goldendoodle puppies northern virginia

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. After extensive research, we came to the conclusion that there are lots of Golden Retriever breeders available in various localities in Canada. We want to make sure that only the best of the best Golden Retriever breeders are included on our list, so we went ahead and did our own research. We talked to a lot of Golden Retriever owners to get their thoughts. You can be confident that no backyard breeders or puppy mills not included on our list. Sandra pink is the owner of this breeding business and she is a member Canadian Kennel Club. All their puppies are raised in a loving home environment where they get plenty of early neurological stimulation and socialization with other animals and humans. This means that your new puppy will be well-adjusted to loud noises and new environments. The main aim of this breeder is to provide a puppy that will be a well-socialized, energetic and healthy addition to your family. At In the pink Golden Retrievers, they take great pride in their breeding program. All of the dogs in their breeding program have been carefully chosen for their ability to produce healthy offspring. They health test all of their breeding dogs and puppies for hereditary health issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia, post retinal atrophy, and subaortic stenosis. This allows us to ensure that every puppy they produce is healthy and has the best chance for long and happy life. Golden Retriever Breeder Info:. Showing 1 - 40 of 52 resultsPage 1 - 52 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Male and female available. Father is CKC registered. First shot and deworming have been done. Vet checked healthy and playful. Neutered, microchipped and health checks updated. Finn is participating in group training classes at Petsmart, as well as with an individual.These charming pups are ready to become cherished members of your.There are 5 male and 6 female puppies available. Puppies will be ready to be re-homed the weekend of September 23, .All puppy come with first vaccination and deworming, vet checked Vet certificate looking for their.Puppies will be ready to go home September 7th! We have amazing training and care for our pups. We have raised everything.Ready to go the end of November early December. Puppies will come with First shots Dewormed Microchipped 2 year congenital health guarantee Both.Cinder has so much potential for someone looking for a sports prospect. Awesome swimmer already! Also super sweet and snuggly. She is going to be on the smaller side.Puppies are 10 weeks old. Got first vaccine shot and dewormed 2 times. Very playful and well.Thank you for your understanding! Ready to go! We have a sweet litter of Pure Tiny Yorkies Born on July 15th, consisting of 4 healthy babies 2 girls and .Are you ready to welcome a bundle of joy and endless love into your life? Look no further! We're thrilled to introduce our enchanting litter.Mother is CKC registered, father is purebred non registered. Both parents are healthy family pets roaming free on large country acreage and are onsite for.Golden Retrievers. Sire is American and Canadian Grand Champion. Delivery available for just gas fee. Puppies are ready for homes now. Parents are all of exceptional confirmation, temperament with.Mom and Dad are both purebred dark red goldens and are CKC registered. These puppies will come vet-checked, dewormed, and with first.He has been dewormed. Born on Aug .Mom is golden retriever. Dad is standard poodle. Shot and deworming will be done. It will come with chip, vaccine paper and a towel. I will offer free.Please Contact CKC registered Golden Retriever Puppies - going home mid October Toronto We still have a wonderful golden girl available who, unfortunately could not join her family overseas as initially planned because of changes in work arrangements. Stevie is a sweet girl looking for.Golden, Husky and Shepherd Mixed Puppies!!! Puppies will come with vet papers that include their first shots and.Looking for a furry bundle of joy? These 4 adorable puppies are ready to find their forever homes. They're cute, cuddly, and full of love. Don't miss out.They can go to their.Toronto Ready to go! I hope you're having a great day. Please take a moment to read through the information provided before asking.You are in the right place! Our F1B English.This is Butters. Butters is fully vaccinated for the year, he is not neautured, and he is fully potty trained. Butters is a very very affectionate and hyper dog only hyper since.There are 3 girls available. They will come fully vet checked with first and second shots, de worming and a clear bill of health.Send us an email if you would like to come meet them! Our family welcomed 7 adorable Goldendoodle puppies on July 19! Our family pet Zoey the.Born July 3rd, they are ready for their forever home. They come vet checked and will have a vaccine certificate. Parents are pure German Shepherds and.He is 8 weeks old, having been born on July 16, .He has received one set of shots. He also has been microchipped and his.He is fully potty trained and crate trained. She will come with a crate, toys, food, treats, leash and collar and a vet record. Shes been.They will all be vet-checked, first shots and dewormed by pick up time. Vet issued certificate will be provided. Dad is a.Adorable Golden Retriever puppies Born July 21, are ready to go to their new loving homes September 15, These beautiful puppies are the perfect service dogs and the.This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. This is now a requirement in our adoption process. Proof of training classes for puppies specifically is required before adoption. Medical Issues: None Comes with 4 weeks free pet insurance after initial vet visit Meet beautiful Benjamin! Despite not having an easy start on life, Ben is a happy, playful pup who is friendly and outgoing with everyone around him. He needs someone who is willing to give him the time, patience and understanding that he deserves. Ben is medium to high energy and loves going for walks, hikes and runs but his favourite thing to do is search for souvenir sticks and add them to his pile. We call him our Branch Manager of the rescue and the pictures are proof so be ready to be the head curator of his collection! His ideal adopter should have large breed experience, be active and love to take this boy on adventures like hiking, running, camping, etc. Ben loves dogs dogs and another dog in the home would be helpful to him. He does have some resource guarding with high value things so if you are vigilant with him it isn't a major issue. He loves people, attention and is always ready for pets. He can however be a nosy, be active and love to hike, run, walk or camp so Ben could be part of all of these wonderful adventures. Ben loves other dogs and it would be beneficial for him to have one in the home. We believe dog savvy cats would be fine with Ben as well as long as there is proper introduction and the cats have lived with pups in the past. Ben does have some resource guarding with high value things so his adopter should be proactive and vigilant with him. He will improve with guidance and training and, since he is very food motivated, his intelligence will definitely help him train quickly. He has been in board and train for the past month and has developed into a wonderful dog and the facility will continue to help Ben along with anything that arise along the way. He is still a large puppy and this must be taken into consideration when adopting him. Like most puppies, his mouth is his hands and he is curious about the world around him. He will nose around to check everything out and loves to pick up and retrieve things in his mouth. He loves food like most retrievers and if he smells something nice on the counter he will take it if no one is watching. He is very smart and knows many commands and because of his food drive he can be taught so much with love, patience and consistency. If you feel you would be the right fit for Benjamin please fill out an adoption application at www. They come to adopter with a harness, a collar and two leashes for safety. NOTE: The above description is relevant to this dog in its current and previous setting. Home changes and adopter personalities can bring out different behaviours not previously seen. It is a guess only! Are you ready to welcome a bundle of joy and endless love into your life? Look no further! We're thrilled to introduce our enchanting litter.Mother is CKC registered, father is purebred non registered. Both parents are healthy family pets roaming free on large country acreage and are onsite for.Golden Retrievers. Sire is American and Canadian Grand Champion. Delivery available for just gas fee. Puppies are ready for homes now. Parents are all of exceptional confirmation, temperament with.Mom and Dad are both purebred dark red goldens and are CKC registered. These puppies will come vet-checked, dewormed, and with first.He has been dewormed. Born on Aug .Mom is golden retriever. Dad is standard poodle. Shot and deworming will be done. It will come with chip, vaccine paper and a towel. I will offer free.Easy to hang hardware included. Handcrafted in the USA. Patented warp-resistant construction with solid matboard backing Shipping by seller CKC registered Golden Retriever Puppies - going home mid October Toronto We still have a wonderful golden girl available who, unfortunately could not join her family overseas as initially planned because of changes in work arrangements. Stevie is a sweet girl looking for.Male and female available. Father is CKC registered. First shot and deworming have been done. Vet checked healthy and playful. Golden, Husky and Shepherd Mixed Puppies!!! Puppies will come with vet papers that include their first shots and.Looking for a furry bundle of joy? These 4 adorable puppies are ready to find their forever homes. They're cute, cuddly, and full of love. Don't miss out.They can go to their.Neutered, microchipped and health checks updated. Finn is participating in group training classes at Petsmart, as well as with an individual.The hook hangs down from the metal plate in the back and is about 2. The hook opens about 1 Shipping by seller Golden retriever puppies ready for homes! Toronto Ready to go! I hope you're having a great day. Please take a moment to read through the information provided before asking.There are 5 male and 6 female puppies available. Puppies will be ready to be re-homed the weekend of September 23, .Light duties in exchange for free room and board. Willing to train in all aspects of golden retriever breeding if desired. Business opportunities available if desired. Male or.Will teach you.You are in the right place! Our F1B English

As we can see from the Australian Labradoodle size chart above, these Doodles come in three main size categories — Mini, Medium, and Standard. The smallest of the bunch is the Mini Australian Labradoodle. The Minis weigh around 15 to 30 pounds and stand about 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. The largest are the Standard Australian Labradoodles who weigh between 50 and 70 pounds and stand about 21 to 24 inches tall. The Medium Australian Labradoodle fits right between the Minis and Standard Australian Labradoodles, with a weight of 30 to 50 pounds, and a height of 17 to 20 inches. F1 vs F1b vs F2b Australian Labradoodle If you know a little bit about Doodles, you know that their generation can play a key role in determining their size. For example, Labradoodles have only Labrador Retriever and Poodle genes. They can be either F1, F1b, F2, F3, and so on. In contrast, the Australian Labradoodles are F5 or higher, and can have a total of up to six breeds in their lineage. As a result, the Australian Labradoodle generations are a lot more complicated. This usually translates to their first 6 months of life. After that, their growth will slow down, until it plateaus at their full adult weight roughly around 1 to 1. By their first birthday, the Australian Labradoodle has most likely reached their full adult height. But we can typically expect them to continue gaining some more weight and girth over the upcoming months. Generally, smaller dogs reach their full size earlier than larger pups. Between .Medium Australian Labradoodles typically reach half their adult weight between 3. They will then plateau at their full adult weight around 11 to 13 months old. Similarly, they will then plateau at their full adult weight between 11 and 13 months of age. However, Minis might reach their full adult size slightly earlier than the Medium Australian Labradoodles. Mini Australian Labradoodles weigh about 15 to 30 pounds and stand 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. Medium Australian Labradoodles weigh about 30 to 50 pounds with a height of 17 to 20 inches. The Standard Labradoodle, the largest of them, weighs between 50 and 70 pounds and stands 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder. For example, a high quality diet is crucial for proper growth, development, and overall health. Make sure to check out our guides on the best dog food for Doodle puppies , and learn exactly how much you should feed your dog to keep them healthy and happy. They get along well with children and other pets, and love to please their humans more than anything. Hopefully we managed to answer all of your questions about the Australian Labradoodle size and growth patterns so you can be fully-prepared for a long and happy life with this beautiful, fluffy creature. It is not intended to be a substitute for qualified professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have. You Might Also Like. All puppies start out so small and cute that it can be difficult to imagine how big your puppy will be when he is fully grown. Thankfully there are ways for you to determine how large your dog will be as an adult. The first is to use a Labradoodle puppy growth chart. This works based on averages to see where your pup is now compared to where he will be fully grown. Another way to work out how big your puppy will be is to look at his parents, if you have access. Paws that look oversized on a small puppy means that you are going to have a large dog as they are going to have to grow a lot to fill out their paws. Finally, you can use a DNA test to see what the breed makeup of your pup is and get an idea of how big he can get. When a puppy is born, his eyes will be shut. He will open them within the first couple of weeks, but will stay by his mother the entire time. At 3 weeks, your Labradoodle will still be very small and rely on his mother for nutrition. Puppies tend to begin to move around at this point, gradually exploring their world. At 12 weeks, you will have a much bigger puppy looking for trouble. Your puppy will begin to lose his teeth. If you have a larger Labradoodle you will see a high rate of growth still at this point. If you have a smaller Labradoodle, you will see a slowdown in growth during this time period. Puppies get into a lot of trouble chewing at this age as well as they combat their teething. Most Labradoodles still have some growing to do, so will not be finished growing at this point, but the speed at which they are growing will definitely slow down. Food-wise, this is a good time to drop your dog down to only two meals a day but keep him on puppy food until his first birthday. Use the Labradoodle growth chart as a guide to see when your puppy will likely reach his final height. At 12 months old, you can transition your puppy from kibble to regular dog food. Even if there is still a little bit of growing to do, puppy food is much higher in calories. Adult Labradoodles should be done growing by their first birthday, regardless of the type of Labradoodle that they are. If you have a larger Labradoodle, you should not see any more gains in height, but you will continue to see some weight gain for a while yet. Some dogs are done gaining weight at 12 months, while others may take 18 or even 24 months. Factors That Affect Labradoodle Puppy Growth Genetics Genetics is the key factor in all breeds of dog as far as what affects their growth, but Labradoodles are especially affected by this. It is because the Poodle mix in their breed can come in so many different sizes. Labrador Retrievers are more consistent and predictable, but Poodles are not. Looking at what size of Poodle has been bred with the Lab will help you know how big your pup will get and how quickly that will happen. A Labradoodle is more likely to fall in between his parents in size, since he is a mixed breed, making genetics the biggest indicator you have. Most puppies will be well taken care of, naturally, but sadly that is not always the case. Puppies who live on the street or who are neglected by their owners will not receive the proper nutrients that they need to grow healthy and strong. In this case, the growth defects are likely internal and will not appear until your dog ages. Puppies need exercise to stay fit and healthy, but a puppy that is overexerted will have too much strain put on his body and he will not grow as well as a puppy who was allowed rest. Also, puppies that are sickly cannot grow as much as healthy dogs, because their bodies are working hard on their health, leaving growth on the backburner. It has long been the standard to spay or neuter your puppy as soon as possible. It usually happens at the 6-month mark, in order to ensure that they are large enough to withstand the anaesthesia and not so mature that they have reached sexual maturity. The purpose of this was to stop a female pup from going into heat and having an unwanted pregnancy or to stop a male from reproducing. Puppies that mate too young also have their growth at risk, so the idea was to save them in the long run. Unfortunately, there is new information that has come out in recent years. Studies have shown that dogs, especially larger breeds, which are spayed or neutered before they have finished growing are more likely to have joint issues when they are older. This is because altering their bodies during their growth will affect other parts of their bodies as well. The dogs do have a lot of similarities, but the Bernedoodle is a little bit larger than a Labradoodle is. Much of their size is based on the type of Poodle that has been mixed with the Labrador or the Bernese Mountain Dog, but in all of the cases, the Bernedoodles will be bigger, weighing as much as 90 pounds. What If My Labradoodle Is Not The Right Weight If you have been following your Labradoodle growth chart and you see that your pup is not growing at a consistent weight, you might be a little concerned. Since growth spurts can be unpredictable and you will not necessarily know when they happen, sometimes a puppy will stray off of his expected weight and size. The concern is when your puppy has completely fallen off of the growth curve, whether in being too large or too small. If it was a one-time occurrence, that is one thing, but if your puppy is simply not growing at the right pace, it is best to speak with your vet to make sure there is nothing else going on. You should be weighing your puppy routinely to get a good idea about how fast he has been going and these records will help your vet immensely. Feeding your Labradoodle puppy the right amount of food can be easy as long as you stick to a schedule. Given their curly fur, the regular visual check that you can do to monitor the size of other breeds is incredibly difficult. To know how much you need to feed your Labradoodle, you will need to focus on his age. Puppies between the age of 8 and 12 weeks need about 4 equal meals a day. Between 3 and 6 months, this can be reduced to 3 meals a day, dropping to 2 meals at 6 months. The quantity of food will depend on the type of food that it is as well as the type of Labradoodle that you have and his activity level. Take your pup in for regular weight checks with the vet and ask her what food recommendations she has. How To Choose A Labradoodle Size Since there are three different types of Labradoodles, you will need to choose which type of Labradoodle is right for you. The ultimate factor to help you decide is which size is right for you. A Standard Labradoodle is between 22 and 24 inches in height for males and between 21 and 23 inches for a female. Their weights range between 50 and 65 pounds. This is the biggest size. The medium Labradoodle is between 18 and 20 inches for a male and 17 and 19 inches for a female. They weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. The smallest Labradoodle is the mini Labradoodle that stands between 14 and 16 inches for either sex and weighs between 15 and 25 pounds. Weighing your Labradoodle puppy consistently is essential to his overall health. This can help you be certain that your puppy is growing as much and as quickly as he should be. Ideally, weighing your puppy twice a month will give you a good amount of data to go with. To weigh your puppy, you can weigh yourself while holding the puppy, note the weight. Then, weigh yourself again without the puppy. If your puppy is too large to hold, you should be able to take him into the vet to have a weight checkup. Labradoodle Genetics And Common Health Problems All dog breeds are more prone to certain genetic conditions than others. One of the most common genetic conditions that Labradoodles face is hip dysplasia. This happens as the dog ages and will result in mobility issues. Labradoodles can also suffer from epilepsy, but this can typically be controlled well with the right medicine. An eye condition that Labradoodles are at risk of is progressive retinal atrophy PRA , which can ultimately result in blindness. Your vet should be able to keep tabs on your pup and screen for these possibilities. If untreated, a dog can experience trouble with the kidneys and circulatory system. Even though a Labradoodle is a mixed breed, it runs the risk of genetic conditions of both Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. How does the Labradoodle growth chart work? The following numbers are estimates based on the litter of a Labrador Retriever crossed with a standard Poodle. If your pup's Poodle parent is a toy size, then they are likely to be significantly smaller than these estimates. Their health is what matters most, so if you have questions or concerns about your puppy's development, reach out to your veterinarian. At what age is a Labradoodle fully grown? Labradoodles typically need 12 to 18 months to reach their full size, especially if their parents were on the heavier side of the average weight spectrum. Large breeds grow slower and take longer to reach their full size compared to small and medium-sized dog breeds, which usually reach maturity within nine to 11 months. How big should a 6-month-old Labradoodle be? A 6-month-old Labradoodle may weigh anywhere between 40 and 55 pounds. As a general rule, male Labradoodles weigh more than their female counterparts. In terms of height, a 6-month-old Labradoodle puppy will stand around 14 to 18 inches tall at the shoulders, but this varies based on their genetic makeup. Pro Tip: Download our new puppy checklist for tips on how to set up a vaccination schedule, essential pet care supplies, and more. How much bigger will my Labradoodle get? There are a few ways you can estimate how much more your Labradoodle may grow. Most Labradoodles need anywhere from 12 to 18 months to reach their full size. If your pup is younger than a year old, they are likely still growing. Refer to our Labradoodle weight chart to estimate how many more pounds they might put on as they mature into adulthood. If they look oversized compared to their limbs, then they're probably still filling out. Oversized paws are a classic puppy feature indicating that your pup still has more growth underway. Lastly, if you purchased your puppy from a breeder, you can contact them about your Labradoodle's weight. Alhough the breed varies greatly in size, knowing the weight of your puppy's parents and those of previous litters can help you predict your Labradoodle's adult size. What is the size of a full-grown Labradoodle? As a hybrid dog breed, Labradoodles vary significantly in size based on their geneology. Per Agape Labradoodles , adult Labradoodles typically weigh over 45 pounds, with some Labradoodles weighing as much as pounds. However, most Labradoodles will weigh between 50 and 90 pounds. In [terms of height], Labradoodles stand 21 to 24 inches tall when measured from paw to shoulder, or approximately two feet excluding their neck and crown of the head. How do I make sure my Labradoodle is healthy? Our Labradoodle puppies are important, cherished family members who we want the best for. One of the best ways to help your Labradoodle thrive is by taking them to regular veterinary appointments to have them routinely checked out and evaluated. Prevention is always better than treatment, and regular veterinary exams provide your veterinarian with the opportunity to screen your Labradoodle for disease. Your puppy will need to see the veterinarian several times in their first six months of life for core vaccinations against things like Rabies, and then at least once a year as an adult for annual health check-ups. Like their parents, Labradoodles are also more susceptible to hip dysplasia , a common orthopedic condition that occurs when the hip joint forms improperly. Hip dysplasia can lead to pain in their back legs, impaired mobility, and even lameness if not treated - fortunately, the condition is treatable with surgery. When over 20, pet parents were surveyed, only .As loving pet parents, it can be devastating to think that our four-legged friend could develop a painful disease that requires expensive treatment. This is where pet insurance comes in. Most pet parents opt for accident and illness pet insurance plans as they cover both injuries and most illnesses, such as hip dysplasia or eye diseases. Pet wellness plans can be added to your insurance coverage to help you pay for preventive veterinary care, like your regular vet exams, x-rays , dental cleanings , vaccinations, and more. Like humans, dogs are living longer, which creates an even bigger need for excellent veterinary care so that our dogs can live their happiest and healthiest lives. Pet insurance helps alleviate the financial strain that's often caused by vet visit costs. If your Labradoodle puppy gets sick or hurt, you and your veterinarian can work together to provide your pup with the best treatment plan - without worrying about how much it might cost. Key Takeaways Adult Labradoodles weigh pounds on average. The parent Poodle breed has toy and standard size variations that impact the size of the offspring, along with other genetic factors. Most Labradoodles grow until months of age. The breed is known for several congenital health disorders, and is especially prone to hip dysplasia. Pet insurance can protect your puppy and provide a financial safety net for vet costs throughout their life. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Some of these may be genetic, while others can be environmental. Here are some factors that affect labradoodle puppy growth. Genetics No matter what breed of dog it is, genetics plays a very important role in the growth of a puppy. Labradoodles are a mix between Labrador Retriever and Poodle. These dogs share genetic traits from both parents. The size of a labradoodle depends on its Poodle parent. For example, if the Poodle parent is a toy or miniature, you will get a mini and medium-sized labradoodle. However, if the Poodle parent is standard size, you will get a standard-sized labradoodle. Nutrition Selecting a nutritious diet for your Labradoodle puppy is essential to his well-being and development. Giving him all of the nutrients he needs to flourish and grow. Puppies are in a period of rapid growth, so they require more nutrients for bone and joint development than adult dogs. Puppies who receive adequate nutrition grows to their full potential. When feeding your pup, make sure the food contains all essential nutrients as well as the right levels of fat and protein. Your veterinarian can advise you on the ideal food to provide them with. Physical Activity Labradoodles are high-energy dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy. If not given enough exercise, they could develop health issues such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease. When your puppy is young, it is best to limit their exercise as excessive physical activity can cause joint damage that will impact their development later in life. Walking and jogging are two activities that puppies enjoy doing, but these should only be done in small amounts in order to protect their joints. Health The growth of Labradoodle puppies also depends on their overall health. Labradoodles may suffer from health conditions that hinder their growth, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These conditions make it difficult for them to walk or lead an ordinary life. So, make sure you buy a Labradoodle puppy from a reputable breeder and screen them for any health issues. It is also advisable to take them for regular vet visits. Many new pet parents often wonder what size their Labradoodle will be when they grow up. For Labradoodle puppies, puppyhood lasts from birth until about five or six months old. During this stage, you will see a massive growth spurt in Labradoodles. They will keep growing until they reach adulthood. However, this may not always be the case; some may need additional pounds to gain before reaching this milestone. Conclusion A Labradoodle is a designer hybrid dog created by crossing two breeds — Poodles and Labrador Retrievers. As such, these dogs possess high energy levels, are friendly, and are highly affectionate. If you are planning to get a Labradoodle puppy or already have one, it is essential to monitor their growth, as their size can be drastically affected by certain factors. With some simple formulas, these charts may even allow you to predict their future weights. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. Our puppy growth chart and calculator has your answer! Size is largely determined by genetics. Size is inherited in non-linear ways in dogs and other animals. Some puppies stay much smaller than both parents, some become much bigger, and some are in the middle. While size is already hard to predict in purebred dogs, it becomes even more erratic when two breeds are crossed such as in any Doodle mix litter. Labradors are large dogs. They can have a heavy build with deep chests and a wide rib cage. Poodles on the other hand are rather dainty, even though they are tall. Especially in the first generation of a Labradoodle litter that means a generation whose parents are a purebred Poodle and a purebred Labrador , there will be a greater variation of size. The smallest and the tallest puppy of the litter might be as much as 20 pounds apart in weight! That being said, most Labradoodles weigh somewhere between 45 and 65 pounds and are inches tall. Because they are a mixed breed, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club and have no breed standard that requires a certain size. At what age is a Labradoodle fully grown? As a large dog breed, Labradoodles grow past their first birthday. The smaller a dog, the sooner he is finished growing. Some very small breeds can stop growing around months. Since the Labradoodle is tall, expect him to continue growing until about months of age. At 12 months, most tall dogs are lanky teenagers! By the time your Labradoodle is 2 years old, he will definitely be done growing. How big is a 6 month old Labradoodle? At 6 months old, your Labradoodle will weigh about pounds. He is definitely not fully grown yet — expect him to become quite a bit taller and heavier in the coming months. As your Labradoodle puppy is growing up, his coat will become longer and thicker as well! Make sure you bathe and brush him regularly. Trimming his coat regularly with a good set of clippers will be very important as well! Ensuring healthy growth Here is what you can do to set your Labradoodle up for a healthy growth and solid adult weight: Nutrition and feeding Without the right nutrition, your pup cannot grow well. You need to feed your Labradoodle a high-quality food with a lot of protein. Protein is what our bodies are built of — your growing pup needs a lot in order to grow tall and strong. You can choose from a variety of different foods, such as: Dry food.

She also has a follow up appointment from her entropion surgery that is in 3 months that is a requirement and it is in Annapolis, MD. This sweet girl is the absolute best. She has been through so much and is still sweet as pie. Shortbread has been with us since December and had multiple procedures since then. She has been spayed, went through all heartworm treatments and had entropion surgery in both eyes. She has gained some weight since being here due to multiple crate rests and activity restrictions after her surgeries but we are working on getting her back to her perfect weight. She is learning to enjoy carrots as snacks and we go on daily short walks. She cannot wait to get back to her summer body so she can enjoy normal treats again and not be called a little meatball. She absolutely loves to give kisses, oh so slobbery kisses and get alllll the loving. She will roll over on her back, tummy up and wrap her little paws around your arm while she enjoys all the belly rubs too. She is not afraid to jump up to sneak attack with kisses either, so stinking cute. She enjoys her stuffed toys and blankets. She can be found suckling on either until she falls asleep. Although she is quite the couch potato she also enjoys rolling around outside and basking in the sun. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go she says. Questions about French Bulldog puppies for sale in Delaware? We have answers. How does French Bulldog puppies for sale in Delaware work? There are various factors to take into consideration when it comes to the price of French Bulldog puppies in Delaware. Coat color and pedigree, for example, can affect the price, as can the experience of the breeder. So start looking for French Bulldog puppies for sale Delaware and see what you can find. What sort of personalities do French Bulldogs have? They are companion dogs, so they just love being with their families. And they are also incredibly cute! These small pups love playing, and they also love to please. Are you ready to find your French Bulldog for sale Delaware? Then start looking today! Do French Bulldogs cost more than other breeds? Yes, Delaware French Bulldog puppies for sale tend to be more expensive. This is because they need to be artificially inseminated due to their narrow hips, and pups are delivered by C-section too. As such, Delaware French Bulldogs for sale tend to cost more because breeding them properly requires a lot of skill. Will I only find local breeders in your network? You can begin by looking locally for French Bulldog puppies for sale in Delaware in our network. How are the breeders screened? Our screening process for Delaware French Bulldog breeders is very strict. We only want the best here, so we look at factors such as animal care, experience, and more. French Bulldog breeders in Delaware have to take our Breeder Pledge, which you can take a look at to see what we expect. Is Uptown Puppies really better than just searching online? Our aim is to connect loving families with healthy, happy pups, so you can search here with peace of mind. Why should I avoid puppy mills? They only care about profits, and puppy health is often affected as a result. Behavioral problems are common in mill pups, as are health problems. Sadly, they often die younger, too. Are there French Bulldog puppies available now? Find out by searching for a French Bulldog for sale in Delaware in our network today. Are French Bulldogs easy to groom? When you find a Delaware French Bulldog for sale, remember that they have smooth coats but they shed throughout the year. They enjoy regular baths too, which is good for their coats. Do French Bulldogs get along OK with cats and other pets? If you are looking for French Bulldogs for sale in Delaware and you have pets, they tend to get along well with cats and other dogs. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary Always Enabled Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Non-necessary Non-necessary Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Their adorable curly fur and expressive faces make you want to cuddle them — and these little guys love nothing more than a good squish. All this and more makes our labradoodle puppies for sale one the most in-demand in our center. Activity-loving families adore these dogs for their propensity towards sports, and anyone who prefers low-shedding pooch benefits from their wooly or fleecy fur. Labradoodle puppies for sale are so cute and come in such a wide range of colors that it makes choosing your new best friend super-hard! While spearheading the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia breeding program, he conducted the crossbreeding of a standard poodle and Labrador retriever in view of it being a hypoallergenic guide dog for blind people. The first example of this type of dog, called Sultan, went to live with a lady in Hawaii, where other breeders saw him as an inspiration and this is how Australian Labradoodle puppies started. Both the International Australian Labradoodles Association and the Australian Labradoodles Association of America are working hard to incorporate more intergenerational breeding so these dog breeders can register this type of dog as a purebred dog. Its gentle, obedient and intelligent personality combined with a hypoallergenic coat make it ideal for family members with allergies, but it also makes an excellent service or therapy dog. Labradoodle Puppies Lifespan When properly taken care of, healthy dogs tend to live anywhere from 10 to 13 years. The lifespan of our Labradoodle puppies for sale is slightly above average at 12 to 14 years. Here are the life stages of multigenerational Australian Labradoodles: Puppyhood: First five months Adolescence: Between five months and two years Adulthood: Between two and three years Middle age: Between seven years and 10 years Senior: Over 10 years Labradoodles need the most attention and care in the first and last stages of their life. During puppyhood, their minds are highly impressionable, which is ideal for training. During their senior years, Labradoodles are more susceptible to health problems, which means owners need to keep a watchful eye. Labradoodle Size The size of labradoodle puppies for sale directly relates to the size of their parents and which generation of breed Labradoodle breeders chose. The larger the puppies, the larger the adult dog will be, and the faster their growth will be coming out of the puppy stage. A standard labradoodle puppy will weigh from pounds by the time it reaches two months of age. By a year old, it will have grown dramatically to up to 80 pounds, depending on the size of its parents. Medium Labradoodles occupy a spectrum of sizes between standard and mini Labradoodles, with the specifics depending heavily on the details of the breeding pair that birthed them and the breeding program they come from. Labradoodle Puppies Temperament While Labradoodle breeders originally bred the Australian Labradoodles as therapy dogs, their fun, friendly personalities made them popular pets. Now you can find these sociable dogs in homes across the globe. Here are some of the top personality traits of our Labradoodle puppies for sale. They tend to do best in active households where they can work off all that pent-up energy. You can fulfill their needs through the following activities: Walks or jogs: Labradoodles make great walking companions and can even keep up with you during a jog. Playing in the yard: Enjoy a game of fetch with your furry friend in the yard or just let it loose on its own. Dog sports: If you stay active through sports, consider making your labradoodle a part of your routine. Bring it on bike rides, go for a run together or kick a ball around in the yard. Obstacle courses: Set up an obstacle course for your dog using household items. Scavenger hunt: Creating a scavenger hunt for your canine is a great way to exercise its body and brain. In general, Labradoodles need anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. You can also enroll them later at a Labradoodle puppy alumni school for proper training. Friendliness What makes Labradoodles the perfect puppy compare to other dog breeds is their ability to get along with just about anyone. They inherit this trait from their Labrador retriever parent, a breed also known for its outgoing nature. You can trust your labradoodle to form friendships with everyone, from children and older adults to strangers and other puppies. Thanks to their affectionate, sociable personalities, Labradoodles make great pets for first-time owners, families, or anyone looking for a companion. Intelligence Thanks to their poodle parent breeds, Labradoodles are incredibly intelligent dogs. Because Labradoodles are intelligent, they often crave mental stimulation. Labradoodle Puppies Grooming Our Labradoodle puppies for sale have a variety of coat textures that dog owners enjoy, but in general, their low shedding coat needs brushing at least twice a week. Not only does this keep them tangle-free but it also removes excess debris from their coat, keeping them fresh and hygienic. Regularly trim the hair around their eyes and in between their paws to prevent these problem areas from causing irritation. Pooches with fleece coats tend to have longer fur and benefit the most from going to a professional groomer — although every dog loves getting pampered once in a while. At Pride and Prejudoodles, we send a can and a bag of the foods we use for free with your hand-delivered bundle of joy. If you need to change it for any reason, it must be done gradually to avoid stomach upsets. Just bear in mind that a diet is such a crucial aspect of wellness that feeding them good quality food will add years to their lives compared to opting for low-quality feed. Pride and Prejudoodles is here to help. We hope you found our guide informative. Please contact us with any other questions you have about our Labradoodle puppies for adoption. Life Span Did You Know? Second-generation crosses could include a Labradoodle and a Mini Poodle or two Mini Labradoodles as parents. This hybrid dog breed was originally developed to create smaller potential service dogs that might be a good fit for people with allergies to dog fur. With a mixed breed, you can end up with any combination of traits from the parent breeds. Often, Mini Labradoodles are smart, friendly, and sociable dogs that are highly trainable. They are often found working as service dogs and therapy dogs and living as beloved family companions. Although they are not recognized by the AKC, the Mini Labradoodle is recognized by other canine registries. A Mini Labradoodle is a combination of two friendly dog breeds that crave human affection and are always happy to have company. These dogs also tend to have playful, energetic personalities and low prey drives. Well-socialized Mini Labradoodles tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Due to their smaller size, these dogs can be injured by accidental rough play or accidental falls, so any interactions between young kids and puppies should be closely supervised. Miniature Labradoodles will usually bark to alert you when someone is at the door, but generally are not prone to nuisance barking unless they have been trained into it. It may not be a bad idea to train your dog to stop barking early on. Well-socialized Mini Labradoodles may be initially wary of strangers, but tend to warm up quickly and will often be happy to make a new friend. Miniature Labradoodles are highly adaptable. Provided they get enough exercise, attention, and mental stimulation, they can adapt well to apartments as well as larger homes. They tend to do best in moderate climates, but can tolerate warmer or colder climates. As with any dog, they are sensitive to heat. Although they tend to have a fluffier coat, they are also smaller and may need to bundle up in some winter dog products to stay warm while out on walks in the cold. Mini Labradoodles are also very much companion breeds. They bond closely with their families and thrive on being near them, so they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. The health of the parents and good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of Mini Labradoodle puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done to help allay any concerns you may have. Miniature Labradoodles tend to be highly intelligent and eager to please. This generally makes them easy to train and a good fit for owners of all experience levels. In fact, their parent breeds are considered some of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. These dogs respond best to consistent training and positive reinforcement. Puppy training classes can ensure that owners of any experience level learn the latest training techniques and start building a strong bond with their puppy. Grooming requirements with a Mini Labradoodle can vary. On the Poodle side, you have a low-shedding, but high-maintenance, coat that needs daily brushing along with trimming and grooming every weeks. On the Lab side, you have a higher shedding coat that is more low-maintenance, requiring some weekly brushing or brushing a few times a week and intermittent bathing. Overall, Mini Labradoodles range from having a non- to low-shedding coat. They can have one coat type or the other, or a combination of both of them. So, you will want to be prepared for brushing a coat a few times a week and the possibility of more grooming needs. Regardless of coat type, there are some other general grooming tasks you can count on. Regular dental care for your dog will help prevent serious dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay later in life. This is especially important for dog breeds with floppy ears as they are more prone to developing ear infections. Miniature Labradoodles can be high-energy dogs. In general, they require daily walks plus some playtime and extra activity to be happy and healthy. Since they love to be around their family and can have an exuberant and outgoing personality, they will likely be up for more playtime if you are. This little dog may get tired more easily at times and could push themselves too far in their excitement. On the other hand, they may just keep going and going with no signs of slowing down. What is most important is making sure your Miniature Labradoodle gets enough exercise and mental stimulation. Fully-grown Mini Labradoodles usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Miniature Labradoodles generally live for years on average. Featured Mini Labradoodle Article.

They told him all of the puppies needed urgent care for parvovirus based on the symptoms he described over the phone. But because he didn't, police say the dogs suffered and a total of 5 died. The puppies died from Parvovirus and police say the owner didn't get them medical attention. The 59 year-old went in front of a judge Friday on animal cruelty charges. FOX25 reached out to Pelletier, offering him to give his side of the story, but he jumped over a railing to avoid questions. In court, prosecutors said Pelletier allowed the puppies to live in deplorable conditions. The puppies parents are still chained up outside the Sturbridge home. He had already lost one puppy. Was smart enough to seek advice, however he didn't follow the advice," said Sgt. Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that attracts the dog's intestinal tract. One neighbor said Pelletier is harmless, but does have ongoing feuds with others on the street because of the condition of his property. The neighbor said that he has cleaned it up recently and "it was a lot worse. That is still being worked out. Cox Media Group. References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI is caused by a degenerative disease of the pancreas. The pancreas has two distinct functions: i the regulation of the blood glucose level through secretion of the hormones insulin and glucagon the endocrine function into the blood and ii the secretion of substances into the intestine that are vital for the digestion of food. The latter is the exocrine function that fails in this disease. The usual cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German Shepherd dogs is pancreatic acinar atrophy PAA , in which progressive destruction of the acinar cells of the pancreas occurs. The main chemical constituent of pancreatic juice is bicarbonate, this acts to neutralise acid from the stomach. It also contains enzymes which are proteins that act as catalysts in the chemical reactions that break down foodstuffs into molecules small enough to pass through the intestinal wall and be absorbed. These enzymes include proteases that break down protein into amino acids; lipase and phospholipase that break down fats; nucleases that breakdown nucleic acids DNA and RNA ; and amylase that breaks down starch and glycogen. EPI occurs when the acinar cells fail to produce sufficient pancreatic juice for the digestion process Simpson and Rishniw .The commonest reason for this in young GSDs is pancreatic acinar atrophy PAA in which acinar cells are progressive destroyed. The cause of pancreatic acinar atrophy in GSDs is unknown. However, it has been suggested that it may be an auto-immune disease because lymphocytic pancreatitis has been reported to precede the atrophy Wiberg et al a, Hall et al , Wiberg .The endocrine function of the pancreas is usually spared so diabetes mellitus is not usually seen concurrently Neiger et al .In time, EPI can lead to severe malnutrition because affected dogs, although eating normally, may not be able to digest and absorb sufficient nutrients. Deficiencies of specific vitamins including B12 cobalamin , E and K may occur Williams .Dogs with EPI show mild to marked weight loss, despite being ravenously hungry. Other signs include: large volumes of diarrhoea of variable consistency, which may be foul-smelling; flatulence and intestinal borborgymi gurgling. Sometimes there is vomiting and increased drinking and coats may become poor and greasy Williams , Hall et al , Simpson and Rishniw .Unless successfully treated, there can be severe emaciation with muscle wasting and weakness and, eventually, widespread failure of metabolic homeostasis and death Williams , Simpson and Rishniw .Treatment involves oral supplementation of pancreatic enzymes and regular injections of Vitamin B12 and, in some cases, other vitamins Williams , Hall et al , Simpson and Rishniw .Various dietary modifications have been recommended, in particular, a low fat diet but this is controversial Simpson and Rishniw .Dogs with secondary bacterial overgrowth may require antibiotics. Some of these may have been euthanased because of the cost of treatment, which is significant and necessarily life-long Williams .Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact The welfare implications of EPI can be severe. Affected dogs appear ravenously hungry most of the time. They may, from time to time, also feel ill, nauseous suffering from vomiting and suffer from abdominal discomfort. Unless successfully treated, the disease progresses to cause weakness due to muscle wastage. If the disease causes vitamin K deficiency, dogs may show spontaneous bleeds Williams .As the disease progresses, dogs become too weak to maintain normal activities, display increasing malaise, and become sicker and sicker as their body systems close down and they die of starvation. The intense hunger can lead to ingestion of inappropriate materials, which may cause painful secondary gastrointestinal upsets or gastrointestinal obstructions. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact EPI can occur in dogs of any age but in GSDs signs usually become apparent between 6 months and 6 years of age Hall et al .Batchelor et al b found the median age of diagnosis in GSDs was 36 months. If left untreated dogs starve to death over weeks and months. Treatment has to be life-long. Return to top 4. We are not aware of any more recent estimates. From data on estimates of total dog population in the UK and on the percentage of all micro-chip registered dogs that are GSDs Lucy Asher, , personal communication , we estimate that the UK population size of this breed may be around , Return to top 5. Diagnosis If signs typically associated with this condition, of hunger, weight loss and diarrhoea, are shown by a GSD of less than 5 years of age, EPI is likely to be suspected. EPI can be confirmed by measurement of blood trypsinogen levels. This is the serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity TLI test. Other tests may be needed to rule out other possible causes and complications Williams , Simpson and Rishniw .Low TLI concentrations 0. Recently a test to measure faecal elastase levels has been developed for EPI diagnosis but the TLI test remains the most trusted Simpson and Rishniw .Return to top 6. Genetics It was thought that EPI in GSDs had an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance Weber and Freudiger , Westermarck , Moeller et al , Clark et al , however, this is now not believed to be the case Westermarck et al .Instead, it is thought that EPI is a polygenic disorder involving multiple genes and possibly environmental factors also Clark , Westermarck et al .This has yet to be confirmed. Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? The genetics of the condition remain unclear and it is not known if carriers animals that can pass the disease to their offspring without being affected themselves exist Clark .When choosing a puppy, it is important to check that its parents are free of EPI. The older the parents are, the less likely they are to go on to develop EPI at a later date. There are currently no tests that can show whether or not a puppy is likely to develop EPI when older. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem As far as we are aware, there are no breeding schemes aimed at tackling EPI in GSDs. It has been recommended that animals that have EPI should not be used for breeding but EPI does not always become apparent prior to breeding age , nor should pairs that have produced affected offspring be paired again. Likewise, line-breeding is not recommended breeding from dogs which share common ancestors but are not closely related Clark , Steiner .These restrictions might result in significant decrease in the size of the gene pool significantly. EPI is not the only genetic disease of GSDs that has significant welfare effects; others include megaoesophagus, hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, haemophilia A, von Willebrand disease, and hereditary multifocal renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis Wahl et al .Therefore, when developing breeding strategies to tackle EPI, it is desirable to also take these into account. The ideal is for breeding programmes to be informed by the results of disease monitoring programmes and for the estimation of breeding values EBV — the relative genetic values of animals in the breeding population — in relation to breeding to eliminate these diseases Lewis et al .EBVs are calculated using all available information on the dog including its pedigree, health status and physical characteristics. Planning matings based on EBVs has proven successful in reducing the prevalence of other diseases, eg in reducing the prevalence of epilepsy in the Belgian Tervuren Oberbauer .This may be a good approach to simultaneously tackling several genetic welfare problems in GSDs, although it may take many generations. For this approach to be successful, the cooperation of the majority of GSD breeders is required so that the breeding values of individuals can be established. Opinions differ as to whether it is ethically acceptable to breed animals whose welfare is likely to be compromised. Another approach to reducing the prevalence of EPI and which avoids risks of further inbreeding would be to outbreed with unaffected dogs of other breeds. The development of a genetic test would be likely to be very helpful in tackling the disease. Return to top 9. Owners must be dedicated to keeping up with their. Established in , Mello Labradors has been a top producer of some of the finest Labrador Retriever dogs in the Bay State of Massachusetts. Call or text for more information or to schedule an appointment! They have experience with the breed going back four 4 generations of their breeding program and being involved with AKC official duties for the last decade. Search for dogs for adoption at shelters near Massachusetts, MA. They offer obedience training for dogs of any breed, boarding services for trained. We maintain a small breeding program to provide quality in the puppies we produce. Our dogs and puppies are family raised in a clean, healthy home environment and are pre-spoiled with love before going to their forever homes. Puppies will go home with 1st of vaccinations as well as a welcome package of reading materials…. Uxbridge, MA Phone: Email: smr rococoscotties. Find and adopt a pet on Petfinder today. Find Maltese puppies for saleNear Massachusetts. Incredible breeders with attention to detail. Breeders in Massachusetts MA. The pups are on their way to find their forever homes in Massachusetts. They offer obedience training for dogs of any breed, boarding services for trained dogs, and breeding services for anyone interested in bringing home a new dog. They are passionate Maltese breeders raising adorable and high-standard Maltese pups. Address: Warren, MA, Phone: 5. So, I've done a lot of research, and without further ado, here are the top 10 pug breeders in Massachusetts. Heartstone Goldens Retrievers 6. Homeless dogs in Massachusetts at an all. These dogs were some of the more than dogs and cats removed from a Texas breeder as part of an animal cruelty investigation and brought to New England with Texas-area shelters overwhelmed with. Puppies for Sale near Massachusetts. Bella and Libby, now Willow and Wile E. Born if interested please call or text for more info. The Covid 'Gotta get a pet' boom is long over, and animal shelters know it. A small breed, Bichons are easily trainable and distinctive for their low-shed white coat. The Maltese can serve as a lapdog but it loves to play with humans of all ages. A pair of apparent wolf dogs from Warwick are starting their new lives in Ohio with new names. Also, to further help you in your Cocker Spaniel breeder research, we have compiled important information such as breeder location, breeder contact, the price that each breeder charges for his or her puppy, if the price. This breeder has produced many Champion Scott Terriers. We breed first and foremost for ourselves to strengthen and continue our breeding program following. The kennel is named for our favorite family vacation hang-out in New Hampshire, Lake Sunapee. This is the only Bernedoodle breeding. Previously owned by Melonie, now owned by Meryl. All Sunapee puppies are sold on limited AKC registration. Find Bichon Frise puppies for sale. Coyote, arrived at the Red Riding Hood Rescue. Welcoming the rookie: Newton Police's new community service dog a treat to train. Hoof-N-Paw Labradors. The next breeder is Brogan Corgis, which is. DTD Puppies 4. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and. Massachusetts Cat Breeders Websites. Under Massachusetts law, dogs have to be on leash unless they are on private property. Our goal is to have puppies that perform well in any activity, but most importantly, to be treasured companions for their families. Wondering where to get quality show chihuahuas puppies for sale in Massachusetts? Look no 3. They are a local family-owned and operated pet store in Massachusetts. Bichon Frise puppies for sale in Massachusetts from trusted breeders. Warwick wolf dogs, mistaken for coyotes, arrive in Ohio. Heartstone breeding goldens all have their health clearances for hips, elbows, hearts, and eyes in order to ensure the healthiest golden puppies possible. Make sure to do research on th MORE. Check with the breeder for up-to-date information on puppy availability. Find Bichon Frise puppies for saleNear Massachusetts. When looking for a reputable breeder of Yorkie puppies in Massachusetts MA, it is important. It's not so much that shelters are stocked. In their limited breeding program, they are focused on sound conformation, Receive an email alert when additional puppies are added. Murphys Chihuahuas is dedicated to providing healthy and happy pups to families in Massachusetts and the surrounding states. All puppies found here are from AKC-Registered parents. They offer a wide variety of chis and there is always something for everyone. Find Maltese puppies for sale. They have state of art and temperature-controlled breeding facilities. For the past 11 years we have been providing stud service to Cavachons of the Monarchy in Monson, MA. Its founder, Mari Caroll, established her business in , so she is an experienced breeder of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Nikki creates training customized for each individual dogs needs. Fluffy, friendly, and full of life, Bichon Frises make for ideal pups for city-dwellers. In their limited breeding program, they are focused on sound conformation, temperament, and talent. Well, we have researched for you well-established Cocker Spaniel breeders in Massachusetts that sell Cocker Spaniel puppies. They offer a wide variety of chis and there is. The dogs were seized as part of an animal cruelty investigation and taken to the Montgomery County Animal Services, which was already overwhelmed before the influx of new dogs and cats. When your dog trains with Nikki you can expect a calm and well rounded dog at the end of your training program. Their breeding program focuses only on high-quality breeding stock. Fluffy, friendly, and full of life, Bichon Frises make for ideal pups for city-dwellers and people with young children. One of the highest rated Goldendoodle breeders in MA, this breeder upholds exceptional breeding standards to produce healthy new litters. Heartstone Golden Retrievers Golden Retriever Breeder, MA Where our love for goldens comes straight from the heart Purebred AKC Golden Retrievers Heartstone breeding goldens all have their health clearances for hips, elbows, hearts, and eyes in order to ensure the healthiest golden puppies possible. According to their website, they have been active with Golden Retrievers for over 30 years. Yet another breeder located in Acushnet, Massachusetts, Mello Labradors, takes up our number 8 and final spot on our list. The tiny Maltese is famed for its loyalty and ability to grow a luxurious white coat. Puppy Price: Check with breeder. Puppies will go home with 1st of vaccinations as well as a welcome package of reading materials. Explain a little bit more about yourself. Last month, an unleashed dog bit a four-year-old girl. The breeder was very sweet and I still send her pictures to this day! We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. Stray puppy rescued in Boston needs costly 'life-changing surgery' Photo courtesy of credit MSPCA-Angell But donations are needed for her "complex" treatment and continued care, with surgery to. Those wishing to donate can do so here. Barncat Classic Maine Coons is a small cattery whose breeders take their job very seriously. Find your puppy for sale in Massachusetts. Sunapee Labradors is a small kennel. Kittens altered prior to placement. It's easy and free! The next breeder is Brogan Corgis, which is located in Westport, Connecticut, close to Massachusetts. Number of puppies available at time of publication: 0 puppies available. Yes, you read it right, they also breed Mini Goldendoodles in. References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Hip dysplasia HD is a disease of the hip coxofemoral joints. Dysplasia means abnormal development. Both hips are usually affected Brass .It is a complex disease that results from a combination of genes that predispose a dog to developing hip dysplasia interacting with environmental factors that lead to its full development and expression Riser .It is characterized by hip joint instability which, if compounded by environmental factors, then results in secondary osteoarthritis and the clinical signs of hip dysplasia which include pain, lameness and disability Zhang et al .To fully understand hip dysplasia, it is necessary to understand the structure of the hip joint. The hip joint is the joint at the top of the hind leg, where it articulates forms a joint with the pelvis. It is described as a ball and socket joint, as in normal hips the ball-shaped head of the femur the thigh bone fits perfectly into a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis, the acetabulum. The head of the femur femoral head and the acetabulum are normally covered with cartilage which produces a smooth, low friction surface. Within the joint there is also a fine layer of synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant between these cartilaginous surfaces. This thin layer of synovial fluid, along with the round ligament a ligament that runs round the edge of the acetabulum — between the acetabulum and the femur , keeps the two cartilaginous surfaces together by creating a suction-like effect. The ligaments and the joint capsule also help to hold the ball and socket closely together. In newborn puppies, because the bones are soft and not fully ossified turned into bone as they need to grow and develop, they are still deformable if abnormal movements or stresses and strains occur in them. Riser suggests that, in a normal six month old individual, ossification of the bones and soft tissue strength the strength of the surrounding ligaments, joint capsule and muscles have developed enough to prevent hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is described as a biomechanical disease. The hips appear normal at birth. However, in affected individuals, the hips develop abnormally due, at first, to joint instability sometimes called joint laxity Riser .This means that the developing femoral head and acetabulum are not held constantly, closely together, and can move into abnormal positions relative to one another. This puts abnormal stresses and strains on the joint. Riser states this is due to the soft tissues, such as ligaments and muscle, not being strong enough to maintain congruity between the articular surfaces of the femoral head and the acetabulum ie the constant contact between the surfaces of the bones is not maintained. The pathological changes seen due to the joint instability are progressive inflammation and degeneration of the tissues that together form the joint. Brass details the following changes in the joint: The joint capsule can become thickened and the round ligament can become stretched or ruptured leading to additional, excessive movements. The synovial fluid increases in volume and changes in nature, due to inflammation, this pushes the joint surfaces apart. The cartilage on the bone surfaces gets worn away exposing subchondral bone the layer of bone beneath the surface cartilage. Unlike cartilage, bone contains nerve endings and such exposure will commonly cause pain. The rim of the acetabulum becomes damaged and flattened and later new bone starts to grow here as the body tries to stabilize the joint. The femoral head becomes deformed and flattened and also grows abnormal bone called exotoses or osteophytes. This changing of the shape of the joint with new bone growing in abnormal positions, and being lost in others, is called joint remodelling. The signs that are seen with hip dysplasia can vary hugely in their severity, the age at which they first appear and their progression. In mild cases dogs can be free from clinical signs for years; however, for more severely affected individuals, signs of pain can develop whilst they are still immature less than a year old Signs include acute pain, particularly after strenuous exercise or movement. This may show as lameness or reluctance to jump, to go for walks, climb steps or move at all if really severe. The pain may be worse in cold, wet conditions Brass .These signs may start intermittently, but over time can become constant. Muscle wastage is often seen in the hindlegs Brass .There appears to be little correlation between the severity of pain shown by the dog and physical abnormalities felt on examination by a vet or revealed on an x-ray Brass ie some dogs can be in severe pain but have few changes on x-rays and vice versa. This is typical of any joint disease. Controlling food intake during growth has been shown to decrease hip dysplasia in Labradors ie by reducing excessive energy intake and therefore excessive weight gain during growth Kealy et al .High calcium intake during growth has been shown to delay maturation of the skeleton and increase the risk of hip dysplasia in Great Danes Hazewinkel .It is thought that controlling the amount and form of exercise during development may also help Corr .Bennett and May suggest excessive exercise during development can lead to hip dysplasia. Treatment for hip dysplasia is complex; many surgical interventions have been developed to prevent signs appearing in young animals with high joint laxity and to treat dogs with severe osteoarthritis. All need specialist surgeons. Various medications to aid pain relief are also available, along with recommendations to reduce the effect of environmental factors. Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact Though some dogs may be mildly affected, for many German Shepherd dogs with hip dysplasia, the impact of the condition is major and life changing. These animals suffer pain that is severe and debilitating, leading them to be in pain even with small everyday movements such as standing up. Their quality of life is severely affected so that they are unable to enjoy normal canine behaviours such as walking and running. It is not uncommon for dogs to be euthanased due to the pain and disability of arthritis associated with hip dysplasia. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact Hip dysplasia is a progressive disease with signs seen from any age. For some dogs pain starts before a year of age. Signs may be intermittent to start with but often progress to be constant. Medical treatment and advice can help control pain and possibly slow progression, though a cure can only be obtained with major surgical intervention in dogs that are considered suitable candidates for such surgery. Return to top 4. Number of animals affected Hip dysplasia is the most common joint problem of large dogs Smith et al .UK VetCompass data for dogs overall, showed that 7. In this sample, diagnosis of conditions affecting the pelvis eg hip dysplasia did not significantly differ between purebred and crossbred dogs. Figures vary greatly for how frequently German Shepherds are affected by hip dysplasia, depending on the method by which they have been screened and the database reviewed. The frequency is likely to vary for geographically different populations of the same breed Brass .However, Paster et al suggested that the OFA population was biased, as it is not compulsory for radiographed dogs to have their x-rays submitted to the OFA scheme so some owners may have had dogs pre-screened and only submitted apparently non-dysplastic ones for consideration and scoring. In this study, German Shepherd dogs had a higher odds ratio of hip dysplasia occurrence than Dobermanns, Labradors and Rottweilers, indicating that the breed is at a significantly higher risk of hip dysplasia development. Return to top 5. Diagnosis For a young dog suspected of hip dysplasia, a diagnosis can be made on the clinical signs shown at home and on examination of the dog, including assessment of joint laxity and joint pain plus evaluation of radiographs x-ray pictures of the hip joints Corr .Assessment of the joint laxity and radiographs may need to be performed by a specialist vet who is used to checking for this condition. For a formal diagnosis, the radiographs are usually submitted to a panel for evaluation. There are three methods of assessing joint laxity. Radiographs and assessment of joint laxity need to be performed under heavy sedation or anaesthesia Corr .Return to top 6. Genetics Hip dysplasia in dogs is a polygenic disease; many genes are thought to play a role in its development. Most of these genes probably have small additive effects quantitative, polygenes and some probably have larger effects Zhang et al .Heritability estimates are used to demonstrate how much variation in a phenotypic trait is due to genetic variation among individuals in a population. Using hip scores published by the British Veterinary Association, heritability for hip scores of German Shepherd dogs was 0. Genes are not solely responsible for whether a dog with the genetic potential for hip dysplasia develops the condition. Environmental factors play an important part. They are discussed in the clinical and pathogenic effects section above. However, there are significant breed predispositions to this condition and the German Shepherd dog is one of the breeds affected. Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? There are a number of breeding schemes around the world developed to decrease the incidence of hip dysplasia in dog breeds. These schemes assess potential breeding animals in somewhat different ways. All aim to give breeders and owners a strong indication of which dogs are likely to produce healthy offspring and which should not be bred. However, this is by no means straightforward for hip dysplasia as it is a polygenic condition in which the genetics are poorly understood and which is also affected by environmental factors in a major way. This lack of clarity has produced much debate over the best way to assess potential breeding dogs. A brief summary of the various schemes follows including some current evidence for their benefits. All dogs must be at least 12 months of age. There are nine radiographic features which are scored, including the Norberg angle NA - a measurement for hip laxity taken from the EHR and each dog is given a score out of 53 for each hip total of up to for both. A low score indicates healthy hip joints eg Greyhounds would score 0, as is not seen in this breed and a higher score indicates worse hip dysplasia. Breeders are recommended to only breed from animals with a score lower than the breed medianscore e. It is also based on an extended hip radiograph EHR , which is then graded by three independent experts to give an overall grade. All dogs must be over 2 years of age to be assessed. There are seven possible grades for the radiograph: excellent, good, fair, borderline, mild, moderate or severe hip dysplasia. Dogs must be between 1 and 2 years of age and the radiograph is graded by someone appointed by each breed club — they do not have to be an expert. Grades include: A- no signs of hip dysplasia, B — near normal hip joints, C — mild hip dysplasia, D — moderate hip dysplasia, E — severe hip dysplasia. Older dogs can be assessed but the likelihood of more secondary osteoarthritic changes is taken into account. Dogs from 4 months of age can be assessed. It involves the assessment of three different radiographic views of the hip joints called the distraction view, the compression view and the EHR. The radiograph must be taken by a vet who is registered with the scheme and the radiographs are assessed by vets at the PennHIP Analysis Center. Dogs with a DI lower than 0. Dogs with increasing DI values over 0. Advocates of the PennHIP method like it because it accurately identifies individuals who have hip laxity - the primary phenotypical abnormality that predisposes dogs to hip dysplasia. The other schemes only look at the EHR and though the NA can be measured from this, the NA has been shown to be an inaccurate method to assess hip laxity Culp et al .Much of what is assessed on the EHRs are secondary arthritic changes, these are not specific to hip dysplasia and are affected by many environmental factors. Recently, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have confirmed that the Distraction Index DI is a significant risk factor for the development of hip dysplasia. In other words, DI scores give a very good indication of the likelihood of osteoarthritic changes, due to hip dysplasia, developing in the future Smith and others , , , Smith , Runge et al .These and other researchers argue that the other schemes are not as good at detecting animals that have hip dysplasia as the PennHIP method and, despite older schemes existing for over 40 years, little improvement has been seen in hip dysplasia in the general pet population Corley , Kaneene et al , Leppanen et al , Paster et al .In fact, one recent study looking at a database of over 1,, dogs found an increase in the prevalence of hip dysplasia Witsberger et al .However EHR scores were found to have a much higher heritability 0. Heritability studies are difficult to compare between different populations with different environmental influences. To improve the gene pool, phenotypic traits that can be easily detected with strong links to the genotype genetic make-up of animals have to be found. Ideally, any potential pet would have had its hip joints assessed by one of the above schemes prior to purchase, although this is often unhelpful, as most pets are purchased as young puppies. Unfortunately, this does not guarantee all their offspring will be free from hip dysplasia. Certainly any potential breeding animal should be assessed prior to breeding using an appropriate scheme. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem Hip dysplasia is a complex trait which involves multiple unknown genes and environmental factors. Eradication schemes have been running in some countries for decades and still it is commonplace. Thus prospects for its quick elimination are low. In a recent study, Zhang et al suggested that using scores from four hip traits combined to create a breeding value for each animal would help speed up elimination of the condition. They felt that information on the single joint trait EHR eg the OFA scheme gave insufficient information to provide the basis for breeding decisions. The DLS is a measurement made from an x-ray taken in a weight-bearing position to measure the subluxation of the femoral head Farese et al .In this study on two populations of dogs where environmental factors were strictly controlled, heritabilities for all these traits were found to be relatively high eg heritabilities were 0. The researchers suggested these heritabilites were higher than expected due to the controlled environmental conditions. Zhang et al suggested an improved way for selectively breeding out hip dysplasia would be if breeders could be given breeding values derived from the four traits for each potential breeding animal, plus a measurement of the inbreeding of any potential mating eg the inbreeding coefficient. This way, they suggest, inbreeding can be avoided and only animals with phenotypes strongly indicative of healthy hip joint genes would be bred from. This scheme is a more organised form of others that have suggested using a combination of breeding values determined from pedigree information and phenotype score Ginja et al , Hou et al .As described by Bell , when breeders are prioritising raising dogs that have good hip dysplasia genotypes for future breeding the phenotype has to be used as a marker for the genotype. Although the diagnostic signs can be affected also by environmental factors such as feeding and exercise regimes. It is important that the puppies are raised in a standard and not excessively protective way. Otherwise, dogs that would normally have developed radiographic signs of hip dysplasia will have this masked and their genes will be perpetuated. Future development of genetic tests to help identify some of the hip dysplasia genes, along with more use of pedigree data that includes the health of ancestors and progeny for clinical signs of hip dysplasia and also for other inherited defects of German Shepherd dogs , may well help to improve methods used to eliminate this condition. Currently we have to continue to rely on choosing phenotypical traits which apparently indicate the presence of healthy genes. Return to top 9.

Panosteitis in Dogs Grow.Panosteitis in Dogs Growing Pains Panosteitis, also known as growing pains, refers to a self-limiting yet painful bone condition involving the long leg bones of young large breed dogs generally between ages 5 and 18 months. Panosteitis may occur in more than one bone at a time or may move around, causing a shifting leg lameness. The lameness tends to occur very suddenly and usually occurs spontaneously and without a history of trauma or excessive exercise. Causes of Panosteitis in Dogs Symptoms of Panosteitis in Dogs How will the vet know if my dog is having growing pains? Treatment Options for Dogs with Panosteitis Can growing pains be prevented? When to Contact a Vet Read more: Have more questions about growing pains in dogs? Panosteitis is a condition that affects young, rapidly growing dogs. Causes of Panosteitis in Dogs The underlying cause of panosteitis is unknown, but genetics, stress, infection, metabolism, or an autoimmune component may be factors. Since German Shepherds seem to be particularly predisposed to panosteitis, there may be a genetic component to the disease, at least in this breed. Inappropriate nutrition may also predispose some dogs to this condition. Symptoms of Panosteitis in Dogs The typical symptom is a sudden, unexplained, painful lameness limping of one or more legs. The lameness may be mild or severe. The affected bone will be painful to the touch. Other symptoms such as fever, decreased appetite, lethargy, or weight loss may be noticed. Panosteitis tends to have a cyclic nature, with periods of worsening symptoms followed by periods of improvement. The pain often shifts from leg to leg. Each episode of lameness may last for a few days to a few weeks, and the period between episodes is often about a month but may vary. How will the vet know if my dog is having growing pains? When your vet examines your dog, panosteitis will be suspected if the patient shows pain when pressure is applied to the affected bone s. The diagnosis is confirmed by radiographs x-rays , which usually show a characteristic increase in the density of the affected bones. The degree of change may not correlate to the severity of the lameness. In some cases, radiographic evidence may not be present for up to ten days after lameness begins; in these cases, repeat x-rays taken 2 weeks later will confirm the diagnosis. After the condition has resolved, the bone density normalizes and the bone looks normal on radiographs. Treatment Options for Dogs with Panosteitis Although this disease is self-limiting, and will spontaneously resolve, during episodes of lameness the condition is very painful. During episodes of lameness, exercise should be restricted. Between episodes, light to moderate exercise should be encouraged, but hard or vigorous exercise is discouraged, as are very long walks. Can growing pains be prevented? There are currently no known preventive measures for this medical condition. In general for puppies, it is important to feed a high-quality diet that has been formulated for growth there are diets specifically for large breed puppies and to restrict the quantity fed to keep the dog at a lean, healthy body weight. Do not allow your puppy to become overweight. Consult your vet for further advice on the most appropriate nutrition for your dog. When to Contact a Vet A dog with panosteitis will present with acute lameness brought on suddenly, which can range anywhere from mild to severe. As is the case with any lameness in your pet, do not delay in making an appointment with your vet. Panosteitis can last from 2 to 5 months. If your dog has signs that last longer than 5 months, you should go to the vet for a re-check. Read more:. By Emily A. Fassbaugh, DVM on Oct. Panosteitis in dogs, also known as pano, is a condition that affects the long bones of the legs. Because it most commonly affects large-breed dogs that are less than 2 years old, it has been called growing pains in dogs. Unfortunately, it can occur in multiple legs and move to a different leg after the first leg gets better. Symptoms of Panosteitis in Dogs The predominant symptom of panosteitis is limping and leg pain. The pain can come on suddenly and then resolve very quickly. It can also be hard to know when your dog is in pain. If you gently squeeze the long bones of their leg, sometimes your dog will cry out or pull the leg away in pain. It can be so painful that they will not want to use the affected leg. Causes of Panosteitis in Dogs Panosteitis in dogs is similar to growing pains in people. Because large-breed dogs—especially German Shepherds —are prone to it, there is a genetic component to this disease, but there is no identifiable gene mutation that causes it. Typically, it occurs between 6 months and 2 years of age, but you can sometimes see it in German Shepherds over 2 years of age. The disease affects the mid-shaft of the long bones and causes production of bone inside of the marrow cavity. High-protein diets may predispose large-breed dogs to panosteitis, so it is important to feed your dog a high-quality, large-breed puppy food to help prevent it. For the physical exam, your veterinarian first watches your dog as they walk to identify which legs are affected. Then, the vet performs an orthopedic examination by firmly pressing on all parts of the legs, back, and neck to check for pain reactions. Dogs with panosteitis will feel pain when the vet presses on the long bones in their leg. Your dog may tense up or even cry out and look at the spot that is painful when the veterinarian squeezes the bone. X-rays can also help diagnose panosteitis in dogs. Ordinarily, the bone marrow is darker than the outside of the bone, called the cortex. In panosteitis, the cortex bone can be seen extending into the dark marrow cavity. However, signs of pain can occur up to 10 days before the x-rays show changes, so a normal x-ray does not necessarily mean your dog does not have panosteitis. But x-rays do help rule out other causes of bone pain in dogs, such as infections, tumors, and broken bones. Treatment for Panosteitis in Dogs Treating dogs for panosteitis primarily involves nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Restricting your dog's activity also helps. Recovery and Management of Pano in Dogs An episode of panosteitis typically lasts a few weeks and then goes away. It sometimes happens again, in different legs, weeks to months later. Fortunately, after your dog is 2 years old, pano usually stops with no lasting inflammation or pain. Your veterinarian can also prescribe a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory pain medication, such as carprofen , to relieve pain. How do I know if my puppy or dog has growing pains? Puppies or young adult dogs with growing pains often suddenly start limping with no known injury. Visit a vet for confirmation. How long do growing pains last in puppies and dogs? Typically, each growing pain episode lasts weeks. Once your dog reaches age 2, growing pains usually cease. Emily Fassbaugh grew up in San Diego. She attended the University of California, Davis for both her undergraduate studies in Animal.Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Fever Painful to touch Diagnosis: vets first Although Panosteitis has been found to be of non-concern to health in later life it is a painful condition and can interrupt those all-important puppy experiences. Seeking veterinary advice will rule out any other issues that have similar signs and symptoms such as bone diseases and give you insight into how to manage Panosteitis. A touch test paired with background information is usually enough to diagnose Panosteitis, but in some cases, an X-ray may be required. What does treatment look like? Unfortunately, there is no exact cure as it generally resolves itself before the age of 2. Treatment relies heavily on pain relief through veterinary advice and the management of exercise and nutrition. Providing your puppy with a balanced puppy diet high energy, moderate protein and calcium levels is thought to aid prevention and manage Panosteitis, along with supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Playing, walking and running on hard surfaces can apply pressure on the bones and joints and so reduced exercise with low impact can help manage and prevent further inflammation. This is where hydrotherapy plays an important role in Panosteitis management. Further treatment: extra cuddles if you can possibly fit any more in How can hydrotherapy help? As mentioned, exercise on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time can increase the pressure within their bones, but puppies need those all-important experiences and exercises throughout the day so what do you do? With hydrotherapy , the water is warmed to around degrees which are known to reduce pain and inflammation and increase blood flow around the body aiding growth. For larger breeds like our puppy star Flossie 8 months old growing can have its complications. As the bones and joints develop they have a great amount of pressure building due to their size. Usually, puppies will fully develop between months but for our larger fluff balls, this can take a little longer, meaning exercise can be cut short for the majority of their puppy stages. With hydrotherapy your puppy will be able to experience a new safe environment that is designed to reduce strain on their bones and joints, building confidence with swimming and strength whilst meeting new people during their important stages of growth. Here at Fit4dogs, we have put together a brand new Water Pups puppy water confidence program, initially to get your puppy confident in and around the water at a calm step-by-step pace, gradually building confidence until they are confident enough to swim. Then we are able to start them with some gentle swimming sessions to help with those growing pains. Drop us a message or give us a call to find out more about our Water Pups program which includes private access to our great A. We are here to help your puppies grow up as happy and healthy as can be. If you have any concerns about Panosteitis or if your puppy is suffering from growing pains, please contact a member of the Fit4dogs team via our website www. References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Panosteitis is an inflammatory disease that generally affects the long bones of young, large breed dogs, especially GSDs. Primarily it affects fatty bone marrow and has subsequent effects on the surrounding bone Shell .It can occur in any bone that contains a significant volume of marrow but, as marrow is largely found in the diaphysis shafts of the long bones, these are the most commonly affected sites. Long bones are the bones of the limbs. They are essentially supporting columns that have to carry the weight of the animal. These epiphyses have an outer layer of compact bone and spongy bone in their centre. Between the epiphyses and the diaphysis in young animals are the growth, or epiphyseal, plates which are the zones in which bone lengthening occurs. The diaphysis the shaft of the bone has, in cross section, an outer thin fibrous layer of tissue called the periosteum and, inside this, a wide layer of compact bone which provides the strength. In the centre of the shaft is the bone marrow cavity that contains the soft, blood cell producing, haemopoietic bone marrow and yellow fatty bone marrow. Bone is a dynamic, living tissue that can slowly respond to the forces exerted on it by remodelling, strengthening and repairing itself. To do this it has cells called osteoblasts which produce bone and osteoclasts which dissolve it. In animals affected with panosteitis, the fat cells of the yellow marrow degenerate, inflammation occurs and this tissue is replaced with fibrous tissue, which in turn is calcified and turned into spongy bone tissue, as osteoblasts, osteoclasts and fibroblasts fibrous tissue-producing cells are activated Shell , Brooks .Ultimately, as the disease process subsides, this new bone is removed as part of the normal bone remodelling processes and the fatty marrow regenerates. The causes of panosteitis are unknown Shell , Brooks .Various possible causes have been proposed as listed below. The theory is that high protein levels lead to oedema fluid collection and retention within the tissues of the medullary cavity. As the bone is rigid this extra volume of fluid causes compression of blood vessels and to inadequate blood supply to the tissues of the bone, leading to inflammation ischaemia Schawalder et al a, b, Shell .Because some breeds of dogs including GSDs and Bassett hounds are predisposed to the disease, the implication is that there may be a genetic cause to the condition Brooks .Stress is often thought to play a role Shell .Generally affecting juvenile dogs, the disease is usually self-limiting and spontaneously regresses once sexual maturity is reached between months of age, but some individuals may be still affected in middle-age Bohning et al , Berry .Males are affected more frequently than females Trostel et al , Shell .Affected dogs may be lethargic, show a loss of appetite and have a raised temperature. These signs often last from a few days to a few weeks, disappear and then reoccur i. Handling the limb may elicit a pain response. Reoccurrences of the signs may coincide with periods of stress Shell .Until spontaneous regression of the condition occurs, pain-relieving medicating is often needed and reduction of stress and activity levels are also recommended Shell .Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact During bouts of panosteitis, affected GSDs exhibit signs of significant limb pain. They react to having the affected bones touched. Affected dogs also often feel ill due to fever. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact The disease usually starts at between five and 18 months of age and is often recurrent. It regresses in most individuals once they reach sexual maturity at between months, but some GSDs are affected until they are seven years of age Bohning et al , Berry .Individual bouts may last for weeks to months at a time Shell .Return to top 4. Number of animals affected The GSD is the breed most commonly affected with panosteitis. Return to top 5. Diagnosis Panosteitis may be suspected in a juvenile GSD showing lameness. However other orthopaedic conditions also commonly occur in young GSDs so confirmation of the diagnosis needs to be made using radiography x-rays Shell , Berry .The radiographic appearance of the tissues of the bone changes during the course of the condition and such radiographic changes lag behind the clinical signs by about days so it is possible for an affected dog to have initial lameness without being able to detect corresponding radiographic changes Shell .This can make diagnosis difficult. Blood tests may show an eosinophilia higher than normal concentrations of a particular white blood cell type Shell .Return to top 6. There is no genetic test for the disease. Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? It is not known if unaffected carriers of the gene s exist - animals that do not have the disease themselves but are able to pass on the gene s that cause the disease to their offspring - and, as far as we know, there is no information about the heritability of panosteitis in GSDs. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem As far as we are aware, there are no breeding schemes aimed at reducing the incidence of panosteitis. With the current state of knowledge it is difficult to give good advice. Generally it seems sensible not to breed from individuals that have been affected by the disease or which have more than a very few affected relatives including siblings and siblings of parents Bell .Prospective dog owners may wish to avoid acquiring dogs of breeds in which there is a high prevalence of the disease in order to help avoid perpetuating the problem unless they are able to ascertain that the disease does not occur or is very rare in the particular lineage of the dog they are interested in acquiring. Return to top 9. At the same time, however, your dog may struggle with growing pains that can literally produce bouts of painful lameness, a problem known as panosteitis. Take a look at four key points all large-breed dog owners should know about panosteitis. Panosteitis Accompanies Rapid Bone Growth Panosteitis usually affects the long bones of larger, fast-growing breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Great Danes, usually appearing during the first two years of growth. This mysterious condition may stem from a combination of inherited traits, excessive protein consumption, or infections. In panosteitis, the marrow inside the leg bones fills up with a kind of fibrous tissue called woven bone. Eventually, the body replaces the woven bone with normal bone where necessary, dissolving any remaining woven bone in the marrow. Panosteitis Can Cause Recurring Symptoms Just as human teenagers can experience growing pains during growth spurts, puppies and young dogs with panosteitis typically suffer from bouts of acute pain in their leg bones. The pain may come and go, shifting from one leg to another. Your dog might go several weeks at a time with no symptoms at all between bouts. The pain of panosteitis can cause obvious, debilitating lameness in growing dogs. Sometimes, other panosteitis symptoms occur alongside pain and lameness. An affected dog may lose its appetite, losing weight as he or she loses interest in food. Some dogs may develop a fever or appear lethargic. Your veterinarian will most likely schedule two sets of X-rays, one at the initial evaluation and the next a couple of weeks later. If the cloudiness has grown more prominent or severe between the two diagnostic visits, your dog almost certainly has panosteitis. However, your veterinarian can provide supportive care to ease the accompanying pain and lameness until the condition finally resolves itself. Added pain relief is very important in helping to heal and keep your pup comfortable. Instead, there are specialized NSAIDs that work safely for animals to give them excellent pain relief. Let your veterinarian prescribe the right dosage for your individual pet. NSAIDs can cause problems in dogs taking certain other medications. You can help your young dog cope with panosteitis through smart home care as well. Feed your dog a balanced diet of food specifically for puppies. Ask your veterinarian about supplements that support healthy bones and joints. If your not-so-little friend displays the symptoms of panosteitis, make an appointment for him or her at 1st Pet Veterinary Centers. We can run the necessary diagnostic tests and prescribe the right treatment to help your puppy get through those growing pains more easily. This entry was posted in Pet Health. Bookmark the permalink. Our experienced, compassionate team, large variety of available services, and state-of-the-art animal hospitals are all designed to give you the peace of mind that your pet is receiving the best care possible. Written by Dr. In panosteitis, the superficial layer of the bone known as the periosteum becomes painfully inflamed. Simultaneously, rapid growth within the bone makes way for additional discomfort. While the cause of the disease remains a mystery, we speculate that mineral oversupplementation through the diet , infections and genetic factors play a role. High calcium intake, in particular, is associated with this disease. Dogs between the ages or 6 and 18 months are the most likely patients, though the official range is between 2 months and 5 years. In the case of our female patients, the onset of this disease can be associated with their first heat. The symptoms of panosteitis vary widely in severity. Some dogs will be almost imperceptibly affected while others experience moderate pain. In rare instances, the pain may be so severe that the dogs must be humanely euthanized for lack of effective pain control. Thankfully, panosteitis is a self-limiting condition, meaning that the symptoms resolve by themselves in a matter of days or weeks, though a significant percentage may be affected for months at a time. Symptoms and Identification In all cases, the long bones of the limbs are painful. One or more bones may be affected. Dogs may limp, but others may simply appear lethargic or display a decreased appetite. A "shifting leg" lameness is common for these dogs. In other words, one day they may limp on the hind limb, another day on the front. Palpating pressing on the middle of the shaft of the long bones of the limb, thereby eliciting pain, is a necessary part of the physical exam for all suspected sufferers. X-rays then provide confirmation when a telltale brightness is seen within the core of the affected bones. Note that some dogs may need to be sedated or even anesthetized for best results on the X-rays. Affected Breeds Panosteitis is most often seen in the following breeds, listed in order of prevalence note that some smaller breeds are included, as well :.

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Having personally trained each of our retrievers equips us with intimate knowledge of each dog's strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, and supports us in finding the perfect cross for each female. In regards to size, we intend to produce a medium sized retriever averaging in the lb range. Placing our pups in working hunt test or gun dog homes is important to us. If you are purchasing solely as a pet, you need to be fully aware that these pups are bred to be energetic working dogs, and while they are great with people, these pups will need a job to do daily and an outlet for their energy. In other words, you should fully expect a busy pup with energy that will need time and extensive training. From planning and preparations, to puppy-rearing and finding good homes, each litter is an investment of our time, and we go to great lengths to provide you with the happy and healthy pup you're looking for. We are on call at all times should you have questions or concerns along the way. We'd love to keep contact with you after you've taken your new puppy home as well, so that we too can share in the joy of watching them achieve greatness at home and in the field. Email them to us, or post them on our Facebook page! Cash only at pickup, or online payment with Paypal prior to pickup day. The cost is dependent on their availability and schedule, and as you can understand, there is a wide range depending on your location. Pickup: When each litter is born, we will select a pick up date approximately 7 weeks from then that each of the pups will need to be picked up on. If you are unable to come on that particular date, or if your pup will be shipped, then the pup will be chosen for you based on the specifications that you are looking for in your pup. You may pick your puppy up at a later arranged time. Regarding Silver Labs: We do not support Silver labradors, and will not knowingly sell our dogs or puppies to anyone associated or supportive of silver labrador breeding. Quick Links:. You can have confidence your new puppy from Southern Flight Retrievers will have all the drive you are needing in your 4 legged hunting companion for those long retrieves in field trial events or in muddy grass marshes and waterways. Then after the successful hunt, field trial event, or just a daily walk in the great outdoors your furry companion will be ready to curl up for an evening by your side, ready to do it all again the next day. Working Labrador Retrievers We raise working labrador retrievers, not show labradors This means our puppies are bred to be very trainable, very athletic, with strong beautiful body builds for endurance when hunting or competing out in the fields, marshes or waterways. This is made possible by carefully selecting what will be our future brood Bitches. We make sure the mother of your future puppy is of strong character, lots of natural retrieving drive, highly trainable, and a calm, not hyper temperament. Sires have a great record of offspring performing well. All the male labs we use are out of very strong Field Trial and Hunt Test Pedigrees that have been carefully selected for each breeding to produce the healthiest and highly trainable puppies. Why Buy a Lab Puppy From Southern Retrievers Do you want the confidence in knowing your puppy came from a reputable breeder that has done the best they could to provide you with a very well bred, and guaranteed healthy puppy? Do you want the assurance you can contact the breeder anytime for advice, tips, and questions? These are the questions we strive to answer and fulfill to the best of our ability for each and every one of our clients, whether a new client or a returning client for multiple puppies. We want to keep in touch with you as our client to see your puppy grow into a beautiful dog with many achievements. You are welcome to have a look at them to see what your future puppy from Southern Flight Retrievers could look like. 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Insufficient relaxation or sleep time Other animals harassing your dog Lack of positive attention from you Inconsistent or unclear behavior rules taught by you Insufficient physical or mental exercise You give incorrect attention during arousal behaviors You can correct the lack of exercise through a balanced German Shepherd exercise routine for health. Boredom, due to lack of mental stimulation, is also correctable. Read this guide on using mental stimulation exercises for German Shepherds to improve their behavior. Motherhood, hypothyroidism, and physical pain all contribute to stress and hostile episodes. While motherhood passes, other medical conditions need treatment. Talk to your vet before trying to address aggression on your own as an underlying medical condition may exist. Triggers are immediate actions or behaviors that increase or begin the act of aggression in your dog. Determine what sets off your dog by watching their body language signs listed above and noting their environment. This requires identifying the trigger, eliminating any stressors, and creating a training modification program that is consistent to meet your GSDs end goals. Use the stress list, found above, to help you figure out stressors that you can control. Track what things cause your dog to react hostile. Use Safety Precautions to Prevent Injury Try a control management tool such as a muzzle or headcollar to regain control when out in public. Gentle Head Collar This control tool provides gentle corrections and prevents jumping, lunging, and pulling. It does, however, provide better safety and control. If you need more confidence in handling your aggressive German Shepherd, then place the head collar on them before going outside. Aggression Treatment To have the best chance of success with training an aggressive German Shepherd, use the entire treatment protocol listed below. Using all the steps of treatment gives you and your dog more positive results. The following chart provides the training step and the action to help lessen aggressive behavior. The program can take many months depending on what issues your dog exhibits and how deep those issues are. Instead, take an approach that touches on all of the daily life skills. In a nutshell, the NILIF technique means that for everything your dog wants in life they must perform a command that you give them. You can make yourself more predictable to your dog by teaching them that rewards only come when he asks nicely with a calm behavior, like a sit. Your dog earns all rewards such as food, treats, praise, and affection by giving you the behavior you want. Most importantly… Teach your dog the basic obedience skills to reinforce your expectations and use this obedience training in your daily routines. Instead, use positive reinforcement that promotes and rewards desired behaviors. Here are some problems and solutions to help prevent your German Shepherd from becoming aggressive. Rather than think your German Shepherd has simply become aggressive, look for the areas of their life that tend to upset her. German Shepherd Aggression Prevention There are many reasons you must consider when wondering why your German Shepherd is becoming aggressive. Use a complete training regimen to ensure success. Aggressive German Shepherds are a potential threat and a safety hazard. Safety is your priority. Both for you and your dog. Your patience and persistence help your GSD become a success story! The correct thing to do is to make sure your dog is kept away from harming any person or animal. Please share this to help others! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Genetics, learning history, and environment all play a role in behavior. Here are the four questions you can ask to get the full picture: 1 What kind of information has the breeder or rescue organization given? Has the breeder become aware of other puppies in that litter showing aggression? Does the rescue have any information on either of those things? Is your GSD puppy showing aggression only when there are items of value nearby, like toys or bones? When do other dogs walk by your house? When his food bowl is present? Keep a puppy behavior diary — make notes of when you see behaviors of concern so that we can identify those specific environments. GSD puppies are typically fantastic communicators — they are born with the ability to use body language to express themselves to us and to each other. A fearful puppy may show his teeth, pin his ears, piloerection, growl, whale eye show the whites of his eyes in a doggy glare but keep his distance. More aggressive behaviors are similar to the above but they are much more inclined to break that space bubble and move in to make contact with the threat. However, a GSD puppy who is struggling with anxiety, pain or neurological issues, may take several hours or days to return to their normal state. These puppies require veterinary assistance to look further into WHY — a Veterinary Behaviorist who is qualified in both behavior and medicine. It is not only scary and upsetting after your GSD has become aggressive with you, but very confusing. They use their teeth for everything, especially while interacting with their people. Encourage him to go into his crate and get him into the car and to the vet for professional help to rule out any medical issues first. The short answer is YES. Whenever you see the behavior of concern, especially in a puppy, the very first thing to do is to see your veterinarian to rule out any chances of an underlying medical issue — medical trumps behavior, always. Ask your vet for assistance in finding the best harness for his body shape. Ask them what their training methods are and what you can expect from your first session with them. A GSD, even as a puppy, can certainly have great instincts to begin to protect his family and his environment — however, he does not yet have appropriate experience under his belt to know what to do with possible threats. Like most GSD puppies, they play, eat and sleep hard. If you have a friend or neighbor with a healthy, stable dog that could teach your GSD puppy how to play, this is always best. If, however, your GSD puppy is hurting your older dog — biting legs and neck to the point of drawing blood or causing a fight between them, separate them immediately and book that vet visit. When it comes to children and dogs of any age, there is no grey area. Is your or any child safe with your puppy? You will then need to contact a qualified Canine Behavior Consultant, not just a trainer, to help you. Demographic and epidemiologic data were collected and analyzed. A total of children were identified. The average age was 4. The majority of dog bites occurred in children 5 years of age or younger .Almost all .When circumstances surrounding the bite were documented, over half .Truly aggressive GSD puppies are rare — however, it happens. Qualified professionals will not recommend euthanasia lightly — they will do everything they can to ensure that underlying medical issues or specific contributing environments are ruled out. Conclusion In conclusion, truly aggressive GSD puppies are rare — but not impossible. Hire a qualified behavior consultant to help you figure out the WHY to prevent it from getting worse. Be sure, when looking to purchase or adopt a GSD puppy, to ask about their contracts to make sure that you are covered. If the aggression is based in fear, which it typically is — yes, with the right professionals on your side, your GSD puppy can live a normal and happy life. Fear is complex and time-consuming to work through but it can be done! More posts on German Shepherd Puppies Recommended post. If you have previously had pets of medium or smaller size, you might be used to lower activity levels. The same applies if the German Shepherd is your first dog. Unless you have had a big dog before, you will almost always underestimate the exercise demands of the breed. He will no longer override commands or ignore etiquette upon exhausting this energy. Taking the dog on a long walk is a straightforward way to channel this excess energy safely. That said, you must create a minute break between his display of aggression and exercising him because the last thing you want is for your German Shepherd to start associating aggressive displays with reward. Now, he gets aggressive anytime he hears a doorbell because the association has taken root, and he is in fear. Unfortunately, a German Shepherd forms most of his lasting associations when less than six months old. That means any older rescue dogs will require a lot of patience to have aggressive defense mechanisms deactivated. It is advisable to use the services of a professional dog trainer if your rescue seems to be aggressive because of PTSD or trauma. In the meantime, avoid being harsh with punishments and do not opt for negative reinforcement as a mode of discipline. Read more on exactly how to discipline a German Shepherd. While sexual aggression is often associated with the male gender, even female German Shepherds get aggressive when in heat. Spaying or neutering your German Shepherd can resolve aggressive displays that occur because of sexual maturity. Nonetheless, before you get your dog snipped to resolve his anger issues, you must be sure that the aggressiveness is indeed a result of sexual energy and talk to your veterinarian first. It helps to look at the aggressiveness levels over a longer period. Suppose the levels of aggressiveness correlate with development and sexual maturity 5 to 6 months and are inconsistent across a few weeks. In that case, you can be sure that this is because of the changes in their body. Sexual aggression can be of two kinds. The first is a result of frustration. It is also the assumption that makes owners wonder whether male German Shepherds are more aggressive than females. Male German Shepherds are more aggressive than females in general, but females tend to be relatively more aggressive during periods of heat. Males remain more dominant even after neutering, while female GSDs lose the bulk of their aggression upon getting spayed. That brings us to the second kind of sexual aggression. When a GSD undergoes sexual maturation, internal changes in their body make them feel anxious. Internal changes can be temporary when the dog gets sick or permanent in reaction to environmental changes around the dog. Either way, German Shepherds are not the best at handling change, internal or external. Showing compassion and making sure they have more routine in their life can help reduce these aggressive tendencies. Poor Training Some aggressive behavior seems abnormal because it is conditional. A German Shepherd might be perfectly well-behaved throughout the day but start being aggressive around strangers. German Shepherds descend from a line of highly disciplined work dogs, making it pretty hard for them to be unpredictable even with average training. However, if an owner gives mixed signals unknowingly, he ends up with a well-behaved GSD who seems to act out unpredictably at times. Your German Shepherd is aggressive towards strangers because he is not socialized correctly. By lowering his threat radar and getting him to meet more friends, you reign in his aggression toward other people, especially strangers. You can also show dominance to get him to stop being too possessive. This happens because some German Shepherds need more emphasis in certain areas than others. When you give a GSD the standard training regimen, you might overlook the fact that certain areas, like socializing and dominance, need extra work. Here are some aspects that your German Shepherd might need further training. Command reception — This is a part of early German Shepherd training, where you establish yourself as the dominant guardian. Dominance management — The German Shepherd should not feel protective to the point of being too possessive. By establishing yourself as alpha, you can discourage aggressive tendencies. By establishing a predictable consequence of aggression, you can get your dog to associate aggressive outbursts, loud barking, etc. Common Aggressive Behaviors Continuous Low-range Barking, Growling, or Snarling Because humans project their own psychology and actions onto dogs, they assume that anger is expressed in volume alone. Dogs barking excessively express intent to attack, especially when their volume is low. So, pay attention to your German Shepherd when his barks barely break a growl. Your dog may also bare his teeth. Snapping, Clawing, or Lunging While clawing can be an instinctive reaction to being anxious, your German Shepherd is displaying aggression when it is accompanied by snapping. This is also a moment or two before the dog jumps at someone, so it is advisable to hold his leash tightly. That said, do not tug on his leash, as doing so might make the GSD more stubborn. If your German Shepherd is the anxious, aggressive type, then his fear-driven anger is visible from his tall posture combined with ears pinned back. Becoming still and rigid or staring are other indicators of dangerous behavior. Check out the below photo of my German Shepherd with raised hackles piloerection. Although piloerection is a sign of aggression, you must look at the whole picture. In this case, it was a simple case of another dog walking past the house, and Willow was excited. Notice how her ears were alert and not pinned back. My German Shepherd Willow with her raised hackles. Having a Tail Held High or Moving Stiffly This behavior is too subtle for most people to notice but displays the kind of anxiety that turns a dog aggressive. If your German Shepherd holds his tail unusually high and moves it stiffly from side to side upon introduction of a specific stimulus like a person , then he may be about to get aggressive. You can read more about the meaning of German Shepherd tail positions in this article. It is better to manage this before it becomes a problem. The following section on preventing aggression will give more insight into this. This is why it is crucial to avoid judging your pet and instead focus on how to stop him from being aggressive. When this something is external like a stranger approaching , then training is easier, but if the trigger is internal, it becomes hard to discourage specific aggressive reactions. Internal triggers are also hard to see. Still, when it comes to external triggers, you can bring him in decent proximity to the trigger that otherwise leads to aggressive behavior. You want to desensitize him to the trigger — in other words, get him used to other dogs at the park. The treats can be accompanied by praise and a soothing tone. This is known as counterconditioning. So rather than seeing other dogs as scary, your German Shepherd sees them as a chance to earn a tasty treat. Your German Shepherd, already calm, will not likely get mean at this distance. Do not push your luck and try walking him further. The farthest boundary is enough. You will have a chance to shorten the distance between your doggo and the park. The park in this section is a substitute for any external trigger. This could be a stranger, a specific friend, or even a vehicle. As long as the trigger is visible yet far enough away for your German Shepherd to be relatively calm, you can give him treats and have him start associating the previous trigger with a positive outcome. Repeat the Steps While Increasing the Proximity You now have to judge when your German Shepherd is sufficiently secure at a certain distance from a trigger. Then you must decide how much more distance you can cover to bring him closer to the trigger without switching on his aggressive side. I would recommend closing the distance by as little as a few feet per day. If your German Shepherd stays calm, shower him with praise and rewards. Keep repeating until the trigger no longer causes an aggressive outburst. However, you cannot focus on discouraging aggression without thinking about how you can make your dog more comfortable. From taking your German Shepherd to a vet to switching back any recent changes in diet and habitat that may correlate with anger issues, you can do your best to single out the internal source of fear or anxiety in your German Shepherd. While you cannot make your pet associate his internal triggers with rewards such as treats, you can give him compassionate company. Your presence, words, and tone can contribute to calming down your best friend. What To Do if Your German Shepherd Growls: For external trigger management, I recommend taking your dog to a certain distance from his trigger and rewarding him for being calm. At this point, one might think grounding the German Shepherd is a good solution. It is not. Your German Shepherd will get mixed signals if he gets rewarded on some walks and grounded after others. Simply retreating and taking him away from the trigger is the best option when he starts growling at the stimulus. The worst thing you can do is nudge him toward what he seems to be fearful of or anxious about. Even if you have pocketed treats to give him for being calm, you cannot reward him once he has shown even the slightest sign of aggression. However, you can ensure you choose the correct timing when giving treats as a reward, which is a fundamental part of dog training. At the precise moment your German Shepherd stops his mean behavior, such as growling, snapping, or lunging, you reward him. That way, he quickly associates his calm demeanor with the reward. Progress toward the stimulus even more gradually, and keep rewarding your dog disproportionately for being calm. Overall, a growl equals no treats, no grounding, and moving away from the external trigger. In fact, distance is one of the best ways of preventing an aggressive reaction before it occurs. Here are some ways to prevent German Shepherd aggression from occurring in the first place. A well-socialized dog is a well-liked dog, and since German Shepherds are excellent at picking up on body language, they can see if people like them or are cautious of them. An asocial GSD will make people nervous, pick up that energy and become nervous himself. Such a dog can also be aggressive towards other dogs and trigger them to be defensive, leading to altercations. Follow my guide on socializing a German Shepherd to ensure your pet is socialized appropriately even if he is older. Female German Shepherds Male German Shepherds are more aggressive than females owing to their gender traits, energy levels, and overall nature. Sometimes, females can get aggressive depending on the environment or other trigger factors. Black vs. Long-haired vs. Short-haired German Shepherds Long-haired and short-haired German Shepherds are equally aggressive and have similar temperaments. Here are the key takeaways from the article: German Shepherds have a protective instinct that is naturally asocial if not managed with training. Socializing your puppy is critical to preventing aggression. Male GSDs are more aggressive than females unless the female is unspayed and in heat. Spaying or neutering your GSD can significantly reduce aggression. You can lower aggression by gradually exposing a dog to his triggers while rewarding him for staying calm. You can prevent an aggressive episode in a German Shepherd by pre-training him to relax on command. Related Posts You May Like:. Are German Shepherds Aggressive? Fact vs. Fiction German shepherd dogs are a very popular breed known for loyalty, bravery, and protection. But are German shepherds aggressive too? Find out the facts. German shepherd dogs are a very popular breed known for loyalty, bravery, and protection. The German shepherd dog has a devoted fandom of dog lovers around the world — so devoted that this dog breed even has its own acronym, the GSD. The GSD is often associated with loyalty and bravery. The truth about dog aggression is that it can affect any breed of dog, especially if the dog doesn't get enough socialization from an early age. But there are dog breeds that are more prone to aggressive behavior because of their breeding or because of genetically inherited mental disorders, like rage syndrome , cognitive dysfunction , or hypothyroidism. We'll look at the risk factors and statistics surrounding German shepherd aggression. Plus, we'll share tips for dog owners trying to prevent aggression in their German shepherd puppy or adult rescue dog. A Look at the Facts There are three ways to assess the likelihood that a dog breed will have aggressive tendencies. The first is to look at what they were bred for — this is often the best indicator of a dog's hardwired personality traits. Next is to look at the breed's health and inherited disorders to determine whether they inherit conditions that put them at risk for aggression. And finally, look at the data surrounding dog bites to see if German shepherds bite more frequently than other breeds. This data will help us discover the answer to: Are German shepherds aggressive? Were They Bred for Aggression? German shepherds were originally bred to be working dogs, and this dog has a history of succeeding in all types of work — most of which require a stable temperament. Herding These dogs started out as herding dogs where an aggressive dog might injure the livestock. But, part of the job of a herding dog is also to protect their herd. So, they may show aggression when they perceive something to be a threat to their flock, or in the case of a family dog, to their family members. Police Work German shepherds also work as police dogs. While this may bring to mind the image of an aggressive German shepherd, police dogs actually need to have an even temperament and be able to keep their cool in high-stress environments. Otherwise, they would be at risk for biting innocent civilians. This work requires an intelligent dog that pays close attention to its handler and loves the mental stimulation they get from police dog training, including obedience training, scenting, and search and rescue. Guarding Now we come to the one job that most people associate with aggression — The German shepherd breed is often used as a guard dog. These large dogs have an imposing size and appearance that can scare off strangers, and typically they will act to protect their home and family from a perceived threat. What constitutes a "perceived threat" will be different for every dog. A well-socialized dog may welcome strangers into their home and only act if their owner appears to be frightened or in pain. An undersocialized dog may perceive every visitor as a threat and need to be put away in a crate or another room whenever you have company. German shepherds are rarely aggressive towards their owners or family since that is the thing they're protecting. They may at times become overprotective of family members, but this trait should be manageable with proper training. While German Shepherds are at risk for a variety of health problems from arthritis to pancreatitis , they are not prone to rage syndrome, cognitive dysfunction, hypothyroidism, or brain tumors. However, GSDs are prone to epilepsy , which has been linked to aggression when it's left untreated. If you're buying a German shepherd puppy, ask the breeder about any history of epilepsy in their dogs and in puppies from previous litters. While a responsible breeder will conduct a variety of health screenings, there isn't currently a genetic test that can predict epilepsy. If you've had a German shepherd for a long time, and it suddenly starts to show signs of aggression, take your dog to the vet. Even if your GSD doesn't have epilepsy or another condition linked with aggression, their new-found behavior problem may be a sign that they're in pain. Many dogs will behave aggressively if they're in pain, and your dog may need medical attention and pain relief. According to recent data, German shepherds rank fourth on the list of dog breeds that bite the most. However, when you consider that German shepherds are the third most popular dog breed in the U. And while the study referenced above listed the top breed as unidentifiable, many local reports list Labrador retrievers as the breed that bites the most people. Labs also happen to be the most popular dog breed, which means there are more of them in the U. More Labs means more chance of getting bitten by a Lab — just like how more German shepherds means more chance of getting bitten by a German shepherd. A literature review by the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA found a strong link between the prevalence of breed-specific bite incidents and the regional popularity of the breed. For example, in some regions of Canada where sled dogs are the most popular breeds, Siberian huskies caused the most dog bites. The AVMA review also found that with many but not all large breeds, the number of bites by that breed went up during times when the breed's popularity went up. A few years later, around the time that those Rottweiler puppies would have reached maturity, there was a spike in the number of reported dog bites by Rottweilers. This same study found that, compared to their prevalence in the dog population, small and medium-sized dogs were more likely to bite than large dogs. But bites by large dogs were more likely to be reported because they cause more damage. Because an aggressive large dog is more dangerous than an aggressive toy breed, large dogs are also more likely to get treatment and training to prevent their aggression. And lack of training may be part of the reason aggression was more prevalent in small and medium dogs. This research found that situational factors not related to a dog's breed were more likely to lead to biting. The situational risk factors included a dog owner's mismanagement and neglect of the dog, the bite victim being a stranger, and the dog not being spayed or neutered. Because purebred German shepherd puppies come from breeders, rather than rescue organizations, owners are not typically required to get their GSDs spayed or neutered. So, it seems that any increased risk of a dog bite from German shepherds may be based — at least in part — on the increased number of GSDs in the population. And that's if the breed reporting can be trusted at all. Ultimately, any dog can bite if they're not trained and socialized from a young age. However, because German shepherds are large and powerful dogs, their bite will do more damage than the bite of a chihuahua — making it even more important for German shepherd owners to sign their pet up for obedience training. How to Prevent Aggressive Behavior The majority of aggressive behavior is preventable. Here's what you can do as a German shepherd owner: Start Socializing at an Early Age Dog owners can raise well-adjusted pets by introducing their dogs to as many different kinds of people and environments as possible, starting at an early age. Take your puppy to parks, restaurants, sports games, and any other dog-friendly locales you can find. While you're there, ask people of all different heights, skin tones, ages, abilities, and genders to interact with your German shepherd puppy. And make sure your pup gets plenty of treats at each new location and from each new person they meet. Take Your Puppy to Training Classes Sign up for obedience training to further socialize your pet and prevent common issues like puppy nipping. Look for dog trainers who use positive reinforcement training. While dominance-based dog training used to be a popular technique, animal behaviorists now recommend against it, partially because these techniques can sometimes cause dog aggression. Rehabilitate Older Dogs If you're rescuing or fostering an older GSD or GSD mix and the dog already has behavior problems, work with an animal behaviorist to find the best positive reinforcement techniques to rehabilitate your pet. If your adult dog has aggressive tendencies, train them to enjoy wearing a muzzle and make sure they wear it whenever they're around new people. Recognize the Signs of Aggression Even if your dog is perfectly trained, they may still behave aggressively if they feel frightened or threatened. Watch your dog's body language for early signs of fear and aggression , including a lowered head, tucked tail, pinned-back ears, growling, and snarling. Remove your dog from the intimidating situation before the behavior progresses to lunging or biting. As a vigilant dog owner, you can help prevent dog aggression and keep your pet feeling safe and calm. While any dog can show aggressive tendencies if they aren't socialized from a young age, German shepherds don't appear to be more at risk for aggression than any other dog breed. As a German shepherd owner, we know you want the best for your dog — from the best food for German shepherds to the best dog training. These intelligent dogs are easy to train, so sign them up for positivity-based obedience classes to help them become better behaved and better adjusted canine citizens. To learn more about your dog's health and wellness, check out the Native Pet blog. Read more. As well as this, there may be behavioral issues that you have to work through with your dog too. Here are some of the common signs you may notice in an aggressive german shepherd puppy. And remember, one of these signs alone may not be a sign of an aggressive puppy. The more signs there are the more likely it is that your puppy is aggressive. So you should read the situation before jumping to any conclusions. This can normally be a sign that worse things are to come. Biting Or Lunging Another sign of aggression is biting, or snapping the air to try and bite you, and lunging at you. These are all extremely serious signs of aggression and should not be taken lightly. However, once again, apart from actually biting down on you, they may not be being aggressive, but too rough during play. A Stiff Posture If your pup is dead still as you approach them or try to do something then this is another clear sign of aggression. They may also be snarling and showing you their teeth as well. Find out why your german shepherd puppy is barking and what to do! Fortunately, with this kind of aggression, once you know the cause, you can normally find a solution to stopping it. Here are some of the things to look for. The way to tell if the growling is aggressive or not is to see what the rest of their body is doing. It can also be another sign that your german shepherd pup is trying to play. Find out more about what to do if your german shepherd puppy is biting and nipping. There are a lot of different reasons, and each reason may be slightly unique to your pup. Here are some of the most common causes of aggression in german shepherds. In fact, this can often exacerbate the problem. Normally this could just be growling or snapping, but if you keep hurting them then they may end up biting you. If you think that your pup is in pain then you should take them to the vets ASAP. You have to remember, that we all have a fight or flight response. When one of my dogs was a pup, she used to do it over bones until we trained her. Predatory Aggression Aggression could also be predatory in nature. German Shepherds are herders, but also like to hunt prey. If they notice someone moving too quickly especially children that are screaming , then they may chase them. While you may think this is cute. Predatory aggression can be dangerous especially as your pup gets older and more powerful. You should never encourage predatory aggression no matter how cute it is, but instead, teach your pup how to behave properly. Territorial Aggression While territorial aggression generally happens in older dogs it can still happen in puppies. Territorial aggression is when someone enters what your pup considers their space. German shepherds are a lot more likely to show signs of territorial aggression than other breeds, after all, they are commonly used as guard dogs. Hormones While hormonal aggression is a lot more common in male german shepherd pups, it can still occur in females. During adolescence, male german shepherds are going to have high amounts of testosterone in their body, as you can probably guess this is going to increase their chances of being aggressive. One way you can lower the chance of aggression is by neutering your pup. Neutering them does increase the chance of them suffering from certain diseases while reducing the chances of them suffering from others. If you want to know more then check out this article about neutering your german shepherd! Rivalry Sometimes aggression can start when you have more than one dog in your home. This is more common when you buy more than one dog at a time ideally, you should wait two years between dogs. Have you ever wondered how hard a german shepherd can bite? Once again this comes down to their fight or flight. Unable to flee from perceived danger, the only thing they have left to do is fight. Find out more about your german shepherds teething as well as great toys you can give them. Genetics And Temperament Sometimes, just like with people, some german shepherds are just more aggressive than others. However, the chances of this are happening are quite small. Find out how to discipline a German Shepherd the right way! Fortunately, if you want to stop your german shepherd puppies aggression then there are plenty of different methods you can try. Otherwise, you may not get the best results. Speak To Your Vet The first thing you should do when your german shepherd pup is acting aggressive is to consult with your vet. Cheaper than replacing everything they might break. And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone. And the best part is it also has a day money-back guarantee! You can also check out a full review here , to learn exactly what the course has to offer! If your puppy is sitting patiently, playing nicely by themselves, or just generally remaining calm, give them lots of praise and affection. For every month old they are, take them out for 5 minutes. I use a KONG with my dogs and they absolutely love it. You just fill it up with food and your pup will spend hours of their day trying to get the food back out. Dogs can only do one thing at a time, so by giving her a task, I was stopping her from wanting to act aggressively. Interrupt Them As well as distracting them, another great tactic is to interrupt them. The best way to interrupt them is to do something that startles them which will immediately get them to stop. However, some people also have success rattling a can full of coins. Any noise will do, it just has to be sudden and sharp. Oftentimes this interruption is enough to stop aggressive behavior in puppies. Socialisation One of the most important things you can do for any dog is to socialize them. And the earlier you can socialize them the better. And this is also true with everything else. You can read this article to find out more about socialising your german shepherd puppy. Leave them for minutes and let them back in. Once the time is up, let them back in with you. However, once again this only works with play aggression. And you can do the same. If you give them attention and they start acting aggressive again, once again, just ignore them. What Should You Avoid Doing? This fear and mistrust can grow inside them and cause all sorts of negative emotions. If you hit your dog you may only end up amplifying their aggression in the long run. However, the results you get from these are often questionable. Remember, positive reinforcement is better than punishment. However, dogs will reciprocate your emotions. They may end up barking and growling or becoming more excitable. For the meanwhile you should stop playing these games with your pup until they act appropriately. Recap Now you know all the reasons that your german shepherd pup may be acting aggressively. While most of the time it may just be over-excitability as a puppy, there are times when aggression is more serious. The most important thing you can do is speak to a vet or pet behaviourist to help sort out the issues. And remember, there are a lot of reasons that can cause aggression in german shepherds, but also a lot of solutions! Otherwise have a great day! Related Posts:. This is simply not true. A dominant GSD essentially likes to be the center of attention and will do what it needs to do in order to establish that. It is not acting in a way that is coming from a fear of some sort, instead it acts in a way that is an attempt to prove to the world that it is the leader and needs to be taken seriously. Shows his strength: He will never give up on a game of tug of war, be it with you or another dog. He will show that he is stronger than the next dog or person each and every opportunity that arises. Stare downs: He is all about eye contact, but not as a sign of affection. His intent is to show you that he will not budge and that you should seriously consider submitting to him. He will do this with both people and other dogs. Mounting: He will, bluntly put, mount anything that he can. He will not discern between male and female, as this is not an attempt to mate, but more a showing that he is in control. One of my dogs used to just take bones away from my Rottweiller and go sit with them on his own bed. An aggressive GSD is coming from an entirely different place psychologically than a dominant one. Instead, there is either a primal instinct or learned fear from a past experience that is traumatizing the dog and causing it to lash out with aggression. Types of aggression Possessive: At one time, dogs had to protect their food supply and sleeping dens from other predators. This primal behavior sometimes takes root in the modern dog and it becomes protective of its food and bones, lashing out at anyone who gets near. You may not even know that you are close, but they are the first to let you know. So for my second GSD I made it a point as a puppy to get him used to my hand in his food bowl when he was eating and I would hold onto bones while he chewed them. This resulted in him simply not minding at all. In fact, as he got older, he would bring bones over for me to hold for him so that he could get a better chewing angle. Fearful aggression: This generally occurs when a dog feels that it has to defend itself, but it has nowhere to go. If given a choice, most dogs that exhibit this type of aggression will retreat and remove themselves from the situation. But if they are backed into a corner, they may feel that aggression is their only recourse. Defensive aggression: This is very similar to fearful aggression. It still arises out of fear, except the difference is that the defensively aggressive dog will not use retreat as its first option. Instead of letting itself get backed into a corner, it would rather handle the situation before it gets to that point. Aggression due to pain: This can cause a normally gentle and calm dog to become aggressive in an instant and with no warning. This is may happen if the dog has an underlying medical condition, or if it perceives something as likely to be painful. This is one reason that dogs often lash out at veterinarians. The dog is not really thinking, it is just reacting. A territorial aggressive dog may simply bark at unfamiliar people attempting to enter the home or property, but sometimes they will not just bark but will also bite — regardless of who the person is. Many dogs will instinctually chase something that it thinks is getting away. This can be a kid on a skateboard or bike, a car, a jogger, or any number of other things just moving by. Protective aggression: This behavior is sometimes displayed by dogs, especially German Shepherds, when they feel that part of their family is being threatened. It is this type of aggression that often leads mothers to be protective of their litters as well as any dog being protective over a new baby in the family. Frustrated aggression: A dog may display this when held back from something that it wants. For example, if a dog is excited and wants to interact with another person or animal and you try to restrain it, some dogs may become aggressive out of frustration. The potential for a German Shepherd to become aggressive begins at a young age. It actually begins when they are just several weeks old and under the care of their mother. This job is not an easy one. Consider a human mother being overwhelmed with a child — the mother of a litter of puppies is in the same circumstance. Just like people, first-time moms can have it rough. A GSD who is a first-time mom may just be overwhelmed. This stressful situation is also one which causes a lot of fear in the mother. And when frightened, a German Shepherd mom might not act rationally — she may even act aggressively towards her puppies. If a mother acts aggressively towards her puppies, then the puppies will no doubt also become frightened. It is at this point that her puppies, because of their fear, may also begin to become prone to aggression. This will also make them more difficult to train as they get older. One lesson here is that you need to make sure that your breeder is using the proper dogs for having puppies. If you plan on getting a puppy, make sure that you discuss this point in-depth with your breeder. The actions that you take when your GSD is a puppy and growing up as a young adult are key to preventing aggression. Consistency in Training As your puppy is growing up, it will be exposed to all manner of different things that are brand new to it. There will be new people, new places, objects, new animals, and just new experiences all around. While your puppy is going through all these changes, there needs to be a constant. And that constant is you. More specifically, the constant is you and the discipline that you give to your puppy. Disciplining here does not mean correcting your dog every time it does something wrong. Rather it means positively reinforcing your GSD every time that it does something correctly. And the best way to make sure that your dog is doing something correctly is to associate a reward with something that it wants. The first step to accomplish this is by requiring your dog to perform an action any time that it wants something. Examples Your puppy is approaching you and whining to go outside. Your first instinct may just be to take the puppy outside. Do not do take the puppy outside before making it sit. As your puppy gets a little bit older and accustomed to doing this one simple action, you will need to increase what you require of your puppy. Just as a teenager needs responsibilities to grow, so does your puppy if you want to keep it disciplined and away from aggressive behavior. Your puppy is wanting a treat. Before the puppy is allowed to have a treat, make it lie down and roll over first. Your puppy is coming to you and asking for a walk. Have the puppy go over and sit, lie down, and stay by the door. Your puppy is coming to you and wants to play. Have the puppy shake and roll over, then shake again, and then sit. Use your imagination with all of this, your GSD puppy is very smart. You may even find that your puppy begins to approach you after doing these behaviors for some time and just does them on its own. This is ok — praise your puppy for asking politely. This is a good way to teach it that it cannot always get everything that it wants whenever it wants it. But going down this route will be setting you up for failure. Just like a teenager, if you give them too much and they have to do nothing to earn it, they may begin to feel entitled, and reluctant to work for anything in life. Your puppy really is no different. Depending on the puppy, if you deny it what it wants, some may sulk, some may accept it, and some may express their frustration by growling or even biting. If this occurs, your number one priority is to keep cool. Do not express any negative emotion or raise your voice. Keep cool and stay quiet. And under no circumstances should you get physical with your dog. Do not try to restrain it, and certainly never smack or hit it. Many many people often make this mistake. This could not be further from the truth. When a German Shepherd shows aggression towards someone and is met with aggression back, the dog views it as a challenge — and a German Shepherd will not back down from a challenge. Your dog is simply trying to get your attention. So now this is another attempt and nothing more. Do not read into it beyond that. And if you meet your dog getting physical with you getting physical, you are simply showing it that it has now found a way to get your attention when all else has failed. Maybe I should do that next time. If you do not approach this situation in the proper manner, you will be setting a terrible example for your dog, and creating a pattern that you may never be able to train out of it. So be smart about it, you can keep your cool. And you must. Follow these steps: Remain unresponsive and nonreactive. Do not raise your voice or say anything at all to your dog. Once you are in another room, calmly speak to your dog and command it to sit and lie down. Stay in this place with your dog until it calms down. It may whine at first or even bark. But just stay the course until your dog is calm. Let bygones be bygones. Do not hold a grudge. Your dog loves you and has limitless forgiveness toward you — you should have the same attitude. If you lay each brick carefully, you will have a solid wall. But if you fail to lay a brick, or lay it improperly, you will have an unreliable wall that will not stand the test of time. Understand that this will take time, repetition, and consistency on your part. Just be patient and build your wall properly. And know that if you do it properly, the odds are very much in your favor that this type of aggressive behavior will be trained out of your dog. If you fail to do this properly however, you may be opening a door that down the line could lead your dog biting someone or even worse. Socialization Is Key This topic is addressed a number of times on this site because it is so important. So before we even begin on this topic, be sure to take a look at or bookmark the article linked below: How To Socialize Your German Shepherd A German Shepherd that is not properly socialized may grow up to be timid, it may have anxiety problems, it may be depressed, or the worst-case scenario is that it may become aggressive. One of the reasons that you likely got your German Shepherd is because you love the idea that it is naturally protective of you. Your German Shepherd does not need any specialized attack or protection training for this to happen, it comes instinctually to a German Shepherd. Your German Shepherd was bred to be protective, and they are territorial by nature, so it is its instinct to protect you and your home. When confronted with a new situation, your dog will use its best judgment in determining how to react. But without having the proper foundation for making good decisions, such as a variety of past experiences that you created for your dog, there is no telling how it may react. Because its instinct is to protect you, if it misjudges a situation as one that warrants being fearful, it may well act aggressively in an effort to protect you. Socialization Overview People When a German Shepherd is meeting a new person for the first time, it may not know what to think, and on an instinctual level, it is gauging whether the person is friend or foe. So when introducing your GSD to a new person, your behavior is key, as well as the behavior of the other person. The person needs to be aware of the purpose of your meeting. The person must clearly understand: The purpose of them meeting your dog socializing it. To remain calm and act only in a positive manner. To not make any sudden movements, especially towards you. If you are near your home, then not to make any sudden movements towards your property. I will give you an example from my personal experience when the other person did not do as instructed, and they got nipped. Keep in mind, however, that the following account was with one of my dogs when he was around 1 year old and was being trained to protect our home. Therefore, his natural protective instincts were heightened. It nonetheless serves as a good example of what can go wrong if an introduction is not made properly. I began by introducing a friend of mine to my dog off of our property. They got along well, so we then progressed to the point where I would hand the leash over to my friend and he would walk the dog himself, again off of the property. Then we gradually brought my friend into the yard. Me, my friend, and my dog would sit and the yard and talk while my friend petted my dog. But I advised my friend never to make the first move towards the house and to always let me lead the way. My friend got a little bit too confident because the dog and him and were interacting very well. And because of his overconfidence, he just became absent-minded and decided to make a move towards the house. And for the dog, there was no grudge, no further aggression — no nothing. The situation was over for the dog. To him, he was just clearly defining his boundaries. I had done the same thing multiple times with different people who all followed my direction, and my dog grew to love each one of them. Had my friend in the above instance carefully listened to and followed my instructions, there would have been no problem. He would have been able to come into the house in a matter of minutes and there would have been no issues with the dog at all. The point in relating this story is to make sure that whoever you are socializing your dog with is prepared, and to ensure that all introductions go smoothly. You should introduce your German Shepherd to new people frequently and in different settings. Make one introduction near your home. Make another introduction in your home. Do another while out shopping. Do another inside of your car. Any circumstance that you may ever potentially be in with your dog and another person needs to be covered during this time in his life. Proper socialization also includes your dog being introduced to all different kinds of people. Introduce your GSD to: tall people. Are German Shepherds Dangerous? December 30, German Shepherds were originally bred as protection animals. Therefore, they have protective and territorial instincts that other dogs may not have. There are a lot of mixed opinions about this topic — as well as a lot of mixed science that seems to back up both sides. Most aggressive German Shepherds are aggressive because of their owners. German Shepherds need to be socialized and trained so that their territorial instincts can be harnessed. To accept individuals into their homes, German Shepherds need to be taught that not everyone is bad. In fact, these dogs can be extremely gentle when raised properly. However, not everyone who owns a German Shepherd is responsible. Without the proper knowledge, these dogs may not get the socialization they need to thrive. On the other hand, other owners know perfectly well what the German Shepherd needs — but find it more difficult to provide for those needs than they originally expected. They may get the care they need as adults but then be mostly kept to themselves as puppies. The American Veterinary Medical Association ran a whole study on whether or not particular dog breeds were more likely to be aggressive than others. However, it is essential to realize that these breeds are also more common in the United States. In Canada, most dog bites are attributes to Siberian Huskies and other sled dogs — likely because these are the most common breeds there. Similarly, in Rome, Italy, Mastiffs were found to have the highest bite occurrence. However, they are also one of the most popular dogs in that area. Furthermore, the popularity of different breeds coincided with bite reports. The more popular a breed was, the higher that bite statistic rose. It seems to be largely associated with the popularity of the breed, not their actual aggression levels. Based on behavioral assessments, small breeds seem to be the most aggressive — not larger breeds like the German Shepherd. However, these bites are largely underreported because they do not usually require treatment. Bites on children statistically come from small breed dogs, like Chihuahua and Lhasa Apsos. The statistical difference in bites reported between children and adults likely comes from the fact that children need treatment after a small breed bite, while adults do not. The behavioral assessments for German Shepherds are mixed. This suggests that there is likely high variability within the breed. Some German Shepherds are much more likely to be aggressive than others, in other words. Again, socialization and training play a large role in this. Adopting your dog from a qualified breeder is also important. After all, genetics do play a role as well. There is no evidence that German Shepherds are more likely to bite their owner than any other breed. Like all dogs, German Shepherds will protect themselves if threatened. If an owner is too rough with a German Shepherd, they may try to defend themselves by biting. This trait can be said for all breeds , though. No dog is going to submit to injury if they feel like they can defend themselves. Again, we highly recommend socializing this breed at a young age. Most bites are caused by fear, including those directed at people. For instance, dogs are commonly afraid of umbrellas. At the same time, you should also familiarize yourself with proper dog training. Positive reinforcement training works best, as there is a very small chance that the dog is going to react negatively to treats. After all, dogs bite things they are scared of! Dominance training has been disproven for dozens of years. It can also make your dog react negatively, causing your dog to bite. Are German Shepherds Naturally Aggressive? They were bred to protect herds of sheep and were then utilized for military and police work. Their protective instincts are still with them today, as they are commonly still used as guard and protection dogs. They are not Labrador retrievers in the least! They are very calm family dogs in most cases, especially if they are socialized from a young age. They are not particularly more likely to bite than other breeds when properly socialized and trained. There is a lot of variation amongst German Shepherds, though. Some are more likely to bite than others. Much of this depends on the training, though genetics can play a role as well. If you purchase a German Shepherd as a puppy, we highly recommend purchasing them from a quality breeder. Breeders are not going to breed a dog if they are overly aggressive and untrainable. Dogs are born with innate instincts and behaviors — including territorial behaviors. All German Shepherds will display territorial behaviors from their birth. These are innate instincts. A little German Shepherd puppy is going to be at least somewhat wary of strangers. It will likely take a least a year for a German Shepherd to get large enough to actually be intimidating. Before this time, these dogs will likely be too small and puppylike. However, it can take up to two years before a puppy is full-grown. The instincts will be there from birth, though. German Shepherds can be great pets — for the right family. However, there are many cases when they can make very poor pets. German Shepherd dogs require significant amounts of training. Not only do they need to be taught how to behave, but these dogs are also extremely intelligent. Therefore, you should continue to train them even after they have mastered all the basic commands. However, it is particularly important for German Shepherds. Sadly, good breeders can be difficult to come by. These dogs are quite popular, so there are lots of breeders out there. Many people mistakenly believe that purebred dogs are healthier than mixed breeds. However, the opposite is true. Purebred dogs are prone to a variety of genetic conditions, including the German Shepherd. Hip dysplasia and a wide variety of other conditions are common in this breed. German Shepherds shed a lot. They require daily brushing in some cases. You should only adopt from a breeder that puts temperament at the forefront. You need to socialize German Shepherds a lot. They need to be introduced to many different people so that they know that not everyone is a threat. You only want them protecting you and your family from bad people — not everyone. German Shepherds usually live between 10 to 14 years. However, 15 years is not unheard of. Final Thoughts German Shepherds have the potential to be aggressive. Every dog does. However, with the correct socialization and training, these dogs can easily be trained to accept others into their territory. However, these dogs are a big responsibility. Be sure to carefully consider whether or not you want a German Shepherd before you adopt one. Your actions will largely determine whether or not they become aggressive. Author: Kristin Kristin was born in Tennessee and currently lives there with her husband and children. She is passionate about educating pet parents and helping them make the best possible decisions for their pets. She currently owns one dog, two cats, a lizard, and a variety of fish. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

They will want to be with you. Have a crate or bed next to your bed for at least the first few weeks while you get them into a Puppy night-time routine. Here is how to get a puppy to sleep through the night. Alone Training Teaching your Pug puppy that they can be totally fine being left alone can be done with stuffed chew toys, time and patience. Remember to do it slowly to avoid any stress! Toilet Training Training Practically every website you read may tell you that Toilet training your Pug puppy can be a challenge. As with alone training, start sooner rather than later. Of course, if they run into any birds, butterflies and hear planes flying over, it will be great for them to get acquainted already. Have fun gathering surfaces with different textures for them to explore, like synthetic grass, tiles, and soil. Use treats! Remember to use lots of treats and praise when training. They love making your tail wag! Repeat their name to them a lot in the first week, so it really starts to click. Recall — How to teach your Pug puppy to come back when called — This is important for safety. Pugs generally stay close, but they can be very friendly and want to run up to people and other dogs for a bit of a cuddle, so a good recall will always help. But they can enjoy fetch games on a smaller scale, get on the floor and interact and play with your Pug puppy to learn what they enjoy. This will help to avoid resource guarding. Husbandry Tasks Pugs love affection but should be handled with care. Be mindful to not treat them like toys. Not going to blame children to think they are toys though — the resemblance is uncanny. To do this we want to teach them that hands will do nice things to them so use plenty of treats when handling your puppy. Week 2 — Training your Pug puppy Week 2 already! So You Want a Pug? May 24, May 24, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. So you want a pug? But what do you need to know about this adorable breed? If you want a comical, playful, compact companion, a pug might be the right breed for you. Pugs are fine for novice owners. Read on. To them, strangers are just friends who they have yet to meet. They are very affectionate and good with respectful children, other friendly dogs, and dog-friendly cats. So if you want a big dog in a small package, a pug may be for you. Pugs love to snuggle on the sofa with their people. But you need to make sure that they do get some physical exercise because they tend to put on weight easily. Puzzle toys will help prevent boredom. But most of all, pugs enjoy being around people. Just be sure not to feed him your delicacies—they tend to easily put on excess weight. They were so cherished, they were guarded by soldiers. Some historians believe that they are related to the Tibetan Mastiff. Dutch traders in the s returned to Europe with some pugs. Legend has it that a pug named Pompey saved the life of the Prince of Orange by barking, alerting him of the approach of assassins. Pugs then became popular in England, The breed later became popular throughout Europe and were depicted in postcards, paintings even wearing clothes! Pugs entered the United States after the Civil War. The AKC recognized the popular breed in .By the turn of the Century, interest in the breed waned. Another legend is that pugs were so prized by the Chinese because their wrinkles resemble good luck symbols in the Chinese language. A group of pugs is called a grumble. Because they are so popular, make sure you get one from a reputable breeder or rescue. Dogs from puppy mills or back yard breeders tend to have health and behavior problems. Although they have short hair, they shed year-round. Use a medium-bristle brush , a rubber grooming mitt , or a hound glove to help remove the loose hair. Weekly brushing will help their skin and glossy coat be at peak maintenance. They need only occasional baths when they have a doggy odor or if they become dirty. Usually a monthly bath will suffice. You must keep his facial fold dry to avoid moist dermatitis. And check his prominent eyes regularly to be sure that nothing irritates them. Trim his nails regularly. Recognized Pug Colors.