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Nutritional needs of American Bulldogs American Bulldogs are known for their muscular build and active lifestyle, which means they require a diet high in protein and other essential nutrients. Speak with your vet to find out the exact amount of macro and micronutrients your Bully needs, but in general, American Bulldogs require: Protein Protein is a crucial nutrient for American Bulldogs as it helps build and repair muscles and supports their immune system. AAFCO recommends growing dogs eat a diet with at least .Protein-rich food sources for American Bulldogs include chicken, beef and fish. American Bulldogs require a moderate amount of fat in their diet, at least 8. Excellent sources of healthy fats for American Bulldogs include fish oil, flaxseed oil, and chicken fat. Carbohydrate Carbohydrates provide energy for American Bulldogs and also help in the absorption of other nutrients. Include complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, brown rice and whole grains in their diet rather than simple carbohydrates like corn and wheat. Vitamins and minerals American Bulldogs require essential vitamins and minerals to maintain their overall health. Vitamins A, C and E support their immune system, while minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are necessary for bone health. We formulate our delicious, healthy, wet dog food and crunchy dry dog food with the best human-grade, ethically-sourced ingredients. This food contains nutrient-rich meat, organ and bone and is free of grains, legumes and any byproducts, making it an irresistible and wholesome choice for your pet. Coconut oil adds health benefits like easy digestion and energy. We also use non-GMO chickpeas, which provide protein, iron, copper, zinc and magnesium. Tips for feeding American Bulldogs If you are wondering how much should I feed my dog to avoid issues like obesity, you should feed an adult American Bulldog twice a day. Puppies may require three to four meals per day. The amount of food your dog needs depends on their age, size and activity level. Measure their food to avoid overfeeding and obesity and establish a consistent feeding schedule. This can help your American Bulldog maintain a healthy weight and prevent digestive issues. At Open Farm, we offer percent ethically-sourced, nutrient-rich dog food options , including freeze-dried, wet and dry kibble. Shop our dog food, treats and bone broth today to give your American Bulldog the best diet to keep them healthy and happy. Share this post. Nutritional requirements of a American Bulldog What exactly should the diet of a American Bulldog consist of for optimal health? Protein from quality meat sources 2. Essential Fatty acids and omegas 3. Natural vitamins and minerals from bone and plant sources 5. Hydration — high moisture foods and drinking water 1. Protein When selecting what to feed your American Bulldog, choose a diet with high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, eggs, and fish. As such, protein impacts canine health in many ways, including: Providing consistent energy Forms new skin, hair, nails, and other tissue. Keeps the immune system healthy. Makes hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Properly balanced fats are essential for optimal health, and also provide energy. Dietary fat we generally refer to as a triglyceride. There are two types of triglyceride, saturated and unsaturated fat. In balance, they promote a healthy coat, skin, eyes, nervous system, control hormones, fuel brain and learning, and reduce inflammation. Carbohydrates, such as vegetables and some fruits, provide fibre, prebiotics food for beneficial bacteria , and antioxidants that are lacking in meat alone. Dogs are carnivores, but they can benefit from some vegetation in their diets for optimal health. Natural vitamins and minerals A raw food diet aims to replicate what dogs evolved to eat in the wild. As such, meat, bone, offal and a small amount of plant ingredients are all important ingredients in the diet of a American Bulldog, each adding highly beneficial vitamins and minerals to meal times. Incorporating ground bone in meals or providing recreational bones for enrichment add nutrients that will support digestion, skin and bone health, and mobility. As such, water is a vital nutrient for all cells, systems and functions, including: The regulation of body temperature Maintaining healthy organ function. The digestion and absorption of nutrients. Detoxification; water helps to flush out toxins and waste products from the body. Preventing dehydration which can lead to serious health problems, including kidney damage and heat stroke. Lubrication and cushioning of joints, thereby supporting ease of movement. Discover more about a raw food diet for dogs in our complete. American Bulldog raw feeding guide Whilst you could create homemade raw food meals for your American Bulldog, dog owners new to raw feeding can often find making their own raw dog food meals complicated. Formulating meals with the appropriate ratios of key ingredients is essential to ensure your dog receives optimal nutrients, so going it alone can seem daunting. The good news is there is a much simpler approach. By choosing a reputable supplier of pre-prepared raw dog food supplier, you can stock your freezer with quality raw food meals at the click of a button. American Bulldog Feeding Chart. Buying Guide Allergies Do you love your Bulldog but dread the idea of him getting a rash or an upset stomach? Gluten-free dog foods can be made with potatoes, sweet potatoes, or chickpeas. To avoid this unpleasantry altogether, just choose one labeled hypoallergenic to ensure safety from rashes and other allergic reactions like itchy skin and ear infections caused by bacterial growth in moist areas without proper ventilation. Some dogs tend to eat less than others during each mealtime; this may affect what kind of budget —or even which brands- best suit them! As your puppy grows, you can graduate to larger size kibble like Royal Canin design their smaller bites and Bulldog jaws in mind. For example, if you have an adult bulldog over 12 months old, their diet should be different from the one for all-life stages four weeks or older. It can be hard to know how a bulldog will react when it comes down to chicken. Some are allergic, while others seem ok with the food. You should always buy quality dog foods but if you notice symptoms of an allergy, then steer clear from this type of protein entirely! Although some dogs might not have any problem eating chicken , there are still plenty that need more care than just giving them any old things — especially those who may be sensitive or allergic to poultry products like eggs and turkey. Things To Look Into For American Bulldogs When it comes to American Bulldogs , choosing the right food is crucial, and there are many things you should consider before purchasing. The American Bulldogs can weigh anywhere between pounds. For example, hip dysplasia and ACL tears will be more common in heavier dogs due to all their added weight around joints and bones, which makes them vulnerable at higher rates than other breeds might have been. Keeping your pet healthy by getting enough exercise and not allowing too many treats while keeping an eye out for any extra fat or bulges should help tremendously! The food you serve should be packed full of nutritious protein, such as chicken, beef, or pork. Lean, high-quality proteins are best for your guests, and they will thank you with their business — so always check the brand to see where the company sources its meat from. Your American Bulldog needs healthy doses of Omega-3 and six fatty acids to have a strong immune system, heart function, muscle shape. Not all carbs are created equal! Simple carbohydrates like rice or blueberries digest more easily than complex ones such as grains which many dogs have difficulty digesting. Some believe that fiber is important for digestion, but some dog foods are more difficult to digest. Always read the ingredients list, so you know what goes into those kibbles before feeding them to your pup. This is because they vary so much from one another, with some being smaller and others larger. Bulldogs are full of surprises! Bulldogs have a wide range of activity levels and can change over time too — from puppyhood into adulthood, senior citizens even. All these factors go towards figuring out the right amount of calories that bulldogs need without being underweight or overweight at any point in their life cycle, so make sure you get it just right with our easy-to-use food calculator tool! It all depends on the individual dog. The Royal Canin Bulldog Puppy is also an excellent choice if your pup has special needs or nutritional requirements. We hope this roundup helped you figure out which type of dog food to buy! Related Links. They love to play, and they really love to eat. Therefore, the best dog food for bulldogs should consist of plenty of high-quality proteins, enough carbohydrates to fuel their bodies, and fats for normal joint function and overall health. But just like us, dogs are individuals. So choosing a food specifically for their individual needs can be a little more complicated. For one, there are hundreds of different brands with different nutritional values that most of us would find confusing. And secondly, since each bulldog is different, they all have different weights, ages, activity levels, and preferences. Adding to the confusion, bulldogs can have sensitivities to certain ingredients and can be allergic to others. So to make the task easier, we have prepared a special guide for American Bulldog owners so they can identify which dog food will best suit their unique pup. Macro-nutrients or macros consist of three major groups of food; proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. We already have an idea about the number of macros we should feed bulldogs, but here are some details that you need to know: Proteins For an American Bulldog, proteins are the most important macro. Proteins consist of amino acids that help in repairing muscle tissue and provide lots of energy so your dog stays active. More than that, proteins also aid in the release of hormones and enzymes and help in strengthening the immune system, amongst other things. Because bulldogs have a muscular body, your dog food must provide enough protein to maintain their physical structure. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are necessary for providing energy to your bulldog. The two most common sources of carbohydrates in dog foods are grains brown rice, oatmeal, barley and vegetables potatoes, peas. Although carbohydrates are important too, you should generally opt for a dog food that has lower carbohydrate content. Fats Fats are important as they make dog food tastier and thus more appealing to your dog. But more than that, fats are essential for the healthy functioning of nerves, body cells, and joints. Fats also provide almost twice as much energy as proteins and carbs. Daily Caloric Intake for Bulldogs The question of how many calories a bulldog should eat is rather confusing. The reason for this is because bulldogs can vary drastically from one another, and thus will have completely different calorie requirements. Bulldogs can weigh anywhere between 60 to pounds on average, and their activity levels can vary widely as well. They might be a puppy, or an adult, or even a senior. Also, they can be either male or female and might be spayed or neutered. All of these factors play a huge role in determining the right amount of calories your bulldog should consume without being under or overfed. However, there still is a standard measure of how much calories your bulldog should consume. Some smaller bulldogs might even be satisfied with fewer than calories, while some heavier and more active ones would require as much as calories a day to stay lean and healthy. But like we said before, it all depends on the individual dog. These can give you a good estimate as to how much you should be feeding them. Thus feeding them with the right frequency can help make sure they remain healthy and fit. Puppies are generally more energetic but have smaller stomachs, and thus need regular feeding to stay active. For bulldogs between the ages of 4 to 6 months, the frequency should be reduced to three portions a day. And once your bulldog is older than six months, you can follow the adult feeding regime which is feeding them two portions a day. Common Health Issues in American Bulldogs Although bulldogs are a healthy breed, they are prone to developing health issues at any life stage. Early identification of these issues can protect your dog from more severe problems later on by making the necessary changes in their diet and lifestyle. Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Joint Problems Hip and Elbow dysplasia is a degenerative health condition in which the hip or elbow joints fail to develop properly, leading to pain and even arthritis later in life. Joint problems are also more common in bulldogs due to their larger body size compared to their short legs. Although hip and elbow dysplasia is genetic and incurable, recognizing them earlier on can prevent them from worsening with age. Feeding them proper food along with exercise and physical therapy can save your bulldog a lot of pain and discomfort in their golden years. Obesity Obesity is a particularly serious issue with bulldogs. Because these dogs love to eat, they can easily be overfed. Obesity worsens joint and hip conditions as well as leading to many other health problems. Place your thumbs on their back where their spine is, and wrap your fingers along their midsection so that your hand is wrapped around their body and then try to feel their ribs. Foods You Should Avoid Feeding Your Bulldog Just like any other pet, there are certain foods you should refrain from feeding your bulldog as well. Some of these foods can cause stomach issues, while others are toxic for bulldogs. Onion and Garlic: Both of these are extremely dangerous as they can cause anemia in bulldogs. If fed in large amounts, they can cause organ damage or failure. Chocolates: Although chocolate seems like a pretty harmless food, it is severely toxic to dogs. Fruits with pits: Most fruits that have pits in them contain cyanide. In large amounts, this can cause seizures, vomiting and an irregular heartbeat. Some pits also pose a choking hazard to bulldogs. Macadamia Nuts: These nuts contain compounds that can cause vomiting, inflammation, and joint pain in dogs. Food Allergies and Sensitivities in American Bulldogs Just like other dogs, American Bulldogs can be allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients too. Here are some of the more common allergies and sensitivities found in American Bulldogs: Grains: This is a very common sensitivity and allergy found in bulldogs. Soy: Soy is another ingredient that can cause rashes and itching in bulldogs. Beef: Although beef allergy only affects a minority of bulldogs, you should take it seriously. There are plenty of other dog foods with proteins like lamb, chicken, and turkey, which you can choose instead. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Don't disregard advice from a vet. We may direct you to retailers such as Chewy or Amazon that provide us with a tiny commission on resulting sales. This comes at no extra cost to you. OUR TEAM Our team is made up of professional pet trainers, veterinarians, and experienced pet owners who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. We believe that pets are not just animals but members of the family, and we strive to provide the best possible advice and support for pet lovers. Every recipe comes personalized and proportioned for your dog and addresses any medical needs that they might have. Even better, the formulas all come from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, and only the best-quality ingredients are used for each portion. The recipes are tailored specifically for your pup, which is ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or food allergies. Pros Formulated recipes by board-certified veterinary nutritionists Personalized and pre-portioned meals for your pup Made in the U. Only the best quality ingredients Different recipes More expensive than store bought brands 2. This moderately-priced dog food comes in pound bags. The small kibble is specifically designed for Bulldog puppies, aged two to 12 months, based on their jaws and biting patterns. We found that this food could be too rich and may not work as well for sensitive stomachs. These LifeSource Bits include a combination of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They offer omega fatty acids for improved skin and coat health. They can aid in good eye health because of the inclusion of taurine. They also contain vitamin B12, D, and L-Carnitine to further support good health. Its main ingredients are deboned chicken and chicken meal, which are a good source of protein. Other significant ingredients include rice, barley, and oatmeal. This is a grain-inclusive food, which means that it might not be suitable for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies. Although the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food is a little more expensive than some of those on the list, many of its ingredients are high quality and provide a balanced and nutritional diet. However, a handful of ingredients are considered low-cost, low-quality fillers. Pea protein and alfalfa meal, for example, do not provide much nutritional benefit. The ingredients also include garlic. This low-cost dog food comes in .It naturally contains Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants and is made without poultry by-products, preservatives, and artificial flavors. When we tested this dog food, we found that it had plenty of protein and provided quite a bit of energy for active Bulldogs. It also works well for dogs with sensitive stomachs. We did find that it sometimes arrived stale, and some bags may contain bugs. Purina offers a great money-back guarantee. What should American Bulldogs eat? Because of their well-developed muscular system, American Bulldogs best thrive on high-protein and low-carb food. They can also be susceptible to allergies, so choosing a diet for your pet can take some trial and error. It all stems from the breed of your dog, and understanding some basic facts will help you feed your pet in the best possible manner. Diet Elements for an American Bulldog American Bulldogs have a highly developed muscular system that needs support. Before they were domesticated, dogs with a lot of muscles would feed themselves with animal-based sources that they can find in the wild. Sources of protein can be different but it is recommended that they should get one that is as close to what they would get if they lived in open nature. Protein from animal sources is the obvious candidate here. Deboned chicken is a good source of protein though since chicken meat contains the least amount of fat compared to other meats, and that is applicable to other bird meat like turkey. Lamb is also a great option for American bulldogs. Bulldogs tend to have chicken allergies. For your pet, Omega-3 will also help their cardiovascular system. American Bulldogs are highly active, and they should stay active to develop properly. High activity levels can put too much stress on their heart, and although American Bulldogs are not typically prone to heart diseases, it does not mean that you should not take care of that part of their health. Omega-3 is usually abundantly present in fish, which is also a good source of protein. Bulldogs can easily gain weight, and feeding carbs will only exacerbate this process. Starchy carbs can be found in grain, wheat or corn. Think of all unhealthy foods that you should minimize in your diet: white bread, sugar, corn syrup. All the same is also applicable for an American Bulldog. When choosing a dry food, look for the following: No Wheat No Corn No Grain Gluten-free foods can also be a good idea for a dog for the same reason: dogs did not eat gluten in the wild. Not All Carbs Are Created Equal Carbs or carbohydrates have recently become a new scare for those who follow nutrition advice. While starchy or simple carbs are not good as food, whole grains or complex carbs are quite beneficial since they contain most calories per gram, and calories are, first and foremost, a measure of energy, and your dog needs a lot of that. When shopping for dog food, look for whole grains, brown rice or sweet potatoes. Fruits are a great source of healthy carbs but do not overdo them. Fruits still contain a lot of sugar. Our bulldog, Daisy, loves bananas. We give a few slices to her as a treat here and there. Yes, you can hardly find a wild dog or wolf eating broccoli from a plate. However, even wild animals would sometimes feed on greens voluntarily, and that happens when they feel problems with digestion. Vegetables are the best source of fiber — a nutrient that supports the digestive system and makes it more efficient. Dogs can benefit from some vegetables in their diet for the same reason — it helps digestion, and protein will not do any good in that area. Usually, about percent of their daily nutrition should consist of fiber. Making Sure Your American Bulldog Eats Right Sometimes, you can follow any advice and do everything seemingly right, and still find your dog suffering from an improper diet. Only your dog knows what is right for it, only it can know what reaction your chosen plan causes to their bodies. Unfortunately, they do not have a way to communicate. Even if you choose the best meal plan for your pet, you should check for unpleasant reactions from time to time. Here is what you should check for how to adjust a diet appropriately. We have the ultimate guide to what bulldogs can and can not eat that you may find helpful. Bulldogs Are Prone To Obesity Bulldogs are always hungry, especially when they are developing at an early age. That is because they are normally active but living inside with little room for constant physical activity, their excessive energy can get stored in the form of fat. It will put an excessive load on their heart, ultimately reducing their health and lifetime. It will always look hungry, so make sure to portion the amount of food that it gets. Check regularly for excessive weight. While touching your dog, you should feel its ribs without pressing too much. If that does not happen, consider switching the meal plan to more moderate amounts. Check For Immune Reaction Unfortunately, many pets have their weak spots, and for American Bulldogs, it is their immune system. In case a dog gets the food that is inappropriate for them, the immune system will treat the food like an allergen. There is no way to say in advance which foods will cause that reaction — it can be any protein source that you choose. If you notice your bulldog does not eat well and does not feel well, that might be a signal that the source of protein that you have chosen is not right and you need to switch. Check out our article on common bulldog allergies to help guide you. Do not switch immediately. The best way to move from one meal to another at a slower pace. Take days and gradually substitute one source of protein for another, starting from a smaller batch of new food and expanding it over several days. If a problem persists, see a veterinarian. Best advice is to stick to an athlete-like diet that has a lot of healthy protein, like deboned chicken meat, and an excellent source of complex carbs such as whole grains and fruit. These simple steps will help your four-legged friend to enjoy a long and healthy life. Post Views: 1, When it comes to feeding your American Bulldog puppy, it is important to choose a high-quality food that is designed for large breeds. Puppies grow quickly and need plenty of nutrients to support their growing bodies. Look for a food that is rich in protein and fat, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Avoid foods that are high in fillers or contain artificial ingredients. Your American Bulldog puppy should eat three to four times a day, so divide their daily ration into smaller meals. Puppies under six months old need to eat more often than older puppies. Always have fresh water available for your puppy and monitor their food intake to ensure they are getting enough to eat. A healthy American Bulldog should eat about 2 to 3 cups of food a day, divided into two or three meals. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian how much food your dog needs. Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs may need more food. Senior dogs may need less. There are a variety of raw meats that you can feed your American Bulldog. Some of the most popular include chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb. You can also find specialty raw foods that are made specifically for Bulldogs. These can be found at most pet stores or online. You should also wash the meat thoroughly before feeding it to your dog. Raw meat is an excellent source of protein for your American Bulldog. It can help to build muscle and keep their coat healthy. Raw meat is also easy for them to digest and can give them the energy they need to stay active. If you are unsure of what kind of raw meat to feed your American Bulldog, you can always ask your veterinarian for advice. They will be able to recommend the best type of food for your dog based on their individual needs. Blue Buffalo is considered a good source of nutrition for American Bulldogs. It is a high-quality food that contains all of the necessary nutrients and vitamins that these dogs need to stay healthy and active. Additionally, Blue Buffalo does not use any cheap fillers or artificial ingredients in their products. This makes them a safe and healthy option for American Bulldogs. Is Pedigree Good for American Bulldogs? Just like with any other type of dog, it is important to do your research before you decide to feed your American Bulldog Pedigree. While Pedigree is a popular brand of dog food, it may not be the best option for American Bulldogs. There are a variety of factors that you should consider when choosing the right food for your dog. This includes the ingredients, the size and activity level of your dog, and any health concerns that your dog may have. One of the main things to consider when choosing food for your American Bulldog is the ingredients. Another thing to consider is the size and activity level of your American Bulldog. If your dog is on the smaller side or is not very active, he may do better with food that has fewer calories. Conversely, if your dog is larger or more active, he may need food that has more calories to help him maintain his weight. Finally, you should also consider any health concerns that your American Bulldog may have. If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, you will want to choose a food that does not contain any ingredients that could trigger an allergic reaction. There are a few commercially available dog foods that are specifically designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and these may be a good option for your American Bulldog. Can American Bulldogs Eat Chicken? Yes, American Bulldogs can eat chicken. In fact, chicken is a great source of protein for them. Just be sure to cook it thoroughly to avoid any food safety issues. Can Bulldogs Eat Bread? Most bread is perfectly safe for American Bulldogs to eat, but there are a few things to be aware of. Additionally, some bread can be very high in sugar, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Chocolate is toxic to American Bulldogs and can make them very sick. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is a stimulant that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even death in large quantities. Can Bulldogs Drink Milk? Yes, Bulldogs can drink milk. In fact, many American Bulldogs enjoy drinking milk and it can be a good source of nutrition for them. Just be sure to choose low-fat or skim milk to avoid any health problems. Can Bulldogs Eat Fruit? Yes, Bulldogs can eat fruit. In fact, some fruits, such as blueberries and strawberries, are packed with nutrients that can be beneficial for them. Just be sure to wash the fruit thoroughly and remove any pits or seeds before feeding it to your Bulldog. Can Bulldogs Eat Peanut Butter? Yes, American Bulldogs can eat peanut butter. Can They Eat Table Scraps? Table scraps are often high in fat and calories, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems. There are a variety of dog treats available that are safe for American Bulldogs to eat. Just be sure to choose treats that are low in fat and calories, and avoid any that contain chocolate or other potentially harmful ingredients. Foods that are high in fat, sugar, or calories can lead to weight gain and other health problems. The Great Plains Red formula contains protein from beef, lamb, fish, pork , and rabbit. Plus, several of the protein sources come from the liver and heart, both of which are very nutritious for dogs. Not only that, but the kibble is freeze-dried. This makes it more easily digestible, retains the nutritional value of the ingredients, and preserves the good taste that your dog loves. Why we like this brand: There are 8 different sources of animal protein in the formula It contains antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes for carbohydrates The formula is free of grains It has a very high protein content to support muscle growth and recovery Ingredients are grown and food is processed all in the USA Best High Protein The High Protein formula from Wellness CORE has everything that your bulldog needs to fuel its high energy life: 9. This adult dry dog food has everything your bully needs. Why we like this brand: It contains several protein sources from different animals All of the carbs come from fiber-rich whole grains Both the turkey and chicken meal are good sources of glucosamine and chondroitin Fiber from the whole grains helps for better absorption of nutrients Created to support lean muscle mass on breeds like the American bulldog Best for Puppies The Large Breed Puppy formula was designed specifically for pups like the American bulldog. This formula also contains a unique ingredient called Lifesource Bits. They contain several highly nutritious foods chosen by holistic vets to promote a healthy immune system and oxidative balance. Not only that, but the ingredients in this formula are top quality. Several high-quality protein sources make up the main ingredients. Lower down on the label, there are numerous vitamin and mineral supplements to help keep your dog in tip-top shape. We highly recommend it. This type of formula is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, and for dogs who need a lot of protein, such as the American bulldog. With fewer ingredients that are all higher quality ones, the protein content tends to be higher than other dog food formulas. Why we like this brand: Contains limited ingredients that are all of excellent quality Has a blend of probiotics and omega fatty acids Contains no artificial colors, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives Easy on the digestive system The first ingredient salmon is naturally high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids The goal of the American bulldog formula is to meet all of the dietary needs of the bully. We highly recommend this puppy food for your bully. In addition to the meat and grains, it contains excellent whole food ingredients such as blueberries, pumpkin, and spinach. Also, it contains flaxseed which is high in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Why we like this brand: Real meat from lambs is the first ingredient Several sources of protein provide lots of amino acids A calcium supplement supports puppy bone health Prebiotics and probiotics support a healthy gut Made without corn, wheat, fillers, or artificial flavors The first ingredient in this formula is real beef and the second is chicken meal. Plus, Taste of the Wild uses only natural and sustainable ingredients in their food. So, dog owners can feel good about their impact on the environment in addition to their dogs. It contains several ingredients from cows alone which are not only protein-dense but also nutrient-dense. After the meat ingredients come several superfoods such as apples, broccoli, and spinach just to name a few. And, while it is technically good for all life stages, we mostly recommend it for adults. Therefore, take one of our top recommendations for American bulldog food and feel good about feeding your bully something good for them! Bonus tip: Hip dysplasia is common in adult American bulldogs and one of the best ingredients to help prevent it is DHA. Unfortunately, Jessup developed serious allergies to many different types of dog foods and ingredients when she was just a puppy. Meanwhile, Brody could eat seemingly anything and carry on as healthy as could be. Sarah spent hours of time researching and testing different foods and brands before finding something that worked for little Jessup. She wants Dog Food Care to simplify this experience for future dog-parents who face food allergy or tolerance issues of their own. Dog Food Care will never accept payments, bonuses, or gifts in exchange for a positive review. All Rights Reserved.

We had our first litter in and French Bulldogs Joined our family in the rest his history we love both breeds. Most of our dogs also carry color s. So when needed we test puppies pior to selling. Our puppies are dewormed at 2, 4 ,6 and 8 weeks they will have their health check up, first set of shots and fecal examination, checking for parasites at 7 weeks old. Len Lucero located in Sumterville Florida. A Furever Friend Our goal is to find loving homes for all our bulldog babies. We have a contract that is to be read over and signed before moving forward with any puppy sale. This way we know our babies will be placed into loving homes. This also expains our health guarantee for any puppy produced here at Childs Bulldogs. We will take back any of our puppies at any point in their lifetime for any reason. We also provide lifetime support if issues should arise and you have questions. Please contact us if you have any questions. We are happy to help you find a new family member. If our puppies aren't for you or we don't have a puppy, we are happy to send you to another reputable breeder who holds health, temperament and structure to the same standard we do. We have an incubator complete with an oxygen concentrator and nebulizer. We also have fresh frozen plasma on hand along with all the necessary whelping supplies, complete with a scale to monitor their daily weight until they are about weeks old. We also work closely with 2 veterinarians that are avaiable 24 hours a day for anything we may need to help with the development of all our puppies. Our passion for this unique and beloved breed is evident in every puppy that we raise. From their sparkling eyes, to their wrinkled faces, and their short, stocky legs, English Bulldogs are truly one of a kind. At Dazzling Bulldogs, we take pride in carefully selecting and breeding only the healthiest and most beautiful bulldogs to ensure that each and every puppy we raise is nothing short of perfect. Let us help you bring a little bit of dazzle into your life with one of our adorable bulldog puppies. Visit our website to learn more and find your new furry family member today. We are a family breeder, All of our bulldogs live inside our home and our loved as family pets. Every litter we have is hand raised inside from birth. Our Website was created to help educate animal lovers about our favorite breed, The English Bulldog. WE specialize in rare colors and Merle English Bulldogs. Dazzling English Bulldog Puppies for Sale We keep a waiting list for our puppies and have an application process to assure they go to a loving stable environment. Our English Bulldogs are all our pets and are our family members. The English Bulldog breeder you decide to go with can be the best or worst decision when looking at an English Bulldog puppy for sale. .We make sure to only feed the best food and breed genetically healthy lines. Pick your breeder carefully and as a result, you will be assured of the healthiest English Bulldog puppy having the least amount of issues. When you purchase a puppy from Dazzling Bulldogs, you will have lifetime advice and guidance any time day or night. Fur Ever Family Dazzling Bulldogs was created solely to unite loving companion puppies with owners who need them as much as they need us. If you have any questions please feel free to call us directly at the number below. We would love to speak with you and guide you in the fun and exciting process of finding your newest family member! Show me the Puppies Get ready to fall in love with Dazzling Bulldogs, the premier English bulldog breeder that is dedicated to providing the ultimate bulldog experience. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. We are here to help! How much do Bulldog puppies cost? The beauty of looking for a Florida Bulldog on our network is having a lot of options! Not only will you have a better chance of finding the exact puppy you want but also at the price is within your budget. What if there are no Bulldog breeders near me? Our network of English Bulldog breeders in Florida is growing by the day so we are confident that you will meet someone with your dream puppy. We can help you search across the Lower 48 states then your chosen breeder can arrange to have you pick up your new puppy at a major airport in Florida. What is the vetting process for Bulldog breeders? All the breeders and businesses on our network went through a strict screening process where we took a close look at their experiences, knowledge in breeding, practices, and facilities. Why is Florida Puppies different from other networks with Bulldog puppies? Many websites are not careful about who they work with making it easy for puppy mills to take advantage of people who are looking for an English Bulldog puppy Florida. Florida Puppies was designed to prevent this from happening. All the Bulldog breeders Florida that you meet here are ethical businesses who take good care of their puppies until the day you take them home. What is a puppy mill like? In puppy mills, dogs are forced to breed their entire lives. Puppies from these places often run a higher risk of developing genetic health issues because their parents are poorly matched. When looking for an English Bulldog puppy for sale Florida, avoid puppy mills with cheap offers at all costs! Are there any Bulldog puppies for sale in Florida right now? What kind of dog is a Bulldog? English Bulldogs were first bred in the s to fight in a horrendous sport called bull-baiting. When the violent sport was banned, these fearless dogs switched careers to driving cattle and their aggressive tendencies were eventually bred out. Today, Bulldogs are pampered pooches who love to lounge all day. There are two knowns lines of this breed -- English and American -- and there is some difference between the two in terms of build. Our network can help you find English or American bulldog puppies Florida. How big does a Bulldog get? What is Bulldog temperament like? Bulldogs are classified as medium-sized and can reach a weight of pounds. They have a stocky build, low bodies, heavy chests, and hefty limbs. Bulldogs are typically low energy but they need daily exercise to stay healthy. They are sweet in nature and are quite friendly. And though these dogs are very brave, they no longer carry the aggression that their ancestors used to possess. Are Bulldogs good for apartments? How does Florida Puppies work? When you search our network for a Bulldog for sale in Florida, we will introduce you to a list of breeders in your city or state who are likely to have puppies ready for rehoming. When you find the Bulldog puppy that you like, contact the breeder, work out the details or pay them a visit! Bulldog's Available!

Check our comments section below to see if anyone has left a review of any of these breeders. Remember, we can't moderate the results we show, but they are hopefully a good starting point to narrow down some of the Boxer breeders in North Carolina. Facebook Groups Facebook is another great place to find honest reviews of Breeders. Click here to search Facebook groups that discuss Boxer breeders in North Carolina. You can grab your free copy below. Boxer dogs are a great addition to any home, but you do have to make some considerations about your lifestyle. Whereabouts in North Carolina were they based, what was the Breeders name? It really helps others who are searching for a Boxer Puppy in the North Carolina area if they can read honest reviews from buyers like yourself. Are you a breeder of Boxers? Get in touch and we can add you to our directory. Please feel free to drop us a picture of your Boxer on Facebook or Twitter. And remember to check out our Boxer puppy buyers guide for lots of useful information. Recommended Posts:. Bishop hails from the streets of the south, where he was trying to make it on his own and chasing the wrong type of dames. However, his life took a turn when he ended up in a scary place called "The Shelter. Bishop weighs around 55 pounds, and he wants the ladies to know that it's all muscle. But don't let his muscles fool you, he's as sweet as sugar and listens better than most men. He has a mix of boxer, lab, and pitbull in him, but his handsome looks mostly come from his pitbull side. And yes, the ladies love his guns! Unfortunately, Bishop's previous foster home had cats, and they didn't get along well. So, he's currently back in boarding, where he enjoys the company of other dogs and a kind lady who takes him for walks and plays ball with him. Bishop absolutely loves his toys and chasing balls. He can get a bit "mouthy" when teased with toys, but he redirects nicely. He enjoys going for walks, but if he spots a bird, rabbit, or squirrel, he's off like Richard Simmons in a workout video. However, he responds well to correction. Bishop is a goofball who doesn't take much seriously, except for treats. Treats are serious business to him, and he'll do just about anything for one. He loves peanut butter in his kabobs but avoids rawhide to maintain his playboy figure. With his big smile and awesome personality, Bishop hopes to find his forever home. He's fully vetted, which means he's had his shots and is neutered. He is currently undergoing treatment for heartworms using a method called Slow Kill. Bishop is an easygoing, sweet, smart, happy, cuddly, and laid-back dude. He loves exercising, playing catch, and chasing balls, but he also enjoys relaxing and taking naps. He would be more than happy to lounge around in bed and watch TV with his humans. A perfect day for Bishop would involve the three C's: chasing balls , catch, and chill. He simply wants a best friend, someone to love him and give him the attention he deserves. A house would be preferable to an apartment, but he's open to trying out apartment life if it's a good fit. Bishop is currently in training now and is available for adoption or foster. To learn more about him and start the adoption process, reach outr to us. Wecan provide you with Bishop's portfolio and an application for his forever home. Bishop can't wait to give you wet kisses and steal all your blankets.

Share 0 Shares Golden Retrievers have always been a popular breed of dog! Due to their loving attitude, eagerness to please, and friendly demeanor, Goldens will forever be one of the most commonly owned dogs. If you are in the market for Golden Retriever puppies in the Pennsylvania area, check out our list below! We have gathered a list of the top 10 best PA Golden Retriever breeders for you! As always, we encourage you to do your own research on these breeders as well as pricing and contact information may be subject to change. Best Golden Retrievers Breeders in Pennsylvania 1. Brenda Davidson is the owner and she has specially picked each member of her breeding stock to ensure the best temperament. Brenda performs the first set of vaccinations for each puppy at 7 weeks of age and requires that anyone purchasing puppy schedules to finish vaccinations series with their veterinarian. All puppies will also be dewormed multiple times prior to picking up. Their webpage has a link to contact them. If after contacting them, there is a spot available on their waitlist, you will be required to secure a deposit before being added to the list. After the puppies are born, clients begin picking their puppy at around 6 weeks of age. Puppies will be available for pickup around 8 weeks of age. There will be a pet agreement that needs to be finished prior to picking up your puppy. Prices are subject to change. Name of owner. We are located in rural Downingtown, PA. We have been dedicated to Golden Retrievers since starting with our first Golden Retriever, Bella! Our Golden Glory Family has grown from there! We enjoy camping, swimming, field, conformation, rally and obedience training with our dogs. Our favorite activity is watching our goldens in the field doing what they were bred to do! We only breed our girls with those who follow this strict standard. We temperament test our puppies using the Volhard Aptitude Test guidelines! We have lots of fun learning and playing in those rings when our goldens are younger! It is important to us that our Golden Glory Goldens preserve the breed by doing what they were bred to do in the field! We also have intermediate and advance classes available throughout the year. We have fun walking on trails and swimming in the local creeks while practicing our heel! The picture is of us after swimming and winding down class. We also learn proper manners in local shops and go walking through town. Korra and her pups having fun in the ring! Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies, you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies, we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. We even have all types of golden retrievers for sale! At My Golden Retriever Puppies, we pride ourselves on our golden retriever price being fair and affordable for high quality puppies. Location Information for Pennsylvania Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies, we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Pennsylvania? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of our golden retriever puppies for sale. How do I know which breeders to trust in Pennsylvania? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article. Our goldens are the central part of our lives and my husband and I strive to breed to correct golden retriever standards making health, and temperament our number one priority for all future puppies. I have been involved in golden retrievers for 35 years, getting my start from a wonderful friend, who taught me so much about the breed. My first golden retriever was purchased back in and from that point I was hooked. We continue to have wonderful healthy golden retriever puppies for families to love for many years. At Sunbolyn Golden Retrievers we have a limited breeding program so there will be a wait for a puppy. You can visit the planned litter page for information on upcoming litters of puppies. My litters are very well planned with the first two concerns being health and temperament. I want to create the next generation of puppies to be wonderful companion dogs for loving families for years to come. I take months planning a breeding, taking every concern into consideration before picking my stud dog. I want to continue to keep true to the golden retriever standards, breeding puppies that have health, excellent temperaments and the ability to be used multipurpose in areas such as agility , obedience, field work and conformation rings, but most of all being a great family pet!!! Please enjoy our new web page Sunbolyn Golden Retrievers and contact us by going to the page with our contact information with any questions you may have. I always love talking about my dogs and sharing with people my love and passion of the breed. Thank You for stopping by!! Kim and Rick Kelley. I have combined the two for easier navigation of all of my services and breeding program. I welcome you to my home on the internet and encourage you to browse around to see all that I have to offer. My name is Chrissy Harp, I have been in business for 18 years now. I want everyone that purchases a golden to have the same great experience of owning a well mannered, healthy, lovable puppy as I have. Everyone should own a golden retriever once in their lives, there is nothing like it!! My line has been in our family for 26 years, so I know the health history and it speaks for itself. I stand behind every puppy with a 2 year health guarantee. My whole mission behind spending all this time and money finding the perfect breed able dogs, is so an average family can have a high quality, healthy pet. As it becomes available, I will post information about my puppies as well as dogs that I have available for sale. You may sign up for my email newsletter. I try to send one out when I have a litter expected, a dog that is trained and ready to be placed, a possible therapy dog, a retired dog needing a retirement home, or if something is new. Additional photos are always available. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail at puppies opkgoldens.

If you want to know when German Shepherds stop teething or how long a German Shepherd teething lasts, check this article. You will find out information about the different German Shepherd teething stages and their corresponding German Shepherd teething age. We will also tell you about the common teething signs and symptoms and tips on how to handle puppy teething. Familiarize yourself with the stages so that you can know how to deal with teething. Early Stages: German Shepherd puppies are born without teeth. They begin getting teeth around 6 to 8 weeks of age. The incisors come first. Next is the canine teeth and the last is the premolars. Milk Teeth: The last premolar comes out between 8 to 12 weeks old. That time your GSD already has 28 milk teeth. Take your puppy to the vet so he can check if all the primary teeth have erupted. Falling Out: When your puppy is between 12 to 16 weeks of age, he starts losing baby teeth. His incisors begin to fall out. Then the canines follow and the last are the premolars. Your vet may perform dental extraction to maintain oral health. Adult Teeth: How many adult teeth do a German Shepherd have? It means a German Shepherd usually stops teething when he reaches the age of 8 months. Take your puppy to the vet so he can check if there are misalignment problems. He does this to ease the pain associated with teething. Missing teeth: For your German Shepherd puppy to grow his adult teeth, he must first lose his baby teeth. Bleeding or swollen gums: A bit of blood can come out when a tooth is dislodged. Excessive drooling: Frequent excessive drooling can be messy but this happens when your puppy is teething. Physical distress: Your German Shepherd puppy might refuse to eat which results in weight loss. He may also lose interest in playing. He might have diarrhea if he chews inappropriate objects. He may even have a low-grade fever. If this happens, consult your vet so he can prescribe some medicines to relieve the pain. Consequences of Violations The change of teeth in the German Shepherd begins at the height of the active growth period. From the age of 14 weeks, the puppy rapidly mostly, intermittently increases in size. Its muscular skeleton is formed, the paws grow, and the chest and skull bones extend. Tiny fragile puppy teeth are replaced with impressive strong fangs. This stage usually ends simultaneously with the appearance of a full set of molars. Further development of the dog occurs at a slower pace. Correct Bite in a German Shepherd The dental system plays a huge role in the show career of a Shepherd dog. Any non-compliance with the standard , such as undershot or overshot bites, will prevent them from obtaining the champion title, despite the excellent exterior and outstanding working characteristics. A bite is a form of closing the jaws. The German Shepherd teeth, resembling scissors, are considered the norm: the incisors of the upper jaw cover the incisors of the lower one. By 2 months, properly developing Shepherds already have a standard scissor-like bite. All puppies are born toothless. Within the process of growth , baby milk teeth appear first. They are necessary for the correct formation of jaw bones. At the age of one and a half months already, the Shepherd puppy has a complete set of teeth, consisting of 14 items on each jaw. The temporary elements of the dentition are divided into incisors, canines fangs , and premolars. The puppy does not have chewing teeth; they appear only by the age of six months. If molars erupt along with baby teeth, it means that they will never be replaced. Dogs with such a defect are excluded from the breeding program. In total, 28 milk teeth should grow before the change. However, deviations in quantity are permissible, both for less and for fewer items. This is not a sign that the puppy will remain edentulous for life. The problem is more likely to resolve on its own over age. How many teeth should an adult Shepherd have? The answer is exactly 42 items. The absence of any element other than a small premolar is not allowed. Though, there are exceptions to this rule. During protective guard training or too active games, there are frequent cases of damage to the integrity of the teeth under the influence of external factors. Therefore, if documents confirm the traumatic nature of the tooth absence, the show score should not be lowered. However, if any experts in incomplete teeth problems do not want to go deeper into the matter, the dog will receive a low score in the ring. First, there is a gradual disappearance of the tooth roots. At the same time, the permanent tooth begins to grow along the canal left by the baby tooth. The fangs and incisors no longer hold tightly in the jaw. They become loose and fall out naturally. Itching in the gums. The puppy may begin to gnaw on furniture or shoes. This is a natural reaction to the discomfort caused by teething. It is recommended to acquire special toys for chewing or to treat the puppy with beef moss or beef tendon bones. Decreased activity. The change of teeth in a Shepherd dog provokes a weakening of the auricles. This phenomenon is caused by the fact that all the reserves of the body go to the formation and growth of new elements of the dental system. Ear drop. The ear cartilage becomes soft, ceases to maintain its shape, and the ears which were confidently and steadily standing up only yesterday, sadly drop down. This phenomenon should not cause concern to owners. The ears will rise on their own in a few months. Intestinal disorders. If the change of teeth in German Shepherd puppies is accompanied by loss of appetite, apathy, drowsiness, or an acute pain symptom, these may be signs of a viral disease. It is worth taking such a puppy to the vet. Change of Teeth: How to Cope with It General recommendations to owners for this period are: hold the puppy back from physical activity; reduce the time of walks and training sessions; hold your pet back from constriction games. When new fangs are being cut in dogs, it is very easy to spoil the bite by accidentally shifting the growing tooth into the wrong position. Additional Nutrition During the Change of Teeth During this period, puppies eating natural food and economy-class feeds are supplemented with mineral nutrition with calcium, phosphorus, and fluorine. If the puppy is fed with dry premium and super-premium class feeds, supplements are included in the diet only on the advice of a veterinarian or breeder. An excess of calcium, as well as its deficiency, can cause an allergic reaction or lead to bone and joint diseases. The incisors grow first. Approximately, it lasts at the age of 3. Then, the turn of the fangs comes. They should be expected at the age from 5 to 7 months. Simultaneously with the fangs, chewing teeth molars appear. Premolars fall out at the age of months. Dogs of large breeds usually tolerate teeth changing faster and easier than small breeds. Therefore, at the age of 8 months, the teeth of a Shepherd dog should completely change. If permanent canines and molars have not yet grown by the age of 9 months, this may indicate a pathology that requires medical intervention. Difficulties The main problem the owners may face during this period include: Process slowdown. The reason may be the poor development of chewing muscles, lack of calcium and phosphorus in the body, a previous disease, or a genetic predisposition. Two fangs. Simultaneously, 2 fangs grow in one place — a permanent and baby one. This happens because the tooth root did not dissolve in time. In such cases, it is required to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible and remove the interfering tooth. It is not recommended to do it yourself. After that, a full-fledged surgical operation may be needed. To resolve the problem that has appeared and take action on time, you need to regularly examine the mouth, while the puppy is changing its teeth. Consequences of Violations The consequences of improper development of the chewing system include not only abnormal teeth setting and a deformed bite. These are caries lesions, early enamel destruction, teeth tartar formation, and others that worsen the life quality of the animal. The German Shepherd teeth are the true pride of the breed and a formidable weapon. The force of jaw compression at the time of the bite can reach kg lbs , and only a few dogs surpass Shepherd dogs in this indicator. For the dog to demonstrate its working characteristics and win the ring, proper care is needed for its teeth. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Aug 9, Share Teething represents a major landmark for your German Shepherd puppy, but the process can be very annoying since it often results in destroyed shoes, furnishings, and other items around your home. German Shepherd puppies start teething whenever their puppy teeth start to grow in. Once the puppy is around six months old, most of their puppy teeth will fall out and all of their adult teeth will come in replacement. At this point, your German Shepherd will likely stop teething. Just like human babies, German Shepherd puppies are born without teeth. Once the puppy reaches three weeks old, it may start to grow in its milk teeth. All of its puppy teeth, including puppy canines and incisors, should be grown in by the end of the 8th week. At this point, your German Shepherd will likely start teething, though it might start teething slightly sooner. One of the first signs that your German Shepherd puppy is teething is finding small amounts of blood on your carpet or dog toys. This is a completely normal event because the blood is often due to the loose baby teeth or the baby teeth falling out completely. Make sure not to give your German Shepherd rawhide chews because these chews are dangerous for dogs and often lead to choking, especially in puppies. Special toys specifically made for teething puppies are best. During the teething time, German Shepherds are very likely to become destructive. Provide your German Shepherd a whole lot of exercise and additional toys to keep them entertained. Not only will this keep their minds off the teething process, but it will prevent them from destroying your home. Here are some signs that your German Shepherd is beginning to teeth: Small baby teeth are emerging and can be found on the floor, in a toy, or in the food bowl. There are small blood spots on your carpet or on toys. Your puppy is drooling a lot more than usual. You notice your puppy chewing more than usual. Your puppy may act like it is in slight pain and have a slight fever. Teeth look misaligned. If you notice one or more of these events happening, your German Shepherd is likely teething. The best thing you can do is provide your dog teething toys and a lot of exercise. Aside from that, allow nature to do its job by letting the teeth fall and the adult teeth to come in. Teething is a common occurrence in many baby animals, but you might not be sure why they teeth and chew up things in the first place. Whenever those baby teeth start to grow in, the process can be painful since the teeth have to come through the gums. The pain continues as baby teeth fall out and adult teeth replace them. German Shepherd puppies, as well as other babies, will teeth in order to ease the pain. It normally takes about three months or 12 weeks for your German Shepherd to lose all of its baby teeth. During this time, its 28 baby teeth will fall out and 32 adult teeth will grow in instead. Although the exact amount of time it takes for German Shepherds to stop teething varies from dog to dog, most puppies stop teething whenever they are between seven and eight months old. Some German Shepherds may stop teething as early as six months , but the seven month mark is much more likely. Protect Your Home During the teething process, your dog is likely to become destructive from all its chewing. Make sure to pick up shoes and other items that your dog might chew up. Even if the dog is trained , its sore teeth and gums will lead it to chew up things as pain relief. The dog is likely in a lot of pain because of the teething process. Final Thoughts German Shepherd puppies will start teething whenever they are a few weeks old. Teething will become a popular occurrence around your home until your dog is at least six months old, but teething can last an additional two months. Even though teething can be annoying for us, remember to be patient and understanding with your dog. After all, your German Shepherd puppy is likely in a lot of pain. Try to help the teething process by investing in good teething toys and dog-proofing your home for the time being. It will take a German Shepherd puppy between 4 and 6 months to complete teething. During this time, you want to have your veterinarian check your puppy for any dental issues. Surgery may be required if his bite needs to be corrected, which is meant to help with any potential eating issues in the future. If your puppy is teething, he will start to chew more frequently on his chew toys. A German Shepherd puppy needs to lose his baby teeth before his adult teeth can take form. If your puppy is teething, you may start to notice that he is missing teeth, or you may find a missing tooth around your home. Another sign that your puppy may be teething is if he has bleeding or swollen gums. You may even see some blood if his baby teeth are falling out. You may also see some blood traces on his chew toys. If your puppy is drooling more than normal, this may be another sign that he is teething. Your German Shepherd puppy may even show signs of physical distress, which can include weight loss if he refuses to eat, and becoming uninterested in playtime. He could also experience diarrhea due to chewing on foreign objects, and could also develop a fever. In these situations, it may be necessary to consult your vet. The good thing is, this period lasts for a relatively short period. The teething process starts when the first baby teeth emerge, which will occur during the first month. By six or seven weeks, you can expect your puppy to have 28 teeth instead of the 42 they will have as adults. German Shepherd puppies will start to see adult teeth between six and eight weeks, as they begin to lose their baby teeth. This part of the teething stage is painful for puppies, with chewing being the primary form of seeking relief. Although when the adult teeth settle into the jawbone, there may be some more discomfort. They will be able to determine if any teeth need to be removed to make room for adult teeth. During the time your puppy is teething, it will need sufficient stimulation. You can also give your puppy chew treats — there are a number of safe, high-quality ones that act as both a toy and food. These chew treats will also help to prevent your puppy from destroying your furniture! Another way to help teething puppies is to make ice cubes from chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. Frozen baby carrots also work well. There are also a number of puppy teething gels on the market that can give your German Shepherd puppy relief, but be sure to choose a teething gel that is safe and natural. They may include ingredients like chamomile, clove oils, and peppermint. Rawhide is another inexpensive and popular option. Chewing rawhide will also help your puppy develop strong jaws. However, it is important to supervise your puppy when he is chewing on rawhide, since choking is possible. Dogs that ingest a lot of rawhide can develop gastrointestinal issues, and some rawhides are not edible, so read the labels carefully. Clinically proven to reduce tartar build up Cleans plaque and tarter between teeth, all the way down to the gum line Includes 4-Packs of three different flavors: 32 original, 12 fresh, 18 Beef Check Price Other ways to help ease the pain of teething Flavored and treat-based toys provide a lot of fun for puppies. One of the best things about these types of toys is that they will keep your puppy busier for that much longer. Puppy teething sticks have a rubber surface that helps soothe achy gums and teeth. Most of these sticks feature grooves that help clean teeth more effectively. You might also consider bones for your young German Shepherd to chew on. However, make sure you use beef marrow bones, instead of pork, chicken, or turkey bones. Non-beef bones can splinter too easily and cause serious injury. Dental bones can also be helpful for your puppy. These bones help promote dental health, which is good to manage as early as possible in your dog. These bones are durable and also do not present the splintering hazard that other bones do. One of the outcomes of using the right teething products should be having a puppy focused on something other than their mouth pain. The more controlled their mouth pain, the more your puppy can concentrate on obedience training. German Shepherd puppies may develop the habit of biting and nipping when teething. It may seem cute, but it is important to nip that behavior in the bud since it can become a habit that continues well into adulthood. Most puppies learn bite inhibition before you bring them home, as these puppies are used to playing with their siblings and biting each other all day. As they play with each other, they learn the bite tolerance levels of their siblings. If you have a lower pain tolerance than a puppy, you will have to teach them what yours is. Your puppy will start to associate biting with the end of you playing with him and him receiving attention from you. Do this every time he bites and nips. Then, put your thumb under his tongue, and put your index finger under his chin. He will feel discomfort, and if you do this consistently, he will associate biting with discomfort. Pull away and pinch your puppy on the neck. Do this consistently, and he will associate biting with pinching. Since puppies typically become wary of strangers at 18 months of age, it is important to start socialization as soon as possible. You can try puppy playgroups and dog parks — this socialization will help them learn how to play nicely with others. When you are training him, do not allow him to chew on your hands. However, remember to reward good behavior. If your puppy is listening to you, reward him with a treat for learning something new, and make sure you always have enough treats on hand! As he gets better with the training, food treats can be replaced with cuddles. What should I do if my German Shepherd chews something inappropriate? Punishment is not the way to correct bad behavior. Physical punishment and yelling should be avoided. Catching the dog in the act is the key to making discipline work effectively. If you scold the dog after the fact, they will not understand why they got into trouble. Quick diversion with a more appropriate chew toy works better. One of the advantages of using diversion as a technique is that it teaches the puppy what to do, instead of only showing them what not to do. Positive training methods have a more significant overall effect on your puppy. A common mistake that many people make is believing that training must be halted during the teething stages. Puppies can and should be trained during this time. However, training will give your puppy a needed diversion that will hopefully keep the chewing under control. Even if you train the puppy during teething, they will understand what is and is not appropriate behavior. This is key to a well-adjusted puppy. The age where a puppy is still teething is a perfect time to do crate training. One of the best things about crate training is that it is an excellent way to get them acclimated to their own sleeping space, helping you reach two goals at once. Also be sure to keep dangerous foods for dogs like chocolate and grapes well hidden. If your German Shepherd is past the normal teething stage but is still chewing, anti-chew sprays can come in handy. These sprays will make whatever object the dog is chewing taste very unpleasant, allowing the sprays to serve as deterrents. Jubilant Pups emphasizes the importance of giving a teething German Shepherd puppy sufficient exercise to help avoid needless destruction. An example would be 15 minutes for a three-month-old puppy. The advantage of twice-daily play sessions is making sure your puppy gets their exercise, without becoming too exhausted. You want your puppy calm, but not sick from overexertion. Even though teething puppies will do a lot of chewing, sufficient exercise will help curb the worst behavior. Your puppy will be better-behaved overall, and less likely to chew inappropriately. Nervous energy is behind a lot of undesirable behaviors like nuisance chewing. A more relaxed puppy is less likely to take out their frustration through chewing and other unwanted behaviors. The period between the puppy initially losing their baby teeth and getting adult teeth will be one of the most challenging times where behavior is concerned. Try your best to remain patient with your puppy during this time. Once your puppy has reached the age where adult teeth are settling in, start playing fetch with your dog. This is a perfect way to bond with your German Shepherd puppy through play. Some of the benefits of fetch as an activity include increased stamina, endurance, and better-developed muscles. Your puppy will likely look forward to it. Even when German Shepherd Dogs still have puppy teeth, they can be very sharp and cause painful bites. Daily brushing prevents tooth decay and other oral problems in puppy teeth. Choose a dog toothpaste when brushing as human toothpaste may upset his stomach. Keep regular appointments with your vet so they can keep track of the oral health of your dog. Feeding your dog a healthy diet will also help to keep his teeth healthy. You can ask for dog food recommendations at your local pet store to promote oral health. German Shepherd Gums Typically, the german shepherd dogs have a bluish or black tongue along with grey or black-pigmented gums. The black spot is melanin, a natural pigment. If this happens, take your german shepherds to your vet as soon as possible. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the German Shepherds gums, which develops when the plaque is not removed and causes the gums to be inflamed so the gums bleed easily. Periodontitis is a German Shepherds gum disease that affects not only the gums but also other tissues around the teeth. This will result in bone loss. Even though it is a phase of relatively short duration, a teething puppy can leave a lot of destruction in their wake. However, the more you know about the teething stages, the better you can help your puppy to adjust. Regardless of how frustrating it can be to live with a teething puppy, knowing when and how quickly they will go through the stages makes everything easier. German Shepherd puppies will go through four stages of teething. When your German Shepherd puppy is born, it will have no teeth, just like a human baby. They will start to grow in their baby teeth when they reach about six weeks old, maybe seven or eight depending on the puppy. By this point, your German Shepherd puppy will have up to 28 teeth. At the week mark, your puppy will start losing their baby teeth to get ready for their adult teeth to grow in. By the time they are eight months old, your German Shepherd puppy should have grown in all 42 of their adult teeth. What can you give a teething German Shepherd? You may have noticed that your puppy has started chewing everything they can get their paws on, and this is most likely due to teething. Ice cubes are also a cheap and easily accessible solution. Or, let them sit and chew on a block of ice, this will keep them occupied while calming their gums. You can also purchase puppy teething gel that contains soothing ingredients such as clove oils, peppermint and chamomile. Recommended reading:. Related posts German Shepherd puppy teething stages German Shepherd puppies start teething when their baby milk teeth fall out and their adult teeth start growing in. During your German Shepherd puppy teething stages, you can expect small blood stains or spots on his or her toys. You may even find his or her small loose teeth on your floor or carpet. But, when do German Shepherds start teething, and when do German Shepherds stop teething? Here are the German Shepherd teeth stages. Save Big On Dog Essentials! Welcome to our pack! German Shepherd puppy teeth start growing between 2 to 3 weeks old Like humans, German Shepherd puppies are also born without any teeth. Around the 2 weeks mark or 14 days, the German Shepherd baby teeth or puppy milk teeth will start to come in. This is around the same time they start to open their eyes. When the puppy teeth start pushing through their gums, they can be sharp. Your German Shepherd puppy has different types of canine teeth. They are: Incisors Front teeth. Canine teeth When canine teeth grow in, dogs can start eating solid foods. Pre-molars After around 6 weeks, pre-molars stop coming through. These are also the exact orders that the puppy baby teeth will come through. Your German Shepherd puppies will have grown all 28 puppy milk teeth by the time they reach 8 weeks old. German Shepherd puppies start teething and growing adult teeth from 12 weeks old onwards When do German Shepherd puppies lose their teeth? So, when do German Shepherds lose their puppy teeth? When do German Shepherds lose their baby teeth? Nine to ten weeks after their baby teeth have grown in, their adult teeth will start to push through as well. At this point, your German Shepherd puppies should be 12 weeks 3 months old and they should have a total of 28 puppy teeth with 32 adult teeth expected to come through next. As they prepare for the adult teeth to grow in, the puppy milk teeth start to fall out. So at 12 weeks old, the German Shepherd puppies will begin the teething stage and the 32 adult teeth will replace their puppy milk teeth. When do German Shepherds stop teething? The teething stage will begin from month 3 to when the puppies reach 7 to 8 months old so that is a 4 to 5 months timeframe between when the teething stage to when it ends. Some puppies could complete the teething phase before they reach 7 to 8 months old, while other puppies could take longer. How long do German Shepherds teethe for: Up to 20 to 24 weeks For the most part, many German Shepherd puppies will have stopped teething by the time they reach 6 months or 24 weeks old. Every dog is different and the dental development stages vary for each dog. While the puppy milk teeth push through easily, the same can not be said of the adult teeth. It takes time for the German Shepherd adult teeth to push through and grow. It will take the molars to grow in. This is pretty abnormal, but can still happen. At this point, your German Shepherd dogs should have a total of 42 shiny, white, and strong adult teeth. When do German Shepherd puppies start teething? When German Shepherd puppies start teething, there are plenty of signs to let you know that they are teething. You might know from your puppies chewing on furniture, shoes, and everything they can get ahold of. Bloodstains or blood spots on the toys Teething can be both uncomfortable and painful for your little German Shepherd pup. To get through that pain or as a way of relieving that pain, your puppy may chew their toys more. Chewing also helps them cope with the pain. We highly recommend buying some chew toys to keep them biting on the toys and not the valuable items in your house. Frequent drooling During this time, your puppy may drool more than usual. Behavioral change due to pain of teething Due to the pain, frequent gum irritation, and discomfort, your German Shepherd puppy may act out. The adult teeth are growing in and they are relatively larger so it will disrupt the gums a little. Teeth are misaligned Some baby teeth will remain in place as the adult teeth push their way through. Thus, some teeth will be misaligned. This may seem weird, but the baby milk teeth will fall out before your pup knows it. Mild fever Like our kids, our German Shepherd puppies can also get a mild fever when they are teething. This is absolutely normal. We highly recommend that German Shepherd puppies chew on teething toys when their adult teeth are coming in. This can be your most expensive shoes, purse, sofa, tables, blankets, beds, and more! Make sure the toys are strong and durable, not soft or stuffed. The hard and durable chew toys will allow your German Shepherd puppies to satisfy their chewing and provide them soft and sore gums with much-needed relief. When our dogs were puppies and going through the teething stage, we gave them these teething toys and we believe these are great teething toys for German Shepherd puppies too. What we like about these teething toys is that they can also work as a treat too. Your German Shepherd puppies will enjoy getting their teeth on this. Before we used to give these to our pups, we put them in the fridge first. This makes the toy very cold and is a great way to numb the sore and inflamed gums. Best of all, you can add treats or put peanut butter inside the toy to mentally stimulate your pups. Just like us, they have baby teeth, and German Shepherds really are no different; be prepared, because German Shepherds will teethe… hard. I have a very clear memory of when we got our first ever dog. During the puppy months we would find tiny teeth on the floor which would come out as he chewed everything in sight to relieve his sore teeth and gums. This chewing is a huge part of the teething process but is something you can make easier for your German Shepherd puppy to contend with. Today I want to share everything I have learned about why German Shepherds teethe, at what age they lose their baby or milk teeth, what to expect as an owner, and how to help them… plus ways to stop them chewing your furniture! My intention is for this to be the only guide you would ever need to read about the dental development of your German Shepherd. This is completely normal during the teething phases. But when should you expect this to start and then finally stop? German Shepherd puppy baby teeth start coming through — between 2 and 3 weeks old German Shepherds are born without teeth. The 2-week point in their life is a massive time in their growth and becoming the German Shepherds we know and love. Of course, most German Shepherd owners will never get to see this phase in their dental development stage as German Shepherd puppies should not be leaving their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old. Canine teeth at which point they can start on solid foods. Pre-molars stop coming through after about 6 weeks. By 8 weeks of age, your German Shepherd should have grown all of its 28 milk teeth. German Shepherd starts teething and growing adult teeth — 12 weeks of age onwards The next stage of dental development is the teething phase. When do German Shepherds lose their baby teeth? German Shepherd puppies will lose their baby teeth at around 3 months or 12 weeks old. This the age at which German Shepherds start to teeth as they lose the milk teeth which fall out. There are 28 baby teeth in total, and surprisingly, 32 adult teeth which will grow through in the place of the milk teeth. German Shepherd teething age will vary, but typically starts at 3 months. German Shepherd puppies stop teething — 7 to 8 months of age When do German Shepherds stop teething? German Shepherd puppies will typically stop teething at around 7 to 8 months old. German Shepherd adult teeth take a lot longer to grow and push through compared to their baby milk teeth. The molars at the back are the ones that are particularly stubborn. At the very latest, your 8-month-old German Shepherd puppy should have stopped teething. Anything after that age would be unusual, but still not unheard of. Most German Shepherds will now have all 42 adult teeth. Signs of teething in German Shepherd puppies As you might have already experienced with your German Shepherd puppy, the first sign of teething is them chewing everything in sight. Small baby teeth: One of the more obvious signs is finding their cute little teeth. They might be on the floor, embedded in a toy, or near a food bowl. Blood spots on toys: As German Shepherds teethe, they will chew on their toys to relieve the pain. This can result in blood when baby teethe come out or gums are irritated. Lots of drooling: Teething puppies can drool, so expect to see more saliva than usual coming from their mouths. Even more chewing: When German Shepherds teethe, they need to relieve the pain and the best way to do this is by chewing. Give them chew toys and keep them away from anything that you value! Sore gums: Teething German Shepherds will get inflamed and red gums. They will look really sore, because the larger adult teeth are pushing up through. Change in behavior: Your German Shepherd puppy will be in pain from time to time and might even be irritable. Try to distract them with teething toys and lots of attention. Mild fever: If you have ever had kids, you will know that they can get a little hot when teething. German Shepherd puppies are the same. Misaligned teeth: As the adult teeth come through, they might not always push a baby tooth. Your German Shepherd might have a bit of a redneck look at the two teeth sit together until the milk tooth falls out. Recommended German Shepherd teething toys All puppies need something to chew on when new teeth are coming through. They will try to chew your shoes, furniture… pretty much anything. To help your German Shepherd puppy when teething, instead invest in some teething toys that are hard and durable enough to give their gums relief. There are two teething toys we used with our own puppy which always worked a treat. Not only is a great for German Shepherds to get their teeth around, but you can also put treats inside of it to mentally challenge them as well. What we also used to do was place ours in the freezer before letting our teething puppy have. That way it was really nice and cold and helped to soothe his sore gums. My second recommendation is the Nylabone dog chew on Amazon. This is how much they will end up chewing it! How to stop your German Shepherd puppy chewing when teething Once those milk teeth start to fall out, your German Shepherd puppy will want to get his or her teeth around anything to give much needed pain relief. You might have to hide things, reduce their access to certain rooms, and keep a close eye on them. Chew proof your home: You might need to install stair gates to restrict access to certain rooms where your prized furniture is located. You might have to move things above their height. Nothing is safe from a teething German Shepherd puppy! Give them frozen treats: As well as chew toys, a piece of frozen carrot or an ice cube can really help to soothe their sore gums. Keep them exercised: German Shepherds that have energy to burn will chew more than those that are tired out. Give your German Shepherd puppy a couple of walks a day and provide plenty of indoor play time too. Keep them entertained: Bored German Shepherds tend to be destructive. Get their toys out to keep them mentally challenged and distracted whilst teething. Puppies can cause utter devastation whilst teething. You just need to look at how chewed the corner of our wooden dining room table was during the teething phase. German Shepherd teething can last a while and your furniture will know it! What other owners say I am part many different German Shepherd social media groups, and recently asked people about their own experiences with their own puppies and teething. Bored German Shepherds will start chewing your things when they teethe. Nylabone and Kong Toys are two of my faves. Bully sticks and Himalayan cheese sticks are good. We also use real bones from the meat department at our local store, frozen so they last longer, and our dogs love them. If your German Shepherd is teething and eats dry food try and soften the biscuits as chewing hard food can be a big turn off put for them as their gums can be quite sensitive. Puppies crave different things at different times and are learning what their teeth can do in addition to the teething that they are going through. I recommend 20 different teething toys and rotate them. They hate the smell and it will stop them chewing your stuff. And give him chews. It is boredom that makes them chew more than anything. Just put a knot in each end and wet them, then freeze them! He loved it and still just loves playing with tea towels now at nearly 2 years old. Would recommend putting the tea towel in a food bag when freezing. How much pain they are will vary from puppy to puppy — our own dog had quite mild teething pain from what we could tell, but it depends on the dog. But, almost all of them will chew. You can expect to see little teeth on the floor or stuck into things they have chewed on, plus those little blood spots I mentioned. At this time of their dental development, your German Shepherd puppy will need your love and support, plenty of chewable toys, patience, and understanding. You might also like… If you enjoyed this guide to German Shepherd teething ages and how long it all lasts, then you might also like these other German Shepherd puppy related articles:.

Rupert Jones Sat 10 Oct .Read more High demand and the large sums at stake have created a lucrative market for puppy smugglers, who illegally import dogs into the country, often from central and eastern Europe. Some people have been duped out of their cash completely — often by fraudsters posing as breeders and using images from legitimate puppy adverts. Others end up unknowingly buying puppies that are unhealthy and may eventually require costly veterinary treatment, or have behavioural problems. Kennel Club research has also found that almost a quarter of those who bought a puppy during the pandemic have experienced complications — from being charged more than initially agreed or the dog looking different to the one advertised, to the puppy becoming unwell once home or not having vaccination records. One bit of good news is that commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens were banned in England from 6 April this year — hopefully spelling the beginning of the end for puppy farming. On the p up — soaring puppy prices Labrador puppies. Read more However, a price check carried out by Guardian Money this week suggests that average costs for those breeds are now higher than that and have also soared for other in-demand breeds. We searched for puppies for sale under four months old across all sellers and all locations. The upfront cost depends on the breed and where you get it from. If they are advertising many litters from different breeds, this is a red flag. Fraudsters often give fake addresses, use a variety of different mobile numbers and have multiple ads online. Do consider a Kennel Club assured breeder — to find out more, go to thekennelclub. Do make sure to visit more than once, even if it is via video call because of the coronavirus restrictions. Pets4Homes has a service where a buyer can put down a deposit that is held in escrow until the buyer and seller have finalised the transaction — although sellers can choose not to use it. Do ask lots of questions and make sure you see vital paperwork, such as a puppy contract, which gives lots of information about their parents, health, diet, etc. There is lots of help and advice out there. They visited Athens in August and while they were there a friend took them to an animal rescue centre run by an organisation called Save a Greek Stray. Costs Whippets can be sensitive to cold weather. Exercising your Labrador Another thing to consider is how much exercise will your labrador do? To exercise your Labrador you will need to walk them for at least 30 minutes every day, but this changes from when they are a small dog to when they become older and slower, as is typical with a large breed. Labradors are very active and love playing, so you will also require a big yard in which you can play with your puppy! Labrador feeding guide Feeding a Labrador is essential for your puppy to grow and develop. Labradors require a high-quality diet consisting of protein, vitamins, and minerals. When feeding my labrador puppy vets recommend buying puppy kibble from the pet store because it has been made specifically for young puppies under 12 months old. You should take your dog to get regular checkups where you can check if you are feeding it the right food. What colours can a Labrador be? What colour is most popular? Labrador pups come in various colours — black the most common , yellow which includes chocolate , red and silver. Black labradors are in high demand due to their especially gentle nature around children, they are less commonly used as a show lab. Black labs are also used a lot in country pursuits. When choosing a colour you should consider what you want your dog to do. If allergy sufferers were thinking about owning a labrador retriever then a golden one could be the best option as there would only ever be minimal amounts of allergens around the home compared to other options out there. Living costs of Labaradors Labrador living costs can vary from place to place. One of the most important costs that needs considering is what you might need in order for your dog to be kept healthy and well. The cost of getting a Labrador vaccinated on time after it has been born can vary depending on where you are based as well as how much experience they have with labradors — so always ask around, do some research online or even phone up local vets! You will also be expected to pay vet fees and feed your lab good quality food. For leads and toys, anything from anywhere! Labradors live to be about years old so the cost of raising one will go up over time as they get older. Labrador size also varies! This is where the joints in their hips or elbows do not develop properly during puppyhood, which can cause pain later on. Labrador retrievers are also prone to eye problems including cataracts nuclear sclerosis of the lens , progressive retinal atrophy degeneration of retina cells and arthritis or hip problems later in life. How to purchase a Labrador There are multiple options to consider when buying Labrador puppies. Puppies cost a lot of money, but you can avoid this cost by adopting an adult Labrador from your local shelter or rescue. If you do buy a puppy, make sure to choose the right breeder and location! This will save you future heartache when purchasing a labrador. Labradors are medium-sized dogs that have been ranked as the number one most popular dog in America for over 20 years straight. They are a very friendly large dog. Are Labrador Retrievers Good Pets? Labradors are known to be a great breed of dogs, they are a large and lively breed and make a great family pet. They are very friendly and make good pets for families with children or even other animals in the house. However, there is one drawback to owning a Labrador apart from hair everywhere — their high maintenance costs! They are known as a very active breed and require lots of exercise daily, taking them out on long walks or runs every day will become an essential part of life! If you can not get this type of physical activity into your everyday routine it might be best to choose a more relaxed dog, or something a lot smaller. Do labradors bark a lot? Labradors do bark a lot, they are known as a very vocal breed of dogs and will become more so when they reach puppyhood! If you have neighbors who can hear them barking from your property this may not be the best breed for you. Can Labradors live outside? Labradors are not the best breed of dog to live outside, they are very active and need lots of exercise daily. If you do not have time every day to take them out on long walks or runs then it might be better for your puppy if they lived inside with you! Backyards may be good enough for labradors but they will need to be let out often too. A Lab dog should still spend time in a home environment but if you leave your dog outside a lot make sure he gets regular vaccinations What is a similar breed to a Labrador Retriever? If you are looking for a similar dog to a Lab Retriever then there are many similar breeds to consider! Golden Retrievers, Flat Coated Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels are all puppy breeds that can be found in many different colours like black, chocolate, or yellow. All of these dogs should have a similar temperament too so could make great family pets for you. When will my Labrador become an adult Labs become adult dogs when they are between 12 months and 18 months old. This is the time when they will start to be more independent but they still need your guidance! Training your lab Puppy When deciding to train a lab puppy you should consider puppy classes. Lab puppies make great pets for families because they love to play with children, labradors have been known to never bite or nip. Lab puppies should be taught how to interact with humans and dogs to assure they are well behaved. Conclusion In short a Labrador dog is a very popular breed of dog. They make excellent pets and loyal companions for humans, but they do come with some costs that you should be aware of before purchasing one as your next canine companion. You may want to consider pet insurance just in case the unthinkable happens and your labrador needs veterinary care or has an accident while playing outside. We break down everything you need to know before signing up for coverage in our blog post on the subject. To summarize, here are the key points we found: The most important thing to consider when looking at rates is whether or not your dog requires any specific breed-specific treatments such as hip dysplasia treatment; if so, make sure that this condition is covered by the plan you choose. Another major factor affecting pricing is where you live — some regions have higher costs of living than others which means prices may be more expensive there too. Should you get a labrador? A Labrador dog is a very popular breed of dog. How much does a Labrador cost? How do I find labrador breeders? How much should I expect to spend on vet bills for my Labrador? How much does a puppy cost from a local breeder? This is something that you will need to discuss with your preferred Labrador breeder before bringing home your new pet. Is my Labrador from a puppy farm? To spot a puppy farm is not always easy, however, there are signs to look out for that might indicate your Labradors parents were kept in puppy farm conditions. The cost is more for a pedigree with a champion bloodline. So, for having a proper dog, finding a reputable breeder who provides healthy puppies is the key. In fact, you should also think about ongoing expenses such as food, veterinary care, and training when considering the cost of a Labrador. Young puppies will cost more. However, this high price is worth it. The reason is simple, you get them at a young age and can enjoy their company, have fun etc. Location The location also plays a crucial role in the cost of a Labrador. In general, the prices vary on the basis of the cost of living and demand in different areas of the country. For instance, in London and other major cities, the cost of living is high. So, this can drive up the cost of owning a Labrador in the city. However, in more rural areas or less densely populated regions, for example, Newcastle, the cost is comparatively less because of the lower demand and cost of living. Colour coat In general, Labrador pups come in 3 colours, black, yellow and silver. However, all Labradors are born white and the colour develops with time. The most common ones are Black labradors. But, they are in high demand. The main reason is their gentle nature around children. So, they are expensive in comparison with yellow and silver. The reputation of a Breeder A breeder with a high reputation follows all the necessary rules while nurturing the dog. From their food items to medical, they cover all the costs. Also, the dog is well-trained and in top-notch condition. Where To Buy a Labrador? You know the factors affecting the labrador dog price, but, where can you buy one? These dogs are carefully bred for health and temperament. You can verify them by referring to different websites. For instance, you can check if they are registered with organisations such as the Kennel Club and have a nice reputation in the pet community. Here, you are not only buying the dog but also providing a home to a dog in need. Many rescue centres in the UK assist people with rehoming Labradors and other dog breeds. The staff at the rescue shelter can easily provide you with this valuable information. Talking to other dog owners will get you insights into the breed and help you with your research of finding reputable breeders or rescue shelters near your area. This will help you find a good lab dog who can easily blend in with your family. First-time cost of owning a labrador Once you own a labrador, there are many additional expenses that you need to consider. Regardless, of where you get your labrador, below are some of the crucial expenses that must be covered in your pre-planned budget. However as Labradors eat a lot, this cost can easily go up. Their eating habits make them vulnerable to obesity! Because obesity can cause health issues and in turn increase the medical bill. Medical expenses Even if you manage to get a healthy dog, there are some initial medical costs. The lab dog can have health issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia at any given point. Also, if your dog is not spayed or neutered you may have to spend some money on their surgery. Training and grooming costs The double coat of the labrador dog sheds frequently and hence, they need regular grooming. In addition, a trainer may charge more if the activities or training exercises are more. Toys Labradors are energetic dogs and need activity or exercise. In fact, their friendly nature with young kids and other pets makes them good companions. Further, there are some other expenses like- microchipping, extra supplies poop scooper, and poop bags , dog license, pet insurance, dog care, etc. So, if you get into such confusion, here are some questions that you must ask yourself before thinking of acquiring one: 1 Do you have big enough space for the dog? Dogs require space, both indoors and outdoors. They need space to exercise and stretch their legs. Labradors as fairly large and active dogs and require a decent space to roam around or train. Thus you need to have at least a normal-sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Labrador puppies are energetic and demand attention from their owners. Hence, if you cannot take your dog to work with you, then you need to reconsider. When you bring a dog into the house, it impacts the lifestyle of your family. Sure, labradors are friendly in nature, but, at times kids find it difficult to adjust to their continuous presence. While the idea of buying a labrador dog seems fascinating, you have to make sure you can afford the maintenance cost i. If you are finding ways to cut-cost, the next section will show you some ways you can save money while owning a labrador. Even if you manage to get them at a low price, we saw the additional expenses that are necessary to be included in the budget. Here, one can make food treats for their dog using simple ingredients such as oats, peanut butter, eggs, flour etc. Train your dog yourself As mentioned earlier, professional dog trainers are expensive. So, if you wish to save some money, you can consider training your dog at home. Grooming at home Similar to a professional trainer, a groomer will also charge heavily for grooming your lab dog. So, instead of paying such a high amount, you can groom your dog at home itself. It is important to brush gently in the direction of hair growth to avoid hurting your dog. Still, when necessary you can give them a bath with lukewarm water and dog shampoo. Ear cleaning — by using a damp cloth or any ear-cleaning solution you can clean their ears. Nail trimming — with the help of clippers made for dogs you can trim their nails. Vet visits This may seem strange but, you need to regularly visit the vet to check out whether your lab dog is healthy or not. In addition, this cost can elevate if the dog is well-trained and from a reputable breeder. However, some breeders set the labrador price more because of the lineage or the rare coat colour. What is the black labrador puppy price in the UK? Black labradors are the most expensive. This colour is rarer than their chocolate counterparts. What is the best age to buy a Labrador puppy? Female lab dogs are a little bit smaller than males of the same breed, so you can make gender selections based on whether you are looking for a smaller or larger dog. How much is a golden retriever UK? Prices for Golden Retrievers depend on which part of the UK you are residing in. Final Take Labrador prices are high and vary on different factors. Make sure the dog is in healthy condition and the breeder can provide you with a pedigree certificate. Having said that, stay alert while you explore low price dogs. We say this because there are unethical breeders out there offering puppies at low prices, but, are not properly nurtured by them. So, if you are looking for an affordable option then you can consider a shelter or rescue house. Lastly, your family should have an equal say in the decision of getting a labrador dog in the house. Hence, consider every aspect mentioned in the article and make a conscious decision. Are they good family dogs? Labrador Dog Price — The Costs Involved Buying a Labrador is not just a question of the purchase price of a Lab puppy, though of course that is important. There are other costs involved, both financial, emotional and in terms of time and effort. So we need to look at those too. You may be wondering whether you will have the time for a dog, and if you have the space and energy for a large and lively breed? But this page will take you back to the fundamental considerations, to help you to make the right choice for you and your family. Do you have time for a dog? Can you afford a dog? What about your lifestyle? Will a dog fit in with your family? Is a Labrador the right dog for you? These questions all apply regardless of the type of Labrador you are looking for. The needs of a black Lab, yellow Lab or chocolate Lab are all the same in these respects. The same goes for an English or American Labrador too. Dogs need space, both indoors and outside. Even small breeds need room to stretch their legs and run about. And Labradors as fairly large and lively dogs need quite a lot of space. This means you need a decent sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Somewhere that your Lab dog can run around, play and enjoy training sessions with you. Labradors can be quite silly during adolescence, bouncing and cavorting in the home. Their tails are long and thick, easily knocking any fragile decorations you might have from shelves. If you have lots of ornaments then you will need to move them to higher shelves to avoid them getting damaged. You will also need to move anything that could be easily damaged by chewing. With small puppies this will be very often indeed. Perhaps every 15 to 20 minutes during their first few days with you. If you live in a flat, or do not have a garden, this will be difficult for you. These are helpful but do take up a lot of space. Although this will take up a lot of space indoors, it can work very well for larger apartments with no easy outside access. Ideally however you do need to have a garden, and a part of the garden which your dog can use as a bathroom, along with a good system for clearing up after him hygienically. Space is key for a Lab dog! The right space for a Labrador includes large clear rooms in the house, with no breakable or fragile objects within his grasp. And ideally access to a garden where they can easily be let out to the bathroom and have room to play. Keeping a single Labrador permanently outside however is not usually a good idea, even with adequate shelter and security. Labs are very sociable dogs and prone to separation anxiety if they lack company. This means your dog may be both sad and noisy. It is always sad to hear from new puppy owners that are struggling to juggle the needs of a puppy with their need to work. These articles will help you to deal with this common issue. Even with a visit at lunch time. An older dog may cope with being left for up to four hours in row on a regular basis, but puppies need more attention than this. Contented Labradors are fairly quiet dogs and unlikely to disturb your neighbors. Nor are they very good guard dogs. However, lonely dogs bark and wreck things. If you work all day, can you afford to pay someone to come in and let him out to stretch his legs and empty himself? Or do you have a relative or friend that would be prepared to do this on a regular basis. Bear in mind that this is quite a lot to ask of anyone in the long term. The biggest long term time commitment in owning a dog is in the form of training and exercise. Training Takes Time All dogs need training in order that they can rub along in human society without being a complete nuisance. This means a regular daily commitment of ten to twenty minutes from you, in addition to your regular interaction with the dog. Training cannot be saved up for the weekend, your dog will have forgotten most of what he learnt the weekend before, and he does not have the attention span to concentrate on you for an hour and a half. You can find out more about training your Labrador puppy here. Staying Fit Exercise is required on a regular basis, for some breeds of dog this means at least an hour a day of walking or jogging to keep your dog fit and healthy. You can find out more about the exercise requirements of a Labrador puppy here. Whilst your dog will not come to any harm if you miss a day occasionally, a daily routine is often the best way to ensure that you build this important habit. Can You Afford A Dog? Dogs can be quite expensive to run. You need to consider not only how much a Labrador will cost you to buy, but also how much it will cost you to keep. How much do Labradors cost from breeders? The price of a Labrador puppy will vary from breeder to breeder, and from place to place. Perhaps you know a friend that has a litter of puppies and they are going to let you have one for free. However, the purchase price of a dog is almost irrelevant. It is such a small part of the final cost. The cost of keeping a Labrador The reality is, you are also going to need to fork out a chunk of your wages each week on keeping your pooch happy and healthy. Obviously you will have taken the cost of a good brand of Labrador puppy food into consideration. It is a good idea to budget for veterinary insurance too. Not because it is unreasonably priced, but simply because it is now so advanced. You can fix a lot of problems these days. We can do open heart surgery, mend complex fractures, treat cancer with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Pretty much anything you can treat in a human, you can now treat in a dog. And the catch? It costs. The more comprehensive your insurance package the more it will cost. Watch out for very cheap deals, as they may not provide continuing cover for long term ailments. You will also need to vaccinate your dog against common canine illness , and this will probably need to be done each year too. Especially if you are wanting to occasionally leave them in boarding kennels when you go away, as they require up to date vaccination certificates. Labrador Puppy Costs There will be a few other one-off costs such as a puppy crate and puppy play pen for your home for when your dog is young, another for your car if you have one. Then there are bowls, bedding, collar, leash etc. But you may be able to borrow a crate or get one second hand. Here are some of the items you will need for your new Labrador puppy, and reviews on the best options for Labradors:. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We also shared a few tips on what to expect when buying a puppy. If you follow these tips, you can get a healthy Labrador Retriever puppy for a great price and avoid getting ripped off. Pet Keen advocates for adopting before shopping. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. ChampDogs helps you track down those dogs in your area. You can filter results by location, colours, completed health tests, and more! Gumtree puts you in contact with all the local breeders to get you the perfect puppy without having to hit the countryside. Not only are there tons of local breeders, but with Poolehall Labradors right around the corner, you can easily get a show-quality Labrador! A site like FreeAds makes use of this fact to put you in touch with local breeders. Just make sure to do your homework before forking over any cash. Not only are there are tons of Labrador Retrievers on the site, but many of them are also registered working dogs. Keep in mind that while most of that money is profit, it also goes to cover initial shots, health check-ups, and other necessary things to keep the puppies happy and healthy. Before you buy a puppy, ask the breeder the following questions. References: Before purchasing a dog from a breeder, get and check their references. Ideally, you want to reach out to customers whom the breeder might not be listing. Registration status: This one comes down to the pedigree of the dog. Keep in mind that you need the official registration status for your puppy, not just the parents. Is there a health guarantee? Do get a guarantee of health for at least a few months. Can you meet the parents? First, you should see the genetic lineage that your puppy is coming from. Where are the puppies raised? They Have Tons of Energy Before you bring home a Labrador Retriever , you need to ensure that you have plenty of space for them to roam and exercise. But big dogs also eat tons of food. Full-grown Labrador Retrievers can eat 4. They Are Extremely Smart and Trainable If you want a dog that you can train to do about a million tasks, a Labrador Retriever is a great choice. If you have kids and want a dog, a Labrador Retriever is ideal. There are tons of breeders out there, and the result is tons of Labrador Retrievers that you can purchase! You may also want to read:.

We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. After switching it out for both filtered water and bottled water to no avail, I started researching what else Labrador puppies could drink. By 7 weeks old, most Labs should be weaned from milk and primarily drink water. A good rule of thumb is an ounce of water per pound in weight each day. Occasionally, small amounts of chicken broth can be added for flavor. Raising a Lab puppy will be full of trial and error, but when it comes to what your dog drinks, you need to be sure. According to PubMed , dog milk contains 7. Puppies need the nutrients and calories to grow and develop. Canines have a hard time with dairy milk digestion so they could suffer an upset stomach and even diarrhea. If you must feed your Lab puppy any milk-like product, make it a puppy milk formula like PetLac or Esbilac from PetAg. The mother may not quit nursing entirely, and that can be true even beyond the point when the puppy eats solid foods. However, she will feed her puppies less and less milk as the weeks continue. They should have been eating solid food since about the four-week mark, maybe four and a half weeks. This is where their nutrition comes from now. This should be their drink of choice for the rest of their lives! Puppies already have to pee a lot since they have tiny bladders. Offering them too much water will only increase the number of times you need to take them out…or the number of accidents you have to clean. How much water should you give your Lab puppy? Each day, they should drink an ounce of water per pound of body weight. Your dog should drink at least 8 ounces of water. Using the example from above, an 8-pound puppy should drink 4 ounces of water a day if they consume 0. On some occasions, your Labrador will drink more than even 8 ounces of water a day. Cut off all eating and drinking no later than two hours before you and your Lab go to bed. During the day, please let your Lab drink what they need to. Puppies can become dehydrated much more easily compared to adult dogs. Water is an important part of the overall metabolic process, which includes digestion, brain activity, blood flow, and breathing, as well as kidney and liver function. It also helps young dogs grow big and strong. Recommended Videos And, since a dog cools by panting, drinking water is essential for replacing the moisture that evaporates from their tongues, nasal passages, and lungs during the process. Lastly, a well-hydrated dog has a moist nose, which aids in their ability to smell. One of the best ways to make sure your puppy is drinking enough water is to set up a schedule. Instead of leaving a bowl out for them to drink at will, ration their intake. Every few hours, measure the appropriate amount of water into their drinking bowl and call your puppy. Encourage your pup to drink the water, and when they do, reward them with praise and a few minutes of playtime. When you add potty training to the mix, you need to be mindful of a few other factors. First, you want to reduce water intake at night since the goal is to work your pup up to a full 8 hours of sleep. Make sure they get a drink after the evening walk, say half an hour to an hour following a meal. Then put the bowl away for the night. This works especially well if you otherwise confirm that Fido has had enough liquid during the day. Overheating and illnesses, especially those that include vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, put puppies at risk of dehydration. Chewing on ice cubes adds an element of fun while it aids in hydration. Flavor drinking water with chicken or beef broth. Put a treat at the bottom of the bowl. Overhydration If it seems your puppy is drinking too much water, pay attention. Dogs, and puppies, in particular, are super curious. Your little buddy may just be playing in the water bowl, which is more of a behavioral issue than a medical problem. But if you think your puppy is doing more drinking than playing, they may have an underlying medical issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Symptoms of overhydration include:. By Retriever Pets A Labrador drinking too much or too little water each day is a cause for concern. What is the ideal amount of water should a Labrador drink in a day? For a healthy dog, the ideal amount of water they should drink is between 0. If your Labrador is healthy and weighs 60 pounds, your dog should drink between 30 and 60 ounces of water in a day. However, certain things may affect the amount of water that a Labrador should drink in a day. Find one on Amazon. Factors that Alter the Water Intake of your Labrador There are certain things that can make your dog drink less than or more than the ideal amount of water intake per day. The following are factors that limit the amount of water that a Labrador should drink in a day: 1. Diet If your dog usually eats dry kibble , expect him to drink more water than the recommended intake. Dogs that eat mostly wet canned food or raw will likely consume less water than the dogs that eat dry kibble. We recommend doing more fruits and vegetables because fruits and vegetables have more water in them than other foods. Weather Dogs usually pant and sweat a lot during hot summer days and will naturally drink more water than usual as compared to cold winter months. Your Labrador experiences the same thing. During hot summer days, your dog needs to make sure that his body maintains proper fluid balance. Not all dogs are created equal. These dogs lose a lot of fluids via sweating. They need to drink more water to replace the lost fluids. If you take your dog hiking for long hours, make sure to let him drink more water than usual to prevent dehydration and make him lose his strength and stamina. Health If the health condition of your dog is not good and currently taking some medications for his illness, your vet can give you proper guidance regarding how much water your Labrador should drink in a day. The water intake of your dog may increase or decrease depending on his medical issue. Some medications require more water intake than usual. Size and age Older and larger dogs need more water than younger and smaller dogs. Following the ideal amount of water, intake is enough to make sure that your Labrador is drinking an adequate amount of water. For your puppy, you can start with the bare minimum and gradually increase the amount as he grows. They might drink all the water in one go, which is not good. Hydration Levels Dehydration or over-hydration is bad for your dog. Dehydration depletes the strength and vigor of your dog. If you failed to address it properly, it may lead to severe dehydration. When dehydration sets in, your dog may experience unconsciousness, listlessness, shivering, weakness, weak pulse, and rapid heart rate. Extreme cases of dehydration can cause death. Drinking excessive amounts of water can be toxic. Over-hydration can cause lethargy and sickness. If your dog drinks an ample amount of water, it can be an indicator of an underlying health condition. Checking for Dehydration To check for dehydration, you need to do the following: Pinch the skin of the neck of your dog. Stretch the skin up, and then stretch it outward. Let it go and observe the reaction of the skin. Healthy, well-hydrated skin will immediately snap back to its original position. The skin of a dehydrated dog will go back slowly to its original position and some raised skin will remain. Dry, wrinkly skin does not snap back when you release it. You can also run your finger to the gum of your dog to check if he is dehydrated. If the gum of your dog is dry or sticky, he is dehydrated. Try making your dog drink some more water to prevent extreme dehydration. A little coaxing should also do the trick. If he suddenly begins to drink a lot of water without rhyme or reason i. Your prompt action can prevent the disease from escalating into a bigger problem. You need to be observant and prudent in determining how much should a Labrador drink in a day, especially if your dog shows signs of illness. Water is vital in keeping the body hydrated so every system will function according to its design. Keep in mind that drinking too little or too much water is bad for the health of your Labrador. It is advisable to monitor your dog to make sure that he is getting the right amount of water that his body needs. An ounce of prevention is much better than a pound of cure. Giving some time to monitor your dog is an endeavor that can save you from encountering troubles later and prevent your dog from contracting a dreadful disease. Post navigation. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Making sure your dog is drinking enough, but not too much, improves their health and helps to stave off certain illnesses. Some dogs are under-drinkers, some are over-drinkers, and in both cases this can lead to health issues. So how much water should your Labrador drink each day? The factors that alter the amount between the upper and lower limits are: Their diet: Because a dog eating mainly wet canned food will require less water than a dog fed on dry kibble. So of course they drink more. So if you take your dog on a 3 hour hike, make sure you increase their water intake when compared to a lazy day in front of the TV. Medical advice: Some illnesses and some medications will affect how much water your Labrador should drink each day. Your vet will advise you if you need to increase or lessen their water intake. Age and size: Obviously a larger dog requires more water than a smaller dog, and an adult dog needs more than a puppy. Sticking to the 0. Or even over-hydrated? Well hydrated and healthy skin will very quickly snap back into position, exactly as it was before. But if your dog is dehydrated the skin will ease back gently and leave a little tent of skin. This test works because the elasticity of skin decreases as it loses moisture. A second method to check for dehydration is to check your dogs gums. If you run your finger over their gum you should find it very wet. You can also press your finger into their gum which forces the blood out making them appear white. Then when you release the pressure, the blood should come flooding back almost instantly. If it takes a few seconds, or remains a pale color, you need to get your dog to drink. Excessive water intake on its own can cause problems such as lethargy and being sick. Some dogs just do under-drink, so they may otherwise be healthy but you should have them checked. Praise and reward can often work wonders. So try training your dog to drink. Sometimes flavoring the water can help. These are known to work well. If you feed your Lab dry food , consider switching to wet food as this will increase their water intake too. So for an over-drinker, you simply ration what you give them. Conclusion Water is essential for life, and having the correct amount is vital for good health. And you should be mindful of their intake for getting it wrong can lead to health issues. Always make sure your dog gets plenty of clean, fresh water every day. Approximately 0. And be alert to any changes with their intake and act upon it. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. And drinking too much water can actually be toxic. Also, the amount of water your dog drinks can be an indicator of an underlying illness. Dogs with pancreatitis, parvovirus, or leptospirosis tend not to drink much water, but a brewing bladder infection, other types of infection, or a metabolic problem such as Cushing's disease, and diabetes can cause excessive thirst and water consumption. So, if your pet is drinking less or more water than normal, you should have her checked by your veterinarian to rule out an underlying condition. Need a great food for your dog? General Guidelines for Water Consumption and How to Tell If Your Dog is Dehydrated How much water your dog needs each day depends on his size, diet, age, activity level, and weather conditions. Puppies need to drink small amounts of water every couple of hours and should be closely monitored and encouraged to drink. After a period of hard play or exercise, use caution when your dog rehydrates. If he immediately laps up the contents of his water bowl, rest him for a bit before you refill his bowl. To determine if your dog may need more water, lift some skin at the back of her neck and let it go. If your dog is well hydrated, the skin will fall quickly back into place. The skin of a dehydrated dog will fall more slowly and form sort of a tent. The medical term for the desire to drink too much water is called psychogenic polydipsia. In severe cases, there can also be difficulty breathing, collapse, loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and death. The bodily condition that occurs when dogs over-consume water is called hyponatremia or inadequate levels of sodium in the bloodstream. It is most commonly seen in dogs who like to stay in the lake, pond or pool all day; pets that lap or bite at the water continuously while playing in it; and dogs that swallow water unintentionally as they dive for a ball or other toy. Also observe how your dog interacts with the water. The same can be true of dogs that dive to the bottom of a pool to retrieve items. And if your dog enjoys being sprayed with water from the hose or sprinkler, you should monitor that activity as well. Signs of dehydration in dogs. The average medium sized dog will drink around half a gallon of water a day. Water intake is a good indicator of overall health and gives early warning signs of certain medical conditions. It is important to know what is normal for your Labrador and what to look out for when they start drinking more or less than usual. However, our lives can get busy, and sometimes, we might not notice a change in drinking behavior. This can be done by filling up their water bowl to the same level at the same time each day. Then, notice how much is left when you go to refill it the next day. Checking the water level at the same time each day will give you an accurate representation of how much your dog drinks. As a rough guideline, normal water intake for a dog is around an ounce per pound 50 mL per kg of body weight per day. That means that a pound 30 kg Labrador would drink approximately half a gallon 1. What Makes Labradors Drink More? There are several factors that can affect the normal water intake mentioned above, including the following. Diet Your Labrador always needs fresh water available no matter what their diet; however, how much they drink will depend on the type of food they eat. Dogs that eat predominantly dry food and kibbles require more water than dogs on a wet food diet. It is perfectly normal for a Labrador or any dog on a canned or raw diet to drink less water than one on an exclusively dry food diet. Weather Water helps regulate body temperature. Dogs pant to cool themselves down by exhaling and releasing water through respiration. To compensate for this release of water, your Labrador will drink more in warmer weather. Activity Level When we exercise, we lose water through sweating and tend to drink more to make up for it. Dogs also require rehydration after exercise since they will have panted more than normal to help themselves cool down. If your Labrador naturally has high energy and activity levels, they will require more water than a couch-potato pup. Medications and Supplements Many common medications and supplements have side effects that may cause changes in daily water intake. Common anti-inflammatories, heart medications, and seizure medications can all lead to increased thirst and urination. It is important to be aware of these potential side effects and ask your veterinarian what to expect. My Labrador Is Drinking More than Normal When a dog is drinking more than usual, the first step is to rule out any obvious external factors as mentioned above. While you may think that drinking lots of water is pretty harmless, too much of anything is bad, including water. Excess water consumption can have a sudden onset and can be life threatening. By monitoring your Labradors water intake regularly, you can judge subtle changes and be aware of when to contact your veterinarian. My Labrador Is Drinking Too Much There are several things to look for if you suspect your Labrador may be drinking too much, possibly leading to overhydration. These include loss of coordination and staggers, lethargy and nausea, bloat and vomiting, dilated pupils and pale gums, and excessive drooling. If left to develop, these signs can lead to difficulty breathing and collapse. Dogs that spend a lot of time in or around water may be drinking from other sources or consuming water incidentally. If your dog plays in water, they may be consuming water while fetching items or biting at the water. Similarly, if they like to be sprayed or drink from a hose, consider that water intake when evaluating their overall consumption. My Labrador Is Drinking Too Little If your Labrador suddenly decreases their water consumption, they are at risk of becoming dehydrated. Just like with drinking too much water, not drinking enough water will cause harmful imbalances in the body. Water is vital for many functions, such as carrying nutrients throughout the body, aiding in digestion, and removing toxins from the system. Dehydration ultimately causes essential organs such as the kidneys and liver to stop functioning properly. If left in this state for too long, there can be irreversible damage to these organs. Signs of Dehydration in Dogs There are two easy ways to keep an eye on your Labradors hydration levels at home. It is beneficial to do these tests on your healthy Labrador so that you are aware of their baseline. In a healthy dog, after the skin is lifted it should snap back to its original position almost instantaneously. The longer the delay, the more dehydrated your dog is. Mucous Membranes The mucous membranes include the eyes, nose and mouth. They also serve as an indicator of adequate hydration levels. If he is dehydrated, the gums may appear pale and feel dry and tacky when touched. If your dog tends to not drink enough and your vet has given her a clean bill of health, here are a few ideas to encourage drinking. Place her water bowl in places she likes to be. Praise her when she drinks water. Add chicken or bone broth to her water, but be sure to keep it fresh. Consider adding wet food to her diet. Soak dry food with water or broth before feeding. Consider getting a pet drinking fountain to make it fun be sure to keep it clean.

Easiest Dog to Take Care of: Top 10 Breeds for a Happy Home Do you ever dream about having a furry best friend who loves to play fetch, gives the warmest cuddles, and greets you with the happiest tail wags every time you come home? A friend who is not just any dog, but the easiest dog to take care of? We know, it sounds like a dream come true, right? But we also understand that bringing a new puppy home is a big step. It's like adding a new member to your family, a little brother or sister.Top 30 Smartest Dog Breeds In The World If you're a dog lover, you've probably heard the age-old debate: which dog breeds are the smartest? While all dogs have their own unique intelligence and personality, some breeds have proven to be consistently brilliant over time. In this guide, we'll explore the top 30 smartest dog breeds ranked, from problem-solving whizzes to trainable and intuitive pups. We've done our research to provide you with an updated and informative.These pooches are joyful, lively, eager to please dogs. They are adventurous, kind, family-oriented pups who love hiking, swimming, canine games, sports and any, and all, family activities. These puppies are merry and bouncy little marshmallows. They are cuddly and sweet pups who love running around, playing, making friends and are very enthusiastic learners. The breed is divided into 3 recognized categories: Toy Poodle; Mini; Standard. Although they differ in size, one thing is for sure: they are glamorous companion pets. We have answers. What are Poodle puppies for sale near El Paso like? A Poodle is a highly intelligent breed of dog that originated in Germany and is most commonly known for the puffy, curly coat found in its Standard and Toy varieties. The breed is further divided into four varieties, which includes the Miniature, Toy, Standard, and the recently created, Continental Giant. Poodles are well known for being very loyal and obedient but can sometimes be high strung and need regular exercise. They tend to form strong bonds with their owners and get along well with children and other dogs; however, they need to be properly socialized when young. Will Poodle puppies for sale in El Paso cause me to have allergies? While the chances of having allergies with a pet Poodle are lower than other breeds due to their hypoallergenic fur, no dog is completely allergy-proof. Allergies to dogs are caused by the dead skin cells, called dander, not the fur, so unfortunately even Poodles can cause allergies. Factors such as your individual sensitivity to allergens, the Poodle's age and whether it is groomed frequently or not can all affect the rate of allergies to a particular poodle. Do El Paso Poodle puppies for sale have special dietary needs? Poodles do have special dietary needs that are unique to the breed. Additionally, because of their intelligence and energetic nature, Poodles require foods with proactive nutrients for cognitive and physical development. They also need vitamins and minerals, including Omega 3 fatty acids for healthy skin and joints. Feeding your pet a nutritional diet is essential in keeping them active and healthy. How can I become the best puppy parent for Poodle puppies in El Paso? Becoming the best puppy parent for your Poodle involves providing a loving home, lots of exercise, and proper nutrition. To start, ensure that your home is ready for your pup by making sure the environment is safe and secure. Make sure all items around the house are puppy proof and all cleaners and toxins are out of reach. Additionally, make sure to exercise your pup daily playing fetch, going on walks, and swimming are all great activities for Poodles. How fast do Poodles for sale in El Paso grow? The adult size of your Poodle puppy depends on several factors, such as its genetics, diet, and exercise. However, on average, a full-grown Poodle will likely stand between 10 and 15 inches tall. Standard Poodles usually weigh pounds, while Toy Poodles typically weigh between pounds. A Miniature Poodle stands between inches high and typically weighs between pounds. If you're looking for a more general idea of your puppy's future adult size, an excellent starting point is to look at the size of its parents. Do Poodle puppies near El Paso like to swim? Poodles love to swim and exercise and are incredibly active and energetic! Generally speaking, almost all Poodles demonstrate an enthusiasm and affinity for water activities that ranges from casually paddling around the pool to actively competing in various water sports activities. In fact, Poodles have a unique double coat that gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to water activities, as the coat provides warmth in cold water and prevents chills. The coat also protects them against the harsh feeling of the water on their skin. Are Poodles in El Paso good for first-time owners? Poodles can make wonderful companions for first-time owners. They are easily trainable, highly intelligent, and have a strong desire to please their owners. Poodles come in a wide variety of sizes, from tiny toy poodles to much larger standard poodles, so size can be a major deciding factor when considering if a Poodle is a good fit for a first-time owner. Since Poodles require regular grooming sessions and exercise, they are good for first-time owners who have the time and resources to care for them. Are El Paso Poodles for sale considered smart dogs? Absolutely, Poodles are considered to be highly intelligent dogs which can easily pick up things with a few repetitions. Poodles have been rated among the top ten smartest dog breeds since the s. This breed is a great choice for owners who want a smart companion that can be trained to perform different activities and tricks. Poodles love to please their owners and are highly trainable, respond quickly to commands and can learn several words. Poodles perform tasks rapidly and accurately, making them an excellent choice for they are fast learners.

Ian discusses how we should learn to see the world from our dogs perspective and in doing so, how we can better earn their love and trust. Armed with this love and trust, we will form a better relationship and as a result, effective training becomes just that much more effective and enjoyable for both you and your dog. But please, first make sure to use the search facility in the footer of this website and browse our other sections as the subject may have already been covered: Labrador health and care , Labrador behavior , Labrador puppies , infobites and Labrador breed information. External Resources On Labrador Training Although referring to all breeds in general and not purely Labradors, for those of you that love to watch and not read, the series of dog training videos on www. If you like reading books then check out one of our favorite Lab books: The Complete Labrador Handbook. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. If this is the case,…. How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed. Take a look at these first few articles. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. But for now, beside your bed is the best place for your puppy to sleep — it will help them feel safe. Puppies like their crates rather cave-like; we suggest covering it with a blanket to block out light, but keep the front open so that they can see outwards. Make sure to make it snug inside with something like a vet bed or a blanket, or why not take it up a notch with a heat pad or hot water bottle to recreate the feeling of their mother. Nothing feels more comforting than that. Before you head to bed, take your puppy out for one last round of loo-going. Set your bedtime at a later time too — midnight sounds about right. Come back calmly, and place your puppy in the crate and turn out the light. Stuff you should know about Sleep Training your Labrador Your puppy will wake up several times in the night and will need the bathroom at least once! Be prepared for not-so-deep sleeps and tired mornings — just for the first few weeks. Having them sleep next to you is only temporary. Consistency is key! As for you, full nights of sleep will start getting closer and closer. Alone Training How can I teach my Labrador puppy to be ok on their own? Start by feeding your puppy in their crate during meal times. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area. Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now. Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly. Socialization Exercises To Do this week Letting your Labrador puppy explore the yard Besides the gnomes and questionable yard furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own yard is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world. Exploring different surfaces exercise Make sure that the surfaces you use are safe — nothing too crazy just yet. Gather surfaces such as An oven tray with a small layer of water A piece of astro turf A carpet tile A large piece of tin foil, cardboard or something crinkly PRO TIP: Set up for this exercise in the room your puppy spends most of their time in — it will help them to feel safe and confident. Pop the surfaces out safely on the floor and allow your puppy to investigate them. Nobody has ever enjoyed walking on those. Remember to be patient! Lucky for you — teaching them their name is easy peasy. Say their name in a happy jolly tone and reward with a treat. Repeat five times, 5 and take a break. Practice this 2 or 3 times a day so they get the hang of it. Teach your puppy to sit Teaching your puppy how to sit is a popular one. The first two are far more common though. Keep using this word when they do the right thing, and then follow it up with a food reward. In puppy logic, stinky means yummy. How to do it Start at home; where there are no distractions. Just make sure to shut off Gogglebox in the background. Recall — How to teach our Labrador puppy to come back when called Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. How to do it Treats and a cheerful voice will be what works here. Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated. Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and yard to get them used to coming to you in all settings. How to do it Show your puppy that you have their favorite toy, and start to get them excited about it. When they show interest, throw it a little bit away from you. They will likely follow it and pick it up. If they do, encourage them back to you with your voice, so remember to sound happy! Swap the toy for a treat or another toy and do the process again. Repeat this about 5 times. Instead create more distance and excitement sounds to get them to come to you — spaniels like to show off, so they will likely want to parade what they have! Always swap the toy for something when they have it, this could be a treat or another toy. Resource guarding occurs when we force puppies to give up items or snatch things out of their mouths. For breeds like Labradors who are designed to want to hold things in their mouths, this is pretty important! Resource guarding is when a dog protects a resource from being taken by someone else — dog or human. For some reason, there is a solid list of things puppies find irresistible: Socks. Gundog expert Jayne Coley summarises the early training routine that she followed with her own young labrador, Trade. Register for our newsletter To continue reading this content please register for our newsletter. You have to adapt your training to suit the type of puppy you have. The steps below summarise the training routine that I have followed with my young dog, Trade, who has an easy-going temperament. I began to train him properly in the New Year when he was 9 — 10 months old, though I usually wait until the shooting season is over when I have time to do a little each day on a regular basis. Step 1: Foundations By the age of 9 — 10 months, Trade had been toilet trained, knew his name and came back when I called him. He had been well socialised and behaved in company on a lead, was used to going out in my vehicle and had learned to swim. Trade has never been chastised for carrying something he should not, e. I then place the item out of reach. Crucially, by this age we had built up a good bond before formal training began. Step 2: Heelwork It was so wet and muddy at home so I started training on the patio and in our yard where the pup is restricted to a certain area and there are no distractions. We began with heelwork on the lead. To keep the exercise interesting, I walked in straight lines, did figures of eight, included the occasional tight turn and altered my pace. This all helped to keep Trade focused on what we were doing. If he didn't sit immediately, I repeated the command whilst pushing his bottom down with my left hand. Once confident with this routine, I put a lightweight collar on him and progressed to walking to heel off the lead, using my hands to encourage him to keep his head up and concentrate on me, when necessary. If he did move, I calmly walked up to him and, holding his collar, took him back to the exact spot he moved from in a quiet but positive manner. I slowly built up the distance until I could walk around him in a huge circle. Once he did this perfectly, I introduced the recall. Instead of always walking back to him, I would call him back to me, encouraging him to come straight to my hands which were cupped gently in front of my hips. Once I was happy with this, I began to mix up heelwork with sit and stay, and recall. When he didn't move, I quietly picked the dummy up myself. Gradually — over several days — I built on this until I could throw a couple of dummies, one at a time, over and around him and he remained steady. It is always important to lift the pup's top lip out of the way when you put a dummy in his mouth. Trade was reluctant to do this at first, but with patience and perseverance over several days, he accepted it. Slowly, I built on this until I could walk away backwards the length of the lead and call him to me, concentrating on perfecting a good delivery, using my hands to encourage him to bring the dummy right to me with his head held nice and high. Step 6: Retrieving Next, we worked on being sent for a retrieve. I then bent down and pointed my right hand towards the dummy whilst looking at the top of his head to make sure he was looking past my hand at it, before saying his name positively and at the same time letting go of one end of the lead so that he instinctively ran forward and picked the dummy. Initially, I sat back on my heels, which encouraged him to run straight back to me. Slowly we built on this until the lead was no longer needed. Sometimes I would send him for the dummy, sometimes I'd pick it up myself, or I'd walk him to heel in the opposite direction before sending him. On other occasions, I would stand well back from Trade and throw a dummy over his head, call him to me and then send him for the dummy from my position. I like to vary things as this keeps him interested and wondering what I am going to do next. He was at first a little unsure, so I repeated it in a lighter tone, to which he responded. In return, I praised him quietly. Always remember, training a dog is like building a house — it is imperative that the foundations are put down properly, otherwise, sooner or later, cracks will appear. Keep it light and encouraging when you praise, and low and gruff when you scold, so your puppy knows the difference. Especially if you have a boisterous puppy. Keep everything calm and relaxed, and do things in your time. Print Early obedience first step to better hunting dog Labrador puppies start out sweet and innocent. All you want to do is cuddle up with your pup and love them! And you should! But rest assured the innocence will not last. As your pup gains confidence and courage, they will begin to test you in many ways. That is why you must obedience train your Labrador puppy. Early obedience training is key to establishing borders and boundaries that will help your puppy grow, learn, and adjust with a good attitude. There is no shortcut to doing this, just use the name often when you talk to your puppy. Over time, the pup will start to respond to the name. Socialization, while not technically obedience training, is the single most important thing you can teach your puppy during the first few months of life. If you are not sure how to do this, refer to this post. Tools needed to obedience train Labrador puppy You will need a few tools to teach your puppy obedience. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Collar — You should purchase a size appropriate collar for your new puppy. You may have to buy new ones as your dog grows, but it is important for your puppy to get used to wearing a collar early on. A simple nylon adjustable collar works great. Chain collar — If your puppy is more than a few months old, a chain or prong collar is extremely helpful in teaching obedience, but they must be used correctly. For more information on how to put a chain collar on your dog correctly refer to this video. A longer lead, called a check cord, is also useful for teaching HERE and retrieving. You can learn more about that here. Heeling stick optional — While optional, a heeling stick can be especially helpful in teaching basic obedience. Treats — Treats are good for teaching very young puppies. I use treats for pups under 12 weeks of age, but treats should be discontinued rather quickly. When to start basic puppy obedience training Obedience training can and should start within the first couple weeks of having your puppy home. Young puppies are ready and willing to learn and teaching obedience to a young puppy is much easier than teaching it to an older dog. How long should obedience sessions be? Most labs do not enjoy obedience training. For this reason, we aim to keep obedience sessions short, especially if your dog is under 4-months of age. Five to ten minutes of obedience a day can work wonders. Especially if you are consistent. Using rewards or praise to teach obedience Many people like to use treats or rewards for obedience training. And this can work, especially with very young dogs. But for hunting dogs, over the long-term treats can become a problem. We do not want our dogs, or the dogs we train to be obedient only because they are getting a food reward. We want them to be obedient because they understand their place in the family and respect the owners. To get these lasting results, we use praise words and petting and a reward that retrievers live for — retrieves! Well-timed praise is a particularly important part of dog training. A message that it is okay to ignore me the first 9 times! This simply means that after a few minutes of formal obedience training, we release the dog with an OKAY command and that means they can run around and be a dog. We then throw a bumper or plug a for the dog to retriever. We do this a few times with a lot of excitement and allow the dog to retrieve the bumper. For retriever breeds, this is often more effective than a food reward. Be careful that you are not letting your puppy get into bad habits with retrieving. For instance, if your puppy often goes out to retrieve the bumper but then runs away with it, or picks it up and drops it, do not continue doing retrieves. While retrieving is a reward for many Labs, it is not an excuse to engage in behaviors that are not going to be acceptable in the field. If you want to learn more about how to properly teach your Lab to retrieve, check out How can I teach my retriever puppy to fetch? Introduction to leash and nylon collar The very first step for any puppy obedience is to introduce your puppy to a regular collar and leash. This should be done in two separate steps, first the collar and then the leash. Introduce the collar by putting a nylon type collar on your puppy. This is normal and you should not react to it. Introducing the leash is a little different. We like to do this outside. After a few sessions of this introduction, you can start holding the leash by the end and walking with the puppy. When the puppy tries to run or walk away, hold tight to the leash, and just let the puppy get used to the resistance. Some puppies have a hard time with this and will growl or whine and whip themselves around at the pressure, but most will not. Remain calm and after a few sessions the puppy should get used to the resistance of the leash. Do not allow the puppy to pull you around. That will make for some bad behaviors that you will need to correct later. If you cannot control your puppy with just a regular collar and leash, you may need to move to a chain or prong collar to keep control. What commands to teach Lab puppy There are only four basic obedience commands that you need to teach your young puppy. Remember when it comes to commands, less is more. OKAY — this is a release command, basically tells your dog were done training, go be a dog. As your puppy grows and learns more, there are some other commands that may be needed, but for puppies I like to start with just the four above. Dog training requires consistency Before you start with obedience training, I want to make a note about the importance of consistency. Obedience training only works if you are consistent. This means that when you say a command, you expect the puppy to perform the command, and are willing to take steps to make the puppy perform the command. If you do not remain consistent in this expectation, you will confuse your dog and get poor results from your training. You and your family must be consistent! How to start obedience training Lab puppy The first command you want to start teaching your puppy is SIT. This is quite easy to teach with a small puppy but gets a little tougher as they get bigger. Then release the puppy with the OKAY command. Repeat this process several times, then stop. If your puppy is weeks old, you can repeat this training several times a day for only a couple minutes at a time. This will be a two-person job for a little while. The other person will put the food down a few feet from the puppy. Then release the puppy to eat saying OKAY. As the pup learns and understands the command better, you will no longer need a second person to hold the puppy. You must be a little careful here because young puppies do not have great bladder control and making them wait, even a few seconds, can mean the difference between an accident and them doing their business outside. But this is a great way to teach impulse control and manners to your puppy. I do not want to have to fight for a position by the door. You can usually start working on this within a week or two of teaching SIT. A great way to teach this command to young puppies is to use two people and sit in a long hallway, one at each end. Take turns calling your puppy with a HERE command. A toy or treat can often help the process. Let your puppy run around a bit but hold onto the end of the cord. Occasionally, call you puppy with a HERE command. It can be helpful at first to crouch down to encourage the puppy to run towards you. Then release the puppy with an OKAY command. Do this a few more times and repeat daily until the puppy is coming to you without you needing to pull the cord. It is also the command most of our clients struggle with the most. Mostly because they are using the wrong tool for the job. For heeling work, it is important that you work with a chain or prong collar. This will give you more control and stop the pulling and surging that many people struggle with. Using a chain or prong collar and a six-foot leash, start walking your puppy at your side. If your puppy is young, be sure to use a puppy chain collar which is smaller than chain collars for adult dogs. And make sure that you are putting it on correctly! An alternate tool to a chain collar and leash is the Wonder or Command Lead. These work great for teaching HEEL. As you start walking use gently tugs on the chain collar with the command HERE to keep your puppy at your side. If your puppy surges or pulls ahead, simply make a degree turn and start walking the other direction giving a sharp, upward tug on the chain collar and saying HEEL several times until the dog is back in a heeling position. Many of our clients have told us they never left their driveway the first few days! But if you are patient and consistent, your dog will quickly learn that if they want to go for a walk, they need to stay at your side. If you want to learn and progress in more obedience work, check out these obedience drills for retrievers. Final thoughts on how to teach your lab puppy obedience Teaching your puppy obedience may take a lot of patience, time and work, but it is such an important thing to do. You will never regret the time! A well-mannered dog is such a joy to be around both in the home and in the field. How to obedience train Labrador puppy. Labrador Retriever pups are working dogs. This means they live to please you for a treat. The more you engage them with different puppy training behaviors the happier they will be. Of course, Labs will be Labs, and this means that dogs do dog things unless they are trained to follow your expectations. Potty training your puppy is just the beginning of you making clear expectations for your Lab. Puppy training from long leash training to potty training, to not nipping is discussed in greater detail along with clear, easy to follow videos at www. But we will give you an expert training tip summary below. For this reason, you need to become an expert on puppy training. Contact us for a discount on the Puppy Trained Right positive reinforcement training program. Expose your puppy to as many different people and situations possible. Teach dog to dog manners when required. Use Positive Reinforcement. Allow for Play with Other Puppies. Play with other Lab Puppies not only allows your pup to get some exercise it is a form of puppy socialization. Bond with your Puppy. Once a strong bond is formed your Lab Puppy will want to please you even more. Potty Train Right Away. Learn how Dogs Learn. Training a Lab puppy is easy if you understand how to go about it. Give your Lab Puppy Play time to Explore. Labs need this as part of their natural development. Spend more time with your puppy when young. This is the time when your expectations should be clearly outlined and can decrease as she gets older. Begin Training day 1. This happens weather or not you intend it to. Every action and reaction is something your puppy uses to form new habits. So ignoring them jumping up as an 8 week old puppy is training them to jump up and will be much more difficult to un-train once they are 70 lbs. Relax and make learning fun. Your pup needs you happy and enjoying yourself! Use Positive Training Methods because they work. This means reward what you desire. Ensure most Experiences are Positive. Imagine a training session of No, No, No, No! Expose them to as Many Human Situations possible. One cause is that there was not adequate socialization with different men. Be Patient. You are building an amazing K9 personality. The window is between 8 and 20 weeks old. Make the most of it. The better your Lab is socialized the happier they will be. Anxiety in dogs comes from many things. The more things your dog is comfortable with the less chance for anxiety and therefore the happier they are. Prepare yourself, your family and your home before your puppy comes home. It is too late once you meet your puppy as simply interacting with her is training. Allow for Safe Experiences both in the home and outside. Seek professional trainers to help guide you when faced with a problem. Be consistent. Clear expectations are easiest to learn. Focus on Guiding not controlling. Best Start Training or Training Classes are beneficial for both you and your puppy. Expect Success. We tend to move in the direction we believe we will travel. Reward the Behaviors you want to see even something as simple as 4 paws on the ground if you are trying to train your Lab not to jump up on you. Become Well informed. You are teaching a skill like reading that takes clear expectations and builds upon last session. Lab Puppies need constant supervision either human, a crate, a fenced area or a baby gate across a doorway. Encourage a soft mouth. Keep your training up or it will be forgotten. Begin Walking on a Loose Leash Right away. This is always easier for your Lab when they are 12 lbs not 70lbs. Change direction before the leash tightens so they are followers not leaders. This is much easier to train before it happens than correct. Allow alone time for your Lab. Know when to end a training session. End training before your puppy quits. Make time for a few shorter training Sessions. Three fifteen minute sessions are better than one 45 min one. Teach your Lab to respond to their name. Teach your Labrador basic obedience before tricks-come, sit, stay, down, leave it. Have all humans learn the commands and be consistent. Ignore undesirable behaviors. Ignoring includes not saying no, bad dog, touching your dog or making eye contact. Find rewards that your Retriever loves and use them when you have breakthrough training moments. Adjust your expectations as your Lab puppy matures, the older more experienced the higher the expectation. Set Realistic Expectations. Minimize distractions when you begin training. Be aware of your Body Language, Labradors pick up cues from you. Be aware of your leash tension. A tight leash says anxiety from the handler. Know when to get Help .Have fun! Understand that Labs do Lab things. Make them work for food and treats. Exercise your Retriever properly for both intensity and duration. Learn some exercise games Labs love. Give lots of repetition. Stop before they get bored. Establish a Pattern by Praising. Redirect undesired behavior. Accept partial actions at first and gradually increase your expectations. When treats end Verbal treats and chin scratches rule. They will know. Enjoy your well balanced purebred Lab puppy for many years. Purebred Lab Retrievers, are they easier to train? The answer to that is definitely maybe! Not all purebreds are bred for intelligence. For example, if a Labrador Retriever breeder chooses to breed their dogs for a certain look then they may overlook intelligence as one of the important characteristics in order to get a specific Lab look. We however breed for intelligence, health and temperament. So in our case, yes, our Purebred Lab Puppies are easier to train than many because we choose the parents and their puppies specifically for their smarts!