play! These sweethearts are all ready to go Dad is a short haired border collie Mom is Lab x blue heeler mix 3 sweet goofy boys 2 beautiful.Each comes with first vaccination, dewormed and vet check. Puppies are playful and used to being.Beautiful and gentle.The litter was born Sept 2, and can be rehomed as early as Oct 29, .We have bred Labs for many years but due to health issues I am no longer able to continue. These girls were meant to.Please Contact Red Siberian x lab puppy needs a good home St. Catharines Very loving and energetic husky puppy is in need of a good home. Will be ready to go home.Pups will be ready for their forever homes as of Sept 22nd. They come ckc registered, ENS, socialized in our.They were born on June 22nd and are 11 weeks old. They eat solid food and use puppy.Well socialized, used to playing with children. Vet checked, dewormed, and has first shots, will come with vet

We are a family-owned Kennel located in beautiful Hood River Oregon. We strive to breed German Shepherds with the highest quality, with sound solid nerves, high prey and retrieve drives, excellent tracking abilities, with well-balanced character and stable temperaments. All our puppies are correct in structure, highly intelligent, and easily trainable. They are beautiful in appearance as well as having wonderful caring and protective personalities. You can expect puppies with rich and beautiful pigmentation, in solid black, sable or dark black sable. We do this to preserve the integrity and upstanding character of the German Shepherd breed as well as bring together the well-blended qualities we expect from our dogs and puppies at Vom Bergwald German Shepherds. Our puppies are born and raised in our home and are exposed to many daily activities and situations They grow up with children, other dogs, and cats making them able to adapt to many different home situations they may come into contact when they leave here. We pay a great deal of attention to detail and know each of our puppy's very specific characters, individual qualities and unique personalities so that we can assist you in choosing what puppy is best suited for you and your family. Please visit our site often, as we have new updates frequently about available German Shepherds and upcoming litters. Hood River, OR, .German Shepherd Resources German Shepherds are arguably one of the oldest dog breeds in existence, as their history reads back to the early s, and even with all that history, they have still found a way to remain very popular breeds in modern times. According to the American Kennel Club, the German was ranked the 3rd most popular dog breed in the world as of the year .The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile dog breeds you can find. They can be used as family dogs, protection dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, working dogs, and a lot more. If you are considering getting a German Shepherd puppy or considering adding one to the family, then you certainly have made the right choice. Another important decision you would need to make is the exact German Shepherd breeder you should work with. States like Oregon are blessed with a high number of German Shepherd breeders, but you have to be careful, as not all breeders are reputable breeders that truly care for the breed. In this article, we provide you with a list of some really good German Shepherd breeders residing in the state of Oregon. These are responsible breeders that are selected for their breeding programs as well as their socialization and training protocols. With that being said, it is essential that you only view this article as a guide to help you find the best breeder for you. They are focused on German Shepherd puppies. The breeding facility is located in Veneta, Oregon and the program is owned and managed by Kilynn Heinrichs. Heinrichs German Shepherds operates a very impressive breeding program that is blessed with some of the best sires and dams you can find in the world. Their breeding dogs come from West German show lines. They have mainly championed dogs with an equally impressive pedigree to show. Their dogs are genetically health tested before being added to the breeding program. They also have their orthopedic health tested by licensed professionals. Every dog that they produce is raised in the family house which is located in Veneta, Oregon. They are socialized using different protocols and enrichment tools, one of which is the Puppy Culture program. The puppies are also introduced to different stimulating experiences that help with improving the dog breed. All thor dogs come with a 2 years health guarantee. They are vaccinated and dewormed and each is registered with the AKC as well as microchipped.

Full size table Discussions The incidence rate of swimmer puppies in this study was 3. The rate reported so far was 2. Although it was not possible to simply compare them, the incidence rates were considered to be almost similar. In the comparison of body weight at each period, swimmer puppies were showed significantly heavier than non-symptomatic puppies on the 10th and 28th days. On the other hand, the litter size, which had been suggested to be associated with the onset [ 1 ], was also shown to be significantly reduced in the swimmer puppy group. It was also reported that in dams with a small number of offspring, the properties of the milk were altered, and the calories also became high [ 10 ], which might lead to weight gain in puppies. In our results, negative correlations were found between the number of littermates and body weight in all individuals, indicating that the early weight gain due to the smaller litter size might have caused overweight and be involved in the onset. However, the causal relationship between the two had not been clarified, further investigation was needed for the elucidation. Most of the affected individuals in this study had a good course except for one that died, and many of them stood up or walked in about one month. The Hokkaido Guide Dog Association had taken the following management protocol based on the knowledge so far. With these simple nursing care measures, many affected individuals gradually began to raise their upper body, chests became rounded, and they were able to stand up. This might be effective as a treatment for the early stage of swimmer puppies in retriever breeds. It was possible to create a family tree based on a huge amount of kinship data and conduct a detailed examination of genetic factors. The posterior hereditability of the swimmer puppy onset trait showed a high value of 0. It indicated that the onset of swimmer puppy was mostly influenced by heredity. Subsequently, the posterior heritability of the 10th-day body-weight trait also showed a high value of 0. It is generally said that the heritability of growth-related factors tends to be high, and the heritability of mature body weight was already reported as 0. In addition, under the guidelines of the Hokkaido Guide Dog Association, the breeding environment of the mother dog was almost the same in all breeding volunteer households. Therefore, the environmental factor was relatively small compared to the genetic factor, and it might contribute to the high heritability of two traits. On the other hand, the genetic correlation between these two traits was poor at 0. Although the details were unknown, it was possible that new other genetic factors were involved in the onset of swimmer puppy syndrome in retriever breeds. In this study, it was not clarified what is the cause of swimmer puppy syndrome. Besides, histopathological information could not be obtained for many of the healed individuals. As a result, it was difficult to identify the affected area and comprehensively analyze it. In swimmer puppies, the changes in neuromuscular synaptic function, inappropriate myelination, poor development of peripheral motor neurons, and delayed muscle development were highlighted in previous reports [ 3 , 8 ]. It has also been suggested that the other genetic factors are involved in locomotive abnormalities. To elucidate the detailed pathogenesis of this syndrome, further studies are needed in the future. Conclusions This study revealed that the litter size and weight gain might be involved in the onset of swimmer puppy syndrome found in one breed dogs, Labrador retrievers. Most swimmer puppies could walk by simple nursing care at early stage. In addition, it was considered that the genetic influence on the onset was extremely high. Although the cause of swimmer puppy syndrome in Labrador retrievers still remains unclear, it is expected that this syndrome will be elucidated by further detailed analysis in the future. Methods Dogs Detailed postnatal records among the puppies born between and were used in the Labrador retriever breeding colony at the Hokkaido Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Japan. It was excluded from this study for the dogs which could not be tracked with accurate postnatal records. Inclusion criteria for swimmer puppy Based on the inspection data by the veterinarian in charge of the Guide Dog Association, a swimmer puppy was defined as followed. Dogs that were seen to have all the following three symptoms at the same time between the 14th and 28th days after birth: 1 the forelimbs, hind limbs, or all four limbs are laterally deployed, 2 flat chest, 3 unable to stand. All individuals were inspected by the same veterinarian. Data Analysis Data were collected for incidence rate, prognosis, breed, sex, weight, and the litter size. The incidence rate of swimmer puppy was expressed as a percentage by dividing the number of affected individuals by all births. The prognosis survey was traced back with all postnatal data. The litter size, and body weight records at birth, 10 days, and 28 days after birth were used and compared between litters where swimmer puppy appeared swimmer puppy group and the litters without swimmer puppy non-symptomatic group. The correlation between the litter size and the body weight at each period was statistically analyzed. Inbreeding coefficient The inbreeding coefficient was calculated based on the assumption that the onset of swimmer puppy is a qualitative trait and a hereditary disease due to a single recessive gene. An ancestor that frequently appears among the blood relatives of the affected individual was identified, and when that individual was designated as the common ancestor A , the inbreeding coefficient derived from A was calculated for all individuals with records using the following formula. The program was modified for estimating the inbreeding coefficient originated by common ancestor A. In order to search for the causative common ancestor, individuals with golden parents were excluded from consideration, and only Labradors and hybrids were included. Heritability and genetic correlation Assuming that the onset of swimmer puppy is a quantitative trait, the heritability was calculated. Heritability is a measure of how much an individual's phenotypic value is determined by additive genetic effects. A total of records with 10, individuals in pedigree records were used to estimate genetic parameters of Labradors. The onset trait of swimmer puppy in retriever species was estimated using the best linear unbiased prediction BLUP animal model below [ 13 , 14 ]. The body weight on the 10th day was also regarded as a phenotype, and the heritability was calculated in the same manner Formula 2. The genetic correlation between the above two traits was estimated according to the bivariate BLUP animal model analysis. To calculate the posterior means and standard deviations of co variances, heritabilities and genetic correlation, samples after a burn-in of iterations were used. Convergence was determined by using visual inspection of the plots of Gibbs samples. Availability of data and materials The data containing information on common ancestry that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request and with permission of Hokkaido Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Japan. Source Once upon a time, a wee little pup diagnosed with Swimmer Puppy Syndrome was viewed as a lost cause. There are now many innovative techniques and home therapies that can help an affected puppy overcome this unusual syndrome. The first step to treatment is beginning as soon as possible. The earlier you treat the symptoms, the more promising the outcome for your pup to live a healthy adult life. Be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to rehabilitating your swimmer pup. Home-care treatment is recommended, which involves three methods: 1. The idea is never to lay her on a flat surface. Keep your puppy on a non-slippery surface, so she can practice standing without falling about. Laying down carpet is one solution. As well, you can confine your swimmer pup to an area where towels have been bunched up to prevent sliding. Use cotton pads for the puppy to relieve herself on and change them frequently to keep the area clean. Swimmer puppies tend to develop painful lesions on their bodies from laying in their urine and feces. Wipe her down regularly and apply baby powder to dry up any existing rashes. Too much weight gain will put unnecessary pressure on the joints. Do not allow her to nurse excessively. Ask your vet about introducing helpful supplements, such as Vitamin E or Selenium. I stress talking to your vet about this first because Selenium can be toxic if overdosed. Physiotherapy Physical movement has been shown to be a huge factor in healing Swimmer Puppy Syndrome. If not done, there is a slim chance that a swimmer pup will survive past eight weeks old. There are many successful methods to try out- devise a plan with your vet for what works best for your pup- and then stick to it every day. Massage therapy: Beginning each treatment with a full body massage will help relieve tension in the muscles and coaxes proper body alignment. Supervision: Discourage positioning that promotes flatness. When the pup is sleeping, move her onto her side, so she is not splayed out. This also makes breathing easier for her. Strap a swimmer puppy syndrome harness on your pup to keep her chest well-suspended from the flat ground. Swim sessions: Hit the pool three times a day. Swimming will help strengthen muscles without added pressure on the joints. Stimulate: Those paw pads need stimulation! As mentioned, sling suspension helps the pup to get her paws on the ground, but you can also use a toothbrush to tickle those nerves and increase tactile sensation. Sock method: This is similar to putting a life vest or harness on the pup. The idea is to keep the chest from being on a flat surface. Take a sock and cut holes where the legs can come through, then let your pup wear it like a sweater. Stuff the chest area with foam to keep it elevated. Tape the legs in the correct position to encourage proper growth and put a cone on her neck if she tends to chew at the tape. This should be done from 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. Remember, the earlier you notice symptoms, take her in for a diagnosis. Swimmer Puppy Syndrome can improve with therapy, a proper diet, a safe environment, and an owner that has a lot of love to give. Aside from that, make sure she gets the exercise and hands-on massage she needs to help her breathe, swallow, and grow properly. It may take hours, days, and weeks, but the payoff will be worth it when you see your pup stand and take her first steps after all of that dedication and hard work. Share your stories about Swimmer Puppy Syndrome and help fellow dog owners! Just type it all on the comment box below. About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. They are maturing normally but their body functions are not. Going to the vet but I just was kind of wanting to get all the information I could first. Thank you. DOI: .Since swimmer puppies were observed infrequently but continuously among the Labrador retriever colony at the Hokkaido Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Japan, based on their birth record and pedigree, factors related to the onset of swimmer puppy syndrome in Labrador retrievers were examined. Results: The total number of offspring over seven years was , of which 16 were swimmer puppies. Most of the affected puppies except one recovered steadily. As for the swimmer puppies, the litter size was significantly lower, and the body weights on the 10th and 28th day after delivery were significantly higher than the non-symptomatic puppies. These results suggested that the onset may be related to weight gain in the neonatal stages due to a small litter size. According to the genetic analysis, 26 ancestors common to the affected individuals were confirmed, but the causative individual could not be identified with the inbreeding coefficient. The heritability of the swimmer-puppy onset trait was 0. Conclusions: In this study, the onset of swimmer puppy syndrome in the Labrador retrievers was associated with litter size and early weight gain, and result of study suggests that genetic influence might be involved. Keywords: Dog; Labrador retriever; Swimmer puppy syndrome. The Author s. Affected dogs show laterally abducted limbs and are unable to stand and walk on their own. The current knowledge of this condition derives from few case reports or small case series. Therefore, the aim of this study was to collect data on the clinical course from a large cohort of dogs with SPS with an online questionnaire supported by video footage. Potential risk factors were compared between litters with SPS and unaffected litters. SPS was reported in dogs from 48 different breeds comprising a wide range of small, middle, and large breeds. Litters with SPS were significantly smaller than unaffected litters. Cesarean sections were reported more frequently in affected litters, but the overall rate of reported birth complications did not differ significantly from unaffected litters. Most puppies were able to stand and walk at a median age of 4. Puppies from large breeds showed faster recovery than puppies from medium and small breeds. Occasionally, residual deficits were reported and only three dogs failed to recover. The study shows the benign clinical course of SPS in a large cohort of puppies from multiple dog breeds. Potential risk factors including reports on birth complications, size and muscle mass compared to littermates and diet of the dam during pregnany were evaluated and no influence on the occurrence of SPS was identified. Introduction The Swimming Puppy Syndrome SPS or Swimmer Syndrome has been described repeatedly in dogs in the veterinary literature in case reports or small case series 1 — 3. The largest report to this point includes 52 dogs with SPS in Thailand 2. The disorder received its name from the characteristic swimming movements of the affected limbs, and is also known as Flat Puppy Syndrome 4. Brachycephalic dog breeds, particularly English Bulldogs, are reported as being predisposed 2 , 5. Male and female dogs are equally affected 1 , 2. Similar conditions are reported in other animal species, e. The signs of SPS are usually noticed by the breeders when puppies begin to walk at two to three weeks of age 2 , .Puppies with SPS are unable to adduct the affected limbs, lie in sternal recumbency with laterally splayed limbs and show paddling movements when trying to move 3 , .Neurological examination, complete blood count and serum chemistry are unremarkable except for a mild two-fold increase in creatine kinase compared to healthy puppies 3 , 12 , .Therefore, the diagnosis of SPS is usually based on the characteristic clinical signs inability to stand and walk, abduction of affected limbs, paddling movements of the limbs resembling swimming movements when attempting to move noticed in the first weeks of life and exclusion of other orthopedic angular limb deformity, congenital elbow luxation, fracture, malunion or neurologic inflammation, brain or spinal cord malformation, trauma, early onset neurodegeneration diseases via thorough clinical examination supported by further diagnostic methods e. Physical therapy is frequently employed to help recovery, e. Information on the etiopathogenesis of SPS is scarce. Environmental, orthopedic and neurological factors have been implicated as causes for SPS 3 , 5 , .Furthermore, various hypotheses proposed that rapid weight gain, high bodyweight compared to littermates, nutritional or genetic factors could play a role in the development of the syndrome 1 , 16 — .In piglets with a similar splay leg syndrome, a recent genome-wide association study identified four promising candidate genes but no causal gene variant were identified so far 19 , .Similar attempts in dogs have failed 1 , 21 , and although there are first insights and clues to SPS in dogs, the underlying cause of this syndrome remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this present study was to collect data on affected breeds, clinical course, and risk factors for SPS by means of an internationally distributed questionnaire. Materials and methods A call for dogs with signs of SPS was published on the university website and distributed via social media and breeding clubs in German and English language to dog owners and breeders in Germany and other German and English-speaking countries in .Respondents were asked to fill out an online questionnaire and to provide video footage of the affected puppies. A control group unaffected litters was recruited with a similar approach to compare potential risk factors litter size, rate of birth complications, nutrition of the dam. Only litters with puppies without problems to stand or walk were included in this group. The study was conducted with ethical permission AZ —.Questionnaire The questionnaire for puppies with SPS consisted of 96 questions and was structured in six categories. The categories included: 1: general information about the puppy e. The questionnaire for the control group concentrated on questions about litter size, complications during pregnancy and birth as well as diet of the dam during pregnancy. The questions were reviewed by German and English native speakers eight veterinarians and six dog owners or breeders regarding understanding, phrasing, and structure of the questionnaire. Inclusion and exclusion criteria 2. Dogs with signs of SPS Only dogs in which the owner stated that the dog was a Swimmer Puppy, and that the dog could not stand and walk on its own, showed the characteristic swimming movements with the affected legs and the characteristic onset of the signs of SPS were included in the study. Puppies which did not show swimming movements, or with an onset later than 28 days of age, or puppies, which were able to stand and walk before the first signs of SPS appeared, could not participate. Video footage provided further support of SPS when available. Videos were reviewed by two of the authors LR, AF who decided by consensus whether the dogs showed the characteristic signs of SPS and which limbs were affected. Control group unaffected litters Only litters without any puppies with problems standing or walking could participate. The control group consisted of a large variety of breeds matching the distribution of breed sizes of the SPS group. Diet of the dam during pregnancy Information on feeding of the dam during pregnancy was collected with the questionnaire. The requirements for adequate nutritional supply for pregnancy regarding protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals were used as defined by the National Research Council .Statistical analyses were performed in R version 4. Data were checked for normality with Shapiro—Wilk Normality Test. Not-normally distributed data were analyzed with nonparametric methods, such as Kruskal-Wallis and Mann—Whitney U test. The association between selected factors small vs. The Mann—Whitney U test was used to compare the recovery times between puppies with and without deformations, the litter size between litters with puppies with signs of SPS and unaffected litters from the control group, and the number of affected littermates between litters from dams with adequate nutrition vs. Results 3. Dogs with signs of SPS questionnaires and video footage from 26 dogs were submitted. Thus, finally questionnaires were available for evaluation. Review of videos confirmed the signs of SPS in all videos. Control group unaffected litters questionnaires of healthy litters without occurrence of SPS were submitted, whereof one was excluded because one puppy in this litter had problems walking. Descriptive data The dogs with signs of SPS were born between and and originated from litters five siblings and from kennels. Forty-eight dog breeds were represented with 55 large breed dogs .The most common dog breeds were Golden Retriever .Six mixed-breed dogs were included. Comparison of potential risk factors between litters with swimmer puppies and unaffected litters. In the control group unaffected litters , litters were analyzed from 48 different breeds. Four mixed-breed dogs were included. The control litters were born between and .Fifty-seven large breed dogs .The most common breeds were Golden Retriever .All limbs were affected in 56 dogs .In five puppies limbs were asymmetrically affected no videos available. The owners reported deformations in 61 of the swimmer puppies .Swimmer puppy from a large breed Irish Wolfhound, male, 3 weeks. The puppy was able to stand and walk at 4 weeks of age printed with permission of the dog owner. The owners considered 49 swimmer puppies .This information was unavailable for two dogs. Owners described the muscle mass of swimmer puppies as more prominent in four puppies 3. No difference was noticed in 48 puppies .Physiotherapy was performed by the owner, physiotherapist, or a veterinarian in swimmer puppies .Commonly applied methods were taping of the splayed legs, placing the puppies on their sides during sleep and rest, change to a non-slippery or uneven ground and passive movement of the limbs. Most owners .Three owners failed to answer this question. Clinical course The swimmer puppies were able to stand and walk on their own at a median age of 4. At the median age of six weeks range 2—12, mean 6 the puppies were free or almost free of signs of SPS. When considering only dogs older than 12 weeks at the time of data acquisition, then .Overall, dogs with SPS .The signs of SPS had disappeared completely .Residual deficits were intermittent slipping on smooth or wet surface when walking, a slightly unsteady gait, a wider stance, and a minor paw deformation. Clinical signs were still present at the time of data collection in six dogs 5. Three dogs were younger than 12 weeks three, six and seven weeks old and therefore in the age range where recovery is still likely, while three other dogs 2. His owner reported on poorly developed acetabula on radiographs. The pug 4. The American Bully 14 weeks old was only able to crawl and unable to stand and one tarsal joint was reported to be dislocated. Factors potentially affecting recovery time were evaluated for their influence on shortening or extending the time until recovery. Recovery time of swimmer puppies. Swimmer puppies from large breeds recovered significantly faster than puppies from medium or small breeds. Affected litters The mean number of puppies with SPS in each litter was 1. In 76 litters .No information on affected littermates was available for three litters. Five litters in the SPS group 4. For litters with swimmer puppies, the median litter size was four range 1—11, mean 4. Significantly larger litters were reported in the control group median six dogs per litter; range 1—13, mean 6. Comparison of litter size between litters with swimmer puppies and unaffected litters. Litters with swimmer puppies were significantly smaller than unaffected litters. The age of the dams at parturition was known for litters with SPS. The median age was three years range 2—7, mean 3. In the control group, the median age of the dams was four years at parturition range 1—8, mean 3. The Body Condition Score BCS of the dam before pregnancy was evaluated for 95 dams by the owners using a scale from one to nine. Birth complications were reported in 42 litters with SPS .Information on birth complications was missing for one litter. Complications were mostly stillbirths 25 litters or cesarean sections 15 litters. In the control group, birth complications were reported in 37 litters .Diet of the dam during pregnancy Information about the feeding of the dam during pregnancy was provided for affected litters. Ninety-six dams .Of these, 28 dams .Five dams 5. In the control group unaffected litters , slightly less dams .Of these, 18 dams .Nineteen dams .The brands of the commercial food were known for 80 dams in the SPS group. Most dams were fed with well-known brands. The food brands of 19 dams .Minor deficiencies in iron and iodine as well as copper and zinc were most common. Protein amount was sufficient for pregnancy in all diets. Information on related litters Information on related litters was available for 94 swimmer puppies. The owners of eight swimmer puppies 8. The other owners .The eight puppies with known affected relatives in other litters originated from seven litters and from four different kennels. Each of the eight puppies had fully recovered from SPS. One Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breeder four dogs from that kennel participated in this study reported on one dam with three litters with swimmer puppies. The half-sister of this dam same mother, different father also had one litter with swimmer puppies. Both dams also had healthy litters without occurrence of SPS. In another breeding of Golden Retrievers one dog in this study , the breeder indicated one dam as the source of SPS. The dam had four litters with swimmer puppies and two of her daughters who did not have SPS themselves also had litters with swimmer puppies. One breeder of Norwich Terriers one dog in this study reported on the occurrence of SPS in litters of different dams but provided no information about the sires. In another breeding of Miniature Bullterriers two dogs in this study , a sire had two litters with swimmer puppies with different dams. Discussion The data from dogs with signs of Swimming Puppy Syndrome in this questionnaire study indicate that SPS occurs in a wide variety of breeds from many geographic regions. Furthermore, our results confirm an overall good prognosis. Previous studies reported brachycephalic breeds to be predisposed to SPS 2 , 5. Similarly, in our study, two brachycephalic breeds French bulldogs and pugs were among the four most common breeds with SPS. The frequent description of SPS in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers in our cohort is probably related to the popularity of these breeds. The Golden Retriever was also the most common breed in the control group. However, other breeds appeared more affected 1 , 2. Our data support an association between SPS and litter size. SPS-affected litters were smaller than the litters of the control group, thus confirming observations in earlier studies 1 , 2. Frequently only one puppy per litter was affected, but in some litters more than one puppy showed clinical signs of SPS and on some occasions all puppies within a litter were affected by SPS. More cesarean sections were reported in litters with SPS compared to control litters, but the overall rate of birth complications was similar in both groups. The higher rate of cesarean sections in litters with SPS may be due to the smaller litter size in this group, and thus a higher risk for dystocia .Larger puppies are also more likely to cause problems during birth .Moreover, brachycephalic breeds, that were overrepresented in the SPS group, are also more likely to have cesarean sections 23 , .These factors might contribute to the higher number of cesarean sections in the SPS group. Previous observations from other authors indicated that larger and heavier puppies and puppies with an excessive weight gain were more frequently affected by SPS 1 , 2. Accordingly, many puppies in our study .On the other hand, some puppies .In line with these observations, other authors also described SPS in puppies of smaller size .The clinical signs of SPS reported in the dogs from this cohort and previous reports are indicative of weakness, decreased muscle tone and strength resulting in increased limb abduction. Behavior and mentation were described as normal in the swimmer puppies from our cohort. Thus, peripheral weakness consistent with a disorder of the muscles, neuromuscular junction, peripheral nerves, or motor neurons needs to be taken into consideration. Approximately half of the puppies were reported to have less prominent muscle mass than their siblings. Almost half of the dogs .These observations are in line with a Brazilian study, that also mainly reported puppies with clinical signs of SPS in all limbs .In contrast, earlier studies and case reports reported that the hindlimbs were predominantly affected 2 , 3. A large number of puppies in our study showed a flattened thorax, which may be the consequence of immobility 11 , .Floppy infant syndrome in human newborns shares clinical similarities with SPS. It is characterized by general hypotonia presenting as abnormal frog-like postures, reduced resistance to passive movement and excessive range of joint movement 26 , .It can be caused by multiple disorders of the muscles, the peripheral and most commonly the central nervous system 28 , .A self-limiting and remitting course is characteristic for benign congenital hypotonia. SPS in dogs also shares similarities with the splay leg syndrome in piglets. Affected piglets are also unable to stand and walk shortly after birth, and the affected limbs are splayed laterally 6. Later development of hindlimbs during embryogenesis has been suggested as the cause for predominantly affected hindlimbs in splay legged pigs 6. Due to the greater economic impact, more research has been performed on porcine splay leg syndrome. Abnormal and delayed development of muscle fibers has been described as a potential cause for the syndrome as well as a myofibrillar hypoplasia, possibly associated with incompletely matured muscles 6 , 30 — .There are only rare reports of postmortem histopathologic examinations of swimmer puppies in the veterinary literature due to the self-limiting character of the disease. So far, pathological findings have been inconclusive 4 , .There are several hypotheses in the literature: Nganvongpanit et al. Other authors discussed delayed and prolonged muscle development as cause for SPS 3 , 5 , .However, the inability of swimmer puppies to walk properly could also result in decreased muscle mass. Therefore, decreased muscle mass in swimmer puppies could also be a consequence of immobility, and not part of the original problem. These included reports on dogs which appeared to produce swimmer puppies repeatedly in subsequent litters. Yet, breeding of these animals did not always result in litters with affected puppies and the number of affected puppies varied. Sometimes only some puppies of the litter showed signs of SPS, and sometimes all puppies within a litter were affected. Signs of SPS were reported in male as well as female dogs. In a previous study investigating the heritability of SPS in a population of Labrador Retrievers with 16 affected dogs, data from the analysis of the pedigrees supported a genetic influence on the occurrence of SPS 1. Genetic investigation of four affected and three healthy Siberian Huskies failed to document any genetic variation .Recent investigations on the genetic background of splay leg syndrome in pigs identified potential candidate genes, but no causal gene variants 19 , .In rabbits, splay leg syndrome presents with similar clinical signs and is considered a genetic disorder influenced by environmental factors .In a colony of rabbits, it was possible to completely eliminate the occurrence of splay leg syndrome by removing the affected animals and suspected genetic carriers .Our data support a genetic background of SPS in several kennels of different breeds. Our questionnaire study asked for information on long-term outcome. It is notable that most dogs recovered completely with no or only minor residual deficits in a few dogs. These results confirm previous reports on the overall benign clinical course of SPS and characterize SPS as a reversible disorder. In our study, the puppies were able to stand and walk without support at the mean age of 4. By the age of three months 12 weeks , almost all puppies had largely or completely recovered. On rare occasions three dogs , the owners reported that the dogs failed to recover despite initial consideration of SPS. Two of these dogs had deformations of the limbs, namely deformed elbow joints and a dislocated tarsal joint. It remains unclear whether these deformities developed as a consequence of severe SPS, immobility and abnormal posture of the limbs and joints over prolonged periods, or whether the deformations were already present at birth. Ramos et al. These observations suggest that puppies with suspected SPS should be thoroughly assessed by a veterinarian for any deformities of the limbs which could interfere with recovery, and the need for special treatment or a preventative approach. Regarding recovery, the size of the breed was the only factor predicting the speed of recovery. Puppies from large breeds recovered significantly faster than puppies from medium and small sized breeds, with dogs from small breeds being the slowest to recover. Small and large breed dogs express general differences in growth and development. Puppies from large breeds display a more rapid growth as they need to achieve a larger form 36 , .This is partly due to higher growth hormone concentrations stimulating the growth of the musculoskeletal system .This may help puppies with SPS from larger breeds to stand and walk earlier than puppies from smaller breeds. The affected legs front legs, hind legs, or all legs had thereby no influence on recovery time and neither did the presence of a flattened thorax. A less prominent muscle mass was also not associated with a longer recovery time, and the same applies to the size of the puppies compared to their siblings. Most participants of this study reported that they had performed physiotherapy and were content with the outcome. Most commonly, the affected legs were taped together to avoid lateral abduction. This method has also often been described in previous cases in dogs as well as pigs as an effective therapy 3 , .Other methods like placing the puppies on their sides while sleeping might help to prevent a secondary flattening of the thorax. Switching to a rougher surface with more grip helps the puppies to place their feet in a normal stance. Because no on-site clinical examinations were possible, the conclusions on the effect of physiotherapy in the study population were limited. Nevertheless, performing physical therapy and assisting with movements could prevent deformations and complications associated with the non-ambulatory state and the immobility of swimmer puppies. It also prevents muscle shortening and helps to maintain the mobility of the joints .Other authors promoted the benefits of an early start with physiotherapy 3. Therefore, we encourage breeders and owners to start physiotherapy with swimmer puppies as early as possible. Physiotherapy and exercise is also suggested for children with congenital hypotonia to prevent muscle shortening and improve motor function 41 , .Interestingly, most dams were fed with high-quality commercial food that met the requirements for pregnancy according to the NRC. The dams which received food not fully meeting the requirements did not produce litters with more affected puppies compared to dams fed according to NRC requirements. Other nutritional factors like excessive milk intake and a rapid weight gain are discussed by others as potential causes for SPS 1 , .We did not evaluate the nursing and weight gain of the puppies, but our cohort also included swimmer puppies that were the same size or even smaller than their littermates. Limitations and future directions A limitation of this study is the lack of on-site neurological and orthopedic examinations of the affected dogs and the limited number of available videos. Yet, review of the submitted videos confirmed the presence of clinical signs compatible with SPS in each case. Swimmer puppies were included based on the characteristic clinical signs, and we were not able to rule out other diseases which could present with a similar phenotype, because many puppies had not been presented to a veterinarian or the medical records were not available for review. Furthermore, breeders might be biased when answering certain questions e. The evaluation of the diet of the dams during pregnancy was based on optimal caloric intake and the data provided by the food companies for their brands. For further investigation of the etiology of SPS studies with electrodiagnostic analysis and muscle and nerve biopsies for investigation of peripheral causes of weakness including evaluation of muscle fiber type composition, peripheral nerve, nerve roots and neuromuscular endplates , as well as investigations of muscle metabolism, gene expression profiles and investigations for reversible metabolic defects are possible tools. Conclusion Our data show that SPS affects puppies from many breeds. We confirmed that SPS is a benign reversible condition in the majority of dogs. Most puppies recovered before 12 weeks of age. Affected dogs usually come from smaller litters. Dogs from larger breeds recovered faster than dogs from smaller breeds. The reports suggest that the diet of the dam probably has no major influence on the incidence of SPS. A genetic predisposition was suggested in some litters. Therefore, further investigations with metabolic and genetic profiling of affected dogs and litters may be indicated. Furthermore, affected puppies should be examined thoroughly to recognize any limb deformities as cause or consequence of SPS. Data availability statement Data sets are available on request. The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation. LR performed the study. YZ and LR performed the statistical analysis. LR wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version. Conflict of interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. References 1. Factors contributing to the swimmer puppy syndrome found in Labrador retrievers. BMC Vet Res. Swimmers syndrome is an uncommon development in dogs or cats, also known as flat-pup syndrome or swimming-puppy syndrome. This syndrome leads to a deformation in their limbs, beginning with the hind limbs. This type of deformational development makes the legs twisted and results in the inability to stand or walk. Although smaller and dwarf breeds are more prone to the syndrome, larger breeds may also suffer from it. Breeds that are more likely to produce puppies with swimmer puppy syndrome include English and French Bulldogs, Yorkshire Terriers, Basset Hounds, and Dachshunds. In newborn pups with swimmer puppy syndrome , milk is often regurgitated. Swimmer puppies often experience difficulty with the entire digestion process; many have difficulty eliminating and develop constipation as a result. Without treatment, a swimmer puppy is also at risk of developing painful joint deformities caused by holding their legs at abnormal angles for long periods of time. It will only lie on its stomach, not on its side. Its legs, both front and back, will be splayed out. By three weeks of age, the puppy will not be able to stand or walk, and may struggle to move. When it does move, it may look like it is trying to paddle or swim. The puppy will be putting a lot of pressure on its sternum, which will contribute to the flattening of the chest and ribs. This causes swimmer syndrome puppies to have difficulty breathing and low energy levels. They will also be weak and may have problems with circulation. The puppy may also have difficulty eating. Because of the pressure on its chest, it may also struggle with keeping food down. Additionally, swimmer puppies may have sores or lesions on their bodies from lying in urine or feces. Swimmer puppies are often lethargic. By three weeks of age, the puppy will not be developing the ability to stand and walk like its littermates. Small and dwarf dog breeds are more prone to swimmer puppy syndrome that large breeds. Some veterinary experts believe that the issue is hereditary, while others point toward environments that prevent puppies from moving enough to develop their muscles properly. Others believe that swimmer puppies are born with congenital defects that occur prior to birth. Many veterinarians are willing to intervene and give the puppy a chance at having a happy, healthy life as there are quite a few treatments for swimmer puppy syndrome. Use a harness or sling to suspend the puppy for up to 20 minutes at a time, up to four times per day. This treatment is intended to strengthen muscles while taking pressure off the chest and abdomen. Every case is different; however, this is normally done gradually, for just 15 to 20 minutes per day, and only 3 to 4 times per day at first. Avoid slippery surfaces that prevent the pup from gaining traction. You can also create a soft vest for the pup to wear by cutting leg holes in an old sock and stuffing the sock with fluffy material to keep the chest elevated. Encourage the puppy to sleep on its side rather than resting on its abdomen. When you are with the puppy, help it change positions while nursing and sleeping. This gentle stimulation can help with nerve development and encourage the puppy to move its legs more, as well as to exert more force with each movement. Massage the puppy frequently, particularly after feeding. All-over massage can help stimulate muscles and nerves while aiding the digestion process. You can also encourage these movements while the puppy is suspended in a sling. Ensure that the puppy is being fed adequately, but not over-fed. Excess weight makes recovery more difficult. Keep the puppy clean. This can lead to painful lesions and cause complications with treatment. Apply a moisture barrier cream or unscented baby powder to help prevent irritation, if your vet approves. To begin with, taping should only be worn for 15 minutes at a time, times a day. While taped, you should use a sling or harness to support your puppy. Encouraging your puppy to sleep on their side as much as possible will relieve pressure on the chest. Even if they are not sleeping, repositioning is a good way to reduce complications from constant pressure on the chest. Maintaining a Healthy Weight It may sound simple, but helping your Swimmers dog to maintain a healthy weight is more beneficial than you might realize. The more extra weight your pup has to hold up, the slower their progress with therapy will be. Massaging your puppy after a feed can also help the digestive process along and help to resolve problems like constipation and gas. Failing to clean up after your Swimmers pup immediately after their accident can cause infection as well as urine burns and painful sores. Environment Scientists that studied this condition strongly suggest that appropriate flooring is extremely important, particularly non-slippery floors that prevent slippage and further injuries in puppies. Applying baby powder and wiping the dog can also help to prevent fecal scalding. Water Therapy Water therapy is recommended for Swimmer dogs that have developed a swimming reflex this happens around 6 weeks old. Keeping the pup secured, submerge them in water up to their chin. Be sure to keep hold of the puppy but let them paddle. This helps to build up muscle in the legs and can be done for short periods, two to three times a day. What is the management? Slippery floors may worsen, or in some cases, may even cause swimmer puppies. Egg crate bed liners work well. Bunch up towels and blankets and keep pup confined to a small area. Puppies should not become overweight, as this may further the weakness in the rear limbs. Most swimmers have a flattened chest from laying flat. Taping the legs in the correct position should be done asap. You will see almost immediate progress. If the pup is a chewer you will have to put a cone on while legs are taped. Swim sessions three times a day will help with building muscle. Note — the swim reflex may not develop until pups are 6 weeks or older. Submerge pup to his chin this kicks in the survival instinct to kick. Since there may be a hereditary component to this condition, dogs who were swimmer puppies would not be optimal breeding animals. Please follow and like us: Tags.