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Life Span Did You Know? The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. The modern Boxer breed we know and love today was originally developed in Germany in the late s. English-bred Bulldogs and the Bullenbesiier were crossed to create an energetic and agile hunting dog to chase wild game. The Boxer is a popular family companion and a versatile working dog. As a member of the Working Group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a happy, friendly disposition. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. As long as they are well-socialized, Boxers are generally upbeat, playful, and friendly. Although they have a natural instinct to protect their family from unwanted visitors, they do tend to warm up once introduced and are happy to make a new friend. They can be prone to barking a lot if you do not work on socialization and training your dog to stop barking early on. Boxers can be highly adaptable dogs. Although they have a lot of energy and are better suited to homes with yards where they can run, they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get the daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they need. As with any non-arctic dog breed, they are sensitive to very cold temperatures. Boxers are also a brachycephalic breed, which means they are even more sensitive to heat than other dogs. A Boxer is also one of the most affectionate dog breeds. Because they bond so closely with their families and get bored easily, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Boxer include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, thyroid issues , and heart conditions like aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Good breeding practices make a big difference and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and about any health tests that have been done. Boxers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Despite their energetic personality, they are one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to excel at almost any task put before them! Because of their open, friendly nature and high energy, they have a tendency to jump up at people in excitement and playfulness. Since they grow into powerful dogs, you will want to make sure you train your dog not to jump up. Boxers have smooth and short coats that will shed a little year-round and require minimal grooming. A brush-down once or twice a week and the occasional bath as needed will keep their short coat healthy and looking great. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Checking ears weekly and carefully cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Checking and wiping their facial wrinkles weekly or a few times a week if your dog is prone to getting into things can help keep their wrinkles clean and free of irritation. Dental diseases, like gum disease, are the most common health issues in older dogs because dental care is often overlooked; and, it can lead to other serious health issues. Brushing daily, plus cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Due to their high prey drive and urge to chase, they should only be let off-leash in secure areas. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition, are excellent problem solvers, and are naturally exuberant. A fully-grown Boxer usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Boxers generally live years on average. In Germany, the Boxer was one of the first dog breeds chosen for police training. Featured Boxer Article. Further information: Bullenbeisser Friedrich Robert and his boxer, The Boxer is a hunting mastiff developed in Germany in the late 19th century from the now extinct Bullenbeisser , a dog of English Mastiff descent, and Bulldogs brought in from Great Britain. Its task was to seize the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. In later years, faster dogs were favored and a smaller Bullenbeisser was bred in Brabant , in northern Belgium. The Brabanter Bullenbeisser is generally accepted as being a direct ancestor of today's Boxer. The club went on to publish the first Boxer breed standard in , a detailed document that has not been changed much since. During World War I , the Boxer was co-opted for military work, acting as a valuable messenger dog, pack carrier, attack dog , and guard dog. Taken home by returning soldiers, the dog was introduced to a wider audience and soon became a favorite as a companion, a show dog, and a guard dog. Boxer early genealogy chart Flocki, the first Boxer German citizen George Alt, a Munich resident, mated a brindle-colored female dog imported from France named Flora with a local dog of unknown ancestry, known simply as "Boxer", resulting in a fawn-and-white male, named Lechner's Box after its owner. This dog was mated with his own dam, Flora, and one of his offspring was a female called Alt's Schecken. George Alt mated Schecken with a Bulldog named Dr. Flocki was the first Boxer to enter the German Stud Book after winning the aforementioned show for St. Bernards in Munich , which was the first event to have a class specific for Boxers. Blanka von Angertor, Flocki's sister, was even more influential when mated with Piccolo von Angertor Lechner's Box grandson to produce the predominantly white particolored female dog Meta von der Passage, which, even bearing little resemblance with the modern Boxer standard early photographs depict her as too long, weak-backed, and down-faced , is considered the mother of the breed. Our great line of sires all trace directly back to this female. She was a substantially built, low to the ground, brindle and white particolor, lacking in underjaw and exceedingly lippy. As a producing female, few in any breed can match her record. She consistently whelped puppies of marvelous type and rare quality. Those of her offspring sired by Flock St. Salvator and Wotan dominate all present-day pedigrees. Combined with Wotan and Mirzl children, they made the Boxer. Breed name[ edit ] The name "Boxer" is supposedly derived from the breed's tendency to play by standing on its hind legs and " boxing " with its front paws. Brace's Pet Owner's Guide to the Boxer, this theory is the least plausible explanation. At that time, the spelling "baxer" equalled "boxer". Both the verb boxen [English "to box, to punch, to jab"] and the noun Boxer were common German words as early as the late 18th century. The term Boxl, also written Buxn or Buchsen in the Bavarian dialect, means "short leather trousers" or "underwear". The very similar-sounding term Boxerl, also from the Bavarian dialect, is an endearing term for Boxer. These dogs were the result from mixes of Bullenbeisser and other similar breeds. Bier beer probably refers to the Biergarten, the typical Munich beer garden, an open-air restaurant where people used to take their dogs along. The nickname "Deutscher Boxer" was derived from Bierboxer and Boxer could also be a corruption of the former or a contraction of the latter. This seems improbable. Any such action would likely result in a badly bitten if not broken leg. On the other hand, a German breeder of 40 years' experience states positively that the Boxer does not use his feet, except to try to extinguish a small flame such as a burning match. But a Boxer does box with his head. He will hit not bite a cat with his muzzle hard enough to knock it out and he will box a ball with his nose. Or perhaps, since the German dictionary translates Boxer as "prize-fighter", the name was bestowed in appreciation of the fighting qualities of the breed rather than its technique. Boxer is also the name of a dog owned by John Peerybingle, the main character in the best-selling book The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens , which is evidence that "Boxer" was commonly used as a dog name by the early 19th century, before the establishment of the breed by the end of that same century. A brindle Boxer with two white socks Brindle, fawn, and white Boxer puppies See also: Dog health A healthy Boxer puppy Leading health issues to which Boxers are prone include cancers , heart conditions such as aortic stenosis and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy the so-called " Boxer cardiomyopathy " , [35] hypothyroidism , hip dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy and epilepsy; other conditions that may be seen are gastric dilatation volvulus also known as bloat , intestinal problems, and allergies although these may be more related to diet than breed. An emerging health concern among boxers is Boxer Juvenile Kidney Disease JKD , where the kidneys do not develop normally during gestation and leads to chronic renal failure. There is strong evidence to suggest JKD is an inherited condition in boxers with research being undertaken by the University of Ohio to determine the gene mutation, as well as other work separately by the UK Boxer Breeder Council. Mortality due to infection increases significantly with increases in inbreeding. The breed is particularly predisposed to mast cell tumours, a cancer of the immune system. Because of their brachycephalic heads, they do not do well with high heat or humidity, and common sense should prevail when exercising a Boxer in these conditions. See also: Dog food Boxers need plenty of exercise, which means their diet should be high in quality calories. The main source of these calories should be lean animal protein, which include lean chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. They sometimes appear at dog agility or dog obedience trials and flyball events. These strong and intelligent animals have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, police dogs in K9 units, and occasionally herding cattle or sheep. The versatility of Boxers was recognized early on by the military, which has used them as valuable messenger dogs, pack carriers, and attack and guard dogs in times of war. Notable Boxers[ edit ] Punch and Judy were awarded the Dickin Medal for conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in a military conflict. Vocality level 3 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. Temperament The Boxer is playful, exuberant, inquisitive, attentive, demonstrative, devoted, and outgoing; this dog is a perfect companion for an active family. Boxers can be stubborn, but are sensitive and responsive to commands. They may be assertive toward strange dogs, but are generally good with other family dogs and pets. Upkeep The Boxer needs daily mental and physical exertion. They likes to run, but their exercise needs can also be met with a good jog or long walk on leash. They do not do well in hot weather. Some snore. The coat needs only occasional brushing to remove dead hair. Health Major concerns: boxer cardiomyopathy, SAS, CHD Minor concerns: gastric torsion, hypothyroidism, corneal erosion, colitis Occasionally seen: brain tumors, degenerative myelopathy Suggested tests: thyroid, hip, cardiac Holter monitoring Life span: 8—10 years Note: Sensitive to heat. White boxers may be deaf. The drug acepromazine can cause severe reactions. History The Boxer derives from two central European breeds of dog that no longer exist: the larger Danziger Bullenbeiser and smaller Brabenter Bullenbeiser. Bullenbeiser means bull-biter, and these dogs were used to chase large game through the forest. This required a strong but agile dog with a broad powerful jaw and a recessed nose. In England, the Bulldog was the favored breed for the sport, whereas in Germany large mastiff-type dogs were used. Around the s, German hunters began a concerted effort to create a new breed, crossing their Bullenbeisers with mastiff-type dogs for size, terriers for tenacity, and, finally, Bulldogs. The result was a tough agile dog with a streamlined body and strong grip. By , an entirely new breed, the Boxer, had been established. Although the exact origin of the name Boxer is obscure, it may have been derived from the German Boxl. The Boxer was one of the first breeds to be employed as a police and military dog in Germany. By , the breed had become established as a general utility dog, family pet, and even show dog. The AKC recognized the breed soon after, but only in the s did the breed begin its steady rise to the top of the popularity charts, eventually peaking as the fourth most popular breed in America. Related Content. The contractual agreement between you and the breeder Agreement made to not breed the dog in the future Agreement made to not enter it into competitions No restrictions on the Boxer puppy Read on to see why these factors affect the price of Boxer puppies. Reputation Of The Breeder Breeders spend a lot of time and money to build up their reputation as trustworthy Boxer breeders. The more renowned a breeder is, the more they are able to charge for their dogs. However, some puppy mills and backyard breeders will shoot up their prices to appear to be reputable breeders. Therefore, you should go through a trusted association to find a reputable breeder. Do not be fooled by good advertising. The individual Boxer puppy you want to purchase must have its own papers that document its registration with the American Kennel Club. These papers cost money and will increase the price of your Boxer puppy slightly. This is important because pedigree changes the price of the Boxer puppy; I will discuss this next! Pedigree is important when it comes to determining what your Boxer puppy will look like, its temperament, and the chance of it developing genetic issues in the future as it grows up. Determining who the dam and sire of your Boxer puppy are is important in determining price. If your Boxer puppy has a champion sire or dam, then the price of the puppy will increase significantly. Champion heritage drives the price of the Boxer puppy up because the buyer is almost guaranteed to get a perfect specimen of what a Boxer should be and has a better chance at winning competitions with their Boxer puppy when it grows up. The breed, unfortunately, suffers from hip dysplasia, cardiovascular myopathy, severe arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, several cancers, and aortic valve disease. The American Kennel Club recommends that all of these tests, including thyroid screening, elbow evaluations, and certain DNA tests are all done to produce a long-term prognosis so effective preventative care can be carried out from day one. If a Boxer puppy has any health concerns, then their price will decrease, and they will often be sold for a couple of hundred dollars or so depending on the specific health issues they have. As medium-sized dogs, Boxers can leave their mothers safely at eight weeks. Many people who want to compete with their boxers will wait until the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old before purchasing them. During this time, the breeder will invest in behavioral training. When the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old, the breeder will also be able to give you a better idea of their temperament and their adult markings and ultimate size. As a result, these puppies will be much more expensive than the younger ones. Boxers will stand at 23 to 25 inches tall if they are male and .They have tall, regal-looking shoulders that slope down gently to a smaller set of hips. Their heads are quite square and are characterized by their wrinkles that make them appear confused but curious! Boxers that meet the breed standard are a fawn or brindle color with white markings on their chests, bellies, inner legs, and faces. However, the white markings may not be more than a third of their entire body. If your Boxer puppy meets the breed standard, then their price will increase because they can be used for competitions. However, if they do not meet the breed standard, then their price will be decreased, as this is seen as undesirable from a competition standpoint. The first agreement will prevent you from further breeding your Boxer puppy. The second agreement will prevent you from entering your Boxer puppy into any competitions. Both contacts will decrease the price of your Boxer puppy, as they place restrictions on what you can and cannot do with your puppy as it grows up. There are many other costs associated with owning a Boxer! One-Time Bring Home Costs There are a number of things you will need to purchase before you even pick up your Boxer puppy to make them feel more comfortable and happy in their new home! Fortunately, a lot of these items only need to be purchased once or twice, like food bowls and crates, for example. Here is a list of some of the vital things you need:.

If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. There are countless breeders to choose from and it can take hours, if not days to go through each and every one of them. For this reason, we decided to take the matters into our own hands to find the best of the best Bernedoodle breeders in North Carolina. Here they are! After all, adopting your puppy from a puppy mill is definitely out of the question. Health guarantees usually cover the first one or two years from adoption. You can also ask from your friends or family members about their personal experiences with various breeders in your state. This exceptional breeder takes great pride in providing their puppies a safe, clean, and enriching family environment to prepare them for their lives with their forever families. All puppies come from thoroughly tested parents and each of them is spoiled and pampered from day one up until adoption. What Makes This Breeder Unique? Abby Oelrich, the breeder behind Paws 4 Doodles, is a certified Puppy Culture breeder and also a professional groomer. They utilize various forms of enrichment methods, such as Early Neurological Stimulation ENS , early socialization, potty training, crate training, household desensitization, and even basic manners. Our Bernedoodles are from excellent bloodlines and all Pedigree information traces back to their AKC lineage. Our Dams and Sires have obtained extensive health clearances prior to being bred. These dogs will have a higher success rate for non-shedding, and are recommended for families with allergies. F1 Bernedoodles all have loose wavy coats that are typically minimal to light shedding, while F1B Bernedoodles coats can be loose wavy just like the F1 or curly and there are both coat types within the F1B litter. The F1B Bernedoodle is typically minimal to non-shedding. The coat of a Bernedoodle can vary from straight, loose wavy or curly. An F1 Bernedoodle will have a loose wavy coat, while an F1B Bernedoodle litter has both curly and loose wavy coats within the litter. The coat colors of Bernedoodles can vary based on the color genetics of the parents. We will also have Parti Bernedoodles. Daily walks are a must if you don't have a safely enclosed area for them to run freely. The Bernedoodle can be independent and does great being with family engaging in play, then happily laying on their own with a toy. It is still unknown how long Bernedoodles will live as it is a newer cross. The expected lifespan is hoped to be years. As with any dog, socialization and training should start while the dog is still a puppy and continue throughout its life. Look for a puppy kindergarten class locally or join the AKC S. Puppy Program , training based on positive techniques. You do not have to be an AKC purebred puppy to participate in their S. Puppy Program. Find a class here. This is a great place to start socializing and training. A well-socialized, well-trained Bernedoodle makes a wonderful family companion. Early socialization and training establishes those lifetime bonds between the family and puppy as these programs teach you how to communicate with your new puppy and get started on the right foot. Share 0 Shares The Bernedoodle is an exceptional dog breed for an active family living in a very active state like North Carolina. And if you are reading this article, you probably know this and are considering adding one of these furry angels to your family. The breed is loved for a couple of reasons. One is that it comes with the high intelligence and hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle while still maintaining the overall calm demeanor and playful nature of the Bernese Mountain Dog. North Carolina is very fond of the Bernedoodle breed, as there are lots of breeders residing within the state. However, you should be careful when dealing with these breeders as not all are reputable breeders that truly care for the dog breed. This is why it is essential you carry out personal research on any breeder you intend to work with or patronize. We have provided a list to make your search for a good Bernedoodle breeder very easy. This is a list of some of the best and most responsive Bernedoodle breeders you can find in the state of North Carolina. These are great breeders that care for the breed and are focused on the overall health, temperament, and socialization of the breed. They have been breeding incredible Bernedoodle puppies with hypoallergenic coats for over 10 years. Autumn Kissinger, a Vet tech with over 12 years of field experience is the owner and manager of the breeding facility. She aims to produce puppies that are stunning, well-tempered, and above all, healthy family companions that you certainly would love to have around. They raise standard and miniature-sized Bernedoodles. They operate a kennel facility in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. This is a very large facility with over acres of space fitted with 2 creeks that presents a lot of opportunities for the puppies to explore. The puppies are raised with a mix of both the Badass Breeder curriculum and Puppy Culture. Although it is a kennel facility, the puppies get to roll and play around with the members of the family, as well as other animals on the farm. Their breeding line is fitted with mainly championed sires and dams that further help in improving the breed. Being a Vet tech, Autumn Kissinger does have a great understanding of the importance of genetically testing the chosen adult dogs. They are given a full panel DNA health testing and even tested for orthopedic defects that could affect the quality of life that each new Bernedoodle puppy would experience. Your puppy should go home with a 2 years health guarantee. They should be given their full dewormings and vaccinations and should go home with a puppy starter kit. They should also be microchipped and come with a puppy collar. View Our Available Bernedoodle Puppies! Standard Bernedoodles are bigger than Mini Bernedoodles reaching weights of pounds. They average inches in height at the shoulders when fully grown. Our Standard Bernedoodle puppies are all 1st generation-F1 variety puppies. They have purebred Bernese Mountain dogs for moms and the dads are Standard poodles. Their Standard Bernedoodles life expectancy is years old. Blue Diamond Bernedoodles have a loving, easy-going, and calm temperament. Bernedoodles are very loyal and social and love to spend time with their parents. Standard Bernedoodles need regular grooming because of their curly and thick coats. Shedding is very minimal after their first haircut and grooming. This breed is known to be a hypoallergenic choice. Here at Blue Diamond Family Kennels, we specialize in breeding Standard Bernedoodles along with a few other great breeds. We have teamed up with a few other reputable Bernedoodle breeders that breed and raise Bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. On our Standard Bernedoodle puppies page you will see all of our available puppies for sale. This location lends itself to inspire a very desirable temperament in dogs; so that we have both "nature and nurture" going for us. The Bernedoodle is a mix between a Bernese Mountain dog with a Poodle. Click here to learn more about terminology concerning levels of cross breeding. Our Bernedoodle puppies are intelligent, friendly, playful, and goofy. Best of all they are loyal and loving. All our puppies are raised in our home and are highly socialized; we raise our puppies on the principles of puppy culture and Badass Breeder programs. We start crate training and potty training before any puppy goes to their forever home. We mainly focus on breeding F1b standard size bernedoodles. All WT Bernedoodles come from genetically cleared parents, and with a two-year health guarantee for inherited diseases. Go to our "parents" page to see the genetic reports of our parent dogs Again, our dogs are raised in our home, not in kennels. To ensure the best life for every dog in our program we keep a limited number of dogs in our house because we want to be sure each puppy receives the attention they need. We do utilize guardian homes also as are program is growing. We also will be rehoming our retired females when it's time. Please visit our FAQ's page for more details about guardian home opportunities and Retired dogs. Many times folks that are looking for goldendoodles, labradoodles, sheepadoodles, or aussiedoodles will often decide to adopt from us, mainly because they haven't yet heard of Bernedoodles! About us We are Matt and Sara Rigdon. Matt has been a landscaper, heavy equipment operator and builder. Sara is a Registered Nurse of 25 years but is now working full time with the bernedoodles and cabin rentals. We built and own a log cabin rental business in the mountains of NC where it is a great place to visit year-round. If you need a place to stay when you come to pick up your puppy just let us know and we will try to make sure a cabin is available for you. You are also invited to come visit the puppies at 7 weeks of age. Our website to reserve a cabin is www. Besides our cabin rentals we are also are parents to 2 biological children and foster parents. Our Current foster children are big helpers with the care or our dogs and puppies. We love people and animals. Our dogs were purchased not only to have hiking buddies and loving companions but to share their puppies with others because they are such great dogs. Our dogs and puppies also serve as therapy to the foster children that come into our home. Foster children are traumatized due to unfortunate circumstances and when they leave the only family they know they find great comfort in the love that our dogs and puppies give them. We cannot say enough good things about our Poodles and Bernedoodles. Sara Phone Text, email or call between 9am and 9pm daily except text messages or email only on Sundays.

He has waited patiently for his forever home after previous adopters have let him down. The love this boy has to give is like no other. He loves to sit and be loved on and will give so much joy to you. The family had him for about a year, and then they got a couple more dogs. That didn't work out because Mikey prefers to be an only child dog. He has been adopted out three times and keeps getting brought back because his adopters end up bringing another dog or cat into the home and that just doesn't work out. He does well with people, he just prefers not to share them. He loves to cuddle, wants to be a lap dog, and he will smile for you. He also loves belly rubs! He is getting a few grey hairs and aging a bit but he still has many years and a lot of love to give. Mikey is a wonderful, friendly, funny, active boy who would love to live out his life in someone's home and heart. If you are looking for the perfect boy who will make you his whole world, consider adding Mikey to your family. He is a beautiful boy. He has been neutered, micro-chipped, dewormed, has been tested for heartworms, is current on his routine vaccinations and is on a heartworm preventative. Nestled in the Southeastern region of the United States, Kentucky boasts a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and an abundance of dog-friendly activities, making it a fantastic place for Boxer enthusiasts. Our site features reputable KY breeders who specialize in raising healthy and happy puppies. Our breeders are committed to raising the highest quality puppies. They provide their puppies with all the necessary vaccinations and veterinary checkups to ensure they are in the best of health before they go to their forever homes. They also provide ongoing support and advice to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your new furry friend. Kentucky falls into 32nd place among other states, with a dog population of over thousand dogs in the state. Kentucky is a haven for dog lovers, offering a wide array of dog-friendly restaurants, parks, and events where you can enjoy the company of your furry friend. At TrustedPuppies. Most of our trusted Boxer breeders offer safe and affordable flight delivery, with a dedicated flight nanny accompanying your new pup throughout their journey, providing a safe, secure, and comfortable trip as they make their way to their new home in the Bluegrass State. In addition to flight delivery, most breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery utilizing specialized pet delivery services. This option guarantees your Boxer puppy is safely transported to your doorstep by a professional who understands the unique needs of pet travel. Begin your search for the perfect Boxer puppy today on TrustedPuppies.

December 16, at a. They took him home at 8 weeks old and loved him so much that they decided to get their second bulldog, Tubz, from the same breeder a month later. The loss of her pets inspired Bonifacio to start her own nonprofit foundation to rescue, rehabilitate, and find homes for bulldogs in Long Beach and the Los Angeles area. They share on social media platforms the English bulldogs that are rescued from animal shelters that either need serious medical attention or that are soon to be euthanized, then are placed in foster homes. Vanessa Bonifacio with her English bulldog, Charlie. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Bonifacio Show Caption Expand Bonifacio named the rescue foundation after her first two bulldogs. Tubz also battled the effects of pneumonia that the dog developed at a young age, Bonifacio said. Despite extensive treatment, a veterinarian informed the couple that their dog was no longer able to breathe on his own. Once they decided to put Tubz down, they came home to the discovery that Chunkz lifeless. They rushed him to the hospital but it was too late. He died from a cyst in his throat. Reliving the day she lost both Chunkz and Tubz still brings Bonifacio to tears. The community that she has now built also helps Bonifacio find more bulldogs that need to be rescued and homes willing to open their doors to foster. All donations that the rescue foundation receives goes to the rescuing and needs of the dogs, she said. In January, Bonifacio began hosted monthly bulldog meetups in Long Beach. It started with four members but has expanded to nearly .Priyanka Rupani travels to meetups with her bulldog, Taco, from Redlands. As a community, we get to help each other out. Join this free contest! Free to enter. Cash prizes. First get a pedometer and a t-shirt for the taping. For the Day Challenge, the beachfront weigh-ins will be from a. There is no entry fee, but participants must bring 2 canned goods to each weigh-in that will be donated to local food banks. No teams required. All ages welcome. More details at www. Weights remain private. Winners will be based on percentage of weight lost from the initial to the final weigh-ins. In order to claim a cash prize, I must: bring photo ID to each weigh-in, must weigh-in on time, not miss more than two weigh-ins and must bring two canned goods to each weigh-in. Claremont Ave. Ocean Blvd. Bring two canned goods. Granada Ave. I will wear shorts and t-shirt and no shoes to my first weigh-in. I understand there is no charge to participate, no penalty fees, no required teams. I will bring two 2 canned goods to each weigh-in that will be donated to local food banks. The max. If the scale reads more than 10 lbs. I will not have weight-loss surgery during the contest. Put RSVP in the subject line. Photos of the Week. Adoption Policy Adopters must be 18 years of age or older with a government-issued photo ID. Please do not bring your owned pet to the shelter. Animals are not placed on hold. Step 2: Please return to the Adoption Information tent when it is your turn. You will meet with an Adoption Counselor to discuss your application and review information on the pet s you would like to meet, including any known medical history and behavior information. You will be directed to a play yard where you and your party will be introduced to your dog or puppy or to the Cat Cottage to meet your selected cat or kitten. All pets at the shelter beyond their stray holding period can go home with you the same day. If the pet is still in the stray hold, we may process a Pre-Adoption, and they will be able to go home with you at the end of the stray holding period, provided an owner does not come forward. A full adoption will be processed if your new furry friend is already spayed or neutered. We can process a Home First Adoption if they are not yet altered. Once the surgery is done, the adoption is completed. Our Pets Animal descriptions are an approximation. While every effort is made to keep website information current, we cannot guarantee that the animals listed on these pages will be available when you visit. Note: California law requires that all adopted dogs and cats be spayed or neutered before finalizing any adoption. I want to foster Fostering saves lives. Whether you volunteer to care for a litter of unweaned orphaned kittens or give an adult dog a break from the kennel, you are making a difference in the life of an animal in need. Fostering fills a critical gap. Unweaned orphaned kittens need more care than can be provided in the shelter environment. We currently need fosters for bottle-feeding, ring-wormed kittens, and large dogs. We provide all the training, supplies, off-site veterinary care, and support. You provide a temporary safe and loving home. If you can't foster but still want to support our program, consider donating an item off our wish list. Click here to apply for the Foster Program. No, appointments are not required for adoptions. Rehome Your Pet.

Having these dogs around the elderly and youngsters is risk-free because they speak their affection freely for every person in the household. Before searching for golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester, here are a few things you must know. Golden retrievers are lovely pets and bring happiness to every family who adopts one of them. Smart, kind, and compassionate, this exceptionally unique breed of dog is also incredibly faithful to its owner. Furthermore, these dogs are affectionate, cheerful, and extremely playful. If you give them the proper training, they may be readily housebroken; maintaining them all around the house is very straightforward. There is no doubt that whatever of the three varieties of Golden Retrievers you pick, you will get an exquisite puppy growing up to be a beautifully beautiful dog. Golden Retrievers are very biddable, which means that they strive to please their owners, and they are reasonably easy to teach. Labs respond well with clear instructions and are fast to pick up new skills. They do best when given a little structure, and they can be difficult if left to take an active role. It is when they are with you that they are at their happiest. When it comes to quiet time, most Labs suffer from lap-dog syndrome and are entirely ignorant of their size. It is pretty OK for them to throng the bed if you allow it, and they will attempt to sit as near you as possible on the sofa, though not directly on top of you. Roundthorn is a tiny dachshund breeder that breeds retriever puppies in a cage-free setting and family atmosphere. Roundthorn provides a day guarantee on their puppies and all vaccinations, deworming, and health records. Roundthorn is one of the best breeder if you are looking for golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester. Shirelands Shirelands have been in the Golden Retriever business for ages, and Shirelands have owned, lived with, and breathed Golden Retriever for over a decade. Shirelands are widely regarded as one of the most qualified person breeders in the United Kingdom, with a solid and well-deserved reputation. Numerous puppy owners have benefited from my humour and positive, no-nonsense attitude, and they look forward to working for the next ten years. Shirelands is one of the best breeder if you are looking for golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester. Largymore Largymore provides your canines with the same level of love and attention they receive at home. Besides that, Largymore is also the best breeder available in Manchester, where you can get the best quality golden retrievers for sale Manchester. Kezdek Golden Retrievers Kezdek Golden Retrievers have extensive knowledge in all elements of export and shipping, allowing Kezdek Golden Retrievers to provide the best possible care and welfare for their dogs when they are transported throughout the world. All Kezdek Golden Retrievers dogs are subjected to a thorough health examination, including hip, elbow, and eye examinations. It is their aim that the Kezdek Golden Retrievers website would provide you with a glimpse into the spirit of Kezdek Golden Retrievers Labradors as well as our enthusiasm for this great breed. Kezdek Golden Retrievers have built up a reputation for creating quality, hard-working Labradors both in the United Kingdom and internationally for providing the best golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester. Cost of golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester A Golden Retriever comes with many expenditures that prospective owners will want to factor into their budget. This includes veterinary expenditures, training charges, food-related expenses, supplies, grooming, and other fees. Buying Tips: Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale Manchester Breeders typically need to have particular papers confirming that they are authorized to breed animals, depending on where they are located worldwide. This ensures that subsequent generations of dogs are adequately cared for and protected. If you purchase from someone who is intentionally breeding dogs but is not caring for the animals, you will be contributing to the perpetuation of this terrible cycle. Inquire about their licensing and accreditation for providing golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester. Before meeting the pups, you should request to talk with the breeder on the phone when you initially contact the company. Having them remove the pups allows you to ask them concerns about their breeding techniques without having your judgment biased by those oh so adorable puppies. Additionally, a reputable breeder will want to ask you a few questions regarding your house and lifestyle to verify that you would be a suitable parent for one of their puppies. Conclusion Golden Retrievers make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs, so looking for golden retriever puppies for sale Manchester is a good decision. They are huge, protective, and intelligent enough to guard your house and family with only the bare minimum of occasional training. This is partly because they are obedient and loyal. Post navigation. Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Greater New Hampshire location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands. Smart Golden Retriever puppies do great with early training. Complete Golden Retriever puppy training typically takes a few months. Working with a Golden Retriever puppy and the owner directly in the home prevents puppies from being distracted and allows dog trainers to create personalized training plans for individual puppies, as well as address any unique needs or issues. Once a puppy has completed in-home training, Dog Training Elite Greater New Hampshire offers puppy group classes for further training. Beginning Golden Retriever training in the home also helps owners bond with their pup so when the dog trainer leaves, no progress is lost. Training can be great mental stimulation, so a great exercise for Golden Retrievers as they get older is progressing their training. Once your puppy has mastered sitting, for example, train them to maintain the position until released. Once your puppy is a bit older, explore other sports and activities. This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form after proper conditioning , when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter. Empowering Owners We empower owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times. Personalized We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis. Environment Specific We train wherever issues tend to arise i. Supportive We support owners in the off-hours when training is "not in session". Involved We work with all members of the household. Satisfaction Ratings Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors. True to their name, Golden Retrievers love retrieving things! Golden Retriever Specific Tips Weight Management Golden Retrievers can easily become overweight so owners will need to help manage their food intake. Golden Retriever Specific Tips Make it a Family Affair If you have adopted a Golden Retriever puppy to become part of a family, make sure all kids and adults are on the same page with training and all practice basic tricks with the family dog. Dog Training Elite Greater New Hampshire has developed training programs for puppies and adult dogs alike based on positive reinforcement. German Shepherd training with our in-home option is entirely possible. Golden Retriever training can help you establish routines and learn how to be consistent about enforcing them. All Sizes. All Ages. Dog Training Elite Greater New Hampshire never resorts to the use of punishment to help dogs unlearn bad behavior. The difference becomes clear when comparing a dog that is trained out of anxiety and intimidation vs a dog who truly desires to please from the inside out. The Dog Training Elite Greater New Hampshire training theory is mostly based around classical conditioning, also known as the Pavlovian method or respondent conditioning. In its simplest form after proper conditioning , when an owner says "sit," their dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. Other dog trainers use harsh static collars or spray collars which have been shown to be less effective. Ready to turn your Golden Retriever puppy into a loyal and loving companion? Find a trainer near you today! We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call! The group classes are fun and informative and one is always willing to step aside and help you one on one if needed and Cass still gets excited to see Hayley!! I am so grateful to all the staff for helping me to have such a well behaved dog. Thank you all of!!! All the trainers were so good with her, especially Haley! I think her Dad and I agree, worth both the investment of our time and money!

Register other orgs Recommended breed health tests We have established, through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Health Information Center, the following recommended health tests for our breed December 27, services , breed education , health , health testing , OFA One of our goals as a custodian for the WSSD breed, is to ensure the future health of the breed by maintaining a health database of breed stock and determining applicable health testing to be done by breeders to ensure healthy progeny. This means keeping track of known abnormalities in the breed, as well as abnormalities in the breed that we share common ancestry with, the GSD. This breed is overall a healthy one, but no breed is completely free of health concerns. Our breed standard calls for a very balanced structure, with no topline slope desired. Excessive front and rear angles, which are found commonly in the GSD, are serious faults in competitions of conformation beauty in this breed. PennHIP results will be considered final for any dogs tested at the age of 8 months or older. OFA hip testing will assess the overall formation of hips, however this method have no ability to actually assess the laxity of the hip, given that their evaluation is based on a single view. PennHip on the other hand, gathers its information from three views: distraction view, compression view, and hip-extended view. With these three views PennHip is able to measure the percentage of laxity by taking an actual measurement of movement within the joint by comparing the multiple views. The more laxity, the looser the joint. The looser the joint, the more likely that injury, arthritis, or dysplasia will present. In our opinion, any WSSD with a. Given the occasional incongruence of results between the OFA hip and PennHIP evaluation, it may be beneficial to test using both methods in order to obtain the most data. There is no PennHip equivalent test for elbows. Elbows can develop dysplasia just like hips, and breedstock should be tested prior to being bred. Issue with elbows can arise in several ways. Injury can easily occur to an elbow joint, that is completely unrelated to genetics, due to the fact that much of the joint actually does not harden into bone until 6 or 7 months of age. This makes elbows and relatively fragile in young puppies. In a nutshell, a dog can be forced to grow too fast if its diet is not proper for the dogs specific needs at the time. Too much protein or incorrect ratios between the various parts of the diet. A diet designed for large breed puppies will prevent joint issues due to overnutrition if the puppy is kept in proper weight. The third way elbow joint can have a problem is through genetics. A poorly structured and weak elbowed parent, will contribute its DNA to its offspring, and pass on a negative trait. A good breeder will monitor all possibilities, and weed out dogs that are passing on weak elbows genetically. MDR1 Multi-drug Resistance 1, is a gene mutation that is found in many herding breeds, including this one. It is not a disease per se, but gene is responsible for the production of P-glycoprotein, which is normally responsible for transporting certain drugs out of the brain. Dogs that have a mutation in the MDR1 gene, which inhibits their ability to remove certain drugs from the brain and can lead up to a buildup of toxins, may have severe adverse reactions to some common drugs, including seizures, tremors, disorientation, blindness, lack of muscle control or even death. Higher doses generally times higher than the heartworm prevention dose have been documented to cause neurological toxicity in dogs with the MDR1 mutation. Loperamide ImodiumTM; antidiarrheal agent - At doses used to treat diarrhea, this drug will cause neurological toxicity in dogs with the MDR1 mutation. This drug should be avoided in all dogs with the MDR1 mutation. It can cause central nervous system depression in dogs with the MDR1 mutation at standard doses. DM Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination ataxia in the hind limbs. The affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over or drag the feet. In the GSD and our breed, it has become known that the current test for DM is not necessarily accurate in determining whether a dog will get DM or not. There are cases of dogs with the mutation never getting DM, and cases of dogs without the mutation actually getting DM. This is likely because DM is either a polygenetic disease or has an epigenetic component not yet discovered. Due to the genetic history of our breed being tied to the German Shepherd Dog, who has a higher than normal instance of this disease, we encourage dna testing for this mutation. Hemophilia A This is another disease that we recommend testing for that possible due to common ancestry with the German Shepherd Dog. This disease consists of a tendency to uncontrollable bleeding at the slightest trauma. It is a sex-linked inherited deficiency of the blood clotting Factor 8 F V.The FV gene lies on the X chromosome and any male with a defective X chromosome will be affected by the condition. All confirmed published data on German Shepherd Dogs suffering from hemophilia in the European countries can be traced back to one dog: Canto von der Wienerau. Canto was born in and lived only 4 years, however reportedly sired over litters. All his daughters were carriers and half of their offspring would be affected males or carrier females. How to have genetic, soft tissue, and radiographic tests done Forms for submission of health tests of for our breed are to get submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals OFA. OFA is where you will submit all test results. Genetic health testing is an integral part of a sound dog breeding program. When using genetic health testing it is important for breeders to educate themselves about concepts such as modes of inheritance, penetrance, prevalence, and phenotype for a specific variant mutation in your breed in order to apply test results. Breeders also need to know which variants are causing health concerns in their breed, and which health conditions currently have no genetic test available. This handy search function by breed or by health condition can show breeders which DNA tests Embark provides. The health condition percentages based on clear, carrier, and at-risk status presented on common, rare, and very rare genetic risk factors are based on a subset of dogs within the Embark database and do not necessarily represent all dogs of this breed. While we are not able to provide specific population numbers at this time, we believe the data provided here to be sufficient to inform on current trends within the North American population of German Shepherd Dogs. Because the nerves that control the hind limbs are the first to degenerate, the most common clinical signs are back muscle wasting and gait abnormalities. Its role is to make the plug stable by adding fibrin to the clot. Dogs with CSS have platelets that cannot signal in response to stimuli to induce platelet activation or death. The mode of inheritance is codominant. Cone cells not only register color, they allow the dog to adjust their eyes to bright light. Dogs with this disease constantly feel like us when we step out of a movie theater. Night vision remains completely unaffected. This mutation causes the normal activation of white blood cells and platelets in response to an injury or infection to fail. Dogs with this disorder can bleed spontaneously into their chest, abdomen, or joints. They will also develop significant bruising and profuse bleeding following a trauma or surgery. The gene is F8 and the mode of inheritance is x-linked recessive. In most dogs, uric acid is converted to allantoin, an inert substance that is then excreted in the urine. Dogs with HUU have defects in the pathway that converts uric acid to allantoin. As such, uric acid builds up, crystallizes and forms urate stones in the kidney and bladder. Uric acid is an intermediate of purine metabolism. While hyperuricemia in other species including humans can lead to painful conditions such as gout, dogs do not develop systemic signs of hyperuricemia. When the lysosome cannot recycle waste properly, the waste accumulates and causes the cell to die. Mucopolysaccharidoses MPS are defined by abnormal buildup of glycosaminoglycans, large sugar-protein molecules that are important for skeletal and joint function. The gene is GUSB and the mode of inheritance is recessive. The gene is FLCN and the mode of inheritance is dominant. This developmental condition can cause a scanty hair coat, malformed teeth, and few or absent sweat glands. The gene is EDA and the mode of inheritance is x-linked recessive. Citations: Casal et al With 10 known conditions in German Shepherd Dogs, this is evidence that genetic disorders are of concern within the breed and other conditions are likely to be identified in the future. Canine Health and Breed Resources. They are so helpful, knowledgeable people and particular with their breeding program. Their dogs are beautiful, intelligent, solid, and very healthy. They train dogs and offer many training classes from beginning to advanced. Best place to go when looking for the best German Shepherd dogs or where to train your dog of any breed. I Highly recommend Vom Haus Audax. Masters of their craft. And are exceptionally organized in how they run the business, breeding, board and train etc. Very clear upfront cost, transparent process, and a emphasis on great communication. You get all of this when doing business with them. Our journey: We got our little gsd boy Mamba from Kim and Jason. And the process was nothing short of amazing. Still is amazing. Yes, we loved it from a process stand point and we have learned a TON from Kim and Jason, but we have also come to feel like part of their pack. Part of the family. And we have appreciated that as new puppy owners. They truly care about every puppy they breed and every home those pups go to. If you are looking for a puppy, and get a dog from them that they bred, you are getting the highest pedigree of a GSD. Every part of the journey has been so refreshing and makes us feel like adding our new member to the family was the best decision ever. And we KNOW, we will always have a great support system. Overall: So if you are looking to add a gsd to the family Kim and Jason are your people. You will not regret it. These are the folks you want in your corner. So glad we met them, they are family now to us. Temperament, health, and of course handsomeness was paramount in choosing a puppy - all of our criteria was met. Our puppy enrolled in puppy class then later he graduated to obedience training. Under the thorough, knowledgeable, and patient instruction of Kim and Jason, our dog blossomed into a fine family pet. Everyday our wonderful dog brings us immeasurable joy. We cannot thank Kim and Jason enough. They go above and beyond in all they do and truly understand dogs and their unique behaviors. We will usually produce 2 litters a year, occasionally 3 if the timing and other circumstances allow, but because we personally train and compete in a wide variety of venues with all of our dogs and spend countless hours socializing, playing with, and observing each litter, to produce more than that would be counter productive to the goals and high standards we have for our breeding program. Because we do compete with all of our dogs and spend so much time with each litter of puppies, we know and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each dog and puppy and can and will happily discuss them. Early Training and Socialization From the moment they are born, our puppies are imprinted with human contact. They are identified with colored collars so we can track their weight, health, behaviors, and personalities as they grow. Every week, the puppies weights are recorded, their nails are trimmed, and photos are taken. As they grow and develop, we introduce the pups to many different stimuli. Different surfaces are put down for them to walk and play on such as tarps, plastic, wood, cardboard, metal, textured fabric items, dirt, grass, cement, tile. Also, while taking safety into consideration, they are introduced to unstable surfaces like wobble boards, rolled around on wheels, lifted up and down on a hydraulic table, driven around in a vehicle, suspended in air with hands or harnesses, and weather depending they are introduced to water and swimming. The puppies experience various noises including radios, vacuums, television, and audio tracks of other noises like thunder, gunshots, children, dog show noises or other sounds they may encounter during their life. We use several types of interactive toys and food games to build and encourage drives in our puppies. Our puppies are accustomed to wearing collars, have been introduced to spending time in a crate, and have been started in potty training. It is extremely important to continue socializing and training once the puppy has gone to a new home. Matching the Right Puppy to the Right Person or Family We believe that matching a family with the correct puppy is very important and is a team effort. Puppies are sold on limited registration to begin with, but that will be lifted to full registration at no additional cost to the new owner upon the puppy officially receiving passing hip and elbow certifications through the SV or OFA PennHip is also accepted for hip certification and earning an advanced performance title or working certification of some kind. Prior to going to their new homes, all of our puppies are microchipped for identification purposes. Veterinary Care Our breeding stock are all fully health tested and current on their routine veterinary care prior to being bred. Nomograph tests are performed on all females to determine the length of time the antibody they pass to the puppies through their colostrum will protect the puppies, and the puppies will not receive their first vaccination until the suggested time given by the results of the nomograph test. This helps to insure that the maternal antibody does not block the vaccine, rendering it ineffective. Puppies are de-wormed as necessary. However, if you do choose to spay or neuter your dog, we strongly recommend waiting until they are fully mature. This formula contains no chicken or chicken bi-products wheat, soy or junk fillers and is formulated for all life stages so is suitable for growing puppies, adolescents and adults alike. Guarantee We guarantee that our puppies are healthy when they go to their new homes. We also offer a written guarantee for 26 months against genetic hip and elbow dysplasia. Our relationship with you as the new puppy owner does not end when the puppy leaves our care. If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding your new puppy, we are simply a phone call or email away. If ever you are unable to keep your new puppy, no matter at what age, we will gladly take that puppy or dog back and find it another appropriate home. We do not ever want to find one of our puppies in a shelter or rescue! Cloud, MN dedicated to breeding outstanding show, performance, and companion dogs. Breeder, Dr. Our breeding program is based on our core values: Soundness, Performance, Beauty, and Style in that order. Our dogs are protective, not aggressive. They are motivated to perform, but are not endlessly demanding. Show, performance, and companion puppies will be available in the winter, spring, and summer of .The puppy contract includes a health guarantee. Applications, and deposits from approved buyers, are being accepted now. See the Puppies page on our website for the puppy application and for pictures of the sires and dams, along with litter pedigrees of planned litters. Please submit the application as directed on the website, before contacting me about puppy availability. We will have solid black, and black and tan, puppies available sired by Select Excellent Ch. Two additional breedings are underway, with a second litter to be homed in April and a third projected for June-July .All are sired by Arnold. See pictures of Arnold and Sara below. I am happy to mentor seriously committed beginners, juniors, and owner-handlers. There is an expectation of involvement in at least one AKC sport including, but not limited to, conformation, scent work, obedience, herding, therapy work, agility, and rally to the first titling level out of respect for the breed as a working dog. A RiverRock puppy is more than a pet: it is an adventure! Additional Info. Hip Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia typically develops because of an abnormally developed hip joint, but can also be caused by cartilage damage from a traumatic fracture. This breakdown of the cartilage will eventually result in pain with any joint movement. No one can predict when or even if a dysplastic dog will start showing clinical signs of lameness due to pain. Severity of the disease can be affected by environmental factors, such as caloric intake or level of exercise. There are a number of dysplastic dogs with severe arthritis that run, jump, and play as if nothing is wrong and some dogs with barely any arthritic x-ray evidence that are severely lame. Screenings for Hip Dysplasia are performed by a veterinarian with x-rays Elbows Dysplasia Elbow dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow. Three specific etiologies make up this disease and they can occur independently or in conjunction with one another. These etiologies include: Pathology involving the medial coronoid of the ulna FCP Osteochondritis of the medial humeral condyle in the elbow joint OCD Ununited anconeal process UAP Studies have shown the inherited polygenic traits causing these etiologies are independent of one another. Clinical signs involve lameness which may remain subtle for long periods of time. No one can predict at what age lameness will occur in a dog due to a large number of genetic and environmental factors such as degree of severity of changes, rate of weight gain, amount of exercise, etc. .Subtle changes in gait may be characterized by excessive inward deviation of the paw which raises the outside of the paw so that it receives less weight and distributes more mechanical weight on the outside lateral aspect of the elbow joint away from the lesions located on the inside of the joint. Range of motion in the elbow is also decreased. Degenerative Myelopathy Degenerative Myelopathy is a debilitating disease that causes gradual paralysis in many dog breeds. It is caused by a degeneration of the spinal cord that onsets typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It presents first with the loss of coordination of the hind legs. It will typically worsen over six months to a year, resulting in paralysis of the hind legs. If signs progress for a longer period of time, loss of urinary and fecal continence may occur and eventually, weakness will develop in the front limbs. An important feature of Degenerative Myelopathy is that it is not a painful disease. Temperament Test Results of Temperament test performed at a club Optional Testings Cardiac Evaluation - Congenital Cardiac Exam, Advanced Cardiac Exam Autoimmune thyroiditis - evaluation from an approved laboratory - recommend yearly testing Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter DNA-based testing With the advanced technologies, scientists are able to provide breeders with unique results of DNA-based traits of their dogs. We find these a great plus in aiding us to make better breeding choices. However, it is very important to understand how genetics work and not just complete the tests. Health Testing Why Health Testing Your German Shepherd Is Important Responsible breeders are well aware that hip dysplasia and other inherited diseases can be controlled or even eliminated through selective breeding practices. What is a phenotypic evaluation? These are graded based on breed, sex, age and the physical appearance and condition of different anatomic areas of the joints. Other examples of phenotypic evaluations are thyroid panels to test for hypothyroidism and the trypsin-like immunoreactivity TLI test used to screen for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. There are also a number of genetic test kits that can be purchased to help breeders identify whether their dogs are effected, carriers or clear of breed-specific conditions and diseases. These tests cannot however, accurately determine if an animal will develop a particular disease, but the information can help breeders avoid doubling up on genetic issues known to plague the breed. What are some of the health issues associated with German Shepherds? Like many breeds, German Shepherds are predisposed to a number of genetic health conditions, many of which can be emotionally and financially devastating to both breeders and owners. The number of affected dogs in the German Shepherd population is no more or less than that found in many breeds. Though daunting, the list below serves as a reminder as to the importance of health screening and why our efforts to improve the health of our dogs—and reduce risks to future buyers—is so important. Through the decades, numerous health issues have been introduced into the German Shepherd gene pool through animals carrying diseases including hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy DM , digestive disorders such as irritable bowel disease IBD , small intestine bacterial overgrowth SIBO , exocrine pancreatic inefficiency EPI , bloat gastric dilatation and volvulus , panostetis PANO , chronic superficial keratitis CSK or pannus, cataracts and corneal dystrophy. Various forms of cancer such as hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma are also common. By health testing your puppy or young adult German Shepherd, you gain valuable time in diagnosing and treating potential health conditions. Many disorders can be successfully treated or controlled before they cause serious problems. Do you need to have your pet German Shepherd tested? The reasons for screening your pet German Shepherd are two fold. Even though your puppy will not contribute further to the gene pool, it is essential for your breeder to collect health information on your dog. Both parents can test clear for a particular disorder, yet still pass the disease onto their offspring. By testing your pet German Shepherd, you provide your breeder with valuable health information about their breeding dogs. Test results on your German Shepherd, along with information on other close relatives, allows puppy buyers to apply greater pressure on breeders to produce normal, healthy puppies and adult dogs. If puppy buyers stop buying puppies from untested adults, breeders will be force to either stop breeding their dogs or start health testing them. A win-win for everyone. For example, there are surgeries that can be performed—and supplements given—to greatly improve the quality of life for dogs diagnosed with crippling hip dysplasia. Some of these surgeries however, are only effective if performed when the dog is very young. If treated early, eye diseases such as pannus can be treated to prevent blindness. Screening your German Shepherd for major health concerns is no different than screening yourself for diseases running in your family. Which tests should be performed? Most dog owners are familiar with hip testing because hip issues are common in many breeds. Though the level of testing desired for breeding prospects is extensive, pet owners are strongly encouraged to do their part to help breeders improve the overall health of all German Shepherds. Breeding dogs, at a minimum, should be screened for hip and elbow dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy DM. It is best to also screen for heart issues as these, too, are predisposed to German Shepherds. Breeders and owners can have OFA advanced cardiac screening performed at a reasonable cost. This simple screening can help to identify serious, underlying conditions. Additional screening for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI , pannus eye conditions and thyroid panels are important in securing clean breeding lines in your dogs. Ideally, pet owners should also screen for hip and elbow dysplasia and cardiac issues. She was young, vibrant and exhibited no symptoms. We can attest that there is nothing more devastating then having a young dog run happily up to you and drop lifelessly at your feet. This type of heartache could be prevented if more GSDs were screened for heart conditions prior to breeding. Sudden cardiac death is becoming an increasingly devastating occurrence within the breed as young dogs are being found deceased in their crates or are collapsing on the field—even at world-championship competitions. Testing for DM is also valuable because knowing if your dog is effected can help you to make decisions throughout its life that might help to lessen or delay serious illness. All German Shepherd lines carry varying degrees of risk for serious genetic disorders. There are no exceptions. Education yourself about the diseases known to exist in the lines of the dogs you are considering and quiz your prospective breeder. If they cannot, or will not, discuss with you the levels of risk—find another breeder. Learn to be a discriminating buyer. Lowering your risk as a buyer is to a great extent, up to you. If a German Shepherd breeder tells you that their dogs do not need testing because they are free of genetics defects, they are either not knowledgeable about their breeding stock or the breed , or they are not telling you everything you need to know about your puppy's lineage. Once your receive any test result, provide the information to your breeder. Responsible breeders appreciate and value the information you provide and use it to make better breeding decisions. The health information on your dog should also be made available to the public when possible so other owners and breeders can make better decisions about their future prospects. Even though the German Shepherd gene pool might appear large, it is not. Many dogs are closely related and the health of one line can greatly impact the health of others. All breeders and owners need to know if your puppy has great hips. Additionally, when having health screenings performed through OFA, remember to indicate on the form that you wish the results to be made public so all German Shepherd breeders and future owners can benefit from your efforts. If you do not select this option, your valuable data is lost to everyone. NOTE: Not all breeders are created equal. Some breeders work very hard to refine their lines and improve the overall health of the puppies they produce. Some try to produce healthy puppies but are not knowledgeable or diligent enough to be successful, and others are simply not the least bit concerned with the health of their breeding stock or the health of the puppies they produce. Health data is only useful if it is shared and made easily available to the next breeder and the next puppy buyer. A reputable breeder will encourage you to publish your health results and be glad to share the data you provide—good and not so good. A reputable breeder will also have pedigrees and health information on their dogs and their progeny available on their websites. If a breeder does not have health data on their dogs or asks you not to share your findings—run. Check out Reebok's blog for additional articles coming soon on the subject of health testing. Become a part of the GSDLiving experience. Upload a photo, pay tribute to your best friend

We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Blacksburg Virginia and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. Questions about Labradoodle puppies for sale in Blacksburg, VA? We have answers. What's the most interesting thing about Labradoodle puppies for sale near Blacksburg? The most interesting thing about Labradoodles is that they are the perfect combination of two of the world's most popular breeds, Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. This unique mix gives Labradoodles an even-tempered nature, exceptional intelligence, and an active, friendly disposition. These dogs are perfect for people looking for a companion that is not too big but still offers the intelligence and activity of a larger breed. Labradoodles also don't shed hairs like other dogs, so they are great for people who suffer from allergies. Are Labradoodle puppies for sale in Blacksburg hypoallergenic? Labradoodles, which are a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, can be hypoallergenic and non-allergenic depending on their parentage. Some Labradoodles possess a low to non-shedding coat, making them suitable for allergy sufferers who are looking for a dog that won't aggravate their allergies. However, due to the mix of genes and variation of fur types, it is impossible to guarantee that every Labradoodle will be completely hypoallergenic although many dogs are. Do Blacksburg Labradoodle puppies for sale have special dietary needs? Labradoodles can have specialized dietary needs depending on their health status and stage of life. As a hybrid breed, Labradoodles can be susceptible to inherited conditions that may have dietary implications. Furthermore, getting older can also bring about many changes, including dietary requirements. It is best to consult with a veterinarian to be sure your Labradoodle is following the dietary guidelines that are tailored specifically for their size, age, weight and health. A veterinarian can advise on types of food, the amount you should feed your Labradoodle each day and other dietary modifications that can help keep them healthy. Do Labradoodle puppies in Blacksburg have any kind of special requirements? Labradoodles can have a few special requirements depending on their unique genetic makeup. In general, Labradoodles tend to have a high energy level, so regular activity can help ensure they remain healthy and well-balanced. Additionally, these intelligent dogs may need mental stimulation, such as interactive play or puzzle toys to help prevent them from getting bored or restless. They may also benefit from frequent grooming, especially if they have a longer coat. Depending on their specific needs, they may require brushing several times a week and regular trims. Are Labradoodles for sale in Blacksburg considered small dogs? Labradoodles can range in size and therefore can be classified as small, medium, or large. Labradoodles bred with a toy or miniature poodle are commonly considered small dogs, while those bred with a standard poodle may be of medium size. If both parents are Labradoodles, size will vary and is typically determined by the size of the parents. Many Labradoodle owners will say that their Labradoodle is considered small despite its genetics, simply because it is a breed that doesn't weigh much despite its size. How much exercise do Labradoodle puppies near Blacksburg need? Labradoodles, as with most dogs, need to have regular exercise to keep them happy and healthy. Depending on the size and energy level of your particular Labradoodle, exercise needs can range from a minimum of a 30 minute walk each day to an hour of active play or more. You should also take into consideration that some Labradoodles may need additional outdoor playtime throughout the day in addition to daily walks. Are Labradoodles in Blacksburg good with kids? Labradoodles can make great family pets, especially in households with kids. They are a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, and their friendly nature as well as their love of being around people, especially children, make them a great choice. Labradoodles have a gentle personality that's great with kids of all ages and they are highly intelligent, obedient, and highly trainable. In addition to their friendly demeanor and intelligence, they are also playful and fun, which kids love. So all in all, Labradoodles make fantastic companions for families with kids. Are Blacksburg Labradoodles for sale considered smart dogs? Labradoodles are widely acknowledged to be among the smartest breeds of dogs. They are renowned for their intelligence, sociability, and loyalty. Their intelligence is so well-known, in fact, that many Labradoodles are used as service dogs, disability assistance dogs, and psychiatric support dogs. Owners of Labradoodles report that their pups are highly trainable, able to quickly learn basic tasks, as well as more complex commands.

Puppies expected Spring , we are very excited to produce quality puppies. AKC Standard Poodles raised in a wonderful home environment. Socialized with adults, children, and other animals! We strive to breed for correct structure, to preserve the breed, health, and temperament. The puppies are worked with daily to produce happy, confident puppies with great temperaments from day one when they are born and we are there with them. Puppies are exposed to many things to help desensitize them so they will be confident dogs. They are born and raised in the house. We start grooming at three weeks, and nails cut every 3 days. We use the early neurological stimulation and the early scent intro. Tails are docked long and dew claws removed. Worming and vacnataions per age. A vet check with a health check certificate at 8 weeks old. Our dogs are shown in UKC, and are part of the family. I take them to agility classes for fun and we go on hikes and outings. Of course Standard Poodles don't shed or smell and make great pets. .Brushing required They are very intelligent and eager to please. Puppies are sold with a limited registration unless discussed. Precisely Poodles Precisely Poodles are located in Menifee, California, and assure to provide you with Poodles that have excellent health, amazing temperament, and beautiful appearances. The Poodle puppies in California at this facility are born and raised at home. They are taken care of by the owner, her husband, and their children, and the puppies get all the love, care, and attention of the family. The Poodles at Precisely Poodles are also exposed to other animals as a part of their socialization training. Household activities acclimatize them to household atmospheres. The dogs raised here are family dogs and can be loyal companions because they grow up around other human beings. They are fully socialized, desensitized, and acclimatized. On the website for Precisely Poodles, you can find a lot of information about the Poodle breed if you are interested in the breed but are unsure of how to take care of it should you decide to buy one. The website informs new owners about the proper way to care for a Poodle. The ears of Poodles also have to be checked regularly for wax and mites, which can lead to ear infections if left unattended for too long. Taking care of your Poodle will lead to better health and a better bond between the owner and the dog. Precisely Poodles claims that all their Poodles are also hypo-allergenic as the breed sheds much less hair than other dogs. All pet parents are health tested before they are bred, and you can find relevant information about all tests on their website. You can also contact the website to check for any announcements on the upcoming litters. All their dogs, females and males, have their pictures on the website. Precisely Poodles Details. She is a dedicated breeder and treats all her puppies with the utmost care. She is very healthy, good temperament, smart and beautiful! Connie also continues to check in with us from time to time to see how Daisy is doing. If I ever get another poodle, it will be a Valencia Poodle. He is a very healthy and loving puppy! You can tell that he was treated with so much love. Even after getting Archie I would message Connie and she continues to respond to my messages very quickly! Our family will be going back to Valencia Doodles for new additions!! Thank you so much for everything you do and for loving these puppies so much. Connie is an amazing breeder! Our poodle was even potty trained!! Connie always communicated well with us, gave us updates on our pup and she absolutely produced the best clean, healthy, good quality, best temperament pup ever! Keep up the great work!! She offered to FaceTime and I quickly knew she was the real deal. She has been the best therapy pup for my daughter as well. Nursing school is no joke We love Piper so much that we are adopting another!! Connie is a wonderful breeder who cares for her pups and she totally focuses on quality!

The protein will come from readily available sources such as chicken or beef, and not exotic or boutique sources like kangaroo or venison as you saw in second study mentioned above. According to the AKC , quality, regulated animal byproducts can be good for your dog. These byproducts can include organ meats or entrails, which often contain more nutrients than, say, plain chicken breast. Another misconception is that dogs should eat grain-free diets. As you saw in the second study mentioned above, that can actually be very harmful for your dog and cause DCM. But food labels can be a little vague and confusing, so below is an explanation of what some of these terms mean, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual and the AKC. There is one caveat though. For instance, flaked corn, ground corn, and kibbled corn could be sprinkled in an ingredient list and not be listed as the first few ingredients, but in reality, if you were to add them all up they are all corn, after all , you might find that this food is made mostly of corn. The same goes for chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct. Meat vs. Meat Meal vs. The quality of these ingredients can vary widely, so be sure to talk to your vet about this and choose a reputable brand of food. Below are a few examples: Obesity. Golden Retrievers love food and they do have a tendency to become overweight if you let them. This problem can often affect these next two problems… Joint issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to joint issues and growing too fast because they eat too much can often make this problem worse more on this in the next section. Heart issues. Skin issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to hot spots and excess protein in their diets can be a factor that causes them. Many goldens suffer from food allergies. One cup of Brand X food may have calories per cup, while Brand Y has calories per cup. During a vet visit our veterinarian said he looked too small and lethargic for a puppy his age about 8 weeks at the time , and he recommended we feed him a little more. As far as how often to feed your puppy, this same rule applies. For us, we fed Oliver three times per day until he was a little over a year old. Getting a Golden Retriever Puppy? Get the gameplan for raising them right with the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook. Those two statements may sound random, but they are related. According to the Banfield Pet Hospital , overfeeding your Golden Retriever can cause them to grow too fast and increase their risk of hip dysplasia. You probably noticed that a raw diet was the fourth-most popular diet Golden Retriever owners feed their dog. Since puppies are growing and adults are just maintaining their weight, they have different dietary needs. And for fats, puppy food should have at least 8. As far as when to switch from puppy food to adult food, talk to your veterinarian. To see a list of other milestones your puppy will hit like when they lose their first teeth, or when their coat is fully grown check out this timeline of Golden Retriever puppy milestones. Like most of the other questions in this post, this is something to talk to your veterinarian about. Many foods will have the same vitamins that pills have already in them, but on the other hand, some breeders require that you give your puppy vitamins for their health guarantee to be valid. First, we unknowingly started him off on one of the brands listed in the graph above that is correlated with DCM. Then we switched to another brand that he just sort of liked. If we were to have another puppy, we would definitely start with the Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy food. How To Switch Food Brands The other day I was talking to someone who was complaining that her puppy was having lots of stomach issues. Dogs have sensitive stomachs so if you want to switch foods, you need to do it slowly. You should take about a week to transition from the old food to the new brand. Also consider how long the brand of food has been around, whether or not there have been any recalls of that brand, and if there is any research behind it. What do you feed your Golden Retriever puppy? Have any questions about what to feed them? Let me know in the comments below! Related articles:. Royal Canin makes dry food tailored explicitly to particular breeds. Its Golden food variation uses chicken and brown rice ingredients to support digestive health, strong bones, and a healthy coat. Gorgeous coats, healthy body conditions, great activity levels- perfect puppies! With a combination of healthy proteins, fruits, vegetables, and more, this dry dog food will encourage healthy muscle development in your Golden Retriever as well as strong teeth, a healthy heart, and improved skin and coat texture. Looking at the ingredients makes me feel that I have purchased a quality product for my guy. With ingredients like real protein, fruits, and vegetables, this dry food increases energy, strengthens bones, improves immune strength, and neutralizes free radicals. Her coat is healthier and shiny. She even trimmed down a little as her old dog food was making her fat. They produce high-quality dog food for your Golden Retriever at an affordable price. Veterinarians recommend IAMS Proactive Health because it uses ingredients like animal protein and antioxidant-rich veggies to nourish your dog and meet their complete health needs. Highly recommend it. Good for maintaining a decent weight too. Gobbles it down! With fish as the main protein, this kibble promotes a gorgeous coat and healthy skin and improves digestive issues. He eats it enthusiastically, and it has really helped him thrive! He is energetic, has a gorgeous coat, and devours his meals! She is a much happier dog. The Save Shredded Puppy Blend includes probiotics to help ease the digestion in growing Golden Retriever puppies with sensitive stomachs. I mix it with wet food, and he loves it. He loves the chunks of shredded chicken! I highly recommend it. This large-breed dry food can help your Golden Retriever maintain a healthy coat and great skin as well as smooth digestion. All of them love this food! Their coats are shiny and soft, and their poops are small! The exclusive formula also increases energy levels! We tried another brand, and it caused all kinds of allergic reactions. We went back to Eagle Pack, and all is right again. Great product! That may be because they have a senior Golden Retriever who is struggling with dental issues or feel that dehydrated food options are healthier. This particular food contains real protein and essential nutrients that can benefit dogs of all ages. Once we got this, she became a food-crazed puppy! This food includes a combination of freeze-dried raw-coated kibble with real pieces of freeze-dried raw meat! This variety has lots of meat sources plus several strains of probiotics. In general, your dog will benefit from puppy food from about 8 weeks of age until they are six months to a year old. Check with your vet to determine the right time to switch from a puppy food to one for adult dogs, as recommendations vary based on the size of your dog. A few days later, you can begin making it a half-and-half blend. Make sure to watch for loose stool from your pup as you transition — if you notice that your Golden is struggling with the new diet, wait for a few days before increasing the blend. When in doubt, check with your vet! Most dog foods come with specific volumes listed on the side. Overfeeding your pet can lead to a variety of health concerns. To determine what food will suit your dog the best, check out 17 of the top dog foods on the market for Golden Retrievers, no matter their age. Check with your vet to determine whether your Golden will need any special dietary considerations. Foods considered toxic to Golden Retrievers are macadamia nuts, chocolate, onions, garlic cloves, grapes, raisins, walnuts, alcohol, and any foods sweetened with xylitol. Try to avoid feeding your Golden food containing any of these ingredients. Grain is an essential component to the diet of Golden Retrievers. The absence of grain has been known to lead to a deficiency in taurine, which can potentially cause heart problems for your golden. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Feeding Your Golden Feeding Your Golden With the wide array of foods available today, it can be hard to make a good choice of what to feed your golden. Goldens are particularly sensitive to dietary concerns, and feeding them a high quality diet can help boost their health and immune system. Feeding a high quality food is not necessarily more expensive. Price is misleading: cheaper foods require more volume to be fed, up to several cups at each meal. With the wide array of better foods available today, you can make a smart choice of what to feed your golden. A golden will normally eat about two cups of premium food per day. It can be adjusted a little more or less based on activity level and metabolism. Goldens are prone to skin problems, and a poor quality diet will cause skin problems which translates into costly veterinarian bills. You will need to go to the pet store to purchase your food. Grocery store brands do not offer the nutrition goldens need for good health. Do not be persuaded by fancy advertising. Many commonly hyped foods are not high quality and maybe lacking the necessary nutritional value for your dog. For example, Grain Free foods may play a major part in taurine deficiency in Golden Retrievers and other large breed dogs. This deficiency can cause serious heart problems for your dog see Taurine and Grain Free information on this web page. Here are some guidelines: Look for food free of chemical preservatives. Some of these additives are suspected of causing cancer. Look for food preserved with Tocopherols Vitamins C and E as well as rosemary and other herbs. Make sure you have several months before this date. Frequent stores where there is a good turnover of food so you get a fresh bag. Always store dog food in a tight airtight container in a cool, dry place. If you only have one dog, consider buying pound bags instead of pounds bags so the food is fresher. Look for a food that has some form of meat as the first ingredient — such as lamb, chicken, or turkey. Avoid foods that have grain as the first ingredient. Also look for multiple meat proteins in the first seven ingredients. Protein from multiple sources is generally viewed as being beneficial such as lamb, chicken and fish , unless your dog is allergic to certain proteins. Dog food companies sometimes list several types of grains in the first seven ingredients. Beware of this — your dog needs animal protein in his diet! These are the intestines of the animal including what is in the intestines!! Most by-products are not desirable. By-products normally contain beaks, feet, feathers, heads and other slaughterhouse wastes — not the most nutritious part of the animal. Avoid foods that have sugars or artificial colors or flavors or a lot of added salt. Semi-moist dog foods are the worst — they usually are loaded with artificial colors and sugars. Added vitamins and minerals are beneficial only when applied after the baking process, because heat destroys vitamins. The best foods are made up of ingredients that would be suitable for human consumption. Most dog foods contain meat products that are not fit for human consumption. They can include meat from diseased livestock, condemned material from slaughterhouses such as tumors cut away from meat , and as horrible as it sounds, some pet foods include euthanized pets sold to rendering plants and even road kill. Is it any wonder why so many dogs die from cancer when they are being fed meat from these sources? Grains — many dog foods will contain some grains, for example, brown rice, barley, corn, wheat, etc. We have found that some goldens in our rescue program generally do poorly on a food that contains corn or soy. Many goldens are allergic to corn or wheat. So if your golden starts getting a lot of hot spots or skin problems — check his food. There is a big difference in quality of grain products. Look for whole rice or brown rice in the ingredients; white rice and ground brewers rice are much lower in nutrients than whole or brown rice. Often pet food companies take the sweepings off the mill floor and put it in pet food. Look for whole grains instead such as oatmeal, brown rice, barley, or whole oats. Grain Free foods. Grain Free foods have become increasingly available as food companies try to offer foods that are easier to digest with lower levels of complex carbohydrates and grains. One misconception is that grain free dog food is also low-carb, however, vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, green peas and tapioca often replace the grains in grain-free dog foods, especially in kibble foods, making them as high or higher in carbohydrates than grain-based dog foods. Studies have shown peas, beans, pea starch, legumes, potatoes and sweet potatoes that have replaced the grains in dog foods block the function of taurine. Taurine, a sulfuric acid, is essential for healthy cardiovascular function in Golden Retrievers. If left untreated, taurine deficiency in Golden Retrievers can cause dilated cardiomyopathy DCM , congestive heart failure and possibly death. Read all the ingredients in the food which should include taurine and check with your veterinarian before selecting or feeding any grain free food to your dog. Detailed information on dog food ingredients and taurine can be found on this web page under Taurine and Grain Free information and at: Diet Associated Heart Disease Treats — beware of many dog treats out there. They are filled with sugars, preservatives and artificial colors. Try buying biscuits at your local dog bakery or making some yourself. The dog food companies listed below have high quality treats available for your dog. Is your dog overweight? Beware of some diet dog foods, they can be loaded with fillers that provide no added nutrition. At least green beans are healthy. You can also use canned pumpkin. Typically goldens love it! DO NOT free feed your golden; instead feed a measured amount of food twice a day. Most adult goldens will eat 1 cup of premium dog food twice a day. Is your dog too fat? You should be able to feel its ribs and your dog should have a waist. We have found that we have a different view of what constitutes a fat dog than many veterinarians. They will typically allow dogs to carry more weight than is optimal. This perhaps is because they do not want to insult their clients and risk losing business. Letting your golden get too fat is like chopping years off of its life. We also see lots of hip problems with goldens, and keeping weight in check will give your dog better mobility. Fat goldens are an epidemic from our experience. We routinely get goldens into our rescue program that have to lose 30 — 40 pounds!!! Therefore we have a lot of experience at taking the weight off! It is very discouraging and upsetting when an adoptive home will let some weight creep back on. You may think you are loving your dog by giving it too much to eat, but if you really love it you will keep it at a normal weight. Remember — Ribs and Waists! Can you feel and see them on your dog? If not, break open the cans of green beans! The bottom line is read the ingredients, consult your veterinarian and research reliable resources. Making sure your dog has the best nutritional food will help to insure he has a long and healthy life. Here, from Whole Dog Journal, are some additional links for selecting best dry dog food and the best canned dog reviews. Goldens Rescued Since .They are growing quickly, so while they eat smaller quantities of food than adult dogs, they need to extract far more nutrients like protein, minerals, and vitamins, to sustain their growth and development. Different Dogs, Different Diets Nutritional needs vary from breed to breed. One only needs to look at golden retrievers to know they require a different diet than a Chihuahua! For example, joint and bone problems are much more common in big dogs than in little ones, but choosing the right puppy food can reduce the risk. Large-breed puppy food has reduced amounts of calcium and phosphorus, which helps control the rate of skeletal growth. Also, you may find puppy foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and mobility. By consuming too much food, your puppy will have elevated levels of the very nutrients that should be limited. Additionally, overweight puppies may develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Good eating habits developed during puppyhood will lead to a healthy mature dog in the years to come. Nutrition For The Outside One of the most visible components of your dog is its fur. Nutrition plays a vital role in this area. A large percentage of the protein your puppy takes in goes towards maintaining its coat. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for healthy skin and fur. Which Food Do I Choose? There will always be those who buy the cheapest brand on the market. Some will opt for the most expensive, while others will simply go with a brand name they recognize. The key is to find the right food for your particular puppy. One thing you cannot afford to ignore is the nutritional content. Because they are still growing, puppies need more protein than adults. Proteins foster muscle growth and development in puppies and lean muscle maintenance in adults, so the more of it there is in a diet, the better it is for your growing retriever. Fats, too, are important for golden puppies because they provide the energy required for everyday activities. You should be careful, however, not to feed your golden excess calories because this will result in excess weight or obesity. Eventually, your dog will end up battling joint problems. For instance, less expensive dog foods typically have lower-quality ingredients. The contents are often inexpensive, low-grade animal protein sources, like by-products and fillers. Fillers are frequently things like cornmeal, rice flour, or seed hulls. In general, thoroughly review the nutritional content of your chosen diet. Are the ingredients wholesome and natural? Does the diet have controlled calcium and phosphorous levels? Is the calorie and fat content limited to manage growth? Does the label state that the diet is complete and balanced? This can lead to obesity and will certainly cause increased defecation. The latter of these two issues will make house training more difficult than it already is. By contrast, costlier dog foods usually have higher-quality ingredients. The scales will be tipped heavily in favor of high-grade animal protein sources and fillers will be few and far between. Price is not, however, a guarantee of quality. The best dog foods for a golden retriever puppy are made with high-quality natural ingredients and have high levels of protein. Make sure the food is complete and balanced for daily feeding and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large breed puppies. At this point, golden retriever puppies have likely already been switched to dry puppy food and you should continue feeding your pup the same type of food the breeder used. From the day you bring them home until they are six months old, you should feed your golden retriever puppy three times a day. Ideally, your pup should have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. A grain-free diet is the default meal for golden retrievers that are sensitive to grains, but if your dog is healthy, feeding her such a meal boils down to choice. A lot has been said about grain-free diets. Reports and studies have been carried out in recent years trying to establish any connection between it and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM. That all starts with choosing the best puppy food for golden retrievers. Avoid low-cost foods that are more filler than substance, and look for better foods that are packed with nutrients to help your puppy grow. In particular, consider trying a large breed formula to meet the specific needs of your golden retriever puppy. Good nutrition is an essential part of any health regimen, and providing high-quality puppy food will lay the foundation for a long, and enjoyable life. You May Also Like. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.